Dr. Appointments & School (Busy Day!)

Today was a pretty busy day for me. I woke up a little after 8 am, got ready and headed out with my little Kesaia up to Primary Children's hospital for her ENT appointment.  Kesaia has had so many frequent ear infections, or maybe the same one that won't go away (??), that we have decided it was best for her to get ear tubes, like her older brother Moe. And to be quite honest, since Moe has gotten the ear tubes (almost a year ago) he hasn't had problems with his ears. Anyhow, so we scheduled to have her surgery (minor) on February 22nd.

After her appointment we came home and thankfully she knocked back out, so all three (fehi and kids) were sleeping, which worked out perfectly because I still needed to cut out our samples (fabric pieces) for our sewing class.  I spent about 2 hours cutting all the pieces out, then we ate some lunch (saimini & spam .. yumm!) and then got ready to go to my first prenatal visit with the Nurse Midwives at IMC.

The nurse midwife that I had met today was Melissa (forgot her last name).  The nice thing I like about having a midwife is that unlike OB's where they can be between the office for appointments, and downstairs delivering, midwives that day are either solely in the office, or solely in labor & delivery.  I really liked how she also said that once you go in labor, and are at the hospital, they are there. You don't get assigned a specific midwife (though you could choose to have one) but you see whoever is there on the day of your appointment.  At first I thought I would just stick with Melissa, cause I thought she was really nice, but I figured it would be a good idea to meet all the midwives there so by the time I give birth I'm comfortable with anyone of them.

I didn't get an ultrasound today, but I was able to hear the baby's heartbeat. :)  Hearing the heartbeat, in a weird way, kind of validated it for me.  I guess you just never know for sure until you see it (ultrasound) and/or hear it (the heartbeat).  I have an ultrasound set in 3-4 weeks, where we will see how the baby is doing, but also we'll get to find out what we're having.

I'm definitely excited and grateful that I'm able to bring another child into this world.  When the midwife questioned me on dates (LMP, first positive pregnancy test, etc.) I was able to give her exact dates.  She then asked if we had planned this, and I was like "oh yeah, we did!" lol and she just said "that's awesome! I love to hear that!"

After my appointment we rushed over to drop the kids off at my in laws house, then we went to class.  So this day has been non-stop for me, and now I can relax, blog a little, then knock out (if my kids let me lol).  I'm also excited because tomorrow my brother and my mom will be coming in from HNL. :) I'm forever grateful to my brother for his sacrifice in helping us, I only hope we can help him too (maybe help him on his way to a mission lol).  Until tomorrow.. goodnight! :)

Changes

Well I've been seriously lacking in my blogging, but here's to trying (again) lol.

I heard this quote while watching TV "Change is hard, change is overwhelming... it's much easier to stay on the road you're on than to have to change..." For me I think this has been the theme this past week.  I've had a lot to contemplate, and a lot of choices to make.

This past week was our second week of school, fyi we missed the first week because we were still in Hawaii lol, and yes it was well worth it hahaha.  This semester we have a Psychology class on wednesday night for 3 hours, a beginning sewing class on thursday night for 3 hours, and a math class on saturday morning for three hours, along with our online english class.  It's always been a stressful thing for us to find a babysitter, because we never had a set one since our first semester at school.  Thankfully we've been able to rely on my sil Maopa, but I always feel bad because she has her own kids, and sometimes other peoples kids to watch, and last thing I want is for her to get sick with all the babysitting (she was really sick when she was young and has had a kidney transplant, and every now and then she gets seizures, their mild, and she doesn't fall to the ground or anything, but I always worry about her health and I don't ever want her to be overwhelmed.)

After contemplating about this for a while, on Thursday night I texted my brother to ask if he would be willing to move out here and help watch our kids while we have school.  This has been something that we've discussed with my mom, and she talked to him about, and he always said he would do it, and so when I asked him he agreed to come out.  I've been trying to make sure he's okay with this decision, because I know this is a huge step for him.  He's so use to his comfort zone, staying at home, working 'iate, and kicking it with his friends.  So my moving him out here, it's gonna be definitely a big change for him. He won't have his same friends (which I think he needs to change anywayz lol) and he'll be meeting new people and what not.  So far he's still coming out, and will get here Friday morning.  I'm especially grateful because then we get extra help, meaning we could even work more hours (to make more money for bills and our savings) and we won't' have to stress out about a sitter anymore.  So I will be forever grateful to my little brother for doing this for us, he doesn't realize how much it means to the both of us.

Along with the theme of changes, a few weeks (months) ago my husband deleted his facebook account.  He realized he went on it too much, and it was more so to look at what other people were doing/saying, he felt like he was just being "fie'ilo" in other peoples business.  Lately I've been feeling the same way, and I've been wasting unnecessary time on there. So I as well, deactivated my account, and I'm happy about the decision.  Those who need to contact me know how, and I rather invest my time (if on the internet) on my blog, so all works out! :)

This year feels like the year of changes, and I hope that through whatever changes may come, we continue to grow through them. On a side note, tomorrow is my first ultrasound... I can't wait to see the little one...  So I guess I'll be back tomorrow with an ultrasound pic! :)

Vacay is done.. now back to Life!

Yesterday (Monday) evening we finally returned from Hawaii.  I have been off from work since Christmas Day, and have been in Hawaii since New Years Eve.  It was such a WONDERFUL break, and I'm grateful for my co-workers who were able to work with me and cover my shifts for 3 weekends in a row. While we were there we did a lot of eating, swam only for one day (it's a little bit colder now) and we spent a lot of time with my family. Monday the 9th Fehi had to return back to SLC cause he was due into work the next day, Tuesday the 10th.  Flights were horrible, so we camped all day and found a one way ticket to Seattle for $200 on Alaska Airlines, then from Seattle he flew Delta back to SLC. So because the flights were full, and I was going to be traveling by myself with the 2 kids, I decided to extend so that my mom could possibly fly with me on the weekend. Then I just decided to extend my trip to Sunday the 15th, and ended up flying with the kids by myself.

Luckily the flight with the kids was a good one, except for my back (and okole) hurting.  My son knocked out the whole flight, as soon as he sat down. And Kesaia knocked out as well, but because she was feeling sick, and probably uncomfortable (like I was) from me holding her, she would wake up every now and then, cry for a few seconds, until I readjusted her then she was fine. The flight to SFO was only 4 hours 40 minutes, but every hour I looked at the time, and wished it was over. I was grateful I didn't have screaming kids, but I had wished I booked a third seat for Kesaia to sit on, rather than me holding her. Can you imagine when I have to fly with 3 kids?!?! I don't know how I'll do that.  lol.

As soon as we landed in SFO, I called my husband and asked him to fly over to SFO and meet me so we could fly back together.  He got on the first flight, and then we flew back on the 1pm flight out of SFO to SLC. It was nice to see him, especially since we hadn't been away from each other since Moe was like 4 months old.  The kids were of course excited to see him, but we were both just so exhausted and ready to come home.

Since going to Hawaii, we've had a lot to ponder, and we've come to an agreement that we one day want to move to Kahuku. I don't know when, but I do know we have a lot of things to take care of and consider before we move.  Some may think we're crazy to go from living on our own (in a house) to moving in with my grandparents, but I told my husband that when I moved away from home almost 5 years ago, I never knew I was moving for good. I also never thought I'd have and raise my kids by ourselves. I've always imagined being in Kahuku, and with my mom and siblings, and grandparents around to help out.  That's what was nice being home, was all the help I was getting.  I do have to admit, it made me a little lazy, but it was just so nice :). Hopefully we'll figure out a plan, and get moved there in a couple years.  I want our own house there, so I hope that's a realistic plan for us also. :)

I LOVE Hawaii :)

I love being home. Everything about it makes me so happy. Even my husband notices how much more happier I am when I'm home.  What can I say, it's just different here.  Yesterday we went to Castle Beach (in Kahuku) and it was just so nice to sit on the beach, and relax. There were tons of kids and families there, probably because the kids are still off from school, and it was a good day to go swimming. (Today looks like a good day too lol).  One of my BFF's (country girls a.k.a. wolfpack! lol) was there, and she had just gotten in on Sunday night too. We were talking about how much we miss home, and she's actually in the process of moving back with her husband. I told her about how my husband actually wants to move down here, it's just a whole lot of things that we need to consider and what not.

A lot of it, mostly has to do with the material things we have.  We have a car (that we're still paying for), our laundry machines that we just bought in September, our huge bed (that I will not sell or give up lol), our T.V. I could probably do without, but yeah, there's just things we have to take care of.  I was telling my friend yesterday that if we were to ever move, it'd just have to be something we just do, and do it quick. lol. I could see people questioning why we would move from having our own place, where it's cheaper, but the way my husband and I see it, Kahuku is a small family oriented community, and that's what we love, and what I miss.  I could care less if we moved and lived with my family in Kahuku. I would enjoy that. I don't know if we'll ever, or more like when we'll take that big step to moving back, but when that day comes, I'll be the happiest woman alive. :)

Anyhow, our vacation so far has been a relaxing one.  I wish we could travel home more often, but between work and school we usually can't, so I'm glad we made it out this time. Yesterday we spent the day at the beach.  I got to swim just for a little bit, then I sat out with my kids and watched them play in the sand, and let the beach bum (fehi) go at it.  He swam for like 2.5 - 3 hours straight! I wouldn't be able to do that lol. I actually had a huge headache by the time we left, and when that happens, it makes me sick and I end up throwing up all I ate, which is exactly what happened when we got home.  After I got sick, I laid down in the living room, and my mom asked me if I was ok, and if I needed anything.  That sorta caught me off guard, cause I'm so use to just dealing with this pregnancy, cause hello, I don't have my mom around, but it was nice, really nice to have her make sure I was ok.  I ended up sleeping for the rest of the day and night, and thanks to my sisters they took care of the kids, while both fehi and I knocked out. Today, we have a wedding to go to, but will be visiting Tita's Grill for lunch.  Fehi and I went and had a little breakfast together over there this morning, and told them we would be back. I swear we are their #1 visitors whenever we're in town. LOL.

Here's a few pics from our beach day yesterday:

My little sister playing in the sand

My son and his new boogie board someone gave him :)

Aunty Ila and my princess Kesaia

The kids playing in the sand, they were being naughty and throwing sand at me too lol

My husband out there catching waves

Kesaia doesn't like the water, but loves the sand

Out with the old, in with the new.. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :)

Last night we rang in the new year with my family here in Kahuku, Hawaii.  I can't tell you how happy I was that we made the flight to HNL from LAX.  Thank goodness to that gate agent working the flight, when she called your name (2x at most) if you didn't show up you were skipped, and luckily that's how all three of us got on. :)  We finally arrived in Hawaii at 7:30am, picked up all of our luggage and we were greeted by my mom and little sister who were waiting with a cart for us.  Moe was so excited to see Ila, he just started running all around, knowing that she would chase after him. LOL. Then we were on our way home.  I was super hungry and wanted Zippy's but nothing was open, but jack in the box.  So we stopped at Jack in the box in Wahiawa and ordered some food for us. My mom laughed cause everything came out to about $40 and she said, "Yupp, that's a Lani order" lol. On our way home we stopped over so my step-dad could see the kids, then we finally got home at about 9p.m.

Trying to keep these kids busy, this was our 3rd flight of the day from LAX to HNL

Kesaia drawing, this kept her busy for.. oh, 30 seconds lol

 I was so excited to pop fireworks, well, to actually see a fireworks show.  Growing up it was crazy on New Years Eve night. Everyone had the illegal, big fireworks (lol), everyone was out and about popping fireworks, and all you saw was smoke that filled the roads.  Sadly, I found out that this year they started a requirement for a permit for fireworks, so not a lot of people were popping fireworks, not even the small ones. :(  Our neighbors, however, always throw a party and always have fireworks.  So at 11:57p.m. we came out of the house, and went out into the street to see what everyone had.  It was still fun to see other people pop fireworks, and I'm sure there were many illegal ones.  My neighbor told us that he got his fireworks for a sheriff in town who was selling it on the side, LOL, only in Hawaii.   Our neighbors ended up giving us some of their fireworks, so we had fun with that.  Kesaia liked it, Baby Moe didn't.  He would yell at us and tell us "No!" lol. Here's a few pics from last night:

Kesaia looking at the fireworks

The neighbors popping their red fireworks

Moe trying to hide from the fireworks lol

Daddy and Moe

Love it :)

My sisters, mom, "aunty" nancy (lol) and baby moe

Babe having fun even though it's past 12am lol

We chilled last night outside and a few of our friends drove by and stopped and said hi, and we catched up for a little bit. We finally went to sleep around 2 a.m., woke up a little after 7 a.m. got ready and went to my old ward I grew up in, Kahuku 2nd.  It was a special sacrament meeting, because we got to hear from all of the bishops that presided in the ward since it first started, from Bishop Semisi Vanisi, Bishop Aiu, Bishop Harry Brown (my favorite) and Bishop Pickard.  All their talks were awesome, and from all of them it made me want to be better this year.  Bishop Aiu talked about tithing and making the right choices, and I loved how at times he was just so straightforward with it, at times we couldn't help but laugh lol.  Bishop Brown talked about service, and I want to be able to do more service throughout the year.  After sacrament we came home, okay I lie, we ahem broke sabbath (already I know right lol) and bought some poke, tako poke, and rice from Kahuku Superette.  And lemme tell you, it was SOOOO yummy, fulfilled every poke craving of mine, nothing can beat Superette's poke! :) So far we're enjoying our time here, and tomorrow we'll go to the beach. :) woohoo, can't wait!

Happy New Year! :)