HEMATOMA UPDATE

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and all is well. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat and it is strong and healthy. I thought Dr. Maughan was going to do an ultrasound to see where the hematoma was at, but since I haven't had any bleeding for 21 days, he said that my body must have absorbed the blood clot. And then he told me how blessed we are because most women who have a hematoma have at least 2 or 3 sessions of bleeding before it passes, along with cramps, and I haven't had either. He still wants me to be a little careful for the next few weeks (like not engaging in activities where I could get hit in the stomach...guess that means I shouldn't change CJ's diapers anymore :), but for the most part, we're in the clear.

I do feel very blessed and so grateful for the Priesthood in my life. Bryce gave me a beautiful blessing of healing that first night I had bleeding, and it has come to fruition. I'm so grateful for the blessings in my life, like my family's health, the wonderful world of medicine and technology that I have access to, and most importantly, amazing family and friends who love my family and me so much! Thank you to everyone, for your concern, your kind words, your prayers, and selfless acts of service (you know who you are :). It meant the world to me!

GOOOOOO COUGARS!

Bryce had an interview with a great firm in downtown Seattle last week, so we took advantage of the opportunity to go to the BYU vs. UW football game (actually, we've been planning to go to the game for months, so Bryce actually scheduled his interview for that weekend :). One of Bryce's best friends, Paul Fahey, and his wife, Jen, who live downtown, met us for the game. Even though they stuck us in a nosebleed corner of the stadium, we were surrounded by BYU fans and so we had our own cheering section. And isn't it funny what a small world the Church is? Paige saw three different people that she had known from her BYU wards in Provo! Anyway, it was a close game, which made it even more fun, and in the end, BYU won 28-27. Go Cougs!

Paul and Jen tried to show their neutrality by wearing non-team colors (but since they're both from WA, we knew they were secretly rooting for UW)

This was our view from our seats. It was super high, but it had its benefits...we could see everything!

In fact, this was the other view from our seats. Gorgeous!

Paul swam for USC (so he hates UCLA) and loves this shirt. He got lots of comments from people at the game...especially the drunk ones :)

CJ's BECOME OUR CLIMBER

CJ's climbing up the stairs at Grandma Sheila and Grandpa Greg's house. It's his first time and he didn't fall once!

And here he is after he just pulled himself up to standing for the first time. He's as proud of himself as we are!

SUBCHORIONIC HEMATOMA

Yup, that's what I've got (click on the title to go to a link with an article about subchorionic hematomas). After waking up from a nap Monday afternoon to find that I was bleeding, I started to panic. I kept it together enough to call the doctor's office - which of course, it was 5:10 PM, so he wasn't in and had to be paged - but after getting off the phone and waiting that 30 minutes before I got to talk to the doctor, the tears began to flow. I scared Bryce half to death when I called him crying and talking about CJ (I was explaining through my tears about how I had put CJ and myself down for a nap and so Bryce thought something had happened to CJ), but after I explained to him how I was bleeding, he left school immediately and rushed home. Dr. Maughan, my OB-GYN, called me and asked me a series of questions. After finding out that the bleeding had stopped, and that I wasn't having intense cramps, he reassured me that I was not having a miscarriage. He told me that it was likely that I ruptured a blood vessel or that I had a blood clot and that I needed to be very still the remainder of the evening and come in for an ultrasound in the morning.

Relieved, but still worried, I asked Bryce to give me a blessing, so he asked our neighbor and friend, Levi Adams, to come over and participate. In the blessing, Bryce blessed us that the baby would be okay and that I would continue this pregnancy. Instantly, a wave of peace came over me. It was wonderful. I was able to relax the rest of the evening...until that night. I had the most anxious night of my life. My heart was racing and I could not get to sleep. I just kept reminding myself of the blessing and what the doctor had said in order to calm myself, but it was a stressful night nonetheless.

Finally morning came and our anxiety was intensified when I realized that I was bleeding again. Bryce and I both said prayers that we would have faith in the blessing I had been given and that helped. We made it into the doctor's office and again, my heart raced as he began the ultrasound. We saw the baby on the monitor and I searched for the little flashing that is the heartbeat. It was difficult to see at first, but Dr. Maughan quickly found the heartbeat for us and our fears were put to rest. The baby is fine and still growing normal and healthy.

Dr. Maughan then found the subchorionic hematoma, or blood clot, on the ultrasound and pointed it out to us. There is no way of knowing what caused the blood clot, and no way of really treating it. Right now, it's not a threat to the baby, but if it doesn't pass, and if it is aggravated, it can potentially pull away part of the placenta which can result in a miscarriage. So the doctor told me to be on strict pelvic rest for the next week (he compared it to a cut, which takes 7-10 days for the fibers to reconnect and seal off and heal), only getting up to "eat and go to the bathroom," and to see him again after I've had a significant amount of time without any bleeding. Then he'll do another ultrasound to see where the clot is at.

the highlighted black mass is my blood clot

We're so grateful that our prayers were answered and our little one is alright. And we also are so grateful for the help that we're receiving right now. Friends have babysat and made us dinner, lent me movies, called to check up, and offered to help in any way. And Bryce's mom and sister drove over from Seattle and took CJ back with them until Sunday so that I wouldn't have to worry about him (I cried when they left. I miss him so much).

The worst part is that I feel pretty okay, but I have to lie around and be waited on as if I was really sick. It's a great lesson in humility, though, that's for sure. I look forward to being up and around next week (if all goes well)...I'll keep you posted.

GRANDPA GILBERT IS 90!!

Bryce's family had a big celebration this last weekend to honor is Grandpa Gilbert who just turned 90 years old! We played volleyball, ate great food, and got to see family that we hadn't seen in forever (Paige even met cousins that she'd never met before). Though Grandpa is losing his hearing, he is still so healthy and with it. We hope that we can follow his example and live as righteous and fruitful of a life as he has. We love you, Grandpa!

CJ loved the bubble machine

Grandpa Gilbert (in the middle) with his grandkids and great grandkids (and they're not even all there). This is what happens when you have 10 children!

SPOKANE INDIANS (is that PC?)

Now that we're finally back in town, and so are all of our friends, it was super fun to get together and head out to a Spokane Indians baseball game. Turns out it was Family Night at the stadium so hot dogs, sodas, and ice cream sandwiches were only a dollar each! Baseball games can be kind of long and boring, but if you get there a little late, stuff your face with all the concessions, have great friends to hang out with, and even experience a little drama (a 10 year old girl got hit with a foul ball just a few rows down from us...don't get me wrong, it wasn't a pleasant experience, but it added to the excitement), baseball games can be a blast. Until next season, Indians!

Is that CJ picking his nose? :)

TRIP TO UTAH

Paige, Bryce, and CJ all headed down to Utah at the beginning of August for some special events. It was the first time they had made the drive since they moved to Spokane (flying really is the way to go), but going in a caravan with Bryce's family on the way down there really helped out (we split the trip into two days) and CJ did so great on the drive back when we went straight through. Here's a photo journal of our trip:

- Monday August 4th: hit the road; meet Bryce's fam in Tri-Cities and eat; stop for the night in Baker City, OR

- Tuesday August 5th: finish the final 8 hours of the drive; drive straight to Springville for a b-day party for Bryce's sister, Kelsey; head to Paige's parents' house in Orem where we'll be staying

- Wednesday August 6th: meet Bryce's fam at Cafe Rio for Cameron, Bryce's brother's, last lunch before going into the MTC; go with Cameron to the MTC and say goodbye

CJ snuggling one last time with Uncle Cam

As Cam enters the MTC

Greg, Cameron, Kelsey, and Sheila in front of the MTC

Bryce, Cameron, CJ, and Paige in front of the MTC

The guys giving Cam a proper farewell :)

"Elder Mackay" in Mongolian

- Thursday August 7th: Paige gets her hair done; go to a family party at Paige's parents' house because her brother Brent and his three kids, Peter, Cathy, and Ellen are in town from MI as well and Paige's sister, Melanie, and her two kids, Nicholas and Connor came down form Layton

Brent being silly about blowing out his b-day candles :)

L-R: Brent, Ellen, Melanie, Jonathan, Katie, Peter, Cathy, CJ, Connor, Abram, Bryce, and Nicholas

- Friday August 8th: go to Salt Lake for the wedding of Maria Gonzales and Aaron Call. Maria is one of Bryce's converts from his mission. They got married in the Salt Lake Temple and Bryce was a witness and Paige was Maria's escort

Paige, Bryce, and the newlyweds, Maria and Aaron Call

- Saturday August 9th: Paige went to breakfast with old friends; Bryce played in a softball game; Paige went with her mom, sister-in-law, Katie, and three nieces, Cathy, Kenya, and Ellen for pedicures and ice cream; another family get-together at Paige's parents' house when Paige's sister, Courtney, and her husband, Brennan, came down from Salt Lake for dinner; went shopping that night

Good friends: Ashley Love and her daughter, Sammy, Angela Gappmayer and her daughter, Ashlyn, and Paige and CJ after breakfast at Magleby's Fresh

Katie, Cathy, Ellen, Kenya, Norine, and Paige getting pedicures

CJ and his Grandpa Forsgren

CJ and his girl cousins (who LOVED playing with him): Ellen, Kenya, and Cathy

- Sunday August 10th: we drove home, from Orem, UT to Spokane, WA, and it took about 11 hours driving time. It's good to be home!

CRAWLING = GETTING INTO EVERYTHING

For those of you who are, or have been, parents to toddlers, you know what I mean when I say that CJ is into everything now. Including...

...the tub while Daddy takes a bath (yes, Bryce likes to take baths :)

...and Mommy's shoes (yes, Paige's shoes were organized before this :)

THIS JUST IN:

My mom just called me and told me that a woman here in Spokane found my mom's stolen purse in her trash! The only thing missing was my mom's visa card! So she's sending her the purse (my mom was so excited she forgot to tell the woman we could just go get it, and then she didn't get her number either :), and my mom will be reunited with her old pics, her glasses, the car wash coupons we gave her, and her precious tweezers that are 40 years old but work better than anything new. I'm so happy! Heavenly Father has answered our prayers and restored our faith in the good people of Spokane!

CONGRATS, BRYCE!

Can you tell what this is? That's right, it's the letter Bryce got yesterday offering him a position on the Gonzaga Law Review. He did it! He made Law Review! After all those hours and days and weeks, literally (he spent THREE weeks), researching and writing, it paid off. Bryce really does have a natural talent for writing and it's so great that the Law Review recognizes that and has given Bryce the honor of being a part of their prestigious organization. We're all so proud of you, Bryce! We knew you could do it!!

PAIGE's MOM VISITS SPOKANE

Paige's mom flew up to Spokane so that she could celebrate CJ's first birthday. It was great having her here and, besides getting her purse stolen (which totally puts a damper on things, don't ya think?), she seemed to have a good trip. She helped with CJ's party, visited with close friends who live in the area, read a lot (Paige and Bryce's tv broke), babysat CJ, went out to eat, went on walks, went downtown, and most importantly, just bonded with her grandson who she doesn't get to see very often. It was so wonderful having her here and we can't wait until she can visit again (especially because she babysits so we can go out and she loves to surprise us by doing the dishes and straightening up :)! Here are some highlights from her visit:

MANITO PARK

the rose gardens

the Japanese garden

Duncan gardens

RANCHO VIEJO

couldn't let Paige's mom leave without going to Spokane's best Mexican restaurant

SPOKANE FALLS

we walked around Riverfront Park downtown and had to stop and see the falls

SPOKOMTON STRIKES AGAIN!

I've written in the past about the various acts of violence and crime that people we're close to have experienced here in Spokane. This time it was our turn. My mom was here this week visiting from Utah. She had helped us move here last year (CJ was only three weeks old) but spent most of that week helping us unpack. So we wanted her here for CJ's first birthday, and to spend some time relaxing with us as we actually showed her around Spokane this time.

You can't come to Spokane and not go see the beautiful Manito Park. In fact, when she was here last August, we took her there, but only for a drive through. So on Wednesday we decided that this time we wanted to get out, enjoy the absolutely beautiful day, and walk around and enjoy the various gardens Manito has to offer. It was a busy day at the park - we found the only available parking spot by the rose gardens - with people walking everywhere, kids playing, dogs running, and even photographers doing photo shoots. Everyone knows what a wonderful setting Manito has to offer. Anyway, after visiting the rose gardens, the Japanese garden, and the Duncan gardens, we decided to head back home for some dinner. As we approached our car, suddenly the peaceful feeling we had felt disappeared as we saw that someone had smashed in the back passenger side window. At first I had to take a double-take to make sure it was really our car. Once I realized it was, my heart sank and I realized we probably no longer had any CDs or a CD player. But as we got closer, I saw everything still there, including CJ's new, and expensive car seat, the adaptor for our iPod (thank goodness our iPod wasn't in there) and our CD player. I kind of chuckled and thought, "I guess they didn't like our CDs." I seriously thought that we'd gotten away with just a broken window and nothing stolen (how naive of me)...until my mom slowly walked up behind me, looked in the car, and calmly said that her purse had been on the floor.

What?! I hadn't realized that my mom had actually left her purse in the car! I don't think I had even noticed that she brought it. We had locked our car when we got to the park, more out of habit than anything, and the fact that we were just talking about our friends, the Lemon's, who had stuff stolen from their car at Manito park last fall. I like to think that if I had noticed my mom's purse I would have said something, but probably not. It was the middle of the day, it was busy with people everywhere, and our car was locked. I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it. What a hard lesson to learn!

Our window was shattered - yea, that stunk - but I felt absolutely horrible that my 69 year old mother, who had come to visit her daughter and have a vacation, had everything stolen. She now has no driver's license, social security card, insurance cards, credit cards, checks, or cash. And more upsetting to her was the loss of the more personal things: her purse was brand new, her glasses were in there, and even more importantly, she had old pictures in her wallet that she really cherished (she had just shown them to me that morning); a picture of me in the 7th grade, a picture of my brother dressed up in a tux from 1993, a family picture from 13 years ago. Though she was calm and relaxed at first, as time went on, she just got sad about the whole situation. We did our best to help her get things settled - calling the police, the bank, the credit card companies, the insurance companies - and even drove around to several Shell stations trying to see if the thieves had chucked her purse after getting a tank of gas (the bank told us that was the first, and only place, they went).

We're grateful that we were able to put a stop on all of my parents checks and credit cards, so they weren't damaged financially, and that the only damage to our car was the window. We're also grateful that none of us were physically harmed by any of this. There are lots of scenarios that could have been much worse...some of our friends here have actually experienced those (car stolen, caught in middle of drive-by shooting), so we're grateful that we were involved in something pretty minor.

Bryce and I have had some experiences here in Spokane that have really shown the honesty and good nature of people, so at this point, we're praying that someone will find my mom's purse and turn it in, so that we can all have our faith in people restored.

CJ CRAWLING

CJ started crawling a couple of days before we left to go to McCall, ID for the Mackay family reunion! At that point, he was only going a few inches before falling back on to his belly, but nonetheless, he was crawling. We tried so hard to get it on film for several days, but to no avail. Then we were off to the reunion, which unfortunately didn't give CJ much chance to practice. But as soon as we got home, and his birthday hubbub was over, he was back at it, and better than ever! Monday morning, July 28, we were finally able to catch him crawling...and it was definitely his best performance to date. See below:

However, as each day passed, CJ grew more and more confident and agile, and by the middle of the week, he was crawling all over the floor, and yup, you guessed it...getting into everything! He especially loves the drawer on the bottom of our lamp table in our living room. He goes straight to it every time.

At the suggestion of Paige's mom, we took out the exercise magazine and lighters that were in the drawer (yeah, that's safe), and replaced them with CJ's foam letters and numbers. Now when he crawls to that drawer and opens it, he has toys he can play with and he LOVES it!

CJ's poor little foot started to lose circulation after he was kneeling on it for so long to play in the drawer :)

CJ's FIRST BIRTHDAY

On July 26, 2008, our little CJ turned 1 year old! We can't believe it's already been a year since this little guy blessed our lives with his arrival. It was hard to imagine what our family would be like before CJ was born, but now we can't imagine life without him and feel so grateful and honored to be his parents. He makes us so happy every day! Here are the stats from his one year check-up: Weight - 20 lbs 7 oz (17th percentile), Height - 29 3/4" (51st percentile), Head 18 1/4" (50th percentile). And here are just a few of the things that our little one year old does that make us so proud:

- says "da da"

- smiles at pictures of Jesus

- crawls around and gets into everything (he especially loves getting into drawers)

- drinks out of a cup (he skipped the sippy cup)

- points at things, especially things he wants

- give kisses, hugs, and snuggles

- waves

- gives five

- whistles

- throws balls...among other things as well :)

- tries all food, at least once

- loves fresh fruit and sandwiches and shakes

- sits quietly and allows his arms to be folded during prayers

- snuggles with blankets and likes them to touch his face when he falls asleep

- brushes his own teeth (or tries to help Mom and Dad :)...has 5 teeth now: two on bottom, two on top, and a third that's cut through on top

- loves books (being read to, turning the pages, pointing to the pictures)

- loves songs, especially songs with actions (like "Wheels on the Bus," "Itsy Bitsy Spider," and "10 Little Monkeys")

- laughs at silly things (like funny faces or sounds)

- loves other kids

Unfortunately we weren't able to celebrate CJ's birthday on the 26th because we were on our way home from a family reunion, but we had lots of fun the next day throwing him a party. His Grandma Forsgren flew in from Utah for it, and he also had his Grandma Sheila and Grandpa Greg there, along with his Uncle Cameron and Aunt Kelsey. The Nelson and Nichols families (family friends of the Mackay's) also came to celebrate. We had a big BBQ, CJ had lots of presents to open, a ducky cake to dig in to, and lots of friends and family to play with. It was a bit overwhelming for CJ, and he was exhausted by the end of the day, but it was fantastic to have so much love and support! Thank you everyone!!

CJ's first birthday party

click on the grid to enlarge the pictures

MACKAY FAMILY REUNION

McCall, Idaho