September was WILD!! What a month! It started off with more back-to-school prep over Labor Day Weekend. Bryn and I got mani/pedis and did a bit more school shopping.
Then it was the first day of school and the first day of Bryn's JUNIOR year!
And this year she can drive! Woohoo!
Tyler and I went out to breakfast to celebrate the first day of school too!
Also over Labor Day...Kameron and Erin were having fun on their cruise to Mexico and celebrating their first wedding anniversary!
Ahhh...to be newlyweds again!
Reilly was *enjoying* being 8 months pregnant with twins! She was such a trooper.
When her belly dropped it dropped so low!! They also found out that the little girl had a bulge on her umbilical cord that required twice a week monitoring which was a little scary. Lots of prayers and fasting were happening.
The weather was also scorching! No sign of it cooling down anytime soon.
We headed to the water as often as possible. Even at night which was my favorite time!
I love a night swim although mine is still more like a night soak since swimming still isn't happening.
School was in full swing and seminary too. Bryn was still lifeguarding at the country club. Football games have started and Bryn is very rarely home and usually off with her friends. Bryn isn't the only one who has gone back to school this year; my brother Kirk has also gone back to school. He is going to school online at UVU. It seems like the whole family is there now.
On 9-9-25 President Nelson turned 101! It was also my dad's 77th birthday. It is so weird to watch him continue to get older and not my mom... especially since the anniversary of her passing also rolled around just a few days after his birthday. She has now been gone for six years. On the anniversary of her death we were actually with Reilly and we tried out a new bakery that makes kolaches! Five different kinds. They were FANTASTIC! The best I have had since Texas! It was so fun! Then I realized what day it was and how much Mom loved kolaches and that just organically we were doing something she would've loved and sharing good memories about her on that day. She would be glad of that. Happiness not tears.
On 9-10-25 Charlie Kirk was assassinated at UVU. I am speechless and horrified. I got a news update that there was a live shooting at UVU on my news app and my heart stopped thinking about our kids who attend that school. Thankfully none of them were on campus that day. Kameron's major is Emergency Management... prepping for situations just like this. He read us some of the live texts that went out to students. Terrifying. It is absolutely horrific. Beyond horrific. I cannot wrap my head around something like this happening AND that it took place on that campus in Orem. That is Tyler's alma mater and where his dad was a professor. It hit him hard that something so evil could happen in a place that he loves so much. My heart goes out to Charlie Kirk's wife and children. There are no words to describe the utter sadness felt. My heart also goes out to those college kids who watched a man being gunned down right before their eyes. No. Words. The day after that there was a threat at Bryn's school. I am so tired of evil winning.
This is the real deal of being 8 months pregnant with twins!
Reilly is totally in the nesting phase now. She has most everything ready for the twins. She feels so miserable and is so exhausted. Carrying twins takes such a toll. Both sets of grandparents stop by often with food, treats, and offers of help. One day I trimmed her hair for her. Anything we can do to make life a little bit easier...we try to do! We got a little sandbox for Karson to play in when he comes over and he loves it! It gives Reilly a little break and lets us chase him for a bit. She also continues to work full time. She is amazing!
Reilly's subsequent OB appointments got even more worrisome. This time it wasn't the little girl who was having issues. The bulge continued to stay the same size and didn't grow. But now the little boy was struggling. He failed the NST test and the 30 minute continuous breathing test. Reilly was kept at the hospital for hours. Thankfully they could see that he was moving and active. She was told to come back the next morning for a re-test. The next day both twins passed all of their tests. Thank you Lord. She was told to come back in two days for the same tests to be run again. Then on that day...a Friday...the little boy failed all of his tests again. The doctors told Reilly to come back the next morning (Saturday) and check into the hospital. They wanted to run more extensive tests on the twins. Depending on the results they might induce labor. We were all scared and worried.
While this was happening I had the Fall Open House at Midtown Market. I was so busy all week prepping for that and hoping that I could get everything ready for the big sale before the twins arrived. Thankfully I did. I was also supposed to be at a campout with the YW. I told the other leaders that I would not be at the overnight but that I would meet them the next day in Post Falls at Q'inlin Park for the rappelling and swimming part of the day. I was stressed out of my mind about Reilly and THEN none of the other leaders showed up but thankfully one of the Stake YW Presidency was there. Sometimes I do NOT enjoy my calling. Luckily I had cell service and Reilly called from the hospital saying that the little boy failed his tests again but then passed on his second round of tests. Her OB signed off on her being discharged from the hospital. Reilly was told to come back for tests again in three days.
Me at Q'inlin Park with a shiz ton of kids that I was wrassling by myself and hoping that some other leaders would show up!! Do I look annoyed and stressed? I WAS!! This is my I-am-the-only-one-here-and-is-anyone-else-coming-face on the YW text thread because I need to GO!!! Thankfully some other adults FINALLY arrived and I could leave. Let me also add that it was 100 degrees. That was NOT helping my mood.
That afternoon Reilly, Bryn, and I made plans to take Karson swimming. It was so freaking hot. I needed to submerge this menopausal enraged, and stressed body into some water STAT. I had just gotten off the phone with Reilly and was getting ready to go when she called back just a few minutes later to say that her WATER BROKE! Bryn was closer to their house at the time so she drove directly there and Tyler and I weren't too far behind. Bryn watched Karson as they rounded up all the hospital bags and got out the door. Tyler and I drove in as they were driving out. We gathered up all of Karson's stuff and did a quick clean of their apartment.
We brought Karson home with us and began waiting and waiting and waiting.
The last text from Reilly and Hunter was at 5:30pm. We heard nothing until 11pm. Not a bloody word. Hunter was supposed to be keeping us informed. I was STRESSED. Finally Reilly texted that the babies were here!!
Kynlee Victoria was born first at 9 lbs 9oz and then Karter Lane at 6 lbs 10 oz.
Karter got to stay with Reilly but Kynlee was whisked off to the NICU and put on a CPAP machine. She was having trouble breathing. Surprisingly Karter who was so tiny and the one everyone was so concerned about was completely fine. Both babies were born technically premature. Hunter went with Kynlee and Karter stayed with Reilly. We were able to FaceTime with Reilly and Karter. She was very worried about Kynlee but thankfully she was stable and doing as well as possible in the NICU. Reilly finally got to go to the NICU and see Kynlee at 2am.
Kynlee
Karter
The next day Bryn babysat Karson so that Tyler and I could go visit Reilly and Karter in the hospital. Kynlee couldn't have any visitors in the NICU but her parents at this time. We arrived at the hospital with flowers, snacks, and gifts and so excited to see our new grandson.
Karter is such a doll! He is so tiny! None of my babies have been in the 6 lb range. He didn't seem real!
He was so alert and just looking all around. I love that first day when they are so awake. We are over the moon in love with this cute little guy! He is a good eater and is doing so well!
She was so excited when she could finally hold her!
Meanwhile we were having fun with Karson. We were keeping him busy and hoping that he wasn't missing Mommy and Daddy too much.
The next day Reilly (and Karter) got discharged. She was very teary about leaving the hospital without Kynlee. Her doctors weren't even speculating about a discharge date for her. That was hard.
We finally got to see what Kynlee looked like. The NICU nurses took her picture when they were changing all of her apparatus. She looks just like baby Reilly! She has lots of dark hair! Karter is bald as can be. It was so sweet to see her little face.
The next day Tyler took Reilly and Karter to the NICU. He got to see Kynlee and Reilly wanted him to give her a priesthood blessing which he did. Hunter kept Karson at home with him. Reilly came over after she was at the hospital and spent some time at our house with us and we got to hold and snuggle Karter. We went shopping for the babies at Target because Karter is so small that he needed the size preemie. Newborn is too big. He also needed preemie diapers. Then we got them dinner and groceries and took them home. Hunter went in that night to be with Kynlee.
The next evening I got to go into the NICU with Reilly and meet our first granddaughter. Not going to lie...it was jarring to see her little body hooked up to all kinds of monitors. I know that she was doing better every day but still...it hurt my heart. Reilly was so exhausted. She brought in a bunch of breast milk that she had pumped. I am just so glad that Kynlee continued to improve even though there was still no speculated date of when she could be discharged.
I got to go in another time with Reilly and brought Karter in too. This time Reilly was able to hold her skin-to-skin and even try breast feeding her. Kynlee did great and latched right on. We also got to see her little face for a short time.
Another time that I came in with Reilly and Karter; she got to tandem breast feed them. That was wild. Karter was looking at Kynlee the whole time and it was just darling. It was so good to see them together. I think it was comforting for both babies and it definitely was for their mommy.
Finally Kynlee could come off the CPAP machine and the nurses and Reilly and Hunter could dress her in baby clothes. It was so fun getting pictures like this from the NICU.
It was so good to see her getting stronger and healthier each day!
Nine days after she was born Kynlee Victoria finally got to go home and be with her Mommy and Daddy and two brothers!! This was such a happy day for our entire family!!
So many prayers were answered!
It's so wild to see Reilly and Hunter as a family of FIVE!!
Bryn finally got to meet Kynlee!
We cannot get enough of these babies!!
The night that Kynlee came home; we were all piled on the bed...Reilly, Hunter, Bryn, Tyler, me, Karson, Karter, and Kynlee...and we were Facetiming with Ailey, Luke, Kameron, and Erin. I was just so overcome with absolute joy. It was a moment I will never forget. I just thought..."You can't feel happier than this!" I knew without a doubt that literally nothing in the entire world matters except this...family...together...love....Nothing else means anything in the long run. It was such a beautiful and happy night. A core memory for sure!
In addition to loving on these two:
Ailey had her doctor's appointment and genetic testing done. She and her baby are doing great!! I literally cannot even believe that ANOTHER sweet baby is joining this family in March!! Ailey's baby will be in the same grade as the twins!! How fun will that be?!
These two are going to be some seriously cute parents too!! We are so excited for them (and us!) We are even more excited to add another little grandson to this crew!
Kameron and Erin got back from their trip and are back in the swing of things with work and school. Erin is killing it at her photography business!! We are so proud of her!! They also finally got callings in their ward. Kameron is the advisor over the Deacons in the Young Men. Basically my twin calling. I feel for him...the deacons!! LOL. Erin got my dream calling... RS Birthday Committee. How do I get that gig?? Ha ha!
Our Stake also made some HUGE changes. Six of the nine wards in our stake were combined into three super wards thus eliminating three wards and the new super wards were renamed. The good news is that a some of our good friends are back in our ward and that is exciting. This is giving the youth and primaries a big boost. It should be interesting to see how this all works out.
Then in some sad news...two weeks after his 101st birthday...President Russell M. Nelson passed away.
Dallin H. Oaks will be the new President of the Church and we don't know who his two counselors will be yet or who will be called as the new apostle. I will miss President Nelson. I loved all of his innovations and the changes that he brought to the Church! He was a breath of fresh air!! General Conference is about a week away and I was really looking forward to hearing what he had to say.
Literally the next day a man in Michigan opened fire on an LDS congregation during Sacrament Meeting. He killed several people and burned the church down. The stories are horrific. Heartbreaking and sickening. So much hatred and violence. It is so heavy. I have to think about positive things or it can really weigh me down...thank goodness for those grandbabies.
While all of the baby excitement was happening this month I was still going to PT twice a week. I am seeing definite improvement in my mobility. It is exciting! First of all, I can actually hold a baby in my broken/healing arm. Karter didn't hurt at all...Kynlee is heavier and is harder to hold with that arm but I can do it! I can also put my hair in a top knot. You don't even know the joy this gives me!! It's been FOUR MONTHS since I was able to do this! It is horrible to not be able to put your hair in a top knot or a pony tail or even blow dry, curl, or straighten your own hair!! I am also starting to be able to really lift my arm significantly higher. Tyler and I are now back to our daily three mile walks and my arm isn't too achy afterwards.
Our month was also busy with so much church stuff. YW is A LOT right now. So many big activities and weekends and meetings and more big things keep getting added. It is too much for the girls and for most of the leaders. Our president, unfortunately, thinks otherwise. It is frustrating. The girls, parents, and leaders are stretched too thin. Tyler's calling of twice a month activity days sounds quite appealing.
AI pictures are trending right now. Kameron and Erin did this one of their younger selves hugging each other.
So cute!
Then Reilly did one of my mom and the twins. She sent it in the family chat without warning. It knocked the breath out of me with grief.
If only she were still here.
On a happier note...BYU football is going strong and someone is excited! Tyler is swept up in it too so this has been good bonding for both of them. Thankfully BYU is winning and the games are actually pretty fun to watch.
We also attended the dedication of the Herman Caviness Track and Field. Herm was an incredible coach here in Spokane that touched the lives of many generations. He was the dad of our friend Chris and Chris was Kameron's coach. This was a very special day for a very special man who will be missed and who has left behind such a legacy. It was an honor to be there.
We also sold a bunch of stuff that had been cluttering up our garage and storage shed on FB Market Place. I HATE clutter! It was so nice to get stuff cleared out! Getting rid of things always makes me feel so good! We got together with several other couples for dinner and that was fun. I haven't been prioritizing much time with friends this month. I haven't had any time to give them. I need to do better next month.
Tyler's sister Lori bought plane tickets to come and visit us in November. That should be fun. I'm excited for her to meet the babies. Kam, Erin, Ailey, and Luke are all coming in a few weeks too. I am really looking forward having the whole family together!
Yay for babies and family! Onto October!
