Goodbye '09

I just realized this is my last chance to post Christmas pictures in December 2009!! Is it just me, or is time speeding up!?

We hope you all had a fantastic Christmas - ours was one of my favorites so far! The excitement of the kids just makes everything all the more magic! See for yourself...

Thanks to both sets of fantastic grandparents, the countdown to Christmas was as much fun as the big day!

Fun present countdown!

Yummy chocolate countdown!

Meeting the big guy himself!

Christmas Morning

Chatting on her new cell! :)

Our traditional no-snow-snowball-fight!

Merry Christmas Everyone

and

Happy Last Day of 2009!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Love, The Rudds

MY MIRACLE!!

I found out today why my doctor was so hesitant after the first test results...I can barely type...my hands are shaking! I got a call from him this morning letting me know that both of the final test results came in!

GOOD NEWS - NO CANCER!

But, there is even more than that...he admitted that I "completely stumped them all!" After reading me both pathology reports he translated them by saying,

"BASICALLY...IT APPEARED TO BE...IT SHOULD HAVE FORMED INTO...BUT IT ISN'T!"

He even admitted that he was shocked by this result...that after removing the tissue he was almost positive he would be sending me to an oncologist! He laughed a little and said, "I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought it looked abnormal!"

I cannot thank you all enough for so many powerful prayers said in my behalf! My parents reminded me last weekend that it is important to recognize miracles in our lives...

I have no doubt in my mind that this conclusion is a miracle from my Heavenly Father - an answer to faith, prayers, fasting, and priesthood blessings!

I'm going to go kneel and thank my Heavenly Father...again! :)

Good News...I think

My Doctor just called to let me know the initial pathology report came back with no signs of cancer! Good News...except that my doctor wasn't so positive.

It is hard to read people over the phone, but he told me not to get too comfortable yet...he is still waiting on the more comprehensive pathology report and wasn't too excited about my hormone levels. His voice was so serious when he said, "I need to see those levels come WAY down..." I almost had to laugh...it needed some good serious music behind it...dum, dum, dum... :)

Anyway, I guess I'll just take that as a good first sign and let you know more after my appointment on Thursday...I'm already looking forward to blood drawn monthly for the next year...ugh! :)

I'm so glad I'm not a turkey...

My favorite of all the songs I sing with my preschool kids is a Thanksgiving one. It goes like this...

I'm so glad I'm not a turkey, a turkey, a turkey...

I'm so glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!

They stuff you and bake you, and then they all taste you!

I'm so glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!

Just another thing to be thankful for today! :)

I couldn't let this day pass without a quick post about a few of the things I am thankful for. Surprisingly, this difficult week has really reminded me of how very blessed I am. Here, let me prove it...

See this Thanksgiving dinner?

My amazing husband made it all by himself! Yes, he bought the turkey at the Honeybaked Ham Company (yum!)...but he put a tablecloth on the table, put the food in serving dishes and even put the rolls in a basket! If this doesn't say I love you...I don't know what does! Especially when you realize he is also doing everything else around here (he is being very strict about the doctors bed-rest instructions!) Am I a lucky girl or what?!

See these two?

They are healthy and happy and seriously cute...and I get to be their mom! :)

You know what else?

I have...

a loving extended family,

fantastic friends,

knowledge of the gospel,

a competent and caring doctor,

the peace of knowing my Heavenly Father is watching out for me,

a roof over my head,

a warm bed to sleep in,

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream,

...

like I said...

TRULY BLESSED

and

VERY THANKFUL!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

P.S. For those of you wanting an update: I am doing good. Like I said, Adam is making sure I rest a lot, which has made my recovery very easy. I have had very little pain and a lot of peace of mind concerning the test results. Thanks again for all of your comments - the love and concern means a lot to me!

The formal announcement...

I wasn't sure who I wanted to tell...a few people because I had to cancel a day of preschool, family, the few people who knew...but of course word spread, and I have to be honest...the 54 new messages in my inbox put a smile on my face. You can't help but feel uplifted by so much love and support! And, as a family, we really can feel all the prayers in our behalf.

So, since I only have short periods of consciousness right now (gotta love that Darvocet!), I thought it would be easiest to answer the questions and concerns in one spot.

We were going to announce we were pregnant on Thanksgiving - 12 weeks...finally done with a very rough first trimester. Instead, on Monday we learned my severe nausea and vomiting were actually symptoms of a Molar Pregnancy (I know, I'd never heard of it either...)

A molar pregnancy — also known as hydatidiform mole — is a tumor that develops in the uterus. A molar pregnancy occurs when the placenta develops into an abnormal mass of cysts rather than becoming a viable pregnancy.

The scariest part right now, is that 20-30% of molar pregnancies also develop a choriocarcinoma - a rapidly growing form of cancer.

I had a D&C yesterday morning and will find out the results of the pathology next week. If the tumor is benign (not cancerous) I will just have a year of monitoring - monthly blood tests to make sure the tissue does not return. If they do find cancerous or pre-cancerous cells, the next step would be chemotherapy.

All of that said, we are doing well. The recovery from the D&C has been a lot easier so far than I expected, I have the greatest husband on the planet - who is taking fantastic care of me and the kids, and wonderful friends and ward members who are rapidly filling our fridge!

Even emotionally I really am okay. I am very disappointed, of course, and sad about the extra year wait to expand our little family...but all I have to do is look at these three...

...and then I remember how truly BLESSED I am.

Thank you again everyone for all the love, support and concern. Keep us in your prayers as we wait for the lab results...I promise I will post when we know more.

Who Would Have Guessed?

Six Years Ago Today...

I was just sitting here, remembering our perfect wedding day...

I know, if you asked either of us that day in the beautiful Utah snow, we never would have guessed that 6 years later we would be living in Tennessee - enjoying the 70 degree weather! :)

On the other hand, I did know I would be in love and happy - no matter where life takes us, I know there will be a whole lot more of that!

Thanks babe, for six wonderful and crazy years...here is to at least sixty more! :)

Happy Halloween

About a month ago, Adam came home with a movie about these guys...

And Cameron fell in love with The Justice League!

Since he was so excited and Brooklyn is still too young to care...

Cameron chose their Halloween costumes this year!

Of course we had to have our own mini Justice League!!

Cute...and Strong!

LOVE

 

Lots of things to LOVE today...

Most of all, I LOVE these two cuties!

I LOVE this picture of my cuties!

And, I LOVE our new family photographer!

A friend of ours, Shanda, took our family pictures this past weekend, and I am thrilled with even the few "sneak peaks" she posted on her blog! THANK YOU SHANDA!!

ZOO

We haven't taken many pictures, but we sure have loved our trips to the Memphis Zoo this spring and summer!

Guys Night

Adam is spending the night hanging with his buddies - eating steak and playing Guitar Hero.

After dinner, the kids helped me put clean bedding on all the beds and vacuum the whole house. Then after baths and bedtime I...

Scrubbed the kitchen and master bathroom,

mopped the floor,

dusted the livingroom,

and even oiled my cabinets!

I guess an occasional guys night is not only good for the hubby, but also for the house! :)

Oh, and for no other reason than I can't get myself to post twice in a row without pictures of my stinkin cute kids...

Check out Brooklyn's "thumbs up" - so cute!

Cameron loved this jumping thing at the mall!

A Letter

Dear New York Women,

I apologize if my last post offended you. I was thinking about you again today...in the midst of a MONDAY - a disastrously messy house, never ending piles of laundry, 5 batches of blender wheat pancakes, and two VERY grumpy children. Today I was wondering if maybe you wanted to trade places, just for the evening. Cameron bit me today, and Brooklyn bit Cameron, so I'm sure they have gotten out all of their aggression and will be perfect angels for you for the rest of the evening.

Putting two kids to bed is just like you see in the commercials - sweet smiles through the bubbles in the bath, no water splashed on the floor, and a baby cooing while you rub lotion on her tummy. I'm sure you'll enjoy it much more than I enjoy my evening out with the girls.

Sincerely, Tiffany

P.S. If it's okay, I was hoping to borrow some of those fashionable clothes for my night off - I don't own any of those.

:)

You have mom days like this too - right?

My Mom Life

I was thinking today about all those "New York" women out there, wearing the latest fashions, and moving up the career-ladder. They probably think my job is unimportant, and certainly not as exciting...

They can keep all their business lunches, and nights on the town...

My day was filled with the number 6 and the color blue, bikes and walks, beach ball golf, freeze tag, and of course...

Brave Super Heros

Beautiful Princesses

and Daring Rescues!

Maybe not as glamorous, but certainly more fun! :)

*Not pictured - Scary Dragons (Me!)

A Tear In My Eye Proud

We are so proud of our big boy! On only his 3rd try, Cameron is riding his bike WITHOUT training-wheels! His first time really riding alone he said,

"I'm doing it! I'm so proud of myself!"

(I took video, but no pictures...this is right before we took the training wheels off! :)

We are so proud too!

P.S. I just have to add that I think he is beyond cute in his helmet! It is actually one of Adam's. He obviously needs the aerodynamic fins on the back - can't you tell how fast he is going! :)

Rudd Boy Heaven

Bike Night on Beale!

We didn't exactly blend in with our big stroller and no leather, but we had a great time!

Cameron worked on his bike-night-cool-guy look...

and perfected it!

He even got to try one on for size - don't worry, he was invited!

As I was looking through the pictures we had taken that night, I found this gem! Hilarious!

So Proud

Sorry to everyone reading this, but I officially have the greatest nieces and nephews on the planet! 23 of the smartest, most talented, cutest, and funnest kids I know! Here is just one example...

Check out

http://connect2utah.com/content/fulltext/?cid=48651

for a news story about my 17 year old niece who just had her first 2 books published by Deseret Book!

You can find the books

at Deseret Book

or

on Amazon

SO PROUD!

And The Winner Is...

Linna, with a guess of $1! :)

She was right, it always works on Price is Right too!

I did two transactions:

1. $2.73

2. $2.31

= $5.04!!

Savings: $89.71

Plus, I got $16 in Register Rewards ($$ off my next purchase)!

If not for the dang 9.25% sales tax here, it would have been like $0.50! :)

Like I said, I LOVE couponing!

*My biggest Walgreens "trick" is rolling Register Rewards. They are starting to reintroduce EasySaver type coupons that you can stack with manufacturer coupons (YEAH!), but I plan all my transactions around my last trips Register Rewards. Basically using old Register Rewards to buy new items that will produce more Register Rewards to use next time! Does that make sense? If not, call me and I'll explain! :)

Thanks for humoring me everyone! Happy Couponing!

Couponing, I'm Back...

and I missed you! :)

I took a little summer break from my couponing and other than a few small trips, haven't done much. Now that life has settled a small bit (does it ever really settle?) I am back in the swing and remembering why this is SO ADDICTING!! Just had to share!

Here is my trip to Walgreens tonight...

2 Wipes, 6 Children's Medicines (between allergies, fevers, and teething...sadly needed around here!), 2 Mascaras, 1 Foundation, 2 Lip Liners, 6 Toothbrushes, 4 Listerines, and 2 Walgreens Bottles full of samples!

Should we play the guessing game?

How much do you think I paid out of pocket for this trip?

I'll give you a clue...

the before coupon total was $120.08

Bob Barker Rules - Closest without going over is the winner! :)

I know, stupid...but just humor me...please...Adam is sick of playing this game with me!

House Full of Crazies

I will admit that for the past 18 months I have been happily enjoying the fact this little girl has had a much more mellow personality than say...

This crazy nut...

(He took this picture and many more like it by himself on Photo Booth)

But then recently I found these other Photo Booth pictures....

And these from the first day of Preschool

(in the order they were taken)...

Oh boy...It looks like I may have TWO crazies on my hands!

I absolutely adore them both...

and blame the craziness on their dad! :)

Smiles

Cameron: Mom, can I have a young woman's treat?

Mom: Sure, as soon as you are out of your sunday clothes.

Cameron: No Problem!...

You just can't help but smile! :)

Oh, and I just LOVE-LOVE-LOVE baby girls curls (even when they are messy after church/nursery)!

These two put a smile on my face! :)