January-October 2010

I am such a slacker. Funny how I can find endless hours to be on FaceBook and read Us Weekly but I can not find any time to post pictures and update my blog about my family, which truly is the most important thing in my life!!! It has been such a crazy 6 mos I do not even know where to begin. I think the easiest is to make a list and hopefully you will not get bored and be able to follow.

January- Back to Chile from the states and trying to get back in the swing of things. Once again get my monthly visitor but excited because this means I can soon start my fertility drug Clomid.

February- PREGNANT!!!!!! After almost a year of trying and many tears of disappointment and fear we decided to take the next step in our conception and go on Clomid. For those who are unaware of this drug it helps with fertility and basically stimulates ovulation. Worked like a charm the first month we were on it! We are over the moon to be adding to our amazing family. =)

March- Lots of sleep, sickness, and normalcy. The calm before the storm. SERIOUSLY. Must read on...

April- We received a phone call from Steve's father that we have the opportunity to move back to the states. With many conditions involved!!!! The two biggest being that a) We would be leaving in 14 days. b) Steve still would be traveling back and forth between South America and the states quite often.

This was a bit overwhelming to know I had 14 days to get my family out of an apartment and re adjust our lives. Surprisingly, I was uber organized and had a ton of time on my hands to get it all done. We got back to MT on April 16th and did not look back. I had a wonderful experience while in Chile, but there really is no place like home. Tyler loves being back with all his cousins and just the opportunity for different activities has made a world of difference!!!

May- One of the hardest and most exciting months of my life. I have never felt so many emotions in such a short period of time. 1) Bought a new house!!! So exciting and ready to move our growing family to a much newer and efficient house. 2) Turned 31 and nothing crazy to report. Being pregnant really puts a cramp on my "B day Style". 3) A day after my birthday I received a phone call from my Ob-Gyn that my ultra screen test came back with VERY alarming results. For those that are not familiar with this test it basically is a blood test combined with an ultrasound that determines whether or not you carry the risk or genetic make up of carrying a baby with Trisomy 21 (Down' Syndrome) or Trisomy 13/18. Mine came back with Trisomy 13/18 and it was recommended to have a Amnio to make certain the genetic make up of this baby. Steve was out of the country and I had to wait an additional two weeks before getting the amnio because Dr.'s will not perform these without the gestation age being at least 16 weeks. I had to speak with genetic counselors, see a high risk doctor, and question everything that I have believed in as far as morals without my husband being by my side to comfort me. It was grueling, but truly, made me realize the support system I have here is incredibly amazing!!! A very long story short and a very heart wrenching 20 days later and with Steve back home we got the results back from our genetic counselor. Our baby was 100% healthy!! (I have the genetic makeup line up in the baby book to prove it!) And...... it is a Girl!!! Never again will I have this test done. Dr. said I was one of those false positive flukes that sadly happens to quite a few people. Ugh, talk about tugging on those ol' heart strings. Happy to say we can move on and focus on more positive things. Thanks be to God for getting me through this!!!

June- Why can I not remember what I did in June? Probably because I take so long to post on this blog. Lame!!!

July- Celebrated Tyler and Jayda's 3rd birthday in a Dinosaur themed party at my in laws. Also turning 1 was little Mia and we welcomed a new addition into the Hatzell clan. Rhett Lee Hatzell was born July 16 to Jae and Eric. What a butter ball. He is so cute and looks nothing like his brother Max!

Went on a vacation with my sister Libby and her four kids to Denver. We drove which was not as bad as I thought it would be. Tyler loved traveling with his cousins and the fact that Daddy met us towards the end of the trip was the icing on the cake. He loved the zoo, water park, and the aquarium!!! He could have done without Elitch's Amusement Park considering it was 100 degrees outside and his pregnant mother was not allowed to go on any of the rides. Our stint there lasted all of 45 minutes!!! It was a wonderful week and one I will cherish for a long time.

August- HAWAII!!!! Need I say more? It was an amazing trip. I was a virgin so of course I thought everything about it was amazing. Tropical vacations are my weakness and this did not disappoint. Tyler loved it! The beach and pineapple were his favorite daily activities. We did something so fun every single day and it went by way too fast. I think the Luau was my favorite! Maybe because of all the amazing pictures we got while there. Luckily, my in laws bought property there so we will be returning for Christmas and many more trips in the near future. My life does not suck!!!=) After Hawaii we ended the trip in Salt Lake City for a tennis tournament that my MIL and SIL's were playing in. It was super fun and their team took 2nd in regionals!!!

September- My best friend Dusty came to visit from Las Vegas and also held a beautiful baby shower for me. I was surrounded by friends and family and could not have asked for a more perfect day! Baby Girl and I were spoiled rotten and got so many incredible gifts. Now all we need is for her to arrive so I can use all this awesome stuff!

October- The calm before the storm...1 week from tomorrow we will welcome Phoebe Anne. I am going through quite a few emotions involving this transition. I question how I can love something as much as I love Tyler. Everyone keeps telling me...you just do. I hope that is the case. I can not imagine it is possible, but know that obviously it is. We are so anxious to meet this little angel and Tyler is over the moon to be a big brother. I am in full nesting mode but also trying to get a lot of rest. This will be my second C Section and I am hoping recovery is fast and I can start to feel like myself soon after.

I will try my best to blog soon after the little princess is born. I am a bit embarrassed that it has been 9 mos plus since my last blog. No promises, but I will try!

Holidays in the USA

Once again I have failed as a blogger to keep you updated as often as I would like. But, here I am ready to let you "in the know".

Our trip home back to Montana (USA) this year was very short, but so worthwhile. I think this is the first time I took full advantage of utilizing every single minute I had with family and friends. Knowing that 30 days goes way too quick and it would be last time I saw them before June.

We arrived December 17th and let me tell you I have never been one to do last minute shopping and prepare for Christmas with very little time. But, I did it!!! 4 days to shop for 30 plus people was grueling. Apparently, I work well under pressure. Christmas eve was wonderful. We went to my parent's house for a few hours before church to do our gift exchange and to have a bite to eat. Afterwards, we met the Hatzell's at Trinity Lutheran Church for Xmas service. It was crowded and stuffy, but a beautiful service and great celebration for Jesus's B day! Following, we went out to my in laws for our annual dinner and gift exchange. This is always quite the event because there is paper flying everywhere, kids screaming, people wanting to know what one another got, etc. Organized chaos, for sure. It was a great day and for whatever reason, one that will stick with me for many years.

The following day Tyler and myself headed over to my sister Libby's place for a home cooked Christmas dinner. It was delicious and Tyler had so much fun playing with his older cousins. Steve joined us later and then after we went back out to my in laws for prime rib. I think I gained 20 pounds in two days. Fatty McFatterson!!!!

New Year's was a blast! Steve, with his parent's and younger sister Shannon headed to Las Vegas for a "business" trip while the rest of us were left behind. But that is okay, we decided to have an impromptu party out at their place! I sort of felt like I was in high school again because the parent's were away and we were taking full advantage. However, we had their permission and it was a huge success. So much fun and a great way to ring in 2010!!!!! One of the more fun New Year's I have had in awhile.

I think at this time it is appropriate to let you all know that we are moving back to the states!!!!!! More than likely June will be our last and final trip back to the states. I have very mixed emotions about the whole thing. I feel like Steve and I have grown so much in the past 4 years here and are ready to make that next step in our personal lives as well as his career. Nevertheless, I have met some amazing people in Chile and as much as I complain about certain situations or circumstances, I will miss it deeply. I live right next to the ocean and have beautiful weather year round. People dream about traveling and living abroad and never get the opportunity. I am so blessed to have had this chance to learn about myself, my husband, a foreign country, and to realize that the grass is not always greener. You get to different parts of the world and soon discover that people are the same. They have the same problems, the same joys, the same sorrow, the same smiles, the same smells, the same things. And one thing I will always remember that no matter where you go and for how long, once you get back "home" nothing has changed. People get older, change jobs, have more kids, move, but in the big picture nothing has significantly changed. I miss my family and friends terribly and this is what I have wanted for quite some time, but now that it is here, it is actually a very humbling experience. My son was born here so I will always have a deep connection with Chile and my hope is that he will one day want to come and live, or do whatever it is he needs to do to appreciate this beautiful country and the beautiful people that come along with it!!!!

Enjoy some pics from our stay on the States and I will see you next month...

Sept, October, and November...

Not sure how three months passed without me writing one thing, but such is the life of a wife and Mom! September came and went with really nothing too eventful to write about. I will post some pictures of Tyler at his school where they celebrated 18 de Septiembre. A very special holiday here in Chile. Basically the same as our Independence day, but I must say Latin Americans celebrate like no one else. I mean two weeks worth of parties, barbeques, you name it. Makes me proud to live here and for us to be part of this very special day.

October was very busy. Steve went to the U.S. to hunt his Kodiak brown bear. I am proud to say that after this being his 3rd attempt I am now the owner of a bearskin rug!!! Steve was ecstatic and escaped the bear attacking him by a hair. I would post pictures, but he took a disposable camera and had them developed and the pictures where "stolen" during his customs check leaving the states. Very sad for him because he had some wonderful experiences captured on film and now nothing to show for it. My sister Libby visited us for two weeks and we had such a great time. She came without her 4 children so she enjoyed sleeping in, relaxing ,and getting spoiled. A much needed break for a very hardworking woman! Although her time went by fast we cherished it and loved having a visitor, which rarely happens. Tyler loved telling her "NO" and shaking his finger at her. Good thing she loves him to pieces and lets him do whatever he wants!

November was a much more relaxed month. After suffering almost a month without Steve due to travel and business, we have just been focusing on being a family and getting used to this spring weather. We did not go home this year for Thanksgiving, which fell on Steve's birthday, but we did take an early holiday to Santiago two weekends ago and spoiled ourselves to good food and shopping with a beautiful sweet at the Grand Hyatt! Tyler, of course, came too and we were able to see some old friends of ours that live there and enjoy a nice dinner with them. I also started a English Bible study with a group of woman from our church that has turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

We are counting down the days until we leave for Christmas. December 16th could not come soon enough. Looking forward to the smells of winter, family, and all that unconditional love we receive from everyone back home. My Dad and Sharon just bought a new home, so we look forward to housewarming and seeing their new adventure take place.

I am so grateful for first and foremost Jesus, but also for my amazing husband Steve who continues to wow me daily with his patience and understanding of me and my beautiful son. I am thankful for the most adorable human being and the one person that no matter how crappy things are going can put a smile as wide as the ocean across my face, Tyler. I often ask, why me? Why did I get so lucky to live this life and have the things I have? A very influential person answered that for me the other day. She said, Why Not? Thanks Cecy!!!!

New to this blogging thing...

  Well, here we go.  After realizing that many mothers out there have blog websites I figure, why not?  It will give people an opportunity to see my life as a mother, daughter, and wife outside of Facebook, My Space, Twitter, etc.  I hope this gives my friends and family a more personal look at our lives and to grow with us. Please be patient with me.  I promise to update as often as I can and post pictures as well. 

As many of you know, my husband Steve and I are living in Antofagasta, Chile.  Our two year old son Tyler was born here.  Many people ask how scary it was to have a baby in a foreign country.  Honestly, I was more scared of being a mother than I was of actually having a baby in a hospital and country where I was unfamiliar with the medical care.  I ended up having a C Section due to no dilation, but gave birth to a beautiful 6lb. 12oz baby boy on July 21, 2007 at 3:20pm.  The hospital was very old, but the care was fabulous and my doctor a godsend!  He encouraged me to speak Spanish throughout my entire pregnancy.  However, on the day Tyler was due to make his entrance Dr. Fritz knew how freaked out I was and spoke to me only in his broken English and the bedside manner was out of this world.  

Being here over 3 years has really put my life in perspective.  I do not take the little things for granted.  I am so blessed to have the opportunity to come home to America as often as we do and live the wonderful life that United States citizens do. Trust me, we have it pretty darn good in the North!!  We have very few friends here, but the ones we have we cherish and have made our experience here so worthwhile.  Some days are lonelier and longer than others.  We just remind ourselves that many people never get an chance like this and some have never even left the country.  Besides, what a cool story for Tyler to share with people throughout his life of where he was born and resided for a few years.

My little guy Tyler is my pride and joy.  I know it is so cliche.  But really, I sit and wonder what my life was like without him.  It is so hard to imagine.  Although he is 2 and going through a phase, he has quite the personality.  He tries to be independent and has an absolute melt down if you try to help.  He really does not like a lot of "loves", but when he is willing to give them it is a lasting experience.He is freakishly strong.  Those that know him will vouch. At times it takes two people to get him to sit in his car seat.  I am quite positive there will be a day where his skin will turn green and his pants will turn into cut off jean shorts like The Hulk.  I am usually breaking a sweat before we even get out the door. We are still trying to ween him of the binkies.  We have a rule where he is not allowed to have them in public, and so far so good.  As of now, he usually only wants them in bed or when he is upset.  Little by little, I suppose.  He goes to a play group 5 days a week at a place called Minnie's Kids.  He loves it and I see such a difference in him when he returns home.  We are hoping to raise a bilingual child and so far so good.  The words are far and few between, but nonetheless present.  

The next few months we have a lot going on.  Our dear friend Don is coming to Chile to work for close to two weeks.   Soon following, my sister will be coming the beginning of October for two weeks.  Steve leaves two days after her arrival to go hunt Alaskan Brown Bear in the states.  My friend Evelyne, Tyler and myself are going to the south of Chile to visit a old friend of mine that I met when I first arrived here.  We leave the beginning of September.  I will be sure to update you all with blogs and pics.

Until then, ciao!