Updating Wow

Yes we are alive but barely ok we are making it good in life. Star is at the point in the pregnancy where she is in some pain and is not loving it right now at all, but she is Superwomen and just pushes through everyday. We are rotating our 4 10's so that Alex is watched by mom anderson 3 days a week instead of 4. Star is working at Art City Pharmacy which is nice because it is really 5 min away from the apartment with traffic. I am still studying away for my boards and waiting to hear back from them hopefully next week so I can schedule a date to take the test. Alex is growing like a weed, but he isn't liking the sleep training that is happening right now. We went cold turkey on the bottle with him which he was used to every night before he went to sleep but now that is gone and he isn't to happy about it. To add salt to the wound, we are having him cry himself to sleep which is no fun. Also we found out that Marabelle has a right clubbed foot which we are said about but you we have come to the conclusion that she will not remember it when she is 4 and we are grateful that she is healthy and absolutely beautiful. We will try to post some pics sooner than later.
Well we hope that all is well where are you all are and we love you all.
Mike, Star, Alex, and Marabelle.

a couple more we forgot

Alex was a bee for halloween. :) So cute!

His costume was 18mo and a little small.

Our little man in his sunday suit playing the piano (one of his favorite things.)

Our cute little xmas tree with a train that goes around the middle. The train has since ended up on the ground so its a little easier access for Alexander. I love Christmas!

just a few quick pics.

We are having a little girl! Mike finished his program!! Thanksgiving was amazing with Mike stuffing and cooking his first turkey...it was amazing! Mike is now just studying for his board exam and I am 2 1/2 weeks from being done with a rotation. :) Alexander had croup and ended up in the ER for treatment and was doing better but his cough is getting a little worse right now so we will see. We hate so much that he is sick and wish there was more we could do besides hugs. I have to get back to the studies so here are a few pics. This was little Marabelle at 6 wks old. A little alien.

Marabelle's profile :) her little hand is by her chin. 14 weeks old when we found out the sex. Oh and for pronunciation Mara rhymes with Tiara :).

Working with accepting change

There are some changes that always seem welcomed; Mike finishing school and getting a raise at work, becoming pregnant and watching the little one grow. Other changes come with a little more fear; Mike starts scanning on his own without anyone checking over his scans starting Monday, He has to start studying for 2 board exams, me starting my rotation tomorrow and having no idea what to expect, Alexander going to daycare for the first time starting Monday and the idea of an actual baby with the crazy sleep schedules at some point in the future. Other changes bring sadness; this is especially true with having Alexander go to daycare, I can not fully express how hard it is to not know how it will be for him and wish more than anything that I could just continue to watch him forever. I am completely envious of all of the stay at home moms that I know. Another change that is making me sad is becoming fat once again. I do realize there is a baby growing, but when I know it is only the size of 2 pennies it makes me wonder why it looks so much larger. I hate no longer fitting into my pants and my shirts getting tight and that those maternity clothes are coming right around the corner. But the key is to accept change, move with it, find some joy in it and realize it is just another adventure on your journey, to realize that the hard times will pass and feel like a flicker in time when you look back. I am so grateful that my little fam is on this ride together, Mike has a way of always making me laugh and helping me see the bigger picture and Alexander has this smile and energy that is purely contagious. I am also so grateful for family that listens when I need to vent and are always there with positive encouragement and support. I love you all so much!
Star
P.S. Alexander was the cutest little bumble bee for Halloween although the costume seemed a bit small (crazy it was an 18mo costume and he is 13mo) but hopefully those pics and some new ultrasounds pics will be posted soon. :)

thought we would let ya'll know

Hi everyone, we hope all is going well for you. Star right now is just finishing up here last test for the rest of her pharmacy career except her boards. If we haven't told you guys yet(if I remember right I have) we are pregnant again. We went to the OB on Tuesday and Star is about 10 weeks pregnant, and feeling it. She is sick every morning and her senses are making her gag pretty bad. It sucks that I have to see my wife go through this but Star is a superwomen and I am so grateful for her sacrifice and the strength that she has.
Star starts her 3rd rotation on the oncology floor at UVRMC in about 2 weeks and she is super nervous about it but she has talked to some class mates that have had her preceptor and they said that he is hard but they learned a ton. We will keep you updated as that progresses. Up at school there were some companies that were their doing interviews and she got 8 interviews with companies that included walgreens, rite-aid, ShopKo, Walmart, target, harmons, smiths, and Kmart. Some went really well but she won't really know for awhile. She may have a better job outlook in Utah since she is only looking for part-time.
I am doing good, just trying to get all of my schooling done by the 15th of November then I am done with the cardiac sonography program YEA!!!! Still learning a ton at Central Utah from Dr. John Allen. Like today he wanted me to learn the drugs that my patients are on so I will understand what might be wrong with my patients. I am so grateful though that he has pushed me as hard as he has.
Alexander is growing up to be a happiest little boy that you have ever met in your life. He laughs at everything and is crawling super fast now. He is almost standing by himself and stairs are no problem for him anymore. He stops midway down the stairs, claps for himself, then proceeds to finish his way down the rest of them. The games that he is into right now is crawling to the other side of a door, shutting the door, opening it back up, laughing, then do the same process over. He loves to play pic-a-boo with strangers, but at first he curls into either star or I and then once he warms up to the stranger, he just starts playing games with them.
We love you all very, and hope all is well. Here are some pics of Alexander. Love ya'll.
Mike, Star, and Alex