My bucket-list

- Go to France

- Eat Italian food in Italy

- go to New York City

- go to Hawaii

- write a book

- see all my children graduate high school (and hopefully missions, college)

- see all my kids get married and become parents of my grandchildren

- learn to like cooking

- become good at cooking

- pay for someone not in my family to go to college

- take in a 'stray' person

- get in shape

- go on a mission for my church

- get a vacation house

-Eat lobster in Maine

Cool things I have done before I turned 30.

This is a 2 part post inspired by my friend who had a similar post on her blog. The first one is things I have done, the second list will be things on my bucket list.

Things I have done so far:

- scored our team's only points in an entire sports game

- caught a salmon in the Kenai river (Alaska)

- hitch-hiked (at Garner State Park)

- floated Frio River and Provo River

- white water rafted Snake river

- para-sailed in Cancun

- Driving ski-doos and knee boarding

- got married in the Provo Temple to the best guy ever! (That should be first.)

- been pregnant and felt life moving inside me

- gave birth to 3 beautiful boys

- had published poems

- wrote a book (childrens book. Still hope to write a novel.)

- cared for girl with special needs and she changed my life

- driven to all the states on the western half of USA

- caught crabs with my bare hands

- ate a lightbulb

- ran 3 miles (which for me is like a marathon!)

- learned to do a "gainer" actually called a reverse flip on the diving board

- seen about 30 live concerts of different artists

- been in a movie filming

- bought a house! Yikes!

- started my own business

- jumped off a 2 story roof onto a trampoline

- jumped off a 2 story pier into a lake (Dumb! It was so shallow!)

- received two big miracles in one year

Career woman!

For those of you who somehow avoided hearing it already (you didn't see my skywriting??) I am now selling MARY KAY! I have already seen great results after only about 10 days of using the Miracle Set (skin care regimen) and also have received tons of compliments on my looks since I have started using their make-up. I am NOT just saying that either! So, if you want to give it a try or just want a free facial or sample, just give me a call or shoot me an email! ahalladay@marykay.com or you can use my personal email. Thanks and God Bless.

Why My diaper bag weighs more than my 1 year old. Mystery solved!

The Straw that Broke the Camel's back...Why My Diaper Bag is SO Heavy! I know other moms can probably relate, but I think this is a little bit crazy!

This is what is in my bag:

1- hand sanitizer foam

2- hand sanitizer gel

3- baby nail clippers

4- bag for dirty diapers/clothes

5- diaper rash cream

6- jingle bell toy

7- wipes

8- formula

9- pedialyte mix

10- change of clothes

11- froggy toy

12- small blanket he has to have while he is going to sleep

13- burp rag

14- bottle

15- baby sun block

16- gum

17- kleenex travel pack

18- two extra pacifiers

19- baby thermometer

20- baby medicine dropper

21- changing pad

22- teething ring

23 - different teething ring

24 - teething beaded necklace toy

25-Brad's immunization record

26- teething, crinkly book

27- checkbook

28- my huge wallet

29 -extra mascara and eyeliner. Just in case.

30- hair cliip

31- pen

32- box of crayons and color sheet

33- chap stick

34- 2 advil

35- little toy ball

36- small container Reeses Puffs cereal

37- small container cheerios

38- Elmo phone (Why is this in here?)

39- another chapstick (i have been looking for that)

40- Dum Dum, chocolate mint, mini Hershey bar

41- dog bone (Thanks, Landon. We don't even have a dog.)

42- mini video game

43- feminine toiletry products

44- baby booties for feet

45- small tag blanket from Aunt Marion

46- comb

47- hand lotion

...And, the most shocking thing that I noticed last night...NO DIAPERS!

kids, kids, kids

I have been babysitting, babysitting, babysitting! I have one friend in school, who I babysit for. A few who work, and then sometimes my neighbor needs a sitter, etc. Right now my kids are out for Spring Break and I am also babysitting two other kids this whole week. We are staying busy going to movies, Chuck-e-cheese, parks, Chick-fil-A, etc. I think that confirmed my decision that we are definitely done having kids!

Good news, Bad news

The bad news: Me and Will both have the flu. Bradley is getting sick and now it seems Landon is too. I guess poor Dylan doesn't stand a chance....

The good news is I get to spend a lot of time in bed cuddling with Bradley. He is so sweet! He is just one big lump of sugar. I love him so much and am so glad he came to our family. I cannot imagine life without him and his huge smile.

Medical Update - Finding answers

Anyone who knows me knows that my life is an open book. I have few secrets of my own. Here is the scoop on my latest medical drama. It was NOT a bad reaction to the drug (see previous entry) Tussicaps. Because I stopped taking them on Friday and on Tuesday I had another episode. I felt weak, like I would faint and had the numb, tingly hands and feet, I was sweaty and just felt really awful. ( I didn't drive anywhere this time!) It really worried me this time since I had no explanation for it. So today I went to see my family doctor and told her what has been going on. I researched on the internet and seemed to be having what is known as POTS - Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. She said I was, but that this is a symptom and not a cause. So she took my blood pressure while laying down, then sitting, then standing. While laying my blood pressure is almost normal (it has always been a tad low), when seated my bp (blood pressure) is low, and then when I stand up my bp gets super low. So, that is what has been causing the crazy symptoms. So now we know what is going on, we just need to figure out WHY it is happening. She did an EKG and it was normal. She is now sending me to a neurologist just to rule out anything serious, as a precaution. If all those tests are normal then she said we will 'take it from there' and try to figure out why my blood pressure is so low when I stand up. At least we are on the right track now! :) Oh, it also explains why I have been so tired all the time! Finally, an answer for that!

I thought I was dying, or something serious anyway

So, i was picking up the kids from school and i noticed i had trouble staying in my own lane. I thought that was odd. Then when I dropped off the other kid that I take home (carpool) I felt like I was about to faint. i barely made it into my friends house and collapsed on her floor. I was sweaty and pale and my hands and feet were numb and purple. She called my mom to take me to the hospital and my friend watched the kids until Will could come home and get them. The doctor at urgent care thinks it was a bad reaction to medicine my regular doctor gave me yesterday for my sore throat, sinus infection. He sent me to the ER for blood tests. I am feeling a lot better (aside from the sinus infection) but man I thought I was dying! So weird!

Man, it has been forever since I have written here. Things have been totally crazy!!!!! Life with 3 kids is so busy all the time!!!! I may just have to hit the highlights/lowlights to catch you up. -

- Will has been working LONG hours lately. He gets up super early and comes home anywhere from 7-1opm.
- he is getting his best bonus ever in 2 weeks, Wahoo!!!
- his car broke down, but at least it happened on payday
- Brad is 6 mo. old now and is still not sitting up or eating baby food. For a few days he ate it ok, but ever since then he gags on anything but milk or sometimes apple juice. I am mildly concerned but have other things to deal with first!
- Dylan had 2 cavities and Landon has 4!! We got Dylans fixed but Landon's are coming up. He has to get 2 root canals! Ouch! Luckily they will sedate him.
- I miss working at Wee School and my two BFF's there. But I love being at home with my kids. It is funny.
- Still tired all the time even though my bloodwork testing for anemia and thyroid came back normal. hmmm...
- Dylan is going to be Harry Potter for halloween and Landon a ninja. Brad will be an M&M. cute. I am coloring my hair pink (cause I have always wanted to) and wearing a witch hat. whatever!- -What else???There is more but that is all I can get into for now. I am not feeling great and Will too and Landon threw up all over our livingroom carpet tonight. Yuck! Dylan had the pukes last week and now it has hit the rest of us. Oh joy. Now would be a good time to have wood floors...

Deal of the Decade!

Electrolux Washer and Dryer. Original price: $1,200 each. My price: $350 each!
We were looking for a new washer at Sears and all of a sudden one of the employees gets off the phone and says "Yall may wanna come take a look at these. They just went on sale." What a blessing!!

We're still here!

Just wanted to update my poor, neglected blog and say that we are still alive. Will's mom Terry came to visit us in July. We had a great visit. I am so glad that she could come and meet Bradley.

Bradley is getting bigger every day and time is going by faster and faster with each kid. He is 4 months old already! He smiles a lot! But he is teething now so has mood swings from really happy to crying, then back to happy.

Landon and Dylan start back to school on Monday! Yay for me! They watched a space movie yesterday and as it was ending Dylan said "I want to be an astronaut some day!" Then Landon said, "I want to be an alien!" My crazy kids.

Will is enjoying his promotion at work and his new boss. Yay!
Consider yourself updated!

kids when little (45 photos), by Allison Halladay

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

This Week

This week was terrible. This week we inexplicably lost a great deal. This week we were saved twice. Make that three times. This week I stayed home all week. This week I lost my van. Then got it back. Then lost it. Then got it back. This week I watched about 15 movies (we no longer have TV.) This week I cried my way out of a $95 fee. (No, I wasn't faking it.)This week I was shown kindness by a total stranger. This week I went to my pediatrician twice. This week Dylan and I both have Scarlet Fever. This week I learned that people still get Scarlet Fever. This week I missed someone. This week I wrote a lot. This week was rough. Hopefully next week will be better.

funny and good pics of Brad

will took this one. too funny.
he looks so comfy and content here on Will's lap
Dylan took this one. I like the angle.

Texas Bluebonnets and wildflowers

Bradley William Halladay - 6 lbs 14 oz. 19 inches

Well, even though it was 4 weeks early, my water broke on March 26, 2010 at 5:15 am. My water always breaks in bed! So, we called the dr and we went to Texas Womens Hospital. I had Bradley via C-section at 11:14 am. I love my doctor and my hospital experience was wonderful! I highly recommend Texas Womans Hospital to anyone! Brad was early so he went straight to the NICU. That was probably good because he had a little trouble breathing one time that first day
and so they kept him there another 5 days to make sure that didn't happen again and to rule out more serious problems. But, Big Bad Brad is a champ is eating well and sleeping well. He should come home tomorrow, barring anymore problems! God is so good! We know He is watching over us and has His hand in our lives. We are so thankful for our newest addition and for all the help, prayers, meal, gifts, and blessings we have received. Our hearts are full.

Surprise Baby Shower!!

Thank you to all who helped plan this shower, especially the mastermind behind it - Melissa! It was so fun and now I am sooooo ready to have this baby! I have everything I need now. Only 6 more weeks to go!! Yay!

Goodbye Emma

Emma Dunnam 3/1/2006 -2/1/2010 We love you.

Emma

This is Emma. She is the little angel girl that I took care of at Wee School last year. She is a victim of Batten's disease (this disease slowly robs you of your abilities to walk, eat, see, talk, move, etc. as it shuts down your brain) and it seems her time is very near. She is almost 4 years old and is down to weighing 18 lbs. And now she has pneumonia. I will be sad to see her go, and so sad for her awesome family, but happy for her to be free from this awful disease and go be with Jesus. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family as I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child. But, I am glad that soon she will not be suffering anymore. See you later, Emma.
If anyone wants to see her blog or buy a t-shirt or donate to Emma's Hugs (a non-profit organization that helps pay for food and parking for those that have loved ones in the hospital) the link is on the bottom of my blog called "I am especially fond of you."

Rockin' out!

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These are pics of my crazy family playing 'Rock Band' on the play station. It was fun and funny!