The Strasser's

                     I can't believe my little Alyssa is 6 now!!! Time sure has flew by fast. Tonight for dinner we went to Chuckie E Cheese, birthday girl's choice, and we had lots of fun. Does this cake look a little familiar, well I did a cake like this for my final cake in my cake decorating class. It was a a lot of fun to make. The main pink frosting is actually flavored, pink lemonade. I thought it wasn't going to taste that great and it was good. I found it at Winco one day when I was grocery shopping. Alyssa a got an art easel for birthday along with accessories, a barbie toilet and tub for her doll house she got for Christmas from her grandma.

So I planned a Pinkalicious Birthday party. So here are quite a few pictures from her party. We did her friend party on a weekend day because it can be not great with schedules during the week. I can't believe she will be 6 a few days, the 19th. The birthday girl getting ready to pin a cherry on the cupcake. My aunt drew a cupcake and they played pin the cherry on the cupcake. Getting ready to decorate cupcakes. Pinata time Everyone that came to the party! Few pictures of the guests \ I made tissue paper pom pom flowers and hung them with fishing line. They were quite easy to make. I borrowed a few things.

Well this has been a long time coming but, We went to a couple of easter egg hunts. At one of the hunts I happened to be with Alyssa and her two cousins while their mom and Cory were with Owen and her daughter. But I did get a few pictures. Than afterwards we went to another hunt at the Kroc center, I don't think we will go again to that one. And than we went to Cory's parent's house and roasted hot dogs and did another hunt there.

The ultrasound is scheduled for May 11.

I got a gift certificate for See's Candy. And I finally went in today and picked out some candy. It was the first time I have ever been in there, because it's a little pricey but really yummy. I got a pound of chocolates, and I did get the kids chocolate sucker's.  Not good when you are trying to not gain weight a whole lot. But I did take some pictures of Evan enjoying his chocolate sucker.

There was a day last month that I took my grandma to the dentist. And I had the boys with me.  So here is a couple of pictures while we were hanging out in the car.

I am so excited that the Conference talks are in print now!  I really liked hearing on talk that was given and for some reason I thought that Baxter was the one that gave the talk, I was wrong. It was Ronald A. Rasband .

I am still trying my best at recording my bp. It's sometimes kind of hard to sit down and relax and take it. Cory had his interview's we are just waiting to see what's going to happen. One of them he heard that they were probably get back to him Monday or Tuesday, and haven't heard anything yet. The other one is going to be about 2-3 weeks until we hear anything. Alyssa is getting excited for her birthday. She is having a pinkalicious birthday. I have been trying to work with Owen about going poop in the toliet and there was two days were he did really well with it. Evan is starting to become a pro pulling himself to a stand. I am going to get him some shoes to see if it helps give him a little support. And some other news, May 11th is when we find out what we are having. An update from this afternoon: ***********Cory finally heard back today and he didn't get the job**********************

Well school was delayed yesterday, school was cancelled today, along with parent teacher conferences, and now it's spring break for Alyssa. Evan likes to look out the window, He was standing there wondering all the white stuff was on the ground. Here is our railing on our porch last night at around 11:30 This morning Alyssa and I got some warm clothes on and went out there and made a snow man. We used frozen blueberries .

So Cory and I went up to the temple last night. We have been lacking some on going up there with our hectic schedules. But we needed it last night, with my pregnancy now and his job interviews coming up.  He has been pretty nervous about them, I am nervous about them to. I am hoping everything goes well. He has filled out over 40 applications and they are take a long time to fill out. He has gotten discouraged. But something has got to give. I have been taking my asprin like the doctor has told me to and taking my blood pressure 3 times a day. I think I almost have Alyssa's birthday planned. I guess I need to think of easter and what we are going to do. If everyone that reads this, if you could keep us in your thought's and prayer's we really would appericate it. Thanks for those that are right now. We could really use it.

I got a call from the doctor's office. And it was about how they passed my information up to the High Risk doctor's in portland. And the doctor said that I have a 40% chance of having preclampsia again. I also am having to check my blood pressure about three times a day, and I have been put on kids asprin once a day. Well I have been nervous about having another one. I have been trying to keep my blood pressure lower and just trying to take it more easy this time. Cory has a job interview thursday, and he could really use the job. So if everyone could keep Cory and I in your prayer's we would really appericate it.

Well it was bound to come out sooner of later. I was waiting for a little bit later. But here is our announcement......I am Pregnant. I am due on October 1st. This was a surprise. I have been nervous every since I found out I was pregnant. Because of the last pregnancy, I was having a little bit of spotting towards the begining, So I had to cut off the running, doctor's order's. So hopefully next appointment I can start at least doing some pregnancey workouts. I was actually in the process of losing weight when I found out I was pregnant.  I am almost a full 12 weeks. We have been keeping this secret for quite some time. And have been waiting until basically the 2nd appointment. I am extremely nervous about this pregnancy. But the nausea has subsided, which is nice. I get it every so often. But I have been tired. I have more energy than last time. And I don't think it helps with three kids either. The doctor said everything is looking good. Here...

Well to follow up about Evan's catheter. He didn't pull some of it out which was good. But I think he tugged enough where it pulled on his stitches. So we didn't need to go to the doctor's. which I am kind of glad. Just another week with it in. It has been hard changing his diaper's. I am glad that all of his surgeries are done.

Oh to add to the madness of our day. From some not happy children. But something that made me laugh. Cory my loving husband taught Owen something new to do.  We have 1 bathroom in our house. It can be really hard sometimes. I am hoping the next house we live in is 3 or 4 bedroom with 2 bathrooms. I probably should not be posting this but, it was funny.  Owen came out to the garage and told us he needed help so I went in to see what he needed. I came in the house and said what do you need help with, and Alyssa said "Mom,  Owen is peeing in the tub". Alyssa tends to be on the toliet sometime's longer than needed. That's why he went for the tub.  I was little shocked, but it was kind of funny. I guess at least he didn't pee on the floor. Now I need to go clean the tub some. 

I think the kids signed a contract this morning. They have all been pretty grouchy. The weekend was pretty good, until this morning. Evan hasn't been feeling great. This morning I put a shirt and pants on him seeing how that would work. It didn't work out so great. He pulled on his catheter which happened to pull one of the stitches out and loosed the other. I ended up calling the doctor's office talked to a nurse and she was suppose to talk to the doctor and get back to me. So footie pj's or onesies are the only option at this point and time for him. I have really been trying to keep up on the meds so he isn't in pain. It has been hard this time to change his diaper because he has just been wanting to grab down there, It takes Cory and I really to get his diaper changed. Unless he is out of it some. I guess that is all for now.

Well we are home, yay! now for a long night. I am hoping not because of the meds he is taking. So in recovery he was pretty groggy, not as happy as he was when he went in. Very cuddly boy now. All is good right now. He is taking 3 meds, bladder spasms, antiboctics (so he doesn't get a UTI), and pain meds.

Just got a phone call from the nurse in the operating room, they are almost done. He should be out in a little bit. Everything went well and looks good. He will have a catheter in for 2 weeks. So I he will be double diapered. That is all for now.

So they started the surgery at about 12:20. They usually like to put iv things in when they are back in operating room. Everything is going good so far.

Well Evan has been back there for about maybe 15 minutes. I took this picture before they took him back and he took his happy drink. All the nurses think he is pretty cute! Everything has gone good so far. Especially him not being to grouchy. He has been a pretty happy boy for not eating since 4:30 this morning. He did get to drink clear liquids until 8:30.

Look at those mossy trees! Cory and I don't get many pictures together. What a happy boy!