On the road again...

Hey everyone! Sorry its been so long since we've blogged! We've had a super busy month an d a half. Heres a little list of what we've been up to:
-I worked my tail off all through July to finish decorating a 6 bedroom 4 bath home in Idaho Falls which looks great (if I do say so myself)...I'll post pics when the finishing touches are done.
-Peyton began army crawling finally and is now a little soldier army crawling at amazing speeds and getting into everything he can. He also recently learned to pull himself up stairs and onto his feet with some support.
-Daniel was very relieved to finally finish his summer semester at BYU-ID and was very proud to say that his Taco Rapido IBC company came in 2nd place for revenue by a hair. He also was able to maintain excellent grades and is now looking toward graduation in the spring.
-We all flew to Houston at the end of June for Daniel's grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary. Peyton and I went a little early to spend time with everyone and let me tell ya, that boy got so spoiled! The anniversary celebration was great and it was so good to show Peyton off to those family members who hadn't met him yet.
-After Houston, Peyton and I drove down to Middleton to see my family and extended family on my mom's side and to decorate Jenna's (my little sis) room for her 13th birthday. It was so much fun and it was somewhat bittersweet because my grandpa (who everyone had come to see) was just diagnosed with pretty advanced cancer along with a serious heart condition. That could be the last time we see him so it was very good that we were able to go. We worked hard on Jenna's room and it turned out so cute, I'll post pics of that later too.
-After the traveling we got busy packing and cleaning the apartment and moving our stuff into Daniel's grandparent's empty grain siloh for storage in Shelley. It was SOOOO exhausting but we finally got it done and somehow managed to leave by the 27th of July to make our way south for the summer/fall.
-The day before we left for Houston I did pictures with a great photographer in the NICU for one last time. She did a great job and promised to volunteer her time and her talent once a month to go in and take beautiful professional pics of the NICU babies and their parents. I was so glad to have found her and so touched by her willingness to help and I am glad to have left that volunteer experience on such a good note. After she did the NICU pics we went and did some Peyton pics in downtown IF. I'll post some of them because they are ADORABLE!
-I can't believe how we fit all our stuff into our ford taurus to move down to Houston. I kept looking at the pile and telling Daniel that there was no way it would fit. Miraculously and with a lot of careful puzzelwork we fit it all in the car with the help of a bungee cord to strap the over-flowing trunk shut. Peyton was in a cave in the backseat which actually worked out well because it shielded him from the sun and tuned out some of the noise. He did really well on the trip and we made it here in three days. The total driving time ended up to about 31 hours but we split it up and it actually wasn't too bad.
And thats where we are now. We are living with Daniel's very generous parents and Daniel is interviewing for a few various internships. We are hoping he will find a good one soon so that he can begin working. He is SO glad to have a break from classes since he has been going to school nonstop for the past two years. Peyton and I are loving the pool that Daniel's parents have in the back yard and I am also doing a little bit of catering with a friends catering business while we're here. It'll be a good change of scenery for a while and we plan to return to finish Daniel's last semester at BYU-ID in January.

Blow out the candles!

Hello everyone! We hope all is well with you! Its been a while since the last post but that doesn't mean we haven't been doing anything. Actually we have been very busy! Here is the summary of the last month or so:
-We were interviewed by 2 news stations and 2 newspapers for the March of Dimes and Peyton's preemie story.
-Daniel started his taco stand with his class group and has been running around campus promoting it because he is in charge of marketing for the business.
-The turnout for the NICU parent support group has been rapidly increasing and we have been having fun running that.
-I am still decorating a house in Idaho Falls and it is coming together beautifully (if I do say so myself).
-We have only lost one grass volleyball game even with the constant wind, hail, and rain that we've had nearly every game.
-Last weekend we had the March for Babies in Idaho Fall.
-Daniel's birthday was on Sunday the 8th and so we had a combined birthday party for him and Peyton (Peyton's b'day is this Saturday).
So thats pretty much it. Despite the 45 degree weather and 30 mile an hour winds we had a pretty good turnout for the March for Babies and walked the 6 miles around the river. About a quarter of the people there were our family and friends: Tim, Cindy, Jenna, and Andrew Carter, Great Granny Rawson and Great Grandpa Rawson, Aunt Deanne and Cousin Devry and Paxton and Cooper, Christen and Matt Schneider with their 2 doggies Charlie and Trooper, and Daniel, Tiffany, Wesley, and Kate Dunn. There were also a few people that Daniel invited from class that braved the weather and showed up. We actually had a lot of fun even though it was cold. EIRMC provided a breakfast before hand and a barbeque afterwards. I spoke a few minutes before the walk and Daniel was interviewed again by Channel 3 news. All in all a really good event, though I'm glad it is over and am relieved to have one less thing on my plate for a little while. We did manage to reach our goal which was $1000 thanks to all of you and your wonderful donations. Thanks so much for your help!
That same night we had a big party for Daniel and Peyton's birthdays. We had about 20 people come and had quite the full house! Peyton was showered with toys and had more fun playing with the wrapping paper than his presents. Daniel got a few dvds, a game, and a really nice bike that Daniel Dunn helped me pick out for him. He has already ridden it to school twice now and says that he loves it although the uphill route is giving him a pretty severe workout. We had pizza and ice cream cake for Daniel, chocolate cake for Peyton. Peyton also got a high chair from Cici and Poppy which he got to try out while eating his b'day cake. I couldn't believe how much he LOVED his cake! I didn't think he would eat it because he is pretty picky about textures but I turned around and he was shoving it into his mouth by the fist fulls! It was pretty funny. He got all hopped up on sugar and was acting crazy. Cici very thoughtfully gave him a bath afterward and cleaned of the chocolate that he had caked himself in. It was a really fantastic day!

Summer? Is that you?

Its been kind of a crazy month so we haven't had time to sit down and post anything. So let me fill you in...
Daniel's little brother Travis lived with us for a while before he was able to move into his apartment up here at BYU-ID. It was fun to have him, although I'm not sure if he'd say the same thing if you asked him. Our apartment isn't exactly DisneyWorld and I think he was more than ready to start school and get into his own place by the time he was able to. Daniel's mom Nena (Nona---her granma name) was here for a bit too when she dropped Travis off. It is always SO fun to see her! She is such a firecracker!
Daniel was lucky enough to be able to get everything arranged the way he needed it to so that he could go to school and take the classes that he needs this summer. His schedule is the most demanding that he has had so far and we already can NOT wait until this semester is over. He leaves the house around 7:15 am and usually doesn't get home until 7:30 pm and then sometimes has to go back for group meetings later than that even. The good news is that BYU-ID has short summers only going through until mid July. Then he will have a nice long break until September. Its pretty crazy and I'm trying to cut him as much slack as possible.
Since Daniel is going to school this summer, I have to wait to go back myself since we can't afford for both of us to go right now. That kinda bummed me out since I was anxious to finish up, but it really would be impossible for us both to go, especially since he would never be home to watch Peyton for me to go to class. I think during the 2nd block I will try to see if we can afford for me to take an online class or two. I'd have to do something this summer in order to finish at the same time as Daniel. We'll see.
I'm still decorating houses and trying to get the NICU group up and running at the hospital. The turnout is getting better which is encouraging and I am finally cleared to go into the NICU unsupervised so I know that will help the program take off. I need to get this March for Babies thing on track. I have been busy with the NICU things and have sort of put that aside but the march is only a month away so its time to get crackin! Please help us! This is a fantastic cause! Please donate at our website or if you can't donate then at least get the word out for us about the event! Thank you thank you!
Oh...okay...so I really am going to get my inventory together this week and post some items on my website CatsCranny. Sorry if you've looked at it and nothing was there for you to see! :) Check again in a few days and there will be a few things!
Oh my gosh!! I haven't told you the best news! RSV season is OVER!!!!! You have no idea what that means to us (especially me)! We are no longer quarantined in our tiny apartment! We are now officially "allowed" to take Peyton out and about. It is SOOOO nice! It has been the longest winter of my life, literally and figuratively. Now if we can just get the weather here to cooperate. This weather is so schizophrenic. One minute it is really nice and warm and the next its haling. This week it is so nice, around 70 degrees, and a week ago there was a blizzard. I'm sick of it! Just leave winter! You are no longer wanted! (Actually, you weren't wanted in the first place).
Well thats us in a nutshell! I have pics of Peyton with his glasses I need to post so those will be up here soon!

Change of plans...

So...Daniel didn't get the Target internship after all. Big bummer. It was actually pretty ridiculous the way they went about his interviews and such. He first interviewed with them in February, then had several other interviews with various Target people over an entire month, all of whom acted like Daniel was "just what they were looking for", and then just before the begining of the summer semester they finally told him via e-mail that they had given the job to someone else. Yeah...we were pretty suprised and annoyed that they would lead him on like that. Especially since he turned down other internships and opportunities that wanted an answer back at the end of February. So Daniel has had to go back to the dean of the business program and beg to get into IBC this summer since it was full when he found out about the Target internship. He was let in eventually to IBC and now he feels like things have probably worked out for the best. I'm glad he can be positive about the whole thing. Its been a real pain in the rear. So now the plan is that he will continue working on campus through the summer and do his IBC (a class that requires you to run a business from start to finish throughout the semester) and then apply for fall internships. It'll workout I'm sure and he will still be able to graduate next April.
Well thats the latest on that! Write more later!

Happy Easter!

Hey everyone! Nona and Travis are in town this week! YEA!! Travis is coming up here for school in the summer. He is going to be staying with us for a while until he can get into his apartment. It has been so much fun to have them here!
Daniel has his final interview with Target on Monday. He has had to have like 4 different interviews and had to take this quiz thing and had to have even more phone interviews and now finally he is going to meet with the corporate recruiter for his final interview. It seems like a pretty intense interview and application process just for a summer internship. Oh well. I know he is going to get the job. We just have to hear it from this corporate person. Hes pretty excited to work for Target even though he was dissapointed about turning down Smuckers. They seem pretty easy to work with as far as scheduling and what not...except for Sundays. They don't budge on the Sunday issue so I guess that means he will have to work a few Sundays this summer. They did say that they would schedule his Sunday work around church though so I think that made him feel a little better.
I am keeping pretty busy lately with the NICU Parent Support Group and the March for Babies. Also, I am decorating a house in Idaho Falls for a lady who Daniel had talked to about me. I'm really excited to decorate again and since the lady has a pretty large house I am planning on working on it for a good month or so.
Before I forget, we really need donations for our March for Babies walk in June. If you would like to donate go to www.marchforbabies.org/TeamPeyton and sponsor us! Please help us out and support the March for Babies! They literally saved Peyton's life.
Another thing I am doing these days is starting an online shop and selling my craft projects. I am still getting an inventory together but I hope to have it up and running by the end of next week. There will be my handpainted cards, silhouette baby onesies, and artwork, among various other little items. Go to www.CatsCranny.etsy.com to see what I've got for sale!
We love you all and wish you a HAPPY EASTER!

Peyton's Follow up Clinic....and his four eyes

Hello all, Daniel here again. This past weekend we went back down to Provo for Peyton's follow up visit with his original occupational therapist, eye doctor, pediatrician, nutritionist, etc. This is done every six months. It was great to go back and see some of his old doctors and nurses. Also, we saw some of the other babies that were Peyton's neighbors for a little while when he was in the NICU--some doing great, others not so great. Peyton, however, is doing fantastic from what the doctors say. He's very healthy, and his lungs are much better. Something rather suprising though is that he needs glasses. We knew that he would need them at some point, but we didn't think he would need them this early. As some of you know, Peyton had ROP in both eyes, which is a cause for blindness in many preemies. ROP has five stages. Once at stage 4 and 5, blindness is pretty much inevitable. Doctors have to intervene and perform a laser corrective procedure before their eyes reach those stages. Anyway, Peyton's eyes reached stage 3, but miraculously did not progress to the other stages and avoided needing laser surgery--which would have caused him to lose his periphreal vision. Because he did reach stage 3, the doctors said he would probably be nearsighted. At the follow-up clinic, the doctor said that Peyton is nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other. He also has stigmatisms in both eyes. Hence, the need for him to get glasses this week. It will be interesting to keep glasses on a 9 month old baby. I am sure they will be in his mouth much more than on his face. We think its a definite good thing for him developmentally, since it would be pretty hard to focus on things when your eyes are improperly balanced visually. He'll be a four-eyed stud like his daddy!

Internship

Just thought that I would post an update on the internship search. I had two interviews last week, one with JM Smuckers and the other with Target. I was primarily going after JM Smuckers since they have been in Fortune Magazines Best 100 companies to work for in the U.S. (being in the top 25 for eight years in a row). Plus, their internship payed pretty well and also paid for the housing...which by the way was right on the beach in Oxnard California! It was a pretty exciting opportunity. I was offered the position, but after going through everything we would need to keep Peyton's health care, occupational therapists, etc. we discovered that moving out of state would really complicate things. Although very exciting it would be, it wasn't right for our family, so I turned them down....regretfully. Right now I have one more interview with Target, which would be a local internship here in Idaho Falls. They pay very well, and I'm actually excited about staying in Rexburg for the summer. Catherine also has a lot of work cut out for her with the parent support group at the NICU in Idaho Falls and with the March of Dimes March for Babies coming up in June. I guess when you grow up and have kids, you have to give up those exciting opportunities to live on the beach for free. It's worth it all in the end, and I'm actually pretty excited about this Target opportunity.