Family Birthday Party

Last weekend we had a family birthday party for Ava and Rich. We had a multi-themed party with Buzz Lightyear, Elmo, Mickey Mouse, & Pandas since those are Ava's favorite things. We also had make your own pizzas for lunch and panda cupcakes for dessert. Both Rich and Ava got wonderful gifts. Ava has been playing with her goodies all week. It was a great day and we are happy our family could share it with us.

Kids making & eating pizzas. Ava enjoyed feeding the dogs more than eating herself.

Me helping with the pizzas.

Ava got food, a cookie set, & a metal shopping cart from her Papa & Nona Kurz.

Ava was excited about her Mickey color book and Toy Story Color Wonder from the Gridley Bowlings.

Ava was happy to get more food and goodies for her new kitchen from the Jensen's.

Ava enjoyed unwrapping this big present especially when she found out it was a new tricycle from her Papa and Nona Bowling.

Panda cupcakes that I made.

Ava biting the Panda cake her Nona Carole made.

Ava was not too sure about the stiff decorator frosting and didn't eat much of the cake.

Ava did nibble on a panda cupcake and chowed on some ice cream.

Nathan really wanted to get this musical card for Rich and even paid for half. It was a joke about getting old and played the music from Rocky. It was great. Ava loved it and danced around to it all week.

Boys being boys. Nathan brought his new Nintendo DSiXL to show Rich.

Ava with her Uncle Eric. He gave her two Mickey Mouse DVDs. Ava was super excited and we have been enjoying them.

Ava coloring with her cousins, Rachel and Bella.

Ava got jealous when Rich held Eli. When he picked her up she decided she wanted to hold Eli. Eli was not down with that and kept leaning away from Ava.

Ava with Rachel and Nathan. I love Nathan's pose.

Ava with Kobie, Bella, and Lily.

Ava playing with her cookies after everyone left.

Ava couldn't wait for Rich to put her new trike together.

Ava was so excited to try out her trike. She got her helmet and Rich pushed her around the house.

After everyone left we crashed on the couch.

Within a few minutes Ava conked out on the couch. She was so tired she didn't even wake up when Luca sniffed around her for crumbs.

Ava is not afraid of a little bad luck...

Last week we ran some errands in the rain and Ava loved it. The rain gave her an opportunity to bust out her panda umbrella. She was so happy to use her umbrella she didn't want to put it away when we got inside the store. Since it was late and the store was pretty empty we let her keep it up. After about 5 minutes she decided it was time to put her friend away.

That's Our Ava

Two years ago our lives were changed forever when we held Ava in our arms. It was love at first sight and each day we are grateful for the blessing she is. Ava makes us smile, laugh, and enjoy the simple things in life. Watching her grow, learn, and seeing her personality emerge has been exciting. We look forward to watching her continue to grow and blossom.

Fun Ava Facts

*Ava loves to eat

*Favorite food: Pasta

*Favorite snack: Pretzels & Boursin Cheese

*Favorite breakfast: Oatmeal & Jelly

*Favorite fruit: Grapes

*Favorite Veg: Cucumbers & Peas

*Ava loves Buzz Lightyear, Elmo, & Mickey Mouse

*Ava's favorite animal is a Panda

*Ava doesn't call animals by there names, but makes their sounds (so cute)

*Ava loves music; she loves to listen to it, play it, and sing her own songs

*Favorite songs: "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam", "Popcorn Popping", "Baby Beluga" (Ava says "Baby Cuka")

*Ava enjoys coloring and drawing

*Ava loves books; she will sit and read for a hour at one time

*Ava loves to cook in the kitchen with mom or in her new red kichen

*Ava loves her Luca; she likes to throw his kong and chase him around the house; sometimes she likes to feed him

*Ava enjoys spinning in circles until she falls over

*Ava loves to snuggle

*Ava would be a couch potato if we let her

*Favorite T.V. show: Sesame Street

*Favorite movie: Toy Story 2

*During nap time Ava likes to stand on her crib or chair and look out the window for butterflies

1-15-096 months

1-15-09
Ava's 1st birthday was spent at the doctor's office because she had Roseola. It is nice to see her happy in this picture because she was miserable for about a week.

1-18-11

Our big 2 year old girl

Happy Birthday to Us

Ava and I celebrated our birthdays together yesterday. This was a much happier birthday than last year for everyone. Last year Ava had Roseola and was miserable. This year I decided to stay at home and have a quiet birthday. It was a fun day.

Our day started with Lisa making waffles for us. They were delicious. Ava especially enjoyed her Nutella waffle. I think the pictures explain it all.

After lounging at home and playing some video games we went out to dinner. We went to Ichi Maki for sushi. The food was great and the restaurant was quiet. I think Ava's favorite part was feeding me some sushi. She also enjoyed the edamame. We did order an avocado-cucumber roll with soy wrap (instead of Nori) that even Lisa enjoyed.

We opened presents together when we got home. Lisa gave me a video game that I've been wanting for months. There is also another surprise coming for me in the mail. Ava had lots of presents. We hope her "Potty Time Elmo" DVD and Elmo underwear will inspire her to use the potty. She also got a Mickey Mouse DVD with some of the classic cartoons. Kim, Ava's birth mom sent her a giant stuffed Mickey Mouse and tickets to Disney on Ice. The star of the night was the Red Retro Play Kitchen. Ava LOVED it!! We had to drag her away from it to have cake and ice cream.

The apron and chef hat really belong to Ava.

Lisa made us an ice cream cake from scratch. We got to lick the batter off the beater. Ava didn't like it that much, so I got most of it. The cake was excellent and Ava couldn't keep her fingers out of it.

When Ava was born I jokingly said, "I'll never have a birthday again." I think these birthdays mean much more to me now that I get to celebrated them together with Ava. I would give up a lifetime of birthdays for the day Ava came into our family. She brings Lisa and I such joy and happiness. I love you Ava! Tanti Augri (Happy Birthday)!

Something Sweet

Late Thursday night Rich and I were laying in bed when he leaned over, snuggled me, and said "I'm sorry I didn't buy you any flowers today." This might seem odd to everyone else, but I knew exactly what he was referring to and just his acknowledgement of that special day made me happy. Thursday was January 13th, but more importantly the 16th year anniversary of the day I was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Every year since I met Rich he has done something special for me on this anniversary. Back in 1997 (4 months after we met) Rich bought me the most beautiful roses and completely surprised me. I didn't even know I told him the date I was baptized, but I guess I did and he remembered. The fact that Rich acknowledged how important that decision was made me happy and it confirmed how special he is.

Now each year he makes sure to honor my anniversary. Sometimes it is with flowers, candy, or just saying something sweet. The flowers and the candy might be nice, but the loving words he shares with me mean more. Just to know he is grateful for my decision and feels he is better off because of it makes me happier than I can express.

I feel the same way about my decision. I am grateful each day to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know I am a better person because of this decision. The Church has brought peace and understanding to my life. It helps me find happiness here on the Earth and to know once this life is done the Savior has made it possible for me to live again. That knowledge gives me peace and great joy.

I am grateful to have the scriptures to read, so I can learn about Christ and his teachings. When I read them I can feel the spirit and I know they are true.

I am also grateful for the temple and the peace that I find when I attend. The temple is a very special place to me and has helped me through some tough times. The day I was married and sealed to Rich in the temple was wonderful because I started my forever family. Then the day Rich and I took Ava to the temple was even better because now she is ours forever. I know the temple is the house of the Lord and his spirit dwells there. I have had many sweet and sacred moments occur in the temple. When Rich and I moved 6 years ago we decided to move as close as we could to the Sacramento Temple (even though it was still being built). I am so grateful we did because the 7 mile distance has blessed our lives and makes it possible for us to share our love of the temple with Ava.

Sixteen years ago I made a very important decision. It is not one I took lightly. Before I was baptized I studied and prayed. I read the scriptures and offered a sincere prayer to Heavenly Father. After that prayer the spirit I felt was strong. I felt a great peace and warmth I had never known. At that moment I knew the Book of Mormon was the word of God. I knew The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was the true church. I knew I was going to be baptized and that it was the right decision. I have never regretted my decision or questioned it. From that day on my testimony has grown and is much stronger today. I know Jesus Christ lives. I know he atoned for our sins and broke the bands of death so we can live again. I know I'm not alone and the Savior loves me. I know Heavenly Father knows me by name and loves me too. I am grateful for this testimony and the faith I have. It has been a great blessing and gift in my life. Thank you to all my friends and family for helping me be the person I am today. I know I am far from perfect and have a long way to go, but I know with the gospel I can get there.

Escape from the House

Today I finally escaped from the house. After being stuck in the house for over a week I was starting to get cabin fever. First we all went to church and then home for a nap. After our nap I thought it would be nice to go for a walk on the bike trail. Even though we live close and usually walk from our house we drove to meet a different part of the trail. I didn't think I was up to a lot of walking so I wanted to make sure we got to see more than just our neighborhood. We ended up walking down the El Manto entrance path to a nice little grassy park. Luca enjoyed sniffing and following scents. Ava enjoyed running and exploring her surroundings. I enjoyed being out of the house and with my family. The only bad part of the evening was the freezing cold temperature (around 40 degrees).

There was a group of deer right at the beginning of the path.

This is Ava REALLY ANGRY because we wouldn't let her walk Luca. We tried to let her help us but of course she wanted to do it by herself which was not safe for her, Luca, or the other people around.

This is Ava a few minutes later still very angry. We were worried she would continue on like this the entire outing.

Once we got to the little park Ava's attitude changed. She loved seeing all the trees, birds, and even found a few rocks.

I'm the only one looking in this picture. Ava and Luca were more interested in exploring than posing with me.

As we walked back the moon came out. This excited Ava because she loves the moon. As soon as it is dark she looks to the sky and says "moon". Whenever there is a new moon or it is too cloudy to see the moon she looks to the sky with her arms out asking "moon?".

On the way home Ava and Luca shared a few treats. Actually Ava mostly teased Luca until I finally made her give him a treat. Notice her cold red nose and cheeks, but more importantly the smile on her face.

This is what recovery looks like...

For the first week I basically just sat and slept in Rich's chair. I always had a pillow over my abdomen to protect me from little hands and paws that just didn't understand they couldn't crawl all over me.

1 1/2 Week post-op served with a side of gratitude

My recovery is going well and I'm improving a little everyday. At first I was really sore especially on my left side. The incision on that side is bigger and the doctor had to cut through my abdominal muscles to get the tumor out. I was fine as long as I sat still and didn't move. If I had to cough, sneeze, or laugh I was in excruciating pain. I tried to avoid these things, but made a mistake by watching a few episodes of Pysch.

After a few days of prescription pain meds I switched to Alieve. I hate the way pain meds make me feel, so I try not to take them. The Alieve has worked okay. I still feel a little sore, but on the pain meds I'm loopy and feel crummy overall. I'm hoping by the end of this week to stop taking the Alieve too.

I have been fortunate to have lots of help. My mom has been with me most of the time when Rich was working. I don't think I could of managed Ava without her help. I can't pick her up or play with her as much as I usually do, so my mom has stepped in to fill my shoes. Ava has loved having her Nona around and was definitely a little more spoiled this week.

I also had a lot of help and support from Rich. He did whatever I needed and asked him to do. For the first week he put my socks on because I couldn't bend over that far. He has also been great with Ava and making sure he spends extra time with her. I appreciate all Rich has done and is doing for our family. He is a wonderful husband and father, but I didn't need this experience to tell me that.

This next week I will be more on my own. I feel good about it, but will still take it slow. I'm not suppose to lift Ava for another week, so I will try to be good. I'm being creative to help. We borrowed a small step stool, so I can help Ava climb into her chair at the table. Ava has also become a better climber during this experience and is a little more independent (I'm not sure if that is good or bad). I hope to be able to play with Ava much more this week and begin to get back to our usually routine.

As for the future we have a plan. We discussed my options with Dr. Bob and decided to start by taking birth control pills. This should help reduce the pain and symptoms associated with my endometriosis. It should also stop the endometriosis from growing and spreading further. This is the best way to start and then we will see what happens.

I am grateful for this treatment plan. I have to admit one of my biggest concerns was taking a medicine called Lupron which would send me into a temporary menopause. I did not look forward to experiencing all the symptoms of menopause at the age of 33.

After discussing it with my doctor we decided this wasn't the right path for us. This medicine is mainly used to help fertility which doesn't apply to us. I now only have one ovary and the fallopian tube is messed up from the endometriosis, so it would take a miracle or invetro for me to get pregnant. Since Rich and I have struggle with fertility for so long we have already made some important decisions through prayer and thoughtful counsel with each other. We feel adoption is the right path for us and this experience just further confirms that decision.

I know this is going to sound weird, but I am grateful for this trial. I don't mean that I have enjoyed the physical or emotional pain I've gone through over the years, but I am grateful for what I have learned and gained. I have developed a much stronger testimony and closer relationship with my Savior through my struggles. I also think I have a stronger relationship and greater appreciation for Rich. And most importantly I have Ava who I love more than words can express. I would gladly go through all my trials again just to know I would end up being sealed to my sweet little girl and loving husband for time and all eternity.

Daddy-Daughter Date

Lisa needed some time alone and Ava needed some special attention after our long week. I decided to take Ava to the Folsom Zoo and Sanctuary. Ava had a great time. It was very cold, but we still enjoyed ourselves.

When we got to the zoo Ava just wanted to ride in the stroller. After we were there for a little while she wanted me to hold her and eventually she wanted to run around. She had so much fun she didn't want to go even though her cheeks and fingers were like ice.

Most of the animals were out and active. Ava enjoyed watching them run around in their cages. There was a sign that said there was a bear cub, but all the bears were hibernating and could not be seen. Ava's favorite were the mountain lions and she kept roaring like a lion at them. She also enjoyed all the chickens running around. As we walked to the car she kept asking to go back and see the monkeys by making her monkey sound.

When we were all done we headed to Sam's Club to do some shopping. Ava and I had a great time together and I think Lisa enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Us on the way out.

Ava chasing a peacock.

Ava roaring at the Mountain Lions.

This is me holding Ava while trying to get a picture of her and the tiger.

First look at the tigers.

Ava and the foxes.

Ava and the White Wolves.

The wolf was attacking a Christmas tree that was put in its enclosure.

New Year's Day

We spent New Year's at home as a family with Papa and Nona Kurz. Ava loved having her Papa and Nona here to play and snuggle with. She has been spoiled with love and goodies while they have visited to help me recover from surgery. It has been nice to be able to just sit, relax, and and focus on feeling better.

Rich decided to keep the Bowling family traditions alive by making clam/potato chowder with sandwiches. He also chopped fruit and melted chocolate for the fondue. The only tradition he didn't do was the pinata. Ava enjoyed the chowder and went bonkers for the fondue. It was fun watching her make a giant chocolaty mess.

While Rich was preparing dinner our wonderful neighbors, the Dacay's, dropped by. They brought us a delicious mexican feast. They made chicken taquitos and guacamole. They also brought chips and salsa and cupcakes for dessert. It was all so wonderful and very generous. We really appreciate their kindness and thinking of me after the surgery.

After we enjoyed a lot of food we relaxed the rest of the night. We watch Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse with Ava and then sent her to bed. The rest of us watched a few old episodes of Psych and then dragged ourselves to bed too.

Overall it was a nice day. I was still in quite a bit of pain and discomfort, but being at home with family made up for it. There is nothing better than being with loved ones to start the New Year off right.

We've only just begun...

At first Nona helped Ava.

Then Ava decided she would have more fun and get more chocolate if she helped herself. Our fondue kit came with a weird plastic utensil we gave to Ava instead of a sharp skewer.

Oh, so HAPPY!

Toward the end Ava decided she ate enough, but fed Daddy so she could still play in the chocolate.

This is my favorite picture. I love the way she is looking at the chocolate so lovingly.

Ava playing her favorite "ball" game with Nona on the computer.

Ava showing Papa her new wooden tool set.

Ava loves to cuddle her Nona. This was at the end of the night while we were winding down from the chocolate high.