Running

 I have REALLY wanted to do a race while I was pregnant so when I heard about this one that was a race for cancer I jumped at the chance.  Run for Ray, and do a race while pregnant- perfect!  Darren was at a camp-out for Fathers and Sons, and I didn't hear about it till Friday night, so it was kind of a last minute thing.  I ran it and felt great! My time was 31:18- which is just over a 10 min mile.  I was so proud of myself!  I even got 3rd place!!! There were only 26 runners/walkers, and it was not a very serious race- but I was still super stocked. 

 I have continued to keep running while pregnant.  Some times it's torture, sometimes its wonderful.  We'll see how long I can keep it up.

Bad News

We recently received the bad news that Darren's dad has colon cancer.  This news was both shocking and unexpected.  Ray is 72 but as healthy as a horse.  When he recently came to help us paint our house he worked Darren and me into the ground!  I guess recently he had been more tired and just not feeling normal.  So the doctors checked things out and sure enough- found cancer.  We aren't really positive about what stage it is yet.  They are thinking a stage 2- but won't know for sure until they do surgery.  The plan is Chemo for 6 weeks, and then surgery to remove it.  Hopefully that will be the end of it.  He just got a port hookup in his chest and wears a fanny pack that has the Chemo in it.  He has to wear it for 5 days, then gets 2 days off.  He has to do this for 6 weeks.  So far the Chemo has not effected him- but that's cause he just started.  We know it's only a matter of time.  My heart goes out to him.  Every time I have morning sickness I think about Chemo patients.  I'm sure there are different levels of both- But the only thing I can imagine worse than morning sickness is Chemo.  Felling AWFUL all the time.  Throwing up all the time.   Not fun.  We have been praying and thinking about Grandpa Shep.   It's hard to imagine him not working hard every day.  Hopefully the chemo and surgery will take care of it and he will be back to his normal self:)

Lily

As you know, we pretty much got coerced into getting a puppy.  We debated about the best time to get her.  I didn't want to wait till I was too big- or had a new baby, so we decided the best time was now.  While I still feel good.  Plus once we made the decision there was nothing the kids talked about except when, where, and how we were going to get a puppy.  They were constantly on the computer looking.  Finally we found the perfect looking sweet little 8 week old puppy on  Craigslist in Tri-cities.  She is half Shih-tzu and half Havanese.  Ellie named her Lily. Having a new puppy is a lot of work.  Like, a lot.  The first couple of nights I got up every 3 hours to take her out to use the bathroom.  I felt like I had a newborn baby! But she is a sweet little thing.  My kids love her! And she loves my kids.  I have her crate trained- but we are still working on the potty training.  Once that is done she will be the perfect little puppy:)  I am happy The kids love her so much.  While dogs are so much work- I think it's really good for kids to have pets.  It's good for them.  And Ellie was so sad about never having a sister.  She said, "Lily has fixed my cracked heart."  That makes it all worth it.  

Lost Lake

I found some more pictures of Lost Lake.  Here they are- The trees were AMAZING!!

Lost...

Lost Lake that is.  A couple of weekends ago we headed to Lost Lake to go camping with Athena and Ben.  Darren had 2 weeks off so I told him we had to do something fun as a family.  We decided to go camping.  We went to one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.  It was magical.  Like, really magical.  I expected to see a forest spirit at any time.  I have decided I love Oregon forests.  The trees are big and have a spirit to them.  The forest floor is covered with moss and ferns and all sorts of beautiful green plants.  And you wanna know the best part? I can sleep at night because I'm not freaked out about bears!
The first night we were there Darren took Paul and Kyle down to the lake with flashlights.  Paul saw something in the water, and said it was a fish of some sort.  Darren and Kyle insisted it was a twig.  They made a bet.  Well Paul caught that "twig" and it turns out it was a salamander!  And it was sleeping.  lol  Paul was right! They were laughing so hard.  Paul was in heaven catching salamanders in the lake the next day. 

Of course we had to bring the newest addition to our family- Lily.  She was lots of fun to have and she kept the kids entertained practically the whole time.  Actually she kept us all entertained.  She is so cute, she is just like a little wind-up toy doll.

Don't you just love Gabe's camping outfit?

We did this amazing hike up the mountain.  It was 2 miles up.  We all did pretty good except the puppy that needed to be carried the whole way, and Gabe fell asleep.  He was starting to get a croupy cough and was definitely getting sick.  He was almost lethargic on the hike so Darren carried him and he fell asleep almost at the top.   Darren sat on the trail and let him sleep while we finished the hike.  Then we came down and switched.  I held Gabe while Darren finished the hike. When I got to the top of the hike I looked up and gasped! The view of Mt. Hood was AMAZING!  It literally took my breath away.  The pictures don't really do it justice.  I guess pictures never do. 

A lot of the time we spent just hanging out around the campsite.  I was perfectly happy doing just that.  We played cards, ate, and hung out around the camp fire.

Look at our camp sight. Isn't it gorgeous??!! Some of the trees were huge!!! I guess the correct term is "Old Growth".

On Friday Athena and Ben joined us. I was so happy to see them! Athena and I have really gotten closer since living somewhat close to each other.  I love it! Her and Ben arrived around dark, and quickly set up their tent.  We took a quick hike down to the lake where Paul caught a salamander to show their kids.  Athena was hesitant to camp with the kids- but I was so glad she did, even though they had a rough night.  I didn't hear their kids, but I did hear another camp site that was having a Rave all night long.  It really ticked me off.  It was a bunch of college students hollering, yelling and laughing ALL night long and till the next morning about 9 when I went to their campsite and yelled at them to shut up.  I had hit my limit.  Talk about ruining the magic of the forest.  After yelling at them I felt much better and the day continued great.  Gabe was really sick with the croup and fell asleep.  So I stayed at camp with him while everyone else did a 3 mile hike around the lake.  I was sad to miss the hike.  We were having such a great time I could have stayed another day.  But they came back and we had a delicious lunch provided by Athena.  Then we packed up:( 

After we packed up we went to the lake to spend some time before heading home.  Ben had brought an inflatable boat/kayak something and the kids had a great time riding around in it.  They also had a great time just playing in the water.  Gabe and Nayeli were finally getting along!  Gabe has had no interest in her up until this point.  They were so cute playing together.

Ellie before falling in the water, and Ellie after falling in the water. 

After some time hanging out at the lake we packed up and headed home.  It was so great to spend time with Ben and Athena, and just be out in nature.  Lost Lake was one of the best camping spots I have ever been to.  I can't wait to go back!