Expecting #4

Yep that's right, we are excited to announce that we are expecting baby #4 this September! We are all excited, especially Jonathan and Sarah. They are always rubbing my belly, and pointing baby! They like to ask lots of random people if they are having a baby (like even our babysitter). I am finally starting to feel better!!! Thank Heavens! So I feel that my house is starting to get back together, and I have more energy to do so. The nausea is not so bad now, but was really bad at the beginning. Which is a hard thing, cause it seems what makes it feel better is eating. But I was really conscious with this 1st trimester because I know that it was a lot harder to take it off with Gordon. So I would try to eat fruit and I had an essential oil, ginger, that seemed to help. But I am thankful that I am 13 weeks and I have only gained 4 lbs, and I am still in my regular pants which is unusual for me! I like my new doctor for this pregnancy.

Gordon and Mommy!

Looking at the Good in Life

A long time ago I started asking the kids what was their favorite part of the day. I have felt that it is an important lesson to teach my child to look at the good things in life; that it is a choice to be happy.

So each night before bed (if Dave is home), at scripture study. If Dave is not home then during dinner; it gives me something to talk to them about during dinner. Tonight Dave is working late, so I started off dinner asking Sarah what her favorite part of today was (I have learned to ask Sarah first cause if not she will repeat what Jonathan says)? She said Papa's (Going over to Papa's). Then right after that, she said Jonathan (taking charge of the questions- which I let her). Jonathan said going to the store. Then Sarah asked me what my favorite part was, which took me off guard because I usually just ask the kids or also Dave but I rarely say my favorite part. I said Daddy cleaning out the oven. Then Sarah asked Gordon, then we all started thing of Gordon's favorite part. I thought it was very cute of Sarah to take the lead in the dinner conversation. She is a little mommy! I love her so much!It made me think that I need to say my favorite part of the day along with the kids!

Happy Mothers Day!

I am so thankful to be a mother to these wonderful children! I love them so much, i learn so much all the time from them! I am so thankful that I have such a wonderful example of how to be a great mom!

Thoughts

I just had a few thoughts as I feed Gordon and read my two friends blogs. As life continues to move on day by day and we all have our different trials. I think about my two friends from nursing school that each have lost a child in the last week. How HARD that would be, but as my one friend blogs about her experience it makes me stronger- also to know that she will see this sweet baby once again in her perfect form. I hold Gordon close and look at how precious and sweet he is and how precious life is. I feel that with each child I have I cherish this time more and more. Although it is so HARD to wake up in the middle of the night and not just sleep. I hold Gordon close and stroke him and feel his spirit as I feed him. I know that I will get my sleep back soon enough, this will pass to soon and I will want it back. As my mother likes to say is we do Hard things and its true- but as we rely on the Lord he strengthens us!

I also read a dear friends blog about her trails of being a mother and conquering them! I admire her and take this quote from her that I desperately needed! "Welcome the task that makes you go beyond yourself, and you will grow"! Julie B Beck

I feel that a tender mercies at this time is to be able to be at home 24 hours a day and not have to worry about work and to enjoy my children, as I learn to function as a mother of three! I feel so blessed to have these three children in my care!

How it all began...with the delivery of Baby Gordon

Dave gave me these less then a week before Gordon was due! I was having a hard time and just ready to be done! I thought it was very sweet of him!

So the morning of January 26 around 3 am Jonathan came into our room saying that his legs hurt and that he needed a blessing. He had his blanket and pillow. I situated him and then after I did that I felt a little water on my legs, and then I went to the bathroom and lost my plug and then my pressure waves started!! I couldn't believe it, I was a little surprised that it was happening even before my due date cause I was planning on going a week over as I did with Sarah! Well, Dave gave me a blessing and told me that it was on the Lord's time table and not mine! I kept thinking that I had scheduled for that day a cut and color for my hair! So I tried to relax and listen to my hypnobabies cause I was determined to go natural with this little girl that was coming. But, I just couldn't relax so at 5 am I got into the bath and that finally relaxed me. The pressure waves were about 10 minutes apart and I could just breath through them. So around 7:30 Dave and the kids gathered around me and we discussed the day. Dave was going to go to work and I would still get my hair done, but if I progressed fast he would come home. So I got ready for the day and called my Mom and Kristi to tell them what was going on. The consensus was to wait to go in until I couldn't handle it anymore! Well, I was getting ready this is what the kids were doing!
Jonathan was super excited to go to Papa's and sleep the night. So he took out ALL his clothes in his dresser and put them on the floor! He was so proud of himself, I had to laugh cause I know he was trying to help.
Meanwhile, I went to find Sarah and this is what she was doing! Drawing with a Dry erase marker!! I couldn't believe it, I didn't have the energy to clean it up during my pressure waves. So I called Kristi to see if she could come pick up the kids! It was a life saver, thanks Kristi! So I got my bags in the car and my Dad drove me to my hair appointment and waited for me just in case I needed to go the hospital! Thanks so much Dad!

Ready to have the baby! So by this time it was about 1pm and I was having pressure waves about every 7-10 minutes. My Dad and I walked the mall, and the pressure waves started to come more frequent and strong. (About every 4 minutes while walking) I decided to go home and eat something and sit on the birthing ball and listen to my hypnobabies. Dave soon came home and he ate lunch. I wanted to walk over to my parents house (a block and a half a way) and to see the kids and try to help me along. The pressure waves started to come more frequent and more intense, it was nice to have Dave their to help remind me to breath! So when we got back to the house we headed to the hospital!

Oh and we are now a Minivan Family! It was about 4 pm, hypnobabies and Dave drove, I got a text from my Sister to be strong and telling me that I could do it!! Well, we walked in and I asked for a nurse that enjoyed natural child birth, they gave me Denise. She was AMAZING! So they checked me, and just had me put a gown on over my clothes. From how the staff were acting they didn't think that I was very far along at all. Well, she checked me and I was a 6! Yes, a 6. I was so excited that I was that far. Cause with Sarah I went from 6 to complete in no time! Well, they called the midwife and Jen hurried over cause they were thinking that I was going to be having this baby SOON! So I walked over to my room to be admitted and another nurse commented that I was at a 6 and walking and looking so good. That made me feel good! I had a few pressure waves and Denise with Dave's help, helped me to relax and breath through the waves. So my Midwife checked me about 5:00 and I was a 7! So I had Dave call my mom and tell her to come cause they talked liket it is going to be soon! Well, the baby started to have some decelerations in her heart rate down to the 50's and it worried the Midwife and it took the baby about an hour to recover completely. So they gave me some medication to stop my uterus from contracting. The MD got there and they talked to me about possibly needing a c-section and if that be the case and I have no epidural then they would have to sedate me completely. Dave and I talked about what we should do, I was not liking the idea of an epidural cause I wanted to go natural all the way. I wanted the pride of saying that "I did it"! But Dave and I decided that it would be best for the baby if I got an epidural. So we decided that I get an epidural. Once it became clear that I was going to get an epidural I lost my concentration and the next three pressure waves I was NOT relaxed! I finally got the epidural around 8ish. Which I could then relax!

So then we all just waited, my parents were there is Dave and I. They continued to check me but I was staying at a 7, so the MD decided that to help me start contracting again that I should use pitocin. They started at half the rate, with my previous history. I SLOWLY started to contract with a dosing of 12 of pit. I finally got to a 10, fully effaced a station of 1+. The midwife thought that I should just start to push. She had a lot of great techniques with pushing. During the pushing I had my Mom read the Esther story out of the bible because about a month ago Dave had a feeling that she wasn't Grace but thought maybe Esther. Well, I never got that feeling, I just had this feeling well where is Grace. About 2 years ago I had a feeling that we would be having a little girl named Grace Dolly. And a little bit before we found out that we were expecting I had a feeling about two little girls coming. So I just wonder if Grace wasn't coming then how come I had all these feelings? So Mom continued to read between the pushes, but I continued to have no feelings. I was kind of waiting for baby girls delivery because during Sarah's birth I knew Sarah was going to be Sarah. So I pushed for about an hour and 15 minutes and there she came. Oh wait SURPRISE it was a little boy! I couldn't believe it and just had to laugh! But it felt right and I just had to laugh because that was the reason why I just couldn't have a good feeling about her name- CAUSE there was never a HER at ALL!

He was 8 lbs 12 oz, 21 inches long, born at 10:43 pm!

OUR CUTE LITTLE BOY!

Many have asked if I found out and how this happened. Well, to start off- Dave and I always thought that we were having a baby girl with all my previous feelings. So when the date of our ultrasound came the tech said that she was 95% sure it was a little girl (while watching the ultrasound we had no idea what she was looking at- at previous ultrasounds with Jonathan and Sarah we could kind of tell what everything was), but we could come back and check for sure later if we wanted. We thought that we were good! So while picking out fabric to make for our "little girl" I kept picking out little boy fabric. The fast forward to about 2 week before the delivery, something just wasn't right. I had this unsettled feeling that something wasn't right. I wasn't sure if our baby would have special needs or a cleft plate problem (during the ultrasound they could see the plate), something wasn't right. Well, now looking back it was because it was a little BOY all along!

After the birth the nurses checked him out, he had some meconium when they broke my water- so they did this intrauterine wash and an antibiotic. And he was completely fine and his apgar score was a 8 and 9. With this birth I had a few ideas of how I wanted things to be and the Midwife did her best to do as I wanted. Well, after they checked him over they gave him back to me for some bonding! I LOVED IT!!

Previous deliveries I was in the OR so that never happened. This time I held him and talked with him and just enjoyed holding my LITTLE BOY! Then I nursed him and he did great at latching on! It was so refreshing to hold this little spirit in my arms. I had forgotten how previous it is to be a mother and hold a little one from Heaven!

Then Daddy, Grammy and Papa got there time to met our new little guy!

Look at that little smile from our little boy!

What can I say proud parents!!

After we had our time, then the nurse put ointment in his eyes, and then they took him to get bathed! Dave went to help!

Look at that face!

Content after getting his first bath! Doesn't he look so sweet? Well, he is and we just adore him!

Dave stayed with him tell he was ready to sleep, and then he made sure I was ready for bed.

Well, our little boy continued to be called "Little Boy" since we had no idea of little boy names. We decided to sleep on it! I was exhausted and so happy to bring a new little one into our family!

32 Weeks

So the next day after seeing Santa, Emily wanted to take Maternity pictures of me. So here is a few that she took.

Well, I will be 35 weeks on Thursday- but who is counting.

Around 30 weeks I decided that I really didn't like my doctor, I wasn't sure if I should switch doctors so late. But Dr Wolsey had always told me i could come back whenever I wanted. I wasn't sure if I was being emotional or not. Dave said he would support me in whatever I did. I talked with my Mom and sister and they said that if I wasn't happy then to move! Well, after much debate I decided to go back to Dr Wolsey. However still not sure if I wanted to go back to such a large practice. I talked to a girl at work and she used some midwifes in the next city over. I decided that I really wanted to go a different direction this time! So that is what I did. At 32 weeks I changed over to the Nurse Midwifes. Then talking to Kristi more she said that maybe I should go an entire different way by going natural. And she told me to watch this documentary about the "Business of Birthing Babies". Well, after watching that. Dave and I were both on board with going natural. Dave didn't want to wear a Marshmallow suit this time by going into the OR, and I didn't want to have a c-section (I was very close to having one with Sarah). Well, I have started a home study of Hypnobabies and really like it. I have really felt better this past two weeks! And I have had two appointments so far with the Midwifes and have felt that it was a good change for me!

My thoughts

Well, I thought that I would write down some of my thoughts. The big thing that that is going on is that Jonathan is not sleeping or having a hard time. We started this back when we came home from California. It has been very hard two weeks. We cut out naps, which is so hard for me cause this is my quiet time, although I knew it was coming to an end. But, even cutting out naps didn't help. It would be one thing if he just wasn't sleeping, but there is outrageous crying and wanting the other parent, wanting to sleep in our bed. So for the first few days after Dave was done with patience, it was my turn (being around 1 am). I was so tried and having to work the next day. I would either put him into bed with me or lay him on the ground. Well, after doing my four days of work close together, and having over a week off. I decided that we needed to figure something out. He was saying he was scared of monsters, so I had this thought that I should read a book series to him. We have started reading the Magic Tree House Series. He really enjoys it, I will read to him tell he is either alseep or almost there. But, he will wake up and after 1 or 2 hours. Then the shift work begins with Dave and I. We have rearranged his bedroom at Jonathan's request, given him little treats in the morning if he stays in his bed. We have had to shut his door, which doesn't seem that bad. But, Jonathan is VERY scared of the dark and this freaks him out. He screams and kicks- he did this for about 45 minutes, but he was so worked up that he was about to throw up. He finally calmed down and Dave opened the door. We have only had to do that once. The last two nights have been the most successful, so we are hoping that he is getting out of this phase. So we are doing 21 days in his room and when he has done this he gets big reward either Chucky Cheeses or making his own build a bear. He hasn't choose yet! However, the one thing that has come from this is more one on one time with me, which is nice. He usually wants me to read to him at night and we read a little during quiet time. I have enjoyed this part of it.
Another subject that has been on my mind recently is Motherhood. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has blessed me with Jonathan and Sarah, and another one on the way. I am thankful at this time in my life that Heavenly Father blessed me with Jonathan and Sarah so close together. I remember when I found out that I was pregnant with Sarah. I didn't know how I would do it. But, Heavenly Father has given me little blessings and tender mercies to help me when they both were so small, and now they are so close and love to play with each other (most of the time), and Sarah just loves Jonathan she will come up to him randomly and just put her head on his lap and he will just stroke her hair. It is so precious! With that said I do believe that each one of us has a plan of our own of rearing children and when to have them. I do feel that this is a scared responsibility between my husband, me and Heavenly Father. I know that this little one is supposed to come to our home at this time. I do feel that there is another one to come after her. I might surprise or shock people about the timing of my children, but that is between Dave, me and Heavenly Father. You might ask me how many I am going to have or when the next one will come. I do not know, but I do know that we will have as many as the Lord wants us to have!

Update!

It seems as though I continue to be behind on my blogging, but my time seems to be spent so many places at this time! Such as life! Here is my attempt to get caught up! Last week was our 5 year anniversary!!! It was fun to hit a milestone in our lives with Dave graduating and having our 5 year wedding anniversary. We celebrated by going to dinner at Red Lobster (after attempting Mcgrath's, but it apparently has been out of business for quite some time?). Then we went shopping and just enjoyed being together. Oh yeah we then watched a movie! Dave was wonderful and gave me these beautiful roses! I gave him a scrapbook (that still needs to be printed) of our Costa Rica trip! That was fun to do to reminisce about the wonderful trip we had together!

Happy Mothers Day!
Dave made me breakfast in bed, but one of the best things was sleeping in (which hardly ever happens), I was in Heaven! It was a nice day spent with my family and I also enjoyed going to Sunday school and Relief Society and being uplifted by the messages (cause the men went into the primary to relieve the women).

With the onset of summer upon us we have been starting our summer projects! Dave has been painting our different doors in our house so that they match the base boards and not the tan walls :)! Jonathan is Daddy's little helper, he was just so excited to help him and be with Daddy! Jonathan is in a great stage of life, just interested in everything around him. I have a funny little story that I need to explain a little bit. Since I am a nurse, I feel that it is important to explain to my children the real names of body parts and not nickname them. Well, I was going the bathroom, and it of course never fails one of my children come in;- it is Jonathan and this is the conversation

Jonathan : Whatya doin'?
Me: Going the bathroom.

Jonathan: Why? (he comes closer)

Me: Because I have to go pee.

Jonathan: Why? (he comes even closer)

Me: Because that is a normal thing that people do.

Jonathan: Oh, Mommy where is your penis?

Mommy: Only boys have a penis and girls have a vagina
Jonathan: Oh (and walks out)

I couldn't believe it, just made me laugh. But, I couldn't laugh in front of Jonathan so I went out where Dave was painting and told him the story and we just laughed!

Jonathan is just so interested in life and people! He loves to play at the neighbors and talk to them through the fence! Jonathan is SO excited about going to the beach and going to Disneyland now!

Dave is busy working full time now as a marketer at Costco, we both love the company. He also is working on the different projects I have for him. Along with applying for teaching jobs, which could be a full time job in itself. The applications are very tedious and time consuming. He also has been starting up working out, which everyone in the house benefits from :)

THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN CENSORED BY ADMIN DAVE

(He said it was inappropriate)

Oh my Sarah! I just love this picture it is just a classic picture of Sarah after a nap! NAKED! Paired with shoes! Sarah sure keeps us on our toes! She HATES a wet diaper and always has! I don't know if she is ready to potty train just yet, but I think after my trip to DC and to Nicki's reception we will attempt. I know it is a process at least in this house. She is very strong willed and I hear "ME, Me" repeated over and over again when she wants to do something that I want to do for her, which is frequent. I am trying to let her choose more and do things for herself. But when she gets upset or doesn't like something she gives raspberries very upset like, which I don't like one bit. However, Sarah has become my little helper and loves to help me clean the mirrors or help put things away for me! She really enjoys having me all to herself when Jonathan's at preschool once a week (the other day Papa, takes him). This past week we were going home and she kept saying "Papa". I asked her if she wanted to go over to Papa's and she said "uh huh." She loves getting loves from Papa, while I practice! Sarah loves to be sang to at bedtime by me. I think that Sarah has the hardest time when I am at work (has always been so), well one night I layed next to her in her crib and sang to her cause she was having a hard time. She just LOVED it because ever since she gets right into bed at bedtime and points at me and then the pillow. She now will say certain words with the song. I have to say I enjoy this one on one time with Sarah that we can just enjoy this time together! (I'll try to get live footage of the above mentioned bedtime ritual soon.)

Becoming a mother three years ago!

As Jonathan's third Birthday came closer and closer I started thinking about how three years ago I became a mother. I always wanted to be a mother, however actually becoming a mother was very overwhelming. I remember holding Jonathan the first time in the NICU, and not know how to hold a newborn in my arms. I remember breaking down after having an unsuccessful time feeding Jonathan trying to call my mom and then my sister and breaking down and saying I don't know how to be a mother. Well, now I am three years in and I can't say that I know how to be a mother but I have a better idea of how to be one. I am so thankful that I am a mother to my wonderful little boy that brings so much joy and love into my life!

I love the challenges and the frustrating of being a mother because I love finding the little small joys and laughter of the day that comes and makes being a mother all worth it!

Fall Break and Life

This was two Sunday ago, but I never posted about it. This was Family Home evening, Dave prepared the lesson and the kids thought it was great! We have been learning about Lehi and Nephi in the scriptures, so Dave had a great idea to act it out. Dave and i were the camels and we led Lehi (Jonathan) and Sariah (Sarah) through the wilderness and ended up in at there tent. Dave did a great job. It was prior to church and so Jonathan wanted to wear this signs that said Lehi and Nephi to church, I thought it was rather cute!
Dave went and did a few errands with Sarah. I stayed home with Jonathan. Jonathan entertained himself with trains. I thought he was was cute playing!

Dave posted below what happened, but here are a few pictures of cute Sarah!

This past week was Fall Break for Dave, which was a very much needed break for him. But, with him being home I worked a LOT. I mean I worked four days in a row! It was so HARD I had a few meltdowns. The night before the last shift Dave gave me a blessing, which helped immensely! With me being at work Dave was at home with the kids, he did great trying to keep the house clean and make dinner. On Saturday night he even had the kids bathed and ready for bed when I got home (maybe that was a sign that he was DONE). On Friday night we canned chicken and they had to be processed and it was a rather long process. But Dave did all three batches for me! He was great this weekend for me, thanks sweety! But, on Sunday night we both said we ready to get back to normal life- Dave going to work and me being home!

On Sunday, after church I was talking to Jonathan on the phone and he was talking to me about his day, and I asked him about what he learned in nursery. He told me he learned about Joseph Smith, temples and church. I thought okay but didn't really think that he learned about Joseph Smith- but he has a thing about him right know and refers to him often. Well, at dinner that night we were talking about how church went and Jonathan blurted out Joseph Smith he was in the forest and then Dave showed me what he made in nursery. I thought it was great he was actually learning and listening!

I am really liking the stage that Jonathan is at right now! He is really starting to understand consequences. So today we went over to Papa's and I gave Jonathan the choice between sleepers or shoes. He couldn't find his shoes so he choose slippers. Which is a choice probably not the best in my mind- but it didn't matter that is what he choose. I did remind him that he couldn't play outside if Benny or Abby were out there. He said okay and we were off. So we got to Papa's and I started to practice and Jonathan asked Papa to put a show on. Well, later I see Sarah with one of Jonathan's socks. Well, he thought that if he just took of his slippers and socks then it would be fine. So I sent him to time out. And then when I went to get him out I talked to him about why he was in there, and he knew. Then I asked him bout what he could do differently to play outside and he answered shoes. He understood. It was a wonderful feeling, as a mother, that he understood the consequences of his choice. Yes it is small, but that is where it STARTS!!

Our Sarah is doing better at not screaming back when she is told no, or something is taken away that she is not suppose to have. She still has a long ways, and goes to time out here and there but I can till she is connecting why she is going to time out in her little head. However she doesn't still understand that the sooner she stops crying and calms herself down she can get out. But I believe she will get it!

I am so thankful that I was about to go to "Love and Logic" Parenting class twice and I have read the book once. But it is on my Christmas list cause i want to read it again to help me be a better parent and pick up more technique and ideas to help Jonathan and Sarah.

This is more just for me, I think it is cute of Sarah. She was dancing to this slower music while Daddy was singing to it and getting dinner ready. So I picked Sarah up and started dancing with here. I then put her down and then she would sign more. It was cute so Dave taped it. On a side note, Sarah picked up candy as a sign- the important things of life you know!

Mothers Day!

This is how this past week Started out! Jonathan made his foot prints for me at school!! He was so proud of himself! He showed me, but I said is that for me he said "No Jonathan's". When we got into the car Jonathan wouldn't let go of it! He just held on tight and worked his way up into the car seat!

Yesterday, Dave let me sleep in and got up with the kids and brought breakfast in bed! It was so cute, and the pancakes where very fluffy! Dave surprised me with a Spa treatment at Remedies, and I am so excited. I have been trying to decided if I want an hour massage with a pedi or 1/2 hour massage, facial, and pedi. Any thought would be great. I have gotten some already!

Anything can bet last year, working on Mothers day. I was great to be home with my family and go to church together! We went to listen to my Dad speak in his ward, which he did great (however Jonathan had a hard time by the end, so Dave missed a bit of his talk and he was sad about that).

After church we rested and then I made a fruit pizza, it was SOOO good! We went over to my parents for dinner and had kabobs! It was great food, nothing beats food from the grill! It was very enjoyable. Then we played a new game called golf. It was fun to have a change in games, and James and Martha stopped by which was even better!

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry weather or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom

I had never been puked on.

Poop on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night!

Before I was a Mom

I never held down a screaming child so the Doctor could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin!

I never sat up late at night watching a baby sleep!

Before I was a Mom

I never held a sleeping baby cause I

Didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million piece

when I could stop the hurt.

I never knew something so small could

effect my life so much!

I never knew that I could love someone so much!

I never knew that I would love being a

MOM!

Before I was a Mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside of my body.

I didn't know how special it would feel to feed a baby!

I didn't know that bond between a mother

and her child.

I didn't know something so small could make me feel so important and happy!

Before I was a Mom

I never got up in the middle of the night to check on a child to make sure they were okay!

I had never known the warmth,

the joy,

the love,

the heartache,

the wonderment,

or the satisfaction of being a MOM.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom!

Author unknown

My friend put this on her blog, and I felt that there were so many feeling that I have felt from being a mother! I love being a mom, it is so challenging and tiring but rewarding joyful at the same time! I am so glad that I took the leap of faith to become a mother and that Heavenly Father has bestowed these little ones into my home to love and nurture! I truly feel that it is one of the biggest and best blessings to being a Mother!

* I forgot to post this on the previous post so I put it here! I think it is cute of Sarah in the grass!

Sarah's Birth

A proud mother,

looking at her beautiful baby girl for one of the first times!

Just after Sarah was born!

Cute cheeks!

She was ready to come!

Getting ready to go home!

Sarah was born on at 3:45 a year ago yesterday! We knew that we needed to have Sarah at this time, even though we weren't exactly sure of everything. I had some anxiety, but I knew it was her time. I new that Sarah was a little girl at the beginning of my pregnancy, I had that feeling. However, we just didn't know what to name her. We talked about it and talked about. i wrote lists i knew that I wanted a family name that she could live up too, I liked two names however I just wasn't sure. So we decided that we would just wait till she was born. Dave had a feeling about a week or so before she was born that her name was suppose to be Sarah Shirlene. But, I had a hard time. I really liked this other name, I just said we would wait so Dave said that was fine. Well, with everything that happened I was in the OR once again trying to deliver Sarah. And while they were prepping me I knew her name Sarah Shirlene the spirit testified to me that, that was supposed to be her name and that she was a strong spirit that was coming to us! So that is how her name came to be! I told Dave after she was born and then he was excited and started to tell everyone!
Well, Sarah's due date was the 2nd. When the second came nothing was going on. I really REALLY wanted to go natural, I had my head set on it! I have a wonderful Doctor that was willing to let let me go awhile before I would have to have a c-section. So that Friday I had to have a non-stress test which was okay. On Sunday night I was starting to have contractions and get into a lot of pain. I went into the doctors and they checked me and I was maybe a 2 and the contractions stopped when i got there. But, they gave me some morphine and phenergan and sent me on my way! The next day i was out, I slept the entire day through. Kristi took Jonathan for awhile. I finally recovered and on Tuesday I went and saw Dr Wolsey he checked me and he said that I was barely dilated to 2. So I asked him to if he could strip my membranes and he said that if nothing happened to come in the next day and he would strip my membranes. So Wednesday night, I went in and he wasn't really sure if he wanted to strip my membranes, he really wasn't a real believer that striping your membranes kick started the contractions. So he talked to me about having a c-section the next morning. I was going back and forth weather to just wait till the next day for a c-section or try and go natural through the night, either way I was going to have my baby the next day! Well, he made the decision to strip my membranes and that was no cake walk. So with in 20 minutes my contractions started and I wasn't lovin' life! So that night we arranged with my parents to put Jonathan down at there house cause I was going to be going in for a c-section the next morning. Well, my pain progressed and my contractions stayed constant. But I layed down for an hour to make sure they stayed constant and they did. So at the hour mark, I told Dave that I was going to the hospital and I was HURTING! When i got there, they admitted me and I was dilated to a 3. So they gave me an epidural as soon as I could! I wasn't sure how fast it would be , so I asked for some morphine. But, they were really fast and I was pain free! By one I went to bed and Dave went home to sleep. By 5 or 6 they checked me and I didn't do anything I was still at a 3. Then by 10 Dr. Wolsey checked me and stretched my cervix to a 4-5 and he was patience and said that he would wait to see if I would continue to dilate. So my 1ish Dr Wolsey checked me about and stretched me to a 7. So then he said that he would give me some more time. So Dave and I waited some more, then finally I started to not feel good. I felt like I needed to be turned, and then I started to shake and then I felt like I had a fever. So I made Dave try to turn me, that didn't go so well that probe that was monitoring Sarah and attached to Sarah came off. So he tried to find a staff member, finally someone came in and the checked me and I was COMPLETE! Can you believe it I finally dilated on my own. So I called my Mom, and my sister and my Mom came and I started to push! Kristi and Dave are on the side of me helping me with my legs and telling me when to push and Mom is t my head giving me moral support! Kristi tells me that she pushed for 45 minutes with Lydia! SO I am thinking I can push for an hour max and then I will have my baby girl in my arms. Well, that didn't happen. I thought that I was pushing very effectively, but Sarah was turned the wrong way, so every time I pushed she just would go back to her cozy spot. So finally Dr Wolsey came and he gave me some options first keep pushing and hope she comes out, 2nd forceps (which I am kind of scared of) and 3rd a c-section. I really didn't want a c-section since I already was complete. So I opted for forceps, but we delivered in the OR because if we couldn't get her out with forceps then I would have to have a c-section. So they wheeled me into the OR, and Dr Wolsey said when I say push you push and I did and after about 2-3 good pushes she was out and we had a health baby girl! Sarah was a cute baby. She came out hungry, but I didn't realize that. But she was ready to eat! Well in the mean time I got stitched up and Dave was with Sarah. Sarah was this happy baby that enjoyed being held by her Mommy and eating! We sure love our Sarah bear and wouldn't have traded her for the world! We love you Sarah dearly!

Motherhood

Ater one of Sarah's first bath's
Jonathan letting me just hold him, he wasn't feeling good. So I was just able to sing to him and rock him to sleep!

MY greatest hope is teaching my children correct principles and instilling in them a desire to have their own testimonies. As Dave and I try to be good parents and teach our children the way we feel is the best- we have been going to this Love and Logic parenting class. This is our second round at taking this class. However, I feel that it is a good reminder for us and we can pick up a few more principles of parenting that we want to start implementing. So with this hope, on Sunday we were having Family Home Evening with Jonathan and Sarah. Prior to the little lesson we sang Jesus wants me for Sunbeam, Jonathan really enjoyed (the rest of it was torcher to keep him sitting and listening). He really likes to hop when we say "beam" or to just randomly do it. Well, this morning I was fixing Dave's lunch and Jonathan was just kind of jumping around and talking to himself. But he kept repeating himself and then I realized that he was saying "beam", and hopping with it. So We started to sing it and Jonathan and Sarah were just loving it! I had a feeling that no matter how little the things are that we are trying to teach him that Jesus loves him or that he is Child of God. He is getting a little bit of it every time we try to teach it. I feel that I need to write these things down, so when mothering becomes hard and more challenging I can remember that I am doing my best. I love being a mother and the opportunities to learn and teach and try to do better everyday!