His Hand

I want to write down my feels of things that have been happening in our life! After having Gordon and before that I have been wanting to be home, I have wanted to be able to have more time with my children- for they will only be little for such a short time. I thought that when I went on Maternity leave that I would go back to the hospital on PRN (or as needed). When the time came to start getting my schedule together, it just didn't feel right to go back to the hospital. The 12 hour shift just wasn't going to work with Dave and I. I wanted to be home!! I felt strongly that I wasn't supposed to go back, and I was at peace with it. I was enjoying being at home, and so was Dave.

Although, it was very much of a burden on Dave's shoulders to provide financially for our family. He worked hard and worked an evening job, for awhile. He also started his own little business on the side to do deliveries. But, everything just didn't cut it. I felt the burden myself and felt that I could help out. One of the reasons that I into nursing was to be able to be home and help out financially as needed. Well, i started looking into home health and hospice. I called around everywhere- but no one was really hiring. So I stopped and then I felt the need again. So I called the same places and was going to send my resume in if needed. But, one of the companies was hiring, which last week they weren't. So the manager said she wouldn't talk to me even though I didn't have home health experience. The position she needed was a on call/PRN position. It felt right , and it felt good. I thought that I had the job! But with people in the small company they did some moving around and they ended up not needing me. I was bummed, but moved and enjoyed being home. So the next week, I emailed and faxed companies my resume and left as that.

A few weeks past, and on Monday another company wanted to interview me and needed a part time person/PRN. I set up an interview with them on Thursday. Well, I talked with the manager and at first I didn't know how it would work with my family? But was we talked I thought I could do one-two pts at a time. She pretty much offered the job to me, but I needed to think about it and talk to Dave about it. My Dad was watching Gordon (Jonathan and Sarah were at a friends house), so called to tell him I was on my way home. He asked how it went and I told him and I said that the previous job was better but I thought this would work. I felt that by saying that, I let the Lord know what I wanted and was thinking and he blessed me- IMMEDIATELY. About 2:30 Dave was home for lunch and we were talking about the pros and cons of the job. I got a random phone call, we were out of minutes, but I felt like I should answer it. It was the Manager from the first company I interviewed with and she said they did actually did need me. I just started to laugh, and she was really nice and told me they really wanted me and to choose them. I told her I would get back to her about my decision by Today. Well, when I got off the phone. I KNEW that the Lord was blessing me, and it was no coincidence that she called me today. I know that as I try to be faithful in the little things in my life such as prayer and husband/wife scripture study he blesses me. But, he continues to bless me and I am able to see it more easily how he is blessing our life's and directing our paths!

What I have been up to!

So I have been working on the blanket and carseat cover since Gordon was born, and Kristi made this cute Diaper bag!

I love how it turned out and all coordinates! I love love the blanket and the back is so soft!
My pantry was driving me crazy, so I put it on my to do list last week!
And here it is, Jonathan loves it, he loves that he can walk in it and see what he can eat!

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!

Happy 30th

I had a great Birthday, maybe even GOLDEN on 1/11/11! How fun is that!!!

The Saturday before, Dave took me out to Dinner and test drive Mini vans (yes Mini Vans)!

We went to a really nice restaurant that was a step down from the chefs table, and I really enjoyed the food and being with Dave (not the noise of the the High Schoolers)!

Thanks Beth for Babysitting!!
The day of I went to lunch with my Mom and Kristi, it was a lot of fun. It was a nice and relaxing day, and the kids were good to me too- that is a great present!

Almost 38 Weeks!!

I just love this picture of my wonderful kids and me on my Birthday!!!

Shirlene's Projects Continue

This is the next project that I have been working on! I just love this quilt and how it turned out! It is so soft and warm!

Girls Night!

This past Saturday night we got together with all the girls that live close on my Mom's side. It was so fun to get caught up on what is going on with everyone! We had great food, and did a fun craft! I am so glad that we are going to be doing this more often!

Updating!

Well, I know that it is long over due for an update of our family so I will attempt a little tonight and finished tomorrow, since I worked a 12 hour shift and am helping Dave get the bunk beds back in the kids room!

So I have a long list of the things that I wanted to make for baby girl #2 (we don't have a name yet so I just call her baby girl). I started with the hardest, making the car seat cover! It was very difficult, but Kristi and my Mom helped me through it. I am glad that I did, but if you ask me if I would do it again- only for Kristi! I do think it is way cute! Kristi made the cute diaper bag for me as a gift and I love it! Don't you love how I will be coordinating with the baby!!!
Then yesterday I finished the canopy cover since it will be in the dead of winter when she is born!

I know that I haven't put any pictures of me lately, but I am feeling HUGE these days and I have three more months. When I think about how much bigger I am going to get, it makes me want to cry. Since my Grandma even says I am HUGE, but my Grandpa tells me I look healthy! Thanks Grandpa. I am still running. I am not in a hurry for her to some cause we have lots still to do and make. The only thing that is the hardest is the heartburn!!! But I know that the very tried stage is to come, so I am trying to get my projects done. This next week is a really cute quilt!!

I am still working less then part time. We are continuing to do preschool, some weeks are harder then others, but I enjoy it! We took the house off the market, so I don't just have to clean all the time. Which is so nice! You might wonder why we took it off? Dave and I felt like it was the right thing for us, and to refinance to get a better interest rate- so our payment our better.

Dave is doing great at Costco, and is a great marketer! Both of us really enjoy the company and the benefits that it provides for us! Dave is trying to move up in the company. Little by little, he will be starting a season supervisor position in about a week which is a start! Dave continues to read tons, and is excited for the next book in the series he is reading to come out on Monday! Dave also keeps busy with things around the house, and being a great Daddy!

Spending my time!

These are the main fabrics of that I am using for Baby Girl #2! I just love them! Making things for her has sucked anytime that I would do blogging or posting. But I thought since it is almost the end of October that I should update and sew tomorrow! I am getting real close to finishing the car seat cover. It is turning very well! I will post pictures when it it is finally done!

Crazy Couponer!

Like I have said before I am into couponing, and I have started to go to Rite Aid cause you can get a lot of stuff for way cheap! Well, this week I feel like I scored! I got all this (after rebate) for $5.28. I think that was very worth my time and energy! (Yes, I can't compare myself to Kristi who did even better)

Happenings

I thought I would update of the few things that we have been up to! After Halloween we have been just recovering doing little projects around the house. Dave has only 2 weeks to go! We are both really antsy for his student teaching to be done and have him making money! There will be a lot of stress off my shoulders since I have been picking up a lot. However Dave has been great with helping me out with things around the house. This week we have been working on canning applesauce (we got apples from a freecycle lady), Dave helped me with peeling to processing. It was such a help. And tonight he went to the grocery store with coupons to get things that were on sale (and I know he really dislikes doing this, but he did it for me) I LOVE YOU Dave!

I finished another banner, can you tell I really like these? It is fun to have something cute and festive around the house. We have been trying to write down something we are thankful for each night, it is nice o reflect. One night Jonathan says he was thankful for being three (and then held both of his hands up with three fingers- he loves being three!). But I have started listening to Christmas music, I love it!

Sarah loves to dress up and has put on the monkey a few times this week! It is rather cute!

Annual Sisters Weekend!

This past weekend we had our annual Sister weekend! We headed up to Bear Lake on Thursday and had our wonderful husband take care of our kids! Prior to leaving to went over to Cafe Rio for lunch with all the families that dropped us off! We love Cafe Rio, so both Dave and I were happy about that! Then we went over to Roberts to pick up some craft paper we liked for our journals! It was so nice to caught up in the car and talk about everything and anything. It was nice not to interrupted by our little ones!

We enjoyed doing our craft cause we knew that we won't have time at home to do it! Some made them for there kids and others for themselves. It was relaxing for some, but for me I seem to stress out wanting it to be perfect! Oh well, I think it turned out cute!
We enjoyed talking!

Sisters!

The weather was so nice, it was a little winding (nothing like June)!

My finished products!

Joseph was so sweet and did so good!

Sweet Boy!

On Saturday we went into town and enjoyed some wonderful pizza and traditional Raspberry shakes! We enjoyed getting away, but I was ready to come back to be with my family. We missed a few, hopefully next year we will be all together!

Thanks everyone for the fun weekend!

Update!

Well, the summer is almost over and I can't believe it! It seemed way too fast! Here is a few things that we have been up to!

Last week my Dad asked is us to watch Lavette, the kids loved it! Let just say that it cured Dave and I have having dogs anytime soon in our home! Sarah probably was the happiest about Lavette. the first thing she would do when she woke us was "Ba ba" which is what she calls Lavette. She would come up to Lavette and lay in front of her and give kisses on her mouth. She loves to give loves. Jonathan took a different role, and wanted to tell Lavette where to go and what to do- "Kitchen Lavette" (However she never listened). Jonathan was scared of Lavette, she thought that she was going to run over him. We survived and so did Lavette! She did miss Papa, dearly!

Sarah is walking more and more, I can't say that she is completely walking but there is improvement everyday! Sarah loves to walk to someone, Jonathan loves to walk with Sarah and hold her hand. He at first was walking way to fast for her and almost pulling. Dave and I would always tell him to slow down. Well, now when he walks with her he says "Slow, slow" continually. I have a hard time keeping Sarah on her back while changing her diaper, but this last week I have discovered a trick to keep them entertained. I singing Patty- cake and do the motions with there feet before and after the diaper change, and man is it wonderful! They love it and it keeps then still; Jonathan thinks it's great too, since he saw me do it with Sarah!
Nicki came to visit prior to going back East, we felt very loved. We had a lot of fun talking and just hanging out. Nicki was an awesome guest and she can come back any time! The kids loved having someone new to play with. We love you Nicki! (This was the best picture of Nicki since the kids never would smile!)

Yesterday, we went to the pool again! It was a lot of fun! The kids really enjoy the pool these days. Jonathan loves his life jacket and loves to push himself around the pool on his back! He found my goggles at home and wanted to bring them! I think he looks so cute! Sarah is this daredevil in the water, so after yesterday she will be wearing her life jacket when we go to the pool. She loves to just walk everywhere in the pool and is just fine falling in the water (face and all, and scaring me) and coming out with a smile. She would love to be big and go on the big play area, maybe next year!
Before going to the pool I went and saw a Periodontist and if you aren't aware I have terrible teeth! Just a fact of life! Well, I have some gums reseeding and and one of my teeth has no attachment to the gum so I have to have surgery to remove a little gums from the top of the roof of my mouth. The was very impressed with the periodontist, and while he was explaining every thing to me I shed a few tears, just knowing that it is going to be a painful recovery and it is just frustrating that I have to have this done at a young age. But I don't want to be 40 yrs old and losing my teeth, so the this is part of life for me. I do have to learn different technique of how to brush my teeth, but the doctor told me next time bring in my toothbrush and he would show me! So in the last month with this surgery and getting a cap- I have had a total of $1400 worth of work done on my mouth! No fun! Dave now know s after going to the dentist I always have to have work done, and now he just asks how much the damage is! I am still looking for a good dentist I don't like the one that I am at and need a good one. I had a wonderful dentist in California that I loved, that no one compares to here; any suggestions would be helpful!

This morning we went over to my Mom's and this nice girl that my Mom works with came and showed us how to make bagels! This is right before you boil them!

This is the finished product! They were wonderful! I didn't get any pictures of us eating them cause we were inhaling them! I will be for sure making them!
We our finishing our last wall of painting tonight, we are so excited to be done! Painting is so hard, but now our house is looking so much cleaner I LOVE it! I just have some touching up to do! Dave starts student teaching in 1 1/2 weeks and doesn't feel ready, but I am excited for him to start so that he can get done cause so much will change when he finishes (at least I hope). One good thing is that I didn't think that there were any history teaching jobs out there, but we have found a great website and there is- they might not be close or where we thought we wanted to live but they are out there (a good sign in my book). So that is what has been happening in our household!