The Orange Oracle

The Cage - January

2012-02-08T09:33:00.000-08:00

I have a little bird cage sitting on my book shelf. It's actually an owl cage. I'm a Harry Potter nut, remember.
I have a goal to put something different in the cage for each month this year. This is what I put in it in January. It's a monogrammed block of wood that we got for Christmas from Becky, Nathan and Marley Parley Pants. I think it looks good in the cage, but now I need to think of something else to put in there for February. I'm thinking something with a Valentine theme... Stay tuned...

I love this girl!

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Lola in morning with snot Nov 2011.

R.I.P. Toby

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Prince Tobias Lee of the House of Wells (Toby) passed away today at the age of 13 years old (a.k.a. 91 dog years). His health had been declining for some time. He is survived by the Wells family, who brought him home from Singapore as a puppy and loved him dearly. He then moved in with Grandpa & Grandma Alger, who treated him like a son. Grandma will be able to eat her own chocolate now. Grandpa may need to visit grandsons to give bedtime treats. He was too noble to play fetch, but was not picky about the movies he watched. His midnight adventures with invisible intruders will now be replaced by new adventures as "all dogs go to heaven"

I stole that from Liz's facebook page...

Last night we had a memorial for Toby. It was sad and hilarious.

First we sang Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?

Then we each gave a tribute in one form or another. Here is our tribute:

Toby by Sam and Julie Johnson

I loved Toby so much

Though he loved us all

He did not do much

He barked at the neighbors dogs

He loved his blanket like no regular dog.

Toby thought he was tough

He’d bark at big dogs with might

Once, they got through the fence

And gave him a fight

Toby liked me

With his blanket we would race

But if I got near Grandma

He tried to bite off my face

When Grandma and Grandpa left

To a far off land

Toby came over

And pooped in our sand

Toby loved Camping

He rode in the truck

When he ran around

His fur filled with muck

He went to the groomer

Leela loved him, we know

She thought he was a girl

He always came home with a bow

At the end of the day

He wanted his treat

He would dance around

At Grandpa's feet

As Toby got old

There wasn’t much for him to do

When he went in the backyard

He liked to eat poo

Toby was fluffy

Toby was soft

But in the end

He peed on the floor oft

At age 91

The time had to come

Toby was put to sleep

His kidneys were done

Toby is gone

He will be missed

Grandma gets new carpet

She is pumping her fist

After the tributes we sang How Much Is That Doggie In The Window.

Christmas Cards

2012-02-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

I love getting Christmas Cards. I love hearing from my friends and family, and getting updates on their lives. I love seeing pictures of the children or from trips they took during that year. I love that they thought of me and took the time to put my address on the envelope! I like to display our Christmas Cards on the closet door, which is just as you walk into our house. Today is February and I still haven't taken our Christmas Cards down, and I still wander over there and look at the cards and read the notes and letters. So fun!

Can you guess who sent us this one?

Yeah, that really happened! In-N-Out Burger totally sent us a Christmas Card!

I have a bit of guilt though. Which is strange for me because in general I don't feel guilt... Something is wrong with me, maybe I'm a sociopath? But I am feeling a bit guilty because I enjoy Christmas Cards so much but I haven't sent one out in five or six years now. Isn't that terrible? So, in an effort to prove I'm not a sociopath who feels entitled to Christmas Cards with out any type of reciprocity, I now vow to send out Christmas Cards in December of 2012. If you would like one then you need to email your address to me.

The Christmas Dress

2012-01-29T20:59:00.000-08:00

Sam attends a Title One school. For those of you who don't know, this means there is a high percentage of children attending his school from low-income families. So the school is allotted extra money for learning programs and teaching assistants. I'm not sure my explanation is completely accurate, so if you are still not sure you should Google it.

Most of the school is on reduced or free lunch. Several children wear the same thing to school everyday. Could be a choice, I'm not sure.

This last December we got a call and an email explaining that a drama group from BYU held a Dress Drive and had collected over 400 dresses for our school. The dresses were displayed, much like a store and every girl in the school got to "go shopping" for a dress and take one home if they wanted one.

That afternoon Sam said, "The girls in my school got dresses today." I told him that I had heard about that.

Then he said, "I should have asked my teacher if I could get one for Lola." We laughed, I told him that Lola had plenty of clothes and dresses. Then I saw something in his expression that made me say, "You did ask your teacher, didn't you ?" He smiled and admitted that he had. I asked what she said and he told me she had said no.

A few days later he started talking about a picture he was drawing to give to Lola for Christmas.

On the last day of school before winter break he closed himself up on the closet under the stairs and did some serious wrapping. I thought it was way too much effort for a drawing and I suggested (through the door) that he put it in an envelope. He declined.

On Christmas Eve he was talking about his gift for Lola and tried to get us to guess. I said I thought it was a drawing and he said that was only part of it. We guessed and guessed and he ever told us it was a "Christmas blank." When we still couldn't guess he said the blank started with a D. We still had no idea.

On Christmas morning Sam was almost as anxious for Lola to open his gift as he was to open the ones for himself. Almost.

We were so surprised to see a dress in the package. I immediately put it together and knew where the dress had come from. He told us that when he had asked his teacher if he could pick a dress for Lola that she had said yes and then she went with him while he picked it out.

Of course she had to wear it to church that day.

I think the look on his face says it all.

Christmas... a little late, I know.

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

The opening of the Jammies.

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We had lunch with the Alger and Wells families and then dinner, scriptures, and song with the Johnson, Nichols and Cote Families. And the poochie kins opened their traditional Christmas Eve Jammies.

Lola's jammies are just about the cutest jammies I have ever seen. They have little monkeys on them doing girly things like being ballerinas and princesses. She looks so fuzzy and cozy in them too. I just want to squeeze her. And they have a little bit of sparkle on them... NOT GLITTER... SPARKLE.... I learned the hard way not to buy any clothes with GLITTER on it. That stuff comes off the clothes and get EVERYWHERE!

Here is Sammy boy in his Christmas Eve Jammies. His is a pair of Flannel pants with a Tony Hawk T-shirt. Tony Hawk is a famous skate boarder. It was kind of and interesting coincidence because later that night, Santa brought Sam a rip stick, which is kind of like a skate board. He really liked his jammies.

Lola really liked her jammies too, but you can't really tell from this picture.

Santa came and brought us some wonderful things. This is the traditional Loot Shot.

The poochie kins on Christmas morning.

This is Lola in her Christmas dress that she got from her brother. Look at his face. Doesn't he look so pleased and satisfied that she is going to wear his gift to church? More to come about this dress in a future post.

For your viewing pleasure. #3

2012-01-26T13:13:00.001-08:00

For your viewing pleasure. #2

2012-01-26T13:06:00.001-08:00

For your viewing pleasure. #1

2012-01-26T12:53:00.001-08:00

Pictures by Anj

2012-01-17T10:18:00.000-08:00

I have a brilliant cousin. Her name is Andrea, but I like to call her Anj. She is a photographer. And a student. And a pastry chef. And a librarian. And a nanny (a true, born mother actually). And a world traveler. And a soon to be Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As you can probably tell, WE LOVE ANDREA!

At the end of last summer we had a Busath family reunion in Yellowstone. While there, Anj was kind enough to do a photo shoot with us. She does such good work. She can make even us look good.

Thanks Anj!

Sam's Christmas Concerts

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

This year, Sam had several concerts for the holiday season. First was a piano recital, which I forgot to take

my camera to. Luckily, Grandpa J took some video, so we'll have a copy of that soon. I loved watching him play in his bow tie. In fact I got the giggles because he was so cute and looked so professional and did

such a great job. It was a really fun night.

Next was his first band concert. I'm not sure where Sam is in the picture above, but the dude with the silver hair reminds me of a certain neighbor we had growing up... And check out that guy on the greenish sweater. He recorded the whole thing with his iPad. I could really use one of those. My birthday is March 30th for any of you wondering...

In this picture you may or may not be able to pick Sam out of the line up of Trumpet players who are standing. He's in the line somewhere near the teacher standing at the mic. This whole concert was very cool for me and very nostalgic. PEPLOW!!!!

Here is my boy, leaving the stage with his trumpet.

And of course, there was the annual Christmas Sing at Sam's Elementary School. He sang so well and he looked so handsome.

Each of these nights I felt super proud of this kid. He is having such a great year at school and band and piano. He is improving in all and trying really hard at each, and keeping very busy. Plus he is a really fun kid to have around at home. We are so glad he is in our family!

Lola's First Birthday - POST EDIT

2012-01-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

Lola's Birthday was on a Thursday. We decided to party on Friday. Since Grandma and Grandpa J work at the temple on Friday, they came by on the actual birthday and brought a cupcake for Lola. She loved it!

On Friday the party happened. We invited Grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins over for some cake and ice cream. We played a game where Lola chose what she wanted to be when she grows up, she chose to be a Veterinarian. Also, we played a game where she was supposed to pick her favorite cousin. She picked Sam. I do not recommend this game. Feelings were hurt, people cried.

We stripped her down for the cake part. Does it look like she knows what's coming?

As I put the cake down in front of her she leaned forward and tried to get a big bite out.

Then she was taking dainty little pinches of the frosting.

Then slightly bigger handful's.

Then back to huge bites.

She got a little messy, but not too bad. Matt took her right up and gave her a quick bath.

And here she is in her birthday bib and hat. This picture cracks me up. Is she drunk on cake or partied out? You decide.

P.S. POST EDIT - She picked a horse out of the line up, which stood for becoming a vet.

Some of her other choices were:

a remote control - couch potato

a ruler - teacher who spanks,

a calculator - accountant,

a whisk - chef,

telephone - telemarketer,

and some others that I cannot recall right now.

The items were lined up on the floor and the one she crawled to and picked up was her career choice.

We learned this game from our Cousin Eric's first birthday. Eric is like 23 or 24 now. We played the same game at Sam's first Birthday party. I can't remember what Sam chose to be, isn't that sad? I wish I had had a blog back then to refer to.

2011-12-24T22:11:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

From the Johnson Family

Lola is 1! (Sob!)

2011-12-08T14:29:00.001-08:00

Lola spent most of this photo shoot trying to pull the bow out of her hair.

Don't do it!

She spent a lot of time hugging the bear too.

And crawling away from me.

And throwing the bear.

I can't believe this girl is 1. She is really thinking she is a grown up lady. Yesterday, while I got her dressed she was laying on the changing table and looking at the hair bows hanging on the wall saying, "pretty, pretty." So, I put one in her hair and then carried her into the bathroom to see. She looked and smiled at herself and touched her hair and rested her fist under her chin for a good three minutes. It was hilarious.
Later, while we were downstairs I was folding some laundry and she was digging through the basket. Every time she found something that belonged to her she would try to put it on and then when that didn't work she would bring it to me. When I wouldn't put it on her she would throw a fit for a few minutes and then go back to the basket and look for something else and then start all over.

Back in October....

2011-12-07T09:26:00.001-08:00

Sam lost some teeth in October.

I found this series of pictures on my camera.

I think he was checking out his new look. I'm not sure why he didn't just look in the mirror.

We went raspberry picking in October, down in Payson. Sorry, I guess I forgot the mascara that day.

This is what our baby looks like on a normal day.

Or often like this.

This is our sick baby.

She broke out a little smile when she saw the camera.

This is what our baby looks like when she is possesed by deamons.

Halloween, again...

2011-12-03T21:24:00.001-08:00

A very late Halloween post.

2011-12-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Lola wanted to be Renesme for Halloween so bad that she grew her own fangs... But, no, I didn't let her.

Sam; however, was a vampire. He wanted us to actually dye his hair, but we settled on black hair spray.

Here's Lola, in her costume. Can you tell what she is?

How about now?

If you don't know by now, click here for a hint.

I made Lola a little Candy Corn dress that I saw on Pinterest. She loved it, can you tell?

This is Lola, waiting for Sam's School Halloween Parade to start.

Still waiting...

Poor baby.

She missed him as he whizzed by.

Lola at 11 months

2011-11-30T12:21:00.001-08:00

I'm done trying to figure out how to line these up the way I want them. Here she is, 11 months old.

Lola at 10 Months

2011-11-23T12:30:00.000-08:00

The girl Can't hold still!

The Modem

2011-11-22T12:42:00.001-08:00

A few months ago our computer started to get really slow. Naturally, I was mad because we have had it for less than two years and we haven't done anything to it to make it slower. I kept telling Matt that we must have a virus or picked up some malwear. He ran his doohicky that helps detect those things and... nothing. Then one day, seemingly out of the blue, our modem wouldn't work.
Our modem is a little box, which we apparently bought from Qwest, that sits on our desk collecting dust, and connecting us to the Internets. It's also connected to our wireless router, which allows us to use the Internets without wires... What? You already know about all this stuff? This isn't new news?
So, Matt called Qwest, they gave him some tips, when none of them worked he was told that the modem was "busted". I would like to bust it with a hammer, because all this time I've been thinking bad stuff was happening to my computer. I couldn't post pictures on blogger very well, it was taking forever to get from site to site and page to page on each site, just awful!
Here is the part where I feel like a jerk because there are worse problems in life than slow Internets... But I live a charmed life and don't have real problems, don't be jealous.
So, $80-90 later and we have a new combination modem/wireless router. IF anyone is in need of a wireless router, let me know. There was no problem with our router, Matt just decided to buy a combo. One less thing collecting dust on the desk. Like I said, Charmed Life.
Now the Internets work fine and I'm having no problems with Blogger or posting pictures, so stay tuned for several posts. I've spent the last two days trying to catch up with other blogs I follow. It seems half the bloggers I read decided to blog everyday this month. It has been so fun reading their posts. I'm sad I didn't get to join you. Maybe next November.

Flashback to June

2011-10-03T14:50:00.000-07:00

In early June we went to a Literacy Fair at BYU. While there we got to meet several authors and get some of our books signed. We met Brandon Mull, Ally Condie, Jessica Day George, Carla Kelly and a few more.

They had all kinds of activities. This was one of the ones I liked watching Sam do. He got a bout that high and got nervous, but wasn't sure how to get down. We told him to just let go, but he did not want to do that. Poor guy felt stuck. He was a really good climber and would have made it to the top if it weren't for his nerves.

Miss Lola was along for the ride, with yellow feathers in her hair, of course.

Sam got to read the news off a teleprompter. He did a great job.

An he did some bouncing. It was a great fair. They had a calligrapher writing people's names, and some crafts, an art display, and my favorite thing, besides meeting the authors, was a movie about Anne Frank. If they do it a again next year, we will be back.

9 Month Picture Overload

2011-09-16T16:03:00.000-07:00

Lola is 9 months old and I am in denial, that is why these pictures are so late.

How is that 9 months of the pregnancy felt like five years, but the first 9 months of her life have felt like five days? It's sick and wrong!

I had to yank her legs down and then stand up really fast and snap the pic before they curled up again.
Miss Lola thinks she is old enough to stand in her crib. She also thinks she is old enough to climb the stairs. Sick and Wrong! This next batch of pictures has a ghostly orb and it kind of freaks me out. I just like to think it's Grandma Bea, back for a visit during the photo shoot. I like to think this because Lola's little hair do reminds me of one of Grandma Bea's dolls.

We see this face a lot.

This is a picture Sam took upside down, I'm not sure why it loaded sideways.

EXTREME CLOSE-UP!!!

"Oh, Hi Mom! I'm just taking a bath."

"Mom?....Why are you laughing?"

"Oh, yeah, that is a funny baby. What is up with her hair?"

"Oh well, I have a wash cloth that needs eating."

Lola loves her baths and she throws a crying fit when we take her out... Good times.

8 Months Old

2011-08-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

Momma's got Bronchitis, so these are a few days late.
If you didn't know, forgot, or just want to read about these onesies again click here to find out where I got them.

It is not easy to get a picture of this girl holding still. She rolls all over the place to get where she wants to go. She also has a wounded soldier crawl. She pushes with her toes, her arms limp at her sides and she hefts her weight by throwing her head from side to side. It's hilarious.

She is such a happy lady.

And she is constantly looking around for stuff to get into. Today she scootched over to the couch and reached her little hand up to get a used fabric softener, which went straight into her mouth. I was shocked that she could reach.

We just love this Honeychild!

Nighty Poo

2011-07-28T22:11:00.000-07:00

This is what my peeps look like, right now.

Lola is 7 months!

2011-07-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

7 Months!? How did that happen? I feel like she is almost done being a baby already. It's so sad. And so fun.
And so cute.

And so grown up.

And I wish I could freeze her at this age forever.

Lola at 6 months

2011-06-10T14:06:00.000-07:00

These pictures are a few days late, but worth the wait.

Lola was six months old on Wednesday. She rolled from her tummy to her back for the first time on Sunday. And from her back to her tummy on Thursday night. I don't want her to start moving, I want her to stay young. Plus she is already busy, and I know she will be into everything as soon as she can move.

Lola's hair is getting long in the back... except for that bald spot. We're not sure what to do with that long hair. It's at an awkward stage and we're reluctant to cut it and hope it gets better soon. It comes down a good inch past her collar is some places.

"Oooh, I like sitting in this chair."

"Okay mom, one more picture."

"Okay, can I squirm away now?"

"BYE MOM!"

In my opinion....

2011-05-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, which I like to share, The Costa, a newish Mexican restaurant here in town is delish. It EXCEEDED my expectations.

In my opinion going to the movies is not fun.

In my opinion boxing is evil and those involved will be held accountable one day. I hate watching it or movies about it.

In my opinion Lady GaGa is super strange and fascinating at the same time. I want to look away, but I can't.

In my opinion people should not talk on the phone while they drive. Don't even get me started on texting.

In my opinion baseball isn't a real sport, it's just chubby dudes standing around hoping the ball comes their way.

In my opinion it's freaky when people move their toes.

Just in case you were wondering.

Sometimes...

2011-05-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

Sometimes she looks like a Cockatoo.

Sometimes she likes to sleep on her brother.

Sometimes she likes to perch on her daddy's shoulder.

Sometimes she looks like a demon.

Sometimes HE does.

Sometimes THEY BOTH DO!

I'm scared.

The Garden of 2011

2011-05-25T06:55:00.000-07:00

Our garden this year is much like our garden last year, including the part where we plant too early and then fret for weeks about what the cold weather is doing to our poor little garden babies. Matt planted on May 14th this year. We have been told that the weekend after Mother's Day is the day to plant here in Utah, but then there is always a long patch of cold after that.
Just as we did last year, we planted four tomato plants on one side. I'll be using the large orange pot for basil again this year, but I have yet to buy that plant.

On the other side we have six jalapeno pepper plants and the strawberry patch that is thicker than ever this year. I have a feeling we won't have much room for peppers next year, as I'm sure the strawberries will have taken over this whole patch of garden.

This year I bought the tomatoes and peppers from the High School for a dollar per plant. Stay tuned for a garden update next month.

A woman's sacrifice | Mormon Times

2011-05-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine posted a link to this article:
A woman's sacrifice Mormon Times
Thank you to Kathryn Lynard Soper. I loved the article. It totally hit home, and reminded me of a quote I read in a book once that I wrote down because it reminded me a little of how I felt after each miscarriage.

"But I was glad of this weary day after, for there be times when the only comfort a body has is the remembrance of hardship borne for somebody dear." ~Prue Sarn, Precious Bane by Mary Webb

Sweet!

2011-05-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

You know how I like things SWEET!?

Well I got a little something to help me out.

This is my new sugar shaker.

(Becky, this one cost 14 times more than yours, I wish I had thought of looking at a yard sale!)

Oh, so yummy!

And take a look at this Little Sugar.

She is oh, so sweet!

Winner, winner, Chicken Dinner

2011-05-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

The winner of our caption contest is:

Sandy,

who said

"Ah, is that Sam again standing behind me ready to pounce?"

Sorry, the prize is not a Chicken Dinner, but it will be coming your way very soon.

Lola, 3 days old, Pics by Becky

2011-05-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks for these great pictures Becky!

Lola's Birth Story

2011-05-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

I know Lola is five months old and all, and I've probably missed the boat on this story, but one of my friends is about to have a baby any minute, and I was talking to her this morning. Then a mutual friend and coworker that we have was talking to me about her. We are so excited for her. Then we started talking about our own birthing stories, and I don't know about you, but I love to hear about birth stories so it's on my mind, so here we go. If this isn't your thing, I totally understand and you should stop reading now, before I use words like dilating, efface,etc. If this is your thing, maybe you'll get lucky and I'll tell Sam's birth story tomorrow...

As you know, Lola was long awaited. As we got closer to the due date the anticipation was too much for all of us, our emotions were going crazy. And my body was hurting so bad. You see, I have two kids, but I've had 8 pregnancies and my body knows it. So my pelvis loosened up and then the bones were rubbing together, bone on bone. It was bad.
My doctor said he would induce me four days before her due date and I was all over that. I mean, she WAS about seven years over due already. I had him try to strip my membranes that day to see if we could get things started before then but it didn't work out. My cervix just wasn't soft enough yet.
We got an appointment for 7 am on December 8th. Then the night before they called and asked if we would come in at 5 am. Of course we would, there was no way I was going to sleep that night anyway. Becky and Marley spent the night, to take care of Sam while were were in the hospital. I did end up getting a little sleep, but I popped out of bed around 4am, took a shower, kissed Sam good bye, and we headed over to the hospital.
They put us in our room and I got the gown on and then we had a little trouble getting the IV in, which is always the case with me. They called in their special guy and he did it on the first try. By then it was about 6:30. They started a bag of fluids and the pitocin. A few minutes later I could tell something was starting to happen. Around 7:00 my doctor came in to break my water. And as he did there was a major gush (is that word too graphic?) and he hopped off the bed because there was so much, then he got super serious and intense and started pushing hard on my pelvic boned and I felt like he was wrestling me. It was painful. And, the water just kept coming and coming. My socks were completely wet. Then he stops, smiles at me, pats my leg and says, "Okay, I'll see you a little later." And walked out. I looked and Matt and said, "Holy cow! That was crazy!" I better tell you now, I LOVE MY DOCTOR!
I immediately had to go to the bathroom, and they needed to change my bed so I headed to the bathroom, with my IV in tow. That's where I was when the contractions really started, and by that I mean I could actually feel that they were contractions. When I got back in my bed, Matt announced he was going to go find a snack. He was only gone for five to ten minutes, but in that time I got so scared! I wanted to call the nurse in and tell her to find him and bring him back. Every contraction, which at this point was just barely on the brink of maybe, possibly being a little bit uncomfortable, but for everyone, my body was getting more and more tense. When he came back, I played it cool, waited a minute or two and then mentioned that I think I might want an epidural. But I wasn't sure at what point it is appropriate to ask for one and what if they think I'm a wimp if I already want it. I hadn't actually felt any labor pain yet. When I had Sam, I didn't get an epidural (though I wanted it) , so through out this pregnancy I was thinking I didn't need one because I had done it before without one and so maybe I could again. But I will tell you now, PITOCIN IS SCARY! It didn't feel the same, and that was messing with my head. I asked Matt if he thought I should get it and he said YES! So I pushed the button to call the nurse and said I would like to discuss my epidural options. She came in and I said," If I decide to get an epidural, is there any reason to wait?" She looked at me like I was crazy and said,"NO!" So I told her I was going to and she told me the anaesthesiologist was right out in the hall and that she would get him to me first.
Ten minutes or so later, I had my epidural and felt SO much better. Matt said I was all of a sudden very chipper.
Shortly after the anaesthesiologist left the nurse checked me and I think I was at about a four.
Matt's mom and sister were there with us by this time, or they had been and then left, but Matt's mom was back. So we just sat and talked. I gave Jeanna and Mary Jeanne strict instructions about where the cameras were aloud to point. The time went quickly. We talked with Sam on the phone a few times. He was staying home from school and going to see Santa at the mall with his aunts and cousins.
Around 11am I was starting to feel contractions on my right side. I told the nurse and she told me to lean to the right. She propped a pillow under my left side and gravity helped move the meds to the right and then I stopped feeling over there again. It was so amazing.
At 11:35 I looked at the clock and thought, I guess she won't be born by noon. A few minutes later the nurse checked me and said I was dilated to a ten and fully effaced. I was shocked. She said the baby was still pretty high up, so she put my bed into a straight sit up position and said we would "rest and descend" for one hour. Then she went to tell the doctor.We decided we had better call and let Becky know the baby would be born in about two hours, so they could bring Sam over. But the doctor came right in a few minutes after that, checked me, confirmed that I was at a ten, and started putting on his little paper outfit. And as he did we had this little conversation:
Dr: I guess I can tell you now.
Me: Tell me what?
Dr: When I broke your water, the baby's hand came out.
Me: (Look of shock!)
Matt:(Look of shock!)
Dr: I got it back in, luckily. If I hadn't been able to, we would have had to do a c-section right away because if the cord is being pinched in anyway it's really dangerous for the baby.
Me: (Look of shock! and thinking "That explains the wrestling match.")
Matt:(Look of shock!)
Dr: Are you glad I didn't tell you?
Me: (pointing at Matt) I'm glad you didn't tell him, because he would have been asking me all this time, "Can you feel the hand? What about a finger? How about now? Is the hand still in? Let me take a look." I'm really glad he didn't know.
Dr: (Smiling) Okay, let's have a baby. Matt, you hold that leg. The nurse will hold this leg. Okay, Julie, here comes a contraction. Push.

I pushed but couldn't feel a thing. I looked at Matt and he nodded his head and said,"It's working." We stopped for a second. I gave another quarter of a push and out she came. I couldn't believe it. I didn't feel a thing and it was so easy, it didn't seem real. It wasn't even noon yet! I really could not believe it.
They put her on my chest. The doctor had me guess her weight. I guessed somewhere around 6 pounds. She seemed so tiny to me. She was 6lbs.12oz.
We got on the phone and told my sisters to bring Sam right away, the baby was already born. They said Sam shed a few tears in the back of the van.
They immediately had me order some lunch, which is like ordering room service at our hospital. Then we just hung out waiting for Sam and lunch. Once he came we introduced him to Lola and she gave him a present she brought with her from the womb, a T-shirt that said, "My sister has the best big brother in the world." Then we had a picture fest with aunt Becky.
It was a wonderful day!
I was starting to feel my legs again by the time they wheeled me down to our room. And honestly, I had no recovery. I never felt like I had a baby, never needed any pain medication, and didn't feel a single cramp. Amazing. I would be thinking it was all a dream, except that I have this darling little angel baby here to keep me company.

Sam's long lost brother.

2011-05-18T16:06:00.000-07:00

Sam likes the zoo, and if you have ever seen Rocky, you know why.

Rubio's

2011-05-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had the fish tacos at Rubio's?

No?

You gotta try them !

AND Tuesdays they are half the price!

Guess where we're going for our din dins.

Sam makes the news.

2011-05-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

One of our friends is an author. His name is Steven R. Burke and he wrote The Guardian Chronicles. The first book, The Broken Council, and the second book, The Fallen Guardian, are both available now. And Steve is working on the third book in the series now.
I haven't had the chance to read them yet, but we recently went to a book signing Steve was doing. It was fun and it got Sam totally interested in creative writing. He had several questions for Steve and went right home and got busy writing.
While we were there, there was a photographer from Provo's Daily Herald there. And sure enough Sam made the paper the following week. To see the picture and read the article click here.
Our neighbor, Chris, brought over a copy, and Sam was thrilled. About 30 minutes later we got a call from the librarian at Sam's elementary school, letting us know he was in the paper. On the Sunday after, I was visiting with some ladies after church when Sam walked up. Chris was there and she brought up Sam's picture in the paper to the other sister we were talking to. Sam reached behind him under his little suit coat and pulled the paper out of no-where... or maybe it was in his pants, unrolled it and showed it off. Until that moment, I had no idea he had it with him all day. The part that makes me laugh the most is that the picture is of Steve and Sam is in the background a little bit cut off. But he is so super proud to be in the shot. It reminds me of Mike Wagowski on Monster's Inc. When he and his partner make the news he's always thrilled, but in all the pictures you can only see his hand or elbow. Funny!

What I Believe

2011-05-15T23:16:00.000-07:00

I believe that Jesus Christ lives and that He is my Savior.

I believe in the Atonement.

I believe in Eternal Families.

I believe in personal revelation.

I believe there is a prophet on the earth today.

I believe in scriptures, such as, the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I believe their pages contain truths we need to know and practice to obtain happiness and eternal life.

I believe Heavenly Father loves me.

Friday the Thirteenth

2011-05-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

Are you superstitious? Sometimes? Me too, sometimes. And after yesterday, it' still up in the air.

I had a busy, busy day planned. Starting with a early morning shift at the Fitness Center daycare. I was super organized though so I was going to be five minutes early to work, after I dropped Sam off for his early morning reading class. As I went to move Lola from her bouncy seat to her car seat, I noticed she was wet all on front, and it was worse down low and moving up rather than up top from drool, and moving down... You guessed it, POOP! I ran upstairs (though it was really more like a quick waddle, because that's what I do) and set her on the changing table and got started. But, because the poop was all up her front, she got it on her hands every time she moved, then when I would wipe her hands she would kick her feet, into the diaper and poop got on her feet. Some how I got most of it and pulled the onesie over her head. Sure enough, poop in her hair. We headed for the bath, got her all cleaned up and redressed and ended up to work about 20 minutes late.
I always feed Lola before I go to work to make sure I don't have to nurse her during my shift, and I did that yesterday, but I think she was feeling empty after her morning fiasco because she didn't make it through the two and a half hour shift. I had to nurse at work, BOO.
From work, I went and picked up my sister Liz. She called me before work and asked me to bring a diaper, which she was out of, she needed a diaper for Percy, which I forgot to bring, so we put him in a size two diaper, he normally wears size four, and hoped he wouldn't do anything major in it.
Then we headed over to the High School where we bought plants for our gardens. It was fun, except that we weren't sure how to get into the green house. A kind and helpful student gave us directions. Then the teacher in charge of the green house was in the middle of class, so we felt shy about interrupting him. Then picture this - Me, pushing Lola in a stroller, Kelsey pushing Percy in a stroller, and Liz carrying two flats of plants out through the dark metal shop and classroom and hall way and parking lot. We made it. And Liz managed to hold all the plants while I loaded the kids and strollers in the car. PHEW!
Then we went to Costco to make some purchases for a baby shower I was going to host the next day. I saw some gorgeous Gerber Daisies that I thought would be a perfect decoration for the baby shower. While shopping we got the best sample ever! A WHOLE CREAMY POPSICLE, EACH! When we got to the checkout we found out that the Gerber Daisies were part of a six pack, so we had to go back and pick out five more plants.
From there it was off to Wal-Nast. Wal-Nast always brings me bad luck. The mojo there is totally off. We pulled into the parking spot, busted Lola into the cart, got Kelsey and Percy out when Liz's cell phone rang. It was Matt saying that Sam's school was trying to get in touch with me, Sam laughed way too hard, lost all his senses and had an accident. He needed some clean pants. Friday the thirteenth does not agree with my children's bodily functions. So, Liz loaded P and K back into my car, and went to get some clean clothes for Sam and took them to him at the school while Lola and I went on into Wal-Nast and did the rest of the shopping. Then she came back and picked me up.
Then I had wonderful plans to visit with a friend who was in from out of town that fell through. So disappointing! Michelle! I Love You! I miss you! Come see me!
Anyway, maybe I'm superstitious, maybe I'm not. But it felt like the day was one fiasco after another. It wasn't a totally terrible day, but I hope your day was better.

Be sure to view my post from Friday and enter the caption contest!

I love Blogger!

2011-05-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

"Mom, what do you mean Blogger isn't working?!"

I love blogger but I've lost my daily post streak because blogger was set on read mode only yesterday while they did maintenance. Also, I happened to notice that two comments from a recent post have myseriously dissapeared. Where did they go? I'm still going for it and blogging every day I can for the rest of the month and I'll try to make it up next week with two posts in one day.

After the cookie post, it seemed like there were several comments that were putting a quote to the facial expression. See how I did it above? Now it is your turn. We are going to play a little game. The winner, which I will choose at my own whim, will get a prize from me.

Here is the picture that needs a Quote, so imagine a little thought or speech bubble coming from Lola.Winner will be announced next Friday, May 20th. Ready, Set, Go!!!

That's not just any cookie...

2011-05-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

That's her first Girl Scout Cookie!

Sam, Mack, and the Zip Line

2011-05-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, Matt told me about some free tickets he got for some Nascar races out at a track in Tooele. He said they were for a suite with free food and I immediately had a vision of Matt and Sam on top of a RV parked in the middle of the track, sitting on broken down lawn chairs with a cooler of RC cola and a box of moon pies.

It was like that at all and they had a fun day experiencing something they don't normally follow.

Conversations with Kelsey

2011-05-09T08:12:00.001-07:00

When ever Cousin Kel comes over for a visit, I am always entertained...

While hearing a shaking sound in the living room from the kitchen, Kelsey asked, "Is Lola playing her maraca's?"

While sitting in the kitchen eating some oatmeal:
K: Percy is my cousin, I have two cousins. No, three, because of Marley.
Me: What about Sam?
K: Yeah he's my cousin.
Me: What about Lola?
K: Yeah.
Me: What about D'Artagnan?
K: He's my cousin too!
Me: What about his little sister?
K: Yup.
Me: What's her name?
K: I can't remember. Next time I go to California, I'll ask her and then come back and tell you. But I hope her name is not Angelina.

While sitting next to me on the couch:
K: Arctic Circle has the BEST tacos!
Me: Really? Is that true?
K: Yeah, I've never been there.

While wrapped up in a blanket on the floor, with her head under the covers:
K: Julie guess what I am.
Me: A Bean burrito?
K: No.
Me: A baby Dinosaur in it's egg?
K: No.
Me: A butterfly in it's cocoon?
K: YES!
She then proceeded to wiggle her way out of the blanket.

While curled upon the couch, half way between awake and asleep:
K: One day, I'll be an angel.

Lola is 5 Months!!!

2011-05-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

The last five months have gone by One Thousand times faster than the last five weeks of the pregnancy! I could barely get a shot of this wiggly girl that wasn't a blur of motion.

Lola is such a darling and we just love having her in our family so much. None of us can get enough of her. On Friday, Sam had some friends over for his birthday to play video games. At one point Sam was doing something during the party that was making Lola laugh from her bouncy seat. Though she is a happy baby, her giggles are still few and far between.This was a full on belly laugh. In the middle of all the chaos, Sam, Matt and I were in separate parts of the room, but all immediately zeroed in on her laughter and watched her and grinned at her and each other as she laughed. Everyone else was oblivious to our delight. I felt a cute little bond for our family. Is that weird?

Our little Darling all ready for church.

Oh, and Happy Mother's Day!

As you can see, I was well taken care of.

My 300th Post!

2011-05-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Becky,

I'm dedicating my 300th post to you...
Here is my list for the day.

~~Sleep in~~- Thanks to Matt and Lola this worked out.
~~Talk Sam into scrubbing the bath tub~~ - it took a $2 fee.
~~Beg Matt to clean the bathroom floor~~- I love that guy!
~~Blog~~
~~Clean the upstairs bathroom.~~
~~Start the laundry~~, because it didn't happen yesterday.
~~Clean my room~~, because it looks like a hoarder lives in there.
~~Help Sam clean his room~~ because a hoarder DOES live in there.
~~Vacuum the whole upstairs~~.
~~Finish up Mother's Day prep.~~
Fold the laundry.
~~Clean the kitchen~~- Matt did this for me too!
Vacuum the downstairs.

Love, Julie

P.S. I'll be referring back to the list through out the day to get the satisfaction of cross things off.

10 Years Old!

2011-05-06T06:50:00.001-07:00

Ten Year Old Sam

I can't believe my baby boy is ten years old! No matter how much I beg him to stop growing up he just keeps getting bigger and more grown up.

He's so excited. He woke up to a new banner. One of our good friends made Lola a banner, which Sam and I decided to hang up every year for her birthday. As Sam's birthday approached I started to think that he needed a banner too.

Monday of this week became OPERATION:BIRTHDAY BANNER day. I roped Liz into helping me, like I do for all my crafty ideas. But Lola had been sick and slept all day on Monday. So then Tuesday became OPERATION:BIRTHDAY BANNER day. We got off to a late start again, because Lola slept in during her morning nap (we found out on Wednesday that she has bronchitis), but she eventually woke up and we went over to Aunt Liz's house and the banner got made. Last night Matt and I hung it after Sam went to bed. He was pretty happy to see it when he woke up this morning. I guess 10 isn't too old to enjoy the little things.

Now he is off to school with a backpack full of oatmeal cream cookies to share with his class and then he'll be having a little video game party with three of his friends this afternoon.

I think between now and the party I'll just curl up in a corner somewhere and cry because my babies are growing up and someday soon they are going to leave me, and I just don't think I can take it!

Firebolt

2011-05-05T06:24:00.000-07:00

The following video is serious business, and it made my day when I saw it. Enjoy!

I wish with all my little heart that I could have been in this video.

Lola and Aunt Liz

2011-05-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

Aunt Liz made little Lola another adorable sweater.

I love,Love, LOVE the hood!

I think she looks like a little elf.

We wanted Lola to put her hand in her pocket, but she wasn't really feeling it.

If you are wondering what is going on in this picture, go back to the top of this post, scroll through the pictures again, and see if you can solve the mystery. FYI it's CREEPY! GO! LOOK AGAIN!

The Royal Nursing Party

2011-05-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

I'm not a Royal watcher, but I spent most of last Thursday debating with myself about whether I should have a wedding party or not. I puttered around looking for items I could use to make myself a Fascinator. And thoughts of yummy foods floated through my head. I wanted to wear a fancy hat, sip out of a goblet, or better yet, a Tea Cup, munch on delicious finger foods, and watch the much anticipated wedding. I was a bit taken by the idea of a common girl becoming a real princess. Such a fairy tale.
But I came to the conclusion that I'm too lazy for all that.
So, when evening came, I rolled into bed and my eyes slammed shut. Sammy woke me up around 1:30AM to show me a toilet full of barf. (I love it when kids can get themselves to the toilet before it all comes out!) But my sweet little princess, the one who sleeps in a little princess bed next to my king size bed, woke me for a Royal Feeding around 3:40 AM. I woke up and went about the business of setting up my big pile of pillows that I lean against while I nurse on the bed and I thought, well, since I'll be awake anyway...
I turned on the TV and turned the volume all the way down. I tuned in just as Kate's mother got out of the car at the abbey. And I watched in silence until they were married and sat down to sing a hymn. Then I turned off the TV, put my little princess back in her bed, took the pile of pillows off my bed and went right back to sleep.
Here are my thoughts:
Loved the dress
Loved all the hats
Loved Prince Harry turning around to see his new sister walk down the isle
Loved Prince William's shy look as he told Kate she looked beautiful
Loved the two smooches on the Palace balcony (Later that day.)
Loved them leaving the reception in the convertible decorated just like a normal couple
Love how protective and gentle Prince William is with Kate

I wish them the best and I hope they have a great life together.
And did I mention I loved the hats? I LOVED the HATS!
When Matt woke up, he said he had a dream that he was hanging out with the Royals.

Books I read in 2010

2011-05-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

I know that 2010 was SOOO five months ago, but I never took the opportunity to brag about all the books I read last year. Please know that this is just a list of books a read, and not a list of books I recommend. I didn't enjoy all of these and one I even left off because I was sure that someone would look at it on the list and go check it out thinking I recommended it to them, when truely, I would never recommend circus porn to anyone.
Some of these books were chosen by one of my three book clubs. Some were nominated for Beehive book awards and brought to my attention on special displays at the library. Some were random picks at the library. Many are Newberry Honor or Medal books, which I am trying to read them all. And some I bought at the DI having never heard of them before. And others were loaned to me or recommended to me by friends and family.
The grand total for 2010 was 79 BOOKS! This is unprecedented and only because I spent so much of last year in my bed waiting and hoping for Lola and trying not to puke my guts out.
Here they are in the order in which they were read.
The books in green were my favorites.

Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas

Matchless by Gregory Maguire

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

Toast by Nigel Slater

The Magic Thief Book 1 by Sarah Prineas

Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky

Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis

Precious Bane by Mary Webb

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera and Bill Cleaver

Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

Fablehaven 4: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 4:Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Lust for Life by Irving Stone

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani

And Nanny Makes Three by Jessika Auerbach

Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

Percy Jackson: The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson: The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

The Mother In Me Edited by Kathryn Lynard Soper

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Peace Like A River by Leif Enger

Calamity Jack by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, Nathan Hale

Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson

The Indian In The Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

The Liars Club by Mary Karr

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Sidartha by Herman Hess

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane by Suzanne Collins

Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Banner In The Sky by James Ramsey Ullman

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel

The Musician's Daughter by Suzanne Dunlap

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Stead

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods by Suzanne Collins

Project Sweet Life by Brent Hartinger

The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones by Helen Hemphill

Whittington by Alan Armstrong

Fablehaven 5: Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

P.S. I have absolutely no idea why the top part of this post is highlighted in yellow, or how to make it stop. Or how it randomly did stop . Or how it randomly started again, and then stopped again. This is what happens to people who don't go to college, right?

May 2011 FAFREWIBLOPOMO

2011-05-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

Do you know what FAFREWIBLOPMO is?
Me neither, but I am dragged into it anyway.
It all started with an innocent conversation over the phone with my sister, Becky. I can't recall what we were talking specifically about (we talk about a lot of stuff), but some how that time we blogged everyday for one whole month came up. Then one of us, maybe me, maybe not, said, "We should do that again in May". Then I forgot all about the conversation.
On Friday, I was behind on all things computer. I hadn't checked my email in 3 days, let alone read my favorite blogs for about a week. I don't even think I was on Facebook all week (I was revolting because we watched Social Network last weekend and I was seriously reconsidering my FB account after watching it, but now I'm all calmed down and realize that it was just a movie and maybe not EXACTLY how things went down, but still what a bunch of creeps, especially that Napster dude, which makes me really sad because I really, really am fond of Justin Timberlake, because he brought sexy back and we all needed that, so it broke my little heart to see him act out such a mean character, know what I mean? I'm still on FB, just so ya know). So, I was behind on all things computer and I paid a little visit to my sister's blog Farmer Freitas' Wife , where I found myself roped into FAFRELMNOPWIBLO9erPOMO. She straight up announced to the entire inter webs that I would be blogging everyday in May.
Okay, I'll do it.
If you would like to join us in blogging everyday this month, leave me a comment letting me know with your website if I don't already know it so I can follow along and get ideas from you, I mean, enjoy your posts.

Guest post

2011-04-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Cousin Kelsey came over today and she picked out Lola's outfit, bib, hat and all.

Check me out at my cousin's blog, So Buttons, where I got to write a Monday Memories Guest Post.

Madame Lola

2011-04-12T12:43:00.001-07:00

On Sunday night, Sam volunteered to get Lola in her jammies. He came to me,with Lola, a few minutes later saying in a spooky voice, "I can see your past and your future!"

Of course Lola thought it was funny.

4 Months

2011-04-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

This little lady is so much fun!

Comparison Shots

St. Patrick's Day

2011-04-01T15:32:00.000-07:00

Well, it's April, so I thought I'd bust my St. Patrick's day post up. Finally.

It was all the usual shenanigans. Sam made a leprechaun trap.

I guess the idea was that the leprechaun would saunter up the tape... through the crepe paper, hippie curtain and fall in, getting stuck. There was no little man in there when we woke up, but he left a WHATCHAMACALLIT candy bar. I'd like to hear that said in an Irish accent. And I totally got trapped in all that tape, just walking by. I almost died. I was a little bitter about that and told Sam he probably would have caught the guy if he had used a Lucky Charms box instead of TRIX... I mean, isn't that a little obvious? Sam requested toast with peanut butter for breakfast and when no one was looking the leprechaun left his mark. Kinda spooky.

And here's my peeps in green.

I had to dig through the 6 months clothes for something green for Lola to wear. I'm seriously disturbed that my three month old fits in 6 month clothing.

And Lola is seriously disturbed by how much hairspray Sam is using on his hair these days.

Happy Birthday to me.

2011-03-30T11:13:00.001-07:00

This is how I'm spending my 33rd birthday. I got way behind on my laundry washing and folding this week because I really just wanted to spend my time with my sister, Becky, who decided that moving to Michigan on my birthday would be a good present.

So, while I fold I have my road atlas, which I received free from my best friends at State Farm, open and I'm following them across the map as they call me and give me updates.

And I'm eating double dipped chocolate peanuts. YUM! I like to tell Sam they are deer poops so he won't want to eat any... It doesn't work. And of course, I'm hanging out with cute little Lola.
The sicky-poo is feeling much better.

Poor Babykins

2011-03-24T14:03:00.001-07:00

Little Lola was in the Hospital with Upper Lobe Pneumonia in her right lung. Poor little thing might also have RSV. We're still waiting on those results. I love the picture above because she looks so surprised, as we were by how quickly this came on.

Last Friday, Sam mentioned he didn't feel too well. But he wanted to go to school. I told him to call me if he couldn't make it through. He made it, seemed fine on Saturday, and on Sunday he said he couldn't breath. On Monday I took him in to the doctor where it was determined he had a virus. We were sent home with a prescription for albuterol syrup, which Sam says works well.

On Tuesday, Lola coughed twice in the morning. Sam went to school. We had a great day. Late that afternoon she started coughing a lot, which started to cause her to gag, which caused her to throw up most of what she was eating. I also started to be able to hear the congestion in her nose. When this was still going on at 5:30 I called and got her an appointment at the doctor's office and took her in. They checked her Oxygen saturation levels which was 99, or perfect. They also looked in her ears, nose and throat. They told me to start feeding her less at a time, but more often to avoid the throwing up and dehydration. They told me it's most likely a virus and that if I saw labored breathing or if she was having a hard time nursing to bring her back in.

We went from there to Pack meeting, she slept through it and continued to sleep when we got home until midnight when I woke her to feed her. Then I slept her in a bouncy seat so she would be upright. I had noticed that she didn't gag when upright. She woke twice in the night, ate, and went right back to sleep.

Wednesday morning, I could hear a little congestion, but she seemed fine. Around 11a.m. Sam called to tell me he couldn't breath and could I please bring his medicine. Yeah, he sounds like a junky. It hadn't been long enough since his last dose so I picked him up so he could come home and rest. Ha ha. Anyone who knows Sam knows how unlikely that is.

Around 2:30 Lola was cooing and smiling at Sam. About an hour later she was hollering really loud. It wasn't a cry, she didn't seem sad. And there were no tears. I think she is not accustom to breathing out of her mouth and since her nose was stuffed up the holler was doing the trick and making her feel like she was getting air.

Shortly after that she was having a hard time nursing, pulling off every few seconds to try to breath, and when she was done, she threw it up. I noticed her little belly and chest pumping hard to try to breath. So, it was back to the doctor's office. Her oxygen saturation was down to 87. They could see she was breathing super hard so they sent us over to the hospital where they took some X-rays of her lungs and admitted her to pediatrics.

They are took such good care of her. She had oxygen in her nose, an IV, for fluids and her antibiotic, and on her left foot there was a little sensor to measure her Oxygen Saturation. And she had some stickers on her chest to monitor heart rate and breaths per minute. There were several albuterol breathing treatments with a nebulizer. At first they said she'd need to stay three to five days. When the doctor came in today he liked her improvement and said we might be able to go home today or tomorrow. Shortly after, the nurse came in to turn down her IV and turn off the oxygen to see how she would do without it. She did great so we were sent home about an hour ago with a prescription for an antibiotic and an anytime, standing order to go to the respiratory clinic for suctioning or albuterol.

Miss Lola at 3 months.

2011-03-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

Lola is 3 months old, already!
Sam is nine and he looks like a lady charmer in this picture. Look at them watch him.

Babykin likes to sit in her pink seat.

2011-03-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

Babykins Pooped in her bath today. Yes, that is Pooped with a capital P. And when it was all said and done, she looked a lot like I felt.

So when I got her dressed today, I made sure she looked extra pretty...

It made us both feel much better.

Actually getting on Dad's back - No small feat.

2011-02-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

Who could climb with such a wicked wedgie?

This is what my doll looks like today.

2011-02-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

On Dad's Shoulders - Then and Now

2011-02-24T20:28:00.000-08:00

Baby Sam on his daddy's shoulders.

Baby Lola on her daddy's shoulders. She wouldn't keep her head up. I think she was tasting his hair.

Nine year old Sam, breaking his daddy's back.

Lola is 2 Months old!

2011-02-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

Lola is a happy girl. She loves being held and talked to. One day she was fussy all day until Sam got home from school and then she was happy... Until he went outside to play and then she fussed again until he came back in. I think she missed him. She loves it when he reads to her or gets out her toys and shows them to her. He likes to put a blanket over her face and say, "Where's the baby?" then pulls it off and says, "Peek a boo!" She doesn't always like this.

She likes her bath, and getting her diaper changed, but she does NOT like to get dressed. She always gets mad at us when the shirt goes over her head and while we pull her arms through.

Lola is still a good eater and getting fatter every day. We like squishy babies. She's had the bottle twice and did a good job. I have taught her to calm down when she is crying for food by saying "Hi Honies." right before every feeding. Sometimes when she cries for food now it sounds like she is saying, "Hi" in a really sad voice. Coincidence? I think not.

She has slept through the night 3 times and does a good 6 hour stretch just about every night. I feel like she'll be sleeping through the night regularly really soon.

We love her voice and all three of us get excited when she coos.

My peeps, ready for church.

2011-02-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

The Main Attraction

2011-02-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday morning I opened my door to find this on the door step.
Remember this?

Turns out, it was so fooshnicken cold on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning that the paint on my front door cracked and fell off. I have searched the web and I can't find a site that will tell me what the temp WAS. Only what it WILL BE. Why is that?

Anyway, this is what the door looks like today and still cracking.

Sam, making a tin foil person.

Pack meeting last month was a talent show. When we got the flier telling Sam to pick a talent and practice, I asked him what he was going to do. He said play a song on the piano and do a dance. I asked what song he was going to dance to. He said Afterlife (by Avenged Sevenfold). I asked if he was going to plan the dance, he said he was going to make it up WHILE he did it. I wasn't surprised.

A few days before the big night he came home from school and told me a poem he had memorized. I suggested he recite it for the talent night. On the big night, he told me he had also decided to make a tin foil person for the show. I said that was fine but to forget the dance. He called his Grandma because, "She isn't going to want to miss this."

She came, and at the Church before the meeting got rolling she asked Sam what talent he was going to do.

Sam: I'm going to play a song on the piano, recite a poem and make a tin foil person.

Grandma: Three? I think you should pick one.

Sam: No, I'm doing all three. I'm going to be the main attraction.

Then he skipped away.

He did a great job on all three.

A Mystery...

2011-02-02T21:22:00.000-08:00

What is this?

Answer on Friday with a post about a cub scout.

When hair bows attack!

2011-01-31T06:41:00.000-08:00

Lola got some mail. (Thanks Hardesters!) And since the package was bigger than she was I had to take a picture.
After the mail photo shoot, I put her in her bouncy seat and she looked so pretty, the photo shoot continued.

I'm sorry, but my baby is beautiful!

Once my picture taking urge was satisfied I walked away and went to the kitchen, probably to satisfy my chocolate chip urge, but I can't confirm this. While I was stuffing my face, or whatever I was doing in the kitchen, Lola let out a few cries and then quieted down. I didn't stop eating whatever I was eating to see what the problem was because we all know how hungry a nursing mother can get. I am REALLY hungry, ALL THE TIME. But actually, I was probably doing the dishes or scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees. When I was done, I wandered back into the living room and this is what I found:

So, of course, I got the camera back out.

But I eventually fixed it for her. And I thought she was grateful... until I scanned through these pictures later.

Check out that finger...

THE LOOK by Liz

2011-01-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

Lola has her own fashion designer. Someone who makes her custom clothes.
Liz made Lola this adorable little sweater and booties.

Thanks Liz for sharing your talents and your yarn with us!

Two Babies, One Outfit

2011-01-26T06:16:00.000-08:00

I have had this picture of Sam, my baby, the boy who lived, sitting in a frame on my wall or dresser since it was developed. (Yeah, we developed film nine years ago.) And whenever I would dream for, wish for, hope for, ache for, or picture another baby I would think of this outfit, which was packed away in a large plastic container up in the attic.

As the time to make preparations for Lola approached, I put it off for a long time into the pregnancy. A protection for our family just in case things went wrong, again. I didn't want a room set up and full of baby things until I was sure we would be bringing one home. Eventually though, Whitney (my SIL) came over and got the plastic containers down from the attic for me and I went through Sam's baby stuff and found the beloved outfit.

When I dressed little Lola, my baby, the girl who lived, in her brother's outfit for the first time my heart felt warm, grateful, and tears sprang to my eyes, as they still so easily do. And as the dream, wish, hope, ache, picture was filled, I couldn't help but wonder about those six lost pregnancies. I still felt sad about those. I wondered why it those miscarriages happened and what our family could be like had things not gone wrong... And now I realize that they didn't. Things didn't go wrong. Heavenly Father has a plan for his children, and this was His plan for our family. And only He knows what else is in store for us. So we will trust.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding"

Proverbs 3:5

Guess who?

2011-01-24T09:05:00.001-08:00

Guess who went to church for the first time yesterday?

Guess who's getting chubby?

Guess who has Yellow Feathers In Her Hair...?

Guess who loves her brother?

Guess who LOVES her daddy?

Guess who slept THROUGH the night?

Guess who's FOOSHNICKEN HAPPY about that?

Guess who's cute as can be?

Pig Tails!

2011-01-10T22:09:00.000-08:00

So, I was playing with my doll the other day and I thought, "Hey, this doll came with a lot of hair. We should try pig tails!"

My Lola doll likes to dress up. Here she is trying to look like a Troll doll and doing a mighty fine job of it.
Here she is with her brother trying to look like a rock star.

And once in a while she dresses up like she's happy.

Okay, okay. She's a happy doll more often than not. But you wouldn't know it from the pictures posted on this blog.

Here's my doll just lookin' cute.

And sleeping next to her twin.

My doll likes her bath most of the time. Right after this bath I brushed her hair for the first time. She really liked that. Then I got a great idea. A barrette... Which I dug into her head as I tried to snap it shut. Poor little trusting dolly didn't like that at all.

Stupid, cute barrette.

It totally matched her JLo outfit.

And sometimes my doll likes to dress up like an old man.

And she has dramatic poses. From this angle she reminds me of her dad.

From this angle she reminds me of her Grandpa Alger.

1 Month

2011-01-08T19:04:00.000-08:00

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

Also, when you're short on sleep!

Click here to learn the awesome story behind this onesie.

4 Weeks

2011-01-05T21:18:00.001-08:00

Well, angry again. I think it's because I stole her pants for this shot. I thought it was too cute that she and her bear had similar skirts on, but apparently Lola wasn't feeling the magic. I'm not sure she got any longer this week but I really do think she got thicker. She is a really good nurser.

Here she is a little happier. She got her pants back and her tummy filled right before this one. I think she is feeling the magic now, especially since she's showing off her ballet moves.

And I know you all have been wondering what Sam has been up to recently.

Showing me his muscles.

What ever is going on here.

Still not sure.

And still... I don't know what to call this or why.

Snuggling with his sister.

He didn't know I was taking this picture. I thought it was cute that she was holding his hand and he had his other hand gently resting on her head. Right before I clicked he lifted his hand for some reason.

And then he noticed what I was up to.

His Grandma and Grandpa Alger gave him and his cousins sleds for Christmas and then they took them all sledding. He had a blast!

We sure love this kid!

Christmas with the Johnsons

2011-01-02T11:06:00.000-08:00

We spent Christmas Eve with the Johnson side of the family. We ate yummy appetizer types of food, read the Christmas Story from the scriptures, and sang hymns and carols. Good times, great memories.

Sammy and Lola in their Christmas Eve Jammies. ( Both are faking sleep.)
Christmas Eve Anger.

Christmas Eve Bonding.

The Anger returns.

Baby Hyde.

Christmas Eve Kisses.

Baby Jekyll.

The Haul.

The favorite - Bey Blades. Basically two tops that "fight" in a bowl - I mean battle stadium.

Christmas Brunch at Grandma and Grandpa Alger's house.

Lola and her "favorite" aunt. The Monchichi and her first-cousin-once-removed.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Johnsons!

3 Weeks!

2010-12-29T16:59:00.001-08:00

Finally, a happy progression shot. Don't worry, I won't be doing this EVERY week of her life. Just on the first four weeks and then once a month after that for the first year. It's something I wish I had done with Sam. But I was young and stupid back then. Now I'm just stupid.

Coming soon:

A Christmas Post

Comparison pics between Sam and Lola

Some beautiful shots my sister Becky took of Lola when she was just three days old.

Who do you think she looks like?

2 Weeks Old

2010-12-22T10:20:00.000-08:00

And again with the anger. Poor baby went to the doctor this morning and the pricked her heel for the PKU test. She did not like that and neither did I. I had more tears than she did. It was really sad. Also really sad for me is that she gained 9 oz. last week and she is already 1.25 inches taller than when she was born. She was born a 6lbs. 12 oz. and 17.75 inches. When we left the hospital she was down to 6lbs. 3 oz. which was about 3% loss and totally normal for a new born. Three days later on her five day appointment she was 6 lbs 10 oz. Now, nine days later she is 7lbs. 3 oz. and 20 inches long. Why must they grow up so fast?

Here is a pic of her a little happier.
And here she is at her happiest, huggin' and sleepin' on her big bro.

The answer to the mystery...

2010-12-20T08:45:00.000-08:00

Andrea was right! It's pink dryer lint. I guess I washed and dried a particularly pink load recently and BAM, pink lint. That's never happened at our house before. I think I like it.

One week old already... and a mystery.

2010-12-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

Lola is spending more time awake. Once for a 20 minute stretch.

Miss Lola was not very happy with me during this shot.

This is something I have never seen before.

Take a guess.

Answer on Friday.

P.S. I like to put my nose by Lola's mouth so I can smell her breath. It smells good. Is that weird?

Monchichi

2010-12-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

Remember these toys from the 80's? I'm pretty sure there was one floating around our house during my childhood but I don't remember who it belonged to. Becky, I think.

This is the moment I realized I gave birth to one.

Yeah, there is definitely a resemblance.

Introducing...

2010-12-08T15:03:00.000-08:00

Lola Joy Johnson

12-08-10

11:56 a.m.

6lbs. 12 oz.

17 3/4 inches

Less than 2 weeks to go!

2010-11-29T20:48:00.000-08:00

We are super anxious here.

On pins and needles.

Twiddling our thumbs.

Tapping our toes.

Sighing.

Whistling.

Hoping.

Wishing.

Etc.

Then Sam says, "Mom, what if I accidentally marry a strict wife?"

I guess his mind isn't quite stuck on the same things mine is...

There is a big baby here...

2010-11-11T06:23:00.000-08:00

And it's me. I just BAWLED through Toy Story 3 and then I begged Sam not to grow up and leave me. I won't be able to handle it. I'll probably curl up in the attic and hope he has kids who will come and play with me.
This afternoon, I took Sam to a Sibling Class at the hospital. At the class we watched a movie that explained to him what would be happening to his mom and baby during labor, delivery and recovery. Not the gritty details of course, but it showed what the room would look like and the monitors that would be on us and the baby warmer and the nursery, etc. Sam seemed so grown up, even though he wouldn't answer any of the questions and was acting super shy, that is until it was time to go. The teacher told him he could take and extra cookie wrapped in a napkin home with him for after his dinner. She didn't want him to ruin his appetite. Sam wrapped up a cookie, put it in his goodie bag, then took another for the road and chomped down on it as we walked out the door. No shame. I found out later that he also helped himself to a free baby name booklet.
On the way to the car he told me how surprised he was to see a little baby doll pop out of the knitted womb the lady had. He said, "I was not expecting that!" Then we laughed. I don't know what he thought was in there. She told him what it was.
Speaking of crying, I was crying to Matt the other night, it was about the garbage getting emptied... Don't ask... I can't explain it... I'm so emotional. I recovered and Matt went about his business. A few minutes later Sam came up and said, "Mom, are you okay?"
Me: Yeah, why?
Sam: Dad said you were crying.
Me: Why did he tell you?
Sam: I don't know. He always tells me his problems. Then he expects me to fix them.

He then shook out a garbage bag and proceeded to empty the trash can in my room. I couldn't stop laughing. Then I laughed again when I told Matt about that little conversation and Matt looked completely perplexed and said, "Sam said that? Do nine year olds think like that?"

Back in October there was a night when Sam took a marathon bath. Matt walked by and told Sam it was time to get out. A few minutes later he did it again, this time a little louder. Then Matt went downstairs and we heard the front door close. Then Sam said, from the bath, "Mom, where did Dad go?"
Me: I don't know, maybe he took out the trash. (I'm obsessed, can you tell?)
Sam: He probably went to get you a shake and me nothing.
Me: No.
Sam: I think he went to get you a castle and me a butler suit...

Where does he come up with this stuff?

I know this is getting long, but there is one more story. Two weekends ago we went to Shane Co. to get my ring cleaned and checked. We love to do this. They have free water bottles and hot cocoa. And my ring magically becomes like knew. We all got our drinks and then Sam got comfortable in the waiting area. As I walked away Sam said quietly to himself, "Ahhhh, this is the life, sitting in a big chair, with some hot chocolate, in a diamond store."

My little Punk Rocker

2010-10-29T09:05:00.001-07:00

Sam and his dad carved the pumpkin on Wednesday night.
Sam got to do the dirty work this year and he wasn't too happy about it, at first.

As in years past, they drew their sketches and then circled their favorites and then voted on the one they wanted on the pumpkin. Sam came up with this design. I think it looks like a Wild Thing from the book, Where the Wild Things Are. I love it!

Speaking of Wild Things-

Introducing: Rocker Sam!

Happy Halloween!

At least watch the last 10 seconds.

2010-10-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

One of Sam's video games has what he calls a movie at the beginning. I consider it more of like a trailer for the game. The music is beautiful. It's sung by a choir. When Sam doesn't know anyone is watching, he really gets into the song and sings along. He's usually very theatrical. So, Matt set the laptop to video record and then invited Sam over to watch. You may notice he knows all the words, except that they aren't real words, just noises like, "dee dee doo". I wish he had performed more like he usually does. But it's all worth it if you watch to the end and see his reaction when he finds out we recorded him. Hilarious!

For your viewing pleasure?

2010-10-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

Matt took this two weeks ago at the tail end of 31 weeks.

We are now at 33 weeks.

Seven more weeks to go!

Dinner for the neighbors.

2010-10-13T10:00:00.001-07:00

This weekend Matt and I were going to take dinner to our neighbors who recently had a baby. On Saturday morning we discussed what we should take them and this was Matt's hilarious idea:

"Let's get them some McDonald's but peel the Monopoly stamps off before we deliver the food."

Am I tho only one who finds this hilarious in a few different ways?

Is that snail on my...?

2010-10-05T15:33:00.000-07:00

Sam is once again roller blade bound. He has his fifth flat tire in one month. This time it's a repeat of the back tire. We put goo in the tire after the last flat and earlier this week all the goo started to squish out of the tire... What now? At what point to you say, "too bad, no more bike for you."
Anyway, today after school, Sam burst into the house, roller blades and all with his pencil box from school. I could see there were flower petals and leaves inside. "What is this?", I asked.
Sam: A baby snail.
Me: Is it the slug you were holding this morning before school?
Sam: No, this one has a tiny shell.
Me: Your homework is in my purse, go get it done.

Sam proceeded to ignore me and watch Ghost Whisperer.
I looked over 20 minutes later and he was sitting on the couch next to the open pencil box. Also, he was digging around his crotch like he'd just lost something and it rolled under him.
Me: Is that snail on my couch?
Sam: No, it's curled up in it's shell, taking a nap.
Me: Get that thing off my couch.
Sam: (standing up so he can find the thing) It's ok, it's inside it's shell, completely.

He then finds it and holds it in his grubby little hand, gazing at it like he's in love.

A few minutes later I look over and the snail is perched on his arm, but still inside it's shell.
Sam: (in a girly voice) Is that snail on my poody?
I rolled my eyes at him. Who knew a kid named poody could be so sassy. Maybe I should tell him the snail isn't coming out because it's dead.

Flu Shots

2010-10-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

This year we are waging the athletes foot battle early. I made an appointment for Sam to have his feet looked at today. We walked away with a prescription for two creams and a recommendation for a different type of sock. So, pretty much back doing what we have been doing for the last year. I thought there were a few other appropriate options and I made them known. I suggested dipping his feet in battery acid, a shot between the toes or cutting his feet off with some type of laser. My ideas were shot down. There is good news though, it turns out that getting prescription cream is 10 times cheaper than buying it over the counter.

While waiting to see the doctor the desk woman offered Sam a flu shot. He politely said,"No, thank you." and went back to his magazine. She looked at me and I nodded. I whispered that he was getting it, and not to worry I'm getting one too this year. He asked me if I was getting it today and I told him I was getting it on the 10th. He said no again. I said yes. We both got them, today. And then while driving to the store to pick up the cream he suggested he deserved a treat for being so brave about the shot. He had two candy bars picked out and then he saw a display of sillybandz... I caved. He put the candy back and picked out a batch of Halloween shaped junk.

OH, and by the way, we are down to 10 weeks until our little lady makes her debut!

My Silly Bandz Nightmare

2010-09-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Silly Bandz? If not, they look like this:

They come in a variety of colors and shapes. The kids like them. They wear them on their wrists. They trade them. They compare them... The kids LOVE them.

I have never purchased any of these and yet my kid has a wrist full. How he talks his friends into giving them to him without a trade, I do not know. I did witness him admiring his neighbors glow in the dark silly bandz when her mom made her give him one... Thus my nightmare.

Later that night, well after Sam had been put to bed, he strolled into our room like it was the middle of the day asking how he could charge up his glow in the dark silly band. We put it on the tissue box right under the lamp on my nightstand. I said, "I'll bring it to you in ten minutes. Don't get out of bed again." He sauntered back to his room. Ten minutes later, I made the delivery and that band, which happened to be shaped like a pair of short, of all things, was glowing good.

Fast forward to 1am. I was dead asleep when suddenly my eyes popped open. I was startled to see Sam standing less than a foot away from me.

Me: What the heck are you doing?

Sam: Charging up my silly band.

Me: The light is off.

Sam: I'm using the light from your alarm clock.

Me:GET BACK TO BED AND QUIT PLAYING WITH THAT THING. YOU MAY NOT WAKE UP TO PLAY WITH THOSE!!!

Fast forward again to 9 am. Sam has been gone for a good half hour. He roller bladed to school since his bike had it's 3rd flat tire in two weeks. I'm relaxing in my bed because my ankles are still swollen from the day before. It's been that kind of week. The phone rings, I answer and hear a tiny voice say, "Hi mom."

Me: (confused because school started one minute before and I can't imagine what could already be going wrong) Hi Sam.

Sam: I forgot my shoes.

Me: Ok, I'll bring them over.

All the way to the school I can't help thinking that had he slept through the night instead of worrying about the glow power of his silly bandz he surely would have remembered his shoes.

To start your own nightmare visit here: www.sillybanz.com

Be sure to watch the featured music video.

Conversations in Costco - Episode 2

2010-09-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

Picture us sitting at a dirty "picnic" table with giant hot dogs in a giant warehouse type store.

Me: Sam that guy behind you has a Goonies T-shirt on.
Sam: What does it say?
Me: It says, "Goonies never say die"
Sam: (In a girly voice) I'm not a Goonie.
Me: I dare you to look at him and yell , HEY YOUUUU GUUUYYYSSS!
Sam: (smiles and takes a bite of his giant hot dog)

... A few minutes pass...

Sam: Ok, I'm going to do it!
Sam turns, towards the guy, yells, "HEY YOUUU GUUYYSSS!" in his best Sloth voice. The dude wouldn't even look at him but his wife turned around really fast and gave us a dirty look. Sam and I busted up laughing.
Matt: (looking really uncomfortable) Maybe that guy doesn't feel like being teased about his shirt today.
Me: He shouldn't have worn it then, besides, we aren't teasing him, we are trying to bond with him... He doesn't deserve that shirt.
Sam and I continue to laugh...

100 Days to Go!

2010-09-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

As I type there is a little human going crazy inside my belly. I'm no good a deciphering the movements. I can't tell her head from her feet. But there is a lot of movin' and shakin' goin' on. Matt can feel it and see it. I'm picturing either a raging fit going on in there or a dance party. It's hard to believe that somebody who can move so much and be so strong still has 100 days to grow.
I'm nearly 26 weeks and eager to start pushing... But also enjoying these fun feelings at the same time. Feelings I have longed for for eight long years. The moving babe, the planning, the thinking about names (we have one picked out, by the way). The extra ultra sounds - my Ob's office was having trouble seeing all they were looking for, so I go to come back for another at 24 weeks and then yet another this week in the parinatology department. All is well. All fun stuff.
And then there are the not so fun feelings. The joints loosening and the joints stiffening for no apparent reason. The pinching of the sciatic nerve - random and not as bad a the end of the pregnancy with Sam. And don't get me started on the ever threatening charlie horse in my calves. Youch! They always strike in the middle of the night while I sleep. Luckily my trick of flexing my toes up, flat footed still works, but not until after I feel like something took a big bite out of my leg. My hands and ankles still swell occasionally, but my little exercises to fight off edema are still working.
The A-number-one problem, that which I worry about most, is the glow. Several people have told me now that I am glowing. A nice thing to say, but I fear, in actuality the loss of brain cells, caused by pregnancy, is showing in my new found facial expression, which is, blank, and mistaken for a glow. It's proven you know, that women who are pregnant lose brain cells. Also that their feet grow. So after this, my 8th pregnancy I am feeling really dumb, and who knows, by the end I may be wearing clown shoes to match my new brain.
I have been so forgetful. My mind wanders mid conversation. I can't articulate thoughts or ideas. Names escape me. Events go by and I don't even miss them for days. I double book myself. I repeat myself. I ask questions multiple times before the answers start to sink in. It's really annoying for someone who's mind is usually a steel trap of information. Will these cells come back? Will I have the drive and the thoughts to be the blogger I once was? Will I eat my new baby, who I have been so, so hungry for?

In other news, Matt and I celebrated our 10th anniversary by going to see The Lion King Broadway production at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City. We had plans to stay at the Little America, downtown, but when we arrived they gave us a complementary upgrade to The Grand America. It was such a fun little trip. The show was fabulous, though the over abundance of children in the audience was very distracting. The hotel was beautiful, though haunted. A totally great weekend.
Sam started 4th grade last week! I can't believe it. He is more than half way through elementary school. But he's just my little boy. I have vivid memories of 4th grade. It was my best year. I moved up to the upstairs class rooms with the 5th and 6th graders. And I was so mature and totally awesome to the max. I had the most radical biker shorts with neon strips on the side and a grown out mullet. I wonder if Sam feels as grown up as I did... I kind of hope not.
Things are going well so far. He likes his teachers and he comes home happy. Something new this year, Sam has been riding his bike to and from school with a friend. They love it!

The Results are in...

2010-07-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

After a few anxious and painful (for me anyway, that lady was DIGGING with her magic ultrasound wand) minutes the baby showed us it's business.

It's a girl! She was being modest and we hope she stays that way.

I admit, I shed a few tears. Though I'm not sure why. Sam is a little disappointed, he kept saying on the way that he hoped it was a boy. But he says he is happy. Matt and I are feeling relief that it's a girl. The weird fact that I have felt like it was a girl all this time was putting pressure on us. If it had been a boy we might feel like we HAVE to try again and at this point neither of us have been feeling up to that. So, sweet relief.

Now to agree on a name.... I'm determined to get my way!

This one is for Anj!

2010-07-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

I've been called out on facebook, and told it is time for an update. I don't know where my blogging spirit has gone.
We are having a wonderful summer. I no longer have employment, except of two hours a week at the Rec Center Day care, so we are feeling super poor. And hot. We have decided not to turn the AC on this year to keep the electric bill as low as possible. Luckily it has been a fairly mild July... so far. There have been a few days that were hot enough to make me miserable but it has pretty much cooled off every night so far. Sam and I cool off at the Rec pool and the Library.

On July 3rd Matt and Sam went to help Pete and Whitney move. When they came back Sam noticed a large flag stuck in the grass at our neighbors. He asked Matt what it was there for and when Matt told him it was there for the 4th of July, Sam said, "But that's in August." Apparently Sam's momma needs to review the basics of the calendar with him over the long summer break.

Another funny thing I heard from Sam was when he was singing to himself. This is what I heard:
"Shot through the heart,
and your to late,
You give love a band aid."
When I think about it, it makes total sense to give a band aid to someone who's been shot.

Still pregnant! 18 weeks! I am feeling good. Some of my energy has returned, which I am really happy about. Despite having lost 20 pounds, most of my pants are starting to fit very snugly and some of them just plain don't fit. So my constant mantra of "Grow baby, grow!" must be working. We go to the doctor again on the 28th, when we will have an ultrasound and find out if my instincts are right or wrong about this baby being a girl. I'm not hoping one way or the other, I just want healthy, but I still think it's a girl for some reason. I could be wrong, of course, we'll see.

Today is Matt's Birthday! So if you see him wish him a happy day.
Happy Birthday Matty!

My poor neglected blog.

2010-06-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

It's been over a month! I can't believe it. And the last post was a bit of an announcement. Do I have you on the edge of your seat?

My OB says he get nervous when ever he thinks about me. His nurse says she holds her breath every time she sees that I've left a message for her. I call her a lot. We have years of history together and now we are starting a close personal relationship. And I don't know how much more personal I could get with my OB, poor guy. He's got a vein that bulges out of his bald head when ever I'm around.

So, I have made it to week 13. And I'm feeling really good. I never got sick. Sure, I was nauseous a few times and threw up about 20 times total - so far, but compared to my other 7 pregnancies, this has been fairly easy. I am so fooschnickin' tired it's not even funny. And I'm still eating every three hours during the day. But I put an end to my night time feedings. After two months of it, I just couldn't take it anymore and so far so good. Stopping hasn't made me sick and if I find that it does I'll have to go back to it. But I think I'm in the clear for getting the hyper emesis. And I still mananged to lose 20 pounds.

And speaking of night time feedings, I fully expect this baby to be born sleeping through the night. I'm feeling really old. I don't know if it's because I'm 32 and I expected to be done bearing children by now, if it's the idea of starting over with diapers and potty training and baby proofing when we haven't been there for a good six years now or if it's just that I really was pretty young when I had Sam. 23 seems like so long ago. Or maybe it's just because I'm so tired and don't really feel like myself. I'm looking forward to getting some ambition back, but right now I have none. Not even to blog. Several people have gotten after me so here I am.

Thanks for all your prayers and phone calls. I appreciate them so much. And please, keep them coming. At my appointment last Thursday we saw the little peanut with it's healthy heartbeat and it's HUGE HEAD. I asked my OB when he thought I'd be "out of the woods" and he said, "Uuummm, 38 weeks.... when you're breast feeding.... when this kid goes to college?" So, while I feel like this child will be born (and that it's a girl), I still need your prayers.

Bun in the Oven

2010-04-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, my oven.

There are some things we are doing differently. I want IV nutrition this time. There was a internist in California who did it for me while I was pregnant and terribly sick with Sam. I think it may have been the difference between Sam and all the others. I'm the first to admit it may not be the magic bullet, but I think it's worth a try. My OB said he would go along with it if I could get the perinatologist to recommend it. We went to a perinatologist before I was pregnant, and we pleaded our case. She wouldn't recommend an IV or a pic line, but she will put a feeding tube in my nose, through my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines when I get really sick. I'm nervous about this because it will be dangling at the back of my throat for 10-14 days and, as we well know, my gag reflex has a hair-line trigger.
She has three criteria for this to be a viable option. First, I need to be at least 8 weeks because they will need to do an x-ray to be sure the tube is positioned properly. She doesn't want to do an x-ray before 8 weeks. Second, I need to have lost weight from the throwing up. And last, there has to be ketones in my urine. This is a toxin released by the body when it's breaking itself down and burning itself for fuel.
In the mean time she has me eating every three hours. Even in the night. We're trying to trick my body into feeling busy, rather than sick. So far, it seems to be working. I usually get sick between 6 and 8 weeks, being full blown sick by 8 weeks. I'm 7 weeks now and I have felt a little nauseous a few times, but as soon as I eat I feel better. I think it's the eating in the night that's making the big difference. So every night before we go to sleep, Matt says, "When was the last time you ate." I tell him and then we count on our fingers three hours ahead and he sets the alarm. Then he walks over to the desk and counts ahead three hours from the alarm clock, and sets another alarm clock. Then he goes to his alarm clock and sets it. When he wakes up he resets his alarm clock to three hours after my second one, so I'm sure to wake up in time to eat again. So in short, we have three alarm clocks in our room going off four times in the night. It's so fun.
I also went on a short little road trip to Idaho with some friends. We had a visit with a muscle therapist. He taught me how to stimulate my kidneys into flushing fluid more efficiently. My legs had been swelling since the fifth and sixth weeks. It's different and not something I'm familiar with or used to, but it's working. It has kept the fluid out of my legs all week.
My poor body does not like to be pregnant. But I'm hoping 7th times a charm and things all work out. Whether we have a baby in December or not, I know I won't regret trying. So, please, keep us in your prayers.

Biggest Loser Open Casting Call

2010-04-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Do you watch? I do, and I love it! It's inspiring. Inspiring enough to get my Large Marge Tushy off the couch and exercising? Maybe not... It did get us off the couch on March 20th, when we went to the Open Casting Call in Salt Lake City.

The Call was to be held from 10am to 5pm and the rules were you couldn't get in line more than three hours in advance.

I set my alarm to go off a 5:30 am. That would give us enough time to get up , shower, primp, make lunches and drive to Salt Lake City and get in line by 7.

I woke up at 6:08 am. My alarm didn't go off. Apparently I don't know how to set an alarm clock properly. I layed in bed for a good 15 minutes and had some inner whining and groaning about the fact that we were behind schedule. I know, it doesn't make sense. I just set us behind even more.

Once I rousted myself out of bed we got going and ended up in line by 8:30. The line was already half way around the block. I couldn't believe it and I'm pretty sure a lot of the people ahead of me didn't follow the rules.

Sam was with us and he kept himself busy and rarely whined.

It was cold!

Especially in the shade, which there was a lot of.

It was beautiful weather. The sky was clear and the sun was shining.

We brought chairs to sit on. Smartest thing we did all day.

Matt didn't really want to be there but he was a good sport.

He wasn't whining, but the sun was in his eyes.

We cuddled to keep warm and busy.

Sam took a nap standing up.

Not really.

This was the view about 3.5 hours into the wait. About this time there was info being passed down the line. They were taking 20 people at a time, who went into the studio and split up 10 to a table for a group interview lasting 8 minutes. We were also told they were stopping right at 5pm. We weren't sure we would make it.

Getting closer. If you look at the center of the picture you can see a camera just above the heads of the people in line. That is the front of the line.

This is me with my numbered application. I was number 775. The closer we got the the front the more the energy in the line changed. It was exciting.

The group ahead of us waving their apps, about to be ushered into the doors!

So Close!

We waited 7 HOURS!

Right inside the first set of doors there were about 15 security guards. I guess they were worried about a bunch of fat people storming the building.

Through the next set of doors we were met by a small bossy young woman who gave us some tips and a stapler to attach our pictures to the application. She pointed out that there were now 30 people being called in and we would sit 15 to a table.We needed to make ourselves stand out without being obnoxious. She said if we were getting called back at all we would find out that night and if we got a call from a 310 area code we should answer. She also told us we couldn't bring Sam in. I freaked. I didn't wan to to leave him outside alone. The girl behind us told me to say he's autistic. I had a quick image of me having to play that lie out through a whole season of BL. Matt took him to wait with a security guard.

We got into the studio and there was a scramble for chairs. All these nice ladies we had spent the day with suddenly got a bit aggressive. I picked up a chair that was set a bit apart and started to carry it to the other side of the table so I could sit by Matt. I wanted the interviewer to see how gorgeous we are together. He said, "Hey, if you sit behind me I won't be able to see you." I told him I was taking it to the other side to sit by my partner. Dude said,"It's ok, set it there we will make sure your applications are together before you leave." I sat down. Matt was on the other side. Neither one of us was really sitting AT the table.

The interviewer pointed out that Matt was the only guy in the group. I yelled, "That's my partner!" Dude looked at me and gave a knowing nod of the head. I had to mark my territory.

Dude asked if we were married. Matt said, "Yes." I said, "Booyah!" (Just kidding, I didn't, but I wish I had. I was too worried about coming across as obnoxious.) Then Dude had everyone go around the table and say our names, ages, and occupation. Then we went around the table to tell our food weakness. (Which I thought was lame. Just because we are fat doesn't mean we can only talk about food. Right?) When I said," Doughnuts and breads. I'm addicted to carbs." The dude turned to Matt and asked if I was telling the truth. When Dude got around to Matt, Matt said," Reese's peanut butter cups, but I prefer the egg or tree shaped ones because they have more peanut butter and the chocolate is softer." The whole table erupted in agreement. Dude looked at me and asked if Matt was telling the truth. I said, " Yeah, My sugar likes his sugar." (Ok, I didn't say that last part either, but I really wish I had. I just said, " Yeah, he really likes those.)

Interview over.
We were at the table for less than 5 minutes!
And we didn't get called back.

It has been a huge disappointment in my life. We must not have been fat enough. Surely they weren't rejecting our great personalities or our stylish good looks. I really wanted to be fat enough. I really wanted a skinny lady to yell swear words in my face while forcing me to kill myself by way of push ups. I really wanted that.
But the biggest disappointment was the lack of swag and entertainment provided to us while waiting in line. I was hoping to see one or two past cast members strutting their skinny selves around chatting it up with those of us in line. Maybe I expected one of them to have one of those awesome T-Shirt Guns like mascots use and they would shoot shirts at us that say Gillian is the bomb! on them. I think Subway should have been there passing out samples and coupons. Same with Britta, Ziploc, and extra gum. I mean, if they are going to make us watch commercials DURING THE SHOW the least they can do for us fans and hopefuls is show up and give us free stuff. At the least, someone should have come out and giving a rah,rah speech to us just before we went in.

Also, I was expecting them to send us to a little camera booth where we could talk to the camera and stuff. Matt and I had a song we prepared to sing to the camera. No such luck.

Instead, on our way out we got to take a LIVE5 Weather Calendar as we walked out. They were just there in a stack. Not even a person handing them out and thanking us for spending a whole day devoted to their show.

They really should hire me to their PR department. When is the casting call for that job?

Some people read tea leaves, I read the mail.

2010-03-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Several week ago I received a package in the mail.

Judging by the box, I thought it was my Mother Of The Year Award.

Alas, it was just baby swag.... Baby Swag? When I was preggers with Sam, my doctors office signed me up (or sold my personal information - it all depends on how you look at it) to some mailing list and then all through the pregnancy, and Sam's first year of life, I got stuff in the mail. Formula, diapers, nipple cream, butt cream, etc. You name it, I got it.

For the first pregnancy after Sam (there have been six) I ended up on the list again. But I miscarried and still the swag came. It didn't bother me too much because that miscarriage was just a fluke and surely I would get pregnant again and we'd have another baby soon. It was not in the stars.

The doctors office is smart. In more than a medical way. They have never signed/sold me up for swag again. I thank them for that. Something I had never thought of until this little pink box of formula arrived.

I was seriously confused when I opened the box. I'm not pregnant. Why was this sent to me. I'll admit, it's a little bit painful. There is nothing I would like to do more than spend hundreds of dollars on baby formula. I counted back to my last miscarriage which was in October of '08. Way too long ago to explain the baby swag. Maybe this is a sign?

Two days later, another package in the mail.

Hmmm... What could this be? A tiny newborn diaper? Some breast pad samples?

Alas, if I try to read the mail, the way some people read tea leaves, then I'm being told the same old story.

You're pregnant and having a baby...

Just kidding, here's some tampons...

But still, I hope. That is why the formula found it's way to my pantry.

Right next to the lentils which I also never use.

Tales From The Backpack

2010-03-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

I found this artistic rendering in Sam's back pack.

Apparently Spring is way more violent than I ever could have imagined.

In case you can't tell what is going on in this masterpiece, the Angry Sun is saying, "Me kill snowman." To which the equally angry snowman (who could blame him?) replies, "Oh, no you don't" Then sprouts some wicked ice wings to fly up to the Sun and show it who's boss. Well, that last part I am just assuming. On second thought, and after some motherly examination, I think the snowman is actually generating a force field around itself as a protection, much like shade.

I'm so glad to be this artist's mother. Even if he does need counseling.