I don’t have a lot of time to write, but I just wanted to post some pictures of present day life. We are surviving. Sam is an amazingly good baby. I am enjoying him so much. The other kids have really been loving and adoring to him too. I simply cannot express how my heart has swelled since being a mom. It bursting so much it almost hurts. I love LOVE my children. They are each so special in their own individual way. I am so blessed to be their mom.
Since my dad came for Christmas and it was the only time that we’d have and sort of family here for who knows how long, Joel asked the Bishop if we could do a baby blessing at home on Christmas. The Bishop left his family for a few minutes for us. It was really low key – Sam was just in his p.j.’s. But it was special.
Afterwards my dad was teary saying that he felt his dad strongly. (His name is also Robert.) He said the things that Sam was blessed with were all characteristics of my Grandpa – to want to do and be good, to be quick with a kind word, and other things too. Though I have never met him, I do feel a connection with my Grandpa. My dad says that he was a lot like Joel – a good man and able to do absolutely anything with his hands. Sam and Grandpa must of had a relationship before Sam Bob made his journey here.
Welcome to the family Samuel – we are so happy you are here!
(This is his 2 week picture, taken the day after.)
My mom is great.
Really.
She left Sunday evening after spending 10 days here. I would have not been able to survive without her. Joel was amazing the first week and my mom covered the second week.
Seriously – she was a lifesaver. She cooked, she cleaned, she shopped, she put away laundry, entertained the kids, played nurse to all kids who all had conjunctivitis, and just let me rest. We really ran her ragged – and constantly. There was absolutely no break for her. I feel terrible that I was such a bad host, but seriously, I haven’t been able to do much. I really cannot fully express how much I appreciated her. Thank you seems to lack so much.
Today is my first day alone with no help as a mom of 4. I thought I was prepared but I am tired and haven’t been as nice as I need to be. I just started the kids on a project so hopefully that will help me cool off a little bit. I hate being grumpy with the kids. It is a terrible feeling. But Jack has 2 more weeks off before school starts again – I’m praying that I will be able to be in more of a routine and on top of things by then.
Wish me luck!
I know…I was HUGE!!! This was taken a few days before due date.
The day before the due date I had a doc appt and this little guy turned out to be breech. The doctor felt very confident that the baby could be turned easily. He made an appointment early the next morning to turn the guy – if he turned then he would start labor so he wouldn’t go breech again. If the baby didn’t turn, the chances of him turning on his own were slim because I was due and he was only going to get bigger and so harder for him to flip. But he was very very sure that he would flip easily.
After 3 hours of sleep (did I mention that I was sick with sore throat, a cough, and stuffy nose?) we got to the hospital at 5am. I got an epidural and a uterine relaxer then he started the turning. Wow. He was kneading my belly like dough. It was pretty intense. The doc said that if he didn’t turn the first time, he probably wouldn’t. But since he was so sure that he was going to turn he just kept going at it. He definitely worked up a sweat. Like I said. It was intense…and Sam didn’t turn…
…and there was a slim chance that he was going to…
So my options: Go home and wait until I go into labor, and then hurry up to get an emergency c section (I could try a breech birth but it is 7 times more dangerous for the baby) OR go for an elective c section right then.
Well, not much of a choice there. I was nervous – what if the baby wasn’t fully cooked yet? I mean, yes I was due, but he wasn’t flipped and I wasn’t even in labor. All the other kids were late. i was assured by the doctor that if the same thing happened last week, he would have done the same thing.
So a couple hours later there I was being prepped for surgery! Since the epidural was already in place the anesthesiologist wanted to do just a more concentrated dose to see if that would work. If not, then a spinal block would be put in. The epidural worked like a charm.
What a strange sensation. Not pain, but just the pressure. It seemed an out of body experience. Wow. After he came out I got to meet him I bawled. He was beautiful. The whole experience was crazy. They whisked Joel and Sam away until I was sewn up. Fifteen minutes later I was with my boys!
It was just crazy. I am happy we did it. The doc said that the umbilical cord was low and so it was probably really good it was a c section because it would have caused problems in a regular labor. Perhaps there was a reason for all this craziness.
I am still recovering. Majorly. The first 5 days I was hecka sore from the turning – the doctor said it would feel like I had been mugged and that is totally right. Ouch. Now it is incision pain that I am still having a hard time getting around with. Meds are good. Real good. And on the flip side – I haven’t felt a single nursing contraction!
Absolutely everything has been different this time around. EVERYTHING. But it could have been a lot worse. I am so thankful that we are both okay. And Mr. Sam is amazing. What a good good baby. And so handsome. We are so happy to have him.
Here are the pictures the nurse took – not the most attractive pictures of me, but I’ll share anyhow. :)
Samuel Robert
8 lbs 7 oz
21 inches long
Blue eyes, brown hair, cleft chin, dimples only when he smiles, and the most beautiful round head.
Whew – we made it. Last week was busy crazy – Jack’s 5th bday, Joel’s 31st, and then Thanksgiving. Even though it was way busy, it was also really fun and lovely. For some reason the only time I took out my camera was when we took the kids Friday night to walk around the temple - something Sage has been dying to do for a while. She insisted in a picture of her at the temple, so that is really the only reason I brought it with us. And looking at the pictures – wow! Jack looks great, but the girls are total ragamuffins! Man oh man. What am I going to do with those two?
So, Mr. Jack’s birthday. Yes, he is a whopping one hand now. He really is a fabulous boy. He can be such a stinkin’ pill to his sisters, which drives me crazy. But when he chooses to be nice, it is heavenly.
Jack wanted to bring Cheezits or goldfish for a snack for everyone in his class. Request was easily granted. He got to pass them out, which, if you know Jack, was right his alley and pretty spectacular that he got to be in charge and help everyone. He felt pretty special. I love it. But yeah, we had a church friend who also is in Kindergarten at the same school and his family come for a dinner of Jack’s choice. We didn’t do games or anything. We did have root beer floats. But that was it! I feel like a bad mom, but really, he loved it. The kids played really well, and he felt super special. I can’t believe he is 5! Happy Birthday nino. I love you so very much.
The next day was Joel’s birthday. He didn’t get home until 6.30 so we ate without him. :) We all went to get the boy’s hair cuts and came back home. Since it was the night before Thanksgiving, the hair place was super packed – they waited at least an hour before it was their turn. It was so late when we got back, I forced Joel to open the presents the kids have been anxiously waiting for him to open, gave them a slice of pavlova and then we all went to bed! Joel did like his presents. His favorite was the one from us that was Jack’s suggestion and Sage picked out. Joel’s mom sent some Rooibos and Choffy. Jack thought it would be good for us to get something that made water get hot fast so we didn’t have to boil it on the stove anymore. An electric kettle it was! I was super impressed with Jack’s thoughtfulness.
The next day was Thanksgiving. What a super lovely day it was! My cousin Kristen and her family came up from L.A. and spent the day with us. It was really stress-free, fun, and well, lovely is the only word that really comes close. It felt so so good to be with family. I hadn’t realized how much I missed it. It really made the holiday feel complete. I never grew up with family around, and really only saw the extended family once a year or so. And then when we did get to see family it is always so big and crazy that you never really get to see or really talk with anyone. At least that is how it feels for me. I prefer small groups, hate being the center of attention in big groups, and really just do much better in one on one interactions. So this was just perfect. Especially with Kristen who is super lovely. And it turns out the trip is only 2 1/2 hrs away! We are so going to get together again soon. Thanks for making the drive!
Now that this week is over, it is time. Baby can come whenever now. There is nothing in the way or anything that I need to get done. Just waiting now…next Friday is the due date. I’m really hoping he’ll come earlier though. I doubt it, but a girl can hope.
I think Joel can hardly wait until the baby comes - he is hoping I will chill out a little. I, of course, think that I am perfectly fine. Okay, I have been a little testy - mostly with him - but I think I have been great.
Yesterday I was thinking about my dreams (which have been wild crazy intense) and texted Joel at work and asked him if I punched him in the back in the middle of the night. He said yes. I thought it a dream. I was totally asleep. I thought it absolutely hilarious. For some reason, he didn't see the humor. He was telling everyone at work all day that he was a poor abused husband, waking up at 5.00 so he could go and work hard all day for his family. I guess his alarm went off for half a second and then I punched him. Then I didn't even say anything about it. He was still irritable about it when he got home. I am still amused.
But my hormones haven't been all bad. As I said before, I am nesting. Majorly. I've been wanting new floors and really really wanted Joel to get cracking on it. I was so sick and tired of cleaning the front room and still having it look filthy. Impulsively I went and rented a carpet cleaner last week. My back was killing me, and Joel helped out after he came home from scouts. But totally worth the $25. Wow. What a difference. I'm not embarrassed to have people over anymore. And the cool thing - today I vacuumed and it is seriously the 1st time since living in this house that you can see vacuum lines. Totally gross, I know, but I cannot explain the thrill it gives me to have a clean front room - for reals. Joel wants to buy a carpet cleaner now...I still want different flooring...
Presenting the King, Queen and their Pirate:
We celebrated Halloween this year with awesome costumes (smirk). Jack wanted to be a King, so of course Sage being a queen took her all of 2 seconds to decide. I do like the crowns – I think they turned out pretty sweet for tinfoil. The capes are the cheapest red curtains Target had. There is only a quilt store here in town and are of course on the spendy side. It works. They were happy, and that is really all that counts. If only they would stay so easy to please.
They had a Trick or Treat night at Jack’s school that we went to the Friday before Halloween. We had a pizza picnic there before the candy madness began. The kids enjoyed it. Charly was hilarious and the star of the show. She was so insistent on carrying her own bag and threw her bag at each person passing out candy. This little girl is so absolutely adorable and a total joy. By the end of the day she could say ‘Pirate’ and ‘Arrrr”.
We got all the candy we needed and so that was Halloween for us! We are such bums! When they get older maybe it will be different.
There was a Trunk or Treat on Saturday night, but we ended up driving to the coast and going to the Monteray Aquarium and missing it. It was fun, but Joel was a little disappointed. There were a lot of adults there and I saw several push their way in and inch out kids who were there. It was totally impromptu and fun to get out of town for the day.
On actual Halloween we had FHE and went out to ice cream! It is easier living where we do with no neighbors really to speak of to just skip it. We probably would have gone if we lived in a neighborhood.
Oh, I almost forgot. The pumpkins. The pumpkins that Joel said were his very best EVER. Yah, well, they lasted, what, 2 days? Totally MOLDY! I didn’t even get a picture. After 4 days and it was oozing juice in the entryway with all the fruit flies I asked Joel to chuck them. They were replaced with mini pumpkins the girls painted at their “preschool” party. Note to self: when it is still 70 – 80 degrees outside, pumpkins don’t last long. Just wait.
We traveled 40 mins this year to go to a pumpkin patch. Joel chose this one because it had something special – a steam engine! We live close to the train tracks, and the kids have been dying to go on a train ride. So we thought we’d kill 2 birds with one stone.
I know we are easily impressed, seeing that we’ve had our own pumpkin patch in the backyard for the past couple of years. But this was awesome. It had the pumpkins and trains ($3 for a 15 min ride) but also electric trains, a nature hike with this wibbly wobbly shake shake bridge, a play house that you climbed into and got to slide out of a big cement tube that deposited you on the side of a hill, slides, hay rides, tri-tip and other concessions. It was really cool. Charlotte loved the electric trains. Jack and Sage rode in the cattle car of the train by themselves. Sage said she had a good time but was shy. They were saying moo. We rode in a regular train car. I was impressed with all the tracks they had.
They do Christmas trees too. I totally want to go there again.
Carving the pumpkins:
You’ll see the finished products on Halloween!
