We had a fun day with a party and transformer stuff. More later.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
He's 5!!!
Yes, Little t turned 5 yesterday. He is ready to start kindergarten now. He registered a few weeks ago. He got his doctor's appointment last week. Now he's turned 5 and he thinks kindergarten should start tomorrow.
We had a fun day with a party and transformer stuff. More later.
We had a fun day with a party and transformer stuff. More later.
Bucket List
I don't really have a formal bucket list (things you want to do before you kick the bucket.) I guess it's because I was fortunate to do a lot of really cool things when I was young. But one thing I've had in the back of my mind on and off is donating hair to Locks of Love. I always thought it was sort of cool and something I would like to do someday. Then recently my husband asked if I would cut my hair short. I thought if I'm going to cut my hair, then I want to donate it.
If you want to donate hair it has to be at least 10 inches, not bleached or highlighted and preferably not gray. I figured now was a good time. I'm not getting less gray and it's more likely that I will highlight going forward. I was blessed to be referred to an excellent stylist and here are the results.
Before
Barely 10 inches (My hair doesn't grow long well.)
Cut
Styled by Jennifer (she's so talented!)
Wearing it curly. (Yeah, the curls came back!)
If you want to donate hair it has to be at least 10 inches, not bleached or highlighted and preferably not gray. I figured now was a good time. I'm not getting less gray and it's more likely that I will highlight going forward. I was blessed to be referred to an excellent stylist and here are the results.
Before
Barely 10 inches (My hair doesn't grow long well.)
Cut
Styled by Jennifer (she's so talented!)
Wearing it curly. (Yeah, the curls came back!)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Branched
I started the dance blog tonight. We're going to call the school Enlighten School of Dance. Check us out at http://enlightendance.blogspot.com/.
Monday, April 6, 2009
I Saw a Real Super Hero
I have just a minute to blog. I have so many ideas, but I really wanted to tell the fantastic story of when we saw a real super hero. It was just last Friday. We went to the library to return some books and stock up for Spring Break. It was a . . . well, it was a blustery day. It was rainy and windy and rainy some more. Little j had left his new umbrella in the car. He picked out the umbrella himself, yellow with red fire trucks. When I told him he needed to wear a jacket because it was rainy he grab his umbrella too.
The little umbrellas didn't do well in the wind. About half way across the street to the library I saw that he was trying to hold the umbrella over his shoulder against the wind. I showed him how to hold it into the wind so it wouldn't invert. But the second I left his side he put it back up on his shoulder. Instantly a large gust of wind ripped the umbrella inside out and tore off the yellow cover. I watched stunned for an instant as the yellow with red fire trucks slidded across the ground then danced through the air. I sprang into action and scurried after it. I ran as quickly as I could carrying Little e and a heavy bag of library book returns.
After about 15 yards I realized the chase must be abandoned. The wind was moving much faster than I. And my children 3 small children were still in the middle of the street behind me.
Little j was frantic. We entered the library and lingered in the space between the two sets of doors for a moment hoping he would regain some composure. If nothing else I was determined to return the books. He calmed down a little, but once inside the library he started again. I wasn't sure what to do.
That's when it happened. We were in a sad little blur of space and it was penetrated by a super hero. The super hero was a boy not more than 8 or 9. He approached, held out yellow fabric with red fire trucks. "Is this yours?" he asked and handed the umbrella cover to me.
"Thank you!!!" I replied.
Then he was gone as quickly as he appeared.
You may think that perhaps a young boy could catch an umbrella cover more easily than a mom with a baby and a large bag of library books. But when I abandoned the chase the cover was easily 50 yards or more away from the library and the wind was still gusting strongly. A super hero saved the day!!!
So now you know there are real super heros out there. Be on the watch. You may find one too. It may be a grandmother who offers to hold your baby in the check outline line of the grocery store. It may be a young boy who offers to retrieve a frisbee from the roof of the garage. No matter who it is our world is a safer, happier place because of the super heros.
The little umbrellas didn't do well in the wind. About half way across the street to the library I saw that he was trying to hold the umbrella over his shoulder against the wind. I showed him how to hold it into the wind so it wouldn't invert. But the second I left his side he put it back up on his shoulder. Instantly a large gust of wind ripped the umbrella inside out and tore off the yellow cover. I watched stunned for an instant as the yellow with red fire trucks slidded across the ground then danced through the air. I sprang into action and scurried after it. I ran as quickly as I could carrying Little e and a heavy bag of library book returns.
After about 15 yards I realized the chase must be abandoned. The wind was moving much faster than I. And my children 3 small children were still in the middle of the street behind me.
Little j was frantic. We entered the library and lingered in the space between the two sets of doors for a moment hoping he would regain some composure. If nothing else I was determined to return the books. He calmed down a little, but once inside the library he started again. I wasn't sure what to do.
That's when it happened. We were in a sad little blur of space and it was penetrated by a super hero. The super hero was a boy not more than 8 or 9. He approached, held out yellow fabric with red fire trucks. "Is this yours?" he asked and handed the umbrella cover to me.
"Thank you!!!" I replied.
Then he was gone as quickly as he appeared.
You may think that perhaps a young boy could catch an umbrella cover more easily than a mom with a baby and a large bag of library books. But when I abandoned the chase the cover was easily 50 yards or more away from the library and the wind was still gusting strongly. A super hero saved the day!!!
So now you know there are real super heros out there. Be on the watch. You may find one too. It may be a grandmother who offers to hold your baby in the check outline line of the grocery store. It may be a young boy who offers to retrieve a frisbee from the roof of the garage. No matter who it is our world is a safer, happier place because of the super heros.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Branching Out
I'm probably going to be starting another blog. I thought about doing it tonight, but instead I'm just going to blog about it. We're planning to open a dance studio in my home. It was suggested that a blog would be a good way to advertise. I thought it was a great idea, but I think I'd like to keep the traffic to the dance blog separate from this blog.
Do I dance? Is that what I can hear you asking? Well, maybe a little. I probably can't dance any better than I can speak Spanish. But it my talented friends are going to be doing the teaching. They needed a space for a studio and that's what I have. I also have ambition to do something more. I think this is a really good cause. We need good wholesome recreation for our community. This dance studio will be COMMITTED to providing that. Dance can be wholesome and fun and a good way to learn grace and strength. We're planning to open in April. I know that's going out on a limb a little, but that's branching out, right?!!
Do I dance? Is that what I can hear you asking? Well, maybe a little. I probably can't dance any better than I can speak Spanish. But it my talented friends are going to be doing the teaching. They needed a space for a studio and that's what I have. I also have ambition to do something more. I think this is a really good cause. We need good wholesome recreation for our community. This dance studio will be COMMITTED to providing that. Dance can be wholesome and fun and a good way to learn grace and strength. We're planning to open in April. I know that's going out on a limb a little, but that's branching out, right?!!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Little j's Birth Story
Since I started this blog with e's birth story I thought it would be nice to add all the birth stories. (Thanks for the good idea Doreen.) I almost posted it with his birthday post, but I decided it might have a slightly different audience. I wrote up a version of what I remembered, but I decided to go with an edited version (names and places mostly) of my journal entry. SO. . . if you're not big on birth stories, beware.
Week 39 I was so sure I would have the baby before my doctor’s appointment this week. I had contractions last Saturday, I felt crampy all day on Sunday, then I started feeling great again and had a pretty good week. Then this Saturday I started having contractions again. Oddly enough contractions stopped last Saturday at about 3 A.M. and they started about 3:30 A.M. this Saturday. Then they stopped again around 5. Sunday morning I expelled a lot of mucus. (note: I’ve had basically no leucorrhea with this baby.) I felt pretty good most of the day and had some contractions Sunday night and they continued through Monday morning , about once an hour or so. I went to my doctor’s appointment at 8:15 A.M. The doctor said I was 3 cm dilated, 70% effaced and the babies head was at -1 position. The baby’s back was rotated to the right (my left) just pasted the centerline and his heartbeat was detected low (in the bottom quarter) at about 140 bpm. And fundus height was about 37 or 38 cm. I lost a pound this week to round out my weight at 168 lbs (I’ve gained 38 lbs).
Grandpa W came to visit this evening. I was having contractions about twice an hour by then. He had a load in Boise and was headed back home Friday. I told him to come back by on his way. By about 7 PM Tyler was convinced that we are having the baby tonight. He called all our support people to put them on alert. I guess he got me going too because I finally got the hospital bag together.
There’s a girl I visit teach that was due a month after me and she had her baby yesterday. We went by to visit her tonight and took her some diapers as a gift. She was asleep and her baby doesn’t come home until tomorrow. But I felt like if I didn’t go right away that I might not get to go at all.
One other note: A few weeks ago the baby was right down on my pelvic bone. It was weird. It sort of hurt and made it hard to walk and move my legs up and down (like getting into bed or climbing stairs). I was thinking this poor baby will have a huge ridge because he’ll ride on the bone for weeks before he is born. Fortunately he moved off my bone and I’ve felt better and enjoyed more free movement the last few weeks.
***
Little j was born 2:31 A.M on the 7th of March 2006. He was 8 lbs. 8 oz. and 21 inches long. Even thought he was born one day before his due date he had many symptoms of a post-term baby including a calcified placenta, no vernix, his skin was starting to peel and his fingernails were so long many of them we breaking off. He also had a suck blister on his wrist. Yes, j likes to suck on things. He is our first child that takes a pacifier. He really likes it and even moves his hands up to hold it in his mouth.
Labor: I had labor start and stop three times. Saturday, Feb 25th, Saturday March 4th, and Sunday, March 5th. T's dad, Grandpa W, came to visit the evening of Monday, March 6th. I was having contractions again, mild, pre-labor type contractions. I didn’t think much of it because of all the other episodes, some of which were real breath-through-it contractions. He took us to dinner at a Chinese buffet. They had gyozas and I ate at least half a dozen. (That’s significant because we went to a Gyozas party with our friends the night before t was born. Maybe it’s the gyozas that put me at easy and help me go into active labor.) Grandpa left after dinner, around 6 P.M. I started telling T every time I had a contraction.. . I just realized I’m repeating myself. We called our angel-sitter (our beloved cousin-in-law) at about 11:00. She came over to stay with our kids for the night. I talked with her for a while, at least an hour. Then we decided we both should try to get some sleep. I layed down for a while. It seemed like only a few minutes. I felt a huge dilation, like a flower opening. Then I started trembling. It was 1:11 A.M. I figured I might be starting into transition so we should go to the hospital. T called our wonderful and talented birth assistant, D, and off we went. They put us in a birthing room and gave me a gown to put on. It seemed like a long time before they came back to us after that. They had me lay down and put a fetal monitor on. Then the nurse brought in the I.V. T and D both said no, ask the doctor first. The doctor said she’s GBS+, put in an I.V. and antibiotics. I was okay with that. I thought I might actually get an hours worth of antibiotics before I delivered. Anyhow, I remember D asking me if I could feel the baby move down during contractions. I thought: no, not really. Then it seemed like the next contraction I really felt him move down. T and D were watching the monitor. It must have registered really big because they made a lot of encouraging comments. After that they let me stand by the bed. Within a few minutes I had the urge to push. I did a little and my water broke in a big swoosh clear, slightly foamy fluid all over the floor. I’m glad it wasn’t the bed. The doctor appeared they were getting me onto the bed. The nurse didn’t seem to understand I was crowning. She kept waiting for the baby’s heart rate to change so she could take the monitor off. The doctor finally told the nurse what was going on. He said she’s complete and plus three or four. I went hands and knees and the doctor told the nurse it’s okay, we talked about it. After that it was all pushing and sounding. D kept reminding me to use low tones, which I finally found a voice for..
There are more details I still remember. I remember when I felt my stomach was about to make a violent upheaval shortly before my water broke. The nurse offered a banana-shaped bed pan, but D saved me by grabbing the 15 gallon garbage can just in time. I remember how baby j hummed through the night that first night. At first I was surprised by the noise then I realized it was coming from the baby. And how he would lay on his back and kick, good naturedly, with both feet. (That's just what he always did in the womb.) He continued to kick like that until he was about two years old. I remember when our angel-sitters brought the two younger kids to meet j they had made him cards and Little a wanted to name him Paper and was so upset that we wouldn't consider it. I remember how Uncle D and Aunt S were so sweet to watch as they held him on his blessing day. They had hoped to have a baby of their own that spring. Their Little M came two years later.
Thank you again everyone who helped with the birth. Also thank you to those who provided moral support from far away places. As I look back I am touched by how we were truly blessed by the support of good friends and family. I don't know if I can really truly express the gratitude I feel. And a special note: Thanks mom for always being there, every time. You have given me so much. I hope I can pass on your good example to my children.
Week 39 I was so sure I would have the baby before my doctor’s appointment this week. I had contractions last Saturday, I felt crampy all day on Sunday, then I started feeling great again and had a pretty good week. Then this Saturday I started having contractions again. Oddly enough contractions stopped last Saturday at about 3 A.M. and they started about 3:30 A.M. this Saturday. Then they stopped again around 5. Sunday morning I expelled a lot of mucus. (note: I’ve had basically no leucorrhea with this baby.) I felt pretty good most of the day and had some contractions Sunday night and they continued through Monday morning , about once an hour or so. I went to my doctor’s appointment at 8:15 A.M. The doctor said I was 3 cm dilated, 70% effaced and the babies head was at -1 position. The baby’s back was rotated to the right (my left) just pasted the centerline and his heartbeat was detected low (in the bottom quarter) at about 140 bpm. And fundus height was about 37 or 38 cm. I lost a pound this week to round out my weight at 168 lbs (I’ve gained 38 lbs).
Grandpa W came to visit this evening. I was having contractions about twice an hour by then. He had a load in Boise and was headed back home Friday. I told him to come back by on his way. By about 7 PM Tyler was convinced that we are having the baby tonight. He called all our support people to put them on alert. I guess he got me going too because I finally got the hospital bag together.
There’s a girl I visit teach that was due a month after me and she had her baby yesterday. We went by to visit her tonight and took her some diapers as a gift. She was asleep and her baby doesn’t come home until tomorrow. But I felt like if I didn’t go right away that I might not get to go at all.
One other note: A few weeks ago the baby was right down on my pelvic bone. It was weird. It sort of hurt and made it hard to walk and move my legs up and down (like getting into bed or climbing stairs). I was thinking this poor baby will have a huge ridge because he’ll ride on the bone for weeks before he is born. Fortunately he moved off my bone and I’ve felt better and enjoyed more free movement the last few weeks.
***
Little j was born 2:31 A.M on the 7th of March 2006. He was 8 lbs. 8 oz. and 21 inches long. Even thought he was born one day before his due date he had many symptoms of a post-term baby including a calcified placenta, no vernix, his skin was starting to peel and his fingernails were so long many of them we breaking off. He also had a suck blister on his wrist. Yes, j likes to suck on things. He is our first child that takes a pacifier. He really likes it and even moves his hands up to hold it in his mouth.
Labor: I had labor start and stop three times. Saturday, Feb 25th, Saturday March 4th, and Sunday, March 5th. T's dad, Grandpa W, came to visit the evening of Monday, March 6th. I was having contractions again, mild, pre-labor type contractions. I didn’t think much of it because of all the other episodes, some of which were real breath-through-it contractions. He took us to dinner at a Chinese buffet. They had gyozas and I ate at least half a dozen. (That’s significant because we went to a Gyozas party with our friends the night before t was born. Maybe it’s the gyozas that put me at easy and help me go into active labor.) Grandpa left after dinner, around 6 P.M. I started telling T every time I had a contraction.. . I just realized I’m repeating myself. We called our angel-sitter (our beloved cousin-in-law) at about 11:00. She came over to stay with our kids for the night. I talked with her for a while, at least an hour. Then we decided we both should try to get some sleep. I layed down for a while. It seemed like only a few minutes. I felt a huge dilation, like a flower opening. Then I started trembling. It was 1:11 A.M. I figured I might be starting into transition so we should go to the hospital. T called our wonderful and talented birth assistant, D, and off we went. They put us in a birthing room and gave me a gown to put on. It seemed like a long time before they came back to us after that. They had me lay down and put a fetal monitor on. Then the nurse brought in the I.V. T and D both said no, ask the doctor first. The doctor said she’s GBS+, put in an I.V. and antibiotics. I was okay with that. I thought I might actually get an hours worth of antibiotics before I delivered. Anyhow, I remember D asking me if I could feel the baby move down during contractions. I thought: no, not really. Then it seemed like the next contraction I really felt him move down. T and D were watching the monitor. It must have registered really big because they made a lot of encouraging comments. After that they let me stand by the bed. Within a few minutes I had the urge to push. I did a little and my water broke in a big swoosh clear, slightly foamy fluid all over the floor. I’m glad it wasn’t the bed. The doctor appeared they were getting me onto the bed. The nurse didn’t seem to understand I was crowning. She kept waiting for the baby’s heart rate to change so she could take the monitor off. The doctor finally told the nurse what was going on. He said she’s complete and plus three or four. I went hands and knees and the doctor told the nurse it’s okay, we talked about it. After that it was all pushing and sounding. D kept reminding me to use low tones, which I finally found a voice for..
There are more details I still remember. I remember when I felt my stomach was about to make a violent upheaval shortly before my water broke. The nurse offered a banana-shaped bed pan, but D saved me by grabbing the 15 gallon garbage can just in time. I remember how baby j hummed through the night that first night. At first I was surprised by the noise then I realized it was coming from the baby. And how he would lay on his back and kick, good naturedly, with both feet. (That's just what he always did in the womb.) He continued to kick like that until he was about two years old. I remember when our angel-sitters brought the two younger kids to meet j they had made him cards and Little a wanted to name him Paper and was so upset that we wouldn't consider it. I remember how Uncle D and Aunt S were so sweet to watch as they held him on his blessing day. They had hoped to have a baby of their own that spring. Their Little M came two years later.
Thank you again everyone who helped with the birth. Also thank you to those who provided moral support from far away places. As I look back I am touched by how we were truly blessed by the support of good friends and family. I don't know if I can really truly express the gratitude I feel. And a special note: Thanks mom for always being there, every time. You have given me so much. I hope I can pass on your good example to my children.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Happy Birthday j
Happy Birthday "Little j". I can't believe you are 3. You seem to know so much more. You are the first one up and the first one dressed almost everyday. You have so much zest for life and sports. You don't ever want to miss a single minute. You are eager follow the example of your older siblings. You have a strong preference for sports, especially baseball and bowling and football and basketball and swimming. Your favorite song is "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Your favorite color is yellow which matches your sunny disposition.
We took you bowling today and you loved it. We took the camera to the bowling alley and forgot to use it. We also forgot to bring it home. We took pictures of your cake and celebration on dad's cell phone camera. He promised to download them the same day, but it didn't happen. It could be a while before they make it to the blog.
We took you bowling today and you loved it. We took the camera to the bowling alley and forgot to use it. We also forgot to bring it home. We took pictures of your cake and celebration on dad's cell phone camera. He promised to download them the same day, but it didn't happen. It could be a while before they make it to the blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)