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?!!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
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.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Random Cuteness
I found this paper made by Little "a" the other day when I was cleaning up. At first glance I would have just thrown it away with all the other doodles and random things I find at the end of any given day. Then I decided to read what it said. It was really cute and made me laugh. I thought you might enjoy it too.
Translation: There might be a chance of snow. Tonight will be 65 degrees. There will be a storm in the three coming days. Mars and Pluto will be crashing today. There are always exciting events and offers at your local IKEA store. 49 off (a couch) 56 off (a coffee table).
Translation: There might be a chance of snow. Tonight will be 65 degrees. There will be a storm in the three coming days. Mars and Pluto will be crashing today. There are always exciting events and offers at your local IKEA store. 49 off (a couch) 56 off (a coffee table).
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Slide Show
I posted e's slide show. T says it's too long. But this blog is partly because I don't send my mom enough pictures. So if it's too long, just click View All Images and you can brows the pictures quickly. If you have any problems let me know.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Peanut Butter Jelly Time
We've had a birthday! Little e turned one Jan 3rd. I finally downloaded pictures today. We started two traditions for first birthdays in our family. One is is to go to the zoo. It was a bit cold though. I think we'll reschdule for a warm day. The other is a shaped birthday cake.
Little "a" had a frog. It was supposed to be a butterfly made with four heart-shaped cakes. After I baked the cakes I realized that would be *way* to big, so we made one heart into a frog. A frog was sort of the theme of my young adult life. And I had received several frog themed baby gifts. It worked.
(Apparently I have no digital photo of the cake.)
Little "t" had a smiley face. In his first year of life we called him "Mr. Smiles." Besides we had just moved four months earlier. We had all been sick a lot and it was a simple cake.
Little "j" had a "Lightning McQueen" cake. It was really chosen by his siblings. If I had been going by what he liked it would have been an Elmo cake. The race car was really cool though. I designed it myself based on Little t's slippers. Little t still thinks the cake was for him. (Shh, don't tell.)
Little "e" had a Dancing Banana on an I-pod. You know, the one that sings "It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time." Haven't heard of it? I hadn't either. It was one of the funny things "T" brought home from OTS. Apparently it is really popular in some circles (Family Guy). He downloaded an app of the funny banana and e loved it. ( I wish I could link it, but I'm not that talented. You'll just have to google it if you want to see it.) She would dance and be silly every time we played it. Soon we renamed the song after her. It was really no question what her cake would be.
Another tradition is, every birthday the kids get to pick a birthday balloon as one of their presents. That has been fun. She also got a dress up skirt. We started calling her the peanut butter princess.
My last tradition is I've been making a slide show for my blog. I've started it, but it's way to late to finish now. I'm going to put it here. Check back. I'll post a note when it's available.
Little "a" had a frog. It was supposed to be a butterfly made with four heart-shaped cakes. After I baked the cakes I realized that would be *way* to big, so we made one heart into a frog. A frog was sort of the theme of my young adult life. And I had received several frog themed baby gifts. It worked.
(Apparently I have no digital photo of the cake.)
Little "t" had a smiley face. In his first year of life we called him "Mr. Smiles." Besides we had just moved four months earlier. We had all been sick a lot and it was a simple cake.
Little "j" had a "Lightning McQueen" cake. It was really chosen by his siblings. If I had been going by what he liked it would have been an Elmo cake. The race car was really cool though. I designed it myself based on Little t's slippers. Little t still thinks the cake was for him. (Shh, don't tell.)
Little "e" had a Dancing Banana on an I-pod. You know, the one that sings "It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time." Haven't heard of it? I hadn't either. It was one of the funny things "T" brought home from OTS. Apparently it is really popular in some circles (Family Guy). He downloaded an app of the funny banana and e loved it. ( I wish I could link it, but I'm not that talented. You'll just have to google it if you want to see it.) She would dance and be silly every time we played it. Soon we renamed the song after her. It was really no question what her cake would be.
Another tradition is, every birthday the kids get to pick a birthday balloon as one of their presents. That has been fun. She also got a dress up skirt. We started calling her the peanut butter princess.
My last tradition is I've been making a slide show for my blog. I've started it, but it's way to late to finish now. I'm going to put it here. Check back. I'll post a note when it's available.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Things I've Done
I got this tag from my sister's blog. It is about interesting things you've done. To participate, just mark in bold the items you have done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (maybe)
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (only when my car breaks down)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (thought about it)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (not sure)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (just one so far)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (I've seen it in DC)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (North Rim)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (my husband did)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (never read Songs of Solomon)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Donny Osmond and Steven Covey)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Milked a cow
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (maybe)
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (only when my car breaks down)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (thought about it)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (not sure)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (just one so far)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (I've seen it in DC)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (North Rim)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (my husband did)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (never read Songs of Solomon)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Donny Osmond and Steven Covey)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Milked a cow
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