Happy Birthday Daisy!

Daisy Ann Hendriksen’s Birth Story

 

Here is Daisy's birth story. Peruse what you may since I know it's long. Check out the 2-minute video picture montage at the end!

 

Weeks before Labor

Daisy was due on Thursday Oct 16, so the week before she was born we were all pretty anxious since her other siblings born naturally were all ‘early’. Weeks prior we had quite a bit of drama since she was in a breech position.

Rebecca, our midwife didn’t seem too worried since the odds of her turning were good, but I was quite emotional about it. Would she be able to turn? Would I be able to have a home birth? Would I have to have a c-section? 

Initially (34-36 weeks) I walked laps each morning in my basement while listening to a general conference talk. I prayed to Heavenly Father to help bless me to let Daisy turn. I did some family history work and indexing and went to the temple. I felt like if I was doing my part then Heavenly Father would do His part and bless me with a head-down baby.  During my appointment at the 37 week mark, Daisy was still breech.  I started researching ways to turn a breech baby. The following is what I posted on Utah Birth Forum’s Facebook page:

• I've been doing the inverted poses 2-3 times a day, the forward inversion as well as the ironing board breech tilt.
• I've put ice on top, heat on the bottom. Peppermint oil on top too.
• I've tried annoying music with headphones on top.
• I've soaked in the tub with my belly down in the water.
• We tried the rebozo technique once with gentle movements on the belly, but not sure how much or how often to do it.
• I've visualized her turning and even wrote her a letter.
• I've gone to a chiropractor (Dr. Draney) 3 times this week and she is working on getting my sacrum aligned with the Webster technique. She has noticed that the baby is in a slightly different position, but I still feel her head in the same general area. I scheduled 3 more times next week.
• Dr. Draney told me to crawl and swing my right hip while standing, so I've been doing that also.
• Last week I tried swimming and doing flips and handstands in the water.

I was frustrated that all of these things weren’t working, and was growing weary of doing so much. I received a priesthood blessing in which I was told I’d be okay and that the baby would be born in the proper position. That was comforting- yet I still was anxious for Daisy to be fully ready. 

I am happy to say that the following week (Monday September 29) she turned! That morning I went to the 4th chiropractic visit and Dr. Draney adjusted my sacrum and pubic bone. She said to come back on Wednesday for another treatment.

At noon Rebecca came for her home visit.  As I lay on my bed for the standard belly & heartbeat check, she felt my belly and noticed that Daisy was still head up but in a different position than last week when she had checked (before all my chiropractic visits). Rebecca gently moved her hands on my belly to slowly nudge Daisy’s head downward.

She instructed Darrell to put some pressure on one area of my belly- then matter-of-factly guided Daisy’s head.  It was not uncomfortable for anyone and suddenly Daisy was head-down; HOORAY!  Rebecca said that it wasn’t just “her” that moved the baby. The chiropractor set the stage to “move the furniture” a little, so it was easy to turn Daisy. I then got up from the bed and started to do deep squats to make sure her head settled down into the pelvis. I was so happy and relieved! I called the chiropractor and canceled my remaining appointments. We were all ready now for birth.

On October 4 (General Conference Weekend) I began feeling pain and pressure in my pelvis, back and groin. I started the pregnant waddle and I was hurting quite a lot. There were days that I couldn’t do too much and other days that were a little better.  Having Daisy suddenly pushing down was quite the shock to my “I’m-not-in-my-20’s-anymore”-body. I knew the only way to make the pain go away was to have a baby.

Darrell started getting anxious and I was on-again/off-again anxious to get the baby out. I attended the final checkup with Rebecca on Monday October 6th. We all figured that I’d have the baby sometime that week. I did every ounce of laundry and cleaned the house as much as my body would let me.  I asked my friend Candace if she could come over on Friday Oct 10 to induce my labor by making me laugh, since she had done that to me during 2 previous pregnancies.  Little did we know, but Daisy would come on that day anyway.  :)

The Actual Birth Story

On Thursday evening October 9, we all went to bed as normal. At 1:30 AM as I lay asleep on my bed, I heard an audible popping sound. I opened my eyes and thought that must be my water sac breaking. I quickly got up and stood over a towel that I had previously placed at the foot of my bed. Sure enough, amniotic fluid was starting to come out. I wrapped up in the towel and waddled to the bathroom while telling Darrell “Honey, it’s time!”

I told him to call Rebecca already since she had told us we are “late callers”; I wanted to give her enough notice this time. We spoke to her and she asked if the fluid was clear and I said yes. She asked me when she wanted her to come. I, of course, wasn’t sure. I considered our previous births, and told her that when Oaklen was born my water broke and contractions didn’t start coming for at least a few hours. She said to call and give her a head’s up but to at least give her 30 minutes to travel to our home.

I misunderstood and thought that she would be coming in 30 minutes, but later realized that we needed to call her again.  Darrell and I got up and got dressed. We prepped the bed with plastic and put another sheet on top. He gave me some grape nuts and a banana since I felt a little hungry. After about a half an hour of bustling around, nothing had really happened with the labor. We decided to try to go back to sleep. We “slept/rested” until about 5:00 AM. I had had about 6-7 contractions during that time (from 2:00-5:00 AM) but they were not getting closer together. I felt that active labor was about to begin and phoned Rebecca, and she told us to expect her in 30 minutes. We also called my mom and asked her to arrive about 6:30 to help manage the other children when they awoke.

I asked Darrell to get out the birthing tub and he reluctantly started getting it ready. We had never used the tub in the past because we figured it was a big hassle and I wouldn’t use it. (Later we realized it wasn’t a lot of hassle and it was great to use.) He found that the hose attachment wouldn’t fit on our faucet so we couldn’t use the tub. (Phooey!) But luckily Rebecca arrived soon after that and had another kind of attachment that would work on our shower faucet. I was glad for that! :)

The inflatable tub was easily ready with warm water in it. Darrell had turned up the water heater so I could have it as hot as I liked! Rebecca added some citrus essential oil to the water to help wake us up. I wore a bathing suit top with a towel around my waist, and waddled into the TV room. Sicily and Ezril had just awakened, and they were excited to see a swimming pool in the middle of the TV room.

Darrell went downstairs to fetch Salem and Oaklen. They came upstairs excited. We took some family pictures then let the kids start their morning routine. It worked out well to start labor on a Friday; it was only a half-day at school so I decided to just keep Ezril home for the day while Salem and Oaklen rode their bikes to and from school. My mom kept Sicily and Ezril downstairs and awaited our beckon call to come back up after the delivery was complete.

I got in the tub and it was very nice and cushiony. Nothing like my hard cold cast-iron tub in the bathroom! I sat in there for a while and just chatted with Rebecca and Darrell. I had had a few contractions from 5:00 till 6:30 but once I got in the tub it seemed that I stopped having contractions.

Rebecca made an herbal tincture for me to drink. It was just a small shot glass, but she said that it works for about 90% of the women to help things progress. I got out of the tub for a while to see if the contractions would come back. She rubbed some clary sage essential oil on my lower calves to help things along as well. After all the herbs kicked in, I started having 3-4 harder contractions so decided to get back in the tub.

Darrell and Rebecca filled up the tub a little more so it was deeper and hotter. I sat there through a few contractions and it felt good to be in the water. I didn’t want to move but knew I needed to get in a better stance than a standard sitting position. I moved to lie on my left side, propped up with my elbow so most of my upper body was out of the water.

It was about 8:00 AM and the contractions started coming a lot heavier and faster. I had to concentrate and didn’t want anyone talking during the peak of the contraction. I used my voice with some audible low groans to help me concentrate and focus during each contraction. I was basically chanting “hhh-aahhhs”.  Later Darrell and I discussed that my chants sounded very similar to our son Ezril saying “e…e…ee” whenever he is content and playing with something.

I was very glad to be in the water, the contractions seemed more manageable even when they were the hardest kind. Finally I had the urge to push. It stung when I could feel her head crowning but I knew that it would be over soon. I grabbed Darrell’s hand and squeezed it. My low groans turned a little more higher pitched as I was pushing but I certainly wasn’t screaming. I think I did about 6-7 pushes and she was finally born at 8:37 AM.

I was breathing fast and hard and just said “Is she here? Is she out?” “YES!” they said. We raised her up out of the water and laid her on my chest. Oh what a relief!

I got a little emotional, she is such a beauty. I couldn’t believe that she was born and it was already over. Rebecca draped put a towel on us in the water and we all just stared at the newborn. Darrell called down to my mom and asked her to bring the kids upstairs.

Ezril, Sicily, and my mom came to see Daisy. My mom went back downstairs to get me some apples with peanut butter, while I focused on getting Daisy started with nursing. Rebecca checked the umbilical cord to make sure it stopped pulsating and then prepped the area. Ezril came over to Rebecca’s side and cut Daisy’s cord. He was now officially Daisy’s belly button brother. (Sicily watched and asked “Why is he cutting the penis?” :)  We explained it all over and over, but she didn’t seem to get it :).

My mom came back upstairs with the apples for me.  Darrell got to hold Daisy for the first time and also let my mom hold her and give the kids a closer look. I was finally ready to deliver the placenta. I pushed the placenta out and then was able to get out of the tub.

I dried off and went on my bed. They gave me Daisy back and we nursed while Rebecca checked my bottom area. I had just one tiny paper cut tear, but other than that was in great shape. After nursing Daisy for a while, we weighed and measured her. She was 7 lbs 6 ounces, 19 1/2 inches long. Rebecca did all the newborn tests and she was a wonderful healthy baby.

Rebecca congratulated me and cleaned up to leave. My mom took Sicily and Ezril to story time at Columbus library while Darrell stayed home with me. I took a little nap and my mom, Sicily and Ezril came home a little later. Salem and Oaklen arrived home about 1:00 PM and met their new baby sister. Now our family is complete!

View this video to get a picture glimpse of the day:

Sicily's Birth Story

Happy 1st Birthday Sicily!  I've enjoyed a great year welcoming my daughter into the world.

Sicily’s Birth Story

Darrell was anxious for the baby to be born and I, Heather, was finally starting to be. On Friday February 10, Darrell and I were bound and determined to have the baby that weekend. We watched a movie for a date night- after the movie was over I decided to try some laughter therapy since that pretty much induced labor with my last two pregnancies. It was getting late and we were already “punchy” so I showed Darrell a hilarious workout video called Body Flex. He had never seen it and we both laughed hysterically! It was really funny to see this lady do these weird facial expressions and also to watch Darrell roll on the floor laughing so much. :)

The boys were excited!

I woke up the next day (Saturday, February 11) and started having light contractions around 8:00 AM. After Darrell came back from his morning run and had showered, I told him about it. Salem started writing down the times that the contractions started. Some were 5-10 minutes apart, but other times they were more sporadic at 20-30 minutes apart. Darrell went to the worldwide leadership training held at our ward building but he took our cell phone so I could call if needed.

I called Cathy Larson, our midwife to let her know about the contractions and she said that she’d come see me around 11:00. I called my mom to let her know since I needed her to help with our other children. Darrell got home from the leadership training and Cathy came around 12:00 noon. My mom came and took Salem, Oaklen, and Ezril out to lunch and to the park.

Eating lunch at Subway while in labor

The contractions still weren’t consistent but Cathy decided to check me and I was 70% effaced and dilated to a 7. I realized that this was only a number and didn’t really predict progress but still it made me figure that the baby was going to come soon. I lay on the bed and just waited for the next contraction while Cathy was there. As we were waiting, Cathy suggested that Darrell and I go out for a walk while she got things ready at the house.

We decided to splurge and go to Subway for lunch for the $5 Footlongs-in-February sale. I had a few contractions during lunch. They were getting stronger but still very manageable. After the lunch, we did our “walk” in stores since it was nice weather for February, but not warm enough for me to walk around outside for very long. We went to Whole Foods and Smith’s Grocery to pick up some last minute things. When I had a contraction, I just stopped in the aisle and held onto the cart to breathe. We saw a few people we knew but  no one could tell I was in labor. The contractions were still pretty manageable.

Shopping for our walking labor

A few last minute errands during labor

When we arrived back home around 3:00 PM, Cathy and her apprentice Laurisa were there waiting for us. We told them my contractions were still not at a steady rate. Cathy checked the baby’s heart rate and things were fine. They decided to leave us for a few hours to labor on our own. She said to call if needed and that she’d stay in the area so she could come quickly. Before Cathy left, she showed me a bottle of a blend of essential oils to breathe to help with labor, as well as suggested to walk the stairs with a wide stance when I had a contraction to help bring the baby down, or hold up my belly and push it back down into the pelvis. I tried climbing the stairs during one contraction and it was a lot of work! After trying that, I opted out of climbing the stairs since I felt like I needed to conserve my energy for when I really needed it.

Darrell’s parents called and wanted to come see our new kitchen and so they came without knowing that I was in labor. We visited with Eric, Elaine, Natalie, Adam and Zeke. I had a few contractions while they were there but I was able to just walk (waddle) around and things were fine.

After they left Darrell started making chicken for dinner. We had to use the crockpot since we still didn’t have an oven or stove ready for use in our almost-finished-newly-remodeled kitchen. (The fridge and oven were still in the dining room.) Around 5:00 PM, my mom brought the kids home, they had been hanging out at Uncle Cabot and Aunt Jen’s house waiting for us to call with an update. It was decided that my mom and John would have dinner with us, and then take the kids up to their house to be there until bedtime.

Last dinner before Sicily was born

I kept thinking that things would be picking up speed and didn’t want Cathy to miss anything so I had Darrell call her around 7:00 PM. She arrived and checked the vitals again; things were fine. She showed us how to do “the baby dance.” I’ve always seen that in birth/labor videos yet I never thought I’d be doing it since labor had been relatively fast for my last 2 births. She wanted us to have our privacy so she said she’d be downstairs waiting at our beckon call while we labored upstairs. Becky, another apprentice midwife came to be with Cathy downstairs.

Darrell and I decided to watch a movie. We had already watched Steel Magnolias (my favorite chick flick) a few nights before, so we pulled out the latest DVD that I borrowed from the library: American Graffiti. As we watched the movie, the contractions got stronger. Darrell and I got up each time from the couch to do the baby dance. It helped to lean on him while walking and swaying.

About 9:00 PM my mom brought my boys back home and we put them to bed and told them we’d wake them when the baby came.

Cathy helping through a contraction

We finished watching the movie then Cathy came upstairs to do a vital check for me and the baby. Things were still fine, just the same as hours earlier. She sat and chatted with us for a while. Once in a while I’d have a contraction and Darrell would walk around with me, but still the contractions weren’t coming any stronger. By about 11:30 PM, Cathy suggested that we try to get some sleep. I was anxious but Darrell was quite tired so I agreed to try to go to bed. We got me comfortable with pillows and a heating pad on my lower back and went to sleep. The contractions were still coming but they were manageable for me to just lay on my left side and relax. Darrell was fast asleep so I didn’t wake him whenever I had a contraction.

I managed to get a little bit of sleep but slept very lightly. Cathy came upstairs to check on me a few times through the night but saw I was sleeping and didn’t awaken me. She, Becky, and Laurisa slept on the couch and floor downstairs awaiting any further progression.

Happy couple

We were awake by 8:00 AM (Sunday February 12). The boys wondered what happened in the night but nothing did. Cathy said that something like this happens frequently and not to worry. The baby will come when we’re both ready.  Our vital signs were still fine. She asked if I wanted her to do any interventions, but I thought we could still wait a bit since we were fine, just annoyed that it was taking so long! :) As I was having a contraction, she pressed on my lower back and it felt very comforting. Cathy suggested that we just live life normally and passively wait for labor to pick up speed. Becky and Laurisa left, and Cathy said she was going to leave to go to church (in West Jordan) but to call when we needed her.

The boys got ready to go to church and Aunt Marie picked them up and took them to church. Darrell stayed home with me. I ate, showered, and curled my hair. I figured I’d indulge in a nice shower and spending time doing my hair since I wasn’t sure when I would be able to pamper myself again after the baby was here.

Contractions finally started getting stronger, I liked the lower back compression that Cathy did before she left so I asked Darrell to press on my lower back. He was doing his best, but I didn't like the way he was pressing on my back, I wanted Cathy. I had Darrell call Cathy about 10:00 AM, she said she’d come. I was getting anxious for her arrival and irritable with the contractions. Darrell happened to enter the bedroom eating a bowlful of Chinese pot stickers. The cabbage was smelly and I didn’t like it. I was mad at him for eating in front of me, and for not making any food for me. I snapped at him about the food and asked where the heck Cathy was. At that moment, Cathy was right on queue and entered the room. I sheepishly said hello. :) I’m sure it’s quite normal in her line of work for verbal offenses like that; it’s often a sign that the mother in labor is nearing the end. (Halleluiah!) Darrell told her that I wanted her to press on my lower back, so she did and I didn't like it! :) It wasn't helpful anymore and Darrell smiled since his previous work wasn't in vain.

By that time it was about 11:00 AM. I was tired and decided to lie down on the bed on my left side. Cathy and Darrell were there and Becky arrived soon afterward. Cathy said that I could start pushing whenever my body told me to push. I started having a contraction and felt the need to push. Between contractions Becky gave me some Emergen-C drink that gave me the needed energy and electrolytes. It was very good and was just what I needed.

It's a girl...ignore the blue towels :)
The rest of the pics are too naked!

With one of the pushes I heard a burst. “What was that?” I asked. It was my water breaking. After more pushing, her head was out then at 11:58 AM I finally had the beautiful sensation that her whole body was out. Sicily was finally born. They laid her on my chest skin to skin and quickly covered us with warm towels. I didn’t cry with emotion but was relieved that the hard part of labor was over. Since we were covered with towels, I asked Darrell and the midwives if our baby was, in fact, a girl just to make sure. Yes she was! :)

New family of 6

Laurisa, Heather, Sicily, Cathy, Becky

Within 10 minutes of her being born, Laurisa came, and the boys arrived home from church. They ran upstairs and met their new sister. (Aunt Marie came in the room too and took a peek at the newborn before leaving.) We were excited for the fact that the boys arrived in such a timely manner so the family could share this special moment. We had been prepping Oaklen for weeks telling him that if all worked out and he was there at the time of the birth that he could cut the umbilical cord. As Oaklen was cutting the cord, I got emotional and shed a few tears. It was bitter sweet seeing my baby finally being separated from me. Sicily now had her belly button brother Oaklen. (Salem got to cut Ezril’s cord, so they are belly button brothers.)

Oaklen cut the cord

We kept Sicily on my chest, skin to skin, as I delivered the placenta. Afterward, my mom came in to meet Sicily to see the baby. Then Darrell got to hold her for the first time and he and the midwives weighed and measured her. 8 lbs 2 oz, 22 inches long. Her vitals and apgar scores were great, and she was a healthy baby! Welcome to the world Sicily Haven Hendriksen!

Happiness Is...Volume 4, Part 1

Happiness is...
* Receiving valentines from Salem on my pillow
* Making valentines with Oaklen, and using the stamp
* Oaklen learning how to read and jumping in with two feet, he has no qualms to try to pronounce a word.
* Ezril's leg not being broken (after 3 days of not walking, it's a miracle!)
* Figuring out my family's responsibility chart
* Getting all the tile we need in the laundry room for $1.16!
* Getting an extra fridge/freezer for the basement
* Darrell working hard to clean out the basement
* Teaching preschoolers about how to make bread
* Ezril going to bed willingly around 6:00 pm
* All three of my boys wearing footed pajamas
* The Home Depot kids workshops
* Being able to visit different wards & primaries with my stake calling
* Ezril saying "Albert" (the name of our smiley face, for the responsibility chart.)
* 20 kisses for bedtime
* Darrell putting the canopy back up on our bed
* The check engine light turning off in our car
* Listening to Girl from Beck
* Oaklen secretly talking to Grandma on the phone for over 20 minutes!
* Salem getting his own library card
* Salem emailing me cute love notes
* Oaklen acting out the machines from Mighty Machines
* Oaklen galloping out of preschool
* Darrell liking my Curried Quinoa Pilaf
* Playing UNO with my boys & Darrell
* Having closet doors for the laundry closet
* Making gifts for friends that they appreciate
* The ability to play the piano
* Ezril saying "happy, happy, happy, ..." in the checkout line
* Listening to Darrell speak in church
* Getting our water storage in order
* Doing proxy sealing ordinances in the temple with Darrell on our anniversary
* Salem writing his own talk for primary and speaking well
* Ezril helping me make green smoothies every day
* Oaklen letting me floss his teeth
* Ezril saying good night to everything (good night wall, good night light, good night building blocks, etc.)
* Making others happy :)

Bake Sale - Oct 2 from 12:00 - 1:30

This week I've been making dough to make dough... :) (If you don't get it, then read this definition.)

Our friend Maggie Palmer has cerebral palsy and her family is trying to raise money to help her receive HBOT treatments.  We decided to host a Bake Sale at my house tomorrow, and all proceeds will go the family for her treatment. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by for some delicious homemade bread, cookies and more!

When: Saturday October 2
Time: 12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Place: Heather's House, if you don't know where I live then look it up on white pages. :)

To read more about Maggie Palmer and her project, go to her website:

http://maggiesmonth.wordpress.com

Amazon Mom

Attention Parents:
I don't usually announce deal alerts since they're blasted at many different sites, but I wanted to let you know about a great deal from Amazon for moms and other caregivers. Join Amazon Mom and you get free 2-day shipping for 3 months. (Which is a free trial of Amazon Prime.) On top of that, for each $25 you spend from the baby category (like diapers) you get another month extended of the free 2-day shipping, (up to a year extension). That means you'll get free shipping from Amazon through the holiday season!

I bought some diapers from Amazon, and also signed up for the "subscribe and save" option which means I got 30% off and they'll send me a new box of diapers every 2 months (you can choose the time intervals.)

If you have more questions, you can comment, email me, or you can look on pinchingyourpennies.com.

Here is the Amazon Mom sign up: (You can be a dad and sign up too)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/mom/signup/welcome

Here is the thread about Amazon Mom on PYP:
http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157665

Happiness Is...Volume 3, Part 2

Happiness is...
* Getting A's on my assignments
* Adding smiley faces on our family chart
* Getting together with old friends on a short notice
* Ezril's laugh when his brothers do something funny
* My boys' naive humor with a whoopie cushion :)
* Uncle Cabot taking Salem to school
* Getting the railing put back up on the porch (after two long years)
* The fact that it's starting to get dark earlier...easier bedtimes.
* Darrell telling me that the pasta I made was fantastic (first time in our 8 yrs of marriage)
* Getting a turtle sandbox for free
* My boys having a blast with the sprinklers and slip-n-slide this summer
* Salem making fossils with chalk & leaves
* Oaklen's imagination and sound effects
* Salem collecting rocks...just like I used to
* Ezril being old enough to go to nursery
* Being able to talk about my studies with my husband
* Darrell fixing our van and the guys at the shop being impressed with the good job
* Email communication (Have I said this enough?)
* Being able to pay bills online
* Feeling needed by family and friends
* Friends and family asking for advice because I've already "figured it out."
* Ezril understanding how to pray
* Ezril knowing to get the Book of Mormon when it's family scripture time
* Salem getting upset one day because his brother (Oaklen) couldn't play with him. He said "But mom, he's my best friend."
* Oaklen being excited to do laundry and fold napkins
* My boys playing "TV" with a big box
* "Firecracker tomatoes" exploding in your mouth
* Going to the Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base, it's free!
* Being able to clean the Salt Lake Temple one night. I vacuumed all the spiral stairs up to the top of the 8th floor and under the 4 spires.
* The boys taking Costco field trips with Grandma & Grandpa
* Oaklen singing Take Me Out To the Ball Game "Buy me some crackers and cracker jacks..."
* Salem building his Lego pyramid during the first part of the summer then saving it all summer for an activity to do for his birthday party.
* Spending the summer outdoors with my family

Same Difference and Third Time's a Charm

I wanted to quickly update and let you know our new church callings...

Same Difference - On July 4th, Darrell was released as 1st counselor in the bishopric and then called as the 1st counselor in the new bishopric.  He is now the veteran bishopric member and is still enjoying it.

Third Time's a Charm - I told you a few months ago that I was released as Primary President then immediately called to be the Music Director. A few weeks ago I was released and called to be the Relief Society Secretary.  That calling only lasted a few weeks since yesterday I was called and sustained as the Stake Primary 1st Counselor.  So, I guess third time's a charm. :) I expect to be in this calling for a while.

It's an interesting story, the lady that they called to be the president doesn't know many people in the stake. To help, the stake presidency provided her with a list of names to choose as counselors.  She went through the names and prayerfully chose her counselors. After I was sustained in sacrament meeting, we went to be set apart and I met the newly called president. She seems like a nice lady and I'm excited to work with her.  She truly was inspired. :)  PS - If anyone has any advice for primary on a stake level, let me know!

Salem's Seventh

Happy Birthday Salem! We love you so much!

Nerdy couple alert...

This summer has gone super fast and it's hard to realize that Salem will be back in school next week.  We've done many things that I should have blogged about but this picture will explain the typical night for me:

School! Every time I get on the computer it's to do homework with an occasional bill paying and trying to keep up with my email, rss reader and possibly 5 minutes of facebook (since that's the only way I get updates about certain things.) Anyway, Darrell and I are successful at school, getting A's and have even made the President's List. (Well La-de-da, who cares.) We are scheduled to be finished next May or June, so next summer we can breath a little more. Ta ta for now!

Oaklen's 4th Birthday Review

Here is a follow-up to Oaklen's birthday. It was a great day!

It was also Memorial Day so Darrell had the day off for fun filled adventures of playing with trains, nerf guns, and the water slip-n-slide. The weather was a little cold for outdoor wet activities but Oaklen convinced me to let him try it out since he go the slip-n-slide for his birthday. The ultimate was the Geotrax train that he played with for hours. I gave him a "Wendy" doll to go with his "Bob the Builder."


The evening was our annual Memorial Day BBQ with the extended family but first we had Oaklen's birthday party. His cake was actually "Cake Bites" that he helped me make then I spelled out his initials. (Equal parts cake and frosting rolled into balls, frozen, then dipped in chocolate...yum!)

Thank you all for coming and enjoying his day!

Enjoy the pics...

For Oaklen's Four

Happy Birthday Oaklen! His 3 year old days are over now he's 4 years old!

He likes garbage trucks, orange, construction trucks, trains, team geotrax, mickey & the trailer, Hi-Ho song, Jungle Book, Reading books, adding numbers, riding his tricycle, watching Dad mow the lawn, cooking, baking, eating, singing,

Here are some of the many faces of Oaklen, quite the character. You'll notice that in half of these pictures he's wearing orange, and even the same orange sweatshirt and pants. He wears them all the time, I really do wash them, I promise.

Here are some videos of Oaklen. I had a hard time deciding which ones to post, he's such a hilarious kid and a fun age.

This one is of him playing with moon sand. He is singing as he's doing it. Sorry for the runny/stuffy nose...


This one is the second version of the moon sand. He is known for saying "ah, absolutely right!" and he does it at the end of this video:


This clip is one of his performances on our front porch. He is singing Bob the Builder. He did it once without the camera then I asked him to do it again, the first time was better but this is still cute.

Lessons learned from a coconut

I went to the store the other day and Oaklen convinced me to buy a coconut. I have never had one and thought it would be fun to try something new, especially since Oaklen had an interest in it and could be a learning experience. Well, I didn't realize that it would be a learning experience for all of us...

We decided to open and eat it tonight. We looked on youtube to learn how to open it and felt confident that it was easy as pie (er, coconut pie.) I struggled, to get it open. It cracked fairly easily but pulling it apart was the challenge. Oaklen said a prayer that we could get it open and the boys had quite the laugh watching me grunt with all my strength to pry it open.

Finally we called in the big guns (Darrell) and he opened it with his golden touch. To our dismay the opened coconut was moldy! Salem took a drink of the water/juice and Darrell tried a bite of the non-moldy part. It was gross and fermented! We threw the whole thing in the garbage. Did we waste $1.49? I'm not sure, it may have been worth the lessons learned:

* No impulse buying - don't give in to your kid's requests at the store, stick to the list.
* Do your research before you buy - I didn't know how to pick the right one.
* Prayers are answered - we finally got the darn thing open, though we should have "blessed" it and maybe it wouldn't have been moldy. :)
*Strength and perseverance will get you through - My strength was challenged and Darrell's strength got it open.
* You can find fun family moments at unexpected times - Although the outcome was disappointing, the act of learning how to open and opening the coconut was a fun family experience.
* Youtube is informational - It's amazing how much you can learn from how-to clips.
* Have more than one learning resource - Although the youtube clip that we watched was informational, it would have been  better for us to look at a couple different clips and generate their ideas too.
* Looks are deceiving - That coconut looked good but was rotten!
* How-to videos look easy but may not be - Usually how-to videos teach someone how to do something under the best circumstances. That coconut was probably hard to open since it was too old. Sometimes the expert doesn't realize to mention a few points because he's so used to doing it.

Now, there must be an object lesson in this somewhere that I can use for school or church. Any ideas?

Happiness Is...Volume 3, Part 1

Happiness is...
- Salem's Leviti-kiss (Leviticus)
- Ezril's smiles
- Darrell never complaining
- Oaklen putting his hand on his hip
- Oaklen saying "Team Geotrax!" and raising his fist in the air
- Ezril leaning his head into my lips to get a kiss, and again, and again...
- Being able to use my computer in every room in the house
- My boys playing well together
- Flying kites with Uncle Cabot & Aunt Jen
- Watching Salem learn how to ride a bike
- Watching Darrell teach Salem how to ride a bike, he's so patient!
- Oaklen snuggling with me "like red-band bananas"
- Ezril babbling thinking you can understand him.
- Viewing the bum scoot marks in the sand after Ezril scooted around
- My pink clematis vine in full bloom
- Getting my garden in
- Blueberry waffles for dinner
- Darrell knowing how to fix things in our house
- Having a camera that I use to take pictures plus video
- Having an MP3 player that I can use to record voice
- Getting 100% on some of my homework
- Getting help with the kiddies so I am able to study
- Smith's double coupon day
- Having beautiful white flowers (Star of Bethlehem) randomly come up in my yard. They're unwanted "weeds" to some people but I like them. Here's a picture I took:

Who moved my cheese?

Here is the story that goes along with the last blog... I tried to have you guess the story behind the image but most of you were trying to interpret what the drawing was on the window. Good guesses! :)

Last Friday we, as a family, spent many hours outside enjoying the warmer weather. Oaklen liked being outside but kept going in for various reasons and I'd have to go inside and tell him to come back out. Finally it was getting late enough that when he went in the last time, I didn't go get him. He was inside for a matter of 10-15 minutes. (Hmm...now if I was Oaklen, what would I do with 10 minutes to myself?)

I came inside and after a while we went upstairs for our bedtime routine. I walked into the upstairs TV room and there staring at me was this drawing on the window:

Me: (looking at Oaklen) "Did you do that?"
Oaklen: (after looking sheepish and trying to deny it) "Yes."
Me: (stepping closer for a better look, and noticing that it had yellow residue) "Is this chapstick?" (We had just opened a new chapstick container that made your lips yellow.)
Oaklen: "No"
Then it dawned on me...this is Oaklen we're talking about...
Me: "Oaklen, is this cheese?"
Oaklen: (giggling) "Yes"
Me: Ei yei yei! :)

So then I asked him if he ate the whole entire cheese brick and he said yes. Later I asked him again to make sure.
Me: "Oaklen, are you sure you ate the whole thing, or did you hide it somewhere? It either needs to be in your belly or in the fridge because if it's hiding somewhere it's going to get moldy and gross and bugs could come."
Oaklen: "Oh, uh, there's some in the closet."

So, we ventured to the closet by Ezril's room. Oaklen poked around to find it but couldn't. Then I dug around to find a small piece of cheese leftover, unwrapped. He probably ate about 7 oz of sharp cheese!

I'm glad I found the missing cheese, and now I know that cheese is a good window crayon. :)

I love ya Oaklen, even if you're cheesy.

PS - I've never read "Who moved my cheese?" but maybe I should. I just reserved it at the library.