Violet arrived!

Violet Jeanne arrived May 22, 2010 at 6:51 pm.
More details to follow!

What a weekend!

This was our last week of soccer class! So sad! But so fun! Ben was able to come and the coach invited Eliza to participate. The kids had so much fun. I think Ben was a little disappointed though when after class he asked Xander what his favorite part was and Xander said, "Having my sister play with me". :) PS. Please notice Eliza's outfit--it totally speaks to her personality (yes, she chooses her clothes)--but the soccer jersey and skirt--total tomboy until it is time to be a girl--gotta love it!

There is a great park right next to the indoor soccer field we used and so we went there most days after soccer with a picnic lunch. To our surprise on this Friday, the fountains had been turned on! I didn't have swimsuits but I did happen to have towels in the car and so I told the kids to enjoy themselves. And they did. The whole day was AWESOME--one of those days you say, I LOVE BEING A MOM! It was just fun to watch the kids and Ben at soccer and then play so nicely in the water, etc. It was great! UNTIL...

As we walked out of the park. My arms were full but I decided I had better pick Eliza up to cross the asphalt because she didn't have shoes on. No sooner did I pick her up and take one step than I felt myself going down. I tried to correct it but instead did a belly flop onto the asphalt. I remember literally feeling flattened. Eliza was terrified, Xander was just watching. The women at the park came running when they heard the crying saying, "Oh my gosh, aren't you pregnant? Are you ok?" I played cool--although was EXTREMELY embarrassed and a little hurt. I let the women help me get up--I couldn't do it alone and I even let them carry our stuff to the car. I got the kids stripped down and their seats covered and was still saying, "Nothing is wrong!" Xander kept saying, "It's ok Mom. The baby is safe because it is still in your tummy." (I sure love my Xander!) I had the impression that I still needed to call the advice nurse and get a medical opinion. So I did. She said that with a fall like that I should come in to Labor & Delivery and get checked out. I broke down. I got a hold of Ben and he said he'd rather drive me as I was getting shakier as the time wore on. I put Eliza down for her nap, put Xander in front of a movie and Grandma said she'd take it from there. My dad came over to help too.

We got to the hospital and they put me on the monitor. And then the nurse breaks it to me--protocol, she says, is to keep you for 24 hour observation. I broke down again. It was a good thing they didn't tell me before because I probably wouldn't have gone in! (They totally know that too!). The reason they do that is because they run a few different tests to make sure baby is not stressed, I'm not injured and that the placenta didn't rip or tear, etc. Things were looking pretty bleak. I was NOT prepared for this. They did move me to a L&D room--and they are AWESOME! I'll take a picture when I return for the real thing. Long story short I spent the next 24 hours hooked up to monitors and bored. Ben returned home for a few hours to be with the kids and thankfully brought a movie and a book. (Each room has a DVD player!!). The hospital and its staff were awesome--the food was actually really good and we didn't even have to pay a co-pay because I was under observation, not admitted. Pretty sweet deal I guess. Ben coerced my parents in to keeping the kids over night so he could stay with me. All the tests said that everything was great. Apparently I had contractions all night and the nurses were all waiting for me to wake up and ask for drugs--I never felt a thing and when I had my last test before leaving, I was still only dilated to a one--the same as 2 weeks ago. :) The one nurse was shocked because she almost didn't bring me my breakfast! I kindly explained that this is just the way my body has done it (and to bring me my food).

How are we doing now? I'm a nervous wreck about so many things--I guess I hadn't taken the fact that my due date is so soon and being in the hospital really got me realizing that I had better get some things done! Saturday night and Sunday were really painful. It was like being in a car accident--you don't realize the pain until later. I could barely walk, sit or stand on Sunday--good thing it was Mother's Day. (Which was awesome and will be blogged about later!). Today, I am doing much better. I was finally able to have Ben and my father give me a Priesthood blessing yesterday--I am so grateful to have a husband and father who are worthy to hold the Priesthood. It truly blesses our lives daily. Not only do I feel physically better but I am comforted in knowing that my Heavenly Father loves me, that He knows my pain and that through His Son, Jesus Christ, I can be healed both emotionally and physically.

Spring is here!!

Polly-wog/Tad Pole Hunting

Thank you to the Pattersons for inviting us! And thanks to John and Joseph, we got to take a tadpole home for the weekend. The Pattersons then adopted it so that "Nemo" will continue to live.

SOCCER
Xander and Eliza have both struggled with leaving Oregon...especially with the lack of preschool. So I signed up Xander for a soccer class that was once a week. He LOVED it! And Eliza did a great job sitting and cheering her brother on.

YARD WORK
We started working on G.G's yard as soon as we got here and watering is a favorite past time--especially if I let the kids put their swimsuits on. We bought our very own avocado tree to plant as soon as we find a home--and we enjoy giving that some extra TLC. And my kids still think that weeding is fun! (Do NOT tell them otherwise!!)