Gory pictures

Thanksgiving

I love my family!  We had such an awesome Thanksgiving week.  I needed every minute of it.  

We headed out early Friday and stopped in Rexburg to pick up Zach.  It's been 6 years since I've been in Rexburg!  We ate lunch at a new subway in the parking lot of what used to be carousel court, the awesome (not) place I lived for 2 years.  It has changed a ton!  It was scary seeing Zach and Josh's apartments.  And they said they just cleaned them!  I told the kids not to touch anything :-) Braydan and I were trying to do the math and figure out how many guys have lived in one apartment. Pretty gross.

Way off subject here . . . Zach made the rest of the trip fly by and we got home late Friday night. 

 First thing, Mom handed Braydan an early Christmas gift: a hunting license   Braydan brought his gun, but he didn't know he'd get to go real hunting!  He was pretty excited.  He and Zach went most mornings and evenings and got lots of pheasants.

But . . . one morning before anyone was awake, Braydan went by himself and came home with this:  

 Poor little bambi!  I can't hardly stand to look at this picture, but Braydan was excited he shot his first buck.

The most exciting part of the trip, however, was Josh buying 60 cows.  Kaleb took this picture at the auction.

 It kept all the guys busy, hauling cows home Mon. and Tues.  Wednesday night, one of the cows got out. She's a wild, wild cow!  Zach got on the 4-wheeler, Mom on a horse, Braydan on a motorcycle, Josh and Dad in the truck.  It was starting to get dark and snow, freezing wind.  The more they tried to round her up, the more she ran through more fences and fields!  They finally gave up when it got too dark to even see!  Never a dull moment on the farm :-)

My pictures are all out of order, but here is Braydan pre-accident. Isn't he handsome? Well . . he was . .

(just kiddn!)  

 Grandma came over for dinner every day and she said her job was to "hold the baby."  Sometimes we couldn't even get her to eat because she just wanted to hold baby.  Grandma is so cute, even with her memory lapses and stubbornness ;)

 Eliza loved riding horses with Grandma.

 Jane got spoiled by everyone, especially uncle Zach.  We had her sleep in our room the first night and it was horrible.  I was awake every time she sucked her thumb or moved, so I moved her in Zach's room and problem solved :)  Thanks Zach!

 I loved hearing/watching Josh and Zach on the guitar.  They are really good!

 Eliza loved Zach.  I caught him several times upstairs playing barbies or little people with her.  He built stick houses with Kaleb and army guys.

 So Thanksgiving day started off great.  Josh wanted to vaccinate, tag, and worm the cows so the guys started early.  I even went out and helped fill shots for a while in between helping mom with cooking.

 They were almost done when Alisha ran in and said Braydan is hurt.  I ran out and he was propped up against the barn with blood all over his gloves, face, pants.  He kept asking what happened and couldn't remember anything.  It was so scary!  The boys said a cow kicked a gate and the gate flew right into Braydan's face.  Josh hurdled over fences trying to reach him before he got trampled, but he knew he wouldn't make it in time so he screamed at Braydan to get out of there.  Braydan doesn't remember crawling out, but he escaped unscathed!  Well . . . kind of.

Josh and David carried him in the house and David started washing him up.  I'm so glad he was there because he was so calm!  I, on the other hand, was a big wuss.  After staring at so much blood, I almost passed out and had to go lay down.  I kept saying, he needs to go the hospital, but Braydan would shake his head no.  Finally, after we got a clearer look at his mouth, David saw the cut went all the way through!  

 He had to get 3 stitches outside and 3 inside his mouth.  You'd think Thanksgiving dinner would be shot  after that, but he still ate!  Kind of.  It took him a long time and he only made it through one plate, but he did it :-)

I loved eating/being all together as a family Thanksgiving night.  I feel like that what's heaven will be like: us being all together, laughing with(at) eachother, playing games, telling stories . . .

 Friday was Alisha's birthday!  Josh's hands in the back are an inside joke :-)  Check out the calluses though!

 We shopped black friday, made her favorite dinner and dessert, played games, and danced.  yes Danced!  Zach is an instructor now at school!  I couldn't believe it and i had to see his moves so we had lots of dancing nights.

Zach got replaced when David came :-)

Thank you family for an awesome time on the farm!  We loved it and we love you!  Thank you mom especially for cooking and cleaning and making everything wonderful :-)  You're my hero!

3 months

Oh little Jane!  I have so much to write about you little lady.  You are sleeping through the night already!  It's such a miracle compared to Kaleb and Eliza.  It might have something to do with your little thumb.  Yes, you are the cutest little thumb sucker!  Only your left one, never your right thumb.

You have the cutest smiles and laughs.  I'm the only one that has gotten you to laugh.

Trust me, your family has tried hard, but you only laugh for me :)

You have the biggest diaper explosions ever!  I never remember my other kids being so explosive :)  It takes all of us to get you cleaned up.  Kaleb runs and gets your bath ready.  Eliza picks out new clothes (she loves finding outfits and bows for you.)  I have the fun job of peeling the yellow, slimy clothes of your back.  It's quite a process!  But, you sure love your baths and getting your hair washed.  Such a lady.

You are also my only baby that spits up! I'm not used to it and hardly ever have a burp rag handy. .. so my shirt usually gets it or the floor.  I think it's because you eat SO FAST!  I've never seen a faster eater.  You are about 4 or 5 min. a side!  Crazy.  You gulp and gulp and then you pay for it later spitting up :)

You have the funiest little body!  I love it.  I love your big belly/ribs and tiny little hips and chubby legs.  You have a petite little head with the cutest hair.  You have a dip in your chest that the doctor said is ok for now, but might require surgery later in life. I try not to worry about that.  You have the tiniest little feet.  No shoes fit you, even newborn ones.

You spend your days eating, sleeping, jumping on my lap, sitting in your little papasan chair or in the swing or in the carseat.

\

I just got you a jumperoo that you sort of like.  Don't worry, it will grow on you.

We love you little sweet girl!

A Blessing

We blessed baby Jane on September 2nd.  Marla got her this beautiful dress.  

Jane, just so you know, Grandma looked everywhere for the perfect blessing dress for you. She almost made you one, but found this one.  It fit you perfectly!  I had Noel, a new friend, make a bow to match.  You looked like an angel!  Church is so early here.  I didn't think we would make it on time, but we did.  There was another baby blessing and lots of ward business before Braydan got up. 

I was nervous for him!  But it was a beautiful blessing.  He really loves you, Jane!  And I could feel the love of your Heavenly Father too.  I can't remember all of it (I should've had someone write it down!), but I do remember that he talked about having a heart full of gratitude. I liked that part.    

It was cool to have so much family there.  There was Grandma and Grandpa DuRee, Uncle Travis, cousins, Paul and RaeAnn, and Uncle David.  Plus, new friends from the ward got up.  I needed all the love and support.  

You have been so much fun to have in our family.  Kaleb and Eliza die laughing every time you poop.  You  love to have your hair washed.  Your whole body relaxes as soon as you hear the water turn on.  I think it's so funny because Kaleb and Eliza screamed in the bath at your age.  I forgot to mention in your birth post that all the nurses and doctor commented on your hair!  They said they rarely see hair like yours, so fair and long.  

Anytime you cry, you have two little helpers that love to run and put the binky in your mouth.  Eliza will say, "Oh baby, it's okay, shhh."  They love you so much and fight over who gets to hold you :-)         

Unpublished Draft

Ladybug friends

I found this in my drafts folder and thought it would be fun to publish now :)

A year ago (over a year now since I wrote this months ago!), we were ready for another baby.  I didn't think it would take long, judging by Kaleb and Eliza.  However, month after month went by.  My perfect timing for this 3rd baby went out the window :-)  I took a few pregnancy tests, one even on Braydan's birthday because I thought for sure I was pregnant and wanted to surprise him.  It was negative.  AGAIN.  I was so sad.  If only I knew I had to wait one more month.

Making a birdhouse with Jacob

The first trimester I have tried to block from my memory.  My family survived on frozen dinners and kindness from friends and Alisha :-)  I remember telling the Lord that I would happily be sick if only I could get pregnant again.  What was I thinking!  JK.

Mom kept reminding me, this too shall pass, and it finally did.  Right before our Hawaii trip, I finished my first trimester and being sick!  What a miracle.

I had to capture Eliza's hair after a day jumping on the trampoline

The rest has flown by.  At the 20 week ultrasound, the kids were so excited to come with us.  Kaleb was set on a boy and Eliza a girl of course.  Eliza would often come up to my tummy and say in a bossy voice, "Baby, when are you going to tell us what you are? Boy or girl?"

The poor kids had to sit through an hour long ultrasound with baby's legs crossed and not getting good shots.  Finally the tech found the labia folds and said she's 90% sure it's a girl.  When I turned to Kaleb and said, "we're having a girl!" he angrily smacked me and said "no we're not!"  For a while after, whenever I referred to baby as "she," he would quickly correct me, "it's not a girl mom!"

I love stepping outside and just breathing in all the flowers and trees blooming

But, his heart has changed.  During the day Kaleb will come and hug me and when I say "thank you!" He says, "it's not for you, it's for the baby."

Eliza has big plans for this girl.  She tells me all the time how she's going to wrap her up and feed her and change her diapers and put bows in her hair, and push her in the stroller, and on and on and on.  Whenever we go to the store, she picks out cute outfits for the baby.

We've had the hardest time agreeing on names.  Sometimes I wonder if maybe it is a boy and that's why none of the names seem right.  Eliza has called her Annabel from the beginning because there's a cute baby Annabel in our ward that she loves to admire.

Boy or girl, we are excited to have you join our family in 3 months!

Can you cheat your way through kindergarten?

Kaleb is in kindergarten.  He has an adorable teacher, Miss De Marco, and 24 other little classmates.  He was excited and nervous for the first day.  He asked me a few times, "But Mom, what are you going to do when I'm gone?"  Party! No, I didn't tell him that.

The first day of school is a milestone and I always pictured myself holding his hand, walking him to his class, kissing goodbye, crying, the whole bit.

Well, Braydan ended up doing it.  I was up most the night with baby and finally fell asleep again at 5.  I didn't get in the shower until 8:30.  As I was toweling off, Braydan yelled, "he has to go.  I'll just take him.  See you later!"

My heart sank.  My baby off to kindergarten without me!  I called Braydan as soon as I was dressed to see how it went.  He was just fine.  He played outside until the bell rang and then the teachers came out and told them where to line up.  Miss De Marco told them to wave goodbye to their parents and he went inside just like that.

I have to give myself some credit.  I did get up and make crepes (his request) and take some pictures of him.

Today was his 9th day in school (I only know that because he told me).  As I was rushing around this morning, hurrying to feed baby, find Eliza's shoes, cramming in a few bites of pancakes in between, I noticed Kaleb moping around.

"Kaleb, what are you doing ? We have to go to school."  

"I'm not going.  I feel sick." 

Now, you'll notice how the old me responds.

"What? You're not sick.  Come on, get your shoes on." 

"I don't want to go to school. " 

"You're going to school!  What are you talking about?  It's only the 3rd week!"

As I started to lecture him on how he'd better get used to going to school and how he'd be confined to his bed and no movies if he really was sick, I suddenly thought of this book.

So, new me responding:

So, you're feeling sick or are you scared about something at school.

Long pause.

I'm scared to run across the big field.  

Oh.

And my legs hurt when we have to sit criss-cross applesauce all day.  And I don't know how to do the centers.

Oh.

Then we problem solved quickly and came up with some solutions and he happily hopped into the van to school.

He's so funny.  The second or third day he came home so excited because he had homework. He opened his bag and took out a single paper about library books.  It was for parents to sign and that's it.  I didn't want to crush his dreams of homework, so I made up that he had to sign his name too.

Now he really has homework and I caught him doing a funny thing today.  Part of his assignment is a reading log.  I noticed him coloring it every so often and didn't think anything of it until today at dinner  he showed me he was done.

What? You're done?  But that's for the whole week.

I just pretended that we read because I want to turn in my homework tomorrow.

 Yipes.  I'm in for it.  Faking sick and cheating on homework in one day.

Just kidding Kaleb.  We love you!

Welcome Baby Jane

Jane Marie was born August 1st at 4:43 pm.  She weighed  7lbs. 14oz.  She is so beautiful and precious!  When they put her in my arms, I cried and cried.  It was the first baby that I could actually enjoy the moment because the epidural worked!  Not only was I happy that she was healthy and finally here, but I thought of all the people who helped get her here safely.  I thought of all the prayers the kids have said for her.  I thought of Alisha coming (as a newlywed no less!) all the way down to help me for a week.  I thought of Mom driving 20 hours to make sure I didn't lift anything when we moved (and then 20 hours again for baby!)  I thought of Josh  cramming in a little car with 5 strangers to get to Boise.  I could go on and on.  I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

The whole labor was an answer to prayers.  It was my easiest yet!  A few weeks ago, Dr. Minge asked when I wanted to be induced.  I was surprised, especially because I didn't have a big reason to, but I was all for it. It was so nice to know when I was going to have her.  Then I could tell mom when to come.

Wednesday morning I woke up early.  I didn't sleep great because I was so excited and nervous.  It was weird to feel her kick and think that I would be holding those little feet in a few hours!

My I.V. was one of the worst parts.  I almost passed out.  Braydan had to fan me and the nurse made me smell rubbing alcohol until I felt better.  But, after that the day was good.  We watched the Olympics, walked around the halls a million times.  My nurse was so awesome.  She let me do what I want.  I ordered breakfast and lunch, unlike my other kids where I starved on ice chips.  She encouraged me to move a lot, even though it was more work for her, hooking me on and off the monitors.

They kept upping the pitocen throughout the day and I really started feeling painful contractions around 2. I finally asked for the epidural and it's a good thing!  The epidural took a while and the anesthesiologist said he had to give me as much as a C-section patient!  No wonder the epidurals didn't work for me in the past!  This doc was awesome.  He stayed in my room and kept testing me to make sure it was working.  Bless him.



Not long after he left, I felt ready to push!  Sure enough, nurse checked me and said I was ready.  It only took me 3 contractions and she was out!  Wahoo!

Then the recovery.  Man, I hate the recovery process.  The epidural wears off, pain kicks in, I feel like I'm going to bleed to death, never walk or sit normal again, nursing kills, and no sleep on top of it all.

But, she is oh so worth it!  Mom brought the kids got to see her Wednesday night.  Kaleb kept saying I can't believe she is finally here!  Braydan was so amazing through all of it.  Changing every diaper, helping me get up, getting me whatever I needed, sleeping in a horrible chair for two nights.

I could tell he wanted to leave Thursday, but I asked for one more day and now I'm not sure why.  I sleep better in my own bed and nurses can't bug you all night.  I think I was scared to go home and face real life.  I was enjoying forgetting everything except kissing baby and getting better. Thursday night we got to eat our celebration dinner.  This hospital was different than the last two!  They fed us awesome, I got to soak in a jacuzi tub, and they gave me a complimentary massage Friday morning.

I'm really sad I have no pictures of me with baby!  I will have work on that.  

Baby Jane, we are so happy you are here!  I'll have to write about your first week home later . . .