Cathcing Up as Usual

So, we've been busy for the last few months. Elizabeth was born on September 5, 2010 @11:13pm. She weighed 5lbs 3oz and measured 20 1/4" long. She was born emergency csection because her heart rate dropped. She was born not breathing and had to be intubebated. I was rushed into the OR and they couldn't get my epidural to work. So I got feel EVERY cut and pull. I finally passed out before they knocked me out. I didn't know what happened until I woke up @6:30am the next morning. Elizabeth stayed in the NICU for only 4 days. She turned around very quickly in under 24 hours. The doctors said it was a miracle that she lived. After researching the details leading up to my delivery, it was determined that my bag of water had sprung a leak 3 weeks prior to birth. She was very lucky to survive! We kept her out of public for a couple of weeks. But she proves to us that she's here to stay. Her weight has been an issue. She is trying to gain but seems to have hit a little plateau. She is doing fine health wise. Personally I think she's got Gary's metabolism. She looks exactly like Jake only a girl version :) Emily and Elizabeth are very similar in looks also. But she is our first baby to be born with blonde hair. It has a red undertone too! I think she's beautiful. I will post some pictures on the blog as soon as I get them transferred to the computer with Internet...lol.

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

This message says it all! It is everything I am grateful for. My loving Savior Jesus Christ who has given me everything I will ever need in this life and the life to come. Thank you Lord I pray.

Preparing for Our New Arrival

To Do:

wash all the baby clothes

paint the rest of the crib

tell Jake AGAIN that it's a girl

don't go into labor before Gary's surgery

eat as much as I can before the "eating for 2" excuse is over

get all the baby stuff out of "storage" aka: top self of garage

possibly shave my legs

get kids off to first day of school ...with all their supplies

sleep through the night without getting up to pee

get a full body massage

Some Rain is Better Than None

Arizona rainbows are the best!

So we finally got some much needed rain here in the West foothills of Tucson. Our garden looks refreshed and greener for sure! I love the smell of the desert after it rains. It's so nice! I wish all of you could experience it just once. I took this picture in my friend's neighborhood because that is where we were when it stopped raining. If you look closely you can see the other rainbow on the right side. There were two but just barely. The kids loved it!

As we wait patiently for Lizzie to be born, Gary decided to go have some fun down at the church playing volleyball. He came home last Thursday night with what we thought was a sprained ankle. He went to Urgent Care after I reminded him that it wasn't common to not be able to walk at his age. When he got home the new was worse. It seems that he has a ruptured Achilles tendon and will be going into the doctor tomorrow to schedule MRI and surgery. He says he's not in any pain but just uncomfortable. Now I get to take care of him crippled and our 5 kids while 8 months pregnant. This is not an easy task. But I am hanging in there and so is the rest of our family. I can truly say that we don't lead a boring life. It's always something here :)

So if you remember, please keep Gary in your prayers. I hope he will heal well and be able to have a fully functioning leg soon. We love you guys.

Thank heavens school starts next week!!!!

Catching Up

Now we're just waiting for the last 2 weeks of summer to end...

in all our nakedness :)

Gary started our hardwood floors in the living room.

It's still getting done.

5 kids and a pregnant wife don't help the situation :)

The girls had a blast at the water park.

They even went on the big slides with me:)

Nothing like watching a pregnant woman shoot down a water slide.

Preston was excited to go on the slides at Splashland in Mesa AZ.

We spent the weekend with friends playing at the park.

We found out our baby was a girl!!!!!

Started the summer by washing the van.

Pool was closed still for repairs :(

We chilled out for Spring Break in front of the TV.

Uncle James and Aunt Sahra came to visit us.

We went to Reid Park Zoo.

We attended the U of A book fair for the 3rd year in a row.

LUV it!

Kids got their faces painted and the lady remembered us from last year.

Don't know if that was a good thing :)

Zoey got her ears pierced with her friend Olivia in Las Vegas.

Emily got her tonsils removed in February.

I got pregnant with our 6th child in December.

(Photo taken @7mths pregnant.)

Have You Ever Had A Kidney Stone?

I just want to know if you have ever had a kidney stone. Because I got my first one with this pregnancy and was in terrible pain yesturday. Thankfully I went into the ER and got some morphine and an IV. It was small but very painful. It passed in a few hours but my back still hurts. I just want to say for all those who have suffered this cruel pain; I UNDERSTAND! They should give epiderals for those things because I've had longer and easier labors than passing that stone.

I made it home last night and manged to crawl into bed. No kids came to sleep with me last night. I am so thankful for that little blessing. It was a long night.Today I have spent all day "recovering" with lots of drinking water and as much rest as the boys will allow. The baby is doing well through all of this cuz I felt "him" move today. I'm guessing it's a boy cuz of all the sickies I've had. Plus the ultrasound tech said she thought it was a boy in the ER last night.

Or maybe it's a girl with a tail? J/K

Vegas Baby!

We are headed to Las Vegas for a long weekend. Did I forget to mention that it's just me and the girls! NO BOYS ALLOWED! I get to go see my best friend Julie and her family. They moved last August and I have been struggling ever since to regain my balance. No friends in the neighborhood that live down the street, are LDS, you can borrow their car, or have sleep overs and mom's night outs with. Needless to say, we will cram everything into this weekend. I hope we can visit this summer as a family. Of course staying in a hotel and not at their house :)

Zoey and Emily have grown up with Bella and Olivia since 2003. Aah the good old days. They are so excited to visit and see their new dog and house. I bet they come home and repack their suitcases...AGAIN! This will be a fun trip. And a much needed break from being Mom to 5 kids. Now I can just chill cuz the girls get along so well. I hope I didn't jinx myself!

So one more day of laundry, cleaning, reffing fights, dishes, bath time, etc! Time for a relaxing vaca with a great friend and my girls. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Thanks for this birthday present Gary! You are the BEST husband.