Blessed Beyond Measure

I must of done that drive more than a dozen times since August--that drive from my hometown in Canada to my new home in Washington.  Yet each and every time, my eyes well up with tears...tears of gratitude.  I honestly never thought I would be able to live close to my family again, yet here I am two hours away.

This morning my eyes filled with those same kind of tears.  For in my arms I held a precious baby girl.  A baby girl I honestly thought I would never have.  I am so grateful to be her mom.

I look at my life and I can't believe how blessed I am.  I am truly blessed beyond measure.

Meeting Baby

We thought we planning it out perfectly.  My sisters would come down to stay with the kids while I was induced and then they would come to the hospital to meet baby Summer.  Well, things didn't turn out quite as planned.  Instead of being induced on Saturday, I didn't get induced until Monday and Tina and Lisa had to get back to their families.  So, Summer was born Monday night and didn't get to meet anyone until Tuesday morning.  Kya and Tyson decided to skip school so they could spend the day at the hospital with their new sister.  Jordan just couldn't miss school because she had a choir concert, so she didn't get to meet Summer until 8pm Tuesday night!!  

 Grandma and Grandpa drove down to meet Grand baby #16 on Wednesday.  It was so nice having them stay with us for a few days.  Mom made a turkey dinner, spaghetti and meatballs and homemade cinnamon rolls!!  They also stayed an extra day so I wouldn't have to be alone while Mike and Tyson went on the Father/Son campout.  I am so lucky.

My sister Lisa and her family came down the Sunday after Summer was born!  It was so cute to see Eric and Summer together.  I look forward to years and years of those two cousins playing together:)

 

 

There are a lot more important people Summer is waiting to meet...like the rest of her aunts and uncles and cousins!  So come on down everyone!!

Summer Olivia

Here are the deets:

My due date came and went...which really was no surprise (although I HOPED maybe she'd come early).  I saw my doctor, and she scheduled to induce me on Saturday, May 31st.  I got a call from the hospital Saturday afternoon postponing my induction for Sunday morning...June 1st...frustrating.  When I went in Sunday morning they monitored the baby's heart, gave me an ultrasound and sent me home:(  I was so discouraged.  But they promised me the next morning I'd be able to stay, "yeah right" was my thinking.

Monday, June 2nd.

I went to the hospital and they didn't send me home!!  They hooked me up to pitocin to start contractions.  Hour after hour went by and I still wasn't progressing at all...my contractions weren't even painful (with all my other babies, once I was hooked up to pitocin, the baby arrived within about 4 hours).  So by the time I had been there about 10 hours, I was really frustrated.  The doctor suggested breaking my water, so I agreed.  I got my epidural and my water was broken by 8:10pm.  I fell asleep (thank you epidural) for 2 hours and when I woke up I was 8cm dialated!!  I then started to feel some pretty strong contractions and within minutes I was ready to push.  Three pushes and baby was here at 10:58pm.

Summer Olivia:  9lbs 2 oz, 21 inches long...and absolutely perfect.

Brand New

 Meeting her daddy

 Lovin on her binky

 Perfect little bundle of sweetness

Tribute to the Hubs

Some days, I look back on all the boys I dated and thank my lucky stars that I ended up with the one I did.  Not that all those other boys weren't great (well, some of them weren't), but I somehow got the greatest one made just for ME.  He makes me laugh, takes care of me, and has given me amazing children and a beautiful life.  I am one lucky girl.  Oh, and it's his birthday today--Happy Birthday!!

Only for a season

I was driving (because that is just about all I do every afternoon--I think I am secretly in a competition to see how many times I can get into and out of the car in one day) when I heard a familiar song on the radio...not one of those songs that are on multiple times a day, but a familiar song from years past.  That song brought me back to a time long ago.  A time of college classes and crazy roommates.  A time of late nights studying and early morning walks to campus.  A time of heart break and new opportunities.  A time of new friends and demanding teachers.  A time that is almost magical in my memory.  It's amazing how one song can bring back so many memories. 

That one song got me thinking about all the people who have come in and out of my life over the years.  There are so many fabulous people I have known.  Some I haven't talked to or maybe even thought about for over ten years and some I catch a glimpse of on facebook once in a while.  Then there are those who I just know if I saw again, we would just pick up where we left off with fits of endless laughter.  It's interesting to me that these amazing people came into my life for a season and now they are gone.  They helped me through some personal struggles, they made life infinitely more fun, and they helped make me who I am today.  Now we live separate lives possibly on other sides of the world--who knows.  But I have a piece of them inside me.  I am grateful to have met them.  I am grateful that they made my life better, that they made me who I am today.  I hope they carry a piece of me as I carry a piece of them.  Even more, I hope that one day our paths may cross again and we can be friends once more

Me back in my Rick's College (BYU-I) days

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Pinewood Derby

Before the big event (which I couldn't actually attend, since Kya had a softball game), I was very against the Pinewood Derby.  I mean, isn't it really just for the dads?!  The boys couldn't do much of the actual making of the car--except for decorating it, and some boys didn't have dads that knew anything about wood working.  

But when Tyson came home, he was so excited and had so much fun.  I think the leaders did a great job of making all the boys feel good about their cars and have a fun night.  Tyson's car came in 6th out of about 18, so he felt pretty good about that (although only the top 3 got trophies, which he was disappointed not to get), but he got to win quite a few races. 

I think I may have changed my attitude a little....maybe we won't boycot it next year after all:)

So much baby:)

I honestly never thought I would be pregnant again! 

 Every day I feel so blessed to have this chance to bring another little baby into this world.  

This weekend I had the chance to celebrate with some of my new WA friends. 

My friend Kay was so sweet to throw me a baby shower!!

 So much yummy food!

So many great ladies!!

 So many adorable gifts!

 And so much belly:)

My Absent-Minded Professor...I mean husband.

You know those characters in movies that are brilliant, yet chronically absent-minded?  Well that is my husband...and we never let him forget it.  He has a mind full of smarts, which doesn't always leave room for those every day things that he seems to always forget.  This weekend, he had not just one, but TWO absent-minded moments...so I have to share:)

We had to pick up some furniture, so Mike rented a pick up truck on Saturday.  I drove him to pick it up, and he said "don't leave until I've done all the paper work."  I then said, "just make sure to come tell me before you leave."  He chuckled and said "wouldn't that be funny?"  So I waited, for what seemed like forever.  I sent a text "are you almost done?" and got no response.  I waited longer, still not done.  Finally I called him, and guess what?  Yeah, he already left and was on his way home!!  Seriously?!  I JUST reminded him. 

Next one was even better!!

Sunday morning, Mike had an early meeting, so he had to drive himself to church an hour before the rest of us.  So, I drove the kids and we enjoyed our three hour block of meetings.  After church was over, I looked all over for Mike and couldn't find him.  I knew some friends were coming over straight from church so I thought, I would just take the kids home and Mike could drive himself home as soon as he was done.  Well, apparently he saw us driving away and while wondering why we left without him, scrambled to find a ride home.  When he got home, we reminded him that he had his own car at the church...parked right in front of the door--how did he not see it?!  So, he had to get a ride back to the church to pick up his car:(

While sometimes, it's annoying when Mike forgets those day to day things, sometimes it is just plain FUNNY:)