Growing fast

polka-dot princess

Tevan and Kaebryn

The kids are doing well. We miss Daeson, but adjusting! I have so much fun dressing Kaebryn up! It's like she is my little dolly! Thanks, Jana for the outfit!

Tevan is having so much fun with Yoshi!

Father's Day and Tevan's 4th Birthday

Today was a great day! Tevan opened his presents, then Troy his. The kids sang in Sacrament mtg and Kaebryn and I snuck in the back of the chapel long enough to see them sing. They were so cute. After church, we went to Grover's for a dinner. There was lots of family there and it was nice to see everyone. Kaebryn is still so little, I had such a hard time adjusting to all the people but it worked out great. We hopped in the car and headed to Pocatello to meet my parents. Daeson is going home with them until the middle of July. It was great to see my dad, too. Troy got an Angry Birds shirt (from Tevan, of course), a button-up shirt from Daeson, and Obsession for men from Kaebryn. I gave him a subscription to Handyman magazine. My parents gave him a charcoal starter-heater thing. He had a great day!

Tevan had a fun birthday, too! He got a Yoshi backpack from us along with Mario candy. We had a Cars cake at the Father's Day dinner. He received a lot of gifts at the earlier party but I was glad we could celebrate today, too. Happy Birthday, Tevan! I love you so much and I have so much fun watching you grow up! It's hard to believe you are four!!!

On a side note, I got released from the Primary Presidency today. The whole presidency changed. It was a bitter-sweet feeling. I was ready to be done due to the stress of being prego and having a baby, but I will miss the kids so, so much!!

Happy Father's Day Dad, Richard, Grandpa Lish and especially Troy. You are all wonderful men and I feel blessed to have you in our lives! I have learned so much from each of you!! Happy Father's Day also to Justin, Jesse, Todd, and Adam!

Settling in...

When I left the hospital, I had instructions not to lift anything more than 10 lb for two weeks and not to do any type of exercise for two weeks so that I can achieve maximum milk production. My mom leaves tomorrow and over the last few days I have slowly been taking on the list of chores. This has been an eye-opener and I have hardly done anything! I have appreciated her help so very much! She has held us together the last 10 days. However, she must return home to her far away city. She and my dad are lightening my load...they are taking Daeson for four weeks. I will miss him, but I know he will have a blast with horse riding, rodeos, fishing and other fun things he loves to do with Grandpa and Grandma. He is looking forward to the visit and I am looking forward to him and Tevan not fighting! They have not gotten along too well the last little while. Tevan thinks he is big and Daeson thinks he is boss.

I am going to miss him. I am going to miss my parents. I am going to miss the smoothness of our lives. But the show will go on and I will be a big girl and take over all tasks. Thank heavens little babies sleep...a lot.

More photos :)

Kaebryn's closet is so full, I am grateful for the gifts and hand-me-downs. Because she has a plethera of clothing, I decided to take a picture of her in every outfit. Some of the outfits I have already forgotten to take the picture, but welcome to Kaebryn's Kloset!

Made with love

Thanks for the outfit, Mom and Dad!

Tevan-isms

Last night Tevan was not tired due to a late nap. So, my mom being the Super-Granny that she is, stayed up with him and I, the tired-got-up-all-night-Mom, went to bed. I over heard the following conversation:

Tevan: Gramma, I want a boomerang.

Grandma: A what?

Tevan: A boomerang.

Gma: A boomerang, where? In your room?

T: No, in the black sing. Here I will show you. (He then lead her into the kitchen and pointed to the fruit basket.) In there.

Gma: Oh, you mean a nectarine?

T: Yeah, a nectarine!

Kaebryn's check up

These pictures were taken the 10th.

Yesterday we went to her first check-up. I was doing paper work and Troy was doing the baby thing...changing her into a clean diaper, getting her ready to be examined, much better than paper work! Well, that's what he thought until mid-diaper change she grunted and pooped all over Troy! It was so funny! It got all over him, the floor, the medical equipment, and all over her blanket. The nurse thought it was hilarious as did Troy and I.

Her visit went great. She is already 7lb 7.5oz which is 3.5 oz up from when she was born. She got her heel pricked and the second pku was done. The doctor said she looked great. But I already knew that :). We are so lucky to have her in our home. She is such a joy and brings us so much happiness! She grunts to wake me up at night, she very rarely cries. We just love her so much...even Tevan is warming up to her and walks around saying, "I love Kaebwyn" I am so glad he has decided he actually likes her. Whew!

It is so neat to watch Troy, too. He is such a great daddy. He just holds her and looks at her with adoring eyes. He loved our boys, no doubt about that, but there is something different about a little girl. I don't know if he feels like he has to protect her or if he feels like he needs to be extra sure she knows he loves her, but whatever it is it makes me love him more. He truly is a great daddy. I am so glad I have him as my companion to raise these three beautiful kids!

Welcome Kaebryn Joy!

Everything went very well! I could not have asked for better. My induction was at 7 am on Tuesday the 7th. By 8:30 I was all hooked up to the IV and waiting for pit. By 10:30 am the contractions were coming a bit harder and the doctor broke my water. The contractions kinda slowed until the nurse came in to check me. When she checked me the water actually went from a slow leak to a full blown swimming pool! By 1:00 pm I was ready to push. Half way through I decided I didn't want to do it anymore, I was weak, but she made it here and I was once again able to deliver without any pain medication whatsoever. She was born at 1:18 pm and came out starving! She eats really well!! I got moved to the Women's Center and settled in. My mom brought the boys up to see us and Daeson fell instantly in love with her. Tevan, not so much. He didn't want anything to do with Kaebryn or me. Luckily he has warmed up. I got to go home the next day after her testing. I was so glad to be home and settled in there. The nurses were fabulous and I enjoyed my stay but there really is no place like home.

She is now six days old and changing so very much. I sit in her room and marvel at her perfect little spirit and thank my Heavenly Father for sending this precious angel to me. She is adorable if I say so myself. She looks like Daeson mostly, but there is a bit of Tevan in her too. We are so lucky and so very blessed. I have five-hundred more pictures (no, that is not an exaggeration, I really do have over 500 pictures) so I am sure we will be posting more. Until then these will have to do.

Baby Jace visits

Kaebryn Joy

She's here! She is so sweet and so wonderful! I just love her to bits! Everything went well and pictures will be coming soon...I just have to load all 200 of them!

Birthday fun!

Two days...

On Tuesday at 6:30 a.m., I go to the hospital to have this baby girl. (Still nameless...I told you we would change our minds again!) I am both very excited and very nervous. Everything is ready, we will get the boys' birthday party done today and tomorrow I will clean everything. It will be so exciting to have her here! Tevan is not so enthusiastic. Daeson is ready and he is going to be a great help! My sister in law did my hair on Thursday, I got my teeth done Friday...long story, and my other mother took Kayla and I to get pedicures on Friday night. So my teeth are shiny, my hair is cute, my eyebrows are waxed, my toes look adorable (which helps during the pushing process :) ) and my kids are happy! My parents come today and my dad misses her by one day. He has to get back to work. I am sad for this, but right now, Gram is more important.

I have blogged about Gram Tom being sick. She had surgery last week to take part of her colon out, then another surgery to remove the rest. She is heavily sedated right now and I cannot even go see her. I cannot talk to her, I cannot see her and most of all I cannot tell her how much I love her. She has been my best friend for years. I lived with her after high school for a while right after my Grandpa died. She is a wonderful person and I am so sad that it will be months until I can see her. Pray for her, please. She improves very little day by day, but she is improving. I am grateful for the progress she does make. I am grateful my parents have been able to see her so much this week. My dad has been at the hospital everyday with her. She needs that right now. My aunts and uncles have spent a lot of time with her too. I guess you never know what is going to happen in life. She was just fine a couple months ago and now she is undergoing so much pain. She told me last month she was not ready to die. She told me she is not ready to give up on life. I know it has been lonely for her the last 13 years since Grandpa died. It is very lonely for her. But I pray she pulls through and can have a happy and healthy life after this trial. I love you Gram!! Please get better!

Going quickly

School is out Friday...yup, tomorrow. I am excited. Daeson is more excited because his bday is Saturday. It is supposed to rain. He is not excited for that. He will be six yrs old. What a darling kid he is.

Tevan finished preschool on Tuesday. He is not sad. He has hated school for about a month now. He is okay with the fact he can play and not have to stop for school.

They both wish the weather was a bit nicer. I mean it is almost June, but I have found that in Idaho that means nothing.

The kids went to the dentist. Daeson has been several times, it was Tevan's first. He reacted just how I thought...boobed about everything. He did like the TV and the fact Phineas and Ferb was on. I go to the dentist today...for the first time in eight yrs. or so. Nervous, nah. My teeth have served me well. However, I have had three pregnancies since then! We will see.

Tevan has an ear appointment today. Just a follow-up from his surgery. I will be glad to have all of that done.

This weekend we are having our yard sale. I hope to get rid of everything. What I don't get rid of, I am taking to the DI and getting rid of it. I am tired of the extra stuff in this house. Babies add so many things! Next week we have a few things we have to do. Other than that, it is getting ready for baby and cleaning up this house. I have some projects pulled out that are not going to be finished, and I am oddly okay with that. I have bills to get prepaid so Troy doesn't have to worry about it. My guest room is all ready for my mom and dad. I just have vacuuming to do downstairs, and a lot of dusting! I cannot believe how dusty it gets in this house. The kids are feeling change though. Tevan especially. He has started, finally, sleeping through the night though. I am excited about this. He goes through stages of sleeping and not sleeping. When he doesn't sleep, he wakes up screaming. Not just screaming, but hysterically screaming. It does not make Troy and I too happy. However, for about a week now, he has decided to sleep. I love it.

Well, I do need to get caught up on pictures. But, the necessary stuff has to happen first. You know, priorities. Soon, I promise.

She's coming sooner than later!

So I went to the Dr on Tuesday and expressed my nervousness to have a baby without being induced. I told him that I trusted his judgement and knowledge and would do exactly what he tells me to do. He said, "Well, lets induce you on the 7th of June then. Decide which hospital you want and we will get it scheduled next week when you come in." So...I am trying hard to tie up all the loose ends and get ready. I have one less week now to do so. Thank heavens my mom comes on the 5th!

Still here

Yes I am alive, no I have not had my baby. We have been extremely busy around here! I have not, as you can tell, even had time to blog! We have been on field trips, shopping for baby, packing the hospital and diaper bags, school meetings, school volunteering days, more meetings, doctor appointments, and church callings. I have been doing laundry...with only about 25ish days left, I have washed all blankets, onesies, sleepers and newborn size outfits. I have washed towels, bedding, and burpcloths. I am getting ready for this baby...premature? Maybe. But I will be ready.

Today we went to a local dairy for Daeson's field trip. It was windy and busy...and a lot of fun. I had nine kids in my group and three other helpers. It was a great time to see Daeson ride the school bus for the first time ever. It was fun to see him draw animals they found from the scavenger hunt. It was really great to see him enjoy the icecream cone at the end. I am glad I got to go with him. I enjoy things like this. I would take a busy field trip over housecleaning any day!

I went to the Doctor on Tuesday. I had the dreaded strep test. Yuck. I asked if I was going to be checked and he doesn't check until 39 weeks! What??? I was shocked. So I have changed my attitude a little bit: I can do whatever, whenever I want because the doctor didn't tell me not to. Out of town? Sure if there is a hospital. I have no idea when this baby is going to come, so I am going to keep on living. My other pregnancies were so different. My other doctor was so different. My body was so different. So, I will be different and do what I want! :)

We think we may have come up with a name too! Troy is still rolling it around, so as soon as I get the get-go, I will share it. It is one neither of us hate...so that is a start. It came to me today while folding the third batch of laundry.

Nothing too exciting going on. Just trying to stay afloat this crazy, hectic, wonderful life. Atleast the time is flying by to keep my mind off things! Tomorrow is the carnival. I have been stressing about it for months. Also, Tevan's last day of preschool is Tuesday. Daeson's last day of school is next Friday. Then, no more schedule. No more running to and from the school a zillion times. No more crying because Tev doesn't want to go to school. Only trips to the zoo, picnics in the park, and walks to the icee stand down the road. I am so excited for summer to be here. I am excited to have freedom again. School really threw me for a loop. It changed life as I knew it. However, I am grateful Daeson has learned so much. I am glad he is a bright kid. Now if I can get him to WANT to read, we will be sailing through this summer and on to first grade. He can do third grade math, but reading just doesn't interest him! We will change that this summer! I have big plans and high hopes!

Getting it done

I was able to put the baby room together this week. She has curtains and the twin bed is set up. The toys and books have bee cleaned. I started working on baby clothes today. I have packed the hospital bag and the diaper bag. The kitchen didn't get finished, but it will after she's here. Maybe around August. The spring cleaning is done. I have every weekend booked from now until she comes. The kids get out of school soon and I am feeling more relaxed now than I have for a while. I have actually been able to keep up on laundry!! Can you believe it?? I need to get some stains out of some of the hand-me-downs, so if any of you have a great solution, let me know. They are cooked in from the dryer, but I would love to get them out. The clothes are so cute.

I have only 30 something days left. She is due a month from Saturday. I am very excited! Now if I can find the camera, I will post some very needed pictures on this here blog. I have some cute ones!

Happy Mother's Day!

I am lucky enough to have wonderful women in my life to set examples for me. I am grateful for all the examples in my life. My mother always taught me to turn to our Heavenly Father for help. My Grandmother Lish taught me to serve. My Gram Smith taught me to work and to do things for myself. My other Mother taught me that nothing is worth stressing out about. My friends have all taught me that life happens...and it is okay. All these women have taught me that being a mother is amazing. It is not a praised job or glorious, but it is amazing. I am grateful for all these examples in my life...Thank you!

Happy Mother's Day!

Put your shoulder to the wheel

Lately when I feel like I am slacking just a bit, I sing the song "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel". I love this song. It makes me try a bit harder. In the last week, I have started painting my cupboards in my kitchen, I did some diaper shopping for baby, I helped Troy put the door in the baby's room, marked all my yard sale stuff, and I have kept caught up on laundry. I guess this is the nesting part. I have 43 days left...not a lot of time, but I have changed my attitude a little and decided it was enough. I can be ready and I will be. I just have a few more things to take care of. I need to get the spare room ready for my mom. I need to get Troy's office cleaned and organized, and I have a pile of scrapbooking stuff that needs filed/organized. Then I can thoroughly clean the family room downstairs and be ready. I need to finish the kitchen, but unfortunately pregnant women are not supposed to use paint thinner...so the cupboard doors have to wait. I like the color on the cupboards, and in a few years when we can afford to add on, we will change the whole kitchen. That's another post though.

So when I feel like I am sitting, spinning my wheels and I cannot go anywhere, I sing this song...

"Put your shoulder to the wheel, push along.

Do your duty with a heart full of song,

We all have work, let no one shirk,

Put your shoulder to the wheel!"

Sweet testimony

A few months ago Daeson asked me if he could bare his testimony in Sacrament Meeting. I told him he could, but he would have to do it with no help from me. I explained to him that I can set the example of testimony baring, but I cannot tell him what his testimony is. I have too many friends who lived off other's testimonies and have now strayed from the church and they have never developed a testimony of their own. I want my children to develop their own testimony. I will not force them to have a testimony.

Yesterday in church it was testimony meeting. Daeson was coloring and I had no idea he was really listening. About fifteen minutes before the close of the meeting, he said, "Mom, I want to go bare my testimony." I told him that was fine and that he could go up. He started walking to the front (we were on the last row of the chapel) and about row number four he turned around, red faced, and ran back to our row. He buried his face behind me and told me he was scared. I told him that was fine and he doesn't have to bare his testimony. He can wait until he was ready. A few minutes later he saw some more primary children go to the front and bare their testimonies. He asked me if I thought his primary teachers would be proud of him. I told him we would all be proud of him but if he didn't want to do it he didn't have to. So he squared his shoulders and headed to the front. He pulled the microphone close to his mouth and said, "I would like to bare my testimony that I know this church is true. I know my Savior lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." He walked back so proudly and said , "Can I do it again in June, Mom? That was really fun."

It made me so happy to hear him bare his testimony. I had no intention of baring mine, but after that I felt inspired to share my beliefs. I am grateful for his example. My five year old sets such an amazing example for me. My three year old surprisingly sets an amazing example for me. I am proud of my two boys. I am proud that they are such strong little boys. I am truly blessed and so proud.