More on Cami...

Cami is 7 lbs., 15.7 oz. and 19.75 inches long! Born at 1:58pm, January 6th. A Great Day (same birthday as our beloved Bishop - Happy Birthday, Bishop!)

Last night while I was in bed, I had more contractions, only they were beginning to be a little more painful. In the morning, after dropping Lance off to preschool, I went to my doctor appt. and was told that I was dilated at 4 cm and my cervix was 100% effaced, paper thin. He said he's been wrong in the past, but he thinks I will have my baby today. He told me to head to the hospital when my contractions are about 5 min. apart. Hurray! I might just know how to go into labor!

I picked Lance up from preschool a little later and, once home, began calling friends to arrange for places for my boys to be while I was in the hospital. I was on the phone with my mom when my contractions became from about every 30 minutes to 20 min. Six minutes later, I had an intense contraction, and just at the end, felt my water break.
"Oh! My water just broke! I've gotta go!" I told my mom.
I called Jared, it was 1:28pm, to tell him that my water broke. "Are you serious?" This kind of thing has never happened to us. What fun! He was at the U of U Hospital in his Pediatric rotation and left immediately. He ran home and got here about 10 minutes later. Mandy was here with me, and Kyle and Lance were having naps/quiet time.

I was in between contractions as Jared and I scrambled out to the van. I had another contraction once inside, and Jared began driving to head towards LDS hospital where we were registered to deliver. It was snowing and I remember thinking, "Darn! Jared can't drive very fast in this!" I had another contraction. As we were about to pass U of U hospital, I needed to push. "I don't think I'm going to make it. Let's go in here!" Jared pulled in to the ambulance entrance. I couldn't get out of the car. I was feeling a serious urge to push. They were bringing a wheelchair and the lady that saw me said, "We need a gurney." Jared picked me up and put me down on a gurney. It was then that I heard the two words that I most dislike hearing when I'm in labor: "Don't push!". Jared had to go park the van. I was so bummed he had to leave. I asked them if someone else could park the car. I needed Jared there. He's delivering this baby! He left and I was in the gurney, in some elevator somewhere, being told not to push by several nurses/residents around me. Jared caught up with us just as we were going in to the delivery room. Once inside, Jared could see that the baby was already starting to come out.
I asked, "Is the doctor here yet? Can I get an epidural?"
Jared was like, "Um Jenny, you're a little late for that." I laugh now, but I don't remember it being so funny then. I'm so thankful that I got a little crash course from Sherrie that day on how to focus when you are in natural labor with no pain killers!
Jared and the resident were scrambling to get their gloves on. I said I was going to push and this time they told me to go ahead, thank goodness! What a relief! I pushed and Jared welcomed her to the world, making this the second delivery of his career. It was 1:58pm. I didn't get pictures this time - the camera was still out in the car! (of course, I wouldn't have been taking them!) I just felt so grateful that she came out so easily - and at a hospital! The side of the road, in the snow, would have been really uncomfortable for her, and myself, for that matter!
So I ended up getting what I wanted: Going into labor on my own without drugs AND delivering at the hospital that I was born at! Plus a really cute little girl to top it!

First photo together - I'm still wearing the shirt I had on that day (So different from inducing and having time to put on a hospital gown!). Jared delivered her without having a chance to put on his gown either!


Check out this darling hat they gave us. The nurses knit these hats on their spare time! And me in my spunky hospital gown. It was so fun to wear pink on this special day. Thanks, Katie! I got tons of compliments on it!

This is how they found her umbilical cord. She must have been doing some flips and acrobats inside!

She's thinks, "Oooh! This is such a cute hat!"

Proud Brothers...

How to Go Into Labor...

Until today, I hadn't a clue on the subject of how to go into labor. I have asked, heard, and tried many ideas. I believe many of them work. For myself, I think throwing a party can help you go into labor.

Yesterday, the 5th, was Jared's birthday. We had a little celebration with a few friends. We sort of tried to surprise him, but Lance kept saying at the dinner table, "I want my friends to get here." We had many whispers in front of Dad and it was so fun to watch what the kids would do if we were really trying to surprise Dad.

Happy Birthday, My Love!

Lance's artwork

I think his baby sister has been on his mind a lot lately. Lance has repeatedly looked at me with puppy-dog eyes and said, "I want to see my baby sister." I do, too, little man.
Can you see my heart just above the amniotic sac? He's also exhibited a sensitivity to his mom's little pregnancy aches. See the baby inside? She's wearing soft shoes "so her feet won't hurt you".

Got Dominoes!

Goodbye, paper and tape! I've got the real thing now!

Still Going...

I feel like the Energizer Bunny, only not so Energetic and more horizontal. At least the bunny's pink. I think I'll go up and down the stairs tomorrow and see if that'll do anything. I heard foot massages can bring you into labor, and Jared gave me a very nice one tonight, but I'm still going...

I have to keep in mind that my original due date WAS Jan. 12. I remember when the doctor changed my due date, based on the size of my uterus (he thought I might be having twins!) and the ultrasound, I was so excited, first about twins, but then when it wasn't that, about getting 2 free weeks taken off my pregnancy! Maybe they weren't free after all :)

Anyway, how 'bout that game? WHATTA GAME!!! GO UTES!!

Still Pregnant!

40 weeks and the bun's still in the oven. I went in to the doctor today and I'm still dialated at a 2+, as I was two weeks ago. He also said my cervix is about the same (50% effaced), but he wanted to be nice so he said, "Let's say it's about 70%."
Isn't that sweet?
So, next doctor appt. is Tuesday, unless anything happens before that...
Jace is really bummed because he really wants us to be on the news for first baby in 2009, plus he just can't wait to meet his cute little sister!
If it were up to me, although I love the idea of being on the news, I would prefer to have her birthday be further away from the holidays, so she can have her own day. I tried to explain this to Jace.
"How would you like to have your birthday on a holiday?"
"Mom."
"Oh, yeah."
Jace loves his July 4th birthday. Come to think of it, Lance's birthday is on Labor day this year. I guess we'll have to wait and see if she's into holiday birthdays, too :)

More Fun and Hard Work in the Snow...

Lance got this darling Snowman kit from his primary teachers.

If you can see this okay, Lance built the one on the far left ALL by himself! Jared obviously did the beautiful prego-snowwoman on the right, and Dad and Kyle built the other two in the backround. Watch your step! Jace has an army of snowmen x-ing. Can't say he didn't warn you! (It lasted about as long as it took the huge snowplow to come along... that would have been fun to see!)

Hard Work and Originality

I got these in an email a few weeks back. I showed them to Jared and Jace, and Jace was in uncontrollable giggles:

(You don't like my "Snowman House of Horrow", do you?)
(You have to admit it's slowed down the traffic on our road.)

(Mom and Dad don't value hard work and originality as much as they say they do.)
(Snow sharks?)

(That guy's a goner.)

(First she says go out. Now she says come in.)

(Eggplant Casserole tonight?)

(Why, yes!)

(On the other hand, the neighbors keep planting nice big trees next to us.)

(Why does he have a hot water bottle on his head?)

(He's committing suicide)

(I don't think the schools assign enough homework.)

(CALVIN! I'M LATE FOR WORK!)

(I think we'd better get that child to a psychologist.)

(What's wrong with your snowman?)
(It's a snow woman!)

(I don't care. We're not making an anatomically correct snowman in the front yard.)

It's no wonder that I found the boys (Jared and Jace) outside hard at work soon after.

I didn't know Jared had such artistic abilities. I actually feel small next to this prego-snowwoman! (Jared even saw some of our neighbors outside with a camera, capturing his work!)

Celebrating 10 Years of Marriage!

(Photo taken the day Jared got home from Rome, compliments of Jace)

Okay, so we're not really celebrating because Jared is actually taking another test tomorrow; We can't really go on that cruise we anticipated years ago, for more reasons than one, so maybe we'll go in... 10 more years?

I'm just grateful to have this wonderful man in my life.

Here's to many more happy years to come!

It's Santa Claus!

Two Santas in One Day!

(Left) The boys at the annual Chevron Christmas Party. Jared's Dad retired from there, but why does he always dissappear when Santa comes?

(Right) At our ward Christmas party, as Lance approached Santa, he said, "You're the bishop."

It's Beginning...

To look a lot like Christmas...

Kyle: I WILL get this one ON!

Not the Child

Tonight, when we got home, Lance was trying to open the door on his side to get out of our white sedan. We were trying to explain to him that he needs to get out on the other side that we had opened for him because the doors have child-proof locks. On our walk inside, he asked,

"Where's the child?"
I told him that HE is the child, and that the lock is there to keep him safe.
He exclaimed, "I am not the child! I am a Child of God!"

Got Dominoes?

If you don't got 'em, then make 'em.

I think that's Jace's motto. These are made from magazine paper and tape, two things that Jace could not live without.

So the list begins...

20 days left!

Hinges

Tonight, I guess I made a sound as I was picking something up off the floor in the kitchen, because Lance said,

"Mom, you can't bend very well." (I think he may have heard me say this before.)

I agreed with him and ask him if, next time, he would get it for me instead.

He said enthusiastically, "Ya, I don't have a baby in my tummy!"

Primary Spotlights

Lance and Jace filled out their spotlight papers today for Primary. Here's what they said/wrote:

Lance:

What is your favorite thing to do for fun?
"Play with balls and make music."

What do you want to be when you grow up?
"A policeman."

What is your least favorite chore?
"Extra chores that we get when we're not making good choices."

What is your favorite candy bar or treat?
"Chocolate."

What are three words to describe you?
(Mom's words:) Helpful, Expressive, Energetic

Where is your favorite place to visit?
"Zoo and the cabin and a lot of places that we go to!"

What is your favorite thing about Primary?
"Singing songs."

Who is your favorite prophet (modern or from the scriptures)?
"President Hinckley"

What is your favorite primary song?
"Listen to the Still Small Voice."

Jace:

What is your favorite thing to do for fun?
Sports

What do you want to be when you grow up?
a Scientist

What is your least favorite chore?
mopping the floor

What is your favorite candy bar or treat?
Snickers

What are three words to describe you?
Kind, Happy, Athletic

Where is your favorite place to visit?
The cabin

What is your favorite thing about primary?
singing

Who is one of your favorite prophets (modern or from the scriptures)?
Joseph Smith

What is your favorite primary song?
Book of Mormon Stories

When was a time you served or showed love to someone?
my brother

The Next Day...

Maybe the napless day was worth it. He's been taking naps ever since.

Simple Things in a Can

Yesterday was a bit of a rough day. I depend too heavily on naptime for my break to unwind, get things in order, and think. Since Kyle has began climbing out of his crib up to Jace's top bunk bed to get into the fish tank next to that, Jared took the crib down. We moved Kyle's mattress to the other room, on the floor.

For the first week, he slept quite well in it... or off it.

But on this day, he decided that he would explore his independence and go without a nap. He played, got up, went back down after being spoken to sternly by his mother, only to repeat the process. It was a constant battle. I was exhausted by the end of this day, if you call 4pm the end of the day. By that time Jace, Lance, and Kyle were all beginning to ask for a snack, but, like I said, I was done. I opted to skip the snack and go straight to dinner, kitchen closing soon after that. I grabbed a couple cans of Campbell's Chunky Vegetable Pasta soup and Voila! Dinner's done.

So you can imagine how my heart melted when Lance had his first bite and exclaimed, "Wow! Mom! That is so good! How did you make it?!"

I don't know why I didn't discover this soup thing a lot earlier. Lance was still pleased even when I told him it came out of a can. How sweet it is to be with someone that can appreciate the simple things...

As for my little no-napper? He was in bed early, with not too many complaints.

A Day at the Cabin

Jared just completed his surgery rotation at the VA hospital (3 weeks) and Primary Children's Hospital (the last 3 weeks). This is pretty much what we saw from dad during the last six weeks... (Ya, Kyle! See if his nose goes, "Honk!")

Jared actually REALLY enjoyed this rotation, despite the lack of sleep. He got to do a lot of stitching up after surgeries, and he said that there were times when the surgeon was trying to find something inside, and Jared wanted to just get in there and find it himself! It was a fascinating one for him... I can't wait to find out what he decides to do.

For the next 6 weeks, Jared will be in his Psychiatry rotation, otherwise known as Psychation. (He went duck hunting this morning.)

And since Jared gets the weekends between rotations off, we decided to take a trip to our 2nd home this past weekend...

Houdini... or not?

Yesterday in church Kyle did another "Kyle". We were reverently enjoying our sacrament meeting when I looked down to see Kyle's one arm and head stuck through the hole in the back of the chair. He was pretty content, but seemed a little uncomfortable. I tried to gently help his head back through the chair, but it didn't quite fit. "I think I've done this before," I thought, as the friends behind us shared a laugh with me, all to Kyle's expense. He's just so funny in these situations. He doesn't seem to let the idea that he is stuck get to him. So he is still sort of laying there, arm outstretched through the hole of the chair beside his head, reaching for his car that he must have dropped before this ordeal. I asked Lance to get Dad. Dad looked over and laughed. It's just so hilarious, seeing Kyle quietly sitting there in that awkward position. Kyle is such a good sport. I wished that I had my camera, even though it would have been a bit inappropriate.

With Dad's help, we were able to get Kyle safely and, for the most part, quietly, out. I wonder what's next for this little Houdini, or not.