Ya, I'm getting older, so what!

I just don't really want to talk about it, I am not enjoying this thing called age. . . probably because I feel like I'm getting older.  Oh well, it has to happen sometime I guess, right.  I am a very practical person when it comes to gifts and this year Randy did not fail me.  I got something I really wanted for the kitchen.  This, as stupid as it may seem is a cookie scooper.  My last one broke and I really miss it ( I know dumb, hu) so Randy got me a new one and couple other practical things, cuz he luvs me, :)

 What birthday would be complete without some goofy kid pics.

 I received some really old silverware after my grandma passed away, a lot of it is mismatched, but it's something to remind me of her.  Randy spent the afternoon cleaning and polishing and them up for me.  What a sweetie!!!!

 I didn't care what kind of cake I got as long as it was chocolate and I didn't have to make it.  This is what Randy found at Costco.  It looks chocolaty enough for me, lol.

 Man look at those candles.

The best birthday present I received was this one.

I took a test on my birthday and it finally came back positive.  I had take 2 other tests that came back negative which didn't make sense since I was really late.  This little baby just wanted to make my birthday that much more special.  He/she will be arriving beginning of May, gender coming soon :)  We are all so excited to have another special little spirit join a family.  And for those of you who think 6 is a lot. . .I'm from a family of 9, 6 is nothing!  Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

Stadium of Fire 2013

Somehow I score 2 tickets to the Stadium of Fire this year and when Randy went to redeem the tickets they asked him if he wanted to buy the loner seat next to  us for $16 which we couldn't pass up so we got 3 tickets.  After much deliberation, and a little bribing, we decided that I would take the 2 older girls.  This year they had Cirque Du Soleil, Carly Rae Jepsen performing and Kelly Clarkson headlining this year. I've never really wanted to go in years past because they've always had country singers performing, and we all know how I feel about that, so this was a perfect year to get tickets (especially since 2 of them were free).  The girls were really excited, I really think McKenzie thought she was going to meet Carly and Kelly.  It was a hard reality to face.  

We were in the nosebleeds so we watched most of it on the jumbo tron.  But we were right next to the stage so we had a good shot of everything.  There was a competition a few months ago to decide who was going to open for the concert.  It came down to a girl in our ward who has an amazing voice and this group called "The Strike"  who ended up winning.  We were sad for this girl, but this group was really good as well.  The ironic thing is that the trumpet player in this shot is one of Randy's student employees.  So we knew someone from both groups, so it wasn't a total loss.

There was some parachute jumpers that came in with smoke on their feet and one flying the American Flag.  It was pretty cool.

Then there was the Stadium of Fire Dancers (which is a culmination of a lot of different dance studios in the state)  They had some fun dances. . . 

especially this one where they danced in this over sized slinky.  It was pretty hilarious.

Then it was time for Cirque Du Soleil.  Always amazing. I could watch them for hours.  I just can't believe the stuff they can do

Then Carly Rae Jepsen came on.  I'm still not sure who the girls were more excited to see.  Her or Kelly.  I've never really gone to concerts and you could tell my girls hadn't either.  There were girls screaming, singing and dancing everywhere and then there was Mak and Morg.  Just sitting quietly.  They'd sing every once in a while but there was some pretty hysterical girls near us.

Then Kelly came on.  She is just and amazing flawless singer.  Oh and btw she is getting married.  Lucky fella.

Then the fireworks shot off at the end of Kelly's performance right behind the stage and we were sitting right there.  It was loud and hot and crazy.  I had heard that they set them off there, but I was thinking it was more like on top of the stadium, but no they had them set up right on the end zone bleachers.  The bigger ones were set off in the track just south of the stadium, hence the name Stadium of Fire.  We left before the end, I hate traffic and Morgan was getting sick, probably from the smoke of the fireworks and maybe a little dehydrated.  

All in all, it was a fun experience.  I don't really need to ever do it again, but if I score free/cheap tickets, I'd go again.  Maybe I'd make everyone bike next time :)

Grandma has left the building so nobody move!!!

This is a little old now but crazy things have happened as of late, and I think I can regroup and finish what I started last week.  Anyway, I've had the most perfect recovery from little Mase and I attribute it to the amazing help that I've had.  I know I'm sure I've given the run down before in other posts but I'm doing it again, so bear with me.  Right after she was born, Randy's parents happened to be here for the 4th of July holiday so my MIL stayed throughout the weekend and the day she left my lil bro came till my family's reunion in which he took the oldest 2 with him.  Then my sweet MIL took the younger two for part of that time up to her place leaving Randy and I alone with the babe for a few days.  When those 2 came back there were just a couple of days left before the older came home.  I was by myself with all of my kids for about 4 days before my mom was able to come down and help for a week.  She needed to go home that next week to make sure James was ready for his mission and since we had so much time off (from Randy not having to use vacation time after the baby was born) we decided to make the drive up to MT for 10 days and then come home after in which my mom would stay till the 2nd day of school. 

I can't believe that I ever got that much help and I'm an indeed so grateful.   So, thanks to all of you (you know who you are) for giving me this amazing opportunity to bond with our new addition.  It was heaven.  So I finally had to put my big girl panties on and take care of my family. . . by myself.  Well all was going well till the day after Malia started kindergarten and I went and played volleyball for the first time in years (btw, I'm not good, nor have I ever been good), and right before I was planning on leaving I jumped up for a hit and landed on the side of my foot and did this

Kinda gross eh?  Apparently I can't take care of myself, but I have some amazing neighbors/friends who helped me the couple of days that I was down.  Oh and it's not broken, just sprained . . . badly.  I've iced the snot out of it and kept it elevated and wore a compression sock for 2 days and I have to say, as long as I'm wearing the air cast, I'm doing good.  Not even using crutches anymore.  And seeing how it's Morgan's birthday today, that's quite an accomplishment.  So we are off to celebrate, another post to come on that.  Here's to hoping I don't hurt myself anymore.

Born on the 4th of July!!!!!

All I can say is HALLELUJAH!!!!!  SHE'S HERE!!!!!!  I am no longer pregnant and uncomfortable, ok I'm not completely comfortable yet, but so much better and worth every second of it.  I'm not one of those women who enjoy being pregnant and so that moment that my baby enters this world is the most relief I feel.  

*WARNING*

If you do not want to read my boring labor story just scroll to the pictures now.  This part is so I when I have labor amnesia, I can go back and say "oh that's right, it did hurt like a motha." 

My last post says it all.  I did go into labor that night and little Masie was born the next morning.  The Castor oil helped, woot woot.  Contractions started at 11 PM and then took a break at 12 and then 1 AM started up again with a vengeance. So Randy and started to get ready for the fun awaiting us.  I took a shower, finished packing my bag (luckily when I got home from my Dr. appt. I decided I probably should start getting a little ready for what might come), and ate a small bowl of cereal knowing that I wouldn't be eating for a while.  We got to the hospital around 3-3:30 AM and went to triage to get monitored to make sure I was in labor and sat in there for 2 hours because I was progressing really slowly.  I was at a 3 when I got there and after walking and sitting on the ball only got to a 4 in those 2 hours.  But the nurse could definitely tell I was in labor and wasn't about to send me home so she set us up in a room and I immediately went into the tub for some relief.  I was in there for about 30-45 minutes and the doctor wanted to check me so I got out and was still a four and completely thinned.  So the doctor gave me the option of breaking my water cuz her head was so high and he knew that once it was broken it would go fast or to keep going on the track I was on. I was nervous cuz my contractions were already really painful and I knew once that cushion was gone they would be pretty much unbearable.  I was going to try and go drug-less with this one cuz I really think that why Malia's was sooo long, but once he broke my water I couldn't do it anymore.  Part of me wishes I would've stuck it out because I went from a 4 to a 7 in 15 min and probably would've be fully dilated within another 30 but I'm a wimp and just couldn't do it anymore.  And just as I suspected the epidural slowed my labor down considerably and took another 3 hours to finish dilating.  But I was able to relax and breath till she was ready to come.  So it was fine.  I pushed for about 15 minutes and she arrived at 10:20.  The doctor was funny, there was another mom who was almost ready to push as well at another hospital, but since it was her 1st and my 5th, he stayed with me knowing that I would go much faster, which I did.  The only complication we had was Masie had pooped sometime during labor so we had to have the respiratory team in there when I delivered.  She was fine though, just swallowed a lot of amniotic fluid and burst a couple of blood vessels in her eye (I've never experienced that before, poor girl)  She struggled with coughing up the fluid though and had to have her stomach sucked out once to get it out. Since then she's been fine.

Here's Masie getting checked by her team.

 Getting weighed.  They said 8 lb 3 oz my guess is because she dookied and that must have been at least another ounce, lol.

 Not the most flattering shot of me but I figured what the heck, no one can say anything, I just gave birth for crying out loud, lol.

 Happy and very excited siblings.  Gma and Gpa had taken them to see the hot air balloons go up and then our ward breakfast and then were at the parade when they got the call.  They quickly packed up and headed to the hospital as fast as they could.  The kids had no desire to watch the rest of the parade.

 Masie really likes her binky and was not about let anyone get that from her.

 Proud Grandparents.

 While I was cleaning up, Randy went to the nursery to watch her first bath.  The kids and Gma and Gpa had to stay outside, but they took some shots through the glass.  She wasn't too happy about any of it.

 After bath and her cute bows. 

 Can ya tell they're excited?

 And a little nuts.

Pretty flowers that the kids and G-parents brought.    

 Her patriotic bows that the nurses gave her.  Oh and I'm not going to tell the entire story about naming this child, but let's say that having her born on the 4th threw us for a loop.  We thought it would be cool to try and make her middle name patriotic, but we couldn't make anything work that we liked.  So this poor girl wasn't named till the morning we left the hospital.

 I had some fun with my camera in there.  She is just soo stinkin cute I couldn't help it.

 I just pulled her binky from her mouth, gotta love that shot.

 All of the kids have been so good with her.  They just can't get enough of her.  Malia just looked so natural holding her.

 Just chillin

 The kids made a poster for when we walked in the door.  It was soo sweet to see them so excited for us (meaning the baby) to finally be home.

Welcome to the family Masie Kay!!!!!  Hopefully you will survive with all of the love that your siblings want to give you.

38+ Weeks and who knows!!!!

So I'm right on schedule, 38+ weeks, and 2 cm 80% effaced.  Every single one of my pregnancies seems to be the same at this time.  The last 4 weeks I start dilating and thinning and at my 39 appt. I get to a 3 and then go into labor shortly after that.  Today at my appt. I asked my Doctor to strip my membranes and he looked a little shocked and said are your sure (my guess is because tomorrow is the 4th and who wants to miss all of the fun activities going on.  I'm thinking, heck ya, I don't expect anything to happen right away, it usually never does.  Sometimes I've had to get stripped twice before I go into labor.  Anyway, he appeased my request and stripped me and then said, we'll probably see ya tonight.  I chuckled knowing that wouldn't happen.  Well as soon as I got into the car I was uncomfortable and have been ever since.  I don't think this has ever happened. I haven't had real contractions yet, but I definitely feel different/in more pain.  I'm trying to stay upright to let gravity help and I just took 1 TB of Castor oil to see if that does something, otherwise it will just clean me out, which is not a bad thing at this point, lol.  I've never really thought about having a baby on a holiday, but tonight would be a really convenient night since Randy's parents are coming over for some fun tomorrow.  Plus being pregnant in this Utah heat has been pretty miserable.  I wouldn't mind laying in an A/C hospital being waited on hand and foot.  So here's to hoping that something good happens tonight and that I'm not just miserable sitting on the pot.

Baby Bump and James is Gone :(

So I've always been really bad at photo documenting anything to do with me, but I really wanted to have a few pics of my bump this time.  I've only gotten 3 shots in the last 36 weeks, but hey it's better than nothing, right?  This one is at 20 weeks shortly after finding out what we were having.

 This one is 30 weeks. 

 And only 6 weeks later. . .I'm huge and still have 4 weeks to go.  I stayed pretty small for a long time and then bam, here is my belly.  I am sooo uncomfortable all of the time and my legs feel like they are going to detach from my hip sockets, my ankles are swollen every night, Randy laughs at me every time I try to get off of the couch and my AC is driving me nuts and we can't figure out what's wrong.  Oh well, I just need to make it through the next 4 weeks and then I can JUST be sleep deprived not uncomfortable, right?  Here's to hoping I go early (not that I will cuz I never do).

 On another note, Uncle James finished his Freshman year of college and celebrated his bday with us before leaving to go home before his mission.  We went to 7 Peaks yesterday with Alina and kids then came home, used the rest of his money from his meal plan at Jamba Juice (which BTW James know all of the secret flavors and has shared them with us and "Screaming O," (I know, awful name right?) is the best), made dinner and made my mom's infamous bday cake.  James wanted to learn how to make it, so he helped and even chose pink flowers to put on it, silly boy.

 I'm going to miss Zoolander face.

 He was really excited to light his own candles, can ya tell?  He's concentrating so hard. . .love it.

We are going to miss having you around James.  There is never a dull moment when you are here.