My excuse for not posting

You know, I've actually spent a lot of time at the computer lately. And I think often about how I should post, but I never had the focus or anything to show off. Well, I do now!! First I'll post pics, then, if you want details (gory details!), I'll have them at the end of the post. K?


Introducing Paisley Gwen. She was born on Dec 15th (last Thursday). I had guessed that she would be 7 lbs. I was wrong, but not by much! 6 lbs 15.4oz. She was also 19" long.

 This pic still amazes me. My awesome friend, Vanessa was able to come in and take pictures during the birth. This was me just after (that's a towel on my head, not a Santa hat. :D ). I was so relieved that Paisley was born healthy that nothing could make me happier!

 Daddy's little girl (another one- these girls have him wrapped around their fingers from the get-go!)

 Dr. Barney- the best OB/GYN ever! Always knows just what we need!

 Mommy and her girls. I don't have pics of the boys because they didn't seem to care quite so much as Juliana did.

 My sweet friend Sarah took this picture. Love it. We just can't get enough of our baby!

 This is Kristy Huber. She is the best doula EVER ever!! I could not have done this without her!  She actually has a site that if you know anybody having a baby in the Salt Lake area, you should refer that person to her!! Seriously, it would be the nicest thing you could do for anybody. http://khdoula.com/

 Daddy and his girls. :D

Alright, so here is the story. I know I've posted about the kidney issues I've been having. Because of the uncomfort of it all, Dr Barney was cool with me getting induced a couple weeks early. We got to the hospital around 6:30 AM, got signed in and set up. They started pitocin and the antibiotic for streb b around 7AM. Kristy came at 7:30 (always a happy thing!). My contractions were starting out plenty strong. Normally I have to build way up to them. I asked Vanessa to come around 11:30, since normally they break my water at lunchtime and we have a baby an hour later. Things did NOT go according to plan this time. So, my contractions were hurting plenty bad by 10:00. Kristy got the birthing ball out for me, but when I stood up to sit on it, they noticed that I was dropping MONDO blood clots. Like, scary huge. Bigger than a baseball. It worried us, so Kristy called a nurse in (both of mine were helping others, so she had to get the head nurse to come). The clots were big enough that they decided to have Dr. Barney come in and see what was going on. He said that as long as I wasn't bleeding too badly between clots that it was ok. Roger says he broke my water then. This was probably... 11:00? Maybe just before? Anyway.... since the Dr. missed Vaughn's birth due to a nurse not calling him in time, he gave his cell phone number to the Head Nurse and told her to call when it looked like we were getting closer. He left and around 5 minutes later, Roger and Kristy were standing at the foot of my bed and Roger went a little pale. He said, "That's a lot of blood" and Kristy agreed with him. At that point, I was in LOADS of pain! Kristy reminded me to do what felt natural, so I told her I felt like pushing. They called Dr. Barney and he headed over. Vanessa came about then as well. I remember saying hi to her, but that's about it. I hurt so badly that I could barely stand it. Dr. Barney told me that I was only dilated to a 9, but I could go ahead and push to dilate. About that time, he realized that Paisley was posterier (face up, instead of face down). So during the next contraction, he turned her around. It only took one or two more pushes for her to come out. That cry is the best sound EVER! I just wish that was the last of the really painful part, lol. As the Dr. got things finished, he noticed that there was still some placenta stuck in me, so he had to get it out. Yick, I know! In all seriousness, that hurt like crap. During the whole thing there was a lot of screaming, I'm sure plenty of yelling. All of it on my part. I said to Dr. Barney after, "Sorry for screaming at you." His response? "I'd have screamed at me, too."

Let me tell you, though. Dr. Barney knew just what we needed. He didn't panic when he saw the blood. He was chatting with Vanessa and Roger said he was making jokes. I don't remember most of that, but it helped calm Roger's nerves big time. And I don't know what I would have done without Kristy there. She kept us calm before the Dr got there, made sure a nurse came right when we needed her, and kept me focused, even when it hurt so bad that I couldn't even open my eyes. She kept reminding me that I was doing a good job (ha! I don't know about that!) and didn't make me feel stupid for all my screaming. Then, once Paisley was born, she stayed around until she knew I had eaten and that I was having a little bit of color return. She waited till my parents came and visited the next day to make sure all was right. I love this lady like she's family.

All in all- despite all the crappy CRAPPY stuff that happened during birth, the experience itself was still a good one. My older kids are so happy to have Paisley as part of our family. I'm sure there will be plenty more pics to come, soon!

A winner!!!

Ok, so I know it's way past Tuesday, but I just NOW had the focus & energy combined with a pencil, paper, and a husband to draw the names all in one place. SO!!!

Who did he pick randomly out of my hand (because a hat wasn't actually available)?

COLEE!!!!!

Congrats, darlin!

Giveaway closing!

Just so y'all know, I'll be drawing a winner for the My Memories Suite on Tuesday!!!!!

A Giveaway!!!!!

So I have to tell you! I was super flattered when I got an e-mail from Liz at My Memories. At first I was a little unsure how I felt about straying from Photoshop Elements, but I figured it was worth a try. So I downloaded the digital software program and you know what? It was fantastic. My Memories Suite is perfect for the beginner as well as someone who has a lot to catch up on. It was also a great way to put a digital book together in hardly any time at all! Can we say grandparents gifts?!?!

The first thing I did after downloading My  Memories Suite was to use one of their premade books. 6 pages took me less than an hour! Of course, I had to try it out with nothing pre-made. One thing I loved about this is when you open a blank page, you can pick your layout. For me, the hardest part about digi-scrapping is deciding how many pictures I want and where I want them. With this, it does that part for you. But if halfway through your page, you decide you want to change any of that, you can!

You can use any digital scrappbook kit in this program or use the presets. Here are some examples of pages I've made using My Memories Suite.

Would you like this software for FREE!!!?!?!?!!?

Perfect! Here's how to win:

Leave a comment saying that you would like the software.

For a second entry, go to MyMemories and browse through their digital scrapbook kits. Then come back here and leave a comment on which kit is your favorite!

For yet another entry, go to facebook and like My Memories, then  come back here and report. 

Winner will receive this awesome software COMPLETELY free.

Now, if you don't win and you still want the software, you're in luck!! Go to http://www.mymemories.com/ Place the software in your cart, then use the code

STMMMS51386  

when you order, you'll get $10 off the price of the software AND $10 to use in the store!!

It's K'Nex time again!!!!

Ok, can I tell you how crazy stoked I am that we had the opportunity to test K'Nex again this year? The toys came at the perfect time!!

First, the promise of new toys got Vaughn to do a little extra in the helping around the house department! 

 This was the most important part to Vaughn. We HAD to have the instructions FIRST!

 I loved that he could put it together himself. There were a couple things I had to help him with first, but only once!

This kit was good for HOURS of fun the first few days. The thing is- we are almost a week out and he has taken SUCH good care of this kit that there are NO missing pieces! I mean, he's THREE!!!! He still plays with it daily- building, playing, unbuilding, and cleaning up. I love this kit!!!

This kit was sent to me for free to review by K'Nex. I was not paid for my opinions.

New Art Journal Pages

Ok, so my friends and I have been getting together a LOT lately to art journal. It's amazing how being with a group has been so good for each of us! I <3 these girls!!!

I also love my newest pages! Ok, one more than the other. Which should I post first? The one I'm in love with? No, that would be too easy. First you can see my "other" page:

This page is inspired by two things: the quote on the left page (found on Pinterest) and Anne of Green Gables. I know she's a fictional character, but she's one of my heroes!! I love this page except for the coloring on the top right page. Not sure if I'm going to paint over it or just leave it. We'll see. The quote is on a mini book. :D

Ok, so that's my newest page.... ready for my favoritest one I've ever done ever? Ready?!?!!?

Steam Punk Star Wars!!!! I'm in LOVE!! Is that cocky? I rarely love anything I have done this much!!! I'm even going to give you more details, k?

Sanity

So, since I've had this nephrostomy, I've been struggling a bit. Normally, when I hit the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, I am a "git 'er done" machine!! I nest like crazy and get TONS done. Well, my lovely kidney stone changed that for me. I have had the HARDEST time focusing on ANYthing at all- if I'm even feeling up to doing anything. I've been crocheting a little bit, and that has been nice, but the thing that has kept my sanity- has been art journaling.

It doesn't need any specific direction. It gives me an opportunity to spend time with friends. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment.

So here are my latest pages!

Whoo are you

Remember to go to Night Owl Crafting and grab the questions, answer them on your blog, and link back there. Oh yeah, and comment on other people's!

Here are this week's questions! 
These questions are a repeat from week 15

1.  What is your Zodiac sign?

I'm a leo, through and through. Loud, obnoxious, loves attention. Yup! That's me.

2. Name 3 things that are always in your purse besides your wallet.

Pens! Lip gloss, and cards. Random, I know. I despise boredom.

3. Which magazines do you look at the most?

Family Fun is the only one I actually subscribe to. I also love the Ensign, which is a church magazine. I get it on my phone.

4. Do you pluck or get your eyebrows waxed? 

I get 'em waxed. Otherwise, I look like a man

5. How often do you go grocery shopping?

Actual grocery shopping- rarely. Like once every couple of months. But I love it when I do. Otherwise, we're at the store daily. And I"m sure we spend FAR more money that way.

Well that was fun...

So you know how sometimes you have your plans all laid out in front of you and then something just doesn't work? Yeah.....

My plan for Sunday (yesterday) was to go to church, come home, throw a pot roast in the crockpot, take a nap, play games with my kids.... pretty much just take it easy. Turns out NONE of that happened!!

I woke up around 7. I had been lying on my left side and had a little bit of a kink in my back on the right side. I figured I had just slept wrong, so I rolled over. The pain shot out and hurt that whole side from my armpit down to my waist. So I sat up. It kind of went away and I was left befuddled. Was it all in my head? Was it something serious? Was it nothing at all? I sat there for a minute and then it happened again, so when the hubster woke up I told him about it. It was not the worst thing ever, but still pretty painful, but not constant. I knew they weren't labor pains or braxton hicks. I couldn't pinpoint where the pain was coming from or even if it was inside or outside.

So, I called my doula. She said it sounded like it could be a UTI, a kidney stone, or appendicitis. I had Roger call our neighbor to ask if he could come help give me a blessing (more on priesthood blessings here). I was hurting so badly that I couldn't even remember what was said. We missed church the last week, so I asked our friend if my oldest could go to church with their family. He agreed. I then called another friend and asked if she'd take one of my other two kids. She agreed to take them both and even came over to get them. When she saw me, she told me I needed to call our OTHER friend because that friend had had BOTH kidney stones AND appendicitis while pregnant before (can you imagine?!?!). So I called Vanessa and I was totally rude. I didn't even say hi. Just "How do you tell the difference between..." anyway... she described them personally and I decided we definitely needed to go to the emergency room NOW.

We went in, they sent me straight to the women's center (which is GORGEOUS by the way!) because I was over 20 weeks pregnant. I'm so glad they did. They got me in, took a sample, asked a million questions, etc. By that time I couldn't even move. I hurt SO badly. Like- worst pain ever!! Eventually, they got the lab work back and decided it was kidney stones. So they gave me a little bit of morphine. It helped for like, 30 seconds. I was hurting so badly that I was throwing up. Apparently the morphine can cause nausea. Yeah, this had nothing to do with meds and everything to do with pain. BUT they gave me zofran for the nausea- which knocked me out cold, thank goodness. I was able to sleep between death pains. Apparently they had me do a CT scan, although I don't remember much of that. Turns out the stone was too big to pass but had already blocked my ureter. Hence the pain of all pains. Normally at this point, they'd shoot noise waves at your tummy to break up the stone so you can pass them. They can't do that when there's a baby in there.

So they decided to surgery. Now, when I think surgery, I think relief. Because it means blackness and no pain for at least a little while. Not when you're pregnant!! They put lidocane on my back and gave me a tiny bit of pain killers (because of all the morphine I'd had throughout the day). Then they poked a hole in my back and through whatever tissues and stuff till they got to my kidney. They put a tube in to drain it and now I have this fancy shmancy pee bag to carry around. Joy. It's AMAZING how much better I felt once my kidney wasn't trying to kill me.

I stayed overnight (not that I got much sleep) and until lunch today. My mom stayed the night last night and is staying again tonight. I don't know what I'd do without her. And my friends have banded together and shown so much support. I have meals for DAYS coming in, plus the offer of more if I need. I am seriously SO blessed. And I wouldn't wish this on anyone. :D

Comments

Ok, I need help!!! Seems like nobody can comment. And I need comments to validate my postings. If you know how to fix this, please PLEASE send me an email imafishtank at gmail dot com

THANK YOU!!!

Awesome, guys, Thanks. I tried changing one setting. Here's hoping it works. I appreciate y'all!!!

More posts to come soon (esp since I have to take it easy)

Journaling 101

So, because of September 11th, I decided to dig out all my old journals. I wrote 19 of them between Jr. High and the time I got married. They were all different sizes, some hardly fit anything. I was young and stupid, so 95% of them are about boys. It's  fun to look back at things that I had noted, but not noticed. I was so convinced that no boys liked me in High School, but I look back now and kind of what to smack myself in the head. I sabotaged myself numerous times and didn't figure out that I LIKED being me until it was too late.

Anyway- luckily I included some of the most important things in my journals as well. Things I wanted in a man (kind of eery to read them and realize how much Roger fits the bill there!!), reasons I was mad at my parents (that are the exact same reasons my kids will be mad at me), important happenings in the family.

I've had a few friends ask about HOW to journal. I get very excited because I have my preferred method, which I LOVE to teach, but there is honestly something for EVERYone. It doesn't matter how busy you are, how creative you are, or how much moolah you have (or don't have). Journaling is as individual as the individual doing the journaling. To start, I'd like to talk about some different journaling methods.

The first, cheapest, and easiest, is what I call a Jar Journal. I do this on top of my regular journal. As funny little things happen during the week, I jot a note down (ALWAYS include the date). Then I fold the note up and put it in the jar. Our plan is to read through all the notes on New Year's Eve (or day, depending). I'll then record them all in timeline order in a regular journal. The nice thing about this is anybody in your family can add notes at any time!

The second method is your traditional journal. There is a common misconception that you need an ACTUAL journal to do this, but really? Any form of bound paper will work! After school starts, you can get nice composition notebooks for around $.25 at WalMart. There are a couple differnent ways to use traditional journaling. First you have to figure out WHAT you are journaling- a family history? memories of your parents? lessons to teach your children? why you love being a parent? trying to improve writing skills? This will set the tone of your journal and help you feel less lost when it's time to write. More on this in another post.

The third method, one I have never tried, but kind of want to, is printing your blog. If you are really good at typing all the stuff you want to remember, including pictures, then perhaps this would be the best choice. Downside? It costs money. But still, it's a really cool idea!!!

Lastly, but DEFINITELY not the bottom of my list... is Art Journaling. I do love a good art journal. The fun thing about an art journal is that it makes you WANT to write. Makes you want to fill in this space and create something beautiful. There is no set medium, template, or set of rules that you have to follow. You do what YOU want to create something beatiful. I am certainly no expert here, but it is my favorite way to journal. I laugh at myself a bit because my "style" is a little more left brained than most art journalists, but I like it that way. I'd like to do a full blog post about the different styles (and ways to start) soon!

So!! Who's up for a journaling challenge?!?! This is for you, Tera, Michelle, and Janelle!!!!! (And anybody else who would like to join, of course!!)

I Spy Date

So, if you know me personally, you've heard me talk about The Dating Divas. Because let's face it, it is an AMAZING site that I love and adore and am SUPER grateful for. This may come as a news flash, but Roger and I do not have a money tree in our backyard. I know, I know!! Due to lack of funds, we don't get out on dates much. I mean, a couple people have offered to watch the kids, but I hate to dry up all my resources too quickly.

I did a pretty awesome photo shoot the other day for this adorable girl named Kayti. This was my favorite photo shoot to date. Why? You ask- Here's why:

I know, this is the picture I'm most proud of, I think!!
Anyway- Kayti offered to babysit in exchange for the photoshoot and since I trust her (she's a good girl!) and needed a night out and would NEVER be able to afford $2/hr per kid for 3 kids for 3 hours.... I took her up on it!

I found this cute I SPY date on Dating Divas and decided to use the idea and kind of switch it around a bit. So here's my version!!!

First, we went up the canyon. I kind of forgot that it was Labor Day weekend, so we struggled a bit to find a spot, but finally found one that was just big enough for our van, so we didn't feel too bad. We backed in, popped the trunk, rolled down the windows and layed out blankets in the back of the van to chill out on. (Interesting side note, a few people wandered around a ditch behind us and stared at us like we were deer. Hello! Nothing happening here, fully clothed- door open)

 Yeah, see, back there by the trees, that's where people stood and looked in like, "oooh, do we get to see some stuff?" Sorry to disappoint, pervs!

Ok, so the first thing Roger got was this I Spy bottle I made with rice. I put one each of the candies I'd picked out for the night and included the following lame riddle poem. Yes, that is my official name for all of these. Riddle Poems. Love it, please?

"For treats we can eat (you know they're all sweet)

You have to guess what they are to be the true star.

I'll give you a hint... It's not Rupert Grint :D

1) There's more than enough of the first tasty candy (Good & Plenty)

2)Beware the red herring- tries to get you all sandy (Swedish Fish)

3)There are 2 ways that Blonde lost her job* (M&M's- peanut and peanut butter)

4)And enough of these little guys could please any mob (Jelly Belly)

5) The last one is tiny- and tricky to boot (Tic Tac)

You must guess them all to partake of the loot."

 

So, yeah. I made him find each of the candies in the I Spy thing and guess what they are according to the clues. As he guessed them, I brought them out of the bag to snack on.

Then it was time to get to the good stuff!! Each package had a Riddle Poem attached to it that he had to read before opening.

 The first one said:

Selfish, I know! But I couldn't resist!

The chance for my obession to persist.

Today we'll be using together the things that are on sale.

Cheesy enough, we could use as blackmail.

Get creative! For writing you'll do!

Don't worry, love. I will, too.

 

It was a notebook and a pen, so we could write in secret code to each other. We worked together to come up with said code, then took turns writing notes throughout the date.

I don't have pics of the rest of the night because I decided to focus on enjoying time with my hubby, but here is the rest of the date... in WORDS!

Second Riddle Poem:

Are you up for a challenge is NOT what she said.

But challenge you'll get (just not in bed).

We'll take a close look at this special book

Just don't think it'll teach you to cook!

Winner takes all- too bad I'm broke!

Shut up, and just laugh at my joke!!!

That was a collection of my kids' I Spy books. We had contests to see who could find the most objects in a certain amount of time (1 & 2 minutes)

Third Riddle Poem:

What's our favorite thing to do as of late?

Fills you with fury, pride, laughter, and occasionally hate?

I have two here we never have played.

But they look like fun, which is why they were made!

That was a package including 2 new games. One was called In A Pickle (which we still haven't played) and the other was the Pictureka card came. I figured regular Pictureka was an I Spy game, so it was appropriate.

Instead of playing the new games right then, I had Roger open Riddle Poem #4:

While we are playing, we best not forget

There's always more fun when our mouths are wet. 

I know it isn't blue or yellow

But this red drink won't make you bellow.

Enjoy it now, just share it with me.

The happiest I Spiers we'll be!

You know how things don't always go according to plan? This was one of those things. First off, we were dying of thirst FAR before we got to opening the soda. Plus, I'd planned the date at 4:00 PM. Smooth move, pregnant hungry lady!! Between the thirst, the hunger, and the language of others in the canyon, we decided to stray from the plan and go get dinner. We had a blast trying to figure out the last 5 minutes of the BYU game while getting our food (WE WON!). Once we had eaten, we went next door to the park and THEN played our new game. We really had a lot of fun- and on a very limited budget!!!