My Boys

Ethan rarely takes a nap. He negotiated a nap if he could stay with Herston. I am so glad it worked.

I love looking at my boys sleeping!

1856

This weekend we went to 1856, The Musical. My sister and her family were all performers, and I recommend that you see it.

Ok, so yes, I took all of my kids to see a two hour play. Actually, Grant, my Mom, and I took 7 kids under 5! Luckily, we had the help of an amazing tween, too. Even still, it made church today seem like a breeze.

I never got a photo. Maybe my Mom will pass one on...

Full Circle

Growing up my little sister would always yell at me because she thought I was making annoying sounds. She would yell, "Stop swallowing." My only defense was to yell back, "I have to swallow otherwise I will choke on my spit."

I remember spending the majority of the time in the car paying attention to every time I had to swallow. I swear she had bionic ears. Nowadays, I found myself eating chips with her on the phone, and there is no complaints!

Twenty years later, I hear this awful, swishing, screeching sound coming from my daughter. "What are you doing!?!"I asked. She replied, "Just swallowing my spit."

Last night, Grant affectionately told me I could be reincarnated as a hunting dog.

He's Home!

I believe that acknowledgment is the last step of prayer. I can't thank everyone enough who prayed, fasted, hoped, and visualized Herston getting better. Several times, the medical staff would say, "This is not the same baby I saw on Sunday" or "He is such a champ."

The biggest hurdle Herston faced was his tension pneumothorax. His lung collapsed from hospital interventions. The internal pressure forces your organs to shift, and he required a chest tube to release some of that pressure. His chest tube was removed less than 2 days later, on the day of the fast. After that, we both felt better.

He was almost 4 days old before they allowed him to eat. They would only give him a teaspoon at a time, but I could tell he wanted much more. So against medical advice, I sneaked in and breastfed him. (I am a better nurse than a patient.) I am convinced the extra calories did him some good!

Here is his nursery web page for more photos.

Anyway, we ventured outside the house today to go shopping. I guess it is time for my life to begin. Let's roll...

Free Giveaway

Anyone in close proximity interested in a couple bags of maternity clothes?

Herston David Skinner

Herston was off to a great start. He breastfed well and looked just like Raea. At 6#3oz, he is still bigger than Larissa was.

Herston has experienced some problems related to my heart, decels during labor, tight double nuchal cord, gestational dates, and complications related to his oxygen delivery system. Nothing permanent, but we are still asking anyone interested to participate in a fast for him tomorrow, 6/17.

Mind Reader

For the past couple days, Raea has said she could read Herston's mind. She says he is coming tonight on the 11th. We shall see.

Just not in the mood for much, including blogging.

Happy Anniversary

Today is my anniversary. I can't believe all the things that we have accomplished in such a short time.

Time is amazing with you. I love you, Grant.

Update

I just got home from spending three days in the hospital. I had atrial fibrillation with periodic episodes of SVTs related to a first degree heart block probably aggravated by my pregnancy. (I was skipping beats that caused my heart to go very slow, so it would overcompensate and then go really fast. When my heart was going really fast, my uterus was not receiving oxygen causing me to have contractions.) In between episodes, the baby and I are fine, but it is unclear how the baby reacts during the SVTs.

Because it may be better for the baby to born prematurely and spend time in the NICU/CCN, my OB is not going to stop my labor if my current contractions should progress into labor. The medicines to stop labor are not even compatible with my heart right now either. We are just following the lead from my body since the body has an amazing ability to maintain homeostasis anyway. I am 35 and 2 right now, so everything should be fine.

I guess this is another reason why I am glad my husband is home for the summer. He has been super dad.

Happy Birth Day!

My sister says it best. She is here!

Trust me when I say she looks like her siblings! I am so happy that everything is ok and done. Congrates!

(Oh, and I am next!)

Happy Birthday Emily

Raea honestly thinks she has 2 aunts named Emily. You are family, and we love them both.

(The cat photo emerges again!)

Another Reason I Like My Husband Home For Summer

I get to sew matching little girl dresses.

Herston's Baby Shower

I think the etiquette says you can't have a baby shower if you are having your fourth kid with a sex you have had before. Anyway, the girls at work are always looking for an excuse to party, so I happily agreed.

It was so fun and tasty. I got my first diaper cake! Ann helped coordinate, and I felt so blessed.

Thanks everybody!

My 6 Word Memoir- You're It!

Here are the rules for this meme:

1. Write your own six-word memoir about yourself.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you'd like.
3. Link to the person that tagged you (My sister, Jane) and to this original post, so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.
4. Tag five more blogs with links. And don't forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

It looks like most people I know have already been tagged, so we will see how I do.
Crazy Mama, Julie
Jessica
Stephanie

A Warm Feeling In Your Bossom

I never know how much my kids actually listen during church, however, last Sunday while in the Sacrament Meeting, Ethan stopped and said, "Mom, he said Holy Ghost! What's that?"

It helps you make good choices.

"Oh, like your heart?"