Greta's Visitors

Abe's sister's family was in town for a family reunion on her husband's side.  Aunt Samatha, Ruth, Talitha, and Abby were Greta's first visitors.

Clark got everyone where they needed to be Wednesday morning, but then they came over for a sibling visit.  Elinor was off at Oakcrest (girls' camp) for the week so she didn't get to meet Greta until Friday once we were home.  We knew she'd be sad to miss Greta in the hospital, but we also knew what a great time she was having a camp.  We wanted her to stay and soak it all in because the baby would be here when she got back.

Let the excitement of 8 children begin!

Little sillies.
Cannon and Faith reenact giving birth.

Abe's other sister Marjorie came up from Orem for a visit.  This gal LOVES babies!

Neighbor and dear friend Michelle J. stopped in for a visit.  She has a busy couple of weeks coming up as Young Women's president with girls camp and youth conference.

Grandma and Grandpa Cannon came over after their missionary work for the day was over.

Aunt Brig (my sister) has been to visit me in the hospital with every single baby except George, but that is only because she was recovery in another hospital from giving birth to her Emi the day before.

 Annie C., a friend and neighbor has the same Dr. and was at the hospital for an appointment.  She is expecting a baby girl in October and since we already have two who match up in ages, I hope our kids will spend quite a bit of time together over the years.

Camille S. gave the me the best postpartum advice I've ever heard.
"Oh, and remember.... wait as long as you possibly can (maybe 2 years) to put on real pants. As soon as someone... anyone.... sees you in real pants they assume you are recovered and ready to get back to normal routine. Keep the pajama bottoms on as long as you can possibly stand it. If you must wear real pants, do it alone... in your room.... don't even let your hubby know....."
How wise.

 Uncle Daniel (Abe's oldest brother)

Aunt Lori (Daniel's wife).
They were the last of the hospital visitors.  I really felt so good after her delivery and the whole time in the hospital.  I think it has to do with delivering such a small baby (small for me, anyway).

 Is this a happy papa or what?  I love how much Abe loves babies-- especially baby girls!

Her hair is much thinner and shorter on top, but from the back it's so thick.  It's also quite light compared to most of the others.  Cannon was pretty light as well.

Ready to come home on Thursday night.

First car ride.

Favorite hospital picture.

Surprise! We're Having a Baby!

SURPRISE!  We're having a baby!

My due date was July 30th, but I was scheduled for induction on July 23rd.  Last Tuesday (one week ago) I went in for my routine non-stress test.  They monitor the baby heart rate and measure amniotic fluid and such.  There were no problems, everything looked good.  Near the end of the test I had a contraction and her heart rate dropped a little bit.  I told the nurse that I was sure it was fine, but just reassure me, that what I see on the screen in not a problem.  She said it wasn't, but she decided to call the high risk doctors that monitor these tests just to make sure.  

When the Dr. on the other end heard they had an AMA (advanced maternal age--how rude), with gestational diabetes, and a previous fetal demise at 37 weeks, they determined to keep me there at the hospital for prolonged monitoring.  This just meant an hour or two more hooked up to monitors.  No problem.

My doctor came in shortly thereafter and decided that because the baby's heart rate had a couple more decelerations, it was better to be safe than sorry.  He wanted to induce TODAY!  

I should have been worried.

I should have said, "No, it's better for the baby to cook a little while longer." 

But I said YES!!! Let's do it!  Nothing is ready at home, nobody is prepared, no laundry washed, no meals planned.  But I felt amazingly calm and peaceful about the decision to induce 2 1/2 weeks early.  37 weeks 3 days to be exact. 

And it was the right choice!  Greta was born at 12:50 AM, 6 lbs. 14 oz. and perfect in every way.  

I contracted all day with a cervical ripener that was removed around 10:30.  Epidural went in, water was broken and shortly thereafter, Great made her appearance before the doctor was ready and with no effort from me whatsoever.  She literally fell out and the nurse caught her.  Maybe it's because I didn't have the days of anxiety leading up to it, but the whole experience was quite wonderful and peaceful.  

I don't have the words to describe our joy at her birth.  She completes our family.  She is the very spirit that communicated to me last summer that she still needed to come. 

The result of a moment in a sacrament meeting many months ago when Abe and I exchanged a note and knew we weren't done, but that there was another spirit for our home.

She is perfection.

Welcome to this world, Greta.

My Birthday Miracle

I went to bed in a foul mood last night.  No particular reason other than I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant and I don't feel well.  I'm convinced I'm going to give birth to a 14 pounder.  I get pretty anxious at this point of every pregnancy because of our experience with Tessa.  It's hot.  Abe's been gone a lot lately.  Blah. Blah. Blah.  I knew today was my birthday and I had no fun plans.
My plans were to watch some Wimbledon in the morning and then women's gymnastic Olympic trials in the evening.  The rest of the day I had reserved for a big ol' pity party for myself.  I was going to spend a lot of energy feeling very sorry for myself.
I don't go there very often, but I fully planned to wallow in my physical and emotional discomfort today.  
Fortunately, my day did not go as planned. 

I took Elinor to her piano lesson and then dropped Bethany and Clark off at summer seminary.  They didn't have to go, but they wanted to.  They are good kids.
As I waited to pick them up, my dear sister-in-law called and invited me out for a birthday lunch.  I almost cried.  We had great conversation and she really pulled me out of my funk.  As Bethany said the other day, "I really like Aunt Lori.  I feel like she understands me!"
I think a lot of people feel that way about Lori and I appreciated talking with her.

I came home and taught a couple of piano lessons.  Then I drove Bethany and Elinor to the temple to do baptisms.  This was a happy thing for me.  By this point, I was done with my pity party and feeling like the day had been salvaged.

Then came the miracle.  Sometimes what seems miraculous to one, is just coincidence to another.  I must record this tonight, because for me, this was a miracle I want to remember.  I want to remember it when I feel like nobody cares.  I want to remember when I miss my mom.  I want to remember when I am feeling alone.
Just after I dropped off the girls at the temple, I got a phone call from a lady in our church congregation.  She asked if my girls were home.  I explained the girls were at the temple and Faith was playing at a friend's house.
She explained that she just felt the urge to "dress someone".  Meaning she wanted to take someone shopping and outfit them.  Having never received such an offer before, I wasn't quite sure what she meant.   She is a talented seamstress, so perhaps she wanted to pick out fabric to sew a skirt?  Whatever she meant, she is very trustworthy, so I called Faith home from her friend's house and dropped her off at this lady's house to head out shopping.
An hour and half later they returned with Faith glowing with delight at her newly acquired super cute dresses.  Then it was time to go pick up the older girls.  This generous woman said to send the older girls over one at a time so she could take them each shopping.  She completely spoiled each of them.  I have no vision for picking out cute clothes-- especially clearance and on sale items.  But she does and then she can make alterations and put things together I wouldn't see.  

This by itself is such a kind and generous thing that she did, but that alone isn't what I find miraculous.  You must understand that more than anyone else I've ever met, this woman has the spirit of my mother about her.  There is a physical resemblance to my mom and my Grandma Clark, but there is a wittiness, a wicked funny humor.  She is so talented with crafts and sewing.  People are drawn to her in the same way.  She teaches lessons at church the way my mom would have.  I have felt this connection to her since I first met her and I love to be around her.
So, here I am, having a hard time with the end of pregnancy, feeling so run down and out of energy.  Ready to just write off my birthday this year, in a paranoid way thinking nobody cared.  And out of nowhere comes the one woman on earth who most reminds me of my mom and says, "Let me take your girls out shopping."
Keeping in mind that my mom loved to shop and loved to give gifts-- it was her way of showing love.  I feel quite certain that when this good woman "just felt an urge to dress someone" it was my mom whispering in her ear, "I can't be there to do this for my daughter, but she is struggling.  Will you please go take care of her and her girls?"
In the grand scheme of things, I don't think it matters that much whether the girls have new dresses and clothes.  They love it and I would rather have them dressed nicely, than sloppily.  But the miracle is that my needs are known and I am loved and cared for by a kind and merciful Heavenly Father and an earthly mother who continues to watch over me and bless me and my children.  I am so thankful and feel undeserving of such kindness and mercy.

Actual 4th of July

George and his betrothed, Kate.  They've been intended for quite sometime.  It was on the rocks a couple of years back when George found out that Kate wasn't potty trained and still wore diapers.  Thankfully, that obstacle has been dealt with and they are on good terms again.

We enjoyed a backyard cookout at the Schramm's home on the evening of the 4th.  We basically invited ourselves over, which I know is not in very good taste.  But they have an awesome backyard that I wanted to enjoy. 
That is really no excuse.  It was still rude of us.

We brought over a few poppers and sparklers for a fireworks after dinner.  Silly Foxes... fire power is for Schramms.
It started small, but then it grew.  We enjoyed all the fireworks, but we weren't expecting the aerials at the end.  It was so surprising and it gave many of us a case of nervous laughter.  Hysterical nervous laughter. 

Peter was sticking very close to Abe and I.  Cheek to cheek close.  He wasn't upset, just wanted to keep us close.  Truthfully, I think we sort of enjoyed it.  It was a nice change from his wandering ways.

Fourth of July Weekend

We always love our Riverton Town Days parade, but to get to have Jesse and Amy's family down from Spokane to join us was such a treat.  What can make a parade with an endless supply of popscicles even more fun?  Just add cousins!

My wonderful sister lives in the same city, so we were so happy to have her and her kiddos join the fun as well.

 I'm so glad Abe has such a good friend in his brother Jesse.

All the big trucks and rescue vehicles quite captured the little kid's attention.
Peter wasn't happy with all the loud sirens, but that might be because he can finally hear thanks to his tubes.

 This was taken at the beginning before the kids all collected a heck of a lot of candy.  It's mostly salt water taffy, which none of them really like that much, but the just the thrill of gathering free candy as it's thrown from the parade is so exciting.

The parade was Friday night and then Saturday morning I showed my true and undying love for my children.  At eight months pregnant I donned a swim suit (heaven help all the witnesses) and took my people to the local pool for free swimming and "diving for dollars".  Abe was working, so he wasn't there to take pictures.  Of course if he had photographed me in my condition in a swim suit I would have had to take him out.  Anyway, we had a pretty great time.  We came home and the girls (plus cousin Annie) watched a cooking show, which inspired them to have their own great cake bake off.  It took several hours and dirtied pretty much every single dish we owned.  But the results were impressive.

Team Annie and Faith.

Elinor and Bethany's creation.
Meanwhile, the adults all went out to eat together.  Yummy food.  Loud, but satisfying conversation:)

Late Saturday night the gang went to see the big fireworks show.  I stayed home with a sleeping Peter, but mostly because after the two days activities I was practically incapacitated.  I had over done it.

Georgie didn't quite make it to the end.

Sunday morning came very early after such a late night.  I like the patriotic ties.

Sunday night was a lot of fun at Daniel and Lori's house.  They hosted a pre-fox family reunion.  Because of the baby, we won't be making the trek to Spokane along with the rest of the family.  So at least for our family's sake we were very happy to get to gather a few weeks early.

A few little fireworks for the little kids.  Peter is not generally a snuggly little guy, but fireworks change all that.

The menfolk.

These girls are fun.

Besides my inability to keep up with anything, it was a really, really enjoyable weekend with family. 

Summer Festivities

It is shocking just how entertaining a small kiddie pool can be to children of all ages.

Or perhaps anything is fun comparing to hanging out inside with a grouchy pregnant mama.

Either way, well worth the $7.00 at Walmart.

A little neighborhood pyramid on a pleasant summer evening.  I like how Clark isn't even in the pyramid, but looks the most disturbed.

I do not remember the reason for this outing with Team Little Kids.  I know I wasn't a part of it and that Abe was a part of it.  I know this for two reasons--1.  I have no memory of it and I don't even know what store they were at.  2.  Only Abe spoils the children by buying them treats at every opportunity.  

And I wonder why they are so happy when Daddy comes home.

I make them do hard things, like summer track program.  

Actually, I didn't make them do it-- they wanted to.  I wanted them to have the experience also, but had I really considered the heat factor, I might not have agreed to do it.  Oh, their track meets have been so HOT!  I feel bad for them running in the heat, but I'll be honest, I feel worse for my pregnant self sitting out in the heat for hours.  Fortunately, it was a short season and it's already done.  

They are such a pleasant threesome to hang out with.

I'd like to have the do it again next summer when I'm not pregnant!

Faith likes this picture of her leading the 1600 m (1 mile) race after the first lap.  She didn't maintain the lead, but it was fun while it lasted.

On the actual 4th of July we didn't have plans during the day.  Abe was working, so we attempted an outing.  The kids wanted to go to the zoo, but since a stop at Walmart to get snacks pretty well exhausted me, I suggested the aquarium instead---- seeing as how it had air conditioning and lots of places to sit along the way.  Didn't want to give birth in the reptile house at the zoo. 

While the little kids were playing in the play area at the aquarium, I gave the teens my phone for a selfie photo shoot.

So proud.  So proud.

Actually, I'm serious.  I was so proud they that could wait "patiently" for the little kids without fighting.

Then I took their picture and told them to show me how much fun they were having.

But who were they trying to kid?  They loved it.