Sweet (and Sour) Summer

I was SO excited for this summer.  I made up a little schedule for me and the kids so we could have plenty of fun but get the work done too.  Well, all I can say is... "life is what happens while making other plans."

The week before Memorial Day and the end of school, Nathan broke his arm.  I wasn't in the room so we're still not exactly sure what happened but he either jumped (and got his feet caught), was pushed, or just fell off Brian's elevated bed landing on his hand and then over onto his back.  He wasn't really crying very hard but definitely favoring his arm.  Luckily, or should I say blessedly, my good friend showed up moments later to pick up her daughter who I'd been tending and offered to take the other kids so I could take him in.  I took the Ipad with us and by the time we saw a Dr. I was ready to just go home because he was so calm but boy am I so glad I went in!

Then, we took an impromtu trip to Arizona to be with Devin in the Temple as he went through for the first time.  It was so neat to be there with all of Dusty's siblings including (I believe) his older brother who passed away when he was young.  It was a really quick trip but so nice to see Dusty's  family and I actually got to hang out with Darra and Daphnie for some excellent girl time!

The next week, while finishing up the lawn/yard work, I was opening a large black garbage bag to go pick up some grass clippings and stepped on an old metal snow shovel that the kids had been playing with.  I fell over and was in a great deal of pain.  Blessedly, it was Dusty's day off.  I sent the kids to get him and he helped me up and after trying several times to put weight on the foot, Dusty just scooped me up like we were newlyweds and carried me to the couch!  Mom came over to stay with the kids and we were back to the Dr. just 2 weeks after Nathan's accident.  The x-ray tech said, "You're supposed to get one bone healed before you break another!"  Well the PA said the x-ray looked shadowy because of the inflammation and to come back in 1 week.  They sent me home in a walking boot and I was still in some pain but at least I could hobble along.  Well a week later with my frequent Dr. visit card in tow, they took another x-ray and confirmed the fracture advising me to go "non weight bearing" for at least 2 weeks.  I said, "I know this sounds bad, but is that really necessary?  I have a 6-month-old baby who weighs 25 lbs."  He assured me that it was and gave me a Rx for crutches.  Well I tried using though crutches- impossible!  I called back and asked that the Dr. look at my x-rays.  They called back the next day and said I would be okay in the walking boot if I was careful.  So for the next 2 weeks, I walked as little as possible.  Mom was super awesome and came over almost every day to help me for a while but when she and Sarah took the kids to the park for Stampede days and Brian ran off- twice- I think she was ready to be done with my family for a while. haha.  So after 2 weeks I went back for another set of x-rays.  The verdict- the bone is healing really well!!!  I have to wear the walking boot for 3 more weeks while out and about but I can start going without it in the house as long as I'm careful!  It couldn't come at a better time because Idaho picked this week to jump the temperatures to the high 90s and that boot is hot!!!

Meanwhile, Nathan figured out how to take his hard cast off and then dunked it in the mud so we got to go back to the Dr. several times for him as well.  Baring any other accidents, we will be able to resume our summer plans!  We've been going to the kids movies (6 of us in for only $1.50!), summer reading program at the library, splash park and meeting up with friends.  Hopefully a trip or 2 to Rigby Lake and at least one to Rexburg Rapids will be perfect for this hot weather!  The kids start swimming lessons next week and then we leave for Colorado to the Fillmore Family Reunion!!!

Brian has been playing with lots of friends and creating lots of mischief (like cutting a hold in the trampoline!) but he is actually rising to the occasion of completing his chores and helping when I ask.  He and Samantha also started taking piano lessons from Grandma Fillmore!

Samantha celebrated her 5th birthday with the requested super hero birthday party theme and received her desired scooter.  Hopefully she'll be able to ride something with Brian to school in the fall.

Nathan will turn 3 next week and I'm dragging my feet with starting potty training.  He'll go sometimes but others refused and I really don't want another 3-4 year-long accident ordeal with him!  I figure we'll wait until we get back from Colorado and then hunker down and get to business.

Mary turns 7 months tomorrow.  She is eating 3 meals a day, usually with the family but still taking bottles inbetween.  She can roll over, sit up (though she's still a little unsteady) and can wiggle to wherever she wants to go.  She kind of looks like an inch worm getting up on her hands and knees and then lurching forward.  hehe.  They're so fun!

Dusty is working over 50 hours/week and is having a hard time dividing his remaining time between his many pursuits.  He is such a wonderful husband and father and always puts us first.  He's working on restoring the 50s Chevy truck putting a diesel motor and new transmission in it.  He's finishing our bathroom remodel and also taking care of a lot of outside things like mowing the lawns that I was helping with before my foot incident.  He still wants to reload and is forever trading/changing guns.  Who knows if he'll ever be satisfied with what he has. hehe.

I did something that I swore I would never do and became a distributor for a direct sales company called It Works!  They sell the crazy wrap thing!  It's a body contouring wrap that tightens, tones and firms your skin reducing the appearance of cellulite.  It's pretty cool but I actually decided to sign up so I could use their supplements at a discount (or hopefully free if I get more team members!).  The supplements are helping with my insulin resistance and if I could get exercising, I can finally lose all this weight I'm tired of carrying around.

Dusty goes to BOLC at Fort Sill, Oklahoma starting the first of January 2014 and some friends int he military clued us in as to how we can go with him.  We will be staying in a 2 bedroom "hotel" room for $7.25/night with maid service and continental breakfast.  It will be quite an adventure but we're excited to be able to stay together!

Update

Dusty Graduated!!!  with a degree in Automotive Technology from BYU-I and also commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army National Guard the same day. (He was super excited to "walk" to get his diploma cover-not hehe)  He got a job working as a mechanic right here in Rigby at Les Schwab and he is loving it!  He will go to Officer's training for almost 5 months starting January 2014 in Oklahoma.  We're not sure if we're going with him or staying here.

Melanie is keeping busy running after 4 kids and whoever else happens to be at our house (it seems there are always extras). She also jogged/walked a 5k race the end of April.  The kids did the kids' race and had a blast!  Brian and Samantha started playing on a "homemade soccer team".  A bunch of us get together once a week and have the kids draw a marble to see if they're on the blue team or the red team, parents take turns coaching and we just play.  a game for the younger kids and a game for the older kids.  It's so fun and the best part is that it's free!

Brian finishes 1st grade today!  He is becoming quite a good little reader and a whiz at math. He is excited for the extra playtime summer will offer.  His class put on a little show for the parents with songs and a showcase of all their projects.  He and his friends have recently been playing super heros with stick swords and trash can shields (why do we spend money on toys?!?)

Samantha "graduated" from preschool and is excited to start kindergarten in the fall.  She still loves to sing and imaginative play.  She's also trying to master a 2-wheel bike so she can ride to school like Brian.  I am amazed at her persistence to keep trying!

Nathan broke his arm last Monday jumping/falling off Brian's bed (it's a built-in bed about 4 ft off the ground).  He has since taken his cast (yes the hard cast) off 3 times!  He keeps telling me, "it's better now!" trying to convince me he doesn't need it on anymore.  You wouldn't know it was broken the way he just keeps playing!  What a tough kid!

Mary is just growing more and more round.  Everyone she meets comments on what a chubby and happy baby she is.  She can definitely make her opinions known but most of the time she is all smiles.  She's rolling over and starting to scoot backwards across the room.  She'll be 6 months next week.

  

Faith in the Basics

This weekend was General Conference. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2013/04?lang=eng I always really look forward to General Conference and the hope it brings.  I heard several speakers talk about how bad the world is in terms of morality and social ills but all of them also said that we, who are on the Lord's side, and our kids, will come out on top if we just stick to the basics.  Usually I approach general conference with a lot of prayer and specific questions or concerns so I'm more ready to receive the personal revelation about what I can do to improve myself, my life and our family. However, it seems that lately someone is always hitting fast forward and I find myself lucky to get a shower, let alone time to meditate and I approached conference this year a little disappointed in myself, having only said a quick prayer here or there this week in preparation.

Leave it to the Lord to bless even our smallest efforts!  Even though Dusty was at drill all weekend and my children were.... well children making it hard to pay attention, I was able to watch all 4 sessions of conference.  While getting kids snacks, feeding Mary, kissing owies, breaking up sibling fights, and doing all that other stuff moms do all day long, I was able to catch just the right snippets I needed.
 (I don't know who said what because it was pretty much impossible to take any kind of notes but this is what I gleaned)
#1 Being a mother is THE most important thing I will do- ever.
#2 My marriage is so good because I'm doing the little, daily things that make the biggest difference.
#3 I need to speak to my children in a "mild" voice.
#4 My faith- no matter where it is- is enough!  I need to start with what I have and ask for help if I need more.

I hope it is a positive sign that I found more hope and more, "Hey, I'm already doing that!" this conference.  It may not always seem like it on a day to day basis and I still am afraid I end more days with a frown than a smile but I am on the right track and that feels wonderful!

And... since I didn't blog last month, here's a little update.

Mary is now 4 months old.  She loves to talk and giggle and smile but when she wants something, boy does she let you know!

Nathan had a tonsillectomy after his 3rd bout of strep throat in 4 months (which was also accompanied by RSV and influenza!).  His recovery was super great and fast until he caught bronchitis.  Poor boy, but he was such a trooper.

Samantha is officially registered for Kindergarten in the fall and she is so excited!  (princess self-portrait with her own camera)

Brian celebrated his 7th birthday! ( made him this robe)

Melanie is working hard to lose weight and prepare for a 5k later this month.
Dusty has been busy with research papers and projects and labs and finals and will graduate next week!!!

Mary turns 2!!!!! (months)

Mary Ellen is 2 months old today!!!

Mary has been sleeping through the night since 6 weeks.
She loves to smile at her siblings when they're romping around.
She is getting better at baths.
She absolutely hates to burp (at least that's the only reason I can come up with for how loud and long she screams just before and after).

We love her smile (just can't seem to catch it on camera) and are so grateful she is a part of our family.  We love you Mary!!!

Winter Blues

This is something we resort to when temperatures remain below freezing for weeks at a time (yes even in the middle of the day).  

 Dusty loving his 8-week-old sweetheart.

 Samantha growing up so fast and sporting a side pony tail.

 Mary Ellen- sleeping through the night!

Brian's teacher called to say he was squinting at the board.

I don't have any pictures of Nathan because he won't be still long enough for me to take one.
Other than everyone catching a yucky winter cold, we're fighting the winter blues with success!

Merry Everything This Holiday

I just ordered our family Christmas card from Sams Club.  They won't be ready until Friday which means they won't mail out until Saturday (if I get them addressed right away) so they'll probably be late for Christmas but at least I was able to do something.  These are the pictures we used and the little family blurb.

"Mary Ellen joined our family 12-2-12 at 6:49 pm.  She weight 9 lbs 7 oz and measured 22 inches.  She is just perfect!  Nathan (2) is very active and repeats everything.  Samantha (4) loves to sing and make up songs.  Brian (6) rides his bike to 1st grade and loves going out with dad.  Melanie is very busy with 4 kids!  Dusty just finished his internship.  He will graduate and commission as a Lieutenant in the Army National Guard in April 2013."

We wish all of our family and friends a wonderful Christmas and New Year!!!

A miracle is born!

Mary Ellen Allen arrived on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 6:49 pm.  She weighed 9 pounds 7 ounces and measured 22 inches long.  She has 10 perfect fingers, 10 perfect, really long toes, 2 beautiful eyes and the cutest button nose ever!  The wonderful nurses brought my wonderful present all tied up with this bow back from her first bath.  She is the most perfect baby and I am simply loving every moment of her life (yes even getting up in the middle of the night)!

I had my last Dr. appointment on Monday, 11-26 where my midwife stripped my membranes and reported I was dilated to a 4.  She ended our appointment by saying, "I'll see you later today or tomorrow to have that baby!"  You can imagine my frustration when Wednesday and Friday (my due date) both passed with no real contractions.  I had been super uncomfortable all week and felt like things were happening but I just hadn't had the tell-tell contractions that meant labor was here.  I was so frustrated that when Dusty suggested we go cut down our Christmas tree Saturday, I jumped at the idea.  What a perfect activity to tempt Murphy!  Surly hiking around in the snow for a few hours over 50 miles from our house would bring on labor!  Wrong!  We did get a perfect little Christmas tree though and the kids had a blast playing with the sleds.  It was a wonderful family outing.  Saturday night, Lacie stayed with the kids while Dusty and I went into Idaho Falls to walk the mall.  Walking brought on a lot more tightness and a lot more discomfort but again, no contractions so we came home to try and get a good night's sleep hoping contractions would wake me up.  Sunday morning- still no action so I went to Sacrament meeting with Brian and then came home because I was just too uncomfortable to sit any longer.

Finally Sunday afternoon about 2:30/3:00, I decided it was time to go to the hospital and check things out.  I still wasn't having contractions but I was so uncomfortable I just had to know if my body was progressing and if the baby was handling my super tight belly okay.

Upon arriving at the hospital, I was dilated to just beyond a 4 and baby sounds great.  So we walked the hospital for an hour which brought me to a 5. This was not enough progress to be considered in labor and not enough progress to be checked into the hospital officially.  We had 3 options:  1- go home and wait some more 2- walk some more or try something else for one more hour 3- have Susan, the midwife come in a break my water.  I didn't feel comfortable having my water broken because I didn't want to risk having to have other interventions (I especially did not want to have to have pitocin) and I was so uncomfortable that I just wanted to have the baby!  So we decided to go with option 2 and instead of walking more (I'd been walking all week and it didn't seem to do anything!), I decided to sit in the Jacuzzi tub.

I couldn't have been in the tub for more than 5 minutes when my contractions finally started!  They were strong and regular but the tub felt good so I just sat and soaked up the warm water and bubbles for about 40 more minutes.  When I got out of the tub I was dilated to an 8 and Mary was born about an hour later!!!  It was actually kind of funny to observe the nursing staff when I got out of the tub.  They were as shocked as I was that things had happened so quickly.  They called the midwife to come to the hospital, Dusty called my mom to drive down, I was strep B positive so they quickly tried to get an IV antibiotic in me, they tried to monitor the baby all while I was having stage 3 contractions every 1-3 minutes.  I actually remember laughing out loud and shaking my head at how crazy and fast things were happening.  I just couldn't help but think that I have a weird psychological disorder that won't allow me to go into labor until I'm already in the hospital.  I guess I just needed to relax!  I had a hard time pushing because the baby was turned sideways.  The midwife had me push for a couple of contractions while laying on my side.  This downright hurt but it worked and I was able to turn back on my back and push her the rest of the way out just a minute or two later.

Mary was a loud crier and she would not be consoled!  She kept crying and crying which worried the midwife so she called the pediatrician.  They were worried she had broken her collar bone while being pushed out but the x-rays came back fine.  After she nursed and snuggled into mama, she settled down.  We were worried she would be high strung and cry all the time but we've learned quickly that she just likes to be snuggled tight and to avoid too much stimulation.  She absolutely hates being changed!

She is nursing well but still drinks 2 oz formula after each nursing.  Once she gets full and burped, she settles right in for a nap.  She will sleep for 3 or 4 hours stretches at night which means that I am feeling fabulous!  Brian, Samantha, and Nathan all love her and want to hug her and kiss her all the time.  Brian especially wants to pick her up all the time which I'm not okay with yet so we keep practicing.  Other than a few emotional outbursts by just about everyone in the family except I think Dusty, we are all adjusting well.  I'm so grateful for Dusty and how willing he is to take care of the older children so I can focus on the baby.  We are also super grateful for my mom who came over everyday last week to cook dinner for us after the many meals from the ward were consumed.  She did our laundry and just spread a lot of love and care around.  Things would have been really hard without her.

Funny note:  Out of the 5 meals we were brought (for which we were very grateful!) 3 of them were pizza.