the couch...

this is where I have been since Monday this week..

maybe not this specific one... but depending on the day, it has varied. First JoDee's, then mine (with Nancie supervision), then Michelles, & today my Moms. Who ever knew someone else's couch could mean so much? I'm very blessed to have people in my life to help take care of my family when I really need it! Thanx everyone :)

We've also been blessed with rain this week. I think every night this week. Last night was so awesome. Sean & I have a big window in our bedroom & last night we drew the blinds, opened the window & watched a great light show. It was thundering & lighting & raining & it was wonderful :) Only in Arizona, right? would we be so excited about rain. Funny enough, Sam slept better in his own bed last night than he has since we moved in. Either we are finally starting to settle in, or we just need a good thunder/lightning storm to keep him nice & warm in his own bed.

Today we went over to my moms & dads house & hung out while Sean was working. When my parents got back from their mission, I was curious how Sam would react to them, because he had never met or spent time with them. Sam is a pretty easy going kid with other people though (minus hungry & sleepy times), so I didn't think it would be too big a deal. I LOVE watching my mom with him. There is a reason that my mom had 8 children that all turned out pretty amazing.. it's because she is amazing. I now know where I got the habit of making up my own silly songs & singing them to my child... my mom does the same thing. She has so much patience & love.. I feel like I should be taking a mountain of mental notes when I see her with Sam. She brought up some peoples houses & little toy animal figures & Sam played for hours with them. I was kind of surprised. He just sat there & put the peoples in the ferris wheel like mom showed him & turned them around. I heard him making a growling noise & thought at first he was making a car noise, but when I looked at him, he was making a dinosaur & a tiger fight. It sounds kinda stupid, but it made me smile because it seemed like such a little boy thing to do, not a baby thing. My little boy is growing up. Yesterday, Michelle told me that when we have this baby & I bring him home, I'll realize what a little boy Sam is, no longer a little baby- I realize that a little more every day.

Here's to more couch time :)

bedrest.. the final frontier

Have you ever seen a hospital room that looked like this?! Is that a sitting room off to the side?! Well, the room that I was in the last 24 hours didn't exactly look like this!! Not that it was horrible, but not exactly that room!
On Monday I thought that my water may have broken. I know what your thinking... wouldn't you know that? Well, I'll spare you details, but I finally went into the hospital cause I didn't want to risk getting an infection if it did. Sean took me in a little before 9. We dropped Sam at my parents & my sister Wendi (whom I had been bombarding with questions all day) had already texted her friends at Desert Banner & told them I was coming in. It's nice to have sisters with connections :) So they checked me out & told me I was fine, it hadn't broken... BUT... my blood pressure was pretty high, so they ran labs & monitored me til about midnight, when the on call dr. said I wasn't allowed to leave cause my bp wasn't staying down. So I spent about 24 hours laying around & being monitored. Funny thing.. when I'm laying down, my bp is be-a-utiful!!! Even when I sit up for a few minutes, it increases. Ridiculous!!!!!
My OB had a busy day & didn't make it in to see me until after 5 in the afternoon, but she said she wanted an ultrasound to measure fluid levels & the size of the baby. She said that becuase I was having no other symptoms of preclampsia, that she would let me go home. She said... it looks like your blood pressures only stay reasonable when your laying down, so you know what that means, right? Yes, I know what that means... I will be laying down until this baby comes. Just what I hoped for!!!... ok, not really.
As I spent the day laying in the hospital I was thinking about having to depend on other people to do things for me & it slowly was bringing me down. I talked with my sister Kelli yesterday who reminded me that I needed to give other people the opportunity to serve me. I know it sounds nice, but it still stresses me out. (understatement of the year!!!)
So... I'm actually feeling, ok... ok, maybe I'm feeling like this baby could come any second, seriously. Maybe it's the laying around that is making me feel this way.
So when I went into the hospital they asked me how far along I was & I said 36 weeks. Then they told me that according to my dr. record, I'm only 34 weeks. What? Are you sure? Yes, she has my due date as September 3rd. Um... I don't think so!!! So... apparently I though I was 2 weeks further along than I really was. BUT! My dr. did order an ultrasound before I was discharged, to check fluid levels & baby's growth. When the tech was doing the ultrasound, she told me the baby weighed a little over 6 lbs. Seriously? & I'm supposedly only 34 weeks? I could also see the averages of the growth & it was saying I was 36-37 weeks. She said.. wow, your baby is looking pretty big! & then kept checking her calculations & said, but I'm not off, I know I'm right. Hmmm.... I still think this baby is gonna come alot sooner than my supposed "due date". If I gain a pound a week from now & have a 12 pound baby, I may kill myself!!!!
So I will be spending the next ____ blank days laying around. You may think to yourself.. laying around dosn't sound half bad. If you think this, you've never literally just layed around for an extended period of time. It's not like- Oh, I could do this project & that- it's like- Oh.. I'm laying here... and can only get up to go to the bathroom!
I got home from the hospital last night & I think before I had even got home, my sister JoDee offered to let me lay around her house today & let sam wreak havoc on her house.
Emotional interlude:



I have been blessed with the most amazing family. I could never put into words how blessed I am. I love this picture above! There is no better way to show a true love for others than to give of yourself & your time.. true love.
Today I've been laying at my sister's house while my child plays with hers. She drove me to a dr. appointment, she fed me lunch, & my son isn't crawling all over my stomach. When another of my sisters stopped by she asked if I'd like to lay around her house on Friday.
Yesterday when I layed in the hosptial I was able to pass the time talking with several siblings on the phone, & it didn't seem too bad after all.
This is how you see true kindness & love.. someone gives you their time- to talk, to tell you they hope your ok, to actually serve you. What else could bring you more joy, than when you don't want to burden anyone, they take you & serve you anyways & it dosn't seem like your burdening them at all.
I do know, that after we had Sam, & Sean saw how my family served us, it gave him a greater love for them. Maybe God gives us times that we need to depend on the help of others often enough for us to appreciate His love, & our love for others to grow.
*****

Alrighty... start praying that this baby's debut isn't too far off...

Really??

Seriously?! I couldn't fall asleep because there is a baby making my stomach ginormous & I can barely turn over. Then this baby pushes on my bladder so much that I end up getting up several times just to go to the bathroom. Then this baby wakes me up earlier than the baby that is actually here already living in my house. How is this fair?! I know, I know... "it's just getting you ready for the lack of sleep when the baby is actually here!"... I don't need preparation!! I just want some SLEEP!

Sean's Corner

Sammy on the Snapper mower. I try to allow sammy to help me work on stuff & run equipment, this is a perfect example of this. I had just got the Snapper going I wanted to try it out. Well Sammy couldnt be left on the side lines, he figured out how to open the back door and out he came to help me. I think its good to involve him in stuff like this because it teaches him not to be affraid of equipment and eventually I will teach him how to work on it. So to prepare him now I let him play with my tools watch me work on stuff and let him be around loud and scary equipment (loud and scarry for a little guy) ie a running 8hp mower.

Is HARLEY DAVIDSON and american Icon. I say yes, however my sister in law Nancy says no-

When I think of american icons I think, Apple pie, Baseball, Hamburgers, Trucks Tractors/Heavy Equipment, Harley Davidson, Muscle Cars, BBQ, rock, country, jazz and coca cola-------- E.T.C E.T.C

For those reading this Yea or Nae on Harley Davidson as an AMERICAN ICON?

Sean's Corner

Ok, another post for me.

Ok so today I was thinking of why certain High School friends stick with you over the years, and others dont- The good friends from High School that have stuck with me over the yrs are Brandon and Cory Armstrong and Micha Adams and few others. Yissel and Jen Ive kept in touch with but at arms length of course. Other friends I havent kept up with include Abe Graves, John Norton and Tammy Thompson ( just to name a few). Ive seen them around, online or otherwise but we dont hang out or chat with them. Ive come to realize you cant have to many friends, so I think it will be my personal goal to get back in touch with alot of my old friends that Ive lost contact with.

Ive finally decided to go with a riding mower. So I bought 3 older Snapper riding mowers they are the only brand I could find that would fit through the narrow back gates. They all had the older 8hp briggs engines, you know the ones that never want to start, So I bought a new Honda 13hp motor for the primary mower. So I am so excited to ride the mower at work. Its gonna be great.

Now the quotes of the day

Quote 1

Before I give the quote of the week I would like to give this disclamer, I am not a sexist. I think this quote is funny because its so stupid-

So the KING OF THE HILL QUOTE OFF THE DAY IS FROM COTTON HILL (Hanks father)

Preface- Bobby is sitting with Cotton at a Bar, Bobby trys to get the waitress's attention to place an order with no luck then Cotton Slapps the waitress on the butt and says" Hey missy How about some sammiches"

Again its funny cuz its stupid-

Quote 2

Cotton hill says , "I kinda like Arlen, what kinda work is around here to do?

Dale says "Are you allergic to asbestos"?

Cotton "Hell No"!

good night--

Baby showers :)

Here we are at 34 weeks... could the days be any longer?
I met everyone from work at Crackers today for a baby shower breakfast! Yummy!!!! I told everyone I didn't need anything for the baby cause it was another boy, but they all spoiled me & I have to admit, it was kind of nice :)
My friend Felice made these amazingly cutie favors...

the pacifiers are two lifesavers stuck together with white chocolate, & a jelly belly for the nipple. How freaking cute is that?!!!

Here is everyone...l to r- Jara & Maddy, Kamie, Julia, Felice, Lorene, Jen, Barb, Helen, & Dr. D

I got alot of diapers & gift cards, which was exactly what I needed!!!!!!! I can't believe I'm gonna have 2 babies to diaper here soon!
Kamie got me this totally adorable necklace with the kids birthstones...

and Barb got this really cute portable nightlite- I've never seen these!

seriously, cutest of all.. the jammies that Jen gave me for the boys-

I died when I saw these!!! Aren't they just adorable! Can't wait to put them on the boys :)

I had a Dr. appointment this afternoon & was a little afraid at what she would say. This past week I've started swelling up a little, & I know my blood pressure has been up a little.

Well, when they took my bp, it was way up & due to the whole induction when I had Sam, they were a little concerned. The dr. sent me over to triage at the hospital to be monitored again. 4 hours after my appointment began, I finally got some discharge instructions, with good news from all the labs & my bp went way back down. Luckily, no bedrest! I cannot do that again! SO- I have to really take it easy.... do my prenatal yoga everyday, keep my feet up, & eat nice & healthy so that I make it all the way with this one!!!!

Oh baby!!

Just the beginning...

It was 2 weeks ago today that I came home from work to Sam waiting for me in the window. When I came in the house he had a note for me that said- Will you go with me & Dad to Pennsylvania?- Sean found a way for us to go if we could find some decent plane tickets.
My parents have been serving a mission for the past 2 years in Pennsylvania & my siblings were all going to meet up with them & then end up at a reunion with my Mom's family in Punxsutawney. I've been sadly moping about because I knew we wouldn't be going. I guess Sean must've had enough of my sad faces.. either that or he really loves me :)
It took us a few hours of searching online, but we eventually found some semi-decent tickets. We didn't tell anyone that we were going.
I had a doctors appointment that day & had to get the ok from her to travel. After 3 hours at he office & at the hospital running every test possible, she agreed it was ok for me to travel.
So... I said goodbye to all of my family that weekend & told them to give my parents hugs for us.
Then on Wednesday last week, we got on a flight at midnight.
ps- flying with Sam was an interesting adventure!!!! We thought if we took a late flight that he would sleep through the flights. He slept for about 3 hours, until we got to Atlanta for our 2 hour layover....
then he just wanted to run around the airport & watch the planes. Even when he wanted to snuggle a little... he wouldn't sleep!!!

So he finally fell asleep the last hour of our second flight to Pittsburgh. When we got in, we got our rented car & headed towards Erie PA!! We had to tell my parents that we were coming, by now.. but nobody else knew. My parents had reserved a room at their favorite wings restaraunt & made it at about the same time we would be arriving so we could join everyone. Sam slept alot of the 2 hour car ride.. which if your calculating, means he got about 6ish hours of sleep that night-broken up- compared to the 11ish hours he normally gets. which = not the happiest camper!! For any of us. Cause in case you were wondering.. I did not sleep at all that night! I thought I could sleep a little on the flights, but my giant belly & moving baby within, & crazy baby outside me, all kept me pretty occupied! Oh well.. we all survived. By then, I was so excited to see everyone, I couldn't really fall asleep!!

So when we were just a few minutes away from the restaraunt, I got a call on my cell- from my sister JoDee. She called to say how much they were missing me & that they were all about to get together with Mom & Dad for lunch. I told her we missed her too & hung up.

About 2 minutes later we showed up at the restaraunt. JoDee was walking by when we walked in & just laughed & ran up to hug us. Her family was the only one there so far, so we waited for everyone to show up. over the next few minutes we were reunited with my parents that I hadn't seen in almost 2 years & all the sibs (minus Tammie who couldn't make it from Lousianna :( ) It was so awesome to all be together & for my parents to finally meet Sammy!! They left a month before he was born. So now you can enjoy some pictures from our lunch adventure...

in-laws, sisters, parents, children, cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles.. all reunited :) What an awesome time!!! & pretty darn good food as well!!!

This was just the beginning.. more PA postst to follow :)

Sean's Corner

Sean's corner is a little part of Julia's blog that is for me and my thoughts. We just got back from our super fun vacation to Pennsylvania. The trip went very well, I got to meet the famous "UNCLES OF BIG RUN" and spend an extra day with them after the rest of the family had gone on there way. We heard some pretty crazy and hilarious stories the last night we were there around the fire. Our flights home were long and difficult. Sam did as good as he could do but the Houston airport was a joke and a moron reclined his chair all the way back and got mad when sam beat on his seat, thank goodness for sky harbor and the nice stewartist on the way home. After returning to Phoenix I had the same feelings I had when I returned from Oregon a few years ago. A feeling like- what the heck am I dong here, its' hot, everythings dead and my electric bill is over 250 in the summer. Its been a great motivation to get done with school so we can get the heck out of here. I dont know where we'll move but it will definitely have a cool summer and 4 seasons and be very green. If there was a big enough city near Punxy to commute to for work I'd consider it. Southern Oregon is nice also along with Huntsville & Kentucky, so I've heard. I've also decided I'm going to buy a car after I graduate, perhaps a 2003 camaro ss.

Before I end my post I would like to thank a few people from our trip- the family, especially Nancie, Garrison, Jocelyn and the "uncles" for helping us keep sammy from running out in the woods and getting picked off by the bear, ALSO Phil and Janet for taking us to quaker steak and turning me on the those great hot wings. I don't get wings too often as Julia dosn't care for them and we usually eat the same thing.

Till next time

Sean

Freedom!

Happy 4th of July everyone!!
Sam was a little tuckered out on our way home :) We took it easy this 4th. probably the way it should be when it falls on the Sabbath...
We were up pretty late last night & our new ward starts at 8:30!! Everyone in the ward seems really friendly & my sisters best friend is the relief society pres, so it was nice to see a familiar face. Sam seemed to do really well in the nursery & those nursery workers were awesome!!! It was so nice to sit in Relief Society & hear a great lesson I could ponder & then sit with my husband in Sunday School. We haven't been able to do that in a long time!!! I guess it won't be too long before there another baby in our arms to take care of during church!
When we got home we all took a great long nap.. another thing I haven't done in forever!
We bbq'd some pork & veggie cabobs & ate some amazingly juicy watermelon for dinner. We drove just down the street & parked on the side of the rode & watched some fireworks a local church put on while sitting in the middle of an orange grove. It actually made it a little more cool & I didnt' even break a sweat at all :) One major complaint of staying in the valley for the 4th. I wish I would have brought my camera, cause Sam just LOVED the fireworks! He just kept yelling & ooing & aahing & laughing & pointing. It made me so happy to see him love it so much. He loved the loud ones.
I watched the fireworks & thought about what an amazing country I live it & that I've been able to be free to live how I want to, to worship God how I feel I should, & to make choices freely. We are so blessed to live in this country! & then I looked to my side & saw my beautiful baby smiling & laughing & his dad smiling, just to see him smile. It was an awesome moment!!!
I hope everyone else had an amazing fourth!! We are truly blessed!

found!

Ok, so it wasn't really lost.. but I have alot more things organized in the house, so I could once again easily get to my camera!! I pulled it out & took a couple pictures & realized I never downloaded pics from Fathers Day.
I took a picture of Sean & Sammy on Father's Day & the look on Sam's face made me totally laugh!
I can't help but love this kid, just looking at him :)

Today I finished unpacking the kitchen & we got a new dishwasher installed this morning. After we finished the kitchen we had a mac n cheese lunch..

Sam did NOT get enough sleep last night & was whining all morning- I knew he needed a nap!! Of course, as soon as there was anything in his belly, he was out! You'd think he would take a decent nap, but a few visitors stopped by & he was up again 35 minutes later.. this kid is so nuts!!!
We are still in the unpacking process, but here are just a couple of pictures of our new house...

yeah.. those curtains came with it & will be removed!!! I guess it's hard to tell that far away, but they are pretty nasty.

We finally got a new armoire for the tv & we LOVE it! Wahoo!!

I am soo stoked about our new house! Every room that is put together makes me love it more. We are excited to put the rest of it together- I guess I should say, I'll be excited when its done!

still here

Yes, I'm still here. I may be tired of working, tired of being a giant baby carrying house, & tired of all the boxes & unpacking... but I'm still here.
We got everything over here Saturday last week & Sunday decided we would sit on our duffs & relax, cause I stressed & pushed myself too much with the move. Then we both worked every day this week until today :) I finally can unpack, watch Einsteins with Sammy & get back to saying.. no Sammy!! :)
I'm pretty sure this baby tried to come right out of me last weekend, & when I didnt' allow that, he decided this week he will try to claw his way out!
(not me, by the way) I'm feeling every little body part all day long.. & this kid LOVES to move around!!! Yesterday I thought he was practicing some karate or kung fu in there! Officially.. 8 more weeks- 6, in Julia count.
The other day I asked Sammy how he felt about having "Henry" as a brother. This is what I want to name our new addition. It was my Grandmother's maiden name & I LOVE passing on family names :) Sean.. is still coming around to that name. Sam just looked at me & said- Henry? plain as day!! I asked Sean if he heard him & he just gave me a look that said.. we're still not naming him Henry. So now I always ask Sam where Henry is & he just says " Henry" over & over & points to my stomach. I think this baby was destined to be Henry :)

In other countdown news...3 weeks until my parents make their way home!!!!
However, I do have to live with the fact that my entire family.. minus me.. will be walking Phil's stomping grounds these next couple weeks.

Phil, the groundhog :) My mom is from Punxsutawney PA & the family reunion is next weekend. All my siblings are going to meet up with my parents after a 22 month separation. We just couldn't find a way to get there this year, so I have to wait the full 3 weeks til I see them.
I'm pretty bummed about it, so if you want to send positive thoughts my way, now would be the time! Sean is trying to make plans for this weekend to go up north to get out of the heat in hopes of making me forget about it- & I just may, while I'm watching fireworks- but next weekend will be hard. Plus side: oh wait.. I don't think there is one!
Ok... enough of my wallowing & back to my unpacking!!