First Month with Baby, part 2

Rachel is channeling Calvin. See the resemblance?

Last time I left you hanging, with "part 1" in the title. So now I'll fill you in on the trips (yes, that's plural).

Trip #1: Family reunion at Aspen Grove. My Grandpa Wight hosted most of his descendants at the family camp owned and operated by BYU. Thank you, Grandpa! It was wonderful! I enjoyed seeing everyone again. I'm especially glad my children were able to play with their cousins (almost 40 of them). I wasn't as social as I wanted to be, but I did as much as I could. A lot of people helped me, either by playing with my older children or caring for the baby. My cousin Valerie even took pictures for me when I couldn't. And I took pathetically few pictures.

Samuel and his cousin Anna "feeding" a bronze bear cub

The camp is designed for people to walk everywhere, but we drove instead, per doctor's orders (it'd only been 2 weeks). The kids went to groups divided up by ages. One day Benjamin's group had a pirate theme. He came up with his own pirate name: Captain Benjamin with a Real Sword. Dominic and I took naps, went to a lecture, spent time with family, etc. Here are 2 of my sisters:

Emily holding a sleeping Sabrina

Jen holding Kristen's son Eric














The most active thing I did was archery. Dominic said I did very well for my first time ever shooting an arrow :) He did very well, winning the tournament and earning the Robin Hood award. Samuel was sick that day, so he stayed with us. The range master helped him shoot 3 arrows, and the third one actually hit the edge of the target. Samuel was elated! A hail storm added to the excitement.

Grandpa taught his great-grandchildren the song "Two Blue Pigeons." Apparently, when his grandfather was a boy and crossing the plains, he learned to count by singing that song and counting the pigeons sitting on the millstone. Samuel really got into it and stayed near Grandpa after the other kids left.

Grandpa in the upper right-hand corner, singing.
Shown here are some of his great-grandkids.

We actually made it to the family dance this year. I danced a little, but mostly we just enjoyed watching everyone cut loose and have fun.

Elisa dancing with Gracie, my cousin Teri's daughter

While we were there, Benjamin asked, "Is BYU real?" So on our way home we made a detour through the BYU campus, pointing out important buildings and the giant Y on the mountain. When we arrived home, we discovered that the pilot light for the water heater had gone out :(

Instead of going home to California, my parents came to visit us for almost a week. Grandpa wrestled, played games and took the kids to the movies. I was still recovering, so my mom took care of the cooking, cleaning and laundry (thanks!). They both took the kids to the library and park. I'm not sure who had more fun or who was more worn out - the children or the grandparents. It really doesn't matter, because we all had a great time.

Grandpa teaching Benjamin how
to play "Othello"

Grandma playing with Rachel














Trip #2: Silver City, a semi-ghost town (because people still live there). The day before Father's day we visited this place about 2 hours away. The last 17 miles were on a mountainous dirt road; it was as bad as it sounds, but the view was gorgeous. Almost everyone we saw either had a truck or an ATV - anything else would get stuck in the mud during a storm.

The old schoolhouse, currently
getting renovated inside

It was interesting to see that some of the buildings were dilapidated, some well-kept, and others have the original store front but are now homes. We explored a little but didn't stay too long. The boys were fighting; we told them we'd leave if they didn't stop, and we left early. The weather was noticeably cooler there and perfect for taking pictures. We would like to go back eventually and try the restaurant's must-try pie.

Dominic and Rachel behind the old hotel, which is still in use

First Month with Baby, part 1

Wow, I forgot how time-consuming a newborn is. Yes, a lot has happened, but I also haven't had time to tell you about it.

First, our visitors. Devin and Maran visited that first weekend. They even came to see me in the hospital. Sunday afternoon we all went to a park for a BBQ. I wore my bathrobe; there was no way I was going to get dressed after only 4 days. On Monday (Memorial Day) I did get dressed to see "Terminator: Salvation" (good movie, a bit loud). Little Courtney is getting very cute, cooing and smiling now.

Dominic's mom came for ten days. It was wonderful having her here. She took care of the older children while I was in the hospital and at home recovering. She kept the house clean (thank you!). She and Dominic went to yard sales, helping us buy much needed furniture - a couch and more kitchen chairs. She even got to be here for Elisa's 2nd birthday, a very low-key event.

Daddy helping Lisy blow out her candles.

One of her presents, a jump rope - she jumped all over the yard.













Who could ask for a better present than a baby sister?













Memorable conversations:
"She's beautiful." -Nurse
"You're just saying that, aren't you?" -Me
"No, and I see a lot of babies. They're all cute, because they're babies. But occasionally I see one with a beautifully shaped face. Like her." -Nurse

"Benjamin, you don't need to kiss my belly anymore. The baby is out here, now." -Me
"I know the baby is out of your belly, but you still look pregnant." -Benjamin, less than a week after Rachel was born

What the fortune cookie said: "Your business deals will work out well"
How Benjamin read it: "You will fall in a trap and die"
Dominic's comment: "Is it a misfortune cookie?"

"I need to do my homework now." -Samuel, excited to work on the packet he received from kindergarten sign-up

"My turn!" -Elisa declaring her turn to hold the baby

I asked the kids to look at me and smile. Instead, I got this:

She's Here!

Last Saturday we went to the park for a picnic lunch. That's when I overheard a lady say, "Oh geez, I'd hate to be her right now." After seeing this picture, I see why.

Dominic is a calming influence on me. I felt less nervous when we checked into the hospital than I felt a few days ago. The staff here was also very good. For instance, the anesthesiologist really listened to me, and this was my least painful experience. The nursing staff was good at including me in their conversations instead of just working around me.



Rachel arrived at 12:10 pm, weighing in at 8 lbs 11 oz and measuring 21 inches. She's long and skinny with very chubby cheeks. Can you believe that hair? We finally got a brunette! I wonder if she'll have brown eyes, too. Anything is possible now.

Apparently my body handles surgery very well. The nurses said I'm acting more like a mom who went through regular labor and delivery. Even the doctor thinks I could go home a day early, but I'd rather take advantage of the peace and quiet here.

Dominic's mom arrived Wednesday night, and she is watching the kids. The kids like visiting me and their little sister here at the hospital, but they act a little wild. Benjamin is taking my absence the hardest; he keeps saying, "I miss my Mommy." So they want me home early.

Degu tragedy

2-year-old Sammy with one of his birthday presents, a degu named Yami.

We have only 1 degu (pronounced day-goo) left. Yesterday Dominic went to check on them, and 2 had died but 1 escaped from his cage and lived. It was a sad day for all of us. Samuel has decided to name this last degu Yugi. I hope he survives.


History: When Sammy turned 2, we gave him 2 degus (they were mostly for Dominic). At the time Dominic and Sammy were big into Yu-gi-oh!, both the cartoon (Sammy) and trading card game (Dominic), so they named the brothers Yami and Kuriboh.

About 9 months later Kuriboh died. Degus are very social and can die of loneliness. However, if you pair two males that were not litter mates, then they'll fight to death. So we bought a female degu and named her Taia, to keep with the yugioh theme. In due time there were 7 babies. 3 weeks later Taia got sick and died. We were actually grateful, because she was a bit crazy and half wild. Unfortunately, it was too soon for the babies to be weaned, and we worried for them. Yami was a great Dad, and all the babies survived. We didn't name the babies, because they all looked exactly the same.

During the adolescent stage we separated the 3 girls from the boys. 2 of the boys kept fighting (teenage rage?), and one of them died from his injuries. So now we had 7 degus in 2 cages. The situation remained unchanged for a year and a half until we moved.

Since we didn't know what we were moving into, we decided to give up some of our pets. PetCo has an adoption program, so we dropped off the girl degus and hoped they got adopted. Honestly we weren't too concerned, because all the employees were delighted with them.

These last 4 degus had to endure a week in our moving van in November until we found a house and moved in. They seemed to do just fine for several months. Until one of them decided to get out. We had several adventures and misadventures due to the one we dubbed Houdini. His brothers and dad followed suit. The amazing thing was that the cat never ate them! She actually seemed to get along with the occasionally free-roaming rodents.

We successfully sealed all escape routes. A few weeks ago Houdini chewed a new hole in the cage, escaped, and never returned. The others stayed put. And then yesterday Dominic found the tragic scene, with the 1 degu still alive. We really do not want more degu babies, so we're trying it with just one and hope he will be ok. The saddest part was when Dominic explained the situation to Samuel, who said, "But they were my birthday presents."

Anxieties abound

With only days to go, I'm feeling very nervous. You see, although it's very exciting to have a baby, surgery is the only way out of this.

Of course there are some great things about a scheduled cesarean section: we have an exact day and time (May 21st at 1 pm MST), and no big surprises. Modern medicine is wonderful - I can have babies without dying in childbirth! However, this is major surgery, and the risk of complications increases with each subsequent pregnancy and delivery. I'm so grateful that they make me stay in the hospital for 4 days, because I need it.

It doesn't help that I told the kids about what happens in the operating room. They thought it was interesting and a bit exciting. Then they went to bed. For the rest of the night, I kept thinking about it and feeling more concerned.

As a matter of fact, in the OR I usually feel so nervous that I talk incessantly to keep my mind off of what's happening. Dominic tells me afterward what I say, and I'm always embarrassed. I can't remember any of it now. But when I brought it up the other day, he couldn't stop smiling at the memories. So I guess it really is that bad.

And then there's the fact that Dominic lost his job. On the one hand, he can really help out getting the baby gear ready, and he doesn't have to take off any time from work. But on the other hand, the lack of income is a bit nerve racking. I'm focusing on the baby and not thinking about it too much at this point, though.

We still don't have a name! Oh, I know we'll come up with something eventually. But just like with Elisa, she'll be Baby for a little while.

Mother's Day, the Good and the Bad

Good: I didn't have to do any cooking! Dominic did it all, and the food was delicious.

Bad: Mealtime conversations were replaced with choruses of coughing from all the sickies.

Good: I slept a lot and wore my bathrobe all day.

Bad: I woke up from my nap to the sound of Lisy crunching on cough drops. She ate almost an entire bag! She was very happy, sticky and red, but I was coughing.

Good: Because it was Mother's day, I didn't have to prepare a Relief Society lesson.

Bad: We were too sick to go to church, and I missed the encouraging, heart-warming messages about moms and women in general.

Good: The newspaper was filled with the heart-warming stuff, which inspired me to call my sisters and sisters-in-law.

Bad: I couldn't call them all in one day (I have a big family).

Good: Dominic said nice things to the kids about me all day that helped me feel loved and appreciated.

Doctors and Star Trek

Funny story from the doctor's office today. My family has come down with a cold, and the doctor was obviously concerned that I might have the flu, which I don't. She asked if I had a fever or felt really hot lately. Well, I haven't taken my temperature, but I'm 9 months pregnant so of course I'm feeling hot (remember Father of the Bride 2?). Then she asked if I was feeling achy. Again, I'm 9 months pregnant and thus ache everywhere. So she gave up and told me to call the office if my symptoms worsen. She knows medicine better than I do, but sometimes you have to consider your audience before asking certain questions.

Star Trek opened up today! Yes, we saw it, and it was excellent. I appreciated how they kept true to the characters' personalities, and the inside jokes were a lot of fun. We dragged the kids along - didn't want to bring a babysitter into our sick house. Lisy kept trying to escape or get into the diaper bag. Benjamin almost fell asleep several times. Samuel repeatedly asked to go home. However, the end was exciting enough that they all gave it a good review.

Beached Whale

Yes, folks, I am at the beached whale stage of pregnancy: I have no energy and don't want to do anything. I haven't even turned on my computer for days. I have decided not to go out in public unless absolutely necessary. I'm getting tired of all the bug-eyed stares and people asking if I'm going into labor. Although I know people have good intentions, it's getting old. However, there are other things to write about.

Elisa working on the computer, just like Mom.

A few weeks ago we went to a Pow Wow, but arrived just as they were taking a break. We milled about, bought a few things from the vendors, and left before the activities reconvened for the evening. Dominic and I were too tired and/or sick to stay longer. I didn't even take pictures. The boys each got a balloon sword, which they really enjoyed. Lisy got a balloon dog, which she eventually popped. At first she was sad, but when Dominic pointed out that she could throw it away in a trash can, she was happy again. Ah, the simplicity of childhood.

Easter was low-key. Again, no pictures. Friday night we realized Easter was in 2 days; it just snuck up on us. So on Saturday I found our baskets and bought the candy and toys (I kept it simple). Let me just say that the day before Easter at Walmart is a madhouse. I hard boiled the eggs, but we never got around to dyeing them; no one cared. I was a bit nervous about dropping off the kids at nursery and primary. Who thought that stuffing kids with candy and sending them off to church was a good idea? But apparently all the children were in sugar-induced comas and not bouncing off the walls like I feared.

Samuel and Benjamin. Luckily this is a 1-story house.

Last weekend Devin and Maran came for a visit. The activities we planned didn't pan out, but it was still a good weekend. Our kids were very happy to see Courtney again. Dominic and I played with the baby while the new parents went on a couple of dates; a win-win situation.

Benjamin and Lisy are getting along better now than ever before. They actually play and laugh together. Though there is still a bit of animosity between them, mostly when Benjamin is trying to stop Lisy from breaking a rule. When Benjamin plays too rough and hurts her, Lisy comes crying to me and says, "Min Min did it." A minute later she'll be fine and runs off to play with him again.

Benjamin, Elisa and Samuel with the 3-D glasses from the "Monsters vs. Aliens" movie.

Samuel is outgoing and easily makes new friends. But he still tells me he wants to move back to Ogden. I couldn't figure out why until last night. We went to an Elder's Quorum BBQ (I didn't have to cook!) and watched him play. He kept trying to join the big group of kids, running around with them and playing along. They never included him. Eventually one girl left the group and played with him, and they had fun together. Darn, I'm getting teary-eyed just thinking about it again. Back in Ogden Sammy had a lot of friends from the very beginning. I realize now that he is probably lonely. He gets along great with his siblings, but he's a social butterfly without a social outlet. Although he never needed it before, I think I need to set up playdates for him.

Road trip to Rexburg

This past weekend we took a (long) trip to eastern Idaho to meet our new niece, Courtney. She's a cutie, and she has the dark hair I always thought my children would have. (Who knew blonde was a dominate gene?)

Uncles are so much fun. The boys rocked out with Devin's gaming instruments.














And of course they held the obligatory wrestling match.











Oh yeah, the reason we're here: baby!












The happy new mom, Maran
And the proud Grandma














Everyone took a turn holding little Courtney.
Elisa:
Benjamin:














Samuel even got to feed her, which he was very proud of:

The whole crew












We brought Llama Grandma home with us, and the kids thought they were having a slumber party. On Sunday we took her to the airport. Time to say good-bye until our baby is born in 6 1/2 weeks.












And my favorite picture of Dominic and Lisy

Planet Earth

Kids watching t.v. The couch was just too far away.

Two Christmases ago my parents gave us a copy of the Planet Earth series. I really like it for the cinematography, the education, and the funny side effects on my kids.

We have had very interesting dinner conversations about the significance of predator-prey relationships, as well as ecosystems. I didn't even know what an ecosystem was until I was much older.

The very first time we watched an episode, my boys weren't paying attention but were busy wrestling. Or so I thought. I noticed Sammy kept biting Benjamin's shirt and asked him what he was doing. Through gritted teeth and fabric came the muffled reply, "I'm a shark." Then Benjamin resignedly stated, "I a seal." The segment currently playing was sharks catching seals.

One day Samuel was slinking around the living room on hands and feet while narrating his own actions. In a British accent he said, "The lion was moving through the forest in search of prey and to find a mate." Dominic couldn't stop laughing.

And just recently, I asked Benjamin why he kept biting his own arm. He said, "I'm poisonous. [bite] I died. Ugh." Then he closed his eyes, stuck out his tongue, and tilted his head to the side. I wish I had the camera; that face was hysterical.

Letter to the Editor

I have very strong political views, but I keep quiet to avoid conflict. There have also been times when something happens and I want to write to the editor, but the fire of my indignation fizzles before any writing occurs. This week, however, I actually wrote a letter that was actually published.

Background: Idaho state law says that breastfed infants can be removed from their car seats while the car is moving. Furthermore, if there are more children than seatbelts, they don't all have to be buckled up. A bill was introduced to stop both practices. It barely passed in the Senate, but the House committee won't even see it. According to the transportation chairwoman, it is too invasive on families. In my letter I also refer to another bill that passed both the House and Senate in a matter of weeks: a mussel species was accidentally brought to the U.S. and has spread across the country, so they're taking immediate action to deal with its unavoidable entry into Idaho. Apparently, it clogs things up and is very expensive to clean out.

Child safety seat law would save lives
A few months ago, my family moved here from out of state. So I was unaware and surprised to learn that Idaho law allows infants and children to roam free in a moving car.

Furthermore, a bill that will protect our most vulnerable citizens will die in the House. At least the state Senators understood its importance.

I'm at a loss for words to describe this situation. The state understands the importance of preventative measures when it comes to the invasive mussel species. What I cannot comprehend is how they fail to see that the "loose cannon" bill can save lives.

If this law is too intrusive, perhaps we should repeal drunk driving laws.

Side note - the letter before mine hailed the chairwoman for protecting families from overreaching government.

Fun dinnertime

I had so much fun with the kids tonight at dinner. Usually dinner consists of "sit down, turn around, eat your food." But tonight the kids kept making me laugh.

First, we had shrimp with tails. Normally I buy tail-less shrimp, but I couldn't find any at the store. At the beginning of dinner, I showed the boys how to take the tails off. My little pile of tails was from me and Lisy. Then I noticed Benjamin had left his tails on the table, so I put them on my plate, too. When Samuel noticed, he had to add his tails to my pile, which included leaning across the table to reach my plate. This is honestly not an area where I thought peer pressure would matter.

Sammy was completely enthralled with the shrimp tails to the point that he forgot the rest of his dinner. He kept snagging more shrimp from the pan just so he could remove the tails (fortunately he did eat the shrimp).

Benjamin ate all his shrimp, and Lisy ate all her noodles (although neither ate the vegetables). I pointed it out to Dominic, and he suggested switching their plates. It worked! When they saw their favorite foods magically appear before them, they literally laughed and cheered and gobbled up the food. It was so funny watching their reactions.

As dinner ended I finished off my water but was still thirsty. Jokingly I said, "Waiter, can I please have more water? Too bad that doesn't work at home. At home I'm the waiter." But Samuel jumped up and said, "I'll be your waiter" and ran to the fridge. All the cold water was gone, so he brought back soda. Just as I was in the middle of telling him no soda, I saw that it was my favorite, so then I sheepishly agreed. And of course all the kids had to have some, too. I laughed watching them guzzle their water so they could have soda.

I don't remember what happened next, but somehow dinner ended with a lot of laughing and tickling and silly songs (ok, so I was the one doing all the singing). I blame it on the sugar high. Then, as each one finished, I would bounce them on my knees, which made them laugh even more.

First Imperialist

Hm, well not much has been happening lately, hence the 2 week hiatus from writing. We all had colds and didn't do much. In other news . . .

Dominic started a blog today! That's right folks, my husband has jumped on the bandwagon. It's nothing like mine, or anyone else's for that matter. He makes me laugh! I wasn't sure if I wanted the link in my Fun Sites or Family Blogs categories, but he said it belongs with the family. I encourage you to check it out: http://firstimperialist.blogspot.com/ And scroll all the way to the bottom to see the slide show; you don't want to miss it (I think the flames are a great touch).

Busy week

So busy it's taken me another half week to write about it! Actually, I was finishing a couple of really good books: the 2nd Fablehaven book by Brandon Mull, and Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler.

To begin, last Monday I had a doctor's appointment, which was significant for the blood test. Yes, it was the dreaded glucose screening, but I do not have gestational diabetes! Such a relief. However, due to a family history, I asked them to check my thyroid levels, which are low. So now I'm taking thyroid hormones. I looked it up on webMD, and I think I either had a subclinical level, or I just confused the symptoms with pregnancy: fatigue, weight gain, problems concentrating, etc.

Next, the kids went to the dentist. This was Lisy's first dental visit, and she liked it. In fact, she screamed whenever I took away her new toothbrush and mini toothpaste. At nap time she didn't want a doll or stuffed animal - she snuggled up with that toothbrush and toothpaste. As a side note, the dentist said all 3 kids have healthy teeth but will need orthodontics in a few years (sigh).

And Dominic turned 30! It's been 15 agonizing months, but we're finally in the same decade. Just kidding; I really don't care about that stuff. Dominic is a low-key person so we had a low-key party, but he raved about the turtle cake I made. It's so rich that we don't have it very often, and a birthday is the perfect time for such a decadent cake. You can find the recipe here. And this is the shirt he got from the kids; it cracks me up.
P.S. Dominic has adjusted to his new medication. He doesn't struggle to stay awake anymore; he was drinking 2-3 Mountain Dews a day. He is now off the Dews, and his sleep patterns resemble mine.

Then I got a haircut. I almost got a haircut last Spring but was racked with indecision about styling. My hair finally got too annoying. I realized it had been 6 years since my last cut, and I felt obligated to go once I made the appointment. I love my haircut! My family likes it, too, except Benjamin who said it's funny. It's a lot easier to take care of now than when it was long.

Before:
After (I look funny, but it's the best picture of my hair):














Finally, we went to a kid's fair at the Boise Expo Center. The kids had a blast, but it completely wore out Dominic and me. Sammy was enthralled with the magician. Benjamin couldn't get enough stickers. Lisy kept asking for "pop pop," aka lollipops. They really enjoyed the petting zoo area and the inflatable slide and bouncy rooms.

Boys petting a miniature horse
Lisy spent a lot of time on Dominic's shoulders














I think Sammy is trying to hide



See the stickers on his arms?
He had more on his face




Lisy happily jumping

We bought a van!

We've somehow survived with 3 car seats in the back of our Toyota Corolla, but 4 car seats just won't fit. So with our tax refund in hand, we scoured the ads, internet and used car lots for the last 2 weeks. Yesterday we came home with our new van, an '03 Chevrolet Venture, paid in-full. It's newer, nicer and less expensive than we were hoping for. My favorite feature is that it has 8 seats, so we won't grow out of it too soon. We even have enough of the refund left to fix our Corolla - needs new struts.

I have my own car! Freedom! I think I've been very patient and supportive with Dominic's crazy schedule and our one car. But today I felt happy every time I thought about my van.

I've been so focused on car hunting that I let the house fall into chaos. I came home last night and thought, how could anyone live in this dump? Today I had a miraculous burst of energy and cleaned all day. I didn't even need a nap for the first time in ages.

When lunch time and nap time collide

It's quite unfortunate that Lisy's nap time is also around lunch time. Oh I've tried to let her just go to sleep, but then she wakes up hungry and cranky. So now I hope she eats enough before collapsing. It doesn't always work. (You can almost see the remnants of her sandwich in her hands.)





And while going through old pictures with the kids, I discovered this little gem from last May. By that time Benjamin had sworn off all naps. Uh, yeah, he still needs them occasionally.



I'm such a cruel mother. I should put those children to bed! But they make such cute pictures. Unfortunately, I don't have any documentation of Sammy, so either he never fell asleep at the table or I just never caught it on film (I can't remember). However, he does sleep with his eyes open, just like his dad did as a child: