I hadn't realized it had been a whole week since I blogged last. I have been so busy, and then my fall allergies hit and I have trying to scratch my eye out.
Not eyes, just eye.
I hate wishing it would frost, but that is the only thing now that will relieve me.
Anywho...
I found this meme and thought I would pass it along.
1. Where do you fold your laundry? I fold each batch on my family room couch right after it comes out of the dryer. That way, it's just a little at a time. The boys have to do their own socks and underwear, and the person who has bathrooms duty that week has to fold the towels. They also have to put away their own clothes, which often leads to them doing their own laundry because if they don't put they away, I won't do their laundry for 2 weeks. Which then leads to this:

2. Must you be sure the dishes are washed before you go to bed each night? I used to, but I am learning to be more relaxed. If I have to do the dishes, it's because one of the children didn't do their chores. I will help out if they had activities, but if they goofed off, the dishes will be there in the morning for them, only the food will be crusted on!
3. Do you used caller i.d. to screen your calls? Every time. I love it so I don't have to answer telemarketing calls. I get fewer and fewer of those every day.
4. Do you let the low fuel light come on in your car before you fill up? Never. I try to fill when it gets to the halfway mark. That way I don't feel like I spent quite so much on gas! Plus, the needle goes down faster once it hits halfway.
5. Are you a registered voter? Yep. But the best part is, The Doctor and I signed up for them to send us absentee ballots every election. So I don't have to even go to vote. They mail them to us a couple weeks ahead, we vote and mail them back. It's lovely!
6. Breakfast for dinner is one thing, but can you eat dinner for breakfast? Absolutely! I love eating leftovers for breakfast. Macaroni and Tomatoes, casseroles, mashed potatoes...bring it on!
7. Do you click on the ads you see on people’s blogs? Nope.
8. Do you just want to yell at smokers who are clearly standing within 50ft of the door at a restaurant? Yes! I hate that I have to walk through their pollution to get into a building. I hate smoking.
9. What did you have for breakfast today? Well, it's Tuesday, so we were supposed to have oatmeal, but when I was cooking it, I found 4-5 little dead weevil body's! Ewwww! So I dumped it and we had Wednesday for breakfast...egg sandwiches. The kids did not complain!
10. What about your life today would surprise your teenage self? That I am working. All my life, all I ever wanted to be was a mom. I just wish I could have had a few more years to be with The Princess before I had to start working, but we can't have everything.
I have a lot of things I want to blog about. But I don't feel like it.

I have funny stories, cute pictures, interesting opinions, etc.

But instead I am sitting here staring at the screen.

Nothing.

Blah.



Several years ago, for my Mom, I went through and typed up all of her recipes, then printed them and put them in page protectors and a 3-ring binder. Then I did the same thing for me. I loved it.
Then my sisters wanted copies, so we made cute binders for them. I also made one for my sister-in-law.
For my birthday, my sisters promised to make me a cute binder. I can't wait!




Why is so hard to be a teenager? I remember being one and the feelings and frustrations were enormous.

And now that I am the mom of a teenager? My heart hurts to see him going through things that I can't do anything about.

I can see now why Satan's plan would have been so appealing. I want to take away all his struggles and just do it for him so he doesn't have to hurt.

Because when he hurts, I hurt.

And tonight, we are both hurting.

I thought it was hard being a teenager, but it's so much harder being the mom.

In honor of The Doctor, who is letting me go on an overnighter with my card group (not that I really asked, but still...).

100 reasons to be a guy...

1. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
2. Movie nudity is virtually always female.
3. You know stuff about tanks.
4. A five day vacation requires only one suitcase.
5. Monday Night Football.
6. You don't have to monitor your friends lives.
7. Your bathroom lines are 80% shorter.
8. You can open all your own jars.
9. Old friends don't give you crap if you've lost or gained weight.
10. Dry cleaners and haircutter's don't rob you blind.
11. When clicking through the channel, you don't have to stall on every shot of someone crying.
12. Your rearend is never a factor in a job interview.
13. (Deleted for content!)
14. A beer gut does not make you invisible to the opposite sex.
15. Guys in hockey masks don't attack you.
16. You don't have to lug a bag of useful stuff around everywhere you go.
17. You understand why Stripes is funny.
18. You can go to the bathroom without a support group.
19. Your last name stays put.
20. You can leave a hotel bed unmade.
21. When your work is criticized, you don't have to panic that everyone secretly hates you.
22. You can kill your own food.
23. The garage is all yours.
24. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
25. You see the humor in Terms of Endearment.
26. Nobody secretly wonders if you swallow.
27. You never have to clean the toilet.
28. You can be showered and ready in 10 minutes.
29. (Deleted for content)
30. Wedding plans take care of themselves.
31. If someone forgets to invite you to something, he or she can still be your friend.
32. Your underwear is $10 for a three pack.
33. The National College Cheerleading Championship
34. None of your co‑workers have the power to make you cry.
35. You don't have to shave below your neck.
36. (Deleted for content)
37. If you’re 34 and single nobody notices.
38. You can write your name in the snow.
39. (Deleted for content)
40. Everything on your face stays its original color.
41. Chocolate is just another snack.
42. You can be president. (I thought about deleting this one!)
43. You can quietly enjoy a car ride from the passenger seat.
44. Flowers fix everything.
45. You never have to worry about other people's feelings.
46. You get to think about sex 90% of your waking hours.
47. You can wear a white shirt to a water park.
48. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
49. You can eat a banana in a hardware store.
50. You can say anything and not worry about what people think.
51. (Deleted for content)
52. Michael Bolton doesn't live in your universe.
53. Nobody stops telling a good dirty joke when you walk into the room.
54. You can whip your shirt off on a hot day.
55. You don't have to clean your apartment if the meter reader is coming by.
56. (Deleted for content)
57. Car mechanics tell you the truth.
58. You don't give a darn if someone notices your new haircut.
59. You can watch a game in silence with you buddy for hours without even thinking "He must be mad at me."
60. The world is your urinal.
61. You never misconstrue innocuous statements to mean your lover is about to leave you.
62. You get to jump up and slap stuff.
63. Hot wax never comes near you pubic area.
64. One mood, all the time.
65. You can admire Clint Eastwood without starving yourself to look like him.
66. You never have to drive to another gas station because this one's just to skeevy.
67. You know at least 20 ways to open a beer bottle.
68. You can sit with your knees apart no matter what you are wearing.
69. Same work...more pay.
70. Gray hair and wrinkles add character.
71. You don't have to leave the room to make an emergency crotch adjustment.
72. Wedding Dress $2000. Tux rental $100.
73. You don't care if someone is talking about you behind your back.
74. (Deleted for content)
75. You don't mooch off others' desserts.
76. If you retain water, it's in a canteen.
77. The remote is yours and yours alone. (Not in my house!)
78. People never glance at your chest when you’re talking to them.
79. ESPN's sports center.
80. You can drop by to see a friend without bringing a little gift.
81. Bachelor parties kick butt over bridal showers.
82. You have a normal and healthy relationship with your mother.
83. (Deleted for content)
84. You needn't pretend you're "freshening up" to go to the bathroom.
85. If you don't call your buddy when you say you will, he won't tell your friends you've changed.
86. Someday you'll be a dirty old man.
87. (Deleted for content)
88. If another guy shows up at the party in the same outfit, you might become lifelong buddies.
89. Princess Di's death was almost just another obituary.
90. The occasional well‑rendered belch is practically expected.
91. You never have to miss a sexual opportunity because you're not in the mood.
92. You think the idea of punting a small dog is funny.
93. If something mechanical didn't work, you can bash it with a hammer and throw it across the room.
94. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
95. (Deleted for content)
96. You don't have to remember everyone's birthdays and anniversaries.
97. (Deleted for content)
98. Your pals can be trusted never to trap you with: "So... notice anything different?"
99. Baywatch.
100. There is always a game on somewhere.
This is my sister. This is where she blogs.



Today my car broke down at the grocery store. Just wouldn't start. I had the same problem 3 weeks ago, but we jumped it, charged the battery, and it has been fine.

I called her and asked what she was doing, hoping she wasn't working. She said she was having a lazy morning at home. I asked, no, I begged, her to help me.

And you know what?

I didn't need to beg. She came right away. Just jumped in her car and came to rescue me.

Not only that, but she jumped my car, then followed me to the mechanic. Then gave me a ride back to the preschool to pick up The Princess. Then gave us a ride home.

She stayed for lunch, and then left. 5 minutes later, the mechanic called and said my car would be ready soon. It just had a bad battery.

So I called my sister back and she immediately turned around and came back and picked us up and took us back to the mechanic.

Then she was able to go home.

3 hours later.

And you know what she said?

"This is what sisters do."

My sister rocks!

P.S. My other sister wanted to come too, but had to be home to pick up her son from preschool. We missed her!
I love little kids dressing up. They have so much fun. These pictures are from December 2001. We were at my mom's house.

Doesn't The Artist make the cutest little mouse?


Doesn't The Teenager make the cutest, uh..., well, girl?



Doesn't The Chocoholic make the cutest, uh..., well, dancer?



Thank goodness I finally had a girl so these poor boys didn't feel the need to be substitutes! LOL
Text messages sent/received during the month of August:

The Doctor: 45

The Mom: 120

The Teenager: 3,120

Thank goodness for unlimited texting!
So today while I was at work, we were listening to the radio. "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi came on, and I love Bon Jovi.

I commented to everyone that I thought Jon Bon Jovi was cute and the other two girls in the office laughed.

"He's old!" said one. "Isn't he, like, 70?" said the other?

What? Hello! He is only 46!

I asked them how old they were. 24 and 26 were their responses.

They asked how old I was. 35 was my response.

THEY LAUGHED!

sniff, sniff.
I adore the Gilmore Girls. Everything about them. Their relationship with each other, the town full of crazy people (I love Kirk!), and especially how fast they talk! Watch this video clip. You only have to watch the first little part. However, if you are a huge fan (Heidi!) you might enjoy watching the whole thing and see if you can remember what episode each clip is from and what was happening.



And speaking of Kirk, those of you who saw this episode will fully appreciate this video. And if you haven't, just know that this is hilarious in my world!



Oh, oh, oh, and the whole Luke and Christopher fight! I am LOL right now!



And when the car crashed into Luke's diner? Classic! Why anyone lets Kirk do things for them is beyond me. But remember my novel? These episodes would have been really short if I was their writer!



I could go on and on, but I just want you all to know how much I love these girls!
So Santa comes every year at our family Christmas party. In 2001 my sister played the part. My parents have had this suit since the dawn of time (not really, but it seems that way...and smells that way). She was getting really hot, so at some point decided that since all the kids knew it wasn't the real Santa, she was going to ditch the beard.
Well, apparently some kids didn't know she wasn't the real thing. If you could have seen the look on their faces when "Santa" took her beard off! It was hilarious!
September 11, 2001 Tuesday

What a day! I slept through the alarm, so the phone ringing at 7:05 woke me up. Mom told me to turn on the TV. I turned it on, and 2 hijacked airplanes had flown into the two World Trade Towers in New York City. Hundreds of lives lost. Later, both the towers collapsed, burying over 200 firefighters and policemen that were there to help. Then a plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington D.C. I was so worried about A.

I had the TV on all morning, well basically all day. It is so horrific.

I finally got in touch with A. Her entire building of BYU interns got sick yesterday. A had diarrhea all night. Out of the 30 people, only 6 decided to go to work. So the rest were all home when it happened, thank goodness! I was so relieved.

Another plane crashed outside of Pittsburgh. They think the pilot crashed it on purpose so the hijackers couldn’t hurt anyone else. I am so sad. But I have to be strong in front of the kids. t is old enough that he really understands, and he is asking a lot of questions. We talked this morning, then I drove him to school. His teacher talked to the kids about it at school as well. When he got home, we talked even more.

They talked to a nurse that had been emailing her husband who was in the top of the building. They were emailing after it was hit, and all of a sudden the emails stopped, and she looked out the window and saw the building collapse. I cannot even imagine that!

They have said that they number could be up to 800 killed in the Pentagon. No one knows how many in the towers. A lot of people were able to get out, but they still don’t know. It’s going to be weeks before we know. We do know that there were 266 killed on the airplanes alone. They chose airplanes that were going from Boston to California, so they knew the planes would have a full load of fuel on board. At least one person on board each airplane was able to make a cell phone call out to family and let them know they were being hijacked.

They have grounded all airplanes in the entire United States until at least tomorrow. R is in Iowa, and was supposed to fly home tonight, so I guess he isn’t doing that now. This is the first time they have ever grounded all the planes…ever! It is so shocking!

We were up until 11:30 watching the news, over and over again. It is such a shock. Watching, it looks like a movie. I can’t imagine being there right now and having to deal with it in person.
Just type your name in and see how popular it has been. I have always loved my name. It is femine, yet classic. Not trendy. I never had another Camille in any school class, or at church. I have never had to go by "Camille R."

Notice that at the peak, Camille was 315 per 1 million babies. When you type my husband's name, it peaked with over 11,000 per 1 million babies. And even today, it is over 2,000 per million.

Type your name in at the bottom and it will take you to the NameVoyager site. Have fun!


Popularity of names starting with CAMILLE
CAMILLE
I decided after reading stupid books and seeing stupid movies about stupid girls who do stupid things and end up getting caught by the bad guy, that I would write a book about a smart girl who does smart things.

Ready?

Here goes.

Once upon a time, a smart girl was asleep in bed when she was woken up by a noise downstairs. She did not pick up a baseball bat and creep down the stairs, stepping on the squeaky stair. She did not wake up her husband to tell him that she heard a noise and make him creep down the stairs with said bat. She picked up the phone and dialed 911. The police came and caught the intruder. The End.

Okay, print it and bring it over and I will autograph it. Someday I will be famous, right? LOL
So I was led to a website by a friend. It is called Yearbook Yourself. It is so much fun! You upload a photo of yourself and they put it in real yearbook photos from years past. Here are a few of my favorites. You should try it!

In order, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1986, 1990, and 1994. The scary part? 1954 looks exactly how my mom looked in high school. And 1990 is how I desperately wanted to look in high school!











You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.

Which Disney Princess Are You?
The Princess was born on August 13, 2004. Friday the 13th.



I was 31 years old.


I was in the shower at 6:00 a.m. when my water broke. It just trickled, so I wasn’t completely sure, but soon it was evident because I couldn’t pee my pants that much!


I called The Doctor and he was excited. It is his last day of summer classes, so he still went to work to take care of some things. I called Mom and let her know. I hadn’t started any contractions yet, so I told her I would call when they started. She is going to be at the hospital with us for the birth.


I called and made arrangements for someone to pick up The Chocoholic after kindergarten (thanks Holly!), and then I got on my email and let everyone know. And then I waited.


And waited.


And waited.


No contractions at all. The Doctor got home at 10:00 and we decided to go up to the hospital then. We stopped at Burger King for something to eat because I hadn’t eaten anything and I knew they wouldn’t let me eat once I got there.


We got to the hospital at 11:00 and they put us in a room and had me change. Then we waited and waited. They finally came in and told us they were moving us to another room. They had been full, and the room we were in didn’t have a monitor in it. So I wrapped the sheet around me and we moved rooms.


We got settled and I explained to them that I was going natural and wanted to be able to move around. Everyone I told that to asked me why I was going natural. No one was supportive to begin with. It was frustrating.


I told them I would be willing to have a hep-lock (an i.v. start). So they started the process of asking questions and getting that in. The first nurse couldn’t get it in my hand. The second nurse couldn’t get it in my arm and that one killed! The vein rolled and she was trying to “float” it and it hurt so bad! Finally they called in the anesthesiologist. It took him like 30 seconds to get it in. He said he would see me in a while for the epidural and again, when I told him that we wouldn’t see him, he was flabbergasted that I was going natural. Grrrr!


Anyway, it took them 2 ½ hours before we finally got the i.v. in. By that time it was 1:45 and I still hadn’t had any contractions. My doctor came in and I wasn’t even to a 3 yet, and we all agreed that I needed to go on Pitocin. I really didn’t want to, but I understood that I needed to. So they got that going.


Pretty soon we could see that I was having contractions, but they didn’t hurt any worse than the Braxton Hicks I’d been having. We were talking and joking and laughing. Mom came up and we were all having a good time. They didn’t have a VCR or a DVD player or a CD player in the room, so we just had to pick what was on TV. But The Doctor was in a rare mood and we were just laughing a lot.


Finally, at 4:55, Mom said she needed to get something to eat, and asked The Doctor if he wanted to come with her to the cafeteria. He looked at me and I told him to go. He had asked me several times through the afternoon if I felt he was ignoring me because he was doing work on his laptop. I assured him that I was fine because nothing was happening and it was going to be a while.


So they left.


The very next contraction was painful. Honestly.


At 5:15 the nurse came in and checked me and I was at a 3. The contractions kept getting more and more painful. I was just praying that The Doctor would get back quickly.


They came back in at 5:30 and I was in the middle of a contraction and I have never been more glad to see him! He immediately came over and held my hand and helped me breathe through the contractions.


About 6:00, I said I had to get up and walk because I couldn’t sit through them anymore. I had been sitting because my water was broken and every time I stood up, I leaked everywhere. So they got me a pad and I was able to get up.


I would pace in between the contractions (they were about 4 minutes apart) and when one would start, I would grab The Doctor's (husband) thumb with my hand, lean against him and rock and breathe and moan through it. They were getting more and more painful, but they weren’t lasting very long, thank goodness. But I started telling him I wanted an edpidural about 6:30.


At 6:45, I asked to be checked again, and I was only at a 5. I was in so much pain and so frustrated. I knew that I couldn’t do it anymore. I started pleading Tom for an epidural and he kept telling me that there wasn’t time and I could do this.


Every time I had a contraction, near the end, I would push a little bit and that felt so good. I could feel her moving down each time.

At 7:00 I asked to be checked and I was at an 8. We knew then that it wouldn’t be long.


I stood back up and had 2 more contractions and then I had to push!


Boy did everyone get moving!


I laid down and The Doctor had to get right in my face and help me breathe. I kept begging him to let me push and he was so good to just keep my eyes on his and tell me to wait.


As soon as the doctor was ready, they said go ahead and push.


I pushed once and her head was out. Then they had the nerve to tell me to stop pushing. I didn’t want to! I wanted to push more! They got her suctioned out and the shoulders in position and told me to push. I pushed once more and she was out!

The doctor let The Doctor cut the umbilical cord and then they placed her on my stomach. The first thing I said was, “Make sure it’s a girl! Check if it’s a girl!” Everyone looked and assured me that she was! Then I just started crying! I finally had my little girl!



The Princess weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and she was 20 inches long. She is the smallest baby I have ever had! But she is so beautiful!


I think I am in love!
The Chocoholic was born December 4, 1998.


I was 26.
We went to the doctor at 8 am that morning. He examined me, I was only at a 1, and then he sent me to get an ultrasound done on the baby's kidneys. (He was diagnosed with Hydronephosis. Another story for another day.)

After he looked at the pictures, he said that they were the same and he wanted to go ahead with the induction. I said okay. I knew that he had my best interest in mind, and the baby's, and so I was okay with it. Last night, I told Tom that I just had a feeling that I would be induced today, and I was okay with it.

So we walked casually down the hall to the women's center at JV Hospital and they were waiting for us. I got changed into that attractive, modest gown and got into bed.

The nurse came in to put in my I.V. It was so awful! Apparently she usually just works on babies, and not the mommies. She was trying to find a vein that was long enough to put the needle in, and wouldn't roll. She kept switching from hand to hand trying to decide which to use. She started on my right hand, and was trying to put it in. It hurt so bad! I mean really, really bad. So she gave up on the hand and tried to put it in the arm. And it hurt, really, really, really bad!

The Doctor (husband) left and told them we wanted a different nurse to put it in. He said they get two tries, and they are out. I didn't even have to ask him to do that! So another nurse came in and got it in my left hand really quick, and hardly any pain. So finally at 9:35, they got the IV going.

I felt the first contraction 5 minutes later, but it just felt like my Braxton's. For about 3 hours, I only felt about half of the contractions, and they were just strong B.H. No big deal. At 12:40, the dr. came in and broke my water. I thought it would hurt, but I didn't feel a thing, other than wet! At that point, I was only dilated to a 2.

The contractions started getting harder, and I had to start breathing through them. Mom came up, as I had invited her to be there for the birth. I just sat in the rocker and watched TV. I hated not being able to walk around. I think if I could have, it would have gone faster and easier. I asked the nurse, and she said it was "protocol" that if you are on Pitocin, you have to be hooked to the baby monitor at all times, except to go the bathroom.

Side note, my nurse was so wonderful! Her name was FaeLynn, and she was the best thing for me. She was so nice and caring and we talked and talked. She really helped me get through all of this.

Anyway, at 3:30, they checked me, and I was only at 5. I was frustrated. At 4:30, the contractions were really hurting. I was having a hard time keeping control during them. They checked me and I was only at 6.

I asked for an epidural.

Let me take that back.

I begged for an epidural! LOL I was in so much pain. And of course I couldn't walk, so all I could do was lie in bed and breathe. So they put a call in to the anesthesiologist on call, and said he would be there soon.

He got there at 5:05 and they asked if I really still wanted the epidural. They checked me and I was at an 8, but it hurt so bad, that I said yes.

They took their sweet time getting set up (LOL) and at 5:15, ask me again if I am sure. They kept asking me because they knew my feelings on going natural. I had them check me again, and I was still at an 8. I was thinking that this birth was taking forever, and I didn't want any more pain! I said yes.

So then they tell me that I am not allowed to move while he is putting it in.

AS IF!

During the contractions, my nurse was staring me in the eyes, helping me to breathe. I started pushing. Everyone is freaking out because he is still doing the epidural. I was telling them, I need to push! So my nurse is now staring me in the eyes, helping me pant! LOL Tom later told me that my eyes were scary! I had a wild look on my face, and he could tell I was loosing control.

I told them I was pushing, and one nurse grabbed my legs and squeezed them together! I was so mad. I could feel the head between my legs!

At 5:25, they got the epidural in, my nurse went around, looked between my legs, looked at another nurse, and said, "We are going to have to deliver this baby now!" I told them I had to push! LOL Keep in mind my dr.'s office is just down the hall. He walked in as I was pushing the head out. He jokingly told me that if I had had this baby before he got there, he wouldn't be my dr. anymore because that would be twice!

Anyway, The Chocoholic was born at 5:27 p.m. The epidural hadn't even kicked in yet! Sure glad I asked for it! So it was a completely natural birth. I tore some and had to have stitches, but that is because I wasn't patient in my pushing!

The Doctor (husband) told me this part later. When his head started coming out, his face was really blue, and the cord was wrapped around his neck. They were afraid that something was wrong. So as I was trying to push, they were holding him in a little bit, trying to get the cord out enough to get it off. As soon as he was born, they had in the layette, giving him oxygen. But his face wasn't blue from lack of oxygen, it was blue because it was bruised from the birth! So I already gave him a bruise! LOL Again, I didn't know any of this for a couple of days. I am glad I wasn't aware of it then.

He was 8 lbs. even, and 19 inches long, with dark hair! As the dr. was stitching me up, the power went off. Of course only for a second, then the generators kicked in, but it scared me! It had snowed all day, the first real snowstorm of the winter.
See the popped vein in my forehead from pushing? Beautiful!

Oh, I love baby stretches! This outfit, as unattractive as it is, was the outfit we brought all 3 of our boys home in.
The Artist was born October 24, 1996.
I was 23 years old.

At my doctor’s appointment the day before, he stripped my membranes. I didn’t know what that meant, but I know it hurt. About 30 minutes after leaving the doctors, I started having Braxton Hicks contractions every 10-15 minutes and they hurt a lot more.

About 3:00 the next morning (the 24th) I woke up to sharp pains, but they were very irregular – 10 minutes apart, then 12, then 8, etc. But they hurt. I would stand up and walk them out, then try to sleep.

The Doctor woke up about 4:00 and I told him what was happening. I wasn’t sure if they were real contractions because my water hadn’t broken. He finally called the hospital and they said it sounded like I was in labor, and when they were regular and 2-3 minutes apart to come in.

So I decided to get in the bathtub to try and relax. While I was in the bathtub, the contractions started coming about every 6 minutes. I got out and put on my robe.

My mother-in-law was here and we started telling her things for taking care of The Teenager. Every time I would have a contraction, I would stand up and walk it out. It hurt too bad to just sit there.

The Teenager woke up at 5:30 because of all the noise, so then every time I would have a contraction, I would go into the kitchen. I didn’t want him to see me in pain. But he was so cute. At one point, I asked The Doctor to run my back because it hurt, and The Teenager came up to us and said, “Oh, me back hurt. Rub it please.” It was so cute.

I called my mom at 5:45 to let her know and so she would be ready when we went to the hospital. I was so tired by this point. The pains hurt so badly and they were still 6 minutes apart. I told The Doctor I wanted an epidural because there was no way I could make it a couple more hours like that. I was so scared.

Around 6:30, I went upstairs to go the bathroom and it felt like his head was right there. It was weird. A little while later, I told The Doctor that I had to push. I really had to push! I was scared. I didn’t want to have the baby at home. So we threw our stuff into the car and took off.

The Doctor sped the whole way to JV Hospital. I was praying that we would make it in time and safely. In hindsight, we really should have called an ambulance!

I was trying so hard not to push, but when that instinct is there, you can only put it off so much. I was “panting” and trying to blow it off, but was only partially successful. The Doctor was driving as fast as he could and was passing cars on the median and honking.

When we were turning into the hospital, I was pushing and felt this “pop” and my water broke with a gush. The Doctor said earlier that I couldn’t push yet because my water hadn’t broken. Well, now it had!

We pulled into the hospital and the women’s center is on the 2nd floor but there was no way I was going to wait for the elevator, so I ran up the stairs.

I ran down the hall shouting, “Help! I’m pushing!” The nurses kind of looked at us funny, and then realized what was going on. They rushed me into a room and I laid on the bed. The Doctor (husband) looked and he could see the head!

My doctor (doctor) just happened to be on call that night and the nurses had actually been on the phone with him when I cam in. So they were trying to get me to wait for him to come, plus I wasn’t fully dilated yet. They were trying to get me to stop pushing and stretch me out a little more. I tried, but I couldn’t for very long.

8 minutes after we walked (well, ran) in the door, my baby boy was born. Dr. Hansen walked in about 60 seconds later. Mom walked in about 60 seconds after that. I felt so bad she had missed it.

The Artist was so adorable. He weighed in at 8 lb. 7 ½ oz. and was 21 inches long.
Big brother, meet little brother
Isnt' he adorable? Look at those chubby cheeks!
I love to read birth stories. Each one is so unique. Even my own children were each so different with how they chose to come into this world.

I would love to share them with you.

We will start with The Teenager. I am just going to copy this out of my journal.

The Teenager was born October 5, 1993.
I was 20 years old.

My water broke that morning at 3:00 a.m. I had gotten up to go to the bathroom and when I got back into bed, I started to wet my pants (or so I thought). So I got back up and it leaked all the way to the bathroom. It was just a slow leak. So I woke The Doctor up and we went to the hospital.

The nurses confirmed that my water had broken. I went into the birthing room at PV Hospital and they hooked me up to the monitors and we waited. I called my mom (it was 4:00 a.m.) and told her she was going to become a grandma that day.

When I first got to the hospital, my contractions had barely started, and I was only at 1 cm. At 5:30, I was at 3 cm. At 7:30, I was at 3+ cm.

So they put me on Pitocin.

That was awful. I didn't like the Pit at all because it caused my contractions to come real hard, so I really couldn't get on top of them. But they never lasted for more than 45 seconds.

About 10:30 I got a 1/2 dose of painkiller, and again at 12:30. But that's all I had. I did it completely natural!

I forgot to mention that when I got there, I received my first enema. It was awful!

My mom had always said how when it came time to push, it felt so good. Well, maybe the first one!

About 12:50, I go the most urgent need to push! I was standing up and automatically started to push. I could not control it! It was almost scary!

The nurse came in to check my dilation and told me to push a little bit, and she stretched my cervix and popped it over his head and told me to go ahead and push. It hurt to push. It was so hard!

I pushed for 20 minutes, and the last few, they put an oxygen mask on me because my heart beat was going down. It was so frustrating to see his head come and then when I would stop pushing, it would slide a little bit back in. 2 steps forward, 1 step back.

Finally at 1:12 p.m., little The Teenager made his entrance into the world.

One thing, while I was pushing, I could see his head and still feel him kick me. It was weird! But he was so strong. He started to cry even before he was all the way out.

When his head came out, he was so ugly (Sorry, but it’s true!). His face was gray and wrinkled and squished.

The first thing he did when he was all the way out was go the bathroom, just missing Dr. Dinger (yes, that’s his real name).

While the nurse was cleaning him off, Tom turned to me and asked if I was ready to have another one. I just about asked for a divorce right then and there! I told him no, I was only having one child. Ever.

The nurse finally brought The Teenager over for me to see him. He was so cute and tiny! He weighed 7 lb. 8 ½ oz. and was 19 inches long.

The Teenager's first picture. My goodness, I was young!
Getting ready to come home from the hospital.
I had NO CLUE what I was in for! But did any of us?
Last week I decided that I was tired of trying to figure out what I was going to make for supper every night. So I sat down and made a menu for the whole month. As I put each meal on the calendar, I pulled out the recipe and made my shopping list. And remember, we don't eat fancy. We are meat and potatoes type of folks.

I then went shopping. For the whole month.

It took me 2 hours. With my 4 year old "helping."

I was a little scared at the checkout, but it only came to $250. I was so excited.

As I was walking out to my car, I was quite smug. I didn't understand why people are spending $600 a month on food.

And then I started thinking.

I didn't have to buy any meat, because I already had chicken and hamburger in my deep freezer.

I didn't have to buy any vegetables because I had them in my deep freezer, and cans on the shelf.

I didn't have to buy any cheese because I had that in my freezer.

I didn't have to buy bread because I make it myself.

I didn't have to buy any beans, or rice, or potatoes, or flour, or sugar, or salt, or...well, you get the idea.

When we get our tax refund each year, I take $1,000-1,500 and build up my food storage. I have buckets in the garage with flour and sugar and beans and such. I have a deep freezer to keep turkeys and chicken and hamburger. And those I don't buy unless there is a really good sale.

My hamburger I buy at Sam's Club in 80 pound boxes. I divide it up and use my FoodSaver to seal it good. But my mom always used old bread bags. And they worked just as good.

I am a proud member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have been commanded to have food storage. I always have, but now I think I really "get it." It's not just there for when we have disasters. It's not just there for when we are out of work (although it has been a blessing when we were!). It's there to help us live frugally.
My food storage room, which is in my furnace room. Not ideal, but you put it where you can!


My deep freezer, which is completely full. I seriously can't fit anything else in there!
These are the #10 cans of food from the Church's cannery. We have potato pearls, apple slices, hot chocolate, minced onions, etc.


My buckets in the garage. Again, not the best place, but it works!
Looking at these shelves make me feel so secure.
Just a little something to make you laugh!

Once upon a time, in a land far away, a beautiful, independent, self assured princess happened upon a frog as she sat, contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near her castle.

The frog hopped into the princess' lap and said,

"Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me.

"One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry and setup housekeeping in yon castle with my mother, where you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy doing so."

That night, as the princess dined sumptuously on a repast of lightly sauteed frog legs seasoned in a white wine and onion cream sauce she chuckled to herself and thought:

"I don't think so."
How long were your labors? (I am counting from when the pains started, not when my water broke)

The Teenager: 7 hours
The Artist: 3 1/2 hours
The Chocoholic: 8 hours
The Princess: 5 hours

How did you know you were in labor?

The Teenager: My water broke
The Artist: The intense pain!
The Chocoholic: Because I was in a hospital bed with an i.v. of Pitocin hooked up to my arm
The Princess: My water broke

Where did you deliver?

The Teenager: P.V. Hospital
The Artist: J.R. Hospital (BEST WOMEN'S CENTER EVER!)
The Chocoholic: J.R. Hospital (DITTO)
The Princess: A.V. Hospital

C-Section?

None

Who delivered?

The Teenager: Dr. Dinger (I am not kidding...and I hated him! But he was better than the dr. I had for the first 90% of the pregnancy...Dr. Slezack. I'm not kidding!)
The Artist: Dr. Hansen (BEST DOCTOR EVER!)
The Chocoholic: Dr. Hansen (DITTO)
The Princess: Dr. Smith
Drugs?
The Teenager: Two half shots of pain killer, which did nothing except put me to sleep in between contractions so I couldn't get on top of them.
The rest: Nothing. Just wonderful pain and the best feeling in the world is pushing that little baby out. I loved it!
I found them at Walmart! 6500K! But at $7 for a package of 2 bulbs, they will have to wait. But they are out there! Whoo Hoo!