Can I just dote on my friends and family? I love them. No, seriously, I love them. I was just telling Kendall how much I love my friends and family. I feel so much love from them. I know that God has blessed us through them in ways they cannot even imagine.
I've had two people I don't even know stop by and drop off meals when Eleanor was born. TWO. One lady I have no idea where I know her from and she has no friend connection on Facebook or church... hmm... angel?
I have a pretty small family and a pretty small extended family. We send cards and emails and talk on the phone from time to time. Very low key since everyone is busy or retired :-). But when we do come together is so nice to feel right at home, we pick up right where we left off. We love on each other's kids like they are our own. I want my kids to know my family, so we put up the prayer board with pictures of family so they'll know who in the world I'm talking about when I mention them. Ethan still talks about Grandpa George and dad passed away October 2007. My family is so special to me, every single one of them.
Kendall comes from a humungo family. His parents divorced and then remarried so there are two families to keep up with. And both of his parents came from large families to boot. Christmas can be a bit tricky to handle to say the least. I'm really blessed to have them all as my in-laws. Eventhough I'm still trying to figure out who's kid belongs to whom because every time we all get together they've grown some more and I can't keep themy straight. Plus they all look alike!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
My love affair with Braunschweiger
Christmas of 2008 we were at my husband's father's home for a huge family potluck dinner.
I think I was in charge of bringing chips. Or cups. Since I'm new to the family I believe they are breaking me in gently since Kendall's mom's and dad's sides both have around 40-50 people for any holidy "family gathering".
Kendall's step sister presented a tray of B with crackers to which I inquired, "What is this stuff??"
And stuff replied, "Hello lover, my name is Braunschweiger. And I take tastebuds for a spin."
DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS IN THAT STUFF!?!??!!
It's like a spreadable HOT DOG! It's bits and pieces of liver with spices and SALT. Slap it on bread with mustard and cheese and the German folks eat that stuff up.
But oh dear, that stuff is good. It's my secret love affair. Strong southern women don't like funky things from overseas! We don't eat things with hidden vowels and silent w's.
Oh my this wonder Braunschweiger has won me over. And the worst part? Walmart carries it year round.
SAY IT AIN'T SO JOE!
I think I was in charge of bringing chips. Or cups. Since I'm new to the family I believe they are breaking me in gently since Kendall's mom's and dad's sides both have around 40-50 people for any holidy "family gathering".
Kendall's step sister presented a tray of B with crackers to which I inquired, "What is this stuff??"
And stuff replied, "Hello lover, my name is Braunschweiger. And I take tastebuds for a spin."
DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS IN THAT STUFF!?!??!!
It's like a spreadable HOT DOG! It's bits and pieces of liver with spices and SALT. Slap it on bread with mustard and cheese and the German folks eat that stuff up.
But oh dear, that stuff is good. It's my secret love affair. Strong southern women don't like funky things from overseas! We don't eat things with hidden vowels and silent w's.
Oh my this wonder Braunschweiger has won me over. And the worst part? Walmart carries it year round.
SAY IT AIN'T SO JOE!
New Eleanor
One word to describe her birth- quick. My water broke at 4:45pm, about a half hour after Kendall had left to do some shopping at Menard's. We'd spent the day in Elk River and walking around Walmart, so we came home to drop the boys and myself off, then he turned around and drove back to finish getting things on our 'before the baby comes' list. I hesitated at first to call the store and have him paged, but have a few intense contractions, I decided it was best to get him home.
"Hey, I wanted to let you know my water broke at 4:45."
"Your water broke?"
"Yeah, at 4:45, can you go ahead and come home?"
*click*
Ok, I guess he's coming home.
I had given Ernest a bath and when I bent over to get him out of his little tub I thought my bladder had lost a battle, but no, it was the begining of the end of pregnancy. I made a few phone calls and my friends know what was going on as well as some family.
Kendall came home and immediately started getting kids in pajama's and in the car. He was NOT messing around.
We dropped the boys off at a friends house, ran down to the hospital, and while Kendall parked the car a security guard came with a wheel chair to take me to the third floor. Super cool because Ernest crowned in the wheel chair last year.
As we entered labor and delivery I told the nurse behind the desk, "Water broke at 4:45, contractions are about 4 minutes apart." She nodded her head and directed us to the 'labor' part of labor and delivery. I'm so glad they had a room ready because we didn't call ahead and let them know we were coming in. As soon as I got there I spelled my name for her, let her know I wanted Dr Jensen, she took my blood pressure and temperature, then checked my dilation and I was at a 5. Great! I was a 3 two weeks ago. I then asked "Am I done? Can I get in the shower?" Sweetness, I'm granted release from the prison of the wheelchair! Kendall had made it upstairs by now and I didn't care who saw my butt I wanted in the shower with the hottest water on my back. My nurses said I'd been in there about 30 minutes when they wanted to check me again, now I'm at a 7 and my friends have found my room. I now know to have a designated photographer! These are the most candid pictures of myself I've ever seen.
"Hey, I wanted to let you know my water broke at 4:45."
"Your water broke?"
"Yeah, at 4:45, can you go ahead and come home?"
*click*
Ok, I guess he's coming home.
I had given Ernest a bath and when I bent over to get him out of his little tub I thought my bladder had lost a battle, but no, it was the begining of the end of pregnancy. I made a few phone calls and my friends know what was going on as well as some family.
Kendall came home and immediately started getting kids in pajama's and in the car. He was NOT messing around.
We dropped the boys off at a friends house, ran down to the hospital, and while Kendall parked the car a security guard came with a wheel chair to take me to the third floor. Super cool because Ernest crowned in the wheel chair last year.
As we entered labor and delivery I told the nurse behind the desk, "Water broke at 4:45, contractions are about 4 minutes apart." She nodded her head and directed us to the 'labor' part of labor and delivery. I'm so glad they had a room ready because we didn't call ahead and let them know we were coming in. As soon as I got there I spelled my name for her, let her know I wanted Dr Jensen, she took my blood pressure and temperature, then checked my dilation and I was at a 5. Great! I was a 3 two weeks ago. I then asked "Am I done? Can I get in the shower?" Sweetness, I'm granted release from the prison of the wheelchair! Kendall had made it upstairs by now and I didn't care who saw my butt I wanted in the shower with the hottest water on my back. My nurses said I'd been in there about 30 minutes when they wanted to check me again, now I'm at a 7 and my friends have found my room. I now know to have a designated photographer! These are the most candid pictures of myself I've ever seen.
Between the contractions. See? It is possible to muster up a smile! I think the idea of it almost being over gave me the patience to breath through every contraction.
During a contraction I'd try to swivel my hips around on the birthing ball in hopes that gravity and motion will help the baby on down. Plus, my friend Lisa is digging into rubbing my back. There's no such thing as 'too much pressure' on your lower back when in labor.
This one looks like a doozy. My mind is in a completley other world of concentration and focus. Mostly focus. Also, my breathing reminded me of the song Hosanna so I was also singing while trying to breath and contract. I'm a great multitasker.
She's out!! Relief is an understatement. It is such a good feeling to be DONE delivering a baby.
Men will never understand.
Seconds old. Look at those cheeks! And all of that hair!
Seriously, how precious is this picture! See that pinky finger? Yeah, he's totally wrapped around it.
FAT CHEEKS! This is what an 8lb 15oz baby looks like at minutes old.
My crew. Lisa, Anna, me, Jody holding baby Tessa. Jody came as soon as Dan was home. Lisa was my back rubber and 'quiet and calm' person. Anna was my photographer and another 'calm and quiet' person.
Can we see a trend in the type of people I need around me during delivery?
Ohhhh the pinks and purples and reds and yellows that filled our room.
The girls brought a closet full of goodies and outfits. Eleanor, girlfriend, you will be the
trendiest baby in town.
And check out dad beaming over his newborn. :-)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Due date = no baby
My oh so sexy cankles. THIS is why I gained 9 pounds in one week.
Monday, October 11, 2010
The morbid side of me
I can handle death, pain, and illness pretty darn well. Part of it is from growing up in hospitals and clinnics from following around dad's cancer and COPD. Usually, it doesn't phase me and I can see the person, not their illness.
However, lately I have been reading way.too.many. blogs about death and sickness.
Matt - lost his wife Liz to a pulmonary embolism when she got up from bed to meet their newborn.
Katie- a missionary in Uganda. Oh my word, it makes me want to adopt from Uganda so badly!
Renee- another missionary in Uganda. She has such faith that God will heal the sick. Graphic pictures but I feel that they help to bring the stories to life. Total reality check to appreciate America.
Karol- my pastor's wife. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2009. Her caring bridge site is updated pretty reguarly which is nice because my church is large and I want to be updated on her health. She called and left a message on our answering machine the weekend before her and her family left to California for some treatments. She is always always always smiling. Always. And her hair and makeup look fabulous, you'd never know she had a cold much less cancer. I want faith like Karols.
Ian- critically injured while serving in Iraq but is making an amazing recovery. Totally floored because it is totally God!
The Reed Family- have adopted eight orphans so far bringing their family up to fourteen. Wow!
Raising Arrows- her daughter passed away and you'll need kleenex. On the other side it's encouraging to see how well themom heals. Just hug your kids tonight, okay?
Another side of my morbidity is my total openess to death with pregnancy and labor. Let's face the facts- women die giving birth. 11 out of 100,000 in 2005 is not bad at all but still! It could happen!
Sometimes I catch myself in a fog of worry over this issue.
Does Kendall know where Ethan's socks are? How about his folded undershirts?
Would Kendall sing Jesus Loves Me to Ernest every night like I do? Does he know Ernest needs to transition into sleep and can't just be laid down and told go to sleep?
He'd bathe the kids, right? I mean, at least before church or something?
Does he know what size shoes Ethan wears?
WOULD HE FEED THEM NOTHING BUT TOP RAMEN AND FROZEN PIZZA!??!?!????
Would Ethan grow up on Pixar movies and Veggietales day in and day out?
I hope he'd remarry on the sooner than the later, the boy's need a mother figure in their lives!
Thank GOD my sister in law has boys and all of his family is within an hour and a half.
Thank GOD we have an established church we attend. Those women would step right in and help out if he needed anything.
Thank GOD I have friends out here in Minnesota who know me and my boys. They would step right in and help out if he needed anything.
Scratch that- our church family, blood family, and friends family would step in to help whether he asked or not because they know that's what Crystal would want.
AND thank you JESUS I have all of our children's clothes organized and labeled by size AND gender. I know I have put Ernest in pink pajama's on laundry day but still, it's nice to know the kids stand a chance at getting something on in a size they could technically wear.
However, lately I have been reading way.too.many. blogs about death and sickness.
Matt - lost his wife Liz to a pulmonary embolism when she got up from bed to meet their newborn.
Katie- a missionary in Uganda. Oh my word, it makes me want to adopt from Uganda so badly!
Renee- another missionary in Uganda. She has such faith that God will heal the sick. Graphic pictures but I feel that they help to bring the stories to life. Total reality check to appreciate America.
Karol- my pastor's wife. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2009. Her caring bridge site is updated pretty reguarly which is nice because my church is large and I want to be updated on her health. She called and left a message on our answering machine the weekend before her and her family left to California for some treatments. She is always always always smiling. Always. And her hair and makeup look fabulous, you'd never know she had a cold much less cancer. I want faith like Karols.
Ian- critically injured while serving in Iraq but is making an amazing recovery. Totally floored because it is totally God!
The Reed Family- have adopted eight orphans so far bringing their family up to fourteen. Wow!
Raising Arrows- her daughter passed away and you'll need kleenex. On the other side it's encouraging to see how well themom heals. Just hug your kids tonight, okay?
Another side of my morbidity is my total openess to death with pregnancy and labor. Let's face the facts- women die giving birth. 11 out of 100,000 in 2005 is not bad at all but still! It could happen!
Sometimes I catch myself in a fog of worry over this issue.
Does Kendall know where Ethan's socks are? How about his folded undershirts?
Would Kendall sing Jesus Loves Me to Ernest every night like I do? Does he know Ernest needs to transition into sleep and can't just be laid down and told go to sleep?
He'd bathe the kids, right? I mean, at least before church or something?
Does he know what size shoes Ethan wears?
WOULD HE FEED THEM NOTHING BUT TOP RAMEN AND FROZEN PIZZA!??!?!????
Would Ethan grow up on Pixar movies and Veggietales day in and day out?
I hope he'd remarry on the sooner than the later, the boy's need a mother figure in their lives!
Thank GOD my sister in law has boys and all of his family is within an hour and a half.
Thank GOD we have an established church we attend. Those women would step right in and help out if he needed anything.
Thank GOD I have friends out here in Minnesota who know me and my boys. They would step right in and help out if he needed anything.
Scratch that- our church family, blood family, and friends family would step in to help whether he asked or not because they know that's what Crystal would want.
AND thank you JESUS I have all of our children's clothes organized and labeled by size AND gender. I know I have put Ernest in pink pajama's on laundry day but still, it's nice to know the kids stand a chance at getting something on in a size they could technically wear.
A trip to Sam's Club with Kim and the kids
Remember that friend I mentioned that has 6 kids under the age of five? We went on a trip to Sam's Club last week, and made it out alive!
Everyone fell asleep. It's about an hour drive down to the cities.
Karla 2, Hannah 3
Nicolas 1, Emily 3
Aryanna 4
And this kid, who lovesssssss the attention all those girls give him.
Of course we had to get a 97 cent ice cream cup!
Emily feeding Ernest. Although to her it's pronounced "Oh-nestt"
Two carts for Kim
Enjoying the mondo sized carts
Another view. Amazing stuff to me.
And on the way home. Sam's Club, 8 kids, and ice cream would wear anyone out!
(Kim's oldest is 5 and he was in kindergarten that day)
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