My Grandma Christensen

My dear grandma has finished her mission on earth and is with her Heavenly parents and family May. She has been waiting to see them all again ever since my Grandpa passed before her in 2018.

My Grandma is the Grandma every kid should have.

Our any desire she made happen wether it was a tea party, with treats and jewelry provided or hot gluing seed pods together to make ornaments. Whenever we were on vacation together she would tuck us in each night singing and rubbing our heads until we fell asleep.

She always advocated for us to do what we wanted to do and cheered us on the whole time. She came to our games or races she was there for all of our big life events.

My grandma is such a good friend she kept friends from all stages of her life and was always checking in with them. If there was ever anyone in need she was always the first to find something to do help. She often had extra kids in her home helping them through tough stages.

My Grandma is a problem solver. We would often find unique items used as rope or pillows made out of jackets but there wasn't a problem she wouldn't tackle. She was strong and tough and never let anything intimidate her.

As I grew I knew there was a lot about her I wanted to emulate, her faith and testimony inspired all those she shared it with and she was always willing to share it. She knew she was a daughter of God and had all the power that comes with that. She always made sure I knew that too.

My kids Momo.
as the great grandkids joined her family Grandma gave her self her own special name for them not to confuse her with their other Grandma's. My kids loved Momo as much as me, she loved snuggling with the babies

but her favorite was when they were 3 and she would want to talk to them, they loved being able to share all their thoughts with Momo she always listened to all their ideas.

One time she came to visit and wanted to see our new home, before she even walked in she tells me, "If your house is perfectly clean I will know you don't love your kids enough." It made me laugh and I have always been able to use it as a mantra my house is not perfectly clean because I love me kids.

When I was having a hard day, just worn down from the woes of life and motherhood I called her for a distraction. During the conversation I said, " Satan must be so happy with everything going on in the world." She immediately stopped me, "Jenny, Satan will never be happy. Christ has already won. We already know the end, Satan losses." I can't tell you how powerful that testimony was to me at that time, I hear her voice in my head still "Satan will never be happy. CHRIST already won."

The last time we got to see her we went to help with packing up her home as she transitioned to my Aunt Stacey's house. Jo got to spend some time with her earth side, Momo loved on her made noises to make her smile and kept her happy.

I will miss her, but I am so glad she is where she wants to be. Heaven is real.

Joanna

Joanna Lambson 

September 5th, 2022

5:05 pm

9lbs .05 oz

22in.

I wanted Joanna to have an August birthday. I thought it would be nicer for her when she got ready to start school to have more options for when she could start with New Mexico's cut off being 5 before September 1st to start kindergarten.

Joanna was fine waiting until the Dr. subscribed induction date of 39 weeks which fell on Labor Day this year. 

We checked into the hospital a little before 8 am after sending all the kids to Grandma and Grandpa's for the day. With strict instructions to share as many updates as possible.

driving to the hospital to have a baby

I had lots of feelings thinking back on the beautiful induction my midwife created for me with Ryker, my sisters and mom were there all day and it was a really special experience Pitocin free. 

So when my new Dr. explained he wanted to start with Pitocin I was a little devastated. I didn't want to be hooked up to monitors and iv lines all day. Britton did his best to distract and support me. The Dr promised to go gently with the pitocin and to break my water when Joanna was low enough. 9:15 am we start the medicine. it goes totally fine not feeling anything mostly uncomfortable from sitting in the bed on monitors. around 12 get a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, dr. comes in to see what is happening get checked and everything is progressing dilated to 5 but everything else was softening and Joanna was at a 0 station. So the Dr. broke my water and the nurses got me more comfortable with extra pillows and such. Britton and I played a few rounds of Bears and Bees and I started being able to feel the ebb and flow of regular contractions, downloaded a contraction counter app and by 2 a clock the contractions were every 3 min lasting a little less then a minute. the nurse came to check on me dilated to 8, she turned back the Pitocin which had made it to 10ml out of the 15 they can give. super grateful my body started going with out have to make it all the way to 15. by 3:45 the contractions where coming stronger and longer every 3 minutes but lasting over a minute. started breathing and sweating through them. started re thinking getting an epidural if i was going to have to contractions like those for very long. Britton was super supportive and helped me get through a couple of really painful ones that brought tears. 4:30 we called the nurses in for more support, dilated to 10 with a little lip of the cervix still there, the sweet nurse from Albuquerque who was also a member of the church, looked at me and asked if i wanted to move, or change positions. an answer to my prayers, let me go to my hands and knees as the lowered the bed and the other amazing nurse massaged my hips as I rocked and breathed through 4 more hard contractions. We called the Dr. in and rotated into the stirrups to get ready to push. a little quiet in the storm and then we pushed through 4 contractions and lots of great coaching from the Dr, and nurses delivered our beautiful baby Joanna at 5:05 pm. no tearing or after birth trauma even though I hate delivering the placenta it is always way more painful then I think it should be. Got to hold her right away and she even nursed a few minutes after being born for 20 minutes. Usually Britton gets those first sweet moments as they are cleaning me up and getting everything taken care of but I got to hold her and love her for almost an hour before they weighed and finished cleaning and checking everything out. Seriously what a special blessing to be able to only be in pain for 40 min. and get a beautiful baby. Feel so grateful for that gift. 

 Mom came to meet her that evening while Britton went back to be home with the kids and get them off to school on Tuesday.

He printed this picture for everyone to take to class and share with their teachers and classmates.

Fall Activites

As we finished up roofing and preparing for windows we had a week full of regular activities. Britton is also resumed traveling for work assignments and has been going to Las Vegas again for a new project out there.

Celebrated Grandpa's Birthday, so grateful for all of his help with this addition project this year, always donating any free time he has which is precious with his Bishop schedule right now. And thankful to Grandma for sharing him and helping with all the behind the things, helping keep our house in order and moderating all the stress of making design decisons.

Spirit week, lots of activities the week before homecoming, crazy hair day was everyone's favorite a Ying Yang head for Conway, letter E braid fro Elle, and lighting bolts for Wyatt.

Homecoming parade, it was just Ryker and me on the curb, as Wyatt rode the float with the Extreme football team which he is really loving! First game was a hoot, whatching little football players trying to pull flags, Wyatt plays center and did a great job.

Elle and Conway walked with the Chamisa Elementary Banner and were bought their own bag of candy at the end of the parade since they didn't get to collect any along the route.

The next day we were able to go to Cross Country meet outside of Santa Fe and watch Aleeya and Lydia run! They are amazing they have worked so hard training and ran a great race! Getting 5th and 10th! Loved seeing them and cheering them on.

 

Phase 9

Roofing involved putting sheeting along the trusses with tar paper and then getting an inspection on all the sheeting and tape done. Then we could add metal to the roof, we decide with a second story roof we wanted to be a one and done project don't want to have to get up their on a regular basis if ever. Conway was recruited to be Britton's second on the roof, which he was a little nervous about but Britton got him all set up with climbing gear and tied in to the trusses so there was no way they could fall off. I was super grateful that we were able to finish it all this with no injuries! A huge blessing!

 One afternoon Elle and I got the second story all cleaned up for a family dance party, we all had fun taking turns two stepping and swinging around our new floor. Pretty soon there will be walls up to make the boys 2 rooms and a bathroom, but for now it is a great dance floor.

 

First Day of School

                                                                1st grade Mrs. Tarbox

Chamisa Elementary 2021-2022 school year! Starting in person with some social distance restrictions and mask required inside but not outside. (So grateful they get a few masks breaks with their recess and lunch schedules, the school plans on eating outside as much as they can for as long as they can)

                    3rd Grade Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Torres            6th Grade Mr. Judd and Mrs. Richard

                                                           Ryker misses them terribly but we are adjusting.

 They sure do have my whole heart! I am on lucky mama, they bring such light and joy to my life.

Roofing Trusses Phase 7

 With all the walls up and header boards on we can add the roof trusses. Some good friends to the rescue again. 4 more friends, okay 3 friends and Westley who we use and abuse for all the heavy lifting needs of the this project, so grateful for him.

Did not get the action shots, but a broom was involved and lots of tip toes trying to hold it in place Westley would nail down one end and Britton would attached them in the center and got thme all in place in under 2 hours! Yes!

Now to get all the sheeting up and nailed so we can get an inspection done.

Phase 4b and 5b

 The second story framing and sheeting Britton got the idea to attach the sheeting and installation to the boards on the ground ( or second floor floor)so we wouldn't have to hang the sheeting from a ladder on the outside. It worked great, but made the walls super heavy. Call the crew again

 We had a CREW! 8 men and one of my  Young Women! They lifted and slid two heavy walls in to place. They were so awesome to help with our barn raising, 7 brothers for 7 brides was mentioned but no singing or dancing was done

Got both the longer side walls up and done and braced in no time. Thanks Britton for getting everything framed and covered.

The next day we built the outside wall and lifted with half the crew we did before. Thanks Hannah and Cooper for your help. true it hadthe biggest window whole and we left a lot of the corner pieces of the sheeting

The last wall Britton and the kids lifted, Didnt have the over hang piece and again left off a corner pieces of the sheeting. 

It is looking like a house! It is fun to watch all the foot traffic slow down walking past our house to see what we working on next, we will have to have an open house to show all the neighborhood our project.