Lovin' this baby!
A HUGE thanks to our helpers! We love our parents.
7/31/10
7/26/10
hospital pics
The kids were so excited to meet their new sister!
Wow. That's a lot of people. Lots of love.
Mack was fascinated by the bidet in the bathroom. It was the only way we could get him to go potty at the hospital. "Daddy, I went pee on the bidet!"
Ready to go home.
7/25/10
Quinn's birth story
Saturday July 24. I woke up early that morning. We were in Bountiful visiting Dax's parents. His Dad had heart surgery 2 days prior and was there recovering before his long trip home to Saint George. We spent Friday visiting and had a lovely afternoon of shopping with the girls in Layton. I have been having contractions for months--nothing serious or painful or regular--but when I woke up Saturday morning, my belly contracted slightly harder than usual. I ate breakfast and Preslie and I ran to Target to exchange her school shoes for a bigger size. I continued to contract every so often and they were ever so slightly harder than the ones I've experienced for the last few months-- nothing that distracted the Target browsing.
We got back and loaded the car and hit the road to go see my parents for a bit while we were close by. We visited them and ate lunch and the contractions increased in force ever so slightly again. I really didn't think a lot of it but I wanted to get home so I could rest in my own house and be ready just in case I went into labor in the next few days. We got in the car and began our journey home. I started timing the contractions in Parley's Canyon--about 9-11 minutes apart and not too painful. During the 2.5 hour drive, the pains were constant but not horrible.
We got home and I got in the shower (just in case this was the real thing I wanted to be 'ready'). The warm shower eased the contraction pain and afterward I layed down to rest to see if they would calm down. They were now 6 minutes apart and harder to move and talk during them. I had Dax pack a bag for me and called the OB department and asked them if I could go in (and NOT be sent home). I called my Mom and told her that she may want to come out. Then Dax asked me if he could go pick up the flags with the scouts for about 20 minutes. I almost said no (I should have!) but said ok, that's only like 3 or 4 contractions. He went out and called me a few minutes later and asked how I was doing. I told him to come home! I went outside and asked my neighbor if she could watch my kids for me. Just then Dax pulled up and was having a great time joking around with his Priest quorum but one look at my face and he knew the joking was over.
I went and sat in the car while he grabbed the bag and our pillows. By now the contractions were really hard; all I could do was close my eyes, hold really still and breathe. Each bump in the road felt like a body slam from a brick wall. We got to the hospital, checked in, and walked down the long hall to labor and delivery. It was quiet in there and the nurses were sparse. I just quietly clutched the desk as the nurse asked me questions and filled out paperwork. As we were shown to a room, I mentioned an epidural and the nurse that was hooking me up to the monitors said that if I was 4-5 centimeters then I could get one. But that was after blood/urine tests, an IV, and 2 bags of fluid and perhaps a walk around the hospital for an hour. I was thinking, "I cannot move/talk/think during my contractions. I can't walk for an HOUR!" Then the nurse saw the monitor that was drawing my contraction curves and said, "OK, that one was pretty hard. I think you are staying here." Uh, yah.
Another nurse came in a checked me and just as I was praying to be 4 centimeters she said, "You're a 7, maybe a little more." Dax started laughing out of surprise and a rush of both relief and horror surged through me as I was indeed dilated enough to get an epidural but there wasn't much time if I were to get one. "Can I get the epidural now?" I said. The nurse left to go call the anesthesiologist and I started crying. Dax made no promises to me, just reassured; he was not convinced I would be getting my epidural.
The nurse came back and said the anesthesiologist is on his way, he lives 7 minutes down the road. He may have to give me something besides an epidural just because of how close I was to delivering but he was coming. "Will it work?" I asked. "It works pretty well."
Not convinced.
He gets there and gives me 2 options and I pick epidural (of course). By this time my contractions were almost unbearable so the best thing to do at that point is to sit indian style on a hard hospital bed and curl up into a tight ball around my painful, huge abdomen and hold completely still. Suddenly, I got incredibly hot and my face started sweating; the nurse and Dax dabbed my face with wet paper towels. The anesthesiologist was really fast thankfully, and the epidural took the edge off almost immediately. It was amazing the relief I felt physically when I didn't have to feel all the blows the contractions were dishing out. I could still feel some pain and a LOT of pressure, but it was so manageable now.
And then with another contraction, BOOM--my water broke. (I can't remember if that was pre or post epidural, but it happened sometime in there)
The doc came in and I started pushing. I have never felt that tremendous pressure before. During all my other deliveries, I couldn't feel a thing. This time around, I could still feel my left leg! It was cool to be able to feel what was going on. But not too much of it.
Our baby girl was born just after 10pm ushered in by fireworks from all around the state. She is a doll and we are so grateful.
We got back and loaded the car and hit the road to go see my parents for a bit while we were close by. We visited them and ate lunch and the contractions increased in force ever so slightly again. I really didn't think a lot of it but I wanted to get home so I could rest in my own house and be ready just in case I went into labor in the next few days. We got in the car and began our journey home. I started timing the contractions in Parley's Canyon--about 9-11 minutes apart and not too painful. During the 2.5 hour drive, the pains were constant but not horrible.
We got home and I got in the shower (just in case this was the real thing I wanted to be 'ready'). The warm shower eased the contraction pain and afterward I layed down to rest to see if they would calm down. They were now 6 minutes apart and harder to move and talk during them. I had Dax pack a bag for me and called the OB department and asked them if I could go in (and NOT be sent home). I called my Mom and told her that she may want to come out. Then Dax asked me if he could go pick up the flags with the scouts for about 20 minutes. I almost said no (I should have!) but said ok, that's only like 3 or 4 contractions. He went out and called me a few minutes later and asked how I was doing. I told him to come home! I went outside and asked my neighbor if she could watch my kids for me. Just then Dax pulled up and was having a great time joking around with his Priest quorum but one look at my face and he knew the joking was over.
I went and sat in the car while he grabbed the bag and our pillows. By now the contractions were really hard; all I could do was close my eyes, hold really still and breathe. Each bump in the road felt like a body slam from a brick wall. We got to the hospital, checked in, and walked down the long hall to labor and delivery. It was quiet in there and the nurses were sparse. I just quietly clutched the desk as the nurse asked me questions and filled out paperwork. As we were shown to a room, I mentioned an epidural and the nurse that was hooking me up to the monitors said that if I was 4-5 centimeters then I could get one. But that was after blood/urine tests, an IV, and 2 bags of fluid and perhaps a walk around the hospital for an hour. I was thinking, "I cannot move/talk/think during my contractions. I can't walk for an HOUR!" Then the nurse saw the monitor that was drawing my contraction curves and said, "OK, that one was pretty hard. I think you are staying here." Uh, yah.
Another nurse came in a checked me and just as I was praying to be 4 centimeters she said, "You're a 7, maybe a little more." Dax started laughing out of surprise and a rush of both relief and horror surged through me as I was indeed dilated enough to get an epidural but there wasn't much time if I were to get one. "Can I get the epidural now?" I said. The nurse left to go call the anesthesiologist and I started crying. Dax made no promises to me, just reassured; he was not convinced I would be getting my epidural.
The nurse came back and said the anesthesiologist is on his way, he lives 7 minutes down the road. He may have to give me something besides an epidural just because of how close I was to delivering but he was coming. "Will it work?" I asked. "It works pretty well."
Not convinced.
He gets there and gives me 2 options and I pick epidural (of course). By this time my contractions were almost unbearable so the best thing to do at that point is to sit indian style on a hard hospital bed and curl up into a tight ball around my painful, huge abdomen and hold completely still. Suddenly, I got incredibly hot and my face started sweating; the nurse and Dax dabbed my face with wet paper towels. The anesthesiologist was really fast thankfully, and the epidural took the edge off almost immediately. It was amazing the relief I felt physically when I didn't have to feel all the blows the contractions were dishing out. I could still feel some pain and a LOT of pressure, but it was so manageable now.
And then with another contraction, BOOM--my water broke. (I can't remember if that was pre or post epidural, but it happened sometime in there)
The doc came in and I started pushing. I have never felt that tremendous pressure before. During all my other deliveries, I couldn't feel a thing. This time around, I could still feel my left leg! It was cool to be able to feel what was going on. But not too much of it.
Our baby girl was born just after 10pm ushered in by fireworks from all around the state. She is a doll and we are so grateful.
Quinn Mangus
Quinn Mangus
Born July 24th at 10 PM
Weight 7 lbs 4 ounces
Length 19.25 inches
She looks like a redhead!
Mom and baby are healthy and doing well.
Born July 24th at 10 PM
Weight 7 lbs 4 ounces
Length 19.25 inches
She looks like a redhead!
Mom and baby are healthy and doing well.
7/20/10
outdoor backyard summer fun thrown together children's theater
My awesome neighbor threw together a children's theater last week and invited my kids to be apart of it. They started practicing Tuesday and performed 3 darling plays on Saturday evening in her backyard. How fun is that! The plays were fairytale spin-offs.
The first one was "Falling for Rapunzel". The Prince would ask Rapunzel to throw down her hair and each time she would mistake what he said and throw something crazy down. The last time he asked her to throw down her mane and she threw down her Maid (which was played by Preslie). The Prince and Preslie fell in love and rode off on his steed.
Hunter was a tree in that play. A really wiggly tree.
The second play was "Bubba the Cowboy Prince" in which Hunter and Preslie were the main characters, Bubba and Miz Lurleen. The story was a spin-off of Cinderella. Bubba was the nice, hard-working cowboy who had a Wicked Stepdaddy and 2 mean stepbrothers that ordered him around.
Miz Lurleen was the most beautiful and wealthy Cowgirl around who held a ball and you guessed it, one Do-Si-Do with Bubba and it was true love. The clock struck midnight, a muddy boot was left at the scene, Miz Lurleen searched the town to find her love and the rest was history.
The last play was "Waking Beauty". It was hilarious as 3 fairies (one of them Preslie) tried to tell 2 inattentive princes how to wake Princess Beauty (played by our good friend Sierra). Hunter was a crocodile in the moat in this play.
What fun the kids had and what a lot of work my friend put in working with 13 hyper kids, gathering costumes, making sets, and putting on a great show in 5 days!
7/18/10
happy happy fun fun
So many things to say "YAY" about this past week.
WE FINISHED SWIMMING LESSONS!
Anyone who takes their kids to swimming lessons knows how much work it is... everyday for 2 weeks: sunscreen, suits, load and drive there, shower, swim, heat, shower again, undress/redress wet bodies, home, hang suits and towels to dry, REPEAT 13 times. Add to that that I am huge and heavy and I got in the water each of those times. Waaa waaa, complain, I know. But it is wonderful to have them over and our mornings can be ours again.
It is a big deal to see my Hunter with his face in the water on his own accord not holding on to a wall or a teacher. Next summer: level 2!
Preslie improved a TON this season! She can swim so much farther, is learning to dive, and has jumped off the diving board for the first time. She had 2 great teachers this year, one that really pushed her and one that was super fun and cute that I think she sort of fell in love with. The last day of swimming, I kept looking over and she would be climbing and hanging on him most of the time. That girl.
Mack and I had fun together in the Mom and Me class. I am glad I got that time with him.
This is a cute pic of Mack with my Aunt after his swim lesson last Friday before we went camping.
We got GRASS in the front yard! Dax laid the sod with a little help from his young men group. Wow, it changed the look of our house so much. I love to see the sprinklers pop up and water it.
We got a NEW BED! After almost 10 years in our old bed, it was worn out and uncomfortable, and feeling really small lately (ha!). So I bought us a super deluxe King sized mattress and
it
is
AWESOME.
Finally I can lay down for more than 20 minutes and not ache. I can snuggle with my man and not feel like I am inside a taco. Dax can lay on a diagonal and not crowd me. I love it. A bed is one thing I think is worth spending the money to get a great one. Over one-third of my life is spent there and I know we made a wise investment in our well-being.
WE FINISHED SWIMMING LESSONS!
Anyone who takes their kids to swimming lessons knows how much work it is... everyday for 2 weeks: sunscreen, suits, load and drive there, shower, swim, heat, shower again, undress/redress wet bodies, home, hang suits and towels to dry, REPEAT 13 times. Add to that that I am huge and heavy and I got in the water each of those times. Waaa waaa, complain, I know. But it is wonderful to have them over and our mornings can be ours again.
It is a big deal to see my Hunter with his face in the water on his own accord not holding on to a wall or a teacher. Next summer: level 2!
Preslie improved a TON this season! She can swim so much farther, is learning to dive, and has jumped off the diving board for the first time. She had 2 great teachers this year, one that really pushed her and one that was super fun and cute that I think she sort of fell in love with. The last day of swimming, I kept looking over and she would be climbing and hanging on him most of the time. That girl.
Mack and I had fun together in the Mom and Me class. I am glad I got that time with him.
This is a cute pic of Mack with my Aunt after his swim lesson last Friday before we went camping.
We got GRASS in the front yard! Dax laid the sod with a little help from his young men group. Wow, it changed the look of our house so much. I love to see the sprinklers pop up and water it.
We got a NEW BED! After almost 10 years in our old bed, it was worn out and uncomfortable, and feeling really small lately (ha!). So I bought us a super deluxe King sized mattress and
it
is
AWESOME.
Finally I can lay down for more than 20 minutes and not ache. I can snuggle with my man and not feel like I am inside a taco. Dax can lay on a diagonal and not crowd me. I love it. A bed is one thing I think is worth spending the money to get a great one. Over one-third of my life is spent there and I know we made a wise investment in our well-being.
7/13/10
slumber party minus the slumber
Dax and I don't allow our kids to have sleepovers, not at their friends' and not here either. We don't want tired and cranky kids the next day, but really it is to protect them. They were really complaining about it a couple weeks ago so I suggested that we have a party. We can play games and watch a movie and hang out; we'll do everything that is fun about a sleepover, but then our friends will go home to sleep.
They had a ton of fun, and they were still ornery the next day from staying up too late, but I was happy to reach a compromise.
They had a ton of fun, and they were still ornery the next day from staying up too late, but I was happy to reach a compromise.
7/11/10
the best S'more I ever had
The high Uintah's welcomed us last weekend with gorgeous scenery, cool weather, and the most tame chipmunks I've ever encountered. My Aunt Sharon met us at our house and treated us to a yummy dinner at our new Chinese buffet and camped with us at Pole Creek Lake. It was short but very sweet as we finally discovered the secret to melt the chocolate in a S'more (and actually have it work)! Oh! All you have to do is use the gigantic-sized marshmallows, roast one slow and steady until golden brown and heated all the way through, then slip the chocolate bar piece INSIDE the marshmallow and then beautiful thing in between 2 grahams. OH! oh. It was truly a momentous day to accomplish every S'more maker's wish.
We saw deer walk right through our camp, and chipmunks climb in our tent and into Hunter's suitcase and also walk right up to us and climb on our feet. Dax and the kids enjoyed the fishing and Aunt Sharon and I enjoyed the beauty, and the comfort of her motorhome.
7/7/10
cram
our summer is ticking away and our little ticking time bomb will soon make her appearance. So it is time to cram everything in we can. We have been...
WORKING HARD:
In the yard- got sprinkling system and curbing; sod comes next week. We're growing tomatoes, chives, and carrots in the back and flowers in the front.
At w
ork- I am so thankful for my Sugar Daddy. Dax worked all night last Saturday. I snapped this pic Sunday morning. He looked so trashed! He was covered in dirt and blood and had 105 mosquito bites on his lower back/butt crack area alone from bending over so much.
At home- I'm testing the potty training waters with Mack and busy keeping him out of the mud and the mud and dirt out of my house. I can't WAIT to have a yard. I take the kids to the park to eat lunch about every weekday and we all started swimming lessons this week. I figure it is my last chance to do a Mom and Tot class with Mack before baby comes. I look awesome in my big pink bathing suit.
PLAYING HARD:
I have Preslie's curtains almost finished (just need to hem the bottom!) and the kids' 09-10 school years almost scrapbooked. I still want to make some girl crib bedding and need to paint the baby's dresser soon so I can load it with clothes. The rest of my projects can wait until the baby is in school (sigh) to finish them. Like this beauty I am planning to re-upholster...
The fabric I found is AWESOME (haven't bought it, yet). I've never reupholstered furniture before but I think it will be a fun challenge.
Preslie and I love to have our toenails painted fun and this is our latest look...
We went to Salt Lake this past holiday weekend and made it to Dax's cousin's wedding. Then the next day my little bro, Tyrel got married! Yay! Wow, what a crazy day and such a happy day.
I love Tyrel; he is one of my favorite people of all time. I am so happy for him and I love my new sister, Kaeli! It was also my nephew Jaedon's birthday that day.
The next day my parents gave all their grandchildren a birthday party. So fun to have everyone together! So fun to open a present when it's not really your birthday!
We celebrated our great nation as well with some totally legal fireworks. One of which hit me in the leg and gave me a sweet bruise to remember this special time together with my family.
My sister Trina and her family are in the middle of a move to Florida from Oregon. I am going to miss her. She is so sweet and takes such good care of me and my family. She paid for me to get a massage while we were together. AWE.SOME. Such good, good pain. I may need to get a part time job so I can get one every month for the rest of my life. Man, I had no clue how tender my muscles were! Ouchy-delicious!
Dax and Preslie went with the fam to Lagoon Monday then Tuesday morning we packed up and made it home just in time for swimming lessons. So much for the lazy days of summer...
Happy July!
WORKING HARD:
In the yard- got sprinkling system and curbing; sod comes next week. We're growing tomatoes, chives, and carrots in the back and flowers in the front.
At w
ork- I am so thankful for my Sugar Daddy. Dax worked all night last Saturday. I snapped this pic Sunday morning. He looked so trashed! He was covered in dirt and blood and had 105 mosquito bites on his lower back/butt crack area alone from bending over so much.At home- I'm testing the potty training waters with Mack and busy keeping him out of the mud and the mud and dirt out of my house. I can't WAIT to have a yard. I take the kids to the park to eat lunch about every weekday and we all started swimming lessons this week. I figure it is my last chance to do a Mom and Tot class with Mack before baby comes. I look awesome in my big pink bathing suit.
PLAYING HARD:
I have Preslie's curtains almost finished (just need to hem the bottom!) and the kids' 09-10 school years almost scrapbooked. I still want to make some girl crib bedding and need to paint the baby's dresser soon so I can load it with clothes. The rest of my projects can wait until the baby is in school (sigh) to finish them. Like this beauty I am planning to re-upholster...
The fabric I found is AWESOME (haven't bought it, yet). I've never reupholstered furniture before but I think it will be a fun challenge.
Preslie and I love to have our toenails painted fun and this is our latest look...
We went to Salt Lake this past holiday weekend and made it to Dax's cousin's wedding. Then the next day my little bro, Tyrel got married! Yay! Wow, what a crazy day and such a happy day.
I love Tyrel; he is one of my favorite people of all time. I am so happy for him and I love my new sister, Kaeli! It was also my nephew Jaedon's birthday that day.
The next day my parents gave all their grandchildren a birthday party. So fun to have everyone together! So fun to open a present when it's not really your birthday!
We celebrated our great nation as well with some totally legal fireworks. One of which hit me in the leg and gave me a sweet bruise to remember this special time together with my family.
My sister Trina and her family are in the middle of a move to Florida from Oregon. I am going to miss her. She is so sweet and takes such good care of me and my family. She paid for me to get a massage while we were together. AWE.SOME. Such good, good pain. I may need to get a part time job so I can get one every month for the rest of my life. Man, I had no clue how tender my muscles were! Ouchy-delicious!
Dax and Preslie went with the fam to Lagoon Monday then Tuesday morning we packed up and made it home just in time for swimming lessons. So much for the lazy days of summer...
Happy July!
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