Christmas Confusion

Jake was staring intently the other day at my Nativity. I watched him for a while, imagining some sweet observation on the birth of the Savior would soon leave his innocen lips. After a while, he turned around and saw me. Pointing to the angel, he asked, "Mom, why does Jesus need a Tooth Fairy?"

Holiday Gold!

Rock-a-bye...

Joe's mom made up this little song for Jake when he was a baby. He has since adapted it and sang it to both his brother and sister. He is a great help to me!

A lot of pain for a few tears

Kory had surgery today to open his tear ducts. If you'll remember he had to have them probed in July to open them. It didn't work, so today he had silicone tubes placed in his face to help his tears drain properly. We'll leave them in for 8 months to a year, and then have them removed. It's hoped that by then the ducts will stay open on their own. Its a really simple procedure, but sad nonetheless. First, he gets taken away by strangers and held down while he is forced to breath through a mask. Then he wakes up and his throat hurts (intubation tube) and there is a needle in his hand and he is surrounded by strangers. The poor thing's nose still looks bloody and he's had blood in his tears all day. He's trying to be brave, but he is cranky! Anesthesia is rough on tiny boys. I feel so bad for him, but he'll feel better tomorrow. Hopefully he won't remember the place when we have to go back next year.

Historic Election...damn it

I have to get this off my chest, loudly and often.

What bothers me the most about the election outcomes, is it seems pretty clear that Americans don't know anything about the Constitution.

The president does not have the power to single-handedly legislate anything. It is largely not in the Executive's power to deliver on any of Obama's promises.

Obama wants to appoint Supreme Court justices who will consider the needs of the poor first. Justice is blind! It is not the Court's job to legislate, it is their job to interpret the Constitution.

Name for me a founding father who was a big fan of a giant federal government in charge of everything. The whole point of the revolution was to get away from a government that had their nose in all of our business, and too much of our pocketbook.

I am so, so bitter, and so, so scared. Boo to the Democrats, boo to Obama, and boo to you, if you have been taken in by this crap.

Halloween

Tinkerbell

I love how she's so not impressed by this whole process. "What's up with the wings?"

Peter Pan

He has been excited about being Peter Pan for WEEKS!

Mr Smee
He really didn't care about any of this until we got to Trunk or Treat, then he was an animal!

I have to give Kudos to myself, because I am not crafty, nor am I Becky-Home-Ecky, but I made all of these costumes. Sure, Kory's involved cutting up clothes from the DI, but still, home-made none the less.

Mom's ask themselves weird questions...

Why did I find french fries in my bed?

Why have I spent all morning gluing felt and staring at the cover of a Disney movie?

Why is every video I own on the floor?

Why is my shower the highlight of my day?

Why am I obsessed with eye bugers?

Why did I wash my hands no less than 15 times before lunch?

Why do I carry a camera in my pocket?

Why is my day divided into periods of sleep and poop?

Cause I'm a mom. Thanks for asking.

Blog

I started a new blog to practice my writing on. Check it out, and don't judge me too harshly.

http://emilysrandomramblings.blogspot.com/

Check out her totally boss long-john/leotard!
It was mine when I was a baby. It gets cold in northern Europe, and I'm told these tights served me well. I think they look so funny!

















I suspect she is not loving this.

Kory loves his sister. He loves to be with her and gets jealous of anyone but me being close to her or holding her. It's nuts.

The pink rules our lives. All my lint is pink.

He couldn't be prouder!

Trickery leads to $50, so all is forgiven

Last night was our anual discussion meet for Young Farmers and Ranchers. YF&R is a subset of the Farm Bureau Federation, and is a great way to network and otherwise hobnob with other farmers and ranchers in our area and state. The Discussion Meet is a competition that the YF&R uses to get us talking about ag issues, and to train us for the kind of discussions that come up in committee meetings for higher levels of the federation. Last year I competed for the first time, and was an alternate qualifier to compete at the state convention. I did get to compete, and had a good time. I wasn't going to compete this year, because my baby is three weeks old and I decided it would just be to hard. I did, however, want Joe to do well, so I looked up a bunch of stuff on the internet for him to look at. As I know him pretty well, I guessed he wouldn't ever get to ready the info I got, so I read a lot of it so I could brief him on it on the way to the activity. When we got there it turned out there weren't a lot of competitors. Gwen loves to give me the peer pressure to compete, and it looked like it was shaping up to be a fairly lame meet-barely enough competitors for two rounds-which would really suck for our district. So a nice old lady watched my baby, and I competed after all. Guess what?
I won.
So now I'm $50 bucks richer and get a free trip to Boise, so I forgive you, Gwen, for being a horrible person who manipulates other people and refuses to participate. (Hee hee)

The Comedy Project

The Comedy Project is an improv group out of Pocatello. Featured in this clip are my friend Josh Hurley, and Jordan Clinger (not that Jordan isn't my friend, its just more likely that you'll know who he is). It seems a timely, and for Jordan, hysterically ironic clip to have posted. I like it and hope you will too.
Happy Harvest!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YoN-bAm1eI

Four-year-old attachment

It's hard sometimes to keep yourself from laughing at your kids. I try to remind myself that their concerns and fears are very real to them, and deserve the same respect I would like to be given. But they seem so funny.

This is Jake losing his mind with anger and frustration. I had just cut his hair. He doesn't like haircuts because he doesn't like the noise of my electric clippers. Today, in the midst of whining about how loud it all is, he looked over to the sink, where I was collecting the clippings. He grabs some out and yells at me, "MOM! These were my favorite hairs!"

I realize its a small person attachment and control issue, but its still really funny. Next time I'll be sure to give proper respect and due dilligence to weed out which hairs are favorites, and which are disposable.

Mommas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys.

I've been trying to upload the video and its not working, so check out this link to see my adorable little boy!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3TVVS-Sx08

Sorry it took so long, but here she is! Raena Marie Ward was born Oct 3. She weighed 6lbs 13 oz, and was 19 inches long. She is very nice and sleeps a lot. We like her cheeks!

Cattlemen's wives are irritated pregnant ladies

I got what I thought was just a touch of the stomach flu over the weekend. It was unpleasant most of Saturday, and much better Sunday, so I thought I had beaten it. Then on Monday, it smacked me down with a vengeance. I called up to my OB to ask what I should do, and they decided I needed to come up to the hospital to be checked, and probably get an IV going. So I cried, and called Joe, and tried to fix my kids lunch, and cried some more. Joe was really good--he rescued me from feeding the kids lunch and got them all ready to go, called his mom, and got me up there in good time. However, once we got up to the hospital, the Bovine Farmer weirdness began.
When one works with animals, one gets a lot of medical supplies for them. In the course of my pregnancies, I have learned from my husband that cow reproduction, pregnancy and delivery are not much different from humans. So, Joe, who has delivered and observed many a pregnant cow in his time, is generally not surprised by weird pregnancy or birth things, like stained amniotic fluid, or the use of pitocin. He is, however, a little freaked out that the IV needle they used for me yesterday is the same size as the one he uses on his animals. He thinks its ok for 300 lb calves, not so much for his wife. Plus, he has a whole diatribe he will share with everyone about how the hospital will charge $5 for the needle, and he could have brought his own for 33 cents. He also noted that the saline and electrolite solution they gave me he used to order in bulk for his newborn calves, and that he can get me some pitocin and anti-biotic for my next IV drip on the way home from the hospital. All it takes is a trip to Cal-Ranch. So while I appreciate his aplomb in what can only be described as a truly lousy situation, it is a little irritating to consider that all I need is at the Ag supply store. Also, if I get compared to a cow one more time, I may find the strength or means to throw one at him.

I'm sorry sir, that bag is to big to be carry-on...

As part of my crazy nesting, I decided today would be a great day to get the diaper bag organized and ready to accomodate two tots in diapers. I was so impressed with my organizational plan: I got garment bags from the dollar store to put all their stuff in individual bags. Raena's bags have purple ribbon threaded through them so I know whose stuff is whose. Raena would have 1 bag for diapers, 1 for spare clothes, burp rags, etc, 1 for other needs like binkies and toys. Kory would have a bag for diapers, and one for his and Jake's toys and books and snacks. I need one for assorted pads, a spare shirt, and mommy stuff. Are you counting? That's 6 bags. Then there's the wipes bag they can share, and other pockets for all the other stuff I might need (you know, keys, money, phone, pain reliever for what is shaping up to be quite the backache). I fear my diaper bag can't accomodate such a load. The pile of stuff covers most of the top of my changing table. I forgot the difference between what an 18-month-old needs, and what a newborn needs. I bet I have more stuff packed for that bag than my ancestors packed to cross the Atlantic Ocean and North America. How embarrassing. But how do you pare down? I have to be prepared for anything!

Maybe I should just stay home from now on.

Countdowns and Conundrums

After my eventful (boo) morning in Blackfoot this week I have been tormented more that usual with the final weeks of my pregnancy. I forgot to mention that at my last OB appointment I was surprised and delighted to learn that my body was making progress towards labor all by itself, and at 37 weeks too! I had never accomplished such a feat before and was very encouraged. But, on the occasion of being violated multiple times for no reason on Wednesday, I was told that after almost a week, I had made no additional progress at all. That bummed me out. I have heard a lot about evening primrose oil helping to ripen the cervix and castor (I accidently wrote castro oil at first, which I'm sure is NOT doctor reccomended) oil to bring on contractions. I obtained both these holistic (read: sort of weird) options Wednesday determined to give them the old college try, 'cause you know what? I'm tired.
Just so you know, so far the only discernable effects of evening primrose oil are bloating and gas. I chickened out with the castor oil, because it seems to me that a lot, if not all, of these remedies work only when your body is ready anyway, and then they just give you a boost. Much as I hate to admit it, I know I'm not ready. Sigh.
So I'm still on for an October 3 induction. The good news is that's only six days away! The bad news is, that's six days away. I can't be appeased.

Stupid Bladder...

Yesterday morning, around 5am, I woke up because I felt a rush of fluid. I was confused; did my water break or had I become victim once again to my terrible pelvic tone and ginormous fetus? I decided to wait and see what happened next. I expected either having to go to the bathroom or contractions would soon follow. Neither happened. I figured I'd better call the hospital for advice on how to procede before Joe left for work. So they told me I needed to come be checked to make sure what exactly was going on with my amniotic fluid. I cried (yup, cause I'm pregnant) and told her, "But I don't want to come in. I know I'm not in labor." She didn't care. So I spent all yesterday morning finding out I wasn't in labor, which I already knew.

Breathe deeply, and repeat "I will never get pregnant again, I will never get pregnant again, I will never...."

Tithing Works!

We were out picking corn last night when one of our guys called to tell us a tree had fallen in our yard. We assumed it was a hanging branch that had finally fallen. Imagine our surprise when we came home to this:

Yeah, that's a huge Freaking TREE sprawled across my entire driveway!

It had some little branches resting on the hood of Joe's truck. It just missed it.

The tree came to rest right between the house and the truck. It burried the lawn mower but did not damage it. Can you believe that? How blessed are we?!? And that is why I say, TITHING WORKS!

My big fat update...

So since I haven't blogged any news in MONTHS, here are some of the more exciting things we've been experiencing:

Kory had to have a procedure done to open his tear ducts. Jacob had the same problem, but he had his done at nine months, so it was just a twenty minute nothing of a procedure done at the opthamologist's office. Kory was over a year, so he had to have his done at the surgical center, with anesthesia and everything. If you've ever had a child that small need general anesthesia, you know that it makes them the DEVIL! Oh he was ornery! The really crappy part is that it didn't work, so we have to go in again this winter to put tubes in his face. I'm sure that will be a laugh riot. On the plus side of being Kory, he's started to talk a little, he finally walks, and he thinks he's hysterical. He might actually be starting to like other people too, as he doesn't loose his mind when we take him to nursery.

Jake is in speech therapy now, trying to make up for his language deficit before he starts school. He really likes it, and I'm excited he's finally getting the problem addressed. He is so excited for his baby sister, he asks all the time when she is coming to live with us. He "helped" me paint the border in her room, and added a little touch of his own: a row of flower stickers. I don't have the heart to take them down, he's so proud.

Joe and I are plugging along, each of us grumpy but for the same reason-babies are hard work! But no matter how bad I feel with this pregnancy, I can smile through it, knowing this will never happen to me again!

Hey!

So I broke my computer in May and haven't been able to buy a new one till now. I plan to stalk all my interests on the internet with a religious sort of devotion, especially since in addition to suffering from withdrawls, I don't sleep anymore anyway. So look forward to that.

It's a girl!

It's official! Jake was right and I am done having babies! Say hello to Raena Marie Ward! She's very pleased to meet you, I'm sure. Jake is so excited to see pictures. He likes to look at the video clips over and over again and comments all the time how cute his baby is. I'm so glad he's happy!

Feasting on the words of Christ

I just got called to be the Gospel Doctrine teacher in our ward (evidently there are slim pickings for teachers) and was considering buying new scriptures to help me out. I bought new ones just after Joe left on his mission about 8 years ago, and there really isn't anything wrong with mine, I just thought it might be nice. Since I don't really need them I decided to just use the ones I have. Yesterday I heard an unpleasant ripping sound. My baby has become obsessed with paper and loves to tear things, so I was rushing toward the sound thinking, "Ugh! What has he gotten into now?" The little stink had pulled himself up to my nightstand and tugged my quad onto the floor. When I caught him he was serenely chewing Alma 32.
Alma 32:28:
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

So now I need new scriptures, because my baby has been feasting on the words of Christ.

A clean, though snotty, bill of health!

Kory had a follow-up with the neurologist today. In case you don't remember, his old neurologist was fired a few months ago, so this was our first meeting with her replacement. I was kind of nervous that he would want more test (which are awful) and find more things for me to worry about. What happened instead is such a blessing. He said he has looked over both our EEG's and also sent them out to be anyalyzed elsewhere and everyone is in agreement: the EEG's are perfectly normal. Since he has had no seizures in months and is in every other way normal and healthy, we can conclude that whatever was wrong was likely episodal and, barring any further incident, we can assume he is perfectly normal and healthy. So allow me to say YAY!!!!!!! My baby is the snottiest kid you will meet (by which I mean he has a lot of mucus, not an attitude problem) but he is just fine. Thank you so much to everyone who offered their concern, their help and thier prayers. It means so much to us. I have to say that I am so grateful for the comfort and guidance of the Spirit. There isn't anything worse than the feeling of total helplessness and uselessness that comes when your child is sick. I couldn't have dealt with any of this at all if not for the calming reassurances of the Spirit and constant love of my Saviour. Even when I'm not sure how worthy I am of His love and help, I know with a surety that He loves my children, and He will make me everything they need as long as I earnestly seek His help.

Binkies

Kory was never a big fan of the binky. Jake used his till he was 18 months. Kory gave his up at around 6. So you can imagine my confusion when all of a sudden this afternoon, everywhere I looked, there were binkies! Kory took no notice, Jake started trying to give them to Kory, and they continued to appear as if from nowhere! In vain I sought the source of binkies, thinking perhaps a toy box or hidden laundry stores were the culprit. The mystery was beyond my grasp. I went into Kory's room to put some clothes away and caught my puppy worming out from underneat Kory's crib with, you guessed it, a binky in her mouth. The little scamp had been scavenging under the crib and finding all the binkies I had resigned to their dusty fate. So thanks to an adventurous cocker spaniel, it is Binkypalooza at my house.

Pictures

Hey look! Some pictures!


Kory and the Kory for whom he was named! Kory Peterson was Joe's trainer on his mission. He's a great guy and we love him a lot!
Jake is washing his puppy. What else can I say?

It's not fair to all the other people how cute my baby is.

This is their favorite thing to do together. Tubby time is the funnest time at our house!

Good news, and...its not bad news but I'm not all that pleased to be perfectly honest.

I've been told by several people that I am in big trouble for not giving an update on Kory's condition. He hasn't had any full seizures for months now. We were supposed to go in for a follow-up in January, but they called me the day before my appointment and told me they had fired my neurologist! So now we have to wait till March to see what else is going on. We may have an MRI then, but that's not at all certain. I think that, given his lack of problems since and his normal development, we're going to continue with the "wait and see" course of non-action. I'm ok with this. I harldy think about it at all anymore, which is nice because though I tried to be ok, I really wasn't a lot of the time.
Since the freezer incident I have learned that its really is just one thing after another. I had planned to keep the following news private for a long while, but it turns out our parents didn't understand that memo, so I might as well tell you: we're pregnant again. Kory and the new baby will be 18 months apart. I did not do this on purpose. I'm really not that girl. That's why Gwen thinks its so funny (so boo on her ;@ ). I am trying to be excited, but I'm not going to lie; I'm pretty bummed. I'm way to tired to deal with this. And I really like to enjoy my babies, and now I'm not going to get to do that with Kory as much. I'm sure it will be ok, but I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment. I just hope its a girl so I don't have to have any more babies!

So, update

Things have been crazy around here lately. Both my kids have been pretty sick, my electric breaker is broken in some way so that my deep freeze hasn't worked for a couple of weeks, at least. I didn't know it was broken. I found out when I discovered half a side of beef rotting in there. Imagine the worst thing you have ever smelled and multiply it by twelve. I can't begin to describe how disgusted I am.
Kerry has decided we could make a lot of easy money by selling newborn calves. He had me put an ad in the Thrifty Nickel, and asked me to take the calls. My phone rings off the hook! I was shocked at how many people want baby calves! We sold 60 calves in 3 days. Can you believe that? I do wish I didn't know so much about calves now.
Jacob is a new Sunbeam. I tried to get him all psyched up for it, excited and ready for the change. I failed. He hates it. Bad. He cries and cries and tells me, "I don't like this place! I can't do it Mom!" Last week they let him say the opening prayer (so he could talk into the coveted microphone) and then, since he turns 4 on Friday, they sang happy birthday and gave him a sticker. He was a little better after that, although I'm told he was not at all interested in Sharing Time, and had to be given crayons and paper to be happy. I don't know what to do about that.
Kory is really mobile now. He really wants to play with Jake, but Jake is officially irritated by his baby brother. He tells him, "Go away Kory! It's not your turn!" Then Kory cries and Jake feels bad and caves. That baby knows what he's doing.

If it's not one thing...

It has been way to long since I blogged. I swear, if it's not my computer that's broken, its my internet, then its my monitor then its my internet again. The blogging gods are not on my side.

Kory is doing really well. He has had an "episode" for months now, and is progressing and developing normally. This is very encouraging. He still show sings and symptoms of CP, but not so much that if you were'nt looking for them you would notice.
Jake is growing all the time. He is starting to write his name and recognize letters of the alphabet.

I'll have to blog a real blog tomorrow, so look forward to that!