On the mend

We are into our 3rd week of RSV now and I think we are finally on the mend... Hallelujah!

Davis took it the hardest since he is so little but his doctors worked hard to try to keep from admitting him to the hospital which would likely lead to more illnesses.

I had a meltdown... so my mom came to the rescue (bless her, bless her, bless her). She has been an angel, helping with laundry, and kids, and dishes, and even insisting I sleep in while she gets the kids up (bless her, bless her, bless her).

Davis is finally sleeping a little better at night and we are almost done with breathing treatments.

Yep, things are looking up at our house, and we are thrilled about that!

Oh, what do you do in the winter time...

I paint my son's toenails.

not on my own

Wow, what a crazy week we have had!
It started when Campbell fell off the kitchen chair and bit all the way through his lip... luckily Trevor was home and came to the rescue.
Things went downhill from there. First Campbell got really sick, then Trevor, and now Davis. The pediatrician wants me to bring Davis in everyday until he starts feeling better which is a pain but better than being admitted to the hospital so I'm thankful for that.

I've been feeling a little (that's an understatement!) overwhelmed as a mother of four little ones especially since the two littlest have been so sick and Trevor is back to working a lot. I feel like I can't keep up with my families daily needs let alone do those other things I should do (like wash the sheets, or do my visiting teaching, or help my friends, or reading to my kids... you get the idea).

I've been praying and asking for His help and I have felt those prayers being answered in lots of little ways. My kids are still sick and Trevor is still gone but I have moments like yesterday when I had only had about 3 hrs of sleep and I felt like the Lord blessed me with the energy I needed so that I was able to still care for my family and even be NICE to them (which never happens when I'm really sleep deprived).
I feel sustained and I'm realizing more and more that I can't raise 4 little ones on my own. I can't be a great mom, wife, friend, etc. without help from the Lord and He doesn't expect me to do anything perfectly.
I feel humbled. I feel grateful.

Hello, mother of four here.

Okay, everybody who told me that "After 3 kids it's all the same" ...lied.

I think we've reached our limit.

After all, "4 is the new 6" right?

p.s. I'll probably feel differently about this tomorrow.

He sMiLeS!

We got this cute outfit for Davis in the mail (no card, was it from you?) and I thought I'd take some pics of Davis in it. I started shooting and Davis started smiling! He hasn't smiled much up to now and I would never had expected him to smile when I was actually taking a picture (because they never do!) but he did!
I guess he likes to be in front of the camera. He'll probably be a famous actor/ male model someday lol... especially with a smile like this:

Campbell has realized that mom is extra busy with "brudder" so he loves to copy Davis. For instance, if I change Davis's diaper then Campbell lays next to him and says "diper" expecting me to change his, or if Davis gets a bath then Campbell wants a bath...etc

This particular morning I was taking pictures of Davis and when I was done I moved Davis over and Campbell plopped down into his spot and pointed to the camera. He wanted his own photo shoot and I was thrilled because he never sits still for a picture (I only wish that I had washed his face and combed his hair that day ;0) He smiled big and I got these pictures:

What a ham!

My little man isn't so little anymore... sniff sniff

Love that new Car-pet smell

Been saving money for awhile now...

It's amazing what something like new carpet can do to lift your spirits on a dark and cold January day... Ahhhh (you can't see me but I am smiling).

Davis

thanks to you

You fed my family.

You called.

You visited.

You brought gifts.

You deserve "thank you" cards and yet...

here they sit in a big pile with your names on them.

I will get them to you I promise but until then this is for you

ThAnK YoU!

I finally said YES

Trevor is spontaneous... I am not.

I used to be, before the kids and the house and the dogs and callings and everything else a responsible adult has to think about.

Trevor is often coming up with "fun" ideas like: "Let's go camping tonight!" or "Let's drive down to Florida this weekend!" or "Let's buy a new car!" My responses generally sound something like this: " No" or " I don't think so" or "No thank you" or " We don't have the money for that" or sometimes I just laugh.

Like I said, I'm the non-spontaneous responsible adult around here.

Well, a few weeks ago Trevor was trying to convince me to go to Florida for the holidays and I was giving him the laundry list of reasons that wouldn't be possible and so he hit me with, "Let's go to Utah then". The craziest thing happened, I paused for a second and then said, "Okay." You should have seen the look on Trevor's face. He was dumbfounded.

Next thing I knew (literally minutes later... I think he was afraid I would change my mind so he was quick) Trevor was cleaning out the truck and loading up our Christmas gifts (including all the gifts that our family paid $ and stood in long lines to send to us from Utah, sorry family) then we were on the road.

The drive there was LONG but the adrenaline was high and we were so excited to surprise everyone.

We arrived at my parents house 30hrs later and just 2 days before Christmas. They were shocked!

We had a great time surprising all our family over the next few days. It was a Christmas I will never forget.

Seeing my sister's new baby Avery was a big draw to Utah. She is a doll and Melissa is a great mom.

Yummy lunch at Melissa and Jeff's new LEGERS deli (on Redwood). Love this pic of Trev enjoying his favorite sandwich "the kitchen sink".


Christmas morning.

Exhausted from all the festivities.

Grandma Law teaching Hallie how to use her new sewing machine.

Eight days later it was time to load up the car again and head back to Kentucky. The drive was never-ending and at one point Trevor turned to me and said, "Next time I come up with an idea like this will you please say NO".

Despite the long drive that we hope we will never have to make again (Trevor is considering living here forever in order to avoid it) it was such a wonderful Christmas and although I will probably say "No way!" to Trevor's next crazy idea, I'm so glad I said "okay" to this crazy idea.

Good intentions

I wanted to get Christmas cards out this year but I'm thinking that it's not happening.

I couldn't make up my mind if I should do a baby announcement and/or a Christmas card so I decided just to combine the two.

This is the card you would have gotten if I wasn't so lazy.

Merry little Christmas!

We Love you!

This is the baby announcement I made before I decided to combine the two.

Photoshop elements is so fun. If you don't have it I would definitely add it to your Christmas list, you'll love it.

Davis in the buff

Tried to take some naked pictures of Davis... apparently he doesn't like to be naked.

So I put a hat on him.

I'm not giving up yet. I'll try again tomorrow... poor kid.

Ahhh, much better mommy.


My baby boys.
I used to think Campbell was so little. He seems huge now.
P.S. Davis is finally off the lights for his jaundice, oh happy day! That light was making me crazy!

More pictures of Davis

December 1st 2008- ready to have a baby.

Look at our cute little man.

Davis after his first bath.

Hallie and Megan were in heaven with the new baby. Megan couldn't kiss him enough and Hallie was very concerned that we hadn't picked a name yet. She spent quite awhile suggesting names and having us vote by raise of hands. She was relieved when we finally agreed on Davis.

We have no pictures of Campbell but he kissed the baby on the head and then he was on to bigger and more dangerous things (like all the fun electrical outlets in the hospital room).

Davis with his sweet aunt Julie. Today Davis is a little glow worm with his bilirubin blanket on since he was a little jaundiced.

He's HERE!

Davis Mack was born this morning at 2:38am. He weighs 8lbs 1oz and is 20inches tall. Labor went well... except for the extreme pain that is!

So happy he is finally here! Thanks for all of the words of encouragement and kindness especially during those last miserable weeks. I am so blessed to have you in my life!

Welcome baby Davis!

(Sorry, I have a camera but no cord to plug it in and download the pictures of our sweet new baby. This picture was taken from Trev's phone but I will post more pictures soon... until then you'll have to just trust me... he is so handsome.)

kids quotes

***Megan found a bug and was trying to decide if it was a baby cricket or a "yucky bug". If it was a "yucky bug" she would squish it but if it was a baby cricket she would let it live. She kept asking me, "What is it mom? What is it?" I told her over and over again that I couldn't tell. Finally in her frustration she said, "Mom, just read it's nametag!"

***Today I asked Megan, "Did you like the muffin I made you?" She said, "No. I didn't like the muffin... but I still like you, even though you made that muffin."

***I was going through my jeans, trying them on to see if any of them fit (still trying to get into my pre-Campbell jeans) and Megan walked in the room. She immediately giggled, pointed to my muffin top (stomach bulging out over the jeans), and said, "mom, that's funny, you are bigger than your pants are!" So young, so innocent.

***Megan- "Campbell, is that binky your best friend? I think that binky is your very best friend." Poor Campbell, I think he needs some new friends.

Too blessed to be stressed!

As I waved good-bye to my girls as they drove away on the bus this morning I felt an overwhelming gratitude for my life. I haven't "earned" any of my many blessings and yet the Lord has showered me with them in every aspect of my life.

These last few weeks have felt like an eternity as we have waited and wondered everyday if "today will be the day that our baby comes" but they have also been filled with tender moments and long conversations with loved ones and the humbling reminder that my Heavenly Father is well aware of me and that His timing is best.

I have ached to hold my little sister's new baby girl but felt comforted and connected to her even though we are physically so far from each other.

I have enjoyed my sister-in-law's visit and felt her sweet spirit warm our home. The plan was for her to be here to help when the new baby comes, now I am just hoping she will get to see the baby before she has to leave (this Thursday)! But, I have had several moments when I have felt that this time we have had to visit and wait is what was needed.

I am often heard to say in my prayers "Thy will be done." but then so quick to complain when His will is not mine.

So today I am just feeling grateful to feel His love. Yes, I am physically uncomfortable and emotionally "unstable" but my spirit is full and the message is clear... I am loved by Him and I am so very blessed!

Warning: emotionally unstable

Well, I'm officially over-due and unless something dramatic happens I will be at church tomorrow... I will be the huge lady in the back... and if you say to me "You are STILL pregnant?!?!" or "You look like you are going to POP!" I might cry... but I will still love you.

Yep, still pregnant

So happy for my friend and for my other friend... lucky ducks!

Melissa and I are both still prego... she is being induced tomorrow... I'm not.

I'm pretty sure he's changed his mind and isn't coming out after all. Meanwhile I am enjoying my sister-in-law, decorating my house for Christmas, and crafting.

Trying to stay positive and be grateful.

Hoping for Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital... mmmmm.

Surely he will be here soon... surely.

DC B.C. Red Sea Tablets

My all time favorite music video!

Trev

To be grateful

I was called to repentance today. We had some great talks on gratitude and I felt ashamed at how negative I have been lately (case in point, my last post).
I am richly blessed!!!! Why do I so easily see the negative and the things to worry about instead of basking in the goodness that is all around me? So I thought I would post some of the things I am most grateful for today.

Amazing friends who bless my life daily.

(and even threw me a baby shower for my 4TH CHILD, who gets that!?! Yeah, I'm pretty much spoiled.)

A husband who is an awesome dad and is always looking for opportunities to make great memories with our kids.
My calling with the Young Women.
Fall in Kentucky

My sis-in-law Julie (she is coming on Thursday and staying for 2 whole weeks, YAY!)
She is an angel.
My little man... he cracks me up.
My girlies.

Our sweet baby boy. The back aches, restless nights, and heartburn are all worth it.

I'm so grateful for him and I can't wait to hold him in my arms.

Truly, I am so blessed.