Feeling Loved

The past few days have been really GREAT! My mom and all three of my sisters have either come to visit or called to check on me! My mom came Thursday, Friday and Today, and I talked to all of my sisters on the phone. Funny thing is, they all called in age order too!

My oldest sister, Nikki, just got asked to come up with an idea for their Super Saturday at church. So, she called to ask for help! I gave her one of these for Christmas a few years ago, so she wanted to know where to get everything so they could make it at their activity.

Then, my other sister, DJ, has kidney stones again! I feel so bad for her, she has had them too many times. She actually just passed one the day Duke was born and now she has another one. They told her if she doesn't pass it in 2 weeks, to go back in. Who wants to be in pain for 2 more weeks?!? So sad.

The last sister, Kim, just got engaged!! WOOHOO!! How excited we are for her! She called to ask prices while she was out wedding dress shopping! What an exciting time in her life, and for her to be happy again! She text me a picture of her ring, and I must say, it's gorgeous!!
We have also been so blessed with the amount of food that has been delivered to our home. Our church brought meals for the first three days, and then my phone keeps ringing from other people that just WANT to bring us food! I LOVE that!! All of the ladies I serve with in Young Women's, wives of Brandon's co-workers, and our neighbors have all been awesome with their generosity. Even some of the girls from church have stopped by just to hold Duke. Nothing feels better than being loved.

First Quarter

The first quarter of school is over already! Time just seems to be passing so fast! Lilli had an awards assembly yesterday, we asked her if she was getting an award, but she said she didn't know. But when she got home from school, her hands were full of awards!

• Perfect Attendance Award
• Teacher Recognition Certificate for all A's & B's
• Principal's Award for being an Outstanding Student (she also got a box full of school supplies that she left in her desk)
• Red Ribbon for being a Class Rep on Student Council
• Free Bowling Pass for her Perfect Attendance
• A Green Hand (she says it was for helping others)

When the Principal announced his special award to her, he said that she is always willing to go above and beyond to help others. As a parent, that's such a nice thing to hear.

Girly Girl

When Lilli came home Sunday from visiting her Dad, we noticed her new fingers! She got a French Tip Manicure! So pretty!

Since I was still in the hospital, I didn't get a picture sooner, and she smashed one in her desk at school and it broke off.
She is ALWAYS tapping her fingers on everything she passes, and it's fun to see her so excited about something so small. It reminds me of my first fake nail adventure.

Our Hospital Stay

We ended up staying at the Hospital a few more days longer. We were able to go home Monday night at 9:30pm. Every time Hoss would come visit us, he would ask how come I wasn't going home with them. I was beginning to feel really bad.

Brandon thought he needed to take a picture moments after I had the baby. Not funny, so I pulled a Hoss and wouldn't look at the camera. I'm not sure why they even finished putting in my IV after Duke was born, they didn't even use it.
Duke's official weight.
Big brother and sister came to say Hello!
He's just sooo cute!!

My Cousin, Cindy, came from Twin Falls, Idaho. THANKS!
I took a shower and came out to Dad in my bed making himself rather cozy.
My sister DJ brought her kids to see their brand new cousin. Jamey was excited for a new boy cousin!
Skyler just loves babies! They both took a baby/child development class at school, so they were experts!
The reason we ended up staying 2 days longer. They said between him being delivered so fast and him not nursing well, his Belirubin level was too high, so we had to leave him under the lights for a little while. Hoss thought his sunglasses were pretty nifty.

The "Duke" has Arrived

I guess this baby didn't want to be induced. I started having contractions at 10:30 Thursday night. They grew closer together by the second, so at 11pm I called my mom and asked her to come over right then instead of the next morning. She arrived at 11:45pm and after filling her in on Lilli & Hoss' schedules for the next day, we left for the Hospital at about 10 after Midnight. We checked into our delivery room at 12:30am, they checked me and I was dialated to a 7. So, they started to put the IV into my hand when my water broke and the head popped out. I asked if I could push and they told me "NO!". But I said, the head is halfway out. So within 5 minutes of me being dialated to a 7, I was having the baby! The Dr. hadn't arrived yet, but there was no time, we had already delivered the baby, not 20 minutes after arriving at the Hospital. Total time from first contraction to birth: 2 hours 17 minutes.

Welcome to the World

DUKE WAYNE JOHNSON

Oct. 21st ~ 12:47am

7lbs 14 oz ~ 20 in long

40 Weeks 3 Days

Conversation between myself and Hoss:

Me: "The baby still isn't here."

Hoss: "He thinks it's nice and warm in your tummy."

That kid CRACKS me up! Anyhow, if I don't have the baby by tomorrow morning I have an appointment to be induced at 7am.

40 Weeks 2 Days

I don't know how people take pictures of themselves when they are pregnant to show their growing bellies. All of my mirrors are too tall for me and I just couldn't get the camera at the right angle, so this is what you get. I don't think it makes me look as MASSIVELY HUGE as I really am though. Anyway, Carolyn said that I had to post at least one prego picture, so here you go, enjoy!

I have decided that the reason I haven't had this baby is because I just have too much to do right now. Last week was really good for me. I had two very uplifting events that I attended. The first was Thursday, when our Stake had a Leadership Meeting. We divided up by organization and during the meeting were some very special points for me.

I was reminded how old Lilli is actually becoming. In two years she will be twelve and be in Young Women's. Kinda scary. I need to be preparing her now for the future.

I was reminded how special marriage is and how much I LOVE my husband. An example was given about how some women seem to be more "male bashers" than embracing how wonderful men are. When I got married Brandon's Aunt, Sheryl, gave me the BEST ADVICE I have ever received. She told me to make sure that I make Brandon my top priority and to make sure that he's the most important person/thing in my life. I have since tried to do that, it doesn't happen everyday, and sometimes it's smaller than other days. But in our meeting the Stake Young Women's President asked if anyone prays for ways to show their spouse that they are the most important person, next to Christ, in their lives. I was kinda embarrassed to raise my hand since nobody else did, so I just sat there. I really regret that now because I do pray EVERYDAY for ways to help me show Brandon that he is the most important thing in my life. Somedays it's just hanging up his church pants (the thing he HATES the most) or letting him take a nap after Church (which I hate the most). Other days it's heating up a plate of dinner when I see him drive up to the house after a 16 hour day, or grabbing his favorite snack at the store as a surprise.

Then on Saturday, the General Relief Society President, Sister Julie Beck, came to town! How amazing is that just in itself?

Some of the key points that I got from her Fireside were to make sure that I am raising my Sons to be Strong. Not just physically, but Spiritually. They need a good example, they need prayers, and as their mother, that is my job, I need to be the strong link in my home.

Another point is that we need to Pray for miracles and expect them. I pray for them, but then don't really expect them to come. This is actually something that Brandon and I had talked about a few months ago, so it hit home.

Then, I need to make sure that I am attending the Temple for myself. Not just because someone asked me to carpool or because of a special ceremony or engagement. But for MYSELF. We used to go twice a month, but since the Boise Temple has closed for renovations, we haven't been. I NEED to fix that!

And finally, the most important thing I learned is to Simplify my life. Brandon has actually told me, recently, how he loves the fact that I have cut EVERYTHING else out of my life except church and family. (an outside job, volunteer activities, etc.) It has made our home more loving, less stressful, and just happier. Sister Beck encouraged us to prioritize what is most important and to only do those things.

I've been sewing like crazy trying to get some curtains made for my home. (That's why in all these pictures there is sewing supplies everywhere in the backgrounds) I didn't realize how big and open my windows were until the other night when I came home from Mutual and, since my mom was babysitting, the lights were on. Privacy is much needed here soon. Brandon bought me a new Sewing/Embroidery machine last year for my Anniversary/Christmas/Birthday/Mother's Day gift. I have LOVED it, and I absolutely love that it shows me this message, sad face and all.

I've almost finished them all. I only have to finish the ties for the curtains in the living room and sew on a few more buttons to the curtains above the kitchen sink.

On Sunday, we attended an Open house for one of Brandon's cousin's that just got married. They were so cute and shocked that we would attend since my due date was the next day. It was nice to go back to Vale and see so many friends and family.
Another thing I needed to get done is the picture below. Every Harvest Season for the past 4 years I have made Silage Books for a Dairyman in Vale. This year, he called and asked that since I've moved and am having a baby if I would still be willing. He is such a nice man and I have so much respect for him, how could I say no, even though my due date was the very next day? Anyhow, since we were already going to be in Vale for the Open House, we stopped by and picked up all of the weight tickets and moisture samples.

I got them done and Brandon delivered them to him last night. He was completely shocked and wasn't expecting them for quite awhile because of the baby. Well, no baby meant time to get them done and FAST!

On Monday, we had Lilli's Bake sale and being the month of October, we just had to carve pumpkins for Family Home Evening! This was the first year that Hoss was willing to gut the pumpkin himself. At first he made some pretty funny faces because of the texture, but then he got used to the feel.

So it looks like this baby is just giving me more time to be spiritually uplifted and to finish up odds and ends. I do have a Dr. Appointment today so I'm sure he'll make me set an inducement date. Looks like I better hit the sewing machine and finish up my curtains!!

Bake Sale

Lilli is on the Student Council at her school and they are having a Bake Sale Today! How exciting, right?? So, we have been trying to decide what to make for the past week, and this is what we FINALLY decided upon.

After we got Lilli off to school, I enlisted the help of my most wonderful kitchen helper to get the job done.
We think they turned out pretty cute - and YUMMY. Hoss had to test one first! Now to get them off to the school before lunch time.

Back to the Big Rig

Brandon has been so bummed that he hasn't been able to drive any of the trucks during harvest season, but he finally got back behind the wheel! When it came time to harvest the sweet potatoes, Brandon was able to drive, so of course Hoss was able to go as well.

I can't really tell who is more excited, Hoss or Brandon.

The Sweet Potatoes were more of a trial crop. They only planted a little section in one of their fields, so Brandon had to drive to the end of the field and then back up all the way back to the top and start again. The truck was too big to turn around in the field. Hoss kept telling him, "You're a good backer-upper!"

Pumpin' Iron #3

Today was my final Iron Infusion. I'm so glad that I don't have to go back because their policy has changed within the last week. Patients now have to wait 30 minutes after their treatment before being able to leave the hospital. After being there for three hours, I don't want to stay another 30 minutes!

Anyway, they said that the Government just made a new law about this and that it's suppose to be to make sure to catch allergic reactions, etc. But, you would think that after already being in their care for three hours an allergic reaction would have already appeared within that time! Anyway, glad to be done!

Happiness

For some reason, this picture just makes me happy. Having both kids help with dinner is seriously the best thing in the world. Pure happiness.

38 Weeks

That means two weeks left!! If he's on time that is, my fingers are crossed.

The baby has been in the transverse position (which means sideways) so they wanted to do another ultrasound during my last visit to see if he has changed positions. He has moved to the normal ready position but hasn't dropped at all. My cervix is still closed and I'm not dilated at all. Bummer. Hopefully things will be different this week.

Anyway, this has been my first 3D ultrasound ever. The Ultrasound Tech asked me if he looks like his siblings., but I can't really tell since his arm is over his face. I do see some really chubby cheeks though, and yes, that does fit right in with the rest of us. :)