Wild Things

This weekend felt like some pages out of "Where the Wild Things are." Where after wild rumpuses he wanted to be where someone loved him best of all, so he gave up being king of where the Wild Things Are and jumped into his boat and set off to sail for over a year and a day and into the night of his very own home where his found his supper waiting for him and it was still hot.

I came home to a loving family from what felt like far away across the world, to kids who cleaned my house and baked me a cake and gave me presents of dragons and bangles, and just had to hug me to death. Some would think I would be coming home to the wild things, but it felt as magical as the ending of the book always feels. "And it was still hot,"

Birthday Cake Time

Roo's allergic to chocolate, I have allergies to eggs and milk, Clay can't do apples..... what kind of cake to make?

Buttery Coconut Pecan Cake (vegan)

mix:
3 cups whole wheat flour1
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup of ground flax seeds
1 heaping teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
cinnamon to taste

add:
1/2 cup canola oil
3/4 cup palm oil (organic shortening)
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 1/2 cups water
1 Tablespoon vanilla

mix until fluffy and creamy.
Then add:
2 cups flaked coconut
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.
Cool before frosting.

Frosting:
1/3 cup palm oil
3-4 cups powdered sugar
1-2 Tablespoons vanilla
Cinnamon and cloves to taste (also adds color)
whip until creamy.
Then add:
1 1/2 cups pecans
1 cup flaked coconut


Worked so awesome no ice cream needed.

The Eagle has Landed

After trying some evening primrose oils- labor started on Saturday at 4cm. I labored slowly but surely the day away, was able to keep busy with light house work and stuff. Mom took the kids to the local garage sale and lunch and then kept them until bedtime.

At bedtime I slept 1/2 hr until contractions got too strong to sleep through. Then I got up and labored in the bathroom until 4am when I got lonely and turned the lights on and threw open the door. That brought Mike in to labor with me. We listened to music, talked a little and dealt with labor. In a few hours Mom came and got the kids and made them Star Wars pancakes.

Meanwhile I was getting emotionally drained. I couldn't tell if I was making any progress, and my water didn't want to break. At 3pm ish Mike announced he finished some of his school work, so I said good and started packing to go the the hospital. I had had enough and was going to get this over with one way or another.

Mom and Dad passed the kids off to Ryan and Amber and came and drove us down. We called first and the Dr had ordered an ultrasound to do when we got there. But the nurse was able to guarantee to the Doc the the baby was head down and that I was 7-8cm. I was satisfied, I had actually made real progress and just had to get through transition. There was real question about whether the water had broken. I was unsure, the nurse thought probably.

I turned down offers of pain meds, IVs and saline locks. I knew I could get through transition and birth without it. - And it would be much better for baby with out it.

So I labored for another hour or two and everyone was surprised that the baby wasn't born yet. Labor got harder and the doc came in to check me, he said I was 9 to easily 10, being extra stretchy and noticed that water had not broken yet. So he broke it and asked me to push to see if it would do anything or if I would need a c - section. The push in the position of sitting up made me want to swear at the doctor. The doc decided to leave me and go downstairs to see about a c- section. He thought the baby would be too big. Meanwhile, the nurse was trying to get me to lay back to check the baby's heartbeat, but I yelled "I got to move" and got one leg off of the bed before I groaned, screamed and pushed the baby out in 30 seconds. I didn't plan on doing it- I just had to.

The baby was caught by the hospital bed- and I yelled for someone to take him. He was still half inside me and I couldn't push any more. So the nurse finally grabbed the baby and I was able to sit back, much relieved. They rubbed my tummy and got my placenta out. The doc came in and was much surprised and relieved. He did a quick check and announced to rips or tears.

Everyone was thrilled. He was a big boy, weighed in at 10 pounds, 15 oz. 22.5"
And we were both still happy and intact.

In retrospect, all I needed was an experienced midwife and the home birth would have come off perfect- but those are hard to find in my neck of the woods, and as far as hospital births it was the best we could hope for.

Of course, because the hospital bed was so short and narrow and not padded enough- I was thrilled to go home in 24 hours- against the hopes of the hospital and staff.

If hospitals really wanted to keep you there longer- they would have big, soft beds, and Charmin toilet paper- and food that is fresh, whole grain and organic :)

Meanwhile my 5 kids and a husband with 2 term papers to write needed me at home.

Thank you for your presence.

Yesterday was my birthday! I am a whole year older and wiser too, then I must have been last year at this time.

People have (especially my mother) asked me what I want for my birthday. And you know, I don't really "want" for anything. The one thing I have wanted most over the last few years is now squirming on my lap and trying to eat my mouse. (and I'm not talking about the cat).

And I thank her for her presence. I was in great want/ need of her presence. And I thank you for your presence in my life. For all that you have done for me. For all that you have listened to me prattle about my newest acquired knowledge and daily challenges. And for being there and caring about me, and letting me hang out with you.

Your presence means more to me then stuff. Thank you for being present.

sparklers

Here we see Chester giving up his opportunity for a sparkler. And then Amy and her little Kristin reaching for one and then Clay and his.

fireworks!

Clay is 3 years old!

My Clay baby turned 3 today!

We had a family gathering at my parent's cabin for him, with a BBQ, fireworks, cakes and lots and lots of cousins.

Here is his birthday cake- double chocolate and triple berry.

Notice how Ewan is carefully guarding it.

Next we have Clay in the middle of all his presents. He got a ball today, and because the ball got some frosting on it, Clay refused to have any cake until we had it all cleaned off. And then we see the lineup for sparklers and Galen getting his sparkler.

Review of the last 48 hours

When I was about 10 years old I started having birthday sleepers with my best friend, whose birthday was 4 days before mine. We would play games, eat lots of yummies, and watch movies until wee hours of the morning. We would talk and giggle and generally have lots of fun.

On Tuesday I turn the big Three O, and celebrated that fact this weekend. Mike and I found 3 sitters to take our 4 kids (what would I do without family around?) And we went out of town.

We headed to the cities had a nice ultrasound of our baby, the ultrasound tech noted several interesting things along the way. Here is the arms, and you can see the fingers, looked at the kidneys, bladder, heart, brain formations, noting the lack of any male gentilia (checked that several times).

Then we had lunch, shopped for some pink things, went to the LDS book store and napped at the hotel, had dinner, went to the temple and then snacked and played Settlers of Zarahemla until almost midnight. But there was a movie "Enchanted" on the demand system and we had to stay up to watch that. So finally zonked too tired not to sleep around 1:30 am. We did lots of laughing, playing and eating.

We truly took this morning easy, not leaving the hotel until almost noon. The whole thing reminded me very much of those sleepovers I used to have. Very relaxing and fun.

Our kids are glad to be back together with us and each other. And I need to leave the blog long enough to get Galen into the bath for church tomorrow.

It could be worse....

Well, A wild ride is what I got for this week.

Tuesday was by far the worst day of the whole pregnancy. I was so sick I just lied in bed (as much as a mother with 2 toddlers can) and cried.

And my poor husband. Tuesday was his birthday. We had a baby sitter lined up and were planning to go out. But I couldn't even respond to him when he came in.

And our water heater went out too- but I really didn't miss it on Tuesday, but by Wednesday I did. And after a quick on the scene investigation, I called for some professional help. But they were booked through Friday- 2 placed booked through Friday! So I agreed to pay the overtime rate and got someone out about about 6pm. Our water heater has a broken igniter. And the plumber company's suppliers do not carry that brand......
So a quick web search produced desired results with overnight shipping coming to more then the part. It should be here tomorrow.

And today, I was at least moving. I had to conquer that pile of sky high dishes and dirty kitchen, even with no running hot water. How did the do it 100 years ago? Duh! they kept water in big pots on the stove at most times and often near the fire. So 6 pots of hot water later and I had a clean kitchen (mopped floor and all). And while we ate dinner I boiled another pot for those dishes (and also used it to bath my Ian).

Then this afternoon I went to my mother's house for a bath. Pregnant women have amazing abilities to smell, and man, did I smell! Then I actually had a nap, made a birthday cake and my man's favorite dinner, sang happy birthday and put my kids to bed. All before nausea kicked in too strongly.

Mike is less ornery, now that someone acknowledges that he had a birthday. Boys can be so sensitive sometimes. And I got him a great card. The cover shows a woman at the sink washing dishes she is saying "The garbage needs to go out and the kids tracked mud through the living room today." Her husband is at the table and he says "Talk dirty to me, baby".

Then in the inside it says" we'll find some way to keep the romance alive, happy birthday"

Clay's Daddy

Of course, Clay's Daddy looks happy. He had strawberry steak salad for dinner (100 mile meal!) and then had banana chocolate cake with ice cream afterwards!

Clay's B-day (cont)

As you can see clay looks a little puzzled about what to do with his next gift. Galen, and Ewan (the birthday experts around here) were more then happy to show him what to do.

Clay's Birthday

Today is Clay's 2nd birthday. It is hard to believe my baby is 2. Anyways, after dinner and clean up I sent the boys outside to do sparklers and snaps, while I frosted the cake. Then Galen had to be the first to pass his present to Clay. See- what a sweet little deer Galen is.

boys enjoying thier ride

time to test it

Grampa wanted to test it with the black plastic on it, before he poked holes in it. Blow Out! and fixing the blow out.

Success! the boys are riding on it and we are kicking them around the room on it.

floating on air- cont...

Now it is time to fit the hose to the hole and we see the use of our inventor's secret weapon. And then the attachment of the black plastic.

floating on air- getting closer

Here we Clay on the finished platform. And we had to distract the kiddlets- so we gave them the tools to screw around. Some of them screwed up the styroform completely. And then I also thought this was a good one to throw this pic of Clay in his snowsuit in.

floating on air (cont)

Now it is time to build the platform. They are screwing the 2 by4s to the plywood, then searching for the right tool to put a hole in the center and then they will try to attach the vacuum hose.

Floating on air for your Birthday

The Mythbusters made hovercrafts last month. They always warn us not to try what they do at home- but this was too good of an opportunity to turn down. So for Galen's birthday we made a hovercraft- sure beats normal party games!

Grandpa started by cutting the wood to build the platform. And then moved us all the the cob building for the actual construction (see Ian carrying the wood) and made the boys vacuum all the dirt so the hovercraft wouldn't blow it all around.

Ian's 4th birthday

Yep my baby is 4. Here are some pics from the small family party.

Anniverseries can be punny things

Today I had a 10 o'clock meeting out of the house. So I left, but nobody was there, and therefore being our anniversary I took the time to stop at the floral shop for some flowers, but ended up with a bunch of bad puns instead.

When I got home I brought Mike a little bag with a ribbon the note said "Has it bean 8 years since we became love birds?" and inside the bag was some jelly beans and a pair of love birds. That was sweet but not enough to distract him from his games.

Then I brought him another bag, tied with a ribbon. The note said "You are egg-actley what I need. And are always there to brighten my day with your smiles." Inside that bag was some butter cream eggs and chocolate smiley faces.

By the third bag, I actually had his attention. He turned away from the game and read the card: "May we always forgive each others four-paws quickly and become cuddle bunnies once again." inside the bag was a cat (what better symbol for fau paus?) and a cuddle bunny.

He thought we were done, but lo, I brought him the flowers in the case with the card "May your tulips always touch mine. May ours speak in tenderness towards each other. May the happy joys of babies breath caress our cheeks from our progenitors for eternities to come. " I'm pretty sure you can guess what kind of flowers I bought.

And lastly the closing note said "May our love burn brightly forever, wrapped in one eternal WoW!
P.S. Life's a piece of cake when we carrot for each other." As you can guess there was a candle and then I had to make a carrot cake tonight.

Mike says he owes me a nice dinner out. So I told him I had a baby sitter for next week!