3 weeks old

Peyton was 3 weeks old yesterday. I just can't believe it! It's amazing how time flies when you have a good baby (until now, I didn't know what that was like!). She has had a nasty rash on her face, but it seems to finally be getting better. She had a doctor appointment today and this is what we found out:

Weight: 6 lbs 11 oz - 5% (1 oz over birth weight)
Height: 20 inches - 34% (3 inches over birth height)

The doctor said that she is looking good. He doesn't seem worried about her weight....I guess because she is eating good and still growing (height). I don't really mind that she's still small....I would keep her a baby forever if I could.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Yesterday was Aaron's 28th birthday. Normally for his birthday he just wants boring things...like dress clothes for work, an oil change for the car, money for a bill, etc. And after his birthday he complains that he never gets anything fun. Well, this year made up for it. He was pretty spoiled this year. He got a World Gym membership, a bluetooth headset for his cell phone, a slingbox pro (thank you Debbie and Jon!), and money.

Aaron, on your birthday I'd like to tell you how much I love you and appreciate all you do for our family. You are the best daddy and husband I could ever wish for. Thanks for working as hard as you do....for taking care of me and treating me like a queen (when I know I'm not the easiest person to live with). We love you!

Happy Easter!

On Saturday we celebrated Easter. Sunday just gets too crazy with church at 8:30am, and this year we were invited to Easter dinner at my friend (Lori's) house....so we like to use up the entire Saturday for our Easter festivities.
Saturday morning we dyed eggs with Uncle Skyler. That is always a very messy experience....and kindof wasteful. We dye eggs because it's a tradition. You can't have Easter and not dye eggs...right? Well, we don't do anything with the eggs afterwards....we don't hide them or eat them....so after a few days of stinking up my fridge, we just throw them away.
While the kids were taking their naps, the Easter bunny came and left their baskets. When Aaron was growing up, the Easter bunny was extra nice to his family and always brought a present (toys) with all the candy. So, of course, we have to carry on that tradition. This year he brought the kids each a Nerf gun. What a hit! The kids won't put them down! Yesterday I found them sitting in a row having target practice at our fridge. Also, yesterday we saw 4 white tail deer running in the field across the street and Kaden came running in with his gun saying he was going to shoot them. It's amazing how early they learn this stuff (I'm sure this is a proud moment for you grandpa (with the horsies)!).
After the excitement of the baskets, the kids got bundled up for their Easter egg hunt outside in the snow. I thought about just having the hunt inside, but how depressing is that?!? Easter means spring...and spring means NO SNOW!
Yesterday the kids got to wear their new Easter outfits (yes, from Gymboree...I'm addicted!). We are still trying to keep Peyton away from big crowds of people so she doesn't get sick, so she didn't get to wear her Easter dress. Easter dinner at Lori's was delicious. It's nice to have friends...especially when you don't have family in town.

Going Private

Hello everyone. Well, thanks to a comment by some freak, I am going to make my blog private...so if everyone could send me their email addresses, I will send you an invitation (email them to: amber@s3studios.com). The only problem with making it private, is you have to have a Google account to view my blog. Family, if you need help making a Google account, let me know (it's free...you just have to make up a username and password...and remember it!).

Hopefully this will make blogging a little more safe (although it is quite a bummer). Happy blogging!

P.S. I don't have email addresses for: Alan Davis, Anna Heintzleman, Derek Price, Jane Clark, Janell Hilmo, Jennifer Lloyd, Sabrina Strong, Tia Francis, & Allison Jenks.

I've been Tagged...too many times!

Ok, so I'm finally getting around to doing this "Tag". Hope you don't get too bored! (Oh, and just so you know...this picture is NOT recent...I wish I looked that skinny again!)

A- Attached or Single: Attached

B- Best Friend: Hubby & Mom

C- Cake or Pie: Pie

D-Day of Choice: Friday & Saturday

E- Essential Item: My computer (Mac) & chocolate

F- Favorite Color: Red

G- Gummy Bears or Worms: Worms

H-Hometown: Basin City, WA

I-Indulgence(s): Too many to list…I have no self control!

J- January or July: July…hands down!

K- Kids: 4 – Ashlyn, Morgan, Kaden & Peyton

L- Life is Incomplete Without: My family & good food!

M- Marriage Date: May 24, 2001 (my mom’s birthday!)

N- Number of Siblings: 3 - 1 sister & 2 brothers

O- Oranges or Apples: Apples…I’m from Washington…duh!

P-Phobias or Fears: Phobia- Mice Fear- Drowning

Q- Quotes: He loves me, he loves me not. It doesn’t matter, I’m all he’s got!

R- Reasons to Smile: Family, flowers, sunshine, fudge, eating out

S- Season: Spring & Summer

T- Tag 3 Friends: Anyone that wants to.

U- Unknown Facts About Me: I hate leftovers and doing the dishes. I love traveling (not necessarily the traveling part…the destination).

V- Very Favorite Stores: Country Mercantile, Target, Pottery Barn Kids, Gymboree, Old Navy, Porters

W- Worst Habit: Thinking negatively & biting my fingernails.

X- X-ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasound…weird question

Y- Your Favorite Foods: Ok…get ready for a long list…Mexican food, chips & salsa, chocolate, maple nut fudge, Widow Maker hamburger-Claim Jumper, Mushroom Jack fajitas-Chilis, Chicken Scampi-Olive Garden, Brownie Obsession-TGI Fridays

Z- Zodiac: Pisces

2 Weeks Old

Yesterday Peyton was 2 weeks old. It's amazing how fast they grow up...it makes me sad. Although, I won't be sad when she's old enough to sleep through the night. Can't wait for that day!

Aaron keeps telling me that this is our last baby (not that he has the final say). IF that is true, that makes me really sad to think that pretty soon my little Peyton won't be so little anymore. But, who knows...maybe there is a little boy waiting to join our family (I'm sure Kaden would love some more male company in our house that's full of estrogen!).

Septic Problem FIXED!

Yes everyone....it's finally fixed! Actually, it was fixed on Tuesday night....and now we are trying to play catch up (laundry and dishes)! After having toilets that only worked when they wanted to, and no showers or baths, I have learned to really appreciate a working septic system! When the toilets finally worked, I sat in the bathroom and flushed the toilet over and over and watched the water swirl around the bowl....it was one of the greatest things I've ever seen! I am so grateful it's finally fixed!

Thanks Grandma

This is my mom. Isn't she beautiful?!? I just wanted to publicly thank her for taking care of us when Peyton was born. She basically took over my role for a week, which was desperately needed. She did all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, took care of the kids, and took Peyton at least 3 of the nights so we could get some sleep. It's so nice to be "babied" again.

Mom, I just wanted to tell you that I love you and I really appreciate all your help while you were here. We would have been a wreck without you. It's so nice to know everything will be taken care of....meals, cleaning, children, etc.

I think after the birth of each of my children, I realize more and more that you are the greatest mom in the world and how blessed I am to have a mother like you. I hope someday my children think I'm as great a mom as I think you are.

We miss you already and can't wait to see you in May! I love you!

Firsts

Isn't it so exciting when your baby has their "firsts"? Well, yesterday Peyton was 1 week old and she smiled for the first time! I know....you're thinking to yourself...."she's asleep"....but at this point, I'll take what I can get. I'm trying to really look for the positive right now....and this is definitely something!

Also, today is the day for her 1st bath at home. The hospital said that because she was born early, her skin is really thin and we should only bathe her once a week (and to not use any baby lotions or powders). Well, it's been a week and I can't handle it any longer. I'm not really fond of the rotten formula smell or the nasty umbilical cord that is just about to fall off. I've decided that even though we still have the septic problem, it's worth the toilets backing up for a couple hours. Today is the day!

Long, Hard Week

Isn't she a doll? Well, she has been such an angel...sleeps good, eats good...right now the best baby I've had. So, you ask...why has this week been so hard? Well, it started the day after I got home from the hospital (Thursday). After Aaron left for work, I noticed that the toilets were bubbling and the bath tubs were filling up through the drains (with some nasty stuff!). I called the landlord and let them know right away, because this was obviously not normal. Anyways, after many attempts from the plummer to get into our septic tank through the frozen ground, no luck. Every time we use the tub, dishwasher, or washing machine the toilets back up and won't flush and the bath tubs fill up with nasty water from all the drains in the house. It's now Monday and the problem still isn't fixed. Needless to say, it's HORRIBLE! Our house stinks like sewer and until yesterday evening, we all stunk because we can't use the showers (thanks Skyler and Aubrey for letting us use your bathroom!).

On Friday night I woke up with the chills. I didn't know what was wrong, so I took a Motrin and went back to bed. On Saturday morning, my mom got a phone call that my grandpa had fallen and was in the hospital with several injuries. My 94-year old grandpa had been riding his exercise bike and had passed out and fell off and broke a few ribs, his shoulder blade and had a large laceration on his arm and a big bump on his head. She told me that she had to head home early....the next day. An hour later I had the chills again and a fever. I took more medicine and went to sleep and when I woke up, I felt much better.....until later that night. By about 6pm I wasn't feeling well. I couldn't tell if I had the flu or some kind of infection, but thought I'd call the doctor. The doctor confirmed my suspicions....I had mastitis! He quickly gave me a prescription....but by 9pm I had a high fever of 103 and was in so much pain. My mom called my brother who quickly came over and he and Aaron gave me a blessing. It's so nice to have family in town! I started feeling better soon afterwards, but have struggled to keep my fever down since then.

Mom stayed an extra day, but is leaving today. I'm really having a hard time with it. The thought of having to take care of 4 children by myself is so overwhelming. It takes a few weeks for me to adjust to a new baby and get back to our usual schedule....and I'm not looking forward to it. I just wish I lived closer to family. Being 10 hours away from both parents and the majority of our family is so hard. I hope someday soon we can move closer....but for now, we are on our own.

Peyton is FINALLY here!

Peyton was born on March 3, 2008 at 10:24pm. She weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces and was 17.5 inches long (just a tiny thing). She is doing great! She is so sweet....her siblings just can't get enough of her....they won't leave her side!

By 3:30pm I was in my hospital bed waiting to be induced. Finally at about 5:30pm the doctor came and broke my water. By 6pm I had the epideral and by 7:30pm I was hooked up to Pitocin and things were finally progressing. At about 8pm I was still only dilated to a 3, but by 10pm I was fully dilated (10) and started pushing.

Things went pretty smoothly....except for the drastic drop in my blood pressure when they gave me the epideral. Because I went in with such high blood pressure, the quick, drastic drop really affected me. For about an hour and a half I was feeling on the verge of death....but once she was born, I felt great!

We are so excited that our sweet little angel is finally here....I know our family wouldn't be the same without her.

TODAY IS THE DAY!

We are having our baby today! I went back into the doctor this morning and they decided that my blood pressure was just too high and they want to induce me today. They don't think it's toxemia, but they are worried about other complications with high blood pressure. They monitored the baby and she is doing great....so looks like we'll be meeting her tonight. The kids are all very excited! They keep telling me that they can't wait to see her and they are going to be big helpers for me.

I go into the hospital at about 3pm today and with any luck, she should be here by bedtime. My mom is hurrying here as fast as she can, so looks like everything will work out. I am so excited to finally meet this sweet little angel AND to not be pregnant anymore. I hope I can get some sleep tonight....but I'm sure baby Peyton will be wanting some attention.

Visitor from Florida

This week we had a special visitor from Florida. Her name is Debra Gudai and she is actually one of Aaron's customers from Artco (Storkie Express), but we were lucky enough to get to spend some time with her while she was here. On Wednesday evening she came over to our house for pizza and she brought gifts! For girls she brought My Little Pony stuff and a make-over kit (finger nail polish, hair stuff, etc). For Kaden she brought a large dump truck, and Mega Blocks tow truck (with legos), 2 packs of Hot Wheels cars, and 2 more smaller trucks. Let me tell you, it was like Christmas times 2! Oh, and I forgot to mention all the Easter candy. Anyways, of course the kids think she is the greatest ever!

The girls had been waiting (not so patiently) for Debbie to come back and on Friday evening she did. They had so much fun doing their make-overs...we even learned that Morgan can paint her nails by herself. After they were done, Debbie took Aaron and I out to dinner in Idaho Falls to the Sandpiper Restaurant. Dinner was great and it was nice to have some adult time.

Thanks Debbie for everything! We always have fun when you come to town. Come visit again soon!