Monday Morning Update

I really want to blog more.  I miss the connections of real life friends and blog friends that I made when I was a good blogger.  I also miss the history that I documented, both of my life and feelings, and the events in which our family participated.

With that said, we will see how this goes...but I am really trying!  :)

This last week has been busy, but not nearly as busy as the week that is coming up!  V has been off and on very cranky.  She slept through the first two hours of church yesterday, but then got uncomfortable for pretty much the rest of the day and night.  I don't know if she spent more than 15 minutes the entire night in her bassinet  otherwise she was being held by CK or I.  I am so grateful that he volunteers to take her.  It is a blessing to me.

Today is XDH's birthday.  I hope he has a good day.  I am so grateful that through Jesus Christ combined with the passage of time, I do not feel the pain that I have in the past.  Life is not how I planned, but I think almost everyone is living a life different than they envisioned, for one reason or another.  I wish that I could take away the sorrows that others are experiencing, yet, at the same time, I know how much I have grown and I know they will too.  If you are one that is hurting, just know that the Savior lives and He really does understand and He really is seeking to bring you comfort.  I am certain that you will look back and see His hand in your life, before, during, and following the trial that brings you heartache right now.

Well, I think V's window of happy time is about up.  See you next week!

Belated Post: My Family's Visit

 As mentioned in the post about E's baptism, my parents and my brother, S, came to visit to be here for E with an added benefit of getting to see the youngest grandchild:  V.  It was a chaotic weekend.  They arrived Friday and we did dinner together (Both the S family and our family).  Saturday morning was the baptism, followed by two sessions of General Conference.  Sunday was more General Conference and dinner together at the S home (see picture from the previous post).  Then, Monday (all too soon!) they had to fly home.

Above is a picture of the boys and Grandma playing a game--such a L family thing to do!  :)

 Grandma was sooooooooo excited to see and hold V.

  Here are the proud grandparents:

 

 One of the things that my mom brought with her when they came is the dress that she sewed for me and that I was blessed in.  We tried it on V.  It fits very well right now---and just might fit by blessing day, but maybe not.  I was a preemie and V was not.  We will see.

 More pictures in the dress:

   

 It was another sad day when Grandma, Grandpa, and S had to say goodbye--especially to V.  Like Grandma K, she won't remember any of these visits or who these strangers are next time we see them.  I so wish all of my family lived closer.

Below is S and C.  This is how I found them when it was time to go to the airport.  And they played up to the very last minute.  They both love strategy games and again I wish that we all lived closer.  C really doesn't have anyone to play these long games with.  -sigh-  It would be so nice.

But, like always, I am so blessed.  I have a great family and we live in a time with modern technology.  We can fly, drive, Skype, or talk on the phone to visit.  What a blessing!  :)

The Journey

Over the last week or so, I have been preparing the next installment of my blog books: 2009.  I love to have these published and I love that the kids (and me too!) get to go through and remember our lives (as much as I documented, at least).  2009 was a difficult one for me.  I got sucked in to my own posts-many with such heartache and sorrow.  As I read post after post, as difficult as it was, a few things jumped out at me:  1) I have come a long way, 2) each post was filled with faith, even while drowning in sorrow, and 3) I was taken care of each day--documented over and over in these posts.  So, while it is hard to read them, it is also a blessing to see the hand of the Lord (usually through other people) in my life.  It is also amazing to see just how young my three children were as they went through this period of challenge.  They are amazing!

Thank-you to all my angels that chose to take those difficult steps with me, holding me up when I could not hold myself up!  You helped more than you will ever know and I pray that you will be blessed for your incredible service to me and to my family.

Now, as I continue to look back and see how the journey has taken us, I pondered today about the last few Octobers:

October 2007:  I had no idea what was around the corner.  I was busy, busy, busy with a one-year-old and a flourishing business. Crazy!
October 2008:  XDH had thought about wanting a divorce, but, at this time, he had decided he was in love with me and wanted our family to remain intact.  Oh, the joy!
October 2009:  Separated, anticipating the divorce being final.  Such sorrow.
October 2010:  So in love with CK.  The "no" answers are gone and, while were not yet engaged, we both knew that that was where we were headed.  More joy!
October 2011:  We lost our baby.  Sorrow again, but I got to go through this with my best friend, instead of BECAUSE of my best friend.  Much easier.
October 2012:  Here we are, crazy busy again--5 kids ranging in age from 13 1/2 to newborn is a challenge.  I am still trying to figure out how to manage being wife, mom, housekeeper, taxi driver, and so forth, but we have such joy again!  I am so blessed.

I know that this life is but a small moment and all about our choices.  I have been blessed beyond measure and I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the support that it has been and continues to be in my life.  I love having living prophets and counsel to always use and a better ideal to strive for.

I also have a screaming baby--got to go!

So Blessed!!

I am sitting here holding V- she has spitting/ throwing up issues and it helps to hold her upright for 30 minutes after she eats. Last week was tough. Tougher than I expected.  But right now, I am sitting here counting my blessings.

Here are just 10:
1) I know of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know he loves me.
2) My baby girl is healthy and in my arms.  My older four children are all at good schools where they are learning and growing.
3) I am married to the most wonderful man in the world!  He treats me so well.
4) He has a good job that provides for us. We have sufficient for our needs.
5) We have a home that is large enough for our family and that provides us with shelter.
6) I have amazing and wonderful friends.
7) I live in a country where, as a woman, I get the chance to cast my vote.
8) I can read, I can write, and I have an education.
9) I get to daily listen to, read, or watch living prophets. I also have opportunities daily read from the Scriptures.
10) I get the chance to be a mom. I get to be a wife. I get to be a friend.

I am so blessed.

Of hormones, tears, and single-mom-ing it

I am a little bit of a wreck and I know it is the hormones kicking into full gear.  CK left this morning for business and to see A.  Yikes!  It has been a weepy day for me.  I haven't felt this low since last October when CK was gone.  That time was after we lost the first baby.  That is how I know these tears are partially hormonal.  Usually him leaving is sad, but not devastating.  Today is hard.

Baby V is NOT helping.  She has not slept more than 15-25 minutes at a time throughout the day.  I have been up since 4 am.  She usually sleeps for a few hours at a time, at least in the morning.  Not today.  I think she misses her daddy picking her up throughout the day.  I know I do.  But, I have handled a divorce and being a single mom.  I can do this for five days and four nights...four kids and all.  While V was screaming this morning, C helped with J.  That was awesome.  I appreciate him.  It might be a long few days, but I am so blessed to have four kids that need me, a house to live in, and food to prepare.  I am truly blessed beyond measure.

When the older three get home from school, we have piano, grocery shopping, going to the library, and taking dinner to a new friend that just had a baby.  I think that being busy will be good for us all.  And maybe, just maybe, V will sleep well throughout the night and we will all have a better day tomorrow.  :)  CK usually gets up with her to calm her quite a few times in the night....her sleeping well for me would definitely be a blessing.

Grandma K's Visit

We loved, loved, loved having Grandma K come and visit.  It was such a blessing to us.  

She was so helpful with older kids, with baby V, and with us adults.  What a great visit!

She played games/ did puzzles with J and C:

 These pictures are before she had to say goodbye.  We were all sad to see her go.  Oh, how we wish we lived closer!

Here she is with baby V.  It was hard to see her saying goodbye, with both of us knowing that V would not remember her the next time we were together.  V might not, but I will!  Love you, Mom!

E's Baptism

This has been somewhat of a crazy weekend....although not nearly as crazy as it was for my sister.

This weekend, my niece, E, was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It was also Conference weekend, where we get to hear the words of the prophets as they speak to the world.  In addition, my parents and one of my brothers flew down to celebrate this special occasion.

Friday night, we were able to all get together and enjoy a yummy Mexican meal.  It was a sacrifice for my sister and her hubby as his family was also in town, but we were able to make it work.  :)

 Saturday morning, bright and early, E was baptized.  Her baptism was held at 9 am in order to allow us all to be back and able to watch General Conference at 11 am.

 Here is E with her dad, P.  P also baptized C back in 2009.  What a great man!

 And my dear sister, S with her oldest daughter, E!  Aren't they both beautiful?

 This is the whole family group.  So many that are here for E.  :)

 E got a few gifts for her baptism day.  Grandma and Grandpa gave her a bible and all of her aunts and uncles on our side combined to give her a triple combination (including the Book of Mormon).

 These two cute cousins are just loving V, especially T (the youngest).  At 2 1/2, she LOVES to hold V and will as often as possible.  :)

We also got together on Sunday night for dinner.  S is such a great hostess.  As late as it was and as crazy as the weekend was, all 8 grandkids were tired and cranky, but we got a picture of almost all of Grandma and Grandpa's grandchildren--we are sure missing A!  At least we will remember it!

I have many more pictures to post:  V as she grows, more of the visit with my parents, and so forth....but....this was the most important event, so it is first.  :)  I am so blessed to have such great family, particularly having my sister live close to me.  So blessed.

Happy 6th Birthday, J!

When I first started blogging, J was three months old.  He has grown so much and he is such a big boy now. I am so proud of him.  I love him very much.  He is so fun to be around-he has a great sense of humor.  He loves school and is a natural leader.  I wasn't sure how he would do in Kindergarten-he became a little crazy over the last six months, but he has really stepped it up!  I love his willingness to help and his great love of his family.  He has also done well with the divorce.  He loves his dad and he loves CK and I.  I am proud of how accepting he is.  

 Since Grandma K would not be able to see him on his birthday, we had a "fake birthday" a couple days early.  We went out to dinner with Grandma and came home and had cake and he got to open his present from Grandma and Grandpa K.

 For his first cake, he wanted a Yoshi cake.  :)

 He also loved being lifted up and down by Grandma.  He wanted more and more and more.  I think that Grandma might have sore muscles--J is not light!

 When J got home from his dad's on his birthday, we had his requested dinner ready: crepes and bacon.  Yum!

 Then it was time to open presents!

 He was so excited to get Icebreakers from K.  It is cool that CK captured the moment!

 Cake number 2 was an angry birds cake...with the blow up orange angry bird.  :)

 C is learning the trumpet this year.  He spent the time to learn notes he had not learned yet, found the "Happy Birthday" song music and practiced and practiced and then played it while we sang to J.

 After blowing out the candles.....he stuck them all in his mouth.  Cute kid!

We love you, J!

Showing V Off

Now that J is in school, I try to go once a week and eat lunch with him.  It is fun to be a celebrity again.  The first time I went he was telling all his friends and his teacher, "That's my MOM!!!!"  It is really fun to be there.

Obviously, the day that V was born, I did not go to the school, but when she was a week old, Grandma K and I went over.

 First, we ate lunch together.

 Then, we walked with his class down to the classroom and J got to introduce her to the class.

 These other pictures are V that same day:  7 days old!

 She always curls up her feet and I was trying to capture that.  She moved them before I got the picture, but I still love it.....what precious little feet she has!

 Big brother home from school and quick to want to hold his baby sister!

Grandma K got to cuddle little V a lot in the week that she was here.  I think this picture is priceless!  V won't remember this visit, but I do and it sure means a lot to me!