Eyes Open

Lincoln was wide awake and I got a good picture with his eyes open.

He's such a cutie!

Home from the Hospital

Yesterday Lincoln did so well with all of his feedings that he got to come home with us! We are so excited to share our home with him. We have a lot to get used to, but it is all worth it for our little boy. We are so blessed to have him in our lives.

Even Lincoln was happy to be leaving!

Newborns are so peaceful.
5 days old

Have you ever heard of a Moses basket being used today? I already love the one we got - a portable bassinet to have anywhere in the house. They can be used until your baby can roll over on his own... so not very long.

Little Lincoln

Baby Bird has a name. :)

Lincoln Hunter with his daddy. :)

Close up with eyes open (sorry so blurry)

After a feeding, Lincoln was all tuckered out...

Lincoln with Grandma & Grandpa

Lincoln's bilirubin levels were a little high so today he has been under the "bili" (UV) lights. His antibiotics have been stopped, and his IV comes out tomorrow morning. Basically, he's doing really well - just needs to learn how to eat!

Baby Bird Has Arrived!

Baby Boy Bird came July 15th at 7:09PM and weighed 5 lbs 9 oz and is 19 inches long. We are so happy to have him finally here and doing well!!! He had a little trouble breathing right after he was born - and needed a little help getting started, but by about 1AM he was breathing only room air without any help. He's a lot bigger than we all thought he would be, which is great!

Night before the induction... a little nervous...

In the delivery room...

Dr. Chalmers (I recommend him to anyone & everyone)

First moments after delivery

Jesse with the baby in the NICU

Close-up

And I caught a little smile on camera accidentally :)

I was induced at 7:15AM, and labor "kicked in" about 9AM. I was trying to deliver naturally, but being induced made it much harder. I ended up getting an epidural at about 2pM. I could still feel a lot (still a little painful, but much more tolerable) and I could still move my legs and bend my knees, which was perfect. After another 4 1/2 hours of labor and 15-20 minutes of pushing, Baby was born!!

No decided name yet... We're still working on it... but Baby will probably be in the NICU for at least another week, maybe up to 2-4 more weeks - until he can figure out how to eat. At first he was just "fed" sugar water through his IV, but now the feedings are done through an NG tube and he only has a little more antibiotics left (hopefully).

We love our little boy - he is such a blessing in our lives and we are so happy everything has turned out so well so far. Hopefully he can come home sooner than later!

Update

So... everything still looks good and I'm still not naturally going into labor - so... I am being induced at 6am tomorrow morning. The baby's head is low (station= -1) which is really good considering this is my first baby. I'm barely dilated (between 0-1 cm) and 60% effaced, so I don't need any cervical ripening agents. At this point I am pretty calm (you could call it bored) and it's just waiting for tomorrow morning now.

Wish me luck!!! (I will need it, I'm sure...) Baby Bird (7th grandchild on my side, 21st on Jesse's) is coming tomorrow!

My Water Broke!!!

Our baby will be born this week for sure! I am nervous about bringing home such a tiny baby (6 weeks early) but we are both excited to meet him!

I noticed last night that something was different... and at 5am this morning it was even more noticeable... so I went to the doctor and I was admitted to the hospital at 10:30am. This has been/is the plan:

1. Steroid shot (betamethazone) for me to help the baby's lungs more fully develop. One was this morning at 11am, and the last one will be tomorrow morning at 11am. They take 48 hours to take their full effect.
2. The doctor will check to see if I am dilated tomorrow afternoon. If I am dilated - nothing more at that point. If I'm not dilated - a drug will be given to help me dilate through the night.
3. Wednesday - if I haven't progressed into labor naturally by this point (it would be good if I do), I will be induced in the morning.
   
4. So the baby is coming this week!!!

The doctor also said that the baby will probably be in the NICU (newborn intensive care unit) best case until next Tuesday or Wednesday. And they will probably start him on antibiotics because one of the biggest risks is infection. But labor - here we come!

Gunlock Garden

Since Terrel & Janet live out in Kayenta, they go to the Gunlock Ward (Gunlock is a small rural town about 35 minutes from St. George). The ward made a community garden, and each family could take a row (or 3) to plant whatever they wanted. For the past couple months we (Kurt & Ashley, Nate & Audrey, Jesse & I, and Terrel) have planted & weeded our few rows. And yes, although it is harder to bend over, I am doing my part, too. :)

McKay came and helped yesterday -
Here he is with our family sign.

Kurt & Terrel

Each row is about 200 yards...
This is to give you an idea how BIG that actually is...
(We took up 2/3 of one row, 1/2 of another, and 1/4 of another -
the irrigation system doesn't water the ends of the rows as well.)

Audrey with some crookneck squash

Terrel holding a hoe
Jesse (cheesy smile...)

Nate holding a handful of HOT peppers

We also planted watermelon, tomatoes, carrots, onions, canteloupe, cucumbers, zucchini, beets, & other squash and melons (we can't remember/tell what kinds yet...). We will have more food than we know what to do with!!!

Pool Time at the Slemboski's

Natalie & Jimmy have a pool in the backyard of their rental, and with the pool is a water slide! I've even gone down it a few times because it is pretty fun!

Here is Ellie going down the slide

And here is Claire (Dryden & Ellie watching)
Jesse about to jump off the top - Cannon ball!
Ella McLaws wanted to go down the slide, but she recently had surgery on her ears so she borrowed my swim cap to keep the water out... She liked it at first, but after going down the slide she wouldn't smile for a picture anymore.

Audrey teaching Claire how to dive
& Jude enjoying the warm hot tub.
Afterward we had Oreos and milk for a treat. :)

Ellie & Audrey

Jacob

iTunes on Shuffle

Do you ever get sick of your own favorite music? Here's how I deal with it... listen to iTunes on shuffle for 50 songs without skipping one song. Here are a random 50 songs from my iTunes:

Sun - Maroon 5
Stuck in a Moment [you can't get out of] - U2
Sunshine - Keane
Clocks [live] - Coldplay
Just One of Those Things - Frank Sinatra
Ammunition - Switchfoot
You Were Meant for Me - Jewel
Stacy's Mom - Fountains of Wayne
Sleeping In - The Postal Service
Flood - Jars of Clay
Strawberry Swing - Coldplay
Violet Hill - Coldplay
Under Water - Switchfoot
My Sundown - Jimmy Eat World
Save the Last Dance for Me - Michael Buble
This Beauty - Amanda Rogers
Crazy for this Girl - Evan & Jaron
It's All I Can Do - The Cars
Break Myself - Something Corporate
Broadway - Goo Goo Dolls
Viva la Vida [live] - Coldplay
Too Bad - Nickelback
Bad Day - Fuel
Numbness for Sound - Howie Day
Love Song - 311
Beyond the Sea - Celtic Women
42 - Coldplay
Hero - Mariah Carey
Come Lay Down - Howie Day
I Don't Want To Be [stripped version] - Gavin DeGraw
Hands Clean - Alanis Morissette
All Eyes on Me - Goo Goo Dolls
Satellite - Dave Matthews Band
Your Heart is an Empty Room - Death Cab for Cutie
South of the Border - Frank Sinatra
Wannabe - Spice Girls (ha ha)
Not Coming Home - Maroon 5
Green Eyes - Coldplay
I've Got the World on a String - Frank Sinatra
Evening Falls... - Enya
The Hardest Part - Coldplay
Undone - The Sweater Song - Weezer
Quit Playing Games (with my heart) - Backstreet Boys (ha ha)
Chopin: Berceuse In D Flat, Op. 57 - Peter Schmalfuss
I Will Buy You a New Life - Everclear
Breathing - Lifehouse
Cautioners - Jimmy Eat World
You Already Take Me There - Switchfoot
Woo Hoo - Blur
Chopin: Impromptu #4 in C# Minor, Op. 66, "Fanatasie Impromptu" - Bianca Sitzius

7 Months...

Only 2 months left... time has gone by surprisingly fast. I would always hear, "I'm sooo ready for this baby to come out!" and honestly, it seems like delivery day is going to sneak up on me!! I'm glad that it has seemed to go by fast because 9 months is a long time. Some things I never expected to come with pregnancy:

• Strangers in the elevator telling me their birth stories/about their children.
• My belly being rubbed by a lot of people (which I mostly don't mind).
• People staring at my belly - at first I thought I had spilled food or something on my shirt that didn't belong. It made me a little self-conscious at first, but I'm over it now.
  
• VERY frequent trips to the bathroom (okay, I expected this, but still...)
• Aches... feet... hips... back...
  
• Exactly how much more difficult it is getting to tie my shoes.
• Knowing exactly which questions will be asked.. i.e. When are you due? 1st baby? Boy or girl? Names picked out yet?
• Anxiety - both for the labor/delivery & being a mom
• How expensive baby stuff is!!

And since I may become reluctant to post a lot of pictures of myself in the upcoming weeks, here is the monthly shot:

4 months - 5 months - 6 months - 7 months

BLM Presentation

The BLM (bureau of land management) came to Fitness Ridge to teach the hiking guides (yes, that really is my job) a little about the areas we hike in. The highlight of the presentation was the live animals that used to be native to the area (Mojave Desert).

Gila Monster
1 of 2 venomous lizards in the world

King Snake
These snakes actually eat Rattlesnakes because they are immune to the venom.

...and my favorite...
Desert Tortoise
(This one is 50+ years old!)

Another view of the Desert Tortoise
A smaller, 5-6 year-old tortoise is to the left in the background.

Vanessa's Blessing & Venice Beach

Last minute we (... I mean, I...) decided to drive to Los Angeles to visit Jeff & Jackie and to see their new baby girl, Vanessa. The blessing was on the 7th of June. My parents came as well. We don't get to see my side of the family very often so it was a nice trip and we had fun. We went to Venice Beach & also ate at Red Lobster... yum... which I much appreciated since Jesse is not a big fan of (I mean doesn't like) seafood. Here are a few pictures from the trip (thanks, Mom for supplying most of them).

Vanessa Marcely - so precious!

Jackie's mom holding her new granddaughter

Jesse played this game with David the whole trip and he never got tired of it.
Jackie's dad & brother in the background with Veronica, David & Jesse in front.

Jackie & David

My parents (Craig & Mary) with David & Veronica (such adorable kids!!)

Jackie & David on the beach

Jeff & Vanessa

Jesse, me, David, Jeff & Vanessa

Thanks for inviting us to come! We had a great time and look forward to seeing you again soon!!!

I Passed!!

So I took the nursing state boards (NCLEX) last Friday and I found out today that I PASSED!!! So I am an official Registered Nurse (RN) now... but I won't be getting a job anytime soon due to baby arriving soon...

What a RELIEF! I am DONE with SCHOOL!!!

Summer Reading

In case you were interested... Jesse is reading "The Blade Itself" and I am reading "The Hunger Games" at the moment. Natalie recommended this book to me and so far I like it. We'll see how it turns out...

Baby Vanessa!

Jeff & Jackie had a baby girl last Monday - Vanessa! She's so precious! Congratulations!!!

Here she is with big sister Veronica holding her and big brother David

Baby Update

I am 6 months today! Baby is kicking a lot and still doing great. My last doctor appointment was a couple weeks ago and everything looks good - baby's heartbeat was 143 bpm. I thought I'd update you on how my belly is growing, too.

4 months - 5 months - 6 months

Brian Regan Live at Tuacahn

A group of us got to go to a comedy show at Tuacahn (the outdoor amphitheater) here in St. George. Brian Regan is so funny! He originally was supposed to do one show tonight, but it sold out so quickly they opened up Saturday. That also sold out quickly, so they opened up Thursday. Here's a little clip of some of his comedy:

Kiwi Mango Salsa

I came across this recipe, changed it a little bit, and I loved it! Jesse even liked it. The only drawback to making it is cutting up the mango (maybe it's just me, but I still haven't figured out how to make the most of one...). I even used fresh cilantro from my garden! Here's the recipe:

Yum!

Kiwi Mango Salsa

• serves three; prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 medium kiwifruit
• 3/4 cups peeled and chopped mango
• 1 tbsp minced jalapeno (it is very mild if you remove all the seeds first)
• 1 tbsp minced red onion (more or less to taste)
• 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (one large lime is what you'll need)
  
• 1 1/2 tsp honey
• 3 tbsp cilantro
• 1/8 tsp salt

Directions:

• Peel the kiwifruit, cut lengthwise into quarters, then slice (I would have liked them cut a little smaller, I think).
• Put the kiwifruit into a medium bowl and add all the remaining ingredients.
• Mix gently.
• Serve with tortilla chips or over cooked fish or chicken.
  

Graduation!

I am officially not a college student anymore! Last night we had a nursing pinning (mini ceremony for nursing graduates only). It went only an hour, thank goodness for Jesse... All I need to do now is pass the state board test, the NCLEX, and then I will be a Registered Nurse. Tonight is the official graduation... but I wasn't interested in walking so the pinning ceremony was perfect.

The invitation/announcement

Some pictures afterwards...
Jesse & me

Jon, Jenn, Me, Jesse