Two Weeks

Welcome Baby Creighton

A week ago Creighton decided to make his grand entrance into this world. Not quite perfect timing considering my parents were at girls camp, my best friend/on call babysitter was out of the country, and my doctor was in Alaska. But, thankfully my sister in law met us in the hospital parking lot, and I was blessed to have a friend from my old ward happen to be my labor and delivery nurse. (Thank you to a familiar face.) After 3 1/2 hours of labor (1 at home and on the way to the hospital and the rest in the hospital trying to convince him we needed just a couple more hours.) My labors come quickly, but I needed antibiotics so we needed more time. He was as patient as possible but...he still came in less than four hours.

After a couple of scary hours where the NICU was threatened for at least a week, then 3-4 days, then just a day or two. They finally just observed him that evening and let him come to the regular nursery that night. What a fighter!

I continued my fever for a couple more days and earned myself a few extra nights in the hospital--which is a joke if you have kids at home. They released Creighton Sunday night, which meant he could not stay with me--unless we had another adult in the room with us. Do I send Dad home to be a single father of five, including a nursing newborn? No, my parents stepped up and took the kids for the next three nights, so Chris could stay with Creighton and me. I am so grateful for them. I know they were exhausted from the week before, and to chase my four children around is not a low intensity job.

Finally Wednesday night the doctors (and I had many) decided my fever was finally under control and they let me go.

I would like to say, "I HATE hospitals!!!" Being crammed in a little room, while my family is somewhere else is not my idea of fun.

Again, we had so much help this week. Dinner, babysitters, visitors, and so much more. I feel blessed to know my family was WELL taken care of during this crazy ordeal. So many new neighbors that do not know my family well were willing to step up. I really hate to feel like a burden, but I do love the feeling of knowing what type of people surround me and my family.

Starting to settle.

It has been a crazy couple of weeks, but I think we are finally starting to calm down.

One crazy experience we had during the move included me realizing just hours before picking up the moving truck that I had actually booked it for august 28th instead of may 28th. Usually this would not have been a big deal, but everybody moves on Memorial Day weekend. So after calling six or seven truck companies we found one with a cancelation. It actually turned out to be a blessing, because it was a lot nicer than the truck I originally ordered through U-Haul.

Again we were blessed with a ton of help from neighbors on both sides of the move. People were so generous with their time on a holiday weekend that it really did amaze me. Especially coming into a neighborhood that does not know us at all. We had two families that specifically stayed through the entire process. The children (all ages) were even caring some of the smaller boxes. (This was hard on my pride because I had been benched--being 8+ months pregnant--blagh, blagh blagh...) My brother and dad worked all day on both sides, while my mom and sister in law took the younger two for the day. (Again I don't know what I would do without my family.)

Well, we got all of our physical belongings into the home, but did not have much of a chance to unpack last week. I promised the kids I would commute them up to school for the last four days. This turned out to be a little more work than I originally thought. I hate driving (for obvious reasons), but rush hour...let's just say my blood-pressure is still struggling. Then we had baseball games and parties in the evenings, so by the time we got home, it was time for bed. I was exhausted and no help unpacking. Saturday was spent in Farmington for a double header baseball game--luckily both games were lost, so we are out of the tournament. YEA!!! No more commuting...

So, yesterday was our first day of summer and my chance to help unpack (gratefully I have a husband with a lot more energy than I have, so a lot has been done after I have gone to bed). I am still a little overwhelmed at this home. It is a lot bigger than our last one, but I think in the long run we will appreciate that. For now I am trying to see past a lot of the little/big things that I want to do to make it MINE. (like maybe take my own pictures, these are from the listing)

Close...but not quite

Did you notice it looks familiar?

This is it, our new home!!!! (as long as the funds come through this morning...) We signed our lives away yesterday afternoon.

The greatest perks of this house.

1. 1.5 miles from Chris work

2. 8 houses from the walkway that enters schoolyard.

3. The yard is done.

4. We have storage!!! Lots and lots of storage.

5. It is ours!!!!!

Can't wait to move in, do a little bit of painting and updating to make it really OURS!!!

Two types of people in this world...

So, the past couple of weeks I have come to a pretty strong observation/opinion.

There are two types of people in the world of service. There are those that are really good at saying, "Give me a call if you need help." These people are good at changing the subject when the realization that help my be required. They avoid it at all costs. They truly believe that they offered, but don't realize that the truth lies on the table.

Then there are those searching for ways to help. These are the people that are really available--even if they should not be. (Example: a friend that is going on vacation the week we are moving thinks that she is going to somehow provide a couple of meals for my family. She will find a way--even with my begging her to enjoy her much needed vacation.)

I am amazed at the true generous offers we have had from friends lately. I know that many of them live VERY busy lives, but they insist they are available to help pack, watch kids, prepare meals, etc. I hope that I can be this kind of person. Honest, helping and kind...even when my own life seems too busy/hard to handle.

Ten Years...

Next week is our Ten Year Anniversary...who would have known we would make it that long? (jk)

I have been fussing about what to do, I want it to be something special. I want it to sum up what we have been through together.

10 years ago we were married in the Salt Lake Temple.

9 years ago I was pregnant with P and getting ready to graduate BYU.

8 years ago we were heading to Europe for not quite a month.

7 years ago we had A, and Chris was graduating from Utah State.

6 years ago Chris finished his Masters, he started his career, we overcame Breast Cancer, and we bought our first home.

5 years ago we got involved with the Hero Foundation, and found our passion for non-for-profit organizations.

4 years ago we were expecting C.

3 years ago we hoped to move out of state, but were humbled by the Lords 'greater plan.'

2 years ago we were expecting Z.

1 year ago Chris stood by me through my car accident (and the hardest month of my life.)

Now this year we are waiting for baby ?, buying house number 2 (hopefully) and celebrating ten years together.

What do you do for the man that has done all that? What do you do for the man that has been your best friend for 11 years. What do you do?

Give a sincere thank you, and honestly say, I look forward to the next ten.