Soccer, Soccer and Soccer...

Soccer has officially started in this neck of the woods. I didn't sign my kids up for it last season because I had missed all the cut of dates, and not willing to pay the late fees, just didn't do it. So this season I was on top of things and signed them all up. Now looking back, I wish I would not have been on top of things. Let me tell you why.... Jesiah is in Y12, Kassia is in Y9 and on a selective team, Kasen is in Y7 and Jaren in in a Y5 team team. Now that is four different games, four different practices on the weeknights and don't even get me started at how much it cost just to sign them up. Jesiah has practice three times a week, (Ket is his coach and I think this will be the last year that happens.) Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday night from 5:30-7pm. Kassia's practice is on Thursday and Friday night from 5:45-7pm.  Jaren has practice on Wednesday night from 6-7 and Kasen has practice on Thursday night from 6-7pm. So we eat dinner at about 5pm almost every night so that it is done before soccer. Then on Saturdays we have to split up and conquer. Most of the time with Kassia being on a selective team, her games are away and I end up taking her and Devon with me. I have seen one of Jesiah's games and only one of Jaren's. We have games until Nove 9th. Why did I do this to myself, I am not sure... expect when they missed last season, every single one of my kids complained about how they sure missed soccer. Am I crazy or what. LOL... I guess I just roll with the punches. I don't even have any pictures to show... I will work on that this weekend. Maybe. :)

Aahum, where have I been?

Well, Well, well.... I do still have blog. I was thinking the other day about this blog, wondering if it disappeared into cyber space somewhere or was still here. I was delighted to find it still up and running... lost two years of writing, but still here waiting like a good friend does.  So where does one start when you have been gone to the land of facebook for the last two years, that life just kept stemming past you, that you didn't want to sit down at a computer and write, that you feel lost as to where to start. Where do you start.

I guess I will start with today...

We live in Centennial Colorado now, moved here last February for a job promotion for Ket. I am pregnant with our 6th child. I am due in November, about the 21st. And yes, it is another little boy. We are all excited to welcome this LAST, no really LAST addition to our little BIG family.

That was a quick catch up. :)

Jesiah has started middle school, he is a 6th grader now, Kassia is in 4th grade and Kasen is in 1st. Jaren gets to go to preschool this year and is loving that so far. Devon... he is 2 and so very independent most of the time. He is a mommies boy all the way, and is going to be in shock when this little guy comes our way in just a couple of months. He already gets mad at Jaren or Kasen if they are loving on me to much. He pushes them away and says, "No, my MOMMY"

This summer we took Jesiah to Hawaii. It was a dream to be back! I loved it so much! Jesiah had a blast, and it was so fun to just go with him, spend time with him and get to know the little man he is becoming. He is almost as tall as me, but he is still 11 so I will say he is little. The rest of the kids got to spend their time with cousins and Papa and Tutu in Boise. They did well. I even signed the little boys up for swimming lessons and my Dad (Papa) took them every day for a week. We have done a lot this summer, and I have to admit, most of the pictures were taken with my phone, so here are some of them.

 

 Papa with the boys, we are headed up to the cabin to spend the weekend with him before Daddy flies in and we leave for Hawaii. The boys had a blast at the cabin.

This is Jesiah, Ket and I at 4:30am before our plane left for Hawaii. The start of the wonderful trip.

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  At the PCC, an end of a long day... waiting to go on the canoe ride to catch our meal before the night show.

 

Drinking Coconut water fresh from the coconut. This was in Kahuku by the Shrimp truck.

Laie, Temple Beach. Beautiful!

Angles in Laie. Shaved ice. He was in heaven.

 

 Seven brothers burgers in Laie, Jesiah wanted to go there every night for dinner.

Sunrise in Wakiki, our last day before we head to the airport.

 

This one is of us on the airplane. Not ready to leave Hawaii, but really did enjoy our time there.

 

Since that trip they have all started school. Here are their back to school photos.

 

 

 

 Devon not in school yet, but he sure was happy to play with Daddy's hat.

 

Jaren at a bar-be que for Labor day. He really wanted a video of him eating. But I just couldn't do it. so he got a picture instead.

Ket and I on Labor day. Not the best lighting, but a good way to end my first blog post in two years.

It was pretty easy, so hopefully there will be more to come.

 

 

 

One Month

So Summer has been flying by... My little boy is now a month old, and he is getting so big. No longer does he have that new born baby look. Around the 2nd or 3rd week I tried to get some pictures of him, but was not very good at it. I differently can not do it by myself.
So a typical day that we might have is, I sleep until about 9ish, get up and feed the other kids breakfast. Devon wakes up and is ready for his 10am feeding. As far as the feeding time is going, I will nurse him for about 30 min. then give him a bottle to top him off. This process takes about an hour from start to finish. Then I quickly get myself ready and at noon we head to the park to eat lunch. Just like the past years there is free lunch. This is very helpful to get us out of the house. About this time I am ready to not hear the kids fighting anymore. So after lunch we head to either the YMCA, splash park, or the Bridgetower pool, or anywhere that involves water and is free. My whole goal is to get the kids as tired as possible so that they will go to bed really well. We head home and good thing Ket is such a wonderful cook, he makes dinner and then we chill for the rest of the night.
Every three hours Devon eats... scheduling your day in three hour time frames has been the biggest change. But we are all getting used to it. Sometimes we are at the park longer then just one hour because Devon will need to eat in the middle of lunch. But the kids are good. They play or wait with me in the shade.
I have taken pictures, but they are still on my camera. Here is some from my phone and others phones... Enjoy these. :)

The day after I had Devon, Ket looks so tried there.


This is from my phone, He was so big when he came out. This is the day I had him. :)
I am about 34 weeks here. Just thought I would include this one. I can not believe he came out me!!


Here he is 10 days old. What a chub!!!

I am so grateful for a full day, keeping my kids busy!! I am grateful for a husband that is a wonderful cook, I am grateful a little boy who seems to just fit right into our family. It is hard to remember what it was like before he came. I am grateful for kids that adore their new little brother and kiss him on the head, little feet, hands and anywhere that they can touch!!! I am very, very grateful for the little tiny smiles that I have gotten from this little monkey, even if they are gas smiles still!!!

Devon Ketsavahn

The newest member of our family officially came into this world June 2nd, at 10:39am. He weighted a whopping 9lbs 2ozs, was 22 and 1/4 inches long. We were all surprised at how big this little guy was. I was a week early too. I can not even imagine if I had gone all the way to my due date... he would have been even bigger. I was due on the 8th of June but decide to have him one week early. So starting at 7:00am Ket and I went to the hospital and checked myself in. Around 7:40am Dr. Lowder came and broke my water, and I was started on pit. I was already dilated to a 3, 75% effaced and a -1 (which means he was dropping down into position) Things went fast as they always d0. About an hour in half into the contractions, there were becoming really hard. I was starting to get the birthing shakes, and there seemed to be no position that was working for me. I had tried the birthing ball, on my hands and knees on the bed, and laying on a ball on the bed.
I had a wonderful Nurse, she had delivered with Lowder many times and seemed to know how he did things. Her name was Sunny. She was there setting everything up for the birth and encouraging me along the way. She kept me trying new positions and told me how fast it was going. I think she only left the room for like 15minutes in the very beginning, and then was right there with me the rest of the time. At 9:30ish she checked me to see how far I was, a 5. Man, I was so upset. Things were getting really hard, and I knew I didn't want an epidural. Luckily Dr. Lowder had told me about something that was newer, it was a shot in my back with pain meds that caused a block on the right area. The downside, it only lasts 2 hours, the good thing, it took affect right away. Because I was only at a 5, I decide to go ahead and get that. I knew I would be done within 2 hours.
It took about 30 minutes for the anaesthesiologist to come in, and give me the shot (in between contractions). The hardest part was curling up into a ball and holding really still. But as soon as he did it, I could feel my legs start to get tingling, and then the next contraction, I could feel but it was not so intense. RELIEF!!! For the next five contractions, I just concentrated on breathing, and then I felt it was time to push. Sunny checked me and then called Dr. Lowder. 10 minutes later he was there and I was ready. It felt so good to push. Three contractions later and his head came out. Then I had to push out his body. I was surprised that it was hard to push out his body too.
The first thing Ket said was, "Wow he is a big boy" and then I saw him and didn't think he looked that big... But he was. I guess that is what happens when I gain 40+ pounds. :)
They put him on me and my heart melted. Wow, so wonderful. I am always amazed at how close I feel to his little spirit right then.
I was feeling good, they took him and cleaned him up a little and then because he was so big had to do sugar level test on him... They want it to come back above the 50's and he didn't. This started a whole 18 hours of taking his blood from his foot, and checking his sugar level every hour... It was until about 4am the he finally passed all the tests. Talk about stressful for me and my little guy.
The kids came to visit us in the hospital and it was so cute... they all loved on him! We went home the next day around 2pm.
Thank you to my neighbor, Tracy for watching the two boys all day, thank you to Ginger for taking over and bring them to the hospital to see their new brother, and Thank you to my wonderful Hubby for walking me through the whole labor and delivery. He was wonderful, right there the whole time... rubbing my back and counting down the contractions for me. Thank you!

McDonald's for Dinner!

Boy, with all the contraction that I have been having, my body sure was tried today!!! I had no energy to do anything!!! After getting the kids off to school, the boys and I went upstairs and they got to watch TV until lunch. I slept, as much as I could with them crawling all over me. Feeling a little bit better, we spent the rest of the afternoon outside in the wonderful 68 degree weather with rain drops off and on. Not feeling like cooking dinner, and it being half priced happy meals on Tuesday, around 6:30 we took off to get dinner. Ket was still at work with his bosses (2 of them) that are in town.
I love it when Jesiah and Kassia have friends that stop by. Garrett and Payton play so well with everyone, and the two little boys love Garrett. 2 hours later, I had to tell them it was time to go home so we could go get dinner.
I love it when I can feed my whole family for under Ten bucks. Thanks McDonald's. (I know it is not the most healthy, but I think this is the second time this year doing it.) I also love it that I don't have to clean up dinner. NICE!
Lastly, I LOVE, LOVE our backyard. The fact that they can ride their bikes back and forth, play on the trampoline, and I can watch from the kitchen or outside is wonderful to me!!!

More Walking...

Today was it, I was going to give it one more try, then go get checked out at the hospital to see if I have progressed any more. I have been having lots of pressure in my cervix with every little contraction. So since this is my 5th child, I decided I better go at least get checked out.
After the wonderful Memorial Day Breakfast with our ward at 9:30 this morning, walking to the park, and making it home about 11am...
I called Ket and asked if he was ready to go to the hospital and get checked out. He came home and on the way there I decided we needed to walk the green belt for a least an hour. So that is what we did, Walk, Walk and Walk. Then to the Hospital to be checked out. I was still a three but I had thinned to 70 percent.
So I did progress... yea! They asked if we wanted to stay or go home. But I had to progress more in the next hour to be able to stay after that. I didn't think I would progress more, so we went home and decided that we would just wait for Thursday when I get induced. It is planned, I would rather do it then.
Thank you, Thank you, to my Mother who has been here all weekend, ready for me to go to the hospital at any time, willing to watch the kids and will be spending next weekend with us too!! Thank you to Ket for walking the many miles that we have done this last couple of days. I think I have exercised more this last five days then I have my whole pregnancy!!
Thank you to my wonderful children who have been so excited for the new little boy to come each time I left the house. So cute!!!

Mango Lime Cheesecake!!

Saturday the 28th-

The last couple of days have been so raining and not fun. I had to turn the HEAT on so that our house was not in the 50's. It is the end of May and I had to turn the heat on.
Saturday was the day for cleaning. We got all the bedrooms done, the house vacuumed and the kitchen cleaned. It was the first Saturday that we were not at soccer games, I think the kiddos had no idea what to do with themselves. Luckily Jesiah was motivate to clean his room with a play date with a friend. Kassia took all day to clean it. Poor girl, everyone was done and playing and she was still in her room. "Not fair" she kept saying. Silly girl.
I have been taking it easy, but I am still having contractions, they are just not very constant. So they will last about an hour at a time, but then stop about right after that. So frustrating!! Tonight we went out to dinner with some friends to the Cheesecake Factory and then the mall to do some more walking. Nothing happened. But I had some really good Bang, Bank chicken and Shrimp. It was so good!!! Spicy, and good. It was nice going out with Ket, I am sure it will be a while before the next time we get to go out. I am grateful to Ginger who came and watched the kids so we could go out! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! I am grateful for not having to cook dinner, or clean it up. And i am grateful for the wonderful mango lime cheese cake that we had for dessert. Yummy, that was good!!
Sunday the 29th-
Today was another raining day. I guess no walking for me today. Oh Darn. :) We had a great rib dinner with our neighbors the Coltrins. Chad cooked the Ribs while we were at church. After we were all full, Ket went home teaching and then I went and took a nap. Later that night we made cookies, and went back and played games. It was a fun evening. Since the kids don't have school on Monday, we stayed up to late. Kasen was so funny, about 9:30 that night he deiced that he was tired and wanted to go to bed. So Ked took him home and put him to bed. I tried to get him to sleep on the couch, no he wanted his bed. He was out in minutes. Cute little boy.
Today I am grateful for good ribs, good friends to play cards with, and always losing to my husband when playing cards... because then he still thinks he is the king of cards, (at least the game PR) :)

Nothing New...

I meant to write this last night, but I was so tired yesterday that I slept most of the day. Around 8am, the contractions stoped. I thought it was because I was just getting the kids ready for school, but they never came back. Talk about being disappointed! Ket and I were both ready to have this baby, and both of us thought it would happen. We even went to the mall and did some walking thinking it would get things started. Nothing. The good news, the baby is moving around just fine. He is very active. I was able to get the rest that I needed from being up almost all night. I went to bed at 9:30 last night! :) I am grateful for a nice comfy bed!

Flying is not always the best...

It looks like I have a little bit of catching up to do...

May 25th-Wensday....
I had my 38 week check up today. Dr. Lowder checked me out and said I was at a One. WoHO! I am never dilated. We also scheduled the induction for next Thursday June 2nd. So this baby is coming within a week. That feels nice.
Today has been a busy day, lots of errands that had to be done. So today I am grateful for gas in my car, Jolene who is willing to watch my two wonderful boys, being able to get a pedicure because I simply can not cut my toenails and they are driving me crazy, and finally taking a nap in the middle of the day. That always feels so nice.

May 26th- Thursday
This morning I woke up wishing I could have the baby today. I am not sure why, but I really want to have him this weekend. Well around 10am I was still having contraction, light ones but surprised I was still having them. I called my mom and asked if I had to go to the hospital would she be available to come over. She said yes. She had a meeting from 1-3 and so it would be after that. I said that was fine and would let her know if they stopped. At about 12:30 they had stopped, so i texted her and said it was a false alarm and not to worry about it. She said she wanted to come anyway. I took the boys on a walk about 3:30ish and then we met the older kids at the bus stop. During the walk I did start having more contractions, and some sharp pains. When we got home, the boys went outside to play and Jaren and Nolan were on the trampoline. They started spitting on the tramp, so I went outside to tell them to stop or they would have to get off. They did it again, again I told them to stop or they would have to get off. One more time and now I was upset. I went outside to ask them to get off and they both would not get off the tramp. They were taunting me on the other side, because they knew I could not get them. Needless to say I got up on the tramp (bad idea, I know) I picked up Jaren and put him down off the tramp and then picked up Nolan and went to put him down off he tramp when I tripped and feel off the tramp. Jesiah says I flew off the tramp. I landed on my side and then rolled over onto my back. I had knocked the wind out of me. I was very shaken. The two boys (Jaren and Nolan) were crying and so we all went in the house. I called the doctor and he said I need to go to the hospital to be checked out and watched for an hour. When I finally got ahold of Ket he was on his way home and then I called my Mom to see where she was. This all happened around 4:40ish. Ket came home and I burst into tears. I told him everything that had happened, and that Mom would be there in about 20 minutes so we could go. I was still shaking.
All in all we left and checked into hospital. They said everything looked good for the baby and the only thing they were worried about was that I was having contractions every three to four minutes. So they checked me and I was at a THREE. I didn't know what to say. They told me to go home and get some sleep or walk, and then come back when they were harder contractions. Today I am grateful machines that can see the baby's heartbeat... I am so glad he was not hurt and that everything was ok. I am grateful for my Mom who had the incite to come over any way. I am grateful for Tracey my neighbor who went walking with me at 10:30 last night to "get things going" And lastly I am grateful for my body and being able to stop my fall the right way.

Today-
So it is about six am and I have contractions all night. Sometimes they were 2 minutes apart. That started at 2am and lasted about an hour, then I turned over and they went down to five minutes apart. So my plan for this morning, since I can not sleep anymore, is to get the kids ready for school, send them off, and then go on a walk and see if I can get them to be harder or more contractions. I am sure I will have more to update later tonight. Have a wonderful day if you are reading this! :)

ITALY is where it is AT!!!

Jesiah has been attending a different school every Tuesday for the past year. It is a special school for the "talented and gifted" called the Challenge Program. He has loved it!!! Today they had an open house where we got to go and see what he has been working on for the last year. It was amazing. Each child choose a country that they wanted to study, Jesiah choose Italy. Then they completed a "book" about the country that included things like a map, the flag, some different foods, what the country is know for and then some different things like if they were an exchange student there, a letter to their host family, a couple of postcards home on what they saw in their country.... A "Flat Stanley" who was dressed in the local attire. Lastly, they were suppose to bring some kind of food from their country to share with everyone. We brought garlic bread baguette sliced and olive oil, balsamic vinegar with Parmesan cheese, basil and pepper as a dipping sauce to go with it. Yummy. All and all it was a good open house.
I am thankful for a husband that could get off work to come and help me with the little boys (Jaren and Kasen) while we were visiting Jesiah at school.
I am grateful for Mrs. Price who made learning fun and interesting for Jesiah.
I am also grateful for little boys who always make others people smile because they are so darn cute!!!
And lastly I am grateful for Jesiah who has a desire and the ambition to learn new things!!