Awesome Christmas Carolers

The other night we heard a knock at the door and were greeted by Christmas Caroling LLAMAS!! It was spectacular and brought back fond memories of when I used to volunteer at the annual Llamafest.

Isn't this funny?!?

We don't really take Squirt to public places yet--trying to avoid the whole RSV and swine flu thing. So we switch off going to church. The other day D was at church and told me about the words of a young man who recently returned from being a missionary. He said something like, "We met this lady.  She had twins. She had horrible bags under her eyes and her hair was all crazy... It was amazing, as time went by and we taught her the gospel, the change we saw in her." D and I snickered at the naivete of this 21-year-old. Someday he might be married with a wife and a newborn, and his wife just might have bags under her eyes and crazy hair--and then he'll understand that "the change as time goes by"*** is about getting a whole night of sleep.  A few weeks ago, I got to sleep for six hours straight for the first time in about a year. I felt like a million bucks! I'm hoping it keeps happening.

One of my friends with twins says she used paper plates for A YEAR. My sister heard that and said, "Hey, I've never had twins and I STILL use paper plates!" I haven't had twins either, but I'm really taking to heart the advice to "relax my standards"--I haven't made my bed for TWO MONTHS. I've hardly cooked at all--still using those frozen dinners I made and the convenience food I stocked up on before Squirt arrived. The kids aren't back into cloth diapers yet. I've hardly gone shopping--and then only if something was absolutely essential (like desitin or bananas or milk for the kids). Halloween decor is still out. Laundry gets done, but then sits clean in baskets for days. Wrinkly clothes--who cares? For me right now, it's all about getting a nap, and then whatever else I can fit in, which isn't much!


***I don't want you to think that I don't believe Jesus Christ can change people. I was a missionary and did witness many times a great change in people as they learned the gospel, but in this young man's story, the lady had small children, and anyone who's been there understands that bad bags and bad hair are part of the deal.

Stewart Falls with Newell

Stewart Falls is one of my favorite local hikes. After we moved to Provo, I really wanted to hike it but couldn't because D was busy studying (and although I consider myself a pretty tough girl, I'm not tough enough to carry one kid on the front and one on the back while I'm pregnant). Then my favorite uncle came to town, and he wanted to go on a hike with his family. So we all went, and Newell carried my heavier munchkin. It was a beautiful day and a refreshing hike. Thanks, Newell!!

 Here we are at the falls. I love my niece Elise in these shots. Squeak is so much like her, it's awesome.

I love this one of Pip

Babe, this one's for you

Poor D is off by himself in York, Pennsylvania and is missing out on all these fun moments with the munchkins. Here are some recent photos.

Birth as we know it

As I mentioned, we had an awesome birth! Here's the abbreviated version. For those who won't get bored with the unabridged version, you can ask me for it later.

I was really looking forward to this birth--the more I learn about the birth process and the more I learn to trust my body, the more positive I feel about birth. I was hoping to start labor after a full night's sleep since my labors tend to be long, and I wanted to have enough energy to enjoy labor. I'd had several episodes of regular surges for around a week, but they always ended after a few hours. One September 24, my "due date" came and went and I was still pregnant (this also happened with my other two). Instead of feeling frustrated, I felt grateful that my babies are able to come when they're ready instead of when I think they should come or when my care provider deems it convenient. The next morning I woke up and labor started at 9 a.m. I wondered if it would stop after a few hours, like it had before, but the surges just kept coming. I packed the kids in the Baby Jogger and took them on a 2-mile walk. Then I let them play on the grounds of the Provo LDS temple--we had been going there regularly for a few weeks, and they've loved exploring and playing in a safe and beautiful place.

Squeak and Pip at the temple on Squirt's labor day

I took Squeak and Pip home and fed and played with them. I was SO BUSY with the kids that I really couldn't stop to time surges or think about things. I knew my body was working and that my baby was coming though, and that was satisfying. I sent D a text around 3 to let him know I was probably in labor, but told him not to come home since, ya know, I've never had a short labor. I put Pip and Squeak down for a late nap around 4 and D arrived a bit later. I decided to lie down and try to sleep but discovered that I couldn't so I got up. I wanted to get things moving a bit more with some visualization and a long walk, but then the kids woke up from their naps, and again, I was SO BUSY taking care of them, there was no chance for that.

The evening hours passed quickly with lots of activity with the kids. I invited a friend to spend the night just in case we had to make a middle-of-the-night trip to the hospital. Squeak and Pip were absolutely thrilled that Rebecca came over! After finally getting them settled down around 10, and then talking to Rebecca and her husband Paul for a few hours, it was midnight before I even realized it! And I hadn't yet packed my hospital bag. So then I did that. THEN D and I finally had a chance to work on visualization and hypnosis. That's when I really started to notice that I was in labor--the first 13 hours passed by without me hardly noticing because I was so busy with everything else. I finally focused on the labor when I got the chance.

Sweet Rebecca came over for a slumber party

This was a few hours before we headed to the hospital.
So nice of D to try to look bigger so I wouldn't feel so beeg!!

We got to the hospital at 1:30 a.m. Roberta (my midwife) checked me and I was dilated to a 5+ so they started the mandatory 20-minute read on my best friend, the fetal monitor. There were some issues with blood pressure and heart rate, so I ended up being on it longer than 20 minutes. At 2:30 I was freed from that confounded machine! Interestingly enough, every single blood pressure and fetal heart rate read after that was completely normal.

I could finally get in the tub. Before I did, I had Roberta check me. I was a 7. She also told me that Squirt was in a less-than-optimal position, not posterior, but kind of sideways. It's nice to have a midwife who notices this sort of thing, and it's nice that I knew that my positioning could influence baby's positioning. So I was in the tub, I was relaxing, my George Winston labor music was playing, and I was concentrating on my positioning and visualizing the baby's positioning. That's when D took me to the beach. The beach happens to be my special place that he takes me to during hypnosis sessions. It is there, with the waves and the rocks and the birds and the shells, that I truly relax and feel free. D took me to the beach when I was in labor with Squeak and with Pip too. Always the same beach, always the same peaceful feeling.

I was enjoying the description D was giving me--the birds, the waves, the sunshine, the hermit crabs... I felt awesome! After an hour, I asked Roberta to check Squirt's position. "Perfect position for birth." And my cervix? Roberta said, "You're about a 9.75. You're ready to have this baby." I couldn't believe it--D and I looked at each other in shock and I thought, "How fast, how easy!" I had gone through all of what people call "transition" without noticing a thing. No pain, no distress, just complete relaxation and trust because I surrendered my mind and body to the birth process. D changed the music to this Jon Schmidt piano/cello remake of Love Story which I love--I'd heard it played in my hot yoga class during the warrior sequence and it made me feel strong, empowered, and beautiful--perfect for birthing music! The "pushing phase" lasted all of three minutes, and as I mentioned before, Squirt emerged en caul. D caught our baby and announced, "It's a girl!" As he passed her to me, she grabbed the umbilical cord, like a monkey swinging on a vine. We were pretty amused! We talked to our sweet girl and welcomed her to the world. She was wide-eyed and happy to be here. She even raised one eyebrow as I was talking to her. She breastfed right away. We put off all the procedures for later so we could enjoy some time together. We are delighted with our new baby girl and thrilled about another wonderful birthing experience.

Squirt enjoys her first meal, minutes after birth

Nurse Kimmy and CNM Roberta

Daddy and daughter checking each other out

Checking out the crazy hair

Smiling Squirt on her birth day

My sweet sister brought my other two babies to visit me in the hospital

Four weeks have gone by?

Squirt is four weeks old!? Where has the time gone? It has been an intense time. The day after she was born, we assembled for a family photo. Can you believe I was posing for a photo the day after I gave birth? It was my mother's dream so I tried to be patient and cooperative although I felt really fat. And tired. (Beeg and pregnant somehow seems more acceptable than big and postpartum even though I did have that cute baby in my arms.)

That next week, my grandpa's health headed downhill. We all knew he had terminal cancer, but we thought we had another 4-6 months with him. He passed away just a week later. It was difficult for me to see him so ill and watch him weaken (he has enjoyed robust health through his 88 years). My sister-in-law's words helped so much: "He has been without his sweetheart for 16 years. That is a long time." He left this life surrounded by loved ones, something made possible by my dad. I am so grateful for that. I am so grateful for my dad's fine example of being a kind and good son. I can only hope that I will raise my kids to be that type of person.

The week after that, D left for Pennsylvania for another audition rotation. Did I say Black January was a hard time to have a newborn? How about during audition rotations? We've got to work on this timing thing! Maybe we'll be smarter with the next one and have him/her during D's first year of residency!!

Yesterday Squirt was four weeks old. I celebrated by going for a run. I felt fabulous! It was a beautiful autumn day and the air was crisp. My mom took care of the kids. It was wonderful!

Three kids, three and under, and no husband around. I'm still sane! I have been well taken care of. Some sweet ladies from church have come over to hold Squirt during naptime so I could nap. Friends have called and offered their help over and over. My family has dropped in to do me favors. Life is good. And my baby is so beautiful!

Squaw Peak Autumn

This autumn is the most beautiful I've seen in Utah. D and I drove up to Squaw Peak a few days after Squirt was born. I thought the colors would soon fade, but the stunning fall splendor has only become more stunning! I'm trying to get outside every day and enjoy it.

My favorite running buddies
I'm hoping to get out for a run sometime this week!

That other announcement

Long ago when I listed a bunch of announcements, I mentioned that I couldn't mention one. Well, now I can, since it's public knowledge. My parents have been called on another mission, back to Santiago, Chile. My dad will preside over the Santiago MTC. They leave in January. I'm so grateful we were able to move back here to be close by for a few months until they depart. My kids would otherwise not get the opportunity to get to know them for a long time, since they will be gone for two years. I'm excited about the prospect of a trip to Santiago sometime while they're there--it's a really fun city!

Now that I've had my fun with this...

I've been asked how to pronounce Squirt's name. Just say it with a deep, rough voice, kind of the same way you'd say "Helga." Try it--"Eglah Botum!" Has a nice ring, eh? I've really had a lot of fun posting Squirt's name here. But really, my friends, would I name my child "Botum?" Maybe a better question would be, with my paranoia about posting personal info on the internet, would I put her real name here?

So the truth comes out. We picked up her birth certificate yesterday, and alas, Eglah Botum is not on it. Her first name is the same as Moses' sister in the bible. If you don't remember the story, you should read it--such a sweet, tender sister! Her middle name is the same as D's mom's middle name. D's mom happens to be our favorite sister missionary who is serving right now and we wanted to honor her. I'm hoping to send out an email spelling it all out more clearly, but I don't get much done these days, so we'll see when that happens!

NAME UPDATE!!

We've decided on a name--thanks to all who gave us advice and suggestions.

Eglah Botum

Eglah means "heifer," and our last name means "well-fed," so that would make this girl a "well-fed heifer princess."