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Tuesday, January 23, 2007

I know, I know....

We are still here, alive and well....after 5 straight weeks of snow on the ground. Several records have been set here in Paradise with this snow...and I must admit, I think it is our fault. My kids pray EVERYDAY that it will snow more....and snow more it does...every weekend for 5 straight weeks!!!!! So I guess I am going to have to have a talk with them...put my foot down...and get them praying for a new car and some extra cash...and world peace. :)

There has been SO much going on here in the past few weeks. LOTS of company and lots of drama (of course). Potty training. Sickness. A big move by my parents (who finally sold the house and have to be out by Feb 7th!). Skiing. :) School starting back. A sister-in-law about to have a baby. The list goes on. And on. I have a loooong list of pictures that I want to post from the past few weeks....and as soon as I get an extra nano-second I will do so.

So for now, I will leave you with the happy thought that my little Presley is almost completely potty trained. This was a concern, if you recall (as I do, with perfect clarity) the potty incident a few months back. As a parent, this is one the happiest things that can happen. Not only am I relieved of bottom wiping, I am also saving a fortune!!! :)

Thursday, January 04, 2007

the birth of Presley Solomon











Presley Solomon 1-4-04

The journey began in April....in a little ski town called Breckenridge. (see why I love this place?!) A few weeks later we were so pleased to learn that the Lord had began another little blessing in me. The decision was made to MOVE! We lived in a tiny townhome and we needed a bigger house. Within the next few months we found the perfect house and moved. That perfect house is now for sale (by my parents) and you can see it here. I was quite happy to know that my baby would be born in that house. I LOVED it!!!
Fast forward a pretty uneventful pregnancy. Other than the typical debilitating all day sickness for 5 months...not much else happened. I did gain less weight this time around, only 43 lbs, and EVERYONE said I was having a girl! Even strangers would tell me I was carrying a girl. And since we do not find out the sex of the baby, I was just replying with a smile and a nod. I was 150% positive Tarin was a girl (#3) and was shocked at the birth....so I was not going that route again! I really was content with whatever the Lord had for us. I was just so thrilled to able to have another baby!!! What a blessing :)
The worst part of the entire pregnancy came at the very end. I was "due" on New Years Day. A week before Christmas, I got a horrible case of the flu. And a double ear infection. And so did my whole family. It was awful. I seriously thought I was going to die...and I was very scared for the baby! I prayed that I would be well before labor began. Thankfully I am ALWAYS late with my babies, so the Lord was merciful by allowing us all to get well before the birth.
Saturday morning, January 3rd, I started having some bloody show and mild contractions. I knew the birth would be soon! So what does a gal do when in early labor??? Get a pedicure, of course! I fully enjoyed it and I also enjoyed freaking out the ladies there by telling them when I was having contractions. Ha! Such fun :)
Josiah and I took the kids to that mall to walk around that evening...and then to my moms house for dinner. After dinner things began to get a bit stronger, although I knew we still had a while to go. We came home and put everyone to bed. I went to bed thinking I might be up later that night so I wanted to get some good rest. I slept fitfully in between contractions till the wee hours when I decided I HATED laying down and needed to get upright. Josiah got up with me and we flipped on a movie. I just hung out on the birth ball and attempted to watch. Unfortunately, his choice of movie was NOT conductive to a relaxing labor. "Lord of the Rings" Yeah. Needless to say at some point I yelled at him to turn it off. I called my cousin in Ohio and told her to head on down...and I called my mom and my friends to give them a head's up on things. I did NOT want anyone there yet, but I wanted them on alert.
I called my midwife around 6 or 7 am. to give her an update. Contractions were pretty strong, but not really progressing much. She decided she wanted to come on over and see how I was doing. She got there and I asked her to check my cervix and see what was going on. I was 4 cm. The contractions had actually slowed down at that point...Steph had come and gotten the kids...and my chiropractor was on her way over. I was having this odd, sharp pain and I needed to be adjusted. Oh, lands sake...that felt SO good! My chiro is a doll and she saved my life at that moment! No more pain!!! My midwife hung around for a little while till I convinced her that labor was taking it's time...so she left for a while. It was nice to be there with just Josiah. We walked, talked, laughed, danced, etc. He set up the birth pool at some point. The day was so relaxing and romantic. Letting labor take it's course was easy and refreshing. No hurry....just do what needs to be done. I think it was about 4 p.m. when Josiah asked if he could call people over. Things were much stronger and I was wanting to get in the pool soon. People started trickling in....the kids, mom-in-law, sister-in-law, my mom, my friends Kerri, Tracy, Noelle, my cousin Melissa and her son Deacon (the boys were stoked). I wandered in and out of the living room...walking through contractions that were beginning to take my breath away. I love labor. I love the party, the atmosphere, the excitement. Around 6 p.m. I jumped into the pool....aaahhhh. Total relief. No epidural needed here....just give me warm tub. I stayed in there for a while. Josiah was tickling my arms (i LOVE that), my midwife was using the hot water from the hose to relax my body...I loved it. The calm, the quiet, the candles. Norah Jones lulling me to sleep. The perfect labor.
I do not remember when, but at some point I decided to get out of the pool and try and get some good painful contractions coming. I wanted to see this baby!!! I shut myself in my room with Josiah and walked. A lot. I sucked my thumb (no, I am not a freak. the thumb pressure on the roof of the mouth releases oxytocin and strengthens contractions) and it worked. I was also checking my cervix every now and again to see how things were going. I could tell that the bag of water was bulging...and when it broke, my baby would come. I kept trying to break it...but I guess my stupid nutrition was just to good...it was strong!!! I called my midwife in and asked her to break it. She typically will NOT do such a thing, but I insisted. I let her feel my cervix and she agreed that the baby would come if the water was broken. So at 8:30 p.m. and 9 cm dilation, she broke my water. Ah, THERE are those painful contractions! Thankfully the hardest part of labor is also the shortest. I got back into my wonderful, warm birth pool for the last part of labor. I think I had 2 or 3 contractions before I felt like pushing. At first I just felt pushy at the peak of the contraction, so I just went with it. My lovely midwife was encouraging me to do what my body said to do...so I did. I wanted to catch the baby myself this time (I kinda did with Tarin as well) so I reached down to see where the baby was. I felt the baby still pretty high up in the birth canal, so I figured I would be pushing a while. I decided to try one good push and see what happened. I started the push and suddenly my fingers felt him move WAY down...almost to a crown! I said, "It's coming now..." as I breathed him down...my mom and mom-in-law ran to get the boys...and the baby crowned. Usually there is lull between the birth of the head and the birth of the body...not this time! He flew out on the next little push. Thankfully the boys made it in the room in time to see!!! I caught him in the water and lifted him onto my chest. 8:42 p.m. Oh!!! It's beautiful! I just kept saying, "Thank you Jesus for my baby!!!" over and over. Everyone was so respectful and quiet as Josiah and I met our new child. My midwife was right there, watching and laughing with us. Eventually I realized that I did not know what we had....so for the best surprise EVER, Josiah and I look....and there is the full package. :) "It's a BOY!!!" I exclaim, crying. I was SO SO SO SO SO happy to have another son. The thought of a girl never entered my brain. Ethan came around to see the baby and to feel the pulsing cord. Great anatomy lesson...school!!! I think we stayed in the water for about 45 minutes, bonding with Presley and taking pictures and video. When I felt the placenta detach I wanted to get out of the pool. I got out, gave the baby to my mom and the boys and delivered the placenta on the birth stool. I walked into my room and got straight in the shower. The BEST shower ever!!!! I hopped out and got into bed so I could really nurse. Presley was wide eyed and beautiful....I was smitten....totally in love. I nursed him and the midwifes did the baby exam right there next to me on the bed. We were all IN SHOCK when he weighed only 8.2 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!! My previous baby was 10 and a half lbs....so no wonder Pres came in one pushing contraction! We actually had to send a friend out to buy newborn diapers....he is my only baby to fit in them. :)
And oh....he was perfect.

And here he is. 3. Time goes SO fast.........he is running around the livingroom right now wrestling with his brothers. Being a cowboy. Playing Superman. We are SO thankful to the Lord for the blessings He has bestowed on us....so unworthy of these blessings...but loving them just the same.
"Children are the Lord's greatest blessing, and the fruit of the womb is His reward."
-Psalm 127:3-5











In labor...loving the warm water.





The boys, my mom (left) and Josiah's mom (right) moments after the birth....holding up "4" for all four boys!




Moments after the birth....bonding with my new son! My midwife keeping a watchful eye as she celebrates with us the birth of our 4th baby boy.





Me saying that he is THE most beautiful baby ever :)





Big brother Ethan with his little Presley...a few days after the birth.




The night after Pres was born....I am SO in love!!!!!! :)

Happy Birthday Presley!!!


I awoke to the boys all downstairs this morning singing Happy Birthday to Presley....with their puppets :) How sweet is that?! Of course, Pres hid his face in the chair the whole time because HE wanted a puppet to sing with.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

My Baby....

Nope, I am not pregnant...however, I was in this picture! It was taken exactly 3 years ago....days before I gave birth to my baby Presley Solomon. Yep, he will be 3 on Thursday....AH!!!!!!! Birth story to follow..........on his birthday, duh!!!


....and NO, this picture has not been doctored. I AM really THAT big. Actually, that was the smallest I have ever been at 9 months of pregnancy. Presley was my tiny baby (8.2 lbs) and I looked fantastic (compared to the other 3 boys...).

Sunday, December 31, 2006

Nate and Courtney

My brother Nate and his wife Courtney have been here for a week visiting from Georgia. Court is 32 weeks pregnant with our little Hannah Grace!!! We are all VERY excited :)

Below is the link to my cousin's (who is a photographer) blog site. She came over yesterday and did some maternity pictures of Courtney and has posted a few on her blog. They are fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy :)





http://bella-photography.blogspot.com/

"My Wife and I Moved to Colorado..."

My wife and I decided to move to Colorado because we missed the snowy winters...thought it would be nice to keep a journal of my adventures to pass onto the kids...


December 8th - It started to snow. The first snow of the season, and my wife and I took our cocktails and sat by the window for hours just watching the huge snowflakes drift down from Heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses painting. It was so romantic, we felt like newlyweds again. I Love Snow!!



December 9th - We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I ever had. I shoveled snow for the first time in years, and I felt like a boy again. I did our driveway and all the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I have to shovel again. What a perfect life!


December 12th - The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! Our neighbor, Bob, tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that we'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.



December 14th - Snow, lovely snow! We had over a foot last night. The temperature dropped to twenty below, and the cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way.



December 15th - Two feet of snow in the forecast. I sold my van and bought a 4 X 4 Blazer. I also bought snow tires for my wife's car and two extra shovels. We stocked the freezer. My wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think she's being silly, we aren't in Alaska after all!



December 16th - Ice storm this morning. Fell on my rear-end on the ice in our driveway while putting down salt. Hurt like heckfire. My wife laughed so hard, she cried. I think she was being very cruel.



December 17th - Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for most of the day. We had to pile on the blankets just to stay warm. Guess I should have bought a wood stove, but I won't admit it to my wife. I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own livingroom!



December 20th - Electricity is back on, but we had another two feet of snow last night. More shoveling. %$#! snowplow came by twice. Called the Hardware Store to see about buying a snowblower and they said they were all out of them. I think they're lying! Bob says I have to shovel the snow or else the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying!



December 22nd - Bob was right about a white Christmas because we had a foot and a half of the white stuff today. It's so cold it probably won't melt until August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to pee. By the time I got undressed, peed, and then dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob, who has a snowplow on his truck, to do some shoveling but he said he was too busy. I think he's lying.



December 23rd - Only two inches of snow today, and it's warmed up to almost ten degrees. My wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What, is she nuts!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did, but I think she's lying.



December 24th - Snow packed so hard by the snowplow, I broke my shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack! If I ever catch that idiot that drives that snowplow, I'm gonna drag him through the snow by his ears. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then comes down the street and throws snow all over where I've just shoveled! Tonight my wife wanted me to sing Christmas Carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for that stinking snowplow.



December 25th - Merry Christmas!! They're forecasting another two feet of snow tonight! The idea of shoveling makes me sick! I HATE SNOW!! The snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. Wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an IDIOT!



December 26th - We're snowed in!! Why in the heck did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves!!



December 27th - Temperature dropped to twenty below. Pipes froze.



December 28th - It's snowing again!! The driveway and sidewalks need shoveling. Too stinking bad!!!



December 29th - More Snow!! Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?



December 30th - Roof caved in. Snowplow driver is suing me for a million dollars. My wife went home to her mother. More snow predicted.



December 31st - Set fire to what's left of the house. NO MORE SHOVELING!!



January 8th - I feel SOooo good! I just love those little white pills they're giving me. Why am I tied to this bed............



Okay, so it really is NOT that bad where we are living! Yes, we have had two large snows in one week....for the first time EVER. And the first snow was the 2nd biggest in ALL of Denver's history! We are still loving all the white :)

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Our Christmas Party

Our party fell on the night after the blizzard. Sooo...attendance was a tad lower than we planned....HOWEVER, we all had a blast!!! A big thanks goes out to the families that braved the weather and joined us for a night of Christmas jeopardy and Karaoke. Hopefully, next year the weather will be more considerate of our plans. Gee.




Alex Trebek




Natalie and Stephanie




Both Tiffany's, a Nate and a Dustin
oh...and baby Briana :)





Some of the kids!!! We banished them to the basement for much of the evening...and they were all SO SO good! So we let them come up for some candy and karaoke.




Yes, the kids went first :)






GG Mom, Grammy and Presley...with his friend Alana





The girls getting a shot at karaoke :) That would me me in the middle singing my lungs out.





The guys were a bit more mellow.




A team effort!!!





Okay....soooo, those of you that know me well know that I cannot sing. A note. At all. I love singing and tend to burst into song at any moment...but I just do not have any talent. (I have seriously considered trying out for American Idol so I can make the blooper reel) Stephanie and I are singing together and...well, this picture says it all. I guess she just did not know how bad I am. Nor how passionate.



"the tree"




My very beautiful Grandmother, Ruby :)

Christmas Eve


Everyone waiting patiently to open gifts from the cousins...




"patiently"






This is my cousin Mark. I have not seen him in about 5 years!!! It was great to have him here.





All the Colorado cousins.




We put the kids in front of a movie and the adults played Christmas Bingo and did White Elephant gifts. :)





Thanks Aunt Lynda and Uncle Noy for the Crocs!!!! The boys LOVE them!!! :)

Christmas day :)


The boys waiting to come downstairs...



...patiently :)




Before.........



After......





Grammy and Granddad opening their gifts from the boys.




Don't worry....I did not give my Dad something from VS....just the box to freak him out :)





Earrings for mom....





Poker set for Josiah! Which we have already put to good use :)




Ethan has been dying for those shoes that have wheels on them...well, he got them!!!




Tarin and his Superman blanket. He raked in the Superman paraphernalia this year.







Oh....now Kell can count all his money.






All the boys got new hats. They are all the same so I can find them on the slopes!!! :)




The cheapest gift ends up being the most popular. These "microphones" were a big hit with the little guys.




FINALLY! Some new boots!!!



And a horse for our cowboy :)






Umm......candy first thing in the morning. Only on Christmas!




"Mom. Do we HAVE to get our picture taken"??????






Melt down....





My favorite picture of the day :)