Mercedes Aurora

Well, we have just had a new addition to our quickly growing family. She arrived right on her due date (June 3) at 9:35pm. She was 7lbs 10oz and 19 1/2in long. It all started when Kellie started having really hard contractions for 3hrs at a time & then it would stop for a couple of days. One night (May 31) they were extra harsh. On the first, she thought that maybe her water was leaking, but maybe not! June 2nd she called her doctor & set up an appointment for early the 3rd to get checked. That night her contractions didn't stop & were really strong. At the doctor's office they decided not to check her & sent her off to the hospital. Knowing that they wouldn't let her eat & that it would take a while, they all decided to go search for a book & a snack. The gas station didn't have much but Safeway provided a moderately well done mystery & a Reese's. (Later Kellie decided that Paul's suggestion to go out to eat would have been better.)

Not very confident that the baby would come, Kellie sent Paul home with the kids to eat & take a nap while she had multiple tests done. After three tests they decided to keep Kellie. Her water was indeed BARELY leaking. But the contractions had slowed to four an hour. They had to wait for the doctor on call to decide what to do. After all, they don't like to use Pitocin on VBAC's. Kellie assured Paul that there would be plenty of time to have a nap with the boys & then take them to Cami's house before anything exciting would happen. 2nd mistake - 1st being the candy bar instead of meal. After a little while Dr. Chin came in to say that they would do a very low Pitocin drip to get her going. They inquired about when she'd want the epidural & she said that she could wait until dear hubby arrived (3rd mistake).

Reading her book & counting contractions, she noticed that she might be wanting her epidural & hubby soon. Therefore she called dear hubby to learn that they were awake but couldn't get a hold of Cami (awesome friend willing to watch kids while Gma Hansen busted her buns getting to Tucson by that night). Kellie sternly told them to go there & ring the doorbell, knowing full well that her friend was home & probably just not near the phone ( 1st non-mistake -Thanks Cami for being amazing!) and to get his rear to the hospital right away! Just before Paul got there Kellie hit the point where she had the nurse come in to tell her to breath because she wouldn't during contractions ( which were every 2 minutes & about a minute long). About 2 seconds after panicking Paul came in. The nurse- an amazing girl named Paula- said she'd add her to the list of epidurals & that she was about #3. So Paul bravely distracted Kellie as best as possible & forced her to breath while the contractions increased in strength. #3 is tougher than #1!

Finally, the epidural was in & working so Paul & Kellie resumed the book reading with the knowledge that she was only at a 5cm dilation. They were a little concerned that she wasn't dilating for a little while & trying to determine if they should add more Pitocin. 45 minutes after this discussion Kellie told Paul that something felt weird & to make sure that they told the nurse when she came in. 5 minutes later Kellie called the nurse in. The nurse thought that something was wrong with the epidural but wanted to check me first. 2 seconds later the nurse jumped back telling Kellie not to move or even sneeze because the baby was coming NOW! Within 10minutes Mercedes was born very purple ( because she came out too fast, she was bruised). It took a couple of hours before Kellie got over the fact that she was out because she didn't expect a baby for hours.

So, that went well. The boys love her and we're enjoying family helping out. We'll see how we do when all the family's gone! Love you all!

We're moving!- oh wait- Never mind!

Paul received this really random phone call from a recruiter in Houston that had 2 interviews for space systems jobs set up for him. He thought," What the heck, I might as well test the waters!" And both companies gave him job offers. We turned both down because we would have had to move before baby was born. Then, a week later, one of them said they'd wait until mid-June. So we took the job. Two weeks of going crazy later, we decided that the housing market wasn't making it worth the stress to take said job. Therefore, everyone has been on a roller coaster ride provided by the Tonks Family. But it is now official, we are staying in Tucson! Suddenly having to deal with just being a mom of three under three seems so much easier than what it would have been.

Paul's missile flew wonderfully at it's last test, I am still very pregnant but very relaxed all the sudden, and the boys are being boys. Isaac now walks around and says some words. He's even learning how to drink from a cup (ie: 5 t-shirts a day). Ian has days where he's a big boy & uses the toilet while other days he speaks Isaac's language. He says some pretty funny things now. While praying he said," Please bless that we'll be able to go outside to play, but with our shoes on." And another time he tried to coach me praying. But at least he gets what prayer is for!
We are happy to be where we are & that we get to enjoy the new baby without trying to move.

Dirt...

Finally. The day has come. I can declare the boys' play area complete! I finally finished off the mortar between the capstones and raked the sand evenly (if you're blind) around the play area.

So far the play area has only taken one major sunburn, a few blisters on the hands, and a little annoyance with Ian to complete. Somehow, it seems cheap compared to the hours that I am now required to put in pushing Ian and Isaac in their swings...Not that I don't enjoy pushing the boys. I love it when Isaac squawks at me whenever I pull him out, even if he's been in the swing for hours...asleep (see picture). I can't wait for Ian to pull on my hand and asked for me to go outside and push him the second I walk through the door.

Actually, I really do love spending time with the boys. And the weather has been absolutely beautiful! Still cool enough to want to spend time outside but warm enough to stay outside even when it gets dark. So what is there to complain about? Just a few long days at work. Nothing major.

Catch Up

So, it's been quite a while since we've let anyone know what's up with us. From youngest to oldest . . . baby three is supposed to be a girl and hopefully come by June 3rd. She is slightly like her eldest brother in being very active when she wants to be. Isaac can walk along or with things but still remains a little chicken about going it solo. He has also found a binky while Mommy was going through baby stuff & decided he likes it. If he finds one it stays in his mouth until the next mealtime or sippy cup intervention. Ian has taken to saying really cute things and a whole lot of complicated stories that make absolutely no sense. He is potty training & can't decide whether or not he wants another baby. Both boys are in a really fun part of development and we just get to laugh the whole time. Mommy is really noticing that she's pregnant & that she has a limited time left with just the boys. She also craves just about anything that she sees, hears of, or smells that she normally would like. She also has a shopping urge that she has mostly held back, but oddly comes with urges to listen to Creed or Collective Soul. An odd mix, I'd say. Daddy has been busy with the back yard, work, Scouts, and getting attacked by two restless little boys. We are pretty much just trying to finish the yard, stay ahead of the boys, & enjoy life while we're at it. Ain't life great?

It's that time...

Thanksgiving is upon us, nearly. I suppose that this is the season to think about what I'm grateful for, because I have been blessed with a dump truck full of 'em. Can you tell that I spend most of my free time naming Ian's cars and trucks?

The family is healthy, the bills are getting paid, work is actually interesting, challenging, and (maybe) constructive. Life keeps moving forward. Kellie and I were talking about how different life is and how far we've come. Kellie and I will have our third anniversary in December. Three years ago we were students, living in an apartment, and childless. Now we've been blessed with a good job, a beautiful house, and 2 1/3 children. Amazing how a few years changes life completely.

Three years ago today, I could never have imagined how different I would be. Life is a good teacher. I am grateful for the patience that Kellie shows me. Often I am immature, silly, and short-sighted. She seems to have endless patience and love to show the boys and me. She is the most wonderful person I know and without her, I would be lost in a desolate world.

Even though they may be pains at 3am, Ian and Isaac also help complete my world. I can't even picture life without them. Seems silly since Ian's only been around two years, and Isaac less than one. Holding them, cuddling on the couch, or even being tackled and tickled, makes me indescribably happy. What a wonderful life.

Happy Halloween!

Isaac as a cute little dragon! This is our traditional 1st costume for our kids so we can compare them to each other's first Halloween.

Ian in his knight costume getting ready to slay the dragon. No, he didn't really hit him with a sword, we just know how to make it look like it without encouraging violence!

This is Baby 3 at 10 weeks. It is 1 inch long and has a heart rate of 179. The white line near the top is where my c-section was and because the baby isn't attached there we are safe & expect to have a great pregnancy!

Already, the baby's half formed appendages were wiggling all over the place. I have a feeling it's going to be an active one!

Paul's response to seeing the baby was, "Yup! It looks like an alien!" It's so true isn't it?
This is what Grandma looks like most of the time around the boys . . . Camera ready! :)

This Halloween we had some visitors: Grandma Tonks, Grandma Mary, & adopted Grandma Irene! We had a full & busy day that included our first look at baby #3, eating out for lunch and heading out to the Desert Museum. Ian was so tired after the museum that we only went to a few houses on the block before he couldn't walk anymore. Mommy had to carry him home. Isaac is teething something fierce & we were worried that he wouldn't make it but as soon as we put the costume on him he was happy & giggling! Ian helped give candy out to the Trick-or-Treaters after we got home & Isaac rolled around happy & only in a diaper & socks until bedtime! It was really fun to have a knight & a dragon! We can't wait until next year! Happy Halloween!

Fun 'n' games

My news to the world: I have joined the ranks of the two-wheeled!

Kellie finally did something rather rash and let me get a motorcycle. I was hopeing to have a couple of pics to post, but I guess those will come later. She's a fun little thing. Red curves, big headlights, and weighing in at a tad over 400 lbs dry, she got an engine that will go - 650cc, but she's tame enough for a beginer like me.

You know you're a dad when you start singing Baby Einstein songs while riding your bike on the way to a church meeting. "We're going on a trip in our favorite rocketship/Flying through the skies/Little Einsteins..." I had to shake my head and laugh at myself.

One of the wonderful things about riding the bike, especially in the early mornings, before traffic builds, is the opportunity to think. I don't have an iPod or any other way of listening to music or the radio while riding. No one to talk to but myself. All I hear is the roar of the motor and the hiss of the brakes. Freedom.

One of the reasons that I love snowboarding is because of the sense of freedom I feel. I am master of my course. I can choose nearly any way down the mountain. Some of my potential paths are more dangerous, but I can choose. Riding my bike gives me a similar feeling. Although I am constrained by traffic, laws, and the road; I feel free. Perhaps it is the wind blowing in my face. Or possibly the fact that I can romp on the throttle and burst up to speed at will. I haven't come close to pushing the engine to its limit; I've only pushed my skill.

I love my job. I love my family. I enjoy my calling and all of my other activities. However, I need the time to shut off all of my other concerns and get away. Only one thing to concentrate on. I think every person needs that. Getting a bit too philosophical now. Can't wait to ride...