December Happenings

Had trouble posting slideshow so enjoy above!

Idaho Residents

So after a crazy summer of not knowing where we were going to end up I'm happy to say that Jason got a wonderful job here in Boise. He has been there for a little over a month now and it has been going awesome! He finally feels the validation that he has deserved. The kids started at a new charter school this year and it has been great. They wear uniforms and look so cute in them every day! It is still hard getting used to them being gone during the day, but I really feel like this is what is best right now. My little girls are getting so big! Addalyn is talking more all the time and Camden is standing and starting to cruz! We are pretty happy so we have decided to purchase a house! We have one offer in right now, checkout the previous slideshow, it's a shortsale so we are still ready to offer on others. We still miss living by family but are trying real hard to recruit family to come here! I think that ID has a bad rap and if people realized how truly awesome it is here more people would move here! This next year should be interesting for our family but I'm am excited to find out what's in store for us!

http://homesite.obeo.com/587648

http://homesite.obeo.com/587648

Patience

My life is and was not meant to be boring. Jason is searching for a new job. So most likely we will be moving most likely by the end of summer. He interviewed with a hospital in Nebraska and with two in Arizona. There are also some possible ones in Alaska and Kansas. I took a few weeks to morn and now I am ready to go where ever we are suppose to be. We had no idea how much this economy would affect the nursing industry. I still love telling people how hard this economy has been on us and when they ask what my husband does they are always completely surprised when I tell them. I swear I might sue some of these nursing schools for still advertising that there is still a nursing shortage! Seriously it makes me CRAZY! So here we are pretty close to where we were a year ago. I know so many people in nursing school right now and I can't help but pity them. If it's bad now it will be worse for them in the future. Nursing grads are one of the highest unemployed degrees, isn't that insane! I really hope that tomorrows interviews go well but if the outcome is not what we hope then I am sure that the Lord needs us somewhere else and I am in a good mindset about that, now. I've been torn about where I want to be AZ or WA. In some ways going where ever Jason gets a job frees me of any guilt. I really just want to be settled. I dream about decorating a house again, painting, hanging all my stuff up, no boxes in the garage oh my! My trial of patience is still continuing and I'm sure that the blessings will be worth it. Oh where would I be without my faith... that's right the nut house!

Boot Camp!

So Here I am Day two of Boot Camp. Today went much better then yesterday. What can I say it's early it's cold but it needs to be done! I am so grateful for Jason and Payten for allowing me this tome to take care of myself. I really have no grand delusions about how much weight I'll lose but I am giving it my all and really hoping when it ends in 4 weeks that I will be a lot healthier and perhaps fit in some summer clothes! 2 down 18 to go!

I Love a Man in Uniform

Jason will kill me for this post but I couldn't resist!

Temporary home

I have decided I am so ready to be done with temporary living. Things are perpetually changing in our lives so it's for the best that we have been only living in temporary homes, but I am so ready to be in our forever home. I long for the stability it will bring to my family. I'm not sure where we belong but I really want to belong somewhere. With our house in WA selling it makes me feel rushed to know where we want to put down our roots. I wish I could just make what I want to happen but I am well aware that that is not how it works. Patience is a virtue right?! It is truly hard to want things that are out of my control. So in the mean time I rely on what I know best, trying to make the best out of every situation. I really hope a year from now I'm blogging about my new home and that the only temporary home I have is this Earthly
one.

My blessings

Camden was blessed on March 28. My parents, Jenell and her 4 kids, Brandon and Becky and their 6 kids all came! We had a great time together in close close quarters! We even took all the kids ice skating! The cousins LOVE being together and it was so nice they will always have those memories. The kids and I were able to go back and spend the whole week back there with them. Jason flew in on Thursday and we had a great time visiting our family. As fun as it was visiting everyone and celebrating Easter up there it is always apparent that half of our family is missing. I hope one day we can all live by each other again.

Health Scare

So a lot of you know about our health scare this last week but do to how traumatic it was for me I need to record it by blogging about it. On last Sunday Addalyn started running a fever and began acting really grouchy. After 5 days of it and no other symptoms I began to really get concerned especially since she was also getting pale. So on Friday I took her, and the other two, to the Dr. Right away the Dr seemed to take it seriously and told me that we needed to give her a catheter and get a urine sample. I then mentioned that fevers freak me out now ever since my niece got leukemia. She then said that that was exactly what she was suspecting with Addalyn. I started to go weak but didn't really start getting weak until she said we would hold off for now on the Bone Marrow testing until after we run all the labs. So she wanted me to go to the hospital and get her blood taken. She then left the room to do a fast check of the urine, cultures would be done on it as well but wouldn't be ready until Monday, while she was gone I sat done and almost lost it but decided to save that for the car. She came back and said that Addalyn did have a bladder infection but that might not be the cause of this. Not sure exactly what else she told me about but she mention Leukemia and Lymphoma twice. So off I went to the Hospital by myself with no cell phone. I barely made it there. After the blood work at the hospital I some how made it home and knew I'd receive a phone call in 30 minutes with the results. So with pure agony setting in I called my mom and let her in on my nightmare. I figured Jason would call around lunchtime so I knew I better wait to talk to him until after I had some kind of results plus he was the one I dreaded most talking to due to the fact that he loves her as much as I do. So 30 minutes later the Dr called and told me that although a few things were high and low she felt better about it not possibly being cancer. I felt better to for about 10 minutes until I began to think about the fact that Avarie's counts had fooled the Drs for 4 months. The agony of these thoughts began to creep steadily in my mind as I began to reflect over the past year and a half of my sister and nieces lives. I couldn't imagine how I'd make it through and frankly I didn't want to. Every time I looked at my little girl I ached and her possible road she might have to travel down. The weekend consisted of me not letting her out of my sight and hardly out of my arms. On Sunday we got a call telling us that some of her cultures came back and that she definitely had a bladder infection and that she was anemic. I made the nurse give me all Addalyn's counts, so I could review them with Jason and Jenell. I explained my concern about the cancer stuff and she told me they would redo her labs after she got off the antibiotic. I felt a little better and had a rush of hope and peace run through me. And then today we had more results which indicated that she also had Ecoli. Yay for Ecoli and UTIs!! I feel 95% better and am hopeful when the next labs are drawn in 2weeks we will all be able to feel 100% better. Regardless of how it turns out I must admit that this experience made me remember how lucky I've been and how much I tend to take that for granted. After living through the past year with Avarie's illness I was constantly reminded of the gifts I had but I think that I had began to become complacent about it all. I love my kids so much but when you think that they are about to face a life threatening illness it is amazing how quickly everything else in life disappears and you are only left with the purest love that it truly makes your heart ache. I am not lost on the comparison of our Heavenly Father's love for us. How he must ache as he watches us struggle. I'm so grateful that he allowed me to come here and loan me these 6 beautiful spirits until the day he is ready for us to come home. I'm so thankful for my knowledge of his eternal plan and that each of my babies are sealed to Jason and I forever.

Pictures of the last 2 months

A few pics of the last two months!

Camden's one month old!

 

 



It has been one month since my baby girl was born. I love having 6 kids! It feels so nice seeing all my children here on Earth. It is still kind of hard knowing that this is my last time I will ever have a newborn but I'm slowly getting used to the idea. Camden has been such an angel so far. The funniest thing about her is getting used to having a blue eyed child and watching her hair get lighter everyday! Jason's mom and sisters visited this weekend and we all had such a great time together. We celebrated Jackson's 9th on Saturday. I am so proud of what a wonderful young man he is.
The kids also started ice skating lessons so things are even busier around here. A few more weks and we will get our next round of visitors! The kids can't wait to spend time with their cousins again! So much has happened in a month I have a feeling time will not be slowing down anytime soon. So all I can do is enjoy each day as it comes and hold my baby as much as possible, and with a two yr old around I have no choice!

Wanna be Photographer!

Camden Josephine's Arrival!

We arrived at the hospital to check in for my induction 5 minutes late. It is the strangest feeling to walk in to be induced. I of course was nervous that my body wouldn't take to the induction and it would be a repeat of Addalyn's failed induction. I wouldn't really have minded waiting to try to go on my own but with my mom in town I was too scared to waste time. So after the nurse tried several times to put in an IV she finally got it in the third spot she tried, a week later I still have all the bruising. Camden was so active all morning that the nurse commented that she had never seen such an active baby during labor before. Anyway like so many of my other inductions my body did nothing with the pitocin. So at 1pm the Dr. came in said hello and before I had time to worry that the baby was up to high he broke my water. As soon as the next contraction came I new that things would be fast. I asked the nurse how long it would take after I requested an epidural she let me know that it could be 20min to one hour, so needless to say I requested one right away! So she hooked me up to the two bags of fluid she said I had to have first. While the fluid went in me I began to drift into my own world of PAIN! I kept asking how much longer until finally the epidural man came and what I thought was my pain relief. The guy could not for some reason get the needle in straight, it kept going to the left. He tried for what felt like an eternity to get it even. I kept doing my breathing but honestly it was a toss up whether he was hurting me more or the contractions were. So after about 20-30 minutes he told me I could lay down. Laying down was HORRIBLE and I really wanted to sit back up. I then looked over at epidural man and pleaded to know when the pain would go away. He said it would take 15 minutes, he might as well have said 3 hours. After about 1 minute of laying down I had the oh so familiar feeling to push. I gasped "oh no" and the nurse became concerned I told her I needed to push so she wanted to check me. I was contracting at that moment so I told her there was no way I could lift my legs. Finally she hurried and checked me and saw what I already knew IT WAS TIME! Epidural man came back in and injected more stuff in my line to try and provide me with some relief, it did not work. The nurse then informed me not to push, easier said then done, that the Dr was across the street and he would not be happy if the nurse delivered the baby. So as I struggled to endure the pain and push uncontrollably with my legs down the Dr finally arrived. I had just enough time to put my legs up and after being asked if I remembered how to push I gave one push and shot her head out. They told me I could take a break but I thought that was funny so I continued with that push and out came our girl! From the time I actually was in labor to when she arrived was 1hr. It was crazy fast and it really hurt, the epidural didn't kick in until after she was out. The whole thing was such a whirlwind and although there are things I could have done with out, none effective epidural comes to mind, I am so proud of myself for making it through and having another healthy baby!
The kids came up later and all enjoyed getting to set their eyes on our newest addition. I was so grateful for my mom she made the whole experience so relaxing for us. It was such a relief not to worry about our kids while we stayed at the hospital. Not to mention all the help she provided me with when I came home. Jason even had the best nights sleep that night on his huge blow up mattress!
So Camden Josephine blessed us with her arrival on Feb.8 in all her 7lbs 11oz glory. So far she is perfect and never cries and practically sleeps through the night. I love being her mom and love seeing the rest of the family bond to her the way I did for 9 months. I especially love seeing her daddy wrapped around her teeny tiny finger!

Harrison turns 5!

Today Harrison turns 5! Somehow five seems like the first huge milestone with kids. He has been a lot of work but so worth it, most of the time! Harrison has grown up so much in the past year. He still needs some refining but what 5yr old boy doesn't! He has the most contagious smile and laugh. We signed him up for teeball the other day and every hour since then he asks when it's time for baseball. He is getting so good at writing his name and loves doing his "schoolwork". Today my mom flies in and we'll spend the day with her until everyone else gets home then we'll go to a family fun center and celebrate. He picked out his Scooby Doo party stuff yesterday so we'll have cupcakes when we get home. Then tomorrow he'll go on his daddy date, unless we're having a baby! He can't wait to hold this baby!

My Grandma

My Grandma Mead was my only living grandparent. My Grandma passed away today at 9:01 PDX time. My mom and sister had been by her side for the past couple days. I would've done everything in my power to have been there if my due date wasn't so darn close. I'm so glad we were able to go see her during Thanksgiving. I was able to talk to her on the phone last week when we knew that the time was getting close. My Grandma Foushee, Dad's mom, died one month before I was born the irony is not lost on me that I am now due to have my daughter in 1 month. My Grandma Mead has always made us things from blankets, doilies, bibs, embroidered pillow cases and many other crocheted and knitted things. I am so glad that I have almost all the things she made for me and my kids. I am sad that she didn't have enough time to do a blanket for our new baby but am thankful that my grandma got to know all but one of my kids. One of my favorite memories of my Grandma was when she moved in with us after my Grandpa passed away. We used to go in her room and watch every Lifetime show that came on and Rescue 911. We loved to make her laugh because once she got started she couldn't stop and anytime she would start so would the tears. I have always felt proud to have been given her middle name which is also my Mom's and I gave it to Payten. I know Payten always felt an extra connection as well at being the fourth generation May. My Grandma had 5 kids, 25 grandkids and next month my baby would've given her 57 great-grandkids. I know that my grandma is rejoicing at being reunited with her beloved husband who she had been without for the past 22yrs. How grateful I am to know that I will see her again. I can't imagine not belonging to a church that believes in the plan of salvation. We all have the ability to be with our families forever and truly there has never been a greater gift given.

Jason's new job!!!

For those that haven't heard of our good news Jason got a new job in Boise. He will be working in an Orthopedic Surgery Center. The experience and opportunity are without out saying fantastic! We have truly been blessed and are so grateful. So he put in his notice last Monday to work and for our rental. We have to stay in our rental until they can find new renters to take our place. We have the whole house all cleaned and ready to be shown so we are praying really really hard that we'll be able to hear some great news this week. If they rent to a military family we will only have 10 days to be out so we are trying to be as packed up as possible. We want to move ASAP so really it shouldn't be a problem unless you count that we can't sign on anything else until we get that 10 day notice and the fact that I am now 4wks to my due date! Our hope was to be all moved before the baby so we could have her at a hospital in Boise, but who knows? I'm trying to stay focused on the positive aspects and trying to shrug off the things I have no control over but at times that is rough! I can honestly say that I have never wanted to push my due date back so bad before. Hopefully my next post will be filled with exciting news and maybe I'll even have pics of our new ,to us, house to post!

New Years Photos

We had such a fun New Years! We played games had pizza then around 9pm we were starting to get bored so we decided to go to a park by our house and go sledding! We had about 7 inches of snow and it was still coming down. We all took turns and Jason decided that making a bump to fly over would definitely increase the fun so a big bump was constructed. Even Addalyn had a great time going down and playing this time. I did go down twice but I didn't have any snow pants and those sleds were cold! We had the park all to ourselves and it truly was so much fun, I'm so glad we'll all have that memory.