Short update

We are all doing well, and adjusting great! The boys love their sissy, Brady tends to be a little rought with her but he'll learn I just have to keep an eye on him with her! We had well checks this last week. Which reminds me I didn't even see what Kael weighed I need to find out!!! Haha but Miss Oakley is packing that weight right on. When we left the hospital she weighed 7lbs 4oz and on thursday she was back up to 8lbs 6oz needless to say she has no problem eating. Crazy to think that she's still quite a bit smaller than the boys were when they were born! She's also grown and inch and a half. We're getting excited for Christmas, Kael and Brady met Santa he made a visit to our ward Christmas party. They came home SO excited that he was there. Kael said that he told him that he wanted a Buzz and Woody. I must admit it's been  nice being able to hold Santa coming over his head. It works and they obey pretty well with that tactic I wonder what I'll do when Christmas is over!! Jon and I are doing well, just same old same old with us. I know this is short but need to feed Sissy! Here are some pictures for those that haven't already seen them on FaceBook.

Introducing Little Miss

Well she's finally here! Alot of this will be more for my journaling purposes but someone might be interested in the details! I thought that for sure I would have had her long before I did but I was scheduled to be started on November 23. I had been dialated to a 4 for the previous two weeks but she must have been quite cozy in there because she didn't decide to come on her own. On the 22nd I had a Dr appointment and I was surprised to make it to it and my Dr was surprised that I was there! He checked me and I was almost dialated to a 5. My blood pressure was high (very unusual for me) and he said that I needed to stay and lay down for a bit and then they'd check it again to see if it dropped. If it didn't he said he would keep me overnight, but just my luck he said it had dropped and he'd see me early the next morning to break my water.  So back home we went, that night always feels a little like Christmas Eve to me, you know that there is this HUGE monumental thing the next morning and you are excited and anxious making it hard to sleep. Jon gave me and the boys blessings all which were beautiful, and it helped give me peace of mind about the next days events. We woke up early around 5 am and left the house just before 6. We got to the hospital, checked in and all set up in the room. My Dr. came in around 7:30 and broke my water at 7:38 am, I was dialated to a 5 but still not very thin. My nurse (who was AMAZING) wanted me to stay on the moniters for a bit to check on baby, and see what was happening with me. Which wasn't much! So we got up walked and walked and walked. We walked for an hour, and back to the bed we went. I was on the moniters for another 30 minutes or so and back to walking. I wasn't feeling much at all so we walked for another hour, and then back on the moniters. I started feeling a little more now but still not enough! Although the walked had helped me thin out more and Baby had dropped lower by now. We decided to stay in the OB ward this time and walk around since I was feeling more which was a good thing. After walking for just a few minutes I really started to feel things changing. My contractions were getting really strong and ALOT closer together. AFter about 40 minutes I couldn't walk anymore and decided that maybe a hot shower would help me relax. I sat in the shower for about 30 minutes before even that didn't help much. Back to bed I went, the nurse checked me and I was dialated to a 7 and really thin by now. At this point she asked how commited I was to doing it without an epidural. She said that she'd give me (note to self: ask Dad what that drug was called) a drug in my IV that helped relax and take the edge off for a little bit but it wouldn't last long. I opted for the IV drug. It helped relax me a little between contractions but didn't help with the pain at all. There was a moment that I thought I should have just tried the epidural again, but was moving to fast at that point. I went from a 7 to a 10 in less than an hour, Jon and my nurse were so great to help me get through the pain and contractions. After what has got to be the WORST pain in my life at 3:04 p.m. I gave birth to the most beautiful baby girl!

Oakley Mae Muir...

 The nurses did her initial assesment as the Dr. was stitching me up, and said she looked great and we could keep her in our room with us as long as we wanted. We kept her with just the two of us for about and hour and a half before Jon walked her to the nursery. It was bliss spending so much time with such a fresh little baby. She's was really MAD for the first while but I was able to get her to nurse right away and she calmed down.

 She weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and was 19.5 inches long, a shrimp compared to her 10lb brothers!

I came home on Thanksgiving Day, the boys had been sick so they weren't able to visit the hospital. It was so much fun watching their reaction to their new baby sister. The first thing that Kael said was "Oh I love her" and Brady just said "Mina Baby Didtor!" over and over. He wanted to hold her right away, when my dad went to touch her he said "No Grandad no touch Mina Baby Didtor" They are in love, and so concered why she's crying, and so curious when I feed her. The first thing that Kael's asked every morning is "Where is my baby sister?" I have to keep telling him that she's not going to leave, she's going to live with us at our house now.  Jon is a smitten kitten, with his new Darling Girl, it's fun to watch him with the baby and he's such a good help to me! She likes to be awake during the night which I'll admit is new to me! My boys were way better sleepers at night so I'm finally experiencing what every other mom with a newborn feels like! Oh well I'll also admit those are precious hours in the night when it's just the two of us and nothing else to worry about. We are doing well so far and I feel great! Hope you enjoyed the pictures, stay tuned for more...

Really quick update...

So this isn't going to be much of an update. We got rid of our internet service at home for the time being so that's making blogging kinda tricky. I know I need to get some good pics of the kids up and let you all know what's going on but for now... I'll be started on Tuesday 23rd if I don't have this little baby girl before than. I thought I would have by now but I think she's going to be a stubborn one. So for sure you'll get an update next week one way or another and I PROMISE pictures of her sweet face as well as my handsome boys! Hope your all doing well.

So glad I found this...

As I was waiting in the Dr. office last week I spied a copy of an Ensign (A Magazine my church puts out with Amazing and touching articles) that was old but knowing I'd be waiting thought why not get some spiritual feeding for the day!!! So flipping through an article caught my eye, SO glad I found it. I think I'll save it and maybe it will come in handy for a talk in church in the future! It's not long so I went ahead and copied it so you can just read it here. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=6a25ceb47f381210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRDLarry Hiller, “Hope: The Misunderstood Sister,” Ensign, Jun 2009, 8–9

Hope is anything but wishful. It is expectation based on experience.

I think of them as three famous sisters whose names are frequently linked, always in the same order: Faith, Hope, and Charity. They are mentioned several times in the New Testament and with remarkable frequency in the Book of Mormon.

Of the three, Faith may be the most well known and popular, the one whose companionship is sought most often. She’s active and energetic, definitely the can-do type. Faith can move mountains, if necessary.

I picture Charity as being modest and refined, beautiful and gracious. In her presence you feel genuinely loved and accepted. She’s unfailingly kind and generous, patient, empathetic, aware of every need, and responsive without being asked. How could you not want the companionship of someone like Charity?

Then there’s Hope, who seems to have a problem with the way people perceive her. It may be her name and the way it’s commonly used: “I hope the car passes inspection.” Or, “I hope the weather will be nice for the wedding.” Used this way, the word hope is the verbal equivalent of keeping your fingers crossed. Consequently, many seem to think Hope is unsure, even fickle—she may or may not grace you with her companionship. But surely that’s not the kind of hope our Father in Heaven commands us to have. Nor would it be the kind of hope our Savior offers.

My desire to know Hope better was sparked when a high councilor speaking in our sacrament meeting quoted Romans 5:3–5:

“We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

“And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

As I read and reread those verses and pondered and prayed about them, the one concept I could not seem to wrap my mind around was how experience fits in the equation. I could understand that tribulation “worketh” (or brings about) patience. Often that’s all we can do in tribulation—have faith and wait patiently upon the Lord. But what is the experience that patience brings about? And how does it result in hope? This seemed to be what I call a puzzle piece.

For me, things I don’t understand about the gospel are like pieces of a larger puzzle I’m working on. If I don’t see where they fit, I put them aside and work on other parts of the picture. From time to time I pick them up and look at them. If I still don’t see how they fit, I put them aside again. I have already received a witness that the whole picture—the restored gospel—is true and complete, so I don’t worry about the pieces that haven’t come together for me yet. They will.

And so one day, as I reexamined this particular puzzle piece, I saw a possible connection I hadn’t seen before. When we endure tribulation with faith and patience, what we experience is the Savior’s awareness of us and His love for us. We experience them through the ministrations of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. We receive this witness after the trial of our faith (see Ether 12:6).

In my own life, when I patiently endure trials, the Savior, who took upon Himself all of our ills and sorrows (see Alma 7:11–12), ministers to me through the Spirit. Iexperience the Savior’s tender mercies. My trials may continue, but having taken upon me the yoke of Christ, I find Him sharing my yoke, making my burdens bearable, and giving me hope. I then have strength to endure. I have assurance that all will be made right, not just in eternity but also for eternity. Hope is anything but wishful. It is expectation based on experience.

I see Hope more clearly now. She is serene. Her eyes have the deep, knowing look of someone well acquainted with sorrow, the luminosity of recently being wet with tears. Hope has the confidence of one who clearly sees a bright future even when the next hours seem fog shrouded. Hope is steady and strong, a friend I am glad to have beside me during my own trials.

Walking with Two Sisters

By Larry Hiller

Faith walks before me,

Holding up her lamp

As I try not to stumble in the ink-dark hours before the dawn.

Her light illuminates

One step and then another.

Beside me, Hope, arm linked with mine, encourages and steadies.

Sometimes in the tedium,

Distracted by the pain,

My mind begins to wander, then my feet. I hesitate.

Unsure, I look to Hope.

Her hand takes mine.

The touch reminds me of another hand held out to me,

One pierced and scarred

Yet oh so tender

Lifting me and blessing me when I had fallen and despaired.

Remembering,

I move ahead

Buoyed up by Hope, who sees the end with perfect clarity.

Told you it was good!!

Baby Girl

We got to see Baby Girl today, she's as cute as I'd imagined but as in any ultrasound we've done she's not wanted to cooperate. Should I be worried?! Anyhow we made sure she is still a girl, and got a few decent pictures of her face and part of her foot she was digging her toes into me so we couldn't see those. Enjoy admiring my darling baby girl!! 

Bottom of her foot

Same foot she wouldn't move it at all!

I think she's going to have the same nose and lips as the boys

I know none of them are GREAT but I love this one the best!

Can't wait to meet you baby girl!!

Kaziah Hancock

I got this link to a video about a Utah Artist who is giving to a Project call Project Compassion. It's an amazing story about what this artist is doing to help families who have lost sons and daughters. I couldn't get the code to embed right so go HERE to view the video. I love stories of people just being genuinely good and kind. May God Bless this woman for she surely deserves it.  

Potty time

For about the 500th time today we were sitting on the potty having a lovely chat while I wait for Kael to see if he's going to go or not. Sometimes the conversation is pretty comical here's how one went today...

Kael- {pointing to and wiggling his tendon's behind his knees} What is this?

Me- Those are called tendons

Kael- { pointing to the cartilage behind his ear} What's this then?

Me- That's the back of your ear it's called Cartilage

Kael- {pointing to his Achilles tendon} What's this?

Me- Your ankle

Kael- {pointing to and rubbing the bones on the top of his foot} What is are these?

Me- Those are your foot bones

Kael- {his eyes lit right up} You mean I have bones like a dinosaur, am I one ?{with the cutest little puzzled look that he give}

Me- Nope your a human

{I'm sure he would have thought it cool to be part dinosaur, sorry buddy!}