Halloween 2009

Our ward went back to the Trunk-or-Treat style again and it was nice I must say. This year's costumes were sooo "whatever". I didn't even let them pick out their costumes. It was on my to-do list and I got online while they were at school and ordered them a good month or two before Halloween. Savannah's costume was called "Gothic Princess". It didn't look too "gothic" to me, but "whatever". She doesn't like make-up so I figured this was good. Ethan and Tanner are both into Star Wars so Ethan got a Jedi costume. Tanner likes Spider Man so his was good too. Garrett did a hand-me-down costume from Tanner. Since G likes Curious George so much his seemed fitting at least. And Jaron, well, I wasn't even going to do a costume but one day when I was at Wal-Mart I saw little baby costumes and figured, "what the heck". Of course I had to guess on the size since I bought it a few weeks before he was born.

Garrett

The crew at the church.

Crazy face time.

That's more like it.

Cute little froggy Jaron.

Huh?! Where did THIS guy come from?! I think his name is Jon.....John McEnroe? Yeah, that is my crazy husband. He put this costume together on his own by going to thrift stores, Big5 sporting goods, and the wooden racket from his parents' house. The thing that really cracks me up is the new tennis video game that has a picture of John McEnroe on it and it looks just like Jon here. He wore this to a neighborhood halloween party and then to the church trunk-or-treat. Everyone loved it.

Blessing and Baptism on 10/31/09

Another important and extra special day was the day that Ethan got baptized, Jaron got blessed and it all happened on Halloween. (And it was the day after getting carpet installed in our basement! I'm still amazed I didn't end up in a mental institution.) Here are some photos of the events:

I almost forgot how Jon looks without a beard. He's had a beard most of this year I think.

Wendy was holding Jaron. Notice how rolled up his sleeves and pant legs are. He was only about 4.5 weeks old. This is the same outfit all my boys wore.

One thing I love about the picture of all the 'boys' is that they are all my September birthday boys. I'm glad that day is over...I still have some anxiety just thinking about it. I just wish that we hadn't had sooo much going on so I could've enjoyed it a little more and just took it all in.

I Had a Baby!

Kinda sad that something as important and special as a baby being born wasn't even mentioned on here but that's just how crazy life has been for about a year.

This is me the morning of my induction. I think I look a little bigger in the picture than I actaully was, but boy did I FEEL that huge!

This is waiting for the nurses to do their magic. Notice on the table the baby blanket I still needed to finish crocheting the edge. I did that through some pretty painful contractions. I finished just before my epidural.

My PRIZE!! I think I took this picture the day after.

Slightly opened eyes. Look at all that dark hair!

Peeking from the side of the bassinet.

Normal little ears too. :)

Going home. What I remember is that some old lady brought me up a kid size wheelchair. Can you believe ME trying to squeeze into a small wheelchair just after giving birth?! I could hardly get in and out of it.

Soon after coming home and he needed a diaper change. We needed everyone's help.

I meant EVERYONE. (Look how tiny!)

We did something a little different this time. I had Jon (since he brought his laptop with him anyway) keep a journal of how things progressed. Here's how it went down:

9/29/09

7:20 am – arrived at the hospital

8:15 am – started pitocin, 2 cm

8:35 am – Dr. Bitner breaks Stacy’s water

9:20 am – nurse changed towels, noticed light colored meconium

10:45 am – 4 cm, 80% effaced

11:10 am – epidural administered

11:40 am – 6 cm, 90% effaced, epidural only working on left side

11:50 am – 7 cm, 100% effaced, epidural is now working on right side, nurse gives Stacy oxygen, baby’s heart rate dropping at every contraction from 120 to 80

11:55 am – 7.5 cm

12:00 pm – 10 cm, nurse calls for Dr. Bitner.

12:18 pm – baby arrived, 6lb 10oz. Jaron Matthew?

This was copied straight from his Word document. Notice the 11:55-12:00 difference? Crazy, huh? The nurse had her hand on the baby's head pretty much from when I noticed the epidural only working on one side til she called the dr. I was soooo glad I couldn't feel that.

Well, that's all for the birth of our 5th baby. He's been a joy all of his 8 months here.

Aaaannd...We're Back

Well, we'll see. It has been soooo long since I posted anything substantial I hope I can do so with a little more regularity and not every 9 months.

Of course, the question is always, 'catch up or start fresh?' I think I will do a little catching up with photos mostly. I think I'm going to give them each their own posting. So here we goooooo. (wish me luck!)