RAIN!

So I have been super busy since our big rainy day this past Friday we have been taken over by water in our house! Our master bedroom closet is completely flooded both our bathroom are leaking through the medicine cabinet and the wall next to Allison's closet is leaking! So we spent several hours Saturday cleaning and drying things up while the kiddos stayed at grandma's! I have not seen the floor in my closet in nearly 4 years! I am sad that most of our stuff had to be trashed, like shoes and really nasty sopping wet clothes and blankets. Yeah I know my closet was a mess! We started cleaning out the medicine cabinets and threw a lot of stuff away, but chunks of our wooden cabinet is just falling apart, I honestly don't know how there going to fix that. "They" I mean the Warranty company who could not make an appearance until tomorrow, ugh! But after all the cleaning, dirty towels, and huge fans I am left with this nasty stench of rain mildew?! Hope the warranty company can send some one to soak the rest of the water out of the carpets and then clean them because it seriously stinks in my house! Anyway, Richard is done with school for the semester and Allison finished preschool and her soccer season is over, we have no plans for the next three weeks but to lay around, YAY!!

November 09

I am sure some of you have seen these pictures before, but I haven't officially put them on the blog! These are my favorite pictures of my kiddos! I have a double frame of these pictures on the mantel above the fire place and I just smile when ever I walk by! We had these pictures made at the end of last year around November by a friend of mine from Kesse Photography. I still cant believe she got pictures of them smiling?! Anyway enjoy looking at my beautiful babies!!!!!

Job

So I thought I would update everyone on our new job opportunity. Last September Richard severely injured his hand at work and was put on a temporary leave with work men compensation until he healed. Then a month later his whole department was laid off including him, but luckily he was under workmen compensation until his hand healed. So the doctors told Richard is could be up to six more months before his hand would fully heal. Richard decided that it would be the perfect time to finish his degree that he only had one year to complete. This past January he enrolled in the energy engineer program. He started the semester out with 7 classes and a lab and was in class pretty much from 9am until10 pm everyday of the week but Fridays!! Things were busy but we were managing them. During the semester a few programs in the engineer field were offering internships at the end of the semester, which was perfect timing because that would be around the time workers compensation would end. This past Tuesday Richard was offered an internship with a major company with more than excellent pay and great benefits, yay! The only downer is it is in Eunice New Mexico, the internship is for five months and then where ever they need him if its back here in Midland then he comes back here or it could be a surrounding area in Texas. We aren't moving yet Allison already enrolled in Kinder here and soccer both our families are here, plus Richard has one semester left to graduate here! So Richard is going to try to commute and we will see how it goes! Oh and the internship doesn't start until July. But we are beyond excited and feel so blessed with everything we have worked for has come to fruition, thanks to our Heavenly Father! By the way we are excitedly awaiting our California trip in a month and Richard will get to come down the last week of our trip and we get to spend our 8 yr wedding anniversary getaway in San Fransisco for a couple of days while my Aunt watches the kiddos. We already have are tickets to see Wicked!!!!

Last day!

Today was Allison last day at pre-school! We left the house super early to get gas and to buy some flowers for her teacher. They had a fun planned which consisted of making cards, reading books, cleaning there stuff out, and show and tell. Then Richard and I headed over to Alli school for "Tea with parents" which by the way Allison replied "We don't drink tea its for bad people or old people." I brought my camera and took lots of pictures and set down where Allison had made a place mate for me with a card and All the children served there parents tea or lemonade with fruit pizza. After we finished our food the children stood in the front and sang a cute song then handed out gifts to all the moms! Then her teacher posed for a ton of pictures and pre-school is over! I'll never forget the first day we took her to pre-school I was so nervous and had butterflies in my stomach wondering how Allison would do. Things were a little tough in the beginning but in all the school year was a success! Taking her to school to today was bittersweet and remind me that in a few short months when summer is over I will have a kindergartner??? I cant believe my baby is five! I remember holding my newborn in my arms and think time would just go slow, but it didn't and she is growing more every day. She is my favorite person in the world and my best friend, what a wonderful day today was!

~Pappy~

I know I know that Cooper is almost 2 and still has his pacifier. Or in Cooper's words "pappy"!!! I remember taking Allison pacifier away exactly a week after her birthday. It was such an easy transition. I only let her keep it that long because we flew to California a month before her first birthday. On top of that is was so easy because Allison had all her teeth before her first birthday. I mean the child got her first to bottom teeth when she was two months old! Allison would never cry when we took her pacifier away, she never gave us any problems. My baby boy Cooper on the other hand has been much more attached to his pacifier than Allison ever was. I ask Cooper to hand me his pappy and he says "NO, my pappy mommy!" To me Cooper's pappy is like his comfort "thing" something that soothes him when he is sick, upset, or mad! Cooper requires his pacifier for naps and for bed time. On top of his need for his pacifier he hasn't even gotten all his teeth in he is missing 4 teeth in total and the kids will be 2 in July! So here is to the last two in a half months until the pacifier is in the trash! Enjoy it kid while you still have it~

Allison's birth~ through my moms eyes

I was lucky enough that my mother documented my daughters entire birth down to the hour and minute of what happened. So today, in honor of my daughter's fifth birthday I thought I would share it! This picture is of Allison and I. When she was 19 months old, gezz its the youngest picture I could find on my new computer!

05-04-05

3:00a.m. Stacey unable to sleep, Richard gave Stacey all the pillows and both set up to watch TV

5:19 a.m. Stacey took shower and got dressed

6:37 a.m. Left for hospital, very foggy high temp 62 low temp 52

6:55 a.m. Arrive and register: took weight changed and gave urine sample

7:00 a.m. Got room 232. ID bands, blood pressure, Stacey happy and in good spirits.

7:15 a.m. Maternal Grandmother arrived (my mother), nurse Holly took medical history. Dilated to a 4

7:30 a.m. Dr Locke arrived and checked Stacey actually dilated to a 5

8:05 a.m. Started IV and eating ice chips. Stacey's friend Stephanie arrived

8:20 a.m. Dr Locke back, broke water still dilated to a 5

8:30 a.m. Paternal grandfather arrived (Richards dad) Stacey not feeling good. Shaking just a bit Richard holding hands and staying close.

8:32 a.m. PGF called cant find room. Richard leaves to bring them in. Stacey looking for Richard. Says he is taking to long!

8:37 a.m. Richard and Dad come into room.

8:40 a.m. Nurse Holly says Dr is in with a c-section will be back in about an hour. Anethesiologist also at c-section. As soon as done will come in and start epidural.

8:50 a.m. Stacey starting to feel uncomfortable as contractions start. Set up for awhile.

9:11 a.m. Contractions much harder and longer in duration. Nurse came in to check on her will be back. Paternal Grandmother arrived (Richards Mom).

9:20 a.m. Nurse in because Stacey is feeling nauseous. Put cool towels on her. Set up again. Contractions much longer and harder, four frames long.

9:30 a.m. Dr still with c-section says 20 mote minutes for epidural. Stacey wants now!!

9:50 a.m. STRONG contractions continue. Stacey crying and yelling out a bit. "It hurts, it hurts.... i cant... stand it..." closes eyes

9:55 a.m. Dilated to a 7 put in cafetor. Still waiting on Dr. "Progressing exceptionally well" contractions every 2 minutes. Contractions last ten seconds nurse left to find anethesologist. Stacey says she cant stand it anymore must remind her to breath slowly.

10:00 a.m. Another really really bad one "Oh god"

10:05 a.m. Finally anethesologist here~setting up Naropin 10.00ml/hr

10:12 a.m. Are done. Put Stacey back down. Took picture

10:20 a.m. Anethesiologist left should feel better in just a few minutes "said 2 babies were born while he was at c-section. Called Courtney, called Bruce. Took picture.

BP baby~ 113/68 Stacey~ 111/62

10:25 a.m. Stacey says not hurting as much "much better" eyes close and resting nurse says she will be back in 30 minutes to check on her again

10:42 a.m. 126/100 Stacey BP 94/51 baby BP Pulse 65 called Ruthie

10:55 a.m. Nurse Holly here again to check on Stacey, contractions much easier dilated to a 9. Stacey shaking BP down just a bit put blanket on

11:00 a.m. Stacey feeling better watching TV

11:05 a.m. Dr in said whenever she feels pressure he will be back said to take a bap if possible

11:07 a.m. Courtney here (my sister) Tom and Jerry cartoon on TV tries to make Stacey smile by saying, "Look Stacey, its our favorite."

11:45 a.m. Nurse Holly in says she wanted be back in 20 minutes to check. Stacey resting says no pressure/pain. Nurse wants to be notified if she feels any pressure.

12:12 p.m. Nurse back Stacey says she feels pressure. Nurse says its probably time to have a baby. Jamie here with Jacinto (my sister and her husband). Stacey says her legs feel so weird! Nurse says take a deep breath and open knees.

12:45 p.m. Contractions consistent about 3-4 minutes apart with 1-2 minutes rest. Having Stacey push during contractions to the count of 10 4 times lasting 1 1/2 minutes. Richard is holding knees and pushing foot during pushing. MGM or Courtney on the opposite side. Nurse says not unusual for one hour or plus pushing!

12:50 p.m. Nurse checking Stacey says baby has dark hair continue pushing exercise. Jamie has to go back to work.

1:00 p.m. called Ruthie (my aunt) let her listen to nurse count took pictures.

1:15 p.m. Still pushing exercise/activity. Courtney helping her hold her head up and chin to check for the count. Nurse says baby has crowned. Will clean her up and straighting up bed. Now going to get doctor. Nurse says don't touch anything blue.

1:19 p.m. lights on table ready

1:31 p.m. Dr arrived~ Picture, picture, picture Bruce called (my step dad)

1:51 p.m. 7pounds 10 oz 19 1/2 inches long! Allison is here!!! PICTURE PICTURE PICTURE

2:35 p.m. Stacey wants a chocolate milk shake (large) says she is hungry

Reported by Lily M. White, MGM

Thought I would share what my mother documented, it is a treasure that is immeasurable to me. Happy Birthday to my baby girl, mommy cant believe your five years old today. My life has forever change with you in it. I didn't really know what love was until I held you in my arms, I love you.

The birthday party girl!

Allison's birthday party was a RAVING success!! Although there were a few bumps in the road such as: weather issues "To rain or not to rain", over inflatable Jumper "The kids can just jump around the HUGE rock hard hill inside the jumper" "I think NOT", and a stubborn son who would not nap (my lil escape artiest)! But we made it through all the bumps along the way and the Birthday girl had a wonderful afternoon with her friends and Family! As my Aunt Steffer would say~ on ward to the week of Birthday celebrations. Because one day is not enough to celebrate the birth of my daughter! Of course Alli-cats birthday is not tell Tuesday and tomorrow we have a soccer game and team pictures and then Tuesday Allison actually goes to school, with a slew of activities planned for that day too!