Peach Days

I couldn't resist posting some of these pictures!

I'm getting behind! First day of School

The twins have made it to SECOND grade! Wahoo! That means a new school, and they ride the bus with the big kids. They are still in separate classes, but they ride the bus together, eat lunch together, and play outside together. Being a twin definitely has its advantages.

Sydney is in KINDERGARTEN!! My girl is all grown up! She's been ready to go to school for like three years now! She's been standing out at the bus stop since the boys started school, so sometimes I forget that she's never been able to actually RIDE the bus. She is overjoyed to be going to school! Sometimes she is sad that she still doesn't have much homework.

Tanner insisted on coming out to the bus stop too, and he usually wears his backpack when he comes. Somehow, I didn't realize on the first day that he thought HE was going to school too! He was already on the bus before I realized what was happening! I was still recovering from a c-section, so I had a hard time catching up with him and getting him off the bus. He talks about the big kids and the bus all day long now, and plays with his toy bus a lot. Only three more years to go. . .

Labor Day Get-Away

So, I'm a little behind posting. I don't think I should even use the excuse that I just had a baby. That's just how I work. A little behind. Anyway, with a brand new baby over the Labor Day weekend, I opted out of our family tradition of CAMPING. Undaunted, Cannon carried on without me and took four kids up to the Uintahs for some good ol' outdoor fun. They planned to camp from Friday to Monday, but since it rained and SNOWED, they decided it might actually be more fun at home for the last day and a half. I was happy to have them back.

Here is the happy clan packed into the van. Look how clean everyone (and everything!) is.

One of the MUSTS of any outdoor fun. Water. The muddier, the better.

At least we remembered the backpack for this hike. At 35 pounds, Tanner gave Cannon quite a workout!

What can I say?! CUTE!!!

And now they return. Tired and dirty. Notice the tent which is just thrown in there. Wet. We had 45 minutes to unload and bathe and feed the gang before church. Try that trick sometime.

Eli and I enjoyed the quiet weekend. But we were glad for the company when everyone came home. Next year, we'll be there.

What did your family do for the holiday?

Tag, you're it!

MEMORY GAME

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

And if you're just a "lurker" that I don't know very well, please use this as an excuse to comment and say hello!

Eli Clark Neslen

Here's our new little angel.

Eli Clark Neslen

August 11, 2008

7:32 am

8 pounds, 7 ounces

20 1/2 inches

So, we had a baby! Monday morning surgery, just like we scheduled! We actually thought we might be going early after I had contractions all evening and night on Saturday night. Also Sunday morning. I skipped church, hoping to keep this baby inside for another day, and it seemed to work. Contractions slowed way down Sunday afternoon. That night I woke up at about 2 am with HARD contractions 2-3 minutes apart, and decided it was time to go to the hospital. We got up and showered and packed and were checked into labor and delivery by 3:30 in the morning. Only two hours earlier than we were supposed to be there anyway. Contractions slowed down once we got all hooked up to monitors though. Doesn't that always happen? I swear they were real! It hurt so bad I threw up! Anyway, surgery by 7:00, baby by 7:32. Yay!

I have a tradition of writing a letter to my new baby soon after they are born. Here's an excerpt from my letter to Eli:

The surgery went very well. I was awake and alert for the whole c-section, and Cannon was there for the whole thing. Dr. Starr had estimated your weight to be 9 1/2 pounds, but had difficulty estimating because of the amount of extra amniotic fluid I was carrying. He was wrong by over a pound! during the surgery, Dr. Hess (the anaesthesiologist) said, "Wow, I haven't seen that many waters in -- years!" We made quite a mess in the OR. As soon as you were
out I heard you crying. Then they brought you to rest on my chest where I could hold before you even had a bath. You were the first of all my babies that I was able to hold immediately after delivery! I loved it!!

You are my fifth baby, and many things about my pregnancy and delivery were "old hat" to me. I knew what to expect almost every step of the way with you. But I was not considering nor expecting the feelings I had when I first heard your cries. My heart jumped when I heard you and I was so amazed and awed that I had just given birth to another human being! When they laid you on my chest I thought my heart would burst with joy and gratitude! In an instant all of the pain and difficulties of the last nine months had vanished, and I knew that one of the most incredible, amazing, miraculous, and life-changing moments had just
occurred to me.

I spent the next three days in the hospital recuperating. Oh, I hurt. But really, that time was spent just revelling in the newness and excitement that you brought. We had many visitors and a lot of help from the nurses, but it felt like it was just you, me, and your daddy just being together. It was heavenly.

Cannon still dressed in his scrubs. Eli still testing out his lungs!

My sister, Andrea stayed with the other kids while we were in the hospital. She brought the gang over for a peek at their new brother. Tanner refused the hospital gown, but I think they were adorable.

Me. With a NEW, adorable baby!

My NEW, adorable baby!

This is us leaving the hospital after three days and three (and a half) nights.

FINALLY. . .

Only one week left!!

I have an OR time scheduled, with doctors at the standby. C-section scheduled for 7:30 am, Monday, August 11. Ahhhh. I love having something firm I can write on my calendar!!!

So, I found a trick for going a few days earlier than the doctor suggests. I requested a specific anathesiologist (the most experienced and highly respected), and so we have to work around the summer schedules of two doctors. The anathesiologist will do my surgery right before he leaves to go to Lake Powell for a week. Nice.

Brave Daddy

Cannon has always been brave when it comes to taking children places. He loves to go to pro and college sports games, and for that matter, so do I. But once we started having kids, I began to beg off. Because I don't really want to go and hold children or dodge tantrums or be a mom while enjoying being at the game with my husband. So I guess I told him he had to make a choice if he goes to a game. Either the children or me. And I'm happy to stay home to save the babysitter expenses for another time while he takes the kids on an outing. He is a pro at finding free or reduced tickets so that there is no pressure to stay for the whole game. That way, he's okay leaving when the kids have had it. What a great way for the kids to spend time with Daddy.

Here they are at the Raptors game they saw in Ogden. I love the second picture where Cannon is smiling and Tanner is not. I certainly didn't say, "I told you so," but that expression just reminded me why I stayed home.