Christmas 2011

Rex and Lyle's First Christmas

and

What Bryant really wanted for Christmas...

...followed Jen and I home on our walk.
So, the kids loved and played with it for a few hours before we took it home.
They affectionately named it "Ernie."

The surprise...
James received an Ipad from his family for Christmas. Something he really wanted, but would never dream of getting. He was humbled to silence.

Good Bye 2011

I wanted to title this post "Good Riddance 2011!" but James reminded me that we should look at the tender mercies that have kept our family in one piece although we have felt "broken" most of the year.

We couldn't go out without one more "bang" chalked up for 2011. Surprisingly, and gratefully, it didn't involve a trip to the hospital. Sariah wanted to keep her blanket from the ambulance though as a souvenir.

Sariah was in the passenger seat. The airbag did not inflate.

This year we have miraculously survived:

• pre-term labor and birth (Rex, Lyle and I)
• emergency c-section (me)
• erythema multiforme (Hyrum)
• 16 days in the NICU (Rex and Lyle)
• blood clot (me)
• anaphylactic shock (me)
• strep throat (Bryant)
• sinus and ear infections (Talmage and I)
• bone spur surgery (Talmage)
• split chin (Sariah)
• SERIOUS post-partum depression (me)
  
• ER visit for "concussion" (Talmage)
• car wreck (Sariah)

That does not include my extended family:

• Torn ACL and surgery (Laryn)
• Emergency appendectomy (Dave)
• Grandpa Webb's passing
  
• Torn ACL and surgery (Vard)
  

Thanks to healthy and helpful parents and a dad who has kept us anchored and given many priesthood blessings.

Tonight, we are all home, and safe.

A few runny noses, but other than that, I am thankful to say we are all well and happy.

Last Sunday

All dressed up!

Rex and Lyle

Simultaneously (although short lived):

Hyrum

Talmage

Rex

Lyle

Bryant

Sariah

James

Can you believe it? I couldn't, hence the pictures!
Dreaming of future Sunday afternoon naps.

We also had our extended family Christmas party.
Here is my sister and cousins, all with new babies this year!

A Successful Christmas

My Mom says a successful Christmas has 3 parts:

1) A great second hand find.

2) A gift project.

3) A great surprise.

Here are mine this year:

1) I found 6 sweaters at Value Village in 1/2 hour for less than $40!
I've been enjoying them all Christmas season.

2) Primary Scripture blocks
(Thanks to Lizza they turned out super cute.)



3) Can't Tell! :)
(No matter how I try it won't be as exciting for everyone else as last year. But

All I want for Christmas

is my two front teeth!

Holiday Festivities

Ward Christmas Party...

Sariah wishing for a phone...
Santa said "no" (thank goodness) and made her give him a second choice.

Talmage wishing for a gyrocopter.

Hyrum, brave but speechless. He was so cute!

Bryant, sadly, was on the "naughty" list that night learning that
Mom and Dad will follow through with consequences.

We are also making a lot of Reindeer Tracks for neighbors and teachers.
They are the perfect combination of salty and sweet, chewy and crunchy.
And the kids came up with their perfect name. (They look like a hoof print in the mud.)

Ingredients: pretzels, rolos, pecan halves.

Layer pretzels and rolos on cookie sheet. Line cookie sheet with tin foil or parchment paper.

Warm in oven on 250 degrees for 5 minutes.

Press pecan halves into warmed chocolate.

Let cool or refrigerate until cooled.

Package as you like:

Rex and Lyle ate mixed vegetables for dinner last night.
Slept worse :( .
Rex eats more cleanly than Lyle.
Lyle must prefer toes.

Early Out

How does Talmage choose to use his early out?

Serenading, and...

Reading Christmas stories to Rex and Lyle.

Love it. (And...so do they.)

It's been a long time...

It' s been a long time since I posted any pictures. Here's what we are up to lately.

A little R and R at Grandpa and Grandma's house over Thanksgiving break.

Helping Grandpa cut and load wood. (Love that feel and smell at Grandpa's house.)

Some little feet, don't know who's whose :).

Rex and Lyle. Better late than never. These are our first babies to use bumbos. Wish we would have had one for the others. By the way, our house has been overrun by baby things, bouncers, bumbos, butterfly mobiles, cribs. One baby has a lot of gear. Two is outrageous!

"Are all these yours?"
Haven't taken them all anywhere at the same time yet, but I'm sure it will happen some day.

"We are all enlisted..." Everyone gets a turn to perform this often occurring routine.

Much needed family time outside.

Today.

Yesterday on the way out of the house for some treasured date time, I saw a pizza crust on the floor. Then, I kept walking. You know what, it didn't hurt anything.

6 Months

Rex and Lyle had their 6 month check-up today. Rex weighed 15 lbs. 1 oz. Lyle weighed 15 lbs. 7 oz.
They both got three shots and an oral vaccine. Rex rolled over for the second time today. The first time was the day before yesterday, and he didn't like it. Scared him to tears.

White Out

Although we got our first snow this afternoon, this post title refers to the White Out that was on Talmage's face when he got home from school. Apparently, he tried to white out his freckle so that he wouldn't be too cute for the girls.

Window

I remember watching an Alfred Hitchcock movie with a friend in high school where the main character solves a mystery just with the evidence he sees out his window. I have done a lot of looking out of windows the last 5 months. Usually months I prefer being on the other side of the windows. One window in particular has been very dirty most of those 5 months. I cleaned it today. One window cleaned.

"I Can"

It's been a long time since I attempted a post. Since the last post I have felt things I wouldn't wish upon anyone. Postpartum depression is, or at least can be, something very much different than I had imagined. How much I have learned and will continue to learn in this healing process. How grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the knowledge that someday, all wounds---physical, emotional, and spiritual---will be healed.

There has been a time in the recent past where sustaining my own life was grueling. To do things that were part of everyday life takes a lot of convincing and willing myself to do them. I have learned that knowledge is key when we don't feel to do something. In other words, I'm glad I know how to mother in certain ways because of time tested work, because I certainly don't feel loving and patient in the midst of this disease. Anyway, I told myself this morning, "I can write my first post." My family continues to grow and move on as I do my best to augment this healing process....

Talmage broke his first pair of glasses playing basketball with Bryant...hey, they lasted 7 months.

Bryant started the Spectrum Program at Livingston Elementary. The tender mercy of the Lord put two praying mantis, a butterfly, and a petrified rock on his path to his classroom and completely distracted him from his nervousness. "All Creatures of our God and King..."

Sariah lost her first tooth last night...thrilled she was, and a whole lot tougher than her brothers.

Hyrum needs more attention, but did stay in his bed tonight without a fuss. A wonderful blessing.

Rex and Lyle broke 12 pounds 2 weeks ago.

James was ambitious enough to venture away from the traditional BBQ and barbequed pizza for the seminary opening social. (With a lot of help.) It was a sensation.

Perhaps someday I'll go into detail about the journey of the last 6 weeks to raise awareness or promote another worthy cause. For now, I'd just like to forget most of it. I want to be the same "Makala" I used to be, but realize I will never be the same. My goal is a better Makala.

Until then---living, breathing angels surround me as "I can" become the person I work to be.

Broken and Humbled

Someday this may be a very long post. For now, thank you to all my angels from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for all the prayers near and far.

Three Months

Rex 10 lbs. 7 oz.

Lyle 10 lbs. 14 oz.

Home Alone

James is at a three day inservice in Portland, Oregon. I will be doing nights, by myself. I will miss him more that usual. Ironically, this is the earliest Rex and Lyle have every gone to sleep at night (9pm) and I have to wait for Talmage and Bryant to get back from their scout activity at the Ligo Observatory and it's already 10:30!

Spelling

I have a handful of posts saved with just a title and no text because I have no time. I can't let this one get passed up though.

The kids spell "summer" and I spell "friend" the same way --- L-I-Z-Z-A.

I remember the first time I met Lizza. I had know idea how much I would come to love and appreciate the quiet woman with long dark hair and four little boys.

Lizza has literally given my children summer this year. She comes nearly every morning and loads my four " big kids" into her mini-van for a summer activity.

She takes them swimming.

She takes them to storytime.

She takes them to the movies.


She takes them to soccer practices and games.


She takes them to McDonald's.


(They're having their best summer ever!)

She does all this with her own four boys. That makes a crew of eight, 10- years- old and younger!

She never gives the impression that this is a charity case or a responsibility. She does it out of the goodness of her heart. My kids love her because she loves them.

I cannot help but think of the words found in the book of Jude, "and of some have compassion, making a difference." Lizza is making a monumental difference in my life and the life of my children at this crazy time. (I didn't even mention she was at my house last Saturday until 3 am feeding and soothing babies so I could get some much needed sleep.)

If it weren't for Lizza, my kids would be limited to homemade snow cones and battleship this summer.

Thank you "friend" for "summer"!

First Name Basis with the Doctors

Five out of the eight of us received medical attention today. Rex and Lyle had immunizations and...

Rex 9 lbs.

Lyle 9 lbs. 7 oz.

Talmage has a double ear infection and I have an ear infection and a sinus infection. In fact, last night was the first night the boys slept six hours and I couldn't sleep because my ear hurt so bad. (I've stopped asking, "What next?")

Tonight, Sariah slipped going up a metal slide and split her chin. She ended up in urgent care with steri-strips, no stitches.


In the scriptures it talks about God's course being "one continual round." I think I know what that means as each day becomes the next with no night. I have seen more sunrises in the last 11 weeks than I would have liked. (And I love sunrises.)

There are some points of interest to mention.

Since we aren't much for reading to the kids at bedtime at this phase of life, they are reading to each other. It's wonderful. Talmage and Bryant are reading Leven Thumps off James ipod to each other at night. I love to hear them enjoying literature together.

Hyrum figured out that while we are busy with babies, we can't enforce bedtime very well. He was staying up way too late for a two year old. Finally, we bought a lock for his door. It took one night that wasn't too pretty, but now he stays on his bed like a charm. It's wonderful. (We probably should have bought a lock 4 kids ago. :))

This post is being interrupted by the fact that Rex and Lyle are both asleep, so that's where I'm headed...pronto.

Hyrum stays in bed!

Another Moment

Lyle and I I joined the rest of the group for about five minutes tonight as our entire family sat around the fire pit listening to James read a story. For another moment it seemed as if life may return to "normal" again someday.

It was a much needed moment after a week of being sick and wearing a surgical mask to protect the little guys (you can only last so long on sleep periods that max out at 2 1/2 hours); a trip to Spokane for more testing; more choking (can't wait for them to grow out of this scary developmental delay); Lyle coming down with congestion, and facing the reality that my Mom won't be able to come back for two weeks. When I'm so tired it can seem so overwhelming.

We're just so grateful that everyone else is healthy and James keeps telling me, "We'll make it." I'm most grateful for him.

Two Months

Yesterday Rex and Lyle turned two months old. Today, James and I took them for their 2 month check-up. They have grown remarkably well. We feel so blessed.

Rex 7 lb. 14 oz.

Lyle 8 lb. 6 oz.

As we were getting ready to weigh them, there was another baby in front of us that weighed 5 lbs. 4 oz. The nurse commented to the mother that it wasn't long ago that these boys weighed that much. I wanted to say, "actually it's been two of the longest months of my life!"

Due Date

Rex 6 lbs. 10 oz.
Lyle 7 lbs. 2 oz.

After 7 1/2 weeks our bigger twin weighs as much as our smallest term baby on the day he was born. What a lot of work!

Sanity

I keep my sanity with evening walks. I'm not kidding or exaggerating. Tonight, Sariah rode her bike and I took Rex and Lyle for the first time by myself. (Usually Mom takes one of them.)

We may be going on LOTS of walks. It put them both to sleep.
Lyle found his thumb and sucked it most of the way.

My view. Can you tell who's who? Lyle on the left, Rex on the right.

Moment of "normal"

For a brief few moments things almost seemed "normal" again. The kids and I were eating Talmage's homemade pizza on the patio, under the shade of the umbrella, washing it down with lemonade. There was a strong breeze, but it was warm and comfortable. Then, it was feeding time again.

Six Weeks

Last Friday:

Lyle weighed 5 lbs. 13 oz.
Rex weighed 5 lbs. 10 oz.

Every oz. represents a lot of work and we count each one!

Eleven Years Ago today...

...I started on a wonderful adventure. In fact, I had NO IDEA how wonderful!

(+ laundry, + clutter, + boxes of diapers = a time and a season for everything)

This evening we didn't go to dinner or a movie. (We brought Talmage home on our first anniversary and we've never been very good at "celebrating" since. We just "celebrate" with babies instead.)

So tonight, a friend came and got our big kids, Mom stayed with Rex and Lyle, and we snuck away to something we have been dreaming about for these eleven years.

No, not weeds...a place to raise our kids on country sunshine.

School's Out

This is a journal entry of Bryant's from the first few days of school:

This is Bryant receiving the award for the top AR reader in all of McGee's 2nd grade:

Favorite Face in the crowd. James made it to the boys' last day of school assemblies.

We always celebrate the last day of school with homemade pizza.
Talmage made it almost single-handedly for us this year!

This is what the boys spent the rest of the week doing...
Cub Scout Day Camp

Sariah and Hyrum at it again:

This is tiny, little Rex. We were trying to get a picture with proportion.
They have broke 5 lbs., but they really are SO TINY!