Alexander's Blessing

Marsha Holding Alex before Church

Grandma holding Livi and Marnie

Matt with Alex, Travis, My Dad and Steve

Matt with his parents and Alexander

Me and my little man

My Boys

Happy in Daddy's arms

My Parents with Alex

Our Family (Getting our girls to sit still requires a miracle)

Auntie Sarah with our kids

Alexander in his blessing outfit

The girls love their brother

Last Sunday was a special day in our family.  Our son Alexander Clark was finally blessed.  Our first plan was to bless him Sept 1st the Sunday after his birth.  That didn't work out for various reasons.  Main reasons were that he was still in the NICU this day and my parents were unable to come due to family issues.  We decided to try to arrange for October hoping for the best.  My parents and sister were finally able to drive down to be there for his blessing as planned.   We asked my Dad to bless him since he had not been able to attend the girls blessings.  It was nice to have members of both sides there when he was blessed.  (Blessing is like a christening with out the water.  It is a special prayer said for the baby.)  Alex slept through the whole thing.  I was surprised he dislikes being moved once he is comfortable.  He has a temper after all he is a red head.  After church we had a luncheon at Matt's parents home.  Matt's mom did a wonderful job making tons of food.  The house was filled with family.  The girls found the cookies right away.  Alex got passed around to all the family.  He looked so cute in his little outfit.  Emme had to remind everyone they could not take him home with them when she wasn't following around her second cousins Stockton and Aspen.  It was a nice day filled with family and friends.  Alex is such a sweet little boy.  He loves to be cuddled and loves to smile. He has a temper but is quick to be calmed.  He has such a beautiful set of blue eyes.  He is a perfect mixture of his sisters.  He has Emme's red hair, temper, nose and looks similar to her as a baby.  He has Livi's chubby cheeks, big blue eyes and calm. 

Busy Busy Bees

Yesterday I was driving to McDonalds with Emme.  We all have been sick with a nasty cold even little Alex.  So I really didn't feel like cooking lunch so I decided to be lazy and get them a happy meal.  Emme began telling me how her birthday is coming and how we are having a Doc McStuffins party.  This quickly went into Halloween and going Trick or Treating tomorrow.  I tried to explain that Halloween and her birthday are not for several weeks.  As I began to tell all the things that have to come first I realize how busy this month is.  First my parents, sister and Moseby are coming on Tuesday night.  I have a doctor's appointment that day also.  Sunday Alex will be blessed and there is a luncheon afterwards.  The 15th Alex has his cardio appointment.  (Praying for good news)  Then we have flu shots at the jail, costume/ family pictures at Wheeler farm, Dentist appt, Primary Program practices,  Sheriff Halloween party, Primary practice and pizza party, Primary Program (Emme has a part),  Halloween, Emme's birthday party, Zayne's birthday party and Emme's birthday.  I haven't even begun to plan Emme's party or figure out what we are doing for her birthday. We still have to clean and organize the garage for winter.  Time to put away the summer toys.  There is a bunch of others I know I am forgetting that Matt will remind me of.   I know this may not be some's idea of busy but I would rather be at the park or toddler time then the doctor's appts.

Alexander

It has been nearly a month of having our little one home.  Tuesday he will be six weeks old.  He has shown us even before his birth that he was demanding and had a temper.  He came into this world on his own terms and continues to demand that he gets his way.  After all he is a red head.  If he doesn't like he will scream till he gets what he wants. Which is usually cuddling with Mommy, being feed or changed and mostly return of his binkie from his sisters.   We have been blessed that his heart condition is improving each week.  Our first appointment with his cardiologist went well.  His enlarged muscles, hole, murmur, obstruction have fixed themselves.  We have another appointment in a week where he will have another echo cardiogram.  His aorta is very narrow and if it doesn't improve we are looking at surgery before the end of the year.  We have faith this will improve also.  When Alex was only a couple days old he began to get worse.  They were talking about transferring him to Primary's NICU.  Matt and our former Bishop Wright came to the hospital and gave him a blessing that he would be healthy.    Sadly poor boy has a cold right now.
   His sisters adore him, sometimes a little too much.  Emme wants to be right with him.  She wants to see him constantly and give him kisses.  She likes to rock him and sing silly made up songs to him.  She declares he is cute and we can keep him.  Anytime anyone holds him she tells them even Grandma they can not take him home.  Livi likes to help feed him even when he doesn't want to be feed.  We have to watch her as she will often shove a bottle into his little mouth or steal his binkie.  She likes to pet his head and give little kisses.  Of course they take advantage any time I am distracted with him to get into trouble.  Let's just say crayons are currently banned at our house. 

I am two weeks old

I love this picture of all their toes

This is the tie I bought for Matt when we got married. 



I am One Month Old

This is the blanket my Auntie Cherie made for Emme as a baby

Till We Meet Again

This past week my family has said goodbye to two people we love dearly.  My Grandmother and Auntie Cherie. 
   My Aunt Cherie was my Dad's sister.  I honestly wish I had know her better, more as an adult.   I always remember making the trip to Washington almost every summer.  Always went to see our Grandparents, brothers and Auntie Cherie.  She was funny and always nice to me.  I loved to hear the stories she would tell us about our dad's misspent youth.  I remember one where my Dad and Uncle John had left Uncle Steve in a hole some where.  She also had great fashion sense.  She had her nose pierced and loved her hooker shoes.  she was an amazing lady. 

(L to R)  Joan, Steve, my Dad, Cherie, and John

My dad, Joan, John, Cherie, and Steve

At my Papa's 90th Birthday party.  My Dad, Joan, Cherie and Steve  (Uncle John passed in 2003)

This was taken in 2012.  The girls loved meeting my cousin Doreen and Auntie Cherie. 

My Grandmother was a special lady.  She was amazing artist, business woman, and teacher.  She taught her self to tole paint.  She even owned a business and taught others to paint.  I remember as a kid going to visit her shop.  It smelled of wood.  I love that smell.  There is a store here called the Wood Connection that smells just like her shop.  She would always come for Christmas.  Grandpa would never come because he hated to fly.   I remember one year she gave me and Sarah these baby dolls with tons of outfits.  I found them in a box when I was moving, sad they were too damaged to keep.   She was a stronger then most people realized.  I didn't learn most of it till I was an adult.  She survived through the  Great Depression.  Her father died of stomach cancer when she was a child.  Her mother raised her and siblings on her own.  Grandma always made sure her mother was taken care of.  Even when she had to put her in a rest home she made sure she was taken care of.  She would go every day and make sure she was clean, dressed and had her hair and make up done.   She was independent and always spoke her mind.  She loved Jeopardy and Alex Trebek.  Heaven help you if you called during it.  When Jeopardy came to Seattle he had her front and center.  I always said if she was younger she would have been stalking him.  She had his home address and they exchanged cards.  When I got older I decided to start writing her every week not sure what started it.  But the past six years we exchanged letters.  Though there were times I couldn't read half of what was written.  (When I was a teenager she was diagnosed with Macular degeneration where she was slowly going blind.)  One of my favorite memories was her winning tickets to an ice show.  She could barely see but she wanted me to take her to it.  She was so happy.  I will miss her and love her forever.  I know she is back with my Grandpa.  She probably gave him a lecture upon arrival.   

Wasn't she a cute baby.  She said she hated her hair because she was a red head

With her siblings

I love this picture of my Mom and Grandma

One of my favorites

My Mom, Grandpa Sid, and Grand Imogene

Grandma with Chris and Matt in Washington

Me, Sarah and Grandma in the traditional departure photo

Grandma with Monica.  (My brother Alan's daughter)

With her true love

The last Christmas she came up to Alaska holding her great granddaughter Emma (Chris's daughter)

With our girls in 2012

Her art

Alexander Clark

  Yesterday morning we welcomed our son.  I nicknamed him grumpy early in my pregnancy.  He never like to be easy.  Example on our last stress test appointment he refused to sit still and kicked the heart monitor off.  So we shouldn't have been too surprise when he decided to come into this world in dramatic fashion. 
   All weekend I haven't been feeling well.  I felt like I was coming down with the flu.  I spent a lot of time watching Cake Boss and indexing, things I could do from bed.  While thankfully Matt's parents took care of our girls.  Monday morning I woke with horrible contractions.  4am is such a great time to be woken up.  I was timing them at ten minutes apart.  Matt came home from work with breakfast.  Poor guy worked all night then came home to a wife in pain.  I went and laid on the couch so he could get some sleep.  The contractions got down to eight minutes apart and were getting worse but still not enough to go in.  We decided to go see the girls and have dinner at Matt's parents.  Walking was more painful but still contractions not close enough for the hospital.  My poor girls would ask what is wrong every time a contraction would hit.  I told them he was just kicking really hard.  Livi would kiss my belly and tell him to behave.  About ten o'clock I decided I couldn't take the pain any more and we headed to the hospital. Once there the first I told them was I wanted an epidural.  I have back labor which is horrible.  They checked me at 1130 I was a three plus.  The contraction were getting closer and closer.  Just my luck the anesthesiologist was preparing for a csection which my doctor was about to do.  This was a double edge sword.  One hand my doctor was there but on the other I would have to wait for my epidural.  They thought I could wait since the girls took about 12 hours with patosine.  After a half an hour they checked me I was a five.  I was so embarrassed.  I had a contraction and thought I had peed.  Nope my water broke.  With in hour I was almost an eight.  By two am I was complete and wanting to push.  I was screaming and begging for meds the whole time.  The kept trying to get me to breath.  I tried but it didn't work screaming helped more.  I swear they probably heard me on the roof.  I kept begging Matt for drugs or to let me push.  Finally my doctor walked in and told me to go for it.  I was never so happy to see someone other then Matt in my life.  I started pushing and finally he came out and so did a ton of water.  It was a popping sound and then a gush.  It sounded like someone threw a couple buckets of water on the floor there was tons of it every where. 
   Alexander Clark Losser was finally there at 2:18am.  He weighted 9 pounds 9 ounces and 21 inches long.  (My cut off for a c section was 9 1/2 pounds) He has a head of red hair and the temper to match so far.  He is so adorable that already he has us wrapped around his fingers.  At that point I was up for twenty four hours so he went to the nursery.  During the night he had issues breathing and was put on oxygen.  He is having issues keeping his blood sugar level so he has been in the NICU.  We are praying he will get better soon.  The girls are upset they haven't been able to met him yet.  Only grandparents and parents are aloud in the NICU.  We are so happy he is finally here. 

Alexander Clark 

Proud Daddy

In the NICU

You can see his hair.  He is so cute

He was so calm when Daddy had him

Happy Birthday To Matt

Happy Birthday to Matt!!!  Yup Matt turned 37 on Wednesday.   For his birthday we had some kid free time (well except for one in my stomach) He got to sleep in and we went out to lunch.  We went to Litza Pizza. (Where we had our first date and we even order the same pizza.)  For dinner we joined our crazy kids and Matt's parents at his favorite Mexican place.  Emme announced it was her Daddy's birthday and kept singing to him.  They brought him Fried Ice Cream topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherries.  Matt decided to give the girls a cherry.  Livi ate it happily.  Emme took one bite spit it out.  And then threw up everywhere.  On the table, chair, herself and all over me.  As I took her to bathroom she announce to everyone she threw up and made vomiting noises as went.  Matt said it was the perfect present cause it didn't happen to him. ( Somehow when she throws up it always happens to me.  She has a horrible gag reflex)  After dinner we headed back to Matt's parents for cupcakes and ice cream.  It was fun watching the birthday boy become a monster and chase the girls all backyard.  I think Daddy got more worn out then our two little monkeys.   The next day his Dad and Stockton (his cousin's son) went fishing.  Something he loves to do but doesn't get a chance as much as he would like.  He caught two little ones he let go.  He was so happy when he got home he loves to fish.   He said though he is ready for his belated birthday present our son Alex who is ten days away

Emme with the cherry before she threw up thank goodness the restaurant was almost empty

 

They made wear him wear the hat while they sung Happy Birthday and ate his ice cream

 

Livi is a messy eater so we took her shirt to eat her cupcake

Emme had to eat her cup her cake with Daddy

Emme holding the dead fish.  It even got it's own theme song "I have a dead fish in the bag"



Overwhelmed But Thankful

Lately I have been feeling overwhelmed.  I am trying to be thankful and find the positive side through all of it but some days it is hard.  I am 36 weeks pregnant and have 15 days left till this little one comes.  My house is a complete mess as I am under Doctor orders not to do anything but lay in bed.  I am not suppose to sit for long periods of time, no lifting, bending, etc.  Alex's room has become a playroom for the girls.  They have their toys everywhere and have been playing in all his stuff.  Livi insists on sleeping in the crib when Emme won't leave her alone.  Livi likes to sleep and Emme would rather play at bedtime. So with the nesting instinct is driving me nuts and I can't do anything about it.  It doesn't help I don't sleep much and I am tired all the time.  There are nights where I wake up with contractions or cramps from sleeping on one side too long.   To add to the I have to pee every hour on the hour no matter how much I drink.  I also am at the point where I have two appointments a week.  Stress test one day and the doctor the next.  There will be one week I will have three because they have to measure him to see how big he is.  The words c section have been thrown around.  He better just be a tall baby.  Bright side I have a wonderful hubby who has been doing the dishes and laundry.   And a wonderful mother in law who volunteered to come help clean my house.
  Our dishwasher just died.  We have had it two months.  Thankfully it is still under warranty so Tuesday we are hoping it will be fixed.  With two toddlers and a new baby soon a broken dish washer is not fun.  
   Last couple months I have been wanting to be in Washington.  It is hard to be so far away from my family.  Especially at times like this.  My Dad's sister is dying from cancer.  I adore my Aunt Cherie.  Last month my Grandmother who is 96 years old broke her hip.  She has been in and out rehab since.  Yesterday she began complaining of chest pains.  Her blood pressure was high so she was sent to the hospital.  My grandmother has had several heart attacks over the years.  She also has kidney disease.  She is currently in the hospital with pneumonia.  My mom is up there taking care of her.  Bright side I called and talked to my grandma for an hour.  Not really my grandmother likes to talk and talk.  Your job is to sit and listen.  That is a good sign.  When she went to the hospital the doctors , nurse and even paramedics comments what a chatter box she is.
   My parents are suppose to drive down on the 26th for our son's birth.  My mother has been in the delivery room each time. We even decided to have his blessing with in days of his birth so my Dad could bless him , since he wasn't able to be here for the girls.    With my grandma in the hospital that is up in the air.  I would love to have my mom there, but I understand if she can't.  We decided a good idea was to push the blessing back a month if they can't come so they can at least be here for the blessing. 
    I am so thankful for a sweet husband who reminds me that everything will work out the way the Lord wants it to and holds me when I cry.  For two little girls who "cure" me by rubbing lotion on my stomach and telling the baby to behave.  For in laws who take my hyper girls so I can rest.  Some days I need reminding when there is so much going on and with all these hormones going on.