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. 

Fun times with their Grandparents

Due to lots of bed rest and the heat this summer, I haven't been able to do all the fun thing,s I would like with our girls this summer. Usually we hit the zoo once a month, go hiking at Silver Lake, go boating at Jordanelle, visit the animals at Wheeler farm, splash park and so many other fun things.   Matt has declared I am hermit till I have the baby next and pretty much I am (Doctor's orders) So most of the girls adventures have been with Daddy or their grandparents. Matt takes them out biking, or to play in their pool.  And so far they have hit the lake, the aquarium, nature history museum with Matt's parents. We did have one adventure to the Church History museum and temple square just the four of us.  I am thankful for Matt's parents who help take the girls out for fun when I am forced to rest.  And a wonderful hubby who rubs my back and reminds me we are almost done. 

Matt and the girls

Watching Daddy in the lake

Swimming in the lake

She was cold

Everyone was tired after the lake.  The girls were playing games on the kindals and Matt feels asleep

At the Natural history museum with Grandma and Grandpa Losser

Digging for Bones.  Livi had to take her baby too

Emme learning about dinosaurs

At the Aquarium with their Grandparents.  She is riding a frog

In a crocodile's mouth

Almost as tall as the penguins

Aren't we cute by the fish

At the Church history museum

Pushing a handcart like her ancestors (On Daddy's side)

Trying to play on the boat too many big kids

Playing the games

Eating with the missionaries

She thought the potato was a hammer

  

Lectures

Lately I feel like I have been getting lots of lectures.  Maybe it is the belly that just attracts people's advice.  I have people who will poked my feet and legs out of the blue and tell me how swollen I am. (No there is nothing the doctor can give me) Yup I have edema, I have it with every pregnancy.  The heat this summer is making it worse every bit of me swells.  It is actually quite painfully so people poking it doesn't help.  Yet they keep poking me even after I tell them it hurts. Then the same wonderful people tell me how my skin on my hands looks terrible.  I become allergic to my jewelry when pregnant.  I know it sounds weird but it is true.  I can't wear earrings for very long and I break out around my rings.  If I don't wear my rings I get comments about that.  Right now I don't have a choice.  My fingers are so swollen I can't get them on. 
  Today's lecture came from my doctor.  I was reminded how much pain I am in for.  Then he told me how I need to not sit up for any length of time and laying down is what I am suppose to do. How I need to try to get more sleep.  (this is difficult since I am so uncomfortable)  I guess I lost some weight which resulted in a lecture.  I love my doctor he is wonderful.  He understands how hard my pregnancies are.  He just tells me how it is plain and simple.  He doesn't dance around the issue like some doctors.  He understands my PCOS.  I am even more happy when he told me that I will have this baby by August 27th or the 20th.  (His due date is Sept 5.  Which is the same as two of Matt's cousins and the 6th is two of my nephews birthdays) Depending on my stress tests.  Basically for the last six weeks I get to be a hermit.  It so much fun being high risk.  Tons of appointments and lectures.  But at the end I get to hold our cute little son.  I think a sonic slushy is calling my name

4th of July

Here in Riverton they like to celebrate the fourth of july for two days.  On the third is the parade that goes down Redwood Road right at the end of our street.  Because it has been so hot lately we decided this year to skip.  It didn't help last year we didn't have the best experience due to rude people.  Instead we decided to take the girls to the movie Despicable Me 2.  The girls loved the first one especially the minions.  We took the girls and a diaper bag filled with snacks to the show.  It was such a cute movie.  We all loved it.  Later that evening as people were heading to the parade Matt decided at the last minute to take the girls.  He walked them down in the wagon.  (No we are not one of those people who saves their seat two weeks in advance)  When he came home an hour later he was annoyed and the girls were covered in dirt.  Emme decided playing in the dirt was far more fun then watching the floats.  Livi enjoyed the ones with music.  The same jerks from last year were there.  They were smoking, yelling inappropriate things at the teenage girls on the floats and throwing otter pops at people's heads.  He said the best float was the one from our stake.  (It was Noah's Ark)  About ten o'clock that evening Emme came running in our room saying she heard the sound of fireworks and wanted to go watch.  Livi was asleep so I took her out.  Our neighbors the Spencers were doing fireworks so we went and sat with them.  
   On the fourth the girls had fun playing outside while I got ready for our BBQ.  I had two huge zucchinis so I decided to make chocolate zucchini bread.  Emme decided to be my helper while Daddy and Livi went to the store.  It was a small one just us and Matt's parents but in my family no one every goes away hungry.  So we had corn on the cob, BBQ chicken, seafood pasta salad,strawberry lemonade, potato salad, watermelon, cookies and ice cream.  Matt's mom brought Baked Beans.  The girls were excited for fireworks.  After dinner we went outside (well I laid down for a bit baby wasn't liking me standing cooking for so long) they played while we waited for it to get dark.  The girls learned how to play with sparklers and love the fireworks.  Just sitting in our yard we had the best show.  Four different families were setting off aerials.  Then about ten we moved to the back yard and to watch the Riverton Show.  The girls loved it and the inlaws were impressed all we could see with out leaving our home.      It was nice way to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our country.  

We are cute and we know it

We saw this twice.  Once with Mommy and then we Grandma and Grandpa Losser

Helping make zucchini bread

We are puppies

I want another cookie

Emme with her grandma

Playing with the giant ball a gift from Grandma  Olsen

I love ice cream

Sparklers!

You can sort of see the fireworks as Matt lights our smaller ones

Emme with Grandpa Losser

The girls wanting to be right with Daddy