Back to school, Recovery, and New Water heater

Monday was back to school and work for everyone.  Alan took Jared and Lauren to school that morning, but arranged with a friend to take them every other morning and to pick them up from school too.  This was helpful so I didn't have to lift Connor in and out of the car...or wait for him to climb in and out him self.  We also put a chair in the bathroom so he will be able to wash his hands during the day.  He thinks this is great and goes in and plays in the sink and uses the soap to fill the sink with bubbles.  It might be a long 4 weeks.  We just hung out here at home and didn't really do much...I just tried to recover.  I did wash the kitchen floor with our floor cleaner because it was black!  and I just couldn't take it any more.  I'm not sure if it had been washed since Cami had been born.  Jared even noticed that I had cleaned it...and that's how you know it was bad before.  Someone brought us dinner that night.

Tuesday my visiting teacher that doesn't live across the street came over and picked up Bradley and Connor.  She took them to her house and they played there all day.  Cami and I just rested here at home.

Wednesday was more of the same.  I did pick them up from school and take them to the craft at the library because Jared needed some books about Charles Dickens for his hero project.  When I started a load of laundry in the afternoon I noticed the water didn't get warm like usual, but didn't really think anything of it.  That night though when I was brushing my teeth and washing my hands I kept waiting for the water to get hot and it never did.  I told Alan the water heater isn't working and he confirmed that it was broken after some examination.  Another family brought us dinner.

Thursday I didn't take a shower...just a 'sponge' bath...enough to not feel totally gross.  Not having hot water was a good excuse to not do laundry or dishes or any thing else.  Jared had cub scouts, but we just were hanging out again.

I was super glad when Friday rolled around and Alan could be here.  I'm always excited for the weekend, but especially this one.  I was exhausted!  We managed to make it to story time, but skipped the usual shopping we had been doing after.  In the afternoon a guy came out and fixed our water heater.  Yea!  Two different families brought us dinner...so we saved one for Saturday.

Our water gets nice and hot now!

Saturday Alan wanted to go to a huge sale they were having at harbor freight.  We all needed out of the house so we all went along.  He took us back home before going to Food 4 Less.  We just did more resting.  It was kind of a rough week for all of us getting back into the routine of school after Christmas break.  Everyone had been going to bed just a little later and sleeping just a little longer, so getting up for school made for a few grumpy kids most of the week.  The next week was better though.

Sunday I taught primary, but it was just a normal day.  Stations, lots of family time, and resting.  We are super grateful for all of the people that helped our family this week with dinners, watching kids, and taking Jared and Lauren to and from school.  I'm slowly getting better.  It is kind of frustrating to be because I just want to be all better now, but it will take time.  I am getting better but I can tell when I have done too much.

A recreation of one of our favorites of Lauren.

This is Lauren.  She is just over 2 months old in the picture.  We might have to do it again with Cami in a month.

Camilla is born!

Monday was the day!  I spent the morning trying to get last minute things done before the baby would be here.  Doing more laundry, washing floors, and just general organizing.  I also made some corn bread and chili for dinner.  I was supposed to call the hospital at 2:00 to see if they had a bed for me.  When I called after picking Jared and Lauren up from school they said not yet, but call again in a hour.  Alan was just getting home as we were, so that gave him a few minutes to do some last minute things too.  As I was calling the lady who was coming to stay with they kids while we were at the hospital she knocked on the door.  She just hung out at our place for an extra hour.  Luckily when I called again they said yep come on in.  I was pretty anxious, nervous, and excited.  We got to  the hospital right about 4:00.  I had to go in the night before the induction for cervidil...to help my cervix get ready.  (I had prostin gels with Bradley and this was similar, but must have been a little different because with Bradley they let me go home between doses... 2 doses 6 hours apart and until they called me back in in the morning...my water broke so we didn't wait for the call...this is another story...)  I was surprised that I would have to stay the night at the hospital and everyone at the hospital was surprised that I was allowed to go home before.  As things always are at the hospital they were moving slow.  First I had to get an IV and it took them 4 tries.  Two tries on each arm.  My nurse tried and couldn't get it so she called in another and she couldn't get it either.  Then the first nurse tried again.  Finally they called in an anesthesiologist to do it and he got it.  He wasn't quite as nice putting it in as the nurses were trying to be.  The nurses were saying things like I don't know how he can always get one in and just other funny things.  After he did it I was like I can tell you....he is a little rougher and just does it, but I can't complain even if it was in my hand because he did get it in on my left side which I liked and it didn't hurt even after the numbing stuff he gave me wore off.  I think it was close to 7 before they really got the cervidil in me and all hooked up to the monitors.  I had to be flat for the first 2 hours, but then I was able to get up and walk around...and the wait just began.  I was able to eat a little dinner after a bit which was nice, but couldn't eat past a certain time.  We took a walk in the hall to help pass the time, but it was a short hall and I didn't really feel like wandering the rest of the hospital in a gown.  Sometime in the evening we changed rooms to a delivery/ recovery room.  Which was nice because I didn't have to move again.  (The hospital has some rooms that are just delivery and some just recovery, but I got to be in one that was both.)  It could have been a double room if they were really busy I think, but it wasn't too bad and they brought in a bed for Alan to sleep on for the night too.

On my way in!!!

Tuesday morning they were a little late taking out the cervidil and once it is out you have to wait 30 minutes before they can start the pitocin.  I was able to be off the monitors and get up some.  I was even able to have some juice.  They started the pitocin right about 9 am.  Then it was just more waiting.  I was able to rest some more.  My doctor...nurse midwife really... broke my water about the same time pitocin was started to help me along.  I never have had my water broke before it always has just broke on it's own.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was over before I thought it would be.  Around 2 I decided to get an epidural.  Then it was just more waiting.  I watched Hello Dolly and started Sabrina along with reading and resting.  My doctor was going home at 7.  She came in to check me a little before that and just see how I was doing.  She said I was close, but not quite there yet.  I told her I wanted to roll over, but the nurse couldn't find the baby on the monitor if I did she she had me roll back.  The doctor said she could find the baby and I could roll over.  So I did.  I could feel the baby getting lower (both times) when I rolled over.  The doctor made a comment about how low the baby was now.  She said she would go talk to the doctor who would be on call on the night shift and be back and check how I was doing again because she really wanted to deliver the baby before she went home.  When she came back a few minutes later she checked and said whoa there's a head.  Wait just a minute while we get the rest of the way ready.  They called in several more nurses and a couple minutes later Camilla Jane Atherton was born.  She was born at 7:19pm (or 19:19) and weighed 9 lbs 11 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long.  She has a ton of hair, which we originally thought was more on the blond side, but it is definitely red.  Her eyes are blue.  She was a good crier right from the start.  All the nurses were talking about how big she is.  The hospital we were at does not have a nursery, so she never left the room while we were at the hospital except for a hearing test and Alan went with her.  She got to have her first bath right there in the room and have all the tests and everything done right there which was really nice.  It did make it so people were in the room cleaning me and her and the room up until 10:30 or so.  Then they gave us a couple of hours of peace before they came to check on us again.  Alan came home that night to rescue the Brauns.  They were nice enough to stay with the kids all day long.  I had hoped it would be a little faster, but we are all healthy and that's what matters.

Jared got to go on a field trip Tuesday too.  They got to walk from their school to the high school to watch the play The Little Mermaid.  There were several girls from our ward in it.  One was flounder.  He said he had a fun time.  Lauren got to go on the same field trip on Wednesday....walk to the high school to see The Little Mermaid.

Wednesday Alan got to tell the kids in the morning they have a new little sister.  Lauren was especially excited and giggled and happy danced around the kitchen.  They are all excited to have a sister though.  Bradley told me a few days before that he really did want a sister even though he had guessed boy.  I heard Jared telling Lauren and Bradley that now it is an eight year club and they are out of luck.  (Jared and Lauren had created a 6 year club which paired Jared and with Connor and Lauren up with the new baby...and left Bradley without anybody (and he wasn't too happy about it), but they assured him the next baby would be his match.)  So everyone loved right off...and I knew they would.  It was fun to have them come.  That morning at the hospital a photographer came and took pictures of Camilla and of course the nurses came in multiple times to check on us.  A pediatrician came and checked Camilla out and my doctor stopped by too.  Bradley and Connor and Alan came to visit me around lunch time.  Bradley and Connor helped me eat my lunch while Alan went with Camilla to have her hearing test done.  They weren't able to stay until they had to hurry home and pick up Jared and Lauren.  Camilla and I were working on all the things we had to get done so we could go home later that day.  I managed to call a few people to say "We finally had a baby!"  But I didn't fell like I had much time between all the people coming in and out.  Alan picked up Jared and Lauren at school and then took them to the library for the Wednesday craft.  Then they stopped by home for a few minutes and someone brought over dinner, so they ate quick and then came back to the hospital to get me.  They said because Camilla was so big we had to stay 24 hours, so they let us go right close to 7.  There is something special about all being together.  It was just great all getting into the car.  That night went fairly smooth.  She was by far the best sleeper that first night.  Probably partly because she was so big and partly because she never went to the nursery to have the light on all night...so her nights and  days were never mixed up.  I think she went for a 4 hour stretch that first night.

Thursday Alan took Jared and Lauren to school.  He was able to stay home with us which was helpful.  I had to take Camilla to the doctor to see her pediatrician and have her checked for jaundice.  She had passed the test at the hospital (none of the others had passed at the hospital and had to have repeated testing), but since she left so quick they wanted to check again.  I had to pick up Jared and Lauren on the way to the doctor.  I was going to drop them off at home, but both of them insisted on going to the doctor with me.  The doctor said Camilla was nice and pink.  She was only 9 pounds on their scale, but since my milk wasn't in yet they weren't worried.  That night was our ward's relief society dinner.  Camilla and I went.  It was a nice dinner and there was a really nice program.  I don't remember what it is called, but it had several women portray other women who were alive at the time of Christ's birth...like the mother of Mary, mother of Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary...and maybe one or two others.  There were some speaking parts and music.  It was a really nice program.

Friday I was feeling pretty good.  Alan went to work after dropping Jared and Lauren off at school.  In the morning the rest of us went to story time.  I think we ran to Frazier Farms after that just to grab a few things.  The carts there are small and by the time I put Camilla's seat across the top of the cart (it wouldn't fit inside) and Connor in the seat and Bradley hanging off the end there wasn't a lot of space for groceries.  We came home had a quick lunch and then picked up Jared and Lauren.  The afternoon we just played.

Saturday we relaxed and tried to get ready some  for Christmas.  We had to do a store run and more laundry catching up.  In Oceanside that night there was a Christmas Lights parade on water...Christmas Ships!!!!  I have been excited about it since I found out about it.  I was really glad we were able to go.  It was at the harbor in Oceanside.  We got there just as it was starting, but it was popular.  We were stuck in traffic for a bit and trying to find a parking space was a challenge, but the ships go back and forth and around so after about 30 minutes we were able to find a parking place...once some people starting leaving.  Between watching from the car and then hurrying I think we were able to see most of the boats.  It was fun.  On the way home we stopped at In-N-Out.  The kids had hamburger coupons from a reading program at the library.  We got a couple for Alan and me too.  My first In-N-Out experience!  We brought them home to eat since it was getting so late.  It was a fun day.

Sunday we went to church.  I was a pretty normal day.  After church we just relaxed for a bit.  One of these days we got the tree decorated finally.  We put it up before Camilla came, but didn't quite get it decorated.  It was a super good week!  I am super glad Camilla is finally here!

Last-minute chores

Last Monday I went and helped in Lauren's class.  I got to decorate a little tree in the back of the class and put other decorations around the room.  At one point I thought I was being too distracting, because the teacher stopped, but she was just worried because I was standing on a chair...I had been standing on a chair at the back but at the time I was at the front of the classroom.  Lauren has a long term sub right now and the classroom definitely has a different feel to it...and it was the first day back from a long break.  Bradley and Connor had fun playing at a friend's house.  Alan went to the chiropractor for one of the last times for now.  We had family home evening and our Christmas devotional that we are doing nightly this year.

 Tuesday morning I went to the doctor for a regular check. Still not much progress, so we scheduled an induction day.  At first the doctor was saying tomorrow and I said whoa...not tomorrow.  So she called the hospital and rescheduled for the next Tuesday.  The rest of the day we tried to clean up a bit.

Wednesday playgroup was canceled so it was more just hanging out at home.  It has cooled off a bit here and in the mornings and evenings...and we have to wear sweatshirts.  I'm not complaining just saying.  We played outside for awhile in the afternoon.  Alan had x-rays done at the chiropractor so they could see where to go from here...he finished his original treatment plan.

Thursday Alan went to his chiropractic review...to see his x-rays and come up with a plan for the future. Jared had cub scouts in the afternoon and we played outside more.  Really this was a pretty slow week.  It would have been a great week to have a baby.  Thursday I also broke the dryer.  I had planned to get lots of laundry done that day, but didn't.

Friday I had to go to the doctor right after dropping Jared and Lauren off at school.  They did an ultra sound to monitor the amniotic fluid levels to make sure there was still enough. They also checked me and did a non stress test to make sure the baby was doing ok...since it was my 41 week day.  Everything looked good and the doctor just said see you soon.  Alan worked on the dryer for a bit in the morning before work and then came home a little early to get parts and work on it more.  We played outside and did what we could around the house.  After the doctor we went to story time and then to Frazier Farms to get some shopping done.  Friday night we watched Monsters University.  It is a fun movie.

Saturday I went to babies r us because they were giving away 10 dollar gift cards. Jared and Lauren went with me and got to make some little Christmas ornaments. Then Alan went to get parts for the dryer...he hadn't been able to get them the night before.  He worked on the dryer and almost got it finished.  I made tree cookies while he did that.  Alan took a break and we went to the Vista city Christmas parade.  It started to rain as we were leaving for it.  It rained pretty good our whole way there and for the start, but stopped part way through.  It was a good little parade and longer than I was expecting.  Alan finished the dryer when we got back home.  That night was our ward Christmas party with a back to Bethlehem theme. It was well done and fun.  I had to answer the question you're still around?  What seemed like 10 billion times...just once I wanted to say yes...you are too, but I didn't.  They encouraged everyone to dress up like they lived in Bethlehem and everyone had fun dressing up.

Sunday Alan had ward council in the morning. Then just church. I didn't have to teach. After church we tried to catch up on some laundry...and finally get some baby clothes washed. I made sour dough bread and did stations.  We decided..ok I wanted to...go to the stake center for the Christmas devotional.  (They aren't calling it the first presidency Christmas devotional this year).  There weren't many people at the stake center, but I'm glad we went.  Then we came home ate a little dinner cleaned up more and did our nightly routine.  We managed to set the tree up too, but it's not decorated yet. I'm feeling nervous and excited for the coming week.

Thanksgiving with Ashley and Will!

This Last week was a good one!  They always are when there is no school, a holiday, and we have visitors!  Monday was the first day off from school.  Alan and Jared went early in the morning (6:00) to help some people build a shed.  Alan had gone on Saturday, but they still needed more help.  Alan said the missionaries were there too and a couple of guys the guy they were helping found on the street.  They got the shed just about done, just some trim pieces were left when Alan had to leave to get to work.  Jared said he had fun there helping hold pieces in place and getting to screw some things in and then getting to play inside.  Here at home on Monday we mostly just played and tried to clean some things up.  I think Jared also had 2 baths and 2 showers.  It was a nice relaxing day.  We went and played at the park for a little while and then on the way home stopped at the store to get a second turkey from Albertsons.  If you spent 25 dollars there was a coupon to get a turkey for 49 cents a pound.

Tuesday I had to go to a doctors appointment around lunch time.  These guys packed a lunch and went and played at a friend's house.  The baby is still head down and everything looks good.  She asked me about when I might want to schedule an induction for and gave me some options.  They will let me go up to 10 days over before they say I have to be induced.  I'm still trying to decide...between Friday and Monday.  They both have some good things about them.  When we got home I ate a quick lunch and then we had to go to the store to do the rest of our Thanksgiving shopping at Food 4 Less.  After putting most of the food away we went and played at another park until it got dark.

Wednesday we went to the library in the morning.  They were doing a little workshop there about getting kids ready to read. (They had been doing them all month, but we always went to playgroup instead.  Playgroup was canceled last week)  The focus of the day was math and science.  They had tubs of water and a few things to put in to see if they sink or float.  These guys had a fun time with it.  At the end they all got to pick a free book...which they all loved.  We played outside for a while after lunch.  Then we had to come in and finish cleaning up and start making food for Thanksgiving!  I made apple, pear, walnut, pumpkin, and chocolate pie and stuffing and cranberry relish Wednesday night.  Ashley made a pumpkin and apple pies and brought them too.  Ashley and Will arrived just before I was going to go to bed.  We were glad they got here safely.

Thursday was Thanksgiving!  We got up and started watching a parade from last year online, but then decided to go to our ward's turkey bowl.  Everyone one wanted to go and I tagged along.  It was fun and a really nice morning.  There were lots of kids there to play together while their dads played flag football.  We were there for a couple of hours.  Then we hurried home to put the turkey in the oven.  While it was cooking I got everything else ready to go in the oven when it was done.  We had green bean casserole, broccoli and cauliflower bake, creamed corn, rolls, candied yams, mashed potatoes and a relish tray and punch.  Will and Jared were good potato peelers and Ashley and Lauren made a great relish tray.  While I was making food Ashley and Will entertained everyone else with making pie turkeys, sugar cone tee pees, and cookie turkeys.  Ashley had also brought some fun coloring pages for these guys to work on.  We also skyped with Grandma and Grandpa Schachterle, Brett, Scott, Bethany, Lily, Maggie, and Ester.  We were finally all ready to eat about 5:30.  It was a little late and we were all starving! (It would have been about the time I was planning on if I hadn't gone to the turkey bowl...oh well.)  We ate and ate and ate.  After dinner Ash brought a Thanksgiving madlib for us to fill in.  We did it several times and then had to print off some other ones.  Then we all tried to cram in some pie.  It was a really fun good day.  We all have so much to be thankful for!

I guess we forgot to take a picture of all of us stuffing ourselves...but we did.  To look at the food leftover you wouldn't be able to tell.

Friday we had to sleep off our turkey dinner and had a nice slow morning.  Will and Ashley tag teamed a game of Monopoly against Jared and there were several other games played and puzzles done.  It was a rainy morning too.  We decided we should go somewhere so we went and walked along the pier in Oceanside.  We hadn't been there yet.  It was fun to go see people surfing, the pelicans, and dolphins, and all the other fun things.  Ashley and Will left to go up to LA for the evening to see the Lion King and we just got more done around our house...or tried.  We were outside for just a few minutes with our front door open and when we came back in Jared spotted a humming bird inside our house.  He was flying up at the very top of the stairs.  Alan got a pole and the humming bird would land on it then Alan would walk slowly down the stairs.  Several times he got to within 5 feet or so of the door and the humming bird would fly off and back up to the top of the stairs.  He tried this several times...5 or 6.  Then Jared had the idea to use the wire hanger from his kite from Halloween.  Alan tried the hanger and he got the bird out on the first try.  It was an adventure that Connor slept through.  Friday night we watched Annie.  Ashley and Will came back and slept at our house after the show.  I remember waking up to our squeaky door opening when they got home, but I don't remember what time it was.

Rereading the madlibs from the night before and having relish tray leftovers for breakfast...peanut butter stuffed celery and carrots.

Saturday morning Jared played Monopoly again with Ash and Will.  Alan fixed a cabinet in the garage with Will's help.  It didn't take long, but he needed someone...besides me to help him just a bit.  In the afternoon we tried to go see surfin' Santa arrive, but we weren't really sure what to expect there.  He was coming by jet pack, but we got a little lost on the way and got there a little late and missed the big entry.  We still got to see Santa, but didn't want to wait in the line to get a close picture with him.  It was at a little group of shops in downtown called Seaport Village.  We walked through a few shops and they got to make a jelly fish Chirstmas Tree ornament and have a ride on a Carousel.  I don't know if any of them have ever gotten to ride a carousel.  The ones who rode had a great time!  Bradley really didn't want to ride, so we didn't make him.  Connor loved it, but he kind of death gripped the horse the whole time.  Then we went over to Balboa Park and walked around.   We saw some fun decorations and just kind of what there was to see around there.  We didn't see all of it, but it was fun to see what there was.  Then on the way home we stopped by the Temple.  The lights are on and there are a couple nativities around grounds.  This weekend and next weekend they are having some special choir presentations.  We timed it to get there to see one of the choirs sing.  Then we came home and had leftovers for the second time.

Today was a good day....a hot day!  I got to teach primary again.  We had a good lesson talking about faith and pioneers.  After church Ash and Will hurried home and packed up their car.  We pulled out the leftovers so they could have a good lunch before they left.  We were sad to have to say bye to Ashley and Will.  I am really glad they came to visit us for Thanksgiving.  We have always been blessed to have family to Celebrate Thanksgiving with.  Also like I told Alan it doesn't really feel like Thanksgiving (on Wednesday morning).  The weather just doesn't seem like it and we weren't with family.  Then after spending most of the evening in the kitchen and having Ashley and Will get there it seemed more like Thanksgiving.  We ate lunch after they left and now everyone is working on stations.  It was a good week!  We are looking forward to more exciting things this week...hopefully a baby! and more Celebrating for Christmas!