The Paull Party

Meet the little man

2011-11-19T15:38:00.000-08:00

Joseph Michael Paull

Born November 8th at 5:25 am

6 lbs 10 oz 19 3/4 inches

He's absolutely perfect!

Pictures say it all...he's very loved!

My labor was quick and easy...as easy as labor can go I guess. I had an appointment on Monday afternoon. I was dilated to almost a 2...ugh! I was pretty sure I had passed my due date. I was still pretty certain that I was due closer to Oct 27th than Nov 11th. So I was feeling quite ready to have a baby. He decided to start cervical ripening that night and then induce my the next day. So I was admitted to the hospital that night after which I was finally given cytotec with the assurance that I might have a little cramping, but I would be able to get a good nights sleep. After being up until after midnight with admission stuff, I was able to get some peace. I couldn't get comfortable, wonderful labor beds, but finally feel asleep around 1 or 1:30. I woke up at 2:30, used the bathroom, and then realized I was not going to be able to sleep through the contractions I was having. Needless to say, I woke Brian up, went for a walk and returned back to my room in full blown labor. The doctor came in around 5 am and broke my water. Around 5:20 I told him it was almost time. I'm not sure he actually believed me as he took his sweet time about getting his baby cart ready. At his rate it would have taken at least 15 minutes. My babies come fast, it's just my track record. Isaac was delivered with nurses and the doctor walks in the room in time to see a baby on the bed. This one was almost a copycat as the head came out without the doctor even having gloves on yet and he was in the room. I didn't feel too bad since I had given him a 5 minute warning, plus he knew my track record. The rest of the morning was chaos. The nurse hadn't prepared for a delivery since she thought I wouldn't deliver until that afternoon or evening. And I was right, he looked like he was at least a week overdue. Darn baby was just taking his sweet time about things! I'm so grateful the delivery went well and that we have a healthy boy to add to our family. And despite wanting a sister, Olivia is completely in love with him!

Baby predictions

2011-10-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

So, I'm just a little frustrated with this pregnancy. I am in such a rural place that unless I drive over two hours, I can't see an actual OB doctor. So, I drive just over an hour each way and see a family practice. He's very nice, but not my old doctor. He doesn't know me and doesn't trust my past experience with pregnancies. At 32 weeks my due date was changed due to measuring small. It was decided to base it on my first ultrasound and put my due 15 days later on 11/11/11. Yeah, I know that's a cool due date, but seriously how could I be ue 15 days later. That would mean u found out I was pregnant at 3 1/2 weeks a long...doesn't seem likely to me. Now I know a due date doesn't matter, the baby will come when it's time, but it has made me so confused about timing. We are still counting Oct 27 as my due date at home, but always realize there is the possibility of going late. I'm pretty certain of my dates, but again he decided to go by an ultrasound done by a tech who rarely does OB scans. In Idaho, my doctor did the same thing and changed my due date to a week later, needless to say I went into labor on my original due date. I'm very curious and anxious to see what happens.

My other frustration is due to my size. Those of you who have seen me pregnant know that I am always small. I somehow hide the babies inside. Yesterday I had anther appt which I was 37 weeks by his calculations. I measured at 33 the week before and 36 yesterday. He is now concerned with IUGR which in simple terms means my baby isn't growing. I tried to explain that I'm always small and the baby had dropped. In most cases measuring the uterus is not accurate after 35 weeks because of the loss of amniotic fluid and the baby dropping. Instead of listening and realizing I'm not the average patient, he orders an ultrasound to check the baby. I don't want to go. One, that means finding a babysitter for the kids. Two, we decided not to find out the sex of the baby. Each ultrasound worries me that I'm going to find out what the baby is and after going ths long I would be upset. I really miss Dr Graziano. He trusted me and he knew that not every person is average.

So, after venting, any predictions on when this baby will make the big debut?

Family Visit

2011-07-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

My family (mom, dad, Amy, Lexi and Emily) came to visit at the beginning of June. I'm a little behind with blogging so this post is a little old, but still worth posting. We spent a few days in Gordon and a few days in Rapid City. We didn't do a ton of things, but just sat and enjoyed each other's company and let the kids play. One afternoon we went out to our friend's farm and let the kids see all the animals. They were able to play with kittens, goats, chickens, bunnies, turkeys, and even pet a buffalo. They are certified organic farmers and sell seed and buffalo meat nationwide. If you have never had buffalo, you should try it. It's lean and much better for you than beef, the downside...it's expensive. Check out eatorganicbuffalo.com

Amy with her baby Lexi. She was just waking up and not sure about all the animals. Her and Isaac are only 4 months apart...she's a doll and looks just like her daddy!

My lil Isaac boy!

Olivia with a kitten. The kids love to hold the kittens when we go out there.

Calin with a kitten.

I think Emily (my niece) is holding a baby bunny there.

Olivia petting a baby goat.

Still half asleep I think!

Sage caught a turkey for the kids to pet. They thought it was cool.

Emily trying to ride a goat. It ended up stopping to eat some grass and threw her off forward. It was so funny....well to all of us but Emily. I think her pride was hurt!

Buffalo are not friendly animals. They are mean and very dangerous. We went out to the pasture to see all the babies and mommas. There were a lot! This buffalo came down with a mystery about 6 months back. She is basically paralyzed and doesn't get up. They will pull her up to get her to move occasionally. But for the most part they just make sure she's a live and has food. She is so used to relying on people that she isn't bothered by them. The kids were able to pet her and feed her some grass. The other buffalo in the background was old and sick, she was not as friendly so we stayed away from her.

The kids had such a great time playing with Emily and Lexi that week. They loved seeing grandpa and grandma too and ask why they had to go home. I love where we live, but it would be nicer if it was closer than 1200 miles to family!

Calin is 7!

2011-07-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

Calin's birthday is July 9th. We had plans to be in Yellowstone on his birthday so we celebrated it early with Olivia.

We got him a gun! I know many people think we are crazy, but we don't let him use it unless Brian is helping him and otherwise it's locked in the gun case with the keys put up. He was more than excited when he opened his gift. He didn't even care that he only got one present. We have been teaching him gun safety rules and he's really catching on. It's just a small Rossi with an interchangeable barrel so it can be a 22 cal rifle or a 410 shotgun. Brian took him outside to shoot it, but I didn't know and didn't get any pics. I'll take some next time.

His birthday pancakes, however I forgot to take chocolate chips with us to Yellowstone so they were just regular ones. He was a little bummed, but excited to blow out the candle. Jackson has now had three birthdays this year. Every time we celebrate one he thinks its his birthday too. Oh and he's 4 now lol!

Olivia is 5!

2011-07-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

Olivia's birthday is July 1st. Unfortunately, dad was out of town for his grandpa's funeral so we postponed the celebrations until he came back. He picked up a doll for her on his way back and she couldn't be more excited.

We started a tradition a few years back that the kids get chocolate chip pancakes on their birthday with some birthday candles. Liv takes after me and doesn't eat chocolate chip pancakes, but she still enjoyed a regular pancake with candles to blow out. Brian misses this traditional a lot because he's either gone out of town or working, but the kids really look forward to it.

Liv getting her doll from daddy.

(I'm pretty sure she's happy here. I think the light coming in from the windows washed her face out and made her look pale).

We celebrated Calin and Liv's birthday together Sunday evening at a friend's house. I made strawberry shortcake and the kids we able to open the one present each that they got.

Haha...the blanket is our wrapping paper. We didn't have enough wrapping paper for the huge box and so thought we would borrow some only to find out they had just used all their wrapping paper on a recent birthday. She didn't mind!

We gave her a plasma car. We actually have one for the three youngest kids. We had bought them from Costco before we even moved to Nebraska, but decided not to give them to the kids because our driveway was just dirt. Now we have a real driveway so we thought it was a good time, plus it saved us money on gifts this year!

First Haircut

2011-07-13T18:57:00.000-07:00

We gave Isaac his first haircut a couple of weeks ago. He looks so dang cute and not too much like a baby anymore. He's growing up so fast. He's starting to mimic words and might learn to walk one of these days. He's actually really smart and is totally into animals. He loves to play with the animal app on Brian's Iphone. It's so fun to watch him learn new things!

Isaac is ONE!

2011-06-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

Isaac's birthday was May 16th. Brian was gone to training that whole week so we postponed the celebration until he got back. We aren't big cake people so I made a huge chocolate chip cookie for him and homemade icecream. It was very yummy! He wasn't much interested in the the cookie but he couldn't get enough icecream. We gave him his own bowl and let him have at it! It was very cute. He got a couple of gifts, we didn't spend much, which was good cause his favorite gift was a ball...of course! It was a fun day.

I can't believe he is already one...it seems the last year has just flown by. His personality is so much like Jackson. I feel like I'm redoing Jackson as a baby. I love my little Isaac. He's so sweet!

Ahhhh...a warm day

2011-06-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a crazy summer. We have had so much cool weather. I was using my heater until a couple weeks ago. Yesterday it got into the mid 90s so I let the kids play in the water. They had a blast!

Help!

2011-06-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

I need to paint my house this summer. It has so much peeling paint and just lacks curb appeal. The plan is to paint the house a darker color than it is, paint the trim white, and then paint the shutters and the door a darker bolder color. I was going to do blue, but I see a lot of blue houses around me and don't want to be the same. Help me choose what color I should go with.

Really? Are you sure?

2011-05-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Well, YES in fact I am sure. We are expecting baby #5 due October 27th. We were quite shocked at the news since Isaac is still so young, but nonetheless excited by this twist! We will be surprised this time and not find out what we are having, it doesn't really matter anyways, but everyone cross your fingers for another girl!

Hooray!

2011-05-05T14:40:00.000-07:00

(this is a photo from our appraiser)

We bought a house...YUP we moved AGAIN!!! Well, I guess I should say we are moving again since we haven't completed the whole process yet. We were living in a rental house but it was not big enough for us. The bedrooms were small, and the house was so split up. Brian and I were living in the basement in a small room that barely fit our bed (with no bathroom on that level...what a pain!). Isaac and Jackson shared a room next to ours in the basement. That was terrible, one was always waking up the other. Olivia and Calin were way up on the 2nd floor so 2 flights of stairs away from us. We hated it. We were always worried about the kids so far from us. The kitchen was terrible. It had one space of countertop above the dishwasher which wasn't plumbed so it hooked directly to the sink. We only had one shower and the bathroom was so small for a main bathroom. Anyways, enough complaining let me just say it was awful and looking back I cannot believe I made it a year in the house...well eleven months, but it felt like forever. A house came on the market just around the corner from us. We took one look inside and jumped on it. We closed last Thursday and have been moving and working on things ever since. We have to fence the backyard for our dogs and that's proving to be a project, but it's coming a long. I feel so much more at home here. It's much more open. The kitchen has so much space. There are 3 showers!!! and a bathroom in my room...who would have thought! There are 4 bedrooms all on the same level right next to our room. The kids love it here and have so much room to play. The house sits on over a 1/2 acre and our backyard view is a pasture. We are very excited about our move and feel so blessed to have found a place so perfect for our family.

We were surprised to see them leave the trampoline for us, but nonetheless, very happy! The kids love it and can't seem to get enough. We also have a hot tub (which of course broke once we moved in, so it's being repaired).

Calin helping to dig holes. He loves to work with his dad. He actually dug four of our holes that were 2 feet deep. I was so impressed!

Olivia really wanted to help to, but just isn't quite big enough so I gave her a garden shovel and she went to town starting a hole for dad.

And the master man of them all who of course won't take a normal picture, but I love him anyways! I have to just add my love for this man here. He has done so much to get us moved into this house. If he's not at work, he's working on something at home like loading boxes or putting beds together or putting a fence in. I feel so blessed to have married such a hardworker...and the best part, he doesn't complain!

Girls Week

2011-02-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

Last week I spent 5 days away from home with a friend. How did we spend it? Learning handgun self-defense! We spent 4 days at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute. We would spend about 7 hours on the range learning how to shoot each day. We went through over 550 rounds of ammunition and had a few blisters. We had a blast. I hope I never have to use a gun to defend my family, but if I ever need to I am happy to say that I know how.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

I have never sent out Christmas cards. I love getting cards, but I have never been organized enough to do them myself. I thought about it this year, but waited a little too long and then didn't feel I needed to add one more expense to Christmas this year. The budget really gets hit now that we have four kids, plus traveling to AZ won't be cheap! So here's the closest to a card anyone's going to get.

Merry Christmas!

May your season be filled with love and the true meaning of Christmas.

Oops!

2010-12-16T15:53:00.000-08:00

I forgot to pay my gas bill. How do I know that? Cause I received a disconnect notice in the mail today. I was certainly confused. I always pay the bills the first of the month whether they are due or not. Brian only gets paid on the first so to avoid running out of money before the bills are due, I just pay them when his money is deposited. You can understand why I was puzzled. I even remember writing the transaction in my register. Before calling the gas company I check my bank account. I always use online bill pay so it was easy to check my last payment - November 4. Wait, what about December. I check my register, sure enough it's written in with the exact amount that my delinquent bill shows is late. I reconcile my account and discover I had budgeted the gas bill into my account but never actually told the bank to pay it. SHOOT! I call the gas company, pay the bill, explain the situation. No worries, simple mistake. As I get off the phone, the representative informs me I now have a $262.95 credit on my account. My bill was only $68. So you're telling me you owe me money and yet your turning my gas off for not paying last month. Make sense??? I didn't think so either. Oh, well.

First Snow

2010-11-22T06:54:00.000-08:00

It's snowed a few times this year already, but nothing to get excited about. And yes, it is exciting for us. The kids were in awe to wake up to snow on the ground. I love snow myself...atleast the look of fresh fallen snow that's been undisturbed. It makes everything so beautiful!

Never say Never!

2010-10-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

As I get older (and hopefully wiser), I have realized many things. Today, I have realized the old saying is true - NEVER SAY NEVER. There have been many times in my life that I have said "I will never (insert anything)." Except, a few years later I'm doing that very thing I said I would never do. For instance, I recall telling a friend a few years ago while Brian was riding the Tour de Tucson, "I will never ride 109 miles. That's just way too much and absolutely crazy." Well, as many know, last November I finished the Tour de Tucson 109 mile bike event under 10 hours, 14 weeks pregnant. Crazy?...probably, exhilarating?...absolutely! Or how about this one. "I will never date him." Yes, I was referring to the man I married!

Now as I think upon this, I laugh at myself as I begin a new ambition in life - homeschooling. I have said more than once, "I will never homeschool." Circumstance change, people change, I change, and I realize that it's not just a saying but a fact, you should never say never. From now on..."I don't think I will ever (insert anything)."

Nebraska

2010-10-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

I had never been to Nebraska before March 2009. I was 28 years old and had no clue what Nebraska was like. I guess I had never really thought about what other places were like until then. Now I want to explore every where. Heavenly Father's creations are amazing! I would like to visit any where I can just so I can see the different landscape and beauty. Here are some pictures of my current landscape in Nebraska. It is beautiful right now. The leaves are turning yellow, orange, and red, it is still just awesome to look at. Enjoy my home!

Martin's Cove

2010-10-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

Friday we went to Martin's Cove. For those who don't know, it's where the pioneers were caught in a snowstorm during their trek to Utah. They suffered fatigue, starvation, frostbite, and anything else you can imagine. Over 200 people died there. The LDS church has a great visitor center up there that anyone can go to and see the memorials to these pioneers that suffered so much (and it's free!). As I walked the trail, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed at what these pioneers went through for religious freedom. They had been persecuted so much. They did this for me! Pulling a handcart for a few miles didn't seem too bad, but can you imagine 1500? I am grateful for pioneers that took that journey so I could be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I would recommend that everyone take the chance to visit this sacred place. We are fortunate enough to live only 5 hours away.

This is a kid sized handcart the kids pulled around for a little bit.

Ready, set

Go!

Taking a break

All the kids helping daddy pull the handcart.

Isaac's first ride in the backpack. I wasn't sure how he would do, but he loved it. He never cried the whole time...and it was a while.

He looks innocent, but...

I love this picture!

My goofy girl

Sweet boy....loves to smile!

This is the Sweetwater River. It is beautiful and winds around like a snake.

After a mile, you have to park your handcart and walk another 1.5 miles into Martin's Cove. The kids are great hikers.

This is right at the cove.

On the way back...Jackson was tuckered out.

This is devils gate...we didn't get to hike there, but hope to go back and do that next time.

The Baby

2010-10-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

Isaac...or The Baby...as we commonly call the youngest child in our family at the time cries everytime I leave the room, the second I leave the room. It's quite cute and annoying all at the same time. Maybe I should make a 3D cut out of myself and put it in front of him...think it would work???

Family photos

2010-10-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

We took some photos together while we were in AZ for Kenny's wedding.

The latest (and greatest)!

2010-10-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

So it has been a while since I last blogged. I could make excuses like I've been super busy with the kids, or Brian was gone for two weeks and took the camera with him, but in all reality I have just been plain lazy when it comes to blogging. I seem to always find something else to do. The reason??? I've gotten so far behind that I don't know where to start. So what's been going on? The kids started school in August which they both love so far and are doing great.

The weather has changed cooler, but is still nice out. The nights get down in the 40s, but during the day it usually gets to 70. Perfect weather if you ask me. I can always find the kids outside playing with the dogs after school. Brian had Officer Basic Training in September. He spent 2 weeks in a hotel in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He said the class was super boring and was glad to be home, but he was able to see some sights of Washington DC over the weekend he was there. He was able to meet other fellow public health officers and get to know some commanders that are of importance. He even got to meet the Assistant Attorney General who is a pharmacist in the USPHS.

Isaac is growing...still! He weighed 17 lbs and was 27 1/2 inches at his last appointment two weeks ago. He really just keeps getting bigger everyday. It is so crazy! He loves to suck his fingers and will take the bink out to get his fingers. He's even discovered his thumb at times. We are waiting to see if he's going to be a thumb sucker or if it will pass.

While Brian was gone, I took the kids to Rapid City overnight to have some fun. We went to the dinosaur park which is just statues of dinosaurs. They were huge! Then we went to Reptile Gardens which was pretty neat. It's basically a reptile zoo. The kids loved the snakes and crocodiles. They had a blast checking everything out. Then we had dinner at Red Lobster...yummy! and we came home. It was a fund trip and despite going alone with four little kids...I can honestly say I would do it again! Unfortunately, since Brian had the camera, all my pictures are on my phone. If I get a chance, I'll post some, but don't hold your breath...lol!

This is the newest member of our family. Yes it's a cat...maybe 6 week old. She's so sweet and she's quite tolerant of the kids. She often has to go in her room for rest time just to get a break from the kids. It's really cute how Jacskon (and all the kids) carry her around. Hopefully she will survive!

The results

2010-09-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Okay so everyone was right on who is older....it's Alexis my neice. She is 4 months older than Isaac, but he is quickly outgrowing her. When we made our visit to AZ, my sister and I measured each baby in ht, wt, and head circumference, the funny part is they were basically identical - except for the age. At least it's the boy that's so big, girls are so cute when they are small. Olivia was such a petite little baby, so cute. I miss the little babies, big babies are far more straining on the neck, back, arms, and shoulders. But who doesn't love a few fat rolls!!! LOVE my chunky Isaac baby!

Who's older?

2010-08-25T13:57:00.000-07:00

Okay....many of you already know this, but for those who don't...take a quess. Which baby is older and by how much?

It's official!

2010-08-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

Brian Paull Pharm D., RPH

(In case you don't get it....he passed his licensure exam)

Birthdays Party!

2010-07-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

We celebrated the July birthdays last monday on the 5th. Calin and Olivia's birthdays are a week a part so we celebrate them in the middle. This year we threw Jackson's in as well. His birthday isn't until the 27th, but we knew he would be upset if he didn't get any presents when the other kids got some. We all had a lot of fun. We invited the neighbors over and had a cook-out, opened presents, ate cake and ice cream, and shot off fireworks. The kids thought it was great and by 9:30 Jackson was pretty much asking to go to bed.

I just can't believe how quickly my kids are going. I love each of them so much! I'm such a lucky person to be able to have 4 sweet kids - Don't be too jealous!!!

Thanks Grandma!

2010-06-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

Olivia's birthday is coming up on Thursday and everyone is excited, especially her. She got a package in the mail yesterday from my mom. She always loves opening the mail, but especially when it's actually for her. I almost didn't catch the excitement on camera cause she was so quick about it! Thanks mom, you made her day. And thanks to Emily for the card and present.

Cuteness!

2010-06-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

He is certainly growing! Today he weighed in at 12 lbs 14 oz. Why can't they just stay small and sweet a little longer?

The Story...

2010-06-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know my Jackson know that he is my eater. He will eat anything and everything and most of the time like it. Saturday afternoon we were doing yard work as the kids played around the yard and in the garage. Unknown to me, they had somehow got the mothballs out. Now I have only bought mothballs once to put in our storage unit in Green Valley. I didn't even know we still had some. Brian said they were on a top shelf in the garage and doesn't know how they could have got them. As we were cleaning them up, Calin said something about eating them. I asked him if he had eaten any, he said no but Jackson did. Of course he would. So I told Brian to taste one to see if it's even too gross to eat. We were thinking he would have just spit it out. At that time, Calin claims Jackson at five, but he came up with the number so quickly it made us doubt. They are actually tasteless, can you believe that? We called poison control who told us that one mothball can be fatal if ingested. Seriously??? One mothball? But he ate five according to Calin. So I took him the ER right around the corner. Since it's a small hospital they got us right in and within a half an hour he had blood tests done, a urine bag on, and was drinking activated charcoal. He did okay drinking it at first until he accidently got his fingers in it, then he started painting my arm. After that he didn't want to drink it anymore, he wanted to paint with it. The picture is after trying to force it down him...I had told them to just put a tube down him, but the doctor said just force it down. In the end, they did put a tube in him to get the rest down. We went home after that, but have to go back daily for five days for urine and blood tests. So far he is doing totally fine, no problems at all. We had the counselor in the Branch Presidency come by that night and assist Brian in giving him a blessing. It was a great blessing in which both men came away teary-eyed. I know the Lord is watching over him, but I can't help but worry since he had eaten the mothballs a couple of hours before we had the charcoal in him. Needless to say, I no longer have mothballs, nor will I ever again. By the way, we are certain he ate at least one after changing his diaper yesterday morning...it reeked of mothball smell. We are glad we listened to Calin and got him treatment even though we were unsure if he actually ate one.

Good job those who figured it out....I knew you would get it right Janette.

Can you guess?

2010-06-27T07:14:00.001-07:00

Guess what's on his face. I can think of a few of you who will get it right. I'll tell you the story after you guess.

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Mothballs

2010-06-26T22:38:00.000-07:00

Did you know the dangers of mothballs?? I didn't until today. I have only bought mothballs once in my life. They were used in our storage bin in Green Valley when we were selling our house. I didn't know that cedar chips do the same thing. It's interesting the things you learn and the things you wish you knew before. I will never buy mothballs again now that I realize the potential dangers. If you use mothballs, check out the risks on google.

Riverside Zoo

2010-06-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

I took the kids to the zoo yesterday. It's quite a drive...2 1/2 hours. But it was dollar day at the zoo and we had nothing else to do so we went. The kids really enjoyed the animals. It only cost my 2 dollars to get in, they only charged for me and Calin.

I love hanging out with the kids...they are so much fun!

Chadron State Park

2010-06-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we decided to forget about the house and do something fun with the kids. We went to Chadron State Park which is about 45 minutes away. We had no idea before going, but it was their anniversary so they had all kinds of different events going on. We had a blast (especially the kids).

First we went hiking, the kids played on a grassy area before the trail while I fed Isaac.

Yes, this is really a trail, they have to mow the grass or you wouldn't even know it's there. It actually got more like a hiking trail towards the middle.

Jackson walked pretty much the whole hike. He's quite the little man. This is him sliding down the hill on his bum. He was so darn cute!

Then we ate lunch. Since it was a celebration they had hot dog and sloppy joe meals for 89 cents. It was perfect. It was quite a line to stand in and a bit hot (upper 80s), but it was worth it.

This teepee was outside the trading post where we ate so the kids got to check it out while we waited in line. Jackson went to the doorway, but wouldn't go in. They were also doing hatchet throwing next to it which frightened me a little, but Calin wanted to do it. I told him when he got a little older.

After lunch we went on a free carriage ride which the kids thought was awesome.

No I was not feeding the baby on the carriage, I was protecing him from the sun. It was quite warm you know, at least 80!

Next we went to a tractor show. They had some pretty old tractors there. Then they had a tractor race. They were racing to see who could go the slowest without stalling out. It was a lot of fun to watch.

This was the big loser, it was quite fast compared to the others.

This was the big winner by far, it just crawled.

Then we went fishing. The pond at Chadron was being used for paddle boats, so we headed back toward Gordon and went to Smith Lake.

It was quite a fun filled day. The kids were exhausted as were we, but they had such a great time. Our plan is to try to do something with them every weekend so when they look back at the time they lived in Nebraska, they have fond memories.

Making cookies

2010-06-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

We made cookies for Brian on Friday for an early Fathers Day. The oven switch quit working properly so I burnt the first two batches before I figured it out. That was very sad. So in the end we only had 3 cookies that survived. (I have a new oven coming next week, can't wait to try it out).

This is what Isaac did while we made cookies....wish I could have!

Fishing

2010-06-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Brian got Calin up early this morning and took him fishing at a nearby lake. Calin caught one fish. Brian said he cast and reeled it in himself. He was so excited to show me when he got home.

Preschool

2010-06-14T08:29:00.001-07:00

So the elementary school here does a preschool! I was very excited to find that out. What is even more exciting is it's totally free. They accept 20 kids and I was able to get Olivia signed up. However, I have a few reservations. The school runs Monday thru Thursday. Which is okay, just had thought it would only be a couple days a week. Here is my biggest hold up, it goes from 8 til 2. WOW! That seems so long for a 4 year old...it's like regular school.

First, I was not planning on having her gone so much already, I thought I had another year. Second, I worry that it will be too much for her. She's a bright kid and gets bored at home when Calin is gone, but still 6 hours??? Last, and this one may make you laugh, but I feel like I'm just sending her to daycare so I don't have to deal with her even though I'm home.

I'm torn on what I should do. It's such a small place that I doubt there is another preschool available. What would you do? Considering Olivia's personality, do you think she would love it or hate it? I would appreciate all input on this one.

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My kiddos

2010-06-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

This is as good as it gets as far as pictures come...if you look closely you can see Jackson making his CHEESE face but he's not looking at the camara. Love, love, love these kids!

Olivia's Room

2010-06-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

BEFORE

AFTER

I redid Olivia's room, we are getting carpet put in her room soon so I wanted to paint before. She had asked before we moved if she could have a pink room. So I painted it pink. I'm a little disappointed that the pink isn't a little darker, but I didn't want to overpower the room.

Did you know?

2010-06-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

Brown/black cows make chocolate milk; white cows make white milk and people in this area drink more chocolate milk than white milk. That's why there are more black cows around here than white cows. It's true...at least according to Calin.

By the way....

2010-06-07T18:29:00.001-07:00

he's almost 11 pounds now, he's quite the little pig!

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Yay!

2010-06-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

Isaac's bilirubin level dropped to 13 today. We are so excited because we no longer have to do heel sticks, hooray!

Fun in the Front Yard

2010-06-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

Update

2010-06-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

So I actually went to the grocery store like I had hoped that day. It was quite challenging at times, but I managed to get everything I needed. I didn't lose anyone and nobody got hurt so I consider it a successful first trip! Isaac is still jaundiced. His bilirubin levels drop a little and then go up a little so he's staying about the same right now. I hate that he's so yellow, I just want to see his normal coloring. He's either been purple from bruising or yellow from jaundice. I've been taking him in almost everyday for lab draws. I really hate it and wish they would back off a little. They tried several times to get me to give him water or pedialyte in between feeds. However, I stuck up for him and explained it messes with electrolytes and I follow the AAP guidelines of nothing but breast for 6 months. The PA is very nice, she was very understanding and said just keep breastfeeding and doing window sunlight. I think it's just gonna take a while for his body to process all those broken cells as a result of the bruising. He's growing like a weed...seriously! I took him in last Friday and he weighed 9-4, so he had gained 12 ounces since his appt 8 days before, which is great considering he hadn't even hit 2 weeks yet. I took him back yesterday and he weighed 10-1. So, he gained another 13 ounces in 6 days. I can't believe how big he is already, he's starting to get rolls everywhere, it's very cute. But, I worry he's gonna grow out of the brand new carseat we got him in no time.

The kids are loving it here. The weather is perfect in the 70s-80s. The hard part is daylight savings, it's still quite light outside when it's 8:00. Last night was the first night I enforced bedtime. The two big kids were fine, but Jackson would not hear of it. I think during the summer we might be having later nights. The house is slowly coming together. If you helped us move, you know we had to leave our couches behind (Brian claims there was no room, but I know he just didn't want them anymore). We bought some new couches yesterday and are waiting for them to be delivered sometime next week. I'm excited to see how they look. We got some red ones to go in the living room to offset some of the blahness (I'm sure thats a word). We still have tons of boxes to unpack, but it's getting there. Well, I'll stop there for now and applaud anyone who made it through this post. I'll take pictures soon of the house and show you our progress so far.

Wish me luck!

2010-06-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

Today is Brian's first day of work which also means it's my first day alone with all four kids. Am I a little nervous? You bet! I told Brian my goal was to unpack one box. Let's see how I do. I really need to drive to the next town (about 50 miles) and get loaded up on groceries. I'll let you know if I actually brave the trip or decide I'd rather starve. Here we go!

The Crazy Life!

2010-05-30T10:59:00.000-07:00

Well life has been hectic since we arrived so I have had no time to post anything. We arrived at our new home on Friday afternoon. We were able to see our new house for the first time. Honestly, at first I was disappointed. Even though I had seen a floor plan, I had a way different expectation of the layout of the house. I didn't have much time to think about it as Isaac had his two week dr visit scheduled just over an hour after we arrived. Everything looked good at his appt, so I thought. Until she called me back about a half hour later explaining his jaundice level was too high and he needed to spend the night in the hospital over night. It was very upsetting to realize the first night in our new home I would be spending in the hospital. It was the worst night of my life I have to say. The nurses don't see babies often, actually they don't see uch often. The hospital is very small and that night they had a total of 4 patients and the day nurses kept saying how crazy it had been! I can't even imagine. Luckily I had experience in taking care of babies under bilirubin lights so I did it all myself. He liked to take his eye mask off so I didn't get much sleep having to watch to make sure he didn't take it off. The doctor was very old school and told me he just wanted me to breastfeed 2 times a day and give water the rest of the time. He said the baby would get better faster. Being educated in newborns, I felt very comfortable telling him no and that I would only breastfeed. He seemed satisfied (and thanks to a very nice nurse who convinced him) I was able to take him home the next morning and just do window therapy. His levels are dropping which is good. We have another check in a few minutes so I'll have to hurry and finish this post.

Since then, we have been trying to organize the house a little. It drives me crazy to see it such a mess, but I just keep telling myself I need to take it easy and eventually things will come together. The house has really grown on me and I really like it now. It has a lot of character and the previous have done a lot of work to it. Actually at this moment they are outside repainting our trim. They are great people, very hardworking and honest. We are lucky to have found such people to buy a home from. Well, I'll post more later, gotta go.

Day 3

2010-05-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

I am so glad I'm moving to a small town cause I HATE TRAFFIC! We drove through Denver today at the wrong time I guess cause traffic was miserable. It was so backed up on the freeway. It made me very grateful to be going to a place that doesn't even have a stop light.

The kids are still doing great. We drove to Colorado Springs this morning and was able to see Brian's sister Laura and her family. Her husband Erik just got back from Afghanistan on Sunday so it was great to see him again. The kids and dogs enjoyed the break. We continued on from there to Sterling, CO. We found a Best Western with suite rooms that fit us perfectly. I really needed a little bigger place where the kids could have their own room. I cannot wait to done driving. I never like to drive anywhere, Brian is the driver in our family. So, for me to have driven everyday the last three days is about to make me crazy. We have about 3-4 hours left on our trip and then we are done. Boy, am I glad I don't have to make a return trip.

Day 2

2010-05-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

Can I just say I have the best kids ever! How many people can take 4 kids and 2 dogs on a roadtrip and not hear any whining or crying? I CAN!!! The kids did so awesome today. Our journey today ended in Walsenburg, CO after nine hours on the road. We hit one heavy rain/hail storm, but otherwise had a non-eventful day. Hopefully the next two days can go as smoothly.

On our way

2010-05-25T22:21:00.000-07:00

Today starts the beginning of our trip to our new home. Yesterday we packed up the u-haul with the help of friends and family and left our home in Sahuarita. We spent the night at my parents house since it was mostly on the way and sounded much better than sleeping on the floor at our house. It was so sad for me to leave our home in Sahuarita. I have made some good friends over the years and really enjoyed our time there. We have never lived anywhere over a year until Sahuarita. We were there 3 1/2 years.

We left Safford around 11:00 and started our journey. That was difficult for me. I am excited for our new adventure in life, but I am sad it is taking us far from family. I am fortunate enough to belong to a family who enjoys spending time together. I'm glad we were able to spend our last night in Arizona with family.

Our goal was to stay the night in Truth or Consequences, NM. Traveling with kids is always a challenge, but when you add in a newborn it makes things a little harder. We didn't even make it 40 miles before Isaac decided to eat. So, we pulled off the rode, fed him and continued on our way. A few miles up the rode, a car was broke down on the side of the rode so we decided to stop and see if they needed help. We were glad we did cause it was an older couple probably around 70-80 years old who didn't have a cell phone and needed to call triple A. Unfortunately, there was no cell coverage in that area, so we left them and were able to call later down the road. They were such a sweet couple, I hope help arrived quickly.

After only one more stop for lunch - which we took our time doing - we were able to make our goal and found a hotel in Truth or Consequences. It took us about 7 hours. The kids are definitely restless and have drove me a little nuts tonight, but they did really good in the car. One day down, three more to go!

6 days old, already?!

2010-05-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, time sure does fly when you have a new baby. Why is it that the pregnancy days go by so slowly and the newborn days go by so quickly? I get sad at the thought of him getting bigger, especially when I think he could be my last one. He is such a sweet baby, he is so cuddly and hardly ever cries.

HAPPY 6 DAYS ISAAC!

Kindergarten Promotion

2010-05-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

Calin had kindergarten promotion on Wednesday. I was disappointed that I couldn't go, but told Brian to take lots of pictures, which he did. (However, we just got a new camera and I don't think he's used to it so a lot of the pictures are blurry). I cannot believe he is already finished with his first year of school. He is such a smart kid. He had met all the expectations by winter break and has since passed them up. He enjoys learning new things and is so excited to be a first-grader. Good job Calin, I love you!

His teacher, Mrs. Vaterlaus, probably the most amazing teacher you can find. She always went above and beyond what a normal teacher would do. I'm so glad he had her.

After being promoted.

Isaac Steven Paull

2010-05-20T16:13:00.000-07:00

Our newest addition arrived Sunday, May 16th at 5:37 pm. It was a long day of waiting to be induced. The l&d was so busy that day and I was last priority since I wasn't in labor. Once labor was started it went quickly, less than 2 hours long. He arrived so quickly the doctor missed the delivery and he was delivered by nurses on the bed. The dr arrived just after he was born. He is by far our biggest baby weighing in at 8 lbs 14 oz and 20.5 inches long. I knew he was going to be my biggest baby, but I was still surprised at how much he weighed. He is such a good baby, only cries when he's hungry. We are so happy to have in our family and feel so blessed!

Getting ready to go home!

He came so fast that he had a very bruised face. This is 2 days old and his bruising looks ten times better, but you can still notice it.

Just got home from the hospital.

So far he likes him!

Calin has been waiting so long to meet his brother.

She thinks she's mom.

Congratulations!

2010-05-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

After six and a half years of hard work, Brian is now Dr. Paull! (He hates to be called that so I do it every chance I get). Brian graduated yesterday from pharmacy school with a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree. He has put so much hard work and time into gaining this education to now support our family. He is such a great example of endurance and perseverance. I am so impressed by his example to our children. What a wonderful husband I found! I feel lucky that I can continue to be a stay at home mom for my children because of the time Brian took to go to school.

CONGRATULATIONS BRIAN!!!! YOU DID AWESOME!

Been waiting for this!

2010-05-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

Diaper Cake

2010-05-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

My good friend and old co-worker from work came by yesterday to see me. With her she brought the cutest wildcat onesies she had made for the baby. They looked so small, I have forgotten how small he would be at first! She also brought a wildcat diaper cake she made just for me. It is so darn cute.

The red and blue cloths at the top are burp cloths which match wildcat blankets she has previously made for me. I am so lucky to have such good friends! Check out her blog to learn how she made it.

Thanks so much Marietta.

Belly Pics

2010-05-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

36 weeks

While in Safford for the temple open house, I had a friend of mine (and her sister) take some belly pics to remember my pregnancies. Brian says this is our last one, so I wanted to take the opportunity before it was forever over! They also took some pics of my kids and us as a family. They turned out so cute. I'll post some of each. They did a wonderful job and it was so much fun. I'm a little embarrassed to show the belly pics, but I wanted to show what a great job they did taking them.

I LOVE all the pictures of the kids and am definitely not embarrassed to show them. I may be biased, but I think I have the cutest kids in the world. They are so much fun!

THANKS SO MUCH AMY AND DANA!

Temple Open House

2010-05-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

About 2 weeks ago, we took the kids to Safford for the weekend to see the Gila Valley Temple open house. What a great experience to take the kids through the temple. I don't think they really understand the significance at this young of an age, but I think they could feel of the spirit that was present there. I'm glad we took the opportunity to share this with them. Once we move, we will be 5 hours away from the nearest temple. How excited and jealous I am of my whole family that now has a temple within minutes of them. It is quite amazing to see a temple in the place where I grew up. Maybe next year when we come visit we can go through a session!

Updates

2010-04-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

I was going to update and add a bunch of pictures, but of course I can't find my connector to get my pics off my camera, very disappointing. So I'll give a little update on things and hope I can add pictures soon. The kids are doing great. Calin is enjoying kindergarten and starting to read really well. He cannot wait until his new baby brother arrives. Olivia is as sweet as ever. She loves to watch movies and ride her bike. She is at grandma's house this week and enjoying every minute. Jackson is my crazy baby. He thinks he is so big and loves to do whatever the bigger kids are doing. He likes to look at books, but does not like to be read to. He doesn't have a problem standing up for himself to other kids!

We took a short weekend trip to Seaworld. We had never been before and wanted to experience it before we moved too far away. The kids absolutely loved it. We spent all day Saturday there and had a great time. It was our last weekend to do anything like that for a long time. Jackson was going crazy over all the animals and fish. He loves animals! I'm glad we were able to go.

Our move is quickly approaching. We are planning to move the day after Calin is out of school, May 21st. The kids are so excited and can't stop talking about it. They keep thinking it's in a few days...no concept of time. We haven't been able to find a place to rent in Nebraska yet. There is nothing available. It's starting to get me a little worried, but I try to remind myself that this is where we are supposed to be going and I need to continue to have faith. We are still waiting for our house here to sell. The lender is being so slow about things, and making unrealistic requests from us. I just want it to be over already. I'm so sick of filling out the same paperwork because it changes or expires.

Brian is in his last rotation of school with only 2 and half weeks to go. He and I are both ready for school life to be over. He graduates on May 14th. I am so proud of his hard work and determination. It's amazing how much he has been able to keep up with while going to school. After graduation (or maybe before) we get to add another member to our family. It's a little daunting to think I will have four children under the age of 6, but it will be fun!

Although crazy and at times stressful right now, I am enjoying the last month we have in Arizona. We were able to see Brian's brother Rob get married last weekend in the Mesa Temple. What an awesome experience! We love Eileen and are so happy Rob was able to convince her to marry him....cause we all\know he must of had to convince her!!! :) Welcome to the crazy family Eileen!

A child's innocence

2010-02-02T07:31:00.000-08:00

Olivia can be such a crack up. Sometimes she says the funnies things and she likes to make up words for things just cause she can. We went grocery shopping the other day and the bagger at the grocery store was wearing dark earrings in both ears. Olivia noticed before me, probably because she's a child and it did not fit her view of normalcy....did I mention the bagger was a young boy? She started cracking up hysterically saying "mom, that boy is wearing earrings." She kept going on and on and couldn't stop laughing; either the bagger didn't hear her or he was pretending not to notice. Pretty soon I was cracking up, and the next thing I know the checker guy was cracking up as well. I have to say that was the most fun I had paying for groceries. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be so innocent and untouched from the world to notice the things that don't really fit in?

Sledding

2010-01-06T16:16:00.000-08:00

We went to Utah for a Paull family reunion. The kids absolutely loved the snow. I was so surprised. I also forgot how much I missed a real winter since moving back from Idaho. After the first day of sledding, that's all the kids could talk about. Every morning they would ask, "can we go sledding again." It was so much fun to be outside playing with them. The most amazing part of all was they never got cold. I was at least expecting Calin (who gets cold in 80 degree weather) to start complaining anytime, but he never did. They really miss it now that we are back. I guess it's good to know that our move to South Dakota will make them happy!

Christmas

2010-01-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

This year we celebrated Christmas at my parents house. We figured it might be the last Christmas we spend in Arizona for a while, so we wanted to spend it with family. The kids had a blast. This year Calin was so excited for Santa to come. Brian and I didn't do much as far as gifts for each other. The joy of watching the kids open gifts was all I needed. Calin tore into his gifts the fastest and was trying to help his siblings by the end. Olivia is just like me and spent most the time being coaxed to open gifts instead of watching others. Despite only being 17 months, Jackson was really into opening presents. We had a hard time keeping him away from the gifts before Christmas.

El Tour de Tucson

2009-11-23T07:31:00.000-08:00

I know I've been a slacker when it comes to blogging lately, so I will tell of my latest accomplishment. As many of you know, I was training to do the 109 mile El Tour de Tucson. At the beginning of the summer, I had set this as my goal to work toward knowing that I had several months to prepare. Brian has done it for 2 years so I decided I would attempt as well. He agree to ride with me so I could have some encouragement along the way. That was my only stipulation for doing the race. Things were going pretty good with training. I had finished another 40 mile bike ride in September with ease and no soreness. Then I got sick 7 weeks before the race and was unable to do much training due to feeling so ill. The last couple of weeks before the race I was able to get back on my bike and ride pulling my kids in the bike trailer. I have to admit it was pretty tough those first few times. I was only able to go about 9-10 miles wthout feeling worn out and ready to stop. I had not even registered for the Tour at this time and was starting to have second thoughts about it. I began doubting my abilties, my stamina, and my leg strength. I had lost 7 weeks of training that I needed before completing such a long ride. Brian and I sat down and really discussed the reality of the situation. He told me "You can do it. I don't doubt you can do it." With his encouragement and belief in me, I took the plunge and registered. With an entrance fee you have to pay, there was no way I would back out after paying that! I continued to ride with the kids 9-10 miles and hoped it would atleast keep my legs somewhat in shape.

Saturday came and I was nervous. We waited at the starting line about 40 minutes before the race started and then we took off. I was shocked. I had such a misconception of how it felt to ride my bike. I was so used to pulling a trailer that I forget what it felt like to ride alone. I was eccstatic to say the least, I felt great!

Not far into the race, about 13 miles, Brian got a flat tire which took him some time to fix (the wheel was not cooperating). It was quite discouraging to see the last bikers pass us plus the tailing police car. We got back on and rode less than 2 miles when an ambulance ran me off the road and I fell off my bike. I landed on my knee which hurt but continued riding. I didn't realize I was bleeding until I later took my bike leggings off.

By mile 43, I was starting to feel tired. This was the longest I had ever ridden on my bike and I was feeling it. Luckily we had a break coming up at mile 45 where we crossed a long wash and stopped at an aid station. In the end, we managed to finish to the race strong. I had a slump in the middle where rolling hills were getting the better of me, but I pushed on. I am excited to say that I never walked my bike and I never had the thought to quit. We finished the race in 9 hours 45 minutes. Time on the bike was less than 8 hours which averaged my speed at over 13 miles per hour. I am grateful for Brian's belief in me. He gave me the courage to sign up despite my lack of training the last few weeks. I love him for staying with me the whole time and talking to me and pushing me forward. What a wonderful experience for the both of us. I am happy to say that I am ready for my next race.

I can't got without thanking my mom for watching my kids this weekend. She took care of them so we could do this "crazy" thing as she says. It was nice to just lay around Sunday before church as my legs were screaming at me. Thank you so much Mom, we will miss you when we move!

Quality Time

2009-10-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

Tuesdays involve t-ball practice for Olivia and baseball practice for Calin. Last week Calin and Olivia had practice just a half hour apart at the same park. So, we started out today the same. Well, about a half hour into Olivia's practice I asked Brian what time it was because I hadn't seen any of Calin's team show up. Brian then remembers that the coach changed the location of today's practice because Thursdays practice had too many people at the park. So I hurried and told Brian to take Calin to practice and we would walk home.

I didn't think much about the walk home until it came right down to it. Then I wondered what I had done. The walk home was a little over a mile and I had Jackson to carry. As we started out all I could think was "this is going to take forever" and "maybe somebody we know will see us." Then we started singing songs and enjoying the beautiful weather. Olivia walked the whole way with no complaints singing songs the whole time. I soon was grateful for the time I had with my children. I didn't mind that I was carrying wiggly Jackson the whole time or that Olivia walked slow. I was so happy. By the time we got home, I had decided this would be a perfect tradition every week after practice (with maybe the addition of a stroller for Jackson).

I am grateful for the opportunities that Heavenly Father gives me to spend with my children. How I choose to look at that opportunity is totally up to me. I hope I can remember that each moment matters and that I can make that moment a good one!

Biking Update

2009-09-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

Brian and I went to Safford for Labor Day weekend. My family always has a big birthday celebration for the 5 September birthdays that fall around Labor Day. Its always a lot of fun and it was great to see everyone. We took the opportunity to go on a long bike ride while my mom watched the kids (thanks mom). We managed to ride 20 miles before I got a flat tire. My wonderful husband changed the flat just for it to flatten again as soon as we pumped it up. I seem to have flat problems with my back wheel (unknown reason). We turned around at the point and headed back to my moms facing the wind. Despite the cold I had managed to catch from Jackson that morning and the wind, I have to say I didn't do too bad. I finished 40 miles in 2 1/2 hours and was average of 15.6 mph. It was a great challenge and I'm glad to say I was able to complete my longest ride ever.

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-09-08T21:29:00.000-07:00

I got this off of a friend's blog. Check it out, seems pretty cute!

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Oh the things kids say...

2009-09-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

I got an email from Calin's kindergarten teacher (after she tried to call and I didn't answer). She was checking up with us because Calin had told her we were moving to South Dakota this week. The poor kid has no concept of time and to him next week is the same as next year. Oh well, atleast I know he's excited..... `

Olivia, Jackson, and I headed to the mall yesterday to do some September birthday shopping. While on the way, I asked Olivia if she was going to be good at the store. She says, "Yes, mom. I'm only naughty with Calin." Little does she know, that is the truth. The two of them can make quite a crazy pair!

First day of School

2009-08-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

I have a child in school. Wow!! I cannot believe my little boy is actually big enough to be in kindergarten. He had his first day yesterday and he was so excited to go. He wanted to ride the bus, but did not eat fast enough to make it to the stop in time. I was glad though. I really wanted to take him the first day so I could make sure he knew where he would be going. Still after driving him to school, he wanted me to drop him off at the curb. Despite his protests, I took him to class and made sure he made to his seat okay. He took the bus home and did just fine. I asked him if he wanted to go back tomorrow and he said "maybe so." Today he made a few more friends and was able to remember a little bit more about what he did all day. He took the bus and said he made it to his classroom all by himself. I'm so excited everyday to pick him up and find out what new thing he did for the day. I hope he continues to enjoy school.

I was worried about Olivia once Calin went to school. He's her best friend and I didn't know what she was going to do all day. I've kept her pretty busy. It has actually been a lot of fun to spend some time with her. She loves to just stay by my side and do whatever I'm doing. She's such a good little girl. I miss him during the day, but we keep busy and it goes by quickly.

Ready to eat?

2009-07-30T18:01:00.000-07:00

This is Olivia when I'm cooking dinner. If she's not standing by my side wanting to look at everything, she's sitting at the table waiting for the food. As much as I try to tell her it won't be ready for a while and she should go play, it doesn't work. She insists on sitting there and waiting. It's quite cute actually!

Last, but not least!

2009-07-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

Jackson's birthday was on Monday the 27th. I CANNOT believe that my baby is already one. Where did the time go??? It seems like just yesterday I brought him home. He was such a mellow, easy, wonderful baby. He slept so good from the beginning and made going from 2 to 3 kids quite easy actually. He's a little more...okay I take that back....a lot more demanding now. He knows what he wants and wants it when he knows! If he doesn't get what he wants, he has the most piercing scream and he knows how to use it. It can be quite deafening and annoying at times. He had quite the personality though and can light up a room with his smiles. He has the funnies belly laughs and loves to tackle his brother and sister. I love this baby so much (as I do all my kids). I love how each child is so unique. His birthday great, the older kids could hardly keep their hands off his presents, but he didn't care anyways. He just wanted the wrapping paper.

I made a rainbow cake for Jackson. I saw a picture online so I found a couple of recipes and put them together. It was pretty good, but it was really pretty. It was easy to make so if you want to the recipe just let me know and I'll tell you how I did it. I'm sure you could make it with a box white or yellow cake mix, I just didn't have one. Jackson sure enjoyed the huge piece Brian gave him. Now another year, and then birthdays all over again.

Lake trip!

2009-07-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

We went to the lake on Saturday with my family. Tanner brought his jet ski and we borrowed my dads boat. I actually learned how to wake board before the storm hit and we had to leave. It was a lot of fun despite my soreness on Sunday. The kids had a blast and keep telling us we need to go back to the lake, I feel the same way! I didn't get many pics cause I was afraid of getting the camera wet. But there are a couple of the kids riding the jet ski with Brian.

I've removed a hat!

2009-07-21T16:09:00.001-07:00

Well, for those of you who don't know....which is most of you. I quit my job....yup I actually did it. I didn't want people to know before I let my supervisor at work know so I haven't said much. But, I got a response from her today so I guess I'm official. I have no more scheduled shifts as a RN. I admit I am sad when I sit and think about it. I will miss those patients that were actually aware of my care and appreciated it. I will miss holding newborn babies whenever I want. I will miss that feeling that I'm doing something important. And most of all I will miss those people at work that I have formed relationships with. I hope we can always keep in touch. However, I will not miss being overworked, underpaid, and overexhausted. I look forward to free nights with my husband, wakeful days with my kids and vacations without trading days at work.

I have worked as an OB/nursery nurse for 5 1/2 years. The first 2 1/2 years I worked full-time. Then I cut back to perdiem when I had my second child. And for the most part I have worked 1-2 days a week. I know one day a week doesn't sound like much, but when you have three kids and a busy husband, one shift a month at night can be a killer because you know that once you get home it doesn't end. I know that this is what is best for me and my family. Money will be a little tighter the next year, but that doesn't compare to the extra time I will be home AWAKE with my children. May all those moms who have the dream of staying home have their wish come true as mine has.

Sprinkler fun

2009-07-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

Olivia bought a little duck sprinkler with her birthday money so we decided to try it out. It was kinda lame to be honest, it didn't spray much but the kids liked it. Brian was sitting in the yard watching the kids, so I couldn't resist turning on the grass sprinklers and getting him wet. I'll admit....it was awesome! The kids had a blast with all the sprinklers running. Brian ended up jumping right in with the kids. It was so great to watch them having so much fun with their dad. And the grass was extra green today.

Camping trip

2009-07-19T21:48:00.001-07:00

We went camping on Mount Graham with my mom. Brian was only able to be there a couple of days, so the rest of the days we were there without him. I have to say that after those few days I gained a greater appreciation for my husband. He helps out so much and I never give him enough credit. Camping with three small kids is not easy. Jackson can be really needy and likes to be held a lot (but only by me). Olivia is potty trained, but still has to go as soon as she tells me so I would have to hurry her to the trailer. Calin is a great kid, but he can get himself into trouble often. So I felt I was often pulled in three different directions. I enjoyed being able to spend time with my family and having a few minutes here and there to read a book. I did have a good time, but it was definitely not a walk in the park! The kids had fun being outside and playing with their cousins so that's all the matters. I just know that next time I take a camping trip, I want my wonderful husband with me.

The most exciting moment happened the day after I go there. I had drove to camp that morning (we stayed with Amy and Tanner at the cabin) with the kids. I had put them in the front seat and put shoes on them and then let them out to the car. I had left the keys in the ignition purposely so I wouldn't lose them. I closed the door after letting the kids out, and went to open the door to get Jackson out. He was already throwing a fit. Well what I didn't know was that Olivia had decided to play with the buttons and had locked the doors before I got her out. So here I was already using my spare keys to drive the car because I hadn't been able to find my regular set for over a week with my baby looked in the car throwing a huge fit. We called Dad, who managed to get the chevy dealership we bought the car from to make a spare key and I met him halfway with Amy's car. By the time I got back and opened the door Jackson was asleep - of course, and continued to nap in the car for another two hours. I didn't leave the keys in the car the rest of the trip. Of note, I found my keys the other day - in my purse. I swear I looked there before and they weren't there.

I'm so proud!

2009-07-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

We kept telling Calin before he turned five he had to learn to ride his bike without training wheels. We took the training wheels off a couple months ago to get him used to riding it. Well, he wouldn't ride it. He didn't even want try. We took him to the park on time and tried to ride it for a little while in the grass, but he just wasn't into it. He was just plain scared. We could not convince him that we were not going to let him get hurt. Maybe I lie to him a lot because he didn't seem to believe me. Well, Brian decided to try a different tactic. When we could actually get Calin on his bike, he had no balance. He was so dependent on his training wheels that he didn't know how to balance on the bike. So, Brian took the pedals of his old bike. Calin would ride on it, pushing it around with his feet and practicing balancing. He actually loved it and got pretty good at balancing. So the day before his birthday, we convinced him to try again. I gave him a push and tried to follow him holding on, but he was gone. He could do it and I was so shocked. He has been riding ever since and does a great job. I'm so proud of him. And I must say, that I owe Brian an apology after all my skepticism with his no pedal idea. I thought it was the dumbest idea I had ever heard. Guess I better not say anything anymore!

Now we go on bike rides together and it's a lot of fun. He can go quite a ways and goes quite fast. He's so cute to watch. He doesn't pay much attention and gets wobbly, but does great. I think I'm more nervous than him now!

Happy 5th Birthday Calin!

2009-07-19T20:52:00.001-07:00

Well this post is over a week late, but I'm still posting so that's good, right??? Calin turned five on July 9th. I cannot believe that I have a five year old. I can remember back when I found out I was pregnant with Calin, it was such an exciting time. I can't believe how the time has passed. I used to think wow, when Calin is in kindergarten, Brian will be in his last year of school. It seemed like that would never come. Now here it is, a couple weeks from the first day of kindergarten. And Brian, well he's already started his last year of school. It's exciting and yet sometimes I feel I have not enjoyed the time I've had with Calin like I should. I hope I can do better. He had a great birthday. We gave him some swimming things so of course we had to go swimming. I made some cupcakes which the kids always think are great. Later that day, we left for camping. Here are some pics from his birthday fun.

We also had a little family dual birthday party for Calin and Olivia on the 4th. It was a ton of fun for the kids. We had dinner and opened presents and had cake and ice cream. Thanks to all who came to help us celebrate the kids birthdays.

OMG Olivia is 3!!!!

2009-07-03T21:18:00.001-07:00

July is birthday month for us, all of our babies were born in July. Olivia's birthday is first being July 1st. I woke up early in the morning to decorate the house and wrap her presents. Calin came down first and was so excited to see it all decorated. I finally had him go wake her up for breakfast. She had such a sweet smile on her face as she came down the stairs. I think birthdays get funner as the kids get older, they get so excited.

One tradition we have started with our kids is to have chocolate chip pancakes on the morning of their birthday. We put candles in them and sing happy birthday. They love it and I love how it starts the excitement of the birthday for the day.

I had placed the presents under the TV and waited to see if she would notice them. Finally after watching some cartoons, she says "Are those for me?" with a big smile on her face. I told her they were, but that we couldn't open them until daddy got home from work. It was torture for her all day. She called Brian about five minutes before he was supposed to get off work and told him to hurry up. The minute he walked in the door she was getting the presents out. It was so cute. Calin was just excited and we had to keep reminding him that they were her presents. It's a good thing their birthdays are close together so he can have his turn.

We later had pizza and cupcakes. She seemed to really enjoy herself and I tried to make it as special for her as I could. I just hope the kids always feel as special and wonderful as they are to us!

I still cannot believe that my baby girl is three. She is such a joy to us. So smart and so sweet, and reminds me so much of myself at times. It makes me sad that she is already three, but it is so fun to watch the new things she does everyday.

Vacation pics!

2009-07-03T14:51:00.001-07:00

The merry-go-round is always a favorite, I think it's Calin's favorite ride. Olivia on the other hand preferred the big rides, but she was too small for most of them. She did get to ride the matterhorn though and absolutely loved it.

I don't think Liv really knew who this was, but Emily really wanted to get a picture with fairy godmother. Olivia kept asking her "where's your dad?" I'm not sure if who she was thought she was, it was funny though. We also met Goofy, but the kids were a little frightened. They wouldn't see him without the help of Brian and then didn't get too close.

Amy and Olivia were pals for a while on the first day. She took her on a lot of kid rides while we introduced Calin to Big Thunder, Splash Mountain, and the Haunted Mansion. She had a lot of fun cause she was with Emily too. Thanks Amy for helping out so much! My mom watched Jackson for a while as well. It was great to get to go on some rides other than the ones with no height restriction. Thanks a lot Mom!

I never go on the tea cups, they make me sick so I leave that one up to Brian. I think he went easier on the kids than if I was on it with him! Olivia really likes going on the tea cups.

There's a little splash pad in bug land. Calin got soaking wet, he was running all over the place. Olivia on the other had would only put her head in the water to get her hair wet. They won't let you take your shoes off and she was not about to get her shoes wet. Jackson touched the water a little, but he was not interested in getting wet.

We had an absolute blast those two days at disneyland. Calin hated most the big rides even though we made him try them once, Olivia wished she was bigger, and Jackson just loved being outside. It was one of the best times we've had together as a family. It's too bad it has to end so quick.

After disneyland, we drove to San Diego. On the way down, we stopped at a strawberry patch and picked loads of strawberries. The kids thought that was pretty cool. We had so many strawberries it was crazy. The car smelled like strawberries the rest of the trip so I finally had Brian stick them in the cooler so I couldn't smell them anymore.

In San Diego, we spent one day at the beach and the other day shopping. The kids love the beach. They don't love the water....they love the beach. Jackson ate so much sand that when I changed his diaper the next day his poop was half sand. It was quite amusing. Olivia got turned into a mermaid by her Aunt Amy, very creative! It was a great vacation and was sad to come back to reality, especially since Brian started into his rotations the day after we came back. Thanks again mom for putting this all together. I hope someday we can do it again.

Vacation...again!

2009-06-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

We went to California this past week. We spent two days at Disneyland and two days in San Diego. My mom had always told us as kids that we would all go to Disneyworld together when we filled up our money jar. Well, the jar finally got filled last year, but a few years too late. She said she could no longer afford Disneyworld since our family is so large now, but she could take us to Disneyland. So much thanks to mom for the fun we had with our entire family last week. My kids had such a great time....even Jackson. He never really fussed and just enjoyed being outdoors all day long. The most enjoyment for me came from being together as one big, happy family. I will post photos as I get more time, right now I'm recovering from the trip and trying to do loads of laundry.

Don't mess with my stuff!

2009-06-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

Jackson has already learned at his young age how to throw a fit. He gets so mad if someone takes something from him. I decided I needed to get a little clip so I could remember it always. Here is a small example of how upset he can get (especially when it has to do with food).

Biking

2009-06-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Brian is a biker. Not the tattooed, leather wearing kind, but the spandex, colorful shirt wearing kind, that requires the use of leg power. Well, I've decided to follow suit and see what the big hype is about biking. Mostly, I just want to stay in shape and get toned. I also feel I don't challenge myself enough, so.....with that said, I have made the goal to ride the Tour de Tucson. It's a huge race that takes place every November. There are different distances that can be ridden. However, it is a pricey event so I refuse to spend that kind of money and not do the entire 109 miles. I know, I'm a little crazy, but I think I can do it with the help of my wonderful hubby, who has rode it twice. I completed my first long ride last Saturday. We rode the Rillito path in Tucson, up and back. It was a lot of fun. Brian had the two boys in tow in the Trailer and I had Olivia on my bike in a kid seat (with a helmet of course). The kids absolutely loved it and are excited to go again. We complete 22.5 miles and believe it or not I never even got sore. I'll try to continue updating as I progress.

Legoland

2009-06-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

We also took a day and went to legoland. I had never been there before and wasn't so sure it was something the kids would like. I hadn't heard much about it other than it wasn't much fun. Brian really wanted to go, so we decided to give it a try. The kids LOVED it! Olivia wanted to ride every ride, but unfortunately was too small for a lot of them. She was able to ride one roller coaster that she loved. For those of you who know Calin, you know he is scared of everything. But, believe it or not, we actually got him on a roller coaster too, and he loved it. Everyday Calin says....mom legoland is fun! We will definitely be going back there. It is great for young kids, the lines aren't too long, and the rides are designed for younger kids, but they let the parents ride with them too.

San Diego

2009-05-31T09:46:00.000-07:00

Brian's family was in San Diego last week for memorial weekend. So, his sister Angela decided to take the opportunity and go through the temple for the first time. Brian wanted to go as well so we took a 4 day trip and spent some time near the beach. We found a small one bedroom condo on mission beach for a great price. The kids had an absolute blast. They loved the beach....you know the sand....not the water. Olivia actually got in the water a little, but Calin would have nothing to do with it. I didn't care though, I just loved playing with them in the sand, and seeing the joy on their faces. They keep asking when we are going back to the beach. I miss it too. The weather was great....around the 70s most the time. Too bad's Brian job wasn't taking us there next year...oh well!

Grandma's House

2009-05-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

We went to Grandma's house the last few days to escape....mostly Brian's doing. He had two finals this week and wanted to be able to study a lot. The kids really enjoyed themselves. Their cousin Emily who's 4 almost 5 and Lindsay who's 7 months live right across the street from Grandma. So, the kids get to play all day long. It's a lot of fun and it's a nice break for me. It's too bad I have to go home so I can go to work....blah!

Desert Museum

2009-05-09T09:34:00.000-07:00

Monday, I decided to take the kids to the desert museum. They had a blast. They loved everything from the snakes and spiders to the javelinas and cats. It was great to get out and enjoy the weather. We spent about three hours there and by the time we headed home we were all exhasted. All three kids fell asleep in the car on the way home and I was wishing I didn't have to drive so I could go to sleep to!! I bought the annual pass so we could keep going back. I really am excited to take them again. If anyone wants to go, I have a guest pass and kids under 6 are free so feel free to join us.

White Coat Ceremony

2009-05-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

Brian had his white coat ceremony yesterday. Basically they have a long drawn out program with boring speakers to eventually present a white coat to the pharmacy students to wear their last year during rotations. It signifies his end to theory learning and his begining to clinical learning....a welcoming into the pharmacist community. It was a very exciting time for us. This is just another mile marker on his long journey to being a pharmacist. He is now done with classes (except for the 3 finals he has left) and moving onto his year of rotations. I'm actually looking forward to this. He won't be working as much (hopefully) so he'll be home more. It will just be like a regular 40 hour a week job (just no paycheck, bummer!) I am so proud of the hard work my husband has put into becoming a pharmacist. There were people that doubted his ability to even be accepted into pharmacy school let alone endure the schooling and become a pharmacist. I always knew he could and would do it. He has studied hard and sacrified so much so he could eventually provide well for our family. I love you Brian and am grateful for all you do!

The lighting in that room was terrible. It made all the pictures turn orange causing all the photos I took to look terrible as evidenced above. So I starting videotaping it.

Brian always makes instant friends with people. So from the start of school he's had friends to study. I admit sometimes I wished he would have gone through school like me and not made good enough friends to want to hang out with other than at class (I know I'm terrible), but really I am glad he had people to relate to and study with. Thanks to all of Brians friends who endured the last three years with him!

Needless to say the kids did not appreciate the white coat ceremony! So we stayed in the back and let them play quietly. We had a nice little daycare going by the end of the ceremony. It was cute.

Crawling!!

2009-04-28T13:47:00.001-07:00

For a little over two weeks Jackson's been crawling. It's so nice that he can entertain himself now.

Easter

2009-04-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

I worked the night before Easter. I was so worried that I would not get to see the kids find their Easter gifts before I got home. I usually make it home around 8:15 and they are already up waiting for me. I told Brian to make a scavenger hunt out of it. They had no idea they even had a gift waiting for them. They loved the scavenger hunt. Brian hid each clue in a plastic egg and sent the kids looking all over the house. I recommend it to anyone wanting to try something new for Easter or any kind of holiday!! When they got to their Easter baskets they were soooo excited. They did not realize they had such a cool thing waiting for them at the end. I was so glad we did that so I didn't have to miss out on seeing their excitement that morning.

Easter eggs

2009-04-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

The monday before Easter we had family home evening about the meaning of Easter. Then we dyed Easter eggs. The kids always love doing this every year and it was no different this year. We really loved watching them. The funnies part was Olivia. I think she dropped about half of her eggs and cracked them. I asked Calin the next day if he remembered what Easter is about and he actually was able to tell me the story. I was pleasently shocked. Most the time I feel like I'm wasting my time and breath with FHE, but I do it anyways hoping that something sticks.

Easter Package

2009-04-28T13:07:00.001-07:00

It was a couple of days before Easter and I was upstairs busy with something. I come downstairs and Calin says mom we got mail. Sure enough he's holding a box labeled Calin, Olivia and Jackson with Olivia sitting by his side. It was from Grandma Goodman. Then I realize what else he was holding. He had Brian's pocket knife open trying to open the box. I totally freaked. I told him he could not open boxes on his own. I guess I just could not wait to see what was inside. So I opened the box and they had a blast seeing what they had inside.

Our Little Man!

2009-03-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

Since he's still nursing, Jackson tagged along with us. I really wanted to leave him, but knew it wouldn't have worked. So while brother and sister was having fun at Grandma Goodman's house, Jackson was stuck in the car for a week. I felt so bad for him. But he was such a champ, he hardly fussed and I think he really did enjoy the alone time with mom and dad. I definitely enjoyed the alone time with him.

This is Jackson unknowingly playing with Laura's dog.

Nebraska

2009-03-24T21:28:00.000-07:00

Hot Springs, SD

Gordon, NE

After touring the facility, we spent the next two days looking at the different towns that were nearby. We liked Hot Springs, South Dakota. However, it was farther away from work for Brian and the cost of living was higher. It's a tourist town so there is a lot of traffic/people going in and out. We decided we would have fun visiting, but didn't want to live there. We decided on a small town in Nebraska - Gordon - which is only about 30 miles from the hospital. It has a whopping 1800 people in the town. It is very cute and seems like a great place to raise children. We spent one day looking at housing and found one we just fell in love with. We decided to go ahead and put an offer in so we could take advantage of the low interest rates. We will see if they like our offer or not.

Colorado Springs

2009-03-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

Laura and Erik's cutie-pie!!

Our first stop on our road trip to South Dakota was Colorado Springs. Brian's sister Laura lives there with her husband Erik (who's in the Army) and their new baby. We stayed 2 days there and enjoyed spending some time with Erik before his deployment. Thanks Laura and Erik for letting us crash your house. It was so much fun.

New Job!

2009-03-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

Brian applied to this program/job with the Unites States Public Health System back in October. In this program, he is paid as an officer during his last year of school without working. After he graduates, he then becomes the equivalent of a captain in the army and only owes back 2 years.

Well, about three weeks ago we finally heard back and he was accepted and offered a job with the Indian Health Service in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Honestly, when he first told me South Dakota I wasn't even sure where that was (I was never too good at geography). I knew when he applied for this, we could end up anywhere in the U.S. I was actually surprised that we were staying semi-close to Arizona.

Since last week was spring break, we headed up to Pine Ridge to take a look around at the area and facility that he would be working at. After touring the facility and talking to other pharmacists, Brian decided to take the job! So, once he graduates in May of 2010, South Dakota here we come. We are excited for the new adventure this will bring. Anyone interested in the program he's been accepted into can google SRCOSTEP with USPHS.

This the sideview of the hospital he will be working at.

Dinner Time

2009-02-26T14:05:00.000-08:00

Livvy is such a little mama. She really wanted to feed Jackson yesterday, so I figured why not. It was pretty cute except she kept shoving the spoon down his throat so I let her do it for a minute and then took over. She's such a girl.

Multi-tasking

2009-02-15T18:51:00.000-08:00

Olivia was so tired, but man did she like those chips.

Amy's Wedding

2009-02-15T17:13:00.000-08:00

So my little sis tied the knot December 19, 2008. It was exciting and sad all at the same time. We have always been friends and it's great to see her make such good choices. But, at the same time....I cannot believe she is old enough to be married!

She made such a beautiful bride....probably because she wore my wedding dress!!!

Becca's dad did some pictures at the reception. This is a perfect picture showing how the kids always fight over Jackson. Poor little guy.

I'm a blogger now!

2009-02-15T15:16:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally did it. I created a blog. I had friends keep asking if I had a blog and "no, I don't have time" was always the answer. So, I decided to make time and here it is. Let's see how well I can keep it up!