tender mercies from children

Lately I've been a terrible, horrible, no good very bad mother... especially when it comes to patience with Tatum. For example, I remind or ask him, what seems like 20 times, to do something... and by 5:00 pm, when I continue to get push-back, I snap! Chase walks through the door and enters a war zone. It seems though, in the moments when I want to just run away and hang-up my motherhood hat for a while, that the little people who are causing me all this grief tune-in and give a tender mercy when it's needed most. Like today for example, dinner was in the oven, the kids were riding their wiggle cars around the kitchen (just to keep them entertained and happy for 5 minutes while I cooked), and I slipped over to the family room to lay on the floor and kick my feet up. I was literally plugging me ears and holding back tears. Chase was going to be late, again, and I was DONE for the day! Just then, it got more still and Tate walked over, put a blanket on me, then proceeded to make a spot for him right next to me. "Can I snuggle you Mom?" Tender mercy. Or when the bedtime routine just wasn't going quick enough and I needed him in bed stat, so I tell him to get his jammies on then come downstairs. As a start walking away, he says, "Mom, you're hair looks beautiful. I love you." Tender mercy. And these tender mercies happen daily. I know it's God's way of putting me in my place, reminding me how important my role is and how precious these kids are, and encouraging me to keep going... even if for only another hour.

hair is overrated

Here's a little video I made of the shave party we had for my mom. So inspiring. Aside from losing all of her hair, she feels great! She hasn't been sick and her energy is good! She's still working and going about her life as normal as possible. She's had the best attitude about it all... just staying so positive! Love you mom!

Bald & Beautiful from Katie Oborn on Vimeo.

update of the kids

Tatum-
All Boy.  Obsessed with all things superhero, transformers, video games, bikes, dirt, and friends.  He's an excellent swimmer (no floaties) and could swim all day, every day.  His fav foods are go-gurts, pancakes (with PB, syrup, and whip cream... in his mouth as well), grilled cheese sandwiches, carrots (Olaf noses), strawberries, popsicles, cereal, popcorn, chicken nuggets, fries, and all the candy junk he can get his hands on.  He is bossy, demands a lot of attention, hates losing to any game, very strong headed, stubborn and likes to be a leader.  He's also very smart, adventurous, learns quickly, sensitive, has an amazing long-term memory, loves to sing, loves snuggles, and talks your ear off with stories and scenarios.  He still is very tall for his age and weighs 45 pounds.  Wears XS clothes in the boy section (4-5).

Maeve-
Still fitting in 12-18 month clothes and hasn't changed much with her wardrobe since wintertime.  She's 20 pounds and hasn't gained much weight since January.  At 15 months, she still isn't even close to taking her first step.  She walks great when assisted by a walker toy or parent, but I think it will still be a few months before she's on the move... vertically.  We have gone through several pairs of knee pads and socks/shoes for the amount of crawling she does inside and out.  Her poor knees are so bruised and calloused.  After taking her to the N.A.E.T. chiropractor again for milk allergies (whey/lactase), she is now back on milk and dairy with no reactions!  Yea for cutting out formula and for avoiding rash flare ups!  She loves to push anything... toys, chairs, bikes, the broom,  you name it.  She loves snacking (crackers, cereal, baby treats) but still struggles to eat meals.  Still spoon feeding baby food most of her meals, and slowly broadening her interest in other table foods.  She only says "dah" and jabbers from time to time.  She loves the water, playing oustide, climbing up stairs, and wrestling with dad.  She thinks the microwave and clock are hilarious.  She loves to tease her brother (spit, pull hair, swat).  She still is so smiley and happy and brightens everyone's day around her.

Can't believe summer is slowly winding down and Tate will be in his second year of preK!

tate's two wheels

Just a video of the happiest four-year-old boy, free of training wheels...

It's a right of passage as a parent.



Tate's Two Wheeler from Katie Oborn on Vimeo.
http://vimeo.com/102500206

Chase's 30th

Chase HATES attention... especially on his birthday. I kept teasing him that there was a big surprise coming. He was mortified at the thought of a surprise party. I kept fishing him lines leading up to his actual birthday and he was racking his brain as to what I had up my sleeve. So the day before his birthday, I took him to dinner and handed him a poem that revealed the surprise:

July is the best, we wait all year long for,
Independence day, fireworks, and swimming galore!
Then our 8th anniversary, oh how time flies,
Remembering the day, with great love in our eyes!
Then there’s your birthday, that shortly follows,
But this year is different; it might be hard to swallow.
You’re leaving your 20’s, there’s no looking back,
For now you’re a man with a bucket list to attack.
Temple marriage.  Check.  And two kids to boot.
A diploma (almost) and church callings, you’ve had a hoot!
As you enter this new era, it’s time to ponder,
No looking back, just look out yonder.
Think of the things you’ve always dreamt to do,
And today one of those dreams will come true!

Have any guesses?  Have any clue?
Sure you’d like to travel or scuba dive too.
And you’ve talked about Australia, or a safari, how fun,
Or getting a motorcycle, or a concealed handgun.
These are all great things, but they’ll have to wait,
For today is a different dream I hope to create.
You’ll be moving really fast, and soaring so high,
Look up.  Look up.  High in the sky!
Not far from home, you’ll get squared away,
To meet with your pilot, he’ll teach you the ways.
You’ll hop in a plane and shortly learn to fly,
A sunset flight, a sure dream for my guy.

Happy Birthday Chase and have a fun flight,
For tomorrow you’re 30, oh what a sight! 

He was nervous and excited.  We arrived at the Bountiful Flight School and met our pilot.  We hoped in the small, rickety plane, and he went over a few basics.  And then it was time to take-off...

... Chase was a natural and pretty much flew the whole time.  We played around with positive and negative g-forces (of which made both of us motion sick)... but overall it was so fun flying over the wasatch mountain range at sunset.  Definitely a birthday, and experience, to remember.

Enjoy this highlight video of the flight-


Take Off from Katie Oborn on Vimeo.

cancer.

My mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. For weeks I've felt strong, hopeful, and quite honestly a little naive to the news. But the reality is slowly starting to set in.

My mom decided months ago to follow a prompting and sign-up for an individual cancer policy through Aflac. She didn't know she had cancer. She just felt that with her age and family history, it was probably a good decision... you know, just in case. Shortly afterwards, she discovered a lump in her left breast. She's had lumps before, all of which ended up being cysts. Thankfully she was proactive and scheduled a mammogram. The mammogram has some "suspicious" areas, so a biopsy was ordered. The biopsy was conducted, and sure enough, the tissue came back as cancerous. After an MRI and analysis, it was determined that the tumor was approximately 7cm and showing aggressive signs. After meeting with many doctors and accessing her case, it was determined chemotherapy would need to begin immediately, followed by surgery, then radiation.

I finally broke down the other night. I had just hung up the phone with her and she had been crying and talking a lot about her mortality and goals she still had and things she still wanted to do. But she also talked about seeing her parents and sister again and many others who have passed on. It was such a strange conversation to have with your mother! A mother who was "healthy" and unaware just a few weeks prior. After our conversation, I kneeled by the edge of the bed and wept in prayer. I wept some more in bed, while Chase held me and talked to me. It had finally hit me. I still get choked up thinking about the dark side of cancer and losing my mother.

Since that night, however, I have felt positive. She followed a prompting. She took the initiative to get checked out. She did everything in her power to discover this and move forward. My focus has changed from the news that she has cancer, to how can I help her (and our entire family) get through this trial. How can I be a strength for her? How can I ease the pains of chemo... of losing hair... of losing the energy to do much of anything?

I think the key is simply being there when she needs me. To cry with. Laugh with. Reminisce with. Whatever it may be, I'll be there. Mom, I'm here for you. Always.

Birth announcement

Stationery Card

View the entire collection of cards.

playing catch up

Lets face it.  This little 'ol blog of ours has been pretty neglected this last year.
I've tried posting a few things here and there, but there is so much to catch up on.
I need to find the time and motivation to kick it into gear again.
Maybe during my middle of the night feedings?

So, for anyone who still reads this thing, bear with me as I try working backwards, while trying to stay current with new posts.

first morning home

Anytime Tate was asked, "What should we name baby sister?" during the final months of my pregnancy, he would smile and reply, "Applesauce!"  So for the first 24 hours of her life when we didn't officially have her named finalized, Applesauce it was.

So, here's Tate and Applesauce... home together at last.
My heart just melts. Moments like these are paydays as a parent.

Good Morning Maeve from Katie Oborn on Vimeo.

Maeve's birth story

This second pregnancy has been an interesting one.  I was lucky to have overall good health physically, but it has been hard emotionally.  Aside from some pretty stressful test results in the first trimester (more on that later), the last few months were focused on the baby's overall growth and health (she was measuring very small).  I was going in once a week for non-stress tests (NST) to monitor her heart rate, check amniotic fluid levels and overall health of the baby. These check-ups were going well and there weren't any red flags.  On Monday, April 22nd, I went in for a routine NST and follow-up.  Overall, things looked ok and the baby wasn't under stress.  However, what stood out to me at the appointment was how my doctor kept emphasizing just one more growth ultrasound at St. Mark's Hospital.  I really didn't want to have to hassle with another appointment down there, but for some reason I just felt really impressed to call and schedule an ultrasound.  So I did.  And miraculously they were able to squeeze me in the next day.

Tuesday, April 23:

My doctor/midwife was currently on maternity leave, but she said she was willing and wanted to be there for the delivery of my baby.  I hadn't talked to her for a few weeks, but she randomly called me this morning just to check-in and see how things were going.  I gave her the latest update and informed her that I was going in for an ultrasound in a few hours and that I'd keep her posted.  I went down to St. Mark's for my growth check ultrasound.  It was a different doctor conducting the ultrasound, but he was very thorough and straight-forward.  He said that in the two weeks time since my last ultrasound, the baby had dropped from being in the 19th percentile, to less than 5th percentile.  He also was really concerned with the overall health and functionality of the placenta.  It was starting to calcify and the amniotic fluid looked a little cloudy.  He used the term "placental insufficiency."  He strongly suggested I get induced and that the baby would definitely be better outside of me than in (and hearing the word "fatal" really puts into perspective how time sensitive the issue was).  After he contacted my doctor and filled her in on all of this, she called me and said, "Can you be to the hospital tonight at 6:00?"  Did I mention it was 3:00 when I got that call?  My gut instint knew it was the right thing to do, but I was just blindsided at the timing of everything.  Could I really wrap my head around having a baby in just three hours?  I thought I had three more weeks!  So, after a teary phone call to Chase and shocking him with the news, we were both headed home to make final preparations.

Once we got over the initial shock of a surprise induction, it really sank-in that a higher power had guided the turn of events the last two days.  The impression at the doctors office the day prior to schedule an ultrasound at St. Mark's... the last-minute ultrasound appointment that happened to be available... the random phone call from my doctor to check-in... to the inspired ultrasound doctor who put things in motion... it really is a miracle how it all unfolded!

My dad joined Chase in giving me a Priesthood blessing... and one of the most powerful/emotional blessings I've ever received.  I felt comforted in knowing, and was reminded, that God is in control and He is aware of me.  I just needed to trust in Him.  I can honestly say that I felt a peace come over me and was calm about the whole situation afterwards.

So we packed our hospital bags, ate a little dinner with Tate, and then we were on our way.  Having gone into labor on my own with Tatum, it was a surreal drive to the hospital knowing that for sure this baby would be coming.  Induction was inevitable.  We checked-in and got cozy in our room.  I got my sexy hospital gown on and waited for my IV (one of the worst parts of labor in my opinion... the pain, the swelling/puffiness from all the fluids... I hate it all).  It didn't help that the nurse literally dug in my arm for five minutes to find my vein. Blast!  My doctor came and broke my water around 8:00 p.m. and I was 4 cm.  After I was hooked up to monitors, the waiting game began. 

I started walking the halls and slowly contractions started kicking in.  More time passed and the contractions were getting a little stronger.  I made jokes, ate popsicles, and tried taking my mind off my discomfort.  Chase downloaded a contraction app to his iPad and we starting counting the time between them.  At first they were 2-3 minutes apart, but only lasted 30-45 seconds.  They eventually got more intense and lasted longer.  They were started to take my breath away and I had to stop and endure through each one.  I got back in bed around 12:45 a.m.

Suddenly the pain was getting too intense.  I started shaking uncontrollably.  I transitioned from early labor to intense active labor very quickly.  I was breathing through the hard contractions, changing positions in bed, and squeezing Chase's hand... but nothing was giving me relief.  So I asked for my epidural.

The contractions were so intense that the epidural felt like a bee sting.  Chase was a good sport for letting me squeeze his hand.  The shaking continued. Once the epidural was put-in and I laid back down, I felt an intense urgency to push.  I told my nurse and she kind of brushed it off.  After about 30 minutes, and more intense shaking, I said I really felt like I needed to push.  So finally, my doctor was called-in and she checked me around 1:45 a.m.  Sure enough, it was time to push.  And thankfully the epidural was just starting to kick in!

My contractions were still about 2-3 minutes apart, so pushing took longer than it should have (about 45 minutes).  But the experience was peaceful, exhausting, and filled with anticipation.  At 2:33 a.m., our sweet baby girl finally was born.  She let out a sweet little cry... music to my ears!  She was tiny and absolutely perfect.  They wiped her off and laid her on my chest.  I was instantly overwhelmed with love for this tiny little miracle.  I stared at her perfect, healthy little body and silently said a prayer of gratitude.  We did it.  She was here in my arms at last.

After the cord was cut, the nurses took her to be weighed, measured, and examined.  She was 5 pounds 5 ounces, some brown hair, and a questionable 19.5" inches long.  As the nurses tended to Maeve, my doctor and I disected my placenta (I found this fascinating).  There was some calcification, but not to the extent we thought it would be.  What was alarming was the size of the umbilical cord (no bigger than the circumference of my pinky finger)!  My doctor said it was the smallest cord she's seen, and it probably contributed to growth restriction.  It was a miracle she was as big and as healthy as she was.

Chase took her into the hallway for everyone to meet her.  She would smile as he brushed her cheeks and mouth.  Everyone was smitten by her sweetness.

At 3:30 a.m., the room cleared and it was just the three of us. The room was dark and quiet, so I laid Maeve on my chest to nurse. She instantly latched and ate for 90 minutes! I'm sure she was thinking, "Thank you mom for getting me out... I was starving!" Although I was absolutely exhausted, it was one of the sweetest moments from her whole birth. She was my little girl. I was so blessed to have her and that all was well.

I remember worrying so much before her birth that i wouldn't have an instant love for her.  Tate and I were a great team.  How could I love someone just as much as I love Tatum?  Was that really possible?  But, it's amazing how it happens.  How, in an instant, your heart swells with an overwhelming love for another human being.  How, in an instant, you can't imagine your life without this little person.  How, in an instant, your life has been changed for good.

We love you sweet little Maeve Kate.  Welcome to the world precious miracle.

{photos by Marci... thank you dear friend for such a priceless gift}