so much

I have gone too long w/o writing. I put a draft in my drafts, and never finished or liked what I was saying so I never published it.

We had a wonderful Christmas. Joe has been home every night since Ian was born, and I have been preoccupied with all of us home. We went to our friends house Christmas Eve and Day and had such a wonderful time with them. They have kids all pretty much the same age and we, the adults get a long. They are such wonderful hosts. We also went out with them yesterday for dinner for my b-day. ( a day early). It was a late night, but worth it. I know our friends will get sick of us soon. We will have gotten together 4 times over the holidays before its through.

We spent the day with Joe on a job he was helping to remove a tree for a guy we know that hurt his shoulder. ( i had to stop and save this draft and this is where i can pick back up) I gave the deposit to a house we found to rent. It is 2times as big and on acreage, play set, 2 car garage. I am so excited. I am worried that the lake in the front yard is a temptation. I will never be able to trust the kids with it. We move in when Joe gets back form California in 2 weeks. A great birthday present. (had to stop typing again, picked backup here)

Joe will be visiting Sacramento for 2 weeks, and visiting his Harston relatives in Georgetown and his cousin Evan that will be only a mile from where he will be in a hotel for that time. He will be staying by the sunrise mall for all of you in Cali.

Ian is growing like a weed, two weeks ago I weighed him and he gained 5 lbs. I haven't weighed him lately, but know those chubby cheeks are a sign of chub. He still eats every 4 hrs, sleeps well, is very noisy, grunts all the time in his sleep. Its cute but hard to sleep through. I am not ready to put him too far away, to get better sleep.

I had a good talk with my grandma and enjoy talking with her. I feel bad my kids can be so noisy sometimes. I don't want to get off the phone, but the house is too small to really get away, so phone calls tend to be short. Another reason I cant wait to get a bigger place. I really wish I could be of help for them . My kids are really wanting to write people they love and Email is one of the ways they like to do it. I have only done Sam and her friend Lauren, and Adam and my mom. We started my grandparents but I think I might have the wrong address. I thought Adam talking to his ggpa might be easier to do than the phone. kids are hard to understand on the phone. (and no loud noises in the background) I know I have tons of kids, but kids love to be with older people and I really think older people love to hold little kids. I remember being little and sitting on my grandparents laps for a long time. I really think the time spent together was mutually beneficial. But I know with their health, it can be hard to find the time and energy. like it took me over 2 weeks to make 2 posts.oh well. I love my grandparents, I just wish I was closer to help.


Joe got his bear rug, a few days ago. He is just a beautiful as I remember. We tool picts, but they don't do it justice.

oh I wanted to share Sammi's picture she drew for a contest. I live it it has a lot of details. its the first time she could enter. only open for 3-5 graders. And put Christmas picts up and some of the house. ok ill post them later, not able to upload.. dumb system!!!

This year in a glance

Well I wanted to summarize what we did this year. I'll start in Oct of 07. Joe diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, Feb08 get a safety supervisor position in Indiana. Months of waiting to find out. well worth it. Pregnant with # 5 didn't tell anyone. March, Tyler turned 1, April Johnny turned 3, sold our house in Wyoming, and went to Indiana. Sammi's 8th b-day in a hotel, 1 1/2 months in hotels,and a friends house, waiting for the purchase of a new home to close Baptize Sammi, Moved in a house that we rent (purchase fell through), Joe gone to Michigan 5 days a week, swimming lessons, Sammi and Adam learn to ride bikes, get a visit from my Dad, traveled to the Smokies, and NC, hike all the time, I flew out to Utah for my brothers farewell for his mission to South Africa, Joe turned 40, Adam turned 7 , Ian was born, my Mom came for a visit, and I'll be 30 before the end of the year. (i admitted it):) We have had a lot going on, and probably forgot something in there.

I feel extremely blessed. Joe has been home since Ian was born and don't like the reality of after the holidays ,him traveling a lot again, but that is our lot. We will continually be looking for a job within the company for him to be home every night. We have enjoyed this job, not the travel. I am healthy and the kids are healthy besides the colds and flu we all get. Joe is doing well with controlling diabetes.

We are doing lots and having tons of fun. Well since I wrote and put this as a draft, I wasn't finished, we have found a new place to rent. We looked at a place on Monday and Tuesday the owner said he wanted to rent to us. I wasn't serious about trying to find a place, but this one is twice as large, and has acreage, for 50 bucks more. I had to mention that because we found out before the year was up. The kids will have gone to 4 schools in 12 months, and have been switched to 4 wards too. I feel bad but hopefully they will think of it as another adventure. I know Sam isn't wanting to leave her teacher, but she will have a good one at the next school.

getting ready for Christmas

Before my Mom came I went to a violin concert of Sam's. It was very nice her school was the firs to perform. The boys sat in the back row and were very good for the first hour and a half. I stood the whole time and became very tired. So did the boys. That long into the performance, and the concert was only half over. I went and got her off the stage and explained we were tires and the boys were getting out of control. I didn't know what to expect when we got there and the people around us told me that it is usually over in 1 hr. Sammi cried for a long time and then finally understood. I could have stayed in the hall with the boys and waited for the concert to be over, but I was too tired to do that. I'll share a bit of the concert when I download the video.
I really didn't start to get into the Christmas spirit for quite a while. I think I am too tired to really have any emotion for much. I also think not going to church for a few weeks contributed. Kids being sick, and then having Ian, I don't like to go to church for a while. I went last week and taught the class. I really think that was good for me. I was tired after, but I don't think I was any more tired than usual. I cant wait to change schedules in January. Our schedule is form 1230-330 and kids are so tired.
I think I really want to do something great for Christmas. Like volunteer some where, or donate for a good cause. Then I look at myself and say I am volunteering at home and doing good for my family. I just want to not think of just me. I think also that next year I wont just have had a baby, kids will be a little older, or maybe in a few more years I can really involve all my kids better. I know I am in the small kid stage and really will never have this time again. I just want to instill in all my kids early to care for others. I know that they do care for others now and doing the things at Christmas time wont matter in the long run. I know that at this time of year it becomes more prevalent to do good deeds, and good can be done all year. I realize I dont have the energy to even go to the kids Christmas party. I don't think they even do things here. You cant even give gifts, or call it christmas break at school. How lame!! In Wyoming the kids exchanged mittens, and had a big play day the day before break, they also had 3-4 recesses. Here only one, and when its cold,25, inside recess, sitting at your desk. double lame!
Joe has been home since Ian was born. It sure is nice. I really appreciate him being home every night. I was having a stressful time with the noise level and getting a bad headache, He came home and started the car for me, got me a starbucks hot chocolate and put a beautiful cd in the car and told me to get out ot the house. I love that. I unwound and felt much better. the quiet car was wonderful. we ate pizza and watched a movie together. So nice.
I am making candy and i really think that helps put me in the mood for Christmas. I havent delivered any yet, I need to before all of it gets eaten by everyone here. All the shopping is done... Not joe though. He is so hard to buy for! If I had tons of money I know what I would get him that he needs, but in my price range, nothing seems to be right. I know what ever I get him will be appreciated, better than nothing.
I got my cards sent out. If you didnt get one email me your address, and Ill send you one. I have more.

My Mom

I have to say having my Mom here is just what I needed. I have missed her terribly, and even though I visited with her in September, I feel like I haven't seen her for much longer than that. She is helping me with everything. I haven't felt like getting the Christmas stuff out. Got that done. I was able to get my storage room more organized, make cookies, make cereal, get a shower before noon... get naps. I have also enjoyed our talks and got to go on a date with Joe, ALONE! I definitely need her back when I haven't just had a baby or about to move. Getting to know each other when I am not so tired or distracted would be wonderful. I want to spend my time with her while she is here and not miss out on quality conversations, and stuff. I am so glad she has taken time to come here and help me de stress, relax and visit with me. I sure love my Mom. My kids have been sick and want to make excuses to stay home another day to just be home with grandma. I love that .

labor

Well a few of you have commented on that I don't look like I was even in labor. I got the epidural early and really didn't feel contractions. I felt the pushing because the epi transfered to my stomach. The doc would say push this away and I told him not to do that because it really hurt more than the baby. He didn't know I could feel anything either. I really only pushed for 15 min. Besides taking longer than I expected for the petosin to get to a high enough dose, the labor and delivery was easy. I have uaually waited as long as I could and then got the epidural, but I wanted to be comfortable and I am glad because of how long it took I was relaxed. I was impatient towards the end because I wanted the same nurses and they worked 12 hrs that ended at 7pm. We made it 4 min to spare.

Ian

Here are a few pictures of Ian and I a few minutes after he was born.

we're home

Well we are home of course they didn't keep us at the hospital for 6 days. We got out Thanksgiving Day about 430pm and got home and an hour later had a beautiful dinner from my visiting teachers. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends. Everyone has been so kind and thoughtful volunteering to come and take the kids, bring meals, I am so blessed. Thanks for the calls of congrats for the new baby. I know I have forgotten to call a few of you ie. Laurie etc, but we are doing fine. Ian Layne Partridge was born 11-25-08 at 656pm 19in and 7lb11oz. The last few nights he has gone to bed around 1000pm and wakes about 2 and again at 6. I really hope that keeps up but know life is not always as I want it. We saw the doc on sat. and he weighed the same as when we were discharged on thurs. I am so happy he hasn't lost weight.

The kids are so cute with him. Ty wouldn't let anyone hold him for a while at the hospital and kept saying my baby. Johnny in the morning before going to the hospital, reached as high on my belly as he could and did circular rubs saying, I love you and cant wait to give you kisses, and when he saw the picture, he was so excited and was telling the family, my brother is here, and I love him so much. Adam is wonderful and wants to hold him all the time. He is so gentle and kind to everyone and no exception for Ian. Sam is a big help and loves to hold him and has done so for an hour without wanting to let him go after the hour was up.

The labor took longer than I expected. With Ty, I received the petosin, at 9 and had him 3 hrs later. With Ian I got the petosin at 9 and had him at almost 7. I was impatient.

Joe got me a mint hot chocolate from starbucks and I think I'm addicted. the kids were jealous and I told them they could have their own hot chocolate when we got home but no one in the car gave birth to a baby but me and I needed a treat. I think it worked for a few minutes until I took another sip of it and they asked for hot coco again.

I have had a very nice time having Joe home for the week. I was able to sleep anytime I wanted and Joe helped the house stay clean. I really loved that the house was clean when I got home from the hospital and while Joe has been home. It's sure been nice to not worry about it.

I can't wait to have my mom come and the kids are so excited too. They miss all the friends and family they know and they think of you often.