Summer Fun Part 2

We started out Thayne's summer break taking a hike....

In the wrong direction. We were supposed to be hiking up table rock, but ended up hiking about 3 miles in the wrong direction. After running all the way back to our starting point (the car) and then started hiking up the face.

The boys: after running all the way back with the packs.

I think we had to take more stops because we were already exhausted when we started on the right trail, but the conversations and hiking was pretty fun. We were in the best company.

And incredibly beautiful!!!

We literally hiked everything; green meadows, sheer rock cliffs, snowy mountain tops, shale rock, dust, and mud.

When Table Rock was finally visible we still had a long way to go.

I think the last half mile was the hardest.

But the view was totally worth it! It felt like we were on top of the world.

The month of August we spent in Washington where I grew up. This is the house that my parents built, but never finished it before they moved to Oregon. This is what it looked like when we got there.

Ripping down boards for the deck railing.

This is after we put the deck railing on.

Inside the house: living room before

After we trimmed the windows... and everywhere else, and chinked the logs.

A close up of the chink and trim.

Loft after we trimmed the closets, chinked the walls, carpet was installed, and we built the banister walls by the stairs.

Loft bedroom before:

Before picture of the same loft, without all the above work done.

Here is the stairway again. SO much better!

a summer filled with fun! (part one)

I can't believe it has been so long since I posted anything on my blog. My excuse is that we have had an incredibly busy summer. We have traveled to Washington, Arizona and Utah, worked construction, swam, attended weddings, pulled all-nighters and created things. It has been lots of fun, but also very busy and somewhat chaotic.

The chances of me posting all the pictures in one post is highly unlikely, but I'll do my best.

Just before school started up again for Thayne, we took a little vacation to Arizona with Derek and Mary. It was worth the long drive.

Swimming every day was my favorite part. I would LOVE to live in Arizona just for the perfectly warm water and wonderful sunshine.

Jarom was terrified of the water when we first got there, but after about 6 hours of playing in it being scared was the last thing on his mind.

Taysia loved the water as long as she had her goggles on. HAHA!

Sun tanned and tired. I think we had too many late nights being crazy... or watching Raylene do her lyrical dancing to You Are My Sunshine

Thayne... not angry... just..... (actually, I don't know what kind of an expression that is.)

Taysia "sunbathing" - actually, she decided she wanted a short break from swimming.
Phoenix - being the best baby, just like always. She is so good natured about everything. Heavenly Father must have known that I needed an easy one for my third.
Family picture by the pool!
Jarom, learning to swim with a noodle.
Taysia and daddy (her goggles make me laugh)

I love the scenery in Arizona - tall palm trees, blue water - it is beautiful!
Taysia and her cousin Jenna.

My little Munchkin, Phoenix is growing so fast. She is into everything, and so curious about all the things that she shouldn't touch. Her new favorite thing to explore... the toilet paper!

And she is always so delighted about her accomplishments. In trouble or not, it was fun!

We are sad to announce that we are selling our beautiful home to prepare for the upcoming move to dental school.

If you know of anyone who is looking to buy a house have them check out our blog http://rigbyidahohomeforsale.blogspot.com/ or have them email or call me.

Thanks!
Kiama

Proof that Phoenix started smiling :)

Meet Phoenix

Cute little bundle of joy!

She is such a snuggle-bug!

I am ashamed to say that most of the pictures I have taken of Phoenix were from when she was a week old... or younger. I decided to start doing better today, and this is what I got:
Sadly right now she is an incredibly fussy baby. I don't know if it is colic, or what, but she screams from about 6:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.

Since I've never had a baby with colic, or even one who had a scream like Phoenix, I'm not sure what to think, however I'm hoping that it is something she grows out of, and completely forgets so I don't have to deal with it when she is 2! :)

And speaking of 2-year-olds... Check out this little cutie (with attitude)!

She has officially hit the TERRIBLE twos! This week alone she has successfully (nearly) flushed Jarom's pajamas down the toilet, and a pair of his shorts... just to get a reaction out of him! She was jumping up and down laughing... he was not!

Flooded the kitchen (almost) because she discovered how to work the water in the fridge.

And successfully flooded the bathroom while giving her "babies a drink"! (I was in the shower for that one!)

Phoenix Lashel Dawson

Phoenix Lashel Dawson was born January 27th at 3:13 a.m.

She weighed 6 lbs 15 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. (Perfect size)

10:30 Wednesday night I decided to take Castor oil to see if it really did what my mom claimed it would.

I stayed up until 12:30 helping Thayne finish a homework assignment, and other than feeling a little sick from still burping the stuff up, I didn't feel any different when I fell asleep.

Taysia woke me up at 1:00 asking for a drink. While heading back to bed I felt like my water broke, but after rushing to the bathroom I found that I was bleeding... lots!

I woke Thayne and called the hospital. They told me to come in ASAP because blood in the amniotic fluid is a very bad thing (which I kind of figured out on my own.)

My first contractions started at 1:15. We arrived at the hospital at 2:00. (what is with middle of the night deliveries for me???)

Glenn was waiting there to take the kids! (I don't know what I would have done without Glenn and Amy! Especially being willing to come get the kids in the middle of the night.)

He helped Thayne give me a blessing, because quite honestly, I was terrified at this point.

When we got to Madison Memorial everyone was waiting for me. (It was kind of nice to feel so well taken care of.)

Thayne filled out the paperwork while they hooked me up to the monitors and gave me an IV.

When I found out that I was already 8 cm, I told them to get the Dr there ASAP.

Dr Watson arrived about 15 minutes later. I was dilated to 9 cm. He broke my water which was clear (thank goodness! Apparently the bleeding was just from me dilating too fast or something)

After a few more contractions I was ready to push.

I wish I could say the pushing was a piece of cake like with Taysia, but it wasn't. Phoenix was face up, so instead of the pushing being a relief, and change of pace from the contractions. It was awful. She put so much pressure on my spine, and felt like I made no progress, it was all I could to to keep trying.

20 (give-or-take) minutes later Phoenix was born, (2 hours of labor, start to finish... a new record for me) she was healthy as can be. I must have said 1000 prayers of thanks, and still do, that everything turned out okay, and that she was healthy, and fine. I know I couldn't have done it without prayer, or my wonderful husband who stood by me, and helped me through the entire thing.

So, for anyone who may question whether or not Castor oil works... it does. Whether it was what made my labor only 2 hours or not, I don't know. I do know, however that any shorter labor and I will be tempted to camp-out at the hospital for the last month just so I know I will be there when I deliver. :) I am just glad Thayne was home, and that we got there in time.

The whole birth experience (minus the pushing) was wonderful. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to have an epidural, and thanks to everything progressing so fast, I didn't. It might sound crazy, but I would definitely go through it again to hold this beautiful little girl! I could hold and snuggle her all day. Her soft, perfect skin, little smiles when she is sleeping, beautiful bright eyes, and incredible sweetness is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I don't know how I got so lucky to have two beautiful girls, a handsome little boy, and a wonderful husband, but I thank my heavenly father every day for all that I have been given, because it is so much!

Discouragement and distractions

I hate it when I build myself up for something, only to be let down. You would think I would learn, but I find myself doing it over and over again.

This time, I decided I was going to have my baby early - this week actually - and I don't know of anything more discouraging that finding out that you are probably going to be pregnant for a while. I know, doctors can be wrong, but I doubt he is this time. Three reasons:

1. I haven't progressed at all this week; still only dialated to a 1.

2. Dr. Watson is going to be out of town until Saturday.

3. Everyone knows it's not possible to predict your due date. (Darn it!)

And so I wait! I just hope it happens sooner rather than later!

So, to keep myself busy, and hopefully my mind on other things (so far it hasn't worked at all!) I do this...

Balance family, marriage, and school...

Showing off their muscles lifting daddy's books.

Silly Kids!
Taysia napping with daddy! (I wish I could say I got a nap too... not this time!)

Keep up with two incredibly busy, and incredibly fun kids...

Enjoying a calm moment.....

It was only a moment!

Finish the quilt I started a year ago for Taysia (Finally!)

Make curtains for the master bedroom

(I LOVE how they turned out, and am excited to start on the ones for Taysia and Phoenix's room.)

It is crazy to think of adding one more kid to the craziness, but I'm excited. Jarom and Taysia are pretty excited too! Especially Taysia! She seems to have grown up so much lately! She is going to be such a wonderful big sister!

Sweet little princess!

I can't believe how big she is!!!