Yes, I dropped off the map due to baby number 5 with oldest only being 6. I struggled a great deal that summer. I went ahead and published what I had on her birth, we'll see what else gets added. Then the bomb dropped late September 2014 when Eric handed me divorce papers. Now the divorce is final as of January 29, 2016 also the day my parents and I moved to Salem. We have joint custody of the kids meaning we do a week on with them and week off when Eric has them. I hope to start recording life again especially for those family members who don't get regular updates on the kids. I will probably only focus on kids here so if you want to know what I'm up to in the other half of my life drop me a line would love to hear from you.

Melody's Birth Story

Overall I did quite well health wise through the pregnancy other than 3rd tri aches and uncomfortableness came early. She was due right before Miriam graduated from kindergarten and for once I was hoping she would come late so we could wrap up the school year first then just enjoy new baby. It was not to be I started dehydration/early labor contractions about a week before she came, increasing in quantity as time went on. So much so the Fri before Miriam graduated I had hip pains and p0led with Heavenly Father not that day because Miriam had a moms and muffins activity she was super looking forward to doing. I called midwife and they asked me to come down that night for them to see what was happening as I've never had hip prelabor contractions before. She found I was progressing and suggested I take magnesium to slow things down, take a bath so I could get a good nights sleep. Sat morning (May 10) I woke up at 6:30ish with a contraction followed about 4 an hour hour. Then when they started getting more painful/longer I got in the bath for quite awhile. All along I kept updating my mom on what midwife said, how I was feeling, etc trying to decide when she should head down. I hated to be wrong because one after I gave her the report from the midwife the night before she couldn't go to sleep thinking I would be calling any minute and two she had some plans that day I knew she was looking forward to. Finally about 9ish I told her even though the contractions weren't regular she better start the 4 hour trip down. I kept waiting for the contractions to become regular but they stayed 7-10 minutes apart all morning. I finally got out the bathtub and got dressed making sure we had everything packed to go to the birthing center. I laid down because I was tired and just let the contractions sort of roll through me in a stupor half asleep. I finally got the oomph to call the midwife and let her know what was going on and she told me (same one that delivered Rachel! I was really excited because she did an awesome job) I better head up there and she would meet me there. It was particularly evident and she told me later that when I had a really long quite intense contraction my time was close. I grabbed my traditional mothers milk tea and waddled out to Eric's truck. There are pluses and minuses to laboring in a moving vehicle as I was definitely in transition/last phase of labor. Bad for movement of the vehicle adding to the labor pains things like turns and stops aren't very much fun. Good because I was more focused on getting there before the baby came than the pain. Eric's truck bucket seat wasn't too bad being cushy leather with the armrests to push against the contraction (told Eric I will never feel the same way about the truck again!). Things really got intense as we got off the freeway and I started slipping into hyperventilation so poor Eric was trying to hurry and drive and calm me down reminding me to stay in lower pitches and control breathing. We got to the birthing center and I could hardly hobble in amidst the pain. Midwife directed me to one room to take off clothes so she could check me out and I couldn't even bend or sit and was just clinging to Eric. She helped me out of my bottoms and asked they start the tub so I started in that direction. I told I didn't think I was going to make it as I had been having pushing feelings and perhaps I should try the birthing stool instead. So then I switched directions to another room they hurried and prepared sat down on the stool and about 4 or 5 pushes later Melody popped out. They put her up on my shirt which I was trying to get off and when I was steady enough lead me over to the bed. A minute later my mom comes through the door. I told her look who's here, Melody in my arms and she thought I was referring to her. I couldn't believe she had just missed it, I hadn't even delivered the placenta yet.

Welcome Melody Eve!

Melody came a little early and joined our family after only about an hour and half labor at 1:21 pm. Our family of seven! The kids sure love their new baby sister! She is 8 lbs 7 oz and 20 in long.

Announcing....

Baby #5! Miss Melody is finally joining our family which very well could make us complete.

She is due to arrive between May 12-16, I'm betting on the 14th unfortunately. Miriam's last day of kindergarten and thus graduation is on the 16th somehow I don't see myself attending, but we will see. We were a little surprised because I was wanting more time in between children, I was thinking another year. What made it more ok than when I found out Benjamin was coming was May- I have always wanted a May baby and the Lord let me know in no uncertain terms that this was when she needed to come. Everyone is excited for our new baby. Pregnancy has been relatively easy. Morning sickness was the lightest ever, no throwing up at all, but I think my poor body is worn out so I started experiencing 3rd trimester aches and pains early.

Miriam's Fifth Birthday

We were so lucky this year that Baca got to take off a day of work so we could celebrate for 2 days! My parents came up Thur night and we played and played all weekend. First we went over to Aunt Nicole's clubhouse to swim around 11ish. I believe it was Benjamin's first time swimming and it was a little cold for him and Rachel. We really love swimming!

After naps we went to get Miriam's pictures taken at Target while Baca entertained the other kids. For dinner we met up over at Chuck-E-Cheese and had a great time! I hope you can see some the great pictures from Chuck-E-Cheese with our guests- Grandma, Baca and Aunt Dar (ie Jennifer). I love how much my kids enjoy being with each other for the most part. What a great day!

Saturday, her actual birthday with the traditional strawberry waffles though the kids seem to like whipping cream better than ice cream on their waffles. Yum yum!

With Easter approaching Grandma and Baca wanted to help us decorate our Easter Eggs. We loved having extra help. Aren't our eggs beautiful?! It's fun seeing them get more and more into decorating. we wanted to go on a picnic and have an egg hunt, but it snowed us out so we decided to have our picnic inside.

We had a picnic of mashed potatoes, chicken, strawberry pop, grapes and potato chips (aiming at a picnic, some of Miriam's favorite things. Picnic went well except for a couple of spills. Also a lot warmer than outside!

 Miriam with our usual balloon bouquet, and helping Grandma with her Rapunzel cake. She got to open her presents Saturday after the picnic and got lots of cool things. Like a bike helmet so she can learn to ride a 2 wheel bike. Grandma and Baca also took her over to Kmart to pick out something.

Kids View

Aaron told me the other day, "You make things so hard for me". Of course I was puzzled, we were trying to get everyone ready to go with shoes to go over to the babysitter so I could go help with centers at Miriam's school. He said it was because I made him clean too much. Oh brother, I got so tired of nagging, bribing and threatening I really haven't asked them to do anything for awhile except get dressed, put their dish in the sink and get their pjs on. In the car he continued I wish I was the only one in the house so I wouldn't have to do anything and could eat whatever I want whenever I want. Also note I have never asked them to do anything on their own I'm always doing it with them.

Story number 2 on Aaron. He was so excited when Eric came home from deer hunting with "deer horns". He went around saying deer horns like a battle cry and waving them around. It was hilarious.

March 2012

Aloha!

Sunday March 11 posing after church in our Hawaiian clothes. I can't believe how young the girls look almost a year and a half ago!

Sporting some of our St Patty's clothes. Upper left the kids on March 6, we like to get started early and wear them all month! I love how Aaron obviously was not into the picture, it was probably right before we were getting ready for bed. Lower left is Rachel on March 8, also same on the right, she had too many adorable expression to pick just one! She is wearing shamrock pajamas and is 8 1/2 months old definitely sitting well. Middle is all of us in Delta on St Patricks day. Upper right is Rachel also on St Patricks day, not sure why she is wearing 2 different outfits. Lower right all of us sitting on the back deck on March 15.

 On Saint Patrick's day we found ourselves in Delta. Upper left Miriam and Aaron doing their favorite Delta activity- watching movies! Upper right we went out to eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant La Rancherito (?). While we were there the wind was threatening to send us to Oz and some cowboys came to eat. Miriam was excited to see the horses and wanted her picture with them, bottom left. After lunch we stopped at Alco where Aaron tried out a little motorbike in bottom right picture.

Not too much happened in March the only other thing was my brother moved back from Texas just in time for Miriam's birthday. We were glad to have him back! He also let us use his trampoline as he had no place for it. March 31 showing how much fun the kids had with our new 'toy'!