Duhhh

Phoenix saying "Duh mom" afterhaving what looked to be some tasty brownies

Do you ever do things that even your kids want to say, "Duh mom"? Well I had one of those moments this morning. Phoenix had a doctors appointment at 9:30 so I got up and got Willow off to school and got Poppy and Phoenix ready for the day. Then we set off to Riverside (Kaiser) where the appointment was. I am now starting my 35 week of pregnancy and am huge. I can't walk very well because of sciatic nerve pain and the list could go on and on. So we find a parking spot and all get into the building. We find the right floor and stand in line to check in. Once we are up at the counter the kind receptionist says, "I think that there must be a mistake, your appointment isn't until TOMORROW at 9:30. Then I look at her and say, "but isn't today Thursday the 7th?" And by this point people are looking at us. (so much for patient confidentiality) She replies, "no sweetie today is Wednesday, but yes your appointment is on Thursay the 7th." So I thank her for her time and say that we will see her agian tomorrow, and waddle off. What can you do? Just shake your head and wonder if your brain really does fall out of your head when you have children. I used to be intelligent, and the thought of confusing a WHOLE DAY would have been absurd. The saddest part is that I wasn't even surprised! I didn't try to think of a good reason why I had mixed up the days. I didn't blame someone else. I just accepted that while laying on the couch or bed my brain must have leaked out my nose or ear or some other orifice without me knowing or caring much. Does your brain come back when your kids leave home or am I doomed to confusion for the rest of my life?

Oh and by the way I am SO bummed that Mitt Romney didn't do better yesterday. We might name this baby after him... Willard. That's not a joke so don't make funnies (Nick, I know it's hard to resist). Dave's always thought that he would have a son named Willard and I am not having any more sons, so either he needs a concubine, a second wife, or this baby gets the name Willard. I have a few others but we'll see hopefully soon we'll see.

Boy It's Hot!

Some of you out there have heard several little anecdotes or remembrences of President Hinckley that I have. Here is one that I thought was especially funny, I really think that it shows his witty personality too:

In October of 1994 (I think) I was a student at BYU. One of my roomates' dad's was a stake president and had tickets for General Conference. He was going to be flying out and my roomate Amy asked if I would like to join them for the conference session. I said, "Of course." I had only been to the Tabernacle a couple of times and I was actually thinking of going up there to wait in line to get in to the conference. The sound of walzing in 10 minutes before the session began instead of getting up at midnight to wait in line on the temple grounds was a fabulous plan.

We arrived at the conference session and went in and sat down. That year was unusually warm and the tabernacle does not have air conditioning so everybody was sweating. The first session was over and some people were out in the grounds but most were in their seats fanning themselves with papers. The next session was going to begin in a little while so some of the general authorities were coming back in to the Tabernacle. President Hinckley was one of these early ones. He got up and walked up to the pulpit and leaned on one elbow to the side of the pulpit and the crowd quieted. He looked so relaxed, he had a funny half grin on his face and he said, "Boy, it sure is hot in here isn't it?" The crowd murmured its assent. Then he straightened up and smiled big and said, "but it's not as hot as it's gunna get if you don't repent!" As he said it he shook his finger at the crowd. Nobody in the crowd made a noise. My roomate's dad leaned over and said, "I think it was a joke girls!" Then President Hinckley laughed like he thought it was the funniest thing. He liked seeing the whole congregation squirm! I can still see him smiling and even though it was a little disconcerting to hear the prophet tell you all to repent, I can't help but chuckle at his sense of humor. It would be one thing if your bishop or somebody else said it, but the prophet! Too funny.

He served with all his might, mind, and strength. Do any of you doubt where he went or what kind of greeting he got? I am excited that he got to go home, like I was when some of my companions went home. Their families waiting for them and their lives ready to take off. I know the relief and joy of serving a mission and at the end knowing that you did your best and that you accomplished the things the Lord had set out for you to do. It is an amazing feeling. I can only imagine what a lifetime of service to the Lord (in comparison to 18 months) must feel like. He fullfilled his mission here on the earth and was called home with honor. I want to say lucky, but I know luck had nothin' to do with it. He worked hard and endured many things. We are the lucky ones to have been the recipients of his service for so many years. The Halls of Heaven truly will quiet when we exclaim that we lived in the times of Gordon B. Hinckley!

I don' think that I have any pictures today, but I went to the doctor this week. My doctor said, "Yep there's still a baby in there." She measured my belly, dipped my urine (for sugars and for bacteria) and sent me on my way. I am now 34 weeks and we'll see what the next two weeks bring. I am starting to worry about when it will happen. You know will everybody be at church when I need a ride? Will the places I have arranged for the kids to be, be home and answer when I call? Will Dave be at work? Will I know beforehand? Remember with Poppy I had really convinced myself that I was not in labor. I nearly had her in the car. Today I am packing all the kids their bags and double checking mine. Dave is home so he will be grocery shopping. I haven't gone in over two weeks and boy are we ready. I have lists for Costco, the regular grocery store, Target, and Walmart.

Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks came to California to do some charity concerts in LA for the fire victims this year. Dave is a huge Garth Brooks fan and for his birthday and Christmas I bought him tickets to go see. Then about a week before the concert I was put on bedrest. We debated about whether I should go or not and finally we came to the conclusion that if I sat in my seat and didn't spend the whole concert on my feet, then I could go. Dave drove up and dropped me off at the door and parked. Garth played Friday and Saturday. He played 2 shows on Friday and 3 shows on Saturday. The concert sold out fast so I bought our tickets on ebay. It was so fun, until the fat lady in front of us sat on my feet and nearly crushed them. But that's a different blog for a different day. Garth played for nearly 2 1/2 hours and he played all songs that were popular and we knew it was great! I was shocked at how good he sounds live, and how fun the show was, even from my seat. These photos don't really show how great our seats really were. Trisha Yerwood, and Huey Lewis also came out and did duets with Garth. It was sooo cool.

I measured 44 inches around. The woman who had the septuplets measured 55 inches at some point (I wish I knew which week). Can you imagine? I'm shocked she didn't pop, literally.


The dime is for size comparison. Dave is not only a Deputy Sheriff, but a detective also and the need for a concrete comparison was paramount.

Well another week has passed. The baby is a little bigger and so am I. She/He is 33 weeks now and feels like 33 pounds too! Really about 4 lbs and 15 inches. We are all getting anxious to have our new baby get here. The burning question... is it a boy or a girl? Here are some pictures of me (not looking all that ravishing, but hey why put on makeup for the headboard to see me?). Do you think that it is a boy or a girl? This pregnancy has been similar to all my others with similar symptoms only magified 100 times. Tell us what you think we should use for names. Remember it has to stay in the nature theme. I know Phoenix is a mythical bird so animals are fine. We want family middle names so here's some family names Anderson, Taylor, Hazel, Marie, Jane, Justin, David, Dennis, May, Ronald, Jay, Michael, Timothy, Wayne, Mitchell.

Let's Pretend we're Walruses Shall We?

We are so well taken care of, that it is virtually unbelieveable! The ward flew into action. Before I even got a chance to figure out what I was going to do with the kids, the ward had meals and child care already planned. We will be better fed and watched over than ever.

The baby is not in any distress and everything seems fine. This is a preventative measure to make sure that I don't have a baby that is too early. If it seems like it's not working... then I have other options to consider (medication, etc) I figure that this will be a big fat pain for all those who help, and for me, however it is way better than having to leave a little one in the hospital.

NOw lets laugh at how much I remind myself of a walrus. My nose is constantly suffed (pregnancy symptom) so I snore like a fog horn. Dave says I snort too, but this I cannot believe because that's just gross. My belly feels like it is so huge that I have to flop from one side to another, much like a walrus. I waddle to the water, the bath tub, about once a day for the relief the water gives, like a walrus. The bigger I get the nicer people are to me like a walrus. The similarities are endless. Although I don't think Walrus's buy Thrifty brand Mint and Chip icecream by the truck load just in case the store runs out. I would take a picure of myself flopped like a walrus but I don't think that I would be able to get up...ever so just imagine me laying on the icy tundra moaning and snoring and you should get a good laugh. I know Dave does. He thinks this is hilarious, and reminds me that this was my idea daily. I blame Grant Jensen (bless his soul) whose whole funeral was about how wonderful posterity is and how families are the greatest blessing of our lives. I felt so inspired that I went home that day and told Dave it was time to finish the family off. He's probably laughing his head off in the Spirit World right now. Thanks Brother Jensen, I hope you and the baby are getting well aquainted.

Now on a sadder note I just wanted to let all those Corona natives know that Ryan Shumways dad passes away the funeral is tomorrow Tuesday at 11:00. I won't be attending but I will be thinking of all the times we were over there. The funeral is at the Corona Oak St chapel.

Sorry it's been so long. I'm sure you all know those weeks when you feel like everything is going on. Everybody has doctors appointments, everybody has dance, school, blah blah blah.

I saw the OB this week and she put me on bedrest for the REST of my pregnancy! I'm sure she totally knows what she's doing BUT does she know what the heck she's asking?! ... with three other kids that is nearly impossible. Besides the impossiblility of it, do you all know how uncomfortable it is to lay down?! I feel like I spend the night flopping from one side to another as it is! I am 32 weeks and I really need to get to 36. That's 4 weeks. I can do that. Nobody needs to be fed or cleaned in 4 weeks right! I went to the store to buy some food that the kids would eat without a lot of fuss. I came home with cereal and a shopping cart full of corndogs, chicken nuggets, ramen noodles, spaghetti-o's, and various other frozen delicacies. The ward will be bringing meals in a couple times a week (every other night while Dave is working). So I hope he can figure out how to work and take care of us all.

Anyway's I haven't charged the battery in my camera in a long time so I don't have any new pictures to post. I gurantee you that the kids look nearly the same as they did a month ago. Well Phoenix does have a beard now, but other than that we're all about the same.

Oh actually I do have a picture to post! This is the picture that went out with our Christmas cards. I don't have addresses for most of the people that blog so here it is. Our "Incredible" Year.