Generations

We took Daniel and Kate to visit Grandma Simmons.  This was the first time she'd been able to see Daniel.  She is a very sweet woman who has seen a lot in her lifetime.  She is very petite and still quite independent.  We've stopped by before to find her mowing her lawn or have asked each year to take a tour of her garden.  She is quite meticulous about keeping up on her family history records.  Within a few weeks of Daniel being born she called to make sure she had his birthday right and the correct spelling of his name.  She was quite thrilled at the name choice of Daniel.  That was her father's name (and her son's name).  It's still amazing to me that they lived directly across the street from the Ivy House (755 East 620 North) when mom was going to school (Elaine was in high school at the time) and that I lived across the street from her for several years.  I'm grateful for the chance to get to know her and hope to learn more about her life.

Kate's Fork Success

Kate is just learning how to use a fork so I grabbed my phone to get a video.  I just love watching her.  I love the funny face she makes at the beginning.  I love her funny post nap hair. I love how focused she is.  I love how she cheered when she got the bit in her mouth.  I love how she looks at her Daddy. I love her expression when she's looking at Daniel when he squawked.  I just love her, yes I do. 

Baby Boy

Monday 25 November 2013

I’m looking at a blank page and thinking of how to record one of those moments in life that is significant in every way.  A week ago today our little Daniel Oden Cornish, was born. Our lives will never be the same. 

This pregnancy has been challenging… perhaps they always are.  Nausea and exhaustion where rough and my emotions seemed to be more up and down this time.  The last six or so weeks I was especially uncomfortable.  It was uncomfortable to sit, it hurt to bend, I couldn’t lay down for more than a few minutes, it was hard to clean to cook to drive to eat.  We also were having a hard time figuring out a middle name.  Matt kept trying to make suggestions, but we just couldn’t agree on anything.  Basically, I was kind of being difficult, although unintentionally.  It was frustrating.  I was very ready to have our Cowboy out of my tummy and into our arms.  Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself.

At our week 38 visit (November 4) Dr. Judd checked to see if was progressing at all.  I’d had a lot of hip and pelvis pain that I hoped meant I was making some progress.  All that discomfort had to have some value, right?!  And although I hadn’t really had any contractions I thought this time might be different since I’d already had a baby.  Just to be safe, for the two weeks previous to that week 38 appointment I kept telling myself to have no expectation that I was inducible.  I told myself that over and over… but it didn’t work.  When Dr. Judd said nothing was happening and that I’d probably go a week over again, I was quite disappointed.  Sigh.  Quite disappointed.  Another week seemed like another year. 

By the time we got to the week 39 appointment (November 11) I was better prepared for, though not excited about, the prospect of being at the same place I had been the week before.  Sure enough, nothing had changed.   The only thing different about this appointment was when Dr. Judd said that we’d be getting a non-stress test once we were officially overdue, which would be the following Monday, November 18 (since my due date was Sunday, November 17).  He also mentioned that the week before a big holiday there was always an increase of failed non-stress tests.  The techs apparently have a little more wiggle room on interpreting the results of the non-stress tests than a doctor has in deciding if a woman is inducible or not.  I guess they want to cut down on the number of women who have to come in for the non-stress tests, so they fail more of them so they don’t have as many to do when the holiday comes. 

On Monday, November 18 we had our week 40 visit.  I was technically 40 weeks and 1 day.  That’s 1 day overdue.  We knew we would be getting the non-stress test that day because they are only done on Mondays and Thursdays.  While we waited to see Dr. Judd, Matt suggested that we have them call over to Utah Valley Hospital and schedule our test.  A few minutes later the nurse came and told us that there was only one spot open for the day and it was in about 45 minutes.  So they were going to hurry and get us through our doctor’s appointment so we could make it to UVRMC.   Dr. Judd said, again, that nothing had changed.  If we passed our non-stress test then we’d go again on Thursday.  He again mentioned the increase of failures and said the techs sounded like they were in a “failing mood.” 

So off we went to UVRMC.  We got strapped into the monitors and the nurse checked our little Cowboy’s heart rate.  It sounded good.  That was happy.  We don’t want to fail that portion.  Then she started measuring the amniotic fluid levels.  The nurse was training another so she did a lot of talking out loud to explain things.  She would find a little fluid here but say “It’s not very much so we won’t count that.”  After a few other comments similar to that, Matt patted my arm and mouthed, “She’s trying to fail you.”  I still had no expectation of failing today.  I thought they would have us come back on Thursday and then maybe we’d fail.  After about ten minutes the nurses left for a few minutes for the doctor to check out the results.  After a few minutes she and came back with congratulations… we’d failed!  I was quite shocked.  Really?!?!  We were both thrilled, but it was hard to wrap my mind around.  Our Cowboy was coming! 

We called mom and dad and the rest of the family as we drove home to get the hospital bags.  I’d mostly packed them a week or so earlier, but had a few last minute things to gather up.  I held Kate as we were were about to leave and thought about how everything was going to change.  Everything was going to be different.  I was excited and nervous. I felt like I was holding my breath as we packed things into the car and headed to Orem Community Hospital.  We checked in at about 12:30.  There was only one other woman in labor at the time.  They asked if we had a room preference so we asked if room 115 was open.  That was where Kate was delivered.  It was available, so we headed down the hall, hand in hand, to have a baby.

At 1:30pm our nurse, Shannon, placed the cervidil and Matt and I settled in for what we thought would be a good, long wait.  With Kate the cervidil had done basically nothing after twelve hours.  We turned on Netflix and decided to watch some “Doctor Who.”  Neither of us had seen any episodes but we’d heard about it a lot recently.  Shannon asked after a bit if I was having any contractions.  I said no and asked if I was supposed to.  I hadn’t had any with Kate.  She said sometimes cervidil can put women into labor.  After about two or three hours I was tired of sitting in the bed, my tailbone hurt from the angle I was sitting.  Well, at least that’s what I thought.  As soon as I stood up I realized it wasn’t my tailbone but a lot of pressure in my lower back.  It was quite strong when I stood up.  Shannon suggested she check my progress just in case something was happening.  I was dilated to a 3 and about 60% effaced.  WHAT?!?!  Whoo-hoo!!!  They brought in a yoga ball for me to sit on.  That helped so much, I'm not sure why it helped but I didn't care why.  I was just grateful that it did. 

Another few hours passed and the pressure increased until it was really painful.  I got an epidural at about 7:30pm.  It took effect quickly and I was able to relax for a bit.  Matt asked if I wanted a blessing.  I had planned to ask for one and was so very grateful he was willing and worthy to give it.  I prayed first and felt specifically that our little one, our Daniel, would have a special relationship with his siblings.  Then Matt put his hands on my head and gave me a beautiful blessing.  He said the baby would be safe through the delivery and I would be comfortable.  He also said, “Our warrior has been prepared and is ready and excited to come to our family,” and that “Heavenly Father is specifically aware of this moment in our lives.”  It was such a sweet experience to be there with Matt and feel the Spirit and power of the Father during this experience.

They checked again and I was still progressing.  They called Dr. Judd to update him and he said to remove the cervidil and to wait until morning to begin the Pitocin.  I don’t think he wanted a middle-night delivery if he could help it.  At about 9:30 we both tried to get some sleep.  Matt made up the couch bed and pulled it over next to my bed.  We held hands as we tried to get some sleep.  My contraction continued and when the nurse checked again about an hour later she said we were going to be having a baby before the day was done.  By 10:30 I could feel the contractions again.  The anesthesiologist was called back in and he asked if I was feeling pressure or pain.  When I told him I felt pressure, he said the epidural wasn’t really going to help with that. The nurse then said we were well on our way and, "You're going to have a baby tonight."  She was right.  He was ready to come:)

Matt began coaching me through contractions.  I was nervous and yet felt an inner calm at the same time.  It was a great comfort to have Matt so close.  Dr. Judd was called and arrived at about 11pm.  Everything was prepped for him, Matt was on my right and Kylie the nurse on my left.  At 11:24pm I was told to begin pushing.  It hurt.  The epidural had worn off.  Dr. Judd said not to be afraid of the pain (easy for him to say).  Matt said he knew I could do this.  I’d asked for a mirror this time and Matt told me when some hair was visible.  As soon as I looked tears started to well up.  He was coming.  Our little one was coming.  I cried and pushed for only a few more minutes before he was delivered at 11:28pm.  I was able to touch his leg and foot as Dr. Judd held him up.  And then his first cry brought more tears.  He was here.  He was safe.  What an almost unbelievable reality that moment was… the moment our son was born.

His chubby cheeks were a bit deceptive as everyone started making guesses about his weight.  Most thought he’d be in the 9½ pound range, but he was 8 pounds 5 ounces and 20 inches long.  I watched as they cleaned him off, Matt standing close by.  Daniel cried a little more, his arms and legs flailing.  They brought him to me and I laid him on my chest.  He was immediately calm and snuggled in.  The sweetest joy filled my soul.  The love I felt for him seemed to have always existed.  
 

After a few minutes I handed Daniel to Matt, who sat in a rocking chair next to my bed.  Daniel was calm, his eyes open and looking around.  That’s just what Tyler had done when he was born.  What a wonderful sight, a Daddy and his son.  We talked about the middle name again and it was decided that he would be Daniel Oden Cornish. He's named after some remarkable men, some I've never met, others are some of the best I've ever known.

We sent a text to the kids (we would have called, but it was late), called mom and dad, and sent an email to Matt’s family.  What a joy it is to have family to share these moments with.  Matt went with Daniel to the nursery for his bath while I ate some cereal and pudding.  It's funny to sit there and think, "I just gave birth to a baby.  He was inside of me!  And now he's here, healthy and safe.  A new soul is beginning his mortal experience.  This is big!!"  

We were all pretty exhausted and it was getting late.  It was around 1:30am by the time we were all settling down.  Daniel has been quite the squeaker, even from that very first night.  I wasn’t able to really fall asleep.  How could I?  We had a new little soul with us.  I listened as he breathed and cried as I thought about the miracle of his creation.  He was safe and healthy and long awaited for and finally here.  After a while Matt put Daniel next to him, up by his head, which calmed Daniel almost immediately.  

With that Daniel’s squeaks quieted, soon both were asleep.  I watched these two boys sleep, cried again, and prayed a prayer of gratitude.  Even now, as I look at Daniel asleep on a pillow next to me, I almost can’t believe it.  He is really here.  There is a sacred feeling that comes when holding a new little one.  Holding Daniel is holding a piece of heaven. 

Southern Utah Trip

5 - 7 July 2013
(I'm actually writing this three years after this trip took place, but I'm catching up and figured it would fit better in its chronological spot :))

I've lived in Utah for much of my life and feel like I've seen very little of it.  Matt and I had a long weekend that we decided to take advantage of.  We called Elder Kay Hales in Redmond, Utah to see if we could stop by for a visit.  I used to go see him a few times a year, but I haven't been able to get down there much the last few years.  He was delighted to have us come and so we began one of our favorite weekend trips we've taken.  We've taken a few more weekend trips to different parts of the state, but none quite like this one - heading in a direction but not necessarily knowing where we would end up but finding things to do along the way.  Having more little people makes it harder to just wander, but we refer back to this trip enough to know that it's a type of travel we look forward to doing more in the future.  As the Littles get bigger we hope to do a lot more wandering.

The following are the pictures I uploaded to this blog after the trip.  I'll add a few notes but will mostly just let the pictures speak for themselves.

(5 July 2013) We drove to Redmond and had a fun reunion with Elder Hales in his home.  He took us on a tour of his home and garden and fed us a nice lunch.  I love eating at his home.  I feel like I've gone back in time.  He gave us an update on Vanuatu and those he had heard from or seen in one of his 5 trips back to Vanuatu or New Zealand to go to the temple with different members.  It was wonderful to see my dear friend.  I am grateful for Matt who accepts my friends as his own and cares for there well being as much as I do.

After leaving Redmond we just started driving.  I remember stopping at a gas station in the Redmond (I think) and just looking at a map and finding a town in the direction we wanted to go.  We settled on Loa, Utah.  It was a great choice.  It was only an hour away but in a beautiful little valley.  We looked up Loa on Wikipedia once we got into our hotel, Road Creek Inn, and learned that it had been named by an early Mormon settler who had served his mission in Hawaii.  Loa means Mountain in Hawaiian (I remembered that once I read it).  We drove back to the Fish Lake to eat at their lodge for dinner.  It was a lovely view and a place we came back to a few years later when we were coming home from Lake Powell with Amy and Tyler.

(6 July 2013) Capital Reef National Park.  It was beautiful.  I remember wishing I had Amy or Emily with us to take pictures because they have such a good eye for capturing the world.  Matt carried Kate on his back for most of our stops.  How cute are is that little pink person on her Daddy's back?!  I love them so!!

   

She still makes this face :)

The Petroglyphs from the Fremont Peoples that lived throughout Utah and surrounding states 2000 years ago.  It's so interesting to me that we can still see these drawings now.

   
 

There is this darling, original, school house in Fruita.  We couldn't go inside but read the plaque. The desks inside were just like the one I have at home that (someday) I plan to refinish and display.  I love little things like reading the history of a little school house in the middle of nowhere, whose first teacher was 12.

After Capital Reef National Park we headed to Boulder, Utah, which is southwest of Fruita.  We saw on the map that there were Anasazi State Park that had ancient ruins there and decided that sounded interesting.  It is a small state park (I just looked it up - 6 acres is all) and was interesting, though hot and had limited information to read.  Still, I've always loved archaeological finds. 

   

      

As we talked with the woman in the museum we asked about places to eat.  She said there were two, but at the end of the street (and the end of world, so it looked).  We drove down the street and decided to head into the one called the Burr Trail Grill (I just looked that up, too).  Matt saw fried green tomatoes on the menu and his eyes lit up.  I'm not sure I would have tried it, but we were both wide-eyed when they brought out a plate that looked something like this:

We both dug in and my oh my, it was a-maze-zing!  We decided to take a picture to remember it by before we ate the last few bites.

I can't remember what sandwich we ordered but it was equally deeee-lish!!  Look at Matt's face.  He is a happy camper!

After Boulder we took the scenic route home.  It was such a pleasant drive and trip.  We've talked about it many times since (admittedly it was often to tell people about the food) but we really enjoyed pretty much every part of this little romp.  This last picture is of our Kate that was an excellent travel companion.  We are so blessed.

Amy Elizabeth

Our Amy is a delight.  She's kind of quiet (well, not at home) and always sweet.  Her teachers have all enjoyed working with her, which is no surprise.  It's hard to believe that she is done with elementary school.  Last year I volunteered in her class with Mr. Taylor.  He sung her praises every time I came into their class.  So it wasn't too much of a surprise when we found out she was one of four kids that was awarded the "Hope of America" award for "demonstrating during this school year capacity for leadership, ethical and moral character, and outstanding academic and accomplishment."  (This award is not connected to mom's 'Hope of America' but is given out by the Kiwanis club.)  It was fun to be able to go and cheer for her at a school assembly.

On the last day of school Kate and I went to her school for the dance festival and an attempt to break a world record (the longest thumb war chain).  It was a lot of fun.  Made me think of the not-so-long-ago days when I was a teacher.  I'm not going to lie, it was kind of wonderful to be on the parent side of the day's events.  It was so fun to watch Amy with Kate.  She's simply a wonderful big sister and Kate adores her.  Any concerns I have about the future seem to melt away during moments like this.

(*I can't get the spacing to work on this post, so I'll just briefly write about all the pictures below.)

Amy and Kate-
(pic 1) Amy came to stand with me for a few minutes while some other grades performed their dances.
(Pic 2) She then went back to her seat and took Kate with her.

Dance Festival -
(Pic 3) Amy didn't exactly look like she loved performing their grade level dance, but then again, none of the sixth graders looked like they were enjoying it.  They are all ready for Junior High!  (Pic 4)  The faculty did this funny dance to the "Charriots of Fire" slow motion song.  They ran a race around the edge of the stage area and had some fun choreographed tumbles and crashes and the like.  The kids seemed to enjoy it much more than the average faculty dance.

Popsicles -
(Pic 5) Kate looking longingly at Amy's popsicle :)  After the dance festival the school was trying to break the world record for longest thumb-war chain.  Turns out there is a lot to do in order to legitimately beat the record.  Each person has to be given a wrist band, counted, photographed, and thumb printed (ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but it was hot and it was taking a looong time).  I chatted with Shanine, which was good, and Amy and Kate hung out until Kate konked out.  In the end (after about 45 minutes of waiting and then some practice thumb-warring) they finally did the official thumb war only to find out afterwards that they didn't have enough people to break the record.  Darn.

It was a good day.

Amy's Elementary Graduation

There are so many good things that happen in life.  This blog has helped me remember just a few of them.  I'd like to be better at recording more of life's happenings, but I'll be grateful for the ones that do.  Today was Amy's graduation from elementary school.  That's a big deal!  She's such a kind-hearted person.  I'm so glad I get to know her.  She's an important part of our family.

Not only did she graduate, but she was chosen to speak at the graduation.  She was nervous and spoke to quietly but had done a very nice job writing her talk (I got to read it afterwards).  Here's the first page.

Mr. Davies, the principal, speaking to the students, congratulating them on what they've done and encouraging them to continue doing great things.  I've been able to talk with him several times while volunteering and also organizing the shoe drive last year.  I appreciate how much of an impact an administrator can have on his/her faculty.  Her teacher was ********.  I think she also had her in 2nd grade.  She did a great job preparing the kids for Jr. High.
 

The graduates.


It's official!  She's done with elementary school.  That makes her sound older.  Hmm.  Her best friend summer came over to the house several times.  Cute girls!
  

Proud of our Amy!

Summer and Amy.

My favorite picture of the day.  I tried to sneak over to get a picture of her as she was preparing to go up front and she glanced over at me.  At times like these I always wonder what the future will hold.  What will this young lady do?  Who will she become?  Where will she go?  She has so much to offer the world.  I'm looking forward to observing her grow.  Congratulations, Amy Elizabeth.  We love you so!

Hope of America

It's Hope of America time once again.  This was Kate's first.  Look at her cute little self!  Matt and I volunteered again.  It is so fun to do this kind of thing with Matt.  He just jumps in and gets things moving.  It was also fun to remember back a few years ago when Matt saw me for the first time at Hope of America.  I'm not sure that story about Hope of America is recorded anywhere (maybe it is in my little journal from Ghana...?), so why not here :) 

Matt and I started emailing each other in May of 2010.  I had been living with Caroline for several months to help after the twins were born and while I looked for a house to buy.  I'd decided to quit waiting "just in case"I met someone and just start settling down.  I'd moved 5 times in 5 years and I was tired.  So, Fred Benson, John's dad, was helping me look for places.  The townhouse I settled on wasn't my first choice, but it was a good size, I could afford it, it was just a few blocks from Westside, and it had a garage (which I was so excited to park in during the winter!). 

I had signed up for LDSsingles again to help me move past a very difficult experience I'd had.  I wasn't, however, planning on doing much besides sign up.  But then one Saturday evening I got a fun little email that left a smile on my face and allowed for an short, easy response.  It was Matt (although I didn't know that was his  name at first).  Over the course of the next week I closed on the townhouse and moved in while Matt and I were emailing back and forth a few times a day.  Then he asked if he could call me sometime.  I was nervous and yet very interested in talking to this man who had been so easy to write to.  I gave him my number and we planned to talk on a Sunday afternoon (which happened to be the day after Erin and I moved into my townhouse).  

We talked for three house as if it had been minutes.  During the course of that chat the Hope of America came up and Matt says "I've seen you before.  I saw you there!"  It was almost as much as a surprise to him as it was to me.  Tyler was in the show that night and Matt was there by himself (talking to a girl he'd gone out with on the phone) to watch the show. I didn't believe  that he'd really seen me, but then he said that he remembered watching my mom on the stand trying to get the attention of some teachers leading a group of students down to the floor and was obviously frustrated about something.  He said he saw me run up and talk to mom and then run over to the group of  teachers and talk to them.  He was only a few rows up from the floor and "noticed you weren't wearing a ring" he said, kind of smiling through his words.  I was quite struck by this.  He then said that Tyler had been in the flag, sitting on the far left side.  He had started out in a blue shirt but then was given a yellow shirt to put over the top to be part of the frame that went around the edge of the flag.  Matt later told me that he asked Tyler a few days later if he remembered who gave him the yellow shirt.  Tyler said it was a lady with a blond ponytail and a headset on.  It was me.  Heavenly Father has a way of showing that He is involved in our lives.

So here's a few pictures from this years show.  It is amazing to me every time I see it.  What a great thing my mom has done for this community!  And what a happy reminder it is of the time a boy saw a girl and a few months later they would be happily married with with eternity to go.  

Here we go!  The flag came together in the last minutes before the show started.  It's always a small miracle that it does at all.

Mom was invited to lead two songs.  This picture, however, is of her on the sidelines singing/signing The Star Spangled Banner with the chorus.  She's pretty darn cute!