Lotion, Lotion, Lotion

Remember when I posted about Sunscreen? Now here is a post about lotion.  Addie decided that her rocking horse was feeling a little dried out, so she applied about 1/2 of a jar of Cetaphil Cream to his fur to keep him moist. It was also all over her too, but I bathed her before I remembered to take a picture.

You are probably wondering where her Mother was during all of this, right? Well, I was out thanking a neighbor for bringing me a much needed dinner, because I had just had a baby 2 weeks earlier. Not to mention that I was already on the verge of having a metal breakdown, because I couldn't get everything done, and my house looked like a tornado had gone through it! Yep, that is when I found my sweet Addie, right after I shut the front door. She was covered in lotion, and I wanted to cry. Instead, I took a picture and now today I can almost laugh about it. I know, give me a few more months or even years and this will be hilarious. Maybe even someday I will want this day back, it will probably be when Addie is gone having little lotion problems of her own.

Swiss Days

 Swiss Days

September 25, 2010

The Reber Family had really been looking forward to Swiss Days this year.  My brother's restored my Grandpa's 10 Wheeler and everyone got to ride on it in the Swiss Days Parade. Such a fun time!

The  best part of this story really isn't the parade. It is the countless hours Lex put into restoring this truck. He was at the shed I can't even imagine how many hours, all I know is almost every time I passed Quail Street (and I pass Quail Street A LOT!) This project gave my Grandpa something good to look forward to, in what has probably been the hardest year of his life. You see, he had knee replacement surgery back in January and then 5 or 6 weeks after the surgery he got infection. After many many months of pain, and agony they finally amputated his leg just above the knee a month before Swiss Days. Thankfully Grandpa made it home before Swiss Days and even rode in the parade, we were all so happy he got to be there.

I am so thankful that my brothers took on this very large project and restored this old truck. I think it made everyone's year better, because it brought our family closer. If it was by visiting at the Shed, or getting texts about the progress, having this common interest drew us together. It also took my Grandpa's mind off of his knee, which was a huge blessing.

After the parade everyone met at Grandma's and had a BBQ. It was a good day and I was so glad I was able to be there even if it was for just a little while.  I had Carlee there and she was just 2 1/2 days old, so we left a little early, but not before we had a few pictures taken in front of that beautiful truck!

Well done Bowler Boys, well done.

Blogging Made Easier

I know lots have asked me how I make the collages for my blog. The bottom line was I use Photoshop and it was to hard to explain to everyone how to create them. Well, now there is an easier way. I still use Photoshop, but I have added the Signature Scrapbooks Plugin and it makes the job so much easier. If you would like to have collages on your blog and don't know where to start, click here and watch this tutorial. Yesterday's post took me a fraction of the time I used to spend! Now isn't that exciting!?

There is also this free collage right below the video, so be sure and download it! I hope this will make everyone's posts a lot easier. I know it has mine.

Happy Blogging!

Carlee Jane

I can't get enough of this little bundle of joy. Here are a few more pictures of us at the hospital.
I stayed an extra night, and by the time Friday morning came I was dressed and packed up by 7:30 am waiting for Gavin to come and get me! It took them a while to get me discharged, but we were home by 11:00 am and I was so glad. There is just something about coming home that is really nice.

 When we got home, I cut off all her tags and gave her a bath. Man, they have a lot of tags on babies these days. She even had her name taped to her leg. I guess I am thankful, because I made it home with the right (and the cutest!) baby! ;)

On Saturday (Sept. 25th) her "billi" (is it with one L or two?) count was high so she had to go under the lights. I had never had a baby under the lights before, so I was traumatized. I cried and cried, but it worked out fine. She had to be in the "suitcase" for two days, but was done after that. We kept getting her blood tested, but finished that up last Friday the 1st. I am happy that is over with, I felt bad getting her blood drawn so many times.

And last but not least, here is a sneak peak of the pictures Bradi took of my sweet baby. Isn't she cute!?

I had to share! 

Isn't it amazing how love grows, I never could of imagined that I had enough love in my heart for more babies after I had Landon and now Carlee is number 4 and my love has grown and grown and I love her just as much as my first. I am so grateful for the blessing of Motherhood and for these sweet little spirits I get the chance to take care of. My life is blessed.

A Baby Story...

It all begins on September 22nd at 11:30 am.  We finally got the call that there was room in the "Inn!" I had been waiting, and hoping they would call since 5:30 am. I was nervous and those hours felt eternal. We dropped off Addie to Bradi's and there we were in the hospital to deliver our 4th. 

Here I am getting ready to be induced.

(**Note this is the long version of my delivery.. just skip down to the pictures of cute Carlee if I am boring you with all the details. :))

I was planning on a quick delivery since all my babies have come relatively fast. I thought we would have a baby by early afternoon, all the kids could come and see her, and life would be blissful. Well, I guess good things take time, and this little girl must have been really good, cause she took her sweet time! I got my epidural at about 3:00 pm and that made my blood pressure go up. I kind of freak out when they put needles in my back, I told the Doctor that my feet already numb and he hadn't even done anything! They got my blood pressure back under control and then Dr. Thompson broke my water at 5:30 or 6:00. (I thought once he did that Carlee would be here within the hour. Nope, I was wrong again!) At 9:00 pm my epidurial started wearing off, and I was in pain. Then my blood pressure went up and up and up. They put an oxegyn mask on me and I freaked out. At this point my blood pressure was about 210+ over 117. I had never seen so many nurses in my room before. I was at a high risk for a stroke, so they gave me magnesium. The medicine wasn't as bad as I had though I just had major hot flashes. Finally they rolled me over on my side to see if they could get my epidural to work (it didn't help) and she was finally ready to come. I pushed a couple times and Carlee Jane was finally here at 10:10 pm.  As soon as I delivered my blood pressure went down to a manageable number and everyone took a big deep breath.

Carlee Jane
6 lbs 4 oz

19 inches long

Here she is! I can't even explain the relief I had when she finally made it to earth, and I knew she was healthy. She is so sweet. I think she took her time that day, because she knew we needed to figure out her name, so she gave us a few extra hours to decide. Gavin thought of her name while we were waiting for the phone call from the hospital to go in. I love it and think it fits her just perfect.

She was sucking her fingers right after she was born, it was so cute.

She loved her First Bath. Doesn't that look like if feels good?

Now we are complete. I love each person in this picture so much, there are no words to describe it. This is what my life is all about.  

Thank you all for you support, and concern it means a lot!

Great Weekend

The Dixie Roundup was fun again this year. The Military Helicopter was probably everyone's favorite part of the show. It is always fun to see family and friends at the Rodeo!

Preston had the First Grade Rodeo at school and they asked us to help. Since Gavin had to be in Las Vegas, Dad got the job! We showed the kids how to rope the Dummy and then let them all try it themselves. It was funny to watch how difficult it is to swing a rope when you have never done it before! Thanks Dad for your help. You are the best!

 On Friday night we skipped the Rodeo and went to the Warrior game instead. Addie was in the Cheer Clinic this year and was so excited to perform at half time. I made her some bows to wear, and before we even got in the game she had lost one.. I was sick. We looked and looked but couldn't find it. Oh well, she still looked cute! (Come to find out it was in the backseat of the car, bummer.) When we got down on the track she was so excited to find Sadie and be with all the other girls.  She was totally in her element the whole time, she even did a little of the dance, a few counts late, but she did it! I love my little cheerleader!

We went over to the end of the rodeo to show my mom and dad her outfit, they were glad we came and  the boys got to see their favorite part of the rodeo, the Bull Riding! I just can't miss that rodeo, even if I am two hours late!

Saturday Landon had a football game in Cedar, they lost by a touchdown. It was a good game and the boys played really hard, just came up short. I liked what Landon said in the car after the game. "If we see them in the playoffs, they are going DOWN!" Now that is the kind of attitude I like! How does that saying go? "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back in the saddle!"

We made it home just in time for the last night of the Rodeo.  It was a fun, crazy weekend, the kind I love. Good Times, Good Times!!

Thinking.

I woke up at 4:00 am this morning thinking. I couldn't stop thinking either. I started thinking about Wednesday. How my life will change forever and how my family will change forever. I started thinking about not sleeping, nursing, changing diapers, nursing, not sleeping and changing diapers... I also thought about the how the other three kids are going to handle it. Preston this morning in his prayer said, "Thank you we can be a family with four." I think he is going to be fine or at least I hope. I know Landon has been through this a lot, but I worry I am putting to much responsibility on him. I worry about the oldest child syndrome. Then there is Addie. She is so excited, helping me wash the clothes, get out the car seat, sitting in the car seat, rocking the car seat, etc. She already loves this baby, I just worry she won't love it quite so much after I leave her for a day or two and then come home with someone new. Then the one I am thinking about the most, this one in my belly, I hope she knows how much I love her. Even though she doesn't have a name yet, she is so important to me. I hope the delivery goes well and she comes out healthy and happy, with ten little fingers and ten little toes. I hope her lungs are strong and she has enough cute little baby fat to stay nice and warm. Thinking, thinking, thinking...

Being a mom, means there is a lot to think about or cry about or laugh about. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I feel so lucky to be a mom that stays at home, and that I have a husband who supports and appreciates what I do.

Wish me luck! Wednesday is the big day! Hopefully I can get my posts caught up before then, we had a great weekend and I want to blog about it before I head to the hospital. But, right now there is a pedicure calling my name. I told Gavin, cute toes are important in the delivery room! ;)