Abundantly Blessed

2008 has been quite the year for the Pfunder Pfamily. Many times we have asked ourselves just how possible would it be for things to get worse. We asked very quietly though, because we are keenly aware that things could be much worse. Now, as the year is coming to a close and we can see a light at the end of the tunnel, it is becoming more and more evident just how blessed we are!!! How grateful we are for health. My blood pressure is down and it doesn't seem that I should have any problems with it from here on out. Gracie, sweet Gracie, is perfect! In fact she is even starting to get a little chubby! Last night she even played in her crib quietly until she put herself to sleep. We thought the trial we went through to get Gracie her was plenty to realise the blessings of our family and friends...
I was wrong!!!
Now that we are starting to stand on our own again, we can feel the support we had over the last two months even more!!!
TO OUR FAMILY: We love you!! Your prayers have been felt. Your love and concern has meant the world to us. What comfort it is to know that we will always be cared for... mentally, physically, and spiritually. Whether near or far, you have kept us standing.
How grateful we are for friends who showed their concern, yet treated us no differently. We are so blessed to live in this country. Times are scary. The economy is rotten. Finding employment is not easy. However, food is readily available, we have health care, and we can worship as we please. I think of the people in Zimbabwe, where Brandon served his mission, who are fleeing their homes due to disease and hunger. We are sooo blessed.
I hope I will never again take for granted the opportunity to work. I will try not to complain about long hours, being under paid, or lousy Christmas gifts from work (as I did with the apron Brandon received last year). Instead, I will thank my Heavenly Father that we are blessed to have a paycheck!
We are so grateful to feel the love our Heavenly Father through out this year! Through all of our trials, we have felt Him strengthening us! We are Abundantly Blessed!

New Tradition?

Tonight, my family joined my parents at Energy Solutions Arena (ESA) for a Christmas sing-a-long.  My mom announced last night that we were all to attend the forced family fun event.  My brother and sister's families were able to quickly come up with "prior" engagements.  Due to our lack of PfunderPfamily close by, we were unable to do the same.  Not to mention we feel hugely indebted to all of our family(both sides) this year.  So after a quick bite to eat at Noodles & Co. (that made the deal a bit sweeter) we headed down to the good ol' ESA.  Upon entering to the the free event, we were given vouchers for a free hot dog and soda (we passed on the hot dogs),Bee's tickets, Miller Motor Sports Park tickets, and a popcorn at the movies.  Isaac didn't want to let go of his vouchers.  There was a 30 piece Orchestra, Big Buhda emceed,  the Jazz Bear, and Santa (who Isaac went up to and hugged).  One section was reserved for military families.  There was a live link to Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan with the loved ones who are serving there.  "I love you Daddy" signs were held up and there was crazy waving whenever the cameras were on either side.  It was very moving.  Almost every time I looked at my dad he was wiping tears from his eyes.  I told him to stop it!  After having a fairly emotional day myself, seeing my dad so touched,  and thinking of these families... I cried too.  I am extremely blessed!  Especially to have my little family all together for the holidays! Did you see the news story on the family having to give back their adopted six month old? :(  Back to happy.  Bailey almost caught a T-shirt from the bear, my free soda was Coke Zero(what could be better), and Reagan was awesome.  She sat up tall, held up her program with the words in it, and sang her little guts out!  Who knew she could READ?!?  GENIUS!!!  

Santa might need to shop at the zoo

Just thought I would let you all enjoy what has been stuck in my head for DAYS!  This song has been sung in our home so much that Reagan has learned all of the actions and can find the album on iTunes...I can't do that!  This is what the 1st grade will be performing at this years Jingle Jam.  I don't know how I will keep Reagan off the stage.  Hopefully by then, Isaac may develop some rhythm... maybe not.  What he lacks in rhythm and tune, he makes up for in personality.  Our favorite... the puffed out stomach for "hippo hero".  Enjoy... or humor me at least. 

GO....!!!!

I can remember going to Utah football games for almost as long as I can remember.  Mom and Dad sent the three kids to the South end zone on the bleachers.  They sat in seats on the West side line.  Carl and Jenn were always way more into it than I was.  When Carl was pretty young, he wouldn't wear his blue coat during a very snowy BYU game.  I wonder if the people around us ever questioned my parents? (Oh, they were probably to drunk and not really family people, being UTAH fans and all - heathens!!!)

In 6th grade, I became friends with Melinda, who also went to most of the games.  For the next few years we would meet up and our main concerns were cute boys, tight ends (hee hee) and affixing pom poms to our heads.  My main focus in life then became the Jazz and I remember very little football, other than hoping that my outcast family wouldn't be ridiculed at Thanksgiving due to a UTAH loss.

Then came what has become known as my great rebellion.  I went to BYU.  Unthinkable!!!  My loving parents paid my tuition(with UofU checks) in hopes that I would one day return to the fold (they did ask who my family would be and where was I going to spend Christmas, though).   They even let me buy a BYU sweatshirt when my sister was playing UTE tennis against BYU in Provo.  I went to games, learned "Rise and Shout" and visited my Cougar fan grandparents during half-time.  (who had been known to sneak in something a little extra in their thermos to keep them warm, if you know what I mean ....GASP!) I love them sooooo much!!! I ended up working for Blue and White Sports Network and spent many fall Saturdays on the sidelines or in the truck.  I edited footage, ran cable, held mics, and wrote for a weekly sports recap show.  I thought I was true blue.

But, true colors won out.  I have returned to the fold.  We changed to DirecTV so we can watch the Utes.  I look forward to game watching parties at my sister's house.  I check the latest polls on-line Sunday morning.  And I am thinking about sending my kids to school in red everyday this week.  I am not guaranteeing  a victory because I know anything can happen, but I won't be wearing a blue coat even if it is snowing.

p.s.  anyone want to babysit next Sat. evening for about five hours?:) 

Doing my taggly duty!

1. Where is your cell phone? abt. 1 foot away
2. Where is your significant other? the temple
3. Your hair color? yucky
4. Your mother? amazing
5. Your father? ditto
6. Your favorite thing? disneyland
7. Your dream last night? can't remember
8. Your dream/goal? disneyland or world
9. The room your in? kitchen
10. Your hobby?this
11. Your fear? the economy
12. Where to you want to be in 6 years? disneyland
13. Where were you last night? here
14. What you're not? organized
15. One of your wish-list items? disneyland tickets
16. Where you grew up? Sandy
17. The last thing you ate? left over chicken enchilada
18. What are you wearing? ugly clothes
19. Your TV? always on
20. Your pet? never
21. Your computer? mine dinosaur Brandon's pretty nice
22. Your mood? a little down, trying to keep my chin up
23. Missing someone?  my hubby
24. Your car? has a new windshield now needs to be registered
25. Something your not wearing? socks
26. Favorite store? Target
27. Your summer? missed it, hospitalized, got Gracie though :)
28. Love someone? many
29. Your favorite color? purple
30. When was the last time you laughed? today, I think
31. Last time you cried? an hour or so ago
    

I tag Roxanne, Karin, Karen, Tracey and anyone else who's willing

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAGDA!!!

It may be a bit late (she's probably already in bed)  but we just wanted to wish Magda a very Happy Birthday!  Ten years ago today, Brandon and I became an uncle and aunt for the very first time.  Now this cutie leads a group of twelve incredible grand kids.  I hope her mom doesn't mind me stealing this AWESOME picture from her AMAZING blog.  We love you guys and hope to see you soon!!!!

MY ETERNAL NEMISIS

Last week, in preparation of Gracie's blessing, I tried to climb the Mt. Everest of my life, laundry. I had been running loads quite frequently but had been unable to get them all folded. So, a week a go I sat down to fold and fold and fold. I remember well, the days as kids when my mom would load up several large black garbage bags full of laundry and head off to the laundry mat to catch up on the never ending task. I have also been known to make such trips to the quarter eating carnival. In fact, just days before we were married, I took all of Brandon's laundry and my own to the laundry mat. I ran out of cash and had to go get some more. A sweet lady that had made conversation with me loaned me ten bucks to keep my machines going while I ran to get cash. When I returned, I found a note stuck to one of the washers that said congratulations and that the ten dollars was a gift for us. What a sweet lady!!! I had just as sweet an experience this summer while I was sick. My mom had come to help out while I was on bed rest. She peeked in my room, AKA the laundry hamper, and demanded that Brandon give her some of our laundry. Brandon bundled up a few loads to get her off his back...so he thought. Every time we saw my parents over the next few weeks, they would bring back piles of clean clothes and take bags of dirty ones until we completely caught up. I am proud to say that I have stayed pretty on top of it since Gracie was born. The several loads that are pictured were the most behind I have gotten. My punishment... as I was caring the basket to put the clothes away, I slipped and fell...HARD. I laid on floor for a moment waiting to feel the throbbing pain of broken bones. Luckily it never came. However, I did ache and moan for several days. The laundry gods have spoken...lesson learned!!!

P.S. My slip covers for the couch and chairs were in the dryer!

Gracie's Blessing

For any who are interested, Gracie's blessing will be this Sunday, Sept. 21st, at 11:00.

Not the best picture, but it's the best I have of her smiling.

CRAFTY

• My neck hurts




• My head is pounding




• It's past my bedtime




• Grace hasn't been fed




• My kitchen is a mess




• I may sparkle for a week

But I think it turned out great (if I do say so myself) and It screams Reagan, LITERALLY!!

Hopefully it looks good on her walls!!!

Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing

It's kind of weird for me to have Bailey in fourth grade. I really remember fourth grade. I remember Miss McCloud was my homeroom teacher, Mrs. Hirschi got married, and Mrs. Hansen taught Utah History. ( I can't remember the other two teacher's names. Any help from my fellow Silver Mesa Eagles?) Mrs. Hansen was the best teacher ever!!! I loved Utah history!!! We made salt dough maps, Indian fry bread, and weaved bags out of yarn. Almost every unit had some hands on project. Making the bag made such an impact on me, we used the same method to weave a bag out of rafia for Bailey's Native American report last year. Now my baby is learning Utah history and I am so excited. Last week she made a map at school from a cake and candy. We were instructed to cut then frost a cake in the shape of Utah and send it to school with candy. The frosting was in three colors marking the mountain region, the Great Basin, and the plateau region. We sent kisses for mountains, Reeces for plateaus, crushed up Oreos for the desert and blue frosting for lakes and rivers. It was really fun.

I also remember them reading a book about Santa Clause and finding out for sure that Santa wasn't real. I was bummed. I remember the student teacher (name anyone?) telling us to scoot in close so the first graders wouldn't hear. I didn't want to hear!!!! I remember doing times tables tests on transparencies and it taking me forever to pass them off. Bailey has hers shaped in a race track. She is working on her 4's and hopefully will pass them off tomorrow.

I remember feeling like I could read "Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing" because I was in fourth grade. Kind of like reading "Ramona Quimby: age 8" when I was eight. Now those books are on my daughter's bookshelf. We talk about authors like Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, and Roald Dahl. It is all going by so fast, and I am sure the nest few years will seem to go even faster. For now, I will just enjoy learning about Utah all over again.

LIVING WITH HOPE

Wednesday night was a good night to be a Pfunder. Not that there is a time that is not, bet Wednesday was particularly special. For those of you who don't know, Brandon's younger brother, Kevin, was diagnosed with MS about four years ago. Although I do not really know the extent of his symptoms, I know that he suffers from occasional eye problems and is affected at times with his legs. I am sure there is much more, but he is not one to always be up front with his extended family about his disease. He jokes around about it alot, which personally I see as both good and bad. Good that he has a sense of humor and can still be happy - Bad that he doesn't always take it as seriously as I think he should, like by taking daily therapy medicines ---KEVIN!!!! Right from the first year of his diagnosis, Kevin jumped into the MS walk fundraising with both feet. He got his sixth grade students involved and last walk raised $26,000 for research. Amazing!!!! Well, the MS Society of Utah realized just how amazing he is and honored him at The Dinner of Champions. Kevin received the "Living With Hope" award. Kevin and his practically perfect wife, Marolyn, Neil & Roxanne (Brandon's parents), Verna (Brandon's Grandma), Brandon and I spent a very nice evening at Little America for the awards banquet. Several awards were given, but when it came time for Kevin's, there was a short video of fun pictures and interviews with Brandon and Kevin's friend. Then came the speech. Kevin was hysterical and moving. I was laughing so hard I was almost crying, yet he got a neat message across. After the awards ceremony, we were all inundated with people congratulating and saying that Kevin stole the show. It was incredible!!! I think I had an emotional hangover Thursday, but I'm back on track now.

CONGRATS KEVIN!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

The Evil Eye

Brandon and I saw this on his cousin's blog.  Needless to say, this will be the first trick we try to teach Gracie.  Enjoy!!!

Look at me... I'm a regular Handy Manny!!

Home projects continue...they may never stop!!! Today I put together one of these...

Then I stacked it ontop of an existing shelf.  ( I only banged up the newly painted walls a tiny bit)  To top it all off, I anchored it to the wall.  I even found a stud to screw the anchor into.  All by myself.  O.K., the longest screw I could find may not have been long enough to reach the stud, I tried.  I told Brandon he may have to replace the screw with a longer one, but that may be tricky due to the fact the screw I used may or may not be stripped. 

With new storage intact, I now have the fun pleasure of cleaning out Reagan's old room and putting her stuff in her new room.  I started with books.  I really wish I had a sliver of my sister-in-law, Marolyn, or my neighbor, Kara, housekeeping and organization skills.  I also wish I had an ounce of my other sister-in-law's easygoing outlook.  But no, I am a high-strung mess!!!  So, I started making piles of books trying to organize.  Then came the trouble... do I separate by size, content, hard bound, soft cover.  What do I do???  Should a hard bound Elmo book be put with "Giggle, Giggle, Quack" or the Sesame Street board books from the dollar section at Target?  Totally perplexed, I did my best and left plenty of room for toys in the lower shelves.  Wait, am I discouraging reading because the books are on a higher shelf.  I may have to "re-organize" tomorrow.  Tomorrow, I will try to tackle the insane amount of stuffed animals and toys.  I figure the stuffed animals can go on the rarely used top bunk bed, cutely arranged of course.  The webkinz will be placed in one of the empty cubes.  Yes, my three year old has multiple webkinz.  Yes, she does play with them on the computer.  

Speaking of Roo and webkinz, I was playing with her on webkinz the other day (a job I normally give to Bailey) and realized that she has like 8000 webinz coins but no furniture for her pets.  The other kids only have a couple hundred webkinz coins, but they have at least bought their pets each a bed.  Brandon and I decided that we are going to play the webkins games to earn her more coins and deck out her webkinz "house".  Then we will anxiously await Bay and Ike's reaction when they are forced to play with her.  Anyway, enough rambling, I'm off to bed to prepare for tomorrow's attempt to organize Reagan's room.  Hopefully now I won't have to hear Brandon make fun of me for my Twilight  post. 

TWILIGHT QUIZ

"Twilight": who are you? (now w/ pics) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Esme Cullen You're Esme. The sweet, loving, mother figure of the Cullen clan. You're extremely happy that Edward has found Bella and are very careful not to scare her off. Esme Cullen 88% Charlie Swan 75% Alice Cullen 75% Bella Swan 75% Emmett Cullen 63% Edward Cullen 63% Jasper Cullen 50% Carlisle Cullen 50% Rosalie Cullen 50% James 38%

THINGS I LEARNED ON THE 3RD DAY OF SCHOOL

The basement is pretty much done and the kids are in their new rooms. However, all their crap is still in the room that Bailey and Isaac shared. I have been spending what time I can trying to clean out their old room which is Reagan's new room. I spent a couple hours this morning working in there and this is what I've learned:

• Although this will change when she is older, a nine year old girl can have too many purses.
• In order to keep peace, all Happy Meal toys must be thrown away while the kids are not present.
• My kids have out grown some really cute clothes.
• Years ago, when re-doing Bailey's dresser, Brandon made a huge effort to line up the squares on the contact paper in the drawers. I wonder how much I nagged him to do that?
• Although I am very proud of my talent to win stuffed toys out of the machines at stores, I must STOP!!!!
• I am confident that the world will soon be taken over by LEGOS.
• The Legos will be superseded by Match Box Cars.
• Scholastic Books will not be earning money on me this year. (If I remain strong)
• That take home library book, that I swore we didn't still have at the end of the school year-- so they didn't make me pay the ten dollar fine, will be returned to the take home library TOMORROW!!! (with my sincere apologies :) )
• I can have the will power to not watch the US men's volleyball quarterfinal match to keep working.
• Gracie is sweet enough to know when the tie breaking 5th set of the above mentioned match is to wake up and need to eat. This allowed her hard working mom to watch the US win the nail-biter. (thanks Gracie, you're my favorite)
• Reagan is beginning to show signs of middle-child syndrome. (Reagan, you're just like me, you must be my favorite.)
• I could simply hide Isaac's toys for a couple months and when I pulled them back out, he would be as happy as at Christmas. (Such sweet, very real emotions, Isaac is definitely my favorite.)
• Bailey, do not bring picked grass in the house and hide it in a basket under paper flowers you so carefully made and stuff the basket in a shelf. (So creative... and yes my favorite.)

I'm still not even close to done!!! I wonder what I'll learn tomorrow!!

ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A PFUNDER?

Most of you would quickly answer yes.  Well, now is your opportunity to see.  My Brother- in-law made up a computer quiz game to test his art students.  It took me a few tries but I finally passed.:)  Here's the link if you want to check it out.  http://www.pfunderland.com/game/

WHERE DO I CLAIM MY PRIZE???

I am a self-admitted game show junkie. One of my childhood dreams that I still cling onto is going to a taping of "The Price Is Right", Bob Barker or not. Well, the past day or so I have been watching way to much TV, due to my baby who is DEMANDING to be held ALOT. Anyway, I was watching "Wheel of Fortune" last night, and here is the bonus round.

Proper Noun RSTLN E CMP I

_ T _ _

_ _ _ _

Before the contestant even chose here extra letters, I turned to Brandon and gave him the correct answer. He was floored. So now I am wondering either where I sign up or where I claim my prize. Let's see how good any of you are. Any guesses???? Carl and Jenna, you are out of the running do to the fact that I already told Carl. Good Luck!!!

MORPHISM OF A NICKNAME

So, with the birth of our sweet Gracie, I have been thinking alot about nicknames. I'll get to Grace's nicknames (yes plural) in a minute. Let's go oldest to youngest.

BRANDON: No nicknames that I am really aware of. Yes, there are pet names such as; Honey Sweetheart and Hey you, can you still hear me with the TV on. I know, gush-gush TMI. And yes, he is older than me, a whole thirty days older!!!

JULIANNE: OK there is the obvious, Juli, if you consider that a nickname. Then there is Jules. This is a nickname that many people call me. Mostly close friends, sometimes not so close. I have a sweet cousin that called or calls me Jules Vern. I am very sad to say that I was much older than I should have been when I realized that this was in reference to the author and not to this guy:

When I was young, my dad started calling me Ju-bear. I looooooved this. I remember once when he was my soccer coach and I told him to call me Ju-bear at practice. The only other person to ever call me Ju-bear is my sweet husband. Now don't any of you reading this dare call me Ju-bear. My husband, mostly, and others also call me an even shorter version of my given name- Ju. (pronounced just like you would think Jew) Now this really doesn't bother me, but to those who hear it and don't Know me may think it is somewhat, shall we say anti-Semitic. Can you just imagine being in a public place and hearing someone yell out "Hey, Ju!" If you do, don't judge, it may be a sweet nick-name.

BAILEY: Her nick-names are pretty standard girl nicknames: Bay (although I never thought I would call her that) Bailey-bug and a shortened version Bug. Although, when she was a newborn, I went to a lactation specialist who called her Punky. We continued to call her Punky for a while, but it died out. Kind of like the show.

ISAAC: Now here is the fun stuff and my current problem. When we told my grandmother that we were going to name our forthcoming child Isaac she said "But people will call him Ike!" We thought "...and the problem with that is????" Boy were we right! Isaac is definitely Ike. Almost everyone who knows him calls him Ike. It is starting to phase out a little as he gets older, but we also call him Ikey. Which I also adore. He is my Ikey. Funny thing, when he was around two, he referred to himself as MyIkey (one word). Ike and Ikey, at least for me, sometimes moph into Ikester. You know just adding a little extra to the one syllable nickname. This is were my problem begins--- I know long and drawn out post. Keep reading if you can, I need your opinion.

REAGAN: Pretty standard at first. Shortened name- Rea, with a little added Reagan Roo, nickname shortened just Roo. Now, just for me, a little added to the nickname and you get Rooster. What?!?! Rooster?!?! You can't call a towhead little girl Rooster, can you? The first time I heard myself say it out loud I just about died. Yet, I still do it, and often. Poor Rooster, I mean Reagan.

GRACE: Our sweet Gracie, which is what she will probably be known as. Due to how small she was at birth, she is our little peanut, just ask Rooster. Brandon, for reasons unknown, has started to call her Gracie Goo. Even Roo calls her Gracie Goo. We all tend to shorten it and call her Goo. Now, if you are still reading, you realize that I then tend to add to the shortened nick-name. So what does Goo become other than Goober. AT THREE WEEKS OLD! Goober for my sweet just over six lbs baby girl!

What am I going to do?? It has already slipped out a few times. I must come up with something else!!! Maybe I should find a place to buy one of these:

INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!!

So, today started off on an emotional low. At 6:15 a.m. Brandon called the hospital to check on Gracie. We were planning on bringing her home today, but she needed to have passed an oxygen level while in car seat test, keep her temp up above 98.0, eat well, and continue to gain weight over night. On the phone the nurse told Brandon that she had indeed passed her car seat test, but after her temp had dropped to 97.7 under arm and 97.9 rectal. She had also struggled with her 6 a.m. feeding. I was crushed and immediately started crying. It would be twice now that we were moments away from us all being home and Gracie had complications. Don't get me wrong, if Gracie needs to be in the hospital, I want her in the hospital. So, I tried to put on a brave face and get ready to go feed her at 9:00. I tried to prepare that kids that their baby sister may not be coming home today. Bailey was disappointed, but kept saying, "I knew I would jinx it!" Needless to say, they are as anxious as me to be a complete family at home. Shortly after 8, G&G Jensen came and picked up the kids to go to Manti for fun 4th activities. Shawn and Jodi Pfunder and kids had spent the night while passing through. The kids said their quick goodbyes to their cousins, and we followed out the door to the hospital.....again. I prepared myself to see sweet Gracie back in an isolette, but was glad to see that she was still in an open crib. The nurse said that her temp was again above 98 and we would need to wait for the doctor to evaluate her (She did not seem to think it was to promising) . Brandon and I hid behind the nursing screens in the NICU and tried to feed our baby. She was so sleepy and was not interested in nursing. Our disappointment grew --- Enter Doctor Lew. Dr. Lew began going over Gracie's chart and talking about what was going on. Brandon and I quietly, but intently eavesdropping.  W heard the nurse say  "that'll make them happy . "    Brandon and  I look at each other and grin hopefully.  Sure enough, Dr. Lew came and told us that if she had a couple good feedings we could take her home.  Wait a minute, she was currently giving us nothing to be excited about because Gracie couldn't stay awake for a minute while nursing.  Brandon and I started begging Gracie to eat.  She did OK - not great.  When we gave her the supplement bottle though she scarfed it up.  Yeah!!!!  After grabbing some breakfast and a red, white, and blue outfit for Gracie, we went back to the hospital for her noon feeding.  She ate great, so the Dr. gave us the go ahead.  We still had to watch a video on CPR, get home health figured out and wait for the doctor to examine her, but by 3:00 p.m., the three of us were home.  Hallelujah!!!!  Driving out of the parking garage for the last time at the hospital was so liberating.  We didn't let the big kids know that Gracie was home until they returned from Manti.  The looks on their faces was priceless.   They are so excited to have their little peanut home, maybe to excited.  So on July 4th 2008 the Pfunders were given freedom.  Although at times we were in three different places, being at home as a six family (as my kids would say) is incredible.  Now we just have to figure out how to take care of a 5lb newborn--- please continue to pray for us!!:)

Gracie at home in her red, white, and blue. (& hospital accessories)

Big sister Bailey's helping hand.

The pfour Pfunders.

Reagan before her Fourth of July celebrations.

Gracie Pfunder

Guess what we've been up to?  I'll keep you posted while Juli is away from a computer.  Yeah, we've been taking care of Julianne and a little peanut.  It's been a crazy road these past 3 weeks or so.  Juli was admitted to the hospital twice with "stroke level" blood pressure.  We did an amniocentesis on June 24 to check baby's lung development to see if we could get her delivered.  She had to do the amnio twice because the baby didn't like having her space invaded. She actually rolled into the needle, blocking the suction with her bum....twice, until the nurse faked her out by poking on the other side of Juli's belly.  

The amnio came back good, and baby was okay'd to come out.  She of course was breech, so Juli set off to her first Cesarean birth on June 25.  I got in some scrubs and walked to the operating room with the doctor, waiting for the spinal block.  And then waited for the spinal block.  And still waited for the spinal block.  It took maybe 5 attempts and 2 doctors to finally get the spinal to work.  I was worried, and heard Julianne scream a couple times as they tried to get the needle in the right place.  You can ask her all about it if you have the stomach for it.  Pain is something I have a hard time with if it's someone I know and love.  

So finally, I'm given admittance, and I go see my Juli and watch.  After seeing the true knot that baby made in the umbilical cord, and unwrapping it from around her neck, baby is ready to come out.

8:09pm, June 25, 2008, Grace Pfunder is born.  5 lbs. 1 oz.  18".  She's our little peanut.

She's a tiny little thing, we're used to the 3 7lbs babies we've had.  She was early though, and we are so blessed to have her now.  We are also blessed that Juli is much better off as her blood pressure has dropped to normal.  The doctor made a comment after surgery that "sometimes you think you make the right decision, but in this case, we definitely made the right decision".
Julianne was discharged on Sunday evening, but unfortunately, Grace was sent to the NICU. She was doing so great from Wednesday to Saturday, but her little body had a hard time keeping up.  She dropped her temperature on Sunday, and couldn't keep it maintained.  Her bilirubin went up as well.   Better safe than sorry, so she's in an isolette in the NICU, keeping her nice and toasty.  She puts on the mask and they shine the bilirubin lights on her.  The doctors let her come out to nurse every three hours, so Juli is close by.  We have a boarding room at the hospital, where Juli is now.  We go save her, and let the kids see baby sister Gracie between feedings.

The kids love her to death and are anxious to have mom and Gracie home soon (as am I). Special thanks to our dear family and friends who have seen us through these past 3 weeks of bed rest, hospitalized bed rest, bed rest, more hospitalized bed rest, birth, recovery, and now waiting for Gracie.  Juli's parents have been the champs....watching kids and Cathy commanding me to get her our laundry.  

More pictures to come.  I'm sure you don't want to see me in my scrubs. 

To-Do List put to rest ---BED REST

So yesterdayt I went to my 34week Dr appointment.  I was worried about what the kids and I were going to do for three hours inbetween the Dr's and the dentist.  Well, no worries there.  I was sent to the hospital for testing and observation.  After a few hours, I was released with the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia, PIH, or toximia (take your pick, same thing-different names)  So now I am on bed rest.  My blood pressure sky rocketsas soon as I Get up.  I have no idea what the plan is, but I am supposed to go get my blood pressure taken at the office tomorrow.  I am so thankful for all of the help I have been given.  We have already had a meal brought in, grocery store purchases, and my kids are having a picnic at the park right now. (Karen took them and it is her birthday!)  Good friends are priceless and I am  blessed with so many!!!  Brandon has been fabulous, although I can tell he is overwhelmed.  I am so grateful for his parents.  They called this morning to say they will be here this afternoon to help out.  I am getting tearytears eyed and blogging on an ipodiPod in bed is not easy.  I will update soon.

Follow Up To-Do List

Well, apparently even mentioning staying in bed all day made me body shut down. I have spent 95% of my time in bed since Wednesday. Yuck!!!! I called my doctor's office on Friday and have been on a Z-pack since then. Today I feel definite improvement, but I am still pretty mucusy. Unfortunately, my to-do list has grown instead of shrunk. We did manage to get paint for Bailey's room. Pretty cute --- but you will have to wait for pictures to find out what we did. Other than that Everything remains on the list. Now my time frame is smaller and my house is a DISASTER AREA!!!! Time to kick the kids in gear, which means much complaining and crying. However, I am grateful that my trials are so trivial. I can't help but think of the sweet sister in our ward who is in need of all our prayers. If you can, keep Crystal White in your prayers.

Todays to-do list

• A couple loads of wash - whites first!!!
• Buy Kwal Applepeel paint for ceilings, trim and common areas. Our basement is getting so close!!!
• Choose a color for Bay's room - Teal, seafoam, tangerine or pink?
• Find fabric for Isaac's quilt. This is a must!!!! I have wanted to start it forever. I just finished the binding on the second of Bailey's quilts. It's just that finding awesome fabric for boys is just not that easy.
• Work on quarterly Enrichment stuff. Next Tuesday is coming really, really quickly!!!
• Try to find the motivation to do any of it. It's pretty gloomy outside and reading a book in bed sounds pretty nice --- any suggestions?

Graduation Day

It's official... Isaac is no longer a Kindergartner. Today was his graduation, of which he was so proud. Complete with graduation cap made of a plastic bowl, construction paper and a yarn tassel. Don't forget the traditional graduation refreshments (reserved only for the graduates) of caps made from a Ding Dong topped with a chocolate graham cracker and a licorice tassel. Only once did we as parents have to correct his behavior from the audience. (He had the elastic from his cap under his lip instead of under his chin.) We have come such a long way this year. He had the most wonderful teacher I could have ever hoped for. Imagine walking into the classroom with 23 kids on the floor, each involved in a personal activity in complete silence. I can't do that with my own three kids!!! Not only did she have control of the kids but she was super sweet, fun and even managed to teach them quite a bit. After the pomp and circumstance we went to his classroom for refreshments. On his desk was a compilation of all his best work. He turned to us with a smile and said "Look, it holds all my memories!" At that point I lost it. Maybe because I remember how scared I was that he was not ready for kindergarten in August, seeing his progress, thinking of his great teacher, just being proud, or pregnancy hormones. Today was a great day to be the mom of Isaac Pfunder... 1st grader!!!!