Contest, Thank you's, and an IMO, etc

First off, I want to tell you that there is a contest currently going on my business' blog-- letreschic.blogspot.com. The spring boutique season is just getting started. I am not really ready for it, but it is here!

I was just eating some bread I made and thought I would talk about it again as well. I have been making our bread for the better part of this year, so far, except for the first couple weeks in March. This recipe is very easy and relatively quick. I obtained it from the ladies at http://www.pantrysecrets.net/. One of the great things about their recipe is that every single ingredient has a long shelf life and does not require refrigeration. There are only six ingredients, as well (I think). I add a couple more to my wheat bread, but that is cause I am funny and like to add things like milled flax seed, etc. So anyway, its great bread and my kids love it. I usually make wheat, but the white is SO GOOD, and I make it for pizza dough, etc. We eat homemade pizza all the time. What can I say? I really do like the pizza I make better than pizza out. I am willing to show anyone who wants to learn how to make it, or you can get the stuff from their website (a dvd or sign up for a class).

Here is the "IMO". I know this may bug some of my readers, so I apologize for the conflict :) but its a good point to make, so I am making it. This has been bugging me for a while. There are two major newspapers in this valley, and I am glad for that. One of them claims to be Utah's independent voice. They really have the wool pulled over many people's eyes, making it seem like their news is more accurate or that their news is less-LDS. In fact, rather than being non-LDS news, the more accurate description is they report as much ANTI-LDS news that they can. Both papers have LDS employees, and while I would guess that the Trib has less, believe me when I say that the Deseret News is not even half LDS, or at least I would guess. Maybe with the Church News division, but since that is once a week, it does not count. Anyway it should not even matter. Most the people I know that subscribe to the Tribune are LDS and I am really not sure the allure the Tribune holds. In fact, I am writing this to kind of say we need to buck up and stand for what we believe in. This is a time where it is very important to let people know where we stand, and quite frankly, what message are you portraying when you have that orange bag on your porch? That you are okay with that newspaper, printing things that you (should) hold sacred, right there on the front page (IE the woman in her temple clothing that they printed last week; Also, the columnists regularly- or often enough- mock LDS values, etc. They try to walk a fine line because they know many of their readers are LDS and don't want to hurt subscriptions)? Think about that. The Deseret News reports news, but would never violate the privacy of any religion like that. It is morally and ethically wrong. It is good that people are still subscribing to the newspaper, I just think maybe we should make sure the one that we subscribe to represents us correctly.
FINE PRINT-- we receive both papers; we pay the fee for one and we get both. Also, Jody gets them both to read the competition, for his work. So unfortunately that stupid orange bag is on our driveway too, but it is accompanied by the yellow bag.

On to more friendly matters! This is a long post, but this is the most important part of it.
This last three and a half weeks have been a whirlwind and I owe thanks to MANY people! I am not going to name out everyone, or this could really be long. My Grandma Kenney came and stayed with me the week before Aidan was born and helped get things in order. She never stops moving. She helped me catch up on dishes, laundry, etc and she hung out with the kids so I could run a few errands. Then she came back after I had him and helped some more. One day, she took the kids ALL DAY! They left after breakfast and came back after dinner. My parents watched Ethan and Syd while we were in the hospital, which was from Sunday night to Friday morning. I had FIVE friends bring in dinner (and oh my, they were all so good). Then Jody's mom and family brought it a couple more times. Someone left some diapers on my porch, and I have no idea where they came from. I have had friends take the older two for a while to help me out. I even received a cute little Kiwi shirt and hat from New Zealand (thanks Sue!)! I feel so blessed. I know that sounds cheesy but I am surrounded by really great people and we are so grateful to all you have done for us!
Thank you also for the well wishes and advice, the hospital and home visits, the treats, the gifts, the quiet house to help me with this crazy transition, offers to help, etc. I have needed this so much and I am very appreciative of all that has been done for us. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

2 AM Ramblings

I am trying to make good use of the time I have to be awake. Plus half the time I fall asleep in my chair and my sleep is not great, so I am trying to stay awake while feeding my mid-night eater. There are things I like about nursing, but I have to say that it is not my favorite. If formula was free, I would be VERY tempted to quit or mix the two. I have a side that I am always having problems with and I frequently get blisters that hurt like *hell*. With Syd, I only got it once. With this kid, so far, twice, but not as awful as the ones with Ethan. Those really sucked. I had one every month for ten months. The month went like this-- get one, get it to pop or whatever, go through healing, have a few days, maybe a week pain-free, then start the process all over. I am too much of a loyal stick-with it kind of person some times. I am glad I did it, but I can honestly say that I all but hated it for the first 10 months. Syd was different cause we got help and she was a better eater. The problem there was that she wanted to eat ALL THE TIME. So every two hours and then every three hours. This kid is the same in that aspect. Bottle fed babies go longer between feedings, so that is my biggest thing right now. I know nursing is the best, I am just being really negative about it. I know that there will be a time in the next month or two that I will change my feelings about it, I hope anyway!

I find it interesting that a few weeks ago, I was up this late and it was not that big of a deal. Now, being up right now is killing me! And I have had sleep. Two hours. The human body is interesting, isn't it?
My computer is being stupid (and my camera), so when everything starts cooperating, I will get my St Patrick's Day fun posted!

Aidan is now three weeks old. As of almost two hours ago :)

Fun Article

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705291727,00.html

WOW

This is a comment that was left on my friend Brandy's blog (link in sidebar). I could not have said it better.

It is hard to totally take in just the joy in a truly joyous moment when it comes after 9 months of weight gain, swelling, nausea, exhaustion, surgery, upset of familiar routines, hormonal adjustments, expenses, long-late nights, emotional siblings, and lack of control of things we want control of (our lives!)

HOLY COW! That about sums up how I feel. I am about one more sleepless night away from losing it too. I have not gone too many places yet, but Jody goes back to work tomorrow and I fear I will never be able to leave the house again. Especially with a nursing baby who eats every freaking two hours. As in I start feeding him at 12, I start again at 2. Short leash- Jody's words. A trip to Wal-Mart takes twice as long, let alone go on more than one errand at a time! Not to mention that I would have to haul around three kids. Two was hard enough. I am not a stay home and chill all the time kind of person. I mean I like to do that, but I really like to leave too. I wonder how long I am going to survive! (Can we advance my first child into Kindergarten and go ahead and make it an all day affair here???).
To add to it some details, we received my portion of the hospital bill today. Besides the fact that each percocet (and I took lots) were $3.55 each (When you pay $5 at Smiths for a whole bottle, maybe $4 at Costco), there is the room charge. Now I am not complaining, I could have left before I did and I would have been fine (maybe?), I just want to point this out. Maybe next time I will have my baby and check us both out and head for the Bellagio. I am dead serious. My room charge was $515 a night. That did not include the nurses. They charged for those as well. LOTS. Okay, right now we have pretty damn good insurance. They pay 90%. Well, they just changed, due to all the crap that is going on and I am sure the downward spiral of newspapers does not help. Anyway, they won't pay so much next time. SO what I am saying is- how much is the Bellagio? I always wanted to stay there. I mean I would have to be extra careful not to ruin anything (haha), but other than that, I can get up the next day, and Jody can help me do that. I may just get a real luxury vacay rather than a pretend one :). I wonder what the nursery bill is going to look like... (just in case you are curious, my maternity bill was more than $9000. Not including baby, my OB, Anesthesia, etc. Just the hospital. If you don't have insurance, I pray you qualify for Medicaid.)

Sorry, I am neurotic. Going to feed baby and go to bed. For an hour or two. Pray that it is three or four, that would be much, much better and maybe it would recharge me for the no sleep that is going to come tomorrow night!

One More...

Okay, I could just keep adding pics left and right and since it is late and I am already going to get NO sleep as it is, I am going to stop!!!

My dad, "Papa". He loves his grandkids! He is probably just glad its my baby and not his, hahaha!!!

This is the one I wanted to post. Ethan is SO excited about having a baby brother. Can ya tell?

Lazy Post

The dog starts out liking the kids... till they get old enough to bug the heck out of him!OH he is so sweet. I just love him. The baby too, but I am talking about Jake. I really could not live with out him. He is the best dog ever!

Aidan. I call him "the baby" or "our baby". Looks like having the kid did not change much-- I am still screwed up :)

Anyway, this is him, telling Sydney to stay the heck away. Looks like she is bugging an awful lot of people these days!
My poor lot in life right now-- smothered. Can I have some space? PLEASE!!!

Proud papa.

I am still getting used to seeing this face. I am trying to figure out who he looks like. I am also not very good at that, so it is frustrating me.

The attitude I get from this girl. I guess it is only going to get worse.

Don't even ask about the damn candy necklaces. I am sure I will post later, when it is not so irritating.

I am still working on the 100 things post. I may have to make it 50. We will see. I also need to post details of the birth day and more baby pics. I also will post the fun delivery pics, which may gross some out, but no worries, its belly-surgery gross :)
I like my doctor. She actually did not even deliver baby. And that Dr was nice too. I just want to say that I really miss Dr Lawrence and I feel like a psycho patient that can't let go, but I heard on the recording for the Dr office I go, that she will be back in the fall, and I am like OHHH YAYAYYAYAYAY she can deliver my next kid. Four is it for me, I hope, and I would really like it to be her that takes care of me. I feel TERRIBLE saying that cause it may sound like I don't like Dr Smith, I do. I just have this history with DR L and I just really trust her as well. Next kid will for sure be a c-section and the more you have, the more dangerous it is. I think it is ridiculous I am planning my next pregnancy and delivery, and my most recent was less than two weeks ago, so I will stop.

"Busy"

I loved that background that I had, but I just could not take those shamrocks in the way anymore. I have had some monster headaches in the last couple days, and looking at that background with the headaches was a bit too much! So here we are, till I get bored of this one or till I learn how to make my own.
Thanks for all your sweet comments and well-wishes :) Jody and my grandma got my house all cleaned and ready for me to come home today. I am nervous to go home and start this new part of life, but I am a little stir crazy here too. Oh well, guess you have to move forward, eh? Thanks to those signed up to bring our family dinner. I reallllly appreciate it!
Cute Syd, not too long before we left for the hospital.My last at-home pregnany photo. 37 weeks and like 5 days.