The Newest Family Members

In 2012 we added two new little ones to our family. Grandchildren 13&14 for us. Asher arrived with lots of drama and excitement on August 25th and Parker came a month and a day later on September 26th. I had arrived in Salt Lake City on August 23rd to be present at Asher's birth. He was the first child for Chelsea and Willie. They had been told earlier in her pregnancy that he would be born with a cleft lip and palate and they had prepared for that. They had gone to the cranial facial team at primary childrens hospital and had decided on a surgeon. Chelsea had done lots of research and joined a support group and they felt like they were prepared to face this challenge and were excited for Asher to be born. He was due on August 29th. I arrived on Thursday and Chelsea was still working...Friday was her last day before her maternity leave...so I decided to go into work with her in the morning and attend the temple...It was a beautiful sunny day and as I walked up to the temple doors I felt very grateful to be there. I really enjoyed the session and as I was leaving I felt very prompted to add Chelsea, Willie and Ashers names to the prayer roll...wasn't quite sure why I felt that way but did it anyway. I met Chelsea at the church office building for lunch and had a great afternoon walking around temple square and shopping in the City Creek shopping center. Met Chelsea after she finished work and went home together. Saturday morning when Chelsea woke up she was feeling "odd". She didn't think she was feeling the baby move the way she should have. It was really concerning her ...she tried several things that the doctor recommended to "wake" him up...but she didn't feel like anything worked. So she called the hospital and they told her to come in and be checked out...So we got ready and planned our day..we would stop at the hospital...and then be on doing the things we had planned. She really thought that it would be a simple test and within an hour we would be on our way. As soon as they strapped the monitor on her...within a short time decided that they would induce her...the babys heart rate was irratic and they were concerned...which really surprised her.She called Willie and he managed to get to the hospital fairly quickly but he came straight from work and really wanted to go home and shower...Things started to move pretty quickly after that...it seemed like every time the nurse came into the room the game plan changed...they finally decided on a c-section but the dr was at another hospital and would be there when the delivery was done...so willie was gonna go home and have his shower...he didn't even get off the parking lot..they called him back and within minutes they were on their way to the or poor willie trying to dress in scrubs on the way there. They took me to a waiting area and to say I was worriedI was crazy with worry.As I was sitting there they called a code blue to labor and delivery...I lost it...fortunately a nurse saw my panic and went to the or where they were and checked...she came back and told me they were almost done and would probably be back in the room with in 15min.Sure enough 15 minutes later they wheeled them down the hallway and I saw asher's sweet face for the first time....

We were sooooo grateful he was here safe and sound. The nurse told me on the way to the waiting area that they didn't think he would have survived in utero another day. He was 6lbs 2 oz and 19 inches long...and such a sweetie.There was much more we would find out later but that is for another blog. Parkers entry into this world was not without its drama too. Shelley had been dealing with high blood pressure issues for a couple of weeks and so they decided to induce. Keep in mind I was still in Salt Lake it seemed that worry over these two little ones was gonna be the way it was. So when I finally heard from Craig that he was here safe and sound I was very relieved. He was so darn cute and looked so much like his big sister.

We were very blessed. As each of these little ones come into our family I feel my heart growing that much bigger. There is such a feeling of contentment and peace. We now have nine grandsons and 5 granddaughters..so grateful for tender mercies on our behalf.

The New Me

Just looking at my Blog for the first time in a long time....long long time. I have started on a new journey...Actually most of my family has...we are changing our views on food and starting a new life style.Collectively we have lost almost 300 lbs. I hesitate to call it a diet...because for me diets have always failed. I am determined that this will not be a failure. To date according to my doctor I have lost 40 lbs...with 25 or so to go. My goal is : Sixty by Sixty which for me is now; I will celebrate my 60th birthday this year. I should be able to make my goal if I continue on the path I am on. It has been an interesting journey so far. I have struggled with this new image of me. I discovered I like the style of " fat" clothes. Finding a "new" style is not an easy thing. As I shop in the "normal"size clothing area of department stores... I feel out of place. Like someone is going to come up behind me and say " Hey what are YOU doing here?"One day as I was shopping a sales person was helping another woman and asked her her size...she said it was 16.. I looked at her and all I could think was... I am smaller than HER? Last week for the first time as I was trying on clothing...I had an epiphany ...the person looking back from the mirror was REALLY ME!!and I am starting to look GOOD! For me this has been a big realization that I need to change the image of me that I have stored in my brain all these years.I struggle with giving my big clothing away but I AM doing it albeit slowly.. I keep a "good will" box in my bedroom and am slowly filling up the boxes and getting them out of my house because THIS time there is NO going back!!! I didn't take before pictures...my mistake so now I am looking for pics of me before..if I find some good ones I will post them. This new year I also have a goal to write more about my life and thoughts.It seems like I always have good intentions but before I can turn around it is June and seeing I sometimes have a hard time remembering what I did yesterday...trying to write six months of a year are self defeating... So wish me luck and I will keep my blog posted