New York, New York!

This is a picture looking up into the Statue of Liberty. Being a pregnant lady the security guard let me ride the elevator up, which I was grateful for. I really didn't mind all the walking that much, but I knew I needed to be smart and take breaks when ever possible. So I did.

This was our first day in NYC. We went to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Battery Park. We all were exhausted from our red eye flight (which I could not fall asleep on, being huge and pregnant and super uncomfortable). After the S.O. L., that is when we went to Ellis Island and I found a spot on the grass and fell fast asleep.

This is a subway station we used allot. I thought the subway was super cool and grimy! I thought it was cool that you really could live in NYC and not own a car. We walked soooo much that my pregnant ankles got really swollen and fat and any time we stopped I would take the opportunity to sit down. I was always so excited to ride the subway to get off my feet, and all the dance co. girls were so nice to give up there subway seats for me.

This is a pic of my first airplane ride! I was pretty anxious at first when we were taking off, but it was dark outside and you couldn't really tell you were in the air, so I wasn't scared anymore. But I did get a little freaked out when I thought about all that air around us, and it was allot bigger than the plane. I am excited that I got to do this.

Ok I know I took this trip 3 1/2 months ago, but with my new baby I am finally getting to blog about it! This is a picture of me and my mother in law Jeanette, and sister in law Kathrin at the SLC airport waiting for our plane.

Our first day in NY was so fun and exciting. I love NY and would love to go back asap. I will blog more later about NY.

This is a video of some street dancers in battery park. This guy did a flip over 4 or 5 girls crouched down. It was amazing and super entertaining. I guess this is there only way of income so they encourage donations in a fun little cadence they recite together. Some of the girls got their cartoon portrait done in this park. We were constantly getting stopped by illegal street vendors, offering us fake Gucci sunglasses and bags, Chanel earrings etc...

Welcome, Little Ellie Kate!

Our precious bundle of joy arrived May 21st. She weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and 19 inches long. I got induced between 8 and 9 a.m. and delivered her at 2:18 p.m. I got the Epidural about an hour and a half after they started the Pitocin. The Nurse that put in my IV was training and it was the most painful IV I have ever had, it seriously took her about 15 min. to get it in. The whole time I felt very nauseated and I wondered to myself "How did I have 3 babies naturally, I am such a wimp." Although I have to admit I have always been scared of needles, I always have to look away when I get a shot. Anyway, I asked Alan to hold my hand because I was really nervous, and when the Anesthesiologist was about to start, I looked down at my left forearm (near my IV) and saw that it was ballooning out and felt really cold and weird. I asked "Ah, is this normal?" The Nurse told the Anesthesiologist to stop and had him switch the IV to the other side (Which took him 10 seconds) and it felt so much better, although my left forearm still felt really weird, I guess the fluids from the IV were no longer going into my vain, but filling up my arm. Back to the Epidural. He told me to curl up on my side and he could insert the Epidural Catheter, but apparently I was not curled up enough because I herd popping noises and a sharp pain in my back, and he told me that he hit a little bit of bone and I needed to curl up even more. I did and it felt so much better. I looked up at Alan who was still holding hand, and he was leaning way over the bed with his eyes closed. He let go of my hand and went and sat down. The Anesthesiologist saw that he was getting faint and ordered him to go lye down on the couch and had the Nurse get him some juice. After Alan felt better he said he was "Trying to be strong," so I wouldn't think it was bad, but he just got so dizzy he thought it better to sit down instead of passing out. Right after the epidural I felt an instant numbness travel through my legs. I didn't feel any contractions for quite awhile, although the machine I was hooked up to said that I was still having regular contractions and some were pretty strong. We put in the movie "Ever After" and after that we both took a nap. What a nap? During labor? Crazy cool. When I got to the hospital I was dilated to a 3 and awhile later (hours later) I was a 4 and awhile later (hours) I was a 5. Alan and I were expecting a slow labor at this pace. The Nurse instructed me to call her as soon as I feel ALLOT of pressure (I was thinking that would be hours away) and 15 min. later I called her in because I felt ALLOT of pressure. She checked me and I was a 9. They started prepping for delivery and called our midwife in. 2 or 3 pushes later, Alan caught the slippery baby and held her up. "It's a Girl!" They put the beautiful baby on my chest while they cut the umbilical cord. I got to hold her for about 5 minutes before they whisked her into the NICU to give her oxygen. I guess she was breathing really fast and the oxygen helped slow that down. The took blood tests that determined something? that may indicate she has an infection. They also took x rays of her chest and they looked cloudy, which could mean Pneumonia. They started her on antibiotics "Just in case." Who knows what really was or wasn't wrong, I am just grateful that she is OK and we were able to take her home with us. Ellie has been a sweet handful, mostly because her sleeping clock was completely backwards, but she is doing allot better.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marraige, Then comes...

We have an appointment early tomorrow morning to get induced. We will be at the Mt. Timp Hospital in Orem, we will let everyone know when the baby comes. How exciting... and scary at the same time. I am planning to get an epidural (my first one) and I am pretty nervous about the whole thing. I got induced with Audrey and delivered her naturally. Once they gave me the pitocin, I delivered her 2 hours later. I have to say it was a frightening and painful experience, besides the beautiful baby at the end. That is why I am so scared and wanting to try something different. I can't believe the baby will be here tomorrow! I wonder if we should pack girl or boy clothes? April

Quick Update

I don't have much time, but I will fill you in on the recent. We moved into our new house. Yeah! Thank You so much for all help painting and moving. I appreciate it so much.
I have been unpacking slowly, but Kathrin has helped a ton, so we are almost done. Thanks Kathrin! I had false labor all last night and this morning, and I went to the hospital only to get sent home. I guess it is not time for baby #4 to come yet. My trip to New York was amazing! I will give a more detailed blog in a couple of weeks after the baby comes. But some of the highlights from the trip were; I got to watch the most advanced ballet class at The School of American Ballet (they were so beautiful and amazing), I got Mary Stuart Masterson's Audograph (she is so nice in person), and I loved Little Italy! My feet got really fat and swollen from all the walking, but it was so thrilling! April

We got the House!

We close on May 6th! We may take a week or so to paint and a couple other things. If anyone wants to help, I am sure we could use it. Thanks! I love ya all! April

Life is good!

I am going to New York City on Thursday night! I cannot tell you how excited I am! This will be my first airplane trip, and this is the #1 place in the world I always wanted to visit. All the best ballet companies and schools in the world are in NY. I want to go visit the School of American Ballet (the school from the movie Center Stage) and maybe the Joffrey ballet. We are going to see 2, maybe 3 Broadway plays (The Little Mermaid, Mama Mia, and maybe Wicked), the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Times Square, etc... I am so excited! I was telling Alan last night that yes, I am so excited to go to New York, but I am just as excited to be my own person for four days. I will only have to take care of myself, no diapers to change, no bread to make, no multiple sets of teeth to brush etc... I love taking care of my kids, but a break is much needed, especially before baby #4 arrives. I am so grateful that Tracie let me tag along on her Dance Co. trip, Thanks Tracie!

Also, we put an offer on a house in Orem that we really like. It is not a short sale, so there is a really good possibility that it will go through. We made them an offer on Saturday night and they got back to us this morning saying our offer was too low, so we counter offered there asking price. They are supposed to get back to us today again. This house was built in 1973 and is a split entry. 6 bedrooms and 2 bath. The best part is, is that it has a separate mother in law apartment with separate entrance completely finished and being rented out right now. The family wants to stay if we will let them (score!) This is actually the only way we could afford a house right now, so we really hope we get it. Other things it has are: a fenced and finished back yard, 4 or 5 mature trees, a two car garage, and a full sprinkler system.

If any of you know us well, you know that we have never really been that good with money. We have been working hard to change that. I am in charge of the budget, and I must say, I am so proud of what we have accomplished. One thing that Alan and I have always struggled with is spending miscellaneous amounts of money on random not budgeted for things. So I came up with the idea to give he and I get a $25 allowance every time he gets paid. We can spend this money how ever we want, no questions asked. This has helped us the most! It has taken us a long time to get our finances under control after the studio. I know we have been commanded to get out of all unnecessary debt, and I know when Heavenly Father commands us to do something, he also provides a way for us to accomplish it. I feel like in almost every part of our lives this is true. We are so blessed and I am grateful.

One more thing! Our friends the Wilkerson's need help! They recently found out that they need to get invetro fertilization to be able to conceive another baby (they have been trying for over 5 years). They don't have the money they need to pay for this expensive procedure. Lyndee has come up with a way to earn money to pay for it on their own. She makes the most adorable knitted hats has dedicated a blog to selling these hats to raise money for their baby. Please just take a second and check out her blog. www.wilkersonivffund.blogspot.com

April

Life is good!