8 is great!

 Last Wednesday my boy turned 8!  Michael has been in Miles City for his 3rd rotation so he couldn't be here for Stetson's birthday.  Made me sad but we tried our best to make it a special day.  Stetson requested sweedish pancakes for breakfast and then Jill Chlemow came over at noon so I could take peanut butter cookies and punch to his class (his request) for his birthday treat.  I love spending time in his classroom and seeing him with his classmates and talking to his teacher.  The first pic is when he handed out treats and the 2nd is when they sang to him.

 After school I picked up the kids, we went to Costco to get a chocolate cake (also Stetson's request) and drove to Cowley to meet with our family for cake, ice cram and presents.  Stahle was not in love with the car ride over and cried most of the time.  I stopped in Bridger to feed her but she was so worked up she didn't even eat that much.  Somewhere between Bridge and Frannie (aka middle of nowhere) Kandace had to go to the bathroom. bad.  That wasn't fun.  We made it and I'm so glad we made the drive because Stetson seemed super happy and he got some awesome presents.  Lots of legos, money, a cool encyclopedia book from gma & gpa Asay, farmopoly, scriptures and other fun stuff.

Fun things about Stetson
*is the best breakfast eater I know.  Its the first thing he does when he wakes up most mornings.  He will eat 3 or 4 pancakes or 1 whole bowl of cream of wheat or multiple bowls of cereal
*loves to play games, especially monopoly and farmopoly
*has taken a recent interest in legos and will spend hours downstairs in his room building things.  he built a baptismal font out of legos and we took his pic and sent it to the friend magazine
*loves to read diary of a wimpy kid and lunch lady
*is a good helper, always fetching me a diaper for Stahle or whatever
*loves to tell jokes

Christmas program

 Last Friday was Kandace & Stetson's Christmas program.  It was at 8:30 am, funny time but gpa Simmons and gpa & gma Asay came and I was so grateful for so much support.  Luckily we were seated right in front of where Kandace was standing so we got super good seats.  I already knew all of Kandace's songs because she was singing them at home nonstop.

Unfortunately I could't see Stetson very well.  He was so funny when he came onto stage.  He was trying hard not to smile when he saw us all sitting there but I knew he wanted to.  I asked him later why he didn't and he said it was because his smile is crooked.

Thanksgiving 2014

 For Thanksgiving this year we went to Asay's Wednesday, stayed the night and had dinner with them Thursday.  Kandace got to help grandpa Asay get the pomegranates ready for the fruit salad which was probably the highlight of the day of this fruit lover.

 We got a ton of snow Wednesday night so later in the morning we took the kids out to build a snowman and check out all the animals.  After dinner we headed to dad's for dessert

 The best part of Thanksgiving is the leftovers!!  We had another Delicious feast on Friday.  This time we got to spend it with Jared & his fiance, Renee.  It was a really nice break from Billings and good to spend time with family.  Grandma taught Stetson how to play farmopoly and he is hooked.  Between gma Asay, me and Renee, he got like 3 hours of farmopoly in that day.  When we got home he found our game of regular monopoly and talked Michael and I into playing it with him a few times.

Baby Stahle got lots of snuggle time.  She was a DREAM when we were at Asays. It was like a Thanksgiving miracle.  She slept straight through all her naps, slept 10 hrs every night and was happy during her wake time.  It was so nice.  I was stressed about it the days leading up to our visit because I didn't know how she'd do, but she was amazing.  We sure love her.

2 months!!

Our sweet Stahle turned 2 months on November 22nd.  Stahle weighed in at 12.1 which puts her at the 73rd percentile.  Her height is 59.69 cm which puts her in the 90th percentile and her head was 39 cm which puts her in the 83rd percentile.  Whenever anyone asks if she's a good baby I of course tell them yes and they act shocked when I tell them she sleeps 10 hours at night and I usually just smile and go on my way unless they tell me I'm lucky, then I explain babywise and how we schedule and that it is no coincidence that all 4 of mine have slept through the night from 2 months on.  Since Michael's been on rotations its been hard having 4 kids by myself but our Stahle is by far the easiest one!  Scheduling is always hard though because there's crying involved, and she usually doesn't sleep straight through her naps, she usually sleeps for about a 1/2 hr, cries then goes back down for the rest so she can get at least a 1 1/2 hr nap.  I've loved having structure and expert advice to help guide my parenting.  I'm a rule follower I guess and I'd rather have a doctor tell me how to do it than "wing it" and its worked for our family.

  Stahle started to smile a couple weeks ago and it is our favorite.  The kids love her, Janelle can't stay off of her which is frustrating but its good to know she loves her sister.  At 2 months, Stahle's first feeding is around 7, and then from then on she eats every 3 hrs, with her last one being at about 9pm.  She sleeps all night and I go get her around 6:45 or 7.  She gets 6 feedings a day and is gaining well and hitting all her milestones and her pediatrician said she looks good so we are all happy!  She loves her bouncer which is nice.  We put her in there for her "awake" Time which follows her feeding.  We put her on the kitchen table if that's where we're at so she can join in on the fun.  She likes to be where we're at, and we love to have her close by.  She loves to be talked to and held.  She had her first experience at child watch this Monday when I took her at 9 so I could go spinning.  I left a piece of my heart there when I dropped her off but she's been happy and one of the happiest babies from what I can tell when I've picked her up the 2 times I've gone spinning this week. 

Our little special moments with Stahle are so precious when I think this is probably our last baby.  Some times and especially when its just the 2 of us, I stop and "soak in" her sweetness realizing how incredibly fast this goes.  Its been day and night compared to Stetson where I was more like trying to hurry and get to the next mile stone thinking the baby phase would never end. 

Baby Stahle your mom loves you more than words!

 This is one of our first nights without Michael home while he was in Miles City.  Stahle gets lot of comments on her cheeks.  She is our butterball!

 One of my favorites.  A lot of times after Stahle's feeding I'll put her in the corner of the couch and talk to her.  Janelle always comes over and gets her Stahle fix so I have lots of pics of them like this.

Michael and I have been sick all week.  It started last week when Kandace threw up Thursday night.  We kept her home Friday, then she seemed fine for the weekend but we got a call from the school Monday afternoon that she'd thrown up and to come get her.  Michael got the bug not long after that, but I've had a cold/flu symptoms off and on for a while.  I think my flu symptoms are associated with clogged ducts.  I've had some tenderness/redness, mostly on Monday.  I'm feeling better today thank goodness.
Winter is all the sudden upon us.  I'm already ready for spring again. :)  Stahle has been sleeping 7-8 hrs for over a week now.  Starting next Monday I can let her go 9-10 hrs.  Even with Stahle sleeping so well though, Michael and I are pretty tired, between other kids getting up and our days starting so early.  Michael gets up to shower at 6:30 and Stahle's first feeding is usually around there, except today she got up at 5:20ish.

Michael is in the last week of his 2nd rotation, GI which is internal medicine, involving colonosocpys and things like that.  Its been his favorite so far and he really likes the people he's working with.  He starts his 3rd one (psych) next Monday and he'll probably be in Powell buts its not for certain.
We had  parent teacher conferences last week.  Stetson's teacher told us he's off the charts in his reading but his behavior in class hasn't been awesome.  Last year his writing was really outstanding and its all Mrs. Paulson could talk about, and this year Mrs. Hecimovic said he's being a "minimalist" and just doing enough to get by.  He used to take so much more time with his writing and include lots of detail.  He's always been kind of impatient and very black and white in his school work, just doing the essentials I guess.  We like to think his behavior is a result of lots of changes at home with baby and everything.  We pray for him every night and ask for inspiration and guidance on how to parent him.  Parenting is definitely a marathon to me; endurance, lots of ups and downs, very little breaks, and never ending challenges.  He has really good days though.  Especially when he gets one on one time with me or Michael.  I love being with just him because there's no distractions and his true colors come out, but with 3 other kids, we don't get that luxury often.
Kandace's teacher is LDS and talked to us more about church related subjects than Kandace but she did say she doesn't have any academic concerns about Kandace and that she'll probably put her in an accelerated reading group shortly.  She also mentioned she has some naughty tendencies, occasionally trying to be sneaky and get away with things.  No surprise to us.

Stahle is an angel and I'm trying to soak every second in, knowing now more than ever how quickly time passes.  I don't wish time away or wish it would go faster or that she'd be older, because I know that in a blink she'll be 1 and I'll wonder where the time went.  After she eats, she sits in the corner of the couch and I talk to her and she smiles.  She will sit content like that for about 20 mins and its heaven.
Janelle is in the cutest phase in the world.  Every time she sees Stahle she really acts like its the first time and she kisses her and puts her cheek right next to Stahle's and says "Mmmm" like she just took a bite of something delicious.  Every time.  Janelle says the funniest things and has so much personality she makes us smile and laugh every day.

Whoever said going from 3 to 4 kids was the easiest transition waswas pretty much wrong.  Its been one of the hardest transitions for me.  The general hectic nature of our household is almost always overwhelming, feeling like I'll never catch up with housework or that Michael and I will never get to go on a date again just the 2 of us, or that we'll never get to sleep in again.
I like to think that once he graduates and we have an income and a house with more than 1400 square feet, that life will be easier, and it might be more convenient, but every phase of life will have challenges and I know I have to find joy in the journey and enjoy this phase we're in right now.

Stahle's blessing

 This was a super special day.  Always hectic and stressful (at least for this family) to get everyone ready and out the door and still love each other but we did it and even got some pics.  This is the same blessing dress that Kandace and Janelle wore.  Gma Asay bought it when Kandace was born.  It is a very special dress.  Michael and I got her dressed in our room at about 11:45ish (church started at 12:30).  I got emotional when I was buttoning her dress, it was just special to me and I thought about how I'd always remember this and how time flies and I told Michael before we know it we'll be helping her with her baptism dress, them her wedding dress and so on.

 This was our awesome crew of priesthood holders that helped bless Stahe.  Todd and Charlie were there too but had left before the picture.  After the blessing we went to the Ave D. chapel for a luncheon.  We were so glad that those who could come, came and that we could celebrate our sweet baby.

Halloween!

 Thursday we carved pumpins.  Steston wanted no part in cleaning out the pumpkin but Michael talked him into it somehow.  The kids traced their designs and Michael and I carved.

 Halloween night we did the stake trunk or treat which the kids love.  I always buy way too much candy though and now we have extra candy that we bought and the kids' candy which makes a LOT of candy.

Stahle was the world's cutest cat.  Sarah Mills got us this before they moved to Utah. After the trunk or treat, Michael took Stahle home and I took the others trick or treating down a couple blocks over by their school.  This is something that I always love, even though Michael and I sometimes argue over who has to take them. :)  Janelle was the funnest to watch.  She thought it was pretty awesome that she could knock on someone's door and get candy from them.  There was one house with a haunted house in the garage with people dressed up giving candy.  Kandace, me and a reluctant Janelle went through (Kandace didn't bat an eye) and Stetson opted to wait for us outside the haunted house.  Holidays are sure special with little kids.

update

 This girl loves haircuts!  Our friend Alicia came over the other day to give the girls some much needed trims.

 I can't not take a picture of my Stahle every Sunday before we go to church because she just looks so cute all dressed up.  This isn't a great pic of her dress cut its one that Bruce & Diane got Kandace that all 3 of our girls have worn.

 Last night we had our 2nd annual halloween feast with spider pizza, frankenstein salad, oranges, ghosts, vampire punch and spider eggs.

spooky faces from the kids
We're all just chuggin along. Stahle's blessing is this Sunday.  I've been stressed about getting that all worked out.  Stahle has been such a good baby though.  She can go 7 or 8 hrs now, which sounds like a dream, and it is, but I'm still exhausted.  Last night she went down at about 10 and then I woke her up at about 5 to feed her.  The night before she went down about 9:30 and I got her up right before 5 but its hard for me to fall back asleep so my days start pretty early but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Stahle is worth ALL of it.  Today I had my 2nd appt with my physical therapist.  I have more exercises and am anxious for continued improvement.  She said no exercise though until my pelvic floor muscles are stronger, which is a steady and slow process.  Its been hard not being able to go to the Y.  Sari (my PT) said even spinning and swimming are prohibited right now because they work the core which presses down on my uterus.

Stahle's first time to church

 Today was stake conf and the first time we took baby girl Stahle to church.  It was fun to dress her up.  The girls always get excited when she gets to wear "daytime" clothes (as Kandace calls them) and not just pjs.  Michael's aunt Cheryl Esplin was one of the speakers--they had a broadcast from the general authorities.
My favorite talk was elder Scott.  He talked a lot about prayer and the power of prayer and how we should always pray, even and especially when we don't want to.  It was a great reminder for me.

 We love this beautiful girl!  Last night she slept from 10-4 then from like 4:30-7.  It was her best night so far.  She's already sleeping in Janelle's room which is a lifesaver for us because I can hear her every move and don't get much sleep when she's in our room.  Up until Fri night I was waking her at night to feed her so she wouldn't go more than 5 hrs since thats what we do for the first month, but I figure she's close enough to 1 month so I'm letting her go as long as she wants.  During the day she eats about every 2.5-3 hrs, has waketime for about 45 mins then sleeps for about an hour.  She doesn't always take great naps and her schedules not always perfect due to our schedule with having 3 other kids and what not but we try our best and she is gaining and looking really good.  Oh baby Stahle we love you and are so glad you came to our family!

Flag football

 Stetson had a flag football game Saturday and it was the first one I got to go to.  He is way more aggressive and just more"into it" than he was last year.  I was so excited when Michael texted me last Sat that he had scored a touchdown!!!!!!!  I wish I'd been able to see that.  Stetson's coach is outstanding.  He's totally excited about the game, has lots of different plays, is really encouraging to the kids and they respond to him well.  Stetson loves him.  It felt great to get outside and be out and about even though it messes us Stahle'e schedule.  We hit wal-mart in the heights after the game then Michael dropped the girls off and he and Stetson his costco.

weekend

 Last weekend the kids had a break from school so we headed down Thur afternoon, stayed that night and went home Fri afternoon.  We stayed at dads, even though it was his and Brenda's birthday.  They had plans for a trip to Billings but dad put it off til Monday so he could party with us and help with the kids.  Fri morning he took the kids to the big horn canyon overlook and then to the library while Stahle and I stayed home and rested.

That afternoon we went to gma Asays.  My kids have the best grandparents.  We love them.

more Stahle...

 I'm posting pics I took from before the storm hit.  I apparently spoke too soon about having a good recovery, because on general conf Sunday I got super sick and wondered if I might have mastitis or a clogged duct.  Well I'm still not sure but I had a fever, chills, aches, and was in a lot of pain.  I think its a tender mercy that my friend Shannon had some amoxicillan from her mastitis and Michael could run over and get me started on some that night.  2nd tender mercy was that Michael had the next day off.   By Tuesday I was feeling way better and then another storm hit.  This storm is called stage 2 cervical prolapse.  Basically your pelvic floor muscles are like a little hammock holding your cervix, uterus and bladder, and over time, especially with multiples births, that muscle which is as thin as tissue paper, gets weakened.  I was having some symptoms of this so I called my midwife and she said I would need to stay horizontal for 3 days and to call a physical therapist who specializes in this.  The next day I went in and she showed me some exercises.  I do those once a day and lay on my wedge pillow 3 times a day for 15 minutes. It gets my hips up above my shoulders so gravity can help pull those organs where they need to be.  Having my midwife tell me to stay horizontal for 3 days was the worst thing to hear, since I have 4 kids to take care of and I was already a couple weeks post partum and thought I should be 100%.  I needed to be 100% to take care of my family.  My ward has been wonderful and they lined out babysitters for that entire week to take Janelle and the other 2 after school so I could try to stay flat.  I also had friends taking the kids to school and back.
I feel like things have improved even though I won't know for sure until I have an exam which I'm anxious for so I can know for sure whats going on.  They can't do it sooner than 6 weeks post partum because I need to make sure I'm 100% healed up down before they go looking around.
Sweet baby Stahle is everything and more we could ever want.  She is perfect and we adore her.  As do the rest of our kids.  They always want to hold her.  I take lots of pics of Janelle holding her first thing in the morning.
Last week I dropped and picked kids up from school.  I'm not supposed to lift anything heavier than Stahle so I can't carry her carseat which is kind of a pain.  I just carry her out to the car and back each time.
Michael has been a huge help like always.  He's basically been cooking all the meals, getting kids ready for school each morning, putting kids to bed and helping with other household things.  I've never been so excited to be able to do house work, because we've gotten behind.
Dad came and helped me clean last week.  He vacuumed my stairs, dusted, washed my kitchen walls and did anything else he could.  That same day my RS pres Sue Jorgensen came and brought lunch to me and ate with me.  So sweet.

 Aunt Jill and aunt Kasi came to see baby .  We were so happy they came.  And they brought some sweet gifts for Stahle and her siblings.

1st bath! :)

 Michael and his dad with baby Stahle.  Stan's middle name is Stahle, which makes this name even cooler.

A couple of Sundays ago we had some more visitors for our primary program and to see baby Stahle.  This family pic is crazy but very accurately captures our life right now. :)