I sometimes amaze myself...

Where have I been?? It seems like my life has been turned upside down once again.. New babies do that. So here are a couple of updates:This is Helam last Thursday. He was 2 weeks old then. We had his checkup and he was at 8 pounds. And hadn't grown an inch. He is so dang cute and fun! He is also quite the little sleeper. I am enjoying him so much and so are the kids. It is amazing how quickly a family can adjust to having a new person in the house. Today Helam is 3 weeks old. I can't believe how fast the time is going.. Before long he will be starting kindergarten. How I love this child..

Here is El with Helam. It was El's first feed with the baby.. I was worried a couple of nights ago that Helam wasn't getting enough to eat, so I pumped to see how much milk I was producing and decided that El should have a go at feeding the baby.. El hasn't bottle fed a baby since Emer, so this was a fun thing for him. He used to love waking up in the middle of the night and feeding her, so he got another taste of it.. How fun for him. And what an amazing daddy he is!

I just had to post this picture of Korban.. What a silly guy he is.. I was worried that he would take having Helam here really hard, but he is actually doing really good. He is by far my most sensitive child, but all of a sudden he is really growing up and doing all he can to be a big brother.. He is awesome...

Now onto my title.. I would just like to say that I sometimes amaze myself because... Today I was able to get up and get showered and go to a program at my girls school (thanks Grandma for watching the boys and Emer) and then come home and get all the boys and Emer ready to take Emer to school.. I know that sounds like the silliest thing, but as I pulled back into my driveway after taking Emer I thought to myself, WOW.. I did it.. You must realize that I do it all the time.. But today it dawned on me that I did it.. All by myself.. I was so afraid after having Helam that I wouldn't be able to do anything.. Mostly because I really didn't remember what it was like to have a new baby.. but, because I (in reality) am a pansy! I am afraid of so many things.. And I was afraid of having to do all of this mothering.. Doesn't that sound stupid? But today, I did it.. And with that I amaze myself!

Our first week with Helam...

I can't believe that our new little baby is already a week old. How time flies when your having fun. Or at least sleep deprived.

This is Helam right after he was born and they got him a bit cleaned up.

During this week, I have taken notes on all of the things that I want to remember about him and our family.

1. On Sunday after we got home and all of the kids got settled down and were starting to get used to the baby being here, Gannon was sitting with El and Helam and looked at El with the most serious face and said "New Baby Stinks". I don't know if he was saying that he needed his bum changed or if he was just stating a fact.

2. I forgot how much I dread night time with new babies. Those first couple of nights when your first home (at least to me) are dreadful. I couldn't sleep much and just kept watching the baby.

3. When Helam cries, Gannon freaks out. The other morning I was changing Helam and he was crying (because he hates to be changed) and Gannon ran down the hall way saying, "Dad, Dad where are you? New baby needs you. He is mad". It is good to see that he is staring to care for his baby brother.

4. Yesterday we had to take Helam to the Doc for a post hospital check up. This kid is growing like a weed. When he was born he weighed 7 9. When we left the hospital he weighed 7 5. Yesterday he weighed 7 12. WOW..

5. Boppy pillows are awesome!!! After having 6 kids, I thought I knew all of the tricks to the trade. Man was I wrong. My sister is letting me use her bobby pillow. I thought it would be a waist of space and time. I have now come to realize that I want one for myself. I love the boppy pillow.

6. I have almost had more melt downs than before. Okay not really, but I have had one. It was about oatmeal and the kids. I text El and asked him when he would be home. (he is working 1/2 days this week) and said that I was having a bit of a tough time, but not to worry, I wasn't ready to check myself into the mental hospital just yet. :)

7. Overall this week has been awesome. Other than the tears I have shed and the pain I still feel. My kids are all such great helpers! The girls are right there to help with anything and Korban is just as sweet as can be. The best thing about this week, is that Gannon hasn't written me out of his will. And El is my life!!! Without him, I don't think I could do anything. He is there to console me when I need it, and there to pick me up when I don't think I can get up myself. To him, I am eternally grateful.. I couldn't have chosen a better companion.

Here he is.. A week old.. I sure do love this boy!

New Baby is finally here!!!

First I would like to say this post has three different pieces. So bear with me!!

Labor, Labor & more Labor...
Who would have thought that after having 6 previous children, the baby just wouldn't fall right out? Here is the story.. The short version.. (trust me, the long version would take days). On Wednesday the 7th morning, I woke up in alot of pain. Not contractions pain, but really bad back pain. I called the Doc and she got me in. I had progressed to a 3 and she did the wonderful stripping of the membranes.. (ouch) and said if I don't see you soon, then we will induce next Wednesday the 14th.. Okay. Not big deal. Well, the pain never stopped.. And contractions started to come but not frequently. So I dealt with the pain until 8 pm that night. Finally I looked at El and said, I think we should go. So off we went. We got to the hospital at 8:15 and we got checked. No progress, but I was running a fever so they had to do some test.. While waiting for the results of the test, I started to have some pretty nasty and regular about ever 3 minute contractions. Did I mention the pain?? And lots of pain.. so, after 2 hours of that, still no progress and they were going to send me home.. But, I had a fit.. Not really a fit but a freak out.. The doc said he would keep me for one more hour and if no progress I was going home.. After an hour I had dilated to a 3.. They kept me.. This was at about 11:30 or so. I got my ep and off I went. Until about 6 in the morning where I stalled at a 9 and that wasn't fun. they put me on a pit drip and then I delivered at 9:53 am.. Ahh.. Welcome to the world "New Baby"..

Helam Eric Mcor Murphy...
He is absolutely precious.. What else can I say? I love him to pieces all ready! He was 7lbs 9 ozs and 21 inches long. He has the cutest feet and the longest fingers. As soon as he was born I looked at him and he looked just like Gannon.. As the days have gone by, he is changing. Oh. I love him..
Okay his name.. Helam is from the Book of Mormon. Click on the link and you can have a quick read. http://scriptures.lds.org/en/mosiah/18/12-14#12

Eric is from my sweet cousin who passed away this last June.. Helam already (at least to me) has some of Eric's traits. He is sweet and patients and very, very mellow!

Mcor is from El's brother Hyrum. It means Uniter of Families!

and of coarse, Murphy!

The hospital stay!

We were there for a very, very long time. We just got home today. After some blood work of Helams came back weird they had us stay there until everything checked out okay.. And everything did! He is perfectly healthy.. and is already eating like a little baby should.. He also sleeps really well..

The kids all love him already and are so excited that we are all at home!

Week 38... Am I really still pregnant??

This morning was my week 38 appointment. I must say that going in this week I wasn't expecting much.. And that is probably a good thing, because nothing is happening. I am at least dilated to a 1+ and 50% effaced. I am not sure how my effacement could have gone backwards, but it did. O well.
But after this appointment I didn't cry uncontrollably like last week.. And that is a good thing. I think I am resigned to the fact that I am going to give birth to a toddler and he will be at least 15 pounds. The bright side of that is, he will be in the papers just like all the other "toddlers" that have been born as of recent. Also, because of my baby not wanting to come out I get to go to Bunko this week. And I love me some bunko!!!

My new kitchen...

So here is my kitchen makeover from start to finish! I am no good at this Picasa web album business, so I hope this turns out! El was awesome and had the kitchen put almost all the way together before Christmas morning so I could hold my annual Christmas breakfast here. I love this man!!!
Also, we are not 100% complete because we have to paint the kitchen now, as you will be able to tell. So if you have any suggestions on what color I should paint it, please let me know.. We are having a struggle trying to decide!!

2009

Happy New Year! It is so strange how all of a sudden one year is gone and another is starting.
Here are my top five things that I would like to do this new year.. We will see if they happen.
1. Have a new baby.. (Yeah, it will happen eventually..or will it??) :)
2. Have a nice lawn.. Our lawn has suffered the last 2 years, but it is my mission this spring to make it look so good! Kind of lame I know.. But hey I need a nice soft lawn..
3. Be more patient!!! growing up I was told many a time that patients is not one of my virtues. and it really isn't. But I am gonna try dang it!
4. Not complain about laundry.. I'm just gonna do it and deal with it.. No more complaining!! (yeah right) :)
and finally
5. Potty train Gannon.. We will see how that goes.. I'm sure it will involve more poo than I want to deal with!

Happy New Year everyone!! I have great faith that it will be good!!!