A year of growth

I knew it was finally time for this post so I pulled up this picture and just started bawling all over again. It represents more than just the person in it. It has been an emotional year, one filled with the greatest joys and the greatest challenges. Within 13 months, we have lost 2 dear friends, Jeff Williams and John Jones, and 4 wonderful family members, baby Levi Maughan, Grandpa Verdas Reed, Grandpa Dee Lang, and Grandpa Rulon Callister. We've also experienced our 3rd miscarriage before getting pregnant with this little one who will join our family soon. And as Wade and I have both started new careers, our dream jobs really, there has been great happiness and great hardship. We've had several months without income or health insurance, but lots of faith that things would work out. And as many of you know, my mom was recently in a four wheeler accident, in which she broke her sternum, 6 ribs, and a hip. I feel so blessed she's still alive, but I pray that her body can heal and that she can be free of pain soon.
Here's a picture of my Grandpa Dee Lang many years ago. What a handsome soldier! I had the opportunity to take care of Grandpa Lang in St. George right after my preschool ended in May. His health was deteriorating rapidly, and it was sweet to sit by his bed and just talk to him and help him eat or drink. A week later, we drove back down to St. George for his funeral. Here he is with my beautiful Grandma Lang before he passed. Grandma's been incredibly lonely without him, and I've been really worried about her. So I call her on the phone a few times a week just to check in. We have a really special connection since we're so much alike and since I was lucky enough to grow up with her and Grandpa living next door.

A few weeks after my Grandpa Lang died, we lost my Grandpa Callister. There was not a dry eye in the congregation as his grandchildren sang, "Families Can Be Together Forever." It was really neat for some of us granddaughters to hold the flowers in two lines as the pallbearers brought his casket forward.

When we went up to Idaho for baby Levi Maughan's funeral in May, we were able to visit with Grandpa Callister one last time here on earth. As I walked into his room, he said with delight in his voice, "Why Catherine, I wasn't expecting you." I can't tell you what it means to me that he has never forgotten my name, even in his old age and with over a hundred grandchildren and great grandchildren. I love this man, and I have learned a lot from him! I agree with every word that my cousin, Melody, shared about him.

As difficult as it has been to have our loved ones slip away, I have felt immense gratitude that I will see each of them again someday. It makes me happy that these two lovebirds (Grandpa and Grandma Callister) are back in one another's arms. :) I'm grateful that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. I've learned this year more than ever that we have trials to strengthen us and help us become better. And for that, I'm thankful.

Baby Update

Good news! The doctor is thrilled with the baby's progress since I haven't been having constant contractions anymore. Thanks to everyone for your love and prayers when I was in the hospital last week 7 weeks early. Our hope is that this baby girl will stay put for a little while longer. In the meantime, I'm still supposed to take it easy, but I'm not on strict bed rest anymore. What a blessing!

How I really feel

On Wednesday at 5am, my water broke. Wade rushed me to the hospital, both of us praying hard that this baby girl would be okay and hopefully stay put for a little while longer since she's not supposed to make her debut for 7 more weeks! I'm not going to lie. I was scared, really scared. I have too many friends and family who know the NICU all too well, and I was aching inside wondering if our daughter would have to spend months there as well.

The amniotic fluid test came back negative, but my doctor said he's seen this before, and it still sounded like my water broke. So they gave me a steroid shot to strengthen the baby's lungs and took other precautions just in case she does arrive early. My contractions slowed down thankfully and after being monitored for 6 hours, he sent me home on bed rest. The next morning, I returned to the hospital for another steroid shot, and after much discussion, they thought it could have just been a tear in the upper part of the membranes rather than a full rupture. And if it sealed itself back up, then our baby girl could be safe for another few weeks. Only time will tell.

I feel deep gratitude to my Heavenly Father for protecting our daughter. I don't know when she'll arrive. I just know she'll have a greater chance if I stay down and rest. Since I was 28 weeks along, I've been on semi-bed-rest because of pre-labor contractions. I've tried to have a good attitude about it and just take it easy. But it's very difficult to rest when my kids and I want to go out and play with friends and family. I feel so helpless at home sometimes that I just want to scream. I play a ping pong game in my head and heart of self-pity vs gratitude. It's all about perspective. I could say "I HAVE to stay home and rest all day" or "I GET to stay home and rest so that my baby remains safe and growing strong."

I feel lonely and want to get out. But I'm tremendously grateful that this baby is safe thus far. And if I need to stay on bed rest for another 7 weeks, then I will. I'll read, watch my favorite movies (like Anne of Green Gables), listen to music, sleep, cuddle with my kids, and try to accept help from others when offered. My mom is in town for one more day, and after that, a sweet friend is coming over twice a week to help with laundry, dishes, and cleaning. And of course, I have my Wade. He's been an amazing support. How lucky I am!

Summer Camp 2010

Last year's Summer Camp at Shining Stars Preschool was such a success that I decided to do it again this year. It's great because it keeps my kids happy and engaged with something to look forward to. Plus I love teaching and am grateful for the extra income. Since I was pregnant, I kept it simple with just 1 class 2 days a week throughout June and July rather than 2 classes. I had 2 helpers, a 12 year-old and a 9 year-old to assist me with my students, which ranged between 5 kids and 10 kids depending on the week. Here are some of my favorite pics from Camp.
For Bug Week, after learning about a variety of insects and searching for some in the backyard, we made butterfly masks.
Jonny insisted I tape his butterfly mask on his back as if they were HIS wings. That kid cracks me up!

For Food Week, we made whole wheat pasta with chicken and mozzarella, peanut butter cookies, and fruit smoothies.

Of course everyone took turns stirring or adding ingredients.

Car Week is always their favorite because I have them bring their own bike or scooter, and we hold races. :) It's fun to see the competitive side come out of even the quietest, calmest kids during the races.

For Music Week, I bring in my keyboard for everyone to experiment with. It's cool because you can press a button to make any key sound like a particular instrument or voice tone. My favorite is the button for "choir." You hit a C chord, and it's like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is in the room. My helpers took a lot more cute pictures from Summer Camp, but I'm going to press PUBLISH POST right now so I can actually get caught up on the blog! ;)

4th of July

Daddy and Jonny at our annual Neighborhood 4th of July Breakfast

Jonny and Emily fishing for some prizes
Wahoo! A pink necklace...just what she hoped for!
and a red whistle for Jonny a.k.a "the toy that keeps on giving (you a headache)"
watching the fireworks at Sugarhouse Park
Something tells me Jonny didn't like the fact that fireworks can be loud. haha Melanie and Tara were so sweet and snuggled with him to help him be happy.

Cousin Sleepover

My sister, Margaret, and I trade babysitting from time to time so the cousins can get together.

Alex, Emily, Hailey, Taylor, and Jonny setting up their sleeping bags under my preschool table
Boy, can they be crazy!

What sleepover would be complete without whole wheat waffles with homemade syrup, scrambled eggs with cheese, and strawberries? Just save some for Uncle Wade and me, you guys!

Gone Camping

Since I was on partial bed rest during my last trimester of my pregnancy, we didn't go on several camping trips like usual. And we LOVE camping so we set up the tent in our own backyard, and made a memory for all of us. Good times!