Baby #3: Pregnancy Complications

We are having another baby- a boy!  I have been sick and so focused on making it to Ben's graduation that I haven't really let that sink in.  We are having ANOTHER baby.  I often feel so inadequate as a mother and this idea has been terrifying to me.  I have always wanted a big family and I do want this baby but I am scared.

We found out we were expecting in December, right before Christmas, so, like with James, I was pretty sick during the holiday's and unable to eat all of the delicious Christmas goodies (I weirdly have a strong aversion to chocolate during my first trimester- it's sad). This time, knowing that I would be so sick, I started using motion sickness bands, preggie pops and ginger gum from the beginning and it really helped.

Between 5-6 weeks I was put on progesterone, as I was with the other two kids.  This time, however it effected me differently; instead of only increasing my nausea it gave me horrible migraines.  It was convenient that it was over the holidays because Ben had about 3 weeks off of school and he was able to help a ton.  I would 'survive' until he got home from work and then, the moment he walked in the door, I would struggle upstairs to lay in our dark, cool, quiet room with a pillow on my head.  It was a pretty hopeless situation and I really struggled; feeling useless and like I was going to die.  This lasted through January and most of February (I was able to rouse myself for Elizabeth's birthday but not much more). Once I stopped the progesterone my migraines stopped within days. YAY!

Then I started getting some intense lower abdominal cramping.  I went to the Dr and we checked for tubal pregnancy's and anything worrisome but the baby was healthy and strong.  The Dr said that it was probably an intestinal virus.  This scared me a lot, thinking I was going to loose the baby, and I got a blessing from our Bishop; in the blessing I was told that this baby would have the chance to have a mortal body.  This gave me peace and, throughout other complications, has helped me feel a little more confidence that things will work out.

I then continued the pregnancy; struggling with bad groin tendon pain, which we were able to fix (with changing my routine- don't dead lift a 30 lb toddler). Then in one moment, I ignored the Dr's advice, and dead lifted a case of water at Sams Club and POP.  I got what we think is an umbilical hernia (hard to tell for sure).  This made Ben determined that I needed to SLOW DOWN.  I was so frustrated because I was able to do everything with our first two kids up until my due date; why should this be different? So I, grudgingly, changed my routine a little more (exercise 3x week).

I guess I didn't listen to my body enough because this last Tuesday I tore the intercostal muscles in my ribs. (Don't worry- baby is happy and healthy).  This pain feels like a stitch in your side (knife stabbing between your ribs every time you breath) but it unyielding.  The Dr compared the recovery to breaking your ribs; there's nothing we can do about it but grin and bear it and do as little as possible to not irritate it. I was told it could take 3 days to multiple weeks to heal.  I was so frusterated, why? Why was this happening?  I was not put on bed rest (I have two kids at home) but was told to do as little as possible.  During the day I am able to function but at night it is horrific,  I have been sleeping sitting straight up (improving my posture) for three nights. On a positive note;  I am healing so quickly.  On Wednesday I could only manage to get in about 40% of a breath before intense pain but I am not getting up to 70%- so I am breathing much better.

So I'm frustrated.  I am 29 weeks pregnant and can't do what I want to do; I can't play with my kids, weed my garden, go hiking or exercise.  But I have been trying to find some positivity to these trials.
1.  I have been fortunate that Ben has been able to be home to help a lot (school breaks or after graduation) and that, when he isn't available, we have family so close.
2.  I have amazing kids and although these months of 'inattentive mothering' has been killing me, they are such champs.  James really won't remember this much and Elizabeth has been such a great helper. Ben also keeps reminding me that I am mothering by allowing my body to create our new little boy.
3. Maybe I am being slowed down now, early in my pregnancy, because Heavenly Father is preparing me for later on in the pregnancy or is helping me to avoid something worse.
4.  I have had to have faith in priesthood blessings and rely more on the spirit and have faith that there is a plan for us.
5.  I have come to love this baby boy, not just because I don't want to be pregnant anymore, but because I know that this is worth it to bring this sweet soul into our lives.

Cross your fingers that the next 11 weeks goes smoothly, that I can listen to my body (and Ben and the Dr) more and keep myself healthy and that our sweet baby boy can continue to grow strong and healthy.

Baby #3: Gender Reveal

Since finding out we were having another baby, Elizabeth was very excited about doing a  big "gender reveal" to find out if it was a boy or girl.  We decided to do something smaller for the kids.  So on March 13 (after finding out the sex from bloodwork), we made two balloons; one pink, one blue.  We had the kids sit down to see which balloon Dad would pop!! Yay!! The only problem; James had no idea what we were doing or the significance of any of it and Elizabeth was scared that it would be soo loud and therefore, cringed the entire time.  It was still fun to see their confusion and then reactions.

 

 

IT'S A BOY!

After the "reveal" of blue confetti, Elizabeth looked at me and said, "Wait so... is it a girl?"  We had to reexplain that pink was girl and blue was boy.  She was a little dissapointed but very excited to have another brother.  James was in denial and kept saying, "It's a GIRL! I'm going to have a brother."  Ben and I are both excited; I am a little scared because James has been hard lately but I am also excited for him to have a companion.  Ben just keeps saying, "The Newson curse lives on!" (All the Newson siblings have one girl and then boys.)

 

 

Joy School Graduation

On Thursday May 17, Elizabeth graduated from Joy School after two years with Teacher Wilson. We have loved Teacher Wilson and Elizabeth was very sad after graduation that she would "ynever find a teacher as good as Teacher Wilson."  She learned so much in Joy School; not just her ABCs, numbers and reading (which she is doing great at) but also, through the Joy School curriculum, she learned about imagination, country pride, service and self worth.  (She also made great friends!)

Graduation was so cute and the kids did a performance of the songs they have been learning.  Elizabeth is quite the performer (but it was a little toned down from last year) and she sang beautifully.  They then got to do the graduation march a couple times, in their robes, (Elizabeth said this was her favorite part) and have their names called.  It was a sweet performance and we all loved it.

Grandpa Stones came to watch her and he brought her a flower from Nana, who was in UT this week.  Grandma Newson was also able to come and she brought Elizabeth's cousins Hannah, Sam and Eli, who were visiting from UT for the week.  We were all really proud of her.  (Ben wasn't able to be there because he had a business trip in FL. 




She will be starting kindergarten in the fall at Longmont Estates Elementary School.  On May 4 she was able to go to a Kindergarten Shadow Day; where she was dropped off, with the other new Kindergartners, and got to spend a couple hours with the teachers and in the classroom getting to 'experience' kindergarten.  She was excited (except to see the big kids- I assured her, she wouldn't have to) and had a good time during Shadow Day.  She got a shirt with her graduation year: Class of 20WHAT?  Wow- doesn't that seem so far away and so unreal?!

MASTER Newson from CU Boulder

Ben GRADUATED!! We are all so excited!  Just writing this I am getting happy tears (yes, I blame a lot of that on pregnancy emotions but a ton of it is real joy).

 

It has been a long hard 2 years; I was often home alone with two kids and it was tough.  But Ben took everything on and was amazing; he worked full time, served in church callings, was an amazing Dad and took on a lot of hard and time intensive courses.  He learned so much and can already see the benefits of this program in his personal and professional life.  This is something he has always wanted to do and he DID IT!  We are all so happy.

CU Alumni Family!!

On April 15 we had Rachel take some family pictures for our party announcements.  

 

So excited for our smart "thinking" man.

The kids are so proud of Dad!

Graduation was on Thursday May 10 at a field on the CU Campus.  Ben forgot some stuff at home, so the kids and I rushed to campus to give him what he needed.  The kids were able to see him in his robes and they loved it.  They did not go to the ceremony because we thought it would be a little too long for them (thanks Rachel for watching them).

The ceremony was really nice; I thought speakers might ramble and that I would be dying but it really flew by. It was hot under the tent but there was a pleasant breeze and anything (even misery) would have been worth seeing Ben's pride and excitement.  I was preparing myself to run up and get a picture of him walk across the stage but he jumped the line to the K's, so that he could go with his friends. So... I got some pictures from the back.

It really was so worth seeing his childish giddy excitement.  Afterwards we went to a reception at the CU Stadium and I got to meet a bunch of his classmates.  Everyone raved about Ben and how helpful he was in their experiences of the program; He is such a good team player, he is positive and he is diligent.  Can I say again how proud of him I am?!

The next day we had a Graduation party at the Newson's house.  Ben took the day off of work and  spent the entire day tirelessly preparing the yard for it, instead of getting a much needed rest.   The party was so much fun; we invited a lot of the people from the Louisville Ward, who helped to support Ben through the years and encouraged him to get his Masters, and some people from our new ward in Longmont.  (There were 80+ people there- wow)  We had pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, watermelon, potato salad, pasta salad and chips for dinner.  And we had an assortment of cookies for dessert. (I was worried there wouldn't be enough food but, of course, there was.)

The Early's DJ'd it with music through the whole thing, we had toys/games on the tennis court for the kids, we hired a Priest from the Louisville Ward to be a 'parking attendant' and we enjoyed having so many fun friendly faces around.  Again,  Ben is so loved and I am pretty proud of him.

To end the graduation celebrations, we went to a grad BBQ with the people from Ben's cohort on Saturday.  I got to meet more people, the kids got to play on a park and Ben got to reminisce and be with his friends. 

It was a great weekend to celebrate a great guy and his GREAT achievement.  We can now call him Master Ben Newson and he can now claim to be a true CU Buff!!

Way Overdue Update!

So… I haven’t posted anything in a while.  I’ve been in a funk.  And a little busy. And so I just haven’t don’t anything blog related- but life still goes on and so there is a lot to catch up on.  

Ben has been doing his MBA from the University of Colorado.  He is doing the night program; so he works full time (at Crocs) and then does school at night.  This schedule has been crazy but pretty manageable (up until the last two semesters- which have just been crazy).  He usually has two classes a week (getting home at 10ish) and then studies the other nights.  We made a deal at the beginning of the program that he wouldn’t do school on Sunday’s and so we can always count on seeing him then.  He is an amazing father and, even after studying into the wee hours and working all day, he will come home and play with the kids. 

So scheduling has been rough but the program has been amazing, he is learning so much and I think we would do it again (knowing the ugly) because the benefits have been great.  AND BIGGEST NEWS on that front… (drum roll please)… he graduates on THURSDAY.  Yes, in two days!! (more on that later)

 

 

Elizabeth (5) has been doing her second year in Joy School. She is doing fantastic and is loving it.  She has started reading (mostly sight words) and is getting really good at writing.  She has done gymnastics and swimming lessons this year and has loved both of those but she now wants to try soccer.  Her biggest obsession though is with art.  She loves everything art! Coloring, drawing, painting, cutting and pasting… everything!  We recently found a Youtube channel that teaches kids to draw and she loves it.  It has boosted her confidence in her drawing skills and she is trying more things.  She is such a joy and pleasure to have around and we love her to pieces. 

 

 

 

 As much as Elizabeth loves art, James (2 ½) loves cars… and trucks!  He is lately really into buses, mail trucks and garbage trucks but you really can’t go wrong with any type of automobile.  He is a high energy boy all the way but without fail you can daily find him lying on the floor (at toy level) arranging his cars in lines.  He talks up a storm (although sometimes you can’t understand him) and he is a precious cuddle bug.  He has started growing into the ‘terrible two’ a little bit because he is just a high energy curious boy but we are learning to roll with the ‘curiosity’ and loving learning together.

 

 I have had my ups and downs. Motherhood is hard. “Single” motherhood is harder.  But I love my kids so much that it makes the hard worth it; every smile, snuggle and kind word from them just melts my heart.  Big family news is that we are expecting another baby; it’s a boy.  I will post more about that later but we are so excited for our new growing family. 

 

 

 

So there’s a short update.  I have a goal to update more and will slowly try to fill in the blanks of the last year (we really have had a lot of fun). 

Visit to So Cal

Grandma Stones' Funeral- Oct 29, 2016

The morning of October 25, 2016, my Grandma Stones passed away.  It was a sad but wonderful thing; she was very sick.  My Dad was able to spend time there with her before she passed away. 

On Facebook: I remember sitting on the floor in my parents bedroom with my Grandma Stones sitting across from me as she taught me to play poker with pennies. She won.... and took all my pennies.  My Grandma passed away this morning, leaving us with wonderful memories and instilling in us wonderful values that can only be described as "a Stones thing." I am grateful that Families are Forever and for the joy and reassurance that I know she is happy, healthy and surrounded by loved ones.

We packed up at left for Utah, and the funeral, early on Friday Oct 28.  We left early with the kids still in PJs and were able to get pretty far before stopping to eat, change and get some energy out.  The kids traveled GREAT and we rolled into Salt Lake around 4. We decided to make a quick trip to Temple Square before meeting up with family.  It was raining and dreary but we thought Elizabeth would still enjoy seeing it and she did.  I love seeing the awe, wonder and reverence that Elizabeth has when seeing temples.  

 

 

 

We went into the visitor center to use the bathroom and dry off a bit and Elizabeth caught sight of the giant statue of Christ. She walked up to it, mouth dropped open, and staring wide eyed.  She then sat on the edge of the statue at Christ's feet and just pondered.  I went up to her and asked her what she was doing and she told me that she was just thinking and wanted to have some alone time. She is so deep and you can see the spirit in her eyes and feel the spirit as she speaks about her love for her Savior. 

 

We then went to the church by Melanie's house and met up with everyone; all of the Stones cousins, Aunts/Uncles and my family.  We all ate together, caught up and played a couple fun games of kickball. I love that when my family all gets together we decide to do something like kickball.  I have a pretty amazing extended family and I am so grateful for them.  I know that we would not all be nearly as cool as we are without the love, dedication and influence of Grandma Stones. In a weird way it was a perfect ode to her; all of us together and having fun. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning we had a family luncheon and Grandma's funeral.  Everyone brought the quilts that Grandma had made for them and we put them over the benched in the chapel; it was a beautiful legacy and showed the love that Grandma brought into our lives.  It was a wonderful funeral and the stories and memories kept me constantly smiling and proud that I knew that amazing woman. 

 

 

 

After the grave ceremony, after which all the little great grand kids stole flowers off of the grave (another reason I love my family- so unconventionally full of love) we went out to eat with Michael and Kayla and all hung out.

 

That night  we all crashed Melanie's ward Trunk or Treat! It was so cool to see everyone's costumes and have fun cousin trick or treat time.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was such a short trip but it was so wonderful to see family.  It is sad that we only all get together at funerals but it is so wonderful to celebrate the life of such a wonderful woman by seeing her posterity and all she has effected.  I am so grateful for my Grandma and the example she was to me.  I am grateful she raised such amazing children because I think my Dad is one of the coolest most amazing people I know (and that's all her doing).  I will also always cherish the memories I have of her. 

*Also, Jeremy and Heidi let us crash at their house.  We weren't there much but when we were it was wonderful seeing them, laughing with them and spending time with them!! We love family!