Browns Point Nature Day 2009

Last Sunday was nature day at the Browns Point Improvement Club. This is an every other year event that I love to take Talan to. Divers go out into the sound and bring in sealife that they put in tanks and swimming pools for kids (and adults) to look at and touch. So we decided to invite Nichole, Jake and the kids, and Becky with her son Landon. Becky and I had decided that Talan and Landon being they are the same age should meet and have a play date. Landon is an interesting child. Very hands on touchy with other children. If you look at the above photo they look like they are running holding hands....look a little closer and Landon has Talan by the wrist and is dragging him along. Talan isn't to sure about this.

Being that this nature day trip was a Mommy and Talan only day, we needed a picture on the front of Grandpa Cliff's aka Talan's firetruck.

Talan was kind enough to share "his" firetruck with Landon. He is a little unsure of this, since he is always the only one on the firetruck when we go to the station for a visit. Plus sharing the drivers seat. The horror of it all! But the funniest thing, Talan remembers things like I do, and he tried getting kids to push the switch for the lights. He's tell them "that turn lights on", I had to tell him not to do that! It was cute.

Some of the sea creatures we got to look at. Neither of the kids wanted to touch anything. I did touch the giant starfish.

Nature day will be back June 2011. If you ever want something fun and free you should check it out!

Crows do have a great memory

So it has been several weeks since dad tried to rescue the baby crow. Since then, Lucifer and Lucifa are still dive bombing dad. These two devil crows are holding a grudge. Anyone can be outside with out any problems, except dad. You can be home all day, dad at work, and these crows are no where to be seen. As soon as he comes home poof there they are. When his back is turned they start with the kamazie moves.

So word to the wise. When crows are babies and ready to leave they nest (this happes a couple weeks before they take flight for the first time) they will fall out of the tree, and hide is bushes. They do this until the wings are strong enough to fly. So unless they are hurt, leave them alone. Mom and Dad crow are watching, and will watch and torcher you FOREVER!!!

Suicide bomber Crows, Adult in the sandbox

This is just one of the crows.

Sunday I go to pick up Talan from my mom and dads house. My folks were kind enough to take Talan so I could do some cleaning around the house for some showings. As soon as I get to the house dad greets me and has me follow him to see the baby crow that was found in our yard. The thought was the little fella fell out of his nest. He was in shock, dehydrated and well needed a little lift up to get in the tree to be safe. Dad was this crows EMT. Mom and Dad crow did not see it this way and started in on the suicide mission, dice bombing anyone who came close to the tree, or anyone who just came outside to see the baby crow. Mom and dad crow also called for some crow troops and out came 6 other suicide bombing crows. Word to the wise crows have friends who come fully armed. Think Alfred Hitchcocks movie "The Birds" my favorite movie of his.

Sunday also brought the beach to Talan. Grandpa Cliff made a sandbox for Talan. Mom and dad took Talan to home depot to by play sand and he got to help unload it into his new sandbox aka Talans beach. He played all day in his own sand. This new beach made it very difficult for me to get Talan convinced that he needed to leave with me to go to his other grandparents home. He informed me that he was going to stay and baby Ahren and I could go. Chris has also gotten to relive some childhood fun. He has also been playing in the sandbox with Talan.

Today we had Ahrens one month checkup. I thought we were going to get shots but we didn't need any, so next month the poor guy gets shots. He is growing very well, and the doctor was happy so I was happy.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day weekend. We spent Saturday in Mossyrock with Grandma and Grandpa Ward. This was their anniversay weekend and they always go camping. So we joined them for a day of fun in the sun at the lake. Talan was able to run and run and run, he finally burned off some of that energy. We got a big surprise from the Mossyrock Fire Department. For those of you who don't know, firetrucks, and firepeople are one of Talan's favorite things. With Grandpa Cliff being an assistant fire chief Talan is used to special fire truck time. Grandma Lorraine and I here Chris yelling at Talan to stop, so we go running out of the camper to see Talan running across the campsite yelling Grandpa, Grandpa (my dad was not there). We look up and there is the Mossyrock Fire Truck. Talan can spot a fire truck a mile away. The fire department came through the campground, with someone dressed at the fire dog, and were tossing stuffed animals to all the kids! Talan caught himself a blue bunny and was so excited he kept telling us all night the Mossyrock fire chief gave it to him. Who really knows if it was the chief, but it made him happy. I took Ahren out also, and he was given a stuffed critter also.

Our First Month

Its been 4 weeks since Baby Ahren was born

I'm baaaaack!!!!! Or should I say we're back!





Here is my saga, a tale that is true, its got joy, its got sadness, its got vomit, poop, formula and breast milk.





Our due date or shall I say my surgery date was April 30, 2009. My instructions were to be checked in at St. Francis at 5:30am, yes the same time the sun comes up. My bag was packed I was ready to go the night before. I went to bed rather late since I wanted a shower, (I new I wouldn't get one at the hospital and I wanted to go all clean!). I go to bed, and wake up 2 hours later with a strange feeling of peeing my pants. Yes you guessed it my water broke at 1:15am!!

I made it to the bathroom where most of my water was released, as I kept saying "no...no...no..no.. this is not the right time you little fart". I went downstairs and woke Chris up, he just looked at me funny as I grabbed the phone to call mom and dad. Into the downstairs bathroom I go, since I am leaking everywhere. Dad answers and I give him the great news. Poor dad, he hadn't been asleep very long since he had been helping Pat and Joann at the new salon. He tells me that he needs to hop in the shower then he will come and get us, mom will stay with Talan until Joann gets here at 5am. As soon as I get off the phone I start having contractions. This is not supposed to be happening this way! Once again I get the joy of dealing with contractions and a body that doesn't dilate. I have my bag in the car, I am waiting in the kitchen to see the headlights of the parents car, Chris is calling his parents over and over and over. Poor Chris, his parents ringer wasn't working, so he couldn't get hold of them. As soon as I see the headlights, I am on the front patio having yet again another contraction. Dad jokingly goes, gosh are you ready, and I look him in the eye and say " we have to go and go now, I"m having contractions that are 2 minutes apart". The fire under the butt was lit and off we went. Once at the E.R. we are greeted by staff that of course knows my dad, for those of you who don't know this, I can't go anywhere without someone knowing my dad. We get rushed right up to the birthing unit. I had a great nurse who helped my though several contractions, after all I am there with my husband and dad, there is no other female there to help me breath or talk softly to me. C.J. the nurse you rock! I'm given a shot the first of three to stop my contractions, now this shot gives you the jitters, makes your pulse race and can lower your blood pressure. first shot goes well, we wait 20 minutes and I get the second. It slightly takes the edge off the contractions, but it doesn't stop them. The on call doctor, Dr. Snyder (he is great) comes in to visit me after 2 hours of contractions, to tell me we are going to do the c-section now, (its 4am). Dad changes into some very attractive scrubs, Chris goes to wait in the waiting area (alone until my mom got there at 515am). Dr. Snyder and C.J. the nurse walk me to the operating room, Dr. Snyder he even helped me into a robe so my ass wasn't hanging out in the wind for all to see. Dad now he was a bundle of energy and excitement. I think he could have burst at the seams if he could have! I get a spinal block, which is not as good as an epidural, but it takes the edge off. Now here is the gory, PTSD part of my saga....spinal blocks really just take the edge off, you can still feel what is happening to you. Every snip, cut, pull, tug, you can feel it. Now I have a damn high pain tolerance, but a person can only take so much. Ahren is so large and he hadn't dropped at all, so after I endured the cuts and snips, I had a full grown man put all his weight on me to help push Ahren out while the other doctor pulled from the other end. This was horrible, I can't breath, from the pressure. I hear my dad gasp "He is huge, look at those shoulders". I don't or can't look but damn I can tell he is huge by the way he is being jerked out of me. I hear the first cries and Dad is off to see his new grandson. I am still on the table wishing it was over. I'm being put back together like humpty dumpty there is pulling and stretching, and the pain in horrible. I finally beg for something to take the pain away. So I'm given some good drugs where my head feels like the Good Year Blimp, but it doesn't last long enough. So those interviews with people who say they woke up during their surgeries and felt everything, that is was I went through. I know understand it all! I finally get back to my room and so far things are good, I get to feed Ahren for the first time and that went well, but then all of sudden I have to puke. Mom grabs Ahren, the nurse gives me a bag since there wasn't a basin close by, and the dry heaves start. This is ultra painful since I just had major abdominal surgery. I can't open my eyes, every time I do I get sick, like motion sick but worse. My blood pressure is very low and this is making dad nervous. I just have to let it run its course, or I'd be given something that would knock me out until the next day, and I didn't want that. So for 4 hours I am sicker than a dog. My parents have wonderful bedside manners, feeding me ice chips when I was finally allowed them.

This was just so freaky! But it all turned out so wonderful.. I ended up with the most adorable little boy. Talan is a big brother and he loves Ahren. So for the past 3 weeks I have spent time healing, getting to know Ahren, tried the breast feeding thing and it worked for a bit, but not as long as I wanted it to.

I tried breast feeding again, and it worked for about two weeks, until Ahren wasn't gaining any weight, and my supply just wasn't enough for him. Not to mention one badly cracked nipple which that in itself will make you want to quit. At least he got two weeks worth, and now I am a little more free to go places and not rush.

Talan is adjusting well to the new baby, he wants to feed him, burp him, poke his eyes out, and he did ask to leave him at grandma's house last weekend, that was pretty funny.

All in all it has been a wonderful 4 weeks. Chris went back to work this past weekend, and he is not ready.

Ahren had a weight check yesterday and is past his birth weight which is good news! We go back to the doctor on Monday for his one month check up and a round of shots. I hate this part.

Ahhhh LIfe...

Well things have been rather busy around our household. With the daily stuff of work and family, then the other things like getting ready for a new baby. I've been getting a little worked up the past couple weeks and I know its hormones and the lack of good sleep. I'm getting nervous for the baby and the surgery. All in all life the past couple weeks has been just that life. Nothing really special has gone on. So here is a little run down.

Friday April 17, we went to Longhorn BBQ in Auburn for our neices 21st birthday. We had a blast watching her take her turn at being 21. Let me tell you she has had practice and takes a shot like a total pro! We had great fun watching her dance, drink, get embarassed, embarass her older brother, dance with her uncle (Chris), then start to turn a little green around the gills. A good time was had. It was nice to get out with Chris one last time before the baby gets here!

I've been on the hunt for a baby swing. There is one that I am totally in love with but with this being the last baby I am unwilling to pay $149.99 for one! So I have been to a countless number of consignment shops and I'm sorry but the prices they have been putting everything are not what I call consignment prices. Tonight I am going to go and buy my back up swing, it was my second choice and its on sale. Thankfully I have a gift card and a coupon.

I got the crib all together, with the bedding set that Grandma and Grandpa Ward bought for Ahren. It looks so cute all together. Talan was a big help, with grabbing my tools, and wing nuts. I was being funny there for those of you who don't know my child and his way of helping. Got the bassinet all made and ready. Talan thinks its his new bed for his stuffed critters. He tried to steal it from my room last night.

Then there was our crazy morning yesterday. I love my son Talan, he always keeps me on my toes, but he also wears me out! He is so busy, and reminds me a lot of my best friends child. So he always crawls in bed with me in the morning when he wakes up and we watch cartoons. This happens no big deal right....wrong! I get up to go and turn out his Lightening McQueen light which is made up of something that feels like dried hot glue. I'm always worried that it will melt. As I am walking into his room, I see all these brown tiny ball type things EVERYWHERE. First thought is damn cat pooped in the room, and the little box is right there easily accessable. Then I look over at the dvd player and its has brown smudges across it. I talk down the hall to Talan and ask what is on his floor and dvd player, in which he prompty tells me "Its poop mom", and where did the poop come from..."My diaper see right here" and he points to his diaper and his butt and you can see where he opened his night time diaper and re-did it. I am grossed out at this point, and just shake my head at him. Who really knows when he did this, he went to bed with a clean fresh diaper so between the time he went to bed and woke up he did this. I'm really grossed out now, and take him into the bathroom to wash his hands thinking great he is going to give people e-coli. Needless to say after I was done his room smelled like a hospital, clean and sterile! We used to call him Tater well he is now Monkey since Monkey's fling poop at eachother!
Thank the lord that we have been told by friends and family that this is normal and almost every kid does something like this. But it was still gross!

So that has been life in the Ward house for the past couple weeks. Baby Ahren will be here Thursday morning, so I will post a picture and all the goodies when I get home from my 3 day stay. Until then.....