Six years today

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I remember what I was doing 6 years ago right now. I was asleep. I was exhausted. I was a mom. I was excited, and I was scared too. The night before I had stayed up until I was at the point of exhaustion. John was working nights and I had a hard time falling asleep by myself so I would wait until I could hardly keep my eyes open until would go to bed. I was just at that point when I coughed, and my water broke. I was in denial. Alan was supposed to be a New Years baby, so I tried to convince myself that I had just peed my pants (you know there is a problem when you are hoping that you peed your pants). I called John and he came home and took me to the hospital. I honestly was clueless until the nurse asked me if I was in any pain. I said "I feel fine now but I was really hurting a minute ago" She just looked at me and said "those are contractions honey."

Of course I was only 33 weeks along and I wasn't supposed to be having a baby yet, so they put my on some wonderful drugs that made my heart race out of control and when that didn't stop things they gave more drugs that made me loose everything in my stomach. Of course they wouldn't give me the epidural because they were hopeful that Alan would be able to wait at least 48 hours before being born (the steroid shot takes 48 hours to take effect). Well he didn't wait and about 5 or 6 the next evening they gave up and gave me the epidural (yea!). A few hours later we were blessed with Alan. I was so worried that he would be small for his age (gestation), I kept praying that he would be at least 4 lbs. I gave a big sigh of relief when the doctor said that he was 5 lb 1 oz. He was huge!

I'll be honest. I was so exhausted, and so scared, I couldn't believe that he was real. It seemed more like a dream to me. A few hours later I went to visit my son for the first time in the NICU. I couldn't hold him but I sat there watching him. Was this really my son? It just didn't seem real. I didn't know him, he could be anyone. But then he twitched and kicked out his leg. THAT, I knew. I knew that kick. I would recognize that anywhere. That was my son! I had been feeling that kick for a few months and when I saw that kick, I realized that I was a mom. He was mine, and love overflowed from my heart.

Five weeks later he came home. Five days before Christmas we got our Christmas present. Oh how blessed we were to have this boy with us. He has been a blessing ever since. Alan, you are six years old today and I wouldn't trade those six years for anything. Happy Birthday!

Support your favorite Charity

My Brother in law Paul let me know about this great charity fundraising orgazination, Uplej. How it works basically is you choose a charity and become either a free "advocate" or a $4.79 a month paid donnor. For everyone that you tell about Uplej and signs up money will be donated to your chosen chairity as well as theirs. Basically it's like a pyramid scheme execpt that it is not a scheme and that the money goes to chairity. Don't worry, no Amway involved. I'm just trying to get the word out. If you're quick my brother in law is giving out
free Jazz/suns tickets for Saturdays game to the person that get's the most people signed up.

Please join my uPlej network here. By joining my network, you can help raise money and awareness for YOUR charitable cause and mine.

The songs they sing

These days if you spend a couple of hours with Alan or Hyrum you might hear them bust out a snippet of a song. "I am the smallest giant ever, I am the smallest giant ever". Or "Nobody can save us but Kim the waitress". A little Too Much Joy and Material Issue. Is there a problem with that?

Allison doesn't think it is a problem that they know these songs (I don't think). She thinks it might be a problem that they know the words to these songs but don't always get all the words to I Am a Child of God.

Their two songs of choice for their good-night song are still I Am a Child of God and Teach Me to Walk. So I figure we're still good right?

Cake

I made this for a baby shower last weekend. There actually wasn't a lot of decorating involved but I am pleased with how it turned out.

You know you live in Arizona . . .

You know you live in Arizona when it's November before you realise that your son's only long pants are his "Sunday" pants. Guess I should get this kid some jeans before December.

You wouldn't guess from all the safety gear but he was just going for a ride on his tricycle.

What do you think?

I think we look pretty good!