Betsy's Birthday!

Malachi has a onesie with monkeys and bananas on it, and Caleb loves it, and says he wants one.   I told Travis about it, and he ordered and sent Caleb this shirt with monkeys and bananas on it.  He loves it!.  He wouldn't take it off for two days, and then finally allowed me to wash it, since it was so dirty.  

Betsy opening her presents

Samuel wrapped up in his daddy quilt

Betsy with her Daddy pillow

Austin with her Daddy pillow

Betsy with her new umbrella

Betsy and her caterpillar cake

I dropped my mom off at the airport Wednesday afternoon.  I cried when she left, and felt emotional the rest of the day.  She was such an amazing help, I'm so grateful she was able to come.  Dinner that night consisted of Caleb dropping his full cup of milk, and it splashing everyone at the table, and his plate of food into a swamp. Next Samuel knocked a big bottle of ranch over, it landed on the edge of a plate, flinging salad all over, getting lots of it stuck in the girls hair. As I am trying to clean up while holding the baby, his foot knocks a big glass of water over, soaking the both of us. It was a mess, but we made it through.  I'm sure we looked pretty hilarious, covered in milk, salad, and soaking wet.  We all changed our clothes, and I finally got everything cleaned up, everything takes a lot longer, when you have a tiny baby.  Thursday I went to a playgroup in the morning, and had a good time, but Caleb didn't want to leave, and made things difficult, but one of the other ladies finally helped me get him and Malachi loaded up in the car.  We had to drive over and pick up some quilts, and blankets for the kids, that the YMCA makes for kids with deployed parents, with their pictures on it.  We finally got over to the place to pick them up and went inside.  They wouldn't let me pick up the quilts and blankets without showing my a copy of Travis' orders, so we left empty handed.  I drove home, praying Caleb and Malachi would fall asleep so that I could take a nap when we got home.  The night before, Caleb woke up 5 times, and Malachi woke up about that many times too, and all at different times.  Both when Daddy left and Grandma, Caleb woke up a lot during the night for a while, he is always traumatized when someone he loves leaves.  He told me "mom it's hard, daddy and grandma are gone. "  He keeps talking about grandma and says he needs her, and misses her, and wants her to come back "tomorrow".  So anyway, I was exhausted.  I got home and transferred Caleb to the couch, and took Malachi upstairs with me.  I laid down and started to fall asleep, than Malachi woke up, I fed him and got him back to sleep again.  I tried to go back to sleep, than the phone rang (I need to remember to turn it off when I want a nap).  Then Malachi woke up again, then the kids got home from school.  So no nap for me.  Friday morning I made Betsy's caterpillar cake, then I went back to the YMCA and was able to get the quilts this time, and went to the grocery store to get some whipping cream, to make Betsy's ice cream.  I wrapped her presents, and had them ready on the couch for her, when she got home from school.  She loved all her presents, and all the kids loved their pillows and quilts with Daddy's and their pictures all over them.  We had cake and ice cream, then ordered pizza for dinner, and picked up the movie "Brave" and watched it for her birthday.  She was able to talk to her daddy for a little while then went to bed. Joseph was supposed to be at football practice, but instead he sat in front of the school for 2  hours and read his book.  I picked up Travis' mom from the airport about 10pm, while my friend stayed home with the sleeping kids.  I was so tired, I fell right to sleep after getting back home.  Saturday morning Joseph was supposed to go on a scout hike, so I got him all packed up, and made him a lunch, and sent him over to his friend that was supposed to give him a ride.  He came back, saying his friend wasn't going, he had football practice.   That meant that Joseph had football practice too, so I told him to go to football practice instead.  I got the girls ready, and took them to a "home alone" class that I signed them up for, that teaches them what to do when they are left home alone.  When I got back, Joseph was there, and looked upset and said he isn't going to do football anymore.  I took him over to the "home alone" class, and had him join his sisters.  I was really exhausted, so I asked my mother-in-law to take Samuel and Caleb to the park so I could take a nap.  Travis called and I talked to him a little while, and cried.  Lack of sleep, makes me very emotional, than I was able to nap for an hour.  We made it through the rest of the day, and everyone finished their chores except Joseph.  Travis's mom took Betsy shopping for her birthday, and she got some new clothes, and toys, and had a good time with her Grandma.  Today I went to church for the first time since Malachi was born.  Austin had trouble behaving during sacrament meeting, but everyone else did pretty good.  I spent all of Sunday School feeding and changing Malachi, but got to attend most of Relief Society, it was very nice.    

Betsy's B-day party

ssshhhhh!! he's sleeping

Betsy and her friends at her birthday party

the dress from Grandma Hardy

"laser" obstacle course

Caleb getting ready to "shoot" betsy ( I love the way he is holding the gun)

So the past week and a half has been busy.  I'm so glad my mom was here helping, it made everything so much easier.  I love my mom!!  My friend, Leslie threw me a baby shower on Saturday, it was supposed to be a week earlier, but I had the baby too early, so we moved it to the 17th.  She also had to move it to another ladies house, since her A/C went out.  I think with all the changes, people didn't show up.  There were only three Ladies there besides myself.  We still had a good time though, and I received several packages of diapers.  Betsy had a birthday party on Saturday, and it was at the outdoor pool.  I dropped my mom and Austin and Betsy off at the outdoor pool when it was time for the party.  My mom swam with the girls for the first hour, then I came back to the pool with all the boys, and the cupcakes.  All the girls came out of the pool, then I handled the cake and presents, while the boys went swimming with my mom.  It worked out really well, Malachi slept in his car seat the whole time, and everyone seemed to have a blast.  The girls gobbled up the cupcakes (my mom made them) and had fun opening presents.  Malachi had his two week appointment and he is very healthy, he weighs 7lbs now.  I'm healing up well now, I'm just tired all the time.  Caleb and Malachi both wake up every night, and it's not at the same time, so I'm getting very interrupted sleep.  My mom would try to help me take a nap, but the last few days 3-4 days have been too busy.  I went to Travis' units coffee last night (don't worry, no actual coffee involved) and had a good time, and they gave me a bag of baby stuff, it was really nice.  Samuel has been having an ABA therapist coming over once a week to help out with Samuel's behavior.  He has come up with a point sheet system for him, and I'm going to start using it, to help Samuel.  Joseph was doing football, but he hasn't been completing his HW, so he is ineligible to play, until he gets his grades up.  Austin has been having some very dramatic moments, and I took away her door (she kept slamming it over and over again).  But she has been doing really well the last couple of days, so I'm about ready to give her door back.  Betsy has been awesome, very helpful and obedient.  Caleb is delightful and fun to be around, every once in a while he is grumpy, but has been having a great time with Grandma.  In the middle of our grocery shopping today, he started singing loudly "I like my grandma".  Malachi is doing great.  He is getting a little fussier in the evenings, but doing well.  All of the kids love their baby brother, and love to hold him.  Travis and I had our 13th wedding anniversary on the 9th.  I love my husband, and can't wait for him to come home in November.  On Sunday my mom was playing some fun games with the kids.  One was a "laser" obstacle course, using crepe paper taped to the walls in the hallway to make the obstacle course.  I was setting it up, while my mom was playing with the kids in the backyard doing a sack race, and three-legged race.  I was almost done taping the crepe paper to the walls, when I heard screaming coming from the backyard.  I knew my mom was out there, and the obstacle course was between me and the backyard so I waited for a second, to see if I could hear what was going on, when Betsy ran in and said we needed scissors right away.  I dove through my obstacle course to the kitchen and grabbed my scissors, then dove through again to get to the backyard.  I got outside to see Joseph and Samuel on the ground, with Samuel screaming, they had been doing the three-legged race, and tripped and fallen.  Joseph had tied their legs together way too tight and when they fell, it twisted and was cutting off their circulation.  I quickly cut the rope and helped get Samuel inside,( he was really freaked out).  Joseph was fine, and after rubbing Samuel's foot a little while, he was good too.  I fixed the obstacle course (I was pretty impressed I only knocked a couple of them down, while diving through to get the scissors).  Betsy told me I looked pretty funny trying to get through it, and sliding on the floor.  The kids had a great time going through the course.  My mom also did tie-dye shirts with the kids, took them to a fun park with a splash pad, took them to the ward campout (just the evening portion), to IT'Z (family fun center), a frozen yogurt shop, and to the movie "planes".  They are sure lucky to have such a great grandma.    Yesterday I got the carpets cleaned, and washed the couch cushions.  I had just finished putting the cushions back on the couch, and set Malachi on it, when he peed and leaked all over the couch.  I should have know that would happen.  

Malachi Emmanuel Kirkman

Joseph and I walking into the hospital 

Joseph and I walking toward the maternity ward

Walking up three flights of stairs

concentrating during a contraction

Baby Malachi arrives

Bonding time

Talking to daddy on the phone

Malachi being weighed and bathed (6 lb 6 oz, 20 in. long)

Joseph and Samuel holding new baby brother

Austin excited to hold baby malachi

All my children (yes caleb is sleeping)

This was the view outside my hospital window, construction guys climbing up and down all day long starting at 6am

I can't believe I have 6 kids

Betsy on the first day of school

So the big event arrived, a little sooner than anticipated (by 8 days).  Monday at my OB appointment my dr. checked me and I was basically the same as last week, so I assumed I was in it for the long run.  Tuesday morning I woke up and by 6am was having a few contractions and they were a little stronger than normal, but not too close together so we went on our walk.  By the end of our walk they were getting stronger and closer together, but I figured once I got home and laid down, they would start going away.  After getting home, they just kept coming and getting stronger, so I finally realized I was in actual labor and would be having the baby, the day before my mom came.  I started praying a lot, and telling the kids that I was going to have the baby today.  I had a lot planned for the day, a PWOC picnic, the carpet cleaning company was coming to clean the carpets, it was back to school night for the kids, and YM and activity days for the girls.  I started by cancelling the carpet cleaning, and texting my friend Leslie to tell her I was in labor, and to see if she could watch my kids, once I decided to go to the hospital.  Joseph was now my backup labor coach, since my mom wasn't here yet.  Now that the reality was setting in, he said he didn't know if he could do it, but when I told him I was going alone if he didn't come, he changed his mind, and said he could handle it.  He carried around the tennis balls in his pocket and applied counter-pressure to my back, when I was having a bad contraction.  My friend Leslie texted me back and said she was coming right over.  She ran so fast, she was breathing really hard when she got here, (she lives the next street over) she was really nervous for me (I was calm).  When she saw how close my contractions were coming, she quickly helped me get everything together and piled everyone into the car.  We took all my kids over to her house, where her husband started watching 10 kids, my 5, and her 5.  She drove Joseph and I to the hospital and said she would like to make sure we got checked in okay, and to see where I was at.  (I guess if you're not dilated enough they won't admit you yet).  She took pictures of Joseph and I walking in the hospital and up three flights of stairs since I hate elevators.  We arrived at the hospital about 11am.  My contractions were coming closer to 2 minutes apart now and pretty strong, so I knew it wouldn't be long.  They checked me, and I was 7cm dilated, so they moved me to the birthing room.  I kept trying to call Travis or skype but it wasn't working.  Joseph started playing video games in the corner, while they were getting everything ready.  I was praying during every contraction, and told them I needed them to break my water so I could start pushing.  The midwife, got everything ready, broke my water, and I started pushing, after about 3 big pushes Malachi came out, and they gave him right to me.  He was born at 12:08.  He is my little miracle, so sweet and pure.  They checked everything out, and he was good.  They let me hold him about an hour before they weighed him at 6 lb 6oz.  and 20 inches long.  I was able to talk to Travis, and tell him about his newest son.  Everything had happened so fast, that my friend Leslie was still there, making sure everything was taken care of, and that I had everything I needed.  I was so glad she stayed, since Joseph ended up just playing video games on my kindle once we got to the hospital.  They transferred me to the mother/baby room, and once I was settled in there, Leslie finally left to go relieve her husband of the 10 kids he was watching, and then he came and saw the baby for a few minutes before he had to go somewhere else.  Leslie's family was able to get the kids to their back to school night, and to YMs and activity days.  Joseph stayed with me at the hospital until it was time for YMs.  All the kids came to visit and meet their little brother.  They all love him, and took turns holding him.  I took some motrin to help with the afterbirth pains, but other than that was starting to heal nicely.  Little Malachi and I didn't sleep well, but that's to be expected in a hospital.  The next morning I told them I wanted to go home, so they started the discharge paperwork.  The kids came to visit again, and Austin stayed with me this time.  Both Malachi and I were recovering fine, and Malachi was eating good so we left the hospital about 1pm.  Leslie's husband picked us up, while she took the other kids to pick up my mom from the airport.  We got home, and shortly after, my mom and the kids all arrived home too.  My mom is amazing, she immediately took over caring for all the kids and household cooking and cleaning duties.  A family did bring us dinner that first night, but she has been doing everything else.  I love my mom, and feel very blessed to have her.  I have been able to skype with Travis and show him his beautiful little boy, and talk to him every day.  I'm working on getting Malachi to sleep better at night, and trying to do a little more with the kids and house stuff each day.  I'm recovering well, just tired and sore.  All the kids love Malachi, and love to hold him.  Betsy has been a sweetheart, being very helpful and kind.  The kids all started school on Thursday, and enjoy school so far, except Austin doesn't even have a teacher, just a substitute.  I feel very blessed to have so many people helping me, and feel my heavenly father lifting me up, and helping me with my burdens.  

I can't wait for school to start, and baby to come

This week, I haven't written down each night about the day, so I'm just going to tell the highlights, and what I remember most.  First of all, I'm not sleeping well, I'm ready for this baby to come, and school to start.  One major thing that happened this week was a problem with one of the neighbors a couple houses down.  Right before Travis left, the Dad of this family, came over and complained about Joseph being mean to his kids.  We talked to Joseph about being kind to others, even if they are mean to us, (he had said they were being mean to him first), and grounded him for a week from playing with friends.  This week the Dad comes over again, and is upset, and starts telling me to keep Joseph away from his kids, and off his property, and gives a list of grievances against Joseph.  He says the they've had other problems with bullies, and they called the MPs, and they'll call them again, if they see Joseph near the house or kids again.  While he was ranting, I got the feeling that he wasn't telling me the real story, and that Joseph hadn't done the things he was telling me.  I told the Dad, we would respect his wishes, and went to talk with Joseph (he was watching Caleb in the bath for me, since I was giving him a bath when the Dad showed up on the doorstep).  Joseph explained that he was playing with a friend, and the Dad's sons were picking on his friends little sister, and he told them to go home.  Then the Mom came out and started yelling at him, so he left and came home.  I had Joseph write an apology note to the family, and I took it over the next morning and apologized to the Mom for any wrongdoing, and explained that Joseph is not a bully, but when provoked can treat people the wrong way.  I also asked her to talk to her boys about leaving Joseph alone as well.  (Joseph told me that they were always swearing at him, and making mean comments whenever he walked past).  I later found out from another lady in our ward and some other families that this family has had problems and accused each of their sons of being bullies and horrible thing as well, and the MPs were called.   Basically this family their sons are the bullies, and then tell their parents that the other kids are being the bullies and causing problems.  Anyway so I've been upset about this, and thinking about it a lot at night,
On Tuesday I had an OB appointment, everything looks good, the baby is really low and in a good position, and I started dilating (2 cm).  I went to PWOC, then took the kids to childcare for Betsy and I to go to our chiropractor appointment.  We had to wait for 30 minutes at the childcare place, while they figured out what to do about Sam's diet, (it was ridiculous) so we were 30 minutes late to our appointment but they accommodated us anyway.  That night I was really frustrated with the kids and all their messes, then the YW came and helped clean for 20 minutes for a service project.  6 girls and 2 leaders can get a lot done in 20 minutes, and I felt a lot better after they left.
On Thursday I tried taking the kids swimming in the outdoor pool, but it was closed, so we went to the indoor pool, they had a good time for a while, then Samuel kept pulling on the girls when they were trying to swim, and making them cry, so we left.
Friday, I taught piano lessons, and we all did chores.  There was also a ward potluck dinner, and movie of the testaments that we went to, that went pretty well, and the girls enjoyed watching the movie, while the boys ran around and played.
On Saturday, -  Joseph went to the temple, and spent the day in Denver with our friends.  He had a really good time, and even though he had to wait in the temple for a couple hours, for the other people to be done with their sessions, he still enjoyed it, and wants to go again.  I  dropped the kids off at childcare, and when we got there, Samuel had forgotten his shoes, so we had to go back and get them, and Caleb fell asleep in the car, so I got to drop him off and leave him in a little cot..  I spent the next 3 hours, shopping for school supplies, getting Joseph glasses, and other shopping in the busy wal-mart store, and taking it home and putting away groceries.  I was absolutely exhausted and sore by the time I picked up the kids and got them all home.  The good news is that the kids are all completely ready for school now.  I went upstairs to soak in the bath, when after I'd been in for a few minutes, a Tornado warning went off.  So I quickly got out, and got dressed, and gathered all the kids, and we moved to a room downstairs, and watched the storms progress on the radar weather map on my kindle.  The storm was predicting 1 in. hail and 70 mph winds.  We watched as the storm got closer to us, but then turned toward the SE, so we missed the worst of the storm, and only got plenty of rain, wind, and thunder that shook the house.  After the weather had calmed.  Austin said she knew god would protect us, just like she knows he will protect daddy. (made me feel all warm and fuzzy).
  I brought a water bottle of ice water in my Sunday bag today, because last Sunday I was so hot and sweaty.  Well one of the kids took off the lid, and then Caleb knocked it over, and spilled the whole thing all over the carpet, and then said "ooh...water" and started stomping in it, splashing ice cold water all over my legs, it was so shocking(from the cold) I gasped out loud. The other kids thought this was hilarious, and busted up laughing.   Today was my first Sunday in a year where I have been able to attend Sunday School and Relief Society.  They released my today from my nursery calling, it was awesome.  The kids were all disappointed, they liked me being in nursery.  I did have to change Caleb's diaper during relief society, and when I brought him back to nursery, all the other little kids had to run over and give me a hug, it was sweet.
I put up a quilt with Travis' picture on it in the stairway, and Caleb likes to play with it, and hide behind it, and pull it down, and say "i got daddy".  He also loves to play "air pockey" on the air hockey table.  On our walk now, Caleb is all about the "journey", and I'm all about the "destination".  I want Caleb to sit in the stroller until we get to the end of the path, then let him play, but Caleb wants to walk too, and is distracted by every bug, flower, rock, and stick, along the way.  He loves to just sit in the rocks and dirt, and play.  I got frustrated with him, and ended up carrying him the rest of the way, because he didn't want to sit in the stroller, and I was tired of waiting for him.  
My mom comes in 3 days, school starts in 4, and the baby is due in 10.  Many changes coming soon.....