Freeze!

I saw this on 100% Cottam's page, and thought it was pretty cool. Over 200 people freeze on cue in Grand Central Station.

Happy Birthday to Alex!

3 years ago today, my sweet little angel, first-child was born. Ahh... there's just something extra special about that first child that makes a person a "mommy." I couldn't have asked for a better kid.

I still remember, very clearly, the day he was born. I was so blessed to have such a short labor. At about 10:30 p.m., I felt the contractions (every 2 minutes... whatever happened to "come to the hospital when they're 5 minutes apart for an hour" ?) and decided we better head on over to the hospital. I was far enough along to be admitted, and was lucky enough to get an epidural right away. (wonderful, blessed medicine! yeah!) When Michelle Matthews' dad, yep, Morris! walked into the room, I was soooo glad to see him!

Little Alex was born by about 5 a.m. The beginning was a little rough. I've never written down the events, so I thought I better get on that while the memories are somewhat fresh. As Alex was coming out, he had the cord wrapped around his neck - not a big deal, happens all the time, so they tell me. As the doctor lifted it up and over his head, it burst - big deal, rarely happens at all! Blood started spraying everywhere... Mark got covered, doc got covered, nurse got covered, you get the idea. And had it been my blood, then no biggie, I could have handled that. But it was my baby boy's blood. And it was comin' out quick. Not good.

All I remember is that they got the rest of that baby out as quick as lightning, threw him on my stomach and he started crying. I was thinking, "He's crying. This is good, right? Everyone says that once they're crying, all is well, right?" But in my semi-conscious reality, I could hear the doctor and nurse yelling, "Pinch the cord!" "Grab me something to clamp this!" "Quick, get me a clamp!" and finally from Dr. Larkin, beads of nervous sweat on his brow, "NOW!!!"

At that point, I'm thinking... Okay, maybe I should be a little nervous. And... not that I wasn't a tad bit anxious, but either I was being comforted to know that all was going to be well, or those epidurals totally rock. Whatever the case, they whisked my precious little, very pale, baby off to the nursery, and that was the last I saw of him for a few hours.

Mark went off to be with the wee one while the doctor repaired (for over an hour) the damage he'd done in his speedy haste to save the little one's blood supply. I very, very distinctly remember Mark coming back to check on me and seeing him just break down in tears. The one comment that stands out in my mind was, "They just keep picking, prodding, and poking him. They can't find a vein (common with major blood loss), and they've poked him over 50 times. It's so awful! He's just screaming." :( Sooo sad.

Of course, true to the spitfire spirit that we now know as Alex, that little one fought hard, and knowing that his mother would be a basket-case if he didn't fight quick, he recovered so well. By mid-day, his blood pressure was close to normal.

I treasure the first chance I had to hold him after this whole ordeal. They wheeled me into the nursery, and I could hear the sweetest, saddest cry. I immediately recognized it (don't ask me how, 'cause now they all sound the same to me!), and was handed my baby. The minute I took him in my arms, he was silent. He had wide-open, goopy eyes (from those darn drops) and he just looked at me like, "Ahhh... there's my mommy." He had me hooked, right then and there.

And he's got me hooked still! What an absolutely precious, beautiful, fun, sweet, spunky, intelligent, perfect little boy. I love you bud! Happy 3rd Birthday! Now do as I say, and stop growing up so fast!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I've been "husband tagged"

What is his name? Mark

How long have you been married? 6 1/2 years

How long did you date? 2 years

How old is he? "26" or so he likes to think (and he gets away with it!)

Who eats more? Me, unfortunately

Who said "I love you" first? I'm pretty sure he did? But I honestly can't remember. I'm such a romantic!

Who is taller? Me? We're about dead even, so I don't ever wear heels.

Who sings better? Me, I guess. Although he's got a nice voice. He just doesn't read music and sing parts.

Who is smarter? I got better grades, but he retains things much better than I.

Whose temper is worse? His, I guess. But he doesn't really have one.

Who does the laundry? Mostly me since I quit working, but he does it too.

Who does the dishes? Both of us.

Who sleeps on the left side of the bed? From which perspective? Looking at the bed, or lying in it? He does, I guess.

Who pays the bills? Automatic Bill Payer at the bank. (he monitors that, however)

Who mows the lawn? He does. Not that I wouldn't like to... it's just that I'm not allowed to. Go figure...

Who cooks dinner? When we have dinner, I cook 66% of the time, he cooks 34%. Although his creations are usually much tastier than mine.

Who drives when you are together? Split 50/50.

Who is more stubborn? Neither of us are, really.

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Probably him... we don't really fight, so...?

Who proposed? He proposed - sort of. If you count having your girlfriend arrested and handcuffed as a proposal... Don't worry, dear, I WILL get you back, when you least expect it. Be on your guard.

Who has more friends? Me.

Who has more siblings? We both have six siblings.

Who wears the pants? We're pretty equal.

What is his love language? I don't know.

What attracted me to him? Those eyes... and I knew he'd make an amazing dad.

Love ya!

I tag whoever wants to do it... (like Liz, Camille, Tamara, Ronda...? )

You can't eat me!

Ever since Alex was little, Gma Barlow - who tended him a couple of times a week while I worked - would say, "I love you so much, I just want to eat you up!" Alex loved it, and still talks about it with a giggle.

Today, I said, "Mmmm... you smell so yummy (after his bath) that I just want to eat you up!"

Alex replies, "MOM! You can't eat me up! I'm made of Heavenly Father, and I'm WAY too hard to chew!"

*chuckle*

Statistics

Well, with all the statistics that are floating around these days about this and that, I thought I'd add a few of my own.

• 3 - little boys who light up my life.


• 12 - diapers that I change every day - not too bad for 3 kids in diapers!


• 75 - cheerios that are placed on high chairs each day.


• 50 - cheerios that are picked up off the floor and placed back on the tray - again.


• 4 - large jars of baby food consumed each day.


• 160 - spoonfuls of baby food fed into ravenous little mouths each day.


• 150 - quartered slices of banana fed to babies each day.


• 3 - chicken nuggets that are a 2 yr old's lunch staple.


• 45 - peas that go along with the nuggets.


• 30 - tissues that we went thru each day at the peak of our colds.


• 10 - days of antibiotics - finally!


• 2 - treatments each day of steroids in a nebulizer so Baby B can breathe easier.


• 4 - bibs that get soiled every day - on a good day.


• 1,000 - times I get told what to say each day. ("Mom, say 'this'..." "Mom, say 'that'..." usually accompanying pretend play.)


• 5 - minimum times I ask Alex to not sit on his baby brothers.


• 4 - hours of uninterrupted sleep I get each night - on the good nights.


• 4 - rooms that need walls and furniture scrubbed to remove the humidifier residue from humidifiers that have been running for EIGHT weeks now... does this cold stuff never end?


• 4 - songs of "Bye baby bye-oh" that get sung at each nap.


• 6 - Q-tips to clean out booger-noses.


• 3 - blessed baths for 3 very yummy smelling boys.


• 1 - shower that is my self-indulgence each day.


• 40 - minutes that I spend hooked up to the milking machine each day.


• 40 - ounces of milk/formula that are consumed each day - down from about 68!


• 50 - inches of high-def plasma tv that make daddy oh-so happy!


• 1 - internet connection that plays "Blue's Clues" on demand.


• 1 - teaspoon of orange Triaminic that helps runny noses so much!


• 47 - "guys" that make Alex's daily must-be-played with list. (deserves a picture post of its very own)


• 2 - of everything big: high chairs, swings, exersaucers, cribs, strollers, bouncy seats, babies, love!


• 100 - reasons to thank Heavenly Father every day.


• 1 - husband and daddy who puts up with us all and our craziness.


• 2 - times each week that my angel mother has come over to help clean house, take care of kiddies, and leave everyone with a much-elevated mood.


• 1 - time each day (at least) that an almost 3 yr old says, "Mommy? I just love you! Thanks for being the nicest mommy."


• 4 - advil that are consumed each night before bed.


• innumerable - kisses, snuggles, hugs, giggles and smiles that 1 lucky mommy receives every day.


• 3 - bedrooms that I HAVE to sneak into every night before I go to sleep just to have one more peak at the precious little sleeping faces of the biggest blessings of my life.

This week...

My heart is full as I reflect on this past week. I've obviously thought a lot about the passing of our beloved prophet as I watched the specials and his funeral. But on a more personal note, Mark's grandmother, Julia Bartlett Swan, passed away this week too. I reflected a lot on my own personal convictions and gratitude for my knowledge of the plan of salvation. Where would I be without the gospel? I shudder to think... I also took a moment to reflect on what I wanted to learn from, or take from, my relationships with these two people who were so important to me. So, forgive me as I indulge in a little introspection.

Grandma: From Grandma, I learned that attitude is everything. Grandma lost her mother when she was only 6 years old. At the young and impressionable age of 12, she was separated from her family as the seven children were split up to live with various family members. Although she never really had a true nucleus of a family, she knew better than many the importance of a happy family life and was so full of love. Grandma tragically became a widow in her 40's, with a still-young family to raise. Yet she never let that stop her from working hard and moving forward. She raised those kids, worked full-time, still made time for gardening, canning, reading and improving. And finally, in her final weeks, she suffered still more trials than a woman with her fair-share deserved. She lay confused and in pain with a broken neck, a broken hip, pneumonia, bronchitis, a rash and infections. Yet, when family visited her after a rough day, she said, "I've been grumpy today, haven't I?" And continued to apologize and promise to try harder to be happier. Man... if she can have a good attitude, and press forward through all the trials she's been through, then I can show more optimism in my relatively easy and pampered life. Am I doing my best to have a good attitude?

Pres. Hinckley: From President Hinckley, I learned (well... just one of MANY lessons) that I need to try a little harder to be a little better. There were many impressionable moments of his life and words that affected me, but one story that really touched me was mentioned at his funeral. I can't remember which speaker it was, but it was told that he once was standing in the Hall of Prophets, looking at the pictures of all the prophets before him in this dispensation. He reflected that he felt so inadequate to be among that group of great men. (yah... unfathomable to me, but proves his humility!) But he didn't let that get him down. He just said that he would give the Lord his best, as he oft times proclaimed to do. That to me is such a great example. Am I giving the Lord my very best? Or do I make excuses for my mediocrity? When I heard that story, I was so touched to try harder to be better and truly give my best.

These two people, along with countless others both here and gone, have touched my life so much. I'm so blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful family and such supportive friends. But most of all, I'm so blessed to have a Savior that loves me so perfectly and completely. He suffered and died for me, not for His personal pride or gain, but out of pure, unselfish love. He did this, so that I, if worthy, might be a joint heir with Him of all that my Heavenly Father has. In this temporal state, that's almost hard to fathom -- someone suffering more immensely than I can imagine, only to give the reward of that suffering equally to anyone and everyone just because he loves them. What an amazing gift. My heart is overflowing with gratitude.

I wish feelings like this could last all day, every day, and make me the better person that I long to be. As the daily grind wears down on me, I don't want to forget the resolve that I feel tonight to do and be better. I guess that's our test in life, huh? Enduring. I hope I can endure well.