Special Treats

A few weeks ago my dad and his sister, my Aunt Julia took a trip south to visit their other sister, my Aunt Jean.  It was such a treat when dad and Aunt Julia came to visit us for the weekend. When I was growing up, Aunt Julia and her family always lived out West.  We only saw them once a year and sometimes not even that.  Aunt Julia always sent her nieces and nephews a birthday card with a $5.00 bill inside.  Even though she lived so far away, she made sure that we all knew our Aunt Julia.  I thought she was the most fashionable woman ever!  She later told me that her first major in college was textiles and design.  So, I like to think I took something after her since my major was fashion design.  In the few days she was here, my girls grew to love her and still talk about her.

Aunt Julia spent so much time with them.  Anytime we went anywhere she would squeeze between them in the very back of the van.  They played video games on her cool phone and she put lipstick on them.  I came home from a wedding shower Saturday night and found them in the bed with her all snuggled up.  I just thought it was great that they know my Aunt Julia now and will never forget her.

It's great to see that brothers and sisters, at any age, can still have fun with one another!  If Uncle Tommy had been able to come the whole family would have been together.  We missed him!  Aunt Jean and Uncle Marvin came up to my cousins house and we all got together that Sunday afternoon.  Since my family lives so far away, it is always a treat to see them.  I love being around my Aunt Jean because she reminds me so much of my grandmother.  It is honestly like watching the grandmother I knew.

My dad showed me an old box that Aunt Jean had given him while they were visiting her.  It was a box of daddy's things that grandma had saved.  I found two letters that I had written her when I was a little girl.  And then there was a letter that she had written to all of the grandchildren.  This letter is priceless.  She was such a great woman and I loved her so much.  I loved being able to read a letter from her all these years later. 

Donuts For Dad, Or Papa

Savannah had been counting down the days until Donuts for Dads. 

Seth had to unexpectedly go out of town with work and was not going to make it back in time.

Of Course, mothers could go if the dad couldn't make it.  But, I decided that Savannah wouldn't be as disappointed if Papa could be her daddy's replacement.  And boy, was I right!  She was so excited and so was he!

March

Some things to remember for the month of March:

Our Sweet Daddy Turned One Year Older!

Landon Overcame His fear of Dirtbikes.  He Had No Choice, When He Was Thrown Into A Huge Dirtbike Race!

His Daddy Placed First Place.... WhooHoo!!

Landon Now Goes Around Saying, "Vroom, Vroom!"

This First Trimester Almost Turned Me Into a Crazy Woman!

I Gave Myself An Attitude Adjustment And Mama Is Going To Be OKAY!!

Which Makes Daddy And The Little Ones Very Happy!

Landon Knows His Animal Sounds And Screams Out Neigh And Moo All The Way To And From School!

All Of The Alphabet Letters Are "B"

He Wants To Be Outside All Day Long

Which Means I Have Issues Keeping The House In Order!

What Do You Do?

I Say, It Is Way More Fun Being Outside!

Closing a Chapter

Seth was 31, I was 29 when we got married.  We knew that we wanted to start a family right away.  I mean come on, we were not spring chickens, we knew we didn't have time to wait.  I  had never thought that it might not happen right away.  After a year and no baby, we decided to go to a fertility specialists.  We worked with Dr. Steinkampf for the next year doing all kinds of procedures. There were many tears, emotional roller coasters, talking about my infertility issues way too much to anyone who would listen, getting angry when I would hear about someone dumping a baby in the dumpster and oh, my poor husband.  I don't think I could have gone through this with anyone else.  He is an amazing person who always had his faith, plus mine, when I had none.  Finally, We found out I was pregnant.  We were the two happiest people on earth.  I continued working during the pregnancy at Parisian.  Two weeks before my due date, my water broke.  The labor and delivery nurses said that I was the happiest pregnant woman they had ever seen.  I knew that I was about to begin the job I had always wanted. 
Laurel was born on August 8, 2003

I was the happiest mom.  Laurel was the best baby and my world was consumed with her.  Then I remember the roller coaster ride starting again.  What if she was it?  What if I would not be able to give her a sibling?  After months of trying on our own, we returned to Dr. Steinkampf.  So much was going on in our lives at that time.  We were planning a move to Utah and in the meantime we were house sitting for some friends.  I was anxious because I wasn't pregnant yet and we were moving to another state.  I knew that I would have to find a new fertility specialists.  I was scheduled for a surgery on a Friday and I found out that Monday that I was pregnant!  We were so excited.  We moved out to Utah, I found a great doctor and we had Savannah on November 17, 2005.

We were so happy!  I loved being a mother to two sweet girls.  I loved living around family for the first time in years.  It was a great year and a half, but then we decided to move back to Alabama when things did not work out with Seth's job.  We had held onto some land that we planned on building  a house on.  So, that is what we did.  We were living life, building a home and enjoying our daughters.  We knew we wanted more children and we had figured out by this time that we just were not that couple that could say, " hey, you want to have a baby by next summer?"   So, we went back to Dr. Steinkampf and what seemed liked an eternity to me, I was finally able to get pregnant.  Landon was born on June 20, 2009.

I felt so blessed.  I was the mother of three beautiful children.  I was 38 when I had Landon.  Seth and I felt complete.  Then, when Landon was 8 months old, Seth looked at me and said, "maybe you should go back to Dr. Steinkampf and have that dye shot through your tubes again."  (and yes, it is just as painful as it sounds!) 
I said, "have you lost your mind?!?  I thought we were complete." 
He said, "wouldn't it be great if Landon had a little brother?"
Me, "well, what if it is a girl?"
Him, "well, I will take another sweet, little girl."

Me, I dropped the conversation.  Can you believe it, I was speechless!

Months go by, comments are made about a fourth child.  Like, " I just think if we had not had fertility issuses, we would have had four children."  And, he was right.  I always thought four children would be perfect. 

Then one night, we were saying our prayers and he prayed out loud for a fourth child!
He ended the prayer and I said, "wow, you are really serious?" 

The emotions started welling up.  It wasn't that I didn't want a fourth child it was the whole process of going back through fertility and what if I couldn't give us another baby.  I was worried because I was turning 40.  Of course Seth worked his charm there and let me know that I didn't look 40.  He even came home with a statistic that more 40 year olds are having babies now than 20 year olds. 

He called me one afternoon this past December and said, "our insurance is changing, so if you are going to have the dye procedure you need to schedule it before January."  Yep, thanks Obama!

So, we talked and I said, "I will have this one procedure done.  And we can try through March and after that we need to close this chapter."  He agreed.  We knew we had this one last chance.  It's not like we could wait a few years to discuss having a fourth child.  Unfortunately age moves forward, not backwards.

So Seth and I went to Dr. Steinkampf.  I think he was a little shocked to see us.  He has five children of his own so he completely understood.  He told me that I hold the record for the most return visits.  Oh well, I guess it's nice to hold the record for something, right?
I said, "okay, this is the deal.  We are going to try until March and then we are closing the chapter."
He said, "well, Mrs. Clayton, you aren't giving me very long."
So, I had the dye procedure by the end of December.
Me, of little faith, just did not think it would happen by March.  It had never happened that quick before.  We were all praying.  Seth and I were fasting. 

Prayers were answered!  We found out right before Valentine's Day that I was pregnant.  The whole family went to Dr. Steinkampf's office yesterday for the ultrasound.  We are beyond excited!  Dr. Steinkampf met all of our children that he had a part in getting here to this earth.  He hugged each one and then he hugged me.  I thanked him for all he had done for our family.  We said our goodbyes.  I feel so blessed to be a mother to these sweet children.

Baby Clayton is due October 23, 2011

Surprise Loss

I love how Laurel and Savannah write letters to everyone!  I hope their journaling skills continue through life.  Savannah put this under her  pillow, along with her tooth, for the tooth fairy.  (Laurel helped her little sister out by writing the letter.)

No one knew Savannah's tooth was even loose, not even her.  I wish I had grabbed my camera when we all went running into the bathroom.  The look on her face was hilarious.  She was so shocked that her tooth had just fallen out.  It's amazing how all of a sudden she felt so grown up.  She kept saying, "I'm such a big girl now because I lost a tooth."  Then she would say, "I'm not going to show anyone until I go to kindergarten."

Saturday

You know it has been a great Saturday, when your girls come in from playing outside all day, and have to strip down in the laundry room and head straight for the shower.

Welcome to their castle!  Or, if you ask Savannah, she will tell you it is a "port!" 

They discovered this cluster of trees about a month ago and have worked and worked to gather rocks to "build walls" around the castle.

This is the Playroom!  Laurel is holding a "telephone."  She showed me a really huge leaf, which is a"baby doll."

And across the path from the castle is the barn!  Yep, that's right.  Savannah is milking a cow!

And here's "prince charming"  dropping Savannah off at the front door.

Can you say, we watch too much Little House On The Prairie around here!

Happy Valentine's Day

What a great day!
67 degree weather of sunshine.
Valentine parties.
Lots and lots of candy.
2 hours at the park with two of my valentine's.
And my main Valentine is bringing home take out!!

Happy Valentine's Day!