Bed rest...

I'm SOOOO pregnant...
I have been on bed rest for nearly 3 months now. It has been a very interesting experience. One I hope to never repeat!!! I have learned a lot...First, I have been reminded that personal intuition is real. I knew when I went to California with my parents that something was different about this pregnancy and how I was feeling, it was different. I tired real easily and it had nothing to do with my age. My mom I think also sensed something was up because she always encouraged me to rest and take it easy! Two days after I returned home from California my sentence was given!!! Second, I have really come to appreciate how much my husband loves me, he has done so much for me and really stepped up and NOT ONCE has he complained. On the same note, I've learned that kids really do what's expected of them without being asked. My kids have been amazing during this whole time and I've loved how doting and caring they have been. They've never resented or been negative about this whole experience. They each love feeling the baby move and have spent lots of time talking to and playing music to our new little addition! Third, I've learned how real my diagnosis is. I admit I've pushed the limit sometimes and I've ALWAYS paid for it...it made me angry every time how real it was!!! Fourth, I've learned how much I love CHURCH. I have had the blessing of the priests coming and bringing me the sacrament and I think that's amazing! I love the spirit that it brings into our home and I love being able to renew my covenants. I also had the blessing of my bishop and then a member of the stake presidency come into my home to have interviews to renew my temple recommend. I knew I wouldn't be going to the temple for awhile but I wanted a current recommend! These priesthood leaders were MORE than willing to come and accommodate me! It was really great to visit with each of them. Wayne is the ward clerk and our bishop has become a great friend and checks in on me often!!! His wife is the stake girls camp director and he brought me projects that could be done in bed to make me feel apart of girls camp being that I wouldn't be able to go! I LOVED IT!!!

I love my family near and far for keeping tabs on me! I have grown closer to each of my own children and I am more in love with my husband than I ever thought possible. I'm grateful for my testimony and my knowledge of my Savior! I am blessed to be carrying this special little spirit who is truly making a GRAND ENTRANCE! I can't wait to hold him and give him a good talking to :) I feel like I'm going to be a first time mom again...it's weird but I am more nervous this time around than I ever have been! I'M OLD!!!

Little baby comes in 4 more days, I'm still a little nervous about all that is going to happen, but I'm so excited to move on to the next phase! It will be different than my other labors but it's been so different thus far it seems fitting the way it will play out!

I hope in the next few days to do a few more posts of some of our Oregon happenings...then I'm sure my posts will be all baby related! I think I'm most excited to see my children interact with my new child...I really am so excited to see the relationship between each of them!

AAAHHHH I'M HAVING A BABY!!!

Memorial Day trip to the GORGE...

When we first moved to Oregon I started working and Wayne was Mr. Mom. He tends to be all business and not real adventurous. He does like a good adventure but doesn't usually deviate from the mundane of the daily schedule. The kids were dying to have a day trip of some sort. By Memorial Day I had been on bed rest for about a month and the kids were REALLY going crazy! (I do have to say for Spring Break Wayne took the kids down to California for a week and they all had a GREAT time) anyway...by this time we all were getting a little stir crazy so I said let's drive over to the gorge (about a half hour from our house) and drive along the historic highway with all the amazing waterfalls. I said I can take the lounge chair and read while you guys hike to any of the falls you want. EVERYONE WAS THRILLED...it was a perfect cloudy, misty day in Oregon. It was fun to get out. I took a book and the Ensign and sat in the parking lots of all the falls. It was fun...I made the family promise they would take pictures that I would take and the following pics are the result of my family MOCKING my picture taking! I LOVED IT! I even got some videos of the sights and SOUNDS of their hikes!

These are of the Vista House, at the top of the drive looking out over the gorge. It really is breathtaking every time I go!

This is Jay letting me know he LOVES me on his way to Bridal Veil falls! Bridal Veil turned out to be everyone's favorite fall! I can't wait til I'm able to go and do this hike (toting a little one of course)

Can't you feel the love from this crazy girl? I got about 10 different poses of Britt on this rock...full on MOCKING my picture taking! PUNK!!!
MULTNOMAH FALLS

Britt and Jay stood at the foot of the parking lot with me while Ally and Wayne hiked up to the bridge. I really wanted to walk up the walk way to the foot of the lower falls but Britt and Jay refused to let me...BEDREST NAZI'S!!!

View from Horsetail Falls

Jay is singing how much he loves the rain and having his picture taken...he's a big fan!!!

My little gymnast...

This past school year Ally did a couple of different enrichment classes after school. Her favorite was gymnastics. (she also did violin) Her gymnastics instructor LOVED her and invited her to come to her gym and be on her team...of course Ally was thrilled. She has been going to METRO gym since June and LOVES gymnastics. She can't walk into a room and not do a handstand or cartwheel. Her favorite is the balance beam and crazy dismounts! Ally is a little daredevil! I broke all of my bedrest rules and went with her to her first practice (sadly I didn't last very long and haven't been back) I hate that I haven't been able to watch her at the gym, but she gives me a THOROUGH update when she comes home! SHE'S CRAZY! The pictures below are all from her class at school, I have some pictures from the first practice I went to, but they are on my phone and I'm not sure how to get those onto my blog...oh well!!!

Bye Bye Birdie

Here are a few pics from Jay's middle school production of Bye Bye Birdie. I know I have mentioned that he was Hugo! I loved seeing this guy come alive on stage!!! He is a charmer!Britt was on of two highschoolers who were asked to do the choregraphy! She of course was thrilled and had the time of her life. Britt was also asked to be part of the stage crew and met some great HS friends in the process! I love to see my kids involved and happy!

BELOW are some pics of Jay's fans who came to see the play...











Looking forward to next years play "Pirates of Penzance"

Latest adventure...new nephew

Andy and Melanie adopted little Joshua...YAY!!! Joshua had been in there home several times as a foster child and after going through a lot they were able to finally adopt little Joshie. My parents came to Oregon to see Jay in his middle school play Bye Bye Birdie and then I got to drive down to California with them to attend Joshie being sealed to his new family!!!I love taking pictures of the family paparazzi at any event...here we all are outside the Sacramento Temple. Lots of family and friends came to welcome Joshie to the family!!!
The cool Sorensen boys! Joshie looked so cute in his little white suit! Nick and Benjamin look way to grown up...why do kids have to grow up so quickly?!?!
On the way down to the sealing my parents and I stopped at the Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon. I love seeing the acres and acres of bright tulips! So fun!
I had so much fun driving down with my parents. I haven't taken a road trip with my parents for a long time and it was fun. I love listening to music and having conversations with them and enjoying them all to myself!!!

Such great grandparents...they come and support my kids (and the other grandkids) in all that they do! My kids love it!

This adventure was my last one before I was put on bedrest. I flew home and two days later I was sentenced to bed! I love the memories made and the opportunity I got to be at Joshie's sealing. It is pretty amazing to see those youngsters come into the sealing room...lots of happy tears shed!!!