Ally turns 10!

Happy day to Ally! I was concerned that Ally's day would get lost or that she'd feel neglected on her special day because everything would be about the new baby! (I wasn't even sure I'd be home from the hospital yet) Luckily everything worked out great and she didn't get forgotten! Melanie and kids were in town along with Gramma Susie, Pa Bob and Aunt Anne. Everyone was here on the day before and we had a big dinner party with yummy cupcakes that Aunt Anne made! My parents were still here on her day and Aunt Vikki came over with her boys and we had another mini party. Our tradition on the 10th birthday is to go bowling...this year we had a Wii bowling party and will all go real bowling later! She loved every minute of her birthday bashes! I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'S 10!!!



Ally has been in gymnastics all and is loving it! I'm amazed at how fearless she is! She will be continuing throughout the year, because she loves it so much!!!

Maxwell James Cannon

Finally getting to hold my Maxwell! Maxwell James Cannon was born at 9:49 August 3, 2011 weighing 6 lbs 7 oz. He is perfect!!!Meeting big sister Brittany
Meeting Ally (she has since perfected her holding of Max...the first time was awkward for her but now if you ask her she's a pro!)
Getting some lovin' from daddy!
Meeting Jay for the first time. Jay was at EFY when Max was born on a Wednesday and Jay came home on Saturday. As soon as he walked in the door I handed Max over.
Can I just say watching my big kids with Max is the most amazing thing ever! I love that this little bundle of Heaven has melted the hearts of everyone in our home. They have each told me individually that me being in bed was totally worth it to get Max! (they weren't sure of that going through the bed rest experience)

More pics to come...ya'll know I have a million of them!!!

Stage 1...

We arrived at the hospital at 7 am. We were immediately taken into a room and they hooked me up to the fetal monitor. (I hate those things!) We loved our nurse Julie. She was great and made me feel comfortable, which wasn't an easy task because I was FREAKED OUT!!!


Below we are preparing to go into the operating room. This is our nurse Julie! I had to go into the OR by myself while Wayne had to wait in the recovery room...I didn't like that part AT ALL!
Below you can see me through the window of the OR...Wayne knew I wasn't happy to go in by myself so he stood and watched from the window. (I didn't know he was there, but still super sweet)
I had to go in by myself to get my spinal and my epidural prep. I've never had so many needles in me in my life! I had the regular pregnancy IV in one hand another IV in the other hand that was just preparatory in case I needed a blood transfusion which they thought would be likely and had two units standing by (made my nerves really calm) Luckily I didn't need them. I personally think all the poking of needles is the worse part of labor! I didn't like that Wayne wasn't in there but I lived and I was told they do it that way because during the spinal you have to be really still and when a loved one is in the room patients tend to look for them and it makes the process painful! As soon as I was numbed up they let Wayne in.
This is what I got to look at during my delivery...yes it sucked and yes I got claustrophobic! I'd love to say that this whole experience was beautiful and amazing, but I can't it sucked until I heard little Max crying and it made it all worth it. I threw up, I hated the air mask, I hated that I didn't get to push, but I LOVE that I got a baby! I didn't get to hold him for almost 2 hours after he was ripped out of me and that was really hard and I was a crying mess until they put him on my chest and wheeled me into the recovery room. I was in the recovery room for several hours and almost the entire time Max was on my chest and that was heaven! Our nurse Julie broke all rules and let Ally and Britt sneak into the recovery room one at a time. I think it scared them a little to see me looking like I did, but they were thrilled to see Max!

I still get emotional thinking of this whole experience but everything I went through has been to get Max and he is here and I love it!

My first AMNIO and hopefully my last...

I had to go in for an amniocentesis today to check the maturity of our babies lungs. It was HORRIBLE...it was over quickly but I cried! I didn't really know how painful it would be or what to expect. It hurt a lot more than I thought but it was over faster than I thought. I think the roller coaster of emotions just hit me when the doctor pulled the needle out filled with amniotic fluid. They of course had to explain all the risks and I would've been so upset if something had gone wrong and I was so relieved that it was over! We had to wait all day for the results and that was nerve racking too! Finally at 4:30 we got word that our little guys lungs are strong and we will proceed with delivery tomorrow...hooray! I of course cried again! I'm so excited to move onto the next phase and hold my little man!

Still a little freaked by the C-section, but I made it through the amnio so I'm a little more calm!!!

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!!!