Friday, September 14, 2007

untitled

ok so who thinks I need a new title for my blog? I do. Believe it or not but "untitled" is my title- it isn't a default on my template...It was supposed to be a temporary title until I felt that overwhelming impression to name it something else...but it never came. Any suggestions? Go ahead and give me your ideas...maybe the winner will get a prize...you can sign it anonymous if you want...but then you wouldn't get a prize if you win...but it's fun nonetheless...

maybe if I have a title- my blog will have more direction for me...more meaning. Who knows...

Monday, September 10, 2007

chay said:

"Let me just tell the whole "blog world" that my wife is the greatest. Just to give you an idea....picture a "super mom"...now multiply that by at least 300...Now you have a glimpse of how awesome my wife is. Raising 2 girls and a husband takes a very very special lady. Lucky me...that lady is my wife. I love you April."

8:21 AM

A comment on my blog that well you know...made my day...

Thursday, September 06, 2007

ju ju



We were trying to teach Mckenzie how to say Julia's name the other day...so far she only calls her "baby"- well in all our efforts to teach Kenzie her new sister's name out came a cute "ju ju"

Well Julia is somewhat better I think...depending on the day. But overall I would say she cries a little less. I found a website www.babycolic.com and the advice seemed to help a little. She actually has moments now when she is awake and not crying. Little steps...I am just looking forward to the day when she isn't in pain anymore and we can just have a normal day. She is a joy nonetheless- with her big infected eyes staring up at me reminding me she is innocent and pure.

Here is a little video of her for you to enjoy- I swear I see a little smile- but knowing her it is probably gas.


Monday, September 03, 2007

can't resist

So my sister sent me post partum post cards.

One of the many reasons why I miss my family so much
-our humor...and we just understand each other you know?

thanks Joette -

this is my favorite one- all I could say was "amen"

Sunday, September 02, 2007

prayer

Julia has colic. It is breaking my heart, breaking my sanity, breaking...already broken.

She cries and cries.

and cries.

Her belly aches. We go through 15-20 diapers a day. She is gassy and passes gas all day which means her diapers have little streaks of poop which if I don't catch quick enough gives her a horrible rash. I have tried 4 different ointments and have finally found one that works with her skin. Still she cries, screams, turns red, tears...

The days are long but the weeks go fast. I was telling Chay this and we both said almost in perfect unison "just like the mission"

I have divided myself down the middle with the idea of having more children now. It is either we are done or I can handle any baby after Julia.

It was daring I know- to make a trip to Costco with Kenzie and Julia. Julia starts to scream. I take her out of the car seat and do all I can to calm her down. Kenzie gets restless and starts to whine a little. I push the big cart with one hand, hold Julia in the other, grab the big container of grapes- open it up and basically give Kenzie permission to go to town on the grapes just so I can deal with one crying baby at a time. Julia finally falls asleep. Of course the sampler lady who was sampling cheese wanted to see the baby. I told her I just got her to quit crying. You could tell she was lonely and hated her job. She wanted to have a full on conversation with me and I wasn't really in the mood. But being polite I joined in with small chat and then she told me about her son who had colic. She had all these great ideas for me to try- like drinking a glass of wine 10 minutes before I nurse. Her words, "it really calms the baby and the mother right down" I gave her an odd look and thought "perfect, just what I needed to hear" I grabbed a couple pieces of cheese for Kenzie and took off.

Well it is Sunday and I am home. Mckenzie is sick with a cold and so Julia is all plugged up now. Kenzie's teeth are coming in. I just didn't want to deal with a sick tired toddler (church is right during nap time, 11:00) and a crying baby today. But last night I had decided I was going to bear my testimony today at church and here I am at home- so maybe I will blog my testimony. Blog my testimony- welcome to the evolution of gospel sharing through advancements of technology- who would ever imagine such a thing-

anyway- I pray literally 50 times a day. Every time I feed Julia, every time I burp her, every time I change her, when she cries, when Mckenzie cries, when they cry together- and even though angels don't come out of the heavens to take over my chaotic life and help with my kids, I feel peace and I get through 5-10 minutes of hell without punching a hole through the wall. Then when the 10 minutes of comfort is over I am down on my knees again. I am always just stopping right in the middle of something and praying. Kenzie hears me and she instantly folds her arms when I start to say "Heavenly Father" So she is either learning her mom is psycho or her mom loves Heavenly Father and trusts in Him so much that she will call upon Him anytime of the day. I'm sure it is a mixture of the two.

When I receive answers to prayer there aren't really any words to describe it. Spiritual communication is so often wordless- all I know is that my heart can be so full of pride and I can want so strongly for someone to feel sorry for me or that the world owes me a favor and then a simple prayer, which is hard to say when I am bitter- can somehow calm rage and discouragement. Does that make sense? Of course we know God is more powerful than the natural man- once we allow Him to be- but it's the allowing that can be so dang difficult. But the miracle of it all is the simple first step of submission is sometimes all we need and God will do the rest. I can pray and somehow feel light, at ease, and be so much more enduring than I was 5 minutes before I prayed.

the power of prayer-

Although I feel so much discouragement about Julia crying all day and although I cry with her too sometimes, I can feel my relationship with my Father growing. When I catch myself saying in my prayers, "Father I have done everything I can, I don't know what to do or how to handle this, please take over" then I know I am beginning to understand the atonement a little more and gaining a stronger testimony of the love my Father in Heaven has for me.

Sometimes it can be almost frustrating to grasp the magnitude of it all- the trials that tear us apart yet the encircling arms of the Lord's love all at the same time. You just want to say to the heavens "this isn't really fair, yet ok if this is what it takes...ok" It is bittersweet to go through a trial and know at the same time the Lord is shaping and molding you and preparing you for something far greater. Prayer really keeps trials in perspective.