This blog has been interrupted...

This blog has been interrupted because a lot of LIFE has been happening here!

Stay tuned....we have a baptism/blessing, an anniversary, school starting...all sorts of episodes to add.

Also, it doesn't help that the author of this blog is seriously lacking in sleep. Rumor has it that she actually went blank and stuttered at the drive through of Taco Bell today...I know, lame - huh?

More to come...

A Day in the Life of a BUSY almost 2 year old...

7 am - Wake up (on the wrong side of the bed) dragging all blankets to the living room - there are 4

7:05 am - flush toilet for no reason, opening bathroom door even though there are childproof knobs that my 5 yr old siblings can't open...what a joke!

7:15 am - Have all blankets stolen by mom to wash

7:30 am - Eat breakfast, spilling most of the sticky cereal down front, under chin, and on the tray

8:00 am - get dressed and ready to leave

8:30 am - get crammed into the stroller with baby sister in the back, have bag full of m&m's thrown at you, go into the school for kindergarten assessment

9:15 am - home from K assessment

9:17 am - strip all clothing off of back, keeps the diaper on just to humor mom, run around the house like a maniac.

9:18 am - flush toilet for no reason

9:18.5 am - flush toilet again - just because

9:19 am - flush it again, just for good measure...

9:25 am - have clothes put back on by mom

9:30 am - put sister's new school socks on, pulled up to knees - and add brother's transformers sneakers to the beautiful ensemble...amazingly, the white bow is still intact in the ponytail...What Not to Wear - watch out!

9:45 am - take off all clothes because mom is nursing the baby and can't stop me.

10:00 am - find sister's shorts in the drawer and try to put them on upside down...

10:05 am - flush toilet

10:15 am - run around the house - after having diaper re-applied to body

10:30 am - beg for root beer - and get it, because mom is so tired she doesn't care anymore

10:45 am - flush toilet

11:00 am - dressed again, and put back in the car for shopping trip - WHOOOPEEEE!

11:30 am - arrive at Target

12:30 pm - get tangled up in seatbelt of Cadillac cart at Target during the process of trying to escape.

12:32 pm - scream "I stuck, I stuck"

12:33 pm - Mom caves and carries me, while pushing Cadillac cart and checking out.

1:00 pm - arrive at Burger King for lunch

1:10 pm - get lunch

1:12 pm - pass lunch to little cousin, who eats most of it - except for the root beer

2:30 pm - arrive home ---- with NO NAP for the day

2:32 pm - go upstairs and drag MORE toys downstairs

2:35 pm - flush toilet

2:45 pm - try to climb in pack and play to get baby wipes

2:46 pm - Mom notices a huge blowout diaper

2:47 pm - Dad changes diaper and starts the bath while I scream the entire time

2:55 pm - Dad puts my pajamas on and retrieves the now clean blankets

3:05 pm - Pajamas are now off

3:30 pm - Find mom's new bottle of shampoo and rub it all over body like lotion

3:35 pm - Get another bath, with new pajamas

3:55 pm - Remove top of nightgown, pulling it down to waist - an improvement over the previous, Lady Godiva type ensemble with only the diaper

4:00 pm - try to scale kitchen counter for drink - fall

4:10 pm - cuddle with dad on couch for about 30 seconds

4:44 pm - run around screaming because of no nap and no lunch

4:55 pm - hit chin on edge of pack and play while trying to climb the side, again

5:04 pm - climb up on kitchen chair behind mom, crying - fall off chair

5:05 pm - climb back up and give mom kiss, while crying, with a snotty nose

6:00 pm - eat dinner - feeling happier

6:30 pm - fall asleep in high chair, put to bed

Sound familiar anyone???

A week ago....

A week ago, we were waiting to meet this little angel. We wondered if she would be blond, bald, and how big she would be? How would we feel when we saw her? How would the c-section go?

It has already been a week and we are all completely in love. She has a full head of dark hair - something we didn't expect...her temperament is perfect. All of the kids, except Alyssa (who is having a hard time understanding, but still adores her) have been great. They are excited right along with us about the most mundane, precious things that she does. Our home is truly blessed by this little spirit who was meant to come directly to live with us.

The surgery went okay...we had a major problem getting the spinal in - it took them 4 tries - during which I almost begged them to just put me out. I have a huge bruise from the 16 shots (4 each try) that it took. Not a good way to start off! The surgery itself went well - normal c-section stuff...they pulled her out and she was so quiet compared to Alyssa! Alyssa came out and was like a siren...Ashleigh was quieter, more dignified, I guess!

Clay got to cut the cord this time - the only time he has been able to do it - he thought that was pretty cool...I was a little surprised he went for it - but glad. When he brought her around to see me, he whispered, "Look, she has lots of dark hair!" I was so excited...years ago, when we were first married, I had a dream about a little dark haired girl jumping on our bed. Every time we have had a child, we have thought it would be that little girl...I had given up hope and figured that she wasn't really supposed to be ours - but she finally came to us! Clay knew about this and was tickled to death to be the one to tell me.

The hospital stay went pretty well - pain control was better than the last time, but I was still in quite a bit - we figured out why a few days later. I kept her in my room most of the time - dressed her up in little onesies and sleepers and had a ball with her. She is quite a good little companion! I would go on the laptop and she would fall asleep in a little cocoon on the bed with me...the perfect little buddy! She also learned quickly that I was the one to look for when she was hungry! Amazing how quickly that happens!

There was a drawback - I was supposed to go home on Saturday morning, was all ready and excited to go - but they found that I have an infection in the skin above my c-section incision called cellulitis. It is pretty painful, which is why I was in more pain at this point than expected. I was pretty sad about it - ready to go home and the kids were depressed. I had Clay make the most of it though, he took them to the park and McDonald's, they had a good time and it took their minds off of it.

On Sunday afternoon, I was able to come home after 24 hours on the IV antibiotics. It is still pretty painful, and with the swollen skin, I resemble the female wooly mammoth on Ice Age. I know, not very flattering, but that is how I feel right now. It is amazing how much better the belly looks stretched out with a baby inside! You won't be seeing pics of this phenomenon, by the way!

All is going pretty well at home, except Zach did sprain his ankle badly last night and is in a removable cast and on crutches...let's just say it slows him down a bit! ;o)

Clay is home with us - thank goodness - for this week...don't know what I would do without him.

We will update you later!

She is here!!!

Introducing Miss Ashleigh Kate Turner....

We got to the hospital at 5:30 am for the scheduled c-section...after a rough time with the spinal (they tried 4 times to get it in). Ashleigh was born at 8:41 am. She is 6 lbs, 11 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long. She has a full head of dark hair!

I'm in pain, but managing...and totally in love with our newest princess. I'll blog more later - but wanted to get some pictures up for your viewing pleasure...

Blueberries Everywhere!!!

Well, after reading Becky's blog recently, I started to get a hankering for some fresh blueberries. We have been trying to spend some fun time with the kids before the baby comes next week, so I researched where the blueberry patch was located and the hours, and we decided to make an outing!

At 8:30 am, we piled into the car and turned up the Neil Sedaka cd...Emma was especially excited, because she had recently seen an episode of Special Agent Oso where they picked blueberries.

We arrived at the patch and were all given buckets. We wandered down the rows, and explained which berries to pick and which to leave. Reagan really got into it - he was an awesome little blueberry picker! He took the job very seriously...the others thought it was fun, but he didn't want to stop! Once he looked at me and said "I make a blueberry pie!" Then he started asking for blueberry waffles and pancakes...My work is cut out for me for the next few days! Emma put orders in for muffins - Zach doesn't really care, he just wants some good stuff!

Alyssa was pretty funny, she kept picking the unripe berries and throwing them into everyone's buckets. They would get upset with her "Mom, Alyssa put ANOTHER yellow one in my bucket! Alyssa - stop that!" She had a blast!

After we picked over 5 lbs of berries, we let them play on the playground that was on the premises. They had a ball - ran lots of energy out and we watched...

Since this is the last Saturday before the baby, we had a lot of errands to run today - but I am very glad we took the time to enjoy ourselves too!

Top 12 Indicators that the Economy is Bad...

12. CEOs are now playing miniature golf.

11. I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

10. I went to buy a toaster oven and they gave me a bank.

9. Hot wheels and Matchbox cars are trading higher than GM in the stock market.

8. Obama met with small businesses - GE, Pfizer, Chrysler, Citigroup and GM, to discuss the Stimulus Package.

7. McDonalds is selling the 1/4 ouncer.

6 People in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and are learning their children's names.

5. The most highly-paid job is now jury duty.

4. People in Africa are donating money to Americans. Mothers in Ethiopia are telling their kids, "finish your plate; do you know how many kids are starving in America?"

3. Motel Six won't leave the lights on.

2. The Mafia is laying off judges.


And my most favorite indicator of all.


1. If the bank returns your check marked as "insufficient funds," you have to call them and ask if they meant you or them.

"Guys can paint their toenails too..."

On the morning of the 4th of July, I had a little pedicure session with my girls. Emma wanted red toenails and fingernails like me - so that she was patriotic. Alyssa came in while we were dolling ourselves up and stuck her little piggies in my face, so she has red toenails too...

We came out of the bathroom, transformed! Zach saw our toes and said, "Some guys paint their toenails, too..." Clay and I looked at each other and I said, "No, most guys don't paint their nails, Zach..."

He insisted that it was an "okay" thing to do...I then said, "Zach, only sissy guys paint their nails...ask your dad if he has ever painted his nails before."

He turned to Clay and Clay said, "I can promise you I have never painted my nails before, Zach..."

Then Emma piped in..."Yes, 'cause Daddy is NOT a sissy guy!"