Headed Home

After too long (and not long enough) of a stay at the hospital we are headed home. Can't wait to sleep in my own bed and enjoy the comforts of my house. Jacey gave me the cutest 1920's style hat and Dahlia looks very stylish in it. I am so excited to sleep in my own bed.

Welcome Dahlia

So after what seemed like the longest pregnancy known to man, I was finally induced and had our beautiful daughter. Dahlia Emily was born on Sunday morning and wouldn't cry even when the nurses worked hard to get her to do so. She weighs 7 lbs. 2 oz. and is 20 inches long. My mom was able to be there along with Gentry. Like all of my births, it is a moment that is almost indescribable. There is such an outpouring of emotion. Some of concern, stress, joy, relief, but mostly LOVE.

That night Emily and Joey brought my kids to see Dahlia and me and they did so well. They mostly wanted to see how I was doing, probably because when they walked in I was so swollen with the IV fluids of the day that I did not look myself. After crowding around her and everyone taking their turn to kiss her, Gentry and I gave everyone a little gift. We started this ever since having Tate. We want all our kids to feel like the day is special and that they are apart of that. Plus it gives them something to do while in the hospital. A distraction from when the talk turns to the grown-ups.
Each one of the kids wanted to take a turn holding Dahlia and getting a little snuggle from me. Sweet moments.
I was exhausted from the day emotionally and physically but after everyone was gone and Gentry was passed out, I took some time to just talk with this precious gift. I told her how much I loved her. That I was grateful that she joined our family. That I had many hopes, expectations, and dreams for her. That
Then I thanked my Heavenly Father for her, and for His wisdom in knowing that she belongs with us. I pray that we will be good to her and raise her in a way that will be pleasing to our Lord. Through the birth of all my children I have a better understanding of unconditional love. I know just a little more how the Lord must feel about me.

Dental School Applications

He has done it! Finally after all this time Gentry has sent out his dental applications. He has already missed the deadline for some schools and barely made the deadline for all the others. After taking pre req classes, preparing for and taking the DAT, writing essays and writing out quite a few checks, the first stage of applying is finally done. I feel relieved and stressed. It is out of our hands. Now we just sit and wait. Say a prayer for us, wish us luck, or send us positive vibes through the universe. I just hope he gets in.

Finley Wedding

My baby sister got married! I can't believe it. When I got married she was eight and now my ten year old is going to her wedding. She was absolutely beautiful and beaming the whole day.

Here are my kids waiting for Joey and Emily to come out of the temple

Everything went smoothly as far as Emily and Joey knew. We did have a couple mishaps. Teri got sick during the ceremony and was barely able to keep her breakfast down, Isabel spilled a full glass of water on the woman across the table from her at lunch (sorry again Stacy Shaha), and Maya threw up on three guest open toed shoes at the reception. I think it is those mishaps that make it memorable for me. Everyone laughed it off and could see the humor in it.

It was great to spend that day and the days surrounding with the whole Smith family; Chad and Teri family (that moved shortly after to the East coast), Sean and Spring family from Florida, Doug and Joanna family from Georgia, and now Joey and Emily. The cousins all had a great time. Tate and Brynn have a very specail bond. He really misses her now that she has moved.

The very best part of the wedding was seeing Emily so happy. I have loved Joey for years. Having him join the family was a formality as far as I was concerned.

Confession

It's time for me to come clean. I had a bit of a relapse with depression. Nothing big. We had been pretty busy in the evenings lately. Pulling out all the boxes of kid clothes we have, going through every one's drawer, then resorting everything for what fits. I have gone through all my baby girl clothes from size 0 to 1 year. Now everything is sorted for every three months and put together. It has led to more than a few late nights and I have gone to bed anxious for sleep. Thanksgiving came and went. We spent most of the weekend at my parents house in Draper. Then just busy preparation for Christmas. I have forgotten to take my medicine. Taking my medicine had just become part of the routine. I didn't really think about it much. I was feeling sluggish, but didn't think anything of it. Then one day every time I would catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror I would have some kind of negative internal voice. "You are getting so fat" "Even with make-up you look tired" "Your skin is looking worse than ever" "How much more stretching can your body handle?" "Sick!" on and on... til that night I was wondering why I was feeling that way. After all I had called my doctor and talked to him about how I was feeling a while ago. Wasn't that why I got a prescription? Wait a minute you mean the medicine sitting next to my sink doesn't help me unless I take it every night like it says on the side of the bottle? OH! I guess I will pay more attention to that from now on. I am doing better and now when I catch a glimpse of myself all I think is how ready I am to have this baby!