Yesterday we had a plan. You see, at my last OB appointment our little baby girl was breech. I was pretty concerned and was doing all the little tricks to encourage her to turn head down.....You haven't seen funny until you see a woman 8 months pregnant trying to hang upside down.
Our doctor said she has had patients have success turning breech babies by doing handstands in a swimming pool...pooka-shell had a friends birthday party at a rec center pool... I was ready to give it a shot. (I tried on my swimsuit... an interesting fashion statement) For good measure I asked hubby if we could stop by the hospital and do a quick ultrasound to see baby's position. Low and behold, that hard bump I had been feeling near my ribs was a bottom not a head!!! She had turned!! My eyes filled with tears. I am so grateful. It is really important to me to have this delivery go the way I wish and a breech birth wasn't it. I have said many thank you prayers.
So it was a great day. I felt energized and planned to wash dry and put away every bit of laundry I had been putting off. Fast forward a few hours and a few loads....the washer started making horrible sounds and stopped spinning. We googled washer repair, asked knowledgeable friends and family, and hubby took a look to see what he could do. We couldn't quite figure out what part was broken, and we can't afford a repairman, let alone a new washer. Normally this would cause a lot of frustration and generally tense feelings around here, but because of the great news about baby turning, we were in pretty good spirits.
We could have called a repair person on Sunday (since it broke on Saturday night) but thought we could use all the blessings possible so decided to keep the Sabbath day holy, and worry about it later. We did however ask around at church to see if anyone knew a lot about repairing washers or by some miracle had a spare....faith.
Here is how the conversation at church went. "A family in the ward just had their washing machine break down and we are looking for anyone who could possibly help repair it or has a washer they are no longer in need of. 'Oh we have and extra one in our basement because the condo we live in supplied us with one', 'Us too..they can just have it.' 'We have one too.' " That is right, 3 people offered us a washer. It felt like a miracle because I was preparing myself to transport tons of dirty clothes to a friends house for the next year and a half, or buy an old fashioned wash board and never see the light of day again... washing for a family of 5 by hand .
We are truly blessed, people are generous and kind. Doing what you know is right brings blessings in many forms. And we will have a working washer tomorrow. Hallelujah!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
So close
8 more weeks...that is it. In 8 weeks or less we will go from being a family of 4 to a family of 5. Our little Savanna is due March 7th....My 33rd birthday of all days. There is nothing like children to show the years passing. Our oldest is going to be 7 in a few weeks. Life is good, but I feel rather unprepared for the arrival of baby #3. 
We still need some vital things, and cash is practically non-existent. Here is the run down. Thankfully Grandma generously gave us a gift card that helped buy a crib...we had gotten rid of the old one we used for the other two kids and all the dropside versions have been recalled, so I felt we should stick with a new one. And we have a carseat and boxes of baby girl clothes (as of yet...unwashed because we have no dresser to put them in.) The dresser. Maybe I am being picky, but what I want is simple. We need a dresser that doubles as a changing table because the nursery is a pretty small room. I would like a black one to match the pretty little crib we got. Here is what I was thinking. This is at Walmart and would do the trick nicely. A place to change baby and a place to put the clothes. I also really want to have somewhere to put a lamp. I guess we could change her on the floor and keep her clothes in boxes...but I don't wanna! I know...pretty selfish
I have almost finished crocheting a blanket and I decorated a lamp. I will be painting name letters for her wall soon....but what to do about the dresser? That aside...I should be mentally preparing myself for labor. I have always wanted to have an un-medicated birth...but the first two didn't turn out that way. I have to find a way to make myself dig deep and do it the way I want. How does one do that? I should pack a hospital bag in the near future, and make sure I have someone to watch our older kids whilst I am laboring.....but all I can think about is finishing the nursery and that darn dresser.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Year End Review from Iowa
Year in Review from Iowa
2010 has been a busy and eventful year for us here in Iowa.
In February our little Pooka-shell (who isn’t quite so little anymore) turned 6 years old. She has lost all of her front teeth and is looking so grown up lately. Her favorite thing to do is read. She astounded us by reading “Charlotte’s Web” all by herself the summer right after kindergarten. She still loves animals, more especially wild cats and wolves or dogs. She is quite good at running on all fours and pretending to be said animals…so cute. She is a great big sister and has a knack for convincing Bubba-do to agree to almost any idea she has…quite the diplomat. She is now in 1st grade and doing wonderfully. She is becoming a great speller and writer. Her favorite subject in school however, is art.
Our strapping boy, Bubba-do has reached an all time record of 29 pounds. What a boy! He turned 4 years old this July, and has been enjoying preschool. He has the most charming disposition….always wants to help. He is mommy’s little gentleman…opens my car door every time! He still has a fascination and aptitude for mechanical things and buttons. He and daddy have recently found a bonding experience by playing Lego star wars on the wii…oh boy! He is starting to read a little and is very good with numbers and counting.
Hubby and I had been trying for another baby for quite some time…going through many procedures and even an emergency surgery for me. Then on the day of Bubba-do's 4th birthday party we got a wonderful surprise…a positive pregnancy test! We are all so excited and thankful to be expecting Savanna Blake Empey on March 7th 2011 (my 33rd birthday). I have been feeling pretty darn good. I even kept teaching Zumba until I was 20 weeks along. We are now at almost 29 weeks and are getting the nursery ready.
At church hubby is serving as a ward missionary and teaching the Gospel Essentials class. It is amazing to see all the missionary work out here. We have had the opportunity to go to Nauvoo (about 2 hours away) many times and feel the Spirit there. The pageant they do in the summer is something everyone should see, and the Temple is beautiful.
I was serving as a Relief Society teacher the first half of the year, but was then called to be the chorister in Sacrament Meeting! Yikes…I was scared of that calling. I can sing until the cows come home, but not so confident in anything involving music theory or rhythm. I am getting the hang of it and our ward is very forgiving :0)
Hubby is working so hard and becoming such an amazing OB-GYN doctor. He has been through month long rotations in reproductive oncology, endocrinology and infertility, labor and delivery nights, gynecology surgery, Clinic chief, and high risk OB. His typical work week is at least 80 hours, not counting the time he spends at home doing mountains of paperwork. At last count he had delivered over 300 babies! We are so glad he is training to do what he loves, but we will all be grateful when residency is over! He should start interviewing for positions back in Utah some time this coming spring or summer.
We have enjoyed many “typical Midwestern” things this year…from picking apples at our favorite orchard, to corn/hay mazes and catching fireflies. We have been camping and played at “Adventure Land” (an amusement park here). We visited Nauvoo and swam at the lake. It has been a year of joys and pains…we are learning a lot and stretching in ways we didn’t know we could. We are so grateful for the blessings of good health, a warm home, fabulous children, wonderful extended family, friends, the beauty all around us, and especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to you all!
Love, The Empey Family
2010 has been a busy and eventful year for us here in Iowa.
In February our little Pooka-shell (who isn’t quite so little anymore) turned 6 years old. She has lost all of her front teeth and is looking so grown up lately. Her favorite thing to do is read. She astounded us by reading “Charlotte’s Web” all by herself the summer right after kindergarten. She still loves animals, more especially wild cats and wolves or dogs. She is quite good at running on all fours and pretending to be said animals…so cute. She is a great big sister and has a knack for convincing Bubba-do to agree to almost any idea she has…quite the diplomat. She is now in 1st grade and doing wonderfully. She is becoming a great speller and writer. Her favorite subject in school however, is art.
Our strapping boy, Bubba-do has reached an all time record of 29 pounds. What a boy! He turned 4 years old this July, and has been enjoying preschool. He has the most charming disposition….always wants to help. He is mommy’s little gentleman…opens my car door every time! He still has a fascination and aptitude for mechanical things and buttons. He and daddy have recently found a bonding experience by playing Lego star wars on the wii…oh boy! He is starting to read a little and is very good with numbers and counting.
Hubby and I had been trying for another baby for quite some time…going through many procedures and even an emergency surgery for me. Then on the day of Bubba-do's 4th birthday party we got a wonderful surprise…a positive pregnancy test! We are all so excited and thankful to be expecting Savanna Blake Empey on March 7th 2011 (my 33rd birthday). I have been feeling pretty darn good. I even kept teaching Zumba until I was 20 weeks along. We are now at almost 29 weeks and are getting the nursery ready.
At church hubby is serving as a ward missionary and teaching the Gospel Essentials class. It is amazing to see all the missionary work out here. We have had the opportunity to go to Nauvoo (about 2 hours away) many times and feel the Spirit there. The pageant they do in the summer is something everyone should see, and the Temple is beautiful.
I was serving as a Relief Society teacher the first half of the year, but was then called to be the chorister in Sacrament Meeting! Yikes…I was scared of that calling. I can sing until the cows come home, but not so confident in anything involving music theory or rhythm. I am getting the hang of it and our ward is very forgiving :0)
Hubby is working so hard and becoming such an amazing OB-GYN doctor. He has been through month long rotations in reproductive oncology, endocrinology and infertility, labor and delivery nights, gynecology surgery, Clinic chief, and high risk OB. His typical work week is at least 80 hours, not counting the time he spends at home doing mountains of paperwork. At last count he had delivered over 300 babies! We are so glad he is training to do what he loves, but we will all be grateful when residency is over! He should start interviewing for positions back in Utah some time this coming spring or summer.
We have enjoyed many “typical Midwestern” things this year…from picking apples at our favorite orchard, to corn/hay mazes and catching fireflies. We have been camping and played at “Adventure Land” (an amusement park here). We visited Nauvoo and swam at the lake. It has been a year of joys and pains…we are learning a lot and stretching in ways we didn’t know we could. We are so grateful for the blessings of good health, a warm home, fabulous children, wonderful extended family, friends, the beauty all around us, and especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to you all!
Love, The Empey Family
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A rare glimpse...
This is a tribute of sorts to my amazing, brilliant, very hard working hubby. I do not get to see him in action delivering babies and taking great care of patients. These pics are a rare glimpse courtesy of a wonderful photographer we know. Hubby is the one with the super cool curly hair and sweet smile.
I am the one who pretty much runs things here at home since hubby is working so much....so it is very special to see him here, in his element...getting ready to go. He has the coolest job...apart from being a Mother, delivering babies has got to take the cake.
Let the pushing begin! Here with a Medical student behind him and a nurse to his left. The other fellow is one of his bosses teaching as they go.
Moment of truth! It amazes me that he has now delivered over 100 babies... He looks like he knows what he is doing :0)
Nothing more beautiful than that...except for our own children of course. A healthy baby boy.
His face says it all...confident, sweet, excited but focused. I wish I got to see him working more often...the operating room must be intense.
Doctor Empey...You have worked soooo very hard to get to where you are. The schooling was long and hard, the residency hours...brutal....the student loans enormous. But it is worth it at moments like this. Every time I put the kids to bed on my own or go to church with out you. Every day we tip-toe around the house so you can sleep during the day to work at night... Even when I look at our bank account and wonder how we will make it all work this month...It is worth it...to see you making such a difference to your patients...ushering in new life. You are amazing and we love you...
I am the one who pretty much runs things here at home since hubby is working so much....so it is very special to see him here, in his element...getting ready to go. He has the coolest job...apart from being a Mother, delivering babies has got to take the cake.
Let the pushing begin! Here with a Medical student behind him and a nurse to his left. The other fellow is one of his bosses teaching as they go.
Moment of truth! It amazes me that he has now delivered over 100 babies... He looks like he knows what he is doing :0)
Nothing more beautiful than that...except for our own children of course. A healthy baby boy.
His face says it all...confident, sweet, excited but focused. I wish I got to see him working more often...the operating room must be intense.
Doctor Empey...You have worked soooo very hard to get to where you are. The schooling was long and hard, the residency hours...brutal....the student loans enormous. But it is worth it at moments like this. Every time I put the kids to bed on my own or go to church with out you. Every day we tip-toe around the house so you can sleep during the day to work at night... Even when I look at our bank account and wonder how we will make it all work this month...It is worth it...to see you making such a difference to your patients...ushering in new life. You are amazing and we love you...
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Wow, long time no blog...catch up now!
The last few months have been mostly very good. My baby belly is getting rounder and I am finally feeling those longed for movements from our new little one! This pic was taken at 20 weeks
We have really been enjoying the fall. Fall is my favorite time of year, and fall in Iowa lasts much longer than it does out west. The colors are gorgeous and the weather is so perfect. Here is a pic of us using our fire pit in our back yard, and some cute shots at the ward camp-out. Daddy with the kids and Bubba-do proudly roasting a hot dog! Both kiddos climbing trees....
THEN CAME HALLOWEEN.....
Pooka-Shell decided to be a vampire...she looked awesome! Bubba-do made the coolest batman ever! I searched forever for his costume and ended up finding a great deal online. Daddy as "Superman in the midst of changing from Clark Kent", and Me as a pregnant butterfly. With Halloween on Sunday this year we enjoyed festivities throughout the week...culminating in the ward "Trunk-or-Treat" on Thursday night and the kids school parties the next day. Here is our "trunk" It was fun the decorate and show off our pumpkins.
Pooka-Shell decided to be a vampire...she looked awesome! Bubba-do made the coolest batman ever! I searched forever for his costume and ended up finding a great deal online. Daddy as "Superman in the midst of changing from Clark Kent", and Me as a pregnant butterfly. With Halloween on Sunday this year we enjoyed festivities throughout the week...culminating in the ward "Trunk-or-Treat" on Thursday night and the kids school parties the next day. Here is our "trunk" It was fun the decorate and show off our pumpkins.
Next came our annual visit to Wilsons Apple Orchard and for some extra fun we went to a corn maze on another cute farm.
This was our first time in a corn maze with the kids. They loved it,especially climbing on the hay.
We have so much to be grateful for. And are looking forward to the rest of the Holiday Season this year. Everyone is healthy and happy. Daddy started a new rotation this month so his schedule is very busy...(wake at 3:30 am and get home around 8pm and work from home for a couple more hours!)we make the most of the times when we are all together. We are all looking forward to our new arrival in March.
I am feeling pretty darn good considering we are now 23 weeks preggo. I have been craving protein all the time.....Cheeseburger anyone? I can't do Zumba anymore, but I try to go walking frequently. The best part so far is that now I can feel baby move everyday.....We are so blessed and have a loving Heavenly Father to thank.
This was our first time in a corn maze with the kids. They loved it,especially climbing on the hay.
We have so much to be grateful for. And are looking forward to the rest of the Holiday Season this year. Everyone is healthy and happy. Daddy started a new rotation this month so his schedule is very busy...(wake at 3:30 am and get home around 8pm and work from home for a couple more hours!)we make the most of the times when we are all together. We are all looking forward to our new arrival in March.
I am feeling pretty darn good considering we are now 23 weeks preggo. I have been craving protein all the time.....Cheeseburger anyone? I can't do Zumba anymore, but I try to go walking frequently. The best part so far is that now I can feel baby move everyday.....We are so blessed and have a loving Heavenly Father to thank.Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Full Circle...yes, already
When I first started this blog, I did so because my heart was aching. I needed to get it all out. If you have read my first post you'll know the reasons. We have two wonderful children and had been trying for over 2 years to have another. We felt like it was never going to happen. We did so many tests and procedures. Our last attempt was at IVF, which resulted in a tubal pregnancy and emergency surgery to remove my left fallopian tube. It was all surreal and overwhelming. Fast forward.... After my surgery we were just trying to get ourselves prepared mentally to try IVF one more time. We were told to wait for at least 3 months...That was difficult...I felt like we had lost so much time already. Yet, I wasn't really ready to go through all that again. An impasse.
A couple of weeks past my surgery things were getting back to normal. I was healing well both physically and mentally. I had reached a place where I didn't want to beg God anymore...I would just take what He was willing to give me. The weeks passed. I knew I had to be back
to a regular cycle in order to be ready for another IVF attempt. Nothing had started yet...not too unusual considering all my body had been through...but I had to check. I have never been so sure that a pregnancy test was going to be negative. I have taken too many to even remember. As the results spread across the test, my jaw dropped to the floor. There was a dark test line showing up before the control line was even there!. For those who don't know...you usually have to wait at least 3 minutes for results. I was beyond shocked. How could this be? We didn't use medication, or timing, or ovulation predictors. Then I was worried. What if it was in the wrong place again?? I showed Hubby and we both just laughed. This was too crazy. Went to the hospital that same afternoon and Hubby did an ultrasound for me. There it was...right in the uterus where it belonged...with a beautiful heartbeat. A miracle...a blessing.
to a regular cycle in order to be ready for another IVF attempt. Nothing had started yet...not too unusual considering all my body had been through...but I had to check. I have never been so sure that a pregnancy test was going to be negative. I have taken too many to even remember. As the results spread across the test, my jaw dropped to the floor. There was a dark test line showing up before the control line was even there!. For those who don't know...you usually have to wait at least 3 minutes for results. I was beyond shocked. How could this be? We didn't use medication, or timing, or ovulation predictors. Then I was worried. What if it was in the wrong place again?? I showed Hubby and we both just laughed. This was too crazy. Went to the hospital that same afternoon and Hubby did an ultrasound for me. There it was...right in the uterus where it belonged...with a beautiful heartbeat. A miracle...a blessing.Of course I have had all the normal worries and concerns that go along with any pregnancy. But everything is looking wonderful and we still can hardly believe it happened like it did. I am now 16 weeks along. Saw the heartbeat again just a few days ago. Hoping to feel regular movements soon. And know I will have something very exciting to blog about for the next 5 months
"My life is a gift, my life has a plan. My life has a purpose, in Heaven it began" I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for this blessing...and for His Guidance and Spirit when I felt like I couldn't endure all the waiting and wondering
"My life is a gift, my life has a plan. My life has a purpose, in Heaven it began" I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for this blessing...and for His Guidance and Spirit when I felt like I couldn't endure all the waiting and wondering
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Long time no blog....
It has been a month since I posted here. I have been a little busy living the life I blog about :0)Since I wrote last, Bubba-do and Pooka-shell have started school. Pooka-shell is in first grade, and is amazing and brilliant. She rides the bus to school and loves that. I was nervous about the whole bus situation, but it was handled with order and I feel better about it now. I had that moment as I said good-bye to her as she got on the bus for the first time....I wanted her to miss me. I wanted her to look longingly back at me as I did at her.....didn't happen. She hopped on board, totally confident and ready for her next adventure. I did however, drive to school and meet her there so I could make sure she got to her classroom... just for a couple of days.
Just look at that cheesy toothless grin!
Look closely and you can see her through the door window. I obviously lack skill and proper equipment to take very good pictures.
Bubba-do finally found a place to go to preschool this year. We adored the preschool he was going to. It was on a real farm with real animals...so great. Alas, our finances required a change. We had heard a lot of good things about a preschool very close to our house so we got on the waiting list (they were already full) After a lot of praying and searching out all our options...a miracle...a spot opened up! Great teachers, great place, great location. 
Our little super-hero
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