A Day in the Park

This is our cousin Kaylie. We love to play with her. The other day she came over with our grandma and we got to go for a walk to the park! It was so much fun! We got to play on the toys and later see the ducks! What a great day!

Whew!! One of Matthew's first times going down the slide by himself!! He is such a dare devil! No fear...he is constantly climbing and getting into things that my other boys never even thought of trying!

 Races down the slide! For some reason, Matthew always won!! Peter usually came in last! But he was a good sport about helping his brothers.

Updated Pics!!

Peter is starting Kindergarten tomorrow! I can hardly believe that he is old enough to go! I am having a harder time then I thought! Dang post partum hormones! (okay I can't blame them! I'm just emotional!) 

Andrew will be four in a week! He will miss Peter so much and so we decided to try and put him in a preschool that is ran by one of my friends.  He is excited to go to school like Peter. This is the first time that they have ever really been separated.

Matthew is 14 months and is way busy! He is constantly on the move! He follows after his brothers and they are usually pretty good at letting him play with them. He loves his sister so much, too much sometimes! He loves to laugh!! He talks all the time, we just can't understand him! 

Julia is such a doll and is so good! She hardly cries except when its dinner time, she always manages to cry even if she has been fed and changed! She completes our family! She is so special to us!

The Craziness that is Life!!

Have you felt like life is on fast mode and that you don't even have time to grab a breath? Or the energy or the strength? About a month ago, we were all recovering from a terrible chest cold. I was sleeping on the couch because I found it easier to sit up and sleep. Julia woke up and we fed her and then it hit! My chest tightened up and I felt like I couldn't breathe!!! I had Anth give me a blessing and afterwards I felt that I needed to go to the ER. We had a friend run over and stay with the kids while we went to the ER. The pain was so intense and I was trying my best to stay calm so that I could get as much air in my lungs as possible. I was finding it a little hard though!! Anthony actually ran red lights and stop signs! We were that scared!!! (We haven't ever done that.... even when I was in labor!) Good thing it was 1:00 am! We got to the ER and I knew I was going to be sick! Anth opened the door and  I proceed to spill my guts, literally!!! The amazing thing was afterwards  the pain was gone! I walked into the ER and felt great. I wasn't sure what to do. Anth had called from the car so they knew we were coming. I was a little embarrassed! But as I sat there waiting my turn, the pain started to come back! By the time I got on the bed in the room, I couldn't breath! (I was aware enough though to noticed that I had lost twenty pounds since having Julia when I stood on the scale! I wanted to do a little jig...that is until the pain almost knocked me over!) After taking blood and doing a chest exam, it was concluded that I had had acid reflux attack brought on by my indulging (okay, overindulging) in mint chocolate ice cream cake leftover from Anth's birthday! How humiliating!!! I had to go to the ER because I ate too much ice cream!!! Come to find out that mint and chocolate are among the two worst things to eat when you have acid reflux! The question that was unanswered was why did I have it?

Well, the next morning through an ultrasound it was discovered that my gallbladder was full of gallstones!!!  I was recommend to go see a surgeon and it was concluded that I would lose my gallbladder. I had surgery about two weeks ago and I do feel alot better! I had over a hundred stones! Gross, right? Can you  believe that they kept them for me to take home?  I can eat what I want now! (I was on a low fat diet for two weeks until my surgery! So hard when you have two family reunions with tons of fat enriched foods!) It's been two weeks and I basically back to normal! I was laid up for about a week. I am so thankful for my mom and my sweet sister-in-laws that all pitched in and helped me out.

I have learned that I am not invincible and that I need help. I have learned to accept help when it given and to be wiling to allow others to help me. I have learned that there is no shame in being afraid of surgery and that all things will work out if I have faith.

One Eventful Sunday

On Sunday, we blessed Julia! My mom got her this dress and I thought it was perfect! It was such a special blessing! My family attended as well as part of Anth's family. Our dads, my brothers, James and Shaun, and Anth's brothers, Charles and Lynn, were there to help with the blessing.  

She was so peaceful and didn't even make a whimper! Her brothers on the other hand were a little on the loud sound! Good thing a friend wrote the blessing down so I could know what was said! Thanks again, Mary!

The other awesome event was that Peter lost his first tooth! Right there in sacrament meeting!! Thankfully, it was after the blessing and Anth could help take care of it. Peter was so excited! There's something about losing teeth that make its seem like they are all grown up! He lost his second one this morning and can't wait for the tooth fairy to make another appearance! 

Anthony's 30!!

Anthony's 30th birthday was on the a couple of weeks ago!  I wanted to do something really special but with Julia being barely two weeks old, it didn't happen.  We decided to have his family come over (no small feat, if you know Anth's family. By Christmas they will be 60 people! 40 of which are grandchildren!) I made a mint chocolate ice cream cake and we had a great time! 

Thinking about his wish!  I am so thankful for this wonderful man! He has been the best thing to happen to me! I am so thankful that Heavenly Father brought him to my apartment for sweet swap 8 years ago! He's the best dad and the most wonderful husband!  Love you Sweetheart!

Close up of the cake! I was so proud of myself! Most of the time my attempts look less then appetizing! I think I will stick with ice cream cakes from now on!

Julia's Story

The real story begins two weeks before she came. I began having labor pains two weeks before my due date! I would get all excited because they would be consistent for about four hours and then abruptly stop! It was so hard for me to deal with physically ( I was exhausted and so, so, sore) and emotionally ( going in out of labor is hard on the tear ducts!) I finally went into my midwives clinic on the 8th because I was having really strong contractions and I hurt (my pubic bones were killing me) so bad! I went in and was only at a 3 but my blessed midwife so how utterly miserable I was  and sad that if I had didn't have the baby that night that I could be induced the next day! I wasn't sure how I felt about being induced but with the next contraction, I was game! She called the hospital and came back with the news that the hospital was full till Monday, but she didn't think that I would go that far. (I really hate it when they say that because it never happens!) 

All through the weekend I waited for her to come because with her brothers it only took a little threating with inducement for them to decide to just come! Julia had different plans and a totally different outlook! Monday rolled around and I was still pregnant and so we headed to the hospital! We got there about 8:00, checked in, got hook to the iv, and then the nurse injected the most horrible thing into my IV. You guess it, PIT!!!!! It was horrible! Never again!  After about thirty minutes, my midwife came in and broke my water (also not a fun experience!).  I was finally able to get an epidural after about an hour of contractions. I have never watched a IV bag empty so slowly in my life!!!  After the epidural, I thought I would be much better.  The majority of the pain did disappear but I stilled had some pain but thought it would go away. Nope! It intensified and started to go along my tail bone! Usually at this point, it means I need to push and the baby will be here but I had only been in labor for about four hours and couldn't possibly be that close! (My other labors were at least 12 hours!)  They injected something into my IV that they promised would make me feel better but that it would take about thirty minutes! Helene, my midwife, came in and checked me and to my surprise and hers, I was at an 8 and Julia's head was coming down! She rapidly threw on a gown and told me to get ready to push after they drained my bladder. I couldn't believe it! I had only been in labor for four hours and she was here! I kept saying that this couldn't be happening! But with the next contraction, I was thankful it was almost over!  

So everyone got ready for her to come and then the pushing began! I pushed and pushed and the pain was so intense! I began to scream and grunt! I have never had to do that before! They encouraged me by saying that she has such beautiful hair! They then told me that she was turning herself! She was positioned to come out face up but as I began to push, she turn herself over and came out face down! Hence all the pain! She finally came though and I was so relieved! 

Julia Elizabeth has been a blessing to our home and I am so thankful that she is here and that I am no longer pregnant!!!  It took a while for it to sink in that she is ours, this beautiful little girl! I think Anth summed it up when he commented about how weird it looked to see little bows on the top of our baby's head!  Now bows,ribbons, and flowers are a part of daily life! Girls are just so special! 

She's HERE!!!

Julia Elizabeth Tietjen was born yesterday (July 12) at 1:08 p.m.
Weight: 8 lbs. 9 oz
Height: 20 1/2 in

More to follow later!