My Birthday

It's a three day dessert fest, although that's not quite what happened this year. I did make glazed popcorn on my Fake Birthday, but we didn't eat it until after our nightly routine (instead of right after dinner because I was late in making it). Wednesday was the Pack Meeting and Pinewood Derby and I didn't get around to making a dessert (or dinner so we ate cold cereal before we left). Thursday was my Real Birthday. The kids did their computer work in the morning and we watched a movie after lunch. It was a relaxing day.

This is the first year that my husband has given me a present each day. I think it had more to do with his excitement and inability to keep a secret - which I'm fine with. On my Fake Birthday (3/27), he gave me a new blue toner carteridge for our laser printer so that it would stop putting blue streaks on everything. Hooray! Of course, when he installed it, he realized we needed new pink and yellow as well. For my Almost Birthday (3/28) he gave me blu-ray discs so I can use my blu-ray burner to copy all our HD homevideos from the island so we can watch them. I'm so excited! For my Real Birthday (3/29) he gave me the Seafarers expansion to the Settlers of Catan game that we love to play. Our friends, the Smiths, came over to play and enjoy my yummy birthday dessert. We played once with all the kids, then sent them to bed and played againg with just the adults. It as really fun and not nearly as complicated once we figured it all out. I'm ready to play it again though, so maybe I can hurry the kids through their stuff, have class, lunch, stack some wood and prepare for dinner and then play the game with them. So that was my birthday in a really large nut shell.

So very late on this one.

Ben turned 10 at the beginning of the month, the 5th to be exact. I can't believe he's that old but he is. This was the first time I remember really having issues with my camera as well, because it wouldn't auto focus and I was frustrated trying to take pictures of him at his party. The whole day he seemed a little low, probably because he didn't want to have school and computer work but we did. (We always do on birthdays so I'm not sure why he expected it to be different.) He cheered up when he saw the birthday cake Grandpa Nichols brought - a British Spitfire plane form World War II. Yes, that is what Ben requested (after first asking for a 3-d castle and then a tractor). I think he enjoyed the presents and cake.

He opened his card from Grammy and Gaffa at breakfast. His pancaked were green mint with Andes mint chips, and we still had ice cream and syrup on top. What a treat!


Here's the spitfire. Amazing work Grandpa Nichols!



Grandma and Grandpa Nichols gave him a Nerf gun that shoots discs, and an extra supply of discs (since the gun only came with 5). It's quite a powerful gun and those soft discs bounce off whatever they hit and still keep going. (Kemiah played with it one day while we were in school and a disc got jammed and I couldn't get it out. I emailed the company and they said they would replace it. They even sent me the shipping label. Now I just need to mail the gun!)

Kevin passed on his Webelos Scout uniform. So now he has official Cub Scout pants (that my Mom hemmed), the scarf, hat and belt buckle.

Pepere gave him a compass. (It has a loop to wear it on a belt and that's what Ben did for days.)

An origami set was well received. He's excited to fold stuff with his cousin, Blake, when they come for a visit in August.

Hardy Boys 8 and 9, still missing 6 because we can't find it at the store. (Ben did a library loan on it and is reading it now.)

This was a big surprise - he is now the "father" of 27 chicks. The chicks arrived a couple days after his birthday but we gave him the feed. He had time to get a pen set up in the basement and everyone was excited when the peeping box arrived.


And here's the grand finale! A bigger bike, given to him by someone who cares and wanted Ben to have a bigger bike. Everyone was very excited! (He has been really good about letting the girls have turns riding it.)


Happy late birthday to my only boy! He's such a big helper and so talkative and creative. He loves to think and shares his plans and ideas with me! Thanks for being my buddy!

One week old!

What a sweet, beautiful baby!

At the hospital

I didn't get into my regular room until midnight so the kids did not come to see their new sister until after Church on Sunday. They were all very excited to see the new baby - even Domonique! It is always fun to see the kids with the new baby and they enjoy holding the newest family member.













This was the second Sunday in a row that I didn't make it to Church. This was also the only Sunday I ever missed because of a baby.

Officially announcing...

the arrival of our newest little girl!

Harmonie Christine Roy

She was born on February 18, 2012
at 8:26 p.m.
weighing 8 pounds 6.4 ounces
measuring 19 1/4 inches long

I did not go into labor on my own so we went to the hospital on Saturday morning.

It snowed Friday night so the kids were out shoveling the snow when we left.

It was strange to be going to the hospital without the pain of contractions to keep me company.

I received pitocin at 10:45 and we all thought it would move right along.

Unfortunately, it took all day before I started to have painful contractions.

I got the epidural at 5:15 p.m. and they broke my water at 5:45.

Really thought things would move along after that.

Started to feel pain again so they added more meds to the epidural at 7:45.

It took and I felt much better.

Started to feel the pressure that everyone talks about but I have never felt before.

Nurse said I should take a nap so I'd have energy when it was time to push.

Called my parents at 8:09 to tell them it would be a couple more hours.

Really felt the pressure so I gently pushed through two contractions.

Then I told Kevin it was time to have a baby because I felt her descend.
When he pulled back the blanket he saw her head half way out.

Nurses got there and told me to hold on - I didn't do anything from that moment on.

With every contraction the baby moved a little farther out.

Kevin and the nurse delivered the baby.

Harmonie was on my chest when the doctor ran in.

Now that was an easy delivery! No tearing!

She is beautiful and perfect and loved by everyone!

40 weeks and 6 days

Tomorrow will mark my 41st week (approximately) of this pregnancy. That will be the longest I have ever gone. I had an NST today and an ultrasound to check some things. The baby was very active and everything looks good. They started out saying, "You have lots of options..." Then it came down to, "You can induce tomorrow morning or Saturday morning." They don't want to see me go much later because of the possibilities of the baby dying. So, we have a 9:00 a.m. appointment on Saturday if I don't go into labor on my own Friday. On one side, I'd like to go into labor on my own. Seems to work better for me. On the other hand, I'd like the controlled environment and best chance of epidural with the induction. I guess we'll see. Either way I'll have a baby this weekend and that's the best part!

Fun with marble tracks

It was great to watch Domonique and Xiomara play together today. I helped Xiomara build the track and then Domonique wanted to join. Xiomara was excited to have her playmate. Domonique really enjoyed dropping the marbles in and was anxious for more when she ran out. Xiomara was happy to retrieve the marbles.


Ben also enjoyed playing but with his own track.

Due Day!

Yes, I've made it to my due date once again. Not uncommon for me. Actually, it's really the norm. Now we just see how much past the due date this baby wants to wait. I keep expecting contractions to start but they don't and may not for several more days. Oh well. I know she'll come soon because she can't stay inside forever.

The newest issue is that I fell on the stairs this morning and landed really hard on my tailbone. I have limped around all day. The most painful is when I go to sit or get up from sitting. I can't bend over - so no more touching my toes from a standing position. I'm nervous now for the after delivery when my bum is still healing and I have to take care of a newborn and 6 other kids and a house and husband and furnace and cooking and so forth and so on. I take comfort in knowing I'll heal and try not to focus on how long it will take.