Park Program

Koen and Eades are old enough to go to the park program near our house. It's just like summer fun when I was growing up. They go on a field trip every Wednesday and swimming at the YMCA every Thursday. They like it because they get to run around and play with kids all day instead of being bored at home. I started taking them there last Monday. When I went to pick them up one of the leaders came to talk to me. She said that the park may be a little "rough" for them. She suggested that I take them to one of the other park programs in Niles. I guess they have three. I told her I would think about it.
I asked the boys and they really wanted to stay at the park by our house. I kind of wanted that too because we can just walk down there and they can actually walk down there by themselves if they have to. Otherwise I would have to wake everybody up, and load them into the van to drive them to another park. So we played it out last week at the park by our house to see if there would be any problems. Luckily there weren't any and the boys found some friends there.
So for now we're going to keep them at this park for convenience but if there are fights there with the older boys or if the kids say a swear or something we're going to have to change parks. The thing I thought was cool is that the leader could tell my boys didn't fit in. This is the first time my kids were considered the "good" ones. I know we don't live in Happy Valley and that my kids will be exposed to less desirable things such as fighting, swearing, and vulgarity but I hope that they can be strong and stay my good little boys. We talk about it a lot and they know that I expect them to be little gentlemen.
I suppose if the world around us gets to "rough" and I see it influencing the boys more than Tony and I we'll have to make some major decisions but my hope and prayer is that they'll be the ones that influence their friends to be better and that they'll remember to be gentlemen and do what's right.

The Final Game

Here's Koen batting with coach Rick right behind him. Koen had a lot of great hits this season. He was very proud of himself. In the rookie league they get to go two bases if they hit into the outfield and Koen got to do that a couple of times. It was really fun seeing him improve so much as this was his first year playing. He went from not knowing how to do any of it to being a very strong player for his team. Next year he'll move up to the minor league where they only use a pitching machine and all outs counts. I hope he does just as well next year.

This is Eades running into home plate. He had a lot of fun this year. It was hard for him to pay attention during a whole game at the beginning of the season but by the end he was totally into the game. He never got to hit the ball with the pitching machine during a game but that didn't discourage him. He just kept doing his best. He did a very good job playing pitcher's helper. I was so proud of him.

This is Dougan playing in the dirt. Unfortunately this was a common occurrence. He just wasn't into fielding. This was his first year and he was the youngest on the team so maybe by next year he'll be more mature and ready to play.

This is him talking to coach Dave. He really enjoyed being around coach Dave and coach didn't seem to mind. I thought it was a fun picture so I added it.

So that was it. The season is over. All the boys had a good time and learned a little bit of baseball as well. Brandis and I liked sitting in the bleachers eating popcorn and Tony liked giving tips and making some chatter.

Five Little Ones and the Grocery Store

Last night was the first time I went to the grocery store with all the kids. I was so nervous but there was no way around it. We needed toilet paper, milk and a few other essentials. So I braved it and went. Of course it had to be raining so I loaded the kids up one at a time so they wouldn't get the van muddy. Then we were off. Eades managed to keep Taygan entertained on the way there so she didn't cry much. It was only sprinkling once we got to the store so I woke up the sleepy heads and we all ran inside. Luckily they have the carts where I can fit a car seat and buckle two sleepy kids in.
The boys weren't too bad and Taygan slept the whole time. I was really lucky because the kids could have made it really hard on me. The one thing I didn't like was every time I rounded into the next aisle I got stares and comments from the people there. I can't tell you how many times I heard, "well, you have a lot of helpers". If only they were helpful helpers.
While shopping the thought did come to my head, 'how did Mom do this? she had more than me.' I ended up not loosing any kids, not having any tantrums, and not having anybody try to sneak something in the cart. We did lose a flip flop now and then that we'd have to stop for the kid to retrieve it but all in all it was a good trip. I think I just psyched myself out about the idea of having all the kids when I should have just figured they'd at least try to be good for me.
On the way home Taygan cried and cried and Eades got very frustrated because he couldn't get her to stop. I used one arm to reach behind me to give her the pacifier and I showed Eades how to give it to her. She ended up falling asleep so it wasn't that bad either. I'm sure I will eventually get used to taking all five out with me just like I got used to taking 2 then 3 then 4 out with me. Well, here's hoping anyway.

Delivery

My due date was June 4th. After the 4th came and went my impatience peaked. My four boys went to stay with the Barclay's on Wed. the 3rd. So not only was I waiting and waiting but I also didn't have the boys to distract me. Friday morning I woke up at 5 am and I just couldn't sleep. By 6:30 I decided to go for a walk. I went for a loooong walk, which felt good because it was cool and quiet and very peaceful, but it did not throw me into labor as I had hoped. My friend knew that the boys were gone so she asked if she could take me to lunch. I went out and I could start to feel some light contractions but I didn't start timing them until 2 pm. She decided we should go walking after lunch. We headed to the mall and my contractions were pretty regular about 45 min. apart. We walked for about two hours and they ended up being around every 1/2 hour. I got home and took a nap because I was pretty tired from waking up early and walking all day.

I woke up that evening and Tony said he'd go on a walk with me. We went for a walk with the contractions being 15 min. apart and when we got home they were about 5 min. apart. It was 10 pm. I called the doctor and he told me to go on to the hospital. My friend Ellen wanted to be there so she came along. When I got there my contractions were only 13 min. apart. I was disappointed. But I had dialated to a four so they told me to go walk for an hour and then they'd check again. Ellen and I walked for an hour. I was having the contractions still but they didn't seem to be getting an closer or harder. I was worried they would send me home or something.

When we got back to the room they said I was at a 6 so they admitted me and moved me to a birthing room. Then they hooked me up to all the monitors. Then we just waited and waited. Not much at all was happening. I knew I wanted an epideral this time so I kept asking for one but they explained they didn't want to give it to me too early. So we waited. Then they gave me an IV to run pitocin which worried me because I was afraid I would get too far into labor and not be able to have an epidural. The nurse didn't seem to understand what I was telling her. That is exactly what happened with Brandis and I didn't want it to happen again. So Ellen decided to be my spokesperson and talk them into giving me the epidural.

My contractions were still not that close together and they were still not painful, which I thought was very strange, but I was at an 8 so they gave me the epidural and took me off of pitocin. I had never had an epidural before so I didn't know what to expect. My legs ended up going totally numb. I could not feel them at all. It was totally freaky deaky. After I couldn't feel anything I fell back asleep because by this time it was like 5 or 6 in the morning. Ellen had to leave at 7:30 so she was really sad that the baby was taking her time. Then the doctor came in at 11 or so and checked me and said I could go ahead and push because the head was right there.

The doctor asked Tony if he wanted to hold my leg. Tony looked at him with big eyes and told him he always stands at my head. The doctor got him a chair and put it right next to the bed. Tony looked at him and told him that was still a little close. Then he stood in the corner practically behind my head. It was so funny. I'm laughing just remembering it. The doctor and the nurse just chuckled. I tried to push but I couldn't feel anything. The dr. told me I wasn't pushing. He told me to cough. I did, he said cough harder. Tony just laughed at me. After awhile I finally figured out the pushing thing. It took me longer than usual to push the baby out, I think because I probably still wasn't pushing right. I usually only have to push through two or three contractions. So this one I think I pushed through six or more. Anyway she finally came out. YAY!!! After she came out the doctor looked at Tony and told him to sit down. He was so pale. He said he almost passed out. That's pretty typical of him.

So that was how the delivery went this time. I didn't feel any pain at all. The feeling in my legs finally came back late that night and everything went well. She was born Sat. June 6th at 11:34 am. She was 20 3/4 inches and 7 lbs. 4 oz. She has dark hair and really long fingers and toes. Here are some pictures of Taygan Dare Bullock.

Hard Work

Let me set the scene. It was almost a year ago and I had spent one exhausting but fun week at girl's camp. Saturday was the last day and we spent the morning cleaning up our site and finishing chores. After all the good-byes I headed down to Kokomo to pick up my kids. I picked them up and headed right back home. As soon as I got home I changed my clothes and dropped the kids off at my sister's because I was going to help out at a party. I then forgot to take the address but I figured I would just remember where the house was because I drove by it once. Well I didn't just find the house. I drove around the neighborhood for a long time. I was LATE! I finally stopped to ask some walkers where the house was. They informed me that the family had moved to a new neighborhood down the street and gave me directions. I found the house and I was 1/2 hour late. I felt awful but I was still there before the party started. So I jumped right into work.
Alright, so I worked my buns off because I felt so bad about being soooo late. I was really really tired but I knew I just had to buck up. I worked at the party for about four hours I think. Then the party ended and I went to pick up the kids. On the way to my sister's house I just cried because I was so tired. Have you ever cried from being over tired? Well, I only did it that once because I was so exhausted not only physically but emotionally from girl's camp and I think being away from the kids and Tony too. Anyway, I got the kids and went home.
Okay, now to the present. My friend who nannies for the family who hosted the party called me the other day and asked if I could work at the party again. She said the wife specifically asked for me and she was even willing to pay me more AND she asked that I wouldn't work as hard because she thought I went way above and beyond what she expected last time. I was so flattered. I mean I was so embarrassed about being late, and I may have been a little delirious from sleep deprivation that I was kind of in robot mode last year where I just kept cleaning things and straightening things up. It made me feel really good that I left such a positive impression instead of being the late slacker. I think I might work it again this year, I'll have to see how the baby does with a bottle, but I think I should do it because they requested me and all. So the morel of the story is that Hard Work does pay off and a Good Job does not go unnoticed.

Dessert Auction Part Two

Our first dessert auction we had for the YW girls' camp was a flop. It was on Easter weekend and the week before was general conference so they forgot all about it. Only the YW and their families showed up. So Friday we had part two and we planned this thing the best we could. We made it a big deal. We had so many desserts brought you wouldn't believe it. We had two big tables full plus one little one. By the time we got done with the first table we already had $500. By the time the whole thing was over we had $1170. That was from a total of 45 desserts and the highest bid being $70 for an ice cream dream cake. I know one couple who spent $350 themselves. It was so amazing. One of the YW said she had tears welling up in her eyes as they were keeping a running total. This is way more than we needed but I know we'll put it to good use. We have enough to send all our girls and a leader or two plus some.
The best thing was just being among the ward members and having a good time though. We had a barbecue with hot dogs and hamburgers along with chips and salads. There was virtually no clean up and hardly any prep work. We all just got to come and enjoy being there without having to run around like crazy. We had a great auctioneer who kept us laughing the whole time. We also had some members who liked to war with one another.
I made monster cookies and fruit pizza. Which I think went for pretty decent prices, but what I brought home was really awesome. I got some ooey gooey brownies, my friends best choc. chip cookies, a homemade cheesecake made by a member who is known for her cheesecakes, a cherry delight dessert which was delicious and a choc. log. The choc. log was made by a great cook in our ward and it was so good I couldn't believe it. Luckily it was huge so I got to enjoy it three days in a row. The brownies and cookies of course are gone too but we still have the cheesecake and some of the cherry delight left. Yummy! I'd say with the money I paid I really got great deals because they were all so good. I was so happy with the way it all turned out and this will be one dessert auction I won't forget.

The Smell of Naked

Today my almost six year old was fighting with my four year old because he smelled naked. The older brother was yelling at him and telling him to go away and pushing him away saying I can't stand that naked smell. I broke it up and told the younger to go put his underwear back on so he wouldn't smell naked anymore. Once the underwear was on the two played together without anymore problems. I have no idea what naked smells like but apparently Eades hates the aroma.