January's History

I just finished my walk this last day of January. If I were walking to Salt Lake City, I would be in Hesperia, CA. At this rate I should reach SLC by mid November.

Introducing...

Just try to not smile watching that.

Last night just before 12:04 we decided that she better have a name before closing out her first day in the world. When she was born, Michael and I both separately thought she looked like two different names, so we decided to combine them into a first and middle name: Jane Erin.

I am still a little insecure about it, so if you could refrain from criticism that would be great (in case you're not in love with it). In fact if everyone commented with one nice thing to say about it, that might be nice. It does sound a lot like Jane Eyre if you say it too fast, and I realize Jane is a little "plain Jane" for such a cutie, and I realize those two names both end in an N sound which I know Lauren isn't a fan of. But I also think Jane is strong and simple and beautiful and intelligent (to me). And Elizabeth's sister Jane in Pride and Prejudice is incredibly kind and beautiful, which reminds me of her. So that's my thinking.

(Erika you'll have to tell Merri I said sorry that it's not Eve).

Of course, Janie is her nickname.

Some pictures from today

Look at those cute foots!

Guess who

Our baby girl arrived at 12:04am! 7lbs 3oz (yes!). We'll be working on the name today, for now she is baby girl or honey bunny. I started labor at about 11:30am or noon on Monday. We went to the hospital around 4:30 or so, and at 6:00 I got an epidural, which slowed down the labor. It was about another 6 hours before she joined us. It's early in the morning but we are still looking at her in awe and amazed that she is here. We'll be taking visitors today (Tuesday) if any of you want to come. I'll probably take phone calls after 9:00am (call my cell), maybe I can get a little sleep before then. The hospital has lifted the ban on children under 14 visiting, so any nieces and nephews can come as long as they don't have a cough or the sniffles (the hospital is insistent about that one). You'll need a code to get into our room.

Attention Hog

I guess I was tired of Doug getting all the medical attention around here, so I spent a couple of hours in the E.R. this morning. I woke up with bad chest pain, there was a lot of pressure right around my heart and I couldn't bend forward or cross my arms or breath in too deeply. I thought it was probably anxiety or something, but decided better safe than sorry. So, after dropping off the kids at swim lessons, Doug and I headed over to the hospital. The Dr. told me my specific symptoms indicated a muscular/skeletal problem. Perhaps I twisted into a weird position in my sleep, but he thought the cartiledge between my ribs and sternum had become aggravated or inflamed. They did an EKG and chest x-rays but said I looked super great and to take some ibuprofen. Felt like a heart attack and all I needed was ibuprofen! Doug's pretty sure I invented the problem in order to get him out of bed before noon today. I felt dumb to have gone to the E.R., but we made it home in time to get the kids and make it to Jack's tooth extraction by noon. He had a bad infection develop up and behind a tooth and it had to come out. He was super brave, but now we all are home and I think I'm going to take a nap.

What ARE we doing!

I have never seen her do this before. She was completely asleep in this position (before she heard me get out the camera.) I just had to get a picture of her. You know, sometimes you just need to stretch out!

Dear God

Outside my house right now

*Update:
Water! Water! I have water! Hurray!

I encourage every one of you to run to a toilet right now and flush it and just completely appreciate how wonderful that is.

Job?

Doug and I have recently decided that it would be a good time for me to start looking for a job, probably just part-time, and thinking about trying to get into the field that I have my degree in. Seems like we received a positive sign this week, as I got a call from someone at SLCC saying that classes started this past week, and they still had one Communications class without a teacher. He asked if I would come back and start teaching this Tuesday. It's not exactly a way to get into the Human Resources field, but it's something! And, as it's only 3 hours a week, it can get me and the kids into the workin' groove (if there is such a thing)!

Curses

So the water main broke out in front of the house. The city came last night and turned off the water to the house, and we had plumbers here this morning giving us quotes. It won't be fixed until TUESDAY. I won't have water until late TUESDAY. And I'm due in 3 weeks. By the time my water is fixed, I'll be due in 2 weeks. Did I mention it won't be fixed until Tuesday? And it's Friday morning now?

Sympathy please.

Comedians

I'm beginning to think we have a bunch of comedians in this family. Anyway, Kathy and I are planning a visit to Utah to see the new grandbabies, and anyone else who gets in the way. I had thought that early May would be a good time (does the sun come out in May?) Then, last weekend at the toy project gathering someone asked me if I was going to Utah this year for the woodturners symposium? I asked when it was. It's the 6th, 7th, & 8th of May (perfect). So, how does this sound: we fly out on Sunday, May 2nd; maybe visit some people that afternoon/evening. Check into the Hampton Inn, Orem. Hang around and visit Monday (Breanne pencilled us in all ready), Tuesday, Wednesday. Attend the symposium (at UVU) Thursday-Saturday morning. Do more visiting on Saturday afternoon. Then fly home on Sunday, May 9. comments encouraged!

story of my life

This is me this month:

New Years Resolution

I hesitate telling this story; but here goes. On Christmas Day Kathy's brother, Kevin, asked if anyone had made a New Years Resolution. There were no offerings. But I started thinking about how I need to commit to more exercise. So, I popped out with, "I think I'll walk to Las Vegas". Meaning, I'll walk the distance to Las Vegas this year. Still later, I thought, that didn't really amount to even as much as health gurus recommend as a minimum. But, it's a start. If I walk 2 miles everyday, with only a few misses, I could walk right past Salt Lake City. It's January 5th and I'm at 8.1 miles. I used to walk that far with the Boy Scouts in the Sierras in one morning. Oh well, wish me luck.

New Years Eve in Huntington Beach, CA

The a couple of years after Kathy and I were married we went to "Downtown Fullerton" for New Years Eve. The streets were all closed off, bands were playing at various venues and food booths were scattered around. There were lots of people, lots of music, and it was cold as Utah. Thereafter we stayed at home and generally got to bed early. But this year we were invited by a member of the Orange County Woodworkers Association to join he, his wife, and five other woodworkers for dinner and festivities on New Years Eve. I know these people to be very fun loving so it seemed like a great idea. The photos were taken a few minutes after midnight.