How Am I Related to William Clayton (The Mormon Pioneer and Inventor of the Odometer)?

Are you a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of Robert William Clayton and ever wonder how you are related to William Clayton? After doing some research on FamilySearch I have the answers.

Our relative, Hugh Clayton, was William Clayton's first cousin. If you follow the general accepted degrees of relationships as described on Wikipedia, then you will discover that William Clayton is your first cousin (either 4, 5, or 6) times removed.

Come on.....brand new bike (baby)

I promise that I won't always post about our new baby.  I just want to get everything down that happened or I thought.  So bear with me.

About two months before I had Kielle, Cruz asked one night at family prayer if he could be the first to hold her.  Since I hadn't even thought about it and none of the other kids had "called" it, I said yes.  He was in seventh heaven.  While the baby was in my belly, every night he would give he a kiss.  No every night he still has to give Kielle a kiss on the forehead.  He's a great big brother.

Many of you remember the Macky (McKay's new nickname) begged for another baby back in 2009 and many times since.  When I helped Betsy as she had her jaw surgery that summer she asked me one day how taking care of eight kids was.  I answered by saying "easy."  She followed back by saying, "does that mean you will have one more?"  So when I had told her early on that I was expecting and that I would need extra help because I get extremely sick and dad would be traveling she (first) thought I was playing a mean joke, and then (second) she was ecstatic.  She has been a great big sister.  Every morning she comes in and takes Kielle, changes her, dresses her, and has her own one on one time while everyone else is sleeping (we are on an awful summer sleeping schedule.)  It's been great to have the extra "big" help.

Katanya is such a big helper before the baby.  She loves to surprise me with jobs that she has done in secret.  She loves to hold Kielle as much as she can too.  Her famous line is, "But I haven't held / loved her today."  With also being the youngest in the family giving up her spot, it hasn't been hard at  all (as it shouldn't be at seven years old.)  I secretly think that she can't wait to be able to play with her as in more than just holding a baby.

Kirsten my peacemaker.  She is only okay if Kielle isn't crying or pouting and only if she is happy.  She doesn't like it when she is sad in anyway and her feelings have always been very tender.  She also is a great big sister.  Her sweetness and care shows.  She has always been a great friend to ANYBODY and she will be a great friend to her sister without a doubt.

I guess this just means, I'm a proud momma, and 

I LOVE MY KIDS!

How five became the new Four

 Some of you might wonder why there is such a big gap in age or wonder if this was one of the common "oops" that you sometimes hear about. Here's our story.....

A little over three and years ago, I wanted another child.  I had talked to Jacob several times and our situation just wasn't right.  He was still in school, or I was working, or we didn't have the financial means....you get the jest of it.  It was just the wrong timing.  So as time went on, all of our kids got in school, I started exercising a lot, I was called to be the YW's President and things were going smoothly, Jacob came home from priesthood meeting in October with a big surprise.

He told me that night that he wanted another baby.  I thought he was kidding.  I tried to talk him out of it.  I had a lot of selfish reasons on why I didn't want a baby.  I had also remembered someone telling me a reason about odd vs. even and I strongly agreed with it.  But.....after a lot of talking and praying, I agreed to give it a set amount of time and if it happened, it happened.  Three weeks later, I found out I was pregnant.  It was truly meant to be.  To skip a long story, one of the things Jacob called for was giving the baby a bath every night.  He loved that moment, and loved wrapping them up in the towel and cuddling with them after.

 

Kielle has been no exception.  Although bath time puts her right to sleep.  She thoroughly enjoys it.  Maybe cause it reminds the most of what her home was for nine months.  Jacob has also been on cloud nine since she was born.  I've had several friends comment about the glow and the smile on his face and he picked up the kids or as they have stopped by the house.

In fact, Kielle has put a smiles on all of our faces.  The kids love holding her and have been a big help.  I know they have sacrificed having their summer be rather dull and slow but as I'm learning my lesson of patience, I think they are seeing the rewards of them being patient too.  I think we are all very ecstatic that she was chosen to be part of this family.
P.S.  It is still crazy to think that we now have five kids and not four.  As we walked out of the hospital I realized that my random head count of four has been interrupted and I will have to train my mind that five is now the lucky number.

Always happy to come home from the hospital

(With the convenience of Instagram and Facebook, I've been slower at posting on my blog.  I'm sorry for the repeat of some pictures.)

 

Kielle and I came home on Sunday.  

We have taken it easy the past week and the kids have rotated through each other numerous times a day for their turns in holding her.  After getting her through the first three days, she has finally figured out (a little more) that night time is for sleeping.  I was only able to get eight hours of sleep the first three days.  Somehow, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I think adrenaline always kicks in and you make it through it. 

With this baby, it has been a really easy and fast recovery.  Probably my easiest.  I have gotten through several projects that I needed to organize and do.  Its also weird having someone their that watches her.  I know there is a huge age gap but its actually been really nice!

Kielle's debut

The picture below reveals all the details, but not the story.

Kielle (key-ell) definitely resembles our other kids, but my pregnancy with her was nothing like my past pregnancies. Which is why I was not surprised that her labor and delivery was anything but routine.

My water broke at 6:25 AM.  I've never had my water break before.  I woke up in bed and remember thinking something felt weird.  I got up to go to the bathroom and realized that I was about to "splash".  My water hadn't broken yet but I knew it was coming.   As I ran into the bathroom, it broke, luckily inside my bathroom (on the tile.)  My labors are normally less than four hours so Jacob and I hurried to get to the hospital thinking we wouldn't have much time.

 

Jacob loves the super bright overhead lights in the delivery rooms (he calls them the "action" lights). In 2006, I had an emergency C-Section when Katanya was born. I really wanted a VBAC  so long as it was safe. The doctor said that as long as my delivery was progressing she would let it go for 24 hours before we would have to go the C-Section route. My labor was slow and for the most part fairly mild. I progressed so slowly. My labor ended up being 15 minutes shy of 15 hours. 

For the first time since McKay, my epidural worked.  The anesthesiologist was amazing.  He said he had a hand full of techniques he would try if it didn't work and he seemed to know what he was doing.  It worked right away.  Because we weren't sure if it was going to work, they put the epidural in around 10 AM.  I was comfortable and not in pain for most of the labor.

Finally at 9 pm, I was fully dilated and ready to deliver.  The delivery was my easiest yet.  It is true when they say "good things come to those who wait."  I truly believe that a slow and patient labor probably helped with my chance of a successful VBAC. 

Kielle honestly came out wanting to eat and smacking her lips.  I wonder sometimes if she is going to grow as fast as Kirsten did.

Our friends that were staying with the kids that night brought the kids over to meet their sister. 

We had picked her first name a few weeks ago were no where near being able to agree on middle names. The long labor gave us time to talk about names.  Kielle came from a list of names I came across 3 weeks ago.  Its origin is Hawaiian.  Athena came from the goddess.  Kirsten had been reading Percy Jackson the night before so at the hospital I went over a list of complete (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Celtic) goddesses and really liked Athena.  After all she is the goddess of wisdom so how could Jacob not like it?  Magdalena came from Jacob.  He had heard the shortened name Magda and looked up the long name - Magdalena.  He also liked the fact that it was an Eastern European name.  I wasn't ever worried about not having a name nor agreeing on anything beforehand.  Life always works itself out.  We are so blessed to have little Kielle join our family.  I already can't imagine life without her.

On the way

Post #999

Last night I told McKay that she could not set her alarm any earlier than 7:00 AM because I wanted to sleep. She was not happy to hear that. The irony is that my water broke this morning at 6:25 AM and I ended up being her alarm.  Also,  when I got to the car I realized that I forgot to put on shoes.  Jacob ran back into the house and grabbed me these. For some reason he felt so rushed that he grabbed his flip flops for me to wear....... more to come! #inNeedOfMinolaBlahnik

A numbers game

Our family blog is coming up on it's 1000 post. I'm sort of hoping that "Baby G" (girl) will make her debut so she can be the 1000 post.  And yes, we still have NOT decided on a name.  I'm actually not really stressing about it since it will work itself out.

 

This picture is actually when I was 36 1/2 weeks along.  The baby basketball picture below is at 37 1/2 weeks.  Its a little more current.  After our last ultrasound, the doctor said that it would probably be my biggest baby yet.  Now this has me a little worried.  My biggest baby was Cruz weighing in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces.  They had figured at 36 weeks the baby was already 5.75 pounds.  I'm just hoping she comes a little early like the rest of mine have.

So we have bets going on for when she decides to come and how much she weighs.  Her due date is July 12.  I can't get induced because I'm opting for a VBAC and they won't start me due to my last C-Section.  So here are our guesses.

Jacob - June 27 - 7 pounds 6 ounces
Amy - July 2 - 7 pounds 2 ounces 
(7/2 and 7/2, trying to play the number game)
McKay - July 1 - 7 pounds 11 ounces
Kirsten - June 30 - 7 pounds 3 ounces
Cruz - July 5 - 7 pounds even
Katanya - July 3 - 6 pounds 10 ounces

We would love to hear your guesses!

It couldn't hurt to try right?

 I'm officially 2 1/2 weeks away from my due date.  So my brother and his wife are visiting this weekend and my sitster-in-law and her family came in for a short hello too.

The girls decided to try to get the labor stages just a little more advanced.  They had me do a minute of vigorous tummy rubbing followed by 3 minutes of squats and lunges (x2).  This was there labor dance.  I was so sore in my thighs by the second time that I volunteered to go run a mile with them if they had bellies too.  Of course they did.  It was fun.  I made it slowly jogging with only one bathroom stop and one "catch-my-breath-stop."  And as my kids have asked me numerous times, no I don't think a baby will be coming tonight.
And although I'm pretty sore tonight, I can't wait to get out and do this for real.

Handy Manny Jacob

Back in April, Jacob and I went to dinner and a friend asked us how long we were going to keep the old escort.

It died on the way home.  I don't think that Jacob was ready to say goodbye to it.  That and I swear pride had just a little to do with rebuilding the engine.   

Just to show me he could do it.  This is what perfect timing is suppose to be like?

By Saturday morning, he was putting the engine back in the car....

and watching You Tube videos on the side.

But finally.....

Jacob got smart and put a shade cover and was able to work on the car all day.

I'm hoping after the surplus in expensives that this beast turns over and works again......AC included.

Cub Scout Day Camp

As promised, Cub Scout Day Camp is bigger and better in Texas.  It's a four day  activity and you are required to send a volunteer one of the days.  Because of my situation, Jacob was volunteered to be the volunteer.  Not something he was super excited about doing because of the temperatures being in high nineties.  They had also estimated about 500 Cub Scouts that were going to attend.  This whole Cub Scout / Boy Scout thing is new to me so I'm still trying to figure it out.   The first day was cancelled (a very rare happening) due to lightening and a downpour of rain in the morning, so it was actually changed to a three day event.  Cruz took pictures with one of our old smart phones, so I'm curious they turned out.  If there are any interesting ones, I'll be sure to post them.  Anyway, he finally came home Friday afternoon, a little pink and tired (his gardening hat saved this kid from the sun!) but he was full of stories and LOVED it!  
P.S.  Bonus post to come later.

Happy Birthday, Birthday Girl!

This year Anya turned 7 on the 18th! Happy Birthday!

She loves being an active girl.  So this year she got a big(ger) bike, roller skates, and protective gear. 

The gear was a must!

The roller skates were the big hit!  Ever since going with our friends a couple months ago, she has begged to do it again and again.

It only took a couple (or more) falls before she got the hang of it again.  She hates help and is very independent......

I wonder who she gets that from.

So my baby girl is now 7 and in second grade!

And not much longer she will be a big sister and not the baby anymore.  But she'll always be my sweetheart.  (Her missing tooth count is now up to six, four on top and two on the bottom.)

And of course, the birthday cake (the Texas Chocolate Sheet cake is preferred among the kids.) 
Make a wish!

A change in voice a little earlier than expected

Cruz had his tonsils out today. (Yes, this is after the surgery.)

It was the fastest surgery I've ever seen.  We checked in at 7:45, they took us back at 8:20, they wheeled him away at 8:40 and the doctor consulted me at 9:01.  10 minutes later I was with him while he was coming out of it (which wasn't the easy part as he realized how bad his throat hurt.  He did not want to be there,) and then at 11:05, we were discharged and headed home.

He wasn't happy until he got to push himself and ride in the wheelchair.  For some reason that made his day.

He came home and we set up a futon mattress, movies, and a white board to write on.  His first week of summer diet will consist of shakes, jello, smoothies, otter pops, yogurt, pudding, and other soft foods that he can eat.

They gave him the little stuffed dog at the hospital.  He has wanted that all day.  He was teasing about being able to remember everything before the surgery so he named it "Woofers."  He did remember his dog's name when he came out of it but he didn't remember any of his sisters.  He said he was the only child. 

Say "aaaahhhhhh"

Tomorrow is the day we get these bad boys out! 

After eight cases of strep in the last year, I think its time.

Speaking of taking things out, Katanya's starting to look like a toothless wonder.  She's lost three up top and a couple on the bottom.  She's getting rich from the tooth fairy.  (She looks pretty beat up in general after taking some rough play at the pool from some teenage kids.)

Another grade under the belts

One school year ago....August 2013 

 And now its over.  Its summer time.  It flew by at times and at others it seemed like it was going the same pace as a sloth would.  They have all gotten older and grown.  Wowzer.

Cruz and Katanya have LOVED their teachers this year.  Katanya had the same one that Cruz did last year.  In fact, they share a lot of things in common.  I love that these two play really good together!  (Did I mention they are the exact same weight, right down to the ounce?  Except Cruz has 2 1/2 inches on her right now.)

Kirsten LOVED her teacher as well!  She loved every day of fifth grade.  It was her last day in elementary school.

For her fifth grade promotion, we bought a new dress and shoes.  I fell in love with the dress before she did and we bought it as a "back up dress" in case we didn't find anything else.  For $20, you can't go wrong.  It turned out after three stores and too many hours, we couldn't find anything.  So it was a keeper.  She ended up falling in love with it that evening.  (Because it passed the twirling test.)

We are so proud of our kids!  Here's hoping to a long fun summer and praying the kids start getting along so I don't wish for school to start sooner than necessary.

P.S.  McKay didn't want any last day pictures in so there are no comparisons.  I can't believe we only have three more years with her in high school before she is graduated and off to college.  When did I get so old?

May's Madness

This month is gone as I'm writing this post on June 1st. I can't believe it. 41 days until my "real" due date. That's really not a long time but in my mind it still seems too long.  I'm really hoping that this sweet angel girl comes a little earlier than that.  They have estimated that she will be my biggest baby yet.  I'll be fine with a delivery in anything after 20 days.  I'm actually shooting for July 2nd if anyone has any control of that.  :-) I posted my bittersweet news on Mother's Day.  But here is the rest of the news..... (updates)

The third week of May Jacob went up to upstate NY to work a little and then I met him for a long weekend so we could look at the area and neighborhoods and get a feel for it.  I'm not sure what to think yet.  Sunday we finally took a day off (since it was Stake Conference for all of the wards there) we went up to Niagara Falls.  We didn't do any of the "touristy" things as we figure we will wait for our children to be here for that. 

It really pretty.  But just from looking and from what everyone has said, the Canada side is WAY better.  I have my passport but it looks like we are going to have to get the kids and Jacob's paperwork going so we can take advantage of it.

Forever.....even if its following him off a cliff......

I came home and had less than a week to finally get a Texas drivers license before my Idaho one expired.  I don't like my new one.  Who would at 7 1/2 months pregnant.  At least they didn't make me put my pregnancy weight down.  Maybe they just didn't notice.  Oh well, at some point I'll have to get a New York license.  (Maybe.)

McKay had her first Stake Youth Dance.  She had counted down the day for months!  She was so upset she missed the Stake Youth Conference by less than ten days.  Now she's trying to convince dad into staying ten extra days so she can make it to the next one in August!