Survival Mode

I was really worried about this week and next, but so far, it's been a bit easier than I feared it would be.

I've managed to keep all three kids alive, fed, and I've even showered every day.  The kitchen and living room has even managed to be cleaned a few times.  Much better than I gave myself credit for.  I've also got Hyurm to school on time and ran a few errands.  Pretty good for 2 kids, a newborn, and husband that is out of the country.

Milo is healthy and happy.  Still pretty mellow and sleepy.  Most nights he goes back to sleep pretty quickly after eating, even though he's up at least 3 times at night (which is pretty normal).  A couple of days this week I've been lucky enough to get all four of us a nap too.

Kate is showing more interest in the baby.  She still announces (and acts somewhat surprised) that there's a baby here.  I think she's starting to figure out he's sticking around.  She misses Hyrum when he's at school, but I try to give her a bit more attention when we're together.  She has grown up so much in the last 3 weeks (I blame being with my family in Jackson Hole and less of it on being a big sister).  She likes to steal Milo's binky, and take his bottles, but every once in a while she's helpful too.

Hyrum still loves his little brother, and says that he's such a cutie all of the time.  He loves holding him and even fed him a bottle for a minute today.  He loves school and seems to be doing really well there.  He's a big helper around the house too, and has also seemed to have grown up a lot in the last month.

This day in history

11 years ago, on a Wednesday even, I entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo. I realized last night the today was the 3rd, and since it was also a Wednesday I think it made me think of that day even more. 

I had been set apart to serve as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New Zealand Wellington Mission the night before. I was excited and nervous, but mostly excited. I knew the work and the message I was about to participate in was true, and I still do. I was excited and nervous, but mostly excited to (soon) travel half way around the world to the island country of New Zealand. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew I'd love it. I truely left a small piece of my heart there, and with the people I served and served with. 

The MTC was a great experience, over-all. I was glad I was only there 3 weeks, but I jumped right in to the routine and the spiritual experience. I loved our three instructors and the elders and sisters in our class (district). The elders were awfully young (an observation I would make many times over during the course of serving) but I was blessed to see glimpses of the men they were becoming and more importantly, the priesthood they held and (mostly) honored. 

I knew I was where the Lord wanted and needed me at the time that I was supposed to be there. I was convinced I would be able to reach, if only a few, people that other people would not be able too. I had at least a handful of experiences during the next 18 months where I saw that. I loved all of my companions, some more than others, and each for different reasons. And even 10 or 11 years later, I loved one of them when she left (for good, not when she'd just leave me by myself the half dozen or so times she left me on my own while we were companions). 

There is still hardly a day that goes by where I don't think about someone I met while serving. I grew a lot (in more ways than one) from where I was and who I was 11 years ago. Probably the only thing it compares to is motherhood, as far as the most amount of experiences in a short amount of time, and how much you change as a person. 

There are not a lot of things I would change or do differently in my life. Maybe be a little kinder, there are a few things I've said or done to people I'd take back, and maybe a few pounds I wish I hadn't indulged in, but being a missionary is definitely not on that list. I'm grateful that was what the Lord had in store for me at that time in my life. Just as I'm grateful, if not a bit exhausted, that being a wife and mother is what I'm supposed to be doing at this time in my life. 

Now, if  you'll excuse me, my baby's asleep which means there's a good chance I'll be able to get some sleep for a couple hours. 

Introducing...

Milo David Lafeen 

September 20, 2012 @ 4:46 pm

7 lbs 11 oz 20 in long

Prepared

So... 4 more days until our life is turned upside down (for the third time).  Actually... it's more of a week before that actually happens.  Sure, we're going to have a new baby to add to our family on Thursday (hopefully) but we won't actually make it back to the house with him until Saturday.  And even then, the other two kids won't be back until Sunday.  Is it bad that one of the things I'm looking forward this week is the day or two I get to sit in a hospital bed and order dinner?

I've managed to get most of the things done on my to-do list.  Even though I've done a few extra things and keep thinking of other stuff that should get done, but don't want to add it to my list?  I've got bottles washed, we brought up the bassinet (but only because friends came over for dinner and a movie and needed it for their little guy), and I have a bag mostly packed of my stuff for the hospital.  The kids are mostly packed for their weekend with the Hardcastle's in Jackson Hole, and I've washed some bottles and bought a package of newborn diapers.  You could say I'm about half way done with everything on my list.

Lisa (Justin's mom) made us quite a few freezer dinners and brought them by tonight too.  I took the opportunity to organize the deep freezer and make a list of what we've got in there.  I've tried to make a meal or two extra every week this summer.  So... with what was added today we have over 30 meals in there.  And most of those would probably feed at least 6, so we'll have dinners and left overs for quite a while.

Everyone at church today was either surprised to see me, or just wanted to comment on soon I was having the baby.  I've told more than a few people, and it's really true, I'm actually feeling pretty good right now.  My face is still pretty scary looking, but the infection is mostly gone (there's a common theme here) and I've been sleeping really well most nights for the last couple of weeks.  I almost think I could go another week since that started.  I keep thinking 5 more days of sleeping through the night (minus a few bathroom visits, if course) and then 4 more nights, etc.  I imagine there will be enough anxiety/excitement the night before, that I'm now down to 3 more nights of actual sleeping before the baby gets here.

Which means, I should probably go to bed now.

Elder Hardcastle

My cousin Paul just arrived home from his mission in South Korea.  I was a horrible cousin and wrote to him a total of zero times.  I'd like to say that I at least sent him Christmas cards and maybe Kate's birth announcement.  I'm pretty sure I managed that much, but probably not anything more.  Sorry Paul!

He was super skinny and looked just as shell-shocked as all other newly returning missionaries do. I guess his flight getting into the country was delayed and he missed his connecting flight.  He was supposed to arrive from Portland at 1pm, but didn't get there until 4 o'clock.  I thought it would be nice for Hyrum to go, and with all of his uncles and grandpa there, he'd be entertained at the airport for a while.

We (my parents, Gordon and Jess and Matt and Jenny) ended up leaving for a bit and getting something to eat and then going back.  By the time we were back at the airport Hyrum and sort of lost interest in why we were there, but he managed to keep himself entertained.  (Thanks to Gordon, Matt, and my dad who went on a LOT of escalator rides).

Welcome home, Elder.

September

Been thinking about this month for... at least 9 months now.  Back when it was cold and snowy and through the hot and muggy -and now it's finally here.

We've had one little boy start preschool this month...

One little girl continue to show her vibrant personality...

One dad who is finally done travelling until next month...

One mom who has truly had enough of this pregnancy...

[Are you kidding me?  There are no pictures.  Just heart burn, frequent trips to the bathroom and doctor, pregnancy acne and infections, no sleep, pelvic pain, and a constant contraction for the last 4 or 5 days now.  You don't want a picture, trust me]

And one little guy who is officially full term, is scheduled to come September 20th (a week early), but is more than welcome to come at any time now.  I've said that will all three kids, and they all seem to like to wait until my water is broken in the hospital.  That's okay by me, I suppose.  Especially since it's only 13 days away.