2011 Recap

2011 was a big year for us as a family, and of course the addition of Lila to our family was easily the highest point of the year, but we did a lot of fun things. Here are some pics of some of the things we did this year.

January

We started the year out right with some Arabic food and family and friends.

Jackson decided he didn't care for baby food. :)

And we had Cru over for a playdate!


February

Jackson got an ear infection. :(

And then learned to sit up all by himself!

March

Jackson got his first hair cut!

Maddy and Momma E came to visit and Maddy and Jackson were BFFs.

Our whole family went to the park.

April

The Easter Bunny came to visit us!

We dyed eggs and Jackson tried to eat them whole.

We went for lots of walks and saw the firefighter's memorial in Boise.

Jackson learned to pull up to standing!

May

We spent lots of time at the park in the nice weather.

We ate our breakfasts outside in the backyard.

My baby sister went to prom!

We went to Momma E and Grandad's for a visit and Kaden got to go on the Harley.

We went fishing!


June

We hung out in Daddy's hammock that we got him for father's day.

Miss Adelyn got to come down for a visit!

And we all took a trip to the zoo.

And had a blast in the backyard.

July

My boys celebrated their 1st and 4th birthdays.

Mommy made cupcakes for their beach theme birthday party.

We travelled to Coeur d'Alene and got to meet cousin Keegan (and Uncle Kemer and Aunt Justine) for the first time!

And we got a whole family picture.


August

We went to the Fair (in the hundred+ degree heat, 9 months pregnant, and got all swollen for days. :))

We cooled off in the pool.

Jackson learned to walk!

September

We took family maternity pictures.

Daddy finished the baby's changing table.

We painted our hands and feet and decorated the family growth chart.

Mommy went into labor in the morning on September 18th while watching Madagascar, Escape 2 Africa in bed with the kids, and took a test 5 hours before I delivered our precious Lila girl. :)

The moment I found out I had a daughter.

She came with precious little feet!

Our beautiful Lila Grace.

Our first playdate with our best friend Salem who is exactly two days older than Lila.

Mimi and Papa got to come to see their first great granddaughter.

Momma E meeting her first granddaughter!

October

My fantastic boss and coworkers threw a baby shower for Lila and me.

We went to Jabbers with Jamie and her Mom Cindy and the kiddos.

Baby Jett came over for a playdate!

We carved pumpkins and had a great Halloween.

Jackson got to move from the high chair to the big boy table with the family!

November

Aunt Mo came to visit!

Grandma and Grandpa Fox came with Uncle Norman to visit and Norman and Stu made our house all decoratey!

Uncle Norman and his babies!

Lila was a huge Bronco fan!


December

All of the kids were spoiled at Christmas by Santa and family!

We had Christmas Eve dinner with the Brintons.

We took in the Winter Garden aGlow at the Botanical Gardens.

And my sweet boy donated his piggy bank money to 7Cares to benefit the Idaho Food Bank and the Boise Rescue Mission.

3-Month Update and Multiple Hats

Can you believe it's been THREE WHOLE MONTHS since Miss Lila was welcomed into our family? I certainly can't. But she has melded into our family perfectly and it feels like we were always waiting for her.

She is the BEST little baby. Stu has been having slightly more trouble with her since I went back to work full time, but she is always so calm and sweet and a good sleeper... she's just perfect! (Am I gushing??? :)) It's just such a change from Jackson. In her entire little life, she has never once woke up in the middle of the night and not gone back to bed after she eats. Jackson would constantly get up and never go back to sleep, or scream for hours and not sleep, regardless of what we tried to do to comfort or console him. BUT, on that front, we have good news to report! Jackson is sleeping through the night (almost always)!

As most know, from the time of his infancy, he would always wake up at night, well, after 17 LONGGGGG months, some sleepy time herbal pills, a specific bedtime ritual, and a nightlight later, he is finally sleeping. I had been getting fairly concerned a couple of weeks before I went back to work because both babies were waking up several times at night, and of course at different times, so neither Stu nor myself were getting any decent REM sleep night after night and I was worried I might actually die of sleep deprivation. Luckily (SO luckily!), a couple of days before I was back full time, he started sleeping through almost every night. Sadly, I think it was the nightlight that really did it. I think our poor kid was afraid of the dark and we've just been making him suffer for the past 17 months. Ugh. It was certainly not for lack of effort though.

As far as the rest of the family goes, Kaden is looking forward to Christmas and seeing what Santa is going to bring for him. He is super into it this year and it makes the holidays so much more fun! Kaden actually got to be featured on our local News Channel 7 because he decided to donate the money in his piggy bank to the needy and they thought that was pretty fantastic. (Which of course it was.) Stu and I had been discussing taking the kids to the grocery store so Kaden could pick out some food to take to 7Cares, which was benefitting 2 local homeless shelters and the food bank, and use it as an opportunity to model caring behavior, and when we talked about giving money as well, an eavesdropping Kaden said, “I wanna donate some money too!” And I said, “Ok, bud, we’ll give you some money that you can give to them.” And he remembered that he had his “own” money in his piggy bank. I was delicate about it at first because I thought he might change his mind when we got there, but he was all about it and told the reporter exactly why he was giving his money “to the Mommies and Daddies who can’t buy food or presents for their kids,” but when they went to go live, he got freaked out and they had to talk to Mommy about it instead. My sweet, loving boy. Here is the link to the broadcast.

Kaden on Twitter!

Kaden on the home page of KTVB Channel 7 News' website!

Kaden giving a (very young, adorable) Marine some Toys for Tots.

Stu and Norman (Stu's brother) hung up our Christmas lights when he and Stu's parents were in town for Thanksgiving and every night when Stu turns them on, Kaden wants to run (usually in his socked feet in 30-degree weather) to the edge of the street and look at the house. He is SO EXCITED and it absolutely makes it all worthwhile. We're taking him on a helicopter ride again this year to see the city lights and everything all decorated and he is looking forward to that. He is also stoked that he will be starting preschool in January and can't wait to meet friends and his teacher. I think it will be good for him to have some more socialization with kids his own age (and not little brothers he can boss around). I can't believe my baby will be old enough to start kindergarten this Fall. WHERE has the time gone???

Kaden, Daddy, and Prancer at the Winter Garden aGlow at the Botanical Gardens.

Kaden, moderately freaked out by Santa, at the Festival of Trees.

Jackson is just growing like a weed! He is freaking adorable and SUCH a mischievous little boy. He is so much more cunning than Kaden ever was and he watches for us to leave the room and then he beelines for something he is not supposed to be into. When we take that item away, he runs to the next thing, causing us to literally chase after him all the time. He is hilarious though and I can already tell that he is going to have a great wit and be the funny one. He is definitely a man's man and loves to wrestle with his Dad and never gets hurt when he falls, just a total tough guy! So opposite from my thoughtful, calculated Kaden.

Uncle Norman and Jackson were best friends for the whole time he was here visiting!

Lila is just finding her niche in the family. She is way more laid back than either of my boys were and I think she just knows she has to wait sometimes to get what she needs if her brothers are needing something or causing a ruckus, and she is usually content to just wait her turn. At night she goes to sleep on her own after I feed and I don't have to be a ninja to put her sleeping self down and get out of the room like I did with the boys. She just grunts and wiggles and chews on her blankey and eventually falls asleep. Her favorite activities include chewing on everything she can get her hands on, including her own hands, and hanging out on Mommy or Daddy's lap. She is fairly indifferent about tummy time, but she likes her bouncy chair and her swing. She is laughing now and whatever it takes to make her grin and laugh are TOTALLY worth it! She is my little princess. She's such a girlie girl though, too, which is a funny change from the boys. Her feelings get hurt more easily and unfamiliar noises startle her more easily too.

Lila with the amazing Dr. Shappard at her 2-month check-up. (All 3 babes with the same doctor. We are luckily to have such a great health care provider.)

Lila on her Quarter-of-a-year birthday!

Lila, showing her support for her Broncos!

Santa Lila having a snack at the Winter Garden aGlow.

Stu and I just finished finals for this semester and w're just trucking along as usual with school. Stu is taking a heavier load next semester, and with the addition of a new baby to the mix, it could be interesting to see how that goes. I have a feeling my bathrooms won't be cleaned and nothing with get dusted (but what else is new with our insane schedule?) but school has to be more important than an organized home for now. Stu and I are both into our upper division requirements now (3- and 400-level classes) which is somewhat motivating because it means we are getting closer to graduating, which feels like such a far-off dream sometimes. I remind myself, though, that we are doing this for our kids and family and some day our lives won’t be so exhausting and complicated.

As I mentioned, I am back to work full time now and it is bitter-sweet. While it does feel good to get up and have a purpose other than “just” being a Mom, and bringing home the bacon, it is definitely hard to leave those little sleepy, warm faces in the mornings and be gone all day. On a positive note, because Lila typically wakes up to eat between 4:30 and 5:30, I have been getting up then too, so I am at work most days around 7 or 7:30, which means I am working for a while before the kids even get up, and can get home that much earlier to be with them again. I try to make sure we are getting in some playtime and down time when I am home at night and not just collapse onto the couch like I want to do most days. Again, this too shall pass. (Repeat.)

Mommy got some new hairs for work! :)

You know, when I named my blog “It’s Always Something” some 4 years ago, I didn’t have any idea of what that would really mean. It is always so appropriate for our crazy life.

And now some family pics! :)

We are a regular circus these days!

The whole Fox Family.

Uncle Norman and his babies!

A wintery shot. (With two grumpy babies.)

There is a special bond between Mommies and their daughters.

Lila Grace's Birth Story

So for those who are not familiar with my birthing history, Lila’s birth story really has to start with her older brothers’ births. Kaden was a c-section for a failed induction. He had fetal distress and I was listed as “failure to progress” and we went to get cut open. So with Jackson, I educated myself about birth and prepared for a VBAC. I went well over my due date with him and ultimately reluctantly agreed to be induced at 41 + 4 weeks. Jackson’s labor was 17 hours and I ended up getting an epidural at 7 centimeters because Pitocin contractions were just too unbearable and I’d been in the hospital all day. I finally got to ten centimeters but then pushed for 3 and a half hours before my Occipital Transverse baby was born with a tight nuchal cord around his neck and body.

So this time around I decided early on that I would NOT be getting induced if there was any way I could help it and I wanted to labor at home as long as I could. I had been having contractions for literally weeks and I was pretty sure I would be pregnant for weeks more. On Saturday the 17^th we spent the whole day getting the house in order for the baby’s arrival. I just had this nagging feeling that if we didn’t get it done soon, we never would and since we didn’t have much else going on, it was as good a day as any. Kaden was hanging out with Marcia and Deven, so Stu and I took Jackson out to dinner at Red Lobster for all-you-can-eat shrimp, which was awesome. We came home and had a relaxing night and then went to bed.

Contractions woke me up a few times in the middle of night, but it didn’t seem like much was new because it had been happening so often up until that point. I do remember two of them making me feel frustrated because they weren’t very comfortable, but I ignored them and went back to sleep.

We woke up at about 8:30 in the morning and Stu asked if I was going to go back to sleep, or if we could bring the boys into our bed and watch Madagascar. I was having contractions so I just knew I wouldn’t easily fall back asleep anyway, so I agreed and we had a great morning with them in the bed. I realized about half-way through the movie, though, that I was definitely having consistent contractions and they were making it uncomfortable for me to sit on my butt, so I had the first “this might be it” moment.

After the movie we headed downstairs because I told Stu I would make Belgian Waffles for breakfast and by that point I just knew I was in labor. I think Stu was definitely skeptical, but I decided I should call Mimi, who was supposed to be at the birth, and at least get her looking into getting on a plane, though I doubted she would make it in time. I think in between contractions, when I was needing to lean on the counter and focus my attention, Stu realized this might actually be it. We finished breakfast and decided we might want to consider things like letting Marcia know I was in labor and that she would need to come get the boys, pack a hospital bag, etc.

This is where time begins to mean little to me. Basically, for the next 7 hours, Stu followed me around the house while I tried different positions, I took a shower, and later a bath, we went for a couple walks around the neighborhood, hung out in the backyard, all to make labor easier and get through one contraction at a time. At 1 I took my Criminal Evidence exam which had to be comical. Every 3 minutes I would stop reading the test and focus on breathing and getting through contractions, then jump right back into the mindset of the test. I was actually surprised how well I did on the multiple choice, but I know my coherence was lacking on the essay portion, so hopefully that isn’t hurt too bad in the end. (Edited to add: I got an A on this test :))

On the last walk we went on, I started to feel like they were getting out of hand. Stu suggested another bath and he went upstairs to draw it for me. This is where I lost my concentration and started to panic a little bit. I was all alone downstairs and no one was reminding me to breathe or touching me, etc, so I started to question my resolve of going drug-free (which wasn’t hugely resolved anyway… I was just determined to have her vaginally, I wasn’t as worried about whether or not I ended up with an epidural).

I finally went back upstairs and I told Stu we needed to call the doctor and head in soon. I was feeling more out of control with contractions and in my head, I just wanted to opportunity to have pain relief if I decided to get it, and I wasn’t going to be getting an epidural at home. The bath was really hot and I realized if I got in and got wet, I would have to also get out and dry off before I could leave for the hospital and I didn’t think I was up to that much work (luckily, too, because we probably would have had the baby in the tub). Stu was on the phone with the after hours folks at my doctor’s office because my doctor was out of town and the guy wouldn’t page the doctor who was covering until Dr. Shappard himself first called back and ok’ed it. So again I was without support and I told him he needed to call Marcia to come over to help. When she was on her way, I decided we really needed to go in. I was feeling pretty out of control and I just had my mind set on pain relief.

Marcia got to the house and I remember how frustrated I felt because our house had been super quiet and relaxed all day and when she got there she was cheery and laughing and I felt like she wasn’t taking it seriously, so I just wanted to leave right then. I kept telling them we needed to go and she laughed it off and said I probably had hours to go.

In the truck I hit a wall. I was in the backseat, leaning across Kaden’s carseat and I felt like I had a bowling ball in my butt. Stu got us there and because it was the weekend, he had to drop me off at the maternity center and then park the truck. I intended to wait in the waiting area right there for him, but I had one really strong contraction over the back of one of the seats in the waiting room and I just felt like I needed to get my butt (and the bowling ball in it) to labor and delivery, so I slowly started walking. I had two contractions in the hallway of what has to be the longest walk to labor and delivery, and one when Stu finally caught up to me and then we got to the door. I told them I was in labor (duh) and they nonchalantly brought me back to a room to “ask you some questions”. Here’s where things get hectic. I had a couple contractions while we were waiting (as soon as we walked in the door I told the nurse I wanted an epidural “yesterday”) and then two different nurses came in because they didn’t find me in the system (even though I had pre-registered) and I remember feeling like they were all such stupid questions and why couldn’t they just ask me after the anesthesiologist left.

They got me on the bed and the nurse said she was going to check me real quick. She goes, “… yep, you’re complete with a bulging bag…. Oop, and here comes your water.” I couldn’t believe I was complete (fully dilated to 10 centimeters) but then she told me that because my water had been coming through my cervix, it was possible that if she checked again I wouldn’t be as dilated because essentially the bag had been holding my cervix open. She rechecked and declared that I was at an 8. All I heard was, “You have 6 more hours to go,” because that’s how long it took me to go from an 8 to a ten with Jackson and I just had my eye on the drugs prize. I asked again about getting an epidural and the nurse said, “I don’t think you’re going to have time for that.” I panicked. Another contraction started and I remember thinking that I could definitely NOT do this for a few more hours (or minutes for that matter). Dr. Kapplinger, the hospitalist on staff, came in to see what was going on and around the same time they realized I was a VBAC and the typical panic of VBAC labors ensued. They were having trouble getting the baby’s heartbeat to pick up on the monitor and they told me more than once that baby was having decels with the contractions (so of course, all I hear is, “you’re getting a c-section again”.

About this time I realize that I am bearing down with contractions and I told no one in particular, “I think I am pushing.” The doctor told me that was fine and to go ahead and push if I felt like it. She checked me right after that, with me still hanging over the top of the bed, and the poor nurse trying in vain to place an IV in my hand, and she says, “We need to get you turned around and this bed broken down for delivery.” I panic further. I did not have drugs. There was no way the bowling ball that was in my butt, that I could feel EVERY part of, was ever escaping without drugs. I told them that was impossible because it hurt too bad and I just couldn’t do it. They basically told me, in no uncertain terms, I didn’t have a choice and I needed to get the thought of drugs out of my head because this baby was coming out anyway.

I rolled over and Stu asked the doctor if that was the baby and she said, “Yep, she’s crowning.”

I screamed. A lot. And I panicked more. But I was pushing with all of my might. The doctor told me that with the next contraction the baby would be born if I pushed as hard as I just had. She told me to reach down and touch my baby’s head and it was so weird feeling. All squishy and weird. At that moment the doctor on call arrived in time to fly into her scrubs and catch the baby. It was the WEIRDEST feeling on earth. I felt her head come out (ring of fire, be damned) and if felt like her body was at least 4 feet long as she slid all the way out. Her shoulders were actually harder to get out than I anticipated but then when they were free she just popped out so fast the doctor almost dropped her.

I kept saying “he” throughout the labor and delivery process, so when she came out and the doctor held her up and said, “Ok Daddy, what is it?” And he said, “IT’S A GIRL!” I was like, “WHAT??? Shut up!” I literally could not even fathom having a girl and still, three days later, I can’t believe that I have a daughter of my very own. I got to hold her immediately and no one even tried to take her from me. I had to check myself to make sure she was, in fact, a girl and she was. The repair was at least half as bad as the pain of pushing, but with no drugs, there was no hiding that I could feel EVERYTHING. I was just so shocked and excited to get to meet my baby girl and exclaim with Stu over and over that we, our family, had a baby girl!

A few hours later, after she was a champ at nursing and got her first bath, we finally finished the check-in process in recovery, so they said we could go ahead and have a baby there now. We also got the whole thing on video and the entire video is 14 minutes long. It was a completely insane and whirlwind experience, and it was absolutely perfect. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

They asked us after she was born what her name was and I said, “I don’t know!” We hadn’t really settled on a girl’s name because we were both so sure that she was a boy, so we finalized it quickly and got to share that we picked Lila Grace. She was 8 pounds, 11 ounces, and 20 inches long with a 13.75 inch head circumference. It was awesome because we got to call our parents and share that they had a granddaughter! She is absolutely perfect and I am loving every second with her! 

 See a compilation of her "birth" day here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wn0wmAXNAk

No time.

No, I mean I REALLY have no time anymore. For myself especially. So let me try to catch up some, but know that no matter how many things I remember to note, I am forgetting hundreds more things that I am constantly bummed that we'll forget. I started this blog to keep up with our then upcoming adventures in the Middle East and I am ALWAYS so thankful that I did. I even missed things back then, when I blogged on a nearly daily basis for two years. Now that I don't blog but one lame post every couple of months, I just know there are things about Jackson's first year that are going to be forgotten and I hate it.

But, we're freaking busy people. And when I do get a rare second to relax, I want to do it on the couch, in my sweats, a kid or two on my lap, spacing out... not trying to think of something clever to say. :) So lately, we've:

- Gone to CDA to visit the fam and welcomed Justine and Kemer and my sweet nephew Keegan, home from Germany. We had SUCH an awesome time with them. I was so glad we got the chance to have our babies together as babies, especially since we probably won't get the chance to see them near as often as I'd like.

- Experienced the fair. A first for Jackson and a second for Kaden, but the first that he remembered. It was fun, but VERY hot. I am awfully pregnant these days and my hands swelled up so fat I couldn't even make a fist. Then I was having blood pressure issues and it took me a good week to feel "normal" again. (After I just KNEW I was going to go into labor before the week was out... no dice on that one, obviously)

- Celebrated the boys' birthdays. I said I wouldn't do it, but I caved and we had a joint 1st and 4th birthday party for my little rugrats and it was so much fun. Mo and Co. came down from Seattle and we had friends and more family there to help us celebrate their big day. It was great. I found out that both of my boys are serious water babies and we had to talk Kaden out of the pool to do cake and presents and then Jackson stayed in so long that his lips turned blue!

We've tried to get out and about as much as possible while it is "easy" with "only" two kids. :) I laugh at myself because I remember feeling like things were hard to do and plan when we had just a small Kaden, but now we don't even think twice about rounding up the posse and heading out (often forgetting the diaper bag). We even go grocery shopping together these days, so I am wondering if having a third will really be that big of a change for us. I know sleep will certainly be a challenge, but Jackson hasn't slept much in the past year anyway, so maybe adjusting to a newborn won't be as bad this time around (or maybe that's just wishful thinking).

We also got to turn down ANOTHER chance to find out the sex of this baby. I had placenta previa at my 20-week ultrasound, so we did another one at 33 weeks to make sure it had corrected itself (which it did) and it was SO HARD not to just say, "Ok, fine, tell us!" to the tech and just know. I know it is going to be way more motivating during my labor to not know what it is, but it's hard to have the opportunity and not take it! Haha. (I still FEEL like it's another boy though, for those who are wondering. I really cannot even conceptualize the thought of having a girl, so we will see when D-Day arrives... there are plenty of people who are adament that I am wrong, so we will just have to wait and see!)

I am bummed that we don't have more time to do normal family things. I mean, a typical day for me is something like this: get up before the crack of dawn, eat on the run, kiss my kids and say "bye bye" (this is the hands-down sweetest thing Jackson has learned and having him bid me farewell ALMOST makes it easier to leave them every morning) if they are awake yet and rush off to work. I inevitably get there before everyone else because I want to leave before everyone else. I, especially lately, work my ass off all day long (we recently had another person quit unexpectedly... the person who was supposed to be covering my maternity leave, so the stress level has been off the charts of late), eating "lunch" over the course of the day whenever I can squeeze a bite in, at my desk. At 4 I've put in my 8+ hours and I call it a day and drive home, which now that we are on Parkcenter, it's an extra 10-15 minute commute home, depending on traffic, so I get home with about a half-hour until Stu has to leave for night classes. We eat dinner (quickly) as a family, quick-chat about our day, kiss Daddy goodbye and when normal working mothers would finally have the chance to cool down from the day, I start the pre-bedtime process alone, since Daddy is gone. Then I do homework and try to spend as much time with my kids before their bedtime as possible. I clean up from dinner, try to put something together to take for lunch the next day, shower, and get to bed.

Some days I just want to ignore all of my responsibilities and items that are due (not the least of which is myself upcoming, which I am trying to plan for!) and just do nothing. That Bruno Mars song has become my fantasy mantra, which I've noticed they tend to play on the way home from work. Hmmmm. Unfortunately real life just doesn't work like that, so I keep plugging away, knowing that the proverbial "some day," I will finally finish school, and hopefully life can get marginally less complicated.

So now it's back to homework and time to remind Kaden that we do NOT put items on Jackson's chest, even if it IS funny that "he can't get up now". Tomorrow, we start it all again.