Super Simple-- Things that make it -- ALL GOOD!!

*Whoever snuck in to my house and tidied my kitchen and family room last night while we were in Zion!!!!!-- Although I am extremely embarrassed that it was seen in that condition.
*Rob-- for too many reasons to number.
*Grandpa having his cell on at the lake so mom can do a life jacket check
*5 oh yeah!!!, 6 ! incredible, beautiful, healthy kids
* Baby loves hanging out on Grandma
* Ankles, feet, and other non-swollen jointed appendages
*Reuning with the family.
*TV in my family room (temporary though it may be)
*Napping babies
*Formula and pacifiers-- making possible the aforementioned napping baby
*Power ranger underwear (making it all good for Nate to miss the lake)
*Chocolate chip cookies with tons of nuts.
*Dr. A saying I can start exercising next week.
*Preschool every day coming up this year.
* 1 st grade-- exciting for K and for me (all day, every day-- is my excitement too palpable?)
* fb-- so I don't feel like the entire world is passing me by
*Maternity shorts that don't reveal their true nature so I can look half cute just one week later
*blogging-- the only way I'll ever have a journal-like thing in my crazy life.

Separated at Birth?

I'm not sure you can see it, but the mom's eye knows. I think these two are going to be twins.

WELCOME BACK, Y'ALL!!!

I like to give a hearty welcome back to . . .
My ankles. You have no idea what a happy day that was. After 4 months of spreading joints, swollen feet and water retention, I finally have my ankles back. They are grateful to rejoin the world. The feet, as well, are excited for the new world awaiting them. All those shoes they couldn't fit into-- no longer an issue. Every day something new, something a little more to look forward to. Like today, for instance, the first time I wore non-maternity unmentionables (my dad's euphemism for underwear). It seems like a small thing, but you know in your heart that it's not.

Baby, too is making strides. Today he stayed awake for almost two hours. I haven't seen his eyes that much this whole week. It's pretty cool. Pretty soon I expect him to start turning toward voices and responding to sound. He already likes the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. And workout music-- Go figure. Even in utero this baby has responded to music. With his ear and hyper long fingers we expect a chopin in the next few years.

Bentley

Introducing Michael Bentley Jensen. Born Friday, July 17th at 7:47 p.m. and Weighing in at 8 lbs 2 Oz, and 21 and 3/4 inches, young Jensen is a contented, happy baby. Crying does not seem to be his preferred method of communication and he is not terribly interested in eating, either-- of course we expect that to change as he looks to have his Dad's hollow leg. He is perfect and beautiful and the most pleasant baby that has ever graced our home.

His delivery was induced. It looked like I would go fast, but didn't. I progressed to a 7 and doc said he wanted me to get an epidural so he could help turn the baby, etc. and he expected it would be another 2-3 hours. I assented because, well because it hurt-- really bad-- and I was tired of hurting and getting nowhere. So the anesthesiologist comes in, gives me the epidural and it just won't numb anything (yes, my legs, but not the stuff that mattered). In fact, the contractions just kept hurting like the dickens because the baby was already pushing on the pelvic nerves and the epidural just wouldn't help me with that. Thanks@!!#$ Can you say excruciating. Holding the bedrail and crying is all I can remember. Less than an hour after receiving the epidural the baby was ready. Just so you know-- I'm taking credit for not getting the epidural since it didn't even work.

Anyway, that's the story. Here are the pictures.

Two More Days!!!! :(

Let the nesting begin. Our bedrooms are finished. We are moved in, cleaned up, ready for the baby, we think. We still have tons to do in the family room, living room, and office but we have our beautiful bedrooms, bathrooms and closets. Everyone is in their new bedrooms for the first time ever. I'll post pics soon, I hope.
Pregnancy wise, Two more excruciating days of 108 degree weather, horrible contractions that do nothing, and waiting, waiting, waiting, for this baby to be born. My doctor will induce labor on Friday if I haven't had him by then. I'll probably have to wait til then, knowing me.

A Word to the Wise

Not 12 hours after our return from an exhilarating but exhausting trip to Lake Powell I found myself pulling into the church parking lot for choir practice at 8 a.m. (church is at 8:30). There was a momentary thought as I pulled into the tree-lined parking lot-- do I take the usual spot about halfway down or do I take advantage of the spot just opposite the doors? This is a no-brainer, you say, take the easy spot. I'm 38 weeks pregnant for heavens sake, don't I deserve a little break? You'd think so. So I took it, unloaded my kids, and headed into practice America, the Beautiful. Sacrament begins and Robert leans over to me and says, "Brother X (names changed to protect the really nice, but not so innocent) hit your car. It's pretty bad."
I am incredulous. "You're kidding, right." Nope. He hit two cars because he revved it in reverse. (Did I mention I like him. He's 95+ and really funny and likes my kids because they remind him of his grandkids) So after Sacrament I check out the damage. It's bad. The entire rear hatch and bumper will have to be replaced. I tear up a little 'cause I've had this car for only 6 months and it's the newest car I've ever had. But, it's drivable. SO I drive it. And when I park the car rolls forward. A fluke, I say. But the next day it happens again and keeps rolling backwards, IN PARK. Needless to say, I hightail it with my 5 kids a summer's worth of car garbage and my huge belly over to the collision center rushing to get a rental car to get to the doctor. CRAZY DAY. BASIC FYI Don't ever park behind the Handicap parking spots, even if it is really shady.