Some more pictures of Brigham Duke

The kids got to come visit Brigham Duke and I at the hospital yesterday. The first thing they wanted was to hold their little brother. They were a pretty disappointed when they found out they couldn't even be in the same room. :( I tried to distract them by reading them a story. The look on Sammy's face should show just how well that worked.

I sure do miss being at home with these kids!!!

The view through the glass.

David slept at home with the kids last night. Brigham missed him last night.

He loves his daddy!!!

From the Hospital - Update

This is the Intrepid Husband with an update. Before we begin today's blog post, I want to recap on a phone conversation that happened last night.

Julie calls the house, and I pick up the phone
David: Hi Honey, how's everything?
Julie: Good, Brigham ate really well, more than they expected he would!
David: That's great, but he's still in the isolette?
Julie: Yes, probably another day.
David: Oh good.
Julie: So, um... *awkward pause* ...what would you think about changing Brigham's middle name to Duke?
David: *stunned silence* Really?
Julie: *optimistic retort* Yea, Really.
David: *confused query* Why?
Julie: Cause it's cute and the boys (Sammy and Benson) like it!
David: *still confused* Didn't your dad say that name only to keep Gracie from naming him pumpkin?
Julie: Yes, but he (Brigham) likes it.
David: *what do you say to that?*
Julie: My mom and I talked about it and I think we should change it to Duke.
David: Are you serious?
Julie: *firm reply* YES!
David: Um...can I think about it? *an off-phone conversation ensues with David accusing Grandpa of planting seeds in the obviously pain-killer addled brain of his sweet wife*
Julie: So, how long do you need? Another minute or two?
David: Um, no, I'll call you back. *The sound of children, fighting, and name calling in the background* You're serious, really?
Julie:*confident adieu* Yes, love you, call me later, bye!

So, there you have it. That's pretty much how it happened. My son is a Duke. Brigham Duke. Just like that.

This is Julie now: Let me give you a little more information about the above conversation. There has been a lot talk about what our little baby's name would be over the last several months. Sammy decided on Monday that it should be Pumpkin because that is what my stomach looked like. Finally the kids all agreed on a name... oh great they want to turn their brother into a vegetable. Before that there had been Mario, Luigi, Sammy, Benson, Peter Pan, Prince Derek... the list goes on about like that. When my parents came into town, my dad couldn't stand the thought of him being called "Pumpkin" so he started saying, "We want DUKE!" The boys quickly picked up on it. Even Benson, who I am sure didn't even remember his grandpa (it has been more than a year since they have seen each other) quickly warmed up to him and the name Duke and has been going around pounding his little fist on the table shouting "DUKE" ever since grandpa arrived. My mom told me that when she showed them the first pictures of baby Brigham he was saying, "Baby... baby Duke." I just thought it was so cute and it made me so happy, I wanted to change his name to Duke. Now we call him Brigham or Duke all the time. I can tell it makes the baby happy.

Back to David, Intrepid Doctor Husband

So, It's not that I don't LIKE the name Duke, it's fine name for rich snobby people who were born into positions they didn't earn *Julie just slugged me and pinched my arm*, Not to mention every time I see him or think of his name, I hear Duke of Earl singing in my head. *Shout out to my old Boys Quartet "Boyz to RM"--Julie rolled her eyes at me* I have to admit, and Julie did point this out, now he's not destined to go to Brigham Young University, he can go to Duke University in the Carolinas. (Not that he would anyway with his father encouraging the "Ute" in each of his kids--Julie shouted Go Cougars in the background).

So, now he's Brigham Duke. It kinda grows on you.

Here is a medical update from Doctor. So The Duke, has Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn or TTN. It is essentially retained fluid in the lungs after the baby's born. It usually happens after C-sections, when the baby isn't squeezed out, but Grandma, and Dr. Dad think he may have gulped in some "gunk" (Medical term). He's had a chest x-ray that should some extra fluid and most importantly, his breathing rate is mostly >100 breaths per minute. Baby's usually breath in the 40-60 range. So. He's breathing too fast. This means he could get more sick with complications stemming from that, but they treat him in an isolette extra oxygen, and it helps slow his breathing, and give him time to take care of the fluid. Day 2, he's doing well, the pediatricians are awesome! The residents as well, who I asked to be involved, have been incredible.

Julie's doing well, he has breast fed once, and but they are not letting her breastfeed more due to his oxygen needs. If all is well, then tonight we'll try breastfeeding again, and if that goes well, then he can come out of the isolette and tomorrow home!

**UPDATE**
The Residents just came in to tell us that his temperature is creeping up a little. Since he has TTN anyway, we need to check for a source. Newborn shouldn't have higher temps. So, Blood culture, Urine Culture, and another X-ray. He's doing well otherwise--more active today, eating alright, pooping and peeing, etc. The nurse even commented that he has stinky farts. I told her that was hereditary. So, this is where we are now. A little more worriesome, but with a great team of doctors and nurses, I know we're doing great.
David

More pictures to come, we had to charge the camera battery. Oops - Dad and Mom forgot.

This is the Intrepid Doctor Husband (and my Julie) Signing out.

At the Hospital - Blogging Live

This is the intrepid husband(now intrepid doctor husband), blogging live at the sceneWe've just walked into my hospital. Julie's water has broken today. She visited the OB/Gyn office earlier, and things are great, she's ready to have a baby! Mom made it in town and so Grandma wont miss a grand baby being born!

We've got her settled into the room, and ready to get going. I personally reported to the ob about the beautiful patient I was very attracted too who just showed up. We got her settled in a room, after walking through the ER to get registered. Most of the staff knew me, and wished us luck as we walked through. Julie is radiant, and ready as always to have a baby--no epidural!!

Grandma is doing the dula thing-rubbing feet with oils and keeping the patient happy. Here we go! We've just started this adventure for the next kid---a boy.

More to come, stay tuned!

Now Julie's been on Pit for a couple hours, and contractions are up to the requisite speed. She's feeling them and still shunning the epidural. We're playing lots of Phase 10. Its Julie's game she plays while she's in labor. So Grandma Leslie is kicking our butt. She's having way too much fun. Julie is moving a long like we've watched her do many times before, we were pretty much running the show. We had a great nurse, and nursery nurse, and a fantastic OB/Gyn.

And it came to pass, that the time for delivery was immanent, and we called the nurse. The nursed checked her, did a test push, and it came to pass that the nurse called another nurse and let the doctor know that the season of delivery had come. The Intrepid Doctor Husband (that's me) gowned and gloved up like a real doctor.

Julie pushed for no more than 15 minutes, and after a short stint of a stuck shoulder, that the OB/Gyn fixed in a jiffy, we had a baby boy.

This is Brigham Banks, 8lbs, 7 oz, 21 inches long. Julie was great!

Soon after he was born, the nurses were concerned he was breathing too fast, and not keeping his sats up.

This is called transient tachypnea of the newborn, a common condition meaning a little extra water on the lungs that's hard to get out

So right after birth he was in an incubator with some extra oxygen.

Julie and I have had him out with some Oxygen by nasal canula, and he's doing okay, we're about to go watch as they wean him off of it to see how he does.

Here we go.

Intrepid Doctor Husband Out.

Pregnancy and Prayers

This is truly how it feels to be in the last month of pregnancy. I am lucky to make it out of my pj's in the mornings. Although for the past few days I have been making a bigger effort so that I can go out for a walk, you know trying to get some dilating going on (I was only a "good 1" on Wednesday). So if I am glowing it is because I am sweating! The cooler weather has been AMAZING! My kids are freezing though, and I just don't know how warm to dress them because I can't tell how cool it is. I have been praying that this pregnancy can be over soon and that our sweet baby boy will come join our family soon (SOON being the main part). Is that a bad thing to pray for? I have mixed emotions about it because I know Heavenly Father knows best for my baby. I have a specific date in my mind that I want this little fellah to come on (I know it is kind of silly to plan what day you are going into labor, but there it is). Sometimes when I pray, I don't know that my prayers are getting past the ceiling. I know Heavenly Father listens, but sometimes I wonder if my prayers are sincere enough, or if I am praying for the wrong things or something. I know this is one of Satan's tools to make me doubt myself and my prayers. I was out for a walk today though. We walked over to a park that isn't too far from our house. Imagine a 9 month pregnant lady pushing a bulky double stroller (not the easier jogging kind) with 75 pounds of kids in it... up hill both ways of course. I feel kind of silly and know that I get lots of pittying looks. There is this one street next to the hospital on our walk that is pretty busy and has no sidewalk. On the way to the park the traffic isn't as bad. Most of the traffic is going the same direction as I am on the other side of the street. Even still there was one close call with a big truck at a corner with lots of bushes that made us hard to see. But on the way back the traffic is 10 times heavier. I decided to walk on the side of the street that is slower even though I couldn't see the traffic coming towards us that way (except when I looked behind me). I said a quick prayer in my head and heart that we would be safe and protected. And something amazing happened. Not a single car came down that road until we reached the part of the road that had some driveways for us to pull into while the cars passed us. And it is a pretty long stretch of road for someone who can't push a stroller all that fast (this really was one of the up hill parts). I know it is something pretty small and insignificant, but it was an answer to my prayer. Heavenly Father is listening... to me. He is listening to my prayers all the time. He may not always say yes, but He is listening. What a blessing it is to know that He loves each of His children that much. So when I feel overwhelmed with the job of raising children, or lonely because David worked nights for the last two weeks (so glad to see the back end of that by the way), or when we ask daily for physical protection and the Spirit to be with us... He knows and is listening and helping. I am so thankful!

My Daughter, the Overacheiver

Look at the instructions, and then ask yourself, did Gracie Complete the task?

She obviously got a smiley face. When I asked her why the faces, she said, I just wanted them to be girl letters, dad, you know, Girly?

I asked her if she had enough time do to this, She got done early. That's my girl.

It's a grand night for singing...

... the stars are bright above. The moon is aglow and to add to the show, I think I am falling in love. Falling, falling in love.

You know that musical, "State Fair"? I felt like we were in it yesterday. No, we weren't at our state fair, just a small county one, but we had a wonderful time and it even included a little "falling in love" of our own. :)

Sammy loved the pigs and kept telling me about their "boobs."

Gracie loved hanging out with her friend Hunter.

All of the kids loved the sheep.



Benson loved the train ride.


But not the carousel so much. I think maybe it scared him a little because the horse he is riding looks so freaky... what do you think. Gracie and Sammy and Hunter loved the carousel though.

Benson loved Brother Hemis. We thought we had missed our county fair... actually we did, but some friends in our ward invited us to go with them to one of the neighboring county fairs and told us it was a way better one than ours anyway. Thanks Hemis's.

Everyone loved the "Super Slide." David even rode that one. He kept trying to get me to go down it, but I don't really think they would have let a 9 month prego woman on nor do I think I could have held on to my cookies.

The rodeo was fun too. I always love to see the American Flag as it is carried around the stadium.

There were lots of cute cowboys.

And cowgirls.

And these funny little kids riding sheep... I think it is called "muttin bustin?"
Gracie really wanted to go ride the sheep. And then she wanted to do the barrel racing. And then she wanted to be the fair queen. We might have a little cowgirl in the making here.

Gracie even got asked out on her first date! How is that for finding love at the fair. I was taking Sammy to the bathroom so I didn't hear about this until after we went home or we would have taken a picture of the little boy. But while we were watching the rodeo a cute little 7 year old asked Gracie if she would go ride the rides with him. Actually he asked David, which David said made him a gentleman. But he still said no. She has a LONG time to go before she can go on a date! I never thought I would say this, but I think it may be time for us to buy a gun...

They were all asleep before we got home. David took this picture because every single one of their heads was leaning in the same direction. We had a great time falling in love with the fair!

"I love to see the temple. I'm going there someday."

We went to the temple yesterday. It was so wonderful! David's amazing and wonderful brother and sister-in-law made it possible for us to go. David and I left early (like 6:20 am) and just barely made it to our 9:00 appointment (we sped a little bit to make it on time). Micah and Sarah drove the almost 3 hours with all three of our kids plus their own 2 as well. They left after us because their appointments were at a later time. They are the BEST! It was just so wonderful, the feeling that you get in the temple. This last week has been weighing me down and to go to the temple was the very thing I needed to remember what things really matter.

We took the kids for a walk around the temple. It was so peaceful even with 6 kids running around (okay only 5, Micah and Sarah's baby, Elsa, can't run around yet). And the weather was so perfect. We really couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.




The little boy in the red striped shirt is Andrew. His mom and dad got to go to the temple too. He sure is a cute little boy. We were glad he could hang out with us.

I am in love with the above picture. Sammy is helping Benson climb up on a bench and it just warms my heart. This is just the perfect picture of two brothers.
Benson and Asher are so cute together. They LOVE each other. Benson asks for Asher all the time. It is nice to live close enough to them that we get to see them regularly. Cousins are so fun!

I have no idea what this face is, but it makes me laugh.

Here is my little dancing queen.

We are so greatful to be an eternal family! Heavenly Father sure knew what he was doing when he put us here on earth in families!

Random Stuff

Everyone in my house was down for quiet time. David and I really needed a nap (David because he is working tonight and me because I am in that last month of pregnancy where I can't sleep and can't get comfortable and am basically tired all the time). So we put Benson down for a nap and let the other kids watch "The Prince of Egypt" (Gracie learned about the 10 commandments in primary today and Moses came to visit so I thought it was a good movie to help her remember what she had learned). But true to my pregnacy induced insomnia self I couldn't take a nap no matter how much my body hurt or how tired I was so here I am blogging. Just some random things and thoughts...

I had some things I needed to get done on Friday afternoon so while Gracie was at school and Benson took a nap I turned on "The Land Before Time" on Netflix for Sammy. He really didn't want to watch it. Actually what he really wanted was to watch Diego or Dora or Backyardigains or something. But I needed a little more time than that so I picked the Land Before Time. I remember watching it as a kid. You can see by his face he was not very excited about it when I started it. But by the time Littlefoot hatches this is what his face looked like.

That little dinosaur won him over.

More randomness... I made trail mix yesterday for a car trip we went on. My kids picked out all of the M&M's (of course) so when I got home I added some butterscotch chips to it because David loves butterschotch chips. I HATE butterscotch chips. I just think they are too sweet. But they actually tasted good with the salty cashews. Don't tell David I admitted that they taste good.
Speaking of David. He worked at a dunk tank recently to benefit the American Heart Association. The kids had an AWESOME time dunking their dad. People kept coming by and paying for them to do it again because they were so cute and funny.

We had our first cool day in a LONG time yesterday. It was beautiful! I think the high was 69 or something. I mentioned to David that we had all of the stuff for potato corn chowder and he wanted me to make it. I don't like soup in the summer so I didn't really want to make it, but if I don't make it today he is going to want it tomorrow and it is supposed to start getting hot again tomorrow... so I guess today it is.

I thought this was funny. I mentioned before that it was cooler yesterday. Well yesterday evening the boys decided they needed to play in the sandbox, but they were cold. So they pulled the tarp that we use to cover the sandbox over themselves to keep warm. When I looked out at them all I saw was this big blue moving blob where my children were supposed to be.

Hmmm.... oh yeah, we finished reading "Mocking Jay" (you were right Mary) yesterday on our car trip. David and I like to read books together and this was our latest. Still trying to figure out what I think of it. At the last minute, right before it happened, David and I figured out what the ending was going to be. Then I balled throught the whole epilogue, even though I was reading it out loud to David while we were driving in the car. I felt kind of silly, but I couldn't help myself. I think David laughed at me.

I guess that is it. I have more random pictures to post, but the kids are running around and getting into trouble and Sammy wants cookies. I want cookies too, but he had a wet pull up at church today :( and we told him we would make cookies if he kept his pull up dry. Guess we will have to make cookies tomorrow.