Part 2

Andrew's very first time in the snow in Winter Park, CO. He was all bent out of shape because the snow was cold!
Andrew, Sam, Wendy, Makenna, Adam, and James. I love this picture! Made me really miss ATC!
Makenna and James in cahoots already!! James is 52 days older than his Aunt Makenna...
Uncle Herb (George) with his great-nephew, James, niece Makenna, and nephew Andrew
Son-in-law, Adam Paulukaitis, with his sister-in-law, Makenna Camarena!!

Referring to the first picture of Andrew, he was a bit bewildered when his hands started that burning/hurting/itchy/ache from the snow. Then he got downright angry! His comment: "I'm angry about it!" I took him on a walk later and it began to snow big, fluffy flakes. It was beautiful. We were both soaking wet by the time we went back to the room.

It is always fascinating to me to witness the power of "blood" or perhaps a more appropriate phrase is "family". Evokes warmer thoughts, I think. Wendy had left the nest around the same time I had Andrew. Then she served her mission and returned when he was 2 1/2. All of the boys think she is the "bee's knees"! It was so cool to see her with Makenna. Even though she has her own child now, I think she will serve as a fantastic sisterly example to all of her siblings. Andrew and Sam adored James! He's such a cuddly little baby. Of course, I snatched him up first, but nothing compared to seeing his Grandpa hold him. James just leaned right into his face; he KNEW who this man was. Grandpa affectionately refers to him as "Jimmy A". There are so many examples of that family connection. It was fun to see Wendy and Adam in their new roles as parents, they are both good at it and work together well. I appreciated having time to just spend with them without having to be anywhere.

Uncle Herb (my brother, obviously!) was kind enough to invite all of us over for dinner. He treated us to BBQ'd steak. It was wonderful. My favorite part of the visit was piling my children on him and taking pictures. I think he enjoyed it too. The little ones just look at him in total awe (that'll change when they get to know him better! ;-)) Herb's son Mykel came over for a bit. He is such a handsome young man. It was great to see him.

I wanted to make a comment about my son-in-law, Adam. I love the picture of him and Makenna. It was fun to watch him with all of the kids. I think Andrew would have used him for a jungle gym if he could have arranged it! He and Wendy have been doing a lot of Family History research on the Camarena line. Just watching him ask knowledgeable questions about it of my DH and the shuttered, but secretly pleased expression on said DH's face, endeared him to us even more. How's this for a deep thought...Wendy's younger siblings will never remember her without him...anyway, I just wanted to let Adam know how much we love him too!

More to come....

Road Traveled Too Long! Part 1

Well, we finally made it back! It kinda went a little like this over the past 17 days:

*Shocks went out in Vegas...must repair
*Rotator cuff injury for Suzanne was a nightmare...intense pain, could not lift babies!
*Okay, who ordered the winter weather? Nothing like watching a 4 year old catch snowflakes in his mouth for the first time.
*Note to self: must buy stock in the ibuprofen industry...love whoever invented it!
*9450 foot summit at Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado...AWESOME! Never saw so much snow in my life and more started falling as we were going through. Did anyone tell the weather god it's the end of MAY??
* Notice DH has golf-ball sized lump on his face...bad-tooth abscessed...no whining from him...REALLY! Refer to ibuprofen comment above!
*Meet my nieces girls and visit with her hubby, see a happy, healthy, beautiful Candice.
*Get to see Wendy, Adam, and meet little James (what a cute, cuddly grandson I have!) FINALLY! Introduce Makenna to her awesome, beautiful big sister.
*Load my kids and grandkid on Uncle Herb and take TONS of pictures. He BBQ'd us some yummy steak too!
*Visit with Aunt Judy, Uncle Mike and David...Andrew ran his first official 1/2 mile fun run and loved it!
*Drive down US 89 in UT and encounter more of the fluffy white stuff...what the heck???

More details will follow over the next few days. I really wanted to share some of my favorite pictures so far...so here they are!

Andrew admiring the Welcome to Colorado sign
My handsome 4 year old experiencing unabashed joy in the snow!
I love pictures like this! My DH shares his warmth with our babies!
Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado between Winter Park and Steamboat Springs
My beautiful niece, Candice, with my little Baby Mak!

I will share more in the days to follow, like watching James snuggle with Grandpa the first time, Wendy seeing Makenna and watching the two younger boys go NUTZ seeing she and Adam, witnessing hero-worship blossom in Andrew for his "cousin" David. Watching my children climb all over Uncle Herb and I think he really liked it!

Thoughts from my Uterus...oops I mean Heart!

Grandson James 5 months old

Future QB or Rhodes Scholar!

Wendy and James

Adam, Wendy and James

Makenna is 15 weeks on Monday!

Her personality is really starting to blossom.

Okay, this is an official "I miss Wendy" post. I have been thinking a lot about my children the past couple of days (BIG surprise!) and how different they are from each other. That led me to thinking about when Wendy and I first became mother/daughter and the looks we would get and some comments. Reminded me of an article I read months ago and loved! So, hopefully this link will work...I'm still kind of new at this

http://www.parenting.com/article/Mom/Relationships/Where-I-Got-Daisy-Parenting-a-Biracial-Child/1

We went into a Babies R Us last November when we were both pregnant...CUT the hysterical laughter...we know the jokes! The lady behind the counter asked how we were related. Picture this: Me (pasty white, green eyes, brown hair, she could actually tell I was pregnant--not just overly self-indulgent!), pushing a 13 month old boy who is very dark skinned, light brown hair and dark brown eyes. We are with a beautiful very pregnant young woman with black hair and dark brown eyes who is accompanied by her husband who is blond, blue eyed and not as pasty as me! When I said she was my daughter (I LOVE doing that!) she said "Oh?" Then I explained how Wendy was a gift, that I bore her in my heart. No physical pain with her, so I was exceedingly blessed to have her.

I have been the receiver of a few comments about Sam. He's much darker than my other children. Wendy was a close match after her summer of lifeguarding at Disney World. The above-mentioned article gave me a good comeback for those comments. I've been thinking about the relationships I have with my children and each one is different. They'll never be the same at the same time as each child is at a different phase in his/her life. I guess different levels of need. Well, I began to ponder all of this yesterday when I was on the phone with Wendy. She casually mentioned they were going to Georgia in the fall. And then some plans for grad school back East. I experienced a MAJOR stab in the chest while saying "Oh, wow." We talked for a bit more before we hung up.

Later, after everyone else was in bed, I had an opportunity to consider what Wendy's move would mean to me. I wanted to jump up and down and shout "No, you can't do it!" I miss her so much already and now she has a son and we'll barely get to see him before they may go. So, I will pose this question to the masses...how fair is it to experience the "empty nest syndrome" while my hair falls out from the hormonal adjustments my body is making after having had the "empty nestee's" baby sister?? I knew the Good Lord had a sense of humor when I found out I was carrying #4, but now He may just be toying with me! AAAHHHH!!!

At least she is with her good husband and his wonderful family. I trust them to make good, informed decisions. Oh, one more thing, since I am whining and I said I would try not to do so much of it anymore...I just should get this out since I'm doing it anyway....What about me???WAHHHHH!!!

This leads me to the wrap and how I got here in the first place. When someone asks me where I got my children the answer has to be....a gift from Heavenly Father. Aren't we all?

Blah, Blah, Blah....

Do you ever have days when you feel like no one is listening? You could look right at someone (even someone you know loves you beyond measure!) and start mumbling gibberish and they would respond as if on auto-pilot.I haven't had just a day of this, I've had a week! And frankly, I am annoyed. Okay, maybe my feel bads aren't feeling so good right now either. Maybe it's an adjustment issue, maybe I'm too sensitive, maybe what I'm saying just doesn't matter anymore....blah, blah, blah...I have talked to friends/family this week only to have them have to "go" rather abruptly. If it was just one, I would roll with it, but it has been too many! Maybe it's a phase...maybe I'm being prepared for the teen years when I should never be seen or heard...I've heard they really do that....Well, I don't like it!!

****sigh****

Okay, that is off my chest, I will cease to whine. Just a couple of important things to note this week...My oldest niece, Carlee, turns 31 tomorrow! Oh man, maybe I should say my 1st niece...Happy B-Day, Carlee. In the days following her birth, my life and world changed. She and her sisters became my life for a time. They helped me focus outside of myself when I desperately needed to. Carlee is an amazing woman and mother. Carlee, you deserve the best of everything and I hope your birthday is fabulous. I love you a bunch!

On the baby side of things, I have been told to cease and desist breastfeeding asap. Of course to go cold turkey would be another torture in and of itself...so, we are cutting back. My body is all out of whack and my blood pressure won't respond to the medication, so he needs to prescribe something stronger. Not responding to weight loss either. He told me he'd let me be nuts long enough and refused to be the one to tell my children why I wasn't here anymore. The headaches are getting more frequent. So, I guess I will quit looking at him when he's talking and only hearing BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. EWWWW, I just recognized a pattern...hmmm. In all seriousness, he's let me do what I want for far too long against his better judgement and finally just unloaded. So, Doc, I am at attention and scared about this situation.

One more casualty of the post-partum mama...my hair! As I watch it land in the trap of my shower, I think about how much each strand costs to color every 6-8 weeks. ***sigh***I'm praying I am not snatched bald before the family events we have planned for May. My DH would maybe loan me some chest hair ....that's a thought!

Makenna got the cutest package in the mail today from her big sister, Wendy. She made her a little skirt and headband! I will post a picture of her in it when it fits her...and that shouldn't be too long. Just for the record, Mak smiled when I showed it to her. Smart baby!

MY FAB FOUR!

All four of them! I looked at this picture and was stunned to realize that I have actually borne four! Amazing!
Whenever I put the blanket down for Mak, Sam makes a beeline. When he's not manhandling her, he just lays peacefully beside her. It's beautiful.

Musings of an Emotional, Pregnant Woman

You ever have one of those children that seems to justify your existence?

This is Andrew...my 4 year old dynamo. I have been thinking about him a lot lately and how much I love him. He is my love bug that always seems to brighten my day. I can't stand to see this one cry or be disappointed without it tearing my heart out. Well, over the last few days as he realizes that "D" day is coming for his new baby sister, he has been somewhat more clingy and just wants to be with me. He always yells at my tummy "Hi, Makenna!" or pats and kisses my belly. It just melts my heart.

Well, a couple of days ago, we were going through the days of the week so he could try to put a finger on the timeline for Makenna's arrival. It was 3 or 4 days that were left then and he tapped his cheek in a contemplative manner and said "Okay, then I can have my mommy back." My immediate reaction was to hold him close and not want to ever give him a reason to think he didn't have me. He is my baby that I can't get out of my bed. He adores his older brother, is irritated by the younger right now because he won't leave his "stuff" alone. His most favorite person is most likely Grandma...they just hit it off from the start. Aunt Debbie runs a very close second. He reminds me so much of his sister, Wendy, that at times it is unsettling! He says things, has certain mannerisms, his love for his Dad, his desire to please those around him. The kicker is when he looks at me with those big, baby-brown eyes and says please...it is so hard to tell him no! I think Wendy took some time to have a chat with him and let him know how to get what he wants because he looks so much like her! He also seems to share her sense of compassion for those around him and a desire to do everything. I asked him if he wanted to play soccer or t-ball and his face got a confused look and he said, "Well, I want to do both!" How dare I ask him to choose!

I could go on about all of my kids, but I just felt like he was kind of getting lost in the crowd lately...between all of little Adam's school success and Samuel being the baby and with Makenna on the way. I just needed to make sure he knows his mother loves him beyond measure.

I am having an emotional day, knowing I am going to be out of the house for a few days. I worry about Sam because we haven't ever been apart overnight. I worry about the responsibilities I feel like I am dumping on my mom...2 active boys are a lot for her and then Sam will get thrown into the mix occassionally. She and Deb do a lot for me and my family, especially when Adam is out of town.

I'm so looking forward to Makenna's arrival just so I can bend over and pick stuff up off the floor! Is that terrible or what? Every time I have seen or felt her move today, I want to make a special note of how it looked and felt, since she will be my last. One last comment before I make anyone want to throw up....I am really looking forward to seeing Adam hold his new daughter. He really steps up to the plate for me and our babies at this time. For as nervous as I know he is to be in the OR when they deliver her, I hope he forgets all the icky stuff and just has an opportunity to savor the experience and enjoy this precious little spirit that snuck into our family while we weren't looking...or ...errrr, well you know surprises happen!