Party Time!

William turns FIVE YEAR OLD tomorrow! Today we partied at the Ager Play Center.

Great times!

William's Birthday Party - slideshow with music

My Baby Boy

Lately Alex has been playing instead of napping. Today I figured I wouldn't make him take a nap.

End of the Year

Time for all the end of the year recitals/tournaments.

First up: The finishing up of our homeschool Friday co-op.

The dance teacher opened up the doors so parents and grandparents could watch their little girls go through a dance class.

We got to see all sorts of great dancing. This was the grand finale:

Next on Friday was Esther's piano recital. She played "Christmas Cheer" and "Silent Night" beautifully! Unfortunately the camera battery died at the actual event. Esther was kind enough to create a reenactment for your viewing pleasure.

Monday was William's turn, with his wrestling mock-tournament.

He's a pretty intimidating character!

We like his strategy in this match: Quick! Go for the legs while the other guy is still rubbing his owie!

That boy's got some moves!

He's very proud of his medal.

Santa!

Time for the annual Decorate the Clinic party!

PICTURES!!!!!

You may (or may not) have noticed my inconsistency of posting lately. I choose to blame it on an unfortunate circumstance.

Last August we suffered a tragedy. Our beloved family camera that we've had for nearly seven years died. It lived a good long life, but we still mourned it's passing and greatly missed it.

For months we've been relying on the occasional use of Cameron's phone, or the generous sharing of those who have their own cameras. Though we've been able to capture (for the most part) the most significant events (such as Charlotte's birth), it's made for difficult blogging.

But Cameron (our hero) braved the brawls of Wal-Mart on Black Friday to bring us our brand new camera. It's so nice to be taking pictures again. Let the photo barrage begin!

1 Month Old

Charlotte's one-month stats:

Height: 22.5 inches - 92nd percentile

Weight: 10 lbs 5 oz - 81st percentile

Carhenge

Last weekend we visited Alliance, NE as a possibility for our post-residency lives. Cameron was shown around the hospital, and we took a community tour. It's a great little town. And while we were there, we HAD to visit Carhenge.

The kids loved driving the station wagon.

Watch Esther Grow!

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The Name Game

If you’ve known us for a while, you’ll already know that Cameron and I have a method to our baby-naming madness. Here is a rundown of our other three’s names.

So why Charlotte Lucy?

First – each our children has a namesake. Charlotte Lucy’s is after Lucy Mack Smith. What an amazing woman! We hope Charlotte Lucy can be strong and faithful, no matter what troubles life throws at her, just as her namesake was.

We like the classic name “Charlotte.” It means “womanly.” Lucy means “light,” and we hope Charlotte Lucy will be a womanly light to all those around her.

After naming Alexander, my brother pointed out that all the names we had picked out were royalty: Queen Esther, William the Conqueror, and Alexander the Great. This was sheer coincidence – but we found it amusing. After deciding on Charlotte for our girl’s first name, we looked it up and sure enough, there was a Queen Charlotte too. I suppose all our kids are just meant to be majestic. J

Charlotte's Grand Arrival

I’m writing this more so I don’t forget than for your benefit – so feel free to skip to something more interesting.

Most expectant mothers have some idea of how they want their delivery to go. My past delivery experiences are here. Now, I think that modern medicine is great – and hey – I married a doctor. But, I also have come to have a very strong opinion that our bodies are wonderfully made, and more often than not can do what they’re meant to do better without quite so much medical intervention. Because of this, I really wanted a natural childbirth. I’ve got no problems with the majority of women out there who don’t want to do things the old fashioned way, but it’s what I wanted.

There are a few things we did to make this possible this time around.

First: Cameron found me an AWESOME doctor. He knows my quirky ways, and asked around quite a bit to find a doctor who was gung ho about my preferences. Dr. Bauman is the best doctor I’ve ever had. She wanted me to be able to do things my way as much as I did.

Second: After Cameron’s experience doing OB, we decided that St. Elizabeth’s Hospital was the best place (though surprisingly less popular around here) for our little one to be born. What makes them so special is their greater experience and lack of insistence on cookie cutter deliveries. When I said I didn’t want an IV, didn’t want to stay hooked up to monitors, and that I wanted to eat when I was hungry – even if I was in labor, they all said, “Okay – that’s just fine.” Besides all that, they have and regularly use Jacuzzis in every L&D room.

Third: Hypnobirthing. I came across this book near the end of my last pregnancy. I bought my own copy early on this pregnancy, and was able to re-read and review the concepts many times. Someday I would LOVE to take the classes. Without teaching, I’m not really able to achieve the completely self-hypnotic state which can make for a pain-free delivery, BUT I learned so much about working with my body rather than against it, that I was able to keep control of myself and actively help my baby come into the world.

So now for the story:

I was actually almost induced. Charlotte was about a week late. My doctor was willing to let me wait until I was two weeks late, but faculty at the clinic that day (my doc is a resident) was worried and convinced her and my husband that nothing good would happen if we waited. I wanted what was best for my baby, and all indications said my body was ready for labor, so I agreed to have my water broken. Cameron took the afternoon off and we headed to the hospital. BUT, the hospital was full of last minute admissions, and they didn’t have the staff available at that moment to let my doctor break my water. We thought it’d just be an hour or so. Shifts changed, and the new faculty for the clinic didn’t quite feel the same urgency as the one who said we really needed to have baby that day. After waiting around and feeling very silly for several hours we finally got a time frame that they wouldn’t be able to do anything that night. We came home. I was happy not to be induced, but I admit, after thinking I’d have my baby that day, I was a little disappointed. I was also resigned to whatever was going to come (induction or not) and whenever it was going to happen.

We had a busy weekend ahead of us. Cameron’s parents and sister had spent the week with us, and would need to head back to Utah on Saturday. My doctor was out of town for the weekend. Cameron was on call Friday night (for this residency doctors take call at home, and only have to go in for admissions), and had weekend coverage (rounding on all the patients for his class) Saturday and Sunday.

I went to bed Friday night. Cameron had run off to do an admission. Around 1:00am I was fairly uncomfortable. Around 2:00 I figured out that it was regular contractions, and not just a bad sleeping position. Around 3:00 Cameron came home and I told him my labor suspicions. Right then he got another call, and we figured we had time so he ran off to do another admission. I couldn’t really sleep so I had a snack, packed a bag, and read a book. Around 4:30 he got back, woke up his parents, and we left for the hospital. We’d taken care of all our paperwork at the non-induction on Thursday so check in was pretty easy. That was good, since Cameron got four more pages right then. At that point he only had a couple of hours left of call, so we didn’t think it worth him finding someone to cover for him.

After a little confusion we figured out who was substituting for my doctor for the weekend. Ironically, one of Cameron’s admissions that night needed an urgent procedure and he had scheduled this particular doctor to take care of it at 10:00 that morning.

After some initial monitoring it seemed we had a little while before baby would be coming, so Cameron went off to do some rounds and tie up his loose ends from call. I hung out in the Jacuzzi (EVERY woman in labor needs one of these things!) and read some more. He got back around 9:00am. I got out for a little monitoring and found out that baby would be there very soon. My doctor postponed her other urgent procedure. I was hungry so I ate toast and drank some orange juice while going through transition labor. It was great to have something to give me energy! My doctor broke my water (it never seems to want to break on its own). I was using all my concentration to work with my contractions. The doctors and nurse all commented on how incredibly quiet it all was.

Around 10:00 I knew her arrival was near. After a couple of contractions I rolled to my side and baby started heading out. About a minute later I was holding my little Charlotte Lucy Grange!

I won’t lie and say it was easy or painless. It was, however, my best birth experience yet. I am so glad to have had all my children, and everything I went through to get each of them was worth it. But the contrast is incredible.

Seven years ago I had my first baby. It was exciting and frightening. I used every common medical procedure (ripening, pitocin, pain drugs, epidural) because I thought medicine was the best, and really the only way. The pitocin hurt so bad I couldn’t help but cry. The pain drugs put Esther to sleep and made me forget to breath. The epidural made me so numb I didn’t understand how to push, and still couldn’t do anything for hours after. The whole ordeal took so long that I hadn’t been able to eat anything for nearly a day (and I don’t do so well when I don’t eat).

Four days ago I had a baby with no medical intervention. I felt empowered. I had all the strength and energy I needed. I knew what my body was doing and I knew how to help it along. Pitocin made me cry. This birth made me strong. It is amazing what our bodies can do – especially when we have the right information, tools, and support to do it.

Anyway – Charlotte had arrived! She was and is beautiful! Cameron went home to take a shower, and in a little while he was back with Charlotte’s brothers and sister, Grammy, Grandpa, and aunt. We were all ecstatic. Grammy and Grandpa decided to stay through Saturday night and try to make the drive back to Utah all in one day. We headed off to the nursery where Esther and Will helped measure and wash their sister. They held her hands to help her be brave for her shots. Charlotte and I were doing very well so we opted to stay at the hospital for just 24 hours (I love having that option). We are all very excited to get to know Charlotte!

Charlotte's Arrival

Introducing:

CHARLOTTE LUCY GRANGE

Born at St. Elizabeth's Hospital

August 20, 2011

10:13 AM

9 lbs 2 oz

21.5 inches long

WE LOVE YOU CHARLOTTE!

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*To see the hospital photographer's shots click here. The password is grange.*

Road Trip!

Baby Girl's impending arrival happened to coincide with Cameron's brother Trevor and family's move to CT. Being super heroes, Grammy and Grandpa Grange, and Aunt Sylvie decided to kill two birds with one stone.

First as they drove the truck and trailer from UT to CT for the move, they picked up three small and cute hitchhikers in Lincoln, NE. After helping to unload the trailer, they took the scenic route back - stopping in Hershey, PA to visit Grandpa's old mission area, and also, of course, Chocolate World.

Upon arriving back in Lincoln, they stayed on an extra week to help out, play with the locals, and hopefully be around for the birth of their new granddaughter. Uncle Jared, Aunt Emily, and cousin Jess were able to meet up with us for a couple of days too. It was quite a party and a lot of fun!

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They were scheduled to leave the morning of Saturday, August 20th, but baby girl decided to use that time to make her grand entrance, so we got them for an extra day. (More on this later.) We'll miss you Grammy, Grandpa, and Sylvie!

Back to School

This week Esther, William, and Alex have been off on a grand adventure with their grandparents and aunt. They'll get home tonight, and pictures will likely be posted soon.

I decided to take this opportunity to box up last year's school and get set for our new year. We won't be officially starting until after Labor Day, but here's a sneak peak.

Esther will be starting second grade! Here is what her year looks like:

William will be in his second year of pre-k! He can't wait to start Kindergarten next year, but I think he'll have fun this year with this:

Alexander is much too little for school, but he doesn't know that. Though we don't have anything specific picked out for him, he'll definitely be sitting alongside his siblings with various coloring books, puzzles, and toys. We might even start the Letter of the Week with him. But unlike his siblings, he'll be allowed to wander off and do his own thing whenever he gets the urge.

Our new little girl won't be left out either. She's got a busy year ahead of cuddling, eating, crying, giggling, and learning to roll, sit, crawl, and maybe even walk!

How William Plays Chess

He defeated them all!

Lunch Time!

Yesterday I thought I would scream if I made another pb&j or box of mac and cheese. So I did something crazy and made a pan of peach cobbler for lunch. I was sure this was a terrible lunch for me and my kiddos, until I started making it.

I was aghast at the amount of butter (okay, it was really margarine) I was putting in, until I realized that it was the exact same amount that goes into a box of macaroni and cheese. Then I decided to use whole wheat flour rather than the white stuff that goes into mac and cheese. And of course there were all those peaches! I started realizing the only thing my peach cobbler had against it was all the sugar – which I halved anyway.

So, out of curiosity I did a little math. And it turns out that my peach cobbler is a healthier recipe than macaroni and cheese, and is fairly equal to pb&j on whole wheat bread.

Here is the breakdown:

1 serving of my peach cobbler recipe has 100 fewer calories, 4 grams less fat, 300mg less sodium, 1.5 grams more fiber, and 5% more rda of vitamins A and C.

The macaroni and cheese has 27g less sugar, 4 more grams of protein, and 5% more rda of calcium and 7.5% more rda iron.

So I can’t go as far as to say that peach cobbler is a great lunch choice (way too much sugar) – but it looks to be overall healthier than mac and cheese, and I think it might make it back on our lunch table again.

Camp Out

Do you have a four day weekend and don't know what to do? Do you love going camping, but are tired of traveling? Have we got the vacation for you!

Chairs will be provided for all, but sitting in them is optional.

Roast hot dogs in our luxurious outdoor fireplace.

Enjoy a gourmet meal.

Save room for dessert!

Here's a sign that the food was top notch!

Then relax and enjoy a night out under the stars. No rocky ground or cumbersome air mattress to spoil your night. And with our revolutionary system, camp breakdown is a cinch!

Best of all, you'll be within a few feet of all the comforts of home....because you never actually left.

Special thanks given to the daddy of the household, without whom this backyard camp out would not be possible. The toddler and pregnant mommy are choosing to get a good night sleep inside the house.

Things I Should Have Blogged About, But Didn't

Our trip to the capitol building.

Esther's tooth adventures.

Our trip to the zoo.

Esther's dance recital.

William's book-writing.

Astronomy Day.

All the cute things Alex says and does.

Esther and William's soccer teams.

Finishing up our school year (for the most part).

Our growing fetus.

Cameron's birthday.

Mother's Day.

Our 10 day trip to Utah, including Cameron's brother's wedding. I didn't take a single picture the whole time we were there.

Our attempts at gardening.

And many more.

You'll just have to go on wondering, because I'm not in the mood to blog right now. :)

A Super Day

Saturday was Super Hero Day at the Lincoln Children's Museum! William was in paradise. He couldn't wait to meet all the super heroes!

First, middle, and last was Will's idol, Iron Man. And despite what he told everyone there, no he has NOT seen the movie. I don't even think he knows about the movie. He has seen a kids' cartoon of Iron Man, which is what he was really referring too.

War Machine let him push the button that makes his gun rotate. Big smiles there.

There were storm troopers aplenty. Will liked them better than he liked Han Solo or Darth Vader.

Among all the other super heroes, Will also decided to meet random museum patrons who dressed up for the day. The poor guy who dressed up like Captain America, and the family that dressed like The Incredibles probably didn't get to see much of the museum with the flocks of children coming to them. They were good sports about it though.

Alex loved pointing out the super heroes, but didn't want to go anywhere near them. They were a little too big and scary for him. He would much rather ride the motorcycle and climb through the gopher holes. I thought it was funny that Alex was the only one who wanted to dress up. He loved being Super Why. William put on three costumes before he decided to just go as "Mommy's Helper." Esther was a little miffed about the whole thing at first, otherwise I'm sure she would not have passed up an opportunity to play dress-up.

Esther did have fun in spite of it all. And after making her own mask in the craft center, decided that meeting some of the super heroes might be enjoyable.

We all had a super time!