Just When We Were Figuring It Out

awesome.

When J came home before midnight on his volleyball night, I knew something was up. He plays hard and sometimes playing hard results in a high ankle sprain and an avulsion fracture of the ankle.


so awesome.

His Baby Story

Even though I felt all along this boy would hold out a little longer than the girls, when it boiled down to it, I was surprised to go past my due date. My doctor scheduled an induction for the next week and assured me through my reluctance that if we waited beyond that, there would be other complications.

Tuesday night was uncomfortable. But by that point, most nights were uncomfortable. I had washed all our linens that evening, so thought I had exerted myself and that was it. But at 6:00 a.m. I got up to use the bathroom and was, uh....a little wet. Just enough to make me call triage but not enough to soak through to my bed, whew! Clean-up crisis averted. Justin was already at the hospital, so I gave him a call (and was given instructions to HUSTLE), then made the calls to arrange for the girls.

I think I was feeling about every emotion on the spectrum at that moment. Stress that my house was drowning in a sea of laundry, disappointed that I would be coming home to that, absolutely ecstatic that I got to experience this hectic morning and avoid the induction. Then as I drove myself into the hospital, all the nervous, excited, anxious feelings that come when you are in for such a big day.

The hospital was packed, delivery rooms were occupied, and after a few hours, they started preparing the triage room for the chance I might just deliver in there. Everyone was apologetic, but I was just thrilled I was getting the staff I wanted (we'd been checking out the call schedule for a few weeks!) My OB (who rarely delivers anymore, she just does prenatal and c-sections) happened to be there for a surgery and dropped in. I think she had something to do with getting me out of there and into a great room. At the time, I honestly didn't care, but it was nice to be out of that clinical triage room. Then she spent the afternoon in my room, waiting and chatting with us. It was so fun to have her there for the delivery.

As for the delivery, I'm not sure what to say and where the story crosses into too-much-info-for-a-blog-thanks! :) It was incredible, I loved it. So, sooo much work, but incredible. This hospital uses a significantly lower concentration of epidural drugs than I've had before and it made for a very cool experience. I felt present. I don't know how else to describe it. I loved experiencing delivery this way--a lot more sensation but never crossing into the realm of unbearable pain.

Then he was here. And as drained as I was after all that work.

Sadly, I don't recall my emotions at the time. I honestly think I was too tired to take note. His head had been a bit turned and the cord was wrapped and holding him back. Everyone in the room was making weight predictions of high eight or nine pounds by how long it was taking. The little seven and half pounder was just in there a little crooked :) But I do remember wanting him in my arms, wanting to look over every part of that little body. And not wanting anything to distract from those plans.

I let Justin take the lead on naming Bennett this time. I was pretty bossy about the other ones. We had some great friends in college (the Bennetts...obviously) who we just adored. It's been years since we've been able to see them, but Justin brought up the name again a few months ago. We would toss around other names, but both kept coming back to it. So Mr. Bennett it is!

Abbey fell in love right away. What a fun age for her to have a real, baby doll. She was looking at his fingers, noticed his hospital band and asked "How much did he cost?" I said, "I don't know, what does it say?" She rattled off the 15 digit code on the band--ha ha! Pretty pricey! Hayden was very curious about his toes and set to making sure all ten were accounted for.

My family circus :)

I think I'm one of the few people who never wants to leave the hospital. Time stands still and other life distractions are gone for a bit. We got home around lunch time and the kids were already a little off from having me gone for two days. Hayden spilled an entire glass of milk she insisted on having without a lid; J looked at me, my eyes started filling with tears, and I mouthed, "Take Me Back!" That's so funny to think of now that the hormones have calmed down! Maybe it is that I'm not expected to be back in the full swings of life quite yet, but things seem to be going just fine. I am loving this little boy and he is getting all the affection he can handle from this household of girls. Towards the end of the night, J will say, "OK, I'm taking my turn now, give me my son." Love this family we're starting.

Brand New

Bennett Justin Pace
Wednesday, April 13th
7 lbs 8 oz


We're getting deserved flak for not posting pictures and in some cases, informing loved friends and family, of our new, beautiful son. Son. That feels strange to even type.

I feel like we are just keeping our heads above water to make Bennett feel welcomed and secure in our home. Every minute not spent doing that is spent making sure his two sisters feel secure in our growing family. Let the juggling act begin!

He is a wonder to me; such a perfect, healthy, beautiful baby. And his arrival could not have been more ideal. Details to come :)

It's About That Time

...thirty-nine weeks...

Despite my efforts to slow down time, life and pregnancy are racing forward; this is happening! My mind is in a power struggle with my body. I keep telling him, "It's nice in there, it's warm in there. Stay a while!" But my body likes to remind me it is time and gives me a nice strong contraction every time I exert myself. And by exertion, I mean picking up a toy, buckling a kid in a carseat, or sneezing. The kids have kicked it up a notch as if to tell me, 'you have no business bringing another human into this house.' Message received. Too late now, folks.

When I feel overwhelmed and under-excited, I go grab his sweet little layette set from my hospital bag. A real little person! A real little person is coming to our house! It's exciting to think about meeting the little guy who's going to be a big part of our family.

The bag is packed, camera batteries charged, babysitter on speed dial and two back-up plans in place :) My nesting is manifesting in two ways this time. First, I want to get rid of everything! I hope I don't regret those bags and bags headed to the Salvation Army tomorrow. Second, I'm crocheting like an addict. For some reason it has helped my worry and anxiety about this more than anything. Maybe something about the repetitive motions, or the feeling of getting something accomplished when everything else these days takes so much energy. More than anything, I think it is my way of welcoming him to our home. I don't plan to be induced but tend to go early, so ready or not, here we go!!

February Rundown

Is there a worse month than February? Not in my book. But a bad month, it was not. Actually pretty great. Have you noticed how many people really, really hate Valentine's Day? I say, any reason to party. And why not enjoy a holiday that gives you a chance to say, 'Hey! You mean something to me! I love that I know you!'

My dad made Valentines a big deal growing up. Obviously my mom did the behind-the-scenes work since she made the big dinner and they were her special chocolates we got from him, but she let him take the credit. And I continued the tradition :) I just think there's something really sweet about a daddy giving a Valentine's gift to his little girls.

It also gave me the chance to make up a few friend packages and thank you gifts and use up some of the bags (and bags) of cinnamon bears I bought while I was in Utah. I didn't particularly care for them when I lived there, but now that I can't find them? Well, picture this. Three sisters, one grocery cart: Megan's birthday dessert, my nine bags of cinnamon bears and Allison's 8+ lbs of pastel licorice (what? candy is expensive in NYC! And there was a certain awesome apothecary candy jar that needed fillin'), digging through the bin of Utah Truffles, looking for the mint variety. Not one of my finer moments, and the bagger in the grocery line was appalled and not discreet.

Wow. That was a digression.

Continuing the effort to combat winter blues, Allison and Noah flew in for a visit. I had Allison to myself for a few days while Noah was finishing the work week and I celebrated by food poisoning her. Poor thing, it was awful. But she was impressed by how I knew just what a puking person needed. So, you know...I've got that going for me.

They are crazy good with my kids. And nothing wins my heart over like winning my kids.

Here's Hayden explaining her insane rules for 'duck, duck, goose'. It reminded me of that 30 Rock episode where Kenneth is explaining how to play Mafia. Something along the lines of, "Everyone closes their eyes, except the murderer. And the only one who can talk is the detective so he opens his eyes. The murderer chooses one victim and closes his eyes. Then everyone opens their eyes and looks at the detective. But HE's the murderer! Wait..."

Then it was off to a little vacation with some of our friends from Justin's program. We stayed at an indoor waterpark a few hours away and completely exhausted our kids (and me) for three days straight.

I like Abbey's drunk face in the picture above. Maybe too many knocks in the wave pool. It makes me so happy to see her in the water, the girl is fearless. She would go in so deep, way beyond any kids her size and way beyond my comfort. And much bigger kids and people in tubes were constantly knocking her down, it stressed me a little. But every time I would try to hold her up, she'd yell "Let Go! Woo hoo! Wipe OUT!!!!"

Lloyd Smith Furniss 1918-2011

My vivacious, intelligent, hilarious, classic grandfather passed away last week, just after his 93rd birthday. My, how the memories have been swirling this week. When my friend, Tiffany, heard of his passing, she asked, "Is Grandpa Furniss the one who lived with you guys for a while and had a beautiful set of white hair?" Yes. Oh, that hair.

As far as funerals go, his had to be one of the most fun. The man had the best sense of humor, stories that have the makings of legends, and a life filled to the brim with fun. There were plenty, plenty of tears, but I felt like so much of the day was spent celebrating his life. A lot of stories couldn't be shared as the service was held in a chapel :) but he was one of the rare few who can get away with that little streak of wickedness and still have people just adore him. And I learned a few things! I always knew Grandpa appreciated the female form, but I didn't know he had such a thing for legs! And Grandma did have a nice set of legs :)

I had never been to a service for a veteran, but it was quite touching and reverent. The whole funeral was done so well and I'm happy there were a lot of laughs. As Melissa put it, 'We laughed and cried and laughed so hard we cried.'

Grandpa lived in our home for most of my pre-teen and teenage years. I'm so thankful I have the earlier memories with his vigor for life. And I'm thankful I got to know him so well in his later years, of him staying positive and cheerful when so much of his freedom was gone. He was incredibly intelligent and always had a book nearby. And he was so funny. He met Hayden at a dinner at my parent's home when she was about three months old. He looked over at her and said, "Hello, new citizen," then nonchalantly said, "You and I both wear diapers."

Aunt Peggy, Grandpa Furniss, and my dad, Mark--around 1953

I love thinking of him with Grandma again. I love thinking of him in his strong, healthy body now. And I love all the memories I have of a really special Grandfather.

A one, A two...

There was a beautiful dvd slideshow playing at my grandpa's funeral with the most incredible pictures of him in his young adult life. The man was a looker! And on his arm was my petite Grandma, always in a perfectly classic dress or overcoat. I was hoping to snag some while I was there, along with some of his artwork for the new nursery, but no luck this time. Well, no luck as far as that goes. Pretty darn lucky with what I found, though.

Grandpa had quite the accomplished career as a photographer, from pictures being published in Life magazine, Sports Illustrated, etc to working with famous celebrities. I was able to use one of his cameras for a class in college and needed his help figuring out the meter. I remember him saying that eventually you wouldn't need a meter, you would look at the light and know how it would eat away at the film. I'm not quite there :) My aunt and uncle were very sweet to haul down album after album of my grandfather's pictures for us to go through. I don't think there was any better way to spend the day then going through his books and reliving memories through them with my extended family. The thought was running through my mind this past week that I don't recall my grandpa being intrusive about his picture taking. I don't remember him 'setting up' shots, or getting in the way of our fun, or saying, "Look here! Over here! Smile, hold it...." He captured our lives in a very real way. So since I don't have some of those gorgeous pictures of him and grandma (that I'm just itching to get my hands on), I thought I would post some I found of me as a newborn.

To say I treasure these is an understatement! I love the colors and the lighting and the people. We try to get this look in photoshop after taking the shot and somehow he got it with just his Nikon and his dark room. I had only seen the picture below before, the rest were new to me. In fact, I only found these because I went searching for this one:

The picture is dated the 4th of July, 1983, which means this is the Barlow bash in Lewiston, Utah. And that's my sweet Grandma Furniss, passing a three-month-old me to my Grandma Barlow. I love that my mom and Grandpa Barlow (who passed away shortly thereafter) are pictured as well.

My parents canoodling on a Sunday afternoon :)

A few of my Grandma Furniss and me, how I miss that sweet lady. She was about as proper as they come and I chuckled this week thinking of her scolding Grandpa for swearing in front of us. He would undoubtably say, "Ah, hell, Carol." And that would be it :) My favorite story from the funeral (and there were some good ones!) was of the two of them watching a movie with my cousins. At one part, Grandma frowned and said, "Oh, that Hollywood kissing!" to which Grandpa replied, "Hey, don't knock it 'till you try it!"

And these last two of my parents, who were so missed this weekend. I'm not sure if my mom will love me posting this, but as soon as I saw it, I knew I must have it. See, my mom is a bit of a wonderwoman. I am...not. It's not that I love this picture in any sort of spiteful way, I love it because yes, my efficient, hard working, never-stopping mother was sometimes exhausted as well with the demands of a newborn. Ahh...I feel much better :)

Also, I would really like to know where this dress of hers is hiding.

Grandpa, thank you, thank you, thank you for these treasures. I miss you. I hope Heavenly Father lets you have your roller skates in heaven.