The Story Continues...

So Friday the 19th I danced with the VERY cute guy many times (after I asked him to dance... you can read that story if you go back a post).  I saw him next two days later at church.  He invited me to sit next to him during Sunday school class.  He asked me at the end of class if I was going to stay after church for the linger longer the singles ward was doing.  I had to tell him no...  That I would not be staying because I had to go to a Christmas party for one of my paramedic preceptors (that is the paramedic I was working under on the ambulance).  I didn't really want to go... for many different reasons...  It was Sunday.  It was about twenty miles out of town to get to her house.  Everyone there would be drinking.  I would only know three people there.  So again I didn't really want to go.  But it would be like your Collage instructor asking you to their party...  I didn't see how I could not go.  Plus it was also her wedding reception.  But no one knew she was getting married but me and one other person (besides her family).  And come to think of it, I don't think she even invited her partner on the ambulance to the party...  So I had to go.  It would be insulting to her if I didn't go.  And so I left church on the 21st of December to go to a party/wedding reception. 

I had to work on Christmas Eve.  I don't remember why I didn't drive to work that day...  someone else needed the car...  But I didn't drive to work, and so when I got back to AMR's headquarters I called my parents house to see if my ride was coming...  That is when I found out that Someone had ring and rang my family... leaving a teddy bear on the door step with my name on it :)

I was hoping that it was from the Very cute guy from church, but I had my doubts.  He only knew my first name, and he didn't know where I lived.  I was more afraid that it was from a guy that worked at AMR that was "stalking" me.  And I knew that he knew where I lived (I had had to re-certify my CPR and he was the one that handled the paper work... which had my address on it).  Unfortunately my ride took a little while to get there to get me and then we had to drop off a couple of plates of goodies to people on the way home.  So I had to wait to find out who had sent me the bear...

I finally got home and was very relieved and excited to find out the the Cute guy from the dance was very resourceful.  He had figured out where I lived and he was the one to drop off the Teddy Bear!!!

The Teddy Bear had a card that said if I had any questions on the care for the Bear I could call.  And then he signed his name and left his phone number...

Now it was really too late to call him when I got home (it was actually almost Christmas).  So I waited until the next afternoon (Yes I called him on Christmas day!).  We talked for a little while (an hour or two) and he asked me out for that Saturday (the 27th).  The singles were going Ice Skating.  So he asked me to go with him.  I said of course!!!

I was suppose to work Saturday for AMR.  But I told them I wouldn't be there (my date with the cute guy was set for the early evening and my shift would have gone until 9 or 9:30).  Sometime time in the early afternoon the Cute Guy called to say that he would not be getting off as early as he would like.  He needed to cover for a fellow worker (who actually covered for him so he could go to the dance that we met at).  He said he would call me when he got off and if it wasn't too late we could go out then...

I'm not sure what time he called at but it was too late to go ice skating.  But I told him we could still go and do something.  So we decided to go to a movie.  And he told me to pick one...  I had No clue what to pick...  I didn't know a whole lot about this Cute guy.  So I went with a safe movie (even if it was a little cheesy/sappy).  We went and saw Anastasia.  And it was very cute and I had a wonderful time with the cute guy.

He drove me home... and much to my horror there were two cop cars out in front of my parents home.  I tried to lie and say that they were probably for the neighbor, but when the cops brought my brother out hand cuffed there really wasn't much I could say about it....

Needless to say the cute guy did NOT kiss me good night :)

It's Late! Are You Sure You Really Want to Go To The Dance???



So Cute!!!



Thirteen Years ago today, at this exact moment (It's 6:21 pm) I was working... For free!  I was actually on an ambulance as a third rider doing my internship for paramedicine.  We had to have some insane amount of hours on the ambulance... I can't remember the number right now, but it was something like 500 or 800 hours.  Now by the 19th of December I had actually finished the hours I needed to, but I did not have enough ALS call hours.  I needed 100 ALS calls (Advanced Life Support) and because I was working more day time hours I had not reached the required number.  So I continued going to work every day and paying AMR $15 a day to work for free for them :(  But I LOVED it.  I loved the paramedics I worked with and had a blast most every day.  So back to the 19th...



Never a dulh moment





The 19th was a Friday that year (1997). I can't remember if I was on my 9pm shift or my 9:30 shift, but either way I was late getting off.  I had planned when I left for work that morning to go to the Young Single Adult dance that evening.  My sister was back in town for Christmas, and we were going to go have some fun (hopefully).  But I got off late.  And it was probably 10 or later when I got home form work.  But it was a Friday night and I didn't have to be to work until 10am.  My sister left, my mom still questioning, and headed to the dance.

We walked in to the dance and I noticed that this cute guy I had seen in church a few weeks back was talking to my friend from High School.  I had wanted to meet this new guy who was recently back from his mission, and I thought that if I went up and said hi to my friend, that he might introduce me to him...   I didn't noticed that as I was walking up to my friend from High School, the cute guy and the girl they were talking to that a slow song came on...  I went to Donovan (my friend) and said hi...  He did not introduce me to the guy and girl he was talking too...  Instead he gave me a BIG hug and asked me to dance... :(



Now don't get me wrong Donovan was nice and all, but a lot like a brother, and my whole plan had back fired...  The evening went on and I never got a chance for Donovan to introduce me to the cute guy...  But I kept an eye on him as the night went on.  I noticed that he danced with the girl from the beginning a lot.  I even started to wonder if they might be dating...  The night went on and I had fun (despite the LAME pick up line a guy used on me... don't worry it back fired on HIM).  Towards the end of the night I noticed that the Cute guy was not dancing with the girl he had been with.  She was dancing with other guys, and he was not dancing (on the slow songs) at all!  I think I probably watched him for a few slow songs...  It took me that long to get the courage up.  But finally I made the long walk across the gym to where he was sitting on a table, and asked him to dance!!!



I love you Josh!!!



We danced the rest of that song and then he asked me to dance the next four or five slow songs (They never play that many slow songs together... Even at the Young Single Adult dances)!!!  So yes mom...  The answer to your question on if I really wanted to go to the dance even though it was late is YES!

Hats! Hats! Hats!



Myra modeling
 one of the hats!



 



Myra



I know that I have been absent a lot lately on the blogging world...  That's because I have been on the knitting front.  And knitting I have done.  I finished my 20th hat today ( I think... there might have been more, I have kind of lost count).  Now not all of the hats have turned out the best... And some of the hats have ended up fitting someone other than the child it was intended for... But over all they have turned out good and  I have had a lot of fun!  I have given some away, and will be giving many more away I am sure.  I have even learned how to make flowers and bows!!!  So enjoy some hats!  I am off to start another one :)



Pink and purple hats with flowers!





Boy animal hats!



White Bunny, Purple Bear,
 Lady Bug, and Blue Dog Hats!





Myra is 5 Months old!!!





Myra's smile





Myra is 5 months old... and if I don't hurry and get this done she will be 6 months old :(  Time is going WAY to fast and I find myself running out of time to get things done (and energy).  A lot of days I just feel too over whelmed and then I shut down and get nothing done... well except knitting :)  I have knitted so many hats that I have lost count.  And I want to knit so many more (lets hope there is time) before Christmas.  Maybe one of these days I will post some more pictures of all the hats... maybe.  But back to Myra...



Not Myra's "first" turn,
but still one of the first



Myra's list of accomplishments in no particular order...





On her belly



*Still wiggles a lot!   Decided to make her first turn from back to her stomach while I was out :(  But she was nice enough to show me the next day.  She turned from her stomach to her back for the first time on her 5 month mark!  Look out house there is no stopping her now!!!



*Sleeps good... mostly... still not at MY bed time.



First food








Not too sure about it



*Started trying baby food... rice cereal...  Not to sure she liked it.  But will take it in her bottle.  I had hoped it would help her sleep more through the night .  It didn't :(  She has also tried real food... liked that a lot better!  Has finished the whole nursing thing :(  Bottles are just much easier (for mom too)



*Smiles even more than last month. Still not for the camera (unless you are lucky)

caught red handed

*Laughs a lot!  Very ticklish... And loud!

*Like to destroy her bed :)  Just like all her brothers and sisters





Action shot



*LOVES her tongue...  still licks EVERYTHING with it!!! It is still always out of her mouth!  And with the tongue comes drool!  Lots of drool!



* Had her first Halloween!  She was a cute lady bug! (thanks Mindy)

 



Happy Halloween

*Still long and thin... But she is up in to the 20 percentile for her age

 



Add caption



*Her hair still looks red... what little there is... maybe it will start growing here soon

*Her eyes are still blue!

*Still most loved Baby EVER!!!







Myra 11-18-10



Benjamin Jerdon Case!!!



Benjamin at 1 months old!





It's Ben's Birthday!!!  I can't believe he is nine!  Boy how time flies!  Benjamin Jerdon Case was born on Wednesday November 7th 2001!  My pregnancy with him was very different than my first pregnancy.  Sadly I don't remember what day we found out we were going to have another little baby, but I know that we were excited and very happy!  My due date was the 10th of November.  As with my first pregnancy (and then ALL my later pregnancies) I was sick!  I lost twenty pounds quickly.  Josh Jr was only 17 months old when we found out I was pregnant, and I remember many days during my pregnancy of laying on the couch and not doing much...  I would play with Josh Jr. while lying down, I would read to him... while lying down...  Josh Jr. and I ate a lot of ramen because it sat well and didn't taste too yucky... while lying down.  We also ate a lot of Popsicles, and Josh Jr. learned his colors at an early age, because he had to tell me what color Popsicle he wanted :)



Tarzan Ben!







But this pregnancy was not to be the same as my first...Very early into the whole "9 Months" I noticed that I was having a problem with my heart.  My heart would start to race, and it would feel like it was pounding hard in my chest.  And while this would be going on it would be hard to breathe normal...  Now the paramedic in me new that something wasn't right.  Especially when I would try to take my pulse during an episode and couldn't find one...  Now those of you who know how much I hate to go to the Doctor would be surprised to know that I actually went to the doctor quickly about my concerns.  I mentioned it to my OB at my first visit (this would be a new OB than the one I had with Josh Jr.) and they told me I should see my regular doctor about it... which I did...  And he told me it was heart burn I was feeling...  I told him that I had had LOTS of heart burn before, and that this was not heart burn, and that needed to check out my heart...  He didn't agree.  He was SURE it was just heart burn!  After going back and forth (something that I rarely do) I convinced the doctor that they really should at least do an ultra sound and EKG on my heart.  My little brother had had Heart surgery just two years earlier because of a "racing heart".  The doctor gave in and ordered a couple of test (because you are limited on what you can do when you are pregnant) but he still insisted that nothing would show up, and that it really was just heart burn...



Ben and his brother and sister





So I went and had the test done.  They did an ultra sound and an EKG... and a 24 hour halter monitor (kind of like an EKG, I was hooked up to a heart monitor for 24 hours...  I had to keep track every time I felt my heart race and write down what I was doing at the time).  And then we went back to the doctor...  The ultra sound turned up a heart murmur...  Nothing serious right now, but something that might require surgery when I am older.  But that was really the only thing this doctor saw.  And the heart murmur would not be causing what I described and so I was wrong about it being my heart and I really did just have heart burn... because THIS doctor didn't see anything wrong, and if there really was something wrong the cardiologist how looked over my test would have called me by now...  SO I was to just live with the problem and treat it for heart burn!  I went home from the doctors a little frustrated!  He was kind of jerk and tried to make me feel bad for insisting on them running tests on my heart...  And then I get home to listen to my messages...  The cardiologist office had called!  They needed to see me ASAP! 



Ben at Disneyland



What really was going on was I was having episodes of V-Tach (Ventricular Tachycardia)...  Basically my heart was trying to beat, but it was not actually pumping blood or moving oxygen.  V-tach can be a fatal heart rhythm.  But really it was just heart burn (needless to say we have switched doctors and will NEVER go back to that doctor)!  I spent the rest of the pregnancy trying different heart medicines out trying to find one that was not harmful to the little baby trying to grow in side of me and that would actually do something for my heart, and the side effects were not too much to live with.  It seems like every month I went to the OB doctor I was on another different heart med.



Christmas Benjamin



Besides the heart problem the rest of the pregnancy was just fine.  I had the opportunity to travel with my parents a couple of times.  We went out east to see my brother and his family, and we did a little church history tour as well.  We hit different sites in Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio.  It was a lot of fun for me because I was reading the Work and the Glory during this time, so to go and see all these places was a lot of fun.  Seeing my brother was fun too.  I hadn't seen him since he had moved his family out to Ohio two years before.  It was nice for Josh Jr. to meet his cousins for the first time.  And the trip was great (a little long to be in the car not feeling the best) but all in all it was great!  About a month after our trip out to Ohio I went to California to see my other brother with my parents... My mom really doesn't like to fly, and she prefers not to be the driver as well... But she also doesn't want my dad to have to do ALL the driving either.  So Josh Jr. and I went with them so that I could help drive (me made several trips like this early in Josh Jr. and Ben's life...  We often left Josh Sr. at home... which he liked because he got a lot of projects done around the house). 



I can pull this off!



The rest of the pregnancy is mostly a blur.  I remember almost passing out while at play group... and then ending up throwing up in the grass in front of everyone (not fun). 

Ok it is now two days later... Time really flies Way too fast...

Like I was saying the rest of the pregnancy is a blur...  We took it easy and spent time with friends and family.  9/11 happened and I remembered being shocked and scared...  Here I was bringing a new little baby to the earth and the world was changing...



Ben's 8th Birthday!



As the time got closer for Ben to be born Dr. B (Dr. Bianco) decided that it would be a good ides to induce me because we were not sure how my heart would act during labor (since I didn't have this problem when I was pregnant with Josh Jr,).  The date was set for Wednesday November 7th, 2001.  Josh and I had to be to the hospital the night before.  We dropped Josh Jr. off at Grandma and Grandpa Case's house that evening and headed to the hospital.  I think we got there around 8 r 8:30 (The Case's were watching the very first episode of 24 when we dropped Josh Jr. off).



First day of School
Fall 2010



We checked in to the hospital and they got everything all hooked up.  I think they started an IV, but I don't really remember... They might have waited until the next morning...  I was hooked up to a heart monitor though.  They gave me some meds vaginally twice before they gave me something to help me sleep.  And sleep I did.  I don't remember them even waking me to do vitals.  The next thing I know Dr. B is waking me up.  He asked what I was doing.  I told him I was sleeping (it was 7:30am at this point).  He then asked if I was having contractions...  I told him if I was I was sleeping through them.  He told me I had to have the baby by 10am so he could get back to the office (I thought "good luck" my last labor took a lot longer than he was giving me).  But Dr. B was sure that we would have a baby that morning...  He went a head and broke my water and started me on Pitocin.



Ben Halloween 2009



Some time in the early 8 o'clock hour Josh's mom and sister showed up.  My mom would not be there for this birth... She was at a different hospital with my dad who was having surgery on his neck.  Around 9am my contractions started to hurt a lot more...

Sorry another new day...  I'll finish this one of these days...



Ben won a shirt at a
Sky Sox Baseball game



Around 9am my contractions started to hurt a lot more... The nurse checks me and I am a 5...  I decided that theses contraction were hurting a lot!  And from a 5 until I had Josh Jr. was MANY hours...  So I asked the nurse for some meds through my IV...  It took her about 25 minutes to get them for me...  And then the meds made me sick...  And raised my blood pressure...  So I had to turn onto my side... And I think they put O2 on me (I can't remember for sure).  And while lying on my side I kind of pushed with one of the contractions and felt the baby move down some...  I Josh quickly call for the nurse...  Who quickly called for the doctor...  And they all quickly unmade the bed so that I could have a baby...



Ben- Fall 2007



Benjamin Jerdon Case was born at 9:47 am (Before 10 just like Dr. B said).  He came into the world quickly, showing his personality... He peed on Dr. B!!!  He weighed in at 6lbs. 6 and 1/2 oz.  And he was 20 and 1/4 inches long.  He had a little light colored hair, and blue eyes...  And they are still blue!  He was beautiful! 

Ben (he is never called Benjamin unless he is in trouble)  is a great addition to our family.  He is a great big brother to his four sisters... And a great friend to his big brother.  He has a fantastic memory and is always going to keep himself busy.  Love you Benjamin!!!



Benjamin is 9 years old!!!



Myra is 4 months old!!!



A almost smile!



Really!  I can't believe it!  Where have the 4 months gone???  Time has just flown by!!!  We celebrated by going to the Denver museum of Nature and Science... OK we went to the museum because it was free, it just happened to be on Myra's 4 month mark.  Since baby's change and grow soooooo fast I thought I would continue with doing a list of Myra's accomplishments...



Daddy and Myra
at the Denver museum



 *Still wiggles a lot!  Turns onto side all the time, but still does not explore going all the way over (still doesn't get a lot of time to wiggle on the ground...)

*Sleeps good... mostly...  just not at MY bed time

*Loves to eat! But from bottles... about done with the whole nursing thing :(

*Smiles even more than last month.    Still not for the camera :(  But will smile when talked too.

*Laughs now... Not for me as much as for other people, and not for camera

*LOVES her tongue... and still licks EVERYTHING with it!!!  It is always out of her mouth!

*Has become a "Free Pee-er"!... Pees (almost) ever time the diaper is removed... You'd think it was just a coincidence, except for the smug little smile on her face... She thinks it's funny!

Caught Myra's smile!
Love her!!!

*Still long and thin... not sure numbers yet, but everyone still thinks she is a baby doll (I have been asked... really you think a grown woman with five other kids is just going to carry around a baby doll for fun???).  Even while at the museum when Myra was in the stroller covered up with a blanket, people thought the stroller was empty!

*Her hair still looks red (and there is still not lots)!

*Eyes are still blue!

*Still most loved Baby EVER!!!

Josh is Amazing!



Josh before the race!



I love my husband!  Have I said that lately??? Well I do!  And I am proud of him too!  Josh ran a 5k today with his sister.  I am so proud of them both!  I have never ran much at all (I even got out of it in high school for "medical reasons") let alone a 5k.  And I think it is awesome that they ran this today.  Josh has been running a lot lately to train for today.  We have gone out as a family and walked/ran/rode bike/rode in stroller a couple of times in our neighborhood as part of his training.  The street near us is a circle and we have figured out that it is almost a mile around.  I walk the loop once while pushing the stroller and carrying Myra in the snuggly and sometimes pushing Savannah's trike (up the hills).  Josh runs the loop twice while I walk and I am trying hard to make it home at the same time as he does for the second loop.  The three big kids ride their bikes and try to keep up with Josh. It has been a lot of fun, and I have even ran a little (on the down hills when I don't have to push Savannah).  It has been a lot of fun.  And I look forward to running at a future date.



Josh and Jaimee
before the race!



But back to Josh...  He ran the 5k today and came in with the time of 28:45.  He was disappointed that he didn't come in under 27 minutes.  But I think he did great. and he came in before the SWAT team :)  What amazes me even more though is that we got home from the 5k and Josh didn't sit down and take the rest of the day off (like most likely would need to do), but he showered and headed into work!!!  And not for some little half day/few hours...  He didn't leave work until after 7pm!  Amazing!!!



All most finished!





I love that Josh runs!  I love that the kids like to run because of him.  They love to go with him when he goes out running.  They usually ride their bikes, but I know that there will be a time when they start running with Josh in hopes of beating him.  Ben wrote this up today after we got home from the 5k...



Ben's goals

In case you can't read it, it say... "to do when in teen's"

                                               *"beat dad's recored of 28:45 on the 5k"

                                               *"Get to marothon"

I am so proud!!!



Fall BREAK!!!

Josh Jr. was a big help
and carried Myra a lot

This is the first week of fall break for my kids... literally...  It has been such a fun week, I can't wait for next week! 

The kids school district gets out for two weeks each fall, for I'm not sure what.  I actually like it, because it is a great time to travel as not many other schools are out.  So things are a lot less busy.  But sadly this year we are not going to go on any trips.  But we thought that we could do some fun things around Colorado Springs and up in Denver.



This week started and things didn't go according to plan...  I was up A LOT Sunday night into Monday morning...  I went back to bed as everyone was getting up.  My sweet Josh decided I need a good nap and herded the kids out of our room so I could sleep.  Now I knew I was tired, but I didn't think I would really be able to go back to sleep.  But I did, and the next thing I knew it had been four hours...  And Josh had taken all the kids to McDonald's for lunch.  I went and joined them late.  Josh then took four of the kids with him to Basketball, while I went shopping...



Savannah and her friend



Josh surprised me Monday night with a date!  It was nice to go out to dinner together and then do a little shopping...

Monday night Catalina started to come down with something... And has been running a fever off and on since then... four days later!  She has also thrown up, not eaten much and had the runs!  Fun, fun for fall break...

Tuesday I thought we would take it easy since we had done SO much on Monday (OK really didn't, but I missed out on sleep Monday night because of a sick little Cat)...  And the kids got VERY bored...  And started to fight...  My three oldest spent a little of the afternoon (an hour or two) in time out on their beds because of fighting...

Rhino at the Denver Zoo



I think that they had all just barely gotten out of time out when Savannah got hurt...  Now I'm not a mean mom (most of the time), but Savannah doesn't do well with pain...  So when she cried about her arm being "broke" I didn't rush to fix her up.  I made her come find me...  And I did look at her arm, but my X-Ray vision wasn't working too well...



Brooklyn and Ben
with the Brown's boys



Little know fact about me...  I hate to go to the Doctor!  Especially if there is nothing wrong!  So I debated for a couple of hours about Savannah...  Her arm was only a little bit swollen...  And there was NO bruises... And she did not want to go to the doctor...  And Josh wasn't home and there was NO way I wanted to take 6 kids to the ER...

Josh got home about bed time... At that point Savannah was saying that her arm/wrist didn't really hurt and she still didn't want to go to the doctor...  And I started to feel blah... So we decided to let her sleep on it and we'd go in the morning if we needed to...



Cat was sweet to smile
even though
she didn't feel good



Morning comes and Savannah tells Josh that her arm doesn't hurt... And then Josh Leaves and goes to work, and Savannah begins to cry because her arm really does hurt...  We were suppose to leave at 8:30 to go up to Denver on Wednesday...  Cat is still sick and didn't sleep all that great (and neither did I) and Savannah's arm hurts.  I cancel the trip to Denver... And make appointment for the Doctors...



Long story short (I know way too late) Savannah decides her arm doesn't hurt anymore and I decide That Cat can just hang out in the stroller while not feeling good, and I head up to the Zoo in Denver with my friend any ways.  We cancel Savannah's appointment with the thought that I would just keep an eye on her and she how she does...



Savannah and her PINK cast



Savannah did great, and she used her arm some... But she would complain if you grabbed that arm and even cried when it got bumped...

So Thursday morning (after my 4th night of not much sleep)  I made another appointment to take Savannah to the doctor (and Cat).  Cat just has a viral bug going around and should be better soon, but the doctor wanted to send Savannah off for x-rays...



And sure enough Savannah has broken her arm!!!  Today we went and got a BRIGHT PINK cast put on her little arm.  She should only have to wear it for two weeks, and it doesn't seem to bother her, except for the itching...  Good thing the summers over and we weren't going to Thermopolas this fall break!

All smiles!