The Hospital

Kortney got to meet her new baby sister later that day, I don't know what to think of it. She loved the baby, but she was very concerned about me. She wanted me to come home soon.

I love the one on one time you get to spend with your little one in the hospital.

There were 4 of us all due within a week of each other here in our ward, here is a picture of 3 of us together with our babies. So much fun to know that our little babies will all grow up together.

Time for Kyla and I to go home, mixed feelings. I was so worried about Kortney that I felt like I had to get home, but man it is so nice being in the hospital having people help you all the time. Plus being able to send your baby to the nursery at night is a huge plus. Ready for this new adventure :)

She's here!!!

The birth story: Mike and I got to bed about 11:30, we had everything ready to go, I was supposed to be induce the next day, June 1st. I had been having contractions for a few weeks now and not getting much sleep at all, around 12:30 I woke up due to contractions. I was trying to go back to sleep, I felt like something had snapped, but I didn't think it was my water because when my water broke with Katie it gushed everywhere. I tried sleeping a little more and finally at 2:30 I got up to walk around and see if I could get these contractions under control. Well, when I stood up I realized that my water had broke. I got Mike up and made a few phone calls as we headed to the hospital. We were all checked into the hospital by 3:30a.m. I was dilated to a 5 and I got my epidural right away and it worked great this time!!! Happy mama!!!

I feel like the birth of a baby is such a special moment, I love to share that moment with the women who are close to me. I feel that these women give me the energy I need to deliver this baby. At every one of my girls births, I have felt the love and support of the women who are there with me in the delivery room and I have felt the spirits of many of my ancestors too. I guess they are just delivering my babies to me. Here are a few of those that were there to see baby Kyla enter into this world. My mother, Mike's mother, Rachel, Sierra, Melinda, and Katie were all there. Karen was kind enough to go spend the rest of the night at my house with Kortney. Teri ended up making it there right when it was time for me to push.

They came in and checked me at 4:30 and I was only a 5+, they explained that sometime the epidural slows things down. Bummer, I was thinking this thing would go fast. I felt bad for getting everyone out of bed, but oh well. At about 5:15 I started feeling uncomfortable and asked the nurse to come check me, what do you know I was fully dilated ready to push!!! At 5:34 Kylas Ella was born, 8lbs 12oz. and
19" long. She is beautiful!!!
I love Sierra and Katie's faces in this picture. It was a great experience for the two of them.

Daddy cutting her umbilical cord

That's our big girl

Daddy, Katie and Kyla

Sister bonding for the first time here on Earth. Kyla and Katie

Mommy and her baby girl, there is nothing like the feeling you get the first time you hold your baby.


Our first family picture just missing our little Kortsy Belle

Grandma is so happy to see you little Kyla

Sierra bonding with her baby cousin

Rachel was able to take a few hours away from Brie and Kiersten to come see baby Kyla

Nana and Kyla, Melinda must have been taking the pictures because I don't have one of Kyla and Melinda.

Kyla wanted to nurse right away. She latched on right away and has been my best nurser yet. She loves that time with mom and has been really good at teaching me how to nurse again.

Isn't she beautiful!

One last picture I had to include, her paws are so big!!! I love it.

Kortney and Katie's birthday party

We decided since I was going to be induced on June 1st that we should have a birthday party for Kortney who was turning 2 on June 3rd and Katie who had turned 7 on May 28th, plus a last hoorah before the baby was born the next day. Here is a picture of the girls.


Here is a picture of me the night before I delivered our baby girl. I just noticed all of my pregnancy pictures I am wearing the same shirt. It's the only shirt that fit me ok towards the end.

A little note on my Kortney Belle, I can't believe it has been 2 years. Kortney is the most independant child. She wants to do everything on her own. She loves baby dolls, her blankies, boots, and loves makeup. She is a girlie girl. But she also is very solid on her feet and very coordinated. We think she is going to be our sports girl. She loves to kick the ball around and to play catch with her daddy.

Motorcycle Rides

We won't be able to go for family rides much longer...the girls love the bike

Real Soccer Game

Mike got to go to the Real game and sit in box seats. He loved it. Mike and his buddy Cory. This picture is driving me nuts, I can't get it to go right side up, no matter how I rotate it, it ends up upside down. So sorry!!

2010 Race for the Cure

Since my mom had cancer a few years back we join in this 5K every year. I love seeing all the "survivors" walk at the end, it is a very emotional time for me to see these women who have been through so much and survived such a horrible disease.
Mike and I, this was Mike's first year coming.

My mom and her grand kids that were able to make it

This year my mom had all of her girls there walking with her. It was a fun experience having all of us girls together for such a good cause. My family are carriers of the BRCA2 gene (a breast cancer gene) so this is a cause close to our hearts.

Our little family with my mom.

Stranded on the lake

Mike comes home with some fun fishing stories, this is a picture of his buddy Kenny and their make shift sail. It took them 2.5 hours to make it to shore.

Easter 2010

Just found this and thought I would add it even though it is not in order, Oh well.

Pregnancy

39 weeks pregnant, and feeling ready to have a baby :)


This pregancy has not been an easy one, we had a scare at the beginning, I had to be on medication again, and I was dilated to a 4 at 35 weeks, so I had to take it easy the last little while, but then she decided she wasn't ready to come.

It was fun there were 4 ladies in our ward all due within a week of one another. Here are 3 of us at about 38 weeks going out for a "labor" walk. It was fun having them to be pregnant with. :)

Katie turned 7

When Katie turned 5 I took her to get a "real" pedicure for her birthday, every year since she reminds me that we go get a pedicure for her birthday...lucky girl :)

This year Kortney joined in on the fun, and she LOVED every second of it.

Our finished product, aren't they cute!!!

Katie is an amazing daughter. I can't believe she is already 7 years old. She is just an all around good girl. She loves her family and cares for all of us so much. She loves to dance and play with her friends. She eats just about everything we give her, she loves to try new food. She loves school and loves to learn. I couldn't have asked for a better daughter.

Dance Festival

Katie had quite the fan club to watch her perform.


In May Katie participated with the 1st grade in the dance festival. Katie LOVES dancing.

The test

Sunday morning I was exhausted, I woke up around 5:30 to feed Kyla and she didn't want to go back to sleep. So after numerous attempts to put her back to bed I decided to hold her and enjoy our special time together. Well 9:00 rolled around, I made the girls their breakfast, got Mike his pain med which was supposed to be a motrin, I decided to take one too because I had a horrible headache. (The headache was probably from lack of sleep, Mike got his surgery Thursday and so since Thursday I had been getting up at 3 to give him his meds and ice for his foot, then again at 5 to feed Kyla, then stay up after feeding Kyla because the girls were waking up shortly after I got Kyla back to bed.) So I went to church, which was a blur and come home to realize I had given us both Percocet, no wonder I was a zombie at church. I realize that I am totally at the end of my rope, I find a quiet place (my bathroom) and kneel down and just start crying to my Heavenly Father. I felt so much peace as I finished my prayer and I had an instant burst of energy to get through my day. After that Kyla was sleeping super good, Mike didn't need his meds anymore and life was slowly getting back to normal again. Normal for having a new baby normal. ;) Then what happens another thing to make me stretch and rely on the Lord some more. I couldn't have survived the last 2 days with out the love of my family and ward. I have had phone call after phone call asking how they can help me, I have had emails, facebook messages galore. Thank you all for your love and help. I haven't had to worry once about my girls being taken care of. Who would have thought that I could leave my 1 month old baby and just come home long enough to nurse her. Plus I have had the quiet moments to my self where I can pray and thank my Heavenly Father for sparing the life of my husband. The fear that comes to you when you hear about how I could lose him any time just tore me apart. I just kept thinking have I given to my husband all that I need to give, Have I loved him the way I need to love him. Why do I have to nit pick his every little behavior that drives me nuts. I have realized that all that matters is creating memories with our little girls. Enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Mike is good at that, me not so much unless the house is clean the laundry is done, dinner is made, etc. :) How thankful I am that he is recovering so fast and will be home with us shortly. Again thank you all for your prayers.

Mike Kennedy

I just have to make a quick entry, I haven't blogged for a long time, no Internet or camera, but now I have both, so I need to catch up on entries. I will do that another day.
I am one of the luckiest girls ever. I am married to the most amazing man. Those of you that know him know that what you see is what you get. He is very honest, and says just about anything that is on his mind. Some things you may not know about his is that he LOVES being a dad. He takes his girls on dates, takes them fishing, makes them necklaces, lets them do his hair, and even will play tea party or dress up with them. He LOVES the gospel. He spends hours every day studying, I shouldn't say this, but sometimes I get a little jealous of the time that he spends studying his scriptures. His knowledge of the gospel is amazing to me. I feel as if I am the one in our marriage who feels the spirit and is prompted to do things while he is the smart one. :) He LOVES me. He rubs my feet every single night that he is home. He makes a mean breakfast, and he feeds our girls every morning. He loves to read novels with me. He always lets me fall asleep on his chest and doesn't complain about the drool. He loves every living creature on this Earth. He would have a million pets if possible. He loves people, he can talk for hours and hours. He has a heart of gold. Do you know he brought home a guy he met at the temple and ended up talking his parents into giving him a home. He lives to fish, play any sport, and do just about anything active. As you can see I am one lucky girl to have married such an amazing man.
Last Thursday he had a bunion removed. We decided we had met our deductible this year so we might as well do any surgical procedures we need to this year. Sunday his calf started hurting, then Monday night his side of his chest, back etc were hurting and he couldn't breath. Well after a trip to the ER today, he is making the hospital his home for tonight. He has a pulmonary embolism or a blood clot in his lung. To see my husband in so much pain was just horrible for me. It took everything in me to be the strong support he needed through all the tests, etc. He can't breath very well, watching him is almost like watching a woman in labor. He is OK for a few minutes then he has to stand up and focus on his breathing. Anyway, this is not what we expected at all, he about died when they told him that he can't be active for a while. I think that was worse news to him than the fatal conversation. They had to talk to us about how this can be fatal, had to ask him if he wants to be revived,etc. and who will make his decisions for him if he can't speak for himself etc. Freaked me out. Anyways I had to come home, they wouldn't let Kyla spend the night there with me. I thought I would record my feelings. I love you Mike!!! Hope you get some rest tonight and are able to come home tomorrow!!! Your girls all love you.

Battlefield

So Saturday night Mike and I took the girls up the the Utah Home and Garden Expo. While in the car Mike and I were talking about the time change and started debating about the time change. Anyway it was no big deal we were both just talking about what time the girls would be waking up now, not fighting just debating. :) Anyway Katie pipes up from the back seat singing Jordan Sparks, "Why does love have to be a battlefield a battlefield a battlefield." It totally made Mike and I laugh that she knew what that song was about and thought to sing it when she heard us "debating" about dumb time.
One other neat thing while at the expo I got this curling iron for Katie, I curled her hair yesterday, used NO hairspray and guess what her hair was still curled this morning. I just had to touch up a few curls and it looked so cute for today.

Adventures of Kortney Bellea

Kortney will be 2 on June 3rd, boy this girl is a little spitfire. I just wanted to record a few of her adventures lately so that they don't go forgotten. Let's just say I think she senses that things are going to change soon, so she has kept life fun for all. ;)
Her new thing: I was sweeping my kitchen floor and found 6 little felt circles on the floor, next day come in and see Kortney's little eyes peaking over the cupboard door. She was chewing off the little felt circles off of the cupboard doors, now she likes to chew on the doors. Crazy little girl, hopefully we have taught her that is a no no. She recognized those words, No-no a little too well right now.
A few evenings ago Mike took Katie out and I was back in my bathroom. Kortney comes running in with a sopping wet wash cloth saying, "need help, need help." I follow her back into the kitchen and she had got the lemonade out of the fridge got a glass out and tried pouring her own drink. The whole pitcher of lemonade was on the kitchen floor. The cute thing is that she had gone and got her stool out of her bathroom, carried it all the way out to the kitchen sink to get a wash cloth out. After I'm sure a discouraging try, realized the mess was just too big.
A great accomplishment, she is officially off of the bottle. I know so many people say bottles aren't good, but I let my kids keep them till 2. With the baby being born around her birthday, I thought I better do it now before the baby comes. Next month will be the big girl bed and sharing a room with her big sister.

Marriage

Marriage has been on my mind lately, when I got married I made a covenant with my Father in Heaven and my husband to love one another, to honor one another, to put one another first, and to always be there for one another for eternity. I guess the reason this has been on my mind so much is because it seems as if we know so many couples that are getting divorces lately.
When is divorce OK?
I know a husband who made a mistake and broke that marriage promise, he is an active LDS man who loves the gospel of Jesus Christ and was unhappy and made a horrible mistake. His wife is a good LDS woman who also loves her Savior, she may have had problems with anger, lying, etc., but she loves her husband. He blames her behavior on his actions. He goes through the repentance process. They get a divorce and leave children in the mix of all this chaos. The wife wants to go to counseling and make things work, the husband gives up and decides on divorce. Is this really the wisest thing? If you understand the atonement of Jesus Christ, you know that through repentance you can look at someone who has made a mistake and love them again. Through counseling one can change their actions on a day to day aspect. It may take a long time, but you have covenanted to always love, honor and cherish this person. If both parties have this common goal, why is divorce an option?
Another example: The husband again made a mistake, he chooses that the guilt of making a mistake is so big that he turns his back on his Father in Heaven. He leaves the church and goes against everything he taught on his mission. Again children are involved, he chooses not to be a part of their lives, (wife and children) and they are now divorced. I see this wife staying so noble, wise and loving, watching over her children. Realizing how wonderful and beautiful she is.
Another example: A husband again (sorry guys out there I do know some women that have been the ones that chose out too) makes a mistake, breaks a temple covenant, again blames wife on her anger, lack of actions, etc. Again children involved. After counseling realizes it was him who made the bad choice. Asks his wife to please forgive him, asks his Father in Heaven for forgvieness, she debates divorce. After much temple attending, fasting and prayer realizes that her husband truly loves the Lord and wants to be whole again. He goes through the repentance process, they both go to counseling, and 5 years later they love each other more than they ever thought possible. They have a growing family, open communication and both have been able to experience the Power of the Atonement, both admit they are FAR from PERFECTION. Kept that promise they made so long ago when they chose to get married and feel that choice was a wise one.
So I guess what I am saying here is how strong is that temple covenant, how much do we understand it when we get sealed for eternity. I sure don't think I was prepared when I got married. I thought my husband would choose to shower me with hugs, kisses, flowers, dates, time, praising words always, etc. At least I had the common goal as my husband and knew through love and support we can return to our Father in Heaven some day. But out of the 3 examples I believe the 2 last are OK. When I see these friends that "fall out of love" and get a divorce, what is that all about? Marriage isn't easy!!! It sure is the most rewarding covenant you make though. To grow with your love, learn with your love, walk through life's challenges with your love, raise children with your love, is one of the most rewarding covenants we make. It isn't always easy, none of us are perfect, so of course life will be challenging, marriage will be challenging. That is why we have our love to help us through and remind us of our Heavenly Father's love and set us straight when we make mistakes. Mike often reminds me I am not the one to judge them, they have their agency. But it has got me thinking what would I do if placed in that situation. I know I can say whatever I believe, but I don't really know unless I have walked in their shoes. I hope I don't offend any of you, I would love to have a discussion on the subject, like I said it is something I have thought about often lately. I would love to understand other views. I know that all of you that read this are not active LDS friends. I would love to hear your thoughts. I don't want to offend any of you.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject. I do believe that through the atonement of my Savior I know that I can learn and become a better person as I make mistakes, repent, and change my actions. How grateful I am for my Savior for providing a way for me to return to our Father in Heaven again, as a pure daughter of God.

Carls Jr.

So last Wed. my sister and I went to Carls Jr. for lunch and had this crazy experience that has been eating away at me since.
We were there right at lunch time 11:45 or so. Order our lunch and let the kids play in the play place. In the middle of our lunch my sister says, there was a man that crawled up in the play place and I haven't seen him come down yet. I get up a few minutes later and look from the ground up, every where is pretty visible to the eye except the highest level by one of the slides. So I tell her I don't see him, but there is a part I can't see. We figure we don't hear him and maybe he went up and got his kid and came down. Usually that is what happens to me. Well, a few minutes later we hear a mans voice coming from the top of the slide. My sister yells for her daughter to come down and we ask her if a man is up there. She said, "yes, but I didn't go by him." We have her stay down with us. Well this man comes down the slide a few minutes later and adjusts his shirt then goes to the bathroom.
Well, I can't stop thinking about this because I didn't say anything to anyone even though I had the feeling to do so. Even if I were to tell the other children's parents, but I kept telling myself I didn't see him do anything wrong. Today I go into Carls Jr. and tell them and they have me go back to the computer and look at the cameras and show them who the man is. I do so and everything plays out just as I tell you the story, except before he goes up he grabs some napkins put them in his pocket first.
The police are coming in and may want me to come see them tomorrow. Crazy huh. I wish I would have said something though.

Silly story

I walk into the kitchen and find Kortney feeding her lunch to our dog Tucker.
I say, "Tucker, NO!!! Kortney, No! Don't feed the dog!!!
I walk back into the office and come back into the kitchen a few minutes later and hear Kortney whisper, "Tucker, Tucker" She gives him some food then she looks up and sees me and gets a scared look on her face. Then she yells, "Tucker, NO!!!"
How does she know how to do that at 19 months old!!! Silly girl.

It's a.....

Girl!!!
I am so EXCITED!!! We are going to have another girl. We enjoyed our ultrasound, since she is a modest little girl they were having a hard time getting all the measurements they needed, so we got to watch for a long time. She looks wonderful and healthy. I think every mother, or at least I do, get so nervous to hear and make sure my little one is healthy. I am so excited now to know that she is a she and that she is growing nice and healthy. I have been complaining to Mike that she likes to sit over on my left side and how it drives me crazy that I can feel her all curled up on that side all the time. So I told the lady doing the ultrasound and she said oh at this stage they are all over the place so it's hard to know where they will be. Well there she was all curled up with her legs crossed and her arms over her face on my left side.
As for me, I am feeling kind of down. When I was pregnant with Katie I had the most amazing pregnancy, I wasn't too sick, I felt beautiful, I had was tired but still had energy. Then came my two miscarriages and the there was Kortney. I found out that I needed to be on progesterone, and well it makes me feel like I have motion sickness. But at least that is only for 16 weeks. Then I went into labor at 32 weeks and had to go on bed rest. This pregnancy I just knew was going to be wonderful. First I found out that progesterone was needed again, again 16 weeks is OK. At 10 weeks I found out that I had problems got put on bed rest for a few weeks, by about 15 weeks I was up and going again. Now at this ultrasound I found out that I have placenta previa, where the placenta is covering the cervix. I guess it's a good sign that I'm not bleeding, but if it begins then more bed rest. I go in for another ultrasound in 8 weeks unless bleeding begins and hoping, praying that the uterus will pull the placenta up as I continue to grow.
I do LOVE feeling this little girl move though. I think that is one thing I miss after having a baby. I love that I am feeling better. I love my cute growing tummy. I feel it is such a blessing to have the chance to carry one of Heavenly Fathers children. It will be so fun to meet her at the end of May or beginning of June. A wonderful blessing to be a mother. I love my girls so much. I love that Mike LOVES being a daddy to all girls. He is a wonderful daddy.
Now the question? Who will she look like Katie or Kortney or a mix? What will her name be? I guess we will find out when she comes. :)

Happy New Year!!!

I lost my camera last month!!! Mike and I had it on our trip to California and it came up missing some how! So my pics from Halloween to December are all lost. I am so sad. We didn't even have a camera for Christmas. Anyway we had a wonderful Holiday Season. I have been very distracted this pregnancy, I guess I'm in survival mode or something. This pregnancy has been so different, I have been very sick, it takes everything in me to keep the house up somewhat. I am just barely getting Christmas taken down, but at least it is happening right. :) 2010 is going to be a wonderful year. Mike and I have set some goals, our stake has challenged us to read the Book of Mormon as a family, we have a new addition to our family, and so much more.