Meeting Madaline

Wednesday last week, things were still not going anywhere, but down. In frustration Samuel and I went to the hospital and drilled the nurse with questions, wanting answers so we could better understand what was going on. We left, having set up an appt. to meet with the Neo-natal Doctor the next morning. Much to my surprise it went well, and they let me "room in" and have her next to me and nurse her for 24 hrs. to see how she would do. Since I was in a hospital room, with my baby, no cords or monitors, I asked if the kids come and see her. They agreed as along as they washed their hands.So, Thursday afternoon the kids finally got to meet their sister for the first time! It was so fun to watch them and their actions. Bennett kept saying how much he loved her, Brigham just smiled and Emmaline kept saying, " I can not believe I have a sister!" The hospital would not let them hold her, but it worked out fine because Friday afternoon we were able to finally bring her home!!!! She had gained weight over the 24hrs, was more awake and alert than she had been and as one nurse put it, "she looks so much more content, peaceful." I thought to myself, a baby needs their mom just as much as a mom needs her baby!
Emmaline has been a very good big sister..She is very protective. She tells me when I need to change her diaper, wrap her up, put a blanket up when outside so the wind does not touch her face etc. She also is always begging to change the diapers! I am not use to so much help when it comes to taking care of a baby. The boys love to just sit and hold her.
Words can not describe how truly grateful I am to have her home! To be able to be a complete family. Thanks to all of you for your prayers on her behalf!

A few pictures

Madaline holding onto her tubes..she has already pulled one out!

Madaline with her arms up near her face...her favorite place for them to be.

Looking up at Dad

In the 'billy' lights

Madaline Lovalyn Parry

Madaline Lovalyn Parry was born July 14th at 1:55am in the morning! She weighed 6lbs 4.5 oz and was 20 inches long. I went to the doctor on the 12th of July because I had an impression that I had a slow leak in my water. The midwives did 2 tests-1 being positive and 1 negative. After doing an ultrasound and monitoring her and I for awhile the midwife sent me home and said we will recheck everything on Monday. The next day I still felt like something was not right, but did not want to call the midwives back and complain. I learned that when you do have a leak they induce you so the baby and you do not run the chance of an infection. So, I figure Madaline took matters into her own hands and decided to just break my water, causing her to be born at 35 weeks. She had problems breathing, due to too much water in her lungs so she was taken to the nursery. Once there they did an xray and decided she might have an infection in her lungs and started her on an antibiotic. They did a blood culture from her arteries, again looking for an infection and put her on a ventilator. Over the course of the past few days she has been up and down but we feel overall she is making head way. We hope she will be coming off all oxygen by tomorrow night and that her body will allow her to digest food. They are slowly feeding her 1cc-2cc an hour. Once she is off oxygen we have at least a 5 day waiting period before she can come home, to make sure all is well.

Rincon, NM

4th of July weekend we went looking for rocks!! with Uncle Mike and Aunt Caitlin. It was a lot of fun to see the kids excitement as they would find Barite crystals, jasper and just plain cool looking rocks. Bennett had his arms so full, they kept falling everywhere, so he would drop them all and attempt again to reload his arms. He never seemed to miss one, which was amazing to me.

Sewing like mad!

I love to sew! I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes when I complete a project and it is actually useable. I am not the best at sewing and still have much to learn, but I enjoy the challenge.This summer Emmaline and I have been sewing together, which has been great fun. She has helped me with picking colors, cutting and so forth. She wanted to make a blanket for her "little sister" and that is how it all started. Here are just a few pictures of some of the things we have made. Just for fun!This is a picture of the Blanket we just finished. Emmaline Chose the fabric and ribbon. She cut the ribbon, pinned it on and I helped her sew it together. We put a light cotton on the other side since it is so hot here!

This was Emmaline's first blanket. We made a receiving blanket with flannel, so she could cut the edges to fray it. She did all the cutting and I just sewed the 2 pieces of fabric together.

Emmaline wanted a matching dress to the baby so I made this and then made one for her. Hers is not all the way complete, so I will wait until it is. I have to make a few alterations.

I love making little girl dresses, so...I found this reversible dress pattern and made a few dresses. This is one of my favorites. All the flowers I make are on safety pins so I can put them where I wish.

I have many more projects, but I am not about to bore you with all of them!!!

Who knew?

Last night, Samuel decided to bring home a new friend. I should not be surprised since he has brought home numerous creatures on many different occasions and for the most part , I can handle it. Last fall, he brought a Boa Constrictor. This time...... a Tarantula!


I already knew that I do not care for spiders, but I had no idea just how much I can not stand spiders!! As soon as Samuel released the Tarantula in a jar I was sick to my stomach and started having contractions. I didn't know if I was going to pass out or throw up. My whole body contracted as he took the lid off every now and then to take pictures. A few times the Tarantula would jump up and I thought for sure it would become loose in our apartment. After playing with it Samuel and the kids went and set it free as I tried to calm myself down. I felt so weak and amazed at myself at just how much I really do not like spiders! and to think, this is not even as big as they come!

Hope, NM

Bennett having the time of his life!

Bringing in a calf

Samuel in action

Vaccinating the Calves

Brigham in amazement...I don't know how long he stood there!

Two peas in a pod!

Getting ready

Old cliff dwellings on the Ranch

This weekend we had the opportunity to go to Hope, NM for a branding. It was a beautiful 3 hr. drive where we got to see TREES, elk, deer, wild turkeys, green pastures and TREES!!!!( I say that twice because I miss them soooo much!) The kids got to play in dirt until they were completely worn out and run around. Emmaline got to get up early with all the other buckaroos and drive the cattle in, work in the branding pen and then drive the cows home. She put in a good 8 hr day!! Mind you, we did not make her, she kept asking to stay and help and she was amazing! It was a great break from the every day life, full of fun and amazing Mexican food!