The Last Month

I don't get anything done because I spend my time staring into Leah's eyes.

Yah right! This is a posed shot, obviously. My photographer friend took it,

which is why it is better than any of my photos.

Sweet Leah is sleeping peacefully for a few moments before she has to get

naked for her photo shoot.

Gymnastics tuition finally pays off as George sports a front flip off the low dive.

Max received two swimming lessons from cousin Becca and

felt that he was ready to take on deep water and high boards.

Some might ask why I haven't posted in the last month. Two words, New Baby. I really haven't done anything in the last month. After a few weeks, Becca (my niece who is living with us while going to BYU Spring semester) said to me, "Me watching you have a baby doesn't make me not want a baby, but me watching you feed the baby makes me not want a baby." Great, I'm glad nursing can be good motivation to put off childbearing.

At three weeks, Leah came down with a high fever. I took her to the doctor and he sent me straight to Primary Children's Hospital. I broke down in tears. He seemed concerned and I tried to explain postpartum without getting written up as a nutcase. But it was time for his lunch break so maybe he let me off easy. I cried the whole way to the hospital and tried to call Steve in between tears. He saved my tearful message. I think so he can tease me. And then I cried the whole time I was in the ER. But it truly was horrible. Watching them do all those tests, trying to draw blood, trying unsuccessfully to put an iv line in a tiny hand. It broke my heart to listen to her scream. I had to leave the room for the lumbar puncture, but I could still hear her screams. So we spent two nights there while Leah underwent many tests and went through three IVs. Holding a newborn during all these procedures made me feel so bad. I'm her mother and supposed to protect her. Instead, I was holding her down while she looked at me screaming. The consensus was a random UTI (urinary tract infection). But alas, what a difference a few days can make. She came home and I'd forgotten the experience until a few days ago when the bills started showing up. Now I'll pay the bills and try to forget the whole experience.

Okay, so that was two days of the last month. You will notice that the pictures are from two weeks. I've taken a few since then of Leah, but not many. She is going through her lovely newborn pimple stage. And as for photo shop, you think I have time for that? No. School is now out. I thought I would have a great summer. Leave the baby with the kids while I got on with my life. Yah right. Apparently, after five years of no baby, you forget a few things. And after five years, the other kids grow up and have many more responsibilities. So I spend my time chauffeuring the kids to gymnastics, horseback riding, summer orchestra, Young Women's, Scouts, doctor appointments (so I can send them back to school in the fall), trips to the pool, and rides to friend's houses. In between all of this, I feed the baby. It's a pretty tight schedule. I have managed to fit my workouts into the schedule and the kids have been good about watching the baby. It's my one hour of freedom a day. So as you can see, I have no time to blog, or weed, or clean the house. Cara still asks me, "What's for dinner?" I don't know why. She should know by now my new answer, "Whatever you can find in the pantry."