You're YOUNG, You'll Get Over It!

2011-04-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

So, I can't believe it has been a year since I last blogged! So much has happened! My babies are growing up, and last summer I did a five day backpack trip with my new baby! That was probably the highlight of the year!

More recently my sister and I joined a weight loss competition similar to "Biggest Loser" and to our complete surprise and enjoyment, we lost a combined total of 93 pounds in 12 weeks!

We also won $500 to share

and Heather (my sister) won the 6-week weigh in for $100 as well...I came in third!

We still have a long way to go, so we have started up our own competitions in our own towns! We hope to continue our trend and look great for summer. I have a confession: I have purchased a swimsuit in a size 8 and I am dying to fit into it!

My secret: There is no secret!
1200 calories
lots of green smoothies
lots of salads (no croutons)
lots of fruits and veggies
and exercise more than I eat!
...about an hour a day of cardio
If I wanted a sugary treat, I kept it within my calorie goals
...a few times I wrote that I ate only 2 T of pie or 1/2 cup of ice-cream because that is all I could afford to eat within my calorie limits

More to come...You can follow my weight loss journey here!

Sol"s first birthday

Finally a kid that made a mess!

And enjoyed himself too!

Too bad I was dieting...

very fun!

Labor...in 4 hours or less!

2010-03-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

It all began with a "pop"...

It was the tiniest little feeling, but when I went to get up I knew that this labor was going to be different! I called for my favorite nurse, Matt, and he too was surprised!

This was the first time I have EVER had my water break spontaneously! It turns out that laboring with your water broken is not as easy as when it is intact...With my other labors I would go for lovely walks, go shopping, or whatever! There was NO possiblity of a lovely walk now! It was a beautiful day outside, and there was no way I would venture out into public, but I could at least enjoy the outdoors from the security of my backyard.

In the yard, Matt and the kids were jumping on our trampolines, and I wandered around with my toes in the wet and slightly muddy grass waiting for some contractions to begin.

I spotted two ladybugs and called the little boys over to see them crawling in the grass. As I bent down to show them, the baby moved and I was starting to see that this was going to be a very different type of labor, and the bug-show was over. I called to Matt " I'm going in the house to change. I squatted down to show the boys some ladybugs, and I ended up watering the grass!"

Matt decided it would help my labor go faster if he kept the kids busy , so he entertained them all day. First with the trampolines, then with some balls, and finally with softballs and gloves. I wandered around doing a few things and feeling the relief of having less pressure in my large bulging stomach. It was actually more comfortable now than it had been for the last few weeks! I repeated my mantra in my head over and over. I had been practicing it for a couple of weeks now, "I have fast, easy labors", "I have fast, easy labors", "I have fast, easy labors".

Matt came in to see if anything was happening, and we were in our bedroom when we heard a huge crash. It sounded like something glass falling from the top shelf in the kitchen. Unfortunately, it was coming from outside. The kids threw the ball and it broke the basment bathroom window!

My first thought was "How can I labor without the shower?!!!" Matt was happy to report that only one layer of the window had broken, and I could still use the downstairs bathroom shower. PHEW!

Matt made a picture-perfect supper and he was so proud of it that I pulled out the camera for this delicious-mouth-watering proof of his amazing birth support! He was so thrilled with his creation that he asked me at least three times if I wanted any. I declined since labor was picking up and I was feeling a bit nauseous just thinking of eating!

Then my mom called and while we were chatting she noticed I was having some contractions. I admitted to her that my water had been broken since 8:00am and they were actually noticeable and getting stronger -finally! It was 7:30pm. She let me go as I was sounding like I was in labor.

Next I called my little sister, Heather. It was only fair, as she called me in heavy labor. I made sure to call her when it was serious, so it was 9:30pm before I dialed. She chatted with me between contractions, and later told me they were close together, long and sounded strong. To me they didn't seem long or close, but that's what happens in labor...our perception of time is totally gone!

I labored for a few contractions in the shower, but I decided to get out before I ran out of hot water. This way it would be MY choice, and I wouldn't feel FORCED to leave the shower (like my last birth!)

I put my house-dress or "castle-dress" (thanks Matt!) back on, and looked for somewhere else to make myself comfortable. BTW, I highly suggest the moo-moo/ castle-dress for labor. I have three, and I felt modest and covered for the whole time!

I labored for a few contractions on the couch, and fell asleep between them. It felt like such a relief to have a few moments to relax!

I got pretty restless after that and moved from room to room. Matt followed and helped by holding me up in a supported squat which is what felt the best. He was wonderful, whispering "I love you" and giving me small kisses on my neck. In return I squeezed his butt during a couple of contractions, and then laughed as though I had made a REALLY funny joke!

A few more contractions in the hall, and bathroom, and then I sort of collapsed into a tired heap on my newly re-covered ottoman. (I knew I re-covered it for a reason!) I remembered thinking that another 20 hours of this would be unbearable! Still, I kept repeating my mantra in my head "I have fast, easy labors", "I have fast easy labors"

Then, right there in my kitchen I started pushing. It was only a few contractions, and I remember hearing Matt ask if I was pushing. In my head I was thinking there was no way I was moving or going anywhere, and this baby was coming out NOW! ...and then his voice said "slow, nice and slow". I felt the baby crowning, and as the break between contractions came I felt the baby slip back a bit, so I held a slight push to keep the baby in place. A couple more deep breaths and pushes and I told Matt to "catch the baby". He was behind me and had to fight against a fair bit of fabric from my dress, and at that point said in mock exasperation, "Where???"

He said he could see the baby's eyes and nose. My next word was "cord". Matt checked as soon as the baby's head was delivered, "there's cord!" but he couldn't unwrap it as it was too tight and the rest of the baby was born in the next instant.

It was 11:10pm. Less than 4 hours of labor!

He unwrapped the cord and I turned to meet our baby.

The placenta was delivered nearly immediately, and our boy was not yet breathing. The seconds felt like hours as we rubbed him to stimulate breathing. He made a little sound, but still not enough... Matt grabbed his stethoscope. He had a strong heartbeat, but still we rubbed him and I flicked his foot in hopes of a big breath in...a cry...a sound...something!

Matt ran for some of the leftover medical supplies from our other home-births. A Deelee mucus-trap was found and we succtioned his airways and held him in recovery position. Matt clamped the cord so we could more easily move him. More rubbing, more sucction, and then that beautiful sound of breathing!

He squinted and looked at us. He had a slow start, but everything checked out and he was perfect.

His first picture, after I had a shower...

and could see my legs enough to shave them!

Proud Daddy! Best Birth Support! Handsome Hubby!

Sweet Sleeping Solomon Francis Young! BTW, we thought we were having a girl and we didn't have a name picked until he was three days old!

We love the nickname "Sol" and Francis is for my Dad's Dad...my Grandpa Francis Johnny Linteris. His gravestone says "John Frank" as rumor says he changed his name legally after my dad gave him a hard time about his name. His parents were Italian.

Foster and Jessica brought me flowers and my FAVE...Lindor chocolates!

Driver in Training

2010-03-02T08:12:00.000-08:00

I thought this was pretty cute! We were waiting for the kids to finish basketball and hanging out in the van. Gid loves to push all the buttons and check out all the knobs, and then he discovered just how much fun the steering wheel can be!

Also, along the same driving theme, Matt and I made CO2 cars for a recent church party! It took a fair bit of time, especially for me since Matt TOTALLY hogged the dremmel-tool! Picture this...I enter the garage and Matt is wearing safety-goggles, headphones, and his car is neatly clamped into a vice. He is holding the shop-vac in one hand and operating the Dremmel-tool with the other. It was quite the system! The conversation went something like this "Lace, you can use that sandpaper, or that spongy sanding block, or even the belt sander!" I shot him an incredulous look to which he responded with a "What?" Hmm, let's see what's missing from this picture...No goggles for me? No headphones? No Vice? No vaccuum? No Dremmel? No NOTHING! And he wonders why I gave him "THE LOOK".

Anyhow, as the good and patient spouse that I am, I sat down and proceeded to hand-sand my car until my arms were ready to give up. Finally Matt put down the Dremmel and I quickly siezed it. As I used it he looked over with surprise and said "Hey! You're pretty good at that!" I replied with " Maybe it's all that Dental Assisting I did years ago...remember, I used to make temporary teeth!" Duh!

Then Matt gets this brilliant idea to use the hand-held belt sander to shape his car and he wants me to hold it still for him - upside-down. I immediately pictured everything that could go wrong. I saw his hand being sanded off, the sander flipping and attacking, I even pictured my hands being eaten alive. What I didn't picture was his car catching on the belt and flying up into the air with such a velocity that by the time it had hit me in the eye it had already ricoched across the garage! And where were MY safety goggles? Matt sheepishly handed me a pair, and I put them on for a few minutes only to remove them. After all, What are the chances of that happening twice? Right?

At the races, Matt was so excited and animated that he kept me entertained almost more than the ensuing race! I kept laughing at him as he bounced around the track in his new shoes...

the Vibram FiveFingers! (Which he couldn't stop talking about might I add!)

You can see Matt wearing his new shoes in this pic!

Here is the secret to success...hidden wheels!

Matt's car only got to third place but it was all a conspiracy! He had to race on the slow track twice!

My car didn't win at all, but it was the most sparkly! Next year I'm going for style and function, not just killer style!

Oh, and here's a picture of Will for laughs! He fell asleep while playing piano the other night! Awww!

Ha Ha Ha!

Nesting...again!

2010-02-23T10:24:00.000-08:00

I took this photo of myself at arm's length! I don't have very many pregnancy pics this time, so I'm making up for it!

I am due any day now, and I still have so much left to do! I've really enjoyed the last few weeks as I have been reading and studying about birth and babies! It's very exciting to welcome another little person to our home!

Here are some projects that have kept me busy...

I picked out this fabric to make curtains for my kitchen, and I LOVE this painting! Both are from Ikea!

I then took this kitchen, and transformed it simply by updating the curtains! I love the new look!

You'll have to excuse the messy kitchen...it was "curtain day" not cleaning day! LOL! You can see I've been drinking my green smoothies though if you compare my glass on the buffet to my last pic. Oh yeah, this is my buffet actually in my house...(Heather!!!)

Next I took this rocking chair, which I never actually liked the fabric, EVER!...and I recovered it with some canvas I had laying around. I was able to re-vamp my chair and use up some of my fabric storage! It's like a house cleaning two-for-one!

This is the end result! Better? I have to agree! I still want to put some buttons on it or something to hold the cover in place, but that may have to wait until the next baby! JK!

Here's the fabric detail: Also, I didn't mention how awful the old fabric was! It was made of a huge threaded, loose weave! It was gross and the texture was that of an 80's tablecloth...or maybe a sack-cloth!

...and this one is for Heather and all those cheesecake lovers out there! Heather and I only eat sugar once a month, and we celebrated our last "Sugar-Day" together with this wonderful confection! You'll notice my slice is the one in the front right of the photo, while Heather's is in the far back left. If you want a close-up of Heather's monstrosity, go to her blog and check it out!

I just thought I'd point out that my slice was soooo much prettier than hers! Heather, your cheesecake needs an intervention! It looks like the sauces threw up on it! Ha ha!

Anyhow, it was way too much fun, and so was sharing this post!

Oh, and as a final note, here is a full belly shot of me pregnant. This was taken on Sunday, and I have one week to go before the Dr.'s "due date". I asked Matt to take it for me since my arms are not long enough to capture me in my FULL glory! He took a couple and commented on my dress. I then explained that it is a really comfy "house-dress", to which he replied that it was more like a "castle-dress"...I suppose that's better than the cow costume my MIL had me wear when I was pregnant with Will! LOL! I'll have to see if I can dig that photo up!

Swimming...again and again!

2010-01-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

We spend three days a week at the pool for swim club! Often the little boys get bored, so I get inventive with the entertainment. On this particular day I brought out the camera and they made faces for me, followed by some fun games on my iTouch! With the potentially disastrous situation averted, I have only a day to think of something new for the next swim day!

Here's one of my little swimmers!

Beaded Creations!

2009-12-31T23:51:00.000-08:00

This Christmas the girls and I were busy making jewelry for all our grandmas, aunts and cousins! The results were amazing! The girls were creative and we had a great time for several days!

These are the boxes we made for our lovely gifts!

We had an assembly line that worked like a charm!

This one is for Grandma Toni...

And this one is for Grandma Diane! Both are Morgan originals!

More designs!

LOVELY!

Home-made gift boxes with Gabe's jewelry gifts!

My custom book marks!

An action shot!

"Work with me..."

A little vampire action for the red and black book mark!

This is a small sample of my first bookmarks. I have several other colors now including purple and yellow! They are so beautiful that I am wanting to decorate my bookshelf with them! Morgan is getting the red one for her birthday since she loves the Twilight books so much! I may also try some different colored ribbons and look for different dangles for the ends!

Thanks for looking!

Catching up...A photo collection!

2009-12-31T22:59:00.000-08:00

I had a haircut! It is much shorter than I expected, but I love it! If there is one thing I'm good at, it's growing out my hair!

Maeg drew this...and I LOVE it! I had to share!

Halloween was fun! The kids were all sick, except Morgan and Will, so only Morgan went out...Will wanted to but thought he was getting a bit old!

Maeg dressed up at home anyways!

Pregnant Vampire? Toothy offspring?

I've heard of this before...in a certain vampire series we all love!

BTW, do you like my vampy hooded cape

made of a re-purposed bed skirt I found at Value Village?

This is at Julie's Blessingway with mom and sisters! We missed our sisters-in-law Chelsie and Kristy though!

Jules, Ray, Heather and Me!

There are actually 7 of us in this pic!

How to protect your shirt...fashionably!

Due almost the same day!

We'll see which cousin makes the first appearance!

Oh la la! Julie is due in a week from this photo...but she went overdue about 2 weeks! What an amazing profile! BTW that wonderful invention is a BellaBand! It covers the space between the pants and shirt...Brilliant! Great model too!

This is the ice-cream cake we picked up for Toni and Brent's 37th anniversary! Toni loves Betty Boop...and I guess Brent loves it for the crunchy center!

This is the early Christmas present Matt bought me!

It's a Buffet! I LOVE it and can't wait to post a pic of it in my kitchen!

(this is the one at Ikea)

Matt, Gid and I went to Edmonton for a few days and Toni came to stay with the other kids. On our way there we saw this sign and thought the kids would get a chuckle... Heck! It still gives me one!

At the hotel in Edmonton, Gid had his own bed!

He was thrilled, and so was I!

We bowled one night...Gid was thrilled with all the balls!

Matt kicked my butt, as usual!

This is me with my custom ball...but don't tell! (I also own shoes!)

Yup, the belly is bigger!

Another night we went to MEC, our favorite store!

Gid loved this toy, and Matt loved everything else!

On the way home Matt and I grew tired of doing animal noises to keep Gid happy, so we stopped at Cross Iron Mills and went to the sporting goods store! It was just like a Cabella's in the US! Airplane and all!

I found a cast iron section to make me drool while Matt found a bag big enough to fit his ego...

...or even our troubles!

Time to decorate!

Getting started...

Here's some Christmas Cheer!

Gabe has decorating down to a science! It's about quantity NOT quality!

Maeg is all about variety!

Nate was testing decorations for quality control...

Morgan was enjoying her Crash Test Dummies Christmas CD...

Will and Gid were checking out the lights...

We're done! It doesn't take long with this much help!

A few days later, Matt gave Gabe this haircut! And then he got another one to fix it!

Sleeping boys! Too cute!

Then the girls and I had our bellydance show!

Yes, I performed- and even had some compliments!

Morg and Maeg were amazing!

Grandma Doreen took this for us after!

Next up on the agenda was our Ward Christmas Party! Matt danced the night away with the kids!

We made gingerbread houses...

...and saw Santa!

Gid and Will,

Nate

Maeg,

Gabe

Morg

And Yes,

That is me heading the train...and it was way too much fun...and I know you're all jealous!

Then it was Will's 14th b-day!

The cake says "Happy Birthday Square-pants! From the Krusty Krab!"

(Note my new Singer Sewing Machine and cabinet in the background! I picked it up from a thrift store for $35 and it works! It is from 1923, and made in Scotland! How cool is that?)

...he got a laptop for his birthday and Christmas combined!

Maeg saw Tawna for a haircut!

Very Nice!

Morgan had hers done too! Next blog...Christmas and our beautiful beaded creations!

"I told you so!"

2009-10-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

Yup, I can hear it echoing in my ears, in my own voice...

Just yesterday I was chatting with someone about blogs and how it's too easy to be so busy blogging about life, that you forget to live it.

So, I got out the playdough, set the kids at the table and set to work blogging...

... and this is what I found when I was done!

Can you tell yourself, "I told you so!" ? Better yet, can you believe how I totally proved my point! So, everyone can now see I am a total disaster... I was blogging and poof, my workload doubles!

Hi, My name is Lacey, I was blogging, and my kids were having WAY too much fun without me, and now I get to clean it up!

Lesson learned... until tomorrow! I always was a slow learner! Wait, I'm blogging again right now...DOH!

"I think we're gonna need a whole row!"

2009-10-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

Here they all are! Looking great for church!

Sunday with the cousins was an adventure! We started showering and bathing everyone four hours before church! It was awesome to have everyone looking their best, and we were early!

Maeg's fancy updo for church...

It was so much fun to take up an entire bench in Sacrament Meeting and we really did great! Peter amused himself with a home-made fortune-teller, Nate fell asleep, and everyone else was busy drawing...I mean listening...yeah...

Sure, Alex was trying to take his clothes off, and was conversing with our neighbors behind us during the sacrament prayer, and Gid fell and sustained a minor head injury accompanied by a major decibel level, followed by a very scary and smelly contribution to the swirling odors of the chapel...but all in all it went remarkably well!

Thanksgiving...and a costume party!

2009-10-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

We just finished Turkey dinner...

After turkey dinner, the kids all put costumes on!

Their costumes were too small,

and Peter's "Fur Wedgie"

had me in peals of laughter...

So naturally it became a competition

to see who could get me to laugh the most!

Too cute! (this is Peter wearing the "Fur Wedgie")

A group shot!

Gid is a milk maid,

And yes, that is Gabe on the Right in the tutu and wig! LOL!

Day Four, cont'd... The Turkey Popcorn Contest!

2009-10-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

We decided boredom is out of the question for today, so we got together and formed a competition. The challenge was to make a popcorn ball look like a turkey, y'know for Thanksgiving!

So The Winner of the competition is...

PETER!!!

Can you see it? The beak, the gizzard, the beady red eyes and the comb?
Way to go Peter! I actually wondered if it could be done, and you really did it!

Here's the rest of the competitors and the behind the scenes:

Levi and Uncle Matt made all the popcorn, while I made all the goo to hold it together!

Gabe cut up ju-jubes because there were no small ones to buy!

I made the first "turkey" to inspire our little people to greatness, hee, hee!

Alex's art

Harlee's hunk

Gabe's grand creation

Maeg's monstrosity

Will's work

"The Bearded Lady"

Nate's nebula

Levi's lovely lump

Gid's glob

The crazy Young table!

Now, lets EAT!

Mmm!

Ohhh!

Ahhh!

Yum!

Gulp!

DAY FOUR

2009-10-10T15:44:00.001-07:00

While Heather and Trevor are enjoying themselves in Florida in their Convertable...we were about to go stir crazy being stuck in the house with this freezing weather!

SO...

We went on a field-trip to Home Depot!

They had to use a fork-lift to get a pile of lumber down for us to use as a table!

There were enough of us that we were the only ones at this table!

We had lots of staff help! The project:

A Fire Station Bank!!!

and they're sooo cute!

But it kept Matt and I REALLY busy jumping from child to child!

I put Gid on my back and

I actually started just walking across the table

instead of around it! LOL!

Kristen helped Maeg with unsurpassed faith,

and Trevor can rest assured that all the May kids were framing pros!
Harlee had the cutest baby hammer!

Will and Morgan

Working hard on our banks!

It took some tongue concentration too!

There's that tongue again!

We had to put on the stickers...

and hammer in the finishing nails!

We sure had fun!

A bit of help from Uncle Matt!

Harlee insisted on doing everything herself! And she was good at it too!

Peter is putting the bottom on

Stickers for the final touch!

Cousins helping each other!

Nate was fast and efficient!

He would finish and patiently wait for the next step!

Gabe is enjoying the project!

Harlee's finished Fire Station Bank!

Will is all about precision, and finished last!

Gabe's is even well balanced!

I can't tell if Alex had fun or not! JK!

Everyone got certificates of achievement too!

This is the biggest smile Levi can do...

it is still pretty sore to smile.

Morgan finished, and then ran to the bathroom,

effectively missing out on the group photo!

All of us, except Morgan, at Home Depot!

No longer stir-crazy,

our project was done.

We amused/shocked/amazed every single person we passed by,

and made it into formation

(oldest to youngest)

to get to the van!

P.S. I think we're lucky the door stayed open this long!

Day Three!

2009-10-10T15:20:00.000-07:00

Playdough time!

A Ball!

Fun!

Cutting the dough!

Just before stitches...

These are giant snakes!

Playdough competitions!

Ouch!!! Two sets of stitches in two days! Levi has been busy!

No tears, no pain, tough guy!

He was swinging on the rings in the basement and ended up with three more stitches! He prayed that he would be able to smile and talk...poor guy!
It looks really good though, and both sets of stitches come out the same day!

Ten Little Monkeys...

2009-10-10T14:00:00.001-07:00

Day Two...

Cousins playing in the leaves

Going for a ride!

Trampoline fun!

Saying goodnight to mommy!

We hope Florida is Fun!!!

We miss you Heather & Trevor!

Yup, I have TEN kids at my house!!!

2009-10-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

A Pictoral Essay

Day One:

Heather drops off her four kids at my house for nearly a week. Levi's bum drop and the subsequent head injury put her behind schedule for her trip to Florida! She only had 1 1/2 hrs of sleep!

A nice bandage for bedtime...

to cover these:

Three stitches. The moral? No more monkeys jumping on the couch!

I've been busy this morning...

2009-10-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

This morning I got up and made this...

Quinoa with Curried Veggies and Chickpeas

2009-09-24T23:53:00.001-07:00

Yup, I'm a new blogger and this is the test post...I have no clue what I'm doing! Enjoy!