The first couple of weeks.

Two days after coming home we had to admit Lindi to Cardon Children's hospital for jaundice. Major bummer. At her 2 day check up her pediatrician thought she looked yellow. Since it was the weekend he told us to go to the ER to get her blood drawn to check her bilirubin level since the labs wouldn't be open. I think we were in denial that she would have to stay because we didn't bring any over night stuff with us. Sure enough, the ER physician walked in and without even drawing her blood declared her a pumpkin and sent us up stairs for photo light therapy. I think the hardest part was having to watch her get her IV line in. Pure torture. Makes you appreciate your children's health.

Luckily she only had to stay one night but that was one night too long! We were happy to pack our non existing bags and head home! I looked, smelled and felt like I had been camping for a week! Who knew old, dried up breast milk could smell so rotten. Gag.
.

Finally we could relax and start enjoying our family of 5! I think Lindi knew in heaven what she would be getting herself into with 2 crazy older brothers. She is the most content baby ever and can sleep through any amount of noise and chaos.

 

EXHIBIT A

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

 

However they are so sweet with her and love her more than anything!

 



 

I have a million head shots of her on my phone

and think her life size bows are priceless. Casey may say otherwise...



I soak up our snuggle time in the wee early hours of the morning. She loves daddy's side of the bed after he leaves for work.

 



 

And if you have met Lindi then you know how much she loves to sleep!

Grandpa and Lindi took a solid 2 hour nap together:)

 



Life with our little girl is simply the best!

 

 

A Baby Story

 

 

 

I was a week over due and miserable. Miserable! I delivered this baby with a Maricopa County maternity plan instead of with my normal OB. They don't really cater to inductions like most doctors do. Even when a severely done being pregnant lady calls in begging and pleading. They still said no after I proclaimed my husband needed to be out of town for work for a week in a few days (yes, that part was true). Desperate as ever I took the advice from my mom who had heard to drink raspberry leaf tea to self induce.

 

Monday morning with no signs of labor I set out to get me some tea then go home and OD on this magic juice. I thought for sure Trader Joe's would carry a plethora of tea choices but of course they only had 5 different kinds to choose from. So my next stop was Walmart. They had the opposite problem than Trader Joe's and had 30 different teas but of course not raspberry leaf. By that point I had to pee or something and my elephant cankles had given out so I gave up and went home. Later that afternoon I was determined to have this baby by the next day so I sent Casey to Sprouts to try one more time. He was gone probably an hour and came home saying he finally found it about 10 seconds before giving up. Sprouts has a freakishly huge health section I tell ya! As I was scrapping together some dinner and brewing 10 packets of tea Lane out of now where starting crying hysterically that his ear was hurting. I said a few bad words in my head then loaded him in the car  to twilight hours and waited an hour or so to find out he had an ear infection. After getting prescriptions and kids in bed I could finally drink my tea! And drink I did. About a gallons worth.

 

About 10pm I hopped in bed, still with no signs of labor and instantly fell asleep. At 2 I woke up with contractions. Not super painful but the kind where you know you wont be falling back to sleep. I layed there for an hour then woke up Casey to let him know that eventually we will be hitting the road to the hospital but not yet so get all the sleep you can. I took a shower, packed my bags, said goodbye to my bed for a month and got things ready for the boys. By then my contractions were pretty painful and consistent but I still thought I could wait it out a little longer before we needed to leave. By now it is 4:30 and I forgot that we had to drive to Phoenix and didn't know when rush hour would hit so I woke up Casey and called my mom and off the hospital we were!

 

I was at a 6 when we got there and the nurse said that we would be staying. I quickly responded saying good because they would have to drag me out there. By the time I was in my delivery room with an epidural it was 6am. Casey and I enjoyed some time together chatting and before I knew it I felt a huge amount of pressure and knew it was time to get this baby girl here! With my entourage of doctors and nurses, since it was a teaching hospital ( I think I counted 6 or 7 in the room) and about 5 pushes our Lindi Lou came at 9:30am on the dot!

 



 

 

 

I couldn't believe what a chunk she was, 8 pounds 12 ounces, 21 inches.  And all of that dark, long hair she had. And still has! She was love at first sight. We both couldn't stop starring at her. We instantly said how much she looked like Rusty but was long like Lane. She has a dimple chin like her dad.

 

 

After the company left and we were situated in our recovery room we started talking names since we had nothing chosen. Not even a few strong possibilities. After a lot of throwing names around Casey said what about Lindi for Lindblom (my maiden name). I instantly got chills and knew that was her name. Originally I always thought I wouldn't give my girls a middle name because I don't have one and if I couldn't pick a first name how was I going to choose 2 names. But for some reason after saying Lindi a few times we threw in Lou after Casey's grandma and I got even more chills. So now we have our little Lindi Lou who we can't get enough of!

 

So I guess the tea worked!!!

 

 

Lindi Lou

 

  

 

 

Making room for baby

 

 

This barely 1500 sq ft house of ours still ceases to amaze me.

When we bought it 6 years ago I thought for sure it would have a 2 kid maximum occupancy.

Our lovely economy forces us to think differently.

I really do LOVE our home.

There isn't one nook or cranny that hasn't had a little TLC done to it.

With baby #3 on the way it was time to do some more shifting around.

 

I knew the boys were going to share a room so that meant dreaded bunk beads.

I was not looking forward to bodies hurling off the top and endless fort making.

For some reason I thought bunks would be the only option.

Then it clicked that maybe I could squeeze in a toddler bed instead.

A quick search on Craigslist and $40 dollars, a can of spray paint, WAY less hassle then expected and voila,

room all done!

 

BEFORE

 

 

 

AFTER

 



 

Now it was on to the nursery. 

I didn't want to go crazy and spend a ton of money flipping it from boy to girl.

So a fresh new color on the wall and more spray painting frames and such that I already had,

this is sisters new room.

 

BEFORE

 



AFTER

 



 

I still need a few things above the window and dresser.

 But I kind of need to figure out a name before I can do that!

 



 

My favorite part was making over this dresser that used to be Casey's as a baby.

 

BEFORE

 



 

AFTER

 

Now the countdown begins! 1 more week and she should be here:)

 

Las Vegas!!

 

 

We have some pretty awesome friends.

Friends who were willing to take a vacation with us.

Friends who were willing to walk around Vegas with a hobbling 8 month prego woman.

Friends who were willing to eat at 3 buffets in 2 days with us.

 

Our flight got in super early (like 7:30) on Friday.

After we checked in our luggage we turned to the bell hop for direction on what's best to

do at such an early hour. Since we literally were the only people outside.

 He chuckled and said most people don't venture out until 10. Right, right.

Our first clue should have been the sole man sitting at the slot machines with puffy red eyes, nursing a drink of some sort and a box of Krispy Kremes.

 

So when in doubt, find a buffet!

It was fab-tastic.

See, we are happy as clams:)

 

 

Then the only smart thing to do after eating at a breakfast buffet is to head straight over to the 

Big Shot, of course!

 

They claimed to be cool, calm and not nervous.

 

 

We on the other hand were happy that we couldn't ride due to baby in the tummy! 

 Maybe getting a little nervous now.

Yep, that's a pee your pants kind of ride.

 



 

 

And then they got to ride another!

 



 



Jenni and Jake had to leave Saturday night so we bought last minute tickets to the 9:30pm Cirque de Mystere show. We usually are bumps on a log at that time but we both actually stayed awake and the show was amazing.

 

We also went to church the next day.

 I must say I really kind of like going to church in different places other than your own ward.

Casey showed me his hand out from Priesthood. I think that was his first ever legit handout from a man lesson. And the best is that instead of a ribbon, the tag is attached with a zip tie!

 



 

And my most anticipated part of the trip. Eating at Serendipitys!

 





We feel so lucky to have Jake and Jenni as friends!

Where shall we go next?!

 

The first part of the year

 

 

Lane kicked his new year off with 5 cavities. Nice.

We were ready to plan our trip to New Mexico for a day at the dentist with Uncle Travis.

I say that in a non joking matter. Needles don't suit Lane well.

Come with us to get his blood drawn and you can see for yourself. It really is quite a show.

Luckily Casey's good friend Leo is a dentist here in Mesa so we decided to take him in to see how he would do.

There was lot's of bribing of Bahama bucks.

 I know, I know.

Let's fill your cavities then coat your remaining 10 good teeth with blue sugar!

I don't know if it was that or Leo but it worked.

After he dozed off to happy land it only took 30 minutes and he was good to go.

Thanks Dr. C!

 

 

He also got to celebrate his first 100 days of school!

 

Rusty  loves hair cut time, NOT.

He was due beginning of December and I couldn't face it so it got pushed back to the end of January.

 I must have been feeling ambitious because I even attempted it without Casey home to hold him down.

It was quite the showdown.

There was hair, tears, boogers flying about.

 Half a bag of pretzels smashed on the floor. It was awesome!

Afterwards we took a picture to send to dad.

The best part was when he proclaimed, mom, I didn't cry!

Sure son, whatever you say.

 



We still don't know exactly how this happened but it was pretty cool looking.

Skateboards make great scars.

 



 

Dad had to work in Tuscon for a few days.

  We took full advantage of eating out and getting treats.

The weather was amazing so we pulled out the swim trunks!

Baby girl and I loved our chill-axin by the pool side.

 



 

 

And then it went ahead and SNOWED the very next day!

True story, snow on our windshield.