A few DIY Projects

My DIY Projects
I've been doing a few DIY projects around the house.  Nothing big, just a few things that have really been bugging me.  I wanted to accomplish our Master Bedroom while on maternity leave, but 4 kids prove to be more work than anticipated.  So I've done a few little projects around the house that have been on my mind. 

Filing Cabinet
Zach was driving through our old neighborhood and found a 4 drawer filing cabinet that had been painted, and was needing some love.  It had a big FREE sign on it, so Zach made sure everything worked, and he loaded it up and brought it home.  He was so excited to show it to me.  Here are my before and after pictures.

BEFORE

I pulled out all the drawers, found a can of spray paint I all ready had on hand.  I used KRYLON Brushed Metallic Oil rubbed bronze. 

I set everything up in the grass, and took off the ugly little square tag holders on the front of each drawer.

 

 After 4 cans of spray paint, I was done painting.  I recommend sanding, and priming before spraying painting.  I bought some contact paper from the dollar store, and with a little work, Waa Laa, my cute filing cabinet is complete.







AFTER

Now if I can only get all of our “stuff” transferred into it, and get rid of the old broken one.

 

 

 

 

WINDOW TRIM

When our home was built it did not have trim around any of the windows.  I hated how plain it looked.  So I took it upon myself to learn how to use my new finish nailer, I went and I went and bought some wood.  I was a little intimidated about the nailer, at first.  But today I love, love, love it.  Thank you Zach and Mom for the wonderful birthday present.  Here are some pics.

The 2 side windows in the Kitchen Bay window

 

 

 

Without Trim
 

AFTER

I also felt the need to cap our half wall, and and ledge around the stair well.  It looked pretty boring.  Zach hates when I start new projects, but I just don’t care.  When I’m done painting and everything is cleaned up, he will love it. 

JAYDEN’S ROOM 

I started Jayden’s bedroom over 1 month before he was born.  It was a completely white room that was screaming for some color.  Zach told me to just leave it white, but when I have my mind set he’s never gonna win. J I drew up some ideas on the computer, and got to work. I just got all the vinyl, up on the wall and love the way it turned out.  YES! Another project out of the way.

  

A Note from Miss Lyndee, Dinner, Pinterest Pin

 

 Sunday

We love Sunday mornings at our house.  First thing this morning, Alex wanders upstairs and asks “What day is today?”  I say, “It’s Sunday”.  Oh the moaning and groaning that comes from him every Sunday morning.  He really does enjoy church.  He always tells me how much fun he has in Primary each week.  Plus he loves getting treats from the Bishop’s office after church.  I think he hates waiting around all day for 1pm church, and getting ready for church, when he would rather be doing something else.

So, little Madi has been super constipated for the last 1.5 weeks.  She has tried and tried to get that sucker out, but has no luck until tonight.  For days I’ve been trying everything her Pediatrician recommended, and every idea given to me by friends and family.  Umm . . . Nothing.  I kept thinking to myself, this has got to be a rock hard turd to resist 3 enemas, and 2 suppositories, plus all the miralax, juice and fiber I’ve been pumping into her.  YES!  It was a huge thing.  I felt so bad for her.  She was crying so hard trying to push it out.  She is so cute.  After I got her changed she thanked me for helping her and asked to take a nap.  She has been asleep on my bed since.  I’m so glad she is feeling better.

Lyndee has quite the sassy attitude.  Today she was so upset with me that I asked her to pick up all her crap that was all over the house.  Even after she was “done” I’d look around and see all the stuff she didn’t pick up.  She thinks that she doesn’t have to help out around the house.  I had to ask her several times to get her room clean.  She has a terrible habit of leaving all of her clothes, clean and dirty, all over her room.  I got upset with her because she was putting it off, coloring, and ignoring me.  After I got on her case I headed upstairs to get ready.  As I was talking to Zach in our room, I look out our bedroom window and see Lyn carrying a huge armful of clothing, dropping a few on the grass here and there unintentionally.  I opened the window and told her to get all her clothes and get in the house.  Zach found a letter she had written to us and slipped under our bedroom door.  Check it out here.

 

Zach was laughing his guts out after reading it.  He thought it was funny to tease her about loving Madi more than her.  I told her that I was going to post her note on the blog, and she got super embarrassed, and tried to rip it up before I got a picture of it.  Ha Ha Ha.  Little did she know that Dad posted it all while she thought I was still looking for the camera. We’re tricky!

 

DINNER

Thought I would share what we had for dinner tonight.  It was delicious.  Slow Cooker Boneless BBQ Ribs.  They were so good.  Zach asked why I didn’t cook all the ribs, because everyone wanted seconds.  Here is the link for the recipe.  YUM! You’ll want to make these, I promise!   http://whatsfordinnerfran.blogspot.com/2011/10/crock-pot-boneless-country-style-ribs.html

During dinner Alex didn’t want to eat any of his salad, which was weird, because he loves salad, and eating healthy.  Zach told him he had to eat his salad before he could have another roll.  Alex got mad at Zach and made the mean face and was holding his breath.  You should have seen the color of red he turned.  All we could do was laugh.  It was funny.  Eventually his mean face turned into laughter as he realized he was doing something cool.

 

 

 

 

 

Pinterest

Zach has been commenting on how badly dry my feet are.  So I scowered Pinterest to find the cures all for the nastiness on my feet.  Here is what I found, and thought I’d share my pinterest pin, 

Mix the following:

 ½ C. Vinegar

½ C. Listerine –I used the generic brand I had laying aroud.

1 C. warm water

Soak feet for 10 min, and all the dead skin will fall right off your feet.

Well I tried it while I was watching Madi in the tub this morning.

Results:  I can tell that it definatly helped, but according to what the post reads, "The dead skin will just fall off" . . . it didn't so that at all.. DANG!  I really wanted it to be the super trick.  My guess would be that if I continued to do it regularly and soak longer that YES, it would be a huge benefit, but as for today, it did help a little, it softened the areas enough that a pumice stone could do the rest.  And one other thing . . . , yes, it did leave me with blue feet.  Shower here I come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freezin’ Fun and Laundry

 

June 19, 2013

We had the chance to take the kids to the Logan Pool, for FREE!  Our swim time was 7:30-9:30 pm.  On my way I noticed that my van was showing that it was only 68 degrees outside.  I thought to myself, no way, it has got to be wrong. 

After getting  to the pool and getting settled I soon realized, that yes I believe 68 degrees was right.  RATS!  So in the pool the kiddos went.  I was not getting in, no way.  I am a bit of a chicken when it comes to being cold.

The kids had fun.  They even found some friends to play with.  I am pretty sure it was warmer in the water than standing on the side watching and snapping some pics.  The kids were sad to leave early, but we were cold.  They had fun with their new goggles.  My kids are getting a little  braver in the water every year.

 

June 20, 2013

 

I let the kids play outside a good chunk of the day today.  It was 7pm before we had dinner.  I asked the kids to help clean up the house, (to please dad of course) after dinner was over.  Alex was given the  “daunting” task of sorting the laundry. “I hate laundry, I need help!” These were the words I heard from him for over an hour.  When he doesn’t want to do something he gets a little creative.  I found him burying his head in the laundry basket full of clothes, and then later he was trying on dads clothes.  What a goober!

 



What Matters Most

June 17, 2013

First of all, our little Jayden is getting so big.  I was telling all the family on Sunday that within 1 week, he has completely grown out of all his newborn clothing, and newborn diapers.  Zach and I have seen a big change in him.  So I decided to weigh him up and see for my self. After getting on the scale with and without him, he comes in at . . . 11 lbs. even.  What a little chunk.  I didn't think he would make 10 lbs. by his 2 month appointment.  I am so happy he's growing big, and that he is healthy.

Next I have to share Madi's favorite words of the day. (Yesterday)  Every time she had something to eat, that was sweet of course, she would look at me and say, " Mom, Mmmm Tasty!"  Then she would give me one of her big smiles.  What a cutie.

Laundry Time!  So apparently when I ask the kids to sort all the laundry and fold their clothing, they understand that it is time to wear underwear on your head, dance around and act like super hero's.

Silly, Laundry doing Kids



June 18, 2013

Today was a different story.  I took on the task of taking all 4 kids to town with me to run some errands.  Some days I think I am super woman, and that I can accomplish this feet.  I am quickly brought back to the reality that I am an impatient person, and easily bothered when I am trying to get things done, and I continually get bugged, hear whining and fighting.

 

Lately I have been having been feeling that I am loosing control of my kids.  Lyndee has really had a bad attitude, and a sassy mouth lately.  She continues to roll her eyes at me, shrug her shoulders,  huff away from me, and tell me NO while yelling, when I ask to do something.  It is really getting to me.  She is only 7, and yet I feel like her attitude is 17. Ugh!!

 

Alex continues to whine about EVERYTHING.  He is a great helper when I am alone with him, (most of the time), but his yelling whiny voice is putting me over the edge.  I get to hear from him every time Madi, or Lyndee even look, or touch him.  "Mom, Madi hit me."  etc.  Today he kept going on, and on about wanting a full sandwich, and how dad bought him a full sandwich, and grandma bought him a full sandwich.  All in his loud whiny voice. Ugh, Again!!

 

Madi, as cute as she may be is stacked full of personality.  She is super independent, until I'm busy with Jayden, then she needs me right then and there, and nobody else can help her!  I have noticed that she is taking on some of Alex's character traits.  She does NOT like to share with Lyn and Alex, and hitting is her NEW thing.  She even hit me tonight for taking the Kindle away from them, at 10pm.  Ugh!

 

Jayden.  Yes even he has to have his part in all of this.  As cute and snugly a baby he is, he is going through something.  All he wants every day is to be held and cuddled by someone, anyone.  I love it and I hate it.  He is never content to just lye on the floor with the kids or toys, or sit in his swing, or enjoy his bouncer.  For him its, eat, sleep, poop and be held or I'm gonna cry and scream.  It's even getting to Zach and he is not with him 24/7. Ugh!

 

DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE MY KIDS DEARLY, BUT LATELY THEY ARE DRIVING ME NUTS!!

 

I want to say right here that EVERY mother has a breakdown now and then.  Mine was tonight.  I set Jayden down in his bouncer and left the family room to just be alone.  Sure enough Alex and Madi come in arguing about the kindle and sharing, and this and that!! WHAT, I CAME TO BE ALONE.  3 times Madi came in to bug me.  Alex came to tell me again that Madi hit him.  I told him I needed to be alone, and to just go away for 10 min.  just 10 min. Nope he couldn't do it.  I was so bugged that I told him if he kept talking I was going to ground him, and he needed to go away.  Yes I was yelling at this point!  Alex stomped off crying about being grounded, and I just broke down into tears, and was sobbing.  (This was the breaking point of the day).

 

WHAT MATTERS MOST

 

While sobbing, I felt the need to ask Heavenly Father for help.  I started to pray, and yes got interrupted again by Alex and Madi fighting.  So I started again.  I expressed my gratitude for the blessing of having his children in my care, and in our home.  I shared with him how I was feeling right then, and the problems I have been having with each of the kids.  (Still sobbing.) I asked Heavenly Father to bless me with strength, and  help calm me down.  Wow, instantly I felt my physical body settle, and I felt much more calm.  I felt the need to thank Heavenly Father for the Holy Ghost, which I did.  What happened next, I was not expecting.  I was overcome with answers from Heavenly Father right away.  What was different, was they were coming to me almost faster than I could comprehend them.  One right after another.  All I could do was agree with everything I was being told, or rather feeling.  My answers were not how I could help my children, but that I needed to change my attitude and change myself.  These children are spirits from god, sent to me to care for, guide, teach and love.  It is my responsibility.  Be with them, make time for them, put aside the mundane things that I put before their needs  Speak to hem at their level, because no yelling is ever going to work.  I almost felt as if I was being chastised by how fast, abrupt and quickly I was feeling this from my Father in Heaven.  I needed to hear it.  Yes, they are my first priority.  They look up to me, and I am all to busy doing and worrying about the stupid little details in life.  MY FAMILY IS WHAT MATTERS MOST!

 

After closing my prayer, I felt the need to sit down calmly with my kids and express my concerns.  I was still calm thanks to the spirit about me.  Lyndee had gone to bed, but what a difference it made to talk with both Alex and Madi.  Will it change all at once, no.  But I believe and have faith that things will change if I change.

 

I share my Testimony that Heavenly Father is there for me, ALWAYS.  He does answer prayers, and that Prayer is a necessity in our lives.  Every person placed on this earth, chose to be here, and God loves every single one, just as he loves me.  Family is central to Gods plan, and should be cherished.  Life is too short to yell, scream and fight with one another.  It is my responsibility as a woman and mother to raise my children in righteousness.  My family is forever, and the temple is where my spirit can grow. The spirit can be with us always, and can help guide me in the path of righteousness. What matters most? Giving of myself to others, like my Savior.  Being an example to my children, and  supporting my husband in all things.  Working together as a family, taking the time to know each of them, giving them the security and love they need. 

 

 





A Week of Summer Fun

It seems we finally got around to actually having a little summer fun this week.   I decided that even if the house was not in order, we were going to do something fun.  House work, laundry, dishes, etc. will always be there, however my kids at this age won't.

We started off the week last Sunday headed to the park by Hyrum Rodeo Grounds.  It was nice to get out of the house and have a little bit of fun.  Madi absolutely loves to swing on the swings.  I was pushing her for over 30 min.  She enjoyed every second. 

While there friends of ours, the Bywater Family happened to feel the need for some park time as well.  Alex was so excited to play with Jaxyn, and Lyndee got to play with Brynly, and Katelyn.  They had so much fun.  They even played toilet tag. (Freeze tag in my day!)  We played until dusk.  It was a beautiful sunset.

Monday June 10 was our 9 Anniversary.  We took the kids and went out to lunch.  We were going to go mini golfing, but it was super hot at 3pm.  We came home lined up a sitter for the kids. (They love having sitters while we have a date night) and we drove over the mountain.  We were headed to Maddox, and shortly realized that they are not open on Mondays.  BUMMER!  We were already that way, so we went and visited Grandma, and Grandpa Checketts. (Our kids' Great grandparents) We had Jayden with us, and they had not seen him yet, so we stopped for a visit.  It was good to see them.

Tuesday evening, I had called the kids home from the neighbors, and asked them to bring in their bikes, and come in the house.  I had come in to get Jayden ready for bed, which took a few min.  When I went back outside to express the need of the kids coming in, this is what I found.

 

2 Kids soakin' wet running through the sprinklers at almost 10pm.  All I could do was laugh and grab the camera.  Madi wouldn't join in the fun with the sprinklers, but she was however running around just as much as they were.

 

Thursday after Lyndee got done with summer tutoring classes, we headed to North Logan.  They have a fun splash pad a few blocks north of the Speciality Hospital.  We pitched the canopy, sun screened up, had our water, and treats, and enjoyed the afternoon.  Jayden slept the whole time.  Madi was a bit scared of the water, but Lyn and Alex had a blast.  Over and over again Alex would wait to push the button to start the water again.  It was 96 degrees.  I was grateful for my 10 x 10 piece of shade.

North Logan Splash Pad

 

Thursday evening, the kids got to have some fun with Curt and Janet while Zach and I went to Summerfest kid FREE!  We met up with Cory and Alexis, visited with some friends,  and neighbors.  It was pretty windy and chilly, but we enjoyed being together.

 

Friday I took the kids to Play group at the park.  We have lived here for 2 years and I have never made it to play group.  Finally, finally we made it.  It was at the Whittier Center in Logan.  I had never been to that park.  It was pretty fun.  The kids got to play with all their friends for a few hours in the sun.  Sunscreen Please!

Madi hiding and eating Goldfish

 

Later that evening we had a hot dog roast at the Zellers house.  I was able to share some time with my 2 good friends, Heather Abbey, and Andi Watkins.  We all have kids right around the same age.  Alex, Tanner and Hayden were busy being boys all night.  Lyndee and Katelyn love spending time together.  It was fun.  We all smelled like camp fire when we got home.  I love it!

 

Saturday, Zach was up for 32 hours straight.  He got off work at the Sheriff's Office, then headed to work on the rental homes.  He and Cole accomplished a lot.  He made it home in time to relax for a bit, and head to a BBQ.  We had BBQ chicken dinner with our friends Heidi and Brian Hawkins.  Great dinner.  They taught us how to play Bohnanza.  It's a fun card game, involving planting bean fields.  I lost of course.  Lyndee beat me, and she quit before the game was over. Next time, next time.

 

Sunday, Today.  Fathers Day 2013.  I made Zach a yummy breakfast. Cinnamon French toast with strawberry sauce and whip cream.  This really is saying something, because I don't like French toast, and I've only made it 2 or 3 times since we've been married.  It was good enough for me to eat, so it must have been GOOD!

 

Jayden gave Zach the best Fathers Day gift.  Jayden's first laugh was in Sunday School, and it was while Zach was holding and talking to him. 

 

After church, we went to have dinner at Zach's parents house.  Delicious hamburgers, fruit, southwest salad, and Red velvet chocolate cream cheese cake.  Everything was so good.  I had a full plate of seconds, which rarely happens. 

 

Janet brought out a bag of Marshmellows.  The kids were trying to hoard the bag from each other, afraid they wouldn't get a fair share.  When the bag was free, and no one was looking.  Madi snatched the bag and ran over to her Little Tikes Car.  She stuffs the bag of mallows in the Trunk.  She was only willing to share if you asked nicely.  She'd open her "trunk" get you a mallow, twist up the bag and stuff it back into the trunk.  It was funny.  She did it a few times.

 

We went to visit my dad after dinner.  I made he and Curt some homemade Mango Avocado Salsa.  I hope they enjoy it.  Zach was jealous he didn't get any.  So at the last min. I whipped out his Fathers Day gift.  A brand New, never opened, FREE, gas trimmer.  Who would have thought a Gas trimmer would light up Zach's face the way it did?

 

Happy Fathers Day to my Dad, Lee Robinette, my Father-in-law Curt Checketts and to my sweet hubby who puts up with me, and works so hard for our family.  I love your guts Z.

Fathers Day 2013

 

Plans for this week include, 2 free trips to Logan Aquatic Center, and for now a few Park visits.  Eventually I hope to make it down to the Treehouse museum in Ogden, and Hogal Zoo before I go back to work.



Little Words, from Little Mouths

After grocery shopping today, Alex was helping me unload groceries.  He noticed that I bought some coconut milk.  He says to me, "Mom, I know where coconut milk comes from." I asked "Where?".  He replies "from coconuts!"  Being very proud that he knew this, he then says, "I know where chocolate milk comes from".  Again I asked "Where?" He replies, very happily "Chocolate Milk comes from Brown Cows!"  He brought a huge smile to my face, and laughter to go along with it. 

On another note, Madilynn learned the word Popsicle.  Now, she is asking for a popsicle, oh . . . 3 . . .4 . . .even 5 times a day.  I am pretty sure they are her new favorite treat.  Her face and hands are proof that our freezer will surely be stocked with Popsicles all summer long. :)

Earlier this week Jayden started crying, almost screaming and Lyndee (yelling) tried to convince Alex that if he didn't give Jayden his pacifier/binkie that Jayden was going to DIE.  (Lyndee was tired of helping Jayden for the day, and Alex gave it to him once then he spit it back out and continued to cry.)  Alex came running into me and said, "I don't know how to take care of babies (almost in tears)".  It was funny.  We had a little talk that crying babies are NOT going to die if they don't get their binkie's.

Jayden Blake Checketts

I honestly cannot believe it has been over a year since my last post. Okay, maybe I can believe it.  Life keeps me busy.

On April 22, 2013 we welcomed Jayden Blake Checketts to our family.  Our kids were so excited to be having another brother. 

Jumping back to Christmas 2012.  Christmas Eve was the evening that the kids found out we were expecting a little brother.  They all we so excited.  A brother is what they all hoped for.  We shared the BOY news with our families Christmas Day via Text Message because Zach, Lyndee and myself came down with the flu Christmas Morning.  A Christmas we'll never forget!

Jayden arrived at 8:10am Monday April 22.  He was 7lbs, 7oz, and 20 inches long.  My labor was short, and the delivery was easy.  I pushed twice.  His APGAR scores were high, at first, then as we were holding and enjoying him, as he was getting cleaned up right after the delivery, things changed.  He no longer was screaming, and was having a hard time breathing.  Our NICU nurse Liz took him from me (after asking) and had to put him on 100% Oxygen.  Watching his little chest rise and fall with such effort and strain was hard.  The Respiratory Nurse was called to the room.  After warming him up and getting him weighed and cleaned up all while on oxygen, he and Zach were off to the NICU.  I was so strong until they left the room, and man I broke down and started sobbing.  My mom was there with me.  I am so thankful she was, because I needed that comfort she gave. 

I spent 45 min in recovery.  During this time I got ahold of a family friend, Teryl Hunsaker  who works in the Urology dept. at the Budge Clinic.  I asked him if he would be willing to help Zach give Jayden a blessing, and he agreed.  After being cleaned up, my nurse wheeled me to the NICU to see Jayden and Zach before going upstairs to rest.  It was so hard to see my tiny little baby boy hooked up to all sorts of tubes, wires, and machines.  As a mother all you want to do is hold and comfort those you love.  Hard I tell you, hard.  I was instructed to only touch him, not stroke him, as it puts too much stress on them.  Shortly after I arrived, Teryl arrived.  We decided on a full name our little baby as we needed it for the blessing.  Jayden Blake Checketts.  Thinking back I don't really remember all that was said in this blessing, but I do remember being comforted. 

After this blessing, and prior to going up to my room I met the neonatologist, who only works once in a while at Logan Regional Hospital, and usually works on Tuesdays, but amazingly just happened to be working a Monday. (Miracle)

Zach stayed with Jayden most of the day, except to take a little nap in my room.  After I was able to get up and move around without help, my nurses wheeled me down to the NICU to be with my little man.  Zach had gone home to get Lyndee, Alex, and Madi.  We didn't know if they would be able to even see him at all that day. 

After running lots of blood work, and tests, they wanted to wait for one hour to see if he would have improvement.  He failed to have improvement at that one hour mark, and turely was close to needing life flight due to sepsis.  This is when I talked with our pediatrician and we agreed to start him on IV antibiotics, as his body was trying to fight some type of infection.  They would re-test his blood in 48 hours, after antibiotics to see if he was improving.  Time will tell.  At this point we were hoping for him to be able to leave the hospital with me when I was discharged. 

Zach called me around 5pm to see how we both were doing.  I had spent all of the afternoon in the NICU with Jayden.  I didn't want to leave him.  Curt and Janet stopped by around 5:30 to come see him.  They were surprised to see him the way he was, and Janet teared up right when she saw him.  While they were there Zach had called and said he'd be bringing the kids up to see me around 6 pm, knowing they wouldn't be able to see him.  When they got there our kids had fun in my hospital room.

Right close to 6 pm his nurse came into his room to do his vital signs.  He was having a hard time and moaning through all those tubes.  She called the Respiratory nurse to come help her.  I was thinking, oh NO he is getting worse.  I was surprised when she told me that he was moaning because of the tubes, and that they had orders from Dr. McKenna to try him off his oxygen and on room air to see how he would do.  I had been told earlier that they were pretty sure he wouldn't be able to go to room air, and that he would need a nasal cannula.    I think Jayden surprised us all when he was breathing just fine.  The respiratory nurse moved out of the way so I could be by his side.  He was able to open up his big eyes and look right at me.  This was the first time I was able to see his eyes.  Immediately I thought to myself, he looks like my dad , his grandpa (Lee Robinette). 

I stayed up at the hospital for an extra day in hopes that he would be able to come home with me when I was discharged.  Tuesday morning he had more blood work done, checking to see if the antibiotics were doing the job.  When I came down to his room with my mom, early that afternoon, I asked his NICU nurse if his levels came back good, as I haden't heard yet.  His nurse said to me, "They were bad, like he will need to be here for a week bad!)  My heart sank.  I honestly over the last 12 hours really thought he was improving.  We were so upset he wouldn't be coming home, but we knew that he needed to be there to get better.  Later that evening while I was down in the NICU, I brought up his lab work results with her.  I loved Stefanie.  She pulled out his results (the actual paper) sat next to me and showed me his lab results in comparison to his previous results.  Then she preceded to explain what the (numbers) actually meant in lame man terms.  She told me that yes, he was indeed getting better.  His labs were improving, however they were still bad enough that he would need 1 full week of IV antibiotics.  [Big sigh of relief]  I was under the impression that he was actually getting worse, which led me to having lots of thoughts of what could happen flood my mind.  Stefanie was so cute with us, and with Jayden.  Thank you Stefanie from LRH NICU!

Over the next 4 days I was in and out of the NICU to feed and be with our little Jayden.  One evening I came in, and his IV had clotted off, and they had to put a new one in on his head.  (Previously it had been in the back of his hand)  It was so sad.  I sent a picture to Zach and the family.  Despite the slightly appearance of the IV now, it was actually much easier to hold and handle him.  After feeding him each time I came in, I always just sat and loved our little guy.  It was our alone time.  

On our way into the hospital late Saturday night, I received a call from our Pediactrician, Dr. McKenna.  He told me that Jayden's lab levels were looking really good, and that he would be able to come home Sunday morning.  We were expecting Monday sometime.  This brought a smile to all of our faces.  That night while we were there, we watched the mandatory videos for discharge.  The carseat video, and the CPR video.  while watching the CPR video Zach was practicing on the plastic dummy child.  He thought he was pretty cool.

 

Sunday April 28, 2013 We loaded our kiddos up and headed to the hospital to pick up our little cutie.  The kids were so excited.  (It was really weird having a 4th child, but not having him around at home).  The kids were not allowed  back in the NICU, so they waited in the waiting room with Zach while I packed Jayden up, and had the rest of our discharge teaching. 

We were escorted to our van by one of the NICU nurses. (They have to make sure you know how to buckle your new little one in. )  Then we were on our way home.  Hooray!!  When we got home, Zach was so excited to get him out of his car seat, and let the kids all hold and love him.  Lyndee and Madi were super excited, Alex however was scared.  He didn't even want to be by him for a picture.  We had family come over later that evening to oogle over him too.  Before everyone left Alex had warmed up, and we got a few pictures of all the kids.  This one is not the best, but it'll do!

 

We are so blessed to have him home, and growing big.  We thank everyone for your prayers, and I want to thank Grandma Ruth Robinette for caring so much.  I know in my heart that the blessing Jayden had, and having our names in the Temple is what helped Jayden be the happy healthy little boy we love.  Thank you all for all the kind help you've given our whole family.  We are so blessed to have such great family in our lives.  We thank our Heavenly Father everyday for the blessings he pour upon us.  We know that we are lead by his hand, and watched over and loved continuously from him.

 

Love,

Zach, April, Lyndee, Alex, Madilynn, and Jayden