Looking back seven months...

This isn't my usual lighthearted post of funny things the kids say, so please forgive me a few minutes of nostalgia. Thanks for letting me share with you.

This weekend I cleaned out my laptop case. It contained my copy of the pediatrician's notes from when Soph was born. Just a few excerpts:

"6/15/09 15:00 hrs. Mom scheduled for induction today. Cord prolapse noted by exam and fetal heartbeat in 60 bpm prior to c/s. From detection of cord prolapse to delivery is estimated 10/12 min. Mom +lupus anticoagulant &GBS & GD. Apgar @ 1,5,10,15 (minutes) is 0,2,6,&8. Chest compressions during first two minutes. PAP firs 10-15 minutes. CPAP currently as well..."

"Addendum, 16:45: spoke with both parents about possibility of ischemic encephalopathy (brain damage from lack of oxygen) because of prolapse cord for 10-15 min. duration. Spoke about signs and symptoms of ischemic encephalopathy and its consequences both short term and long term. Spoke about different levels of severity...."

I read through these notes as I watched my seven month old do an army crawl across the floor and squeal in delight. In the few days since, she has cut her first tooth, started sitting up on her own, and pulled herself to standing. My sweet baby who started life with an apgar score that was literally a 0: no breathing, no heartbeat, just went down for her morning nap.

Not everything in my life has turned out perfectly. But today I am remembering that miracles do happen, and I will forever be grateful for this one.

Hyrum's version of Jolly St. Nick

Our kids take what I would call "string quartet" lessons. Each is learning to play a stringed instrument. One of the Christmas songs they have been learning is "Jolly Old St. Nicholas." Hyrum decided to sing it the other day:

"Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Clean your ears this way..."

Apparently music is the best way to teach appropriate hygiene to elves and such...

Are These Waterproof?

Seth was using some rubber vehicles for sorting and counting.
Sophia is trying to help by sucking on them.
Seth: Mom, are these waterproof? Cause she licks things.

Feeding Sophia

Sophia likes sweet potatoes but is very messy with them

She thinks she should be in charge of the spoon.
I beg to differ.

and feeding her is like trying to hit a moving target

What is Today?

Noah: "Dad, what is today?"
Dad: "Today is Monday."
Noah: "No, that's not it. Mom, what is today?"
Mom: "Today is Monday."
Noah: "No, today isn't 'Monday', today is tomorrow."

Seth quote: "If you ever see a real kangaroo, don't go by it. 'Cause he might have some cereal that he stole from someone."

A Creative Approach

Seth is a confessed chocoholic. If he could, he would have chocolate for every meal of the day. I bought some mini peanut butter cups to use as incentives for potty training Noah, and Seth knew of their location.

He came into the office and saw me sitting close to the hiding place. Knowing he couldn't get one without my knowledge, he decided that he had better get more creative. "Mommy," he asked, "Can I have three of those so I can practice my juggling?"

I never knew that Seth juggled, and I am pretty sure that the only place he throws anything chocolate is into his mouth!

Premature Punishment

Seth comes in with a broken toy sword.  Deborah asks whose it was and he replies: “Hyrum's.”

Deborah tells him, “Hyrum isn't going to be very happy when he finds out.”

Seth replies, “Yeah, he'll kill me. Mom, will you get Hyrum in trouble?"

Deborah asks, "What for?  You are the one who broke his sword."

He said, "Well, he was the one about to kill me!"

So we are hypothetically punishing Hyrum before the fact...

The Ivie Clan

The Ivie Seven

...and all of them at least looking in the general vicinity of the camera! :D

Our Sleepy Doll:

Volunteers

At Snowbird, Deborah needed someone to go to housekeeping.  Seth (age 4) volunteered.  She told him he couldn’t go alone… so Noah (almost 3) offered to go with.

Fun Noah Quote

"I can do stwong sings, like daddy does!"

Awe Dad, you sure take a lot of pictures!

I think this one looks more like she does in "real life" than the others do. She has a thin, tiny nose. She seems so small to me. I know 6 lbs. 15 oz. isn't tiny, but since Noah was 8 lbs. 15 oz., there is a huge difference!

I turn 40 today. My first birthday present (and the only one I really want or need) came at 2 am. She was well enough for them to pull the IV and bring her into my room to eat. I got to keep her until 5.

When my new nurse came on this morning, her first comment was, "I heard about your little miracle baby." She truly is a miracle, and I am so grateful for her!

Sophia loves her binky