Sariah's blessing

Sariah was blessed on the 8th of October and for the first time we were able to have family and friends present at the blessing. It was so wonderful. Nana, Great Aunt Sheryl, Aunt Shawn and Uncle Brian, Cousin Alex and Hayden, God mother Emily and Jen were all there and we actually filled a pew and a half!! Everyone at church thought it was funny that Sariah was being passed up and down the pew. There are definetly enough people to hold her and love her.

After sacrament we all went to my cousin's house were Great grandma and uncle Dennis joined us. We had a great time and God mommy Emily did a great job at changing all of her dirty diapers :) Nana brought a ton of food and the family bought her a lot of really cute dresses (it is so much fun to have a girl!).

Ding, Dong, Ditch

We started the season by recieving a plate of goodies on our doorstep. Matt was calming the baby while I was at the gym and so couldn't get to the door very quickly. Then he looked out the peep hole and didn't see anyone so he didn't open the door. When I came home there were the goodies. Thanks to whoever left them we really appreciated them!
Attached was an envelpe with a bunch of these ghost cards in it and a letter to keep the fun going by dropping off more goodies to someone else. Here was our contribution. I meant to take a picture of the children ringing the doorbell, but we had to run fast!!! Too much fun. The kids are begging to do it again, so come Christmas time you better answer your door quickly :)

My blessings

Just thought I would post some pics of the children. They do grow so quickly.

Is it possible for a fourth child not to be spoiled?

Sariah is definetly a "hold-me" baby. Now I realize why. There are always plenty of people who would rather hold her than hear her cry. I tried to lay her down today only to come out to find Seri holding her because she had started to cry. Then a few hours later I found Michael had picked her up for the same reason and had rocked her to sleep.....Is there hope?

Poor Baby

Today I come out to the living room and notice something odd about Sariah, Isaac had stuck a bunch of stickers right on her bottom. She will either grow up twisted or with a great sense of humor.




The other day we were in the car when all of a sudden the children started laughing hysterically. Of course we inquire as to what is so funny and were given the standard answer of "oh nothing". I come on here to upload the pictures and find this one of Sariah with a pom pom on her head. Seri says "well, now you know what was so funny the other day". My poor baby girl.

Do the Puyallup

We went to the Puyyalup fair last week, another event that means you have to go to at least once a year. The children had a blast and really enjoyed looking at all the animals. We even saw a kangaroo and a zebra. Of course the best part was all the rides!! Just figured out that I need a new camera, these pictures are not coming out all that great. Luckily Christmas is just around the corner, I will keep my fingers crossed.

Midwife

We had our one week appointment and wanted a family picture taken with the Suzy, the midwife who delivered Sariah. Unfortunatly, Michael decided to exhibit his stubborn side and refused to join the picture.

Just another cute moment

Yes, here are some snap shots of my technology addicted family. Sariah was only ten days old here, but daddy says you can never be too young to learn.

It is so nice to be home

All ten of our children (plus a visitor), and us girls.
Last night my family had the chance to meet with some people that I had grown up with.
People with whom I had spent a great deal of time with during my teenage years. People who had a great influence on me and the person I grew up to be.
It was so great to be able to introduce them to my family and show my husband a bit of my past. On the way home he commented on how impressed he was with my friends and on how I must have had a great childhood surrounded by friends like that.
And he is right, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by great friends who were almost more like family at times. It was nice to be there with those who have seen me at my best and at my worst and stiill accept me and welcome my family with open arms.
some of them I hadn't seen for three years others I hadn't seen in ten, yet we sat and talked as if nothing had changed. We have added spouses and children, but aside from that it is true, some things never change.......thankfully.

cast your vote

Which one should we use for the birth announcement?

comparing

Just wanted to compare her 3D ultrasound to what she looks like now. The ultrasound was done at 32 weeks and the pic is Sariah at 2 days old. Amazing isn't it?

Finally

About 11:15 thursday night I climbed in bed and felt some minor contractions, nothing really major. Then I felt the "pop" right near my belly button and thought "dang, that really hurt!!" Then I recognized it as being my water breaking. Sure enough I stood up and had about three or four good trickles of fluid.
I called for my hubby who immediately started calling the midwife, my cousin, and Emily to let them know it was time. My cousin didn't know how to get to the birthing center so I told her we could waite at my house till she got here and then she could follow us, my husband immediately vetod that idea. I then wanted to get in the shower but that was shot down too. By this time my mother had woken up my daughter and was getting her dressed and the contractions made their appearance.
We got in the van and the contractions were three minutes apart. About this time I was reminded of how much pain this would involve and told my husband that I had changed my mind and wanted her to stay in a little longer, I wasn't ready to do this again after all. Too bad I wasn't in control.....
Arrived at the center and they had the tub ready so I climbed in. We talked and laughed between contractions and I was really comfortable. That didn't last long as I transitioned through the stages very quickly. Soon the contractions were right on top of eachother and I was complaining that my breaks were gone and I really needed them back.
They finally did an internal because it seemed like I was progressing so quickly. I was at a six but she was still pretty high. I went to the bathroom and found myself pushing so we very quickly got back into the tub.Pushing was sheer torture.........It was so much harder than I remember it being with the others. The midwife says it was because she started so high and I had to literally push her down.
My water broke at midnight about and she was born at 1:34 am. My blood pressure was elevated and I had a headache that I thought was going to kill me. Aside from that everything is perfect. No tears or abrasians (sp?), nothing.... Serenitie did great and was such a proud sister. She got to cut the cord and watched the midwife examine the placenta and give Sariah the new born assesments, she was interested in everything and wanted to know everything.
We were home at 4:30 am the same day and quickly went to bed and then she didn't wake up until about 1:00 pm this afternoon. She hasn't really even cried yet.. She is very observant and very quiet, such an easy baby. She has no interest in eating really, mommy has to be pretty convincing in that area.
So here are the states.
Sariah JoAnne Olson
9 lbs 3 ounces
21 inches
Sept 8 2006

First day of school.

Once again, it is that time of year. Both children were very excited to go back to school, guesse mom was not very entertaining this summer. Seri is now in fifth grade and Michael is entering second. Hard to believe.... At least Isaac is still at home with mommy.

still waiting..........

Yes, she was due on the 3rd of September.
No, she has not arrived yet, nor does she show any sign of wanting to make an appearance any time soon.
Seri tells her to "swim towards the light".
Michael tells her to "find the red button and push it, that's your eject button".
Matt tells me to work on getting the baby out when he leaves for work and mom just gives me that look that says "what, no baby yet?".
Only Isaac is oblivious to the anxious atmosphere of everyone waiting for her arrival.

So it begins.........

Tonight I found shaving cream in intricate patterns in the children's bathroom. On a quest to find the culprit I started with Seri and Michael, who both responded with "I didn't do it". Off to find Isaac who when questioned replied with "maybe baby Sariah did it."

What a three year old does with a camera.

Just a cute moment

Mommy was watching a show on TV, Daddy was playing World of Warcraft on the computer and bubba and sissy were staying over at a friend's house. What's a boy to do?

First doula baby

I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in midwifery. The first step for me was to start by doing doula work in order to improve my chances of being accepted to midwifery school in a year.
My first doula client had her child last sunday on the 13th of Sept.
Her beautiful baby girl was born at 9:04 am weighing 9 lbs 2 ounces and 21 inches long.
The experience was amazing
On that note, Sariah moved the entire night. It was as if she was aware that something was going on. When I got home the next morning and went to bed Matt climbed in behind me and made the usual motion of putting his hand on my belly. He was astonished at how active she was.
One of the nurses made a comment about how this must make me want to hold my own child now. Actually it is the opposite. Once the child is here there is a period of wonderment and awe, but then life returns to normal and the experience is over. I am really not ready for that. The apprehension and wonder and "what if's" are gone. You no longer go to sleep wondering if "tonight will be the night" but rather you don't go to sleep at all :) It is a joyful and yet sad passing. What now belongs only to me I will soon have to share with the whole world.

Summer Fun

Growing up in Washington one knows that no summer is complete without a trip to this six flags theme park/water park. With the summer nearly ending we decided it was time. We went today with my cousin Shawn her husband and two children and we had such a great time!! It was thought provoking to watch my children enjoy the same rides and attractions that I had when I was their age. I definetly saw the park from a new perspective now that I am an adult with children of my own.
Tim Noah was performing and I remember him performing at my elementary school when I was ten, couldn't believe he was still around!! We have all his tapes and videos and the kids know all his songs so it was neat to see the look on their faces when they realized that this was the guy who sang some of their favorite songs.
On another note, it was so good to be able to go with family. Our family really gets along with my cousin's family and it is nice that the children are finally getting to really know thier family rather than just visiting occasionally.
All these things left me thinking at the end of the day, it is REALLY nice to be back home.

Not in the Army anymore.

Finally, my hubby can no longer be recognized as being in the Army by that certain look that all Army soldiers seem to have. Yep, it's official, we are civilians! His attire has changed, he has more hair than I have ever before seen him with, he has gained about fifteen pounds, and he almost always has a smile :)
At a staff meeting awhile ago they were introducing him and mentioned that he just came from the military and so he is adjusting to civilian life. His boss then said "Yes, and for some reason he always feels the need to let us know when he is leaving for lunch or at the end of the day." I found this very humorous, guesse the military did train him after all.