SPLIT

I have always suspected that it was going to be hard to go back to school when my leave was over but now I know it is going to be even harder. Bambi my next door neighbor at work called to inform me that they were going to have to get rid of a third grade teacher, hire a second grade teacher, get rid of a fifth grade teacher and hire a teacher to do the split. Also I would possibly have to move my classroom. Well after getting off the phone I told Jon I wanted to quit and not go back next year. Obviously that isn't an option, so I knew I would have to take the split if I couldn't just stay on third. A few days later there was a meeting at my school were everyone decided where they were going. Do to some bad advice I was told not to attend. SO needless to say I got stuck with the split. So next year I get to juggle a new baby and teaching two grades simultaneously. I had a really tough time accepting this, in fact I called my principal in tears. He is an amazing Principal and said they could re have a meeting with my team and see if any one else volunteered to take the split. Well since one is going to second, one is a half time teacher/vice principal those two are out. Which just leaves me and Bambi. We have become such good friends so instead of throwing her under the bus I told him I would just teach the split. I know this sounds like a lot of complaining but I just really needed to vent and get my worries out there. I am sure it will be fine and I will have a good time. But if I suffer a break down mid year you will know what from.

Spring Break and Grandma's visit

This year Spring Break was the best and not just because I was off on maternity leave. My Grandma from Texas came out to spend two weeks with my family to see baby Cason. She arrived on the 4th of April. Charity, Weston, Cason and I went to the airport to pick her up. Charity had been visiting for a few days because her spring break was the week before. Kim and Sean met up with us in Bountiful and we had a wonderful lunch at Robintinos. Then Kim,, Sean and my Grandma got a hotel and we hung out at my house then went swimming at the hotel. Luckily I had Cason to watch so I got out of having to wear a swimsuit so soon after having a baby. The next day we went to the Train Museum in Ogden and then had a wonderful dinner at our house. On Monday Kim, Sean, Grandma, Weston, Cason and I went to the zoo. It was perfect weather. Not too hot or cold. Weston really got into the zoo this year. He would say the animals names and point to them it was great. My Grandma mostly just enjoyed loving on Cason. My aunt Kim got most of the pictures, I only got pictures of the penguins (my favorite). On Tuesday we all just hung out at my Aunts house. The rest of the week I was at home with the kids. But on Friday we all went to Boondocks. My first time. We had fun playing laser tag, mini golf, riding on the race cars, etc. But Weston would say the most fun was us winning him tickets in the arcade to get him the 640 ticket Elmo. My Grandma was amazing at getting tickets. The elmo is thanks to her. Then that weekend we had a wonderful Easter weekend (this is another post). My Grandma and I took Weston to the park on Monday and Weston discovered the swings. He threw quite the tantrum when it was time to leave. The rest of the week we just hung out and visited with one another in Heber City. We had a wonderful visit with my Grandma and I must admit I shed quite I few tears after we dropped her at the airport. Weston said as we were leaving "I am gonna miss grandma." Me too. We all will. Thanks for coming Grandma come back soon. (Sooner then Christmas and bring Grandpa too).

Cason with Auntie Kim at Subway.

Weston with is coveted Elmo.

Weston playing with Sean's outdoor train. DOn't you love the engineer hat?

My penguins. I jjust love them.

Grandma checking on Cason.

Swimming

Grandma getting to love on Cason baby.

Baby Cason Doll

Weston was so cute the other day. He found this doll my aunt had bought to potty train her son. Well Weston found it a carried "Baby Cason" as he named it every where at one point I noticed him breastfeeding the doll. Needless to say I had to buy a baby doll for him.

The last three weeks

This is Weston enjoying his green eggs on St. Patrick's Day.

There have been a lot of things going on the last few weeks. Weston has gotten used to Cason. In fact we now will go up to Cason and lovingly caress his head, he kisses him on the top of the head. If Cason is crying, sneezes, or coughs Weston is wonderful to let me know. He is also very good at telling Cason "bless you." Here are some pictures of Weston holding Cason taken last night.

The first time he held Cason around St. Patrick's Day you would have thought I was torturing him. He really wasn't too sure about holding him. Last night I told Jon he had to hold Cason so I could make dinner well Weston proceeded to tell me he wanted to hold Cason. So I put Weston on the couch and then handed him Cason while I held Cason's head. We sat there for about a minute then I went to hand Cason to Jon. Well Weston in a very determined voice told me again he wanted to hold Cason. So he got in the chair with Jon and held Cason for 10 minutes. So very sweet. Weston is a wonderful big brother.

When Cason was four days old we tried tummytime for the first time. This is a video of Cason's tummy time experience.

Here is a funny story I had to share. I was sitting in the rocker pumping milk for Cason to build up my stock for when I go back to work in 5 months. Weston looks at me for a minute then says, "What you doing mom?" Me: "I am pumping milk for Cason." Weston looks at me again for a minute and says, "Does it hurt?" I had to laugh I most have looked so weird to my little two year old sitting there with two pumps. I wonder what the poor kid was thinking.

Cason's Room

We finally finished Cason's room on Tuesday. I made the quilt all by myself. I am so proud this is my first time to do an entire quilt all by myself. My mom and I made the bumper pads, the dust ruffle, the curtains, pillow, and recovered the glider and ottoman. I then made a cushion for the changing table. I am so happy with how it all turned out. It has been quite the process. By the way. Jon's boss Mike was able to make a piece that we were missing for the crib. Only to have Weston find it today. Shhh! Don't tell Mike. So Weston will have to wait to get a big boy bed until Summer. Not that he cares. LOL!

My quilt from the side that I made, I did this while on bed rest.

Cason's bed and his little lamby from Grandma Hardy

Weston's blessing outfit is hanging from the hook until we buy Cason one.

Announcing....

Cason Larry Hemphill

Thursday, March 12, 2009

7:50 a.m.

7 pounds 19 3/4 inches long

I went into labor early Thursday morning. I had a few painful contractions but I have been having braxton hicks contractions for months so at first I didn't think anything of it. But at 2 I decided to start timing them and see if there was a pattern. I would have one every 30 minutes and go back to sleep. At 3:30 I turned to Jon and said I thought I was in labor and he just said okay and went back to sleep. Men! At 4 I decided to get up and see if walking around made them go away. Well that just made them go from being every 30 minutes to every 5 minutes. I called my mom and told her I thought I was in labor but not sure. She told me to time them for another 30 minutes then let her now. Well they continued so at 5 I called her and she got in the shower. I called Jon's grandparents to tell them I thought I was in labor so they could watch Weston. When I went up to tell Jon Weston was awake so I got my bagspacked and Weston's while Jon showered and picke up my mom. We dropped Weston off and headed to Davis Hospital. We go there at 6. We finally found the labor and delievery and got checked in. I have been 2 cm for 2 weeks. I was hoping I was more in fact I said to my mom if I am still just 2 cm I am not going natural because my contractions were getting intense. The nurse checked me and said I could stay because I was 4 cm the cutting off point. My doctor was scheduled for a c-section that morning so she said she would just let him know when he got there. Well he came in checked me and I was a 5 at about a quarter to 7. He broke my water which was very uncomfortable almost painful. He said he would check on me on the way into his c-section. Well at 7 I called my sub and the teacher who teaches next to me to let them know what was going on. I also called my Grandparents in Texas. The nurse said I could move around so I decided to see if sitting up and tried standing up to see if it lessened the contractions. Well all that did was make me feel like he was about to fall out. I slowly laid back down. The doctor and nurse came in to check me before teh c-section and he asked how I was doing. I said not so good. He checked me and I was now a 10. I told them to put the c-section on hold for a moment and we began to push. I must say this was the worst part. You feel like you are making progress and then you stop pushing and that progress is done. They kept saying they could see blond hair and then he wouldn't be there. It was much easier pushing with Weston. After pushing for 15-20 minutes he was born. Poor Jon felt sick and was about to pass out so he didn't get to see him born or cut the umbilical cord. My mom was able to do this. I must say I was more worried about Jon then what was happening with me. Poor Daddy. But luckily he didn't faint and he recovered. So 1 hour and 50 minutes after getting to the hospital Cason Larry Hemphill was born. He is so beautiful. I am completely biased of course. We are doing great. We came hom Friday afternoon. Cason has been eating great. He never cries hardly. Squeals is more like it. He is tender and we couldn't be happier. Weston is getting used to him. He won't touch him but asks for him every morning when he gets up. If Cason sneezes or cries he says, "Cason's sneezing, bless you Cason." So cute. The first night home. I had Cason in the bouncer on the couch by me and Weston asked, "where is Cason?" Me: "Right by me." Weston: "Where is his blanket?" Me: "By the table." Weston runs over and gets it for me. So tender!

Here is a slideshow. Tons of pictures I am sorry but I have family in Texas and Heber City who havent' seen him yet and requested lots of pictures.

Basement Remodel

Jon has worked so hard for the last month and a half to get our basement all finished so we could move the computer room downstairs and put the baby's room together. The baby's room is almost done so I will post pictures of that shortly. Here are pictures of Jon's amazing handywork. I am so fortunate to have such an awesome, handy, capable husband. He was such a trooper. He would work from 8-6 at work then come home eat dinner then work in the basement until 11 every night and all day and night on Saturdays and Sundays. He tiled our laundary room and bathroom, mudded and resanded all the walls, painted, put in baseboards and trim, hung a bathroom door, put in a toilet, vanity, mirror, and bathroom accesories, put in new lights and worked on some of the outlets, the only thing we hired out was the carpet to be layed. In the pictures you will see a lot of bare walls I haven't had time to decorate but I will shortly have 5 months after the baby is born. Enjoy the pictures.

This was the terrible basement stair well Jon had to paint. It was so steep and just plain awful.

Future closet right now just a cute alcove.

Poker room/4th bedroom

Other wall in the 4th bedroom. This room is hugh!!! Almost as big as our master.

Weston playing in the new puter room as he calls it. This is the 5th bedroom but our new scrapbook office room.

The bathroom in the 4th bedroom.

My new scrapbook area.

The laundry room floor.

The shelves Jon put up for all the laundry room junk.