Monday Memory #1

I have been organizing pictures for the last week and what a huge job that turned out to be. I deleted around 30,000 duplicate pictures. After doing this I thought of the idea to blog about a memory every Monday. I started my blog a couple of years ago and I want to post pre blog memories.


I thought I would start off from the beginning.
Jonathan and I got engaged on October 20th after 5 months of on and off dating within that 5 months we seriously dated for 6 weeks. We first planned on having a March wedding, but my friend talked us into a end of December wedding. That's ok because right after 12:00 am January 1st 2000 I got the distinct feeling that I was getting married that year. I thought it was a crazy thought as I didn't have even half a prospect. But the rest is history, and I'm trying to capture that. As a friend said recently that "I was so excited to see you guys get married. You got the man of your dreams". You know what!?!? I did.


This was days after we got unoffically engaged. But it quickly turned offical as everyone could read me like a book.




This was the picture we used for our annoucement. My friend Lindsay took them for us.


Our first Christmas together. Actually 3 days before we got married.


Just coming out of the temple. It was such a magical day for both of us. Sealed together for eternity on Dec 28th 2000 at 9:00 am.



We had a HUGE line. I just needed everyone special to me in that line. Jonathan needed that as well. As I look back at that wonderful day I know that I couldn't have it any better (other than the children we brought into this world). Oh and don't we look so young.

The Accident!!

So for documents sake I'm going to retell all that happened on Tuesday with my dear sweet Lilybug. So that morning really early in the morning I brought Jonathan to the airport to go on a business trip to Reno. We got up at 3:30 am. So after we got home I let the kids sleep some more and then wake Lily up for school. I got her out the door and went along with my day. This day I was feeling particularly sick, no fun. It came time to take Emma to school (sometimes I bring her in my jammies. Luckily I had gotten dressed that day), and on my way my cell phone rang (which I never have) and I missed the call. I see that it was Lily's school so I call right back and the principal answers, and says is this Mrs. Manning I say yes and she says Lily had a accident. My first thought was oh she wet her pants and I need to bring her more. The principal goes on to tell me that Lily ran into a basketball poll and had an inch and a half gash on her head. She tells me that she thinks they may have to call an ambulance and take her to the ER. Right now I'm freaking out, and not able to think a straight thought. I tell her that I'm right there at the school and I'll be right in. I had to lock my other 3 kids in the car. So as I'm rushing in I tell Emma's teacher what happened and that she won't be in school that day. I go in to see Lily and see that she's getting really sleepy, not a good sign for a head injury. I confirm that I want the Ambulance to come. I had to leave Lily with the nurse as my kids were still in the car. Outside there was a kindly lady that has a kid in the same grade as Lily and she offered to stay with my kids while I waited with Lily. As this is all going on I'm frantically trying to get a hold of my neighbor to take my other kids until my Sister-in-law Maria got there. But to no avail. So I decided to rush home and find another neighbor to take them. To my luck my other neighbor had just pulled up, so I ran up and pleaded that she takes my kids for 15 min until Maria got there. When I got back to the school I saw Lily with a neck brace and a back brace strapped to the gurney. This really freaked me out. What was wrong with my little girl. So I get in the ambulance and they tell all they did to her was precautionary. We get right into a room and Grandma Margaret and Christina was already there. Soon after Grandpa Larry, Joseph, and Bryan were there to give Lily a blessing. What a joy to have that much support in my time of need. At that time I was feeling really dizzy so I had to lay my head down on Lily's bed. She was so brave, and the only thing she complained about was the huge head and neck brace. The Dr. cleaned up her head and stitched it right up. Lily didn't even move and the Dr. said that had been his easiest one yet. She didn't have a concussion (thankfully). We left the ER just after about 2 hours (short amount of time if you have ever been to the ER). Lily was still disoriented and seeing spots but she got past that quickly. She will have the stitches out on Wednesday (hopefully). We went over to Margarets house and rested. Margaret and the boys returned later after going to my house to gather stuff for staying the night there. All this time I'm have the worst morning sickness I have experienced so far. So Lily and I had our first Ambulance ride and I hope our last, and I hope none of my other children have to experience that ever. Over all Lily is doing great and I don't think that the scar with show that much as most of it is in her hair. Lily has learned to watch where she is going and to not be in such a hurry. We are just glad that Lily is OK and didn't have something more wrong with her. I'll post a picture as soon as I get one.

Pregnancy Journal Week 10.

I had promised Ultrasound pictures........ but due to my dr getting sick we had to reschedule my appt. to next Tuesday. It's good because Jonathan will be able to go with me. I'm having more days of not being sick, but today wasn't one of those. But thankfully I was at my mother-in-laws house. She helped me as well as my sister-in-law. As I mentioned that I finally found the babies heartbeat. It was 130 bmp, and according to old wives tales it would indicate a boy. But not all babies go according to wives tales. All my first 4 were the same heartbeats, and I had 2 boys to 2 girls. So we will see in about 8 weeks. I have to admit I want a girl so desperately it's crazy. I want it more than I wanted to have a first boy after 2 girls. I cried when I found out Peter was a boy, so this is saying allot. But don't get me wrong I'll take anything I get. I just have to rethink if I want to end at 5. I just really want a girl. We already have names mostly. I can't wait to find out what we are having. Anyways I hope next week I'll have pictures to share. 

Bad day yesterday!

Lily had a accident yesterday. My sister in law helped me out tons yesterday and blogged about it Here. I'm not at home to write more about it.

A beautiful sound!!

Here is a link that leads you to our babies heartbeat. I got my Doppler about a week ago and was very excited to hear the baby. I've been trying this whole time. I finally found it yesterday morning. It has a option to record it on the computer. I also had to find a site that hosts audio so if you go to it, it may be slow. 

First part it's my heart beat just to show you the difference between the mother and the baby. 

Tomorrow I have a Dr Appt. I'm getting a ultrasound, so I'll do my journal and post pictures from that. 

My Pregnancy Journal Week 9

I got this Doppler yesterday and I'm so very excited. I can't hear the baby yet but that is to be expected. Maybe in the next 1 to 3 weeks. It's nice to know that the baby is still there and doing fine. When you can't feel the baby move those months in between appts. are really long. At the time being we have been hearing our own heart beats. The kids love it, and Peter is trying to take claim of it. Other than that I've pretty  much been the same but I've tackled my morning sickness to a point. With my totally radical 80's wrist bands, zofran (morning sickness pills aka golden pills), and ginger ale. My fatigue is still a big problem. Right around 2 o'clock I get so tired and want to take a long nap. That's right about when my girls need to be picked up. Then after I want to get their homework done, but I'm just too tired to help them with it. So we try to get it done on Wednesdays (that's their early release day). I can not wait until I feel a little more human. Next Wednesday I have another Ultra Sound. I'm just so excited to see the baby again. Then after that I'll have to wait 8 to 10 weeks to have another one and I'll be able to know what we are having. So I'm very close to being done with the morning sickness, and be able to hear the heartbeat with my little toy. All in all we are in for some good times. 

Funny Bird

Here is another video of our parrot Jack. She talks alittle more and makes funny noises. 

Is it the 80's still?

Yesterday Jonathan and I went to eat Chinese for valentines day. I have been craving it big time, so I indulged myself and ate too much. It set off my all day sickness big time. I was going to seriously lose all of my lunch and didn't have my morning sickness medicine with me. So Jonathan found the closest Walgreens via his GPS and got me some wonderful seabands. They are wrist bands that look like they come straight from the 80's. They are really tight and have a plastic ball attached to them. They push the ball into a pressure point in your wrist that alleviates nausea. I felt better instantaneously. He also brought me out a wonderful card and a big Hershey's kiss. I have a great husband.

My Pregnancy Journal Week 8

I thought I would update earlier this time due to my Due Date being sooner than I thought. Which is great considering all of my previous Due Dates being later than I thought? So what has this week brought me? EXPENSIVE medicine that takes away my morning sickness. I’m taking less than is prescribed as I can’t justify swallowing 4 dollar pills three times a day. I’m not That bad off, and ginger ale is working for me. I have a really great husband that let me buy a Doppler (valentines present) so I can hear the baby’s heartbeat when ever I want. Takes away a lot of stress between the time the baby is big enough to hear the heartbeat and being able to feel the baby move around a lot. So in a couple of weeks I’ll be able to do that. I’ve rented one before but now I’m just going to be able to keep it. It also has a cord that will allow me to record it on my computer. So watch out for little baby heartbeat in the next couple weeks to a month.  Jonathan has been so patient with me being so emotional, but he’s a pro at this. I’m not in maternity clothes yet, but I have a huge problem. We were getting rid of things and I just “knew” that I wouldn’t need all my maternity clothes for many years, and I would be much smaller when the time came for me to get pregnant again (HA). So what did I do?  I got rid of all of them. Now I don’t have any!!!!! OOOOPPSSS!!! My bad. 

Valentines Day

Lily and Emma had their Valentines exchange and parties today. They had a great time.
I stayed up too late to help them decorate their boxes. Lily said her box was the prettiest there. I also took all their candy and will give it to them sparingly. I don't need a crying Peter and hyper girls. 

Funny Peter

Peter loves playing the piano. If the girls are in the middle of playing he pushes them aside and plays Happy Birthday to you. It's very cute.

Andrea my sister in law wrote a post about her nieces and nephews, and she was decribing how Peter says YEAH so I made a video of it. It is very cute and I love it. 

My Pregnancy Journal Week 7

This last week was a week of anticipation....... I was waiting for my ultrasound to tell me how far along I was and a actual due date. I went to get my blood drawn on Saturday. I just felt like I was a pin cushion. I've been sick still, and very tired. Smells drive me crazy. So I've had a week of laying around and trying not to throw up. So fast forward to today. I was so nervous to go and see what we would find on the ultrasound. I felt good about this pregnancy, but you still get nervous whether you'll see a heartbeat or not. It's very scary as I've heard of many women not seeing a heartbeat, and have to go on and have a D&C. I had my appt. at 9:10 am and after allot of waiting I went into the ultrasound room and we saw that the baby had grown from a little bitty line to a little blob on the screen. To my delight we saw that it had a heartbeat and it measured 148 BPM. Ohhhhh what a sigh of relief. To see a heartbeat brings down the risk of miscarriage to 3%, and I have a 64% chance. I also found out that I'm 7 weeks 5 days pregnant so I'm further along than I thought. I'm due Sept. 23rd, and the funny thing is Christina my sister-in-law is due Sept. 17th. Not even a week apart. Oh my poor mother in law. So we will see who will go first. This is my 5th and her 1st so we will see. Oh and the best news is that my Dr. gave me a prescription for a pill that will help me with my morning sickness. YEAH!!!! We will see how that will work out. More good news I don't have to have my blood taken anymore. I just have to have another ultrasound in 2 weeks. OHHHHH darn!!! hehehe. Things are looking really good so I'm happy. 

Fun at our House.

We had another fun night with Maria and Bryan on Friday. We played "Would You Rather" again. The next question might be Would you rather- Go to Jonathan and Carries house to be completely embarrassed or have water dripping in your eye every two seconds for 24 hours a day for a week. I'd be really curious what the answer would be. 

Maria got the most embarrassing challenges. At the very beginning of the game she was subject to letting us put whatever makeup on her any way we wanted. WAH HAHAHA!!!

Here is the before picture. 

This is my handy work. I wanted to finish there. 

But Jonathan thought it wasn't embarrassing enough

(not a picture you would get very often, Jonathan applying makeup)

The finished product. She had to stay that way the entire night. 

(she looks good no matter what we did to her)

She was such a good sport, and the only one that had to do embarrassing things. She also had to reenact the Neapolian Dynamite dance scene. I'm not putting it up unless I have her permission. So after all of this she did win the game. 

WE SHALL BE FREE!!!!!

OHHHHHHHHHHHHH I'm just so excited................... OHHHHHHHHH happy days are too come. (oh I have tons of happy days, but happier) This is something that is 8 years in the making (for me, but Jonathan more). Jonathan finished his class: Business Negoiations last night. So starting next Tuesday he is on his last class. WAHHHHHHOOOOOOOOO. <------That deserves to be it's own sentence. It is just so surreal that it's almost over. I'll have my husband home more. He won't have homework looming over him weekly. No more me trying to be his force field while doing his homework. (Very hard task concidering the kids flock to him whenever he's around.) The kids are so exstatic. Emma asks me quite frequently when Daddy is going to graduate. (By the way May 9th at the Cardinal Stadium) (aka university of phoenix stadium). He has worked so hard. He's working more than full time and going to school full time. His job requires him to manage 60 to 70 accounts monthly. Well not at this time but come summer we better watch out. Summer time is the time it gets busy. But Jonathan is figuring a way to maximize his time so he will be more efficient. He is always thinking of ways to improve everything he does, it's quite amazing. He blows me away with all that he comes up with. Some times I wish I could think like him some times. OK back to my excitement of his (and my) impending freedom. I'm so glad that he persevered and did it. There were times that it was so hard and graduation seemed so far off that Jonathan considered not needing to finish. But he saw the importance of having a degree, and how it would make him a much better provider the decision to keep on track was obvious. Now he's almost done, 5 short weeks and it's over. I just can't express how proud I am of my determined husband, and that is what he is, determined. If he wants something he tries his best to get it. All I can say that we are all excited to see more of him. Good job Jonny we all love you so much, and thank you for setting a great example for our children.  (ohhh in five weeks don't be surprised if you see a post that is filled with CAPS. I'm not yelling I'm just to happy to contain myself.)

My Pregnancy Journal Week 6

I really don't know when I'm due so as to what week I'm on is merely a guess. So I'm SICK, SICK, SICK it's good because I know my hormone levels are going up. I've never felt as sick as I do now. If I'm sitting down I'm ok I don't feel like I'm going to lose everything I've eaten. But now my house is seriously in need of some TLC. I try to do some here and there but it progresses to tornado valley in an instant. I'm so tempted to hire someone to clean it for me. If you know me I don't like someone else cleaning my house. So I have got to be bad. Also I'm tired all the time. I feel as if I haven't slept in days when I'm sleeping as much as I can (not easy to do with 4 kids to take care of). I have to get blood taken more than I like (well I don't like it at all). As you can see I'm bruised up. I'm sure I have to get my blood drawn weekly until I'm 12 to 14 weeks along. I hope this doesn't sound all negative and such. I'm really happy I'm going to be blessed for the 5th time. I just want this to be very realistic for me. I want to remember all that I felt. Sometimes you forget all the little details. It's nice that I'm going to be able to look back at this pregnancy and remember the details with accuracy. 

It looks like we have hockey players!!!!

Ok Lily is missing 2 1/2 teeth, She's finally getting one of her top front teeth in. Emma lost her top front tooth as well. It's not very common for a 5 year old to loose those teeth. The normal age to loose them is in 1st grade. Emma also told me that she is the only one in her class with a top front tooth missing. So yesterday she hit her mouth on something and knocked it really loose. So out it came.  

 

look at all those missing teeth. We don't have them on a hockey team or anything. Really we don't.  ;)

My Pregnancy Journal Week 5

Ok since this is my last pregnancy. I'm going to document it weekly. (I hope I do). In doing this I'm going to put down highlights and lowlights (is that a word?) of my pregnancy. I know that it's early and my miscarriage rate is high, but with a great dr. I think I'll be fine.

Yesterday after my appointment I went to get some blood work done. HCG (the pregnancy hormone) and Progesterone (keeps the baby alive until the placenta kicks in at 12 weeks. When I was pregnant with Benjamin it's was too low so I had to be suplamented with a synthetic Progesterone. I thought that was a fluke, not to happen again. 

I got a call this morning that my HCG was great right where it should be. But my progesterone is too low so again I have to be  put back on progesterone suppilments. They are not cheap and make you dizzy, increased pregnancy symptoms. Not very excited about that as I dislike taking pills. In fact as I write this I feel dizzy and tired. Just gotta love it. The blessing out ways the trials. So in three days I'm going to get retested. So I hope that I don't get put back on more progesterone if I doesn't go up enough. So as too the comment that this is my last baby, I just can't handle the fact that I have such a high rate of miscarriage and have to do so much testing. I'd just rather be happy with 5 kids and stay sane. 

I know that I didn't expect this baby to come soooooo soon, but I tend to get very attached to my babies right away. So I do worry about the outcome of my baby that I'm growing. 

I'm excited to record all the aspects of my pregnancy (Not the too personal and uncomfortable parts. Don't worry). 

Sorry if this is kind of scatter brained that is what I am right now. 

Another installment in 1 week. 

BIG HUGE SURPRISE!!!!!!!!

warning: this is a little personal

So I had my last cycle back in October.........  when I was 2 weeks late I took a pregnancy test and it was negative. So not pregnant. Well I'm nursing so that could do it, but never happened before. I have PCOS so that could make my cycles irregular, and very long. So I thought for sure that's got to be it. So every once and a while I would take a test and receive a negative result. So I thought my PCOS is worse and that I would be able to get pregnant without the help of fertility drugs again. I wasn't liking the thought of that and infertility was becoming a reality. I remember talking to several friends about it. Now it's January and still the absence of my cycle. I was getting tired, sense of smell is going up, emotional, and slightly sick. I call the Dr. for an appointment to see what in the world is going on. Saturday Jonathan and I were at his parents house and he was telling everyone that I might be pregnant. I say "no I'm not". Jonathan says "but your face has a pregnant look to it". I get a resolve in my mind that I would prove him wrong. So I head to the store to get some things for Lily's B-day party. As I'm there I pick up a pregnancy test. After I got home I take the test and wait for the results that I just"know" that they are negative AGAIN!! But that pink line that tells you that you are pregnant shows up within a half a second. I looked at that pregnancy test and thought wait what line am I looking at. I have to be looking at the wrong line. Then the test line shows up. OHHHHHH WAIT............. I have two line. So I start breathing really hard and call for Jonathan to come down the stairs. I just hold up the test for him to see cause I can't even talk. I'm not going to lie I did start to cry out of shock and worry. I just had a baby......... I'm not supposed to be able to get pregnant like this.......... I wanted more time to baby Benjamin........... I wanted to lose more weight......... 5 KIDS wow!!! So many things going through my mind as Jonathan held me and told me it would be ok. Jonathan was just so excited, and was a great support as I was just about to freak out. So I was just about to have people come over for Lily's bday party. I think I did pretty well. So now WHEN am I due. I have not had my cycle since October. Could I really be that far along. 15 weeks and not even know it. I could be due anywhere from july to the end of sept. Luckily I had scheduled an appointment with my Dr. for Tuesday (today). So I went in and told them the situation. My Dr. did a ultrasound and we find out that I am only 5 weeks along and the baby is so small that we could hardly see it. So in 2 weeks I go in for another ultrasound to see a more accurate date, and a heartbeat. I'm at the point where I'm am excited, and looking at the positive side to this and can't wait to meet our last little baby to grace our family. 

See just a little line in the black circle. Just too little to see anything. 

Such a good Daddy!!!

I found a great opportunity to get a great picture. So precious. Jonathan is really a great Daddy. He loves to teach the kids great principals. Whenever we head out to Mesa he is usually teaching the kids about really important things. Like stories from the scriptures, or life lessons, and how to relate with peers. He really boosts their self esteem as well as he is always calling the girls pretty and showing lots of love to all the kids. He really does want all of our kids to excell in every area of life and love that quality in him. I sure lucked out. 

Benjamins Progress

Benji is getting really good at walking. He is such a good little boy. 

100 day!!!

     It was the 100th day of school today so I put 100 hair things in Emma's hair. Lily got to do it last year and now Emma was so excited that was her turn. It took me about 30 mins to do it.

Happy Bday Lily!!!!

         Saturday was Lily's Bday and she got her door decorated and some cupcakes.                                                                             This is how Jonathan lights a candle with a mini torch.                                                                                                      
Peter wanted to blow out the candle too so I let him. 

                                                                                           Also that night we played a new game we just got. "Would you rather" it was so much fun. The challenges were hillarious. I had to lap water out of a cup like a cat. (don't know how cats do it)

Poor Joseph had to get posed by us and stand like that through two players turns. He was starting to get a charley horse. But hey he won the game with that challenge. Christina had to makeup a cheer that lasted 90 seconds. It was all about Lily and Emma and they loved it. It sure was a fun night. 

Christmas Rainbow

I forgot to post this. As we were driving home from Jonathan's parents house on Christmas day we saw the brightest rainbow ever. It was huge as well. So beautiful, and appropriate for Christmas, a simple of peace. That is what we got with the savior coming to this world to redeem us all. 

Bunk Beds, and Honor Roll.

Lily got on the honor roll again for this quarter. Emma is in Kindergarten so they don't have honor roll but she did get straight A's again. I have such smart little girls. Oh do you notice how much shorter Lily is than everyone in her class. 

We were given this bunk bed and it has given the girls alot more room in their bedroom. I was alittle scared to put Lily on the top bunk as she wakes up at night very disoriented. She's done great on it though. Emma loves being on the bottom bunk. 

More fun.

Here is some fun we had at home. Peter making a makeshift slide, huck using the stairs, and Peter telling you about himself some. 

A tale to tell.

Once upon a time in the land of Arizona the Queen of Creek put forth a decree that all should let loose and do what they do best. It's going to be one day of just fun.




Lady Lily read a book of many pages with rockin' fraggles. Brave Benji showed of his accomplishment in cutting two teeth

Proper Peter was discouraged that he couldn't stand on his head at the annual town tournament.

But to Proper Peter's delight, Enchanting Emma tutored him in the ways of head standing.

And she made it possible for him to lock down the gold in goofy face making.

He did well and his reply was a squeal of utter euphoria!


Enchanting Emma was the previous record holder for goofy face making.

But Peter wanted all the glory. So away she went. . . And Peter won the cup!

Lady Lily, Enchanting Emma, and Proper Peter enjoyed a fun filled day of height comparison, wearing jackets just to small, and being slightly shorter than her little sister. (does emma look taller than lily?)

By the end of this tale Proper Peter learned a new talent of blinding all the towns folk with a strange blast of light. Jolly Jonathan brought the joy to the face of Enchanting Emma by yanking a long-awaited, wiggly, front tooth.

Emma at the ripe old age of 5 years lost a pearly white, and had aspirations of fairies from the land of tooth visiting in the night.