Fathers Day!

For Father's Day this year, Ellie wanted to get her Daddy a BBQ grill - so we picked him up a little red charcoal grill. Kaitlyn "got him" a set of BBQ tools for it, and Mom and Dad gave Shayne a pair of the plaid summer shorts he loves so much. However, I think I gave him the BEST GIFT OF ALL! I took the baby during all shifts of the night AND let him sleep in all morning that day!!! :)

Finally, once he was awake around 11:00 a.m, we started to get ready to go to visit Grandpa Underwood and Shayne's Dad, Martin. Ellie was proud to give Popo a pair of HD Glasses! Grandpa Underwood has been having some hard times lately after his car accident when he was hit by a drunk driver. He broke 6 ribs, and his sternum, and has been in a lot of pain ever since - even though this was just over a month ago that it happened. Ellie has been very sensitive to Grandpa and spent much of her time there by him and escorting him when he needed to walk. I heard her asking Grandpa "do your ouchies still hurt?" It warmed my heart to see her having those moments.

Later on, we met with my family at our house for a Fathers Day BBQ and to try out Shayne's new grill. We had steak, shrimp, salads, bread, pork and beans, asparagus, California rolls, soda, chips, and cake. Grandpa got to open his presents from Evan and Monyka, and our family. I was pleased to FINALLY get him the Topsy Turvy upside down tomato planter he has been wanting for a couple of years.

It was great to spend time with so much family. Shayne is a wonderful father. He has always been helpful to me with raising our children. He is kind and compassionate to them - and really fun for them to play with. Ellie told her preschool class that one thing she loves about her dad is "when he reads to me." I am happy to have him as the father of my girls - they love him dearly. We are also grateful to our fathers in our lives, grandfathers, and Father in Heaven who love and take care of us.

Happy Fathers Day! We hope it was a good one!
Love, The Munns

Growing Pains

It seems like only yesterday that I watched Ellie go to her first day of preschool in 2008. I sent her in a brand new teal and maroon striped shirt and teal sweat pants... She wore her new Ariel shoes. Now here she was, two years later in her preschool graduation "cap and gown" and ready for Kindergarten..... ALMOST. There was one more dreaded thing that had to happen.... KINDERGARTEN SHOTS!!!

First you have to know how HORRIBLY this process has gone in the past... from about 9 months old, Ellie developed an almost sixth sense for knowing when it was shot time. From the moment the doctor left, and the nurse came in again it was TOTAL DRAMA!!! Flailing around, kicking, screaming, barely-breathing nightmare! It would literally send her to an ALL OUT panic attack. Even when her doctor visits didn't have shots involved, Ellie would have major anxiety over the very idea of going into the doctors office for ANY reason. (TRUE: Ellie has had a doctor visit in the CAR before.)

I tried a different approach this time. The dialog went something like this;

"Hey, uh, Ellie?"

"Yeah Mom? What?"

"Guess what? Next week is Kindergarten Day!"

"What's Kindergarten Day?"

"It's a day we need to go to the doctor to make sure that you are healthy for Kindergarten!"

"I DON'T want a shot!" (How did she know???)

"Well, Ellie you are going to need some shots, and they are going to hurt for a second, but only a second - and then after if you are a good girl we will go to the Farm (Thanksgiving Point) and Cabelas!!!"

"Ok Mom. I might just cry a little."

"It's ok to cry, but you won't need shots for a long time after that and I know that you are brave and can do this because you want to go to Kindergarten like the other kids huh?"

"Yeah."

And that was that. She walked into the doctors office. Let the nurses check her height, weight, blood pressure, eyes, and even poke her finger and collect a urine sample. When they came back in saying, "one more thing" Ellie did cry and need to hold her Daddy for the FIVE shots in both thighs but when all was said and done she was fine. Proud to show off her battle wounds (band-aids), a bag full of goodies, and the relief of knowing it was all over and we could go to the Farm and Cabela's. The exam was completely normal, besides finding out Ellie is near-sided and might need glasses before starting school.

A HUGE sigh of relief came over me too. It is so great to know that Ellie's vaccinations are all completed until 7th Grade. It also seemed like a bummer to remember that I have five more years ahead of me with Kaitlyn who is just beginning her vaccination process next month :-/. Maybe with some warning, Kaitlyn will handle the shots as well as Ellie did this last visit. It is true what they say, "LIVE AND LEARN."

HaPpY bIrtHdAY to sHaYnE!!!

We have had A LOT of birthdays recently!!! First with Ellie on April 29, Then Kaitlyn on May 7, Ellie's Aunt Monyka May 11, OUR DOG on May 13, and now Shayne on May 17 (soon to be my Mom's birthday on May 29!). With everything going on, planning Shayne's birthday didn't happen until it was almost too late - BUT we managed to have a great birthday anyway!

On Monday, May 17, we started our birthday plans with me and Ellie picking up Shayne some Burger King for breakfast ;).It was my first time driving since we had the baby. Then, with my family we gathered at one of Shayne and I's favorite restaurants for lunch - LOS 3 AMIGO'S. After lunch, we came back to the house for cake and cards. It was a fun time. Tuesday, May 18, we meet up with the Munn side of the family for dinner, and homemade cheesecake. YUM!!!

Kaitlyn wore her "I love Daddy" outfit for the special days. It was fun to have her here to show her off for his big day. Overall, we had a great couple of days, and Shayne was happy with his birthday. :) Happy Birthday Shayne! We love you so much! Glad you had a good one.

Having the Last Laugh :)

One week ago about this time of day, I was getting ready for what I thought would be another normal NST/Ultrasound. Part of me was wondering at 39 weeks 1 day pregnant if they would induce me - but I never expected what happened last Friday, May 7th. Kaitlyn was going to have the last laugh and make mommy regret ever complaining about possibly being induced at 40 weeks.

As I sat down in the reclining chair at Provo Hospital Maternal Fetal Medicine for my NST test, I was anxious to find out where my fluids were this week. It seemed that although my fluids were considered to be on the very low end of the "safe zone" that they were getting lower every week. We struggled each Friday afternoon to find pockets of fluid. I expected this day to be no different. Hard to find the pockets, but relatively safe. Kaitlyn had been moving plenty, and that was reassuring to me that the fluids must have been fine.

The NST nurse put the warm gel on my belly, and with her ultrasound tool looked for the pockets. First thing she said was "has she always been breech?" My eyes opened wide. "NO!!! Is she breech now!?" After a quick double check we confirmed that Kaitlyn had indeed made the flip. Kaitlyn had been vertex for 8 weeks before this - I was shocked. I honestly didn't think that babies could flip that close to delivery. The NST I had two days before this day, she was still head down... she must have turned sometime Thursday, May 6.

Flashing back to Thursday, I remember telling Shayne "I think Kaitlyn has dropped" because I FELT like I was carrying her differently. Thursday night as I was trying to sleep, I found it hard to get comfortable because of a bulge next to my ribcage on the right side. Little did I know that was her head...

Being so far along, I immediately KNEW that my fate would be c-section. I thought that I would have plenty of time to adjust to the idea though. This wouldn't happen. As she kept searching for pockets of fluid, the nurse said, "I can't find any fluid. I will have to have a doctor come look at this."

"Crap;" that was all I could think of. "Crap" and "is she ok?" I sat there and started my text messages. "Fluids are low and baby is breech. Brace yourselves this might be it." I waited for what felt like forever before the doctor came in. She put the tool on my belly again and said, "well, your NST looks great, but the baby is going to have to come out today by cesarean section. I will call your doctor and let him know that I am sending you down to Mountain View Hospital. Congratulations!"

Congratulations??? On being cut open? Yes, I was excited to meet Kaitlyn but my head was spinning very fast at this moment. I couldn't process it fast enough. I was considered an Emergency 2 c-section (so not as bad as it could have been) and because I had eaten lunch that afternoon had to wait for my lunch to digest first. My fate would be around 8:30 p.m, and I was to be at the hospital at 6:30 p.m.

I headed home to rest, make phone calls, and make sure that everything got out in the car for the long weekend in the hospital. It seemed like forever waiting, and with my fluids being so dangerously low, I headed to the hospital early (just a half hour) to get started on an IV for my peace of mind.

It wasn't long after my arrival to the hospital that family started to come to show their support and meet our new baby. Around 8:00 p.m. Dr. Chipman and Dr. Crouch came to let me know that they were ready to give me my c-section. "THIS IS IT," I thought. I pushed back tears knowing that if I were to start to cry it would be impossible to stop them from flowing.

After my walk to the operating room, things really became "real." I sat myself on the operating table, and things started to move fast. The anesthesiologist gently put in my spinal block, and I laid myself down in the table. Right away, I started to feel numb BUT horrible. My breathing became very labored, and I felt like I was either going black out or worse. Letting the anesthesiologist know, he told me that my blood pressure and heart rate dropped (to 77/20!!!) and that he was going to give me some medicine to make me feel better. Once the medicine was in, I began to feel better and felt like I could now tolerate the surgery.

Once Shayne was in, I felt very comforted. It was nice to look behind me and see someone familiar that loved me soothing me with his words and helping me find my strength. The anesthesiologist (I wish I knew his name!) was also very comforting and let me know everything to expect at the moment it was happening. Finally, he said to Shayne and I, "here comes your baby; get your camera ready Dad."

There she was; Kaitlyn Marie Munn. My baby girl. I couldn't see her but I could hear the sweetest cry I had ever heard. I wanted to see her. I wanted to hold her. After a few minutes, she was bundled and ready to be taken to the nursery to be bathed and have a check up. Shayne was so proud to get to show her off. I was still having my surgery of course during all this. She was 6lbs, 8 oz, 20 1/2 inches long born at 9:00 p.m. on May 7th.

Once back in my room, my first thought was "ok, where's Kaitlyn? I want to meet her." That's when the nurses told me that Kaitlyn had to stay in the nursery for a while because she had swallowed fluids during the delivery she was having trouble breathing. Kaitlyn was hooked up on a sleep apnea monitor the whole first night. FINALLY at 1:30 am, and after I was moved into my postpartum/recovery room, they brought in my baby.

It was amazing seeing her. I was in such "aww" of my new baby girl. She is beautiful. Dark hair, a little thinner and shorter on top than Ellie's was. She has what we think are her daddy's eyes and chin (so she looks a lot like Shayne right now) and in many ways she looked like Ellie did as a baby too. It was the best feeling in the world to get to hold her and kiss her sweet face. Kaitlyn is here. All the hard times during this pregnancy and everything we endured just in hopes to even have another baby all were worth it. Right down to being cut open to have her taken out.

We spent three nights and four days in the hospital recovering. It has been great to get back home and get back to our "new" normal lives. Kaitlyn has been an easy baby since delivery. She cries very seldom and only when she really NEEDS something. She is starting to have more awake time with each passing day. We love her so much and are so happy to be a family of four now.

Ellie has been taking the new baby very well. The day after she was born, her Aunt Monyka and I had planned for Ellie to have a very special day. Together they built bears at Build a Bear for her and Kaitlyn. On the bear that she made Kaitlyn, there is a button you can push and in Ellie's voice she says, "Ellie loves you Kaitlyn." So sweet! They had lunch at Noodle Company, and came to the hospital bearing flowers and balloons for me. It was very sweet to see Ellie meet her new baby sister for the first time. She hasn't gotten enough of her since she was born a week ago.

Ellie is also already very protective of her too and wants so bad to be a big help and a part of everything. Our first night home, Ellie was disappointed that the baby couldn't sleep in her room with her. I wasn't too surprised that she came downstairs to help in the middle of the night (even though it made things a little tougher). Ellie is very gentle with her and I have realized that the five years apart are making things much much easier on all of us.

I also am doing very well right now. When Ellie was born, I hate to admit this but I had a mild case of postpartum depression that lasted for almost three months after her birth. I was in denial about how bad it really was though, and didn't really HOW BAD it was until I had Kaitlyn. The difference is amazing. Maybe it is because of my age, or perhaps the fish oils I took during pregnancy (and now) or a combination of the both my my mood has been wonderful. With this baby I am happy, willing, and wanting to take care of her - even in the middle of the night (let's just say that I didn't have the same attitude with Ellie). The pain and swelling from the c-section seem to be getting better and better everyday. I am excited to get a full bill of health and start exercising again.

I can't thank Heavenly Father enough for Kaitlyn and for her safe delivery. The entire pregnancy I believe she was being carefully watched over and protected. We love her so much and she is a wonderful addition to the entire family. Hopefully we will be able to show her off soon when she is probably a couple weeks older. Thank you for all the prayers we received during the pregnancy, delivery, and now. Thank you also for the gifts, support, hospital visits, help, and meals. We feel very lucky to live in such a wonderful ward, and have the best friends and family around :). Thanks a million for being a part of our life! More updates to come shortly.

Wearing Out Her Welcome ;)

This ENTIRE pregnancy - the goal has been to KEEP KAITLYN IN MY BELLY. From the very start, it was a battle to have this baby join our family (beginning with trying to conceive even). We struggled at 5 weeks pregnant with an infection, again from 6 to 12 weeks when we found out that we had a blood clot in the placenta, then once the clot dissolved it was a matter of avoiding it coming back, and now low fluids after 32 weeks; it seems we have tried desperately the entire 9 months to save her unborn life. Now ironically enough, we can't get her to come out. I am 39 LONG WEEKS pregnant, and I am not making much progress.

As of yesterday, I found out I was dilated to a one.... or should I say BACK (!) to a one. The week before I was a two. At a two, I was so happy because this is something I didn't do with Ellie. In fact, pregnant with Ellie I was a one at 37 weeks and I assumed that I would have her early. Every checkup with Ellie after that, no change; right up to the 41st week when I was FINALLY induced. It's hard to imagine going into labor or having my water break when I found out that I am back at a one this week. Ha ha, part of me worries that next week I will go from a one back to a ZERO.

Lucky for ME though, my doctor said that he doesn't like his patients to go past their due dates. So, at the very latest, I will be a new mommy again by next weekend. PRAISE HEAVEN!

Don't get me wrong; I know that I will miss being pregnant after she comes out. After trying three years to get her here and the nine months to make her, I have to wonder if Kaitlyn is my last baby. I am trying with all my might to enjoy these last days with Ellie by herself, and enjoy Kaitlyn while she is still in my womb. It's not easy to endure my pregnancy woes (such as going to the bathroom 3-4 times a night, drinking 2 gallons water daily to keep fluids up, being so big that I drop virtually everything I eat on my belly, the feeling of total fatigue, not to mention the things I CAN'T mention) but I know they will be over soon. Sometimes I think Heavenly Father designed the most uncomfortable trimester to be the last one so that the mother can be not only READY but WILLING and WANTING -some BEGGING -to give birth in the end. Somehow, the actual childbirth process seems less of a fearful thought than enduring another SECOND being as big and uncomfortable as you are at that moment.

Right now we are trying to maintain and live a normal life however possible in hopes that time will fly by faster this way. So - I will enjoy my baby shower Saturday, and Mothers Day this weekend. Tuesday, May 11th, I will find out the exact time and date that I will be induced if this is needed. I can't wait to post a blog about Kaitlyn. Hopefully - that will be my next one. :)

BIG dumb Blonde

With Ellie, I had it. With this one, I seem to have it worse. If you have been pregnant or closely around someone who is pregnant, you will know what I am talking about. It's what I like to call "Pregnancy Brain." One of the MOST ANNOYING symptoms I get when I am pregnant. It's the reason I have to write down EVERYTHING that I need to remember. It's also the reason that I have alarms set on my phone so I don't miss anything important; like, oh say, remembering to get Ellie from preschool for example. It seems the MORE PREGNANT I get, the more things I seem to be doing that are "not quite right." Here are some I have done lately.

The other day, I was filling out a registration card for a new baby item that we have. I didn't think twice about putting on my name, address, and phone number. I clipped it to the door with a magnet, so I would remember to put it in the mailbox. Shayne noticed something "off" about the little post card though. For my address I had written, 1037 S. 1037 S., plus the rest of my address. Smart! 1037 S. 810 E. would have been better.

Ellie has been sick today, throwing up and the whole bit! Well, we have been working on laundry all day to clean up the messes that come when a child is sick. So I went up to Shayne and said, "are those suitcases needing to be cleaned, or can I just put them away?" He kinda looked at me like, "HUH?" so I said again, "will we need to clean the suitcases, or can I just fold them up and put them away???" He squinted at me and said, "SUITCASES?" DUH! I was so annoyed at myself. "I meant SLEEPING BAGS." Sheesh.

Another one of my favorite annoying things I do is I always sit down, only to realize I forgot to get something. For example, I will get up off the couch to get a bottle or water... then I realize that since I am up, I may as well go to the bathroom right? Then, I forget all about the reason I got up and sit back down on the couch and finally it hits me "I didn't get my water, did I?" This regularly happens with the cell phone, and I have been known to close the computer without remembering to check the thing that I went on the computer for.

In the beginning of my pregnancy, some of the things I did could have been very bad for me. One thing I did quite often is leave my purse, or wallet places - luckily I always got them back before harm was done. One time I left my drivers license at the credit union. I didn't realize that I had left my drivers license until one night, very late, when I was driving home from the gas station with a load of treats and flashing lights came behind me. I was being pulled over. I was confused because I was going the speed limit, and it seemed like there was no reason to be pulled over. The officer informed me I had been driving without my lights on... I was so embarrassed. Luckily, the officer gave me a warning.

I could write pages and pages of the dumb things that I am doing but I won't. I probably pregnancy brain forgot most of them anyway. Needless to say, I am so glad to be nearing the end of my pregnancy and hopefully my brain cells will switch back on after a while. I hope I don't do anything too stupid before that time, like leave the stove on and burn the house down or something. Wish me luck. :/ I don't realize when I am doing it, so I will need it.

HaPpY bIrThDaY to Ellie! HaPpy bIrThDaY to You!

With everything going on preparing and waiting for the baby, Shayne and I felt it would be best to move up Ellie's birthday this year to April 17th, just less than 2 weeks early of her actual birthday on April 29. With a few friends and family, Hello Kitty decorations and cupcakes, balloons, and a couple GLITTER TOES consultants, we had our party.

Each girl, and the adult women that wanted to, were able to get a pedicure and their own set of glitter toes. Glitter Toes are a special acrylic paint that is supposed to stay on your toes longer than just regular nail polish would - some even 2-3 months. Everyone loved being pampered. Even our youngest party guest, Alice (2 years old), loved getting her nails done. It was so cute. To entertain the girls who weren't getting their nails done we also had face painting, a fishing game, and sock toss.

The next day, Ellie was asking to use glass plates because "5 year olds don't break things," and telling me "you're not the boss of me!" I can tell that just her being five now makes her feel like such BIG STUFF. It cracks me up the things that she claims a 5 year old gets away with that 4 year olds don't. I love her so much. She still has one week before she is "officially" 5 years old but I am still in shock that my Ellie is 5. . She is one of my best friends and companions and I hope that I will always be for her too.

Happy Birthday Ellie! Mommy and Daddy sure love you!