fancy nancy party

Audrey loves Fancy Nancy books. If you're not familiar with Fancy Nancy - she's an adorable little girl who loves using big fancy words and wearing lots of accessories. Our local library held a Fancy Nancy party yesterday and Audrey got to go with McKenna, one of her best friends. She got all dressed up in her Fancy Nancy finest (thanks again, Grandma!) and had a ball.

Letting Ethan examine her up-close.

Waiting for her ride.

Posing while the boys look on.

Pretty, pretty princess!

leaving a legacy

I have not been able to get this song by Nicole Nordeman out of my head since I first heard it a couple weeks ago. It has become my daily - no, hourly - prayer. I sing it loudly. I sing it quietly. I sing it with a smile. I sing it with tears. Oh - how I want to do this job well. I get caught up in the day-to-day busy of this life I lead. But it's so much more than changing diapers and kissing scrapes. It's leading these precious ones to their Father. And in the end, nothing else matters.

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough
to make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

darrington bluegrass festival

We went to the Darrington Bluegrass Festival today. It's become an annual tradition that we look forward to each year. It was a fun day of music, sunshine and ice cream.

sleeping like a baby....finally!

Ethan is sleeping all night! Just did his 6th one in a row last night. It took 3 nights of letting him cry (at 11:30pm for about 10 minutes and 3:30am for about 15 minutes - he was very consistent!) and then that was it. He now sleeps 7:30-6:30. And he's just doing one nap now from 1-3pm which is nice.

He's SOOO much happier lately. Talking more, playing by himself more. Less whining. Guess I wasn't the only one who was tired all the time!

Good thing I'm not superstitious - or I'd have to be knocking on some wood right now! Although I never did understand that one.....

family fun day

Our church holds an annual Family Fun Day and it's a blast! I took the big kids and the weather was great. There was horseback riding, a bouncy house, a big slide, a dunk tank (both kids hit the mark and dunked the poor high-schooler who'd volunteered for the job!), yummy food, face painting, a train ride, all sorts of games, and a magic show. It was a fun, memorable day.

birthday boy

THE CAKE - This might seem like a strange first birthday cake. But Ethan is obsessed with Liam's green ukulele. So it was the only logical choice!


REMINISCING - The big kids wanted to look at pictures from their first birthdays.
OPENING PRESENTS - He's a natural!


EATING CAKE - Ethan was a bit timid at first. But then he dove right in. Ate his whole piece and had green frosting all over!

Happy Birthday Ethan!

Ethan Morrow Oscarson 7/11/08

Official due date - July 22, 2008
C-section scheduled - July 14, 2008
My water broke - July 10, 2008
You were born - July 11, 2008

I had it all planned out. A nice scheduled c-section was going to fit perfectly into my plan. Nana would be here to watch Audrey and Liam. I had my last few to-do things planned for the weekend. And I was counting down the days. But you had other plans!

Thursday, July 10th started out like a normal day. I was incredibly uncomfortable - but had been for the past several weeks and today was no different. Audrey had VBS. We picked her up at noon and headed home for lunch. After lunch I was putting Liam down for a quiet time. At 1:50pm I was laying down on his bed reading to him when I heard - and felt - a pop. I knew that pop. I had felt it before. I calmly asked Liam to get me a towel and then carefully stood up. Sure enough - my water had broken. I made my way into the bathroom with Liam right behind me. Audrey heard the commotion and came into the bathroom too. They're both asking questions. I'm sitting on the toilet and trying to stay calm. I have Audrey get me the phone and I start making calls. First to Daddy who had faithfully been keeping his cell phone on for a couple weeks. Ring, ring, ring - no answer. Then to my doctor who informs me that I need to get to the hospital within one hour. Ok sure, no problem. I call Nana. There is no way she can come over that night but perhaps Uncle Luke can. She'll call me back. Try Dad again. No answer. Call Kylie. Yes, of course, bring Audrey and Liam over. They can stay the night if they need to. Try Dad again. No answer. Call UPS and ask them to send Dad a message that I'm in labor! Dad calls very soon and is on his way home. Nana calls and yes, Luke can come and is on his way. Nana will come tomorrow to take over. I start packing a bag (nope - I didn't even have my bag packed. We had a c-section scheduled for MONDAY, remember???). I get the big kids dressed and ready to go. Dad gets home. We drop the kids at Kylie's. And off to the hospital we go. We arrive at 3:15pm.

At the hospital they confirm that yes, my water did break (oh really?) and that I'm 4cm dilated. I'm having and feeling contractions fairly strong at this point so we decide to just see how things go. Maybe we can avoid a c-section if things keep progressing. They check me into a room. I recognize my nurse right away. She was with me when I was in labor with Liam too and I really like her! They get my IV going and get me hooked up to monitors. I try to stay up and moving around until the pain gets to be too much. Then I get my epidural (a great epidural, by the way. I hardly felt it!). At this point it's around 6:00pm and I'm only 5-6cm dilated. I'm getting discouraged and fairly sure that this is going to end up in another c-section. Dr. Cook keeps coming in and checking but the progress was not fast. He starts some Pitocin to get things moving along and seems fairly open to just waiting and seeing what will happen. Your heartbeat looks nice and strong so he's not worried about you. I try to rest but am pretty uncomfortable and nervous. At 11:00pm he checks once more. I'm only 6cm. Still. He decides to let me try for two more hours, then we'll make the final call. Sounds good to me. I'm TIRED at this point. They turn out the lights and try to let us rest. Daddy sleeps. I do not.

Dr. Cook comes back in at 1:00am. Checks me and I'm at 10cm!!!! Oh my goodness. I'm excited. I'm elated. Then I realize that means I have to push. I don't think I have the strength at this point. Your head is transverse so he has me get on my hands and knees for awhile. And it works. I start pushing at around 2:00am. It was hard work but I was so thankful to not be having surgery. And the nurses were very encouraging. And Daddy was great. Finally, at 3:20am, out you came. Dr. Cook held you up and Daddy said, "It's a boy!"

They put you on my chest and you immediately looked into my eyes with those amazing blue eyes of yours. And then you start licking your lips. You were hungry! They quickly wiped you off and weighed you. Then gave you right back and we started nursing. You were a pro right from the start. I called Nana and told her the good news. Actually I told her voice mail the good news. She still has it saved to this day. I've listened to it and I can't believe how alert and energetic I sound. I was so thrilled you were here. I was so glad I didn't have a c-section. I was so excited to meet you.

Happy Birthday Ethan. This year has just flown by. What a joy it has been to watch you grow. So thankful you're a part of our family. Handpicked for us. What a blessing!

ahhhhhh....

...she's home. Tanned, happy, tired...home. She had a WONDERFUL time!

I'm so thankful my kids have this wonderful treat to look forward to each year. Where they can be the only kid and get spoiled rotten. As the oldest of five in my family growing up - a trip like this would have been a dream come true for me. I'm so glad my kids can have it each year.

I know, I know...

...children under two should not watch any television. But tonight while making dinner I got desperate. Patrick and Liam were outside playing and BBQing, and Ethan was at my legs whining. Makes it very difficult to do anything! So I put on one of Patrick's music DVD's (Sam Bush) and gave Ethan his ukulele. Worked like a charm! 30 minutes later and he's still watching. Uh oh - bad mommy alert!!

Happy 4th of July

Today I am grateful to all the men and women who have sacrificed for our freedom. My Dad and Grandfathers are among them and I am so proud. THANK YOU!

the boys

The boys are having fun together this week. It's neat to watch their relationship develop. I'm so glad they have one another!

down one

Man this house seems quiet with only two kids in it. Audrey is enjoying a beautiful few days in Chelan with my parents. Great for her. Bummer for us. Her room seems very empty. But it's been fun having more one-on-one time with Liam. And he has a whole list of things he wants to do with Dad this weekend - just the two of them. So it'll be good. But yes, I'm counting down the days already.