And a cute video to top it off

Merry Christmas!

So many new posts in one day. One reason for this is because my laptop is in need of repair. I haven't been online much lately, and unable to download my photos on the home computer because it sucks! But Santa brought a new computer. So while the kids are with their dad, and Mario is talking to Chial in Fiji, I put the computer together all by myself.

With nothing else to do on Christmas day, I'm catching up on blogging. I was going to go to a movie, but I thought if I was going to be alone and pathetic, I might as well do it in the privacy of my own home.

So without further ado....here are some Christmas photos! And then I'm going to hook up the Wii.

Happy Birthday to me!

Our tree

Kelli & Gretchen with Mom

Me and my grown up boys

Grandma Bonnie, Papa Don and all the kids

Christmas morning...apparently they aren't presentable

Santa brought a new computer!

And a Wii, with Guitar Hero!!!!!!!!!!!


Over the river
and through the snow
to grandmother's house (and grandpa's, too) we go...
on Christmas evening to spend with the McIntosh side of the family.
Dad and Mom McIntosh


The Girls: Linda, Gretchen, Me, Tammy

Gretchen, Tammy and Me, with my dad and step mom

Christmas Eve Surgery

My nephew, Nicholas, pulled a shelf over on himself at my house and got a nasty cut on his head. Gretchen's friend Julie, a nurse, happened to be coming over so we assessed his injury and decided that he should get some stitches. Any why bother heading to the ER when your aunt is a midwife, and your mom's friend is a nurse. I have all the fixings for suturing, so at the dining room table on my 44th birthday I did something I've kind of always wanted to do....gave him stitches! 6 of them! He was a brave guy and didn't flinch at all.

Arctic Blast Update

Our first storm system hit us on December 14th We've been enjoying a white Christmas for 12 days now. Each storm that come in seems to be bigger than the last. The temperatures got above freezing for the first time yesterday, but I think it will take us a little while to thaw out.

Looking south on Linden Lane

Mario's car

On a walk

Knee high snow

Our yard....early in the storm

Same shot.....after the "big" storm
Keep in mind, this area is under the trees

Me and my sister, Gretchen

31 inch icicle

Mitten Making

Here is some of my Martha Stewart magic. So easy I just had to share. Use an old 100% wool sweater (I bought some at my favorite thrift store, "Red, White & Blue". Wash the sweater in hot water, and dry it on hot heat. This will "felt" the wool (making it tight, so you can cut the sweater and it not unravel). Next make a pattern for your mitten. I traced my hand and added a 1/2 - 1 inch to it. The first pair I made were a little tight, the next pair a little large. You may have some trial and error, or you may not be as picky as I am!

Next, pin the pattern through both layers of sweater and cut out. Repeat for the other hand. Sew together using a zig zag stitch. I didn't use the zig zag stitch the first time and it made a difference in durability.
Here is the finished product of my purple ones. I gave Mario the grey stiped above and he LOVES them. I'm not kidding, that wool keeps your hands warm and dry. And we had plenty of opportunity to try them out the last 12 days during our "Arctic Blast".

I'm off call for the holidays!

It's been snowing and freezing around here. I'm enjoying having my sweetie home....5 days and counting now. We've been taking walks in the snow, running errands, shopping for treats to eat while we're snowed in.

Yesterday on our way out we passed an old man lying in the snow and ice just a few houses away from ours. Mario didn't even see him. I saw him, but absentmindedly. It was only after we passed him that I realized the seriousness of what I saw. I made Mario slide to a stop, reverse and help him. Poor gentleman had gone to get his mail, (no hat, no gloves, thin jacket.....it was FREEZING out there) he fell and the best we could figure he had been lying on the ice for ten minutes. He was bleeding, shaking and unable to speak much. When we lifted him off the ground he was unable to stand, so we held him until another neighbor came out with a blanket, hat, and chair for him to sit on. He seemed pretty hurt, especially complaining about his hip, so we called 911. It took another 10 minutes for them to get to us, but they were kind and thoughtful and we left him in good hands. It was so scary to me that he could have been laying out there in the cold for any longer if we hadn't decided to brave the ARCTIC BLAST and go to Ikea.

Today was an even better day! Woke up to a mom calling in labor. I decided to ask Mario to drive me to the birth. I knew the roads were relatively clear, but I was worried about the hill that they lived on being steep and icy (it was!) and I didn't want to get stranded by myself. We picked up my apprentice on the way, and in the excitement and adrenaline, we didn't check the address of the house and went to the wrong house! Waking up a poor woman at 7:30 am to two women and one man and a whole load of baggage! We apologized and then headed up the street a little farther to the correct house, that seriously looks just like the wrong house! A sweet baby girl was born a little over an hour later. A surprise breech. When we first walked into the house the mom said she thought the baby was breech. I palpated but didn't concur. We heard heart tones low on mom's belly and were reassured until we saw a steady stream of meconium. Not a lot, but enough. By the time we knew it was breech, she was coming fast, just a couple minutes later she slid right out. Mom lifted her out of the water and that little girl lifted her head up in a way I have never witnessed---I mean she REALLY lifted her head---and looked each one of us present at her birth straight in the eyes, telling each of us of her presence. It was a blessing.

I began this year with a surprise breech birth that ended in a death. I ended this year with a surprise breech birth of a healthy baby. Both girls, with heads full of dark hair, beauty beyond looks, and loved by many. I thank them both for their gifts to me, for the journey they have helped me take.

So much to be thankful for.

And now I'm off call for the holidays!

Snow Day

Even though I had a difficult time believing the weather forecast of a winter storm coming our way, I'm grateful for the impression I had to go grocery shopping last night and stock up. I figured at the very least, it would be one less thing to do on Monday, and I'd already have my Christmas baking ingredients if I felt like getting an early start on Sunday.

Then.... it really snowed! A lot!
well, a lot for Portland.

I needed a day like today to renew my spirit and get into a Christmas mood. For one, church was canceled! And, all of the children were home. These are two things I have been struggling with lately. Having everyone home to leisurely make a big breakfast was fantastic for me. I spent the rest of the day baking and cooking up a storm! French toast. Bacon. Soup. Sticky buns. Cookie dough. Pretty marshmallows. Apple cider. After playing and eating all day we also got the tree decorated. FINALLY! My bare tree that's been sitting in my living room for 2 weeks has decorations on it.

mmmm....sticky buns

Marshmallows covered in crushed candy canes....
waiting for friends to come play games tonight and have hot chocolate!
(The first time I've made something in a magazine that actually turned out as pretty as the picture!)

Amos loved the snow! We took him on a walk to visit the Spravzoff's.
This is him after playing with his buddies for such a long time he had icicles hanging on him.
We had to force him to come inside and dry off.

Here's a video of Amos playing with his buddies

20 Days until Christmas

I KNOW you just wanted to be reminded of that little fact. You'd think with Christmas looming so close my kids would be sucking up to me. Asking how my day was. Doing their chores without being reminded. Being nice to me. BUT NOOOOOO! They just think they can be their same old, selfish, teenager/young adult selves and keep living their life without considering my needs at all!

And you wonder why I blog about my dog,
who isn't really MY dog,
but he loves me so much,
And I know it!

About the dog....
Did you know they could get sick? Lay around all day, matted hair, sad looking eyes, not eating or drinking kind of sick? He's better now, running circles around me wanting to go on a walk.


Back to Christmas.....
I'm pretty much done with gifts, just a few little things here and there. Shopping was kept to a minimum this year, and that feels good. The kids are getting a group gift, they pretty much know what it is, but with a surprise added to it.

I've had my tree for a week. It sat in the garage for a few days. We put it up and it stood bare for a couple days. I put the lights on, don't have enough, need to go to the store to buy another strand, haven't done it for two days, so there it stands 3/4 of the way lit. I don't know when we will decorate it. I'm holding out hope that there will be a time this weekend when all of us will be home at the same time, we will all be in a good mood, and willing to participate in decorating our tree. I know, I'm dreaming. But it's worth a shot.

I realize I sound a little whiny about my kids. So I think I'll stop.

Happy Holidays!
Only 20 days until Christmas!
Only 19 days until my birthday.

Christmas Tree Shopping and Chopping

We got the girls up this morning to head out to Estacada to find our Christmas tree. We found this great place that is super cheap! I swear the prices were lower this year...we paid $15 for a noble!

We brought Amos along; he loves going in the car. Here he is with his head out the window!

Even when we are out in the country on a family excursion, the phone is actively being used!

Emilia cutting the tree down!

She didn't last long, and Mario had to finish. Then my camera batteries died, and the extra ones I found in the car were dead, too. So this is all I have this year!

After cutting the tree we went down the road a few miles to visit our friends, the Wells. They have a nice home on 2 acres, with cows, chickens, roosters, turkeys (they were just slaughtered), and the neighbors horses grazing on their land. The girls fed the 9 week old cows. They were adorable! It was nice to finally see their home. And I took home 2 dozen fresh eggs.

Tonight I'm keeping busy making banana cream pie, chocolate cream pie, and cupcakes for Emilia's birthday party. I need to go wrap her present while she's gone. She knows what she's getting (some boots we ordered online), but she thinks they haven't arrived yet (she's been asking every day "are they here yet") ME? I'm a big liar. So she may be a little surprised after all.

My sweet girl is 13 years old tomorrow! Another teenager in the house, officially anyway. I feel like she's been a teenager most of her life. If I survive mothering teenagers, I deserve a fabulous vacation!

Thanksgiving Day

Happy Turkey Day!

Turkey Bowl

Emilia's first time playing in the Turkey Bowl


Mario, looking pretty exhausted after a game of Turkey Football

Quinn, Chandler, Doug, Mario, Ed
(And NO, Mario is not injured, he swiped the walker from Doug for visual effect, and a little sympathy)

Chandler, Roy, Mario, Tyler


Me and Emilia

My Beautiful Turkey

After spending many hours over the course of two days, we devoured the meal in minutes!

We happily hosted the Missionaries for dinner this year, and I was honored to make our new Canadian missionary his first American Thanksgiving. They laughed a lot at our hearty dinner conversation. After dinner we played a game of Scattergories, before eating dessert. After returning the missionaries to their home we headed to the movies. Mario, Parker and Emilia saw Quantum of Solace, while I watched Four Christmas'. Savannah was working and Jordan went out with friends.

Later that night....

Mario and Amos checking out the leftovers.

Emilia can be so SWEET

I was at a birth all night Monday night. Well, the birth was quite fast, but the baby was having some breathing problems so we stayed for 8 hours post birth to keep an eye on him. We debated all morning whether or not to transfer to the hospital. We decided to have dad take him to the pediatrician. While he was at the Dr. office they decided to transport to the hospital, but by the afternoon they could find nothing wrong with him, so the dad took him home. It was all very strange.

I was incredibly tired when I got home about 9:30 that morning. I took Amos for a walk, took a shower and headed to bed. It was Veteran's Day. This means that the girls were home. Not only were they home, but they both had friend's over. Jordan was home, too. Parker got home early from work. Can you see where this is going.....I didn't get much sleep that day! And when I don't get much sleep, I am very cranky.

I came out of my bedroom about 2:30 in the afternoon, ready to pummel someone and found a note that Emilia had left me. It spoiled my rotten mood! I turned around and went back to my bedroom.

In case you can't read it.....

Hey mom, how was the birth? I hope it was good.
Me and Mario cleaned up the kitchen last night.
Just wanted to say what you do is really cool.
I could never get up like that and stay awake all night.
Love you so much! Emilia

Midwife Psalm

Thank you to Gloria Lemay, midwife in Canada, for this beautiful prose.

I am a midwife, I am safe in the world. I am allowed into the lives of others and am given the words that I speak. Yea, though I make mistakes, none are so great that they can not be forgiven. All I could want is supplied to me and my heart rises up with joy and gratitude. When I am afraid, I know that I am surrounded by a Presence mightier than the petty tyrants of this world. The only enemy I fear is the one within me. There is always an abundant table before me if I will but look and see it. My cup runneth over, if I say so. Surely, I am blessed to have a vocation that I love and that serves the Higher good. My heaven is here and now. In service, I find peace and tranquility and I dwell in the love of the moment, moment by moment. Ah woman.

Riddle Me This, Riddle Me That....

Can you solve this riddle my husband told me today?

______ sat, so ______ could walk, so ______ could run?

Hmmmm....

I really want to share my feelings about the election, but honestly I don't feel that I can gather my thoughts in an organized way just yet. I feel emotional, excited, hopeful, anxious, proud....I could go on and on with the adjectives. Just suffice it to say that I have many thoughts going through my head.



Instead I'm just going to share a funny and appropriate ending to a story. It's the story of the woman who showed up at my door for an interview, minutes after I woke up after only a few hours of sleep after being at a birth most of the night. My first greeting to her was in my robe with my hair up in a towel.

Imagine my shock and surprise when she actually hired me!
(I've already shared this in a previous post, and if I knew how to link it here I would, but I don't, so you'll just have to look for it if you're interested)

So it seemed appropriate that on her final postpartum visit she showed up at my home office two hours before her scheduled appointment with me in the same robe and hair towel that she was greeted with two months earlier.

We both had a good laugh over that one!

The King and I

Is it too pathetic
that Mario and I stayed home on Halloween
taking pictures of the dog in his costume?

I hope not, because we had fun and were laughing our heads off. Savannah may be the owner of this dog, but I know that he loves ME. I even have proof. He follows me every step I make in this house. He lays on my lap while I am reading/resting/watching tv/sitting. He is underfoot ANY time I am in the kitchen cooking. And the best one of all, when I went to bed the other night, he laid outside my bedroom door and whimpered for 15 minutes. I'm sure it didn't help that Mario and I laid in there laughing about it the whole time. We were too lazy to get out of bed so we called Savannah and told her to come get her silly dog.

Family Photos, Minus a few family members

Here are the four group shots that I narrowed it down to. It's amazing that you can take 85 pictures of a family, and then have a difficult time finding one where everyone looks decent. As always, I thank my good friend Cindy for being so generous with her time and talent. I love you, Cindy!

Any opinions on a favorite? Please share!

Me and my sweetie!

The girls look so cute!

And I love this one with Savannah and Amos.