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My Birth Story- Cort Richard Robison

The long awaited expectation of Cort Richard Robison's arrival finally came on November 21st, 2010. Although the majority of the pregnancy seemed to fly by it's amazing how long and busy those three weeks leading up to his birth were. Saturday, November 6th I scheduled to attend a boutique as a Discovery Toys vendor. I was very nervous that I may go into labor and not be able to sell at the boutique. After Kent & I finished working we went down to my sisters house to pick up Braxton and eat dinner. On the way home we stopped off at our friends Nate & Jerusha's house to play games. We had a great time.

Upon returning home late that night I found quite a bit of moisture when I went to the restroom and became concerned that perhaps my water had broken. I called the midwife and she instructed me try and to labor at home and if I wasn't in hard labor by morning I should probably have the hospital check me. I then proceeded to pack my bags in case we ended up heading to the hospital. The next morning there was no labor so we dropped Braxton off at the bishops house to go to church with them and Kent and I headed to the hospital to be checked. We were then sent back home and were told it was a heavy discharge that proceeds labor.

The following three weeks I had multiple signs that my body was preparing for labor which put Kent and I both on high alert thinking that any day could be the day. We had scheduled an induction date of November 22 so if I didn't go into labor on my own we knew I would have him by then. At my appointment on Friday, November 19th I had become tired of waiting for so many weeks on such high alert. Because of that I had my midwife strip my membranes and within the hour my body started to have contractions. I had contractions off and on through that night as well as Saturday, but nothing consistent or hard.

Saturday night the midwife called and told me she had a family obligation at 5 o'clock on Monday night and if I didn't have my baby by then her partner would have to deliver my baby. She gave me two other options to be certain she could deliver him. The first was to induce me on Sunday and the second would be to induce me on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Kent and I quickly opted for Sunday.

Sunday morning at 6:30 am we called the hospital to see if there was room for me to be induced and lucky for me the first big winter storm that had rolled in that night had put numerous women in labor and my little bit of labor had stopped so therefore I would have to wait. Around 10 am we got a call asking if we could be at the hospital in an hour. We hurried and took off only to find that in the time it took us to get there more women had come in and we didn't have a nurse. They took us to our room and we watched tv while we waited for a delivery nurse.

Around 12 or 12:30 pm my midwife came in and said that even though we didn't have a nurse she didn't see any reason for me to wait around so she'd go ahead and get me started. She was only able to brake my outer bag of water because my bag was so tough. She then told us we could go walking and so we did. We walked for about 30 to 40 minutes and then went back to the room to be monitored. When we came back we met our nurse. After about 20 to 30 minutes of being on the monitor we decided to go walking again in hopes to speed up the labor. Again we walked for a good 30 to 40 minutes and then came back to be on the monitor.

After a third round of walking which ended around 4:00 pm we talked with the midwife about starting me on pitocin to get me progressing. We decided to have her check me and see how much I had progressed and then if I had not she would put me on pitocin so I could get the baby here. Around 4:30 pm she checked me and just from checking me my inner bag of water broke and without the need for pitocin I was sent into hard labor. I tried laboring for a moment on a ball, but that did nothing for me. I labored for quite a while in the tub and then got out and labored a bit in the room. It seems that this time I was quite a bit louder than I was with Braxton. In fact I kind of groaned/sang through the pain.

Once I got out of the tub though I don't recall much else until they checked me and I was very close to delivering. At that point they started to get things ready for the delivery. I had wanted to squat and this time I was willing to get into the position at that point. I remember asking my midwife if I could push yet and being surprised when she said yes. At that point I was so eager to be out of the pain of delivery that all I could think of was to keep pushing until he was out. Because I was squatting I felt like I was more in control and so I pushed and pushed until he was here. Kent tells me it was about a half an hour that I pushed. He was born quite quickly at 6:51 pm. He weighed 7lbs 14 oz and was 19 inches long. He must have come down the birth canal quickly because he had a very bruised forehead and nose and had broken blood vessels in his eyes that have taken weeks to heal.

I felt really lucky to have the opportunity to nurse him right away and to enjoy him laying right on my bare chest right after birth. I even had the opportunity to rub the vernix into his skin. After I was stitched up from my tearing and Cort had been checked out we were taken to our recovery room. I was eager to get to sleep that night so Kent left to go get Braxton and head to bed himself between 9:30 and 10 pm. About 10:15 or so he called me and asked if Braxton could come meet his brother. He was just too eager to meet him that he couldn't wait until morning. So Braxton and Cort met for the first time at 11:00 at night and Braxton has loved and adored his brother Cort ever since. It's been a real joy to see the love he has for his brother. We have been thrilled to have Cort be a part of our family and we look forward to spending more time getting to know him.

Gratitude & Blessings in November

• Tue 30 *I am SO thankful that Cort is well enough to come off the bili blanket.

• Mon 29 *I am thankful my parents were able to come and help us with bringing Cort home. I am also thankful I was finally able to visit with my good friend Melissa when she came over to cut Kent's hair. She has become such a great friend to me and I am thankful for her love and friendship!

• Sun 28 *I am thankful for some nice time spent with my husband and my two boys. Family time spent together such a blessing.

• Sat 27 *I am thankful for time spent with Kent this evening. I love to sit and cuddle with him and feel his warmth and kindness.

• Fri 26 *I am thankful Kent was able to take Cort and I to get his blood drawn to check his bilirubin count.

• Thur 25 *I am thankful to have had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with my family. I have been blessed to have them make the dinner.

• Wed 24 *I am thankful that my son does not have high risk jaundice. I am thankful for modern technology as well as natural remedies and most of all I am thankful for the wonderful power of the priesthood and my husbands worthiness to hold it. I am also thankful that when Braxton watched his dad and grandpa give his brother a blessing that he wanted to be able to give a blessing too.

• Tue 23 *I have been blessed with a good nights sleep and the ability for my body to recover from an allergic reaction. I am thankful Cort and I are well enough to be going home today. Today I am also thankful for a wonderful nursing staff who did their jobs well.

• Mon 22 *I am thankful for great nurses to help me after my delivery. You don't realize how much they help until you have one who is not very helpful. I am also thankful for help from the lactation specialist.

• Sun 21 *I am so thankful for Kent, my midwife Julie Jones, & my labor and delivery nurse. If it weren't for their help I never could have delivered my new baby Cort naturally. I am so thankful that Braxton was well taken care of and was also anxious to come see his new brother.

• Sat 20 *I am thankful that I have been able to relax and hopefully give my body the rest it needs to go into labor. I am also thankful that I have been able to accept the possibility of being induced on Monday I don't go into labor.

• Fri 19 *I am thankful I was finally able to see my midwife this afternoon.

• Thur 18 *I am thankful for wonderful friends who knew just what I needed when I was having a bad day. Melissa must have known I wanted a treat to indulge myself with and Becca said just the right thing to give me back some encouragement. Thank you friends for your support when I needed it.

• Wed 17 *I have been blessed for many months to have friends who have been dedicated to walking in the mornings. I am so thankful for the strength that our daily walks have give to me this pregnancy. I am so thankful to be 9 months pregnant and feel so much better about the way I look this time.

• Tue 16 *I am thankful I was able to track down my car seat cover. It will be very nice to have with a winter baby who I'm sure I will worry about trying to keep warm.

• Mon 15 *I am so thankful that my Uncle was not afraid to share his enjoyment for his current education in mesage therapy. It has been so nice to give my body a break each week.

• Sun 14 *I am thankful that I was able to attend church today even though Braxton and I have had colds this weekend. I don't have many more Sunday's to attend church before I am stuck at home with a baby.

• Sat 13 *I am thankful for a wonderful understanding friend who supported me in following my gut even when I didn't understand the feelings I was having. I am also thankful for the courage I had to listen to my feelings not to go to West Point this morning.

• Fri 12 *I am thankful I have been able to get so much accomplished today and that I am getting my Discovery Toys in order so that I can hopefully have this done by the time this baby comes.

• Thur 11 *I am thankful Brandon, the maintenance guy stopped by with a new fire alarm and was willing to fix a few other things while he was here including my broken refridgerator tray. I am also thankful this baby has allowed me to finish another party. One more to go.

• Wed 10 *I'm thankful I was able to attend Sara's open house tonight and sell some of my toys. It does give me a great sense of satisfaction to share these great toys with others.

• Tue 9 *I am thankful to have been able to get all my shopping done today so that I now feel prepared to come home from the hospital with a baby and I don't have to send Kent to the store before I bring this little guy home.

• Mon 8 *I am thankful I was able to find a nursing bra quickly so that I can be even closer to being ready for the baby to come.

• Sun 7 *I am thankful to know that my water hasn't broken and I have been able to get my house back in order.

• Sat 6 *I am thankful I was able to make it to my boutique today and get some good leads.

• Fri 5 *I am thankful for a thoughtful call from my former neighbor when I needed to know that the Lord was prompting someone to think of me.

• Thur 4 *Today I am thankful to know that my body knows what to do and is progressing the way it should. I am also very thankful to be reminded how lucky I am to have Kent for a husband. It's easy to forget that having been married for 7 and a half years and never having been yelled at is quiet a rare blessing. I am thankful for a kind man who treats me with love and respect. I am also thankful for the blessing of Braxton being in preschool where he can learn and get help with his speech. I am so thankful for his great progress.

• Wed 3 *I am thankful to finally be getting my house cleaned and put back together.

• Tue 2 *I am thankful for all the work that is keeping me busy so that I am not sitting around wishing this baby would come.

• Mon 1 *I am thankful that even though Kent and I are not the best financial planners that we are able to keep a positive attitude and we're able to make things work when money does get tight.

He's here!!!

This Sunday November 21st, 2010 Cort Richard Robison came into the world at 6:51 PM. He weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 19 inches long. Braxton was thrilled to have a brand new brother. In fact he was so thrilled that he had to come see him that night at 11:00 PM. Kent and I are thrilled to have him here and to be working on working him into our life. So far he has been a very good baby.

Our First Helicopter Ride

On October 16th Kent, Braxton, and I had our first helicopter ride.

Whirlybird Helicopter School was having an open house and giving rides.

I had really hoped that this would get Kent excited and eager to go back to school, but the guys running the open house made it seem like no big deal which didn't really add to Kent or my excitment about this school. I consider it a loss on their part. They really could have tried a little harder to gain a student, but they didn't. It was fun, however, to watch Braxton soak in the experience. Here are just a couple of the pictures...

Braxton is so excited to being riding in the helicopter!

I really think Kent looks good in this head gear. He should wear it often...

I could get used to this.
After the helicopter ride we stopped off at the Hill Air Force Base Museum. Braxton seemed to enjoy it.

Ready or Not...

There's no feeling in the world like wondering, 'is this it?' 'are we having this baby tonight?' That is what happened to me last Saturday night. Kent had worked all day that day and I had taken on the task of selling toys at a boutique. We took Braxton to Cheryl's house the night before to have a cousins sleep over and to be watched at their house for the day. Kent and I returned home about the same time Saturday evening and went down to pick up Braxton. As a thank you to everyone we bought pizza for dinner. Before returned home that evening we stopped off at the Buckner's house to play games for a bit with them as well as the Keele's. We had a blast and I laughed a few belly laughs so hard that they hurt. It was so much fun!

Upon returning home that night around 10:30 pm I discovered some excess fluid that made me start to believe that maybe my water had broken. As I sat questioning if it had or not I wrestled with the question of what to do next? I wasn't having any contractions that I knew of, but if my water truly had broken I knew I couldn't stay home forever waiting for them to start. I called the midwife and she advised me to try and get the labor started and stay at home as long as possible since I was wanting to have a natural birth.

That night I was forced into quickly getting ready for a baby to come. I spent the next hour or so packing a bag for myself while trying to see if I could induce labor naturally. Kent and I went to bed waiting to see what would happen. Neither of us slept well. When I woke up the next morning I had a feeling that it wasn't going to happen, but knew I needed to get checked just in case. Kent and I took Braxton over to the bishops so he could go to church with them and we headed to the hospital.

Lucky for me and my disaster of a mess apartment my water had not broken and I was send home. As much as I hate that I will be paying for unnecessary time in the hospital I have to say that it was probably a bit of a blessing. This last week I have been much more in touch with getting things ready for this baby and setting aside my Discovery Toys business. I am now really looking forward to having some time to sit and enjoy my family and get acquainted with my new son. These days I am thinking that I will either go into labor before this Saturday when I have my last party scheduled or else I will finish all my parties and have to wait to be induced on the 22nd. Either way what a wild ride waiting to find out when this baby will decide to come. Wish me luck that I won't get the chance to do another natural delivery while experiencing Pitocin induced contractions.

Gratitude & Blessings in October

• Sun 31 *I am thankful for a wonderful husband who will pick up the slack when I have other responsibilities to attend to.

• Sat 30 *I am thankful for a fun evening trick-or-treating with Braxton, Kent, & and a few of our friends. I am also thankful Braxton didn't have an accident when he told me he needed to go potty while waiting in line at the grocery store.

• Fri 29 *I am thankful for a nice evening cuddling up with Kent to watch the movie When in Rome for a date night.

• Thur 28 *I am thankful for the opportunity to be in my sisters home tonight and listen to her husband give thanks for the opportunity to allow our bodies to rest. At this time in my life I am very thankful for the opportunity to rest my body. In addition to this blessing I have been blessed with the wonderful scriptures. I am thankful for them and for the idea my mom gave me to challenge myself to read 30 days consecutively. I have read the last 12 days and with the exception of one days missed I have been able to read 17 days at least this month. What a blessing it is to have the scriptures!

• Wed 27 *I am thankful I was able to have an enjoyable time doing a Discovery Toys party tonight. It was so nice to have women compliment me on doing a good job. I am also thankful that when Braxton fell and cut his face today that it was a minor cut. I felt blessed to be able to attend his class party with him and enjoy watching him interact in his classroom setting.

• Tue 26 *I am grateful to have accomplished such a huge task of making over 60 reminder calls for tomorrow nights Discovery Toys Party.

• Mon 25 *I am so thankful for the opportunity to have an uncle who has been learning the art of massage therapy and who needs hours of practice on prenatal clients. I didn't know how beneficial massage therapy was for pregnancy!

• Sun 24 *I am thankful for the opportunity to attend church in my own ward with people who are understanding of the noise my son may make from time to time. I am also thankful for a kid who behaves really well in church.

• Sat 23 *I am thankful Kent was able to get a deer so quickly this morning when the weather turned out to be lousy later today.

• Fri 22 *I am thankful that Braxton has his older cousins Kade and Tanner who play with him so well and treat him as a loved and important person.

• Thur 21 *I am thankful I was able to get all that I needed to accomplish done before we headed to Meadow.

• Wed 20 *I am thankful for the wonderful walks that I am able to go on with my friends Melanie and Heather. Good friend who support you are so important.

• Tue 19 *I am thankful for a husband and son who I love and enjoy. I am also thankful for this child who kicks inside my belly.

• Mon 18 *I am grateful for good health and nutrition that allows my body to feel good and have energy.

• Sun 17 *I am thankful that for a much needed 2 hour nap after staying up late to make jam last night. I am thankful for a wonderful husband and son who let me sleep.

• Sat 16 *I am thankful that Kent, Braxton, and I were able to go for a helicopter ride yesterday so Kent could get a little feel for flying. I am also thankful that we were able to get the peaches taken care of and make Raspberry Peach Jam.

• Fri 15 *I was blessed with the idea and the desire to follow through with that idea to put together a road rally date night tonight. I feel so blesed to have had a great turn out and it seemed like everyone there had a really good time.

• Thur 14 *I'm thankful Melissa asked me if I wanted to make cabbage and ramen salad for dinner. I needed someone to help me snap out of my feeling sorry for myself.

• Wed 13 *I am so thankful that it appears my baby has flipped so that he is head down now. I am also thankful I was able to make it to my Dr.'s appointment on time and feel better when Julie was running a little behind herself. I'm thankful I was able to make it through an emotionally stressful day.

• Tue 12 *I am thankful we were able to attend the ward party and have such a good time. I am also thankful to have so many good friends in the ward and that Braxton has such good friends as well.

• Mon 11 *I am thankful to FINALLY have my house cleaned and feel like it is liveable again.

• Sun 10 *I am thankful Kent wanted to go to church today after we attended his co-workers wedding. I am also thankful that I was married in the temple so many years ago.

• Sat 9 *I am thankful we were blessed to get some free peaches through a friend yesterday. They have been so tasty this morning.

• Fri 8 *I Today I was blessed with a wonderful relaxing day. I didn't get a lot accomplished, but I am thankful to have had a break.

• Thur 7 *I am so thankful that Braxton finally gets it enough that he told me he needed to poop and then went in a did it. I am so proud of him and excited that all our hard work is paying off.

• Wed 6 *I've been blessed with a great kid who was willing to go with me to my Discovery Toys meeting tonight. He was so well behaved as well. As we left Leslie said to him see you later alligator and as we walked out he said to me, mom I'm not an alligator. After I went back to tell her he told her, "I'm a monkey."

• Tue 5 *I am thankful for the wonders of technology that allowed me to listen even closer to President Monson's talk today.

• Mon 4 *I have been blessed to receive free massage therapy which really helps my body deal with the demands of supporting two lives.

• Sun 3 *I have been blessed to listen to the words of our prophets. I love to listen to conference.

• Sat 2 *Today I was blessed with the right person to talk to when I needed a friend the most. I am thankful for wonderful friends who listen even if it is online.

• Fri 1 *I am thankful Discovery Toys found "another day" in their September calendar so my new recruit, Tammie, could get her sales in and not feel entirely defeated. I enjoy working for a company who cares about those who do their ground work!

I am really looking forward to general conference tomorrow. I didn't know how much I'd need to feel the comforting of the spirit that conference brings until about 6 hours ago when I learned of some very sad circumstances that have caused someone I love pain and could potentially cause another person I love even more pain. I would love to share, but it is all very sensitive material. It is the reason that I find myself blogging at 5 am. I need to talk to someone and I don't think anyone is up who can process what I need to say. Because of this I am working these thoughts out online. I do have to say that it is amazing to me how much it lightens my spirit to come and work on my gratitude post. It truly does help me to count my many blessings. In fact so much that maybe that is what I need to do.

I am thankful for my husband who works very hard for my family. I am thankful for his efforts in our home and in being a great dad to our son. I am thankful for Braxton and all he is learning right now. We have been so blessed to get him into his preschool class which he loves. This last week I have had numerous people tell me how well they can understand his words in just a short amount of time. He really looks forward to school and I know that it is a blessing. He is my blessing. In four and a half years he has brought me so much joy and taught me so much.

I am thankful for this little boy who these days drives me crazy with his constant kicking and movement. I am thankful to have a healthy body that allows me to enjoy this pregnancy in ways that I wasn't able to enjoy my pregnancy with Braxton. I am thankful that he has been healthy and continues to grow well. I am thankful that he is going to be born in November so that I can cuddle him all winter long.

I have been blessed with a fantastic life. It has been filled with wonderful friends, meaningful family, and many opportunities for growth. I am happy with the person I have become. It has taken me 30 years to become who I am today and I wouldn't change a thing. I only hope that in another thirty years I will feel the same only even stronger and wiser!

Gratitude & Blessings in September

• Thur 30 *I am thankful we have such good friends and that Braxton was able to attend his good friends birthday party.

• Wed 29 *We are so blessed to have Braxton in preschool and working with fantastic people. I am so thankful his bus driver is so nice and told me I'm a parents she adores. :)

• Tue 28 *I am thankful I was able to take a little bit of time to run errands with my neighbor and that we were able to endulge in Red Mango.

• Mon 27 *I am thankful I was able to visit with my aunts today and I'm also thankful for a great massage.

• Sun 26 *I a thankful Kent had such a great idea on how to get Braxton taken care of when this baby comes.

• Sat 25 *I am thankful for a wonderful day with good mental health.

• Fri 24 *I am thankful I was able to get so much accomplished today. I feel really good about the What Women Want Show and I am glad I was able to get most of my reminder calls made for my open house.

• Thur 23 *I feel so blessed to have been given tickets to attend the circus with my family as well as Kent's uncle & his family. It was exactly what I needed.

• Wed 22 *I am thankful for a clean house.

• Tue 21 *I am thankful for my morning walks.

• Mon 20 *I am thankful that I was able to be honest with how I feel and not allow feeling sorry for someone to make me do something I didn't want to do.

• Sun 19 *I am thankful for good friends who invited us over for dinner and conversation.

• Sat 18 *I am thankful that I was able to stay reasonable and understand when Kent found a great deal on a loft bed for Braxton without me being there.

• Fri 17 *I am thankful to have been so productive with getting my closet organized and cleaning out things that needed to be thrown out. I am also thankful for a wonderful night out with Kent and Braxton at the nicklecade.

• Thur 16 *I am thankful for a husband who is willing to listen when I need him to & who also knows me well enough to understand when something is wrong.

• Wed 15 *I am thankful for a wonderful son who enjoys spending time with me.

• Tue 14 *I have been blessed today with productivity. I am thankful the Lord helped me to organize my time better because I took the time to read his word.

• Mon 13 *I am thankful I had the opportunity to remind my friend of the saving power of the atonement. I am thankful the Savior atoned for my sins & transgressions!

• Sun 12 *I am thankful for a must needed relaxing drive in the canyon today.

• Sat 11 *I was blessed to find a box of baby boy clothes at my sisters house today. I am so thankful to have found it.

• Fri 10 *Today we were blessed to be able to go to the state fair for free with Kent's brother & uncle and their families. We had a great time.

• Thur 9 *I am thankful for a great husband who is so kind and generous with others even when their son was joining the kids in throwing dirt clods on the road and Kent's truck.

• Wed 8 *I am thankful for a new possible understanding of answers to my prayers.

• Tue 7 *I am thankful I was able to talk to Braxton's bus driver to get things worked out so he could ride the bus home.

• Mon 6 *I am thankful for a wonderful fun evening with my husband and for the good laugh that trailer racing brought.

• Sun 5 *I have been blessed to have a wonderful husband who takes care of and loves his family. I am also thankful we were able to enjoy a night up at my Aunt and Uncle's property.

• Sat 4 *I am thankful for a great day with my good friend Tia.

• Fri 3 *I am thankful for a fun and delicious evening with my good friends Beau and Janessa.

• Thur 2 *I am thankful for a wonderful husband who is always eager to show support and love to his friend when they are in need.

• Wed 1 *I am thankful that Braxton was able to ride and bus to preschool today and that he really loved it.

Remembering My Individual Worth

Each year as the days grow shorter I struggle with my mental health. While eating right, exercising, and trying to think positive help there is truly something that goes on inside of me & I lack the capability to feel as healthy as I do in the spring & summer months. I've come to understand that this is just one of the challenges I have to face. This year being pregnant seems to have hyper jumped me into my winter depression early.

While I am working with my midwife to find something to help me through this winter I am struggling and scared of the mental attacks that will come. Last night brought many things that made me break down and feel a lack of power and low self worth. I went to bed feeling fatigued and beaten. At 4 am I awoke and these feelings came flooding back so strongly that I could not lay my head down to sleep. I came in and wasted time online hoping to tire myself out. After about an hour I went in and tried to sleep and when I found that my mind was too busy racing with thoughts of self doubt to sleep I began to sob due to exhaustion. Kent awoke and comforted me for a while and made me feel more calm and at ease.

As I laid there in my loving husbands arms my mind began to be filled with something I haven't thought about in a while. The words to the Young Women's theme began to run through my head...

I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father, who loves me, and I love Him. I will "stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9) as I strive to live the Young Women values, which are: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, and Integrity. I believe as I come to accept and act upon these values, I will be prepared to make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

As I thought of these words I realized how each of these values applied to this challenge in my life. I must have faith and rely on the Lord knowing that he is aware of my trials and he will strengthen me as I turn to him for help. I truly AM a Daughter of my Heavenly Father which makes my nature divine. The Lord has many daughters, but he loves me, Marlies Robison, and cares for me individually and I am of worth to him. I have been blessed with great knowledge in this life. I have been given much of the knowledge I need to be successful in life and I have been abundantly blessed to have a knowledge of God's plan of happiness. I have been given the great power to make choices and be accountable for them. Some of those choices have brought me pain, but so many of those choices have brought me joy and happiness and for that I am grateful. I have been given the opportunity to perform good works in my life that have blessed me & others more than I can ever know. With all that I have been blessed with I must have the integrity to to acknowledge all that I have been blessed with even when the walls of my mind seem grim and confining.

I am grateful to know of the changes that have been made to the theme since I was a young woman. I know that in a world of changing values that it was important to add the value of virtue. Much of our would would find more joy and happiness if we were all a little more virtuous. I am also glad that they added "We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family..." I think that far too often I look outside my family to find my worth. My greatest calling and my greatest source of joy is in the service that I give as a wife and mother. I need to remember that these are the most important roles that I have. I am thankful I have been prepared to strengthen my home and my family so that I can raise people who are prepared to be strong in the face of adversity.

Changes

Two weeks ago on August 30th my little boy grew into a big boy. He started his first day of preschool.He was excited all morning long waiting for preschool to start.
When I told him to get his school clothes on he jumped to his feet quickly
He is loving preschool and loves to tell me about his day.

When he gets to school he finds his name tag and practices writing his name.

He was SO excited to be at preschool!!!

Wednesday, Sept. 1st we finally working it out with transportation to get the bus to pick Braxton up. Taking him to preschool was a little bit hard, but putting him on the bus was much harder. After putting him on the bus I was freaking out inside. I'm starting to get better at letting him ride the bus. He's the little head in the window here.

Noteworthy Quote

“You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly” Sam Keen

Gratitude & Blessings in August

• Tue 31 *I am thankful for all my wonderful friends who helped me reach my goals for Discovery Toys today.

• Mon 30 *I'm thankful Braxton had a fantastic day at school.

• Sun 29 *I am thankful for great friends. I am also thankful Kent and I were able to make the right decision when it came to possibly buying a horse we love.

• Sat 28 *I am thankful for a great day with Braxton and I am thankful for his success in potty training.

• Fri 27 *I am thankful my friend Jill called and asked Braxton & I to join her and Baylee to play at the park. It was nice to get out of the house.

• Thur 26 *I am thankful I have been able to overcome my fear and make some calls for sponsoring a Discovery Toys Educational Consultant.

• Wed 25 *I am thankful that I have been able to attend Relief Society tonight.

• Tue 24 *I am thankful my new Dt sponsor had a great start to her Discovery Toys grand opening.

• Mon 23 *After a heartfelt plea to the Lord to help me with this potty training my prayers were answered and I was able to figure out that Braxton had an aversion to going #2 in the big toilet. I'm thankful we bought him a training potty tonight & he had success.

• Sun 22 *I am thankful Braxton went & sat with his Primary class today with out crying or protest. I am also thankful that he loves Sister Debbie so much he wanted to show her some of his treasures today during sacrament meeting.

• Sat 21 *Today I was able to enjoy going with Braxton and our friends to the downtown library as well as Liberty Park. It was made even better when Kent was able to come and join us after working at Midgley.

• Fri 20 *I am thankful I was able to make it to the temple this evening.

• Thur 19 *It was such a nice night to take Devin and Liesel out for some Cup of Snow snow cones. I'm glad that Kent found out about these deluxe snow cones.

• Wed 18 *I am thankful to have my floors clean and my house back in order for the most part.

• Tue 17 *I am thankful Spencer was able to break into my car since I locked the keys in. I am also thankful for great savings on new shoes for Kent and I as well as back to school products for Braxton.

• Mon 16 *I am thankful I was able to go out to dinner with my parents family tonight and that I was able to take some good dinner home just in time for Kent to get off work.

• Sun 15 *I am thankful for a successful first family camp out. I am also thankful I was able to spend the evening with our great friends Ian and Tia.

• Sat 14 *I am thankful for Kent's great skill at dutch oven cooking. I am also thankful that Brian's in-laws came and helped us eat it.

• Fri 13 *I am thankful for a fun day of camping with the Kunz family. I am also thankful for a nice evening of fishing with my husband, son, and brother Devin.

• Thur 12 *I am thankful my family trivia game turned out to be such a success. It was a lot of fun. I am also thankful we were able to get things done so we could go camping.

• Wed 11 *I am thankful I am almost all ready to go camping this weekend with my family.

• Tue 10 *I am thankful I checked Kent's account so I could find out I actually didn't have the money to go shopping for extras today. What a blessing.

• Mon 9 *I am so thankful that I was able to get 24 quarts of apricot juice bottled today.

• Sun 8 *I am thankful for the many wonderful apricots I was able to get today. I am also thankful for the hours of help my neighbors gave me.

• Sat 7 *I am thankful to have a clean house as I prepare for church tomorrow. I am also thankful for a great husband who took us out for Gelato tonight. It was fun to have dessert and watch Kent make the ladies serving get nervous about his Gelato flavor.

• Fri 6 *I am thankful for the life I have lived. I have been blessed abundantly.

• Thur 5 *I am thankful for all of the skills I have as a homemaker. I enjoy being able to make my own bread, sew a ripped tent bag, bottle apricot juice, and give my boys haircuts which I did do today. I may not be a master at any one thing, but I am sufficient at many things, and for that I am grateful.

• Wed 4 *I am thankful the Lord sends beautiful rain storms in the summer. There is nothing like a rain storm, especially with thunder and lightning, when the weather gets hot in the summer. It is one of my favorite things.

• Tue 3 *I am thankful for a husband who was willing to change his attitude and pack up all the things we needed to eat at the neighborhood block party. I am also thankful that when I heard Kent say he loved me because I take such good care of him tonight that I felt the truthfulness of those words.

• Mon 2 *We have been blessed with good health. I am thankful that Braxton's touch of stomach flu only lasted a few hours on Saturday.

• Sun 1 *I am thankful today to know that while Kent was a work that he really missed being with me and Braxton. I appreciate & enjoy his love and his friendship.

Hello Summer...Good-bye!

Summer is my favorite time of year. The only problem is that it flies by so fast that as soon as it's started it is over. This year has been no exception. Here is our summer run down through pictures...Kent took a second job working for Summit Ice and found himself very busy working.

We sure have missed him!!!

The kids love playing in the dirt across the parking lot.

Braxton couldn't quite hold still for a picture with his speech teachers Jen and Michelle on the last day of speech class.



We had a picnic up the canyon and on the way back saw a couple of moose hanging out in a field.



June 22 Braxton turned 4 and had a "rocket ship birthday party"

we haven't stopped hearing about it ever since.

We found a rocket ship at Zurchers and had to get it for him.

Elijah and Baylee take a turn at the pinata.

Birthday boy takes a whack.

Simeon's turn.

Elijah again.

Zander gets a chance.

I did my best to make him a rocket ship birthday cake that would be easy to split.

Maybe I am not the best at cupcake cakes.

Braxton got very upset when we sang happy birthday to him without the candle lit because it wouldn't stay lit. Apparently he's figured out how this works.

Trying to be a happy and brave boy.

Since it was a kid party where we invited the parents too

we decided to feed them hot dogs and cake.

Braxton LOVED his fire truck from Zander.

Baylee knew him well to give him moon sand.

Even though you can't see it Hyrum gave him a cars book he can design himself.

Thanks for the airplanes Simeon.

Mom and Dad decided he needed a bike his size so he'd be more confident in riding one.


The last weekend in June was the Kesler Reunion at Fish Lake

Braxton loved driving Uncle Gordon's boat.

Gordon had to keep Kesler close. ha ha ha

Braxton had as much fun off the lake as he did on.

He was funny he'd grab my hand and try to make me take the lifevest off.

Here mom just do it.


Braxton made the connection between the firemen he had, the fireman hat he got and the new fire truck. It was cute to see him play with all.

July 4th Braxton and I headed out to the Murray Parade with my neighbors Melissa, Janell and their kids while Kent delivered ice.

Braxton shows his parade spirit.

Funny stuff huh?

Melissa, Janell, and I

This looks more like the Kanosh parade than the Murray parade.

I had to take a picture of her crazy hair. WOW!

Braxton checking out the fire truck hoping it doesn't get too close.

All six kids on the parade route.

In case you don't recognize me in 20 years this is what I will look like.

It was so much fun to watch the rock crawlers climb on each other.

Braxton watched a few westerns and go the cowboy look down.

I was so lucky to have dinner with my roommates Robin and Kim from my first year of college. I love these ladies!!!

After two years of not making it down to Meadow/Kanosh for the

24th of July I was thrilled that his year we made it!

Kanosh parade has such fun and simple floats.

Braxton was excited to get some candy.

Waiting for more

Kent loves this truck.

The simplicity of a small town parade.

Nice boat!

Kanosh bishopric. I still think it's funny Travis is in there.

Kaitlyn is excited to participate in the parade.

Shantel on the other hand isn't as excited. Must be the age difference.

Kade enjoyed the fire truck water.

Meadow's celebration had fun blow up slides for the kids to enjoy.

Braxton loved it!

Brayden enjoyed it as well.

Tanner's getting ready to make a splash while Kade and Brayden look on.

Kade's turn

Braxton makes a splash.

Tenielle enjoys her turn

Here comes Natalie

Tanner is very brave.

Here comes Braxton

Carl's turn

Meadow's parade

Again the high tech floats.

Kyle shows off his wheels in the parade.

Tammy Beckstrand got her grandkids to do this float. It was cute the front of the float had an egg that said, "Kids crack me up"

Braxton raced in Kanosh, but when I had my camera in Meadow

he didn't want to leave the slide to run.

Kent, Kyle and his girlfriend, Jackie decided to race.

Kent's making a mad dash.

Uncle Kevin Kesler had fun playing with the girls.

The end of July we enjoyed the ward campout

Braxton and Simeon were filthy.

Cute flithy boys.

Brandon Berrett and Brent Christensen enjoy some relaxation

The ward members enjoyed a volleyball game

Bary Johnson didn't want to have his picture taken

The kids loved running down the ramp.

Cody was so nice to take the kids for rides.

Cool fort the young men made.

Baylee had great bed head.


Kent and I grew Topsy Turvy tomatoes.

These are pretty much the most expensive tomatoes I've had. lol

August 12th through the 15th we had the first official Kunz Family Campout up American Fork Canyon in Granite Flat Campground (Sites 51 & 52 to be specific). It was a lot of fun to get together and enjoy one another! Working on our tin foil dinners

Mariel taught us to roast starbursts.

Such a tough husband

My silly boy feel back in his chair

The kids loved running up and down this hill

Mariel & Haley snuggle

Cute girls

Who knows about my weird expression

Cute dirty cousins

Braxton always loves playing in the dirt.

Grandma helps Michaela with her hand.

We enjoyed a day at TibbleFork.

Braxton and Kent enjoyed the boat

Everyone enjoyed fishing
Kylie and Liesel here

Kylie, Grandpa, & Erik

Devin's quite the fisherman

We just couldn't get Erik to put his clothes on. lol

Grandma with Haley

Aaron enjoying the water

Brian, Austin, & Shanalea

Brianna

Levi practices casting

Quite the little fisherman

What a cute fisher

Kylie and Ahslyn love Aunt Mariel

Chillin' by the lake

I love it when my husband is so tough.

Braxton the mountain lion

A deer came and joined us for a moment

Kent just relaxing

I like his smile, but usually don't get it on camera.

Devin and Liesel learning about the hot desert...

Didn't take then too long to figure it out.

We've had a great summer. I hope that the fall and winter can be just as enjoyable for our family