Here's Ruth

* 4 days old

Big sister

Ruth Dawn Ordyna

8 lb 4 oz
19.5 inches

October 1, 2009

This picture saids it all: Eden can't keep her hands off Ruthie. David doesn't even want to sit by her. Mom is maintaining the peace. Dad is behind us all supporting and patroling our every move. Making sure everyone washes their hands 235 times a day. Ruthie right in the middle of it all. She is doing great!

*Birth story to come.

Here we go

I'm going to the hospital tonight to be induced. Funny, I never even thought about being induced. I thought she would have come by now. Which is silly since my other two were not early. Somehow, I thought all my pain meant an early delivery.

* Sunday: we went for a long family walk. Paul played with the kids while I did a few laps around the lake...I even jogged a little.



*Monday: woke up feeling great! Awesome. No pain. What is this about? Took the kids to the park, held David through a kicking & screaming fit. Made dinner and did some more sewing.



*Tuesday: begged and begged Paul to skip school and enjoy the day in Memphis with us. He is the best husband in the whole world! After much whining (on my part) he consented and we went to the zoo. It was beautiful! We had a blast. Later that evening I finished a book.



*Wednesday: Not in labor. No baby. Doctor said I could be induced tomorrow or next Wednesday. Those were his days available. Is it that important to have YOUR doctor deliver? I never really thought about scheduling my baby's arrival...but I guess that is naive. My doctor is going to be out of town this weekend. So...do I just take whoever is on call? Do I wait until next week when she might be 9 lbs?



We decided tonight would be best. This decision makes me nervous. Labor in general makes me nervous though. However, trying to figure out what to do with the kids and have people "on call" is also nerve racking. Wish us luck!

I love my family

Today was the most beautiful day...sunny, breezy and green.

39 1/2 weeks

* picture taken by David

Pain, Pain and more pain. This is SO uncomfortable. I don't remember feeling this way with my other two pregnancies. I will be relieved to ACTUALLY be in labor (even though that means more pain). The baby is still high which causes intense and annoying heart burn. Today I blew dry my hair only after to throw up. Maybe it was the standing, the heat or could it be the physical exercise of using a round brush? How sad is that! Paul keeps lecturing me about taking it easy. My nesting mode is back. I am in pain whether I lay on the couch or scrub the tub...so why just lay around?

It isn't THAT bad, I just like to complain. Tonight I walked around our block. I looked at my stomach, it is a hard basketball. It sways with my inflated hips. Can it get any bigger?

Here's what else has been going on...

David flying his jet with straw wings.

*Yes, he is wearing a dress...but that's nothing new.

Eden looking at herself in the mirror.

Silliness

At dinner tonight Eden was being especially silly (which means she becomes rude). She kept sticking her tongue out at us.

Paul said: "If you stick your tongue out again, I am going to pull it out and eat it." (now you know where she gets her silliness from)

Eden laughed and of course stuck her tongue out. So, Paul leaned over and grabbed her tongue. Eden cried and ran upstairs.

Two minutes later she came downstairs laughing and said, "Daddy, my tongue is still there."

Understand

Conversation while putting David to bed:

Paul: "David, it's time for bed. Do not get out of bed.

David: (silent)

Paul: "Do you understand me?"

David: "understand me."

*David the drummer at Nicolas's house...what an awesome place.

NESTING

The last two weeks I have been going full steam ahead. It was the craziness feeling, my body could not stop moving. I had projects and lists, I never sat down. Three days ago this is what I did:

* Showered and dressed ( with blow-dryed hair...which is a major accomplishment)

* 7 loads of laundry (folded and put away...another major accomplishment)

* Scrubbed and mopped the whole downstairs.

* Deep cleaned both bathrooms.

* Organized all the kids toys.

* Prepared and cleaned up all three meals.
*Washed downstairs walls
*Washed kid's room walls
*Hung pictures
* Grocery shopped

* Watched 20 minutes of Willy Wonka (the kids love the part when Violet becomes a blueberry)

* Prepared Sharing time lesson
* Bathed and put kids to bed
* Made Eden a Halloween shirt & skirt outfit

That night in bed my body ACHED. I was in total and utter pain. My house was sparkling clean and I was ready for labor....

I tossed and turned in pain all night (not labor pains though). The next morning my "nesting" urge was gone...just gone. I burnt it out. I overloaded my precious NESTING gift.

Please come back! I promise I will be nice and gentle to you. I won't go crazy. Just let me have the energy and motivation to get my house back to the way it was three days ago. It only takes three days to erase all that cleaning and laundry.

Until it comes back I will cuddle with my David. I love my David. He has got to be the cutest little boy ever! (excuse the huge belly, tired eyes and crazy hair...what do you expect?)

Sewing

Lately, I have really enjoyed myself behind my Singer. Just simple and fun projects:

Cradle sheet & bumper for baby girl.

Burp cloths

Embellishments to some of Eden's baby clothes. I needed to cover a few stains and logos (one was Christmas themed), plus it adds a little spice. I think the striped outfit was cousin Aubryn's outfit in the hospital.

I have never prepared a "going home outfit" but this time I did.

I bought a skirt pdf pattern on Esty. I am now obsessed with skirts. Skirts, skirts and more skirts. They are so easy. Here is one skirt and a dress I whipped up.

Summer with the Ordynas

This summer the Ordyna Reunion occurred. The last day of the reunion begins another 2 year anticipated wait for the next one. Literally, we count down the days until we can be together again. We had the time of our lives in Cannon Beach, Oregon. What a glorious big and chaotic family. Isn't it beautiful?


The week started out with the most amazing event. Julie & Bob adopted a precious boy named Derrick who was sealed to them. He recently was baptized, his testimony is a bright light which cannot be hidden. He is so sweet with children and very interesting to talk to. At the sealing the heavens were opened and the spirit encircled us. There wasn't a dry eye in that room! We stayed with the Tomlinson's for a few days. One day we took Derrick & Amanda to the store. Paul was at Winco (a totally cheap and awesome grocery store) he was going around saying, "I want this...oh, I want this...oh, I have to try this, etc." Derrick looked at Paul and said, "Uncle Paul, you need to distinguish between your wants and needs."


Then when we were in the car he asked Paul what he did for work. Paul told him he was a student. Derrick was astonished, he said: "How do you pay for things? How do you get money? (after a brief pause and Paul explaining how we do actually live he said) BUT how do you pay your taxes?" Ha, don't you just love this kid! He cracks me up and I loved getting to know him. Derrick is now in our family forever. Bob & Julie have been such a great example of love and acceptance. They will do anything (and I mean anything) for their children.

Nothing stopped us from having a good time.I have 7 sister-in-laws who are all wonderful. Sometimes Paul will ask me which one is my favorite. I stop and really think, surely I secretly have a favorite, right? Or surely one bugs me, right? Or surely one is strange and I pretend to like, right? WRONG. I cannot pick a favorite, I would list all 7 of them. I absolutely love. I would move next door to any one of them! That saids it all. Cousins. 31 adorable children and 2 more on their way. The most heart wrenching aspect of living far away from family is separating the cousins. They are so fun to be around. 8 year old Ky (who reminds me of David) told his parents: "Mom, do you know what you could do to be a better parent? Stop bossing me around!". We love them.

Until 2011 when we can all be together again!

Hug and a Kiss

The kids have been playing house today. David is pretending to go on an airplane (with his backpack) and Eden stays in her house (which is the space between the wall and couch).

I heard Eden say "wait, I need a hug and a kiss."

Then David said "bye, I love you."

Continue

For the next month:

Eden will continue to practice her helpful big sister role.

David will continue to pick his nose and let the world revolve around him.

I will continue to spend every minute with these two monkeys. I am so happy with my family. Can it really get better? I almost can't remember Eden without David. It seems like they came together.

8 months & 20 pounds later...

*Disclaimer: photo taken 2 weeks ago. It was the night of my 10 year high school reunion. So, you know I spent a whole hour getting ready...which never happens. It was a picture worthy moment.

Why do they call it heartburn when actually it feels like your throat is on fire? My throat is on fire 24/7.

Coming Home

Paul departed today. He is driving across the country with Eden. With a new barbie and a bag of toys Eden was not sad to leave. Children live for the present; a piece of gum, a kite, or a sticker book can change sad into happy. Saying goodbye only becomes sad when you think beyond tomorrow.

For the next 36 hours I anxiously await to be together with them. Tomorrow David and I will fly home, I will pray. Safe and sound. That's all I ask for.

Uncle Bradley and David on the long board

We have had SO much fun in Utah and Oregon. Time has flown by and yet I almost can't remember Mississippi. I imagine the suffocating humidity and buzzing of bugs, I am trying to prepare myself. It will be good to be home. Although my kids will realize I am the most boring mom in the world and no longer be satisfied with trips to Wal-Mart and the occasional city pool.

Thank you to all of our family. We love you. We absolutely loved spending time with you. It is a grand blessing to have such wonderful family on both sides who we adore and only wish we lived closer to.