"Hernie"

At Thanksgiving we found out that Graysen had a hernia, or as he calls it his "hernie." After a couple trips to the ER because of intense pain from it they decided that Surgery would be the best option so it wouldn't cause any major complications.

Basically, when boys are young they have two openings in the stomach area where the testis drop down through when they get older.  The openings usually close by themselves, but in some cases, like Graysen, the hole doesn't close on it's own.  Because of this, the intestines drop through the hole sometimes causing a big bulge.  Graysen's was the size of a golf ball, so it was pretty big and noticeable.   The reason it was such a problem is because his testis would come up sometimes and the intestines would go down and they kind of got pinched together causing him a lot of pain, and it is very dangerous.

We were so glad that it was an easy fix and that it wouldn't be a complicated or long surgery/recovery time.  We met with a Dr. up at Dornbecher's Children's hospital and confirmed the course of surgery and scheduled it for January 30th. Fortunately we made it to the surgery date without any more incidences of it hurting him again and having to go to the ER.
Travis and I took him up to the hospital in the morning, and grandma Allen stayed with McKenna.  McKenna was worried about Graysen, but we assured her it would be fine and he would be ok.  It was really sweet how much she cared and loves her brother.
Graysen was such a big boy and was so good and brave during the whole process.  He normally is really freaked out when we go to the Dr or anything, so it was so nice that he was pretty calm through it all.  We had to wipe him down with cleansing wipes and put the lovely hospital gown on him, and then he was given some medicine to take the edge off, which made him super relaxed and calm.  He laid and watched cartoons for a little bit before they took him back.

It was really nice because they didn't have to do the iv until he was under which I was so thankful for, he wouldn't have done so well with it otherwise.  The dr told him when he woke up that he could have a Popsicle, so he was so stoked about that.  In fact, that was the only thing he cared about because when we had to stop and say goodbye to him while he went back, he didn't even care about us, he just turned to the dr. and asked "what kinds do you have, do you have orange?" He cracks me up, and at least I know he wasn't scared so that was a big comfort.

Easton Marshall Harris

After two weeks of soaking in my little newborn, I figured it was time to write about him and his entrance into this world and into our family.
Being pregnant for nine months is bad enough, but once you get into that last month everything just seems to take longer and you feel more uncomfortable than you ever have been before, at least for me anyway. The month just seems to drag on, but when you go over 40 weeks and your little one still hasn't come, it is just pure torture.
I had been feeling pretty strong contractions for 2 weeks and so I kept thinking he will come early, it is only a matter of time.  I went in the week before he was due and I was dilated to a 4 and 80% effaced, and so I thought surely he would come that week.  Well the week came and went as did my due date.  I was so done being pregnant and just wanted to hold my little boy in my arms.  I went to the gym several times a week and walked on the treadmill hoping it would spur on the contractions which it did, but they never stayed.
I thought about doing caster oil and all those other wives tales, but decided that I would just wait and see if he came on his own.
I got to march 10, two days after my due date and decided I had enough.  I had a doctors appointment the next day, but I thought what the heck, why not see if I can just schedule an induction so that if he didn't come I would at least have a date set to go in.  I called the doctors office and was expecting to be scheduled at 41 weeks, but to my surprise they asked if I wanted to come in tomorrow.  I jumped at the chance and was so excited that I was going to be done being pregnant.

Don't get me wrong, my pregnancy went well and I was healthy and able to work out still so I don't have a lot to complain about, but I just hate waiting and I wanted to get my little guy here.  Plus I like to have a plan so I can have things figured out and taken care of before hand.
On Tuesday around noon we went in to have the baby.  After being checked in and everything they checked me and after a week sitting at a 4 and 80% effaced, guess what, I only dilated to a 4.5 and still was 80% effaced...this little guy wanted to take his sweet time.
They started me on Petocin around 3 or so and then it just became a waiting game. I started to have strong contractions close together and so I asked for my lovely epidural and was happy I didn't have to wait long for it.  The only bad thing about it was he did it really strong and I couldn't move my legs or really feel anything down there except a slight bit of pressure.  I am happy though to not have been in pain.  The worst part for me, even worse than the stinging of the needle in my back from the epidural was actually the IV in my hand....I know, go figure.  I got really nauseated and my blood pressure dropped really low, but thankfully it passed after a little while.  I really hate having my blood drawn and any sort of needles put into my arms or hands.
After waiting, around 7:45pm or so the dr. came in and broke my water and about 20 minutes later came back to deliver the baby.  I pushed one time, granted it was a long push, but out he came to join the world.  He was the cutest baby, and actually looked just like Travis.  That is the first thing I said when he was placed on me and I saw his beautiful face.  He had so much hair and it was so blonde.  I have actually never had them place the baby on me right after they are born, and that was a neat experience to have me be the first person he hears and smells and had skin to skin contact with.  With the other two they just take them and bathe them first and then hand them back to you after they have checked them out.  I loved this way because I could bond with him and Travis before they did all that stuff.

We decided on the name Easton, which the kids were wanting really bad, and we went with Marshall for the middle name after my maiden name.  Easton was born on March 11, 2014 in the Salem hospital.  He weighed 8lbs 2oz, and was 20.5 inches long.  He was my biggest baby so far and I am so grateful to have him here with us.  He is such a sweet baby, and just so handsome I can't get over it.
We had to wait in the room for a long time because my epidural just wouldn't wear off and I couldn't get up to walk by myself.  Finally though after like 4 hours I was able to be moved to a different room where I would stay the remainder of the time.

It was nice in some ways that they had him stay with me the whole time and didn't take him to the nursery, but I do kind of wish I had the option for a little bit so I could have gotten some sleep, but it was so nice to have all that time to bond with him and have that time with just Travis and I and the baby.  Travis was so happy to have another son as well and I love the way he looks at him and holds him, it just melts my heart.

My mom came to see him at the hospital and so did McKenna. Graysen was sick so he couldn't come see him but McKenna loved him and was so happy to have her little brother here and my mom of course just loved him to pieces.

So that is how baby Easton joined our family and we are so glad to have him with us.  It is such a miracle to have a baby and each time I look into his sweet little face I feel overwhelmed with gratitude and love, and I feel so peaceful and wonderful knowing he just came straight from heaven and that I have been entrusted one of God's precious children to raise and love and care for.  There is no greater thing to me than being a mother and I am so blessed to have three wonderful healthy amazing children and a wonderful husband to share and revel in it all with.

Do you want to build a snowman?

It was so nice to finally have a snow day so we could get out and play, in fact there were like 3 in a row, we kind of had a snowpocalypse.    The kids had so much fun being out in the snow though and of course McKenna loved the fact that she didn't have to go to school.  It was kind of hard to go anywhere though since it was so icy and hard to drive in.
The first two days the kids just played out in the backyard and built a little snow man and used shovels and made snow angels and ate snow.  They had a blast.

On the last day, we tried to build a snowman, but the snow was really powdery and wouldn't pack that great so I gave up trying to build a big snowman and we just played and built a snow tower instead.  I haven't played out in the snow like that for a long time, and it was really fun.

The kids would've stayed out there forever, but they got cold and wet and so we went inside to have hot chocolate and get warm.

All in all we had lots of fun in the snow.  Next year we will have to invest in some sleds and go find a hill to go down since I don't think the kids have ever been sledding before.
It was really nice and peaceful to sit on the couch and just stare out the window watching the snow fall and blanket the ground with beautiful white snowflakes.  There is something so calming and serene about doing that and not to mention beautiful!

Once the snow was gone I will have to admit I was glad.  We played in it and it was fun, but I was happy to see it go.  I don't like snow for extended periods of time. A couple days is good enough for me.

Easton's blessing

We blessed Easton in April and it was such a neat experience.  Travis always gives the most wonderful baby blessings and I felt so privileged to hear him speak such wonderful words about our son and his future. He truly prepares and petitions our father in Heaven to know what is in store for our children and who they will become.

Easton is such a sweet boy and I am so grateful he has joined our family.  I know he will be strong in the church and will be such a great example to all around him.  I am so grateful Heavenly Father has blessed me with another precious, sweet little boy.  I love Easton so much already and I can't wait to see his personality develop in the coming years.

It was nice to have our family and friends there to join in this special occasion with us.  Grandma and Grandpa Allen came down as well as Uncle Tyler.  It was so nice of them to come down.
Easton looked so handsome in his outfit that grandma Allen got him.  He looked just like a little angel.  He was so good through the blessing and didn't cry at all.  Travis doesn't get very emotional very often, but at all the kids baby blessings he gets all choked up and it is such a tender and precious moment.  He truly is a wonderful man and is so close to the spirit and loves our kids so much.
I loved just holding my sweet little boy in my arms afterwards and just looking at his precious peaceful face and feeling so grateful that I have been entrusted with yet another one of gods children.  He is such a blessing and I am overwhelmed with love for all my kids.