Little Wishlist 2015

As I think of things to put on the list, I'll update it!
This is just as much for ME as for those shopping for us. :-)

Adri:
Anything from Carleen Tanner's Positive Parenting website (Cd's and syllabus)
Book of Mormon Study guide from Red Headed Hostess
Book: A Joyful Mother of Children  by Linda Eyre
Book: Peaceful Parent Happy Kids AND/OR Peaceful Parent Happy Siblings, both by Laura Markham
Brian:


Owen:
Size 6

Kate:
size 4T

Luke:
size 12 months, PJ's and clothes

Book Review: Behold, I Come Quickly

Book:Behold, I Come Quickly
The Last Days and Beyond
By Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr.
Published in 1994, but still 100% relevant in 2015!


Why I picked this book: My dad gave it to me. He is an avid christian nonfiction reader!

The book: This book is about the last days of this earth, signs of the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ, what it'll be like when he comes, and what happens afterward (what will happen to all people according to how they lived on this earth, animals, the earth, etc...).
         The author has compiled information from the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, modern day prophets, and church history books. He has interpreted some of the information, but mostly, he has just brought all the relevant scriptures, quotes, and insights of prophets into a book. The layout is nice, and its broken down into sections that make it easy to read.
My Thoughts: This book is an eye-opener!  At first this book had me scared out of my wits! Oh my, there are horrors and terrible things in the future (and some are already happening). I actually cried while reading some parts...knowing that I, my children, OR some of my posterity might have to endure some of the hardships it describes.
         However, it is a VERY MOTIVATING book because it describes what wonderful things are to come to those people who obey God's commandments. Truly wonderful things are ahead for the righteous.
          After reading this book, I examined my life, actions, decisions, etc... and asked myself: Am I on the right track? Will I be counted among one of the righteous? How can I get prepared for these inevitable events in the future (which will be poured out without mixture over all the earth)?


Recommend?YES! For sure!

On another note....
Just after I finished this book someone on Facebook posted "write the name of the last book you read and add 'with a chainsaw' at the end". Many people were commenting their book titles with the added words. Oh my there were some silly ones! This book is no different...definitely one of the crazier ones!  "Behold, I come quickly...with a chainsaw"
hahaha! So funny :-) Made my day!

My Longest Fast Birth Story Ever - Luke

A quiet moment alone for a mother of three? It's almost unheard of! But yes folks....I actually have a quiet moment to myself to write this post. Finally! Woohoo! 

(okay, I scarcely wrote that sentence above when I realized my 2 year old--who was supposed to be napping--pooped in her pants. After I got that cleaned up, by baby of 11 weeks woke up screaming from his nap. My “moment” ended quickly!)

I call this my longest fast birth story, because it takes longer to tell the story than that of the actual birth. Ha! Well, that’s almost true.

If you want to skip all the glorious details and read the "short version", scroll to the bottom of the post and you'll see it there. 

Warning: All men should STOP reading :-) You don't wanna hear it.

Here are the details of the day and then the labor/birth that night:

On Wednesday, January 21^st, I went to my regular prenatal doctor appointment. The doc said I was about 4cm dialated and 70% effaced. Good news! That means it was getting CLOSER.

I went home to finish up things on my Pre-Baby Checklist I’d made a few weeks before. All day I was Go-Go-Go! I worked on my daughter’s room which we were remodeling. I did tons of laundry. I had Owen play in the snow with a honey bear container – I refilled it with water and food coloring, and he took it outside and squirted it everywhere making all kinds of letters and designs in the snow. I walked ½ mile on the treadmill.

After a long day of cleaning and walking I was pretty tired. For dinner I reheated a tray of enchiladas that my Relief Society president brought over. What an ANGEL she is! I just love her, AND her amazing enchiladas. I’ve asked her for the recipe, and I’ll keep hounding her for it until she spills the beans. Mmmm it was SO good!

Brian took Owen and Kate to his brother’s highschool basketball game. While they were gone, I drove myself to town and exchanged a diaper bag. I walked all over TJMaxx and somehow left with just the 1 item I intended on buying. How does that happen? Haha

Now back home, its 8 or 9pm. I painted some trim and fixed caulking in a bathroom, cleaned up the house more, took out the trash, etc…

Brian and the kids came home. I got the kids in bed.

Then, I cleaned the cushions of our glider-rocking chair. [A few days before, Katelyn smeared Vaseline all over into the fabric cushions. Commence eye roll… Anyway… ]

I finished cleaning the chair around 12:30am. Moved the laundry over again. I got ready for bed and was almost asleep when I heard Katelyn crying. (its now 1:30am) She is half naked and crying. Nothing I try makes her happy. Tough night!  Finally, she is calmed down enough and I go upstairs to go to bed.

It’s now about 2:00am and I fall into bed. Oh my glorious bed! It’s been a LONG day, and already a LONG night. I’m SO tired and soooo ready to relax.

I feel my first contraction. Its strong.
Then another.

“Oh boy” I think to myself. I get up and shower. The contractions continue to come. I get down on all 4’s in the shower and let the water hit my lower spine. It helps a little. This is intense back labor (oh my, it’s the worst!).

After the shower I yell to Brian to call his mom to come watch our kids. “Well, let me time them once more” I foolishly said. I let 8 minutes pass and I have 4 contractions.  “Yeah, she needs to come NOW,” I shout.

2:22am – Brian calls her 3 times and there is no answer. Oh no! Luckily, she calls back right away. Phew! Okay, she is on her way.

I throw my once-packed hospital bag back together, because at one point it got un-packed when I needed something out of it. I’m pausing between contractions to breath. I sit on the toilet for a few contractions because I feel like I can’t hold in my pee. I put on a little make-up.

I start blow drying my freshly washed hair. I do it the FAST way because the contractions are getting much worse. I’m no longer timing them, because it takes too much mental power while I’m trying to get things ready to go our the door and the contractions are coming too fast.

Intense back pain.

I ask Brian to push on my back. I’m in a weird position leaning over the bed while he pushes and the pushing doesn’t help the pain…made me a little ticked off. Haha. (sorry Brian!)

I ask him for a priesthood blessing. He does it immediately while I kneel at the foot of the bed. Another contraction during the blessing. I try to concentrate.

2:40am - My mother in law, Nancy, arrives. I finish blowing my hair while Brian and she discuss the details of the kids (Owen’s bus, car seats, etc…) Just before we leave I have another contraction that is 20x worse than any before. Nancy and Brian are talking and I ask them to “shhhhh”…which they don’t!! They lowered their voices, but any sound at all was upsetting to me (sorry if I snapped!).

2:45am – we are in the car driving to the hospital. I’m on my knees on the floor of the front seat, elbows on the seat, gripping the back of the passenger chair. I try to push my lower back into the glove compartment for counter-pressure, it doesn’t help at all.

I’m timing the contractions again, but it’s getting harder. [looking back at my contraction timer phone app, I timed them from 2:48am to 3:02am. They are coming every 1:50 or 2 minutes and lasting a full minute. That’s only a 1 minute rest in between contractions]

I yell at Brian to NOT stop for anything, and to roll through the red stoplights. Luckily we only hit 1 red light and all the rest were green. Brian is driving really fast – 80mph in a 40mph zone. Ah! He is awesome!

We are a mile away from the hospital and I have the urge to push. I try to hold back, but it’s painful! I grip Brian’s arm and hold him tight through these contractions. [Later, he will complain that I squeeze too hard. Haha. Sorry Bri] I’m moaning and groaning through the pain. I can’t help it. I can’t hold it in. I don’t want to be one of those loud laboring women you see on TV. They are so weird. But for real, I’m doing everything I can to stay quiet, but that is not an option. The moaning was coming out nice and loud, along with practically cutting off circulation to Brian’s arm because I’m squeezing so hard.

In between these intense contractions I flip up into the seat and put my feet on the dashboard. PUSH! It comes again.

Brian shouts “DON’T PUSH ADRI, DON’T PUSH!”

I’m trying so hard to hold back pushing. It’s almost uncontrollable.

I know I’m fully dilated. I can feel the baby crowning.

“THIS BABY IS COMING!!!!!” I shout.

We pull up to the Emergency exit. Brian runs for a wheelchair and he wheels me inside.

3:11am – We are met by 2 nurses, a male and a female. The female nurse is casually asking for my name, putting on gloves, and saying that they’ll “check me”. The male nurse is at the computer and asks for my birthdate.

Brian asks for a Charge Nurse.

Another pushing contraction comes.

“THIS BABY IS COMING OUT OF ME!!!!” I shout while gripping my big gigantic round belly and trying so hard not to poop this baby out right there in the ER entrance.

Another nurse comes around the corner and takes one look at us and yells “RUN!” while pointing down a long hallway to our right.

Brian pushes my wheelchair at FULL SPEED. Contractions still coming, grunting and cringing, trying not to push.

The nurse is running full strides next to us. Asks what # or baby this is, and also says she needed a workout tonight and is happy to run with us. Haha J

This is serious Hollywood cinema laboring right here! I feel like I should be in a movie!

Brian wheels me into a room. Several nurses join us. They are running around, they weren’t ready for a laboring woman at all. (Which is confusing, because it’s a labor/delivery room, and they are labor and delivery nurses….)

“GET THESE PANTS OFF ME” I yell.
I rip off my shoes and hop on the hospital bed before the next contraction starts (I can feel it coming and I don’t want to have another contraction in that blasted wheelchair)

The wheel chair is slightly wet. I quickly take off the pajama pants I’m wearing. CONTRACTION. OUCH!!! I can feel the head. I can feel everything so much that I don’t need a mirror or anything to know the baby is crowning and on its way out. Pain.

“WHAT DO I DO WITH MY LEGS? SOMEONE GRAB MY HANDS! WHAT DO I DO?”

Brian grabs both my hands. A nurse sees my legs apart and a baby’s head coming out and finally comes to our aid. [Brian tells me later that all the nurses eyes went WIDE and they were in shock when they realized what was happening]

The nurse says not to push too hard, because I don’t want to tear, and to relax my legs a little.

Okay…breathe…not too hard….breathe….babys head is coming….oh crap…oh crap…this is really happening….more of baby’s head…. RING OF FIRE!!!!!

Numb…

No feeling…

What just happened?....Sigh….breathe…close eyes.

“…one more small push for the shoulders, small push, come on, lets get the shoulders out” says the nurse.

I attempt a small push…maybe…I am exhausted and can’t feel much.

Gushing hot fluid, warm legs, baby is born @ 3:14am with no epidural, no doctor, and just about no nurse! 3 minutes after we arrive at the hospital our baby is born. 3 MINUTES! That is insane…this baby was almost born in the car (and that would have been a lot cheaper!)

I’m still fully clothed from the waist up. I think someone gets me a blanket for my exposed lower half and Brian helps me take my shirt off and hospital gown on. Baby is with me now, he is here! I’m so tired. He is blueish and covered in white stuff (totally normal, but movies don’t show it this way, so it’s still a little weird to me).

I’m in shock. Did that just happen? What happened? I just gave natural child birth. NATURAL? WHAT? This is crazy. Did this just happen?

Brian stays with our baby. They have him in the room with us. He is 20” long and weighs 7 pounds. [So exact! Cool buddy!]

My body is shaking. No, its on FULL VIBRATE MODE! What is going on? I’m freezing and asking for water. Feels like an eternity and someone finally gives me a little cup of water. I’m so thirsty. Shaking uncontrollably.

Still no doctor. He is on the way. The nurse keeps asking me questions. I completely ignore her. I’m annoyed. So agitated that she is asking me questions right now. I need more water. I’m freezing and shaking and jaw chattering, arms and legs are wiggling/shaking and I feel so weird. I just gave natural childbirth. Can this lady just shut the heck up and let me “rest from my labors for a season”? I am in shock, feeling cold, alone, thirsty, shaky, and now add ANNOYED AT NURSE. I want to enjoy this time SO badly! But I cant. Not one bit. My baby and husband were across the room. Baby screaming from all the “tests”, and I was feeling so lonely and horrible, and thirsty.

Nurse, shut up! I’m not going to tell you my SSN or my medical history right now. I just freaking gave birth. Leave me alone. This is all in my mind, I’m too exhausted to tell her to shut up, too exhausted to tell her to please be quiet.

Finally, the doctor arrives. He doesn’t look at my face [not even once…that I can recall]. He delivers the placenta. Then, he says I’m bleeding too much, that my uterus isn’t contracting as quick as he wants and orders Pitocin via an IV. Ugh, I’m so annoyed. If they would just give me my baby back and let me breastfeed, then I would produce my own hormones to get my uterus to contract. This doctor is just tired and lazy and doesn’t want to wait for me to produce the hormones on my own. I have to be here at 3pm, SO SHOULD HE! I don’t say anything…I don’t know why…I’m just too tired to advocate for myself. Too tired and thirsty to say anything at all. [P.S. I didn’t even tear “down there”. Phew! What a relief! No stitches! Rock on!]

The nurse starts an IV and complains that I’m dehydrated and its hard to get the vein. SERIOUSLY!!!!???? I’VE BEEN ASKING FOR WATER SINCE I WAS WHEELED IN THE DOORS!!!  I’ve always, always, always been told what easy veins I have by any nurse. This is another reason this nurse is pissing me off. The IV hurts so bad. [side note: over the next 6 hours it half way falls out twice and it hurts way bad. I ask constantly for it to be removed and they keep saying “no”. Finally, it falls out and bleeds EVERYWHERE and I tell them to NOT put it back in. Sheesh. And another doctor tells me afterward that they shouldn’t have given me an IV at all, that it should have been a 1 time shot of Pitocin, not a full out IV drip of it. Ugh, imbeciles.]

After what feels like a lifetime (but probably only 2 hours) they take us to the postpartum/recovery room. Ah, relief! Now I can relax and enjoy my baby and husband in peace. Everything about the labor and delivery room and nurses was completely annoying and terrible. If I ever have another child, I’ll know better and speak up for myself.

Baby is great at nursing. I’m so glad, and feel so happy when I look at him.

I’m amazed that I’m up and walking around so easily! The recovery seems to be much easier already. Perhaps it was the natural (no epidural) factor, or that I didn’t tear. Either way, I’m so glad I can walk around and I’m not stuck in bed with numb or weak legs.

Eat, sleep, nurse, repeat….. for 3 days. Heaven J

It took us a long time to name him. On the 2nd day in the hospital we named him Luke, and the 3rd day we chose his middle name Wade. 

Luke Wade Johnson. Welcome to this earth. We are so glad you've come.

Short version:
2:10 am : I went into labor

2:20 am : Called our mother in law to come over and babysit our other kids.

2:45 am : Brian drove me to the hospital.

3:11 am : Arrived at the hospital.

3:14 am : Baby was born with NO epidural, NO doctor, and ALMOST NO nurse!

From start to finish was just about 1 hour. I feel like super woman! J

Dear Santa...

I'm reverting back to childhood and making Santa a Christmas list :-)

I'm not sure if I made it onto Santa's "Nice List" this year.
So just in case....I'll post this for friends, family (and hubby) to see!

All the kids:
Books, books, and books!
Clothes, PJ's, Shoes
Paints and brushes
Art/school/craft supplies
Puzzles
Games
Cards
Toy box
Aprons/Apron/oversized bibs
Any books by Susan Boynton

Owen:
He likes anything/everything BOY -
pretend hunting things like guns, sling shots, bow/arrows, nerf guns (and other "manly" things)
Transportation stuff: Trucks, planes, cars, trains, rockets
Animals: dinosaurs, bugs, birds, animals, dragons, frogs
Character stuff: Spiderman, Mario Brothers, Harry Potter, R2D2 from Star Wars, Curious George, Clifford, Scout (from leapfrog)
hoola hoop
fruit, crackers, candy
balloons
games that are played with 2+ people
balls of ALL kinds
bubbles
art projects, play dough
books
music and audio books
anything with a screen/movies/games
pre-reading helps/preschool activities
Currently wearing size 5T in the baby/toddler section or XS(5-6) in the boys section. And currently wearing shoe size 11 or 12 in kids.

Katelyn
She likes all things GIRL (and non-chokeable stuff)
jewelry
babies
dolls and doll accessories
Animals: ponies, puppies, kittens
purple and pink things
toys
books
music/songs
Characters: Any princess, Clifford the big red dog
Currently wearing size 2T and shoe size 6-7


For the Baby (Baby boy due Jan 29, 2014):
Lotion/baby wash - Lavender scented would be fun to try
Bibs
Burp cloths (I like the embellished ones...but the plain ol' single layer Gerber cloth diaper ones can be bleached easily. Love 'em both!)
Diapers (I like "Pampers Swaddlers" for newborn and size 1)
Dresser for baby's room
Infant car seat
Small diaper bag
One of these as a keepsake for baby.
footed baby pants - aren't these cool?
Newborn hat for his newborn pictures

Brian:
Motorcycle, snowmobile, 4-wheelers
Bow hunting stuff (I have no idea what this entails)
Gun re-loading supplies/materials/stuff
Shed
Materials to insulate our garage
Really really bright flashlights
Bow hunting things
Hiking things
Bug-A-Salt salt gun
Bow case


Adri:
New PC or Apple computer
Pomegranates...Mmmmmm I love these sooo much!
Mormon Mom Planner 2015 (overview of planner)
Small perfume
To have my feet "read"
Jewelry organizer (maybe for wall, or top of dresser)
Coconut oil (so many uses for this!)
New sharp blades for my Wahl hair clippers
Cape for cutting Brian and Owen's hair
Lavender pillow mist (can be a DIY)
Makeup: makeup primer (Mabelline Baby Skin), concealer (Mabelline Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer in Ivory), lipstick, chapstick
Water pick (need all the help I can get to clean my braces!)
Smock type apron like this or this.
Jewelry (staples that will go with lots of different clothes. All my jewelry seems to be broken or missing)
Lens cleaning kit
50mm 1.8 canon lens for my Canon 7D
Newborn posing pillow - They look like this :-)
Photography backdrop stand and clips and strobe/flash
At home laminator
Glam Glow clearing treatment.
Pinking shears
Cutting mat and rotary cutter



Household:
New Computer
Ironing board
Pictures of Temple or Jesus, or frames so put my own pictures in.
Pastry brush
Meat tenderizer mallet/tool
FOOD STORAGE/PREPAREDNESS ITEMS
Blackout curtians for master bedroom

Happy Mothers Day 2014 - Miss You Mom!

Mega "SHOUT OUT" to my special Mother. Wish you lived closer so we could do this in person. But these videos are super fun too :-)

I had a very nice Mothers day, thinking about the heritage of  mothers before me, and the posterity of mothers to follow. Hoping I will be a strong link in the chain of my generation.

Brian brought me breakfast in bed. Mmmm Mmm good!
The men took over primary, so I went to gospel doctrine class and then relief society. Wow, I miss mingling with the wonderful women of our ward!  Of course singing time in primary is a blast, but there is a lot to be learned in the other meetings.




2014 M-Day Video from Adri Johnson on Vimeo.

I Stand All Amazed - Senior Primary Activity

BIG hit in Senior Primary today!
I taught I Stand All Amazed last week to the Senior primary. They caught on so fast to the first verse, so today was a review/reinforcement activity.

Materials:
Poster
Paper
Cutting Tools (scissors, cricut, or big circle punch)
Glue
Ruler (optional)

How to make your code poster:-decide what words are important to color-code. Usually words referring to Heavenly Father, Jesus, I or Me, etc... In "I Stand All Amazed" I also chose words that meant Love (Love, Grace, and Care).
-cut out your circles
-glue them on!


This is how it all played out:
I asked the kids to look at the poster and tell me what was different, what was the same, what did they notice. I accepted all answers and then we sang the 1st verse (I didn't do anything except hold the poster as we sang the first time). I got a few more responses as to what the code would be. Then I sang the 1st line and I pointed to the dots as we sang (one dot per word). I had alot of responses after that! We sang it one-two lines at a time until we got to the end. **The best part:. I split the primary down the middle. 1/2 sang the black dots, 1/2 sang the colored dots. But I told them to STAND UP when it was their turn to sing. There is a section in middle where everyone was bouncing up and down in their chairs trying to keep up with the color changes. So fun and funny at the same time. For the most part it was very reverent. Only 1 time did i need to remind them that this is a sacred song, and we shouldn't sing it silly. They understood and it was A+ the rest of the time!


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPGug1zPmsE&feature=youtube_gdata_player