Nature Emergency!

Ethan, Libby, and a couple of neighbor kids were playing in the backyard when Ethan ran into the house, breathlessly shouting: "Nature emergency, NATURE EMERGENCY!" I looked at him quizzically and asked what he was talking about. "There's a bird in the backyard with a broken wing." I didn't believe him right off as I was sure he was exaggerating, but sure enough...there was a bird and its wing was most definitely broken. I have no idea what you do with a broken bird so I scooped it up (after a few false tries) and put it in the kids' outside toy box. Then I called my mother and my friend Sarah. Neither of them knew what to do with it. So I called Idaho Fish and Game. The nice lady who answered the phone gave me a couple of phone numbers to try.

One was the number of the Ruth Melichar Bird Center. They told me to bring it on in. So the four kids and I took the bird in. About the only thing we found out was it was a Flicker. Further research indicates it was likely a female Northern Flicker. The lady at the bird center didn't seem too optimistic (but I think she was also a lot better with birds than with people) but she said they would try their best. I was just thankful to have a place to take it. It would have been dreadful if the only thing I could do was put it out of its misery - I'm not sure the kids would have ever forgiven me.

The Birth Story

It's that time again. It doesn't seem very long ago I was writing up Grace's birth story. Probably because I was just writing Grace's birth story. So here is my usual disclaimer: if you are not interested in all the nitty gritty details feel free to skip reading and just look at the pictures.

I woke up at 5:30 on the morning of the 14th with contractions coming pretty regularly. This had been happening off and on so I wanted to wait a little bit. I was also worried about waiting too long as both my girls showed up after just a little more than an hour after labor started. Michael was also due in at work by 6:30. We decided this might be the real thing and we probably shouldn't dilly-dally. So we called my mom to come watch the older kids so we could head out to the hospital. On the way to the hospital my contractions slowed way down. I was just a teensy bit irritated. I had Michael pull over to see if a walk through the Rose Garden would help things along. I made it all the way from the parking spot to the sidewalk before I had another contraction and decided I was really in labor.

We made it to the hospital and went into labor triage. My contractions had slowed down again but I was six centimeters dilated so they admitted me. The next six hours were miserable. I was walking, hanging out in the jetted tub, and bouncing on a big exercise ball. My contractions would come and go. Just when I thought this baby was actually going to come the contractions would stop. None of the contractions were especially painful. I was just miserable because it was so frustrating. Finally about noon I looked at Michael and said, "I want to go home. I could be doing this at home." He passed the sentiment on to my nurse. We decided the best course of action would be to have my doctor come see if I had made any progress and decide what to do from there. Dr. Carlson came over to the hospital to see how it was going. He also checked to see if I had dilated anymore. He checked me, looked at the nurse, and said, "I can stretch this cervix to a twelve" (ten is fully dilated). I was also almost fully effaced. We were just waiting for the baby to drop. I was informed in no uncertain terms that I wasn't allowed to go home. Once this baby decided to drop down he was going to come fast. At this point I decided to let the doctor break my water - anything to just get the show on the road. With my two older kids the minute they broke my water I started having strong, fast contractions. He broke my water with Sam and nothing happened. It was ridiculous. Here I was completely ready for the baby to come out and he wasn't dropping. I was doing step aerobics on a stool in the bathroom, walking around, and bouncing on a ball. Finally about an hour later the contractions started in earnest. After about 45 minutes of active labor, Sam finally decided to be born.

The nurse thinks maybe he took so long because he couldn't get himself turned quite right. His face was awfully beat up when he came out and she thinks it's because he turned in the birth canal. I was just glad that he finally decided to quit lolly-gagging around and join our little family.

His poor beat up face.

Sleeping soundly.

His favorite expression: The Grumpy Old Man.


Grace loves her baby brother. I'm pretty sure she thinks he is a puppy.

Samuel Harvey

We are pleased to present our beautiful little boy (even if he is kinda blotchy). He was born July 14th at 2:15 p.m., weighing in at 8lb 2oz and 21 inches long. We are both home from the hospital and doing well. I will post more details later.

Wood Family Reunion

Over the 4th of July weekend we had a family reunion for Michael's family. The Wood family owns a little cabin above Crouch, nestled right next to the Payette River. It is always fun to go up there (even if I am obscenely pregnant). We were going to make it a day trip but Michael and the kids decided they really wanted to go up overnight. I agreed on the condition that I got to sleep close to a bathroom, so Grace and I slept snug and warm in the cabin. Michael and the kids weren't so lucky. Michael decided against taking up a tent, he thought he and the kids would enjoy a night under the stars. So the 20% chance of rain showers turned to 40% chance of rain showers which turned into a downpour a little after midnight. Michael didn't want to come into the cabin and wake anyone so in between downpours he drug the air mattress, the sleeping bags and the kids and stuffed everything in the van. The kids barely stirred according to his report. Despite the rough start everyone had a great time.


Most of the little ones out on a nature walk.

Grandpa and Grace.

A jar with a mussel it it. Unbeknown to Michael and I one of these got snuck in the van on the way home. Thankfully it was found before it started to rot.


Showing off his mussel and muscles.


Michael with his cousin's little baby, Aspen. And a sledgehammer. What a combination.

Cousin Dani and I humoring Michael's sister Katie. Notice our pained smiles. Neither of us are into people touching our bellies, much less belly-touching-belly pictures. But I have to be grateful. Most of these pictures were taken by Katie. I seem to be taking less and less pictures lately.

Busy, Busy

A couple Saturdays ago my sister borrowed my house for a Stampin' Up! party. I should have stuck around but anyone who knows me knows scrapbooking is so not my thing. So Michael and I thought we would take the kids and get out of her hair.

So we loaded everyone up on the bikes and headed to the zoo. Grace didn't even make it half way before she conked out. She slept through most of the animal adventure.


My two little monkeys.

After the zoo we wandered over to the Rose Garden for a picnic lunch. The kids were very interested in this statue of Julia Davis.

I just had to post this picture. Grace and Ethan have the exact same expression on their face. I've never noticed how similar they look before.


After the park we came home so everyone could have a bit of a rest.

After dinner we headed back to Julia Davis park for their family movie. We just had to go. It was The Princess Bride - my favorite movie. The kids seemed to really enjoy it, although the next morning I overheard them talking about how scary the ROUS's were.

No movie at the park would be complete without a little bit of face painting.