Quiet evening

So Jonathan is at the hospital tonight taking in house call. He doesn't have to take overnight call away from home very often, but tonight it leaves me alone. I should be hauling in more firewood to fill our wood box for the night, but I don't have to gumption to bundle up and go outside for wood so instead I sat down at the computer. I don't think it is going to get any warmer... I just hope to get a little more gumption. I am thankful to have not had a furnace this winter. The boys have learned to work with their dad hauling wood and it is good for them to contribute to the affairs of the home. I would be lying though if I didn't say that I am overjoyed at the knowledge that next Monday we are having a new furnace installed. The thoughts of having a warm home at a regular temperature make me smile. I look forward to a few beeps and buttons and having warm air. I also look forward to coming home from church to a warm house. I tend to cook dinner in my coat on Sunday's. The fire is usually out by the time we get home from church. However, last Sunday I realized that we had spent a good portion of the day at church. This realization came when I was sitting to feed Michael for the third time that day at the church.

The cat snuck in the house when the boys and I were at a meeting at the school tonight. We came home to water splashed all over Adam's dresser and an empty fish tank. We will work on some replacements tomorrow.

A few of my favorite websites are: www.ideasforpreschoolers.com and www.theprovidenthomemaker.com. They are worth looking at if you need some fresh ideas.

Andrew went to bed with a fever. He just started crying in his bedroom. I guess this is my call for gumption. Time to love and haul wood. Good night.

Michael's Blessing Tux

Jonathan's mother is wonderful x's 10. For each of the boys she sews the most adorable little white tuxedo for their blessing day. I have loved dressing each of the boys in their tux's. I will never forget when Adam was blessed in Provo hearing my nephew Tyson lean over to his dad and say, "He looks like a little composer." A handsome little composer may be a more accurate description. I would toast this little guy and eat him with jam if I could. I just love the little peanut.

I LOVE Andrew's Hair

This is my poor child that walks with a continual spike atop his precious head. His two cowlicks collide up top on the peak of his head and point straight to heaven. Occasionally when he wakes in the morning he has a few others that have joined in on the fun. I love seeing him come walking into the kitchen with bed head. It makes me smile every time. How can you not love this noggin'. (The orange juice in the eye interrupted our usual jovial morning.)

30... right on track

Growing up I envisioned what turning 30 would be like and I have to admit it is everything I imagined it would be. My oldest sister Cindi always refers to my phase of life right now as "being in the trenches." That is exactly it... living, loving, and thriving in the thick of raising 4 strippling warriors - with the eternal bonus of their Dad by my side. With utmost gratitude I must say that at 30 I am living the life I always dreamed. And feel honored to do it.

My birthday cake this year consisted of the last cupcake left from the refreshments we took to a baptism. It was German Chocolate so I was happy. We skipped candles this year. That's what happens when you turn 30.

I did get two of my very favorite things... slippers that I wear everywhere everyday. I got some last year for my birthday and have worn them out. These beauties are this year's replacement. I hate the feeling of walking on miscellaneous treasures on the floor. Crumbs on my socks makes me crazy and so does walking in wet spots. I keep my toes toasty and my socks free and clear - even in the dead heat of August.
My second favorite is Bath and Body Works yummy smellies.
Grandma wrapped a gift for me which was a beautiful journal and picture. The homefront hid the gifts in a duffle bag and pulled it out for the party. Jonathan is usually a meticulous and BEAUTIFUL wrapper. However, this year he was working like a dog getting a new sub floor laid in our hall bathroom and didn't get things wrapped. I reassured him I would much rather have a toilet than pretty paper.

Note: I am still waiting for a pink towel to call my own.

Headed Home At Last

We had to stay in the hospital for a FULL 2 days. It seemed like an eternity but when I finally was ready to go I gave Jonathan a call to come and pick us up. His response, "Well I have quite a few things to finish up around here but when I get a minute I'll come." WHAT!!!! I hear my mother in the background, "Well I'll go get her!" I don't think lightening could have moved faster. At last we were headed home.

Michael 2 days old

This delivery was really an easy one for me. Consequently we had lots of down time in the hospital room. Here is Michael at 2 days...

Michael Sobieski Jenson

You know having a child is exciting, it is exhilarating and so anticipated. I couldn't be happier to have a perfectly healthy little boy to wrap up in my arms. But along with this small little person flows an abundance of blessings that can be described only as remarkably humbling. To hold a noble and great one and to feel my own life cradled in the hand of the Lord reaffirms the reality of God's plan for us here on earth and the purity of our purposes. Seldom have I felt such peace knowing God is real and I am his daughter, a literal child of God myself living a life filled with His love and blessings. Humbling. Truly humbling.

So - a snitch of the birth story and few of the blessings along the way:

2 Am, 3:30 Am, 4:30 Am contractions, then nothing. 9 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM... more regular, then less regular, then harder and stronger then nothing. All day on Tuesday was a roller coaster of contractions back and forth in regularity. They were all definitely STRONG contractions but were abundantly lacking in regularity. Around 5 PM when I decided they were coming every 7 to 10 minutes I decided to make some calls and find a place for my children to stay for the night. Adam headed to the Mietzner's in Bloomfield so he could get to school in the morning and Matthew and Andrew to the Grey's in Ottumwa so they would have play friends. We ate dinner and farmed out the kids only to find the contractions were now 20 to 30 minutes apart and not regulating. Jonathan had to be at work Wednesday morning and we really needed to get a baby here before 6 AM. What to do? We headed to the hospital and decided to have them check to see if there was any hope of having a baby within the night. With a little patience and pitocin we managed to get our December 1st baby here at 3:12 AM.

Mom and the boys before we loaded up and headed out on our drop-off route to the hospital.
The last picture taken of Michael warm and snug as a bug.
The homeless hobos that were graciously taken in by ward members. Time and time again nurses at the hospital would ask where the other boys were and if we had family there to help. They were astonished to find that we didn't have a lick of family within 1300 miles and that G & G Olsen were still two days from arrival. What I couldn't explain to them in a brief conversation is the family that we have within our ward. How can you explain to someone the consecrated meshing of lives that occurs within members of the church? The bearing of one another's burdens, the lifting of hands (or tummies) that hang down, and the love that exists among people that you call your brother and sister. It is humbling to be a part of something so pure, and to be among people so like the Savior. We were readily blessed.

This handsome specimen is my own personal anesthetist. I take him with me where ever possible. He fulfilled his promise of being a good one to have on hand. After Dr. Coleman broke my water to help regulate contractions and get things moving Mr. Jenson pulled on the ol' latex and started a betadine rub down. In a matter of moments Jonathan had my epidural placed without a lick of pain. I was quite impressed with his services. This is the first of our boys that he has done the epidural for and a mighty fine job he did.

...so fine in fact that I found myself catching up on a article on Lion House rolls in the "LDS Living" magazine that arrived in the mail that day.

The epidural slowed me down just a titch so I had a few boluses of pitocin to rev up the contractions and with just a couple pushes Mr. Michael was born:

Wednesday evening Jonathan brought the troops up to meet their new little brother. They were so excited to hold and love and kiss him. Andrew was particularly concerned about Michael's belly button. He kept saying "Ow-ee baby button. Ow-ee button."

Andrew and Matthew's first glimpse.
Adam was so excited to share his good news with his class at school. His teacher said first thing in the morning he made the announcement. During the day at school each of his classmates made personal cards to send to the baby and his teacher sent a card and a new book for Adam to read to Michael. Adam was ecstatic to share his treasures with Michael. He was a little disgruntled over the suggestion that he change poopy baby diapers made by a few classmate. Little does he know such a suggestion will shortly become a reality.