Family

Bill, Marlene, Gordon and Eleanor

Melissa, James, Gordon and Rob.

Megan, Isaac, Will, Jacob, Bridie, and Matthew celebrating February birthday's.

Isaac, Will, and Jacob

Adaline, Ellie, Noah, Ali, Isaac, Will, Jacob, Bridie, Matthew, Katie, and James.

Gordon's brother Jim and his family and Melissa were in town last week and we spent an evening hanging out at a really great house in Heber. Gordon, James, Matthew, Adaline, and Isaac went skiing with them also.

three weeks

Eleanor is now three weeks old (yesterday). It seems like an eternity ago. Even though I've done this 7 times now I am still not used to the lifestyle change that takes place after a baby. Life for me is so difficult to describe- sometimes life is so busy and sometimes I am so bored I think I'm going to go crazy. Life is full of sleep and lack of sleep, hope and discouragement, steps forward and step backwards, too much time, not enough time, feeling spread too thin and enough time to stare at Eleanor for hours, anxiety and peace. I love my babies, but life is definitely better for me when I get a full nights sleep and have a regular schedule. Time will deliver both.

life with baby

Sweet Eleanor, all bundled up.

Bridie and Eleanor- They are so cute together.

Eleanor's first bath.

Gordon and Eleanor. Her first bath.

Bridie puts on her own make-up most mornings.

I can't even begin to tell you the difference I feel on days where I get a good nights sleep compared to a bad nights sleep. Last night was great! I was only up 3 times and I feel great! This morning I had the energy to get out paint for Jacob and Bridie. Jacob is getting pretty good at painting- everything isn't all blended into the same color.
The biggest issue I'm dealing with is keeping the baby from getting all the diseases the kids are bringing home. Yesterday James stayed home from school with the stomach flu. Matthew and Isaac have terrible colds and coughs- did I mention RSV is going around? I think we are just going to dodge bullets constantly with this little girl.

Lights, camera, action

Eleanor on the Billi lights.

One day it was sunny, so she went sun bathing.

Today I am feeling good- I got a pretty good nights sleep (with a new baby it's relative). She sleeps terribly from 10pm-2 am, but is only up once from 2am-8am. We had to go to the doctor's (To all my high school friends, Joseph Johnson is my doctor-wierd huh? He married Becky Wright. It's fun to take my kids in and talk to Joseph.) this morning for a check up- she is back to her birth weight and her umbilical cord was coming off so the doctor just cut the rest of it off. I'm glad that nasty thing is gone. This last weekend was rough. Gordon and I were both up with her from 10-2- Gordon hasn't learned to sleep through the crying yet. She was so yellow-like all the rest of our kids. (she had a 17.something billi level) That Saturday night the doctor ordered lights. It's been a pain going and getting her blood checked every day! Her poor heels have so many pokes in them. She is on lights some of the time- I just can't handle it and Gordon has been nice enough to just let me do it my way. I just put her in it when she is asleep. I get her out when she cries or needs to be fed or the kids want to hold her- so she's never in the lights- I am such a bad patient. But her levels are dropping and the doctor said by tuesday she shouldn't need the lights anymore. Every day I am so proud that I have made it through yet another day. I hate to be like that and not enjoy every day, but sometimes life is just to be endured. The kids adore her and she loves them, she smiles like crazy when she's asleep andthe kids get a kick out of that. My mom is coming tonight to be with Eleanor and let me get a little more sleep. I can't even tell you how many people have offered help, support, meals, and babysitting. Thank you. Before I know it she's going to be big and I will be so sad!

Eleanor Ruby Harkness

She finally arrived ... with a little help from pitocin.

Born February 3rd, 2010, 11:49 am
8 lbs, 2 oz. 18 inches

Everyone is doing fine!

I'm still here

I haven't delivered yet. I find most my phone conversations begin with "Are you in labor?" The last two weeks have dragged on! Time usually flies for me, but not recently. I made it to church yesterday and people were really nice. I had to do 40 minutes in front of the Junior Primary. I worried so much about doing it the day before I was due. But it went great thanks to my mom and her stash of primary ideas. I have been thinking about things I look forward to with this labor. Here is my list... The swelling in my fingers will come down and my wedding ring will be able to come off. My feet won't look like hobbit feet at the end of the day and I will have ankles once again. And I will be able to wear shoes again. I almost had to start wearing flip flops in February! I will be able to fit into my "skinny maternity clothes"- is that an oxymoron? I will be able to walk again without pain. I can sleep on my back again. I will be able to get much closer to everything (counters, Gordon, etc.). I will have a lap for the kids to sit on again. I will be able to bend over and pick up toys, trash, and anything else that's bugging me on the floor. I will finally get to meet this person that has been growing inside me for the last 40 weeks. We will have a new person in our family.