Cody Clyde Morris debuts on Valentines Day 2016

Well here he is.  Cody Clyde (named after my dad).  Labor was awesome as usual.  I did have a few contractions of my own, but my water did break again with no real progress into labor so it was petocin and an epidural for me.  Love my epidurals.  I sat up, watched Cody come out in 3 painless pushes and loved it.  He was healthy and perfect.  Interestingly they couldn't get him to cry.  He was breathing, but I guess that big cry helps there lungs pop all the air bubbles on the aveoli or something?  Anyways they were patting him and rubbing his feet and trying all sorts of things but the kid would not cry.  So they ended up having to do some breathing treatment on him, which was fine.  And don't get me wrong, he did not hold onto that characteristic forever.  He definitely can scream with the best of them now.  I just thought that was interesting.  Anyhow, here are his stats.  7lbs 8oz. 21 inch. long.  Nursed really well right from the get go.  Probably the best nurser yet!  Here's to the next few LONG months ahead. 

Oh Madi

This sweet little girl is Madi.  She has been such a great friend to my kids.  Matter of fact she was the first friend Seth ever really had.  She was always so kind to Jaquelle even though she was 2 years older.  She always included her and played with her like she was the same age.  Since we moved in when she was just a few months old and Seth was almost one, my kids grew to love being with or playing with Madi.  Coincidentally Madi became Seth's first crush.  But for kids this age, it was really more of Best friend.  Madi comforted him when he was nervous at primary and crying or terrified in Kindergarten.  She always made sure he felt included or had friends. And when he would avoid playing with the big group of kids (seth was always more of a one on one type of play kid), she would make sure he knew if he wanted to, she would be there.  There were many birthday parties and other gatherings that he only agreed to go to because he knew she would be there to help him feel safe.  When Seth was younger, he was terrified of being left in a situation where there was not CONSTANT adult supervision. So if a teacher walked out of a room, or a mom was not in sight while playing at a friends house, he would panic.  Madi helped him many times with this and was there to comfort him.  She became his blanket.  Which, as a mom, I was so grateful for.  I worried he'd have a hard time when they were not in the same classes at church or school, but their separation was gradual and he learned to be a little more independent as he grew older.  But little did I know, he still loved Madi with all his heart. 
  This year, we learned that Madi would be moving!  Seth came home and cried.  It was one of the first times as a parent where I knew I couldn't make it better.  Matter of fact one time when I was trying to comfort him, he actually told me, "I just want to be alone."  I got it.  But it was still heart breaking to watch.  Seth is now in 3rd grade and the school crushes are everywhere.  Everyone knew at school that Seth and Madi were getting married and Seth would come home and tell me the other kids that liked certain girls.  I knew the innocence of it and watched them play more as buddies than anything else.  The night before she moved was emotional but we said good bye and talked about how good of a friend she was.  They promised to keep in touch and even though I knew they would drift a part, I let him believe he would grow up, go on a mission, come back and go to BYU or whatever college Madi was at and they would get married.  He asked us many questions about marriage and college and missions at this time and I knew he was planning his future. He was determined and he had his priorities in order so I never discouraged it.  I have marveled at watching Seth try to be strong and let go of someone he loves.  We will miss their whole family but are excited for the new adventure for them. 

LICE. Warning: This post will make you scratch your head til your scalp bleeds.

Gross.  So its 3 weeks before I am due with my 4th child and I find this gem in my daughters hair.  It was all but dead and no bigger than a couple millimeters but I took it out, snapped a picture and feared the worst.  I immediately googled pictures of lice and sure enough, there an exact replica of the creature I found lurking on Jaq's scalp.  I kept her home from school and cried.  My good friend had had lice at her house over and over again.  She said it was nearly impossible to get rid of.  I was overwhelmed to say the least.  Could I eliminate it before the baby came?  What would it entail?  Cordelle had been gone all week and luckily was on his way home, because I was on the verge of a nervous break down.  He was going to drive straight to work but given my emotional state, decided to come home. 
  Now after my initial sob fest, I gotta say I was incredibly blessed through this whole experience (which may sound silly to all of you and perhaps a little overly optimistic, but to me this was very overwhelming at a time when I already was a little unstable, and God was there for me.)   Immediately after I discovered the lice, I went to work looking for nits.  Amidst tears and fights that I was pulling her hair, I soon became overwhelmed with the regular "hair battle" and just about gave up.  Once I was calm, I got a small prompting from the Spirit to look for things I was grateful for.  HA!!  There was nothing in this situation I was grateful for.  But I knew it was right and so I began with what I could. 
1- I was grateful Cordelle came home right when I needed him
2- I was grateful he was willing to sit for hours combing through and finding nits in a 7 year old's LONG blonde hair.  (We did this 7 times over the course of 2 weeks and it took 2-3 hours each time).
3- I was grateful it was a sunny day.  Using the window and outside light to find nits made it tons easier to spot than indoor lighting. 
4- I was grateful for the time I had spent at my friend Angela's when her kids got lice to learn how to identify it, where to look for nits etc.
5- I was grateful for Angela who came by and gave me all sorts of advice and even went through my hair making sure I didn't have any.  What a saint!
6- Months before, after my friend had gone through this nightmare 3 separate times with 3 girls and 2 boys, I had an impression to look up natural ways to kill lice.  I found a concoction of olive oil and essential oils and other natural ways to kill and ensure their coming back.  So I saved it on pinterest. 
7- When my friend came over she lamented about all the shampoos that were full of pesticides and toxins that she tried, most of which didn't really do the job but convinced me of a brand that seemed to work.  So I bought it.  But I really felt like the Spirit asked me if I would trust in my prompting to do things naturally.  So despite firm recommendations and a questioning glance from my husband, I never used the chemical shampoo, trusting that there was a reason I learned and found the natural way.
8.  The oil combination made the hair slippery and helped glisten the nits making them easier to find.  9.  After the first initial treatment, the oil suffocated and brought out the female lice....all that was left was the nits.
10.  After 3 consecutive days of nit finding, pulling her hair up in a tight bun for school (because I didn't want her to get it again) and treating her hair every 7-10 days for 3 weeks after that (their gestation), we finally checked it one last time and did not find even one nit.  The lice never came back, like it does for so many families.
11. I was So grateful I only have one girl with long hair.
12. No one else got it.
13.  I learned how amazing a supportive dad/husband is at a time like this.

Somehow after the overwhelming feeling wore off, I was given the gift of determination.  I was out on a mission.  And I felt supported in this little trial.  I also learned how exaggerated people make it out to be.  There was so much more fear involved then need be.  I can't wait for someone else to go through this so I can help them to know what to do and how to beat those gross little creatures. 

More random snippets of January

Sometimes you just gotta go out to lunch with your prego mom so she can get out of the house.  Love  my little buddy!

As always, Collin and I love to drive past and see the temple (and go on the big hills) whenever we get a chance in Cedar.

The kids and I on our way to IHOP (our tradition) every time dad goes out of town. 

On our way to our date, Seth and I saw this awesome view.  It looked like there was a beam of light coming down from the sun and the clouds. Can you see it?

 

Seth and I on our date to the girls basketball game!  They messed up on the score for awhile and Seth and I got a kick out of it and had to take a picture to try and trick dad. (below) Sometime during half time they noticed and fixed it.  

  

Sometimes we do scripture study a little to late for the youngest of the family.

Every once in a while when Collin becomes the family photographer with my phone, I actually get pictures of real people. 

And sometimes life is just weird and it rubs off on you.

Here I am HUGE.  I think at 8 months?  If you can believe it, I actually got a little bigger by the time I had Mr. Cody.

I honestly don't remember why this picture was taken  or what we were doing.

This year, Miss jaq will be turning 8 and so she got to attend "Its great to be eight."  She is so excited to be baptized and has already begun the nearly 10 month countdown.  (As a side note she got to keep the "8" shaped balloon to the right and she is going to see if it "makes" it to her baptism date....)

Isn't he handsome??? Cordelle sent me this picture when he was traveling to Boise for work and went to the Boise Temple.  So grateful for a husband who loves the Lord and his work as much as I do. 

Peices of January

Sometimes I find random pictures on my phone.  Most of the time they are of nothing but carpet and walls. Or toys. 

Sometimes its just too funny that your 3 yr old has no shame or fear running around the house in underwear, knee high socks and snow boots.  In about 10 years that'll be a whole different story.  I hope. 

As is tradition...our News Years sledding trip was a hit!  Of course the one time I send Collin down by himself he eats it hard and his nose starts bleeding. 

Even managed one run down the hill with everyone piled on one sled.

After much anticipation... Jaq has finally lost a tooth.  (Which is good, because just like Seth, the other one has already grown in behind it).

Jaquelle's Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls made and given to her by Grandma Morris.  What a keepsake!!

 

Suspend game anyone?  (Cordelle's christmas gift to me...actually pretty fun!)