Halloween Warm-Up

We had our little family's "Pumpkin Party" tonight.

We had a Halloween inspired dinner and dessert (a la Pillsbury...aka, lazy mom dinner!) and we carved pumpkins!  We watched Hocus Pocus, a part of The Mummy Returns and "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown".  So much fun.  This year was the first that Marcus could really participate in our pumpkin carving.  He poked the little holes in his pumpkin all by himself.  So sweet.

Here are some pictures of our yummy Halloween spread...

pumpkin shaped ham and cheese rolls, pumpkin sugar cookies,
 mummy-dogs, and yummy cream soda

I got these cute labels online and taped them on.
Marcus was SO impressed. ;)

We Carved our pumpkins...Cooper's is a video-game inspired star man and a "happy happy cultist" from the game "Earthbound" (ya... I don't know who/what it is either. lol!), Marcus' is the Silly Face one, Astrid's is a kitty, and mine is the headless horseman! 

And sweet Astrid had SO MUCH FUN, she fell asleep early. 

Tired Pumpkin.

As you can see from our banner, this Halloween the family is dressing up as STAR WARS characters!  I'm so excited! Our costumes are all finished, and I can't wait to show you all of them. 

Hope you are ready for Monday!  We sure are!

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Be Bald! Be Bold!

Today is the National Fundraiser, Be Bold!  Be Bald! which raises funds to support cancer-fighting charities.  This year, a good friend of mine, Stacy, was diagnosed with cancer.  She has had to have one of her kidneys removed, and has had lots of chemo and surgeries.  She has four beautiful children and an amazing husband.  A group of her friends decided that we should do this years Be Bold!  Be Bald! fundraiser in support of her.  So, we started a fundraising team called "Stacy's Pirate Girls" and have been raising funds to go to cancer-butt kicking foundations.  :)

Each of us are wearing a bald cap and a super cool t-shirt from Be Bold! Be Bald! the fundraising packet that came with it had a magic marker to write who you are supporting today.  I wish my cap was empty with names, instead of the eleven that is on it so far. 

Here are a few photos of our day so far!

See?  She sports the bald EVERY DAY! :)

Love that Marcus wanted to wear the cap for a bit too!

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10 Years Later

Today we went to the Sandy City Healing Field Display 9/11 Memorial. 

In Sandy, right by Cooper's office is the Healing Field Display.  Over 3,000 Flags all lined up in the greenbelt in front of Sandy City Hall representing each life lost on September 11, 2001.  Last week when they were setting it up, I was driving by and I thought to myself, "Wow.  That's really cool that they are doing that.  I should stop and take a picture." But then I kept driving and running errands-- bringing lunch to Cooper, running to target, and running errands by the mall.  I drove by probably 10 times and still didn't stop to take a picture.  Today, we decided that we would go.

Each flag has a tag and a story about the person the flag represents.

It is one thing to read the statistics of how many lives were lost ten years ago.  I admit, I have thought, "wow... over 3,000 people.  That's a lot.  So sad." and that's all.  It wasn't until I walked through all of the flags today to see and feel just how many people that is.  The sheer magnitude of the number of people that lost their lives came into perspective when all I saw around me was flags.  

Looking South, flags for every person who died in the World Trade Center.

And looking north, flags for every person who died in the Pentagon, and on Flight 93, Flight 77, Flight 175, and Flight 11.  

It was incredibly emotional.  Cooper and I both fought back tears (though I don't know if Cooper will admit that... haha.) as we all walked though the flags and read various stories. 

Afterwards we had to explain to Marcus (in kid-friendly terms) about what these flags were about and what happened on September 11, 2001.  He had lots of questions about it and we tried to answer them the best we could.  I know that he doesn't "get" it and he won't for a long time.  But I think that it was a good learning experience for him and for Cooper and I as parents in teaching our children this important piece of American history. Seeing as he wasn't even born ten years ago, he is too young to actually remember, but not too young to learn.  I'm glad that we were able to talk about it with him and remember ourselves. 

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Still around...

It has been a busy month.  We have been in our own world, population: 4.

We have been cuddling.

And Making faces.

We have been hanging with Big Brother...

And buying a double-stroller...(!)

We took the first bath...

And drinking way too much. (milk.)

Needless to say, we are very...

very...

Tired.

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Astrid Nicole is here!

Hello Jaunt-Reading Family and Friends!

We have exciting news here at the Jenson Jaunts! 

Astrid Nicole Jenson 

was born on August 3, 2011 (her due date!) at 6:41pm

weighing in at 7 pounds and 12 ounces, and measuring 18.5 inches  

she is PERFECT and we love her so much!

Wanna hear the story?!  Awesome.  Because I have come to share.

(its kinda long, so grab your popcorn...)

Well, on August 2nd, (the day before she was due) Marcus and my mom (who is so awesome!  She came and stayed this past week with us so that we didn't need to worry about Marcus while we were off having a baby at the hospital!  She has been so great helping us out! -thanks mom!-) went with me to the grocery store.  I was big, uncomfortable and SO DONE being pregnant.  Seriously.  I felt like I was going to be a medical marvel and be pregnant forever as my due date got closer and closer.  Anyway, in the car, I asked Marcus (who was right about mommy having a "baby in her belly" and about how that baby was a "girl baby" by the way!) WHEN his baby sister was supposed to get here. 

"Tomorrow." 

"Tomorrow?  ...Okay, well, when tomorrow? Tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

hmmm..... I didn't believe him.  I didn't feel like my body was going to go into labor any time soon.  I was having no contractions, no "signs" of it happening.  That night, I went to bed expecting to be pregnant for a while. 

I woke up at 5am having contractions.  I started timing them and they were coming every 5 minutes.  I thought for sure that this was the beginning.  Getting excited, I put on some comfy pjs, and then they stopped.  DANG IT!  I was discouraged and went back to bed.

Cooper got up and started getting ready for work and I told him about my 5am let down.  Then, they started happening again, but really irregularly.  I didn't want to do much, so we turned on Alice in Wonderland in our bedroom and watched.  Cooper went off to work, and I assured him I'd let him know if I started having regular contractions.  Well, while watching Alice have tea and paint roses, I started to get them a bit more regularly.  They were still quite random, 15 minutes apart, 5 minutes apart, 9 minutes apart, 2 minutes apart, 20 minutes apart...  I had plans to go meet with some women in my church that afternoon, so I decided that I would take a shower and see how I felt.

15 minutes apart, 10 minutes apart, 3 minutes apart, 8 minutes apart, 5 minutes apart, 10 minutes apart....

I dried my hair, did my makeup and put on a comfy dress in preparation of going out that afternoon, but I sent a message to my friend who I was going with and let her know that I **might** be in early/pre-labor and that I **might** not make it that afternoon.

10 minutes apart, 7 minutes apart, 8 minutes apart, 5 minutes apart, 10 minutes apart...

I decide to let Cooper know that I was still contracting and asked him to come home early just in case.  I started having to "focus" through the contractions.  They were also starting to get painful I kept timing them on my iPhone, and they were still irregular, and they lasted longer.  I started to have to "dance" through them and move my hips rhythmically that helped with the pain.  My mom was so great, keeping Marcus busy playing outside and letting me be alone.

7 minutes apart, 9 minutes apart, 5 minutes  apart, 4 minutes apart, 7 minutes apart, 8 minutes apart...

I let my friend know that I wasn't making our meetings, and I kept dancing through my contractions.  I start packing a bag to take to the hospital.  Cooper got home around 3 and they stated getting pretty painful.  Coop was right on top of helping me through them. Whenever I had a contraction, he would push on my lower back/hips and helped me focus on the timer so I would know when they were almost over.

4 minutes apart, 2 minutes apart, 7 minutes apart, 3 minutes apart, 5 minutes apart...

At about 4:30 I had cooper call my doctors office.  My doctor and I had decided beforehand that laboring at home as long as I felt comfortable or until my contractions were 3 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, for 1 hour was a great plan, because I was wanting a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) and was planning on having a natural delivery.  Well, I honestly didn't think I was in active labor.  Yes, my contractions were painful now, and I was working through them, but at the same time, I could carry on a conversation, I was downright congenial and cracking jokes in between them.  I thought going into labor and delivery now would mean I was only a few centimeters dilated, and I was (almost literally) tying myself to the hospital bed for a good couple of hours, which is NOT a good idea when you are trying to have a natural birth.  You need to MOVE!

Anyway, I get on the phone with the nurse, and tell her what’s going on.  My contractions are ranging from 3-7 minutes apart and they are lasting about 40 seconds…a few are longer lasting a minute, and that I was wondering WHEN I should go to Labor and Delivery… Well, she recommends that I take two Tylenol, and take a warm bath and see if they continue or if they get closer and more regular. 

I take her advice, run a nice comfortably hot bubble bath and settle down with my iPhone and keep timing…

3 minutes apart, 5 minutes apart, 4 minutes apart, 4 minutes apart, 2 minutes apart, 7 minutes apart….

I get out of the tub and I know that we need to go to the hospital soon.  Cooper loaded the car with the bags we were planning on taking, and then we started heading to the hospital at about 5:30.

“Smile!”

Headed to the hospital.
 Thank goodness it was BETWEEN contractions,
otherwise it would not be nearly as happy of a face!

Thank goodness there wasn’t traffic.

I stopped timing my contractions about now.  There was no need.  They were coming fast and hard…

2 minutes apart, 3 minutes apart, 2 minutes apart…

Driving was not so much fun.  At home, Cooper could physically help me through each contraction.  In the car, it wasn’t possible, it was all mental now, but still Cooper was so great helping through them and letting me hold his hand as hard as I wanted with each one.

“You are doing so great baby.” 

“Keep it up.”

“Almost there.”

At a little after six o’clock we pulled up to the Women’s Pavilion of the hospital and I JUMPED out of the car.  I walked as fast as I could through the doors to Labor and Delivery and waited at the counter. 

“My name is Melanie Jenson.  I am in active labor, we have pre-registered, I need a room now.  I’m having a VBAC.  A planned VBAC.  My doctor is Watts.”

Contraction.

This one was it…

“I NEED a room now.  I need to push NOW!”

Funny thing: on Wednesday nights at six o’clock, you can have a tour of Labor and Delivery.   While this was happening, there was a tour RIGHT BEHIND me.  I think it’s SO FUNNY because I probably scared every last pregnant woman there.  HAHA!  (oops!)

I got put into a room and I didn’t even have time to put on a gown.  I took off my undies (with Cooper’s help, got on the bed and the nurse checked me. 

“10 centimeters and 0 station.  She needs to push.”

This was it.  We were going to have our baby.  Like... NOW.

I got there so fast the doctor on the floor was named Dr. Wolff.  Dr Watts wasn’t available to come in in time and that his back-up doctor, Dr. Lamb, was coming to deliver the baby.  Let me tell you, Dr. Wolff was a BUTT.  He came in and started telling me to “breathe through the urge to push”. 

Um.  Ya right, doc.  Those words should be against your Hippocratic Oath.  For real.

So, our nurse was named Jackie.  SHE WAS AWESOME!  If somehow she comes across this blog and reads it, I want her to know that she was the best nurse I have EVER had in my life.  I kept saying, “I’m going to push!  I’m going to push!” and while Dr. Wolff (the butt) was sitting there on his little stool next to the bed with his arms folded across his chest telling me about all of the dangers of having a VBAC. (Um.  I got it doc.  I know what I’m doing.  I’ve been planning this WITH MY DOCTOR the whole time.  Save me the lecture please… especially now when I NEED TO PUSH!)  I kept saying, “I KNOW!  I NEED TO PUSH NOW!” and Jackie held up one of my legs and said, "Okay!  So push!"

Luckily, Dr. Lamb came in just in time.  He came in and I have never been so happy in my life to see someone that I had no idea who he was.  Haha!  He introduced himself and was ready to deliver our baby! 

Cooper was so great.  He helped me through every push and before I knew it, Astrid was born!  It felt AMAZING.  I know that sounds like I’m lying through my teeth, but it was the most amazing feeling in the world to have her.  Dr. Lamb put her on my chest and Jackie (remember my awesome nurse?) cleaned her off. 

I kept saying, “I did it!  I did it! I did it!”

That was at 6:41 pm.  About 20 minutes from when we got into the hospital room.  It happened so fast.  Cooper called my mom and she was AMAZED that Astrid was already here.

Holding Astrid right after she got cleaned up.  She was perfect.
(Notice how I'm NOT wearing a hospital gown... there was NO TIME to put one on!)

Sweet baby girl is HERE!

I have heard lots of people say, “You know, you don’t get an award for having a natural birth, just get the epidural and be done with it.” (Or worse to me, “Just get the a c-section, and then have your baby and be done.  It’s so easy!”)

Let me tell you.  If we have more children, this is totally how I’m doing it.  It was SO GREAT.  My favorite part of the night was when Jackie the amazing nurse was talking to the nursery nurse looking over Astrid and said to her, “Precipitous Delivery.  VBAC.  Natural.  Those three words don’t go together.”  It made me feel like superwoman.  I did it, and the labor and delivery nurse who does deliveries all day long was IMPRESSED with ME!  That was my award, thankyouverymuch.

Recovery has been easy peasy.  Seriously, piece of cake.  I was wheeled to recovery and there my mom came with Marcus who was SO EXCITED to meet his baby sister!

Maddi came right then too!  It was so great because she was leaving for California the next day.  We were so hoping that she wouldn't miss Astrid's birthday!

While they were visiting, Astrid got hungry and started crying.  Marcus didn't like it very much. 

We were discharged 24 hours later.  Astrid is such a happy baby, she nurses so well and is not grouchy at all unless she is hungry.  (And that is an inherited Jenson trait…)

Anyway, that is my awesome story of how our daughter, Miss Astrid Nicole was born.  She is pretty rockin’, and everyone here is pretty much in love.  I think we’ll keep her.

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