Merry Christmas Jackson.

Jackson got an early Christmas present and he loves it. My friend was giving it away, so we snatched it up. Jackson absolutely loves it. He loves sliding down himself and he gets a kick out of putting other things down the slide. We knew he would love it and we were right.

Carseat cover

My friend is having a baby boy in a week. She saw the carseat cover I have for Sammy and she loved it. I was surprised she didn't have one seeing how this is her 4th child. She said she just always used blankets. Well, that was my ticket to say.. "I am going to make one for you!" She came over went through my fabric and I was ready to go. I have been wanting to try this pattern for a while and I absolutely love it. Hope she loves it too.

I will tell you this...this was my first time making something to give away to someone. It was really hard. But very rewarding. I can't wait to do it again.

Mini Thanksgiving and ER

Growing up there would always be some tragedy that happened at the Uminski home on Thanksgiving. Once we got older and all did separate things the tragedies stopped. Unfortunately, it looks as if the Thanksgiving curse has found it's way into our home!!! Last year Andrew ended up in the ER. This year, I did!!!! We went up to Denton to have a Mini Thanksgiving meal with the Garners, cousin Linda, and some friends of the Garners. When we got there in the morning I started to put together my pumpkin dessert. When I opened up the can of pumpkin the can opener didn't really work very well. I tried to open the rest of lid with my thumb and well...that didn't really work out too well for me. It sliced my thumbprint almost completely off. I quickly went to the sink to rinse it with water and yelled for Andrew to help. He ran in the same time Branson asked if I needed a band-aid to which Andrew responded...nope she needs stitches!!! Within minutes we were out the door heading for the ER.

The ER went rather quickly. I only fainted once. They were numbing my thumb..I was feeding Sammy. He started numbing my finger and then I looked at Andrew and I says I'm going to faint. I'm going to faint. Next thing I knew I was laying down, Andrew had Sammy and the doc was telling me I would be ok!! Gosh I hate fainting. It is such a weird feeling.

Welp five stitches and a tetanus shot later and we were back over at the Garners. We were only gone for an hour and half.

My goodness what a morning. We finished the dessert and waited for the turkey to cook and then had a wonderful meal.

It just seems that when there is a turkey in the oven tragedy strikes. I think we will eat ham for now on for Thanksgiving!!

Welcome Samuel Stephen Walker

 Welcome,  Welcome!

 Samuel Stephen Walker

joined our family on September 25th, 2012 at 3:58 PM!

It is a LONG story!

Sit back and enjoy!

Tuesday morning, we all woke up quite early.  6AM!  Andrew was getting ready for work and I was taking care of Jackson.  I soon noticed that Sammy was not moving around this morning like he usually does.  I ate something and drank a TON of ice cold water and nothing.  I started to get a little worried.  I told Andrew and he said, “Let’s go to the hospital!”  So, we did!  And, boy was it a good thing we did!  When we got there the Labor and Delivery wing was full!  There were no empty rooms.  They had to put me in a Triage room. I didn’t care where I was, as long as I could be hooked up to a heart rate monitor and make sure my son was OK!!!  I have never felt so much relief as I did when I heard little Sammy’s heartrate!!!  Needless to say, many tears were shed at that moment!!  The nurse did say his heartrate was doing some odd things, so she was pretty sure we were going to be monitored for a while before they decided if they were going to let us go home or not.  A couple minutes later my doctor came in and told me the same thing.  She was quite concerned and didn’t feel comfortable sending me home until I could feel him move like normal.  If I didn’t she would  feel more comfortable performing a C-section that afternoon.  I was ok with that.  I was wanting to do a VBAC, but whatever it took to make sure Sammy would be safe, I would do!!!  Well, after a while that was the decision that was made. A C-section would be done at 3PM.  It was then 7AM!  AND I wasn’t aloud to EAT or DRINK anything until AFTER the C-section!  This was going to be a LONG day.  Luckily, they were able to get me into a Labor and Delivery room, which was more comfortable.  The rest of the day was spent laying around listening to my son’s heartrate.

At 3 things started to happen.  They started prepping me for the C-section and letting me know what all was going to happen.  It was quite weird all day knowing I was going to have a baby that afternoon and not feeling ONE contraction.  They took me in for the C-section and after I was done getting the Spinal and was laying on the table ready to go, they let Andrew in.  This was a much different experience than Jackson’s birth!!  His was an emergency C-section and it was all a blur.  By the time they told me we were going in for a C-section and the time he was born was all of 20 minutes.  This time it was much more relaxed.  I didn’t have my arms or legs strapped down.  I was much more coherent and the doctors let Andrew stand up and watch the whole thing.  He said it was pretty surreal seeing me cut open!!  Ahh, that is weird.  

Well, at one point, I could tell the doctors had started going much faster and were really trying hard to get Sammy out.  Come to find out, he had a VERY tight knot in his cord.  A VERY TIGHT KNOT!  Andrew was so flabbergasted when the doctor showed it to him.  She tried to untie it and couldn’t even get it loose.  The cord was also wrapped around his neck TWICE.  The way he was moving on Sunday…none of this even came as a surprise to me.  Doc told me she was sooo happy I followed my instincts and came in.  If I had waited to go into labor, Sammy would not have made it.  I KNOW the Spirit led me into going to the hospital.  I know Sammy is a VERY special spirit that was sent our way.  Pretty much all pregnancy I felt there might be a chance we would not be coming home with a baby.  I know that helped me be EXTRA alert to the Spirit’s promptings.  And because of that Sammy is with us today.  I am also so thankful for modern medicine and knowing that because of it, Sammy is here!

Samuel Stephen Walker was born at 3:58 PM.  He was 8 pounds 9 ounces and  21 inches long.  A much bigger baby than Jackson. 

Andrew was able to go get Samuel and bring him over to me.  He looked just like Jackson, at first glance.  After you look at him for a while you realize he doesn’t look like Jackson, he has his own looks and his own sweet personality.  

After Jackson was born, I had to go to recovery for two hours.  Which meant I didn’t get to hold him until two hours after he was born.  This time, I went right back to the Labor and Delivery room and was able to hold Sammy after a couple minutes of being born.  He did have to go the nursery for a bit, because his breathing was off.  Andrew went to the nursery and was able to FACETIME me and show me all that was happening down there.  After a bit I was holding my son!  I loved not having to go to recovery!  It was PERFECT!  Looks like the rest of our kids will come by way of C-section.

Our first family photo!!!

The rest of the day was of course spent in the hospital room with our son and showing him off to anyone we could.  The Draper family, our good friends who were watching Jackson for us, came up to see Samuel and bring Jackson to see his brother.  Jackson didn’t quite understand what was going on!  He had such a confused look on his face.  Looked like he was thinking…”Ok, this is not home, but Mom and Dad are both here and what is Mom holding?”  He was so excited to see Sammy though.  He smiled at him and tried to poke his eyes out…that is his way of saying, I LOVE MY BROTHER…right?  

High five Samuel!
High Five!!!

Jackson doesn't quite know what to do with little Samuel!

But, look!  He is already telling Samuel all about life!

My brother Harvey came up at about 9PM.  The first family member to see him.  It was great to see Harvey and I am so glad that someone is our family was able to see him on the day of his birth! 

Random

 Man!  He is getting so big!!

I love how he is sitting here!

So sweet!

 OK!  I think this is the last time Jackson gets to feed himself Spaghetti O's!!

Seriously Jackson!  In YOUR HAIR??!??!

On Monday September 24th Andrew took the day off and we went to go get our Driver's Licenses.  It is the last thing we need to do before Sammy comes!  We are so ready for him now!

Kate came down in the early morning and we all had a fun day together.

We even went swimming at a neighborhood pool!

Way fun way to spend a Monday!

After swimming Andrew and I went to my Dr; appointment.  It was great to have Andrew there.  I really don’t like going by myself.  The doctor said all was good.  Heart rate was good, but I was still only dialated to a 2.  So, it didn’t look like Sammy was coming anytime soon….little did we know!!!! 

Samuel's Quilt

 It took me quite sometime to figure out what I was going to do for his quilt.

I bought some fabric back in May and I thought I was going to do one pattern, but I was never really set on it! Then in July, when mom came to visit we found this pattern and I fell in love!!  

Mom and I had to go shopping for MORE fabric...

which really it wasn't a really bad thing!!!!

I LOVE SAMUEL'S QUILT!!!!

I LOVE HOW IT TURNED OUT!!!

I AM WAY PROUD OF MYSELF!!!

LOVE YOU SAMMY!

What Jackson LOVES!

 Jackson LOVES playing the piano!

He also LOVES watching TV.

Look how the remote is on his lap.

 He also LOVES looking outside!

And he loves playing with anything that has wheels!!

 

He LOVES eating and making HUGE messes!

He LOVES going on adventures!

(Look at those small wet footprints!)

He LOVES to help clean the church!

And again...he LOVES to watch his SHOWS!

Man!  I love this little Jackson guy!

I have really been enjoying these last couple weeks we have had together.

We only have a couple more and then Samuel will be here and Jackson will have to share his time with Mom!  Not sure how he is going to be when that happens...we will see!

Baby Shower

 OK!!  The sisters in my congregation are AWESOME!

We have only lived here a couple months and they threw me a Baby Shower!!

Are you kidding me.  So nice!

Emily (the one who is throwing it) told me that every baby and every pregnant woman needs to be celebrated...especially those who have survived a Texas Summer!

So a Baby Shower we had!

 The refreshments were AWESOME!

Way to go everyone!

 Along with all the sisters in my congregation, these two crazies came too!!!

Wendi--my awesome friend from EFY who now lives ten minutes away from me...and my sister in law Kate!  She came all the way from Denton for the evening.

It was great having them there!

A lot of girls came and we had so much fun talking and laughing!

I and Sammy felt sooo loved!

 Even though I said presents were not needed, everyone brought a gift anyways!

I got some cute new outfits for the little guy!

Diapers, diapers, and more diapers!!

That is exactly what we need!

It was a perfect evening!

I feel sooo blesed to have moved into the ward that we did!

Thank you Emily for planning such an awesome night!

Thank you to all who came too.

We are loved!!!