For Di!!!

He wore it!! It fit for a little bit!!In these pictures he is 10 days old~ Thanks so much!!

THE LONG TRIP!! Saying good bye to Bruce!

Here is a picture of Bruce last time we saw him. L is named after Bruce and this is the best picture we got of the two of them together.

Papa's Grandpa Bruce has been very sick for several months but it was still a bit of a shock to hear that he'd died recently. When I found out I called Papa at work and told him and asked him if we were going to the funeral. Papa told me yes.. and my mind started in on the list of things that would need to be done before we headed out. Bruce and his wife Vivian (Granny) lived about 13 hours driving from us.. in a different country and we had 5 days to get ready to go.

Granny and her boys had planned a potluck for that Saturday and Papa was determined to be there! We made it but it was quite the trip. Anyway Papa got home that night and I went out to chat with him while he milked the cows. I had already called a few people who I thought might do chores for us but hadn't gotten a farm sitter yet. So as I was telling him about this Papa turned and just stared at me! It turns out he had TOTALLY FORGOTTEN we'd need a farm sitter. His mind was so full of Bruce and Granny and the trip that he'd skipped over our biggest obstacle. Thankfully he instantly thought of one person who would and did farm sit for us and we got our sitter with much less hassle then I thought!! Thank You Pat!! Pat hadn't ever used a milk machine before but was very brave about the whole thing. Later she told me that she could always call her husband or father in law and that helped her feel like she wasn't doing it alone and that she felt she had help if she needed it.

We packed, and I have to admit, worried all week. We didn't have the proper papers to ALL cross the border. The kids and Papa could get across anytime but I needed a passport and didn't have one. Also Papa's paperwork is in the works and he only had a expired PR card to get him back into our country!! So the big question was would they let me in?? And if Papa went thru would they let him back?? Our good friend Mr. H who works at said border had told us what to bring and so we brought everything on the list and more but we really wanted to talk to him and make sure we'd be fine.. too bad he wasn't home and we never did get to talk with him about it. Thankfully both border crossings went really well, except Baby J screamed thru one, and we had no problems either way!! PTL!!

We left on a Friday morning and drove all day and well into the night. We hit the border after 10pm and didn't hit a bed till midnight. The kids slept in the truck while we drove which was great!! The hotel room was exciting for them but they were all disappointed that there was only a standing shower.. I'd told them there would be tubs. The next morning they forgave the lack of tub as they watched cartoons on the bed and ate breakfast until we were ready to go. Baby J did really well on the trip and other then screaming at the border he cried very little. Every time we stopped he would nurse and I think he gained a pound in just the 4 days we were gone. At night he slept in his car seat on a chair beside the bed and was rarely up more then 3 times a night. Baby J is the smallest of our babies ever to take such a long trip with us. He was 11 days old when we left and we could not even buy travelers insurance for him as they must be 15 days old!! He did have a scare or two. At one point we were driving along with the windows down and a motorcycle ROARED past us and poor Baby J jumped and SCREAMED!!! He was so scared it took me a full minute to calm him down.. then he went back to sleep like nothing had happened!!

Saturday morning we headed out again and finally reached our destination at 1pm. We checked into a hotel and the kids jumped right into the tub!! It was HOT and even with all the windows open the truck still was warm. We found out later it was 35 C outside!! No wonder we were melting! After everyone had a bath or shower and felt more human, Baby J, had his 1st bath in one country and his second in another!, we tried to call Granny and G &S but couldn't get anyone. We had no idea what to bring to the potluck or what to expect of the evening. So we got ready to go and drove out trying to find propane for the truck. Easier said then done.. 3 places later we finally got propane.. and COOKED in the sun while they filled the tank, and headed to Walmart to find something to bring to the potluck. We ran in and grabbed some stuff and headed over to G&S to see the family.

Almost every family member was able to come. Only one Granddaughter was missing! About 28 people in all. Most had not met me or our kids. There was tons of food and a pool for the kids to swim in, which they did for hours, lots of chatting and picture taking. Grandpa and Grandma G got to see Baby J for the 1st time and he got passed around a lot as everyone loved him. Our younger kids loved the older 2nd cousins and they all had a blast together in and out of the pool. Granny really enjoyed seeing us all together and I think everyone enjoyed the time together. Later that night we headed down the to River where Granny and the boys poured Bruce's ashes into the river.. no ceremony, no prayer, no words.. just the family standing on a dock thinking of the man he was and saying good bye. It was very simple and I think that must have been the way Bruce wanted it.

The Great Grandkids. Missing one who was asleep.

The grandchildren and their spouses.

Granny, the boys and their wives.

Granny and her Boys.

The next morning we ate breakfast at the hotel and took the kids swimming in the pool. The hotel had a small kids pool 1.5 feet deep and we let the kids play in it for a while. At one point I had them all running around the edge of the round pool making a whirlpool and all of a sudden R slipped and went under and floated head down for a second.. then Papa was there picking her up! In his boots and jeans! She was fine! Wanted and went right back in. Papa and I shook our heads and then laughed. If it had been E she'd have sat on the edge for the rest of the time! When we got to Granny's later Papa put his boots on her front lawn to dry and when we left almost 3 hours later they were dry! Did I mention it was HOT!! Papa felt sorry for us and we ate more ice cream in those 4 days then we normally do in a month!! We went thru drive thru's and ate junk but we stayed cooler that way!! Grandpa and Grandma Griggs and Auntie R and M were at Granny's and the kids played together while we adults chatted the morning away. Then we all said our goodbyes and headed in different directions. It was strange to be so close to the home place and not go there. We traveled the rest of that day and all of the next, in the hot sun which slowly cooled off the farther north we got, with the boys playing in their seats in the back of the Travelall, the girls playing happily in the middle, and Papa and I up front watching the fields go by and thinking and dreaming and wishing and Baby J slept in his car seat between us. Waking only to eat every few hours. He really is a great baby! We had the book "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' on Papa's Ipod and listened to the whole thing while we drove along! We got home late on Monday and we were SUPER thankful that Pat had already done chores. I put the kids to bed while Papa did the farm check then we fell into bed happy to be home again.

Some interesting things..

It took us 18 hours to get there and 18 to get back. This is hours in the truck! Not including the hotel stays. So we were on the road 32 hours total

We spent 26 hours in the city we where the funeral was!

2 boys can play with a couple of water bottles and socks for several hours and not get bored.

2 water bottles can easily morph into swords!!

2 little girls can play with 2 forks and a spoon for hours.

1 little girl can play with a wooden based bead strings thing for several hours and those beads can do a LOT more then just move on their metal rods!!

Baby J can suck on a syringe full of gripe water for over an hour.. before happily falling asleep with said syringe in his mouth!!

The squishy end of a baby Tylenol bottle is great for sucking on if you have nothing else for your baby to suck on while your driving. (He had eaten just was unhappy!)

I NOW understand why mothers use baby plugs (soothers)!!

It's creepy how much Papa looks like some of his cousins!

Supposedly R looks JUST like Papa's sister R did at her age! I still would like to see pic's of R at this age :)

L loves parks.. I finally told him.. "we are going to see lots of cool places to play.. we are NOT stopping at all of them.. maybe one or two.. deal with it!!'

Kids have an INCREDIBLE memory. We have not made a trip down in 2 years and on the way home we stopped in at the place Papa and I got married.. and J remembered one of the toys in the play ground there. L didn't remember the toy but remembered we took pictures under the tree we got married under!

The kids had 2 baths and went swimming 2 times in 4 days and none of either on the 1st day.

Even when you think your truck is full you can always find room for fruit!!

Homecoming!!

Here is Baby J in his car seat in his bed at home. He was 25 hours old when we brought him home! His home coming outfit was ALMOST too small on him and now he can't wear it at all. We've been home now for 9 days and he is 9lbs 12 oz!! Big boy and growing really fast!! He gained over 2 oz a day for 5 days!!

Papa and Baby J on the way home! His first car ride was in a IHC!! :) It's tradition!! L is the only child who was not brought home in a IHC.. none were licenced at the time he was born! Baby J curled his hands up like they are in the picture and went to sleep and slept the whole way home!

Grandma and Grandpa

Met Baby J the other day. They were out of town at a funeral when he was born but stopped here on their way home to see the new Griggs :) He's so cute!!

More Baby J pictures :)

Here he is sucking his thumb!! He actually has only found it 3 or 4 times since birth.

The 5 Little Griggers :)

Aunties and Cousins getting a good look!!

R holding Baby J for the 1st time.. pretty impressed!! (He's already grown out of his coming home outfit which is what he has on in this picture.)

J taking it all in stride.. he loves to hold Baby J and is tickled when Baby J falls asleep on him.

L holding Baby J. We recently went to my sisters for supper and while we were there L wanted to hold Baby J, I was busy and my sister Auntie A was holding Baby J so she sat L down and let him hold Baby J.. Well after a bit L was getting wiggly so Auntie A asked L if he was done holding the baby. Yes says L but then refused to let her take him. IT'S MOMMY's Baby.. I'll wait for Mommy to take him!! We did finally convince him to give Baby J back to Auntie A but it took a bit.

E holding Baby J, she's so proud of him but sometimes forgets he's a HIM and calls him a HER. She watched me change a diaper the other day and that helped but it still slips out sometimes. Every time we get in the T-all to go anywhere she asks if Baby J is coming too.. like we're going to leave him behind or something!! She's always relived when I say OF COURSE!!

Their 1st look at Baby J. They wouldn't touch him until I asked them if they wanted to give him a kiss.. then he got kissed and kissed and KISSED!! LOL.

JESSE IS HERE!!!

He was born July 5th, 13 days late, and my biggest baby yet at 9lbs 6 oz and 21.5 inches long. His scores were 10 10 and 10!! He is a great nurser and my milk is already in!! PTL!!

BUT MOM I didn't want to come out!!!!

We are home and doing great!!

Update :)

We are still awaiting the arrival of Baby J around here. He is now 9 days over due and I saw the doctor again yesterday. My blood pressure went up a bit last week and they ordered a bunch of tests but everything turned out fine. Yesterday they did MORE tests, just in case, and another Non Stress Test on Baby.. Which turned out wonderful. SO Baby is in great shape and so am I. We have elected NOT to be induced unless there is a medical NECESSITY to do so and so we are just waiting for Baby J to arrive on his own. My doctor is back as of yesterday and that is relieving.. the doctor I've been seeing for the last 2 weeks is really nice but my doctor knows me quite well and accepts all my quirks :) They do want me in the hospital every day for a Non Stress Test on baby, they hook my belly to a monitor and monitor his heart rate and any contrax I might be having for about 30 to 40 minutes, while I lay on my back and stare at the ceiling.. well actually I went to the library yesterday and got a few books out so I'll have something to do!

Some positive things about all this is that Baby J WILL be born in July now and will have a birth month of his own :) Papa has the next 5 days off so I won't have to call him from work :) I have a baby sitter for the weekend :) Oh and the biggest blessing of ALL is that if Baby J comes when he wants, not induced, it will be the BEST THING FOR US ALL... mentally and physically :)

THE RIDE!!!

I recently picked up my Mom, blue shirt :) and headed out to the beach for the day. While we were there my sister A and her two kids M and C got dropped off. Several hours later the wind was a bit chilly and getting worse so we packed our 6 kids and 3 adults into our 'newly renovated' travel all and went to Grandma's house to round out the day with pizza and a movie with sister in law A and her 2 kids. It was awesome!! We had 9 people in the travel all and 10 souls!! Thank goodness baby J hasn't come yet or we would have been a seat short!! Believe it or not we were all pretty comfy even in the front seat. I had room for a water bottle between me and A and both Mom and A commented they were not as squished as they would have been in a regular pickup.
As J put it.. 'there were 9 people in the travel all and 1 in the pot' (meaning Baby J who is now 6 days late!)
All the kids in the back.. left to right back to front is L, M, J, R, C and E!! And yes.. that is 3 car seats in the middle seat and 3 booster seats in the back!! With just our kids there is no car seat in the middle of the middle bench which makes for a crawl over space for the boys so they can get into the back, the boys can both do their own seat belts up, and in the back there is an empty seat between the boys booster seats as well. Keep in mind we fit the 9 people and ALL OUR BEACH STUFF including 3 lawn chairs in the travel all for the ride home.. Do you see any 'stuff' :) I love my truck!!

The New Seat!

Here is the new seat getting 'checked over' by the 'crew' :) They had to test drive it.. and found it's great fun to tip it over. Back and forth.. over and over.. they had a great time. That patch of ground behind them is where the garden was last year.. that is chickweed you see!!

Getting Ready For Baby!!

Just realized I've been out of the loop here for a while and thought I'd catch you all up.

Papa is officially done school as of last Thursday and back at work. This is a huge load off me as he's now 10 minutes away not an hour! An hour is a LONG time to wait for someone when your last labor was only 3.5 :) His score on his final 2 year test was 98! Yes the man is brilliant and I'm super proud of him. His lowest mark for the course was 96 so his over all score will be HIGH.

Papa spent the better part of a day getting the travelall 'up graded' with a new ignition system, better tires, and a new seat in the very back of the cargo area for the boys. I need to go take some pictures yet and I'll post them when I do. Needless to say it was a much needed change as we would not have been able to fit the baby car seat in the truck without a new seat. Both J and L can use a booster seat now so they have their own 'boys' seat in the very back. Papa got the seat out of a Yukon suburban and it has it's own seat belts with shoulder belts! Lack of shoulder belts has been a rather annoying problem with booster seats and so it's super nice to have them right in the seat for the boys to use. Now our travel all seats 9.

I've had a burst of energy this last week and gotten quite a bit of the house cleaned, organized and other wise put away. It's truly amazing how fast a small trailer gets cluttered, and dirty with 6 people living in it!! I've been able to keep up on the laundry and dishes with the boys help but a few other things had started to slide. Thankfully a small trailer also is less to clean and doesn't take very long to clean up :) I also got a bit of bread frozen for later and a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies (6x) baked and frozen. I'm not doing as much storing up as I have for other babies as Papa is home for supper every night and will take a week off when baby does come. Besides that he loves to cook :)

Papa is doing all the outside chores except feeding the calves in the morning including watering which is SO nice. I do need to go out and cut my spinach before it bolts and thin the beets which is a ME thing as Papa doesn't know beets from radishes.. and I'm not joking. The other day I sent J out to pick me a radish, I actually wanted a bowl full but he wasn't sure where they were so I wanted him to get one to start, and he went and looked and couldn't find them. So J asked Papa to help him and they found them but 'they were all too small mom!' I was confused as my radishes are all a very nice size and I was JUST there so J and I went out to look and SURE ENOUGH they'd been pulling beets!! Papa said he thought they looked funny for radishes!! My beets were planted thick so I could freeze some beet leaves while thinning them out so they didn't harm anything. My lettuce and spinach are both at an eatable stage and we are enjoying them.

The kids and I set up the playpen with the bassinet in it some time ago and now we have clothes, blankets, sleep spot and the car seat all ready for baby! We had fun finding, washing, folding and putting it all away for him. Now all we need is a baby :)

The playpen is set up in our room and Papa and I have been using it as sort of a store all for the last little bit. I guess I'm ready for baby as I panicked just for 2 seconds the other day when I saw a heavy blanket over the sleeping area.. OH NO the baby!! Then it hit me.. Is still in your womb!!

I spent part of yesterday in the birthing room at the hospital having a non stress test done on baby.. because I'm now overdue they like to check up on them regularly. Always before when I've had one they've done them in the ER but I guess it's changed since R and now they do them in the labor room. I must say it was very strange to be in the labor room and NOT be in labor. There are only 2 rooms and a birthing room in our small hospital and I was in the smallest one.. where I gave birth to both E and R. I truly did not remember it as that small. It's tiny! But I like it anyway and have requested it for this birth as well. The non stress test was fine and if I continue to go overdue they will bring me in for another one next week. My doctor is out of town so I have another one I like quite well, hopefully she will be as good as mine when it comes to overdue babies and labor and delivery.

Several weeks ago I had a quick ultrasound in the ER just to make sure little Baby J is head down. He had been flipping up and down for a while and my doctor wanted to 'make sure' he was head down. He was, but I was amazed at how little they can see with a ultrasound at that age.. the baby is SO big that all you see is bones and blobs.. we had a super hard time finding the head but we did find it and so we are good to go.

Papa just realized the other day that this baby has a chance to be born on Papa's birthday or very close to it. Unless Baby J is born 9 or 10 days late he will be the 1st one of us to double up on a birth month. Sharing with Papa. If he is late he'll be born in July and then we'll have January, March, April, May, June, July, and October.