Pics of Juliet's Blessing Day

We blessed Juliet Sophia on Dec. 6th and I'm proud of myself for getting these pics up the same month!

Here are my babies. I'm amazed by them and learn from them everyday. Sweet cousins. They may look a little bewildered, but it was either that or the pic of them looking terrified... or the one where they clearly think Im crazy. I chose bewildered.

Proud Grandma wouldn't give either of them up. Very sweet.

Grandma pulling Scarlett's 1st loose tooth. It was not at all what Scarlett expected, but she was pleased in the end.

Here's our pretty girl all smiles. Love the tongue.

I think she looks like a doll in this one.

Proud Momma. I'm so grateful for my family. I feel blessed beyond measure.

New Pics of Juliet - 2 Months

Here are the latest pictures of the baby. This first one is when she was only a few weeks old on the quilt my Mom made for her. The rest are of her at 2 months. Sorry about all the pics that look alike. I couldn't help myself... she's too adorable! Enjoy!

The Frenzy

A quick note on how things are going...
I've decided that four children isn't all that much harder than three. It's just that now there really AREN'T enough hours in the day. From sun up to sun down there is someone or something that needs attention and getting ANYTHING done takes that much longer. It's amazing how many ways your heart can be stretched and tugged and wrapped around so many things and so many people. The human heart is capable of so much love and we can grow with each person we come to truly know, love and care for. I've learned so much as a mother. I've learned more compassion, more patience and more names of My Little Ponys than I ever would have had I not had my children now. I have been forced to be more organized (though it may not always appear that way) and more disciplined than my nature would have allowed otherwise. If I thought I knew how to multi-task before, it's nothing in comparision to juggling four children, caring for a house, participating in church, volunteering at the school, being there for a husband and being inolved in the community. I've learned the importance of a kind word, a hug, a laugh and a smile whether it be from me, between my little ones, from my husband or a friend. I understand now why moms are often teary eyed over the silliest things. Or why women fall in love over a baby's smell. I'm in awe of the power of a mother's influence on and connection with the members of her family. Even more so by the growth I've received back from this experience...this choice. I don't think I could be learning or growing more as a person doing anything else. I won't lie...it's crazy around here a lot of the time. Especially right now with the baby being so little and having so many others need me. But I don't think I'd have it any other way. I love seeing my hard work and efforts at caring for them and teaching them pay off. And it seems that my experiences as a mother are starting to toughen my soft spots and soften my tough ones all at the same time. I appreciate those around me to a greater degree. I judge less. I love more. I appreciate my parents and siblings more and feel the distnace from them even more potently.
Enough of my rambling... I just want to say that I'm loving my life. I thank God for all I have. I thank God for the love and goodness I see and feel in the world and pray for strength to always see His love through whatever I have to bare.

I'll try to post pictures soon. Avanlee turned 4 yesterday. Scarlett has been playing basketball (Jr. Jazz). Juliet is getting so BIG! And Asher is as handsome and funny as ever. Things are hectic as usual (well more than usual) so I'll get to it when I get to it. By the way, our stake volleyball team (well basically the 7th ward's team which I crashed) took 2nd place in the regional tournament on Saturday. Thanks to all the girls who played and thanks to Scott for saving us by bring us pizzas! We played almost 6 hours of volleyball that day... out of 7 girls one was pregnant, 2 of us are nursing and no one thought to bring anything for lunch. Though, truth be told, after a few short breaks in the beginning of the day we ended up playing for 4 hours straight and didn't have time anyway. We scarfed pizza in the one minute before we had to start playing the #1 team. It was a blast and every muscle in my body hurts. Still.

Welcoming Juliet (without an epidural!?!)

Juliet Sophia Kluge joined us Sept. 28th at 4:29 pm. She was 7'14" and 20.5 in. She has a big dimple in her right cheek. At first she looked strawberry blond, but it lightens a little everyday...

On the morning of the 28th, my water was leaking and we headed over to the hospital after an exam. My water decided to REALLY break while I was standing in the lobby. We knew the pad my OBGYN had given me wasn't cutting it when the girl behind the desk called someone to see if my room was ready then turned to me and said, "We'd rather you kept that to yourself. Let's get you in a room." ...

They started me on petocin to get my contractions going around noon. Thanks to a somewhat morbid medical curiosity, I had wondered during this pregnancy (and the last) how far I could get before getting an epidural. By 2:30 I had gone from 4 to 6 cm and they increased the petocin. At that point the nurse informed me that the anesthesiologist had to do a C-section at 4:00 and that I'd have to decide before that point. As I got to 8 cm, things were getting really intense. The nurse called my OB to let her know my status. When she got back I decided I couldn't do it any more. I asked for the epidural. I looked at the clock as I did so... it said 4:08. I was too late...

Trying not to panic, I realized that I'd have to do it, willing or not. I had the most wonderful nurse. She helped me focus and breathe. Within a few very short minutes (10 0r 15) I went from 8 to 10 cm. My nurse fought with her voice activated call system (it wasn't cooperating) to call for setup and the doctor. I began to worry because I KNEW it was going to be close. To my relief (and everyone else's) my doctor rushed into the room just it time (she ran a light to get there). I was afraid to push at first becuase I knew it would hurt, then I realized that once she was out I wouldn['t have any more contractions! One long, not so quiet push later and voila!!! Out came our beautiful baby girl. She came down and out so fast that she bruised her WHOLE little face. She was pretty swollen and it took her a long time to open her eyes.

Here's her hungry face...

The kids love her so much. They want to hold her all the time.

Avanlee was amazed the first time she saw Juliet open her eyes...

Asher acted so grown up at the hospital!

I pretty much have the best family ever.

We brought her home on the 30th. She looks so tiny on our bed!

Her bruising gets better everyday and she has the cutest face especially when she opens her eyes, which still isn't often. We're so excited and feel so blessed to have Juliet in our family. We're grateful that she is healthy and whole and that we're healthy enough to take care of her and our other children. It's the sweetest thing in the world to see Kyle hold and love her. I love my family and can't wait to get to know Juliet better as she grows and learns!

Reunion Pics for my Mom

In May over Memorial weekend my family (my parents and siblings plus our families, all 25 of us) got together for a family reunion in Heber. We're spread out over 5 states, 2 families on the West coast, 2 in the intermountain area, 1 in the South and 1 back East so it's rare when we can all get together. We all stayed in a great big cabin/mansion. It was amazing that we all fit and still had room to breathe. We had such a great time! My mom has been asking us to send her all our pics from the weekend and this is the most convenient way for me to do it. Here are all the pics...unedited and rough. I wanted to get it done quickly before I go in to have the baby tomorrow. The next set of pics you'll see will be of our new little Juliet Sophia!