CALEBS 4!
Happy Birthday Caleb!!! You made it, I made it, we survived 4 years!! Looking back I have to laugh at all the crazy, funny, tough, and emotional challenges we have been through together. You were such a handsome baby, weighing 6 pounds 2 ounces and gaining an entire pound the first week you came home. Your weight gain continue from there and you became a handsome big chub!

You were a great eater and very healthy. You never had a cold/sneeze/cough but you were very colicy and cried all the time.

I loved all of your redish brown hair and was sad when you lost it all!
You had great form with push ups!!! And your facial expressions constantly had us laughing!You skipped right over 6-9 and 9-12 month clothes. You started walking at 13 months and you would slide down the stairs quickly on your stomach!

Spring of 2007 you went from running around the house to not being able to breath in a matter of hours. Being transferred immediately from SMMC to Children's Mercy Hospital in an ambulance, 3 intense days of praying with no improvement and drop in your 103 temperature, medication that wouldn't work, surgery, a blessing by dad, and 3 additional days later with little improvement. Your life seems to fragile and I would have given anything for the little colicy baby that drove me crazy and always made a mess. With another change in your medicine, mulitple prayers, and 24 hours later your temperature was normal and you were out of bed walking around!! Of course they wanted to keep you in the hospital for an addition 24 hours but once they realized you weren't going to stay in bed, be quiet, and rest they had no choice but to kick you out!!! It took 2 weeks for you to go back to your normal, hyper, always into everything self but I wouldn't have wanted you any other way!

You loved balls, cars, Boynton, and Uncle Nate. You were always into the desitin, you never slept through the night, and you were potty trained in less then 3 days! You were/are scared of small dogs, you dislike peas, and love cheese balls!

Now that you are 4 and have started Preschool I wonder were the years went. How did I go from being 20 with a colicy sleepless baby to being 24 with a sweet, crazy, happy CALEB! You are always the first to tell me you love me, the first to make a mess, and the first to tell me your hungry (usually about every 30 minutes)! With life so fragile and passing so quickly I feel so lucky, humbled, and blessed to have such a great KK! Happy 4th Birthday buddy!

The first week of forever

Before I start talking about all the NEW CHANGES I want to give an update of Tate. Call him what you like TD, Tater Tot, Baby Tate....
He gained 4 ounces in 2 days and the doctor said he is healthy and active!
He hates having the hick ups and he hates lightning/thunder.
He seems tolerable to all the kisses and constant hugs distributed at a non-stop pace by Caleb/Ainsley/Aubrey.
He loves the small portable swing and mini bouncer.
Most exciting is the periodic smiles and laughs. Believe it or not but we have it on video!!! He is a very happy baby and his smiles are NOT gas but pure love for his mom!! Andy didn't believe me at first (or Caleb who saw and heard too) but finally at 2am he witnessed it for himself!
He still smells new and perfect, he loved his first bath, and he rarely cries.
He sleeps in the van, likes the car seat, and absolutely loves his mom!!

Now onto the exciting changes and Griner firsts!
After what seemed like the shortest summer of my life we decided to enroll Aubrey in Kindergarten. We had been deciding back and forth all spring/summer until we finally agreed after weighing all the pro's/con's. Andy took her to a group Parent Teacher Conference to meet Mrs. Talb and some of her classmates!! I never realized how many rules there were in kindergarten and how "on top of my game" I was going to need to be. Aubrey was so excited, Andy was calm, and I was completely nervous.

Wednesday morning came. It was dark and raining like crazy!!! She was instucted to wear brown on her first day because they would be learning about the color brown. Trying to talk Aubrey into wearing brown was close to impossible but after 4 outfit changes she wore a brown tank top under her shirt with brown shoes. She was so excited!!! Andy dropped her off and I waited by the phone. I thought (HOPED) the school would call saying Aubrey needed her mom:) But 10:00am passed, 11:00am passed... no call. Not being needed is a weird feeling.

Ainsley...what a funny girl. She wanted her elmo underwear on over her diaper. After realizing she could not see elmo with her pj's on she wanted elmo underwear on over her pj's. She will start potty training on Monday....ELMO seems to be the key. We will see!3:00 came quickly and Ainsley was excite to go pick up Aubrey!Caleb was excited because after we picked up Aubrey he got to go to his Parent Teacher Conference at his pre-school with Mrs. Susan! He already knew Mrs. Susan because Aubrey had her last year!!! Poor Mrs. Susan:) With Caleb's personallity so much louder/busier then Aubrey's we worry that she will be picketting outside of the pre-school demanding a raise after a week!!!

Picking up Aubrey was exciting. It was neat to see her walk out of the school by herself with her little coat and backpack. She talked about all she had learned and who she had met. I was lucky that Andy was able to get off work early to come and take pictures!! She talked about recess, music time, and what she had for lunch.




THURSDAY, A DAY LIKE NO OTHER!!!

I knew this morning, THURSDAY AUGUST 20th, was going to be a day to remember. It was going to be different and life changing. I was ready for it, even with only 2 hours of sleep I was looking forward to August 20th, 2009!!

I helped Aubrey get ready for school dressed in red (requested by her teacher because they were learning about red) with the begged for pony tail (very unusual because Aubrey wouldn't wear a pony tail all summer..."But everyone has pony tails at Recess Time, Mom!"). After Andy/Aubrey were out the door I climbed back in bed, how glorious!!! By 8am Caleb was up and excited!!! His first day of Pre-school was starting in just 4 hours!!!All morning that is all he talked about. His 2 year old friend Noland called him at 11:00 and wished him good luck! He posed for a picture (of course he wanted one FIRST with just his backpack showing).
Last week when we were at Wal-Mart Caleb walked down the crowded isle of $7.00 backpacks. Have you seen the backpacks they have for little boys?!!!! Beyond scary...pictures of super hero bad guys with sharp teeth and green goop coming out. What happened to Deigo or Cars?? I would have even let him get a Sponge Bob one..but nope. Andy finally talked him into a Transformer one that lights up when you walk! He had to sleep with it last night:)

All morning he drove me crazy. When does school start? Where's my backpack? Can I sit by the new baby in the van? How do you say good luck in spanish? Will I go to school every day? Will my friend be there? Can I hold the hampster?? The ENDLESS string of questions followed me around the house all morning. He was too excited to hold still for a good picture.
Finally 11:50am came. With everyone ready we walked outside to get into the van. It was the usual Thursday afternoon...Frank was walking Mandy, Bill was outside in the drive way smoking 2 weeks worth of trout, and Bud was pulling into the drive way after spending the morning playing golf. I couldn't believe how normal/predictable this Thursday was... but 20 minutes later we pulled into the pre-school parking lot and the teacher opened the van door. Caleb excitedly jumped out and then closed the door. My life was instantly different, the day had instantly changed. Caleb was on his own and for as happy as I was I started to feel a little sad. Doesn't anyone need their mommy??!!? Of course, I cried all the way home (poor Ainsley was crying too...half because she always cries in the car and half because she was being left behind). When I got home it felt so weird. I put Ainsley down for a nap and fed Tate....how quiet the house was.Picking Caleb up from his first day of pre-school was funny. He didn't have his shirt on (thank goodness I put a tank top under his shirt) because according to Mrs. Susan "Caleb was so hot even his head was hot!" When Andy immediately asked Caleb what he learned at school he said, "I didn't learn anything at school!" He went on to talk about "icky, sticky, oooie, gooie milk"?!! Weird!!! But he made it and Mrs. Susan said he did great!!!

This year life will be different. I feel extremely humbled and oddly old. Have I taught my kids everything they need to know, have I shown them through example, and have I told them how proud I am and lucky I am to be their mom? I know they will do great!
This is the start to a whole new adventure for the Griner Family!

Welcoming Tate Delton Griner

Getting "Everything Up to Date in Kansas City!"

After 9 months of ALL DAY morning sickness, 4 months of heart burn, 5 weeks of Braxton Hicks, 2 1/2 weeks on bed rest, extreme swelling, a TIA, and 2 hours, 2 minutes of labor... I would like to announce the birth of TATE DELTON GRINER.

He was born at 11:32 am
weighing in at 7 pounds, 1.5 ounces
18 inches longIt is amazing to think how I can so instantly and endlessly love. It's as if I've had him forever when just seconds ago he entered my life. All pain seems to instantly dissolve replaced by compassion and gratitude. He is perfect in every way and I am so glad he is healthy. He got a little banged up/swollen on the way out but NO cone head!!! After things settled down at the hospital we called my mom (who drove up all the way from Florida to help out since I was high risk) and after they stopped at McDonald's for a celebration lunch they arrived at the hospital. We were not sure how to handle Ainsley becoming a big sister. She is a really clingy "almost" 2 year old and we did not want to go about this the wrong way. After much advice from Andy's co-workers we decided that when the kids entered the room the baby would be in his little bed so I could hold Ainsley and introduce her to Tate. All of my worry was relieved when she held Tate. She loved him instantly and became the extra over protective BIG sister.Caleb's exact words were "Can I hold my baby brother now, please!"Aubrey was THRILLED!!!After my mom took her share of pictures it was her turn to hold the baby....which turned into holding everyone!The second time the kids came to visit, Ainsley was ready with a teddy bear, a gift from Andy's boss, and the camera case for lots of pictures! (Ainsley's hair is out of control!!!!)Also, the second time the kids came to visit, Tate was a little more active. Every time he stretched, the kids got so excited...like Christmas! So, you can only image how excited they got when he opened his eyes!!!!

Caleb thought the new looking pacifier the hospital provided was awesome! He loved how he could stick his finger inside and feel the baby sucking on it!! I was a bit delighted that Tate willingly took the pacifier. We have never really had a "pacifier" baby before.

Tate kept sucking on his thumb. I am not sure how he kept getting it in his mouth. Accident or not I had to get it on camera so Andy would believe me!!

Andy's first time feeding Tate! He is a great eater!!!
He was perfect and wonderful in the hospital. We had to stay an extra 24 hours b/c of my high blood pressure and abnormal lab results but it gave me an extra 24 hours alone with Tate!!

Coming home from the hospital!!! Loading 4 kids up in the nicely cleaned/scrubbed out van was very nerve racking to me. 4 kids...there was no going back now! The kids were very excited though!!
A special thanks to my dad: 2 weeks ago my parents/sister stopped by for a day before heading all the way home from their trip to Idaho. While they were here my dad spent over an hour cleaning out our van. Thank you!

Little Tate!

Aubrey drew a picture of her family...Dad, Mom holding her brother, herself, Ainsley, and Caleb!

Night #1 at home! At about 2:30am I went downstairs to take some medicine for the pain in my hands. Come to find out I was followed by Caleb!! He sneaked up behind me and started talking.

He said, "I am always starving. Because I am always starving I would like cereal and a candy bar."
I wasn't quite sure how coherent he was. After 2 minutes of him saying how he was hungry all day long and had dreams about being hungry all night, I talked him into yogurt and a nectarine. He is so weird some times.

The kids were up bright at early the first morning Tate was home. Who will feed him first? Who will burp him first? Who will change him first? Who will hold him first??

I am not even sure the kids slept because they were so excited to see Tate in the morning!!

By Morning #2, to my surprise, the kids excitement still hadn't worn off even with the upcoming doctors appointment only hours away!! In the doctors office, Ainsley was very protective of Tate and Aubrey cried the minute we went into the little room. Aubrey's tears were purely selfish though. Since I was not pregnant anymore that meant that not only would Tate be getting a check up but Aubrey would be getting her Chicken Pox Vaccination. I had taken her to get all of her Vaccinations for Kindergarten the week before but they wouldn't give her that one because I was pregnant. Weird! Tate didn't cry at all and seemed to enjoy being naked!!! In the 2 days he had been home he had gained 4 ounces. WHAT A CHUB!!

After the doctors appointment we headed over to the Missouri side to get gas ($.10 cheaper per gallon) and since Missouri was doing TAX FREE weekend we got all of Aubrey's school supplies. I might add that "back to school" mom's on the only tax free Saturday of the year are crazy. After shopping we headed back home so I could continue "required" bed rest (I was aloud to come home from the hospital granted I say in bed until my Monday's doctors appointment).

Saturday afternoon Paul/Marlene drove up to see TATE, fix a nice dinner, and Paul helped Andy fix the front door. After trying everything possible to fix the front door they headed to Home Depot and Paul bought us a new handle. After a week of not being able to use the front door and almost 4 hours of intense door handle installation by Paul/Andy we can now use the front door!! I love the new handle, thank you Paul!
**special side note.... (before the door handle was fixed) When Andy came with the kids to pick me up from the hospital he forgot to unlock the sliding door in the back. When we got home from the hospital we were locked out and Andy had to shimmy Caleb through one of the kitchen windows so he could open the garage for us. Nice:)

While Marlene made a yummy pork chop dinner she took a break to pose for a quick picture!!
Reviews are still flowing in on whether Tate looks like a "Griner" or a "Clark!" Although, it is very hard for me to tell...I think he looks like Caleb but with my dad's forhead and hair line!!!

For the Record:
1. I HAVE been taking "after delivery bed rest" very seriously. Besides my Saturday morning out I have stayed in bed (which is easy for me to WANT to do since I got home from the hospital and realized our bed was made with a nice bed comforter set, soft sheets and big fluffy pillows that my mom bought for us....it was the perfect coming home present, thank you mom!!).
2. Even though we went to the hospital still unable to agree on a name...some how AFTER my IV's were hooked up BUT BEFORE my water broke we happily and in a kindly manner agreed on a name!!
3. Yes, I did get an epidural (what an awful experience that was and a story all in its own). But because I was so swollen they were unable to get it to kick in on my right side. AHG!!
4.While I was in labor, something that was getting on my nerves early Tuesday morning, besides all the lightning and thunder, was that Andy kept watching Fox News. I was hoping that for one morning my life could go without anything Political, I mean, couldn't politics take a morning break....well, most of you know where Andy stands politically so I found it completely and totally funny that it took Andy over an hour to read the bottom of the television screen...which read: HAPPY 48th BIRTHDAY, AUGUST 4TH 2009, TO BARACK OBAMA!!

A Crazy week ended with a Birthday Celebration!!

Since this past week I have been in and out of the hospital and doctors office it was hard to plan a birthday party for Aubrey. We wanted to do something special but didn't want to plan something that we couldn't follow through with. So Thursday night while Andy's mom was still here we took Aubrey to Toys R Us so she could spend her birthday money (from my parents and Grandpa and Grandma Grayson). She loved looking at all the possible presents but settled on a Princess dress-up kit. Afterwords we took her to Sonic for an Ice Cream Cone.
On Saturday morning we made a quick stop at the requested McDonald's and then headed to Crown Center for the LEGO exhibit. It was awesome!!! Aubrey spends multiple hours a day playing with lego's so she really loved looking at everything and building her own lego masterpiece!Ainsley wanted to do whatever Aubrey was doing!Very Cool! Of course, Caleb had a million questions.After the lego exhibit we went to the candy store where Aubrey picked out all Pink Starbursts and then we headed outside for some water/sand fun! Caleb loves his new hair cut!! I was sad to see all of his beautiful hair gone but he sure does look handsome!After our fun at Crown Center we had a small party for Aubrey with Andy's parents. After the kids ate pizza Aubrey opened her presents!!All the presents were a big hit and Aubrey was kind enough to let Ainsley help open them!CAKE TIME!PINYATA TIME!!! Everyone got a chance to hit the pinyata 2 times! Ainsley was a quick learner!!! After everyone got 2 turns it was Andy's turn!
We had a fun quiet day and we are so excited that Aubrey is 5! Time sure has pasted quickly!!

A special thanks:
A special thanks to my mother in-law Marlene who came up and stayed with us. I do not know what I would have done.
Thank you to Gretchen for taking Caleb for the afternoon!
Thanks to my parents and Steff. It was nice to see you for the day!
Thank you to Andy...you really have been patient and done well to work while holding down the fort!

News:
We enrolled Aubrey in Kindergarten yesterday!!! She got to meet the new Principal! Very exciting!! She is going to be in Kindergarten!!! THIS IS CRAZY!!!
Also, I am off of bed rest (says the doctor but if you ask Andy he says no)! The baby is growing big and seems to have no desire to come any time soon. Hopefully, I will not go passed my due date but I am really excited to have a chubby healthy baby!!!

BECOMING A MOTHER!!

When a child is born,
so is a Mother.

Sweet child of mine,
you will always hold a SPECIAL place in my heart.

For with your BIRTH
you gave me the most honored gift....

The gift of being a Mother for the
very FIRST time.

Happy 5th Birthday Aubrey Jean. With every year you get older we've grown, learn, and teach each other together. I love you for everything that you have become: beautiful, strong, caring, and a wonderful big sister. I love everything that you help me strive to be and everything that you have helped me become. Your youth, innocence, and love for life helps me grow as a Mother. I am so lucky to have you in my life. As a Mother, that is still learning, I am so thankful to have you right beside me. YOUR 5!!! Happy Birthday Aubrey Jean!!

A weekend for the books...
(warning lots of boring writing at the end so feel free to skip it)

On Friday morning Paul/Marlene came up to watch the kids while I went to a doctors appointment. The kids were beyond excited to spend time with their grandparents.Aubrey was so excited that Grandpa let her sneak a piece of Andy's cheese cake . Shhh! It is suppose to be a secret!

Grandma pushed Aubrey and Ainsley around in a mini wagon. We do have a regular size wagon but why would they want to sit comfortably in that when they can squeeze and cram into a small one?!

Grandma pushed them on the swings in our "jungle like" backyard. It was about 2 weeks pass due for a mowing.
And of course Caleb has to play ambulance. He would ride around a little bit and then gently fall and Grandpa would rush over pretending to be an ambulance. He says when he grows up he wants to be a fire truck driver. Not a fireman just the driver. He said all he needs is the keys!
Paul/Marlene are so great to come up and help. After my emotional doctors appointment: low grade fever, the flu, high blood pressure, major swelling, and orders for bed rest Andy took a half day and with his mom's help loaded up Aubrey/Caleb to take them to Andy's baby shower! Paul stayed at home with Ainsley for some one on one time which included Madagascar and a turtle train!!
Andy's baby shower was a lot of fun. His co-workers did a great job putting everything together and it was lots of fun to have his patients participate! Caleb loved the cake, sugar x4, and all the attention! Aubrey loved the cake and 4 pieces later she was ready for some balloons!

A special thanks to Paul. He is such a great Grandpa to the kids and he even cleaned out part of the freezer!
A special thanks to Marlene for her patience and understanding. She is a wonderful Grandma and Mother in-law. Also, thank you for mowing the back yard.

The rest of Friday went great. We took the kids to the squirrel trail. The weather was perfect with no humidity! Saturday morning we woke up early and headed out the door to run errands with plans to take the kids to DIANA ROSE. But as we were pulling into Target something went wrong. I was talking to Andy about Utah and then all of a sudden I had a hard time thinking of the right words (I couldn't remember the name for the city of Sandy, UT and called it Sanflee...), I was a bit slow, the right side of my body was numb, and my vision became blurry. 5 minutes later I seemed to be back to normal (a little slow in thought, but for the most part back to normal). After begging Andy not to take me to SMMC (hospital). He pulled back into the parking space and we headed into Target. 5 minutes later I was numb on my right side from head to toe and couldn't respond or talk. Andy said that he was worried that I was having a TIA (small stroke) It only lasted 5 minutes but that was long enough for Andy to call it a day. I told him I was fine and would feel better after I took a nap. Upon waking up from my nap I was still slow in thought/speech/response. After multiple tears and thinking Andy was not being compassionate I called my dad (hoping his hatred for doctors would put him on my side). Unfortunately, he was on Andy's side saying "Well, Sara Jean. This is your dad here, but I do not know how to be compassionate about something like this. Get yourself to the doctor.
So, scared, I headed up to SMMC with high blood pressure, the OB doctor thought it was a small stroke due to a migraine (which I did not have, and from a medication I have never had a side effect from) and then I was sent up for an MRI. After 45 minutes in the tube the neurologist kindly said it was a TIA from high blood pressure just like Andy originally thought.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD CONTRACTIONS IN THE MRI MACHINE??? Brutal!!!!!
Well, after spending the night in the hospital getting my blood pressure checked EVER 30 minutes and having my blood drawn first thing this morning I was released with a "If and when it happends again please come in right away so we can monitor your blood pressure at the time of the TIA!" Nice...the good new is that the baby is good and wasn't effected at all! The baby's heart rate and movement is good. I am 37 weeks and 1 day! Since I have never carried a baby this long before we are very excited and have high hopes for a chub!!! Now, how to keep my blood pressure down?? hum.
p.s.
Congrats to Syd on your couch and new single appartment in Sandy!
Congrats to SYD/STEFF on graduating from BYU-I this Thursday!!
Congrats to Kristen on graduation!!
Congrats to Seth/Karalee on your first house!!! Home owners in Pheonix, how exciting!!
Happy Birthday Mom! I love you and do not know what I would do without you!
Happy Birthday Aunt Bonnie!!