4th of July and More...

I feel like I am just coming into the land of the living again, and it is so nice! During my prayers this week, I marveled at how I had 4 children, 2 years apart. 9 months of pregnancy and 1 year of nursing and I was pregnant again within a few months...4 times! How did I do that?! I know it was the Lord holding my hand. After 5 years, being pregnant again is NOT easy! How grateful I am that I had the majority of my children before 30 and had the energy to enjoy them! Wow! In talking with my Mom and my brother Shawn the other night we realized that my Mom was 31 when she had Shawn. It was hard on her. This baby so far is hard on me. I feel like I'm really only 1/2 there most of the time. I slack on my callings, my house is so messy, it's driving me crazy, I've gained 15 pounds in 2 months (I'm so depressed!), I forget everything, my poor kids feel house driven and I don't like having people over (not like me at all!), husband is seriously neglected and a very patient man! I really have had to tell myself that this terrible nausea, dizziness, lack of wind, extreme fatigue, etc., will only last until about my 12th week (which is this week), and then I will begin to feel better, which I am. I've had to tell myself that I will have to let a few people down and let some things go, in order to get through this first part and probably the next 9 months. It's okay.

So...on the up side...I saw my new OB last week. Dr. Langer is wonderful! I'm so excited to have a woman for a doctor. She told me I was healthy as a horse...lol. I asked her all about exercise and she gave me the go ahead to listen to my body and keep lifting. I was so excited about this! I don't want to give up lifting heavy and working hard at the gym and although it's been difficult, I've been going most days of the week. I'm so thankful for my awesome gym buddy, Melanie. What a great friend! She keeps me going...I love you girl! Dr. Langer rolled in the little ultrasound machine and I was able to see our new little one's heart beating. What a miracles these little ones are! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to welcome a new little one into our home! These children are the GREATEST blessing!

July 4th was a total blast! We had plans with my family to all get together early in the day, but everyone was tired and had a lot to do, so we got together in the evening, ate and enjoyed a few fireworks. The neighbors put on an even better show! Hailey and Abby visited Dan's parents in Portland for 10 days and had the time of their lives! Hailey said "Mom...you can tell Grandma Johnson is a teacher...she was still in teacher mode." LOL. If you read this Mom, that is a good thing :) The girls had the tour of Portland and Vancouver, thanks to Mom and learned a lot about both cities. She is a wonderful teacher. I know I've learned a great deal from her. Thank you for having them, Mom!

The other day I attempted my first hike of the season. It was successful, but it will be the last. Hiking and pregnancy is not my bag. Brent, Shawn, Melanie and I hiked White Pine. It was beautiful! It was tough, but I made it to the lake. I huffed and puffed the whole way up, and my knees about gave on me the whole way down. I couldn't walk for 2 days. I'm thinking I will begin again next summer after baby comes. I can hardly wait! I will miss hiking :( I was looking forward to hiking Timpanogos this year. O-well. Growing a baby will be my adventure.

I have a few more pics. Joe fell asleep on the couch. He runs and plays so hard every day, he is often sleeping around 4:00 or so every day, lol. He's so big!

Dan and I took Ray and Joe fishing last weekend. We fished off of a bridge in the Jordan River and Dan caught this catfish. He was a happy boy. It was big! It took him awhile to get it out of the River and a boy about 12 was walking boy and was really excited to come and help Dan get it out. It was pretty funny.

My 4th of July pics are my new digital scrapbooking pages. I have not scrapbooked for years! Thanks to my neighbor Liesl teaching me a few things, I've had a lot of fun experimenting around! I love it!