Family Time

My family (Dad, Julie, Nathan & Russell) came to visit this past weekend and it was wonderful! I couldn't remember the last time they were here and welcomed the visit.

Saturday

Julie, Nathan, Russell, Bubba & I walked to the park. The boys loved playing on the playground! When we got back to the house, we put Bubba down for a nap and then headed to the local beauty school. The boys both got their haircut and I got a pedicure.

Back at the house, Dad & Andy worked on the Toyota. We thought that the Toyota needed new brakes and it takes two people to do the job. With Andy getting home after dark and with the stages Bubba is currently in right now, I wasn't able to help Andy change the brakes-- I'm grateful that my Dad was willing and able.

Once they got in to change the brakes, they discovered that the brakes were fine. There was a piece of metal that was bent so they fixed that and they changed out the rotors-- the car runs do much better now! I'm grateful that my Dad and Andy know how to fix things, it saves us so much money.

We had planned to go to Jurassic Quest which was in town for the weekend, but it had bad reviews so we opted to go play mini golf instead. Bubba loved throwing rocks in the water feature and playing with our golf balls and clubs. Andy was a good sport and played a good portion of the game with a Bubba sized plastic golf club. Nathan ended up winning overall. Afterwards we went out for Hawaiian food, it was really good!

Bubba & Nana.

Sunday

We went to Stake Conference in the morning and spent the evening playing games as a family before my Dad had to fly out. Everyone else flew out Monday morning.

Washing his hands at church.

It was so good to see my family! It was nice to get a little break from being a pregnant mom 24/7, my family helped watch Bubba and they did the cooking so I could get off my now constantly swollen feet.

I loved watching my brothers play with my little boy. Bubba really likes his Uncle Russell! And I think Uncle Russell really likes Bubba too!

Life Lately According To Photos

Helping Dad rake 200 pounds of leaves.

Waking Mommy up.

Bubba's favorite spot on the couch.

Bubbles!

First time on a real swing. He climbed up all by himself.

Playdoh fun.

Depression While Pregnant

I had an experience at the bottom of the wave about a week or so ago that was pretty rough that I wanted to talk about.

After someone has a baby, the doctors are very concerned about the mama's mental health. Each time you go in for a check up they ask you a series of questions about how your doing emotionally. What they are looking for is signs and symptoms of postpartum depression.

When I was pregnant with Bubba, I struggled with depression. Andy knew about it, but he was really the only person who knew. I was embarrassed and ashamed to feel depressed while pregnant. It seems as though when you're pregnant there is this expectation that you should be elated and happy all of the time, this wasn't the case for me. 

While in the hospital one of the nurses read through my file and said that she recommended that I get on an antidepressant. She told me that she had been on one for 17 years and that is helped her a ton. I'm not one who likes to pop pills and I declined.

Thankfully I didn't struggle with postpartum depression, I just struggled with depression while pregnant.

Several months after I had Bubba, we took him in to see the chiropractor. The chiropractor asked all kinds of questions about my pregnancy, labor and delivery. When I mentioned that I struggled with depression during my pregnancy, he asked if I had taken fish oil. I told him no- I hate sea food. He informed me that a lack of fish oil while pregnant can cause depression. I began taking fish oil supplements that day and have been taking them ever since.

This pregnancy the depression has thankfully been almost non-existent. The other day though, it hit and it hit hard. It was probably the worst experience with depression I have ever had. I felt so completely worthless and empty inside. I recognized the depression for what it was and kept looking at the clock, I knew I had to make it just a few hours and then Andy would be home. As soon as he walked in the door I asked him for a blessing. Instantly, I felt like a weight had been lifted off of me.

We went to the park as a family and stopped to talk to a few neighbors on the way home. They asked how I was doing and I told them. Both neighbors gave me the biggest hugs and talked with me for a little while. When I finally made it home, I felt a lot better.

Each time the depression tried to creep back in, the words of a hymn entered my mind, "Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace? When other sources cease to make me whole." and the feelings of depression would fade.

I am so grateful for a husband who holds the Priesthood and who is able to give blessings in time of need. I know that the Lord is aware of each and everyone of us. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses as well as our struggles. If we turn to Him, He will help us.

I know that depression is something that a lot of people struggle with on a regular basis, my heart goes out to them. Hang in there, there is hope. Please let someone know of your struggle, you don't have to suffer alone. I'm grateful for fish oil and that the only times I seem to struggle with depression are while I am pregnant-- and that it is for such a short season of life.

On a side note. When I was in the OB office this past week, there was a sign that said that something like 16% of women struggle with depression while they are pregnant.

A Much Needed Break

We have been working really hard around our house trying to finish up a huge list of things before Andy's surgery and before baby #2 makes its debut. When we learned that Andy was going to have a four day weekend, we knew we needed to take a much needed break.

Friday was dedicated to working on projects. And Friday night was dedicated to going on a date. We went to a semi-haunted corn maze. The theme for the maze was Harry Potter. We came across a few dementors and Andy cast a patronus charm to get rid of them. After getting severely turned around in the maze we pulled out the map so we could reach each of the different check points.

When Dad lets you run around with a $3 price tag on your head.

Saturday morning we watched General Conference. I love General Conference. I look forward to hearing from the leaders of the Church and receiving a spiritual boost. We had heard rumors that church might be shortened to two hours, we were really surprised to learn that the rumors were true. We are looking forward to the two hour block, having a young child at church for three hours on Sunday has not been an easy thing for us. We are looking forward to spending more time together as a family on Sundays.

After the morning session, we hopped in the car and headed to the coast. We took Bubba to see the Yaquina Head Lighthouse and the tide pools during low tide. He wasn't really interested in the light house or the tide pools. He was really excited though to throw rocks into the ocean that was his favorite part. He got upset when we had to leave and kicked his rain boot into the ocean, thankfully Andy was able to retrieve it before it was sucked out to sea.

Tide pool.

The next morning we took Bubba swimming in the hotel pool, he absolutely loved it! Then we took a nap as a family and decided to go hiking in the rain. We had heard there was a really cool hike (Drift Creek Falls) near Newport and figured since we were out there, we might as well try it out. The hike was 2.5 miles round trip. We hiked through a beautiful forest, crossed a suspension bridge and saw a waterfall. Andy and I loved being out in nature and crossing the suspension bridge. Bubba's favorite part was the waterfall, he kept pointing and saying, "bubble." Right now he says bubble anytime he sees water.

I love Andy's facial expression in this photo.

Monday morning we went to the aquarium, once again it was raining. We thought Bubba would love the fish, sea lions and otters, but we were wrong. He loved playing on the playground in the rain and pointing at the cutouts in the floor at the shark exhibit and saying, "bubble." He had a great time and that's all that matters.

These piranhas were a sparkly gold color, so pretty!

He is always climbing on something.

Then we began our journey back to Eugene for an OB appointment. As we were driving though the farmland we passed a barn that had a big sign hanging on it that said, "If you're pregnant, it's a boy." I started laughing and told Andy that apparently we are having a boy, when I told him why he laughed too. Time will tell. We are really just hoping that delivery goes smoothly and baby arrives safely.

Doctors appointment went well, got a few shots. Other than that not much to report.

On our way home we stopped at the pumpkin patch to pick out a few pumpkins. Bubba enjoyed riding in the wheel barrow and was really interested in the tractors. As for the pumpkins, he wasn't very interested in those.

As for General Conference, I did listen to a few of the talks while we were on our trip. One talk given by my favorite apostle really resonated with me. I don't want to say which talk it was or who the apostle was, just that I have been going through the hardest trial of my life for several years now and this apostle's words echoed the things I have been dealing with. It was nice to hear words on a topic that is so seldomly addressed. As to President Nelson's challenge to the women of the Church, I think it's wonderful and I am super excited! I can't wait to finish listening to the rest of the messages.