Hazel Elayne Hellbusch

hazel is sleeping in the other room. i just looked at the pictures from the day she was born. already i have forgotten details from that day. it was such a sweet time for our family. i decide i need to blog before i forget more......

i don't remember what day it was (everything is a blur). it had to be monday or tuesday. i had a dr. appointment. i remember standing on the scale and, for just a moment, smiling when the nurse said i had lost 3 pounds. in a flash, i remember that i am 9 months pregnant and my weight should not be going down. 

i see the dr. and he tells me i am still measuring small and that i need to go have my amniotic fluid level checked at the hospital. i rush to a hair appt., get a pedicure while it processes and return to the hospital for an ultrasound. the technician explains that a "normal" fluid level ranges from 1-25. mine is a 6. at 5 they won't let you go home. my dr. consults with a perinatologist and they decide to check me again in a few days. deflated (literally) i go home. 

i really want the baby to be healthy. i really want to not be pregnant anymore. i am miserable.

i notice my family has "looks" between each other. you know, the looks that say, "just grin and bare it, she won't be pregnant that much longer anyway." my husband is now telling the kids not to even look at, or go near me. i can tell i am pleasant to be around.

now it is friday. i have to go in for another stress test and fluid check. i have given up. she is never coming. i even voice that i will die an old woman with a teenager still inside of me. (dramatic, i know.)

 the stress test looks fine. the baby looks great. now, downstairs for the ultrasound. 

the technician is doing something with a concerned look on her face. i finally ask what my fluid level is...

she tells me it is only a 2 1/2 and i need to go back upstairs.

WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!

i text my dr. and tell him to come "get this baby out of me." by now, i am sure he is regretting ever giving me his cell phone number. i don't really care.
tim runs to round up the kids.

be patient....it was a BIG event..

 the pictures above are all of us waiting...

we bet on birth weight...Ryanne won.
we debated when Hazel said goodbye to her namesake, my grandma. then as she was being born, or months before when she was conceived.

 tim messing around while i am being prepped for surgery

 the above photos are self explanatory

 first glance at little sis

 not wanting to say good bye as Hazel was taken to the nursery

 our beautiful baby

 waiting again

 hazel had to have an IV and emmie was not happy about having to wait to see her

 tim stretching......

 hazel elayne

 meeting hazel for the first time

i had visitors the whole time. hazel and i were well taken care of.

daddy and emmie changing her diaper. there are no photos for proof but one of my favorite memories at the hospital was watching jaxson change hazel's diaper. he was all over the place. she peed on everything. it was hilarious.

and baby makes "6"!!!!!

hazel had so many visitors. she is well loved. since she has been home she barely cries. if she makes a peep some one picks her up and tends to her every need. 

i don't' really remember the day she was born. my kids say that i kept saying i was so glad i wasn't pregnant anymore. which was so true!!! 

i already don't remember why she had to have an iv.

the older kids were so fun.

a couple of memories since hazel came home

she loves the song angel lullaby from my turn on earth. i sing it to her all the time. when we play it, she recognizes it. i promise that is true. you can tell. 

the first couple of days that hazel was home, emmie would  not leave the house except to go to school. she would return from school and yell, "is hazel home."

grandma stopped by one day and ryanne said, "it is still my turn to hold hazel.

jaxson got a cold and couldn't hold hazel for a few days.

one day he came in and said he was sad because he was missing her most snuggly time.

so many people brought gifts over and came to visit hazel and i. one friend came clear from centerville to see us. morgan said, "mom, so many people love you and hazel." so true. we are so blessed.

hanna takes a nap with hazel every day after school.

they all take turns feeding, changing, and holding hazel. they love her and this makes me happy

morgan and her friends tell me i am so happy now and smile so much.
i am so glad hazel is here and that i am not still pregnant!!!!!

Ryanne's Birthday Party

I have to admit that I am having trouble keeping up on life lately. I would like to blame pregnancy. Ryanne turned 12 on July 27th. She is such an amazing young lady. We FINALLY had a party for her. Tim put together some "Minute to Win it" games and we had pizza and junk food.

I love Ryanne's friends! They are all such great kids.

Don't get me wrong, it sucked but we loved it.....

Let me start by saying, "I love my girls!" 

We made Hanna and Morgan go on Trek. This is an object lesson on walking across the plains as the pioneers did. They took buses to Wyoming and then walked about 40 miles as if they were pioneers. They were split into families and pulled handcarts and even dressed as the pioneers did (Morgan was the most upset by the clothing). They left at 4:30 am on a Tuesday and returned Friday at 6 pm. I went to meet the buses with hesitation. I was afraid they would both hate me when they returned.

Once the buses stopped it was mayhem. Pioneers everywhere. I walked into the crowd honestly fearing the wrath I was about to receive.

It seemed like I walked around forever. Finally, I felt my girls on either side of me. BOTH of them were smiling. 

I started to cry. I was so happy that they were home and had smiles on their faces.

They were stinky and dirty and look at Hanna's hair. 

Morgan had her pioneer clothes off before her second foot was off of the bus.

BUT, let me say it again. They were BOTH happy!!

They both had cute friends that went with them.

They were welcomed home by a sign made by Emmie and Haidyn.

I took the girls to dinner that night. They both told stories that made me laugh and cry. In the end they both loved Trek. They said, "Don't get me wrong, it sucked and was so hard, but we loved it."

 To which my wise friend and neighbor replied, "Doesn't everything worth having/doing suck sometimes?"

I realized that I sent my daughters on Trek not as much for the experience, but mostly because we made our son go 4 years ago and I did not want to deal with his wrath for not making the girls go. (Remember pregnant and taking the path of least resistance) What they came home with was an experience that they will never forget and a respect for hard ships faced by many of their ancestors. Not to mention friendships that I am sure they will treasure.

On Sunday Hanna spoke in church of her experience on Trek. I would never be able to do justice to the wonderful talk she gave, so I won't even try. I will simply leave it at this.....
"Oh the things I learn from my children...."

Happy Birthday Ryanne!!!

Ryanne is 12 today!!!

I can't believe it.

Ryanne is beautiful on the inside and out!

Happy Birthday Ryanne! We love you!

4th of July

We spent the 4th of July at the Lloyd's house. Great friends, great food and great games!!!

Good times!

Steel Days 2011

Tim and I took the "littles" to American Fork Steel Days. I remember days of taking 5 little kids to the carnival. I would do it again in a heartbeat. For now, this is how the carnival goes.....

 Morgan ditched us to hang with her friends (As was totally expected).

 Ryanne talked Emmie into this ride. Emmie almost peed her pants. She ended up loving it and went again by herself.

 Tim joined the fun.

 Slide races....

 Happy Em

 Not my best side. But, I wanted proof that I participated. I was pooped just walking around.

Emmie Lu!

We ended the day with HUGE ice cream cones from Maceys. No pictures. I was worn out!

As were leaving, I saw a lady that I had worked with at Ross before I was married. I usually refrain from saying hi to old acquaintances. I mean, what if they don't remember me? I swallowed my pride and said, "hi." She remembered me and told me I was so much fun. It is weird. She is the one who referred me to our Doctor (the same one that is about to deliver our 6th baby.) It made me realize that people we only know for a short time have such a big impact on our lives. 

I am so grateful!