Chicken Noodle Soup

I made chicken noodle soup for dinner and a crusty loaf of bread. It was yummy!! It's funny how something so simple can be so satisfying. I think that I have been more in to food since I have been nursing than while I was pregnant. I am hungry all the time, and unlike when I was pregnant I am losing weight. It's a wonderful thing to pig out and still loose weight, I love nursing!! And so does Eliza, it's one of her favorite pass times. The day I got home from the hospital I made a cake and ate most of it myself in a couple of days. In fact I think that I will make a cake right now, it would go great with some ice cream. Okay so I must say goodbye so I can feed my cravings.

Easter

First Bath and more Eliza pictures

Mom and Odelia being silly! Harrington holding his new sister

Kisses!

Watch out world, the Ray girls are here!

Eliza all ready to go get poked at the hospital

Nappy time for mom and Eliza

Eliza's first bath

Eliza with her Photo Therapy wand, she looks like a little glow worm.

Zeb's always in charge of the first bath. Slippery wiggly newborns are not my speciality. An Eliza is especially squirmy. Yesterday she rolled from her tummy to her back twice. She's a feisty little girl.

Oprah Show & Peeing in the Kitchen Sink

Just caught the Oprah show. Not something I watch much because I am busy with my kids. But since I had a baby last Wednesday I am hunkered down in my room, especially since Eliza has Jaundice and is on photo therapy, we are plugged in all day. So today I had the special treat of watching Oprah. It was based off of mom secrets and the things that make motherhood difficult. Some of it was funny, but some of it was just plain sad. One woman said she bathed her kids in the jacuzzi, another mother said that she didn't give her kids a bath for like three weeks. I admit I have had my crazy days, like the time I had to pee in the kitchen sink because the bathroom doors were locked to keep Harrington out of them and I couldn't find the key. I was pregnant with Odelia and it was the sink or my pants. I would've gone in the backyard, but we didn't have a fence and it was daytime. Not my finest moment, but even that day I was able to pull it together fid the keys, make dinner and give Harrington a bath.
I for one love motherhood and being a homemaker. Their are days I want to take a nap and I get cranky. I yell more than I should and I could probably do more activities with my kids. But I think that their is nothing wrong with "putting your apron on" so to speak. Ten or twelve years ago I heard Tamara Zinn give a talk in sacrament meeting about women needing to embrace motherhood and being domestic. I have always wanted to be the best homemaker I could, largely in part to learning from my mother and other women like Tamara. I am not ashamed to say that I love making bread, cleaning my home, making do with what I have, growing a garden, canning, and reading to my kids. I may not have time to go to the gym, get my hair done or have weekly nights out with the girls. But what I do have time for is to take care of my kids, my home and support my husband. I take pride in nourishing my family and taking care of their physical and spiritual needs. No one forces me to do these things, I do them because I want to. And if their is time left over I will spend time with friends, or maybe even wax my eyebrows (which I do myself in the bathroom). So to any mom who reads this and just enjoys being a mom, here is to you! Perfection isn't necessary, their may be days when you pee in the sink, or your kids eat ice cream for dinner. Just love your kids and do the best you can. I'd love your pee in the sink stores in my comments section, so share away. Some days all you need is a good laugh.

Water on the brain, Hand, Heart Valve and Jaundice

Eliza in her Photo therapy bed

Heavenly father has blessed is so much. When Eliza had her first ultrasound she had fluid on her brain. At 32 weeks she had an ultrasound and the fluid was gone. Many of you know that I was put on restriction at 32 weeks because I was had some bleeding and lots of contractions. And yet Eliza made it to her induction date full term. When my doctor broke my water he found her hand up by her head. He was able to maneuver her hand away, avoiding a C-section. In fact just after that Dr. Jones and my husband gave me a blessing, and when she delivered their were no complications. When they checked her in the nursery they noticed she has a heart thudder, her valve wasn't closed all the way. That night her daddy gave her a blessing and the next morning when the doctor checked her the valve was closed. When we left the hospital she was borderline Jaundice and this morning she was high enough that they have her on photo therapy, she is still on photo therapy at home. She has had lots of wet diapers in the few hours she has been on the therapy and her color is much better. I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow morning when we go back to have her billi level tested if she is all better. I feel like Heavenly Father has blessed us so much to allow her to over come all of these health issues in her short little life. I am so greatfull for the priesthood power that allows men to bless in Jesus name, the tender mercies of the lord have been poured on us. Through all of this I have been calm and have felt the lords nearness. I can't imagine being a mother without the power of the priesthood and the gift of the Holy Ghost

Eliza Jayne is Here!!

Only a few minutes old.

Look at my little chubby arm

Mouth open looking for food

After her first meal!

View from the room, see the temple on the far left

Odelia and Harrington meet Eliza

They think she is sooooooo cute!

After a meal, a girl must nap... She sleeps like Grandma Rose.

Every little girl loves to have her feet rubbed.

All snuggly soft in her blankie and hat.

She weighed 7 lbs 8 oz, 21 in long and her head was 14 in. Her Feet and toes are nice and long. No Ray thumbs. Her bottom lip is pretty pouty, and her chin is not real big. The hair she has is pretty light, her eyelashes are long and very blonde. So far she is very quiet, she squeaks a little. We feel so blessed that she is here and we are all healthy.

Waiting for Baby

Well I am almost 5cm dialated and we are patiently waiting for baby Eliza to come. I thought I would post a baby belly shot of me before I deliver.
Now all I want is to have my baby and then enjoy a nice cheeseburger, maybe Pizza, or even tacos. I will post some baby pictures tonight.