It's been a very long time since I've updated the blog.....Jeesh - it's the end of October for heaven's sake!  Kids are doing great - Piercen is Mr. Cross Country now - they call him 'beast' bc he is SO good and only a freshman.  He went to region and ended up finishing 10th - fantastic especially when you realize that all of the other boys are usually on their varsity teams, but had to run in the JV race bc the race limited the number of varsity kids that could run.  He was really the only true JV kid to place.   He will be going with the team to California at the start of next month to compete in nationals.

Jax has had a rough few months - he had complained of a stomach ache for a week before we discovered that he may have appendicitis.  We had to take him into Primary Children's Hospital to have his appendix removed.  Then - poor guy - 2 weeks later he had to go in to have a mole removed from off of his neck.  It ended up being a good thing bc they found what is called Spitz Nevis in there - nothing too scary, but worth getting it removed.  I'm not too excited to get all of the doctor bills - especially with 4 of the 5 kids' birthdays and Christmas here in the next 2 months. 
He is now doing really well and ran in his school's red ribbon week's 5K.

Maddie has really been enjoying 1st grade.  She has by far been my hardest at listening to me as I've tried to teach her how to read ect.  So I am very happy that she has been making a lot of progress thanks to her very good and patient teacher.  We are just too much alike - so we butt heads a lot.  She was able to go on a daddy daughter date with Trent to Coldstone - she was in heaven.

Donavan already has his ABC's down - no thanks to me, he plays with my ipod and listens to one of the apps that I bought over and over and over and over etc. until he sings his ABC's all the time now.  He had also gone from my sweet baby to a spunky, talking back, teasing little monster.  He tells people all the time that he is my monster.  Oh so true.  He is very very funny though so he is able to get away with a lot.  But his biting....ugg the biting!!  He doesn't usually bite hard, but, poor Ronin NEVER has dry hands or feet bc Donsters always has them in his mouth.  I guess it's a good thing that Ronin just thinks its funny.....

Ronin is getting SO BIG!!  He is just a darling little guy - I love him to bits!  He claps when you say yea, and is learning how to wave good bye.  He thinks everything is funny and laughs all the time.  He still doesn't have any teeth, he doesn't crawl - in fact he still tips over when he sits up alone.  The pediatrician is a bit worried, but I'm not at all.  I know why he isn't developing as fast as other babies his age are.....he is carried ALL THE TIME!  What can he expect with 4 older siblings who adore him?  I'm in NO HURRY for him to grow up fast so I'm good with him taking his sweet little time!!

Trent is doing really well - he has switched from working in auto to liability.  He hates the training, but thinks that the work is interesting.  I'm SO relievied as we were thinking that we may have to move to find another job.  Farmers is getting rid of their auto people left and right....what a blessing it was when his boss asked if he'd go to the other side of Farmers.  :)  He has been pleasnantly surprized by the atmosphere - its friendly and pro-mormon.  Unlike the auto side who hate family oriented people to don't dedicate their every breath to Farmers.....
He has also been working out at the gym every single day - sometimes twice a day.  Right before our 1/2 marathon he hurt his knee....we found out that he has tendonitis under both knee caps so he hasn't been able to run since.  He has however been able to loose a lot of weight and is really putting on a lot of muscle.  He looks fantastic ;)

I just ran my 2nd 1/2 marathon on the 27th and was able to PR.  1:37:57 - it makes out to be a 7:29 min. per mile :D.  I was totally surprized bc I ran much faster than I usually do in my training runs.  And they had to add a surprize mile and a half uphill to the course bc the original starting point was covered in ice and snow.  Melissa was able to come and run with me so I wasn't alone at the race start.  Thank goodness they had a heated tent!!
We are already planning out the 1/2 marathons that we will be running in next year.  We have the RAGNAR race in June and the Timp 1/2 for sure at the end of July again.  Pierce wants to train and run a 1/2 with us sometime in the spring.  These things are the hardest thing I've ever done - but so fun and worth the pain!  Right around mile 10 or 11 you really start questioning yourself and why on earth you do this to yourself....but that's when you really find out what you are made of!  The mental toughness that you need to finish this kind of race is what makes it worth it.

 

June already?!?

Oh my goodness - I can't believe it's already JUNE!  Where has the time gone??  We have been so super busy with the end of school and all of its related activities that I just haven't had the time to get on here.  Trent and I are training for our 1st ever 1/2 marathon at the end of next month.  We have been doing a lot of running - I looked at my calendar for last month and I had put in 93 miles!  Hopefully we will be ready.
The boys are doing great  - Pierce made the high honor roll for having a 3.97 or above for both his 7th and 8th grades.  He also ran in his school's 5K and a Memorial Day 5K with Trent and I - he is getting ready for cross-country to start next week.

Jax also received 2 awards for his high academics - he only had one A-.  To reward them for all of their hard work....and as incentive to help me around the house this summer we bought both of them a Kindle.  If they do their chores for the day they recieve a point toward buying a new book.  It is working out fantastic so far - they really want the Hunger Games to read.


Maddie is a huge social bug as usual - spending almost everyday playing with the neighborhood girls.  She finally learned to ride her bike without training wheels yesterday.  I couldn't be more proud - she just had to get over her fear of falling off.  Once she saw that she could balance - she was off :)

Donavan is really coming into the terrible 3's.    My once sweet little guy is now "Destructo".  He bites, pinch/twists, kicks, puches, yells, tells me no etc.  I sure do love that kid, but there are days when I savor his oh-too-few naps!!!








Then my precious little Ronin.  How I love him!  He has been such a blessing - he started sleeping through the night at 3 1/2 months, he rolled over at 4 months, giggled for the first time on Mother's Day, he discovered he had a voice at 3 months and loves to talk and talk.  At 4 1/2 months he discovered he has TOES - and he loves to suck on them (its much cuter than it sounds).  He is happy and smiling in the morning and is so even tempered.  I love watching him find new toys, new sights and sounds.  He has the most animated eyes - like you can tell what he is thinking by watching them. 

Last week at church Trent and I were hurrying down the hall to get to our class.  Ronin almost got whiplash trying to see a picture as we hurried by.  I stopped and backed up to let him see it.  It was a picture of Christ.  He cooed and smiled for a few minutes and then was ready to head to class.  I know that he recognises his Savior.  Whaat a sweet moment he shared with me.  He helps to remind me to slow down and remember what is important.....

Ahhhh conference!!!

I just LOVE conference!  It is like a refreshing drink on a very hot day - you can feel every ounce of it touching every inch of you as it goes down.  This conference was NO different - well, perhaps I should say it was better than ever.  I found a phrase, a subject, a personal inspiration, a thought, a feeling in each and every talk.  I am so blessed to be a member of this church, a church where I know for a fact that God communicates with his children - because He loves them.  We have been struggling with some trials as of late, and I am excited to put some of the things that were learned in conference into action.  Not only here at home, but within my calling as well.  What an exciting thing it is to be refreshed spiritually - reborn - reinvigorated to do better, to be better, to strive to become what He would have me become. :)

Humility

I wonder some days - days like today, why it is that I am so stubborn??  Why is it that I feel like I need to be motivated, uplifted, and pushed into doing those things that I know that I should be doing on a regular basis?  Things like daily prayer, my scripture study that I constantly let slip from the schedule, family home evening, NOT YELLING AT MY KIDS SO MUCH?  Shouldn't those things come more naturally now?  I have been SO blessed in this calling to see the change that those small and seemingly simple things have done in the lives of some of the sisters.  It not only blesses them, but their children and husbands.  I find that doing the dishes, vacuuming, running, and doing several other things get done daily (well, maybe not the running, but I am consistent.)  But the things that I should be doing without fail - the things that really matter aren't on my priority list.  I feel that I need to be doing those things that bring the Spirit into my life on a daily basis in order to fully do my calling.  But for some reason I am stubborn and try to do everything myself, instead of including my Savior in my life.  I am taking the Atonement for granted....I need to humble myself and change the way I view things.  I am not supposed to do everything on my own - stupid stubborn streak!  The biggest thing holding me back....is me!!

I had a horrible day with Maddie yesterday - she really can get under my skin and push every button on me.  She threw such a fit I totally lost my cool and just screamed at her - and was feeling pretty angry and justified in my yelling....that is until the Lord sent someone to remind me of who I am and how I should be treating His daughter!  I ran into one of the stake presidency's wife.  Immediately my mood changed and I was embarrassed - not because she had heard me, I didn't yell in public, but because it was a wake up call.  I know better than that - 

Later that night I had several visits to go on where I really needed the Spirit there with me, and because of how I had acted earlier, it was very difficult to feel the Spirit at all.  But He taught me a lesson - there is a sister I visited who didn't grow up in the church, who had several questions about the gospel and how we do things that I had never really thought about.  She is consistent with her prayers and scripture study....not because it was a habit formed long ago - but because she has made those things a priority in her life. 

Why is it that I resist?  Why am I so deaf to the whisperings? Why do I insist on doing everything myself?  Why am I so selfish?  If only I could rid myself of my weaknesses - I'd be a much better instrument for the Lord.  That is just another thing that I must lay at His feet....to work this lump of clay that I am- into a work of art.  One that is unashamed, filled with His light, and ready to do anything for Him - and His sons and daughters that I am here to serve.

A little, fluffy, white cat

I really missed a great teaching moment.  Maddie's cat is an indoor cat...well, mostly.  She has her food, bed, and cat box in the garage - so she sleeps out there and gets to come inside when Maddie is home with her.  On Saturday night I had to run to the store for some extra things before Sunday.  We had been having problems with the garage door not responding to our opener in the car - well, it was 10 at night and I was tired, so I didn't think too much of the garage door not being shut.  I thought that I wasn't going to be gone long and Trent was home....I didn't even think of the cat.  Well, she got out.  She'd done that before, but went right to the front door and wanted back in.  This time - she was gone for 3 days.  Maddie was devastated.  At first I just didn't have the heart to tell her that her cat was gone, so I just told her that her cat was playing with her other cat friends and would hopefully come home soon.  (I know - horrid to lie to her, but I thought to myself that I had plenty of cats as a kid and they always came back....but then again, my cats were all outdoor cats.)  By Tuesday afternoon Maddie was going to the garage door and checking every 5 minutes or so to see if her cat had come back.  She would walk away from the door with tears in her eyes telling me how much she missed her cat.  She would even run to the door when the doorbell rang yelling out that it was her cat.  I was honestly loosing some patience with her - and told her that there was no way of knowing if  her cat would come back or when.  She then came in and told me that she had gone into her room and asked her Father in Heaven to please send her cat home to her.  I stared at her in disbelief....she thought of that on her own...the thought of praying to find the cat had never entered my mind.  I told her that I hoped it would help - then said a quick prayer of my own asking Him to please hear her prayer and send that darn cat home!  I thought - what if that cat doesn't come back?  What will that do to her faith?  To be honest I really didn't think that she would be back.  It had been 3 days...I had driven around the neighborhood looking for her, I had asked the neighbors to tell me if they saw her.  I thought for sure she was gone.  Well, last night at about 10, all of us were settling down and chatting in my room - except Pierce - who is usually the 1st one in there at bed time.  He was taking his time getting in there.  He was walking up the stairs when he heard a meow at the door.  He went to the front door just in time to see the cat run in front of the garage.  He ran to my room, burst through the door, and yelled out that her cat was by the garage.  Maddie went running outside and called her - and the cat came running to her.
What a lesson this had taught me.  He listened to her prayer - He answered her prayer WITHIN HOURS.  She taught me about faith, He taught me about trust, - the cat taught me to keep that garage door shut!  I am SO grateful for a Father who loves one little blond girl SO much that he would send her runaway cat back - the same day. 
We are all like Maddie sometimes - our Father is just waiting to bless us, but can't do it until we finally get down on our knees and ask Him.  I saw a sign the other day that said:  "It's hard to stumble when you are already on your knees in prayer."  So true.  I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who is SO patient with me - willing to share his tender mercies with me through something as small as a little fluffy white cat.

Back at it :)

This week I've started my running again :)  It's been SO hard not to be able to run.  It's now hard TO run, but it makes me feel so good when I'm done.  I can't wait until I am back to where I had left off - at about a 71/2 min. mile pace - in fact I'd like to cut some time off of that eventually.  For now I've got to accept my 10 1/2 min. pace :/  I have decided to give myself until June 12th to loose all of my baby weight.  I've got a bad addiction to sugar that I've GOT to beat....I'm not getting any younger and can't depend on just my running to keep me in shape, and at the weight I want to maintain.  I'm not very good at eating healthy.  It's not that I don't like veggies and fruit, it's just that I really don't want to eat it.  I'd much rather eat chocolate for lunch :) .  I know - not healthy at all!  So, because I want to be that 70 year old lady you see trotting down the street, I've GOT to start taking better care of myself.  I've not done very well as of yet, but from what I've read a sugar addiction is just as hard to overcome as any other addition to bad substances.  What I need to do is to go cold turkey...I really don't have very good will power however, so I'll do my best.  I've bought myself some gum so that anytime I get a craving I can pop some gum into my mouth to try to help.  I also read that often you think that you're hungry, when really you're just thirsty.  So I'll try drinking some water 1st (which I'm not good at either) and see if that was what I actually needed.  I'm also going to put a pair of my skinny jeans on my dresser, and a jar with the number of stones in there as I have pounds to loose just to give me some visual reminders of what I want to achieve.  I'm going to buy myself a new pair of shoes as soon as all of those stones..those pounds..are gone.  THAT should be all the motivation I need, right?   Wish me luck!

Ronin Ramon Maez :)

He's HERE!!  My newest baby boy was born on 1/12/12 (cool date huh?)  What an adventure getting him here was!  We were sent from my doc appointment over to the hospital 11 days early (with a lot of encouragement on our part - thank goodness since he ended up weighing 8 lb. 6 oz!!).  The doc came and broke my water and I was put on pitocin to get things going.  I warned both the doc and the nurse that once they break my water it can be fast.....  within 15 minutes I was hurting pretty bad and asked for the epidural.  The nurse went to go and get the anesthesiologist....but from what I heard from the hallway - it wasn't looking good....I heard "well, we may have a baby by then!" and then the nurse came in and calmly told me he'd be in as soon as he was done with another patient.  45 minutes into labor I was getting pretty worried that the doc wasn't going to make it.  I was at an 8 and the contractions were coming on very strong, almost on top of each other.  The nurse went out to call the doc - who was at his practice just across the road.  Another 10 minutes and no doctor....both Trent and I are getting pretty frustrated.  The nurse calmly said...well - lets just see how this goes for another hour or so.  WHAT?!  Another hour of THIS???  I turned to Trent and told him that I didn't think that I could do it.  He reassured me that I could...since really what option did we have....by the way - still NO epidural.  The nurse checked again when I warned her that I was feeling A LOT of pressure...."Oh - looks like you came ready to have a baby!  You are complete and the baby is WAY down there!"  And of course Trent is freaking out at her because THE DOCTOR STILL ISN'T THERE!!  She ran out to call again - and just after an hour of breaking my water......I yell "HE'S COMING!!  HE'S COMING AND I CAN'T STOP HIM!!"  "Just breathe"  she tells me....  no - I don't think that she listened to me.  "NO HE'S COMING!!"  and with that his head crowned.  I gave him a good push and she and 2 other nurses cleaned out his mouth and nose.  I thought he was out - since with my last 2 I only had to push once and it was done.  Nope.....Trent was really freaking out now - I'm screaming in pain....Ronin isn't breathing yet.  "Push Hun - Push hard...we need to get him here!"  So I pushed again - hard...nothing.  So again and again I pushed and finally he was out.  They rushed him to the warming table and I heard the most JOYOUS noise - he cried :)  Just as the nurses were cleaning him up - guess who decides to make his appearance??  Yep - the doc.  He was NOT happy.  Afterward he told us that the nurse hadn't called his practice, she had just left him a voicemail.  A VOICEMAIL??  No wonder he didn't make it!!  I'm sure that the birth would have gone better had he been there to help deliver Ronin - most likely I wouldn't have torn like I did....and I'm sure he wouldn't have had his shoulders get stuck, but under the circumstances the nurses did as best they could and I have a beautiful baby boy.  And just FYI - I would NEVER do that again!  Not getting an epidural is for the birds (sorry to all of you who are advocates)  I know I was only in labor for just over an hour - but that was THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE.  I admit that I was doing pretty good until the nurse told me that I had an hour of that left to go....she really shouldn't say things like that to a woman in major pain...it really threw me off - even though I knew that she was wrong - it threw off my mental game!!
Whew - well he's here now and we are loving every moment we have with him.  Something about knowing that he is THE LAST makes everything so special.  I love that little guy!!

 

Final Baby Bump Pic....

Okay - so since I am having this little guy in 2 days (being induced on the 12th) - I finally got around to taking another baby bump pic.  I decided to put it into a collage so that it is easy to see the progression from small bump to "hey - is that a basketball under your shirt" size :)  My cutie pie niece REALLY thought I was lying when I told her that there was a baby in there (she's 3 1/2) and proceeded to try to look under my shirt to find the ball I was obviously hiding from her.  Gotta love kids!  Can't wait to see this newest little guy that Heavenly Father is sending to us - he's a special little guy.  I was telling Trent the other night that I felt kinda bad....after all - we had decided that we were NOT having anymore kids after Donsters.  Poor guy must have thrown quite a fit up there in heaven when he heard that...."You ARE NOT DONE!  I'm still here!!"  So - it totally explains why I had so many health problems with the IUD we had.  If I hadn't had any problems this little guy wouldn't be here.  He is miraculous anyway - seeing as how we were still preventing pregnancy and ended up pregnant with him.  He is meant to be.....meant to be our definite LAST!  I've been doing my best to prepare Donsters for what is coming so soon.  There has been several ladies in my ward who have had babies recently.  We saw one on Sunday - Maddie was in heaven - "Awww - she's so little!!"  and when we pointed the baby out to Donsters..."yep"  and he was on his way to class - he's such a boy!!  As soon as I can I'll post some pics of the littlest Maez....wow - 5 kids....who would have guessed!!

Whew!

It's been ONE BUSY DECEMBER!!  With working late every night to get the basement finished in time, work Christmas party, ward Christmas party, family party, Jaxton's birthday, his party, Christmas itself, Donavan's birthday, Father-In Law's birthday and their parties, Jaxton receiving the priesthood and that family get together, Trent's birthday, and all of my Relief Society stuff that I did during the month....I just haven't had anytime to update this blog.  I'll have to get some pictures of our activities on here as soon as I get them off of the camera.  The basement looks fantastic - and I LOVE LOVE LOVE being able to send the kids downstairs to play with their toys.  My upstairs has stayed somewhat manageable since then.  We had to replace our stupid truck....we had our neighbor who is a diesel mechanic work on putting in a new alternator just to find out that the only way to get our truck to run right (yes...we had a piston go out) we would have to soak $8,000 - 10,000 into it.  Um....I don't think so!  We've only had the stupid thing for 3 months - so we took it back to where we bought it and had them work us out a deal.  We ended up getting a Suburban....I would have LOVED to get an '07 or newer - with the nice newer body style - but upon doing a ton of research (before we bought this time) we found out that the years we like have a major oil leakage problem with the head gasket.  NO THANKS. So I ended up with the older body style, but it had great reviews on all of the sites that we looked into.  But...it's also white.  Ug.  White again?  Oh well - at least I won't have to worry about adding special stuff to each tank of gas, plugging it in at night, or having it break down on me in the middle of no where.  We are NEVER EVER EVER going to buy a Ford again.  EVER!!
Ok - Pierce needs to do homework so I'm getting kicked off.  I'll add some pics soon :)