Mary's First Easter

Dear Family and Friends, Andrew and I had a lot of fun this weekend for Easter. We were able to go to St. George, Utah. Grandma and Grandpa Ostler have a condo there, and we hadn't been back for a relaxing stay since our honeymoon. It was wonderful to show Mary around and be with our family for all the holiday festivities. We arrived on Friday night, and since it was so late decided to get ready for bed. The next morning we awoke to rain, but pressed on for an Easter egg hunt in Washington City Park. We parked far away, and Mary decided to sleep through all the fun. We are grateful that she did because of the psychotic Easter Bunny that happened to be hopping around frightening more than pleasing the hundreds of kids that showed up for free candy. We couldn't resist the memory and so we got our picture taken with him while Mary slept peacefully in her stroller nearby. After we got home we decided to eat lunch and go for a swim in the nearby pool. Mary was a little unsure as this was her first time in chlorine and such a big body of water, other than Grandma's spa tub with Mommy. After some reassurance and two of the other kids left the three of us alone, she decided it wasn't so bad and had a pretty good time, but when she was done she was done. Mary decides when it's time to go home, and we as her parents obey. After some shopping downtown while Aunt Emma and Grandpa babysat we came home for some naps and to dye Easter Eggs. Mommy did most of the work while Mary and Daddy sat on and watched with happy eyes. Daddy did one egg to be sociable, but showed Mommy how to make the best most brightest colored eggs possible. Just before bed we dumped out a large container of eggs that had not yet been filled by the Easter Bunny and lay Mary on top of them. She smiled and had a good time for a while, as there were so many bright colors and smooth textures. In the morning Mary put on her new Easter dress and new flip flops and we went to church. All in all we had a wonderful short family vacation. It was a lot of fun packed into such a short time. We hope you enjoy the pictures below. You can see how she has grown as we have not done a family blog in a long time.

Andrew and Sara with Psycho looking Easter Bunny

Mary at the Condo getting ready to go swimming

Mary says her first time in the pool isn't all bad, but why is it so cold? Brrrrrr Mama!!

Mary on her raft, don't worry, Mama is close by and holding underneath

Mary, Mommy, and Daddy trying to have fun in the pool.

Mary says I'm getting tired Mommy, but I decided I love swimming!

"Look at our eggs Mommy, I'm so happy they turned out so good."

I hope all these eggs will be filled with candy for me, me, me, tomorrow!

In my Easter dress and all ready for church.
Please notice my new shoes!

Mary Jade Ostler!

We went into the hospital on Halloween Night at about 7:30 PM because we suspected that Sara's water broke and had been leaking since about 3:30 PM but she didn't want to miss the Halloween festivities. :) She labored very diligently, and waited until she got to about 5 cm until she asked for an epidural. They gave her an epidural, and she continued to dilate slowly throughout the night. The epidural wore off and she labored without it for about six hours, and she stayed around a 9 the whole time. She was a 9 for so long, and the baby's head dropped to zero station, but she continued to be at a 9. Dr. Jackson checked where she was at and her cervix was swollen, so although it was dilated to a 9 it felt like an 8. Then it got even more swollen, and for some reason the baby was stuck and wouldn't drop down anymore, and Sara wouldn't dilate anymore. She was in labor for over 24 hours, but Dr. Jackson said there hadn't been any progress for a long time, and recommended a Cesarean section. After a blessing and some tears, we decided to proceed. They got ready to operate and they delivered the beautiful Mary Jade Ostler at 8:08 PM on November 1st 2008. She weighed 7 lbs, 3 oz and was 19 inches long. She is completely healthy with all her fingers and toes and everything where it should be. She was a little bruised up from all the labor and had a slight cone head, but it went down quickly. The surgery went well, and about an hour later, Sara was wheeled back to her room and she got to hold her baby and feed her. Mary and Sara are both doing very good, and Mary recently got a bath from her Daddy (me!). I hope you like these pictures we took so far of the baby and us.

Love,

Andrew and Sara

Sara laboring in bed



Dr. Jackson preparing for the C-section



In the operating room, Sara on oxygen and Andrew in a mask



Surgeons discussing before operation with Dad in the forefront

A freshly born Mary Jade being cleaned up



Mary Jade Ostler a few minutes old



Mommy holding Mary with her sweet eyes open



Daddy kissing Mary's head



Mommy kissing her baby Mary



Mommy and baby who looks pretty in pink



Mary Jade Ostler, our sweetheart!

Slideshow of photos from the last few days
Music: Angel Lullaby
Made with love on November 3rd 2008

Preparing for baby

Andrew and I have been busy the last few months. Since we last blogged, I've been to California twice. Once to drop off the birds at a rehibilitation center in Long Beach, and another time to begin preperations for our new addition. Our little girl will be born in the next few weeks, and preparing for her arrival while stressful at times has been fun. Last month we went to California to my friend Lisa's wedding, and also so my amazing cousin Cindy could throw us an awesome baby shower. Belive me if she wasn't already an outstanding nurse, she could be an organized party planner and have her own business. The pictures will prove it. We were even able to use most of the decor for a beautiful second shower that my talented mother in law threw for us when we got home. In between the two showers my gifted father in law wallpapered the nursery in one night, and my husband (the love of my life, and precious pig) built our new daughter her crib. We want to take this time to thank all of the people who have been so generous in helping us get ready for our baby. Especially our parents on both sides. They have helped us turn our little run down house into a place we can call home. We love you and hope we can be as good of parents to our sweet Mary Jade, as you all were to us.

Hugs (Gemmers) is always happy to see Mommy and his new Daddy when we come home for a visit. Nelson even seems to like Andrew, but no one seems to love him more than Vel, or as he is now known by Andrew ROAST.

These are all the party decorations and food that Cindy got for us. Everyone loved it. I'm still surprised that I didn't see real storks wandering around Uncles house.

Saying goodbye for me is always the hardest part. I don't know why I didn't do more pictures with the rest of my family, and so now I'm kinda of bummed. Andrew tried on my maternity clothes to see if he could make himself feel just a bit of what I feel. Who wouldn't have to get a black mail picture of that. I love you honey!

After returning home it was time to begin decorating the nursery. Generously donated wallpaper from Uncle Brad was hung by my genius father in law. The pictures show a somewhat step by step process.

Next it was time to build the crib. An eight hour task with several parts and difficult to impossible to follow instructions. You more just need common sense sometimes. Which blessedly for me my sweet husband has. In addition he has the patience of Job. Didn't it turn out better than great though. It just needs a baby now.

After the crib was put together, we went the following day to our other baby shower. Much of our family and friends came a long distance to wish us well and shower our beautiful new baby to be with love and gifts. It's a good thing they did, or they would have missed the best food ever. My mother in law soon to be "GRAM" slaved in the kitchen for days before the party. It was such a beautiful day, and was also the first snow of our winter season. Yes, I know it's still fall. Do you think that the first snow on our day could be considered good luck? I do!

Feed The Birds

OH SO HUNGRY!

FIVE BABY BARN SWALLOWS

GRIFFIN, BUCKBEAK, RAIN, PHOENIX, AND CELESTE OSTLER
(PLEASE DON'T ASK WHAT ORDER THEY ARE IN)

Today Andrew and I celebrated our five month anniversary as a married couple. It was a great day. He called me from work, and told me that one of the guys he works with knocked a nest down thinking there were no birds in it. This was two days ago, and the Mom and Dad bird, although around seem to have lost interest. They gave up feeding them and I guess don't know what to do. I knew these birds wouldn't make it with out help and a miracle. There were five barn swallows, and Andrew and I were afraid they were going to die. You can see this video at the bottom of the page which was taken this morning, and then know that in the hours since then they all have only improved. They sleep, but tweet when they are hungry. I called my Mom for advice. Since Eubie our brewers blackbird lived to be 13. He was a bird that our pet cat Camphor brought home to us. I bought "cheep" dog food and mixed it with a tiny bit of water per Mom's instructions. I thought for sure they were goners because they just weren't opening up their beaks, unless I forced them. I also noticed they were shivering, so they went down my top and rested in my cleavage on the drive home. That's when they started chirping. I got them into a laundry basket and kept them in, yes it's true one of my softest and oldest bras. It was warm from the dryer. I put a lamp over them and now they are five of the happiest birds. I don't let them get too warm. Now they eat and poop constantly. I can only thank Heavenly Father for this miracle, because I prayed for these baby birds at lunch. I prayed that I would know what to do, and that if it was His will, that they would live. I know we are not out of the woods yet, but I really think they are going to be okay. They just needed a little TLC. This is going to take patience, hard work, persistence, and love. I know I can do it, because my own Mom was amzing at it. I watched her do it. I can't wait for the day when I can take them back to the Manti Temple grounds and release them back with all their other brother and sisters. I really hope they make it. We'll keep you updated on their progress.