Welcome little one!

Newest member of my side of the family.... 6 pound 10 oz. baby girl Afton Elise Victoria Ralston.

Dang.... she's a cutie.

18 inches long.

sweet.

Another Girl on the Way!

So my sweetie niece is having baby # 4 and she's a girl! (Already has 2 girls and one boy). This baby looks JUST LIKE her other ones. This is like the coolest ultrasound I've ever seen. Even has Chris' profile!

They picked out a really pretty name too --- Afton Elise-Victoria R-----. (for privacy purposes, no last name)

Just really coooool.

Now I ask you very confidentially.... ain't she sweet?

This picture is really good at showing how teeny tiny little Melanie is. In David's arms she looks like a dolly. I haven't seen her myself since she was about 5 days old... so I am sure she has changed a bit.

She is just a sweetie though.

Here she is with her mama. (Very proud mama, too I think!)

I saw my pain doctor today. He is very pleased with the results of the last epidural injection. I have been able to cut my pain meds in HALF. This is awesome. My goal is to get off them completely.

He is sending me to Physical Therapy twice a week to try to build up the muscles in my neck. I hope they do massage and TENS because that's my favorite part of P.T. LOL.

I have purchased ALL of the LOST action figures that have been released. I have a feeling that they will be worth something someday. They are Limited Editions and they are pretty dang cool! Very hard to find -- and I just think once the show is over... they will be worth something. I hope so. If not... I will enjoy them myself because as I said, they are pretty cool!

I had a low cal version of a cob salad today. It was yummy. I had lettuce, two hard boiled eggs and a couple tablespoons of left-over corn on the cob (off the cob) topped with Lite Ranch. And a plate of watermelon, cantalope and honeydew on the side. YUMMMO.

Who needs the bacon?? I didn't even miss it.

I made some lowfat oatmeal craisin cookies last night. Wow, they are really good too! I have those in the vending machine at work. I replaced half the butter with applesauce. Works great. I was supposed to have raisins and soak them in either whisky or rum... BUT I had craisins and no booze so I soaked them in 2 TB of water that had rum extract and coconut extract. They came out really good!! I'm really enjoying learning how to cook lower fat and healthier.

I wish you could grasp how tiny she is....

Melanie Isabel (or as I have nicknamed her -- MellyBelly) is so incredibly tiny. Pictures don't capture how teeny she is. But believe me... she is TINY. Eeeensy weensy.

Her parents would hate my choice of a nickname. I will try not to use it in front of them. LOL

This weekend is Mother's Day. I miss my mom. Oh well. It does get easier with time.

I have yard work to do this weekend, lots of baking, and I need to wash my car inside and out. I moved my exercise bicycle into the living room, directly in front of the TV. Now I have NO reason not to get some exercise while watching the tube. I rode it for half an hour last night.

I'm making veggie lasagna, home made rolls and low cal cheesecake for Mother's day. YUM YUM.

Oh my gosh, I gotta share!

Neither one of these guys looks all that sure of himself as he holds the new baby. (I guess I should call her by her name -- Melanie). She looks so teeny tiny and so sweet. They probably feel like they might drop her and break her or something. I just love the looks on their faces. (Thank you Karin for sharing pics with me).

We just hired an intern at work for the summer and he looks A LOT like the intern on "The Office". I crack up when I see him. His name is Ben. But I keep wanting to call him "Ryan". I have to get a picture of him somehow to post.

Work is getting so busy these days, I almost wish they could hire a helper for ME. I could use it!

Buying baby clothes is fun... even if it's not my baby!

I took David to JCPenny last night and we got his new little sister some new outfits. We had actually picked out this 5 pack of onsies for her, but something told me to put it back. Good thing I did because Karin had bought the exact same ones!!

David was so excited to get to hold her. I texted him later in the evening and asked "So what do you think of your new baby sister?" He replied, "She is an angel!"

Can't wait to see her myself.

Michael's comment was "She's so tiny! Even Ruby weighs twice as much!" (Ruby is their Yorkie dog).

Seems like lots of babies on the way. Chris and Nate have their little one, My coworker Jason and his wife are expecting # 2 already (they got married a week before Karin and Brett!) A ward member, Laura Garn had a baby girl yesterday. Brett's bro and sis-in-law are expecting around the same time as Chris.

Just lots of new spirits heading into the world. It's kind of fun!

It's a GIRL!!!

My children have a new little sister! Her name is Melanie Isabel and she is 4 pounds 10 ounces. 18 inches long. Look at that hair! All of my kids were little red heads or bald. (they were also TWICE as big!) Mark and Angela are adopting this little angel. She was born yesterday (I think). She was about a month premature, but from what I hear she seems to be doing really well and is healthy.

I think she is sooo dang cute! I gotta buy a gift of premie clothes for them.

I'm really happy for them!

Guess who is home?

Little Markie who was in Primary Children's with RSV for a week, has come home as of yesterday. He had to bring oxygen home with him, but at least they let him leave the hospital.

Brian went to work yesterday. He says he feels like he has full lung capacity back. They had him doing a spirometer and he can get it to 100% now.

My ear still kills. I am pretty sure the eardrum is ruptured. I'm so mad at that M.A. I could spit. But whatever.

My house is a disaster. Oh my heck.... spending time recovering from my epidural injection....... then Brian going in the hospital....... means I have not done laundry or cleaned for a looooooong time. That is what I MUST do tomorrow. My bathrooms are so ick... and even though I did 3 loads of laundry.... it barely made a dent.

I hate living in a house that is dirty. So tomorrow I am going to grab a Sobe No Fear energy drink, pop music on my CD player in the kitchen and go to town cleaning!!

Ok, well, now I am at work and just learned the VP of Sales quit and today is his last day so now I pray they hire a SINGLE, good looking man to replace him...... (I had a dream long ago that I would find my next husband because he would be an employee here. At the time I thought "Huh, that will NEVER happen, we are not hiring! " But since that time we have hired several people and now we have another position open..... sooooooo..... we shall see.... LOL.

Developments

Introducing baby Mark Joseph L. who was born on Wednesday, March 4, 2009. He weighed 8 pounds 5 oz. He is my friend Lisa's grandson.

But today........ he is fighting for his life. He has that stupid RSV and is in Primary Children's hospital. He is having a lot of difficulty breathing. They said he may be in the hospital for several days. The priest just went over and gave him a blessing.

They told us to expect him to get worse before he gets better. I know so many babies die from this virus -- it is very scary.

I am keeping him in my thoughts and prayers.

8 1/2 months pregnant looks good on her!

My friend Tiff and her hubby and daughter await the birth of a baby boy in February.

They got these cute photos taken.

Wish I looked this good!

Wouldn't this make a GREAT Christmas Card?

May the joy and wonder of the holiday season be yours.

Or,

May the innocence of Christmas light your holiday season.

or....

dang isn't he just too cute????

This is Raedin. He is my niece's baby. This was taken last year. But he is still just as cute!