The 4th of July

We had a party at my mom's house this year because most of my family and some of Kjell's were in town to help bless Nate the next day. It was a lot of fun spending time with Kjell's family who we rarely see. The food was good and the pool kept us cold. I had a lot of fun. We filled up every room in our house as well as my parents with all the family that was visiting.

Nate 2 Months

I have a lot to catch up on like his blessing and the Fourth of July but I wanted to do this post first. Nate turned 2 months on Saturday and unfortunately were spent it in the hospital with him. On Wednesday evening he had a fever of 101 and then I noticed a rash. I called the Dr. and was told to take him to the Hospital. By the time we got there his temp was 102.7 and according to the nurses he didn't look good. They had to run a bunch of tests that are standard anytime a baby under 2 months comes into the hospital with a fever when the source is unknown, including a spinal tap. All the tests came back negative and so they told us he had a virus most likely but we had to stay a few days to wait for the cultures to grow. They came back negative as well. Nate was so fussy and such a different baby than he had been up to this point. We were finally released on Sunday and he has slowly returned to his old self. He is smiling and laughing again and sleeping 7 hours during the night. I am so glad he is himself again. I am also grateful for the support and calls from all our friends and family. Nate received a blessing in the E.R. and I am so glad to have the priesthood in my life. It was a big comfort to me when my mind would wonder with possibilities. I feel very fortunate that I live so close to family. My parents and sister took care of Drew and Chaz so Kjell and I could be with Nate. The older boys didn't even care that we weren't with them they just wanted to know Nate was ok.

At Nate's 2 month check up he weighed 12 lbs 8oz and was 24 inches. He loves any attention from a smiling face. We love him so much and I can't believe he is already 2 months old.

Drew's 5th Birthday

Anyone who knows Drew or has spent time with him recently would know he is obsessed with Transformers. So what else would I do for his Birthday party? He has been telling me he wanted a Transformer Party since last year. Drew had some special guests this year because his cousins from Seattle and one from Half Moon Bay California got to help him celebrate. We also had some friends who were in town from Southern California. Drew had fun swimming and playing games but once he opened his gifts he went inside to play with them and I didn't see him the rest of the afternoon.

I can't believe it has been five years since we had Drew. He is starting Kindergarden in the fall. I feel to young to have a child in school. I am sad because I know we won't be able to travel whenever, I have to worry about Drew missing school not just Kjell missing work, there will be homework and stricter bedtimes. I just love being a mom and I love being at home with my kids. I think Chaz and I are going to miss having Drew around during the mornings. So we will make the most of the rest of summer. We sure had fun celebrating Drew's 5th Birthday.

T-BALL

Drew started T-Ball back in February. He played in an actual league this year, last year we went through the city and it was 5 games and 1 practice. This year he has practice once a week and his last game was 2 weeks ago. He's done much better this year with all if the different skills and likes getting into his uniform. At his last game he hit the ball so far it would have been a home run if they counted runs. He has also gotten a lot better at playing in the outfield.

It has been especially fun for me because Kjell has been helping as an assistant coach for the team. I have really enjoyed watching Kjell with some of the other kids on the team. I know he is good with our own kids but to see him take an interest in others and watch how patient and good he was with them was a new experience for me.

Last Saturday night was the team party and the coach organized it so that it was at the Fresno Grizzlies Game. They are a Triple A team for the San Fransisco Giants. The kids got to run on the field with the players before the game. It was a lot of fun, the weather was perfect.

Nate 1 Month

Nate's a month old today, I can't believe it. With each child the time seams to go by faster. This month really has gone by so fast. He is starting to spend more time awake and sleeping longer at night. He doesn't like to be in the swing yet but loves to sleep on his tummy... I know I am not supposed to let him but I do. Drew and Chaz love to hold him, for about 2 seconds, and like to talk to him when he has his eyes open. He has been pretty easy for me, hardly fussy at all. He has gained at least 2 lbs. and I think that many inches too but we will see at his Dr. appointment on Monday. My recovery has been good. I haven't been in as much pain as I was with Chaz and I haven't been as tired. (Maybe because Chaz wanted to eat every 2 hours). Mostly I feel really glad to not be pregnant anymore which is new to me because I didn't mind it so much the first 2 times. With Nate though I was more tired pregnant than I am now and more uncomfortable. I did get sick this last week but so far Nate hasn't shown any symptoms. I am still waiting for that first smile while he is awake, so far we have only seen it while he has been asleep. I am so glad Nate is here and doing so well.

Gifts From Nana and Papa

Kjell's parents are always really good about sending packages for birthdays and Christmas and my kids love getting them! I love to watch them open the gifts inside and even though it was for Chaz's birthday there was stuff in the package for Drew, me, and Nate. We all love the gifts and appreciate all the trouble Ann goes to. I got a sling that my sister-in-law Julie made for me. She sells them starting at $25 from her Etsy Shop JosieMichelle. I wore it to Drew's t-ball game yesterday and it was really comfortable and Nate just slept the whole time snuggled up next to me. Mine is Green and Brown and it's reversible!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a fun holiday weekend. I love three day weekends because I really enjoy having Kjell around an extra day and so do the kids. My brother Robbie and his wife came up from LA with her sister. We celebrated Ryan's birthday as a family on Saturday night and Chaz's on Sunday at my mom's. We had our family bar-b-Que Sunday because we knew Robbie and Laynie would have to leave pretty early Monday to beat traffic going home. We spent the rest of the weekend hanging out, swimming, and we went to see Night At The Museum Monday. Drew loved the movie and Chaz fell asleep 15 minutes into it (at least he's still free!). Nate did great sleeping the whole time. I am looking forward to the Forth Of July Weekend. We are blessing Nate that weekend and will have family and friends around, it should be fun.

Chaz's B-day

Today I took the boys to doughnuts for breakfast as per Chaz's request to what do you want for breakfast. Than we took some sandwiches to the park and ate there while they played. My mom brought Chaz some Cotton Candy Ice Cream this afternoon. It's his and Drew's favorite but she only brought it for Chaz because she wanted him to feel special, luckily Drew was napping at the time and Chaz quickly devoured the evidence. I was going to let him skip his nap this but he crashed on the floor of my room, guess he's not so grown up yet.

Chaz's Second Birthday Party

Today is Chaz's Second Birthday! I can't believe he is 2 already. He looks so grown up and is talking so much but I still think of him as my baby, yes even though I have a new one. A friend of mine has a boy a week older so yesterday we had a party for the two of them together. Our "mom's group" came over for lunch and a Dora Adventure. Chaz loves Dora, he calls the show Dodo and Boots. So we had the kids go on an adventure to find the piñata. I had a lot of fun and I think the kids did to.

Nate's First Week

Well I have to say things have gone pretty smoothly this first week. It helps that Kjell has been able to be home most of the week and I have had tons of help from friends and family. I joke that I didn't see Drew most of the week as he was kept busy by play dates, preschool , and sleep-overs at my parents.

Chaz had a difficult day on Thursday our first full day together. I came home from the hospital on Wednesday and the kids hadn't met Nate yet because the hospital wouldn't allow visitors under age 12 due to flu restrictions. They were able to visit me in the lobby of the hospital but Nate stayed up in our room with grandma. Chaz was good that first afternoon. Then Thursday he got upset about something and was so mad he started vomiting. Then the rest of the afternoon he was cranky. I took his temperature and he ended up having a low fever. So after fighting him to take Tylenol, which he usually begs for, he returned to his regular self.

Drew and Chaz had a ton of fun while I was away horse rides, staying up late, and movies who could complain?

Nathaniel Cole Pedersen

Here's some pictures of Nate, please excuse me for not making this post match the rest of Sarah's blog (this is Kjell, Sarah's still in the hospital)

Nate was born 5/11/2009 at 2:16, everything went really well and Sarah and the baby are doing great and are hoping to come home tomorrow afternoon.

Mother's Day

Here I am the night before...39 weeks!

This has been a very emotional Mother's Day for me with the anticipation of our new arrival among other things happening in life I feel very blessed to be a mother and have the life I do.

Last night I was able to go out with the girls one last time before having the baby and after a movie they surprised me with some gifts. It was so thoughtful of them, I was shocked and surprised. It made me feel very loved by the friends I have made here. Maybe it's the hormones but I am so grateful to them for their thoughtfulness and generosity. They are all wonderful examples of Mothers to me. It was fun to share some of my concerns with them and receive advise as well as share stories. I see these women in their everyday lives and watch them with their children and I am constantly humbled by what great parents they are.

I am blessed to have many sisters and sister-n-laws who are also wonderful examples and help to me. My own sisters make such efforts to help me and support me that I feel guilty for not making more of an effort with my in laws. I don't get to see them often but I think of them and love watching their families through blogs.

My mother-n-law is such a wonderful women who I have a lot of respect and love for. I remember spending a Mother's Day in Colorado with Kjell's family. I don't remember if we were married yet or not. Ann cooks Sunday dinner for her family that lives near by every week. When she was cooking the Mother's Day dinner I asked Kjell why the men weren't doing it and he said because his mom likes to. I am not sure if he was right or not I never asked. She made the entire dinner, set the table, served dinner and desert, and then did all the dishes. She never once complained or made a comment about how it was Mother's Day, she just did it. The other women helped, including me, but Ann kept telling us to relax. This is just a small example of how I always see Ann putting her family first.

My mother has become one of my best friends. She had been out of town for the last 3 weeks and I realized how much time I spend with her on a daily basis. I spend more time with her now than I did when we lived at their house. She is such a generous, patient, loving grandmother to her grandchildren. She encourages me to show more of those qualities to my kids, especially patience.

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Happy Easter

In the morning the boys found some coloring books for church in their Easter baskets and some sun glasses. Then they had to wait until 4 when we went to Grandma's for the Easter Egg Hunt. Chaz is still at the age when he finds one egg and sits down to eat it not caring that his brother is getting all the other eggs.
I wanted to get some family pictures so after church we tried. I don't know how families do it. Drew refuses to smile nicely and Chaz just stared at the camera. Maybe my kids just aren't used to it because we don't do it very often. This was the best one.

Hope everyone enjoyed the day. At Church I asked Drew why we celebrate Easter. He said we celebrate because of Jesus. Then I said but what did he do? Drew said " he died for us and was dead for 3 days and then he came back and was resurrected and that's why we celebrate Easter. The people came to rub oils and lotions on his body but he was gone and the angel told them that He wasn't dead anymore." I am not sure how much he learned from us and how much he learned from primary but it amazes me that he can understand so much at such a young age.

Our Home

Well here are some pictures of our home. We have been living here for almost 2 months and I am still getting things put together but I haven't been in any rush, until now, only 33 more days!! Kjell has done so much and I feel bad because I still have a long list of stuff I want done before the baby is born-I say baby because we still have no name and as far as I know aren't anywhere close (any suggestions?). There are only so many Saturdays left and at least a few hours of each of those will be spent helping coach Drew's t-ball team but more on that later.

Kjell had to rip up all the weeds in the front yard and he planted seed. It took a few weeks but we have grass in the front, now if only it was in the back -maybe by summer.

This is the Dinning room and living room.

The Family room and Kitchen.

The bedrooms and bathrooms. There are 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Drew's room is the one with the bunkbeds and toys everywhere. Chaz is playing in the guestroom/ playroom but he sleeps in the baby's room for now. We have an office as well but there aren't any pictures of it as it is full of boxes still and is really messy.

The Backyard. Kjell has big plans, I am happy as long as I can send the kids out to play.

Grandma Pedersen's 90th Birthday

My friend and I were talking the other day and she told me I was a bad blogger. I know it's true I have so much to blog about but when it comes down to it lately I have been lazy. When I find the time I find something else I want to do instead. Anyway I have to play catch up now.Monday March 30th we went to Bakersfield to celebrate Grandma Pedersen's 90th Birthday. The party was a lot of fun. We were able to see family from Kjell's dad's side that we see once a year at Edith's party. We also got to spend time with Kjell's other grandma at her house and then at dinner. Kjell's dad was able to come and we always love getting to see Papa. Chaz took a while to warm up but by the end of dinner he was feeding Papa his ice cream. Chaz loves to feed people and gets very offended when you don't want to eat what he's trying to give you. Edith looked wonderful and the food was great. I can't believe Suzy and Ova (Kjell's aunt and uncle) are able to do so much. Mike (Papa) was pretty proud of the cake he helped with. He made the lemon custard filling and decorated the whole cake by himself. I was sorry I didn't try that one when I heard this. I want to spend some time with Suzy in the kitchen and learn some of her Danish recipes. Kjell says his grandma was a wonderful cook too. I am glad we live close enough to celebrate Edith's birthday with her!

L.A. Trip

Last weekend Kjell and I loaded the kids up and drove to L.A. My brother and his wife live there but soon both will be graduating from UCLA. Robbie from Law School and Laynie with her Nurse Practitioners degree. We thought we would go and visit while we still had a free place to stay. We had so much fun going to their places to eat, we usually have our own agendas. This time we tried 2 new places the Stand by UCLA and The Counter. One was hot dogs so we went without our usual trip to Pink's, and the other burgers. My kids loved the sweet potato fries which was a real surprise because they won't eat them here in Fresno.

Friday Laynie had to work and Robbie needed to study so we took off and went to Will Rodgers state beach. I don't have a camera that works at the moment so I took pictures on my cell but have no idea how to get those to my computer. We also ate at Rosco's Chicken and Waffles, Kjell loves this place. I thought it was better this time, my waffle was so good! The kids enjoyed their waffles as well. Later we walked around 3rd Street Promenade and I looked at the shops while Kjell and the kids enjoyed the street performers. It was a warm beautiful day.

One of Drew's good friends had a birthday party on Saturday so we drove out to Hesperia to catch up and party with them. We had so much fun seeing the Bradshaws, I miss them. Luckily Angie posted some pics of the party on her blog so I stole some to post here.

I am sad I won't be able to go to Robbie's graduation because it's days before I will have the baby but I sure loved visiting them and hope we can go again before they move. Thanks for everything guys we had so much fun and Robbie even made everyone breakfast Sunday morning, what a nice guy!