The Birth Story...

The Prep Room:

The place where I get to have my bloodwork done & a lovely I.V. put in 

(that they can never do easily cuz my very small veins!)

{This is about the time that Tim starts getting REALLY nervous.}

Then it was really time....

I walked into the Operating Room, climbed up onto the bed. I hunched over a pillow & took deep breaths as the "Rookie" Anesthesiologist gave me my spinal. (Not comforting to hear the experienced guy walking him through it...lovely.)

I laid down, watched the magic blue curtain go up & waited for my hubby to come in. I prepped him on what to do with the cameras. I was trying to keep both our minds off the fact that I was being sliced open for the 5th time in the same spot.

Here I am thinking:  "Am I really doing this again!?"

 I looked up into these lights & could see a clear reflection of my surgery. I got super nauseous. They would continue to raise my blood pressure to keep me from vomiting. As it started to get closer I snuck a few peeks & my adrenaline started pumping and compensated for my nausea.

Then we heard the doctors and nurses say phrases that hinted he was almost here. Suddenly I heard my Doctor say something to the affect that the Cord was wrapped around his neck...then he said "wrapped twice..." & "also around one arm.".....Seriously!.. I thought. Is this really happening! I panicked for a moment as I saw the reflection of what was happening above me. 

The nurses quickly took him and worked on him. Still no crying! A mother's worst nightmare. He still hadn't cried yet but suddenly an overwhelming feeling of peace came over me and I knew he was going to be okay. A tender mercy I'll never forget.~

He still hadn't cried yet and needed Oxygen!
(look how purplish he looks)

And then FINALLY we heard a little gurgley cry....

And then a louder, clearer one.

The best sound I ever heard...

When all was well, Tim cut the cord & then brought little Ryler over to me so I could kiss him. It literally felt like I was kissing Heaven. 

Tim took Ryler out of the room with him & the nurses as I was left in operating room getting sewn back up. The nausea came back & I threw up that nasty barium sulfate drink a number of times.

Finally I was all done. The doctor told me that again I had quite a lot of scar tissue (as always) but that everything looked good. What a relief. No abnormal bleeding, tearing, hemoraging or need for hysterectomy...Fears I have.

Then I was wheeled into the Recovery Room & I got to hold my baby.

And the World stood still....

♥Meet our sweet Ryler!

*RYLER means "Adventurer" & that he has been from the beginning. For starters, this little guy thought it would be cool to be born on Friday the 13th.  I'm certain he had something to do with that. It was actually supposed to be Thursday the 12th but long story short it was set back a day & Luckily that it was, because I had a terrible flu bug that day! {Unanswered Prayers work out best sometimes.}

When Ryler made his Earthly appearance, I guess he thought he'd come repelling out of my body. He came complete with the umbilical cord wrapped twice around his neck & once around his arm. I saw the reflection in the light above me as the doctor quickly unwrapped it & passed him off so the nurses could get him crying & breathing. It seemed like it took forever and although I lay there helpless and scared, I knew deep down he would be okay.

HE must have known too....

~Ryler Thomas Campbell~

6 lbs. 1 oz. & 19¼ inches

Friday, May 13th 1:00pm

~Spring All Around Us~

(although Summer is coming upon us way too fast...)

I LOVE SPRING...

If it weren't for my allergies, it would be my favorite.

so it comes in 2nd next to Fall.

~I love that Spring represents New Life & New Beginnings.~

..notice the For Sale sign in the background above...don't LOVE that part.

Every year wherever it is we live, it seems like we always have a nest of birds. This time the doves made a nest at eye level on a rickety branch in our front yard. The birds chose a pretty tree with a view but the branch, their foundation was way too wobbly. (See where I'm heading with this?...)
So after a couple days of enjoying watching these baby birds, the kids come running inside panicking saying "Mom, the baby birds-..they're dying!!" I went out and saw the 2 baby birds on the concrete, one was seizuring close to death & the other questionably sitting however he landed. The saddened mother bird was flying around in circles not knowing what to do. I got some gloves, picked up the baby birds and placed them back in their nest on a more sturdy branch.

Within minutes the mother bird was back to the nest trying to help her babies. A day or so passed as she tried nursing them back to health & then suddenly all were gone. One lay there on the ground dead while the other baby & mom were gone. Hopefully the other baby flew off & was okay.


Lesson learned from the Birds: New Beginnings are not always the same for everyone. As one baby bird survived and carried on it's life here on the Earth, the other began it's life elsewhere. As sad as I am to move and leave, I know just like the other bird that a new beginning is about to take flight.


~Here's to New Life & New Beginnings!...

Story of the Year....

*There is the cutest little African man in our ward. He is a husband & daddy of 4 children that had not seen his family in 6 years. Every Fast/Testimony meeting he would get up bearing his testimony (in the greatest accent ever) of the Gospel giving me goosebumps every time. He'd usually sing a Hymn which brought in such an instant, sweet spirit. One time he sang "Count Your Many Blessings" & I had to leave the chapel because I was crying so much. Click on the link to read his amazing story & see him reunited with his family at the Airport. 

{Photo by: trevordayleyphotography}

The youngest daughter on the left is in Kaylea's school & church class. 

*Grab a box of tissue....no really -a whole box. 

Read:  Roy's Story

Warning: Hot Dogs=Danger!

Did you know that 100 kids die in the U.S every year from choking?

*I thought that my Daylan was about to be one of those statistics last night. We were celebrating the Birthday of our sweet Emmie who passed away this last year. The kids were anxious to hurry & eat so they could run back out & play with cousins. As we began eating dinner I hear this choking noise. I run over to a panicking Daylan. He throws up a couple times & yet still is struggling to breathe. He was getting some oxygen but not much. I tried doing the Heimlich Maneuver a few times with no luck. Daylan was jumping up & down and trying to do whatever he could.


*Everything moved in slow motion and after a minute or two or three, (felt like an hour) I began to panic. Uncle Jason stepped in & had no luck with the Heimlich Maneuver either. I thought: "This can not be happening!" Daylan turned more pale by the second and his lips more blue. I yelled out "Someone just Call 911-this isn't working!"


*Right then Jason stuck his finger down Day's throat and out popped this ridiculous sized piece of hot dog-the exact circumference of his esophagus. (They just happened to be extra large hot dogs!) I think maybe the Heimlich really had helped get it up high enough to grab out. I hugged Daylan tight and had to go sit down since I was shaking with fright. {I woke up in the night thinking of the look on Daylan's face when it was happening and couldn't get back to sleep...so scary!}

**I will never look at a hot dog the same again.**

*Here CBS' Early Show tells of how a 4 yr old boy who choked to death on a hot dog!

When I saw this design of a hot dog I thought it was a great idea!

You know that's why Life Savers were created right?...
So kids could have hard candies & if they choked they would still have air with the hole in the middle.

*Here is a Conversation among Moms about the hot dog safety dilemma where people argue whether or not hot dog makers should be forced to reconfigure their hot dogs. I believe it's America and they shouldn't be that regulated, BUT all I know is that if there were hot dogs cut more safely like this, there would be a bazillion moms that would buy them.

Including=

Provo Tabernacle Burns

An aerial before picture:

*photo courtesy planeinsanerc.com

Story from back in mid December:

*photo courtesy John Curtis

{The 100 year old historic Provo Tabernacle was on fire. It burned and burned without much success in saving it. I remember going there a few times growing up with my Grandparents for Stake Conference & other concerts and things. I have cousins, friends & family have very memorable & tender memories of events that took place there like this one from my cousin Kristin. You can see towards the bottom of her post the beautiful sketch she drew as she watched the firemen still trying to put it out. It is a remarkable, historic, nostalgic & special building to a lot of people. It is a building our pioneer ancestors sacrificed so much for. Arson was ruled out, although the center of the building was completely gutted. As far as I know the church does not know if it will be restored or not.} There was nothing that could be salvaged from the fire EXCEPT THIS was found. Take a look at the amazing photo below of a recovered painting: ~A bitter sweet Christmas Miracle~ FIREMEN LOOKING AT THE SAVIOR PAINTING ---SAVIOR PORTION SAVED IN PAINTING OF WHEN "HE COMES AGAIN".... "For most viewing the interior it was a total loss…and then yesterday a fireman removed one of the many pieces of art work in the building…it is the building’s only survivor…a picture of Jesus Christ. The fire had seared the picture all around the frame and most of the picture…except the figure of our Lord and Redeemer….He somehow survived." *Video footage from News Station*

My horse pills..

My sweet husband usually does the Costco trips for me which is very helpful! I had recently put on the list- Prenatal vitamins since I was about out. I even showed him what the bottle looked like beforehand so he would get the right kind...Very Important because this certain kind does not make me nauseous..

So he comes back with a different looking bottle. Smaller & kinda similar but definitely different. I look at the label & it says it has some fancy fish oil -healthy heart stuff in it. He decided to get me THAT kind instead.

I call them my horse pills. They are huge.

~Maybe he's affected because of his mom's heart attack this year & wants to protect mine & our growing baby's hearts. (aw-sweet...)

Or maybe, he just wasn't paying attention when he grabbed it...The most likely of the two.

Stephenson Family Reunion {...*Video link now working*}

Add Family from AZ/CA + Grandpa's Stories + Tamales 
= And you've got a Stephenson Family Reunion.

~This year we were in my Aunt Sandy & Uncle Toby's home in beautiful Queen Creek. Just look at the views...That's why I love living here. Add horses to the mix & the kiddies were in heaven!

It was great weather out & we had lots of delicious food!

My CUTE lil' Sissies & Cousins

~We watched a video presentation that I had made for the occasion. The background music was a song that my Mom had written words to over the years. (With the help of Brittany's friend, him & his family put it to music in their family's studio.) It is beautiful and tells the story of my Grandpa Ed's little brother who died at the age of 4. This was a very tragic event in their lives and something my Grannie Mattie never talked about because it hurt so much. They were not members of the church & did not believe that families were eternal, thus the incredible turmoil and heartache. Years later, my Grandpa heard that because of Jesus Christ he could one day see his brother Dannie again. This, along with a deep love for my Grandma Pauline converted him to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints-to which I am forever grateful.

*Here is the Video I made about that very story:  
(Words/Music-by Kathy Curtis & Nate Noble)

~There are 3 voices singing this song. One represents Grannie Mattie's (Dannie's Mother), one is Dannie singing from Heaven & the other is my Mom singing from Earth explaining that there is meaning behind it all & we must learn it and share its message.

Home Safe and Sound-Round 2

Home again safe & sound. I will always be a tad nervous when Tim goes on these long scout camps because of what happened last year!

Being the Un-Camper that he is, Tim had a great time as he spent a week at the Scout Encampment. He came home with a strengthened testimony of the Gospel & a greater love & appreciation for our Stake/Ward Leaders & Young Men that he teaches.

I Saw Him....

Last Thursday evening was a special reflecting moment for me. I had the unique experience of listening to to a man speak by the name of Brother Allen. He lives here in Queen Creek and had agreed to speak to us this special evening to the sisters in our ward's Relief Society. He is asked often to speak but very seldom does so because he feels like he must be so careful in his portrayal of Christ. For some reason we were the lucky ones. He feels a great responsibility and feels honored as he has had the approval to portray this role. He has been in many of thepageants and most recently the "Reflections of Christ"  series. 

But when he spoke he didn't talk about his unique, lengthy resume or really any of the amazing things he's been able to do or people he has met. No.  The evening went a lot different than I had expected..... I Saw Him.

Here's my view of how the evening went:

He sat in the back of the room as he waited for us RS women to walk into that the last house for our Progressive Dinner. Upon walking into the room, I glanced over at him and my heart skipped a beat. Such a striking resemblance to how I envision my Savior to look...or maybe how my Spirit remembers He looked. 

We began with my friend Crystal & I performing a musical number called "What Mary Felt." It spoke of a mother who was asked to have her baby play the Baby Jesus in the Nativity. The song went through her emotions: At first she felt honored, then nervous for her precious baby in the cold. Then she was overcome with emotion as she realized a glimpse of what Mary really might have felt having had to sacrifice her son so that others could benefit from it. This song invited the spirit in the room.

{So we finish performing the song and walk to our seats. Brother Allen stands up to then speak.} 

With tears in his eyes he tells me Thank you and Good Job. He begins to speak in front of our group of Relief Society ladies and says "I know how the mother in this song felt."  {Chills.}

He went on to speak vaguely but powerfully of his experience representing Christ. We know he had been given special permission to portray Christ in this magnificent way & you can see why.} His demeanor is extremely humble but powerful-Just as I know my Savior really is. Holding his scriptures tightly in hand, Brother Allen spoke quietly and boldly. Dressed in a suit, with his dark long hair tied back, his piercing eyes that you felt could see through you and know everything about you. He talked for a good half hour and I tried to blink as little as possible. Every couple of minutes my heart would literally skip a beat as for a split second...I Saw Him. 

What a marvelous Christmas Gift this was for me.

You can view Him in these, his latest beautiful pictures:

AnotherTestamentofChrist.com

This tells the story of Christ appearing to the People long ago on this the American continent.

**These framed pieces of art are on display for 2 more nights (Friday & Saturday)

 at my Stake Center on Ocotillo between Sossaman & Hawes. 5-9pm**

Come if you can. You will be glad you did.

It is open to the Public & you can spend as little or as long as you want there. There is a behind the scenes video you can watch that shows the photographer, Mark Mabry as he takes the pictures. 

{The most moving thing is to see the people getting photographed with him & FEEL what I FELT! They felt our Savior, Jesus Christ's spirit through Him. It captures many of them breaking down in tears.  Moving.}

May we all See Him this Christmas.

And Pres. Uchtdorf said just recently: May we see the "Christ in Christmas." 

 

My Lovable Reader Spencer...how do you get mad at this face?

So while we're on the subject of reading:

*This kid loves.. no wait... can't live without reading as you can probably figure from this photo. Notice in the picture his large stack of books as he reads by the dim light in the hallway at Grandma & Grandpa's house. 

*Spencer & Kaylea enjoy coming to "Grandma's Library" & see what kind of books they can find there. Spence has discovered all of Uncle Phylip's awesome book collection of Goosebump books. He can read a decent sized chapter book in minutes...way faster than his Mom.

*Spencer really is just one big sponge who soaks up everything taught to him. He is a great student and just a good kid all around. Teachers love him, fellow students love him. Heck when I come into his classroom I am practically a celebrity because I am "Spencer's Mom!"

*So here's why I'm telling this story: (mainly for journaling purposes)

This really has nothing to do with reading but just the fact that he is a teacher's dream...well except for one playground's aid that is.....read on...

~I recently went to help out in Spencer's class and as I got there the kids were all coming in from recess...well all except for Spence & 2 other boys. About a minute later in they walk along with this BIG, GrUmPy "playground aid." She put one of her hands on her large hips with the other one holding her extremely important clipboard. Then she proceeded to talk louder than I thought humanly possible as she said:   "Mr. 'B', Here are three boys who were out on the playground recklessly playing in the mud...and that is JUST Unacceptable!...They will be receiving a ticket & will sit against the wall at lunch recess!" (Sounded a lot harsher in real life.) If this obnoxious woman only would've known this "boy's" mom was standing right there, maybe she would have had a different tone...?

*I tried to hold myself back from running over and body slamming this power hungry woman. (Told you I'm feisty when I'm pregnant!) I mean c'mon okay get them in trouble but do you have to yell as if they had been punching Kindergartners or something? You could just sense that minutes before she had blown that shiny whistle around her neck outside on the playground and probably had an adrenaline rush doing so. 

*I looked over at my son and saw the tears welling up in his eyes. I could tell he had a lump in his throat and was trying so hard not to cry. (Hopefully he was thinking 'Wow my mom is so nice-even when I get in trouble at home she doesn't act like this...') Actually I know he was really thinking: 'Of all times to get in trouble..& now when MY Mom is Here!'

*Anyhow the lady left & Mr. 'B' calmly asked each boy what had happened. The other two boys said Yes they were playing with sticks in the mud. (big whoop!) Then Spencer after fighting back tears, the throat lump and quivery lip answered with his shaky voice saying: "I didn't know I had walked in it until she yelled at me." Uh Oh -there it went. His face turned red and then the tear became almost visible. He had almost made it. He wiped his eye as if there was an eyelash in it...remember trying to pull that one off?

*Then something special happened: One by one hands went up all over the classroom. Mr. B called on 3 of them and they all said things like: "Spencer didn't try to get in the mud." OR "it was an accident"....etc. It was so sweet that then I got a lump in my throat. You see who Spencer gets his sensitivity & emotions from?

*The teacher (Mr. B) handled it well but said since he wasn't there to see what happened, he still had to enforce the consequence. Spencer was still obviously upset & embarrassed & probably just in shock that HE was getting a ticket! After a little bit I snuck over to Spencer's seat in the back row, squatted down and I whispered in his ear that I know he didn't try to break the rules; And he wasn't in trouble in my book. I told him to just serve out his punishment and not let it ruin his day. I kissed him on the cheek when no one was looking and left.

*Well he came home happy as usual and said he was fine the rest of the day. And for the record I think it was a good experience for him to toughen him up a bit but c'mon none of us want to be told we've messed up especially when we didn't try to.

~Audra's Tidbit of The Day~

So my discipline theory is this: 

Definitely give kids consequences when they do break the rules or disobey! .....But ALSO I think that:

If we tell a kid or even imply that HE IS BAD...Then He WILL be BAD! Heck they're just living up to what we've already pronounced them to be. We can say "you did a naughty/bad thing" but should NEVER say "You ARE bad/naughty!" ....okay getting off my soapbox now....

(Thanks Mom...I think that theory has worked out pretty good!)

**Here's a great example of a friend of mine who showed great patience with a "naughty child."

*Benefit Concert for Nie

~Last weekend I met up with my sister n laws at the Benefit concert for Nie Nie. 

Her friend Mindy Gledhill sang a number of songs with her beautiful voice and then capped off the night with "Golden Slumber" sung by Jane & Claire Nielson-the daughters of Stephanie & Christian Nielson.  Click here to see *The Girls Song.*  So precious.

"A SISTER held even closer"

Get ready to cry...No I mean really, really cry. *Read Here!*

It's the tragic but beautiful story so many of us are familiar with. A story of tragedy, a story of love, a story of romance, a story of sadness, sorrow, faith and healing. A story of eternal family bonds and the miracles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wait get your tissue first.... Ok now you click on it.

*Stroke Scare

So here's the quick version of the story. I was laying in bed July 3rd and trying to fall asleep. It became midnight now July 4th...not even close to sleep. Then I must have dozed off for a bit only to wake up suddenly around 1 am to my left arm being completely numb, the right side of my head numb and tingly and my tongue numb as well. It was somewhat painful but different than the Bells Palsy feeling I had had 10 years prior.

(Many of you know that in college I was diagnosed with Bells Palsy when again suddenly the right side of my face went paralyzed for a couple weeks. With much rehabilitation and steroids I was able to regain use of the muscles and now although better, still have the virus my whole life.)

~Anyways I start searching the internet only to of course scare myself silly. Everything I read said stroke along with other freaky stuff. I began having a full on panic attack ..my body's shaking uncontrollably, heart racing and I was short of breath. I asked Tim to give me a blessing about 1:45 and then drove myself to the E.R while he stayed home with the kids. I got right into triage and was shortly given my own room.

~They gave me a steroid shot in the buttockamous which was alot of fun (still sore might I add) and then did a CT scan. Everything came up normal so I was NOT having a stroke. They gave me prednisone, another anti-inflammatory pill and that totally helped me as well. So by 5:30 am I was sent home diagnosed with a Bells Palsy flare up and a need to see a neurologist regarding my left arm numbness. That's the jest of it. Still don't know why my head was numb and not my face but I guess that happens..I'm told.

All's well now...but I HAVE to get more sleep and not be so stressed so that I can keep this stupid thing under control since these 2 things are causes of B.P.

**Now we're just busy packing & trying to find a place to move! AAAAHHHHH!**

*Mom's special powers!

Me: "Kaylea when I was gone today did you guys sneak into the Rice Krispie Treats?"

Kaylea: (with guilty look) "How did you know?"

Me: "Well...Moms have special powers."

Kaylea: "REALLY?"

.......about 30 seconds goes by:

Kaylea: "Mom did you look in the garbage can?"

(Yup ....and there are the 7 empty Rice Krispie Treat wrappers...you gotta love when dads are in charge!)

*Zippin' the Lip

Had one of these days lately?...

~The Silent Treatment~

A man and his wife were having an argument and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 AM." He left it where he knew she would find it. The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight!! Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by his side of the bed. The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM. Wake up." Men are just not equipped for these kinds of contests; yet we're too nice to ever really let this happen.

*Oh..those Life Lessons

**Ok- So this must be the month for "Broken things." To add to the list with my broken laptop & camera; Yesterday in the Walgreens parking lot when I was trying to back out of a parking spot, our Escalade just stopped working! It just broke. It wouldn't go in Reverse, so I had to go into neutral (but it wouldn't show me what gear I was in, which was scary) just to get out of the parking spot. I called roadside assistance & while turning the car off/on again 4 times, it worked enough to let me get home. -another prayer answered by my "faithful"son Spence-

*The other faith promoting story happened last week when we were driving back as a family (in a rental car) from Rexburg to SLC. While Tim was on the phone with an important business call, we failed to notice we had NO GAS left. Suddenly we began to putt-putt in the fast lane. We carefully went over 2 lanes to the shoulder & putted our way up the exit ramp. I said "Ok kids -say a prayer!.." As I looked up I heard Tim say: "I think it's already been answered." There was a gas station about 1/2 mile away. Tim ran his fastest as we sat in the hot car. Daylan was asleep & had been throwing up earlier that day. I was scared that he might get REALLY sick in that hot car. As Spencer/Kaylea both prayed simultaneously for the "Wind" they said...it soon came & so did my tears. I called my Mom for some more comfort & while still at the Reunion, all their prayers were with us. Within a short time, I saw my little Timmy running back in the record Idaho heat with a red gas can...More tears came.

*As we completed the drive back to the airport, & after seeing "Zero" more gas stations right off an Exit ramp, I realized something; an important lesson. In my mind I began to compare "Life lessons" (could be the little annoying trials OR the BIG ones) to teaching my kids how to swim. I had a lightbulb moment.
**In order for our kids to learn how to SWIM, they must struggle 1st in order to LEARN. It's hard for us as parents to not just reach in there & save them from the struggle. BUT we know as parents in order for them to really learn for THEMSELVES, they must first STRUGGLE. Although the struggle, we as PARENTS are standing right above them making sure they don't drowned! **I believe our Heavenly Father does the SAME with us!-He lets us struggle so we can learn, but then catches us before we drowned!**

*A Whale of a Story...

*A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because although it was a very large mammal, its throat was very small.

The little girl stated that Jonah WAS swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"

*The little girl replied, "Then you can ask him ".