Dad and Onions

Okay so I know it has been a long time...but my wife is more interested in facebook than blogging. Thus our family "journal" is not being written in as often as it needs to be. So I guess it falls on me to document our families growth and experiences.

Hazel went to a pumpkin patch and got pumpkins for Halloween, they brought back 7 pumpkins so everyone got to use these weird face pieces, similar to Mr. Potato Head parts. Megan is sitting at the kitchen table looking at our pumpkins then says, "Dad, you don't have a pumpkin. You need to get a pumpkin and decorate it. Or maybe you can decorate an onion, cause sometimes you make everyone cry!"

Thank you Megan!

So let's see, Jenny has begun school out at Big Bend. She is taking 2 online courses and one night class on T/TH. She is having a good time and learning a lot. Every now and then she shares her new found knowledge, it's cute to watch. Overall she seems happily stressed about it.

Now, because of these new classes, Jenny is rather busy doing her school work, so that means her normal "work/chores/jobs/etc" aren't getting done as ritualistically as before. I am trying to help the kids understand that with mom going to class we need to step up and take over some of these jobs...the kids are not taking to this as I would have liked. Instead of offering to help, the kids have increased their animosity, defiance, and cleverness at avoiding work. We have tried talking, explaining, reasoning, and consequences. Nothing seemed to click in their heads. So, per Jenny's request, I made a paddle much like the one my mother had. Because nothing seemed to be clicking in their heads, I gave them a "test run" of the paddle to sink into their heads what is waiting for them should they continue not to listen, lie, cheat, argue...now why am I telling you all of this...why would I document that I use a paddle on my kids...?

Today the girls were asked to clean up their bedroom at around 1:30; around 4:00 I reminded them (for the 4th time of the day) that they needed to get their room done if they wanted to go with us to diner at a friends house. They did not get it done, they did not go with us to diner. While we were out they snuck out, got jenny's phone and used it to access netflix and watch movies while we were gone. Jenny figures it out and asks the kids, "Were you girls watching movies on my phone?" The girls just look at her with a panic on their face, after about 10 seconds they respond, "We don't want to lie and get spanked...yes mom, we watched movies." Jenny expressed her disappointment and sent them to bed. Bottom line...They are LEARNING!!! Over all the climate in our home has changed with less fighting, arguing, and more help and cooperation (except for today).

Oh Wow...That's Hilarious

Okay, so there has been a couple of stories and comments made by my kids that have had me cracking up lately. I decided that I had better document them so I don't forget them.

Story #1


So I am swimming with the kids at the in-laws and having a great time. Megan asks: "Dad, what does BFFFM stand for?"
"I don't know Meg, what?"
Best Friends For Five Minutes!"
This guessing game continues with Megan only changing the time duration, super sneaky I know. Finally she says: "Dad, what does BFFFMNFAOMTY stand for?"
"What the heck! I have no idea! What does BFFFMNFAOMTY stand for?"
"I can't tell you dad."
"Tell me Megan or your walking home."
"Its a secret between Kayla D (Megs best friend) and me. If I tell you then she won't be my friend anymore. If she isn't my friend any more then we wont go to college together and be roommates, then we wont go on a mission together (Kayla D is not a member of our church; but very positive thinking on Megs part) and be partners together. Besides its a secret language between us friends."
"Oh so you are speaking IDIOT."
"No dad, I am not from ITALY."

Story #2



So Myles' Sunbeam class can best be described as an extremely testosterone filled class with a little side order of estrogen. Examples include a love triangle, several lengthy "discussions" about poop, celebratory fist pumps when something is awesome, and the need to separate the group into two intentionally divided classes supervised by two parents in each class. That's the background...here's the story.
Today Myles decided that his fingers were machine guns (typical), and that the Primary presidency were enemy combatants (typical). He decided to execute his blitzkrieg attack during sharing time with loud machine gun fire directed at the music instructor (the mom of another boy in his class) (not typical, kinda new). Jenny stopped him and threatened his life and said she might have to sit by him. He decided that since his position had been compromised by his loud machine gun, it was no longer the effective weapon of choice, so he silenced it. Now the gun fire was quiet whispers. Jenny stops him again and moves next to him and says "Either put your gun away or I am going to take it away!" Myles looks at her, puts his hands (GUN) in his pockets and sits quietly for a few minutes. Then he rearms himself with pistols and continues his slaughter of innocent primary leaders, occasionally turning around and in sighting riots and support from his fellow insurgents in his class. Jenny grabs Myles and says, "Give me that gun!"
"Okay mom." he puts his gun shaped hand on hers and opens his fingers, then takes his hand back to his lap and sits quietly for about 1 minute. Then, his little hand makes its way back into his pocket and is transformed miraculously into another firearm for him to continue his mass genocide. This is repeated about 5-6 more times with Jenny taking every gun he could create. Finally a simple wiggle song was sung and his attention was grasped. Little Punk!

Story #3


So Swimming with the kids at the in-laws, same day as Megan's story, playing, splashing, dunking, throwing, and all around enjoying each others company. I start talking to Courtney and then notice something on her forehead. It's the multiplication "X"!
"Courtney, what is on your forehead?"
"Oh, Kimberly (our neighbor/good friend) has one of those vacuum bag pumps, so I put it on my forehead and pumped it. Kim told me not to, but I did it anyway."
"Did the end look like a plus sign?"
"Yeah, I know I got bruised."
"No Court, you have a hickey."

Holy Crap it's been a while

Okay, so it has been a real long time since an update...I think the best way to update is going to be to list it:
1) On the 27th of February Hazel turned 7. She got a new bike...Awesome!
2) On the 6th of May Megan turned 9 and got a new mountain bike...Awesome!
3) On the 16th of May Myles turned 4 and got a new bike...Awesome!
4) On May 18, Scott started coaching the middle school boys soccer team. He is having a great time and thinks coaching is right up his ally.
5) For Spring break Jenn took the girls down to Utah to see her sister and ex-in-laws. Had a great time and got Lila a lot of new clothes from Kathy...Thanks Kathy.
6) Over Spring break Scott and the boys built a dresser (well mostly Scott since Jace would scream like a little girl whenever a machine would turn on.) Here is a pic.

7) Scott also bought two new guns which are way too much fun to shoot. One is an ATI GSG rifle, and the other is a Ruger Mark III 22/45. Both are 22lr which makes them even more fun to shoot.

Lila is nearly 5 months

the woman

Tuesday I took Courtney to meet with the cleft palate team in Yakima. We went to the valley mall for lunch, and while we were eating a little old couple walked past us. I had Lila in the moby wrap sleeping, I heard the little old man say "Oh, Look hun, A new baby!" The woman started walking slowly toward me. She reached our table and asked about the baby. While I was telling her that Lila was 4 months old the woman reached out and started stroking her face so gently. Her eyes started to water. She then told me that when she was young she had a 2 year old little boy and was expecting her 2nd, a little girl. When she arrived into the world she was perfect the most beautiful little girl she had ever seen. She was so happy. Then they found out that she had a heart defect. Her little MaryKate died 5 days later. The little old woman then testified to me that she had lived her life in a way that she would see and hold her little girl again.
I stood there teary eyed, with a new appreciation for my children. Feeling so blessed. I can't get this experience out of my mind. I think the lord knew I needed to hear her story just as much as this woman needed to share her story. We didn't talk religion. I just told her that I knew she would get to hold her again. The woman thanked us for listening to her and for letting her touch our little one. I am so excited for this lady to someday meet and hold her little girl.
I've been looking at my life in a whole new light since tuesday. slipping in a couple more hugs, listening more intently to what my kids have to say, tucking them in extra tight at night. I am so grateful for the chance to be a mom to the most awesome kids I know.
I will live my life so I can be eternally with my family :)

I know you are jealous....

Everyone should get a picture riding Shamu! We had an amazing time. I think this one is going up on the wall as our new family portrait.

A Brief Update

Here is a brief photo update


All the girls got a Nintendo DS


Disney Land was a blast


Scott is not as strong as he thought he was


Neither were the kids

Lila is 2 months

Soooo I know im a bad blogger. but at least im posting before she turns 3 months.
Lila is such a blessing! She has acid reflux and is very colic. but you know what they say..."it should all be better by 3 months". I really hope so. She has started smiling and cooing. She loves to cuddle (especially with daddy), and loves to take baths. She has started holding her head up by herself, loves her binks, and is so chubby. Here are a few pictures taken at about 6/8 weeks.

In A Name

Lila
Meaning: you are mine

Grace
Meaning: by the grace of God

Ritchie
Meaning: awesome (okay not really, but it should)


We named our little girl Lila Grace Ritchie. By the meanings alone it discribes her. I knew before I had her she would be my little Lila. My moms name is Lila and her Grandma before her. It is a name she will have to live up to. My mom is one of the strongest people I know. She is compasionate and sweet. She is rightous and unwavering. The things I want for my kids. Perfect name for a perfect little girl.

Birth Story and a whole bunch more...

At 37 weeks my dr. had decided that for my and my baby sake, he was going to induce me. To be on the safe side he ordered an amniosynthesis (sp?). Tuesday the 7th Scott and I woke up early and got ready to head to Spokane to my perinatal specialist. I was having a few contractions which was to be expected since I was carrying so much amnioic fluid. I didn't think anything of it. We got to the appt at 9 and the dr did the amnio. He said that the results should be in around 4 today. They monitered me and my contractions for an hour as a saftey precaution since the amnio can put you into labor or break the water sac. The contractions were uncomfortable and still going strong. I asked the nurse to check me before they let me go because I was starting to feel alot of pain and it was an hour and fourty five minute drive home. She checked me and I was dialated to a 3-4. I told her my concerns and she went and talked to the dr. A couple of minutes later she came back and told me to hurry home and not doddle. ??WHAT?? Scott and I hurried home and thankfully made it to the hospital. When I got there they admitted me and I was at a good 4 I asked for an epidural. My dr. came in around 6 and broke my water.....there was ALOT of water! Around 4 the amnio results came back that the babys lungs were not developed. They had to medvac (helicopter) her back to Spokane! Lila Grace Ritchie entered this world at 8:30 that night. She was 8lbs 4oz. I was able to hold her for a few minutes then they rushed her off to Spokane. Scott stayed with me that night and we left the next morning for Spokane to see our new daughter. She was beautiful! The nicu team was so good to me and to Lila. Her lungs were fine dispite the amnio results but she was having apenic spells that concerned the dr's. They kept her for 2 weeks I stayed with my sister liz during this time. Scott was able to stay with the kids because he was on "maternity" leave. They finally sent her home on an apnea moniter. Sunday the 26th she was blessed by Scott in the Othello 2nd ward. Scott, my dad, grandpa Mitchell, Jared Carter, Sean Anderson, and Shane Provost. That week I took her to the dr. who said since she was doing so well that we could take her off the monitor.
On Saturday the 9th I noticed that Lila had been sleeping alot. later that day she started looking a little grey around the mouth and not eating as well as she had before. I called the dr and they advised me to put her back on the monitor and see what happens. she did fine till the night. All night the alarms went off. I took her to the emergency room early sunday morning. Othello Hospital monitered her for a few hours and decided they were not equipped to handle the symptoms she was having. They flew her back to spokane on the 10th. Lila was in the picu at Sacred Heart for a week and a half after finding out she had pertussis (whooping cough). This was a very trying time for me. She was so weak and helpless. Her stats would drop and there was nothing anyone could do but hope she came out of it on her own. It was really hard to watch her go through this. The pertussis got alot worse. after a week she was no longer contagious and she started taking baby steps to getting better. They let her go home on the 19th. She is on the apnea monitor for 3 months. Even though she is not contagious she will have symptoms of the pertussis for 100 days. Everyday is a little better. I am gratefull that she had the monitor to warn us of the things to come. I am so thankful she is home now safe and sound. We just love her to bits. The kids have been so much help and have adapted much better than I thought they would (especially the boys). I am so gratefull for all the prayers and service that was shown my family during this time. It means so much to me. I know my heavenly father was aware of us and blessed us through our friends and family. :)

pregnancy....

sucks! At least for me. I thought I should write my feelings down about the subject since I will never go through it again and its all so fresh in my mind. Im sure there are those out there who love being prego, and good for you. For me however it is hard. I am a type 1 diabetic who is 30 years old. Pregnancy is super scary. So many things can go wrong and the dr's make sure I am aware of ALL of them. This time around I had no complications with the baby but for some reason my body produced 2x the amount of amniotic fluid it was suppposed to :( when I went in for my amniosynthesis at 37 weeks my fluids were 50! the high side of normal is 24. I couldn't breathe, my back was spasming from the weight in the front, I couldn't eat, or sit up straight. No fun. My insulin intake also goes WAY up. The good part about being pregnant is that you never have to worry about how you look in clothes...your supposed to look fat. furthermore you get to bring a beautiful baby into the world. and lets not forget the first little flutters you feel. It never gets old. Ive gotten to experience pregnancy 6 times. I am so grateful to my heavenly father for watching over me during these trying times. And allowing me the privlige of fulfilling the reason I was put on this earth, to raise his children and teach and prepare to live with him someday. I am blessed.

Happy Birthday Lila

So Lila made it here tonight. Our day started at 7:00 am with a trip to Spokane to see Jenny's specialist and have an amnio done. When we left for Spokane Jenny was having regular contractions (not unusual for the past several days). We get there, do a quick ultrasound, jenny had twice as much amniotic fluid as a "normal" pregnant woman would have, They do the amnio and tell us it will be about 6 hours til results are in. Jenny is hooked up to some monitors to make sure the amnio didn't put her into labor/make her water break. She was contracting the entire time and was checked before we left...she was dilated to a 3. Doc lady tells us to go home and don't doddle. We head home, get to the hospital at 3:15ish. By now Jenny had dilated to a 4.5/5, they could feel her "sack," Dr. Elali comes in and pops water at about 6 o'clock. Lila progresses real well on her own, several fantastic pushes and she is almost out, however Jenny was running out of steam. The super head vacuum thingy was used and at 8:52 Lila was the newest citizen of Othello.
During this the amnio results came back saying her lungs were very much not mature...they needed to score a 50 on their little testy thing and hers were a 24. They had called a specialist team to fly in from Spokane before Jenny's water was broke as a precaution. The decision was made to send her off regardless; this way if something were to happen she would be where she needed to be to get help. Othello isn't really known for their ICU. When she was born her heart rate was hovering around 200bpm, but her O2 saturation was 96-99%. Lungs were working great. Her blood sugar when born was 149, but just before leaving it dropped down to 60. I called about 11:00 and Lila had just gotten to the NICU. Her vitals were great, breathing fine, heart rate dropped down to the 150s, but her blood sugar dropped down even farther to around 30. She is currently sitting in Spokane in the NICU and will be there for a minimum of 3-4 days (Dr.'s orders). It's kinda fun because she looks just like Hazel and Myles did...Dr. Elali said we should put all of their pics side by side and see if we can tell them apart. I may have to do that and see just who can. I am not convinced I could myself.

The Man Trip

So for the past two weeks I have been on a "Man Trip" with my brother,his two sons, and Myles. It really has been a lot of fun. We drove from Othello down to San Antonio Texas to bring Brandon a piano. We also put in a laminate hardwood floor in his kitchen, entry way and bathroom. Today (our last day here) we went to Sea World for Bodies birthday. It was a lot of fun, Myles had a blast. I have decided to tell the story through pictures.