Oh NO!

I haven't blogged in a while.  I have all these things I wanted to blog about, but I got too busy to write them down.  I wanted to blog about going to Magic Mountain with Adam, Joseph's birthday and things we've been doing since.  Oh well, we are still alive.

Remembering Adam's Birth

Since Adam recently had a birthday I decided to share our experience about that day with you. 

I was due January 8, 1997. My mom went to California for two weeks during Christmas and made me promise that Adam wouldn’t be born until she came back (12-28.) I told her I’d do my best but couldn’t guarantee anything.


I was working while I was pregnant with Adam. I had Cigna insurance so I didn’t have a steady doctor, as they were designed where you would have any of their OB doctors. On Friday, December 27th I went in for my 38 week visit and asked the doctor if he’d release me from work early. I have this terrible fear of going into labor in public (work, church, etc) and would have preferred to spend my last 2 weeks at home relaxed, not stressed. He said he couldn’t do that because there was no medical reason to release me from work. So I was bummed that I’d have to go to work on Monday and be worried for 2 more weeks.

It was right after Christmas (28th) so I took the tree down and packed up the Christmas decorations. I decided I might as well pack my bag for the hospital. The lists mothers are given to prepare for the hospital trip are outrageous. The baby is not going to need 5 pairs of clothes for a 1-2 day stay. Most hospitals are pretty generous with diapers, formula, clothes and blankets to use while there. The more children I’ve had the less I’ve taken to the hospital. My mom was also coming home that day so I was getting everything out the way so we could spend time together over the New Year’s holiday.

That night at about 7-8 at night I was laying on our guest room bed reading a book when I moved my leg and heard a pop. You know the sound you get when your hip joint pops. That was the sound. Being very pregnant I had to go to the bathroom too. So as soon as I passed the carpeted hall and hit the tile floor my water broke. Everywhere!! I started screaming for help. I wasn’t sure if my water had broken or if I wet my pants a whole lot. I was new to this whole experience. I called Cigna’s nurse line and was told since I wasn’t having contractions I could stay home until I did.

Meanwhile, my parents were at the airport about to come home and after they checked in the airline announced that they’ve over-sold the plane and were looking for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for a trip home the next day and 2 vouchers good for a flight anywhere in the US. My parents were having such a good time and I hadn’t paged them yet so they volunteered. No sooner had they accepted the offer when I paged my mom’s cell phone. She called me back a couple of minutes later. I told her what happened and that we weren’t going to the hospital yet. My mom was about to have dinner and would check on me later. I took a bath, which is something you should NOT do if your water has broken, but it was very relaxing. My mom called me back and told me to go to the hospital because women in our family have babies very quickly. It was better to go too early than too late. My mom went back to the airline and told them she needed an earlier flight than the one they had given her because I was in labor. She worked out the flight issue while I headed to the hospital.

On the way we stopped by a new Burger King®. The lights were on and people were inside, but they hadn’t had their grand opening yet. I was so mad that I couldn’t have a Whopper®, that I have never eaten at that Burger King® and I tell the story every time I pass it. I wasn’t upset that they hadn’t opened yet, but that they had their lights on and that was misleading and I was in labor and wanted a Whopper®. Moving on, I went to the hospital knowing I wouldn’t be able to eat food again until after Adam was born.

We arrive at Desert Samaritan (Banner Desert) right after midnight. They were about to send me home (no contractions) when I told them I thought my water had broken. They did the fern test and admitted me. I really wanted to be brave and rough it (no drugs) but after 2 am I was so tired and couldn’t sleep through the contractions I was having, so I asked for something to help me sleep. I was given a shot of Demerol® in my i.v. Then the room started to spin and every thing looked fuzzy and I suppose I fell asleep because I don’t remember anything until 6 am when a strong contraction woke me up. The nurse came in after I buzzed her and I decided to have an epidural so that I could continue to sleep. I was not able to get much sleep because it took awhile for the anesthesiologist to arrive perform the procedure.

After the epidural, the doctors determined that I was not progressing as fast as they would have liked so they spiked my i.v. with Pitocin®. Eventually I was ready to deliver Adam. However, in the meantime, some other lady who had several children already was also ready to deliver so they asked me to stop pushing (hold him in) while they helped her. After the doctor was done with her, I was able to start pushing and at 11:28am on Sunday, December 29, 1996, Michael Adam Allred was born.

The nurse took him and performed all the vitals and measurements. He weighed 8 pounds and 6.5 ounces. He was 20 inches long. About an hour after he was born they allowed visitors in the room. My parents had arrived at the hospital at that moment too. They had come directly from the airport after catching the first flight. My mom took him and instantly claimed him as her own. To this day, they are very close.

Those who came to visit during our hospital stay were Jason & Krista Meeks, Randy & Angela Judd, my parents – Gordon & Wanda Simeona, John & Carolyn Wallace, Neal & Penny (Jonovich) Wallace (they are no longer married so I listed her maiden name) & their children (Wesley, Shayla & Shawna.) If I left someone out I apologize.

Ironically, the doctor that came to release me from the hospital and provide my doctor’s note from work was the same doctor that I had seen on Friday. I asked him if he was surprised to see me. So I didn’t have to go to work on Monday after all. I only stayed one day in the hospital so I was released on Monday. We brought him home and he’s looked the same ever since.

What we did in 2009

So I've never done a Christmas Letter and I used to be so good at sending out cards. I actually do have a box of cards that I can use to send out. However, I've become lazy and haven't done it. So this year I am writing a New Year letter of what we accomplished last year. So if you don't care to read it, then you can move onto another of my blog entries instead.

Joe – He fixed the green car (Dodge intrepid) so now it works and Victoria can drive it to work. He went to Disneyland (and CA Adventure) for the first time for his and Victoria's birthdays and anniversary. He works in the Junior Nursery in the ward.

Victoria – She learned to make pumpkin desserts out of fresh (not canned) pumpkins. She went to Disneyland, CA Adventure and Magic Mountain this year. She also works in the nursery in the ward. She learned seasonal loan products (RVs, boats, etc) at work. She's been with USAA 2 years now and her 401k now is completely vested.

Adam – He received the Aaronic priesthood and was ordained a Deacon by his Papa. He serves as the second counselor in the Deacon's Quorum. He played softball for his school earlier this year (7^th grade.) He made the football team again for this school year (8^th) and made the basketball team (8th,) all that practicing with the scouts paid off. He went to camp Geronimo for the first time. He went to Magic Mountain to celebrate his entrance into teenager-hood. He got glasses. He got to play with the Ironwood marching band during halftime of an Ironwood Football game. He went to the temple for the first time with the youth. He got stitches earlier in the year when he collided with a fence at school and it cut his leg.

Joseph – He earned his Webelos and Arrow of light. He is in his 2^nd year of home schooling through AZ Virtual Academy. He is in 5^th grade. He started taking medication. He got glasses. He almost met a rattlesnake. He has recently started reading books and really enjoys them. He went to Day Camp during the summer.

Joshua – He turned 8 and had a fun Army party. He got baptized along with his best friend Aaron on the 4^th of July. He got glasses too. He earned his Bobcat (with help from Aaron's mom, too.) He is in 3rd grade and his teacher at school is one of the counselors in the Primary so he sees her almost every day. He loves his teacher. He got to go to Cub Scout Day Camp for the first time.

Sam – He had surgery. He spent his last year in nursery and will be joining the ranks of Sunbeams. He was potty-trained and had a big boy party. He turned three. He fell in love with Lydia (Aaron's baby sister.) He loves to talk and tell stories and his language has improved since we started blogging although he still can't pronounce eses (S.) He kissed a chick. He dislocated his elbow once when Joshua and he were playing.

I am sure there is more and find that as I blog more I'll have a better record for 2010. Happy 2010!!

Easy Salsa Mix

My sister (in-law) Rebecca (and Chad and family) gave us a couple of items for Christmas this year. One was a jar of salsa mix and the ingredients to make it. There was also a jar of Ranch dressing mix. I've written down the recipes before and have them in a notebook, but decided posting it here would be best. Since I've only tried the Salsa, I am only posting that now.

Easy Salsa Mix

1 C Dried Cilantro

¼ C Garlic Powder

½ C Dried Minced Onion

¼ C Dried Sweet Pepper Flakes

1 T Salt

1 T Pepper (optional - if you like it hot)

Combine all ingredients, mix well. Store in airtight container.

Use 1-2 T of mix with a can of Rotel® (or generic) Tomatoes and Chilis. Let refrigerate to blend flavors. Serve as you would any salsa.