First Game 6-0

Isn't it funny what makes us emotional. The kids grow so fast. Today was Taron's first game and as I was running through WinCo grabbing up bags of oranges, bagging salted bulk peanuts and looking at my watch, I started to get a little misty eyed.

The first half was tough. One player was lost to an injured knee. Every mothers fear. We send our little boys out there and pray they will be safe but fear we are sending them to a battle field.

I was lucky enough to listen in on half time comments from the coaches while I passed out snack. I am probably the only mother that cries while doing this. Of course he scolded them but he built them up. He encouraged them. Told them of their greatness. They are great. Coach told them each one has to hit his mark. Each one has to do his part for the team as a whole to be successful. Know your opponent. He said they should know the color of his eyes. I thought to do that, you have to look your opposer in the eye, head on and go for it. I hid my tears. Taron probably didn't want to know I was being emotional. In his final words, he asked the boys to win this game, to play this game for their team mate Kaden who will most likely not be able to return this season. With that they returned to the field.

The Pocatello 6th grade Buccaneers won their game today 6-0. They hit their mark and showed the other teams they do deserve to be in the A division. Today was about fighting when you are the underdog, realizing as a team you don't have to make excuses when you step on the field, and about honoring a friend with acts of greatness. We have a long way to go but this is a team and they had fun today.

Back, Back, Back, Back to School

These pictures speak for themselves.

I love these kids!!!

They woke up Monday morning singing and dancing.

All three were showered, teeth brushed, hair combed

and dressed in 15 minutes.

After we picked up one great friend on our way,

we headed to the school. As we turned into the parking lot

the kids rolled down their windows to say hello to the most wonderful

crossing guard, Kelly Honohono.

As they did she yelled to them first day of school.In response I had a suburban full

of four children raising their hands in the air screaming,

"First day of school!!"

Doesn't get better than that.

Contreras Picture Day

As our family continues to get bigger and bigger, it was time to try and get another family picture. Aaron, Bonnie and their children were passing through town yesterday on their way back from San Antonio to Moscow. Unfortunately we are missing Christine (got the wrong time), Bernadette and Manuel (in Missouri for advanced military training).

Included in this picture are my parents, their children w/spouses and grandchildren.Vic and Barbara Contreras with grandkids.

Not an easy picture to take.

The Contreras Grandchildren

Thanks Sharen for letting me swipe these from your blog.

My camera died for the grandkid pictures.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Friday we decided to have one last hoorah and go with our friends Moses, Christie and their three kids to the Ross Park Pool. As I was getting ready to go, the boys were asking why I was putting make-up on when we were just going to a pool. I laughed and said that I needed it. Taron and Keaton right away shouted "No you don't." Then little Belle says, in all her innocence, "Yes she does."

I was a little shocked. I quickly asked her why mommy needed it and she responds with a cool, "Because without it you are ugly."

There you have it. The boys jumped on her quickly and I could only smile. Funny how my boys think I am beautiful no matter what and my daughter thinks I need a little help. Could she be watching a few to many princess movies?? And no sparkly make-up kits for her birthday.

Back to School - For Me Too

Previously I decided to stay home this semester and enjoy being mother, wife and this pregnancy. Let's face it...what is enjoyable about being pregnant. No I am kidding. Now that the medication I am taking is helping alleviate the symptoms I am enjoying this experience more. However, since I was feeling better, I started pondering my deep desire to finish my M.A. With classes starting next week the time was now to decide what I wanted to do. I called my advisor, my mom and my sister and did try to talk to Betz but he was not reachable and when I decide to do something . . .I am an all of nothing . . .so without the consent from my husband I rushed to ISU and paid for Fall Semester classes.

If I go this semester, in order to complete my degree I will only need to take one 600 level class and then write my thesis. I am that close. I do want to focus on being a good wife and mother but I also know finishing my degree will only be that much harder once baby is here. My classes end before the kids get home from school and with very good time management I believe I can get all my studies done during the day and after 2:30, I am all about the kids.

When Betz was finally able to call home he was worried about my frantic messages to call home but once I explained my choice he was very supportive and felt the same as I did. Love that guy!!

Buccaneer Scrimmage

Taron had his first scrimmage tonight. The team played well. I love watching these kids out there giving it their all. This was a three team scrimmage so I am not really sure if there was a winner. We learned what we need to work on for our first game next Saturday. Taron has a great team.
Here we go . . .

No matter the score, this is a great group of kids.

This is a great group of young men.

My Nephew Jaxon

I just wanted to take a moment and give some time to my sister Sharen and her husband Memo. Just over a week ago they welcomed their first baby into the world and they are already proving to be wonderful parents. It was nice to be in the room with her for a while during her labor. She had a pretty rough go of it but did wonderful. It was beautiful to see her gentle husband comfort her through each of her contractions. And after all the pain and suffering . . .Jaxon in all his perfection entered the world.

Congratulations Sharen and Memo!! We love you both and we love Baby Jaxon.

New Blog

I started a new blog just for documenting the journey to Baby Batini. It will be full of real life, this is how it is stories of pregnancy. I thought it may be better to have a place just for those particular stories. Not everyone wants to read about loss of bodily control, puking and other adventures. When this is all done I will publish it to a book for Baby. Love those websites that can publish your blog for you.

If you are interested take a look. Moms feel free to leave comments about your own pregnancy stories as well. You can access it from the link to the side.

Week in Review

So much has been happening around the Batini home this week. Taron started football practice on Monday. I don't know who loves this time of year more, him or me. It was exciting to see all the team back together again. Most of the boys go to the same school but some do not. Monday was the first time to see each other since the end of the season last year. Many have grown taller and bigger. Taron . . . well Taron is still the little guy on the team but his heart is big and that is all that matters. Each night he comes home from practice with a smile on his face and many stories to tell. Can't wait for our first game in one week!!! Get out all the orange.

GO BUCCANEERS!!

Keaton is also eager for football to start but for him we have to wait a few more weeks. Isabella is gearing up socially for school. She loves her friends and can't wait to see them all each day. She will be starting dance soon and Dad wants her to play sports as well. We will have to see how she does. I see her more a cheerleader dancing around but she is also very talented and may be our next sports star.

Dad is busy in Vernal working. Things seem to be picking up down there, none to soon. I do so appreciate the hard effort my husband puts forth to provide for his family. He sacrifices so much so that we can have comfort here in Pocatello. His latest toy is a personal size propane grill he can keep in his truck. He just drives over the the park and grills when ever he wants to now. He use to spend his money on whatever, whenever he wanted. Now he has to be excited about a little grill and I hope he knows how much I appreciate everything he does. On the weekend he comes home to take care of me and the housework. I can not begin to express how much this means to me.

As for me . . . I am very happy to be given the opportunity to carry this baby. I admit this has been my most difficult pregnancy, physically and mentally. Each day I try to focus on the blessing I have been given to be a Mother. I know that for many it is not easy or possible to conceive. As I approach the end of the first tri-mester I hope for these symptoms to relax. Over the last two weeks I have lost 13 lbs. Any other time this would be exciting but right now it is very painful. Nothing so far has helped but Monday I have promised my husband I will call the doctor and force myself to try the medicine in a suppository form. (Isn't pregnancy wonderful?)

In other news, I have decided to take the next year off from grad school and focus and enjoy being a mother and wife. My husband is working so hard so that I can be a stay home mother and I feel this opportunity is rare. I love being in the classroom but that will always be there when I am ready to go back. I want to enjoy being pregnant as much as possible. I want to visit the kids classrooms regularly (something I have never been able to do because of school and work). Most importantly, on the weekends when my husband does get to be home, I want to enjoy the time we have together and not have to make time to read and write papers as I did this year. I know I could make it all work if I had to. But for now, I don't. This time is fleeting. I don't want to regret not being there for my family when I have the opportunity to decide.

So that's us right now. School starts in another week and so much will be going on. Can't wait for this chapter in our lives to play out.

Has Anyone Seen Me?

Cause I can not seem to find me. I am thrilled to be expecting but right now I don't know who this person is and where I went. I can't keep anything down. I am extremely tired. My body hurts from puking. I am not sleeping well and I find myself crying all the time for multiple reasons. I want to be happy and positive but right now I am just not feeling it...at all. I am excited but the sickness is taking my attention and making me a little sad. I whisper to my little one to be patient with me. I already love her/him so much and want only the best for this precious spirit and I am feeling my body is not allowing me to enjoy this time. I try to remind myself this is only temporary. Some days are better than others but overall I won't deny, this is tough. I am reminded about finding joy in the journey. I am trying. Last night I asked my father for a blessing. I am grateful for his faithfulness that I can call upon him at any time for priesthood power. My intent was not to make the sickness go away but to help me deal with it better. His blessing reminded me that Heavenly Father knows me and wants me to understand the gift I have and not take it for granted. Can I somehow tell Heavenly Father I would appreciate this gift even without the undesirable side effects??? My goal is to be positive and find joy in my situation. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to bring a choice spirit to Earth. I am happy to nurture and love a child shared with my wonderful husband .

Only right now adoption is a wonderful option I am thinking more and more about.

Message in Our Dreams

Today after lunch in the park and an early morning 2 mile walk with the kids and friends, I decided I needed a nap. I was really trying to sleep off my nausea and keep at least one meal down. I slept the first hour with the kids playing outside with friends but then they all came in and with their shouting I could not sleep anymore. Thus the order for friends to go home and Belle to nap and boys sent downstairs for one hour of quiet time came.

During this time I had the strangest dream. When I woke up another hour later I was really out of sorts and feeling a little disoriented. Have you ever had those dreams?

In my dream, I woke up from my nap and got showered so we could go to the store for the boys to spend some money burning a whole in their pockets, just as we planned to do today in reality. We loaded up in the suburban and headed down the street. All of this feeling very real. We turned onto Monte Vista and we were on our way. About a quarter of the way down the road my lips started to tingle and go numb. This happens when ever I have a migraine coming on. I have not had one in a few months and thought of course now it hits. When migraines come on they come on quick. Once the tingling starts I only have 10 minutes or so to get my meds in me and isolate myself in a dark, quiet room and wait for it to pass or deal with the pain. I pulled over and started explaining to the kids that we would have to turn back because I was feeling a migraine come on, when we saw an out of control, blue full size work van headed towards us. Because I was already at a full stop I was able to drop the gear into reverse and hit the gas to get out of the way of the van.

For those of you that don't know Monte Vista, it is a road with only one row of houses on the one side with and a huge drop off behind them. It is at the top of a hill. I was driving along the side with the drop off. As the blue van went out of control it went in between two houses and off the side of the hill from view. Taron grabbed my cell phone and dialed 911 while I drove as close to where they went over as I could. I frantically spoke to the dispatcher, gave her our location and then ran down the hill to the van. Other people started to show up and after carefully climbing through weeds over the terrain, we starting pulling the passengers from van. I was in a panic worrying about my baby but knowing I could not just leave these men.

Right at the point I was feeling a full extent of exhaustion and fear, my kids ran in my room and announced it had been an hour asking if they could go get their friends. WOW! What was that? I felt confused and disoriented. One moment I was saving my family and pulling men from a damaged van and then I am safe in my bed with my children all around me.

Realizing it was all a dream, I wondered what it meant. It had felt so real to me. When I replayed the dream events in my mind I thought of the tingling in my lips and realized I wasn't getting a migraine at all. Heavenly Father was keeping me and my children safe from harm. Maybe it was all a dream but I know there was a message for me in there. My father is close to me in all I do. I imagine we have no idea how many times he interceded to protect us from danger. I am grateful to have this knowledge. I am grateful to know our precious baby is now in Heaven with the Father preparing to come to earth. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to raise up another child to our Father in Heaven. Mostly I am grateful for a loving husband that prays every day for me and the kids and our baby to be. He has strong faith unlike any I have ever seen.

I am still feeling a little out of sorts but I wanted to write this before I forgot any of my dream and when I leave the house next time I am turning down Booth and not taking Monte Vista. :)

Children Shall Lead Us

Isabella loves Fast Sunday. She loves to bare her testimony at each and every one while always intent on being first. Today was no exception. I love her faith and strong desire to do what is right. She sets an example for her mother, family and friends. One nice little surprise today was she made a pulpit announcement of the baby waiting in heaven to come to us. We don't always know what sweet and wonderful things will come out of her mouth while testifying of her love of the Savior.

Big Day Tomorrow

My boys come home tomorrow....at least two of them. Taron and Keaton have spent the majority of July with their dad and on my birthday they come home. I can't wait. I am grateful their dad continues to be involved in their lives but I sure do not look forward to the time they are away. Their absence is sure felt. So I have a lot to do to get ready for their homecoming. My babies are coming home!!