Thirty years ago today...

I was doing my hair and Bobby asked me what I remembered about today, 30 years ago.
This is what I remember...
*Spent the afternoon at my parents painting a ceramic nativity (that I still use every Christmas) trying to distract myself from all the tightening my giant , huge belly was doing.
* Took Bobby dinner, and sat at the gas station he was working at, and visited for awhile.
*Back to the trailer park we lived in (Behind the Pine Cone Inn , Prescott, AZ) Still feeling tightening and thinking it was not like the Braxton Hicks that Id been feeling for several weeks.
*Bobby came home late... he worked till 10 or 11 ( I think- it was a long time ago :) )
* Not being able to sleep, so frustrated because that belly just kept waking me up, back pain and shooting pains down my legs, was it time to have a baby?
* Tried to wake Bobby up around midnight-ish and he would NOT wake up! So I walked about 60 yards (I think it was at least a mile but Bobby said 50 or 60 yards) to the pay phone so I could call my parents.  Dad said to drive by the house (on the way to the hospital) so he would know I got Bobby to wake up. If he didn't hear the truck he would come over.
* Bobby kept leaving the hospital room- he was looking pretty pale. I think the green scrubs he was required to wear didn't help. So a nurse kept bringing him back in.
* Squeezing my Mom and Bobby's hands so hard they turned blue.
*The Dr  Duncan saying "It's a boy" and seeing the huge grin on Bobby's face.
* The nurse handing  me that very beautiful, chubby cheeked, dark haired, dark eyed baby boy.
* I cried, and Bobby asked if I wanted another one... without hesitation , I said "Yes".
* Christopher Robert was born at 9:24 am, 7 lb 1 oz, 20 1/2 inches long

That  blessed day changed our lives. We were responsible for another tiny life, it was exciting and overwhelming. Everything we did was for our family. No more you or me...
Bobby had 2 jobs, I was in Beauty school, we rented a trailer for 175$ a month, I drove a  brown and black '69 Opel Cadet and Bobby had an old big white truck.
It was the best September  14th of my life.
I love you , Son... Thank you for the wonderful son, husband and father that you are and for everything I learned, the last 30 years, being your Mom.

October- busy month!

London was blessed on the first Sunday in October.

Flo & Ken Benich (Bobby's Mom and Step Dad) Alli & London

Steven and Meghan at Mr. G's Pizza in Joe City

Marie (I think he is too young for her...lol!) & Steven

London

Macy

I made Londons blessing dress. The handkerchief I used as a collar, belonged to my Great Grandmother Hannah

Macy, Kyle, Alli, London

I finished the top for my Chocolat Quilt. It was a block of the month and has taken quite along time to finish.

Mom, Steph, G'mpa Randall, Kathy

At the Pioneer home visiting G'mpa Randall

Bobby finishing the back walkway... beautiful! He did a great job!

I went to Chris & Kati's for Halloween. The boys had their Sacrament meeting program-so cute!

September-And then there were 4...

I was going to head to Allison's on Monday. Sunday night she called and had been having back pain all day, that radiated to her sides and her stomach. My first thoughts were... "she is in labor". So after much discussion with Bobby- he thought it was fine... I didn't really need to go yet. When will "they" get used to trusting "Mothers instinct"? Off I went to Showlow. London Allison Gardner was born on Sept 6th at 2:11 am, weighing in at 7 lb 3 oz, 19 3/4 inches long.

On my way home from Alli & Kyle's I stopped at my parents, Chris, Kati and the kids were there.

Taking a hike in the Granite Creek -behind my parents house.

Riding in the golf cart with Gr. G'mpa

Gr G'ma & G'mpa Bochat with Macy and London

Right after Alli had London, my Aunt Marji (My Dads sister) & Uncle Don were down from Idaho and met Alli and I in Flagstaff for lunch and to meet the little girls. It was a great visit!

August- Baby quilt

Bobby's 48th birthday, the kids met us at Arribas.

This is the quilt I made for Alli and Kyle's new baby. Alli wanted bright colors. So Jolene and I chose the bright pink in the border and pulled the other colors from that. The pattern is from the book "Quilts for baby"

July 2010

Holbrook Wild West Days

Bucket of Blood bike race

Nate helping make peach cobbler for Allison's birthday

Random RAAM thoughts- Long-picture overload

There is no way- none... to tell the story in a short amount of words.

It was crazy, amazing, exhausting, awesome, beautiful, touching, fast, slow....

The people on the team and crew were amazing... many had never met before- all working for a common goal. To get this 12 year old across the country on a bike, inspiring others to be able to do great things.

We got very little sleep- most of it just the semi conscience kind...

sick riders... Tiffany spent the night in a hospital and got chased by dogs we left her bike on the side of the road :/ Got it back though!...Ryan had dog adventure too. Crazy stocker lady chased us.

The riders were brave and amazing.... Connor never tried to get out of his turn on the road, and never complained- he was amazing... seriously, never met a 12 yr old like him.

The Team Connors Hope blog is at www.teamdonatelife.wordpress.com

One day ... I think on day 4, I had a bit of a melt down... not for me, but the riders... they were so tired, no sleep, eating habits totally disrupted, stuck in a cramped vehicle in sweaty clothes , and pushing their bodies past the breaking point.... and there was nothing the crew could do to help but words of encouragement... it was so frustrating and inspiring at the same time. I can't even imagine how they felt. And they rocked it, they were awesome!

Next time I hope to keep up on the blog even if its just a sentence a day.

For this time, this will have to do. Please go read the team blog for the "rest of the story"

At the starting line in Oceanside, CA.

A retarded train that cost us like 40 minutes!!

Ryan left his Blackberry in our car, Geoff taped it up and we told Ryan his phone had a terrible accident hahahaa

this was the view... for 3000+ miles at between 17 and 21 mph

Tiffany Ellison, Diane Christi, Sheryl & Ryan Ellison

Transition at night

Always talking race strategy

Ryan Ellison, Jared Ellison, Bobby

Conner Ellison

Picture is worth a thousand words :)

Awesome picture from Washington DC

Bobby in his element- he was awesome, always happy and encouraging

Almost to the end

WooHoo!!!

RAAM-Lull before the storm

We arrived in Oceanside today. The motel is so cute! Looks like an old mission. Views are fabulous!! Smells are heavenly!

Tonight we have a team meeting and tomorrow starts the inspections, official team pics, more meetings, strategies and rules so we don't end up with any time penalties.

I hope to be able to blog every couple days... hope being the operative word.

Sleep... hope to be able to do that for a few minutes everyday. :)

Bobby going over spread sheets and strategies

Oceanside Marina suites-view from the room balcony