24 November 2024
VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 583
Baby Ava, born November 24
This week we welcomed Ava into the world! I had a scheduled induction so we got to the hospital early Sunday morning. I got put on Pitocin and we just waited things out.
After a few hours, I was dilated to eight centimeters, and my doctor came in to break my water. As soon as that happened, I was pretty much instantly at 10 centimeters, and they told me I was ready to push.
As I was bracing myself to push, my doctor said that my body was pushing the baby out on its own. After two contractions, Ava was here and I didn’t have to push at all!
It was such a sweet and relieving moment to be holding her. Braden and I were laughing in disbelief with how quickly she came.
Brooke and Ava in hospital
A few minutes later, the doctor and nurse were telling me that I was bleeding more than normal. I ended up having a light hemorrhage. My doctor said it was probably because my uterus had worked so hard pushing the baby out on its own, that instead of contracting to stop the bleeding, it just gave up because it was exhausted.
I lost about the same amount of blood that is lost during a c-section, and I was told if I lost much more, I would need a blood transfusion. Luckily we didn’t get to that point, and the bleeding slowed down significantly after they put in a device.
Braden and I joked with our nurse that because I had it easy during the delivery, hemorrhaging had to happen to balance things out and keep things interesting.
Braden, Brooke, and Ava
Before Ava was born, we were trying to decide on a middle name. I wanted the name to have meaning to us and randomly wanted it to start with the letter “M” (I have no idea why). We couldn’t come up with anything, so we chose the name Grace, after the Christlike attribute.
Once we got home from the hospital, the thought came to me “Ava McKinlee” after our labor and delivery nurse. McKinlee was an amazing nurse who helped me feel so seen and understood. He was really good at educating us on the different options we had, advocating for me, and just went above and beyond with everything he did.
I asked Braden how he would feel like changing Ava’s middle name and he was completely on board. We weren’t sure if that was going to be an easy and quick option since we had already filled out Ava’s papers, but when Braden called the hospital, they told him that they hadn’t processed the paper work so they could easily change it!
We are so grateful for amazing healthcare workers and modern medicine and we’re so thrilled to have Ava in our family!
Ashton and friends in Chicago
What a week! On Monday, at 4:00am, Mom drove me to the Salt Lake airport to catch my 5:15am flight to Chicago. A few weeks ago a co-worker of mine and I were discussing pizza places in Provo, which led me to a new resolve to uncover all the pizza places in Provo and rate them.
Then he randomly threw it out that it would be awesome to take a day trip to Chicago or some other well known pizza place in another city, and get pizza there. A week later he told me he had bought a plane ticket to Chicago with his sister, so I hopped in on the opportunity and went for it!
Ashton and friends in Chicago
We spent the day exploring the city, from The Bean, the Chicago Art Institute, the zoo, and three different pizza places. We saw someone smoking weed on the train, and and our car was filled with smoke (shoutout to Ryan Hamilton). We heard a man and guitarist singing in the subway, which was so cool!
And ultimately, we had the best pizza I’ve ever tasted! It was such a memorable trip, and makes me want to do it with other cities as well.
My favorite part was the river walk. It was beautiful and the misty clouds coming down made it feel like a Batman movie walking through Gotham City. It was incredible!
Ashton on the riverwalk in Chicago
This week we went to watch Wicked! It was sooo good, I loved it. From the singing to the acting, to the story, it was all perfect. I won't spoil anything, but there was a scene that made a lot of people tear up.
It's also a two-part movie, so clearly it left us with a cliffhanger. Now there are so many questions I have, and I now have to wait a whole year for the next one to come out, but I will definitely, be watching it!
Owen in the sink
As we approach the holidays, I’ve reflected on life and really counted my blessings. Colossians 3:15 says, “Be ye thankful,” and my heart is full.
My wonderful family, neighbors, friends and job make life full and interesting. Owen continues to grow and play more and more. I’m also giddy knowing that Endia and I are expecting another baby in June!
I have been taking morning walks, just me and Owen, and I see the beauty in all the nature that surrounds me. Thank you anyone that is reading this, you are awesome!
Cougar, Owen, and Endia
On Saturday, Ashton and Caleb came over to watch the BYU Cougars game. It was a pretty intense game with some crazy plays, but in the end, BYU unfortunately lost to the Sun Devils, 23 to 28.
Right after the game, Ashton, Caleb, Troy, Quinn, and I went out to the front yard and practiced punting drills. It was a really fun game, and I learned a lot more about football than I used to.
After our football game, we started getting ready for the movies, because we were going to watch the new film Wicked, which was the best movie I've seen in a long long time! It was absolutely amazing and I shouldn't say more, or I'll start spoiling it!
Mom and the children raking leaves
This week I've been trying to make sure that I get ahead in school. Working has made it harder to get school done, especially when I work in the morning and then come back being really tired.
I worked six times this week! I also trained someone for the first time. She had already had some training, but it was nice having someone who can help get call lights and other things.
Gloria and Riley dressed for Sadie’s
Mom, London, Veidi, and I all went to see Beauty and the Beast at Hale Centre Theatre. It was an amazing experience.The props were incredible and the singing was amazing. There were a few songs that were unfamiliar to me. I think the actors were amazing during the play.
I also got to hangout with Riley on Thursday, so we could plan Sadie's and get our outfits. The theme for it was “Wild West,” so we picked out flannel shirts.
On Friday, I also got to hangout with Hazel. It has been a while since we hung out. We made some peanut butter cookies, and they turned out great.
Boys playing Slay
I donated plasma for the first time on Monday. It was a little scary, but it wasn’t too bad. I did have to get stuck twice, because the person who did it the first time didn’t do it correctly. I was in the actual chair for about an hour and a half, but I was able to watch a show while I waited.
Also, Veidi and I went on a temple trip with the Spanish ward. It was nice to go with them, since I hadn’t been in a while. After the temple we went to Big Daddy’s Pizza for dinner.
Unfortunately, While almost everyone in the family went to see Wicked, Gloria and I were working. Kind of a bummer, but I think that I’ll go see it next week, especially because everyone that I know who’s seen it has said that it’s amazing.
Children raking leaves
On Wednesday, me, Mom, Gloria, and London went to see the Hale Centre Theatre play Beauty and the Beast. I was excited because Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie, and I liked the play.
The next day we went to the temple as a family, and then on Friday, Monte was going to the temple again with the Spanish ward. He asked if anyone wanted to come, and I said that I did, because I had not seen my friends in the Spanish ward in a few months.
My time with the 5th Ward was such a good experience, just being able to talk to them and do the baptisms. After that, we went to go and get pizza, and it was delicious.
Israel hiding behind the clock
On Saturday, Ashton came over and we watched the BYU game. I have never really paid much attention to sports on TV when the Olders would come before, but I decided to watch, and it was really fun, even though BYU lost.
That night we went to go and watch Wicked. It was so good that I cried in a few scenes. We did not get home til midnight. I had such a great time this week spending time with friends and family.
Yaretzie at her basketball game
This week I had a chance to go to Yaretzie’s basketball game. I took Isaac with me. It was so fun to see her play!
It reminded me of days not too long ago when I was going to basketball games on a regular basis watching many of our older children play.
It was a delight to be there and I look forward to the games I get to attend in the future. Great job, Yaretzie!
Mom mowing the lawn
This week was great, because this week I made improvements to my life, such as getting up at 7:00am and getting my goals set up. I started pretty good at first, but then I started to slack off. It is pretty hard waking up at 7:00am when I used to get up at around 9:00am.
I also have been able to help make an incredible Lego set without using any instructions—just imaginations with Quinn and Monte. The first night we started, we got the front and engines done.
One specific piece did not want to be found. It was the two-by-two, light gray slant that went up a level. It was so hard to find it, that it took us one hour. Then, right as me and Quinn went to bed, Monte found the piece.
The next day, we just did the back and the top of the ship. It was epic, but we still need to get the interior done. I think it will rival Ashton’s ship, the Stegosaurus Rex!
Monte, Troy, and Quinn’s Lego ship
This is the first week in over a year that I have only had one newsletter to work on—last week’s newsletter! That’s because last week I finally got completely caught up! I’m so relieved to have this catch-up project out of the way.
My next big project is to focus on MyPack Apples4Apples videos, something I have also had on my to-do list for over a year.
Things have picked up just a bit for MyPack revenue. We got two two-week trainings booked this week, which allowed me to get most of our mid-month paycheck sent out.
Joanna, Ellie, and Charlie
On Saturday, Ashton planned a family outing to see Wicked. Because Braden and Brooke were scheduled to go in on Sunday morning to have the baby, we had Ellie and Charlie staying with us, so I offered to watch them while the family attended the movie.
By the time they left for the theater at about 9:00pm, Charlie was already fast asleep, so I had an easy time caring for Ellie. We watched several episodes of Bluey, Ellie’s favorite show.
Then we watch the Disney movie, Wish. We shared some Mike ‘n Ike candy, and then I introduced her (I think?) to Whoppers, which she really liked. I also cooked up a large bowl of popcorn.
We had a fun time together, and despite all the sugar I gave her, she finally fell asleep as the movie was ending around midnight. It was a fun night with her, and I hardly missed being at the movies with the rest of the family!
Ashton and friends in Chicago