9 March 2025
VOLUME 13 – NUMBER 598
Baby Benson
Benson was our first baby to make it to the due date. I was scheduled for an induction a couple days prior, but the hospital beds were full, and I had to wait for the call to come in.
Nate and I were at the museum with our kids when we finally got the call to come in. They were so excited to meet their new sibling. We didn’t find out the gender for this pregnancy so the anticipation of finding out was neat.
The delivery itself was one of the most memorable, and I don’t necessarily mean that in a good way, but it was still beautiful. Rima and one of my close friends were there for the birth, but I also had another close friend who is training to become a doula attend.
Nate and Natalie with Benson
Nate’s cousin who has had a hysterectomy also wanted to attend to experience a child birth. It sounds like a room full, and it was, but it was a lot of fun to laugh and joke as I labored. They were the sweetest support system, and although I was nervous about the amount of people that would be there, it worked out really well.
Rima and my friend Alex ended up staying a few hours and leaving before the birth. Our little Emma girl slept for a good part of the night until the nurses woke her up for the delivery and she was able to cut the cord. She was even the first to hold the baby.
Benson struggled to breathe on his own from the get go. He didn’t cry for a little while so they had the NICU respiratory team work with him. He ended up needing some more help and was admitted to the NICU where he was put on CPAP and oxygen.
Emma holding Benson
It was definitely and emotional time. We had never had a NICU baby, but we eventually were able to go home with baby on oxygen, and although it wasn’t ideal for him to still need assistance, we were just relieved to be home.
The kids were absolutely in love with him, and they have learned how to help me connect his oxygen hose and cords to the home and portable machines. They are very vigilant about watching his sats and get really nervous if his oxygen levels drop. They are very aware of him, and it’s sweet to see them love and care for him so much.
It’s been neat to look around and see all of my sweet kiddos. I get emotional sometimes looking at them all and seeing the cute little people they are each becoming. When I’m out in public it feels like a field trip and sometimes I wonder “whose kids are all these,” and then quickly realize they’re mine. I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Mateo and Mckay holding Benson
This week, Cougar and I became legends! Isaac challenged the two of us to play against him and five of his friends in a volleyball match. Family members expected us to lose, and they even asked ChatGPT whether or not we would win—ChatGPT predicted we would not.
However, we pulled off the upset. It was so fun, and to the other teams’ credit, they kept the games close, even though they were missing a couple key players.
My favorite line from Caleb’s ChatGPT analysis of who would win was this, “In a short match (like a casual game to 15 points), Ashton and Cougar might have a chance if they can play flawlessly and overwhelm Isaac's team with superior skill.”
Children’s volleyball competition
On Saturday evening, I spoke in my stake conference. I was a little nervous, and I honestly felt like I didn’t articulate my thoughts like I wanted to, but it was a great experience.
It gave me a chance to really practice what I spoke about, which was how God takes our weaknesses and makes them great, if we let him. This is not to say my talk was “great,” but that the experience of me stumbling around with my words, or not being as focused as I would have liked was great by itself.
However, as I give Him that effort, he made that experience great for me, and took me in my weakness to a point where I now feel stronger, despite what I would consider a poor performance.
Joanna playing with Esperanza
The family volleyball match was this week, and it was Isaac and his team against Ashton and Cougar. It was a crazy game!
I did not think that Ashton and Cougar were pros, and I was going for Isaac’s team, but Ashton and Cougar won it. Afterwards, we played volleyball as a family, and I had a blast.
Because Braden reminded us that Lent starts on March 5 [the time between Ash Wednesday and Holy Thursday—the night in Gethsemane], Gloria and Dad and I started our Lent fasts. Mine is a no-sugar fast, and Dad and Gloria aren’t as strict—their’s is more of a no dessert fast.
Veidi and Gloria’s Lent snacks
Well, this week was also Troy’s birthday. We had a visit and it was really fun. But then there was cake to celebrate mine and Troy’s birthday and so I had made that one exception for that day, since my family had brought a cake just for me.
I had a chocolate cake, and Troy had vanilla cake, and we each took a bite. Then we swapped and I took a bite of his and he took a bite of mine. It was so delicious, and then I realized that my fast was going to be long and hard but worth it in the end.
I had a great week doing a lot of activities and spending time with family.
Family visit with birthday cakes
Game day has arrived! Isaac had challenged Cougar and Ashton to a two-verses-six volleyball match. Isaac didn’t want me on the team at first, but I may have bribed him just a little bit to get on it in the end.
The original team was going to consist of Isaac, Will Grapendorf, Sebastian, Hazel, Yaretzie, and me. The people that ended up playing were Isaac, Kai, Sebastian, Hebert, Yaretzie, and me. It was not original ideal team, but we had to work with what we had.
Quinn and Brigham at playground
For the games, we decided to do best two-of-three sets. We started off pretty strong, but lost the first set. Surprisingly, I played a lot better than I usually do, probably from the practice I had about an hour before the game.
We also lost the second set, meaning that Ashton and Cougar were right…sort of. I wonder how we would have done with our original team. I had fun though.
After the game we just played some volleyball with the rest of the fam. I will say that I want a rematch, but this time with the team the we had originally planned to play with.
Family playing basketball
I did two dates this week, one on Tuesday and one on Saturday. For the first, I just decided to do a little service at BYU's Y-Serve, and then get some ice cream.
Then on Saturday, me and my roommate did a group date. We took our dates to go bowling and then to have some ice cream. Both were fun. They came from a date box that my ward set up.
I've been staying really busy with school and work. I'm loving what I'm learning, and I love teaching missionaries so basically I'm always enjoying myself.
I also met up with my friend Jack Anderson and watched one of BYU's basketball games. It was a double over time and BYU pulled through, so it was a lot of fun.
Then later this week BYU played against Utah. I was originally going to watch it at the Marriott Center, but it was next to impossible to reserve tickets before they ran out, but I watched it with my roommates and that was a lot of fun too!
Mom and Ava
Long week for me! I have worked a lot of shifts. I really enjoy working, but by the end of the day I just want to sleep. Most of my shifts end by 6:00pm, and I don’t have the energy to do school, so I stay up really late some days.
On Friday I got to hang out with Riley. We have been watching the Rush Hour movies. About every week or so we try and watch one.
On Saturday around 2:00pm, we were able to have a visit with biological family up at High Bluff Park. We celebrated Troy‘s birthday and Veidi’s as well, since they missed it back in December.
I really do enjoy seeing them, especially my younger siblings. When Esperanza saw me she gave me a big hug that made my day.
Smith children staying at Hill House
We’ve also been watching Natalie‘s kids. It is so fun having them around.
A few weeks ago, Dad invited us to share our testimonies in sacrament meeting, since it’s been a long time since we have done that during sacrament.
In church today, Veidi kept urging me to go up with her, so we decided to go up. We were both so nervous! I went up first, my voice was shaky for the whole time during my testimony. By the end, my hands were shaking!
Then Veidi bore her testimony, and when she was done, she came to me and told me she noticed that I was so nervous that my hands are shaking!
Mom and Dad bowling with co-workers
This week Monte took Kai and I to the movie theaters to watch the new Captain America movie. I wasn’t planning on watching it, just because for me most Marvel movies aren’t too entertaining, but Monte had gone and seen it already and he told me it wasn’t as bad as everyone said it was.
He also said he would pay for my ticket, so I decided to go and watch it, because—why not? I actually ended up liking it. It did come with certain things that I didn’t like about it, but It was one of the better Marvel movies I’ve seen recently, and I enjoyed it!
Water-damaged apartment
Dorothy’s house has had some water damage in the basement where our family lives. While this is being fixed, there are huge dehumidifier fans going 24/7, the walls are cut open, and overall it’s not a safe environment for Owen to be crawling around and playing in.
Fortunately my brother’s house was available, so we all stayed there for a few days. Overall, things are a bit chaotic right now, and we have been needing to rely on family and friends more than usual. We feel blessed to have so much support and love nearby that we can rely on.
Among all the frustration or hard challenges around us, we have always been able to count on the Popes and Hills to support and care for us. So if you are reading this, thank you!
Owen
So Saturday is my birthday, but I have been telling everybody that my birthday is in September on the 30th, and I almost got Ashton to believe it!
On Friday, there was a volleyball game with Ashton and Cougar on one team and six other people on the other team.
We set up the volleyball net and even the scoreboard in the stake center cultural hall. Mom and Dad also brought pizza and drinks. Braden and Brooke, London and Keaton, and Yarima and Selvin were there.
It was a pretty even match. Nobody really destroyed, and nobody really got crushed. It was a fun game to watch. Cougar and Ashton won, and then we played more games after that. I got to keep score on the big scoreboard, which was fun.
Family volleyball activity