Happy Birthday Garrett Gideon

Tell Me About The Day I Was Born....

I can't think of the day that Garrett was born without crying. A matter of fact, I was telling Garrett about the day he was born and he was so sad that he started to cry too. He truly was a blessing from Heavenly Father. How easily both he and I could have died that day. I'll never forget waking up that morning and seeing all that blood. Yet, I, still in true Marten or maybe even Baxter fashion, proceeded to try and clean up the mess and the house because I knew that people would be over! We rushed to St. Marks hospital and since I had changed clothes, they didn't see all the blood that I had lost. They were almost going to let me go home and then I told them that I felt a gush again. All I remember was the nurse lifting up my sheet and then everything became a blur. They rushed me into the OR and told Jared that he couldn't come in with me. They put me out and that's all the memory I have of Garrett being born. Upon waking up, I knew I didn't have a baby inside me anymore, but I was to terrified to even ask if he was ok, IF he was even alive. I remember pleading with Heavenly Father that if he had to take Garrett to take me too. I knew that Jared couldn't handle raising three boys by himself. Finally, I saw Jareds face and knew that he was ok. Apparently, they had taken him to the NICU becasue he had asperated. I had hemorragged and lost alot of blood resulting in a blood transfusion. The doctor on call, told my OBGYN that I had shaved seven years from his life. I still hadn't seen my baby, but Jared had a polaroid that they had taken and I was able to hold him close to my heart..... I still do.

Flashback Friday,2007

This was suppose to be our six month rental after we sold our first home. Jared, was so sure that we would be out of here that he wouldn't sign a year lease. Well, little did we know that this rental would be our home sweet home for the next three years! We moved in with three boys and a lot of junk. We left with four boys, a dog and even more junk! I have to admit that it was fabulous living across the street from my very best friend. We were always visiting and borrowing and even calling each other all the time. Our two little ones, Garrett and Skylar became best buddies and soul brothers forever. I will, however, not miss dirty white walls, spiders, dandelions, broken light fixtures, moldy bathtubs, peeling linoleum....did I mention the white walls? Now, you all know why I have so much color in my new house.

This beautiful home came with a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but we are happy to call it ours.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

My grandma just turned 88! Can you believe how amazing she looks? I hope that I can look that great when I am her age. We had a BBQ at her house with all the grandkids. They all ran around and probably drove her crazy. I missed seeing her for most of my life, because she lived in Albuquerque, NM. She was finally able to move out her about seven years ago, and it has been fun watching her watching my kids grow up. Maybe, she gets a little glimpse of what a terror I was when I was little. Who are we kidding? We all know that I am her favorite!

and...He's OUT!!

With two boys playing Super League baseball, we, as a family, are often sent off in different directions to watch our boys play. Today Kade played in Alpine, and Tag played in Salem. We were both able to watch Kade play his first game but Jared left in the middle of Kade's second game to take Tag to Salem. Jared was going to help coach Tag's game today because his coach was not going to be there. After Kade's second game, I headed off to Salem with my friend Elysa, to catch Tag's games. We were just leaving when Elysa received a phone call from her husband telling her that Tag had been hurt and that he had lost consciousness and was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance! I will try to tell the story as best I can from all the stories I gathered throughout the day. Jared and the two other guys who were coaching, decided to change things up a bit. They put Tag at shortstop, giving some other boys the opportunity to catch. The field they were playing on was a dirt infield and the funny thing is, that a dad had previously commented on how bad he hated dirt infields and that somebody was going to die someday. Well, a boy from the other team hit the ball, and it bounced in the dirt and came up hitting Tag right on the side of his neck. Tag told everyone that he was OK and the pitcher proceeded to throw another ball. Jared started noticing that Tag was swaying in the field and acting almost as if he were drunk. Jared called a timeout and went out to Tag to bring him off the field. Tag, told his dad that he was fine and not to pull him out of the game. Jared told him that he wasn't. They started walking off the field and Tag passed out before they got to third base. Jared threw the score book and laid Tag down, checking his airway and making sure that he didn't swallow his tongue. My friend Jen started running out on the field yelling that she knew CPR and everyone started gathering around. Thankfully, there happened to be a nurse and an EMT there that were watching games and they took care of him until the ambulance got there. It would be interesting to know how many 911 calls were made from the field today. By this time, Tag had regained consciousness and they were keeping him still. They cut his jersey so that they could monitor his heart, and strapped him to a backboard and headed of to Utah Valley Medical Center. They couldn't find a neck brace that fit, so they made one out of towels and masking tape! Meanwhile, my friend drops me off at the hospital and takes off with all my kids to the game. I run in, freaking out, that my boy was in this hospital somewhere and I needed to get to him. Well, I BEAT the stinkin' ambulance! When I first got the phone call, they must have still been on the baseball field stabilizing him for transport. They finally get him there and let me in to see him. I find Jared leaning over him telling him that he scared the crap..... and we all know that wasn't the word that was used... out of him and to never do that to him again! That is the first time I have ever seen Jared so worried. Wait..was that a tear I saw coming out of my dear husbands eye? We will never know, and he will never admit it:). Tag is home and OK, the CT didn't show any damage to his arteries and other than a big bruise and a bruised ego, he will live to see another day. The baseball boys were SO sweet. They put his hat up on the fence and every time they came out of the dugout they touched it for good luck. When they did their huddles, before going out in the field they would end by screaming "TAG" instead of "HITS". Jaxon and Zach came up to see him tonight and the text messages are still coming in. What a great bunch of boys! I love them all as my own. I have known most of them since they were in Kindergarten and I hope they will be friends for life.

He Graduated!!

GG graduated from Kindergarten and is now on his way to first grade and school lunch! They let them eat lunch in the cafeteria and served them chicken nuggets. He was pretty excited. Kade let him know, of course, that not every lunch is as good as chicken nuggets. His teacher, Ms. Dahl was a fabulous teacher. She wrote Garrett a note telling him that he had the ability to make everyone laugh. She said that everyone loved him because he was so much fun to be around and that he had a class full of friends. Sniff, Sniff...I wonder what she would say if she had to spend the whole summer with him? I love you little G. Thank you for shinning in my life and making each day an adventure. We always knew that Heavenly Father blessed you with a kind heart and a sweet spirit.

Memorial Weekend

We spent this Memorial Weekend playing in a baseball tournament. Kaden's team, the Wasatch Bees, played down in Utah county. Kade was able to pitch and catch, his two favorite positions. They call him "Backstop Baxter". They actually made it into the playoffs and had to play on Monday. It was single elimination and they ended up losing their first game of playoff elimination. The boys had a great time and took 8th place out of 25 teams.

Poor Tag.. He wanted to play in this tournament SO bad but, his team decided not to because they didn't want to miss their 7th grade Lagoon day. They put Tag to work though, he kept score most of the tournament. He kept trying to pawn it off on others, but they didn't feel sorry for him.

We bought THE coolest sport umbrella and it has become a favorite hangout for all the little kids.

A long weekend of baseball.