Anna Lenore Petzinger

This is Ben and I am making my own blog post this evening.

Jelina started having irregular contractions this morning and they quickly got in gear and went to regular intervals. We all went to the doctor at 11:45 AM for her regular check up and the contractions became more frequent and more intense.

We decided to stay in Ketchum so Jelina and the boys came back to my office. We had lunch and I wrapped up a few things while Jelina continued her contractions - they remained regular and intense. Then, by about 4:45 PM - she was on the floor and the real pain started. This is where the story gets interesting............

Evan Lawler, Okland Construction Project Engineer and EMT volunteered to move our car to the front door and we got the kids and mom carefully loaded for the short drive to the St Lukes Wood River Medical Center in Ketchum.

We were checked in by 5 PM and Carrie Norris was on her way to pick up the boys. THANK YOU CARRIE AND DAN. Jelina's contractions continued and gradually became more intense.

Jelina planned for a long delivery just like Colton because all the signs were telling her that it would be the same. So we decided to re-evaluate her condition by 9 PM. At 7:15 PM Jelina asked for an epideral to help with the contractions and by 7:39 PM and after two pushes Anna Lenore Petzinger was born. To be brief - the anesthesiologist was still administering the final epideral when Anna decided enough was enough and she came on her own terms - Our Nurse, Kelly was amazing while Dr. Rodriguez was being paged. Jelina delivered without anesthesia nor a doctor for the second child out of three. She is 6 lbs 6 oz and 19" long. I have a picture of Jelina and Anna just 20 minutes after birth and they are beautiful together. I will post the picture when we get settled back at home.

Jelina and Anna are now resting nicely and I have an opportunity to reflect on this miracle I have witnessed this evening.

Thinking back - I love that on the way to the Hospital, before we put the car in reverse, Colton INSISTED on having a family prayer. He INSISTED on giving this prayer and it went something like this: "Dear Heavenly Father, please bless mommy and please bless that she will have this baby FAST." Colton has known from the beginning that a little sister was on the way even when the ultra-sounds were inconclusive. Colton will be a great oldest brother. Bryson is cute, crazy and clueless and I look forward to capturing his expression on camera when he meets his sister for the first time. They both remarked to the nurse while playing in the waiting room that they were hoping for a sister because "another brother would be boring."

At the hospital I was able to administer a Priesthood Blessing on my wife. I shouldn't wait for pivotal moments in our lives and marriage to bless my wife because she blesses my life each day in her own special ways. I am grateful to have the Priesthood at times like this. I am convinced through experiences like this that the Love of God and of heaven has been distilled upon our family as the dews of heaven.

A good and wise friend gave me some advice and comfort at the passing of my Dad in 2005. He said "the afterlife becomes more real to us when those we love inherit it". My understanding of this and the impressions I had this evening is that I have seen the divinity of life inherent in us all. This divinity is manifest in us all and I hope to be an instrument in preserving this knowledge in the life and intelligence of our daughter.

I thank God for his trust in sending this bundle of life to me as a father. Heaven is more real and a lot closer now that the reality of this beautiful girl is resting in the arms of her beautiful Mother.

Anna Lenore Petzinger has arrived. What will I do with a daughter? . . . . . . . we'll figure it out together.

14 "Official" Days to Go

Ok...so here it is...my pregnancy picture--all belly, isn't it? Colton took this. Since I taught him how to use the camera, it is his new favorite thing. He has taken pictures of the carpet, toys, his brother's blanket, the trees, the dog...thank goodness for digital and the delete button.

He also asked me, "When I'm a dad, can I have your camera?" Um...I think it will be a little out-dated by then--so, sure, why not?

Tassles for Preschoolers...?

Colton has now ceromoniously completed his career as a preschooler with tassle, march, singing and a crazy clown act...

The "March"

The "Singing"

(To view a video of the singing, click on The Peatross Family link to the right--Colton isn't in the video, but the songs are great)

Colton and his "crush" Sydney Norris

The "Happy Graduate" who was introduced as the "Class Clown" by his teacher - who knew? And when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said "Spiderman." I think that he and his best friend Brady came up with that together, because they said the same thing. At least they didn't say a "tomato" or a "pickle" like two of the other kids. :)
The crazy clown act...and I'm not just saying that...it was strange, very strange.

Bird Rescue

I think almost every Hailey blogger friend of mine has had a similar post - a bird flew into the window...and died.

Mine, however, has a happy ending. After flying into the window, Colton rescued its helpless little body, put it in a box with some crackers and water...and a couple hours later it recovered enough to fly away.

He was pretty upset, though. Our conversation went something like this:

"I'm mad at you mom!"

"Why?"

"You let the bird fly away. I wanted to keep it forever."

"Whatever."

Do you like how I made him wear gloves before picking up the bird? So, I can be a little paranoid sometimes. You don't know where that bird has been.

We Are Free

"We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want--everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear..." Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jan 6, 1941.

We took the boys to the Hailey Cemetery today for Hailey's Memorial Day Services. The cemetery was decorated with American Flags on 361 service men's graves. There were representatives from all of our armed services, beautiful music, inspiring speeches and a flyover from the Air Force. They may have been a little bored, but I hope they gained something from the experience. I want to make sure my kids understand what Memorial Day is and why it is important to truly remember.

I often find myself anxious over the state of our country and its leaders, but when I really think about it--we truly do live in the greatest FREE country on earth. I can say what I want, I can do what I want (within the confines of the law), I can raise my children as I see fit, I can worship whomever and however I want. The majority of the people in this world can't say that and I feel blessed. I am grateful for the men and woman who have made it possible...and are trying to make that a reality for those elsewhere in the world.

Pictures can say a thousand words

Ben took these pictures the other day. Pretty good, huh? Maybe I need to turn the camera over to him. This is from our yard and I think shows exactly how I feel about where I live. It is calm, peaceful, beautiful and best of all...it is spring right now. That makes me happier than anything.

Success for the Scouts

The Hailey & Ketchum troops had a lot of their camping supplies stolen and needed funds to replace them, so they did a Pancake Supper & Silent Auction. Since Ben is on the Scout Committee, he was given the responsibility for the auction portion. The goal was to raise $4,000, but instead they raised over $9,000. It was a great success. The auction items were worth bidding on, too. There was ski equipment, custom art, airplane rides, teeth whitening treatments, oil changes, restaraunt gift certifications, landscaping stone...over 55 items. Too bad if you missed out :) Here are some pics from the evening. All of these people put a lot of time, energy and effort into this. I was impressed.

The Dragon & Spider Man

It took us forever to get the "Dragon" flying--it kept doing a circling nose dive to the earth anytime you got it up, but Ben finally figured it out...so both boys got to fly their kites yesterday. If anyone's read The Kite Runner you'll know what I mean when I say it looked like Kite Fighting with both of them flying up there together, but they managed to keep out of eachother's way, surprisingly.The best kites are the cheap kites ($2 at Kings) if you can just sit in a chair and hold the string handle.
Hey mom! Look! I'm way better at flying this that you are! (It is true).
Now, this is the life--sit in a chair with Daddy and watch your kites fly

Vacation Ended...

So, I disappeared for awhile on blogger--I know. Some thought I must have gone into labor or something. But, no...this baby will wait as long as it can, just like the others, I am sure. We had a wonderful vacation, despite it being warmer in Utah and Idaho than it was in California. Thought I'd post just a couple final pictures.

My dad and I walking the dogs on along the beach (a little sneak peak at my big belly--I'll post a sideways picture, soon, I promise...it just isn't fun getting your picture taken when you feel like the marshmallow woman).

This is what we woke up to every morning - surfers and dolphins (sorry no good picture of the dolphins, but they were fun to watch).
My family: Mandi, Dave, Jake, Heather & Daisy, us, Pop & Nana, and Curt & Shae - Nate and Becky couldn't make it.. :(
A view of the pier near the house we stayed - the longest pier on the west coast with a great restaraunt at the end.
Off to new posts next week...as we prepare for this new baby.

Day 3 - Sea World

Should have known what kind of day we'd have with the boys when they both fell asleep on the way there. They needed a day to recover between parks...note for next time.

Actually, they acted pretty good, they just had to be carried everywhere...or chased by their pop.

First show: Dolphins. Colton doesn't quite know what he's going to see. He ends up loving it, of course.

Pilot Whales

Bird of Paradise (Had to throw in a S. California flower picture...we just don't see things like this in Idaho :)

At the Pet's Rule Show (Most entertaining show at the park). This is about how Colton was the entire day...with a smile here and there.

Bryce wanted to meet the pig from the pet show.

"Give me some food!" The seal kept yelling at us to feed it...

Shark Encounter. Bryce loved it.

Colton wouldn't look up at first, but he couldn't resist. He definitely has a fear of sharks, but said this was his favorite part.

Sesame Street 4D show. Bryce makes a good little geek with those glasses on, doesn't he?

Despite it being only 60 degrees with NO SUN (standard weather for a McEntire Southern California vacation--it has NEVER not rained on us at Sea World and it did today, as well, but it was just a couple sprinkles--maybe we are finally breaking the curse?), the guys decided to do the wet rides anyway. They got soaked on this "Shipwreck Rapids" and "Journey to Atlantis"

Pop, Curt, Shae & Ben...soaked through. Curt says though that he'd rather not have to wait in line and get wet on a cold day, than wait in line for an hour on a hot day.

Another fun day...and now I'm taking a day to recover. No parks, No attractions, Just me and the boys hanging out on the beach and Ben deep-sea fishing...stay tuned for the results.

Day 2 - Legoland

So, Day 2 starts out with this...The picture speaks for itself. I let Bryce go out on the beach and this is the first thing he does. Where are we raising our kids...on a farm???

Our first encounter with the incredible and amazing Legoland creatures. This place was unbelievable! Having 4 brothers, I grew up with legos, but we never built anything like what we saw here.
Ben becoming nice and cozy with a sleeping legoland creature. Even the dog and the cooler are made out of legos.

The one adult ride in the entire park--I had to make Ben do it. It is supposed to be a dragon arm flipping him around.

Colton and Pop having fun on the Sky Tower

Colton watching "How Legos are Made". This kid absolutely loves legos. He can sit for hours and build...not surprising that he wasn't bored watching how they were made.

Both Colt & Bryce got Volvo Driving School Drivers Licenses. This park is perfect for kids their age.

Bryce operating a giant Legoland Excavator.

One of my favorite parts of the entire day was Miniland where city after city is built entirely of legos. Here is Nana and Bryce in Washington DC with all the capital and all the famous monuments--built with only legos. Incredible. What a great day!

California - Stop 1 Red Bull Air Race!

Driving to San Diego, California from Hailey, Idaho with a 3 and 4 year old and...

an onery dog! We make the dog stay in the back. Aren't we mean?! They did great and we made it just in time...

For the Red Bull Air Race in San Diego Bay.

This is the first time my boys have been to the ocean. Lake Powell beaches are all they know. They were right in it, though...

We have an incredible beach house right on the beach in Oceanside. Great picture, huh!