New birth.. but not mine!

Telli had baby number 4!! His name is In the S.Un's Spotlight, because as you can see he has a spotlight on his nose!! Every other birth of hers has been attended by someone, but this time she snuck it in when noone was watching.. but she was a pro, no problems. Just a surprise for me in the am!!!

Lightning is very cute and very brave. He had a severe colic episode at about 5 days of age that I think happened because of dehydration in the intense heat we were having at that time. It was about 1 month ago... but it's taken me this long to blog about it....... Anyways, that completes my equine births for the year. Two cute boys!! Now what will I have? BOY or GIRL?

Showers galore!!

Well, this baby is sure to be spoiled..... even though both of us have been "out babied" by our younger sisters, there still seems to be enough spoiling to go around!! On both sides of the family!

The showers began the first week of June and ended the last..... Mary Beth threw me a beautiful one in Davis. We had fun games like WHO could drink the most from a baby bottle? Mary was the champion there!

Then Ali had one for me in Fresno, which of course was wonderful. Tons of people were there including Joan and Aunt Ann from down south!! I got so much stuff that it barely fit in my truck! And Ali was generous in allowing me to borrow lots of her stuff. I'm very proud to now have the BASSINET that was MINE when I was a baby.... as well as just about all the babies in the O Hare family! Then, Teri at work had a party for me.... it's so nice feeling loved and supported..... Bradshaw Vet is like a family to me after over 14 years! And last but not least, Nina had a shower full of amazing food and lots of children, ranging from 2 months old to Zech, who's 6 or 7 now..... Rob and I are so blessed to have so much support!!

Aloha!! NOT!!!

Well, Hawaii was not in the stars for us this year. Our "babymoon" was quickly stopped before it even started when I started to have pain in my abdomen the night before our departure. I went to the ER and was admitted to teh hospital after it was determined that I likely had kidney stones that I was passing. They say that that pain is only second best to labor... so I guess God just wanted to give me a taste of what was to come! I was in the hospital for about 3 1/2 days. The night before I went home I had a procedure done under anesthesia where they placed a ureteral stent to allow the smaller stones to hopefully pass. There is at least one larger stone that won't be able to pass, so the plan is to do a procedure after Baby Hodgson is born. It is too risky to so right now.
Rob and I tried to make the most of our "vacation". We found a picture in the hospital that had water in it....... we took a picture together on our "babymoon", justliek we'd planned ot do in Hawaii! Not quite the same.... but our attempt to stay positive.
Rob brought his computer in the hospital so that I could spend my time productively by trying to buy concert tickets for Ali and Scott's business...... I wasn't the greatest ticket buyer; we determined that buying tickets on narcotics probably wasn't ideal! ; )
Anyways, as sad as we are to have missed our wonderful family vacation, we are blessed that this happend before we were in Hawaii.... since we had our own doctors to care for me. Hawaii will have to wait for us...... we will be back-- WITH a little one soon!

Second place!

Today I took my yearling anglo arab filly, S.Udden Megnificence; aka Suds to her first show. In fact it was the first time she had left the property.! She was very well behaved, all things considered and I was quite proud of her second place ( out of 3--so she did beat someone! ; ) My friend Kris met me there to help me out-- she took the pictures, showing off my "belly!" The judge didn't even notice that I was pregnant! I guess that black on black is really slimming!! ; )

Rags is here!

Well, the first of the three babies expected ( one being Baby Hodgson!) this year has arrived! It's a boy... his name is Rags to Riches S.Umday aka Rags. He was severely constipated and required 2 enemas within a few hours of birth, but is now running around like crazy! His mom Tara had a tramatic birthing the first time around, but this time all went smoothly. It happened at 8pm while I was at work... so I had to leave work early! Isn't he cute? !!!!!

Our bed.....

Finally after a year of marriage, I've put together our bed. I still don't have the pictures that we found at a place in Costa Rica on our honeymoon framed yet.... but in due time! ; ) Isn't it cute!? Goat thinks it's wonderful! ; )

My new bench and flower bed!!

My wonderful husband Rob designed and made a beautiful bench on our porch. He had shown me pictures of what he was thinking of making, but I had no idea it would turn out this great! The other bonus is that he created a flower bed behind it!! I'm so excited for SPRING!! ; )

Zech's birthday bowling party!

Last weekend, we were able to drive down the Rachel's house in Petaluma for Zech's 7th birthday. We went bowling!!!! It was a fun day for all involved. I would like to say that I did ok bowling, but I was LAST in both of our games..... I guess I'll just blame it on the belly : ) I think that Grace won her team's bumper bowling game... thanks to Zech's help!! (I should have been on the bumper bowling side!) We enjoyed cake and I think that the kids enjoyed their gifts! Happy Birthday Zech!

Portugal-- classical dressage training

My portugal trip was great.... but lots of work!! Baby Hodgson should be an expert horseman from day one.....! I went with 2 of my horsey girlfriends, Kris and Brenda. We went to Jerez de la Frontera in Spain to see the Spanish Riding School performance, then back to Portugal for our class. There were 10 Americans in our class; my friends and I were by far the rookies!! But I think that we all learned a lot. It was an experience that I was so happy to have had, since from here on out, life will be quite different. The ups and downs of the trip ranged from being robbed in Lisbon...( I had to buy all new riding gear in Spain to replace what was stolen!) to feeling what it was like to do piaffe and passage, Grand Prix dressage movements!! All in all, a great time. But I was happy to get home to normal life and normal food....it was on the tale end of my nauseus period of trimester number 1.... I managed, but sometimes the new food smells were too much!!

New orchids in the family!!

I think that Rob would be happy if I stuck with collecting orchids instead of horses!! Although I think he'd say that I have too many.... I think he'd prefer that over my addiction to accumulating horses!! I went to the Orchid Festival in San Francisco with my friend Monica at the beginning of the month.....Here are a few of my new orchid babies!!! Aren't they pretty!

So far so GOOD!!!

Well, I just got a thumbs up at my last OBGYN appointment. Baby Hodgson seems well and so does mom! This is an image of him/her-- s/he's lying with his/her head on the right in profile, hands up near his/her nose, and feet squished upwards with toes pointing towards head.... can you see him/her? Any guesses-- boy or girl? I've had a real mixed response so far-- s/he could be either!! HUmmmmmm Life will be changing dramatically soon..... are we ready? Ready or not, here Baby Hodgson comes!! ; )

Rob's GOOD NEWS

We recently got very good news about Rob's cranial bleed. The last test that was done was an MRI to look for something called a cavernous angioma which is commonly seen in people who have venous angiomas ( which Rob has.) They were looking because these cavernous angiomas can bleed and hence if he had one, then it would be possible that he could bleed again. The very good news is that he DOES NOT have a cavernous angioma!! ; ) So, that means that he probably had a telangiectasia which bled and obliterated itself and that he shouldn't bleed again!! We are both very excited for this very good news!! Thank you God, because with my lack of cooking abilities, it was extremely important for Baby Hodgson that he have his/her dad around!!

Pregnant and in Las Vegas!

Well, we were back for another year in Vegas..... We call it C.E., but each year it's become less of a continuing education trip and more of a fun get together. In years past, there were the few of us that got up to attend those 8 and 9 am morning lectures after a night on the town, but we've grown older and wiser! I made it a point to try to attend an 11am lecture daily!! ; ) This year was no different than any other..... We stayed out until at least 2 am every night and when we did get in, we'd stay up talking until at least 3 am!! We had lots of catching up to do! This year there were a few extra 'bumps" along.... Me, pregnant with baby Hodgson, and Lisa with her breast pumping routine every 4 hours..... she carried her breast pump where ever she went! ; ) We saw Spam alot this year... and just generally had a great time hanging out and dancing! I think that we were all ready to come home... how long can our bodies take this!?

Thanksgiving weekend and Horse rides

Well, Buzz was helpful in showing Zech and Grace what it feels like to ride a horse!! I think that they both enjoyed riding and "controlling" the horse!! I taught them how to guide Buzz by using his mane.... they're on their way to riding bareback and bridleless! : )

Jack Brainard Clinic

Last weekend I attended a 4 day clinic with an 86 year old legend in horsemanship, Jack Brainard. He still rides and trains young horses. He has had 7 world champions in 3 different fields, and bred many more. He is famous for helping people learn flying lead changes. That has been something that I've been trying to do all my riding career.... well, this past weekend, I got my first flying lead changes!! : ) YEA!!!! At the end of the 4 days, there was a little fun competition. There were 3 different sections; pleasure, reining, and obstacle course. I'm so happy to announce that after placing 5th in pleasure, 2nd in reining, and 2nd in obstacle, Buzz and I were named All Around Champions of the 12 participants!!!! That was so cool; especially since there were 2 parelli instructors and a number of very talented horsemen in the class!!! Buzz is still the wonder horse!! Now in WESTERN too!!!

Back in Murphy's!!

The other weekend, we decided to head back to the land where we tied the knot. Ironically, without even knowing, we went back to Murphy's for the biggest event of the year-- The GRAPE STOMP!!! We had wanted to avoid the crowds (There was a big wine tasting event in Plymouth involving all of the wineries in our area) but instead walked smack dab into the midst of crowds!!! But it was fun and we enjoyed the event in Murphy's...... They had teams of two stomping grapes and then they measured how much grape juice was taken out of each barrel. The teams dressed up and everyone had a great time!!! We went back and walked around Ironstone too..... memories!! (minus my pretty cinderella dress ; )

Orchid madness

Well, as many of you know, I love orchids. I've been attempting to grow them in my house with some success.... although it can sometimes be a LONG time before you see the next flower! ( It's not uncommon for orchids to bloom only once or twice a year.) Well, this year I'm cheating! ; ) I went to the orchid store with my friend Monica, and together , we went mad buying orchids! Since I didn't want Rob to feel left out, I bought him a Venus Fly Trap while I was there----- it seemed like the "manliest" plant there!! And I'm happy to report that it's cought 3 flies!! Whoohoooooo!!!

Buzz the Wonder Horse

Here is a picture of me during a dressage lesson with Tanya Vik. She is helping me with my riding position. As Allison knows, I have never been a very good rider in regards to my position. Allison always used to beat me in the shows! But Tanya has really been helpful-- and in this photo Buzz is doing the best that his little quarter horse self can!! ; ) Tanya is currently showing in the Pris St George division. This is just under Grand Pris... which is Olympic caliber.

New Addition! BROKEN!!

Well, reluctantly Rob is allowing me to have this little "special kitty" named Lamb ( Lamborgini for short, or as Rob affectionately calls him, PEG leg.) Now, Lamb is currently on probation. He has to demonstrate that he can poop in the right spots and will go outside at times.... And he can't be on the bed!! That's Goat's spot!

But why this kitty? Because as my parents know, I have a knack at finding special cats. This one seemed right because he is orange, my preferred colored, and has a broken leg--- this is my M.O. Ever since the original SLINGSHOT, I've been drawn to broken orange cats!! Funny, but Monster, my female orange cat, wasn't broken, but became broken somehow here at Seeking Unity Farms!! She now has a plate in her leg.

Now, in an effort to KEEP UP WITH THE JONES'..... ( i.e. my sister! : ) I've included Lamb's radiographs showing his fracture. For all those out there worried about him, no fears, he's healing well; and should have his cast off in less than a week!!

ALASKA 2007

Fun, friends, and lots of FISH!!!

Rob, and Will had a great time in Alaska. Details of their adventure will follow, as soon as I pin down Rob to write them!! ; )