The Patterson Family plus 1 return to church

What a great testimony meeting! Haley and Benjamin returned to church with Noah Gabriel in tow! It was as if he was a little celebrity or something! I...naturally, was there waiting in the parking lot to take pics of them when they arrived. Everyone wanted to get a look at him. I think everyone was more surprised that they came to church seeing that Haley only had Noah a week ago. She looked great, I must say. I went out yesterday and bought her a nice loose fitting dress and dressy flip flops. They were only going to stay for testimony meeting, but stayed for the entire 3 hours. The baby slept until the end of combined third hour and when he woke up he was just as sweet as ever. They came over to dinner and I was so happy that Noah Gabriel came to Grandma's house for his first visit! Arielle fried fish and it was delicious. Seth joined us for dinner and Chris and Erica came over a little later. We made plans to have Erica's shower on May 5th at Arielle and Teayona's apartment.

Arielle and Teayona took all of the kids home with them!!!! It is really quiet now. Ivy is catching up on some of his homework and isn't it obvious what I am doing. The girls have an extra day out from Spring Break because they have to get their eyes examined in the morning.

My eyes are beginning to get heavy. I am really tired. I just wanted to share my day as it was one of my best in a long time.

Good night!

THE LAST FEW DAYS

The last few days have been incredible! Noah Gabriel is just amazing as well as his parents who I am still in awe of.

I have been with them every day since they came home and it has been wonderful. I get to hold my grandson whenever I want and when he looks at me I have the most warm and intense feeling.

Tonight we watched a movie together and I held Noah Gabriel the entire time. Some would say that I am spoiling him, but what did anyone expect???? I am going to spoil him.

My family spent the day at Haley and Benjamin's yesterday. We had a lot of fun! The girls were able to hold their little nephew and they were estatic even Mikaeylla who didn't want to put him down. We all agree that Noah Gabriel is the most beautiful baby in the world!

I am about to settle down for the evening. I have much to do in preparation for a couple of events for Daddy-Man. I know that it is only through the power of Heavenly Father that I am able to do all of the things that I have been able to do. I am so tired at times that I just want to stop, drop and sleep, but a little voice inside of me continues to tell me that I can do it and I just pick myself up and do it.

It has been a long and exciting Easter Break. Wonderful things have happened in my family and I look forward to watching little Noah Gabriel grow up with so many who love and adore him.

Good Night.

I will cherish these picturess forever. My first picture with my grandson, Noah Gabriel Patterson. He is "Simply Beautiful".

OUR BLESSING

Being a Grandmother

Having my own children has been a wonderful experience (at times). Witnessing the birth of my grandson, Noah Gabriel Patterson has been an experience I will never forget and one of the most precious and sacred things I will ever be a part of.

First, let me say that my grandson is beautiful! I know, I know people always say that about their own. But Noah's face is perfect, his eyes are beautiful and he is developing a little personality already.

Second, which probably should be first...mother is doing wonderful. She has impressed me and I am still in awe of her. She was in labor for 36 long, grueling, painful (very painful at times) hours before finally asking her doctor to perform a c-section. She didn't take her epidural until she was dialated to 7 and absolutely couldn't take the pain any longer.

It was difficult initially to watch my daughter in so much pain, but I knew that it was a labor of love. I know how much she loved Noah and wanted what was best for him. The nurses kept telling her she could have the epidural at any time and that she didn't have to worry about giving in to the pain, but Haley held out because she is like that...strong and wanting to experience her labor.

Benjamin was amazing! He was by Haley's side the entire time except when they gave her the epidural. He whispered encouragement in her ear and supported every decision she made. There was a special moment between Benjamin and myself when they were giving Haley the epidural. We were in the waiting room and I was on the computer. I looked to tell Benjamin something and I saw his head bowed in prayer. When he finished he looked up at me and he was crying. He wiped his eyes and shared his feelings of love for my daughter, feelings he said he never thought he could feel. He talked about how amazing she was and how undeserving he felt of her love. I told him that they were both deserving of each other and how happy he has made my daughter. I know they were meant to be together and to share a union of their love with their son is a result of obeying God's laws. They are truly blessed.

When I finally went home after all was well with Haley and Noah, I could rejoice to myself and thank my Heavenly Father for all that he has done for my posterity. Our family has been blessed beyond measure. When I look at my daughter, I still see my little girl, but I know that she is a woman, grown up, married and with a beautiful child of her own. She will be a wonderful mother I know she will. She and Benjamin will be great parents and pass down to Noah all of the things he will need to know to be a loving and kind individual.

I am so happy this day! I can't wait to go back to the hospital today to see my family...especially Noah:)!

Have a wonderful day!

Being a mother isn't easy.

If you think being a mother becomes easier as your children grow older, take my advice...it doesn't get any easier. I wouldn't trade being a mother with any other job, but it certainly takes a lot of hard work, learning to keep your mouth closed sometimes and always having a ready shoulder for your children to cry or lean on.

Random thoughts as I start my day....

Have you ever thought about what your marriage is worth? I was watching the news this morning where a woman who was married to Beattles Paul McCartney was awarded some 48.6 million dollars after being married for close to 4 years. She was tickled at the outcome and I was astonished! This was because I did the math...money verses love and eternal happiness. When they married they claimed it was forever...they both stated they found the love of their lives. She didn't sign a prenup because she wanted to prove to everyone she was not marrying for money. In the end she did just that. She married for money. She fought, cat scratched and discussed the private things of her marriage to ensure she received a huge settlement. Love...huh? Eternal happiness?

Ivy and I talked about the worth of our marriage. We both agree that it is priceless. If we divorced, we walk away with nothing but a failed marriage. It wouldn't matter how much money we earned, we failed. We failed ourselves and we failed our children.

Just random thinking this morning. Have a good day.

Girl's Night Out

Last night was fun. It was our 2nd meeting of our special Girl's Night Only...get it? Anyway we inducted a new member last night, Monica. Tiffany, Nina, Monica and I met at Teayona and Arielle's new apartment. Pat, Ina, Teayona(who had to work), and Arielle(who is in California until Tuesday) couldn't make it. We talked for a bit then went to Cafe Phoenica for dinner. We all love the food there (Greek). The meal was wonderful and the conversation and friendships were even better. We all have so much to bring to the table and we are all so very different but yet so much alike. I know that sounds crazy, but eventhough our personalities range from near perfect to close to psychotic, we all enjoy our lives and our familes and our roles as mothers and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father.

Monica will be a good addition to our group. She was a little uncertain of what to expect, but after the icebreaker where we told her why we have our special Girl's Night, she was okay and the night was off to what I deemed to be one of my best nights out in a long time.

We ended earlier than we did the last time, but the time was indeed well spent. We have already started planning next month's get together. We are going to meet on the 11th. That is the weekend before Nina's birthday. We are going to have a wig party! That's right up my alley and I am looking forward to seeing everyone with different hair styles.

I love my friends. They can get a little crazy at times, they can make me crazy sometimes and I know I make them crazy most of the time, but they are a part of my life and without each part of my life that they represent (does that make sense?), I am extremely grateful for my Heavenly Father who knew what kind of friends and support system I would need.

Donna out for now.

A Good Night

The title says it all. The long day that I had watching Haley going through the ringer at her dr's appointment. She was tired and hungry and Dr. Thomas told her that if she isn't ready next week (39th week) they will schedule her appointment to induce. We were at her appointment for almost 2 1/2 hours!

Benjamin met us and Haley went home with him, I headed to the Relief Society Celebration where I hooked up with my girl, Tiffany. She is a Godsend (sometimes) and knows me better than some people who have known me for years. Anyway, after Relief Society we went to Walmart and bought a bunch of candy, and came home. She sat here with me as I talked to her about some of the things I have been and still am going through. She always knows when to comment and when to just say nothing. That is one of the things that I love about her. She doesn't care where I have been but she does have a lot to say about where I am going.

Anyway that is the beauty of surrounding yourself around people who have your interests at heart and aren't afraid to tell you when you are screwing up. You know how some people worry about telling you something because they don't want to hurt your feelings. Enough about Tiffany..her head is big enough already.

Tonight is Ivy's last night on the night shift. He doesn't have to go back to work until Monday and then it is back on days. I am glad because he will be back at night where we all want him to be. I will finally be able to go to sleep at night in my bed. Hoorah!

In closing, I am fortunate to have the people in my life that care about me.

Good Night.

Trying to go to sleep

Here it is 11:27pm, I have been at Haley and Benjamin's the entire day and during the evening while Benjamin was at Mutual. I was tired from the "False Alarm" this morning and never went back to sleep after Elle left at 8:15 this morning. My eyes have been heavy all day and I just kept thinking I would fall asleep and wouldn't hear Haley call out if she needed me. The doctor told her the meds they gave her would knock her out and that if going home she should not be left alone. I stayed busy around their place, but now that I am home and kicked back...there is a big problem I am experiencing and that is a lack of sleep. I don't do the warm milk thing and I don't want to take a valium, but I do want to go to sleep because I need to have Arielle to the airport at 5:00am, for her trip to California.

So, I am going to try to catch some zzzzzs.

Good Night