The Birth of James

Monday morning, June 22nd, two days after my due date had passed I woke up not feeling well very achy and nauseous. I kept going to the bathroom wondering if I had the flu.

This was all around 10am. I didn't know if I was in labor or not. I just felt sick. 

It kind of would be more intense sometimes, but it was hard to tell if I was having a contraction or not. We called a nurse who said we should probably just go into the hospital. 

I called my mom to let her know we were headed there at about 1pm ish.  I arrived at the hospital and I wasn't for sure I was in labor I almost told Brent to take me home because I would be embarrassed if I really wasn't. I sat in the car another twenty minutes or so, I kept telling him I just had the flu. It was a sick achy feeling. I wasn't in a ton of pain, and everyone told me I wouldn't be able to walk and talk through my contractions when they were consistent.

Finally, Brent talked me into just getting checked out. I walked up to the labor and delivery still in my pjs. The nurse was shocked that I was dilated to a 6+ and soon as I was checked again an 8! I was going to go fast they kept telling me, The nurse was awesome and I asked her if she could come with me to be my actual nurse for my delivery. She called my midwife who was on the way. She kept encouraging me to go natural and I wanted to because it wasn't that bad at all  of contractions, but something was telling me I would want the epidural for latter so I hurried and got one while I could. That was worse then the contractions! Felt like fireworks popping in me. I am pretty sure I clawed that awesome nurse of mine.

By the time my midwife got there and they were done giving me the epidural, I was a 10 and time to start pushing. The epidural was not bad I could still feel everything just without pain I was surprised that pushing wasn't too bad. But then the clock started to keep passing without a baby crowning. Three hours I was pushing like this. I was surprised and scared as to what that meant. I over heard the midwife say that he was posterior. I knew what that meant saying oh no what now... By this time the epidural was wearing off since we had turned it off a long time ago thinking the baby was going to come fast. 

My midwife called in a Dr to do a vacuum and it got really intense fast. The vacuum was extremely painful. The Dr wasn't very nice telling me I had a small pelvis he wouldn't fit and my uterus was wimpy. As I pushed with a vacuum and a worn off epidural  I felt like he gave up on me from the get go he threw his gloves off saying I was to have a c section. I was bawling at this point specially since he called my uterus wimpy lol. Told him no I wasn't having a c section I could do it. He left and I told my midwife I just needed to calm down. She let me rest a little threw some contractions and turned my epidural back on. 

She came back with my awesome new nurses and I was extremely ready to mad push that baby out we were not having a c section. 

Almost 5 hours of pushing I finally got him out posterior at 8:52pm. We were all surprised he was 9lbs 4oz 21inches! But with him being so big, and posterior I tore bad. A painful 3rd degree tear all the way through. 

It was awesome though having my hard work pay off and having him after all that! Brent and I just scooped him up wet and all as soon as he came out. I was thankful I listened though and got an epidural with that tear and everything at the end. Brent was awesome the loudest person in the room cheering me on, holding my leg and helping the midwife he was loving it. We both were crying a little. James was very alert and quite as soon as he was laying on my warm skin. Staring up at his mom and dad he had just met. 

The Dr had to come back to sew me up and it took him almost an hour.  I loved my labor and delivery nurses they were great with me so positive and getting me water as soon as I had the baby. I could feel the spirit in that room. We were praying through the whole experience. 

Overall it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I didn't feel much pain. I remained calm and positive. My worries and fears were washed away with our prayers. 

@mrskerstiejo

It's summer here in the Northern Hemisphere!

It's not like the summers I've known before at all.

This summer on June 22nd I gave birth to our first baby! Our son James Val Cowley! We are trilled to be parents and finally have him in our life's

It sure is a change though. I am not going to lie either it's been hard adjusting. Labor and delivery wasn't an easy one but a lot better then I was expecting. I tried hard to breast feed, but with anxiety, not getting my milk in, and an infection it didn't work out sadly. That first two weeks I cried a lot. 

He is now a month old and I am starting to get the hang of it all. 

It's like having heaven in our home! 

I've been thinking a lot about my blog but, it's hard enough finding time for a shower these days! 

Time with him is precious and exhausting so many emotions all at once! 

I am still me though just me as a mom! 

And one thing you know I love is to cook!

It's been a struggle trying to make myself something to eat for dinner. That's the time Brent works and with a little guy in my arms I've been eating a lot of quick meals. 

However, I've always wanted to cook my way through a cook book and blog about it. So that's exactly what I will be doing! Motivating myself to write and cook all at the same time!

Why not do it to my all time favorite cook book! 

This book was made by Brent and my ward when we were just little back in 2000. It's compiled of hundreds of tired and true recipes from a range of aged women! It's my go to recipe book with everything in it I would cook in my kitchen! 

So between my posts of our adventures I will be adding posts of the adventures in my kitchen! 

I hope you guys follow a long and test out some of the recipes! 

I would love to hear about how they turn out in your own kitchen! 

Spring means General Conference and Easter Sunday!

Spring time is a wonderful time!

The world starts to wake up from a cold winter.

Flowers start to bloom!

The green starts to return to the trees, grass, and my mountains! 

The sun shines, and even on those rainy days the Earth seems happy.

Seems refreshed! 

Tulips and Daffodils! 

Easter comes with is refreshing colors to remind us of our Saviors love he had for us when we suffered, died, and lived again for us!! 

What joy and peace that brings me! I love my Savior with all my heart! My favorite hymns are "How Great Thou Art" and "I Know my Redeemer Lives". He is the base of my testimony! I plant my faith firmly in Him! Brings me to tears when I have a prayer of love for my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

What better way to spend Easter Sunday then hearing from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through our apostles and Prophet! 

I just cannot wait for General Conference and Easter weekend! 

• It means mission reunion! Brent and I get to go to his mission presidents house and hear all about his time he had in Brazil with his mission buddies! While we eat Pao de Queijo until our tummy's ache!

 

• It means that we get to discuss where we are in life and where we want to be going. Praying about what we need to be focused on hearing that weekend. Praying our leaders will know exactly what we need to hear and they never fail! We write our questions down that we have, and afterwords they have always been answered. Sometimes we study more about them. 
• It means that I get to snuggle up on the couch, with my note book and pen, for the weekend. Writing the inspiration that comes to me! 
• It means that I will be making our "Conference Treat." Something like caramel popcorn, muddy buddies, trail mix, etc. That we can snack on while we listen to men of God! 

We will be overwhelmed with the spirit and overwhelmed with the teachings we are receiving from that spirit! 

I cannot wait until James is old enough to add more traditions to our General Conference weekend! 

It always comes when we are ready to be edified and uplifted! It will be refreshing like the spring is to the Earth! 

For Easter we don't have many traditions. But I can't wait to decorate eggs, watch bible videos, and remember the Savior! Normally I can't wait to go to church in our new Easter Sunday cloths, but this year that might have to be for the next weekend. 

Growing up Easter was always near our spring break so we would take that time off and go out of town! I have spent a lot of Easters on the road, usually in Vegas with family, or sometimes else where. Easter does remind me of Vegas a lot with family. 

The General Conference and Easter season bring us a "Spring Cleaning" to our spirit. We remember our foundation in the Savior and how we can edify that through our lives better! I love that feeling! I enjoy the feeling of spring cleaning though its so refreshing to have a clean home why not spring clean your body, mind and spirit too? 

What are some of your favorite General Conference or Easter traditions in your home? 

Follow me on instagram @mrskerstiejo 

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Our Happily Ever After! or so we thought...

Our honeymoon was nothing less then an adventure! We laugh about it now and think about how fun it was! At the time though, it did not go according to plan.

I love going to places I have never been before. I love the outdoors, and the Grand Canyon fit both of those criteria.

We booked a cabin at the Grand Canyon ranch resort and we were really excited! 

The Wedding Night

We left our wedding in a trashed car, and completely exhausted. We were though utterly thrilled to be going home together as husband and wife for the rest of eternity!
Upon arrival at our new apartment I could sense something was wrong when I saw some pieces of confetti outside. Of course as soon as we got the door open their was confetti EVERY WHERE! It covered the floors and our bed. There was also streamers, condom balloons filled with confetti, streamers, lubricant on the bathroom handle, and seram wrap around the toilet.....
I collapsed to the floor crying. I just wanted to sleep with my new husband before we had to leave town the next day. I even called my mom in tears. Looking back, even looking back the next day, it was kind of funny and they did add roses and some gifts that was really thoughtful.
However, I wish that we would have gotten a hotel with some dinner that night.
Instead I had to take off our bed sheets that were covered in confetti. We froze with barely some blankets. We also had no food in the cupboards and ate some pop tarts for dinner.
Why we didn't go get food? I am not sure, I just wanted sleep.
We had forgotten some things at the reception center and at our homes. Like shoes, make up etc and had to stop by both of our parents houses before leaving town. Thankfully we loaded up at the grocery store for breakfast, and snacks to take on the road trip.



Road Trip
We finally headed to Vegas! We spent the time on the road talking, singing, discussing our life to come, and enjoying each others company. We took turns driving, and had fun taking stops and taking in the scenery. We weren't in a rush as we drove our painted car.



When we got into town, we checked into our hotel, a nice Hilton right behind the strip. After settling into our hotel and resting we headed off to visit with some of my family who live in Vegas, who weren't able to make it to the wedding. The rest of my family were still in Utah from the wedding.

That night we didn't go to any fancy restaurant, just a fast food place actually, and  headed to Fremont street. We walked a little around, but it didn't interest us at all.
We grabbed our magnet and went to the hotel room for early retire.

That next morning we got up for the hotel breakfast and headed to the hotel pool for a little before we checked out. Everything was relaxing and enjoyable even if we didn't really do to much.
As many times as I had been to Vegas growing up and even camping at lake mead, I had never seen the hoover dam. We headed there first. It was busy and very hot. It was really interesting, and a place we have to see at least once in a life time.



We didn't spend a lot of time there, for we thought we had a six hour drive to the Grand Canyon. Thank goodness for GPS on a smart phone! Makes road trips so easy!
Taking the route to the Grand Canyon Ranch resort lead us down dirt roads not near the rim of the Grand Canyon we thought we would be at.
Actually when we pulled up to the Ranch we hadn't even seen the Grand Canyon.
I thought for sure we were in the wrong place.
Unfortunately it was the right place as we checked in.

First of all don't get me wrong staying at a running dude ranch would have been really cool if that is what I had prepared for. I would have brought my riding boots. Not a rolling suit case I had to roll across the hot Arizona desert. Yes a running dude ranch is where we were at, it was something from the movies for sure!
We got to our cabin and unlocked the ready exhausted and confused. We found our selfs a twin bed and a cow looking straight at us through a small window, that when Brent went to close it the curtain fell off.
I cried again...
I called my mom again.
It just wasn't going according to plan at all.
We tried making the best of it though! On top of us not being near the beautiful Grand Canyon if we did want to go see the ugly west rim we would have to take a toll road through Indian reservations and then have no where to hike. Actually the really cool pictures you see of the glass walk way over the Grand Canyon is in this part. To go on the walk way costs $50 a person and then you couldn't even take your camera! Not worth it at all! The lady working the front desk in the dinning hall even told us to not wonder off far, there were lots of rattle snakes, she advised us not to go hiking. their wasn't much to do around the camp except sit in the shade and listen to all the cattle... or take a cold shower but even then dust would be covering us back up in a minute.
The Ranch dinning hall was the only place to eat for 4 hours! Only place around! We had no choice but to eat there. They knew it too as they charged an arm and a leg for us to eat! Still one of the priciest paying places we ever been.
It would have been my chance to get Brent on a horse but yet again they wanted $200 for them to take us on their horse around camp not even on a good trail ride! It was all unbelievable!
We spent an arm and took a sunset wagon ride where we got to see more cacti, snakes, cattle and dirt.
We were very disappointed and hadn't planned on all of this in our budget.
We finally said screw it and took a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon! It was pretty awesome! Actually cheaper then us driving too it or going on a poney ride!

(our cabin)


It was odd that we were the only Americans staying there who weren't the dude Ranch Cowboys who lived there..
They had a singing Cowboy with a guitar following you every where. I am not even joking! He got word that we were on our honey moon and as we left the camp fire that night from teaching the foreign how to make s more he sang about how we probably wouldn't be staying up all night talking about politics....
then I got chased by a cow in the dark.. not joking again!



I seriously wish we would have had a video crew with us, it would have made the perfect movie!
It was the adventure we were looking for that's for sure!



After spending a couple days in the dessert in the middle of no where, we still wanted to see the Grand Canyon we originally thought we would be seeing.
So we made a reservation in Kanab for the next night!

We headed off to the South Rim! The Ranch had given us a short cut through another very long dirt road. They always scare me that we are headed miles in the wrong direction, but at the end we finally made it to Route 66. We passed through a cute town, Williams town, for lunch that was very historic Route 66 we loved it!



Finally after a very long ride it seemed like we pulled up to the Grand Canyon visitor center. I couldn't wait any longer, I ran to the edge until I could finally see the Rim. I wasn't disappointed at all! It was all I had ever imagined! Beautiful and Majestic! I totally understand why Native Americans think such places are holy and spiritual!



We still had a long drive ahead of us to Kanab, so we weren't able to spend a ton of time at the Grand Canyon. Sadly we weren't able to go hiking like we had planned on from day one. We stopped at every view point though and more! We took in as much as we could!!



We can't wait to go back there! Specially the most beautiful North Rim! We need a camping trip there! The drive from the Grand Canyon to Kanab was beautiful and fun! We were so happy we had finally seen that wonderful Canyon!



That night in Kanab we were excited to have a nice hotel room and relax. We walked to dinner and enjoyed the night.

The next day we drove home ready for our life to begin together!
Knowing we had a welcoming apartment that needed cleaning! 

My Favorite Love Story

I love hearing peoples love stories, almost as much as I love telling mine. ;)
My favorite books are hopeless romantic, full of passion type that leads to lots of tears.

Brent and I have passed through each others lives a few times with out even knowing it. We both grew up in Clinton, Utah, not far from each other. As a young child a mere block. We were in the same ward even, and had participated in some of the same activities. I don't remember him specifically being there though.
My family and I moved across town, still in Clinton, but further away from Brent and out of his ward. Latter as I was a 7th grader at Sunset Jr high, he was an 9th grader at the same school. I had started into band, and he had been been in band since he started jr high. We remember some of the same band concerts, but not each other.
He went to North Ridge, and I went to Clearfield High. (Go Falcons!) We both may have been thinking of our future spouses, but neither one of us is who we thought we were thinking of at the time.

Brent spent his time with a good group of friends. He played the trumpet in band for six years. He went to probably every school dance. He liked having fun on dates. He was a faithful member to the LDS church. He graduated in 2009. Brent started school at Weber state, soon after went on a mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil. He learned how to speak fluent Portuguese. After returning from his mission he started attending the LDS Clinton Young Singles Adult ward. He had goals of becoming an engineer and marrying a girl. He took his goals quit seriously and started dating a lot, with his new gain of confidence.



I, Kerstie spent my time with a few close friends. I didn't go on lots of dates, but had a few serious boyfriends. I realized soon enough how fun high school dances were, wishing I had realized sooner. I enjoyed taking classes in different subjects at school. My senior year I was baptized a member of the LDS church. (At the same point in time Brent was on his mission at the time of my baptism) Soon after I was faced with a hardship. I started to struggle. I was hurting. I graduated in 2011. I worked and played a lot. I started the general math program at Weber State. I started attending the LDS Clinton Young Singles Adult ward.



As I was struggling with my faith, this is where our paths crossed again. Brent had been home from his mission a couple months. It was between February-March of 2012. The singles ward was having a linger longer that Sunday. I had brought a non -member friend of mine to church with me. She was an out going person. We sat at a table across from Brent. I don't remember who else was around us. I don't remember the meal we were eating, my guess is breakfast for some reason. I remember he was wearing his suit. I was wearing a brown dress. I was shy. I didn't say anything to him except hi and when asked, my name is Kerstie. While my friend sat and talked to him. Asking him about Brazil. I couldn't say anything, I was struck with something while I stared at him in awe. He looked so familiar to me. Very familiar. Almost as if I knew him from some where.

Time passed and I had decided to work at Trefoil Ranch. A camp I would be living, and working at for three months the coming summer. It was part of my decision in that I needed to be happier. I needed to heal.

The day before I drove to camp, I finished packing. I stuck everything in my car ready to go. I had been called in the singles ward on the activities committee. That night before I started at Trefoil the singles ward was having an activity. The only reason I made time to go, was because it was part of my calling. I had been asked to bring a salad, my kind sister made it for me while I was busy packing.

The activity was at a park in West Point. They had planned to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. I came alone. A group started a game of softball, and I would have joined in, however this Brent guy started talking to me. The whole night Brent and I sat and talked. We may have laughed at another persons joke, or said hi to a familiar friend, but we were very engaged in each other. I had that same awe, I can't take my eyes off this man, kind of feeling. We talked about everything about each others life's. It felt very natural. I had to inform him that the next morning I would be leaving town for three months. He was disappointed. He wanted to ask me out on a date right then and there.

Trefoil was great to me! I grew as a person tremendously! It was the healing I had been looking for. It was faith building! Going through growth so much, so fast, was hard on me. Yet it was very spiritual. I loved it! This summer Brent had been dating other girls. While I hardly saw a man in one week at an all girls camp. We had put each other in the back of our minds.



Summer came to an end as it always does. I returned home beginning of August. I started attending Weber State full time, ready to take life head on. The week I came home I had two guys who I decided to kind of pursue. I planned a date with one. The same week I went with a friend to a singles ward activity. Brent was there. I was excited, yet very disappointed that he was with other girls. I kept my distance even if the other girls were just his ride.
That Sunday at church, Brent walked right up to me and asked me out on a date! Of course I said yes. Even if I had other dates. Thankfully those didn't turn out the way I planned anyways.

The day of our first date was September 22nd 2012. Two good friends of mine from camp were visiting me. I had been spending the day with them so I couldn't go on a hike that day like Brent had planned. Instead we went on a night hike up water fall canyon. I talked his ears off!! I thought for sure I had made a fool of my self! I didn't really want to go all the way up the trail to the waterfall that night. I didn't trust him enough yet to be miles in the wilderness in the dark. We stuck close around the beginning of the trail head. Finding other trails to explore. That night also happened to be Weber States homecoming game, which meant while we were on the mountain behind the university we were able to have a great view of the fireworks. As we were having a moment from the movies sitting and watching the fire works, Brent asked me if I wanted to kiss. I was taken back, my heart stopped. It was our first date? What was he thinking? Then he handed me a Hershey kiss with a smile on his face. Not sure if he knew the anxiety he has just caused me. He brought me home that night at a decent time.

The next Sunday in church we were of course all the talk at a singles ward. Nothing is a secret. Specially when it comes to dating! He sat next to me the whole time. Made me feel good when he put his arm around me.
We started meeting up at Weber State walking to each others classes together and having endless conversations.
He texted me non stop, using all his prepaid minutes.
I was still a little shy though.
That next weekend was general conference weekend and he had invited me to watch it with him and his family. I worked at Trefoil though that weekend, and came home more sick then I had ever been in a long while. I was throwing up and very faint, when their was a knock on the door. He had brought me a get well car and cookies. Worst of all my sister let him in and down stairs to see my sickly self! I chased him out back upstairs, as I was trying not to collapse.
First of October meant Halloween time! A group of friends from the singles ward went to a haunted house together. I stood my ground as I made the plans and paired us up. I looked to Brent and said I am going to be holding your arm through the whole thing. He didn't complain. I hate haunted houses though. So does he. We had an adventure though it. It was great I loved clinging to him. At the end of the night though as we went in separate cars to go home, I told my friends in the car that I just wasn't feeling it with him. I can't believe I had said that, I think I just wasn't feeling the haunted house!

It didn't stop though, the endless conversations, him walking me to all my classes. We started having lunch together at Weber State between classes. We started packing one for each other. I poured my heart out to him. I told him things I tell my best friend. I started realizing that he was a great friend. We didn't go a day with out seeing each other once.



By the end of October we had made it official. With him expressing his feelings towards me with a song. The Best Thing by Reliant K. The song rung true in every way. I was love struck.
We had gone on a hike with his family. We started making time, excuses, and effort to see each other any minute we could spare! We went to the singles ward Halloween party as a couple dressed as Fred and Wilma Flintstones and won the best couples costume contest!
We were pretty high and happy off of each other. We were up too late talking to each other. One night he had wanted to talk in person, so I drove over to his house. It was too late to go inside so we sat in my freezing car. He handed me a rules list to keep respect between one another and keep our bodies sacred. He was pretty serious about it. I looked to him in high respect for treating me so well. I had never had a guy before in my life treat me the way he did. Little did we know we had killed my car. Poor guy had trouble jump starting my car in the dark and had fried my radio.



A mere month latter by the end of Thanksgiving we started talking marriage. We had spent a day doing baptisms at the LDS Bountiful temple. Its a day we both look back in awe at just how magical it was! Everything was just right! I was very happy! He was making me a better person! Everything felt very natural! It always had with Brent. He took me for a walk to explain his marriage intentions and that he had prayed about it and felt great about it. I too prayed and got an absolute yes about it all! We planned a date with my parents so that Brent could ask my dad. I was terrified for him. I thought he was going to puke! My dad gave us a good talking to. We bought a ring that week!!



Then I waited... and waited... my birthday came and went. We went to temple square lights. We went to very expensive fancy dinner and I was still waiting..
Christmas day came of 2012 and he asked me to spend the evening alone with him. He took me to the park in West Point where our story really had started.
It was freezing and dark. We made a fire that couldn't keep us warm enough. We roasted a hot dogs and marshmallows for our Christmas dinner. He then pulled out a bag of strawberry star burst. I sat roasting one when he asked me to hand him a yellow one. I replied that their wasn't any yellow ones in the bag. It didn't come with that color. He asked me too again, and I thought he was crazy. Little did I know he had put the ring in the bag and had wanted me to find it. He sat by me searching in the bag since I wouldn't do it myself. Soon he stopped and turned to me on his knee asking if I would marry him. Of course I said yes! Then he asked which finger the ring goes on? haha Oh I love that man!





I had always planned on having an out doors wedding so we decided to wait a few months. I needed time to plan a wedding anyways. I think it helped my parents too. We had only spent 3 short months dating before we were engaged. Now we would spend 5 months engaged. It seemed like a long time! We had a lot of fun though!



May 30th 2013 we got married in the LDS Logan Utah Temple! With all the stress of planning a wedding, that day it all didn't matter. It was perfect! My eyes were glued on the man of my dreams! Brent bawled as we sat and waited to be sealed. My checks hurt from smiling in happiness! It truly was the best day of my life!
(and I finally got to french kiss him the minute after the ceremony was over! lol)







It seems like so long ago now that we first met....
And we live Happily Ever After!!

Part 2 the fun Honeymoon story coming soon...