Josh and Brianne's Photography Design Skills

 I have been spending the majority of my "job" time on our website and have since been learning photoshop to promote our grille products.  These new skills came in handy when we wanted some professional pictures of Saleen without going to a photographer.  Josh is an excellent photographer and even though he doesn't do much photoshop he is also very good at that too because of how artistic he is.  So he helped me with the highlights of her headband, accentuated her eyes, and shadows for her picture.  For me it is so stressful to take little ones to a photographer so being able to have Josh do it and now we can edit them is such a blessing.  Anything to alleviate stress around here:)

Original Picture with Scratches (self induced)

Saleen after Photoshop

Baby Pictures

 Seer and "Saleenie"

 The Evil Sorcerer, the Cat, the Pumpkin, and the Lady Bug

 The Four Amigos

Saleen After Church

Our Beautiful Saleen at 5 Months

Fall Fun

Another digital scrapbooking design by Smilebox

Summertime

This collage customized with Smilebox

Saleen and Sisters

This free picture collage customized with Smilebox

A Family of Six

It's been 8 weeks since Miss Saleen came into our home and it's been a wonderful couple of months. We all have a routine that involves her now like she has always been with us. The thing I haven't gotten used to yet is having FOUR kids! When we run errands without Josh it is the craziest. The looks I get from people and comments we get everywhere the Ellison train goes like the "your brave," or "are these all yours?" and always "you’ve got your hands full!" I say train because that’s how I feel sometimes. I’ve got one kid in the shopping cart, one walking, and another pushing a stroller with the other kid. Sometimes I even count them all when we get in the car to make sure I have all of them. We've been trying to get out of the house so we walk to the park. Now we have one in a stroller, one on roller skates, one puling a wagon with one in the wagon attached to the dog. I'm sweaty just walking a block with this crew and yes I am counting it as exercise.

I am amazed that the newness and excitement for Seer and her baby sister hasn't worn off yet. I still have to pry her 30 pound body off from squashing Saleen while she says "ah baby" and about every 30 minutes she asks me where she is if she's napping and she is the first one she asks about when she wakes up. She is also very protective of her and will yell at anyone who tries to pick her up besides mom or dad. She has made "no, no" and "uh ah" her new favorite words.

On the 4th of July (Seer's first one where she understood the fireworks) she was frightened by the "boom booms." After some time of me holding and consoling her that everything was okay I used Saleen to help her be brave. After the loud ones would go off I took Saleen close to Seer and said "sissy sissy what's that? It's loud."  I wasn’t surprised when Seer rubbed her head and said "its otay" for the first time. Now every time she cries or squishes her she will say "ah baby its otay."

With the rain this week having all of us stuck inside has left me pretty antsy. Josh joked that I have one too many kids. It's a little much juggling two older, smart, cunning siblings, a spirited 2 year old who has a cold, a newborn, and a dog right in the middle. The easiest one is by far the newborn. Oh how I long for the days I could stick a bottle in Kaiden’s mouth and he would drift to sleep.

Saleen in Pictures 6 Weeks

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Introducing Saleen Allenki Ellison

Saleen Allenki arrived safely on May 18th at 8:06 am.  She was 6 pounds 12 ounces and 19.5 inches long.  One ounce less than Seer was.  Josh thought up Saleen and its really come to grow on me.  Its a beautiful and unique name.  Her middle name is a mix of Josh's dad's name and his grandfather's.  (Allen and Ki) She has been a very good baby and I've quickly fallen in love with her.  I didn't know what to expect with my fourth child.  I didn't think I could love anymore than I already do but your heart stretches with each child.  She is a true joy in our home. Its scary but she makes me want more already.  I will fight the urge!

Seer kissed my belly every time I said where is the baby.  Now she gets to kiss the real thing.  She is a phenomenal big sister especially for a 2-year-old.

Seer and McKenna getting to know their new baby sister.

 A proud papa of 3 girls now.  He kept saying, "she is so adorable" and I would say "your welcome." 

Seer can't get enough of the baby.  We have to watch her close because she wants to pick her up, rock her, read books to her, which ultimately could lead to an accident.  But she has showed no signs of jealousy and she only wants to help.

 Me and McKenna had a deal that when the new baby came she would take care of her and I would take care of Seer.  She has done a marvelous job so far feeding her, protecting her, and getting her to go to sleep.  She is awesome!

Saleen holding McKenna's finger.

No, that isn't a doll.  Its Saleen and Seer.  Its hard to believe that Seer was that small 2 years ago-now she's huge! I deliver small girls but they sure get big.

Kaiden did an awesome job of getting her bottle and feeding her.  Kaiden and McKenna have been a tremendous help with their younger siblings.

Baby Update

In an effort to update the family and friends following our BLOG I wanted to let you know of the latest development.  Last Monday I went in for a third ultrasound to see if my placenta had moved away from my cervix enough to have a home birth.  It was at 1.8 cm and needed to be at least at 2 in order to have my midwife deliver at home.  When they measured me I was told that it was at 1.5 cm so not only could I not have a home birth but I had to have a c-section in order to minimize the chance of hemorrhaging.  This was not the news we were looking for, but at the end of the day I am grateful for the technology to find these problems and prevent any harm to me or the baby.


In the beginning our plan was to do a home birth in order to save money.  But as time went on and I read books in preparation I began to really get excited of the prospect of being a "woman warrior" and laboring and delivering without pain medication.  I kept telling Josh with the money I'm saving us you should buy me this or that (I was joking...kind-of).  So now I will never know what its like to go into labor naturally or to say I did it naturally.  It bums me out but there is nothing I could have done.  I admit that I am also relieved that I don't have to go through that torture, but I'm always looking for ways to be as a tough as Josh.


So tomorrow Wednesday the 18th Josh and I will be going to Sacred Heart Riverbend for my c-section at 7:20 in the morning.  She will probably be here by 8 in the morning and once recovery has begun we'll be glad to let everyone know her name, weight, etc.  I have to stay in the hospital for about 3 days so Teri will have the kids until then and then my mom takes them over the weekend.  The coming week Seer will go to Teri's house because I can't lift for up to a month and Seer requires this still so she'll be Grandma's helper until I recover a bit more.

Josh will be struggling with the business on his own for a little while but I will try to help as much as I can.  He now he has a couple of employees so he's not 100% alone there now.  This business is more demanding, time consuming, and backbreaking than we anticipated so in order to stay afloat Josh has to work massive hours.  

We are so blessed to have family close by that can help us out.  Thank you everyone!

Second Ultrasound Update

Here is "confirmed" baby girl Ellison at 35 weeks.  This is the first time I've gotten a 3D image which was really neat.  FYI her arm is not cut in half-that's just how much of her fit in the image.
They were checking on my low lying placenta which apparently is still a problem.  It is supposed to be at least 2 cm away from your cervix for most doctors to let you deliver naturally and mine is at 1.8 cm.  As it is now my midwife cannot deliver at home as we had planned and I would have to deliver in the hospital.  The doctor that overlooked my ultrasound said he would be willing to let me try to have natural labor before intervening with a c-section but only in the hospital.  So in 3 weeks I am going to have a third ultrasound to see if its moved to 2 cm so my midwife can deliver at home.  If not, I will have to go to the hospital but it won't be an automatic c-section.  I have orders to eat as much as humanly possible especially protein to try to get her bigger which will result in a healthier baby and help to move my placenta.  Protein is the hardest thing for me to consume because I don't like meat but I'm trying.  All in all I know that she is healthy and my health is in well capable hands so it will work out.  My main concern is not getting a c-section which may happen if I began to hemorrhage.  Please keep us in your prayers.

A Wonderful and Exhausting Weekend

This weekend we were fortunate enough to be able to go up to Richland, Washington to be a part of the oldest grandchild on the Ellison side getting married.  Nothing is easy when you are traveling with little kids especially a 2 year-old that thinks that 6 AM is playtime in a motel room.  But it was very uplifting, spiritual, and growing experience to be able to witness a sealing.  Its the first one we've attended and with our sealing just 3 years ago it was wonderful to be able to hear everything as a bystander this time.  I was really able to hear the words of the officiator and feel the level of commitment and importance of being sealed in the Temple with your spouse.  I was happy to have my Joshie next to me.

Thank you Ashley and Spencer for allowing us to attend your beautiful ceremony and reception.  We wish you all the best!

Kids and Such

In effort to talk about something other than me. Here are a few pictures of the other members of the family.

Here Seer is doing what she loves best.  Being outside and exploring new things with Daddy of course.

 Here Seer is kissing Daddy.

I know the picture is cut off, but I couldn't have captured her beautiful smile better.  She lights up a room!

With Daddy not around as much, Kaiden has found alternative "boy" things to do like painting his sister's toenails.

And her fingers of course.  He is an artist after all.  Notice the 3 colors he is using.

McKenna and Seer on the Merry-go-Round

New Skates they Earned by Practicing Basketball Every Day for a Month

Fun at the Park over Spring Break

No Photo Album is Complete without a Mohalk Picture

One of Seer's Love Hugs

Singing Pop Star in the Making

Month 7 Squashy Joshie

Baby is the Size of a Squash

Well we are now officially at 29 weeks.  I have 6 more weeks until I have another ultrasound to see if the previa has dissipated so I can have a normal delivery.  I'm pretty confident that it has, but please still keep us in your prayers.  I am continuing to have some back pain from the kidney issues but thanks to my mom-in-law and her sister I have some great herbs that are helping with that issue.


The baby is moving a ton.  I feel her all day long (yes I'm accepting that she is a she).  I get worried because sometimes she moves so fast and jittery that it feels like bouncy jello or something.  Not the usual kick that I'm used to.  I'm telling myself its hiccups or something but I'm still a little worried about it.


I am now consistently getting comments that "You look pregnant now," "You've gotten a lot bigger," and "You can't hide it anymore."  Which is very true.  From 6-7 months I've really shot out and I'm convinced that I'm the biggest I've been with all my pregnancies at this stage, but my memory is not that great at all.  Josh laughs at me as if I've never done this before.  By the time I get to this stage my maternity shirts seem to have shrunk in the dryer so when I actually need them to cover my belly they creep up which McKenna gets a laugh out of seeing.  Seer as always, loves to crawl all around and on me.  Her elbow jabs and feet in my belly aren't so cute anymore.  I've been trying to tell her there is a baby in there, but she just giggles.  She is very loving with her baby dolls so I think she will be a great big sister. Kaiden and McKenna are becoming better siblings everyday and I am so grateful to have their help each day with playing with Seer, feeding her, or taking her outside with them once in a while.  They really are great kids.


The business is in full swing now.  I think the average person would be insane by now and its funny to think I've been through this before with JE Illusions.  I can't believe at the age of 31 we're doing this all over again.  This business is different, more challenging, and I'm really looking forward to seeing its progress in the next 6 months.  We've invested everything into it and I'm confident in Josh that we'll be just fine.  He is working 16 hour days again.  Working at the shop until late evening and then planning, website details, etc. until bedtime.  Its really hard but I remember this from before so that makes it a little more bearable.  We had a toddler and a newborn with JE Illusions so this scenario is about the same as we'll have with Royalty Core.  I work a little here and there, but Josh has been very kind in giving me space to handle being pregnant with a toddler at home.  I'm basically the support system trying to keep Josh from falling asleep standing up.  The website is live now, but not operable, hopefully in a few weeks it will have progressed a lot and products will be made  and ready to sell.  Josh is currently at a week long training in Washington on his OMAX waterjet cutting machine.  He says he's caught up to the guys that have previous training already and he's enjoying it.


So that's it for this month.  Hope everyone is doing well.

Schabahn Day Designs

For my birthday my sister Erin got me a gift certificate for a charm necklace that a friend of her's custom designs.  So far this is the design that we have come up with and I love it.  The copper circle has the initials of our kids with the last one still in question and then Josh and my wedding year.  Then the silver circle has Josh and my initials.  Of course this image is just photoshopped and she will actually stamp the letters and numbers into the charms when it is complete.

Month 6 is an Eggplant

The past week has been hard on the whole family.  All 5 of us got the stomach flu and really took its toll on us.  I had my 25 week check up today with my midwife and discovered that I have kidney stones, I'm dehydrated, and I have low blood pressure.  Its nothing to be concerned with but she recommended that I drink and eat more to compensate.  She told me that now is the time to build up my calorie reserves because the baby is building her blood supply which takes away from mine so to listen to my body and eat more often.  This I can do!  I just have to drink a gallon of water a day and eat every 2.5 hours.  No problem, right:)  


Seer got to lay on me while they examined my belly and the heartbeat.  The heartbeat monitor still makes her cry but the soothing voices of Colleen and her assistant helped calm her down and she managed to say bye bye to them with a smile when they left.  


Tonight we will get to have a family birthday dinner and get to go away for a night with Josh with no kids over the weekend.  I am very much looking forward to this!


Yesterday we signed the lease to our new shop, our cnc water jet machine was delivered, and set-up of the shop has begun.  Its very excited to finally have this part of the business pinned down.  Although it also means Josh will be gone all day like with a "normal" job.  No more breakfasts and lunches together or midday talks which I will miss.  We've been together every day all day since 2004 so this will be an adjustment for me to not be around him all day.


Seer and I will have to come up with some creative ways to spend our days now.

Pregnancy Week 24

Nothing too exciting has happened in the past four weeks. I finally can't hide the fact that I'm pregnant now. It got pretty obvious this past month. I met with the midwife and it went great. I will be seeing her again on my birthday in two weeks.

No changes with the placenta previa and I will be getting another ultrasound probably at 32 weeks or so to see if its moved. I'm hoping for the best.

Strangely enough morning sickness has came about again this week. Its not as bad as before but I don't feel very good. I'm assuming its stress from the business start-up. This business is exciting to me and Josh has a lot of passion in it so its been fun to do this again. We've begun purchasing equipment, we're very close to signing a shop lease, website will be done in about a month, and we have some of the CAD drawings ready for Josh's designs. The businesses that Josh has been trying to get quotes from are not being responsive so we've decided that he will be manufacturing his parts himself. He's the one we can trust to do the best work anyway so we are in the process of purchasing major equipment, tools, etc. Although its exciting-its very stressful to buy all of this stuff without any income coming in for a while as well as the back and forth between pricing, seller's, quality, etc. This is the third time we've had a start-up begin while I was pregnant. We've always liked to cram everything into one. Why not have a baby and a new business in the same year? That's Josh for you-never stopping and never boring. It's fun to watch the Joshie a show:)

Your Pregnancy: Week 24

5 Months and 22 Weeks and Counting...

I'm feeling better physically.  I can still sleep all day if I was allowed (which I'm not).  I don't have much ambition or enthusiasm to do much these days.  I try to keep the house picked up, but I don't do any of my hobbies really anymore.  Seer isn't happy unless I'm right with her so even getting on the computer for a bit is hard.  She's worth my attention but I am getting bored of me and her hanging out watching Nick Jr. all day.  She can turn on the TV and I'm having a hard time getting her to stop.  I think I will get one of those button plate things for flat screens.  

Josh keeps telling me that I'm not myself when I'm pregnant and not to worry because when this baby is born I will feel like doing things again.  I'm not very keen on being lazy but that's me right now. He has been really great to me.  He's been extremely busy with his new business start-up and doesn't put pressure on me to work like I used to.  I just wish he could be home all day with me and be my man slave.  Is that too much to ask:)

I've chosen a midwife for the birth and I start seeing her tomorrow.  She will be coming to my home so it will be really convenient (one of my favorite words) and nice for Seer to be able to get used to her here.  So long until next time...

Snow Play

 We had a great time across the street from Willamette Pass this past weekend with Uncle Bob, Sara, and Cade.  Seer got to sled for the first time and Pilot got to play in the snow for the first time.  It was a challenge being pregnant and having a one-year-old but we were able to have some fun for a couple of hours.

McKenna and Kaiden climbing up our sledding hill. 

 Kaiden and McKenna taking the plunge down our sledding track we made.  They loved it until they had to walk back up.

 Seer and me sitting in "our spot" perfectly carved for my tushy to sit in and watch the fun.

 The leader in sledding distance K-Dog.

Daddy had the responsibility of keeping Seer happy most of the time.  She loved sledding and couldn't stop smiling every time she had her turn.

Pilot had proven to be up for anything.  He can be a dune dog, a water dog, and a sled dog.  He loved running up and down the hills with each sledder.

Mom you may want to look away.  5 Months pregnant and tipping over sledding.  It was really fun though!!!