A little of this and that . . .

Here's a little bit of everything that happened post-baby birth.

Auntie Audra came for a little visit to see the baby boys. She hadn't yet met Ossian, so she got lots of luvs and gerbs.

June started first grade. She has Mrs. Schukert and I would love to report that she is loving school. She's had a little struggle getting used to the longer days, and has had a few break-downs because she misses her mama. But things are getting better.

We write secret messages to each other that we read at lunch. This helps us make it through the day and not miss each other as much.

Klive finally took a bath. I have to admit, with kid number 3, he's lucky if I find time to bath him a couple of times a week. Boys are supposed to be dirty, right?

He also got thrush his second week home. Our pediatrician gave us this lovely purple-dye medication to treat it. We now have a lovely purple mess on everything. I thought he looked like the Joker. Why so serious?

And my sweet Winnie turned 4. We had a zoo trip planned, but then I got sick. I didn't have much time to prepare after getting out of the hospital for the second time, so Nana and I threw together a princess party to make the day special. She was overjoyed. That's my Winn - always happy.

My mom has some sweet cake-baking skills. Not just anyone can make a seated Barbie cake.

A party's not complete without the cousins!

She got lots of good stuff: princess crayons, dolls, even a new bike. But I knew this would be her favorite present. Press-on princess nails that cost $1.50. She loves being a lady!

Cousin Amos happens to be the love of Winnie's life at the moment. Someday we'll have to explain why you can't marry your cousin, but right now, we just let it go. Being the thoughtful boy that he is, he picked out this particular princess flashlight knowing it would be everything Winnie had ever dreamed of.

Daddy's been gone a lot these past two months, but he made it back from Tulsa after several night shifts to celebrate. Just look at him, the life of the party!

Nana and Papa have been working their fingers to the bone to look after my children and help me get back on my feet while Kolby's been gone. My dad's been keeping our yard up in the sweltering heat. And my poor mom is working full time and still kept the kids while I was in the hospital. She also stayed up every night for over a month to help me with Klive. We are one lucky family to have them.

So that's Winn's big day. I can't believe she's 4. I'm so thankful for her kindness, her humor, her awesome imagination and her big beautiful smile that she wears from the minute she wakes up in the morning until she hits the pillow at night.

Daddy also kept his promise to do a birthday dinner at Winn's most magical place in the world - the Olive Garden. Like I said, she easy to please.

We were also lucky enough to talk Yaya Julie into coming out and helping with the new baby. Little did she know that we planned on working her to death. Klive thought she was the perfect sleeping spot, so when she wasn't doing my housework, she was snuggling this little guy.

The girls got a little special time with Yaya, too. We wish we could have locked her up and kept her as our own personal slave, but she had to go back to her paying job.

And lately we've been trying to get by on our own. Everyone takes their turn feeding Klive, who wants to eat every hour and be held every second. The other day he was throwing a fit because we put him down for a couple of seconds. Winnie tried to console him with his binky, but he wasn't having it. I told her to just let him cry and she said, "But mom, he's ruining my duty!" She takes her job as a big sister very seriously.

June's an old pro with sibling #2. Always the multi-tasker, she can hold brother, watch t.v. and pick her nose all at the same time.

And Dad takes a shift with his boy when he's in between shifts at the hospital. I'm pretty sure Klive was upset that Daddy was heading back to Tulsa that night. He's a pro at the pout.

Couldn't resist throwing in this shot of the cousins getting to know each other. Ossian is the sweetest boy. I just know these two were buddies up in heaven last year and are destined to be best pals.

Beautiful Baby Klive: First Photo Shoot

We know how to make friends with the right people. Poor Stephanie Crandall, she's been forced to take more pictures of our family than she'd probably like to, but she just keeps coming back. We must just be that awesome, or maybe the cute new baby had something to do with it. Steph, as usual, you are amazing with the camera. You even made me look good in my pajamas with no make-up and going on 3 days without a shower - thanks buddy! Don't be surprised if you see a few of these on our christmas card this year.

KVJ number 5

Kolby's dream of getting a little more testosterone in his family finally came true!

On August 5, 2010, Klive V. Johnson joined our clan.

This is one proud Daddy! He's always wanted his own boy with big, bad sideburns!

He arrived at 7:50 p.m. weighing 7 lbs. 5 ozs. and was 19 inches long.

Here's the girls rallying on the Afternoon when I was without food and water and super nervous to go have my big surgery. They were excited to get to spend the night at Nana's house, so they gave baby Klive belly one last hug and sent us on our way.

Last pregnant couple shot! Yay!

We got to the hospital at 3:00, but didn't end up in the O.R. until 7:30 that night. Kolby could have used a smaller pair of scrubs, but these did the job.

Here's my brave face on the operating table. The C-section actually went super fast -I swear my Dr. had the baby out in about 5 minutes. The tummy tuck, however, lasted a few hours longer. I'm just proud of myself that I kept my cool and didn't freak out through the ordeal. I just tried to focus on my beautiful new boy!

Mom and Klive - glad that's over!

I can't believe he only weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces! Definitely the runt of our litter. I guess there were a few more brownies and pints of ice cream in that belly than I'd like to admit.

He was a trooper, too. It couldn't have been very warm in that operating room, and he stuck it out with me. They had to suck his lungs out a bit to get him breathing well, but other than that, he did awesome!

The next day, Klive got to meet his big sisters. I'm happy to report that June and Winnie have been nothing but super helpful with their brother, and they are being so sweet to me while I try and recover.

They can't get enough loves from their new bro.

I tried to find a nice picture of Kolby and/or me holding the baby, but our eyes look tired and terrible in pretty much all of them. We're a bit out of practice with a newborn - especially one who has his days and nights confused.

We were told by many, many, many people that the third baby is a walk in the park. Well, so far, Klive has been the best baby. He only cries when he's wet or hungry, he's a great nurser, he's very snuggly, and we think he's the most beautiful baby in the world.

Mr. Man

Looks like I'm going to be having this baby boy in about a week and a half. So I suppose I should write a bit about the awesome shower that my friends threw for me. Don't be fooled by the hairy disguises, these chicks threw one great party! I always feel so lucky to have such great friends.

The theme was Mr. Man is On His Way and the decorations were so creative and super manly!

Neck ties . . .

and moustaches on everything.

They even managed to find soda bottles with moustached men.

And if you said the word "baby" you got to slap on one of these sweet little pervert moustaches. I think pretty much every lady from the ward was wearing one by the end of the shower.

I felt so blessed that so many wonderful friends came and I definitely got spoiled with great boy gifts. This kid is going to be dressed like a total stud!

The girls also came up with the cutest craft idea. My guests cut out and ironed on fabric to make me some awesome and one-of-a kind baby bibs and burp cloths.

Yep, I pretty much just sat around, opened presents, ate treats and let everyone slave away and make stuff for me.

They turned out so cute, it's going to be tough to watch ol' Klive spew all over them.

My mom made it to Oklahoma just in time for my shower. I love my mom.

And Aunt Misty got to come too. I know, I look like a tank next to her skinny bod!

I hope my buddies know how much I love them and appreciate their hard work. I felt so loved. And Klive did too. Now I really can't wait to get this Mr. Man out and put all his new stuff to good use.