Finally, a hospital is realizing that medical interventions should not be the norm when it comes to birthing.  McKay-Dee hospital in Ogden is now offering HypnoBirthing classes along with a natural birth suite to their patients.

In the video, they mention that the epidural rate was up to 97% four years ago.  Hopefully, this will bring that percentage down significantly!

Now I just need to get my local hospitals on board.  I would love to be able to teach HypnoBirthing classes in the hospitals.  Many hospitals are starting to accommodate natural births, and I feel it’s time to start offering natural birth education for their patients as well!

For the article and video, go here.

We teased her that she looked like a Nav'i creature from Avatar. She said, "I'm not a Avatar, I'm Kaisa!"

Silly face!

Love the cross-eyed look!

These were taken right after church. Not too bad, yet.

Here she is the next morning. So sad!!

Poor thing!

After the doctor. She's still pretty swollen, but in better spirits!

I told her to make a sad face. Man she is good!

I was going to post a video on our video blog, but for some reason I can’t get it to upload.  Oh well!

Needless to say, I hurried to my computer to send in an audition track of me singing with the Wasatch Chorale.  I was really worried because my audition was submitted nearly two weeks late, and I was sure I had missed my opportunity.

Amazingly, I received an invitation to participate in the 60 voice recording choir of “Lamb Of God” next week!  To my excitement, I was told we would be recording over the London Symphony Orchestra.  Holy Cow!!!  The recording would be happening in Arizona.  I booked my ticket right away.

Today I started learning the music.  Rob has all of the mp3′s of the actual tracks that he recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.  I cannot even tell you how amazing they sound.  I get goosebumps all over just hearing the orchestra.  I can’t wait to hear this all put together with the choir, soloists, and narration!  This is going to be a powerful musical testament to the Savior and his Atonement.  I know that it will be a tool in helping many people gain a stronger testimony of the Savior.  Music is one of the most powerful ways to bear testimony and I am so excited to share mine in this production!

We will hopefully be performing this in the Salt Lake area in the fall (cross your fingers!) and I will be sure to let everyone know when that happens.  I think Rob also has plans to perform it in Arizona and California as well.  And I will be sure to let everyone know when the CD is available to purchase.  If you are interested in hearing some of his other works, they are all available at Deseret Book as well as here.

I got everything in this picture for less than $40.

There were some loadable coupons that didn't work and I'm trying to get them to credit that. Plus, I got two Catalina coupons totaling $3.50. So really, the total is closer to $30. I saved over $100!

I am so jealous of my mom because she lives in Arizona and Fry’s (the Smith’s equivalent there) does this coupon event every day.  I even mentioned to the lady checking me that they should try to convince corporate to do that in Utah.  Then they wouldn’t have masses of people coming in with hundreds of coupons.  They will probably never do it, though.  There are too many couponers here.

I was really glad I got up and went early.  This was the first time I got everything I wanted in one trip.  They had already run out of several things by the time I left.  Some people were taking 10 of everything.  I find that SO annoying!  Anyway, I really am addicted to couponing and I love it!  :)

Nutella Cheesecake.  Nathan found the recipe here.

Pretty straightforward as far as cheesecake goes, with a couple of exceptions: add Nutella in the batter before baking and top with a dark chocolate glaze.

So delicious!

Raspberry-filled cupcakes.  I took these to Nathan and his co-workers on his birthday.  I found the filling recipe and tutorial here.

Making the raspberry sauce.

Finished filling, with raspberries stirred back in.

I cheated and used a cake mix. If I had been really fancy, I would have made them from scratch.

I used my Pampered Chef grapefruit knife to cut out the holes. It worked great!

Making the holes for the filling.

Cutting off the bottom of the "cones" to make room for the filling.

Pouring in the filling.

Putting the tops back on.

Then frost, and voi-la!

Delicious, raspberry-filled cupcakes!

This last one was WAY too easy to be considered adventurous, but I just had to include it to show how easy it was and how amazing our new blender is.  It makes soup!  This took me about 10 min total to make.  If I hadn’t added the grilled chicken, it would have taken less than 5 min.  And it was so delicious!

Add all ingredients (except chicken) in blender and press "soups" button.

Meanwhile, grill chicken.

Add chicken to blended mixture and pulse 3-4 times.

Delicious cheesy chicken taco soup in literally minutes!

Fake excited smile...I'm pretty sure he knew what it was before opening it.

Cute one of the kids!

I love this one of Kaisa!

Trying out his first smoothie!

Blowing out his candles. Don't ask me why there are only 3.

Happy Birthday, Nathan!  We love you so much!

I was completely surprised that morning when Bro. Bradley proceeded to extend me a calling to be the second counselor in the primary presidency. At first I was just shocked that it wasn’t a music calling. I have not had a non-music calling since 2005. Then I got really excited because I absolutely LOVE primary! I was the primary pianist in my last ward for three years and I learned so much just from watching those kids and seeing their testimonies grow.

Our new president is my next door neighbor, Trish. She is the sweetest gal, so full of energy and love. We had our first meeting last night and she let me know that the spirit confirmed to her that I was supposed to be serving in this calling at this time. She spent a lot of time praying and didn’t make the decision lightly. It means so much to me to know that! I was starting to feel really overwhelmed on Sunday with all of the responsibilities I will now have. I no longer have the luxury of a “Sunday only” calling. This will require many hours outside of church preparing, visiting, and praying. I was starting to question whether or not I could do it. Her faith in me helped me to realize that no matter how inadequate I may feel, I have the help of my Father in Heaven and with that I can do anything.

I did not know the other two women in the presidency until last night. I was a little worried at first that we wouldn’t gel as a presidency since we didn’t know each other very well. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Even in the hour we spent together last night, I felt that we would all work so well together and be able to accomplish so much for the kids we are serving. The Gospel is true and I can’t wait to get to know our primary children better!

Everett was happy just to watch them from a distance.

The ducks were as nervous about her as she was about them.

So much fun!

What a cutie!

Chasing the ducks back into the water.

I took some video of the fun too.  Watch it here.