Category: LaReita

Samuel R Berky

After a scary start, Samuel R Berky was born into our family on January 13, 2006 – a Friday the 13th, no less. We were expecting to have a caesarean delivery (due to placenta previa) and had it scheduled for a few days later, when Sam decided to arrive early. We had a 3am, 100 mph rush to the hospital and went directly into the operating room. They prepped LaReita and Julles made it in time to watch along with David. Dave later said, it was just like M*A*S*H. Samuel was born at 4:36am and weighed in at 6lbs 7oz.

First picture, mom and Sam
Mom meets Sam
Looks like they both need some more sleep.
First bath in the NICU
Hanging out with mom in the NICU
Welcome home! Our growing family – Edible arrangement courtesy of Liz Covert (Rogers)
Ben getting some mom time with his new brother
Getting some rest
Taking a hit of oxygen, had to have him on it for a few hours a day for about a month
Anthony took this saying, “Mom, make a funny face.”
Mom get’s back to business as usual, with one minor change
After blessing – April 9th, 2006
The whole family – James, LaReita, Sam, Benjamin, David, Anthony – Sam’s blessing day April 9, 2006
Smilin’ Sam – sporting a new bib from Aunt Julles

LaReita’s Birthday

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September 3rd, 2004 – LaReita’s Birthday



For my birthday I just wanted to be with my kids and family. Especially since James went off to Kindergarten for the first time today! On my birthday!!! Good thing it wasn’t my 30th birthday or it might have been harder than it already was! Julles orchestrated getting the evening party put together. Meika made dinner, Lynette brought side dishes. Julles and Meika made Chocolate cupcakes (what were they thinking?…they know I can’t have chocolate in large quantities because of Benjamin!). So I pulled out a Schwan’s pie to defrost and in comes Lynette with some of her famous Key Lime Pie (just as good, if not better, as the real stuff we had a couple weeks earlier). Julles said to me, “You were worried for a minute there weren’t you? You don’t think we would be that cruel do you?!” I should have known better.



Dave decided to carry on a Leavitt family birthday tradition. Grandpa bought a piece of farm equipment for Grandma’s birthday, so she bought him a sewing machine for his birthday! So this year Dave bought me a firepit. He’s been wanting one all summer long. We were going to do a fancy cement firepit like at the campsites, and also cement in our side driveway. But I decided to spend it on a cruise instead! So Dave decided to go ahead and get that darn firepit he’s been wanting all summer. I must say that the enormous box that appeared on our front door step on my birthday was quite a shocker. I really had no idea what it could be. And I certainly didn’t expect a firepit for my birthday! But I do like it. We had smores, and a few other friends over including the Lewis’s. After the kids were in bed we had lots of fun burning…..stuff. 🙂 Those that were there, you know what I’m talking about….



Amanda Lewis, Karalyn Lewis, Anthony notice he has no shoes? The boy refuses to wear shoes even in 60 degree weather!, James, Brynn Lewis



Benjamin looks so little in this picture, but he really is BIG!

Benjamin D Berky

January 2004 – Benjamin D Berky


Mommy to be for the third time struttin’ her stuff.


First picture of Benjamin D Berky.


Mom & Me


My first bath.


David & LaReita Berky Family v.4


I am the star of the show.

Benjamin D Berky was born at 9:17am, January 21st, 2004 after a thankfully short labor of love by his mother. David & LaReita raced to the hospital at 4:30am when LaReita’s contractions began to come regularly and were increasing in strength. On the way (and between contractions) LaReita chided the ever-cautious David for only driving 75 mph on the freeway. (LaReita says: After all, the contractions were 2 minutes apart and lasting 90 seconds!)

Upon arriving they found their way to the Labor & Delivery area of the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, a 15 minute drive from home. They wandered the halls for awhile until finding a nurse on duty who could direct them to a room. LaReita was quickly prepped and was given an epidural by 6am.

Both LaReita and David were able to get some more sleep from 6 to 8:30am; LaReita in comfort from the epidural and David from exhaustion (he needs his 8 hours of sleep). Around 8:30am the nurse came in and LaReita asked for a catheter. Before the catheter LaReita was at 6cm; after the catheter she went to a 10cm. Dr. Nance was called and arrived about 10 minutes later (LaReita swears it was more like 30).

Once Dr. Nance arrived at 9:10, it only took 5 pushes for Benjamin to take his first breath. As Dr. Nance began to examine him a portion of his umbilical cord ruptured and a gush of bright red blood squirted all over the delivery room. (“Just like in ER” David was heard to comment later.) The incident posed no threat to mother or baby, but Dr. Nance was going to need some new clothes.

Dr. Nance allowed David to cut the umbilical cord and Benjamin was cleaned, checked, weighed, measured, poked, prodded, given a shot and wrapped up to be placed in the arms of his mother for the first time. Later David went with Benjamin into the nursery so he could be checked more thoroughly, given another shot (he only cried for a minute to the pleasure and pride of his dad) and then given his first bath.

Later several family members arrived to meet their new relative. LaReita’s mom, Grace Leavitt, came with Aunt Julie (David’s sister) and brought Benjamin’s brothers, James and Anthony. James couldn’t wait to hold his new brother. Anthony couldn’t wait to play with the buttons on mom’s bed.

Benjamin weighed 8 pounds and 7 ounces, was 21 inches long and scored a 9 and 9 on his APGAR baby exam scores (1-10 scale).

James and Anthony are excited for their new brother to come home and play.

James & Anthony – Best Buds

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January – Febuary 2003 – James & Anthony – Best Buds




The camera didn’t quite capture it…but they fell asleep arm-in-arm. I have so many pictures of my boys when they’re asleep. I thinks it’s because that’s when they are the most angel-like.





Watching morning cartoons together. James put his arm around Anthony. What was amazing was that Anthony didn’t push the arm off for some time!





“Anthony…I am your brother…”

Playing light-sabers…They lose their innocence so much earlier when they have an older sibling. Anthony even makes the light-saber sounds!





After a hard morning of play, my boys crashed on the couch!


LaReita, David & Julles’ Cruise

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January 2003 -LaReita, David & Julie’s Cruise




Cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada Mexico

January 13-16, 2003





January 13, 2003

Dave and LaReita in Los Angeles Port





January 14, 2003
On our way to Catalina! (Meika Boogert and Julie Berky) Hoped we could snorkle, but ended up being too cold (water was 56 degrees)




We took a boat tour instead along the coast line. It got REALLY cold.





A pair of bald eagles live on Catalina.





Our boat tour took us out in deeper waters and we found a pod of dolphins that were playing with the boat. BEAUTIFUL!





Dave Relaxing. The one thing he really wanted to do on this trip. In the background you can see the “Holly House”.





Catalina Island January 14, 2003





On this tiny island (only 1 acre developed) everyone gets around in golf carts! I loved it! Hence my mania in taking so many pictures of golf carts!





Ensenada, Mexico

January 15, 2003





Ensenada is famous for having the world’s largest blowhole. (a cave at the coast that fills with water and pressure, then blows to release.) It wasn’t particularly powerful today.





Beautiful people in front of the beautiful ocean.

David Berky, LaReita Berky, Meika Boogert, Julles Berky





Walking through the open-air market we got a cute $10 kid’s guitar, a Superman cape, some silver jewelry. But we were not tempted with buying a “Velvet Joseph Smith”!