Shop 'til Ya Drop!

Mom and I went Christmas shopping today--I am so close to being finished! Yes, finished! I ventured out last Saturday and was amazed at how bad traffic already was and I told my Mom there was no way I would fight that this year when I have time off from work to get the shopping done during the week. So, off we went...to Target, to Kirkland's, to Michael's. Poor Landen was absolutely worn out!
I got quite a bit accomplished, but I think my favorite buy were these "presents" and wreath I bought to decorate my front door and porch area. I have been waiting to have a house worth decorating for the past 5 years and I finally have it. Poor Richie has his work cut out for him when next weekend when I get out the indoor decorations! I love decorating for the holidays, but I just haven't had a house worth spending the time and effort on until now!

Black Nails and Skunk Smells!

These are just two things my husband is not loving right now! A few days ago I got a hankering to paint my nails black--it seems everyone I see on TV has theirs painted black and I wanted to give it a try. So yesterday, I painted them--well, my husband noticed them and was like, "Are you going goth??" UM NO! It's called stylish my dear!! Anyway, he's not too fond of them....oh well, that's the good thing about nail polish, it's removable. But I think I will keep them a few more days 'cause I kind of like them!
So, we went to the Gwd football game last night (Landen's first football game) and it was such a blow-out. We ended up leaving early because Richie wanted to get all of his hunting gear ready for today and we were bored with the game, not to mention Landen was getting hungry. We get home and start getting some things done and we are FIVE MINUTES away from bedtime. Richie asks Andy (the family dog) if he wants to go outside and pee-pee before bed. I hear him open the back door to let him out and then I hear him yell at Andy in a very panicked, loud voice. I knew something bad was wrong. We had just been talking about coyotes in the area. I just knew that's what it was. So, I ran to the back window to look outside and what do I see? Not a coyote...a skunk. Spraying the INDOOR dog. And standing on my back patio doing it. GREAT. LOVELY. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. What luck.
I couldn't believe it--I was furious beyond my little mind's ability. A skunk? A skunk! About that time, Richie comes in holding Andy...and so does the smell. Andy had gotten sprayed in the face. So, we are staring at each other in silence wondering what to do. I told him I would Google some possible solutions. I found this recipe: 1/4 C baking soda, a squeeze of dishing washing liquid, and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. There was also a recommendation to bathe them in mouthwash. We did both--no need to be picky. Richie jumped in the shower with the dog and scrubbed and scrubbed. He opened the shower door to grab something and out runs Andy and heads for the closet where his bed AND our clothes are and proceeds to shake. Twice. LOVELY. Well, the dog smells much better. But the house reeks! I have no clue how to get it out of the brand new house! I googled that too. There are suggestions to put coffee grounds out around the house. There was also a suggestion to boil apple cider vinegar on the stove or put it in a spray bottle. Kind of sounds like stepping on someone's toe to rid them of a headache (a close race as to which smell is worse to deal with).
So, I will open some windows, boil some vinegar, and set out some coffee grounds. Wonder what my house will smell like now?

Baby Landen is SIX WEEKS OLD!

My little baby boy is getting to be an old man! I can't believe he is six weeks old today--time really flies! He is so adorable and is starting to smile at you when you talk to him. I love the first diaper change in the morning because two mornings in a row he just grinned at me--such a happy baby in the morning! We are already out of newborn diapers and in size 1! I can't wait until his two month check-up to see how much he has grown. He is changing everyday!
I am still doing pretty good with my diet. I have officially lost 37 of the 51 lbs I gained and since I have been going to Let's Lose, I have lost 22 inches total on my body. Eight of those inches were in my belly alone! I was so happy! Best of all, I am up to 2.7 miles and I am alternating between walking and running. Last night, I ran for a total of 8 minutes! That's awesome for me because I have never been a runner at all. I was actually able to get into a pair of my pre-pregnancy jeans last week. Granted, they aren't my favorite, but they are pre-pregnancy! :)
So, here's to hoping the last 14 lbs just melt away!

It's Saturday!

Isn't it funny how when you don't work Monday-Friday that Saturdays just don't have that same feel to them? Granted I am busy during the week with a newborn, etc, but there is nothing like a Saturday to cheer you up after a long 40 plus hour work week...it's nice though to still be Saturday!
I am so sleepy today--not much sleep last night, but I hate napping during the day and throwing off our schedule of taking care of Landen at night. So, I will get through the day....sleepily.
Baby Landen is doing so good--he's such a cutie and I love all the baby things he does. Which inspired me to list a few of my favorites right now....
1) Landen's sneeze--it has to be the absolute cutest thing in the world!
2) Landen's breath--what a sweet, sweet smell!
3) The way he snuggles with me at night and the way he wants to snuggle with me! Although I am not a co-sleep fan, I must admit it is so sweet to snuggle with your baby.
4) The way he sits in his swing and grunts and snores! Too cute--he looks like a little man with his leg propped up!
5) The way he stretches and arches his back when he's waking up and then squishes his face up and moves his head back and forth--how do you capture that image in your mind forever because I don't want to forget it.

Babies are just so much fun and so forgiving of you--they love you no matter what and want you there all the time!

Happy 40th Birthday, Richie!

Yesterday was Richie's 40th birthday! He doesn't like a lot of hoopla for his birthday, but I still wanted to do something special. So, the kids and I decided to have a small surprise party at the house for him. Well, Plan A didn't work which was to set up and have everyone arrive while he took Kylie to cheer practice--she decided she wanted to be here for the surprise. So, Plan B was hatched! We sent him to pick up Landen at my mom's house and while he was gone we hung balloons, signs and streamers and then hid when he came in. He was so surprised! The kids had such a ball with all of the planning! I bought him his very own netbook so that I can finally get my Mac back! :) He had asked for a card reader to use to download his deercam pictures, but I did the next best thing and got the netbook with a built-in SD card reader and that way he can have a place to download his pictures and then immediately post them. He was so shocked when he opened the present--I don't think he even knew what it was at first!
After all of that, all of the family arrived and we had his favorite dinner--pork tenderloin, au gratin potatoes, salad, bread, and coconut cream pie! That man is spoiled!
Happy birthday Richie! I love you so much you old man!! :)

If you don't, someone will!

I honestly thought I would get to tell my kids about Santa before talking to them about "it"! However, I quickly learned that as a parent, if you don't talk to your kids about "it", someone will....and yes "it" means what you think it means! Times have changed and I don't mean to sound like a cliche, but I had no idea just how young kids are learning about such grown-up things. So, because someone else decided to educate my children in a negative way about "it", I was forced to do damage control and have a discussion I wasn't prepared for. How do you explain "it" to a 7 year old girl? I want her to understand that she shouldn't just give it away to any guy that comes along and become a number to him, but I don't want to scare her into thinking it's a bad thing either. The conversation was soooo hard. I didn't want to go into specific detail, but I didn't want to be too general. Ok, what chapter is the birds and bees in the parenting manual? When I was 9, my Mom had "the talk" with me and I am glad she did because it opened up a line of communication with her. I didn't feel as if "it" were a taboo topic. That's what I want with my kids--the ability to talk openly about these things. However, I learned the other night that my daughter knows things that I wasn't prepared for and her "teachers" are surprising!
So, don't underestimate the importance of talking about "it" with your kids--if you don't, someone else will! And I promise their message will be a lot different than the message you want to instill.

Halloween Fun

Weston and Kylie had a great Halloween with their fun costumes...
Weston was Slash from Guns-n-Roses and Kylie was a man-eating shark. Landen was a Tootsie Roll! I dressed up as a sleep-deprived Mommy of a newborn! (didn't take much effort ha!)
This morning we are going to visit a new church and I am so excited--I hate being out of church and am ready to get back. I want to find the perfect church home though. I want one where my kids know kids from school so that they have friends that can keep them accountable at school, but I also want one that I can get involved in because I plan to take an active role once we find a church home. I used to be so involved in church and it kills me that it's not a part of my life right now. I really need it--I need the interaction with others and the weekly dose of "act right"!

Home Sweet Home...Well, sort of!

Weston got to come home from the hospital today! But I think he actually liked it at the hospital. They brought in a PS2 system, movies, ice cream and the boy was having tons of fun! Kylie came to visit yesterday and she was jealous at all of the fun stuff--she decided she would wreck her scooter so that she could get to stay! :)
I do think he's ready to be home, but he got a flu shot before he left, so now his other arm is sore! Poor guy!
But it's back to school tomorrow and I have already been on him to clean his room--I bet he heads outside soon and races down the hill again just to get away from me and all my Mommy demands!

I bet he doesn't do that again!

Ok, well I took Weston to the doctor yesterday and it has been a roller coaster ride since then! I'll just start at the beginning....I got up yesterday morning (ok, actually I was already up with the baby, but anyway) and I called the pediatrician's office first thing--8 a.m. to find out if I could get Weston an appointment. Well, the nurse called me right back and when I gave her Weston's symptoms--fever, swollen, arm, etc--she told me to bring him right up to the office. So, here came the fun part. I got Landen ready and took him to Richie's mom's house and then Weston and I headed to the doctor. Poor Weston had blood drawn and then they "picked" his scab to make take a sample of the gunk under it. YUCK. He was SO brave though! Weston has trouble just taking liquid medicine, so this was a HUGE step for him! Then, we started getting test results back. White blood cells were normal, no flu (he had a slight cough so we wanted to rule that out too), however, the last test she did to determine if there was a possible infection from the sore in the bone came back higher than normal. That's when we knew it was more serious than just an infected wound. At that point, his pediatrician told us she was going to have to admit him to the hospital and call an orthopedist for a referral. She told me not to let him or drink and get him checked in as soon as I could. I am just standing there in disbelief thinking, "I thought this would be an hour doctor visit, we would run to Health Depot and get a Z-pack and go home." I had NO idea it was going to be a big deal.
So, Weston was admitted to the PEDS unit on Monday and spent two days in the hospital on IV antibiotics. I knew I had my work cut out for me when it was time for the IV, but he was brave and did great! They numbed the area first and I think that helped tremendously.
Weston had a staph infection in his arm, but luckily it didn't get into the joint/bone, so it was easier to treat!

Road Rash Revenge

Poor Weston! As if falling off the scooter and getting a serious case of road rash wasn't enough, he now has a spot of it on his arm that may be infected. It was Kyle's weekend and he called this morning to tell me that Weston was running a fever--my first thought, swine flu! But then he continued on and said that his arm was very swollen and one of his "rashes" was a little funky looking. So, it looks like I will be taking Weston to the doctor tomorrow in hopes of getting it checked out. Pray for the little fella that he doesn't have an infection!
In other news, Richie and I are working on cleaning on my old metal barn so that I can turn it over to my parents. Talk about a lot of stuff! But kudos to Richie, he didn't complain one time today while we were moving a trailer load of boxes and other stuff out of there. (Richie absolutely HATES moving) It was so nice--I was worried that he was going to be cranky today about moving all of that stuff, but he was so good about it. I know it's a pain moving stuff especially someone else's junk that has been stored away for 5 plus years, so thank you baby for taking one for the team and putting up with moving all of that "junk"!
Landen is having such a good night so far (ok, I have probably jinxed myself saying that!) He has slept in his bassinet for most of the night since 8:30 pm. It's now 1:20 a.m. and I just got him in his bassinet again....here's praying that we are starting a wonderful habit. Richie goes back to work tomorrow so it's just me. I don't know why I am so nervous and anxious about this whole thing. With Weston and Kylie, I was on my own after just a couple of days, so having help for 3 weeks is a huge blessing. I guess I am just worried that by the time I go back to work that Landen still won't be sleeping well and that I am going to be severely exhausted driving all over the place. So, add that to your prayer list, too!

Hungry Girl is my Hero!

I was watching Rachael Ray this morning and she had Hungry Girl on there talking about great recipe alternatives that make our favorite foods a little more figure-friendly...I am absolutely consumed by this website right now and I want all of her cookbooks. If you haven't heard of her, go to her website www.hungry-girl.com.
My favorite trick she showed today that I can't wait to try is using canned pumpkin in place of the eggs and vegetable oil you add to cake mix. It takes away like 1000 calories and TONS of fat! Who knew? I can't wait to try!
So, if you need any suggestions on Christmas presents for me--I want all 3 Hungry Girl cookbooks!!

Like the New Look?

Well, here it is, my NEW blog background! And it was created just for me! I love it!

A Case of Road Rash

A couple of days ago, Weston was playing at a friend's house down the street. We live on quite a hill and the kids love to ride their scooter/skateboard thingees (I can't for the life of me think of the name of this thing) and we have watched the neighbor kid fly down the hill from our house to his house and Richie and I both said if he ever falls, he's gonna regret it. Well, it wasn't him that finally fell--it was Weston! And let me say he has a serious case of road rash! We texted the pics to his Dad and Angela that night and his Dad called the next day and was floored by how bad it looked! But I must say Weston has been really big about the whole thing and hasn't complained too much. And bless his heart, the other morning he woke up and his shirt was stuck to his wounds! I have a feeling he won't be riding that scooter thing down the hill any time soon--one of those "lessons learned" moments.
Well, so far I am doing pretty good at walking the neighborhood--I am up to about 1.5 miles and a chunk of that is up the hill I just mentioned which will kick anyone's rear! I have only been able to go every other day, but honestly that's about all I need to do anyway--in fact, I think Dr. Bell would've gotten on to me yesterday at my check-up if I had told him what I was doing! He was telling me to take it easy and not vacuum, etc if it hurts. All I could think was, "I wonder what he would think of my little walking expeditions?" :)
Seriously though, I am still sore, but I honestly think the walking has definitely helped....that and the Belly Bandit I bought. That, my friends, is the secret to getting your tummy back. I can't believe how flat my belly looks 3 weeks after the baby!
Oh and guess where baby Landen is? Asleep in his bassinet!!!! He's been there for about an hour or so! I am sure it won't last, but I really would like to get him used to sleeping by himself. We bought a "white noise" machine at Bed, Bath, and Beyond yesterday that plays different nature sounds like waterfall, rain, ocean, etc and I have that going next to the bassinet, so hopefully we can progress toward him sleeping on his own. Mommy really needs some quality R&R!!!

A Bed Bug

The popular question right now (behind "how's the baby?") is "is he sleeping good?" Well, that question is a little tricky! First, define "good". If you mean 'does he sleep during the night?', well, yes. However, if you mean "does he sleep in his bassinet?", then NO! He sleeps, but only when you hold him. And now it seems the only way I can sleep at night is to sleep next to him. First, I must say I am adamantly against sleeping with a baby in my bed for several reasons. Beyond the obvious safety issue, there's the habit I am afraid I am creating, the lack of quality sleep on my part because I can't get comfortable--I try to stay in one position and lay still so as to not roll on him. So, I don't really sleep, I doze...on and off, on and off. Meanwhile, baby Landen is sawing logs! He's warm, comfy and has Mommy right where he wants her! Last night as I was falling asleep, I had a vision of this 18 year old man laying between me and Richie all bundled up in his blanket and snuggling up to me. And all I could think was, "Great!" Landen will be here until he graduates!!
So, to answer the question... yes, he's sleeping good!

Little Caterpillar

Here's a link to a blog of the photographer that took Landen's newborn photos. http://www.rayelawphotography.com/blog/?p=3538

The pictures are absolutely amazing! But perhaps the best part of the whole sitting was learning how to get Landen to quiet down when he would get upset! She was awesome--she would just say SSSHHHHH and he would be like puddy in her hands!

A Sense of Normalcy

Yesterday I put on one of my "normal" jogging suits (read that as NOT maternity clothes) and Richie and I went for a 30 minute walk in our neighborhood. It was so nice to get back to some sense of normalcy. Regular clothes, exercise, it's the small things that make my day!
Landen is doing great! He went for his 2 week checkup on Wednesday and had gained 7 ounces since Friday! He is really thriving! He is starting to stay alert more during the day and he's trying to "real" smile. It's cute because his mouth doesn't quite form the right shape, but you can tell he's engaging when you talk with him. He's getting spoiled too, but it's hard to not spoil such a cutie!
Tonight we are taking the kids (read Weston and Kylie) to the Fall Festival. Landen will have to stay with Grammy because he's still so small and I am so scared about the swine flu, so we are trying to keep him "quarantined". I know many people want to come see him, but we are having to play the bad guys and limit visitors per doctor's orders. If he gets the flu, it would be devastating to him since he's so small and so young and doesn't have a developed immune system like you and I.
So, don't take it personal if we ask you to wait to come see us--we really want to show him off, but we have to be careful too!

What a Loser....

Well, I finally found some time to go by Let's Lose and get started on my diet. Ouch--I forgot how restricting diets are and since you have to journal, well, that means I have to confess those Oreos! But, it'll be worth it if I can get back in my jeans. When I came home from the hospital about a week ago, I measured my waist. From delivery to arriving home, I had lost 4 inches on my waist (however, I delivered an 8 1/2 lb baby, so I was hoping for more than 4 inches)!! Well, at my measurement today at Let's Lose, I have already lost another 4 inches and that's before I even start the diet! Woo Hoo! But, now it's time to get serious--the rest of the pounds aren't going to be as easy! So wish me luck--I am gonna need it!
Today, Richie, Landen and I got out of the house and went shopping for a bit. It was so nice to see daylight (even if it is cloudy and rainy) and walk around. I was glad to get some "exercise" even if it wasn't much!

Weight, Weight, GO AWAY!

Well, the official pregnancy weight gain was 51 lbs. That is right in line with my other two pregnancies. I swear each pregnancy is the same--50 lb weight gain, big baby, and some swelling. Anyway, now it's time to get that weight off. So, I got brave the other day and got on the scale....then I looked down. I was so afraid I was going to be disappointed. But, I was pleasantly surprised! I have officially lost 24 lbs already! Woo Hoo! I love the big water retention weight loss--it gives me the confidence to get the rest of this gone. So, now to get serious about the other 27 lbs. I can't decide the best avenue to take to combat it. I am considering two different weight loss options, but until I can drive, I won't be able to get out and figure which one is the best option. Not to mention, it's hard to diet when everyone keeps bringing such great food by for us to eat! Then, there's the exercise aspect, but honestly I am still healing from the c-section, so that is gonna have to wait a few more weeks. So, wish me luck, because my biggest road block right now are those Golden Oreos--they are just soooo good!

Baby Landen is One Week Old!

I can hardly believe it, but my baby is already a week old! We are all adjusting to each other and there is definitely a lack of sleep around our house (except, of course, for Landen)!
As a catch-up on the last week, Landen was in NICU for about 36 hours starting on last Thursday night. He evidently aspirated amniotic fluid during birth and it was causing a few issues for him. It was such a flashback to when Kylie was a newborn and I had to take her to the ER and we ended up spending 5 days in Peds and 5 days on home health because she was so sick (they thought she had meningitis). I can honestly say my heart skipped a beat and I was pretty tense for awhile until we got his blood cultures and other test results back. He also started breathing a little better and so they released him on Saturday morning back to my room. But, since it was our discharge day, he had to have his circumcision done--I cried after signing the papers and leaving him with the nurse to be circumcised. Then, I just lay there in my bed and worried the whole time I knew the surgery was going on. That night, we were able to go home and he had his roughest time yet. He was so stressed, couldn't keep his food down, and was just miserable every time you changed his diaper. I felt soooo sorry for him. He's doing much better now, but he's still having a hard time at night with sleeping. He loves to sleep on Daddy's chest and seems to think his bassinet has "thorns" in it! But, we will just keep working on it and hopefully it'll get better.
We are also having a hard time getting his food situated. Since he went to NICU, he wasn't able to breastfeed for awhile and got confused on what/how to eat. We finally decided to stick with formula only and bought one we thought was best. He's done great on it, but when I called the pediatrician, she is not fond of that formula and asked us to switch to a different one. I really hope that he does alright on it.

Baby Landen is here! He was born at 1:55 pm and weighed 8 lbs 5 oz. He was 21 inches long and has a set of lungs on him! Such a cutie!!

Finally....a pregnant picture!

Alright, here's the picture of me pregnant. I wanted to get this up before he gets here because I know I won't want to see it after that! :)
This picture was taken on Saturday, September 19, so I was about 37 1/2 weeks along.

48 Hours and Counting

We are less than 48 hours from the big moment! I am getting so anxious! I went to the doctor today and he was proud of me--I haven't lost any weight, but I didn't gain any either which was good news. So, hopefully I am winning the battle with the swelling. My blood pressure was up, but not too worrisome. All in all it was a good visit. We went over the whole process--I am checking in after midnight Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning so that I can get some medicine to help me sleep that night. With Kylie, I stayed awake all night long! I was sooo nervous about the IV, the spinal block, etc knowing that I wasn't going to have contractions distracting me. And I must say I am already anxious about all of that this time again.
But I got some great news about the process this time. Our hospital does an "ambient c-section"....what this means is that the c-section is held in a very relaxed, calm atmosphere. They turn off all of the lights except a flood light on my belly to see to perform the c-section. Then, there are vanilla candles burning. We are able to choose music from an I-Pod to be playing during the birth and the part I am absolutely happy about--Richie can walk in the surgery room from the very beginning with me. He doesn't have to wait until after my spinal block and all of the prep! He can actually hold my hand during the spinal block and hopefully relax me. This is huge because I was stuck 8 times with Kylie because I wouldn't relax! The whole setting sounds so nice and hopefully more enjoyable!

Swift Kick in the Belly

Yesterday when Richie came home for lunch, I met him in the kitchen and gave him a hug. Well, my belly being rather large was up against his belly and Landen decided to kick about that time and Richie felt Landen kick him in the stomach!! Now he knows how the last few months have felt! :)
I am surviving the strict bed rest and trying really hard to be good and stay in bed, but I must say it is SO BORING. I can tell you what comes on TV at every 30 minute increment. Add to the that the fact that I am not sleeping at night, getting up (OK waking up and sitting up in bed) by 6:45 a.m. and it makes for a long, boring, lonely day. But less than 5 days to go! Woo Hoo! I can't wait to meet the little fella.
Last night when I was lying in bed unable to sleep, I was overwhelmed by the thought of what a miracle it is to carry a baby in my belly. Richie had commented on how he didn't know how I dealt with the constant kicking and rolling that Landen does, and I told him I am so used to him that it will actually be sad when he's born and I have to "share" him with everyone else. Right now, it's all me. That's what led me to the whole miracle thought--how God brings us into the world. I love the feeling of a little one growing inside of me. Sure, I am tired, sore, and worn out, but it's such an awesome feeling to know that another human being is living inside of me.

In Trouble

Well, I know how my kids feel when I get on to them now. Because I got in trouble today...by Dr. Bell. I have been home for 2 weeks taking it easy, but I have still managed to do a few things like cook dinner, load the dishwasher, or just sit on the couch with my husband and kids. Well, no more. I gained 10 lbs in a week and had a bad spell Saturday with swelling, headache, blurred vision, and nausea. So, Dr. Bell was really concerned today when I went for my visit. He now told me I can't get out of my bed unless I need to use the restroom or go to the hospital. No couch rest, no chair rest. BEDREST. I am going to go insane. He said if things don't improve, he'll have to take Landen early, so I am going to do my best to stay in bed for the next 8 days. UGH!!

Picture This....

I have been cooking dinnner while at home (that's the extent of my abilities, but I have to have something to look forward to each day or I'll just go crazy). I was watching Paula Deen the other day and she made a French onion soup recipe that looked really good, so I thought I would try it. I went online and got the recipe and it called for 1/4 C white wine, which I don't keep on hand, so I knew I would have to pick it up the next time I was out. So, when I went for my dr appt last week, I stopped at the Liquor Store on the way. Ok, first of all I was paranoid to walk in there and buy an alcoholic beverage at 9 months pregnant, but I decided I would just suck it up and not worry about what the cashier thought. Well, I walked in and immediately began explaining my situation to the guy behind the counter. His face was priceless--I think it scared him more that I was was so adamant that I make sure he understood the wine was for a soup recipe than if I had just walked in and bought my wine. Anyway, so I get home and later that evening I am making the soup when I realize I don't have a corkscrew! So, I got online and found a suggestion on removing the corkscrew by screwing in a regular screw and then using pliers to pull it and the cork out. Normally Richie is home by 4:15, but at this point it was almost 5, the soup was boiling, and the wine needed to be in there 30 minutes earlier to allow plenty of time to "cook off" the alcohol. So, I am getting desperate at this point. In our new house we have granite countertops, so I was scared to try to remove the screw/cork on the counter only to have the bottle slip and break. The floor is tile, so again I didn't know what the best thing would be to do. So, I decided at that point, I would just go outside, sit in the yard, put the bottle under my arm, and try to pull the cork out. Well, we are now in a neighborhood, but we don't have neighbors yet. However, they are building a new house right next door and at any given time, we have about 4-6 workers there all day. Can you imagine the look on these workers' faces if I did this? Luckily, Richie came home at that moment! So, he was able to take out the cork without the embarrassment of his wife on the lawn, 9 months pregnant, with a wine bottle under her arm in a panic to get the cork out quick!

Bed rest, burp rags, and good food!!

The bed rest is going pretty good. I must say I have noticed a big difference in the way I feel since I haven't been working and trying to keep up the Mom load too! Yesterday I went over to Mom's house to just get out a bit and sewed a few burp rags for Landen. They are so cute! It was nice to just get out and do something. I was actually worn out when I got home. We are down to the final countdown. Only 13 more days. I can't believe it's getting so close, yet it still seems so far away!! I am ready....I think. I am ready for him to be here, but I know how absolutely crazy life is going to get. I ran in to a friend yesterday that had her baby about 7 weeks or so ago and she also has two older children and she admitted that life is very chaotic. So, I am a bit scared! But with all that said, I am ready to see the little guy. The kids are pumped too. They are going to skip school and come to the hospital when he's born. I ordered them "Big Brother" and "Big Sister" t-shirts the other day! Landen has a onesie that says "Little Brother" so they are going to all be decked out! :)

Hot Apple Pie!

Last night I had what I would for sure consider a craving. You see we had been at Cheddar's yesterday afternoon and I saw apple pie a la mode on the menu, however I was so full from lunch I couldn't bear to eat anything else. But the apple pie thought stuck with me the rest of the day! So, I decided last night to try and make one. Well, I didn't have any ready-made crusts handy but I had everything else, so I made the whole pie, including the crust, from scratch!! I have wanted to make an apple pie for years, but for some reason it intimidated me. But a pregnancy craving sure calms the nerves and I just decided to go for it. Well, I asked Richie if he liked apple pie (not that I would change my mind about making it even if I was the only one to eat it) and he said he wasn't really fond of it. It was so late last night when it was ready, that I waited until this morning to try it. And I ate 2 pieces. Oh. My. Gosh. It was SO yummy. I told Richie how good it was and he tried a piece and said it was the best apple pie he had every tasted! :)
Tonight we are having tilapia baked in parchment packs with seasoned veggies. It was a Red Lobster favorite of mine, but they won't make it anymore that way (according to the waitress, the cook said it was too much trouble). So, I have come up with my own version and maybe it will satisfy my desire!

Another Baby is Here!

Our friends Jeremy and Catina had their baby last night and we went up to see her today.....Addison is such a cutie! Jeremy was quite the proud Daddy I must say. Addison sneezed a few times and Richie thought that was the cutest thing he had ever seen. I must say Richie is in for some exciting days ahead with Landen (once he gets here!). Babies change so much and everything they do, down to a little sneeze is such a sweet moment. Richie was amazed at how awesome Catina looked this morning--she had her make-up on, her hair down. She didn't even look like she had had a baby last night. I reminded him she didn't have a c-section, because I don't want him to freak out when I look like death warmed over the next day! :) Seriously though, she looked great and was in great spirits. Addison weighed 8 lbs 7 oz and she and Landen were both 4.5 lbs on their ultrasounds at 32 weeks, so I have a feeling Landen will be a big boy for sure now! I say this as I eat my 5th Oreo in about 2 minutes--so I am sure, my diet at this point is helping that out a bit too.
Ok, now I have to rant for a bit. Now before you read my rant, please understand I have the best for everyone in mind. Yesterday, I was driving to Wal-Mart and a gentleman on a motorcycle was behind me. Well, I was proceeding to move to the left lane, but had a funny feeling about the guy on the bike. Let me say that I have spent my fair share of time on a motorcycle and have even been in a motorcycle wreck, so I am a BIG advocate of making sure you are aware of motorcyclist on the road. However, I also feel that when you get on a motorcycle, you have an obligation to be conscious of your surroundings as well. Anyway, I was floored when I put on my blinker to move to the left lane, checked my mirror and was about to change lanes only to have the motorcyclist squeeze between me and the car in the left lane and take off! I promise if I hadn't been watching him, I would've hit him. I was furious--how disrespectful to other drivers and how wreckless he is with his life and mine to drive so carelessly! I told Richie the story and it was weird today because on our way home, we had another guy on a motorcycle drive careless and pull right out in front of us! Note: These were cruiser bikes, not "crotch-rockets". These were also men in their mid-30's, not careless teenagers.

A Face-Lift, a Clean Garage, and some Bed Rest

Wow--what a title! Ok, that's just a quick sum of this post, not some bad surgery gone wrong. First, I have had my blog for nearly four years now and have always wanted a customized personal background/header for my blog, but I just couldn't fathom spending any money on it. Well, I broke down a few days ago and put in an order with an awesome blog designer. The price was right and there were so many ideas to choose from on her blog that I couldn't resist ordering my own. Plus, I decided at this point--I deserve it!! So, in a couple of weeks, you will see a brand new background and header with pictures, etc! YIPPEE!
How did I manage to afford this new blog background? Well, I cleaned out my garages and took a whole truck load of clothing and old toys up to the Growing Kids Sale! I had 100 clothing items (the max they allow or there would've been more), a play kitchen, large easel, and toys of new toys in boxes my kids have never played with! Ok, the blog design is relatively inexpensive, so I will have plenty of money left over, but that was my way of justifying the ability to splurge right now. What's nice too is that my car fits back in to the garage so I don't have to get out in the heat or rain again. Granted, there is still work to be done in the garage, but it is a major improvement. Now if I could just have a garage sale, I could get rid of the furniture in there.
However, the garage sale won't happen any time soon though. Why? Well, I have officially started my maternity leave and am on bed rest for the next 3 weeks until Landen gets here. My poor body just gave out. I was having 2-3 contractions an hour, cramping, you name it, I was experiencing it. My job is relatively easy, but it is still a physical job when you have a 9 month pregnant woman do it. I lift 15 plus pounds, stand in one position for a total of 4 hours a day, and have some walking just to get to and from my doctor's offices. Not to mention the driving--and at this point I am very uncomfortable in a car. Heck, walking to the bathroom at this point is physically demanding. My doctor was just ready to see my sit back and relax at this point because I was overdoing it. Oh yeah--add 2 kids at home on to that list, and I was worn out between work and home!!! So, here's to a few relaxing weeks before the baby gets here--pray I don't go crazy! :) Because I forgot to mention I am not good at sitting still and doing nothing. Especially when I don't have a choice. But I HAVE to!

I got shot!

Dr. Ashcraft (our pediatrician) advised me a few weeks ago to get a flu shot if at all possible--why? Well, because Landen has to be 6 months old before he can get one and since that is pretty much at the very end of flu season, it is not going to help. However, if I get one while I am pregnant, he is passed some of the antibodies and is protected up to 6 months....so I was driving past Walgreen's the other day when I saw a sign that said they had flu shots. I high-tailed it right to the pharmacy desk and asked what I had to do to get one. It was simple--pay $25 and I was hooked up. So, I did it for Landen! It's just a seasonal flu shot, not the H1N1, but hey that's one less flu to worry about.
Meanwhile, I have been fighting allergies/cold and it stinks when you're pregnant. You're already tired and miserable--add not being able to breath and more fatigure and I am pretty much a sloth right now.
4 weeks from today and Landen will be here!!!

Babymoon!

This past weekend Richie and I went away for the weekend--and I must say it was so awesome! We saw a couple of shows and had some great meals. I was so happy to just get away, relax, and spend time together. It is about to get crazy and I know we will be glad we took the time to just get away and spend some quality time together!
But I must say I am exhausted and ready to have this baby. Everything on me hurts, I can't sleep and I get worn out before I ever get started.

35 Days and Counting

5 more weeks...only 5 more weeks. I can't wait! Landen's arrival is getting closer and closer!
Weston had his first fall ball season baseball game tonight and I was disappointed. Not because they lost, but because Weston just didn't seem to want to be there. His knee "hurt" and so he missed 2 innings....but I really think that it has a lot to do with moving up to a new league (kid pitch) and the unfamiliarity. He has to start at the bottom again and work his way up. And it's hard for him when he left the pitching machine league as pitcher/2nd base where all of the action was. Now, he's out in left field and he's bored and frustrated. I get that, but he's still got to give it his all in the outfield. He's got to earn a right to be infield and honestly his attitude seems to be that he doesn't want to be there. So I know why his coach has him where he's at. Hopefully he can put a little heart and soul in the game and work his way back infield.

Only 5 1/2 more weeks!

We are getting so close to Landen being here! Richie told me the other night that it seems like I have been pregnant forever and you know I have to agree! It seems like I am experiencing a 2nd round of morning sickness--I have heard of people having it late in pregnancy. It's not horrible like it was in the beginning, but it sure isn't fun either! I am also just miserable--back pain, cramping, you name it, it's playing havoc on my body! I am ready for this baby to get here! I still have to get a pregnant picture!
We got new couches this week and they look awesome in the living rooms! I think we did a great job on picking them out. The house is coming together now and it's starting to feel like home finally. There are still tons of boxes to unpack, but we are definitely making progress and I must say in my condition, we have accomplished quite a bit!

Happy Birthday Kylie!

Today is Kylie's 7th birthday! I can't believe my baby girl is already 7. I blinked and she's grown up! She is such the character too. She loves birthdays! In fact, she asked Richie tonight if he would make the "birthday girl" a bowl of ice cream--she sure knows how to work people! And to top it off--she lost her 2nd tooth tonight. She even pulled it herself! Overall though, I think she had a great birthday and a fun party last night. I made her two cakes--a beach ball and a flip flop cake.
We had my baby shower today too and we got such great gifts from everyone! We really appreciate all of the great baby stuff! I got some money as well, so I ordered my stroller/carseat combo--very important since we can't bring the little guy home without the carseat! We now have bottles, blankets, burp rags--you name it, the little guy has it!
Now all we need is Landen to get here!

Face of an Angel

How is it that I can help my husband upload pics of his deer to a hunting website, but I can't seem to figure out how to get my ultrasound video on my blog? Oh well!
We finally got to see little Landen's face.....he is such a cutie. A chubby cutie though! He already weighs 4 lbs 9 oz....that means he will be very close to 9 lbs at birth probably. Surprise, surprise!
We got a few cute pictures, but he did keep a hand in front of his face, so it was hard to get a great shot. On the ultrasound video, he even smiled! But he also stuck his tongue out too! What a boy!
Anyway, in case you are wondering who he looks like, he is a spitting image of his Dad. Yep, I once again have a kid that I can't claim by looks. No fair--I gain the weight, carry the kid around, and suffer for 9 months only to have the kid resemble Daddy to a tee!

Growing Tummy

Last night I measured my "waist" and was shocked! I am going to order one of those Belly Bandits for postpartum and it says to measure your waist during your 8th month to see what size you need. Well, I have a 41.5 inch waist right now! WOW! And I still have 7 more weeks to go! I hope I can remember to measure it the day of delivery...it would be neat to see how big it was on the final day. I still need to take a pregnancy picture--and I really want to because I know I will want to look back and see how big I was.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Gosh--August is going to fly by with all that we have been doing. Yes, we are STILL moving (I honestly thought it would be over by now, but no!). Kylie has attended several birthday parties this month already since most of her little friends are all born in August. Oh yeah, and she has a party next weekend for her big 7th birthday! Plus, we are trying to organize our house, empty boxes, decorate, you name it, well it's going on! Landen's room is completely ready--that's the only room in the house that is completely done. My baby shower is this weekend at my new house--pray that we can make it look presentable in 6 days!
The only thing good about being so busy is that my pregnancy is flying by!
I am still working, but I think my days are numbered. I went to the doctor last week and he wanted to put me on bed rest, but I can't do it this early and take away time with Landen. So, I am trying to stick it out. He limited my territory that I cover which will help to keep me out of my car and driving long distances--that's when the swelling tends to hit me.
The kids have one full week of summer break left before school starts. Honestly I am not ready for school to start--homework, etc that consumes our evenings. They are already busy enough!
In two weeks, we have our yearly mini-retreat with my coworkers and I am so pumped! Why? Because it is going to double as my "babymoon"! I am ready for a little R&R and time to ourselves before Landen gets here. 'Cause then things are going to get REALLY hectic!

Landen's Nursery

Last night, we were able to assemble Landen's baby bed and changing tower/hutch, so his room is finally beginning to resemble a nursery. Now I just need to get his letters on his wall and a couple of pictures, plus get his bedding put on the bed and it will be ready to go! I also updated the widget to the right to reflect my scheduled c-section date of September 30th.
We are headed to town this evening to order our couches and pick out some bookshelves for my "office". Our house is slowly taking shape! I promise to put pictures on here once we get it all together!

A case of the Cankles

I am home today trying to get these "cankles" to go down. Seems like the swelling has finally found its way to me. It started Tuesday night and seems to be a little better in the morning, but doesn't really seem to go away. By the end of the day, my ankles look like softballs! I have a call in to the doctor to double check and make sure all is normal, but other than that, it's a little R&R for me today. My hands are swelling as well--in fact, I have a hard time writing as my left hand goes numb a lot and has a lot of pain in it when I form a fist. Ah, the joys of pregnancy!
Landen's baby furniture came in yesterday, so we went and picked it up--now to just get it put together! Hopefully we can make his room look like a nursery soon. I am ready!

Worn Out!

We have moved most of our stuff in our new home and it's coming together nicely, but I can honestly say that Richie and I are exhausted! Moving and being 7 1/2 months pregnant is SO difficult. I hate not being able to do more than I can. I get exhausted so easily and can't reach anything on the floor. I can't lift items and I am cranky over the littlest thing. It's draining. But hopefully we can get everything done by the time Landen arrives.
Our new refrigerator and washer/dryer came in and we were able to get them installed on Monday. The washer/dryer set is AWESOME. I splurged and got the HE Whirlpool Duet set and I can tell I will love it. I am going to do my first load of laundry tonight and try it out. I ran an empty load in it Monday night to clean the washer out and Richie and I just stood in front of it and watched it spin. It sounded like a jet engine at one point (not loud, just fast)! Then the kids got up the next morning and I had thrown a blouse in the dryer to de-wrinkle it and I couldn't find them anywhere in the house. I heard a commotion in the laundry room and there they stood in front of the dryer just watching the shirt tumble and laughing hysterically. We are so easily amused obviously!
We sold Richie's old living room furniture and now we are ready to order our new furniture for the Hearth Room. We have it picked out, we just have to find the time to get it ordered....
Last night as we were standing in the garage watching the people load the furniture, we saw a scorpion. I honestly thought it was dead, so I wasn't having a nervous breakdown, but evidently it was playing 'possum! Richie reached down with his knife to kill it and it went in to turbo speed and tried to escape. So, first thing this morning, I called my bug man and told him we need him to come back out and spray again! He said he would be glad to treat the whole house again knowing how scared I am of them and would be over ASAP today! Hooray for Andy the Bug Man!

Finally....it's ours!

It's more than official now--it's ours! We signed papers this morning on our new house! We were excited, relieved, then exhausted from the thought of how much we have to move tomorrow...UGH. But it will be worth it. Just pray for patience and understanding for us. It's gonna be a bit stressful for awhile as we move and unpack, organize, and get settled. We have tons to sell, a yard sale in the works, and lots of sorting out to do. But in the end, it'll be so worth it.
I really need to put some pictures on here--I see all of these other blogs and they have great pictures! I will try and post some pics of the new home soon.
We went shopping last night and bought a new rug for our hearth room....we actually agreed on the rug! I think the house will look great as it all starts to come together. I love decorating and playing around with different decor items, so I can't wait to put it all together.

Our New Home!

Well, we sign the papers this Friday on our new home--everything will be official! Then, we will be up to our ears moving all of this stuff! I really hope we can move it quickly and get settled--each that goes by is another day I get bigger and slower!
Baby Landen will get to come home to a brand new home! It will be nice to have a new room to set up his nursery in--I can't wait to put it together. I just wish the baby furniture would hurry up and get here....

Waiting for the word

Well, we are getting closer and closer to closing on our new house. We are just waiting for "final approval" and then we will close, but the bank told us more than likely closing will be around next Friday. So, it looks like if everything keeps progressing, we will be spending next weekend moving. Richie is thrilled to move all of this nice and heavy furniture! ;)
I bought a new refrigerator for the house since we don't have one and I also splurged and bought a new washer and dryer set. I told Richie that when we finally got a house, I wanted a new set. My set is 10 years old and still works fine, but I am ready to join the high-efficiency world of washing. I keep hearing great things about less time, less energy, less water, and better results, so I am ready to experience it! Our new appliances should be in next Thursday, so it sounds like the timing is working out perfectly. The seller cleared out the remaining backyard area and sodded it, so our new backyard has grown! The funny part of the whole thing is that no one has built up there in a couple of years where our house is located, and this week, the lot next to us was cleared and the owners will start on their new house Monday! So, looks like we will have next door neighbors in about 6 months. But hey, that's part of living in a neighborhood.
I am really going to miss living out here in the country....but I am excited to have a new, nice spacious house.

On the Move!

Well, we have started the process of buying a house! I can't believe that just a couple of weeks ago we were planning to build, then about a week ago, everything was up in the air as to what we wanted to do. Now, we have an accepted offer on a house and are pre-approved! I am sooo skiddish about the whole house buying process after what happened to me when I sold my last house five years ago. (Background info: The house was sold and we were asked to move out before closing only to have the closing fall through 30 minutes before we were to sign. So, we had to move EVERYTHING back in! Fortunately, it sold again, but it was such a nightmare!)
So, I guess until I sign my name and someone hands me a key, I won't count my chickens just yet. My ONLY hang up with this new house is the uninvited guests that were there when we walked through it the first time.....scorpions! I am not scared of them--I am PETRIFIED! I have already found myself shaking my towels and clothes in anticipation. In fact, I called my "bug guy" and had him go spray this house last Friday...and we don't even own it yet! So just pray I can relax and enjoy the new house!
The kids are at church camp this week and should be home in a little while. Kylie was so pumped about going! In fact, before we ever even got there, she wanted to know if she would be able to go again next year--so cute! Hopefully the kids had a great time and learned a lot.

Pregnancy Pains....

Well, I haven't even hit the 3rd trimester officially, but I can say I am just worn out completely! And before you tell me, yes, I know I am REALLY showing for 6 months and no, I am not carrying twins! I guess that's what comes with being short and small. But how do you explain that to every stranger that insists on gasping at how big my belly is already!
I just can't tolerate anyone that calls a pregnant girl fat either--BIG pet peeve. People--it's a baby! But for some reason, people forget their sensitivity at the door and use the F word. Is it because they realize it's not really fat, but can't think of anything else to say? How about asking the baby's name, or hey, just keep your mouth shut!
I am trying very hard to keep my emotions in check, but I can tell each day wears a little more on my patience and tolerability. I really feel like I have been pretty easy going so far, but I can tell I am wearing down.
And how about the heat? And it's ONLY June! Please tell me that it won't be worse in July or August!!
I am already starting to swell--not good! I really hope that isn't a sign of things to come either.
Well, enough of my gripes--this weekend we are heading to Sheridan for the State Baseball tournament. Weston was invited by a rival team to join them for an "All-Stars" team to play at State! We were so proud of him! I know it's hot outside and they are practicing some long hours, but hopefully they will show their stuff this weekend.
And in other news, a tree branch has finally managed to put a hole in the roof on the metal building (a.k.a. my old home). I am just very happy that no one is living up there right now. But now comes the hard part--finding someone to fix the hole and we have to find a way to get that tree down too! Neither part is going to be cheap either! Our insurance payout wasn't much either!

My non-stop time away from home!

Gosh it seems weird to be home! I spent a week in Vegas for our sales convention, then it was off to Branson, and finally a few days in Clarksville. Richie said I am officially grounded and have to stay home for awhile!
Vegas was nice--the weather wasn't miserable and I got to see my first Vegas show! I have been to Vegas about 7 or 8 times and never went to a show, but was able to see Cirque du Soleil and it was incredible! I couldn't get over how the stage floor was a pool one moment and flat the next--amazing! However, it was a work trip, so we were kept very busy and I averaged around 7 miles a day of walking! Needless to say, I was so worn out when I got home.
Then, we left for Branson on Saturday the 13th where we stayed until Tuesday. I was looking to relax, but the kids were ready to enjoy vacation! We swam, went to the movies, the Butterfly Palace...everywhere except Silver Dollar City. We kept avoiding it because the weather was supposed to get bad, however Tuesday when we finally decided it would be the best day to go--it finally rained! But we'll just have to go back again sometime so that the kids can hit the Kids' Fest!
Finally, I have been in Clarksville this weekend judging my first Miss America preliminary pageants. What an experience--and the most relaxing time of my adventure. I really enjoyed judging the pageants and hope we picked some candidates that will do well!
Baby Landen seems to be thriving--I have gained 12 lbs this month! Not good and unexplainable since I did my most physical activity this week? Oh well, I shouldn't be surprised since my babies never seem to be even remotely normal sized! I am sure he's gonna follow in his siblings' footsteps and just be a big baby.
I need to get a good pregnancy photo and post it on here, but so far I hate every picture I have seen so far!

Glad Yesterday Is Over!

You ever had one of those days that gets progressively worse? That was my yesterday. Nothing went right and it seemed the more the day progressed, the worse it seemed to get. I was so ready to go to bed last night! Richie knew my day had been a hard one. It was so funny because right before bed, I couldn't find my Invisalign retainers. I searched and searched and I had lost them. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. He even said, "you need to just go to bed." He was SO right. It was obvious that the only cure was a fresh start in the morning. After I went to bed, he was so sweet and lay down beside me and started caressing my head and it was so soothing. It was the sweetest thing. Isn't it funny how the tiniest gestures, the smallest pieces of the day can somehow make you forget all that happened during the day. At that moment, I forgot about all the drama, all the stress and I just let him soothe me. I fell asleep shortly thereafter and didn't wake up until around 5:30 a.m. Lately I can't sleep, I hurt and just can't get comfortable. But last night I slept like a baby.

The THREE Home Run King

Weston has had so many baseball games this week because of make-up games from all of that rain. Well, the other night, he and his teammates were on a roll. Weston hit not 1, not 2, but THREE home runs! He was on fire. I was so proud of him. He is playing really awesome this year and seems to be enjoying his team. And not to forget Kylie either--that girl is really starting to show off on a teeball field. She is playing 2nd base and has really learned how to "cover" the base. Now they aren't throwing the ball yet to get outs, but it's great to see her know what to do. She is also really good at fielding balls and tagging batters out when they head her way.
But the proudest part of the whole season has to be the most "behind the scenes" aspect. Weston is the oldest member of his team and the coach has been letting him have the motivational speech at the beginning of the game. They have even nicknamed it "Weston's Wisdom". It's awesome to hear that my son is using his words and leadership on his team! Makes a Momma proud!!

Chasing Donkeys and Swattin' Flies

Gosh--yesterday just about worked this poor body over! It all started with a 7:15 am wake-up call from my Mom. Now, when my phone rings at 7:15 am, I KNOW either something is wrong or someone is hurt. So, I immediately felt my heart race at the sound of the phone. Well, Mom informs me that one of the neighbors by our house called her and told her that the donkeys and were out of the fence. You see, they live in a fenced off part of the pasture behind our yard. I immediately jumped out of bed and threw on some pants and tennis shoes. I ran to the door and sure enough 4 donkeys stood in the front yard of my neighbor's house across the street. Ok, I am a riping 5 months pregnant, so I am thinking, how much help am I going to be? So, I called my Mom and asked her if there were lead ropes or anything that would help to use to get them back. Her suggestion....animal crackers. Animal crackers? OK. So, I ran back in the house and grabbed an old bag of animal crackers (that I had almost thrown away a week or so ago because they are stale) and walked back outside and started shaking the bag--you should've seen the donkeys heads perk up at that sound. And here they came--right at me. So, I started throwing an animal cracker trail on the ground all all the way back to the gate in the fence that was open. I thought, ok that was way too easy. So, I started counting animals--4 donkeys, check. 1 white horse, check. 1 brown horse....1 brown horse....1 BROWN HORSE!!! NOPE. Great. And he was nowhere in sight! I started to panic--where could the miniature horse be. And being miniature sure didn't help at all--he's about the size of a Great Dane. Sounds big for a dog--but it's small for a horse! So, Richie decides to take off in his truck down the road to look for him. Well, about that time, I see a brown flutter in the backyard of another neighbor's house. I flagged Richie down and pointed in that direction. Sure enough, there he was. At this point, I'm thinking this won't take long. WRONG. It was over an hour later before he was finally back in his pasture! Let me tell ya--I was exhausted by the end of the experience.

Daddy, meet your little boy!

Finally! Richie got to feel Landen move! So did Weston and Kylie. I was so thrilled because I have really wanted them to enjoy him moving as much as I have been. And Landen really put on a show for them just a kicking/punching away at them when they'd put their hands on my belly. He was hyper! I guess he decided it was time to play with the rest of the family. I just loved the look on Richie, Kylie, and Weston's face when they each got to feel him for the first time. It's so awesome sharing that moment with loved ones experiencing it for the first time!

A Happy Day

Today was my first appointment with Dr. Bell! Can you say happy?? Because that's what I was all day! The nurse told Dr. Bell that I was there to see him and without my chart or anything to remind him, the first thing he asked her was, "how is her back?" Ok, what an awesome memory because I haven't seen him in 5 years! But that is just a testimony to how good of a doctor he is--he truly cares for his patients. I asked Richie what he thought after we left and said, "he's awesome!"
We have officially set the c-section date for October 1st (provided that Landen doesn't decide to show up earlier). It's nice to know a day that he will be here.
Last weekend we finally made it to Branson for a little family getaway. We had a great time at Silver Dollar City (although we didn't get there until almost 1 pm due to tram schedule at the RV park)....the kids (including Richie rode ride after ride after ride. I enjoyed just sitting back and relaxing while getting some walking in every now and then. I think if I walked that park every day I would have one heck of a rear and pair of legs. That's a hill!

It's A ......

Well, we found out what our little baby is...a boy! I guess the Intelligender test I took awhile back was right. I don't think Richie has come down off of his high yet from the news! He was so excited to have a son. We are going to name him Landen Sawyer. I think it's such a cute name. Oh and big brother Weston was thrilled to know that he will have a boy joining the family! With all the girls over at his Dad's house, he was really hoping it would be a boy. I was kind of glad too since Richie's niece and nephew both had little girls in the last year. This gives something new on his side, too. The ultrasound was so awesome! Landen yawned and took a couple of "drinks". He was kind of camera-shy about having his picture taken, so a lot of the photos are profile and backside! He's got a cute little baby butt though! The 4-D ultrasound rocks--my first time to experience it!
So, heed the warning on the shirt if you have any little girls!

My favorite baby bedding...so far!

Here's my choices for baby bedding....the red/khaki is my choice for a girl.

A sweet, sweet Mother's Day

I can't believe that God blessed me with the sweetest kids on Earth. They are so adorable! I got some precious goodies for Mother's Day. I am going to try and take a few pics and put them on here. The kids also got me a recordable card and Kylie said she was thankful I was her mother because I cook for her (who knew that was all it took??) and Weston said he was thankful I was his mother because I provide for him. I especially loved my card from Weston and the "All About Mom" fact sheet that Kylie filled out.
We went to both of our Mom's houses to visit and eat and give gifts. I think they each liked their new Scentsy stuff!
On another Mom note, Richie and I find out Thursday what the baby is and we can't wait. Today, I signed up my baby to stay at a lady's house just a couple of miles down the road. It's a perfect set-up because she's close, our friends have their little girl there, and she is very reasonable. I am so thankful that we have good childcare already arranged. It's so hard these days to find someone to care for newborns and then on top of that to find a good person who is reasonable! So, I gave her my deposit and I can check that off of my to-do list!

Happy 9th Birthday Weston!

Today is Weston's 9th birthday and boy was he pumped about today. He thought all week that Friday would never get here. Kylie, Richie, and I woke him up with a very loud version of the "Happy Birthday" song....he just grinned from ear to ear. Tomorrow is his actual party and I sure hope lots of his little friends get to make it.
I asked him awhile back what kind of birthday cake he wanted--I was all excited to get my cake decorating utensils out and do a Star Wars cake, or Transformers...but guess what he asked for? A Boston Creme Pie! So, that's what I will be making tonight. It's a whole lot easier, so I can't complain too much.
Richie and I are frantically counting down the days until next Thursday because that's when we'll find out what we are having. He still says it's a girl and I say it's a boy....so we know someone is right!
I think we are starting to slowly wrap up our name choices for the baby. I really want the baby to have an identity once we know the gender. Name selection is so hard though. We want something unique, yet not weird. Then, you have to agree on the name once you figure out your favorite choices!
When I was 9 1/2 years old, my little brother was born. Weston will get to share the same experience of siblings as I did--with a small difference in the middle--Kylie! To me, he gets the best of both worlds. A friend to play with and a little sibling to mentor.

Back to Bell!

Well, I couldn't stand it any longer. I missed Dr. Bell! Nothing was going right at my current doctor's office. In fact, I went to my family doctor for a second opinion. I decided that if I have to go to my family doctor just to feel good about my current OB's service, then something is definitely wrong. So, that was the straw that broke the camel's back. I spent 1.5 hours on the phone with my insurance company and found out who broke I am going to be by going out of network, then I did it. I went to Dr. Bell's office and scheduled an appointment. And I haven't regretted my decision one bit. I just feel more confident knowing he is familiar with me and my pregnant self!
So far, I am up 9 pounds! I am at 17 weeks, so I feel like that's not too bad. A little more than I would like, but it could be worse. I don't know how much I had gained at this point with the other two pregnancies, but I will be able to find out when I see Dr. Bell. I get huge usually--I gained 50 lbs each time I was pregnant before! YIKES! I really want to keep this one around 30 lbs....hopefully!
Otherwise, baby and I are doing great.
The kids have officially started baseball season, but so far the rain keeps us from playing! So, hopefully I'll have some pictures soon!

Week-end Update

So, I have been meaning to blog all week and I never seem to find the time. Well, I actually have a few spare minutes since the kids are gone and Richie is at a fishing tournament....so here's the blog full of the week's happenings!
The kids both started ball season this week with scrimmage games--and full blown season games start next week. It's a "sit back, shut up, and hang on" kind of month ahead with all the practices, games, and other stuff going on!
Kylie's team were cute to watch. Since it's teeball and there's a lot of first year kiddos playing, they are cute! They take all the info they learned in practice and "interpret" in their own little ways! Add the pressure of a "real game" and there's all sorts of bloops and blunders. Last night they played an all-girls team. They were pretty good, too!
Weston's team looked pretty good too. Evidently they faced the best team in the league last night and honestly they held their own. Weston needs to be a little more aggressive though! He's playing the "pitcher" role. Although, it's pitching machine, that position gets a lot of action. But honestly, he could get a lot more action if he'd get braver. He's out of practice, so I hope that a few more games and he'll be better!
Kylie also had another awesome accomplishment this week. She is working on her back tuck in gymnastics. Now, if you aren't gymnastics-jargon savvy, that's when someone flips over backwards without putting their hands down! She's still got a spotter for now, but I am just blown away that my 6 year old is learning how to do that!! Also, I sure hope it helps her feel more confident in her back-hand springs. She still won't do them in competition yet, so I hope that moving on will help her confidence level!
And, as far as kiddo #3, he/she has been moving up a storm this week. I also rented a fetal doppler monitor for home and I have got to hear the baby's heartbeat everyday! It's so neat to listen to my little baby in there and have a peace that things are moving along just fine! Only a few more weeks and we'll know if it's a boy or a girl. I am still betting on that it's a boy, but who knows?

Isn't Insurance Supposed to be a GOOD thing?

I am so frustrated--I am desperately missing my OB doctor from when I was pregnant with Weston and Kylie. Why don't I just use him you ask? Because my insurance won't cover him. I thought having a female OB doctor would actually be better! She will "get it" and understand what I am going through, right? Wrong. I am miserable. I miss my Dr. Bell! And to make matters worse I know so many people pregnant or just had babies that get to use him right now! NO FAIR!
I tried to talk to my OB about my back troubles, the double knot in Kylie's umbilical cord, being put on bedrest while pregnant with Kylie, and the fact that I have NINE POUND babies in hopes that she would understand and have a little mercy and not make me carry until the bitter end. Not a chance. No mercy. Instead it was, "I know a good chiropractor, get better shoes, and knots in cords are rare." Well.
So, I went by Dr. Bell's office last week just to make sure that I wasn't somehow covered, there wasn't some "mercy rule" for previous patients, ANYTHING that would let me come see him. Nope. Not unless I want to pay a whole lot more money. And, since I am a guaranteed c-section, then I know my doctor bills will definitely be expensive. So, I just pray I make it through a LONG 9 months. Did I mention that my current OB doctor is now on maternity leave and I have to float between the other doctors in the office for the next 3 months. Yep, I don't even see my OB again until I am 6 months along! Doesn't really help with the bonding experience. I just haven't been very happy with my experience at all at this office, so pray my attitude changes and I can learn to appreciate this time. After all, it's my last time to be pregnant and I want it to be a memorable experience--in a good way!

Skipping Easter, but celebrating an anniversary!

Sunday was my and Richie's 1 year wedding anniversary! Yes, it also fell on Easter, so we made the decision that since the kids were going to be with Kyle this weekend, then we would just "skip" Easter and spend the day together. We had planned to go to church that morning, but neither one of us slept well at all with the storms going through overnight, so we missed church. My heart wasn't in it either since I didn't have the kids. I bought them Easter outfits, but didn't get to see them all dressed up! :(
Richie and I really wanted to spend the day doing something, but the weather was just awful. So, we went to Frank's in Van Buren for a late lunch and then came back home. Kind of stunk not to be able to do more, but Richie wasn't feeling well and the weather was just dreary, so we did the best we could!
Well, I am officially in my 2nd trimester. It seems like this pregnancy is flying by, yet some days I feel like I will always be pregnant. My morning sickness is starting to let up, but now I am just exhausted. I think being pregnant at 31 is a lot harder than it was at 24. I caught a glimpse of my thighs today and was mortified. I am only 15 weeks pregnant and already my body is losing its shape. I sure hope this weight comes off after the baby gets here. But, I probably won't get that blessing 3 times! It's just hard to have any gumption to exercise when you still have a slight queasy feeling and no energy at all.
Kylie told me that I was starting to get a belly the other night. She is excited about the baby and I think she will be such a great big sister. She told me she doesn't care if it is a boy or girl now. However, Weston is still holding out hope it's a boy so that he can have some friendly testosterone in the sibling realm.

Got Goals?

We are so pumped and ready to start building our house. We have a plan, some ground, and some great ideas, now we just need to start making it happen. I really hope we can start soon, but I want all my ducks in a row before we break any dirt. So, we are gonna continue to pray for the green light!
Kylie had a cheerleading competition this weekend and I have to say that my heart wasn't in it at all. They continue to finish last or next to last, so there becomes a point you can't find any reason to get excited about getting up early, driving for a few hours, then sitting and sitting only to get last place. Well, Kylie got some great news tonight--she gets to move up to the Junior team! I am really proud of her. She also did a round off, back hand-spring, back hand-spring, back hand-spring for me at practice too. She just needs a little more confidence to do it in competition!

A Wonderful Surprise!

Well, I had my OB appt today and I had a pleasant (and unexpected) surprise! After the normal check-up by the doctor and Q&A session, she attempted to listen to the heartbeat...but she couldn't find it. So, she sent me in for an ultrasound to confirm the heartbeat. I was a little nervous, but honestly I wasn't too bad because I have felt some light movement and pressure, so I know something has been going on in there. So, I went to the ultrasound room and I got to see my baby! And this time it looks like a baby! :) Turns out, the baby was on its tummy and curled up, so that's why they couldn't get the heartbeat with the external doppler. He (or she) squirmed around a little during the ultrasound, then stuck its thumb in its mouth! Too cute! That's when the tech snapped a picture for me to keep. It was such a pleasant surprise to actually get to see the baby. I called Richie as soon as the appointment was over and drove all the way to his work to show him the picture! I was grinning ear to ear all the way there. I am so much more relaxed now that I can tell the baby is developing normally and looks great. The heart rate was excellent too at 171 bpm. My cystic fibrosis screening was also negative, so that's another great blessing as well.
Praise the Lord for a great day full of surprise and blessing!

A Camping We Will Go!

We had such a blast last weekend camping! I am so glad Richie finally caved and bought our motorhome. The kids were in heaven riding their bikes and playing outside all day. They had Mei-Mei and Papaw next door that they bugged non-stop, so they were entertained the entire time. I didn't do much--I am still sick at times. But, I did cook which is a first in about 2 months, so that was impressive to the family!
During the weekend, Kylie lost her first tooth. The girl is so brave--she just yanked it out herself. She has wanted that tooth out as soon as she felt it was the tiniest bit loose. I was shocked when she showed me that she pulled it out herself!
I have my 2nd OB appointment on Thursday and I am ready to go. I am ready to hear the heartbeat again!

Where's the Relief?

So, today I am officially 12 weeks. The day I have been waiting for anxiously during the last 6 weeks. I just knew that when today got here, I would be cured of this morning sickness! Well, today I am home--sick. What gives? Can I get a break? I keep telling myself that the hormones mean the baby is doing great, so I guess I will just embrace that thought for just a few more days....then can I feel better? I really need to get the motorhome ready for this weekend--I still have to make it through a Wal-Mart trip long enough to buy food for the weekend.
On a better note, I guess I can be glad I am sick today--it's raining a monsoon out there! The kids are spending a few nights at Kyle's house to make up for the weekend that they will be home to go camping.

Baby Blue!

So, I did the Intelligender test. It says boy! Ok, well at least I think it said boy, but Richie said he thinks it says girl! I thought it would be easier to tell the difference, but obviously not if we are thinking opposite of each other! Like I said, no purchases are gonna be made based on this test, but it was fun to at least get an idea of what it might be.
So, we have been focusing on boy names and I think we agree (somewhat) on Landen Sawyer. Richie knows I have this "thing" with any name that I have associated with someone. Mostly, it's kids--you know, the snotty-nosed brat that you have stuck in your head when you hear a name. Well, I don't have Landen associated with any kids, but I did work with a Landon at my last job. So, with the alternate spelling and the faint memory of the person, I am OK with Landen. Our friends Will/Jana have a daughter named Lakyn, so I thought it's kind of cute to have Lakyn and Landen! :)
We are busily preparing for our first motorhome adventure this weekend. We aren't going far, far away, but to the kids, it's still a camping trip. Kylie is so excited about it--she keeps wishing it was Friday already! I really, really hope the weather holds up for us though. I am hearing some scary forecasts like snow and cold weather! What happened to spring?

Why Wait?

Anyone that knows me knows that I am not a patient person at times and that I hate surprises (if I know they might be coming). So, this whole waiting to find out the gender of the baby is KILLING ME! I can't wait! So, I heard about this thing called Intelligender. It's an at-home test you can do to determine the sex of the baby. It's about 82% accurate, so I doubt I will decorate the nursery based on the results, but it will be fun to find out what I might be having. So, I bought the test today. You have to do it with first-morning urine, so stayed tuned to find out what the results are tomorrow!!

It Takes a Village to Raise a Pregnant Lady

The last 6 weeks have been a memorable blur. It seems like I will never be able to enjoy a meal, stand without wanting to throw up, or spend an evening with my family in the living room and not in bed. But the days are getting better. Now that I look back, I had to wonder and then realize how I managed to make it through that time. Well, it was everyone joining together and taking care of me that got me through it!! From my husband's breakfast in bed every morning (what a sweetie!), to my Mom's pot roast, to my grandma's home cooking, as well as Richie's mom's soup, noodles, lasagna....etc, to my housekeeper Adelina's cooking and cleaning and not to mention doing my laundry for a couple of weeks! I couldn't have done it without everyone chipping in and helping me out. It was so sweet yesterday when Richie told me how much he appreciates me because he realizes now how much I do. So thank you to everyone! I am starting to feel better at least part of the day, so it's nice to be able to enjoy a few daylight hours and get a couple of things done!
The family was split yesterday between the 2 kiddos' events. Weston was in a basketball tournament and Kylie had a cheer competition in Tulsa. Weston's team lost their first game. We left Kylie's competition before the awards ceremony so I honestly don't know how they did.
This weekend we went and bought a new runner rug and throw pillows for the motorhome. It's slowly coming together! Hopefully I will be able to put a little more into it as I start feeling better.
Well, that's the weekend--Now on to tackling the week!

Happy Birthday to me!

I have to say today doesn't really feel like my birthday, but then again maybe birthdays after 30 don't feel the same anymore. I am officially "in my thirties" and I think that might be a little more painful than just turning 30 last year. This birthday I get to experience nausea and on top of it, I have a cold! I have blown my nose 45,628 times in the last 48 hours! (OK, maybe not THAT much, but it's really, really close).
We had our 1st doctor appointment last Thursday and all looks very well! The baby measured 9 weeks, 2 days, so it's right on target. I am still not showing though! I know, I know everyone tells me to enjoy that blessing, but it's hard to feel pregnant without a little bump. Richie actually commented today that I looked like I was showing, but I just can't grasp that I am just yet. But I know the baby does some major growing in terms of size in the next two weeks, so I am sure I will pop out very soon.
Weston had some mealtime difficulties last night. It was such a hard situation, but I had to stick to my guns. You see, he has the worst picky-eater syndrome! Then, he proceeds to snack and snack between meals. It's hard to get him to try things, too. So, we had a little "come to Jesus" meeting yesterday about his eating habits. Well, 2 hours later, he's snacking on popcorn right before dinner! I know people in the family (grandparents especially) have babied him because they just want him to eat since he's so small, but I honestly think that's contributed to the issue. So, I told him from now on, he MUST ask permission before he eats anything. He will try the dinner we are having first.
Our first test was last night. Richie got some Arby's Roast Burgers and Weston ate half of one. However, the struggle came because it had lettuce on it which he absolutely hates. But he ate part of the sandwich and then started freaking himself out! He looked at the lettuce and then would get sick. He did the whole "vomit in the mouth" issue. It was frustrating! But, I want him to get out of his hot dog and spaghetti o rut! He eats the same three things then snacks on chips, cookies, popcorn the rest of the time. So, I am hoping I can get him to give a few other foods a shot--he is usually surprised when he tries something because he actually likes it.

Light at the End of the Tunnel?

I sure hope I am not jinxing myself, but I have actually had a mellow "morning sickness" day! Woo hoo! I still had to take my meds to make it through the day, but the day progressed a lot easier than any day I have experienced in the last month. I hope I am on the downside of this roller coaster and that it soon comes to a stop. But, again I thank God everyday that the hormones are strong and know that the baby is benefiting from them!
Tomorrow is our 1st doctor's appointment and I am so excited. I can't wait to see Richie's face when he sees the baby for the first time. I know what to expect and know what's to come, but to see it through a "newbie's" eyes will be awesome.
My mom and I shopped at the Growing Kids Sale tonight--this is the first time I have shopped the sale in a few years. But, I really wanted a jump start on baby stuff and knew that I could probably get some great deals. And did I ever! I spent on $152 and got 12 items...bassinet, baby monitor, baby wipe warmer, travel swing, changing pad w/cover, bathtub, head support for carseat, Boppy w/extra cover, baby sleeping supports, floor playmat, Bumbo, and baby sling. I can't believe I got some high ticket items for so cheap! The bassinet was only $25! That's incredible! So, we are on a great start for the baby's room.