The 400th Post

So I should have something momentous and deep-thoughted or something. But I don't. Just a plain old busy day!

Which started at about 6:30 this morning when my alarm went off. Yes, I know it's summer, but appointments don't really care. With Mark gone I chose to take the kids to the OB with me rather than ask anybody else to get up that early for me. I had made muffins the night before and we had boiled eggs, so a quick easy breakfast for everyone. Then it was an hour drive to get there before 9 and be on time.

The boys did fantastic! They got to hide under the table during Mommy's exam, which they thought was super cool. I didn't know the doc was planning on a full, strip down to the gown, exam today. He didn't do my initial, the base did, so he wanted to make his own notes and stuff I guess. Fun though with 3 little kids in the room! Heartrate sounded good, and we did make a small adjustment to my meds. I am supposed to take my evening dose at dinner instead of right before I go to bed. Probably so that I have to eat more in the evening and may actually put on weight. I'd lost a couple pounds since my last visit....

Our morning also included a visit to the strangest lab I've ever been in. The place is right next door, and was labeled "Total Care". When we walked in I was sure it was the wrong place, it looked like a spa and cosmetic counter. Seriously! Apperantly besides lab services, they offer: Bone scans, botox, permanent makeup, specialty cosmetics, massages including pregnancy massages. And a couple other things I forget. Okay......

I was able to talk to Mark today, it looks like he should be coming home tomorrow. We haven't told the kids just in case he gets held up or something. It's been a long week without him here, and we can't wait for him to come home! I was talking with the lady who I teach piano for, and she brought her kids over Tuesday and cleaned Nathan's room and folded my mountain of laundry. Then today, she dragged even more of her children over and they scrubbed down all my walls with magic erasers and mopped my considerable amount of non-carpeted flooring! Wow! I don't know what I've done to be blessed with such amazing people, but I am thankful for the services people have done for me while Mark's been gone. I have a very clean house to welcome him home with now, and a lot of my stress is gone with the pencil and chalk and pen that are no longer staining the walls of my home. Tomorrow will be a nice relaxing day, maybe I'll get some of my hall closet cleaned out. But I don't have to go anywhere and just get to look forward to my sweetie coming back!

Of course, to return the service favor, I told my piano mom that since she was wanting to paint her walls or do some stenciling, I would love to come and help her do that and she could borrow the stencils she was admiring in my entryway. Now I feel much better, and hopefully we can get some of it done before we are both too pregnant. She's due 3 weeks before me!

quickie

It's only Monday, and already my week has been nothing but running here and there. Mark had to go out of town for a bit and we have no idea when he'll be back home, so it's been awful fun with the kids. I've been working on getting the house straightened up to keep myself busy, and today got the car all vacummed out. Took 2 hours! Yikes!

I'm hoping things slow down enough to sit down and write a proper post, but even writing this is on Amanda's computer since she is going to watch the boys here in a minute while I run to a meeting that I can't take them to. And this is the most free time I've had in 3 days. :-)

School's Out!

Today was the last day of school! The kids got out early even, which was fun. We go in Monday morning to pick up his meds and report card, but we're pretty much good for the summer. We are all so excited, and can't wait to take some down time, hang out as a family.

I may even play with some flowers and stuff again this summer. Mark decided that we can fit 4 boys into this house, and I agreed to give it a shot. Mostly because I can't turn in the paperwork, he has to, and he just wants to stay here. Maybe we'll stay and save up some money, look into getting a house or something. It'll be tight, but we'll see how it goes. I'm thinking the 3 older boys in the big room, a toddler bed and a bunk bed. Just for the 1st 6 months, until the baby is a bit older. Then William and the baby will be together, and the two older boys will share. Not sure who will get which room yet.... I'm a little nervous about having William in with a bunkbed, the kid has no fear, but we'll try it and see.

So that means that I get to enjoy all my perinials getting a whole lot bigger this year, some of my flowers I put in the first summer we got here and they are getting so big! Others, like the rose bushes I put in last year, are sure to suprise me with how they do. My pansies are spreading under the tree we sprinkled them by, and all my echinacea plants are sprouting everywhere. I let some of the pods go to seed and fluffed them everywhere, just for kicks. Pretty! (I'm trying to see the good side of having to squeeze 6 people in this house.)

And along with Steph's news of her little one moving around today, I'm having a blast with junior! Ever since the ultrasound, he's just been a little livewire! Rolling all over the place. Wakes up about 10pm every night, just dancing around in there. Hopefully when he gets here he'll realize that nighttime is for sleeping... :-)

Picture Time!

The ultrasound went very well this morning! Our technician was very nice and printed off lots of pictures, so I scanned in the best ones to post here for you.

Everything looked great. I was worried about the heart, from the diabetes stuff, but that was fine. Also, we got a good lip shot, and no cleft. So far we aren't sure on the actual palate, the angle wasn't great, but our chances aren't phenomenally high or anything so I'm not too worried. Baby was very active too, and it was so fun to see and feel the movement at the same time!

Here we a picture of an adorable little foot, with the toes nice and clear. The other foot was just as cute, but baby didn't bring it down until after she took this shot and hit print.

A nice profile shot. We had a hard time getting this angle, so they had me get up and use the bathroom. No problems there! I had been drinking lots of water just in case, so was mildly relieved to have that excuse. This was right after we got a great view of baby's lip, which looked great. Baby has an arm up underneath the chin, that's the solid white by the chest.

And what everyone is waiting to see!

Ha Ha! Just had to draw it out a bit, because of course it was the first shot we got and was very clear.

Okay, here ya go! Um, lets just say there is no doubt what this little guy is. At all.

I have to admit, I was the tiniest bit dissapointed for a second. But we are just thrilled that everything is formed the way it's supposed to be. He measures exactly on my due date, which means that I'm doing well on my diet. He weighs about 10 oz, and his heartrate is a solid 150. Absolutely perfect! Boys are so much fun, and I am glad the Lord is entrusting me with another sweet spirit, and hopefully future missionary! Just think, somebody has to have boys to send out into the world and teach people about his love and word. And I am lucky enough to get 4 of them! Who knows, maybe this time I'll get that redhead I keep hoping for? Plus, I already have everything for little boys, and I am a whiz at changing their diapers in the middle of the night. :-)

Now I just have to wait another 20 weeks to hold him and kiss him and smell his sweet baby smell.....

What a great day!

It's a fantastic day today! The sun is shining, we found the right parking garage, I didn't have to have a full bladder.... What more could you ask for?

Well, I guess you could ask for pictures and stuff from our morning at the doctor, and although I do have pictures to post for you, I have to run to Oren's school and drop off treats.

So I'll post pictures a little bit later today.

But I will leave you with a teaser. We are having a.......... healthy.........active.........adorable little feet-ed........... human offspring! That's right! We are letting you know that it's definitely not a cat, dog, or watermelon. :-)

Good to go!

I got a call back from the doctor's office this morning. They checked over my referral and talked to the lady who does all the tricare billing and all that. I guess it's all inclusive for any OB care I need! Any scans and any tests, all that stuff. So we're still set for Friday!

Cross your fingers this little one isn't shy like Oren was.... Amanda will kill me if I don't find out. I think she's more excited than I am. She wants to go shopping and plan my baby shower!

And of course I will post pictures for all to see, I feel bad I haven't taken any for a while but I've just been tired and my brain isn't really working right lately or something.... :-)

Another Week Gone

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly a home can get trashed. I spent all of Saturday cleaning up because Mark's dad was passing through on his way to Washington and needed a place to stay the night. Now, only Monday, the only thing still clean is my bedroom. Oh well.

Mark was an absolute angel and dragged the propane tank to the gas station to fill it for our barbeque. I was in heaven and did up some yummy steaks and homemade mashed potatoes for dinner that day. I forsee lots of grilling out this summer since I don't have to mess with charcoal, and it's yummy, and quick. We didn't fill the tank last year and just used charcoal, which was annoying. The grill and tank were both free, and it was only $13 to fill it. Yeah!

And we've found some foods that our little baby loves! Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with milk. Ramen noodles. Powerade. Lots of fun! Apperantly the kiddo doesn't like when Mommy blogs about him/her, and kicked the keyboard. :-) Hopefully the insurance authorization will come through and we'll be able to keep our appointment for Friday. Oren has been counting down the days, and even Mark is getting excited! (Baby also does not appreciate sneezing....)

It's been a pretty uneventful but still somehow busy week, and we are all getting ready for school to get out for the summer in a couple weeks. The temperature is finally feeling like spring, although today was 99 degrees for the high. I knew it was hot, and even got out some gaucho shorts, but I didn't know it was that hot! Whew! Luckily it'll be a bit cooler tomorrow, but still, this does not bode well for the summer and I envision lots of time spent inside for Mommy, who burns better than an egg on the sidewalk.