summer plans

I think I was a little over-eager when making plans for the boys this summer. After the money has been spent, I realize they would have been fine just hanging out at home and in our pool -- but I think they'll have a good time all the same.

They're attending 3 week-long camps this summer. The first is next week and is put on by 2 local museums. I think the topic is animals. I can't find the information for it at the moment - but I know it starts next week.

They have a week off, then a week at Zoo Camp. You would *think* the topic would be animals, but it's actually about the earth and conservation.

The following week is our church's vacation bible school. I'm glad that they're going with a Catholic program again this year. (Not that there's anything wrong with protestant VBS programs - it's just that we're Catholic.)

The camps are all half-day programs, which is perfect for this age range, I think. DH will drop them off most mornings and L & I will pick them up. I need to start thinking about lunches because I know they'll be starving when they get out.

The rest of July is free, then in August we're headed off to WI for my parent's 40th wedding anniversary party and family reunion. In mid-August the boys will start at the homeschool enrichment program, and we'll start homeschooling again.

As for me, I'd like to think that I could get to the projects I never got to while pregnant -- but that might be asking too much. Perhaps I could hope for completing 1 or 2 of them, while planning for our school year. I hope to be more out and about next year than we were this year. I need to start thinking about goals for the coming year - not just academic ones for the boys, but goals for our family as well.

baby update

Well, we'll see how much I can type before L decides she needs to eat again ;)

She's 4 1/2 weeks old today and things are going pretty well. So far, she's a laid-back, content baby for the most part. The first week or so I don't think she even cried -- which of course worried me, especially since my boys were both big noise-makers (still are!) She does cry, of course, but she doesn't cry much. She eats often, but she also has a couple long periods of sleep each day - including one at night - so I can't complain.

The boys are totally in love with her. It took N a little while to warm up, but he has and both boys are eager to see, talk, kiss and make faces at her.

I've been enormously blessed by families in our homeschool group bringing meals to us. I don't even know 90% of the moms who have brought meals to us, which I find amazing. And we're still receiving meals this week and next!

My mom and SIL came out last week and that was wonderful, too. I was able to rest lots, and my mom prepared 3 meals a day for us AND cleaned up.

Getting out is a challenge, but not that bad. I'm grateful for grocery delivery and Amazon to take care of most of my shopping needs.

Well, that's all for now as she's starting to grunt and root . . . and I'm going to have to make her wait a little bit longer so I can put out dinner for the boys (a wonderful woman brought meat loaf, mashed potatoes, cherries, and rice krispie treats for us tonight!)

Lydia Jane

Yep, that's my little girl ;)

All went well on April 29 and she was born at 10:32AM. I was out of the hospital in just under 48 hours, which was surprising to some because of the c-section -- but I wanted to be home.

Recovery is going well, and she's fitting right into our family. I was blessed with friends and acquaintances bringing meals so food hasn't been an issue. DH has been able to spend plenty of time at home and given me opportunities to nap. My worries and concerns really haven't come to fruition at all -- it's been much easier than I imagined.

I'm taking it easy and enjoying my family.

April 29 birth day

My doctor asked me to get my blood pressure taken today bc I had a headache when they called to check on me. I did and it was 149/92. When I reported that back to the office, they sent me directly to the hospital.

After a few hours of monitoring, etc . . . I was sent home on complete bed rest until Sunday morning when the baby will be born via c-section. She is doing great, but the concern is my safety.

Prayers are appreciated. I have a lot of thoughts about this -- but the bottom line is that I'd like to live to raise all my children -- so a c-section it is.

Will post next week again when we're home from the hospital. Please pray, too, that I find a way to find people to care for the boys while I'm in the hospital and that I can find some help when I come back home. DH won't really be able to take much, if any, time off and I'm scared about my recovery without help.

pre-e

Well, I am glad I didn't blow off my non-stress test at the hospital yesterday. The baby was moving around a bunch, as usual -- but her heartbeat was a little faster than they like to see. Then, my blood pressure was high . . . for each of the 9 readings taken while I was there. They decided to run some blood and urine work, and found I'm spilling protein into my urine and my uric acid was off so I'm in early stages of pre-eclampsia. Thankfully, my numbers were low enough that I was able to go home, but it was touch and go for a bit.

I have to go back tomorrow for another NST and more blood/urine work. Depending on the results, we may have to deliver tomorrow. Because of my previous c-section, they won't induce me -- it means another c-section.

I'm still hoping to go into labor naturally, but the hours are getting few for that to happen. Or maybe not. I'm not really sure and I'm trying to give it all up and let what happens happen.

Prayers are appreciated. Mostly for the health of me & my babe and my peace of mind.

irritable

I really really hope that this baby is coming very soon, because I am as grouchy as a bear woke up in the middle of winter. UGH. You would think my boys would steer clear of me, but instead they are harassing, arguing, fighting and being absolute hellions.

Ok, maybe not that bad -- but it sure FEELS like it to me. I wish they would just go off and LEAVE ME ALONE.

It doesn't help that I'm still having contractions -- just not regularly. DH had a late call yesterday that I had him cancel bc I really thought things were going to pick up. Um, they didn't. And we lost out on the potential sale. But, I was in tears with the boys being loud and obnoxious and defiant, so he stayed home because the call was over an hour away at 7PM, which meant he wouldn't have been home until 10 or 11PM.

I've had maybe 3 or 4 contractions today. It's the not knowing right now that is really getting to me. DH is anywhere from 10 to 150 miles away from home at any given moment and it's stressing me out. If I need my sister during the day, she's an hour commute away. I'm not at all calm about this whole process at the moment.

AND, baby has defintely slowed down. Which is either a sign of impending labor -- or of a problem. I'm supposed to go in today sometime anyway for a non-stress test, so at least that will put me at ease somewhat. Provided someone can watch the boys at the precise moment they have an open bed in triage at the hospital.

My stress level is too high at the moment. I recognize this. If only the recognition could lead to the correction of it.

37 weeks tomorrow!

Highlights of today's doctor appointment:

* Blood pressure was perfect! (first time in weeks . . . )

* Blood sugars are still a bit wacky, but not super-high. Suggested that I eat more protein. bleck. but will do my best.

* Lost 3 lbs. Talk about kick-starting a postpartum weight loss plan! LOL! Thankfully I have plenty to lose, so this isn't an issue.

* Bumped to (2) non-stress tests at the hospital weekly. Hoping babe decides to arrive this week to avoid that.

* Doc will be out of town 5/2 and 5/3. Hoping baby arrives prior to those dates, or waits until after. She totally supports my vbac plan, but admitted that one of her backup docs won't be very happy about it. She suggested that if that happens I should wait as long as possible before heading to the hospital -- something I was planning to do anyway.

* Cervix is very low, and I'm dilated about 3cm.

I've been having contractions on and off all week -- at least I know they've been doing something. Still nothing regular or painful -- but I do notice them.

The boys and I went to the kids art museum after the appointment and had a nice hour or so of it. I was sick of walking after that, and grateful we had a membership so I didn't feel like we wasted the admission price.

The boys did schooling today with minimal fuss. N still argues quite a bit about getting started, but does just fine once he does. I need to work on transitions with him some more -- he really struggles with going from one activity to another still.

Gotta switch some laundry so I have clothes to wear tomorrow!

accents

This is pretty true for me. I spent more of my life and growing years in the northeast (Buffalo) and midwest (Milwaukee). While I had a southern accent for a time from living in TX, LA and OK - I've mostly lost that as an adult. Living in AZ as an adult, I don't think I have any accent at all anymore :)

What American accent do you have?
Created by Xavier on Memegen.net

Northern. Whether you have the world famous Inland North accent of the Great Lakes area, or the radio-friendly sound of upstate NY and western New England, your accent is what used to set the standard for American English pronunciation (not much anymore now that the Inland North sounds like it does).

Take this quiz now - it's easy!

We're going to start with "cot" and "caught." When you say those words do they sound the same or different?

Same, no wait I mean different, maybe, a little bit different... Same Different

job blessings

We are so much blessed with DH's job. He has a wonderful boss -- which he hasn't had in years and is a welcome change in our lives.

His current territory is the entire state of Arizona, so there are plenty of days when he is traveling 50-200 miles one way to sales calls. Knowing I'm expecting, his boss has been calling him to check out the available calls before assigning them. Today, there were 2 in a city about 100 miles away, and a joint call available locally. DH asked me; I told him I wasn't contracting so he should take the better opportunity (which is the 2 calls far away). He let his boss know and he let DH know that if I need to get to the hospital they've already worked out how to get me there. Isn't that sweet?

I could tell you stories about former companies he's worked for out here -- and the lies they've told -- and the money they've cheated us from . . . but I won't. I'm grateful he is where he is right now and thankful my family is well provided for these days.

Love Thursday

Love is . . . thinking your momma's pregnant belly is beautiful and already falling in love with the baby sister residing inside.

** I know there's a link that I should be putting in here to go back to the people who originally thought this fun idea up, but I can't remember where it started, and I can't remember who I saw that did it recently . . . so forgive a pregnant woman. And if you know who I should link back to, please let me know. thanks ;) **