Getting closer.

Unless I go into labor on my own, tomorrow is the big day...tomorrow at 2:00. I don't like being induced. I've said it before and I'll say it again...when I'm induced there is so much build up and my anxiety goes through the roof. Or like Ryan says, it's like shopping for a baby. This time and date on the calendar staring back at us. "Okay, it's Thursday, 2:00, time to get our baby." It's just weird.

But, with that said...I'm so super excited to meet this little one!! She has already completely rocked our world! What will it be like when she's born?!

I'm at a loss as to what to do today. I have tons of chores to catch up on: laundry, cleaning bathrooms, mopping...I should probably plan meals for the next couple of days. Or then I think I should get out a bit...hit the town...do something fun. But then who am I kidding...the only thing that sounds appealing right now is taking a nap. Which I'll probably end up doing. I've been feeling terribly uncomfortable, fat and ugly lately. Ever since my appointment on Monday I've been a bit down. I was weighed...I should not have looked. This is the heaviest I've ever been during a pregnancy...I've put on 40 lbs...40 lbs!!! I'm usually around the 30 lb. mark...but 40?!! Ugh. The only thing that fits me anymore is a pair of sweat pants...and I pretty much where them everyday. I am not feeling glamorous...at...all!

Okay, enough complaining. I know, woe is me.

So anyway, I'm nervous about tomorrow. Hospitals, IV's, more needles, catheters, stitches, having an "accident" during pushing (yes, that's always in the back of my head), pain, lots of pain...it's amazing how I never get used to it. I wonder if that Dugger lady with 19 kids get nervous before she has a baby...probably not. She's like a robot or something.

BUT, I can't wait to meet my new baby! After everything that has happened with this pregnancy, I just can't wait to hold her!!

So, all the yucky puck is worth it...I would do it all over again.

Inductions and Mice

First off, (just in case you're wondering), baby has decided to take a back seat on the whole labor and delivery thing...apparently she's quite comfortable in there. I'll be getting induced Thursday afternoon. However, I'm still hoping that I'll go on my own...and I'm doing everything in my power to make that happen! Minus, the caster oil. I'm even considering going over to my friends house and jump on her tramp...although, that kinda scares me.

In other news (I'm very apprehensive to share this, but since Ryan has shared quite a bit on his blog, I might as well), we have a mouse problem. There, I said it. It started out with some evidence (poop) of mice in the pantry. We found where they are coming in, set up traps, cleaned out the pantry and secured all the food, cleaned out the garage, removed the dog food and straw and anything else that may have been attracting them in. We even trapped a couple mice...progress.

But then, the other evening (while my parents were over) Ryan spotted one scurrying around upstairs. That was it...I went totally ballistic! We were all chasing around this one little mouse all over the house with a broom. There was a lot of screaming, and several tears shed (by me mostly) as we tried to get that stupid thing. It was a total circus! The mouse finally met it's demise by running into an empty cardboard box where he got stuck...and then Ryan finished the job by whacking him to his death.

Since then we have discovered the mouse probably came in through a little attic door. We have now loaded up with traps, sticky tape, and poison. This is a battle I WILL win!!!

Thanksgiving Day Pictures

I finally uploaded the pictures from Thanksgiving. What a beautiful day it was!

We started off the afternoon with a little Frisbee out front. Oh, and check out that sweet blue Suburban parked in the street...yeah, that's our new ride. We bought it from my grandparents and we could not be more excited about it.
I even joined in on the Frisbee action. Now, I hate this next picture of me and my large neck...but I can't help but laugh at Ryan in the background. He's actually making fun of me (everyone was getting a good laugh at me throwing and catching a Frisbee). Apparently that's what I look like when I'm getting ready to catch it.

Jeff's girlfriend, Jen, was in town. The girls absolutely adore her...they completely swarmed her as soon as they saw her. Jen spoils them a bit too by putting makeup on them or giving them perfume...of course Haley and Morgan love it.

Piper trying to figure it all out.

Me, very pregnant, with my three girls.

The table looked so pretty! All the kids got an ornament on their plate...this was a tradition I had growing up on Thanksgiving.

It was great to have my grandparents in town!

Piper with cousin Jett.

So the baby cooperated and stayed put so I could enjoy my Thanksgiving meal...thank you baby.

Tomorrow morning I have my ob appointment. The doctor may go ahead and induce me tomorrow or Tuesday...or later I guess, we'll see.

Oh, and if anyone wanted to know...my sweet potatoes came out pretty darn good.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning.

Dining rooms are great places to build secret hiding places.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! In a few hours we will be off to my folks house to completely stuff ourselves...this being one of my favorite meals of the year! My task are the sweet potatoes, and this marks the very first time I have ever cooked one. Crazy huh? Hope I don't screw them up!

Of course I'm grateful for our home and our health, but this year I'm especially grateful for family and friends. This year has been a difficult one...job change and health insurance issues...but mainly dealing with a very unpredictable pregnancy. There were a lot of scares during the entire nine months. It's been an emotional ride for sure...and it's not even over yet. I could not have gotten through it without the love and support of those around me. My family did not hesitate to come to our aid when I was on bed rest. Taking over the entire household and child care for those 15 weeks I was laid up. The power of family is amazing and I'm forever grateful! I owe them so much!

Morgan

This is a picture of Morgan right before she left for school. The little bead necklace that she has on her head a friend gave to her a while back. She wears it all the time. However, not as a necklace...she prefers it as a headband, hippie style. She mostly wears it to school. I never gave it much thought when she darts out the door, but after she leaves I often wonder what her teacher thinks, or my friend that drives her to school everyday. Do they think I put it on her everyday? I always forget to explain to them that it's Morgan's little special style...I had nothing to do with it.

A little behind

Lookin' good Piper.

Wow...it's been a while since I posted last.

Let's see...I'll try to sum up.

* I've been thinking about Christmas a lot! Trying to get stuff done, quick, before this baby comes. I just got the girls' big ticket item purchased today, so I'm feeling pretty good to have that out of the way. I really, really want to be able to relax (ha, ha...relax, who am I kidding...but you know what I mean) the month of December instead of stressing the whole time.

* We're missing Thanksgiving in Sedona with Ryan's family this year, this is the first time in a great long while. It's hard, since this is the only time of the year we get to see Ryan's sister and her family. But, I am grateful that my family has stuck around here (everyone is waiting for this baby!), and my grandparents are coming into town as well! So, we'll have a crowd, which will be nice. I just hope this baby doesn't decide to come on Thanksgiving...I am looking forward to this meal and I certainly do not want spend it in a hospital!

* I'm feeling very fat and uncomfortable. I haven't worn my rings in a while, they were getting a bit snug on my fat fingers. And every evening I have swollen feet...which grosses me out. I just don't feel very glamorous. Kind of depressing. And the heartburn is getting very, very old. I'm getting pretty tired getting up in the middle of the night to pop some more TUMS...bleh!

Alright...that's all I can think of for the moment. I'll try to do better keeping up this week.

The Little Things

It's getting close now. Close to meeting this new addition to our family. As frustrated as I am with the fact that I haven't given birth yet (after preterm labor, five days in the hospital, and 7 weeks bed rest...yeah, I'm not bitter or anything)...truth is, she'll be here within the next couple of weeks. This I know for sure. Anyway, I'm getting a little nervous about it. I'll have two kids under the age of two and in diapers. I'll have to orchestrate naps, feedings, little sleep and diaper changes (among other things), while still being there for my older two: homework, getting to and from school, yadda yadda. Oh, and Christmas is right around the corner! Yeah, I'm a little scared.

But, it's funny that when I'm feeling a bit frazzled, or scared that I won't being able to be the mom I want to be. I see something like this:

Haley actually wrote this while in trouble in her room. She never brought it to me...she had left the notebook open on the floor of her room. I needed that.

Today while dropping off Morgan to her Kindergarten class I knew Haley was at lunch at that exact time. So I poked my head into the cafeteria to see if I could see her real quick before I went back home. Sure enough there she was sitting at a table with some classmates. I walked over and she was so surprised and excited to see me. She did not hesitate to give me a big hug and kiss. I love that! I love that she's still at that age that seeing her mother in the cafeteria, in front of her class no less doesn't phase her a bit. I didn't want to leave.

It's these little things that give me so much joy. It reassures me that I'm doing okay...even when I'm so frazzled or at my wits end as a mother.

Little conversation with Haley the other day:

Me: "Haley, you need to help clean up the family room."

Haley: "WHAT?! I didn't even make that mess!!! So I don't need to help!"

Me: "Well, I don't NEED to make this dinner for you...I don't NEED to fold your clothes...but I do those things because I love you and we're a family and we help each other."

Haley: "Well, Mom...you are kind of the master at those things."


Hmmm...the Master. I kinda like it.

Sour cream and snowflakes.

Little Piper....I was wondering why she was so quiet. She helped herself to some sour cream, a little pre dinner snack. I tell ya, you leave a kid alone for two seconds and this is what you get!

Haley went a little crazy with some construction paper, scissors and tape. She says when she lays down to sleep it feels like real snowflakes falling on her. And just in case you're wondering...yes, that's a baby mobile hooked to her bed. She put it up a while back and claims it helps her sleep. Also, she has a bug catcher box and purse hanging from her wall...don't ask. And please pay no attention to the floral wall paper, it was there when we moved in and the girls think it's absolutely beautiful. I, however, have a little different opinion of it, but I'll leave it for now.

The other day I was getting dinner on the table and Haley comes in...

Haley: "Mommy, I'm making a book with drawings of all of us. Do you want me to draw you with a skirt or sweat pants?"

Me: "It's your book, do whatever."

Haley: "Okay, I'm drawing you with sweat pants, because you're always in sweat pants."

Great. I should have said skirt.

37 Weeks

I had my weekly check-up this morning...I'm now 37 weeks. Last week, the doctor checked me and I was dilated to a 2.

Now, it's been one week that I've been off bed rest. I done tons of walking...housework...chasing a toddler around...errands...cleaning (kind of)...going up and down the stairs...and yes, some "business" time with Ryan.

Any change?? Nope. Still a 2.

I'll be carrying this baby to term...I'm convinced of that! Unbelievable. After 7 weeks of bed rest, this is some sick joke.

Getting my groove back.

Haley is our official doggy belly scratcher.

Fours days now since I was given the okay to get off my rump. I was SORE the first couple of them...my poor little pelvic muscles were screaming! But, I think I'm coming around and feeling pretty good. Although, I should have rethought the idea of wearing massively tall heels and walking to church...owee!! I may have been slow, but we made it...even though Ryan claimed church would be over by the time we got there (don't worry, he said it a very loving way).

It felt good to get out again and be with my family. And although I struggled quite a bit with putting on tights and my tall boots (a very unflattering chore when 9 months pregnant)...it did feel good to get dressed up.

The weather has turned cold, we even got a little dusting of snow last night, and to be honest...I kinda like it. I like snuggling up, being able to bake again, soup simmering on the stove, and just feeling cozy in my home on a cold day.

Mouse costume and some good news!

I told you that mouse costume had some history! Yes, that's me! I think I'm around 6, but I'm not sure. I was in a tap and ballet class...this was the end of the year performance, "Pop Goes the Weasle", or something like that. Knowing my dance/coordination skills, I'm sure I rocked that dance too! I mean look at that pose! I'm a natural!

So, I got some good news today at my appointment. I'm off bed rest! And the doctor took me off my meds. Sweet relief! Although, I have this terrible fear that I'll still be pregnant at Thanksgiving. I better not be, or this is going to be one ticked off pregnant lady!!

I've already walked around a bunch today...I even swept the floor. This afternoon I've been alone with the kids for the first time in 7 weeks. To say I'm a bit frazzled is an understatement! My parents aren't leaving me cold turkey though...they'll be back tomorrow to walk Haley to school. I know it's weird, but when I've been sitting all day, everyday for 7 weeks...I need a bit of help still to transition back into full time motherhood. My poor little muscles are shot...it's pretty sad.

So put your bets in now on when you think the big delivery day will be! My dad is shooting for 11-11-11.

It just better be before Thanksgiving, that's all I have to say!

Halloween 2011

We had a great Halloween, and now we have candy up to our eyeballs! And this pregnant lady is enjoying the extra chocolate around the house a little too much...but hey, I may as well live it up while I can!

The girls did their annual Halloween parade at school. My mom was able to snap a few pictures for me.

Haley waving.

Mom tried to snap a picture of Morgan, but at the last minute she turned her head.

So, here's the second try.
Mom was saying "Wait Morgan!" trying to get the shot. And here's a typical Morgan pose when she's frustrated.
You can just tell she's saying, "GRANDMA, I've got to go!!!!"

Luckily, mom got another when the parade went outside.

That evening the family got together to celebrate my dad and brother's birthday and then of course the kids went out trick-or-treating.

The spooky birthday cake we made.
When Haley came home from school and saw it she immediately says, "Wait a minute, I saw this cake in a magazine!" Yep, she's right...we copied it exactly from a Woman's Day magazine. I think it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself!

The girls with their cousin, Jett, all ready to hit the streets!
Morgan's mouse costume has some history...I'll share that story soon.

The birthday boys.

The whole gang...minus my other brother, Andrew.
We miss you Andrew!!

And me...barefoot and pregnant. Nearly 36 weeks.

I actually bathed, did my hair and put some make-up on. And let me tell ya, it felt like a ran a marathon after all that!

I've becoming a little sloppy with my bed rest. I'm walking around the house a little more...truth is, I'm coming to the end of my rope...I'm losing it! I do feel more contractions when I move around, so I try to keep it to a minimum. I'm hoping when I meet with my doctor tomorrow he'll take me off my meds and maybe allow me to move around more...then I won't feel like I'm breaking any rules!

Keep you posted.