This seems to be my favorite email title these days :)  The older kids are staying the night at Grandma & Granddads (DH's parents) tonight.  We are picking them up tomorrow when we go over for Father's day lunch.  The kids are helping Grandma bake cookies and plant a garden.  They took their bikes, a skip it, and 2 duffle bags full of overnight stuff.  I have not heard from them and they left here at 12:20 so I am guessing that s going well :)  Baby an dI have been working on laundry, and hanging out doign nothing.  Puppy is hanging out in the back yard - DH fixed her good yesterday - well her escape route anyway ;)  She had been getting out of the back yard by sneaking in between our fence and the neighbors fence.  The baby is enjoying his new swing, it is a Fisher Price Power Plus Swing and I love it too :)  The Fisher Price RainForest Travel Swing that we had was recalled so I en ahead and bought a new one even though we had notrell had any problems with it.  I fiured btter safe than sorry  right?  This one is pretty cool :)  We got his Bumbo chair this week too :)  he seems to like it for a few moments but not much longer than that just yet, that is all right he is building muscle control.  We are still waiting on the tray

Have I mentioned that DH bought the kids a Wii?  We all LOVE it!  It is so cool and the mini games are the best part - you can still find yourself wasting WAY too much time on it and I know that I will have to be careful when we start school back up.  But I know it will be used for current events and weather.  We can even submit poll questions for other Wii owners to answer :)  That will be cool when we start school back up too!  I would recommend that if you like that kinda thing (and if you can find one) to get one, they are really neat :) 

The kids have swim classes starting in a few weeks and next week they have spy agent camp :)  They are so excited!  Quite honestly I am not sure if I am!  LOL  The baby is a good baby and ot really fussy at all - unless REALLY hungry or REALLY tired (but we all get REALLY cranky at those times don't we?!?).  The puppy goes in to be "fixed" this week (is she broken really?!?) and the kdis have dental appointments and I think we are going to try to make it to the rodeo street breakfast this year :)  After all I am all ready up feeding the baby at that time!  LOL 

I am starting to think about scheduling for the coming year.  I do not have all the supplies we need ust yet.  I m still "collecting" the books for Science (Bob Jones Science 3).  For Grammer I have Growing with Grammar Grade 3 but am considering Bob JOnes English Grade 3 - any thoughts on that friends?  I want to start back up August 13 but I want to start working our way towards that in the next few weeks (probably mostly after swim classes).

We are doign the luibrarys reading program and we are mostly listening to books on tape for it.  DD is reading to s all a lot.  I am too tired to read, I may fall asleep.  Actually I have started reading Ivanhoe to them.  I need to convince DS to read to us some more but being a boy he would rather listen to us all read to him :)

Well, my eyes are really tired today so I am going to go hold the baby and probably fall asleep with him :)

What are you doing this summer?

~ Rachel

let's see, we had crazy winds yesterday that knocked down a 7 foot section of the fence in our back yard.  Thank the Lord that the puppy just hung out on the deck and did not realize it had a way to escape into the neighbors back yard!  Tuesday 3DS & I had our 6 week appt. at the midwife and he weighs 10 pounds and is 22 3/4 inches long now :) Our swing (the Fisher Price Rainforest travel swing) was recalled this past week as well.  We had not had any problems withit until after we found out there was a recall.  We were considering not sending it in b/c we were not having a problem with it then of course we almost had a problem with it so I decided that it was easy enough to send it in with their prepaid package and get the check from them, so I will do that.  I ordered a new one today from Target b/c I had a coupon from baby registry that allowed me to get 10% off plus they had free shipping ont he site right now too.  3DS is starting to be awake more and has always LOVED to be sitting up so I ordered him the swing and a bumbo chair & a few other things including a sleep sack in case he decides to sleep in his arms reach co-sleeper ;)  I am trying to establish a routine & even be able to fix dinner at a reasonable hour (still not knowing exactly when DH will be home from work) which I am finding difficult and I am not too happy with myself for it but I am sure we will be all right :)  Dh's parents are here now.  and hi sister and her family just moved back to IL this week.  we are all pretty bummed & miss them terribly all ready :(    Well, I need to fold some clothes and then go start dinner.  I am thinking steaks, evil potatoes (hash browns, sour cream, cheese), salad, corn & bread.  3DS just fell back to sleep in his FP vibrating rocker so I better take this opportunity and do something productive ;)  LOL  The older 2 are watching Bye Bye Birdie so I can have a few "quiet" moments to fold - I hope to have a few minutes to myself to go shopping and buy a new diaper bag - I want one a bit bigger for when we will be out longer so I can have a book to read while nursing and so I can fit a few more diapers in it - I could fite more in the one I haven ow if I was not using it as a purse as well....

We watched The Holiday last night.  It is rated PG-13 but, of course, it should not be.  There are some semi-nude scenes in it with Cameron Diaz.  Overall, I liked the movie and I like Kate Winslett's character.

Hope everyone is well :)

~ Rachel

Here is a quick recap of labor & delivery.  I had been having braxton hicks off and on all week.  My last Midwife appt. was the 19th of April and I was 70% effaced & dilated at 2cm.  I was sure he would be born on the 26th (my sisters 21st bday) but I missed that by a few hours ;}  I called DH at 3 in the afternoon and told him that he should make sure he was not running late coming home that night.  Around 6 I called him and told him h should probably come home right then.  He asked me if I had called the midwife yet and I told him no because I still was not sure that I needed to ;)  He told me I better.  So around 6:15 or so I called the one on call.  I had all ready talked to her earlier to let her know that I was contracting and feeling them but not hurting and that I had bloody show, I am guessing that they are somewhere b/t 5-10 minutes apart and about a minute or so long.  So, anyway she says she is on her way after asking me how far apart they were.  i told her I had not been timing them but that I could feel them ;)  So DH arrives around 6:30 and gets water into the crock pot and starts heating up the wash cloths and gets the extra shower curtain in the floor so I don’t mess up the carpet.  Robin (the midwife) showed up around 7.  I am about 90% effaced and 5 cm at this point.  Contractions were 4 minutes apart.  I was in my nursing gown that I had "planned" to give birth in b/c I was sweating and wanted out of the sweaty clothes.  After a few minutes we decide to get me into the tub with contractions about 2 minutes apart and a minute long at this point.  I went from the 4 minute contractions to A 3 minute contraction and a while of 2 minute contractions.  Robin told me that I would not really feel the contractions in the water.  So when I did I teased her about it!  No, I am not kidding, I was being normal b/t contractions.  After a bit they turn to 1 minute contractions and I start to hurt. Laura (the other midwife) shows up a few minutes before this.  The kids are downstairs watching the Brady Bunch on DVD until this point.  Now they are sitting in the hall floor just outside my room listening to all that is going on.  Robin asks me if I want out of the tub or what.  I said I thought so but I did not think I could get out - she told me I was strong and to just do it - so i did.  Then i sat on the toilet for a minute and my water broke ad it was go time!  I told them i needed to push and somehow I managed to walk to my bed and get on it (with some assistance of course). And after 3 minutes of pushing my DS was born.  All in all actual felt labor was one hour and 41 minutes long and yes I am serious I only pushed for 3 minutes.  I told them it hurt and I could not do it and they said here's his head and had me touch it.  Next push and out his head came.  He was laid on my tummy immediately and I pulled him up and they put a blanket over us.  I tore a bit and was glued together.  Laura ran me a bath and I got to take a bath & chat w/the midwives while DD held her baby brother and DH & DS picked up dinner at Carvel’s.  He is nursing well although I wish I could get him to nurse a bit more often.  He is a very happy quiet baby.  The kids watched through a crack in the bedroom door and came in afterwards and saw their new little brother whom they adore J  the last 15 minutes were the most intense and more so than I have ever experienced and more than I think I would like to experience honestly but I would definitely do a home birth again if we have another one!  I was more alert and fully conversational if I was not in the middle of a contraction.  At one point I told DH that I could hear his voice but I had NO idea what he was saying ;) He jokingly told me that he was giving me permission to go spend lots of $$$ and I told him that my new bed set was going to cost about $300 then another contraction hit.  It has certainly been different recovering at home.  It has been more peaceful and I feel as if I am recovering MUCH faster than I did in the hospital with the other 2.  BTW, the first 2 were natural no drug deliveries as well but at the hospital.  OK so maybe the recap was not so quick ;)  LOL  I typed the previous up a few days after he was born.  

Today, 2DS is 15 days old.  He is eating and sleeping well.  Still nursing about every 2-4 hours.  Sleeping well.  Alert.  I am doing pretty good.  We have his co-sleeper set up now.  His cord fell off within a week.  My mom was here for a few days after he wos born and helped out a great deal.  We are still (of course) adjusting to the new baby.  I have lost about 20 pounds and 2DS has gained about a pound.  I am in transition for clothing - I hate this part - where NOTHING fits. 

When 2DS was 4 days old, DH took DD to a breeder NW(?) of Denver and bought us a puppy.  I did not mention it before it beofre b/c it was too tough, but our dog died of poisoning on EAster.  We beleive it was the Iams Chunks dry dog food.  He had not been sick really and suddenly started acting really wierd and lost muscle control and stuff and within 2 hours was dead on Easter night, we buried him in the back yard.   

We will start doing some school work 2 days a week soon I think.  I just about have everything for school for next year.  DD has a ballet recital next week and then she & I celebrate our bday the week after that.  I am looking into swim classes for them too.  And possibly going ice skating once a week or something like that.  Grandma is living in her new home out here now too so we will be making trips out that way every so often, she is going to teach the kids how to sew and cook :) 

Well, baby  & puppy are napping now.  I need to vaccum (might get 1DS8 to do taht though) an dI need to pay bills :(

~ Rachel

Just a quick not to let you know that 2DS was born last night :)  Off to rest with him :)

~ Rachel

I have been in my room saying I am goign to take a nap for about 2 hours now and have not even gotten close to it!  I have not done anything today really :(  LOL  The kids are working on DS's (8)room right now.  We have some organizing to do on my room before the midwives come next week to see where all my birth supplies are and how we are progressing if at all ;)  Yesterday, we received a 42 pound box of baby clothes, toys, blankets, etc from an out of state friend.  We spent the day going through those and sorting by size / age.  Most of the 3-6 month stuff is in a box, all the 6 mo. - 2T stuff is in another box.  I have a box with a potty chair and older toys and spoons and cups for him as well.  And then all by its lonesome is a booster chair from my SIL :) The 0-3 month stuff is in a few places right now - sleeper stuff is in a hamper in my room awaiting to see if they will fit in a drawer in my dresser, a variety of clothes are in the birth supply basket, and outfits are hanging up in DD's closet :)   I think we are pretty much set.  Now, I just need  DH to bring in the co-sleeper and the travel sized baby swing :)  I really just need the swing in here b/c I want it in here ;)  LOL  The baby bed does not need to come in until after he is born so that really is not a big deal.  I do need to dig out the crock pot and get it into my room ;)  The midwives need it for hot, wet washlothes during labor.  We are almost ready though :)  I honestly feel like I have pregnant forever!  I love waking up in the morning and feeling the baby squirm his good morning though :)  DD (6) helped me with the clothes yesterday and got to the point where she could tell what size most of the clothes were by how big (little) they were :)  It was cool :)  We went to the midwife last week while my dad was in town so he could see the baby via ultrasound :)  It was pretty cool :)  he looks like a fat little baby now, DH says, "What did you expect?".  Well, it has been a while since I have seen the little guy so it was a bit of a shocker really ;)  LOL  the midwife said that there is a lot of cord and the fluid al looks great and she is 105% positive that it is a boy ;)  LOL  his lungs were pumping and that was really cool to see :)  She said that if he were born right then that it was likely he would need no intervention at all.  I felt him descending a bit (actually I felt air bubbles where he was displacing the amniotic fluid as he slid down ;)  The midwfe was surprised to hear that b/c I dont feel any braxton hicks :)  

We are done with school for this year :)  Yeah!  We are all excited and enjoying our fre time way too much!  LOL  We are slowly accumulating school materials for next year.  I think all I need honestly at this point is Science and I am having issues tying to decide between Bob Jones Science grade 3 or the Answers in Genesis set that is on sale this month ;)  Any input there is totally appreciated.

I am trying to decide whether or not to ask for help with meals after baby is born, is that forward or should I do it?  Laundry is easy enough b/c the older kids can handle that part really and a lot of the mundane tasks for house cleaning they enjoy and can handle as well (dishes, vacumming, sweeping, dusting).  Thoughts?

Well, I better go and nap or shower or get dressed or soemthing!  LOL  Yes, it is aftr 4:PM here and I am still in my comfy fleece pjs from last night :)  LOL

Oh any idea where I can find inexpensive nursing clothes?  

Here are some thoughts from today's midwife appointment, they are jumbled really but it works for the update I think.  She says that I am in the final 10 weeks, I say I am in the final 7 or 8 weeks ;)

I have been a bit swollen every once in a while, most often in the morning or when not drinking enough water.

We got some free baby clothes and 2 maternity shirts at the midwives today.  They have clothes donated to them a lot Robin said so she sat them out for Mom's to go through.  DS & DD went through it and found some clothes and I found some too and sample White Cloud diapers.   

I asked her a bunch of questions.   

They give baby vitamin K drops by mouth after birth and the day after as well.   

They do Mommy & Baby care for 6 weeks afterwards.  I don't have to go to the pediatrician if I don't want to until I want to...  I think I am going to make an appointment for me to meet the female doctor and see if I like her and if she will join our health insurance and what her ideas are about vaccinations before baby is born and then maybe meet her with baby after 6 weeks or so.   

They do not do hearing tests, but can recommend a midwife in town that does hearing clinics once a month if we feel we need it. 

They don't do eye drops or ointment unless requested b/c the only reason to use them is for people with chlamydia or gonorrhea.   

Next appointment is on Wednesday, March 21 at 9:30 am. 

She said the back pain on the right side and the pubic bone pain on the left side is probably b/c he is leaning more to the right side.

She said that she is not surprised that hiccups at night are as bothersome as they are since he is all ready so low.  I have been having a tough time sleeping at night b/c he is active at night and less active during the day.  I will survive - this I know.

No heartburn:) but I have had yucky burps the last few days :(

Placenta looks good, fluid looks good, DEFINITELY a boy, blood test results are good (not anemic, blood sugar levels good, etc.), his heart sounds good. 

~ Rachel

So, I wrote all this out on Saturday and something went haywire with HSB as I went to post and it went back to the homepage!  I was bummed to say the least.

This past Sunday, March 4, DS1 turned 8 years old J  I keep trying to make him shorter but it is not working!  LOL  With the baby coming soon we have been talking a lot about birth around here so on Saturday night we were all cuddled in my bed and DS1 asked about his birth. 

March – 1999  We had just moved into our house 6 days before and obviously I could not do a lot of the moving in or organizing of my new home so my MIL was here helping out with that when she was not at her house preparing it to sell b/c they were moving to FL.  So, she had been here all that morning working on our linen closet for me while I relaxed in the bed.  She left around 2 that afternoon and almost immediately my tummy started cramping.  I called my mom at work in VA and told her.  She said that I was in labor and that those cramps were not just cramps they were contractions.  I told her there was no way b/c I was not hurting at all!  So, to prove her point she started timing them.  They were 5 minutes apart and not letting up but not getting worse either.  She told me to call the dr.  So, I did and they told me my OB was in a c-section and to go ahead to the hospital.  I called DH and he came home from work and we sat on the futon watching TV and timing the contractions until 5PM!  LOL I still was not in pain but figured we may as well go in since they were not letting up (my water had not broke either).  At the hospital we walked up the stairs and checked in.  I remember being in the room with the nurse and walking to the bathroom b/c she wanted me to pee in a cup for her and she asked me if I had ever broken a bone b/c she was amazed that I was not pain and this was my first child!  LOL  I told her I had never broken a bone and that I really was not in pain. She was stunned.  I remember being in the bed, I had an IV b/c I was GBS positive so they wanted to make sure baby and I had drugs to protect him.  I wanted this to be as natural as possible, no pain meds for me.  The nurses called the OB to let her know what was going on.  Her C-Section was over and she went out to dinner but told them to put me on Pit b/c my labor was not progressing fast enough (still trying to figure this one out b/c it could not have been any later than 8pm or so).  Te contractions sure enough after a bit got stronger and I started to hurt (I did not realize that the Pit is what made it hurt so much worse until this pregnancy).  Anyway, I wanted some Stadol at this point, I was holding DH’s hand and told him so – either he told the nurse or they heard me and said it was too late for that.  They kept trying to call for a hospital OB or my OB (who was too busy eating her burger to answer her phone).  I remember one of the nurses had the scalpel in her hand and was going to do an episiotomy to help DS out (water still had not broke and DS’s heart rate was dropping (due to the stress brought on by the Pit I guess), just then the OB walks in puts on her scrubs as she walks in the room, cuts and out comes our surfing DS and all his waters at 9:02 PM!  DH said it was mess that the OB deserved – he was REALLY upset with her J  LOL  I don’t remember a whole lot after that really.  I do remember that DH  cut the cord and went to the nursery with DS and stayed for a while.  They told him they would bring him back to us soon.  They did not so I sent DH (snoozing by now) to check on him. He was told they were doing some tests and that the machine was not working and they would bring him soon.  I could not sleep but DH had no problems in his vinyl fold out chair/bed.  So around 3am I told him to go get DS so I could get some sleep!  He did and they let him have him.  I was so mad at them!  I was never told if I was allowed to get up, take a shower or any of that. 

May 2000 - Fourteen months later, I am standing in my kitchen on the phone with my FIL talking about how my 24^th birthday was going when a major contraction hit at 6:05 pm  - I handed MIL the phone and headed up the stairs to tell DH who had just walked in from work that we needed to go to the hospital NOW.  He said Let’s go, I told him I would meet him at the car as I was having another contraction all ready!  I made it down the stairs to the living room and sat down on the wooden octagonal coffee table where my bday present and card were sitting from DH.  As I had another contraction I opened it J  And DH was putting towels in the car so I did not mess it up ;)  DS1 was in his high chair in the kitchen as we had gone grocery shopping that day and MIL was preparing dinner and my bday cake.  I told him by and I love him.  We made it to the hospital 30 minutes later, parked in the valet spot (no valets at that time of day) and walked up the stairs and checked in.  Again they were amazed this time that I walked up the stairs – I was not about to get stuck in an elevator and it gave me something to do!  LOL  So, the nurse gets my gown and checks me, I am at 8cm.  DH calls his mom at our house and tells her that I am at 8cm and having the baby soon. It is shift change time so she leaves and DH goes to park the car properly.  I am in this HUGE hospital room all by myself.  I walked from the bed to the sink and had a contraction half way there with nothing to lean on or hold onto or anything like that – I started to get a bit nervous.  I decided to go potty.  Then DH and the nurse came in.  She wanted me in the bed b/c she wanted me to have drugs in me even though I had tested negative for GBS this time.  So, I obeyed and laid down.  She continued to check me in on the computer asking all the questions we had answered when we preregistered.  (I think she was trying to buy time and call the NICU in and an OB).  I told her I felt some pressure down there and she checked I was at 10 cm all ready. Within a few moments it seems DD1 was in the nurses hands and DH was cutting the cord. She was born at 7:05 PM (I was the one watching the clock! LOL).  No NICU nurses in the room and no OB – she showed up in time to sew me up. DH tried to call his mom to tell her that DD was here and the phone was busy (his mom called my mom in VA) so he called my mom and told her – she did not believe him at first b/c it was so fast then hung up with him so she could tell his mom! LOL   After a bit, DH & DD went to the nursery while the nurse prepped me to go to my recovery room.  I was shaking REALLY bad from the adrenaline rush so she gave me a few blankets and wheeled the wheel chair to the new room.  This time I did not have to wait as long to have my sweet baby back.  DH went home to see DS and to get me some bday cake J 

I do remember that I was able to nurse both babies before they were taken to the nursery.  DS pooped in the first blanket they put on him.   When we got home from the hospital with DD we all caught the flu real bad.  I could pump but could not actually nurse b/c I felt so bad and DD would puke up the bottle that Daddy gave her L  It was a rough few days.

April or May 2007 – At home with this one, counting down the weeks.  Trying to get everything prepared and looking forward to the through the mail baby shower my mom and sister are throwing for me with friends and family not in CO J  The kids are in charge of the games and telling Grandma who wins them.  I am tired b/c baby dances a jig while I try to sleep at night and I can not take the naps I would really like to thanks to ballet and ice skating and trying to make sure I find my house before baby comes.  And I am trying to decide when I want my mom to fly out from VA, you know the guessing game about actual birth time and all that J  Now to convince DH we need a 4^th one too – not sure it is going to work though…God’s will – we will see what it is and how he works it out.  I really feel that we are supposed to have a 4^th and am positive that it will be a girl.

Well, I better go check how the bedroom cleaning is going and get lunch started.

~ Rachel

OK - so I have my blog set up to alow RSS Feed.  I want to be able to read my friends updated blogs without logging into my account and going to freinds and opening them one by one - who has time for that?!?  LOL  Anyway, I need help!  i have no idea how to access their RSS feed and have it download to my email account...

Thanks!  Rachel

The last few weeks have provided challenges that I am so not used to, especially in pregnancy!  I had a UTI and was in so much pain and had to take meds :(  Now I think I have an infection due the meds!  I forgot to take my probiotics while taking my antibiotics!  So, I am now taking my probiotics and still drinking my cranberry juice.  We go back to the midwife this Wednesday am and are looking forward to hearing and seeing baby.  We bought a BeBe Sounds prenatal listener at Babies R Us and we have been using that to listen to baby every once in a while and to our own heartbeats too :)  Obviously due to the pain of the stupid UTI, we got a bit "behind" in my school plans, but we worked around that and are caught up now :)  We start school tomorrow with only this coming weeks school work to do!  (Well, housework too, but we are working on that a little bit today too).   DS starts MUS GAmma tomorrow and he is excited (even though the book is pink!).

There was a terrible fire in an apartment building here in town and the tennants lost everything.  So, since we were preparing to start decluttering anyway, we went through every room in the house and donated 5 giant black trash bags of stuff (clothes, toys, kitchen items, etc.) to the Salvation Army for these people.  The kids went through their hot wheels and Barbies and dress up clothes and more to see what they were willing to give away (ant it was all good items - the bad things that were unusable they threw away!).  I have a problem with going through their stuff and just throwing it away without them knowing it.  So, they are recruited to help.  DS's room was a frightening mess and DH was fed up so we went in there with trash bags to collect donation items and trash items.  We got 2 trash bags out of there in 1 day and there is a donation bag in the room still.  He has a new bedroom light (a neon open sign!) and we are getting ready to rearrange his room a bit and hang his curatins now that he has been in his bedroom for over a year!  LOL  Baby will not ever be able to sleep in there once we rearrange the room but that is all right, we will jsut have to find a new house ;)  LOL  DD wants us to come in her room and help her out in the same way!  Can you believe that?!?  I would NEVER have asked my parents to come into my room with trash bags!  My kids amaze me!

My MIL is in town this week house hunting, so my SIL is throwing me a baby shower next Satruday.  That is partially why we are decluttering around here!  Gotta have a place for his things :)  Some of his clothes are hanging up on a higher rail in DD's room that she does not use and there is a chest in my room with baby blankets that we all ready have.  My mom is traying to be able to be here when baby comes (I am positive it will be April 26th - we will see).  Please pray that she will be able to, she did not get meet DS1 or DD until they were at least 1 motnh old.  Baby is jump jivin' in my belly lately.  I have told DH that there are moments that I can actually "forget" that I am pregnant and then all of a sudden I feel like there's a party going on in there and I am reminded that there is a little one in there :)  I dreamed I was holding him the other night and nursing him too :)  That was a pretty cool dream!!

I am trying to make my list of items I need to buy for school next year :)  I want to order them before baby comes so that I do not have to even think about it for a while :)  But I am trying to decide on what to use for a science curriculum.  I want something that will not be too teacher intensive just in case it takes us all longer to get used to life with baby than I think ;)  Right now we are using Bob Jones and am considering that for school next year as well.  But I am also considering Apologia and Answers in Genesis - any suggestions moms?

~ Rachel

Linda will have surgery today at noon. She had to be at the Century building at 9. Please pray for her and her family. Please pray for Dr. Sinclair and Dr. Cohen and all who will be attending her. Pray that God will heal her of all cancer that is trying to invade her body.

Thank you for being prayer warriors.

Rachel

Hello Everyone :) 

For those of you who have known that I have not been well this past week, I am feeling much better today :)  No pain.  I even got a whopping 7 hours of sleep straight last night - still not sure how I managed that one!  LOL  I am sure that it will be my last LONG sleep for a LONG time ;) 

Anyway, I have a cousin that is 34 weeks pregnant.  Her name is Michelle.  She is having a daughter.  This is her first baby.  Michelle is 24 years old.  She has been put on bed rest.  They are trying to get her to 37 weeks.  My aunt says that her amniotic fluid is a little low.  She goes back to the OB & to the sonogram specialist this Friday for another check. 

Thanks so much for your prayers!

~ Rachel

My achy head L How does a pregnant woman get rid of a headache? Seriously, I would like to know the answer to that…. We are going to the midwife in the morning, hopefully I will remember to ask them (but hopefully my head will not still be hurting!). I would much prefer the back and pelvic pain that I have been experiencing the last few days to this headache I think….

 We are expecting a snow storm tonight, it was flurrying on our way home from ballet (about 90 mins. ago). Hopefully, the midwife appt. is not cancelled due to weather in the morning. We are hoping to see if baby is a girl or a boy (I am quite sure it‘s a boy). Anyway, here in the Springs they are saying 3-6 inches (so we could get a dusting where we are or 6 inches or more! LOL). I love weather people, I never could get the hang of the jet stream thing and all that stuff in school (wonder if it is b/c I really wasn’t interested in it at all!). Sometimes I wonder why we really have to have weather forecasters. I mean, I have figured out how to tell if it is cold when I go out the door and to tell if it is raining or if it looks like it will. Anyway, I am rambling pretty bad and I am typing this in Word so that I wouldn’t really do that ;) LOL

Today, in history we talked about separatists and why they were called that. Then I asked them if we do anything that could be considered separatist. They could not think of anything J So, I started rattling off a few things…home schooling, using a midwife to have baby at home, owning our own business, making our own laundry detergent. If I sat here and thought for a while I am sure I could come up with more J I am about 1/2 way done with our Christmas shopping. Sometimes I really wonder why we do Christmas gifts. DD (6) was saying tonight that she love Christmas because it is Jesus’ birthday and she gets to open lots of gifts. They do usually get lots of gifts on Christmas (and throughout the year). We have talked before about not doing Christmas gifts but have not really done much more than limiting the gifts we give them personally and ask others to be sure that gifts are educational and not just a toy. When I was pregnant with DS (7) , my SIL suggested that we not give each other gifts and just buy for the kids, that has helped $wise and also sanity wise ;) My Mom called today and said that my Grandma wanted to know if we are exchanging names this year with them. My mom told her that she didn’t figure we would since we won’t be there. She was 1/2 right. But the reason is because we spent a lot of $ on my sisters wedding (dresses/tux/driving to VA/ flying to VA/gifts/etc.) It’s such a family tradition that it was really hard for me to tell them no the first year we did not participate and no one really understood that we could not afford it and it did not make a ton of sense for us if we were not even in the state and that we really did not want gifts for the kids that they would not appreciate. Now, I think that, at least my parents and sister, understand. The other day while Christmas shopping DD saw the interactive Princess Genevieve doll from the Barbie 12 Dancing Princesses movie and told me she wanted it (about 20 times or so). I told her in may ways that she was nuts if she thought I was going to spend $50 on a Barbie doll. Finally, she looked at me and said, “If I don’t get her for Christmas I will cry. Daddy will buy her for me because he will not want me to cry on Christmas.” I was blown away by this statement. My DD very rarely acts so selfish and bratty. I told her that her daddy and I had all ready discussed the price of the doll when we saw her in the sale ad that morning. So, when I told DH that night (in front of DD) what she said, he said, “I will laugh if she cries because she does not get it.” I thought that was a bit of a rotten statement on his part too but in many ways that is the answer you get when you make such a selfish statement! I told my sister(20) too and she said, “Just because she said that I will not buy it either.” poor DD, she will not be getting the doll she wants for Christmas, and I really don’t care if she doesn’t get it. Is that terrible of me?!? I really don’t think it is.

DD woke up yesterday morning stuffy.  I was too so I figured we needed to get out the humidifier and went about our day as usual (even with my headache).  This mornng DD came in my room about 5:30 saying her ear hurt.  She was feverish too.  I gave her some tylenol and prayed for her.  The fever went away immediately and she said the ear pain was gone too - it took her forever to fall back asleep though (I know b/c she was in our bed).  She is fine right now, just blowing her nose a lot.  So, my question is, do any of you have any recommendations on what to do for her if it recurs in the middle of the nighat again?  (Why do kids illnesses like midnght??)

Thanks!

~ Rachel

This song is great for me lately!  Today I have a headache, sinus I believe, and I dont want to do much too bad we had stuff scheduled ;)  LOL  Actually we had a great time today and it was probably better that we were out doing stuff than stuck here in the house with a headache.    We have no pics of baby yet, the midwives printer is broken, but we were able to get a video ;)  DH I and bought a new mattress for our bed on our date night last weekend.  It arrived today.  It is a little too high so we may need to get them to trade us a smaller profile box spring for the one they gave us.  I am not sure I can get into this one at 9 months pregnant, DH is going to take a look at it when he gets home tonight and see what he thinks.  I think I am going to order pizza for dinner tonight, I forgot to thaw anything :(   We have a "lighter" school week this week and next but it still feels like we are doing just as much, just a few less workbooks.  We went to a "Little Girls 5-8" activity today with our homeschool group.  The girls poured plaster into a clay pot and stuck a branch in it and then cut out construction paper leaves and wrote what they are thankful for on them and taped them on to the "tree", then they made turkeys out of oreo style cookies, candy corns, chocolate icing and big red hots.  The boys played out back while the girls were crafty inside and then the girls went out while some of the boys came in.  They all finally got to play together after abut an d hour or so of crafting ;)  We moms had a good time talking and having hot apple cider!  I have not had hot cider in years!  It was so yummy!  Well, I have work to do for DH (for our business), I am freezing and need a snack so I better go!

Oh, I am loving my Bible study so far!   The Rooms of a Womans Heart by Carol McLeod at www.JustJoyMinistries.com.  I am just on the foundation so far but I love it nonetheless.  I hope to get sheets on my new bed tonight and work on my study some more tonight :)  Tomorrow is a light day for us this week!  We have 2 subjects planned and then ice skating tomorrow night.  Friday, my 2 neices are coming over while new windows are installed at their house, then Saturday night DD & I are going out with my SIL and her DD to see a play about Anne of Green Gables.  The girls are so excited!  And then we will be over there for THanksgiving next week :)  Well, I really better go this time ;)

~ Rachel

Didn't Ronda do a great job on my new blog design?!?  I LOVE it!  I better, DD and I had some "silly" little changes that need made in the end.  Ronda has worked long and hard on this site for me.  If you are wanting a change check out her site, even if it is just for a Christmas change ;)  She has some great designs that she has created recently for Christmas.  She is great to work with and reasonable in cost :) 

Well, I can not think to blog too much else b/c the election "results" are on.  I need to get to bed b/c I have a 9:30 am midwife appt. in the morning.  DD has a tummy ache and is exhausted.  DH has a dizzy headache.  DS and I are doing fine at the moment.  I need to get the pot roast into the fridge so we can have lunch tomorrow too.  If I get a pic of baby tomorrow I will post here after reading Ronda's directions that is ;)

~ Rachel

This past Tuesday night I received a call from the midwife asking me if I could come in an hour later.  It was snowing out and was supposed to continue through the night and all the next day :(  They had a birth at the center on Tuesday night as well.  So when we (kids & I) got there on Wednesday morning the midwives were not there yet but the mom and her first baby were there :)  The kids got to see a baby that was less than a day old - they were so excited!  DS got to touch him, DD did not, I think she was too shy honestly.  Their printer is still down so we do not have a picture yet. Next time we are going to remember to take a blank video tape :)  The kids were so excited to be able to see baby!  I told them at 10 weeks that baby would not really look a whole lot like a baby but I was VERY wrong, we could all tell where everything was :)  Baby was jumping in my belly at the time and the kids LOVED it, the midwife did too!  Of course, I could not laugh b/c that would mess p the picture.  It was so cute though.  She had a tough time trying to find the heartbeat, but found the umbilical cord beat and counted that.  She was able to find the heartbeat under mond but not well wnough to count it.  She tested my urine (and said I pee wll! LOL) and took 3 vials of blood - DS was grossed out by this but DD sat with me the whole time.  The midwife thinks that DS will be the one that does not hang out during labor but DD will - we'll see ;)  DH doesn't not really want either one in the room....  Oh and both kids were born about 3 weeks early.  Midwife sorta thinks she knows why.  On Wednesday I was dating 10 weeks 5 days, baby measured 11 weeks 5 days.  I cook 'em fast apperently.  She agrees with me that even though due date is May 9 baby will probalby be here on my sisters 21st bday (april 26).  I have a great Aunt, an uncle and my sister who all have their bday that day. 

After that we went to pick up my Matron of Honor dress at David's Bridal, thanks goodness it was not snowing or it would have been a mess.  It fits but is a bit tighter - I hope it doesnt get any tighter in the next week!  We bought DD a pair of "Rbuy Slippers" at WalMart to wear with her flower girl dress and an apple red sweater too.  We went to a different WalMart to get DS's black shiny penny loafers to wear with his tux.  I know, an odd shoe to wear with a tux but that is what he wanted and my sister wants him to wear whatever shoe he wants :)

The lady that was going to do the photography at my sisters wedding will not be able to do it, her son died in a car wreck last week.  Please pray for them.  We do have a replacement photographer, well actually he is the one my sis originally wanted but we didnt think he would be able to make it from TX.  My sis has known him most of her life and he was the best man at our wedding so we are all excited that he will be able to do this!  Keep him in our prayers as well please.  My husband says we now have a real reason to go to this wedding!   It is on Sunday (10/29), please pray for good weather all weekend as it is supposed to be outdoors and we are all in strapless gowns (DD is in a spaghetti strap dress).

My sis all ready has her apt. that they will be living in, pray for them.  The previous tenants had roaches.  She thinks they finally killed them all (it has been 2 weeks), pray that they have. 

Well, I need to go do some dishes.  Thanks for the prayers and the friendship :)

~ Rachel