Words from Adam and Jack

Last week Adam said, "Mom, may I please have some juice in my cup, cause I'm drinky".

The other day while eating dinner and responding to Dan, Jack said, "It's not a Cabby Patty Daddy (Krabby Patty from Spongebob), It's a Sloppy Jones (Sloppy Joe)".

A wink and a smile

A first time for everything

I nursed Grace in an unusual location today. She was hungry and wasn't content with my just holding her so....I sat right down on the floor in the book isle at Meijer and fed her. :D At first I felt kinda awkward, but soon relaxed since this isle is usually empty. Only a few people walked by, but I don't think they noticed a thing. It did work out great that my sister and two nieces were there. I had my cart blocking me on one side while the her girls sat by me on the other side blocking that view. Of course I had a blanket that concealed the whole thing. It was a new experience for me. I have fed my babies while sitting down at a restaurant before, but the whole sitting down on the grocery store floor thing was a whole new ball game, but I figured you gotta do what you gotta do, right? :D Grace was happy!

Lice

Yep, you read right. We had a case of lice in our family. Poor Sarah, she had them crawling all over. It was a horrible experience. Very embarrassing!! I have always thought that lice are only found on dirty children. Well...we are not dirty people. I didn't know anything about lice and so it was very overwhelming and I hadn't even begun to comb out the nits. First we had to shampoo her hair and kill all the live lice, called louse. As soon as the shampoo hit her hair they started falling out, dead. But that was only the beginning. I had to shampoo her hair two more times just to make sure we killed everything. Then came the worst part, combing out the nits. These are all the eggs, some hatched some not(yuck). The mother louse lays her eggs on the hair follicles and applies a glue like substance to attach the eggs. This glue makes it impossible to just comb out. I tried a vinegar mixture, loads of conditioner and several hours of my time trying to get these buggers out. Poor Sarah, she had to sit there for several hours a night while I combed, teased and tried to rip these disgusting things out of her hair. Finally a week later I am almost done getting the nits out. A form letter went home to every student in Sarah's class to check for lice, no one knew it was because of her though, but I was still so embarrassed. The school secretary was very nice and told me there was nothing to be embarrassed about. She said that they find cases of lice almost every winter. I remember last year when Sarah was in kindergarten I received a letter to check for lice because a case was found in the classroom. I was mortified and felt disgusted. I thought, yuck, what dirty kid came to school with lice in their hair. Well, this year it seems that my kid was the "dirty kid" with the lice, but since I know that we are not dirty, I had to rethink the way I felt about other kids with lice. I now know that all kids with lice are NOT dirty. I can totally relate to the embarrassment of thinking that other people think you are dirty. So if there is anyone out there with a case of lice I just want you to know that I know you are not dirty. Hopefully these lice don't decide to reappear and that this never happens to any of our kids ever again.

Seven Sevens

Amie tagged me so hear I go...

Seven things I hope to do before I die:
1. Get my house out of the construction/remodeling phase. *smiling*
2. Learn to cook like a chef.
3. Watch my children grow up.
4. Play with my grandchildren.
5. Live on a farm with farm animals.
6. Travel to another country besides Canada.
7. Read the Bible from cover to cover. (this should actually be further up on my list)

Seven things I cannot do:
1. Keep my floors clean for longer than an hour.
2. Keep my bedroom clean for longer than a day.
3. Sing (this is a copy from Amie's. I wish I could sing).
4. Go to long without eating or I'll have a hypoglycemia attack.
5. Anything life threatening like skydiving, etc...
6. Fit into my size 4 jeans (probably never will again)
7. Talk in front of a group of people without blushing. I'm probably turning red just thinking about it. (this one is exactly the same as Amie's)

Seven things that attract me to my spouse:
1. His lips.
2. His sense of humor.
3. The way he talks.
4. The way he loves me and the children.
5. The way he plays with the kids.
6. His strengths, both physical and mental.
7. His consistency.

Seven things I say often: (the first 5 are copies of Amie's) So true!
1. Stop that!
2. Hang on...
3. Is that how we ask?
4. Get out of the fridge!
5. I can only do one thing at a time.
6. Be quiet!
7. You're not really thirsty if you can't drink water.

Seven books or book series I love:
1. Francine Rivers - The Mark of the Lion Series
2. Francine Rivers- The Last Sin Eater
3. Francine Rivers- Redeeming Love
4. Francine Rivers- Leota's Garden
5. Charlotte Bronte- Jane Eyre
6. Little House on the prairie series - Laura Ingalls Wilder
7. Love Comes Softly/ Canadian West Series' - Janette Oak

Seven movies I would watch over and over again:
1. Jane Eyre
2. Luther
3. Peter Pan
4. Phantom of the Opera
5. The Princess Bride
6. Stand by Me
7. Pretty much any 80's comedy/romance

Seven people I want to join in this Seven Sevens meme
I don't know seven people who read my blogs often so, anyone wanting to do it go on ahead :D

Happy Holidays!

Clark's Thanksgiving 2005

Well, we were supposed to have Thanksgiving with extended family like we usually do for every Thanksgiving, and this year was going to be at Dan's aunt's house, but...I got SICK! That's right, just before Thanksgiving. Here's a quick version of the story: Monday I started feeling sick right before I picked Sarah up from the bus stop. My throat was hurting, and my neck and head. I just felt like crap. Then Tuesday was WAY worse. I tried to sleep all day but my whole body just felt horrible. I felt like I was moving around with a bubble for a head. Then Wednesday was the even WORSE. I couldn't even talk. Sarah didn't have school which was wonderful because I could barely get out of bed. Sometime mid-morning I decided to look down my throat and sure enough I saw white blisters all over, then I checked my temperature and found I had a fever, so I decided to go to the doctors where they told me I had Strep-throat. YAY! Thankfully the medicine they put me on starting clearing the infection up just in time for the day after Thanksgiving sales!! Which by the way I went to for the first time ever, and all by myself, and I will NEVER to it again (that is another story). Oh yeah I forgot to mention I had a bladder infection also (which is another story), but the antibiotic for the strep cleared that up as well. I feel pretty good now, but not 100% better. Now Jack is sick with a fever, runny nose, and crusty eyes. Poor guy! I hope this illness clears out before Christmas and doesn't return for a loooonnnggg time. The upside to that story is that we had our own little Thanksgiving, just the six of us with turkey and everything. It was wonderful!

Well, that was how our Thanksgiving went. Hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving all!!

20 Random Things...

Amie tagged me so here's my list:

1. Having four kids is as natural to me as having two. (I love it!)
2. My newborn daughter smiled at me during her first week of life. (I chose not to believe it was gas)
3. I make chicken tacos for dinner atleast once every week.
4. Sometimes the boys stay in there pj's all day because I am too lazy to get them dressed.
5. I drive my oldest daughter to the bus stop that is only 1 block away because I am too lazy to walk her there. (plus it's getting too cold now)
6. I get excited when I can fit all the days dirty dishes in the dishwasher at once.
7. I look forward to getting mail even if it is junk mail.
8. I get even more excited when I get emails.
9. I, like Amie, breastfeed one handed while typing on the computer.
10. I hate grocery shopping.
11. I don't really like to cook, but wish I was a chef.
12. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I get all the laundry done in one day. (I have to start the first load early in the morning in order for this to happen)
13. Sometimes I don't take a shower every day, when I am lazy.
14. I can't decide if I want to get my hair cut again or let it grow out. (this has been an ongoing decision for years now)
15. I suffer from migraines (this is a self diagnosis, but I am pretty sure it is a correct one)
16. I have recently discovered that caffiene is one trigger for my migraines. (this sucks because I love COKE, which leads me to #17)
17. I prefer Coke to Pepsi.
18. I am one that people honk at during the winter because I drive really slow.
19. I feel like my newborn is not so new anymore and she is not even two weeks old yet.
20. I am so happy with my family and wouldn't mind growing some more. (maybe in a year though) :D

Wow, that list was easier than I thought. I could even add more, but won't for now. Anyway, I don't know who to tag...let me see, I don't know who else reads my blogs so I tag Beth and Heather.

My four beauties...

Introducing...

Grace Anne was born Friday, November 4, 2005 @ 11:03 am. She weighed 8 lbs 8 oz and was 20 inches long. Thank you Amie for posting an announcement for me the day Grace was born. Click this link for more pictures of Grace and the rest of the gang. I will get my birth story posted soon. :D

Update

Nothing too big to post but here goes, I am now...ta da....2 cm dilated (up 1/2 cm from two weeks ago) BIG DEAL! 90% effaced and +1 station, which again was the same as two weeks ago. The midwife stripped my membranes and pulled my cervix forward (this was very painful) in hopes to get things started. Usually if it is going to work however it will work within 24 hours. I had the same thing done when I was pregnant with Sarah and it didn't work, so I am not holding my breath this time. The only difference is that I am overdue this time and wasn't with Sarah so maybe it will work. I will just have to wait and see. I am cramping and have a little "show" since the exam which is what she wanted to happen but we will see if things progress or not. I am going in tomorrow evening for a Non-stress test and we will decide then about an induction unless I have changed some then she will break my water right there and admit me to L&D. She did also say that if I am contracting tonight even at 10 minutes apart to come in and she will check me again and if I have made any progress then she will break my water tonight. So pray that my little peanut is ready to come out. Also, I gained 2 pounds, so that puts my weight gain up to 17 pounds, which is hopefully not due to the increase in the baby's weight, I am really starting to get nervous about having a baby bigger than Jack. Hopefully my next post will be a birth announcement. :D

**Sigh**

Still here! Just a quick update for anyone checking up on me. Nothing happening yet, but hopefully soon! I am now 40 wks 2 days. Which I can't complain too much since I have friends who have gone way over that mark. We shall see! :D I have started holding my breath already though!!

40 weeks, still here!

Well, today is my offical due date, but of course I am here blogging that I am still here. I know, I know, I still have the rest of the day, but after last night with some contractions every 10 minutes, I started to get excited and thought maybe I would have her in my arms in the morning. Well it's the morning and she's not in my arms, in fact she is still comfortable in my belly kicking the crap out of me. I was going to try and stick to my "not going to hold my breath until after saturday" statement but I just don't think I can do that anymore. After being up for several hours last night and finally calling the midwife to ask a couple of questions we decided that I should wait until my contractions were five minutes apart to come in and get checked. So what happens? The contractions never make it to five minutes and I fall asleep. I figured as much since the contractions I was having were probably just strong Braxton Hicks at best. I mean, I know they were contractions but they weren't the real shocker ones I am use to that tell me that I am really in labor. So I will sit here holding my breath until she arrives. Hopefully I won't have to wait that long I don't think I can handle it. I am getting really excited for her to be born and I just can't help it! :D

Disappointed

Well, I was supposed to have an appointment today to check and see if I really had dilated this time, maybe to a 1-3/4 or maybe more...(wishful thinking), but my appointment was cancelled. My mid-wife is delivering a baby today and since she likes to be with her patients the entire time, not knowing how long that would be, she had to cancel her appointments for the day. Now this I totally understand because if I have my baby during the week then a few other women will have their appointments cancelled as well. What makes me so disappointed is that I am not going to have an appointment at all this week and I am due on Saturday. I was really hoping to find out some good news today, but now I must wait until past my due date for my next appointment. By then I will be four days overdue. I know, I know, I could end up having this baby before then, which I really hope happens, but I really wanted one more appointment if just to hear the heart beat. Oh well, what can you do. She could see me on Friday evening since that is when all her patients from today have been rescheduled, but it was late in the evening and she isn't feeling really well (according to the secretary) and has been in the hospital every day since Saturday delivering babies. I for one think she needs a little break so I opted not to take the latest appointment on Friday and wait until next Wednesday. Afterall, I do want her on top of her game when I go in to have my baby :D I just can't help but feel like I am going to end up seeing her next Wednesday and that makes me disappointed, but maybe by then we can schedule an induction and I will have an end in sight. Well, that is it for now. That is my little depressing vent...but I am still not holding by breath until I past Saturday (my due date).

10, 9, 8, 7, 6...

5 days until my due date. Nothing new to post. I have an appointment this Wednesday to get checked again, probably to find myself at 1 -3/4 cm dilated. Teehee! Still not holding my breath until I pass Saturday which is my due date. Better start thinking about rubbing that big toe of mine! :D

Climbing a tree on the grass?

The boys were outside today riding their bikes, enjoying the few nice days we have left before the snow falls, when Jack decided to go off roading, So he spun the wheels of his tractor on the grass and took off. I watched them while enjoying the fresh air. Anyway, to the point, Jack jumped off his tractor onto the grass and said, "Momma, I climbing a tree". Of course I was confused and didn't really think I would get a straight answer from him since he is only 2 1/2. Humoring him I asked, "What do you mean?" So he showed me. He bent over and began crawling on his hands and feet, it really looked like he was acting the part of climbing, then he sat down cross-legged and smiled at me. I was searching around for answers when I realized that he was sitting right on the shadow of the tree in our back yard. He really did climb that tree! He actually climbed the shadow of the tree trunk and then sat down in the shadow of the leaves. Sometimes I under estimate the power of a child's mind. Imagination...it's a beautiful thing. :D

"The New Pledge of Allegiance"

I got this in an email from my uncle and thought I would share:

Since the Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer are not allowed in most public schools anymore Because the word "God" is mentioned.... A kid in Arizona wrote the attached NEW School prayer. I liked it....

Now I sit me down in school Where praying is against the rule For this great nation under God Finds mention of Him very odd. If Scripture now the class recites, It violates the Bill of Rights. And anytime my head I bow Becomes a Federal matter now. Our hair can be purple, orange or green, That's no offense; it's a freedom scene. The law is specific, the law is precise. Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. For praying in a public hall Might offend someone with no faith at all. In silence alone we must meditate, God's name is prohibited by the state. We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks. They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible. To quote the Good Book makes me liable. We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen, And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King. It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong, We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong. We can get our condoms and birth controls, Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles. But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, No word of God must reach this crowd. It's scary here I must confess, When chaos reigns the school's a mess. So, Lord, this silent plea I make: Should I be shot; My soul please take! Amen If you aren't ashamed to do this, please pass this on. Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father."

Very True :D

Dilation?

Not exactly. Today was another weekly prenatal exam and I had the mid-wife do another exam to see if I had changed any from last week. Last week I was closed tight, but had some softening of my cervix. Today, well today was confusing. She said "Well, you do feel different...but...I am gonna say a one." So in my mind there isn't much change. I mean she couldn't even say "one" without hesitation. So I sit here with a lousy "one". At least I am not due until the end of the month so I still have time to dilate. I won't hold my breath until then. She is still measuring small and no weight gain again. I am excited to hopefully be having a small baby this time. The mid-wife also said she thinks this one is facing up which means back labor for me unless she turns around. So hopefully she turns around and comes on or before her due date weighing no more than 8 lbs. I might be dreaming!! :D

Weekly Appointments!

Yay! I am now down to my weekly mid-wife appointments, and today was the beginning of those. I had my Strep-B test done and was checked for dilation. But all I can say about this appointment is that I am glad I went in thinking nothing has happened because... nothing has happened. I have dropped so that is good and baby's head is way, way down there. (This is how I carried all my kids in the last trimester). The mid-wife was very shocked to find the baby's head so far down, but my cervix was closed tight. I have also slightly thinned out which is probably cause for the pain I've been having the past couple of weeks, but my cervix is not ready to give way just yet. I am 36 wks 4 days today and I measured at 35 centimeters. And, like my appointment two weeks ago, I didn't gain any weight again. Which makes sense since I am sick and my appetite is almost non-existent. The mid-wife thinks the baby is about 6 pounds and that I may end up having a small baby afterall, Yipee! I do have 3 1/2 wks until my due date, so there's plenty of time for baby to grow more, but I am hoping that she stays small. It would be so much fun to have a little baby for a change. So until next weeks appointment I will be trying to get over this yucky cough and maybe do some walking and try to get my cervix to dilate, but I will definitely not hold my breath.