We Cheated!!!

Double click on this picture. Do you see anything wrong with this tree?

This is the finished product of the Christmas tree this year. I finally got around to putting it up last night. To put our tree up means lots of rearranging of furniture, which also means that I clean EVERYTHING in the living room (vacuum under couches, clean baseboards, etc.).













Here is the mantle decor. Look at all of those stockings!!!!! It is hard to tell in this picture but the stocking holders spell out SANTA and the last one is a snow flake.









Now - for what is wrong with the tree picture and the cheating. You are looking at half of a tree. Our tree is so big around that I wouold have to put it in the middle of the floor for it to fit. I really wanted it in the corner to save space, so the back of the tree is BARE!! Paul had to redneck rig it to stay upsright because it is front heavy. He took some camo rope and tied it to a couple of bricks, which are hidden in the corner under the tree skirt. There are a couple of spots that if you really look are a little thin and bare, but all and all it worked well, took less lights and garland and ornaments, not to mention a lot less time!

Christmas Decorating

This is the decorating that Daddy and Bryce did while I was working on the tree.

UGHHHH!

The only think worse than being sick is being pregnant and sick. I have what I assume is a severe cold and can't take any of the GOOD stuff for it. I am trying not to take ANYTHING, but Paul did some research and found that I could take Mucinex. I have had the cold for a while now, but the last couple of days have been BAD!!

Everything finally loosened up in my chest (after days of unproductive, painful coughing). My lower back, ribs, shoulders and chest hurt from all of the coughing I have done. Today though, I have had fever for the first time and my head is killing me.

The baby decided today to be VERY active. This would be fine except I am already so sore from being sick it is hurting when he moves around. Hopefully by Friday, I will be over this. Friday is Paul's company party and it is the one time a year I get to go out where there are NO KIDS ALLOWED!

Depressed Grace

Grace is showing some signs of depression over the disappearance of Simon. She has spent the last two days going from window to window. She loves sitting in our front window in the living room the most. It is so funny the way she sits though. She will spend hours just sitting and watching outside. It is very sad to watch - but we will NOT be getting another cat buddy for her!!





















On a side note - see all of those leaves in our yard! Paul usually mows them, but they are falling so fast that we can't keep up with them!

Today

This was a picture of what our day and evening were like today:

Poor Paul!

Last night for dinner Caleb decided he wanted three sandwiches and some chips. I (stupidly) fixed them for him and he ate them and asked for more food (which I smartly said no too). About 11:30 last night, Caleb came in crying saying he threw up all over his bed (and himself).

Paul went and got him in the shower and went to clean the bed. Little did he know....

There was vomit EVERYWHERE!! Anything that was on his bed - covered in chunks!! Down the bed post, on the wall - EVERYWHERE!!

After waking me up and giving me a VERY descriptive idea of what the bed looked like, Paul expected me to get up and clean it. I told him it was not going to happen because she the description was making ME sick. We argued for about 10 minutes about who was cleaning it (with me never even sitting up!).

My arguement won. I told him that in 8 years of having kids and three kids - he has NEVER cleaned up their vomit. Let me tell you - there has been A LOT of it in this house. We aren't just talking about in beds either. All over the house, car, etc. I have been seen cleaning up after everyone. He said he could not do it because the smell was horrible and the chunks disgusting. I reminded him that I am pregnant and have a weaker than normal stomach and just listening to him talk about it was nauseating.

I then informed him that there was NO WAY I was getting out of bed for it and for once he would have to do it. He goes and gets a towel, wraps around his face and sprays with cologne. I REALLY wish I had gotten a picture. I WAS nice enough to inform him that we had rubber gloves he could wear (which I usually did not have!!).

He kept coming in asking what to do with the stuff on the bed. I told him to use his brain, figure it out and not to leave it for me to clean up after today! I then rolled over and went back to bed!

GOOD FOR ME FOR FINALLY MAKING HIM DO SOME DIRTY WORK!! He was a pre-vet major - if he can stick his entire arm up a cows rear - he should be able to clean his childrens vomit.

Of course he says I have never cleaned one that bad, and maybe not - I did not see it. But it still does not make up for 8 YEARS of cleaning up everyones elses nasty messes!!!!

Where's Simon?

Our kitty, Simon, ran away yesterday. He is bad about trying to escape through open doors when people are coming and going. Usually the longest he is gone (he has only done this a couple of times though) is overnight, and he is at the back door waiting in the morning. Not this morning. I have called for him all day, no signs of him. The good news is that we have been down all of the streets around us and have not "seen" him.

He is a very friendly cat so hopefully he found a good home with some friendly people. He is declawed so I am hoping he is not just roaming the streets or woods, because I don't know how long he will make it!

Last night while standing in line to check out at the store, Caleb was reading the cover of a magazine. "Mom, this will tell you how to lose 10 lbs in a week!"

I have not even gained 10 lbs since I got pregnant!!! I just said thanks and told him I would be gaining lots more before I start losing any!!!

Wait A Minute...

I was reminded on the way home last night of a few things Caleb used to say that really cracked us up (and still does). We were discussing Bryce's "potty mouth." He has gotten bad about using words like stupid and dumb and poopoo head etc. I told Caleb he used to have a potty mouth, but his was nothing like Bryces. Caleb used to call people names by taking an animal name and adding a fruit name and then adding head. So, when Caleb was Bryce's age and he went to call someone a name it would come out something similar to "Chicken-banana head."
While I was telling the boys this, I added that Bryce's potty mouth is so different because he has older brothers teaching him things that Caleb did not have anyone to teach him!!!

The other thing that I was reminded about was one day when Caleb was about three, we were sitting around doing whatever. Out of the blue Caleb says "Waaaiiiitttt a minutes (very slow and drawn out)!! Did somebody say(much quicker) (..pause...) chocolate donut?" Noone had said chocolate donut or anything like it or anything about food. This was something that we teased him about for a long time. We would out of the blue, just like he did, say that to him. It has always made him laugh and he would then start filling in the chocolate donut spot with other goofy things.

The boys spent about 15 minutes on the way home playing this "game." It was good for a big laugh from everyone!

I Am Thankful:

for more than words can say, but I am most thankful to the wonderful family God has given me. He gave me the most wonderful husband in the world and three healthy, energetic, and entertaining children and the opportunity to have another little boy on the way.

Out of everything I have to be thankful for (and there is a lot) - this is what is most important to me!!

Baby! Oh, Baby!!

As I mentioned before, at my last visit the dr expressed some concern that I was measuring about 2 weeks bigger than I should be. The baby, according to the sonogram weighed about 8 ounces. According to most of the different site I have visited and my What To Expect When You're Expecting book, the baby should be about 5 ounces at this point.

I have told Paul many times that I felt I was much bigger than I have been at this point in the past. I am about where I was at the end of my past pregnancies (size wise). I have only gained 8 pounds so far, but I feel like I have gained much more!!!

Paul has been feeling the baby moving since I was about 16 1/2 weeks. Usually this is when I would start feeling the baby move. I did not think too much about it because this is our fourth baby so I figured it was because we knew what we were feeling. This past week though - the baby has been getting under my ribs. I mean, Paul had his hand on my lower ribs the other day when Baby Boy started climbing under them. Paul felt my ribs moving! He has done this several times and the only way I can get it to not hurt so bad is too lay on my side (that he is on). I don't remember EVER feeling the baby under my ribs until closer to the end of the pregnancy.

Needless to say, this has been an interesting pregnancy and I am excited and scared to see where we are headed!!!

Friday I am off to the cardiologist because my heart has been beating very strangely. My Dr wants to make sure everything is okay since I have had previous heart issues.

Holiday Fun

Well, I have not turned on the computer since Tuesday, so I will try to blog what has been going on.

We went to Dallas for Thanksgiving. We went to Aunt Lindsay's house on Wednesday. She and Nana took the boys to Medieval Times. Isaac was sick last week with a virus of some kind, but it only caused fever. He was over it when we left, but he has also had a bad cough for about a week. Bryce, by the time we got there, was running a fever (apparantly he got Isaac's virus). The tickets to Medieval Times were non-refundable and not cheap, so we gave Bryce some Tylenol and off they went.

Paul and I went and had dinner and went to Babies R Us. We picked out the carseat/stroller/playpen, etc we wanted for the baby. Then we hit Walmart to pick up a few things for the turkey. The rest of the evening we spent working on Thanksgiving dinner.

The boys got home and they were all so excited they were all trying to tell us about it at once. They LOVED it!! In fact, Thursday we passed the "castle"4 times and everytime Bryce asked if we could go back.

Isaac's cough got really bad after that. I guess when he already had a horrible cough (and Mom forgets the inhaler!!), then you send him off to an arena full of dirt and horses, this should be expected!

Thursday, Paul made an awesome turkey. We had way too much food and then spent the rest of the day watching the Cowboys kick butt and being lazy!

Friday we went to see my parents who had come down and stayed with my aunt and grandmother. We spent the day at there house and then went to Chuck E. Cheese for Caleb's birthday. The boys spent two hours playing game after game. They had 200 tokens between the three of them and each game only took one token, so they were busy!!

We decided to go home after Chuck E Cheese instead of waiting until today because Isaac desperately needed his inhaler and some sleep. He (as well as Paul and I) have not slept since Tuesday night because of the coughing. We got home about 11 pm and gave Isaac his inhaler and never heard him cough all night. The boys slept in this morning - which was NICE!!

PS the inhaler is back in my purse where it had been until about 2 weeks ago!!!

It was great seeing all of the family even if it was for such a short time!!! Thanks to Marmar and Papa for making the long drive down from CO!!

WE NEED HELP!!

We need some boy name ideas. I might have to start a pool for a name - not that I have had that great of a response for the original baby pool!!! Paul and I just can't find "the" perfect name again. Three was our limit apparantly! PLEASE HELP!! We need to come up with one ASAP so Bryce will quit calling HIM Elizabeth Grace!!!

Disappointed Niece!

My niece is very disappointed in me!! She was really hoping that I had a girl because she is the only girl out of all of my parents grandkids. She has four brothers and five boy cousins. She GROWLED at me yesterday when she heard that we were having a boy.

Sorry for the disappointment Lyssa, but hey, out of ten grandkids - you are still the only princess!!! I will just have to get my girly-ness out of my system with you!! :)

My Life the Book!

Several people have told me I need to write a book about having four boys and living with 5 guys. Oh, the testosterone!!! Maybe I should. Maybe it will start with the year plus of blogs!! I have always wanted to write a book. Hmmmmm??

How the Boys Took The News

Isaac and Bryce went (Isaac was sick today so could not go to school) with us but did not pay attention to the sonogram. We told them and Isaac was excited, since he was the only one that wanted a boy! Bryce - confused!! He keeps calling HIM Elizabeth Grace!! We keep trying to explain to him that we are having a boy and he is fine, just forgets quickly!

Caleb - WOW!! I told him when he got in the car and he yelled at me the whole way home. He kept asking why I kept having BOYS!! I told him to talk to his father about it!!

Isaac, just a few minutes ago, was sitting on the couch in a quiet living room. All of a sudden he starts singing "I am having a baby boy! I am having a baby boy!!"

Baby Boy

This is a great shot. For those who don't know what you are looking at, the side of his face is at the left hand side. He is looking up and you can see his nose, mouth, etc. His hand is at his mouth (not sure if he is sucking his thumb or just holding it there). There is one leg up and one leg down. The leg that is up, you can see his foot.

In this picture you can see his side face profile again. Along the bottom side of the baby, you can see his spine.











They said the baby looked healthy and great. Their only concern was that I was measuring 2 weeks ahead of where I should be. This could be because my uterus is stretched from having four pregnancies or because I am having a BIG baby!

My concern is that if it is because my uterus is stretched, they should have been able to pick that up on previous ultrasounds. If it is that I am having a big baby, the dr said I will probably have to deliver early (safe and healthy early!).

They are just going to have to monitor and see how things go. THe good news is that at this point there is no signs of placenta previa (which I had with Bryce).

For now - the search for that perfect boy name (that we have not already used) is on!!!

And the Search Is On...

For the perfect BOY name. That is right - we found out today that we are having boy number FOUR!!! He is healthy and everything looks good though. Hopefully he won't have some kind of complex from being called her and Elizabeth Grace all this time!!

SURPRISE!!!!!

Yeah...So I Told A Small Lie!!

I knew all along my ultrasound was today, but the only way to surprise anyone in this family sometimes is to lie. Kids - you should NEVER lie. Do what I say not what I do!!!

This way I did not "tell" anyone first so no one can be mad (although I am sure you all are mad at me for lying!!). I put it on the blog and it is whoever gets on and reads it first!

Growing Up

Here is a sign that Caleb is growing up: yesterday we went to the grocery store. I told him he could pick out whatever cake he wanted. His choice: a strawberry swirl cheesecake (which was very good).

Bryce and Food

Bryce must be going through a growth spurt, which means I am glad I have still not spent a lot on winter clothes and what I have bought (shirts anyway) I have tried to buy a little big. He will not stop eating. I am fixing to have to find a way to put up a baby gate to the kitchen (which he would probably climb over) or put a lock on the refrigerator and pantry.

He has gotten to where he can move chairs in the kitchen - silently!! Half the time you don't even know he is in there unless you walk in on him. I continuously catch him walking around with lunchmeat - not just one piece at a time though, usually 5 or more at one time. He rips into the package though, so when I go in to make a sandwich the lunchmeat is all dried out.

He has gone from one extreme - not eating - to the complete opposite - eating me out of house and home!!!

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY CALEB!!

Too Soon!

For those of you that have been reading my blog for a while, you may remember that last year Isaac had a "girlfriend" named Ashley at school. Towards the end of last year, he was saying they were not friends anymore.

Earlier this year when I would go to pick up Isaac, the two of them who go huddle up and whisper something to each other and both walk away with smiles. Today, he informed me that he "loved Ashley" again.

Isn't it early for these on-again-off-again relationships?

Holiday Spirit-itis!

These days I am trying to stay busy - but not busy to the point of being worn out. Just busy to keep my mind off things! I am just itching to decorate for Christmas. I don't know if it is nesting instinct or just excited about decorating!

It started a couple of weeks ago. Last year we got all new stockings and a tree skirt that match. I was kind of upset that I would most likely not be able to find another stocking that matched what I bought last year (for the baby). I was very excited when I walked into Target right after Halloween and they were stocking Christmas. I decided to walk through, just to see what they had. Imagine my surprise when they had the stocking. So, of course, I bought it right then!

I got home and realized that I had also gotten stocking holders last year. The ones I bought are silver and spell out SANTA. I was wanting to find a silver Santa to get for the new stocking, but can't find one anywhere! I finally settled on a silver snowflake.

I know we will not have the baby here this year, but I really wanted to get the stocking while they still had it. I really like the stockings and tree skirt and would like to hang on to it for awhile.

The rest of the year is going to be crazy busy. Usually we decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. I think I will start this weekend with the inside house decorations. Then when we get back into town next week we will do outside and the tree. Unfortunately, the decorations are all in tubs in the attic - which I can't get by myself in my current state! So I will have to wait until Paul gets home Saturday.

Would You Ever...

Show up on a strangers door step and ask them to start picking your children up from school?

Would you show up on a strangers door step and ask them to start picking your children up from school without even asking your name?

Anxiousness

I am getting more and more anxious about finding out the gender of the baby. I want to know so bad!! I keep trying to tell myself that as bad as I want to know, the baby will probably not cooperate. I think I am as prepared as I am ever going to be to be told that we are having another boy, but at this point, I just want to know.

I am having an even harder time sleeping. I have not been sleeping well lately because I am a stomach sleeper and, well, that is not working out! My shoulders are staying sore from sleeping on them. I have tried to sleep on my back some, which is also not recommended, but it hurts and makes me have to get up for bathroom breaks even more. Add on top of this the fact that everytime I do wake up, my mind starts wandering about the baby!!

I don't remember ever being this anxious about any of the other pregnancies!!

BIG MONEY

Bryce (remember he is only 3) has a habit of asking for "big money." If we see one of those fun charity coin collectors where you drop the money and it spins and spins until it drops in the hole, he yells "I need big money! I need big money!"

This morning he found one of their little wallets and came running in saying he needed big money for his wallet. His older brothers don't even ask like that or that often (they just ask for "stuff" instead!).

CAUTION: RANTING TO FOLLOW

I AM SO SICK OF PUSHY SOLICITORS!!

First off, I am on a NO SOLICITING LIST! No one is suppose to be coming to my door selling things. It is done through the city and is suppose to be like the Do Not Call List.

Second, DO NOT come to my door and try to pressure me to buy whatever you are selling by telling me what my neighbors bought - I DON't CARE!!

I had a guy come to my door just now selling some kind of cleaner. He told me it was so much better than Shout on clothes and that it does all of this other stuff and it is non-toxic (even drank some to proof it - NASTY). He asked what stain I have a problem getting out and I told him that Shout has always worked well for me.

He asked what my toughest cleaning problem was. I said stains in the carpet. He said show me your toughest carpet stain. Now, I don't even answer my door for these people without my phone with 911 dialed to where all I have to do is push call, so I am DEFINENTLY NOT inviting you into my house.

I told him I was not interested and he got mad "In me or in the product?" He threw me off guard at first. You are going to get mad at me because I won't invite a man more than twice my size that is a complete stranger into my house that I am alone in with my young son. My response: "Quite frankly I am not interested in you or your product." and I threw his brochure out the door as I slammed it in his face.

I am not sure if this is worse or ties with the reason I put us on the no soliciting list. I had a lady come over selling something (don't remember what!). I told her I had two kids in the bath tub and did not have time to talk. She got mad and told me I was not even old enough to have two kids and that it was too early for them to be in the bath (it was about 6:30pm). About that time, two naked boys came walking into the living room. I said I needed to get them in their pajamas and she said it was too early for them to go to bed - at which point - I SLAMMED THE DOOR IN HER FACE!!

Moral: If you are going to go to peoples doors trying to sell something - be prepared to be turned away, and don't be rude when you are turned away.

Birthday

Caleb is getting harder and harder to shop for. He is in that "between" age where he does not want toys, but he is not quite old enough or responsible enough for a lot in the electronics department, which is where he wants us to shop from! The other thing he is into is R/C cars and planes, but we have SOOOOO many R/C's in this house already I don't really have a place for anymore!

His big birthday present came in today. Daddy ordered him a digital camera with a docking station so he can easily print out his photos. Caleb has been using Daddy's 35 mm from when he was young, but he always left it laying around when he was done taking pictures. In this house if something gets left laying around, little hands get a hold of it and it is a toss-up whether it will survive.

I don't think we ever even got a chance to get a roll of film to the store to get developed. It usually got pulled out of the camera before we could finish the roll! We thought getting him a digital camera would keep that from happening again, and maybe with the case (which the 35mm did not have), docking station, etc. on top of the fact that it is HIS - he will be a little more responsible with it.

Hopefully, this will encourage him to work on his blog again, he can use all the help typing that he can get! He won't be opening that gift until Saturday because Daddy is out of town until then. He does have one other gift that he will get to open Friday.

Now for Christmas....

LoveYou Babe

While I sit here and post, my wonderful husband is SEWING! The zipper on his suitcase broke, thanks to the airlines. He refuses to use my pink and white polka dot suitcase for some reason, so he is trying to sew the zipper on his.

I just wanted to tell him thank you for all the help this weekend. He did A LOT of cleaning (including the bathroom!!!) Saturday. Then today he let me take a nap while the boys did, but when the boys got up, he took them outside so I could continue to sleep.

What a great somewhat relaxing weekend to give me before I become a single mother for a week! It will help a lot.

I love you and appreciate your help!!

Something Seriously Wrong

What kind of person craves raw potatoes over chocolate? I tried to eat a chocolate candy bar the other night and had to spit out the first bite I took. I don't like chocolate! SERIOUSLY? What is wrong with me?

Hopefully, this is yet another sign that we are having a girl. I CRAVED chocolate with the boys and with this pregnancy I want potatoes and watermelon (not necessarily at the same time). Watermelon - a bit out of season and EXPENSIVE to buy right now when you can find it!

Favorites

The baby, boy or girl, already LOVES his or her Daddy. He/she does not move a whole lot yet, but when I lay down in the evening and first thing in the morning, all Daddy has to do is put his hand on my belly and the baby starts moving like crazy. Paul has actually gotten to feel the baby a couple of times already.

What is really funny is that after the baby moves for a little while I can feel this tightening pressure on my belly under Daddy's hand and Daddy comments that my tummy has gotten really hard. It feels like a baby is snuggling into his/her Daddy's palm. T.he wierd part - he/she only does this for Daddy. I can put my hand on my belly all day and the baby does not move for me.

I am so glad that we are both already feeling him/her. I know it really makes things become real! With this pregnancy things have felt real to me since day one because of all of the morning sickness and etc., but Daddy just gets to watch Mommy sick. Now he can interact with the baby, which obviously the baby likes!

DIAPERS

Today, one of the mothers of a child at Isaac's school brought me 140 newborn diapers! They were left overs from her 2 year old that she has had sitting around and when she found out I was pregnant, gave them to me. Can't turn down FREE DIAPERS!!!

Zoo Expansion

Caleb, for his birthday (yes it is early), is expanding our zoo to include an insect portion. Paul thought he was "ready" for an ant farm. This one is cool because it is made with gel, so you don't have to feed the ants - they get all the nutrients they need from the gel. It also lights up so you can see what they are doing better. Paul gave it to him tonight so now they are going to go look for ants for it.

We will see how this goes. He does love bugs, but I have a feeling, with all the little hands in the house, we will have free-roaming ants!!

Healing Hands

Curious George's "pokey-dot" is gone and healed up.

Isaac's "pokey-dot" is gone, and his hand is still healing. He does not have to wear anything on it anymore - other than triple antibiotic ointment.

Nursery

I got a JCPenney's baby catalog in the mail today. Of course, it has lots of baby bedding for me to admire and dream about. I had already decided that I did not really want a theme, just really girlie (assuming....). Here are the ones from the Penney's catalog that I like:

This one but instead of brown it is pink and sage green (I will have to scan in the color I like - it is not online). If we have a boy - I like the brown.

This one but in cocoa and pink(see below for color):
This one but I don't know if I want the white and pink or if I like the pink walls with the white and black.

And this one.

Are these girlie enough?

EXTRA!! EXTRA!!! MIRACLES HAPPEN!!!

BRYCE DID NOT CRY WHEN I TOOK HIM TO SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!

His teacher told me when I picked him up that he screamed the one time I initially "handed him over" - that was it. No tears, no kicking and screaming, she did not even have to call in back up today. WOW!!!!!!!!!!

On top of that - he did not get in trouble during circle time - which he almost always does! Something about sitting still for Bryce...don't know what it is....he can't do it. Believe me - it goes way beyond the age thing!

A Sign You Should Stay Home:

Yesterday while Paul was hard at work, someone broke into his Jeep. They took his stereo and broke the dash. Luckily I think we can get it ALL fixed for less than $150 - which means no raise in insurance!! What sucks is that apparantly the same guy has a route on parking lots downtown that he hits. The police know the route. They could tell Paul when their parking lot normally gets hit, and that the guy was early - it is usually around the 15th.

Here is what makes me mad...if you KNOW it is a certain person doing the same thing AND you know the route they make - why are there not undercover police waiting on him. Paul was told that he keeps getting arrested, but they keep setting a court date and letting him go. Why, you might ask. Well, we don't have enough beds at the jail to house everyone so unless you are a "serious" offender, you get a free walk - and it is obvious how much they are learning from this!! He KNOWS they have no where for him so he does it over and over to the same parking lots.

Let me also add that he works directly across the street from the police station. You would think someone would be over pretty quick. HE WAITED 40 MINUTES FOR A POLICE OFFICER TO GET THERE!!

Then this morning Paul calls me to tell me that someone hit an electric pole outside their office so they had no electricity, so they decided to hang out at McDonalds. When the electricity finally came back on - their computers were not working.

I think it would be a good idea to just sit tomorrow out. You know, one of those days where you know nothing good can come of it so you just stay in bed! Sounds like a plan to me!

Font on Previous Post

I don't know what is going on with the post about the baby movement. I have spent about 30 minutes trying to fix it and it won't change. SORRY!!

Isaac at Hospital for Surgery

Movement

Monday evening, I had to go pick up medicine after Paul got home. I decided on the way that I wanted a White Chocolate Mocha. I went to our hometown coffee shop and ordered a coffee with my sister on the phone with me telling the guy not to sell it to me. Luckily, he could not hear her! I got in bed a few minutes later and Baby started going crazy!

I have felt her (or him) move a few times, but not too many and not very often. There were a couple of times Monday night that Paul was able to feel the movement. That coffee really did a number on her (or him). I have not felt any movement really since then until today. I decided that instead of eating raw potatoes I would make homemade french fries. Of course, to make it really unhealthy, I fried them!! That got her (or him) going again for a little while.

I have heard that girls don't move around as much, but I think Mom would disagree. If I remember correctly, I liked to play soccer under her ribs frequently when she was pregnant with me. We will see in a couple of weeks - hopefully - which we will be having and then compare with past pregnancy.

FYI - I decided to look up the whole raw potato cravings online. Apparantly, it is not a good sign if it last for a month or more. It could be a sign of iron deficiancies. I guess if I am still craving potatoes when I go back in a couple of weeks - I will have to discuss it with dr.

I Forgot!

I meant to post about Bryce's foot this weekend! Friday, Bryce started complaining that his foot was hurting. He was saying that he broke his toe when he bit it in his sleep. He had shoes on, and i told him to quit biting his toe (but did not look at it).

Saturday we went to Hot Springs and walked downtown. Bryce, again, was complaining about his "broke" toe. Paul asked if his shoes were too small and he said yes. I felt for his toe, and sure enough it was at the end of his shoes. So, we assumed that was the problem and headed for Shoe Carnival to get him some new shoes.

He picked out his shoes and since we took him in with no shoes, wore the shoes out. While we were walking to the car, Paul looked down and noticed him walking funny. I took his shoe off to see if there was something in it. When we got home and were getting out of the car, Paul took off Bryce's sock to see what was going on. HIS TOE WAS GREEN!!

See, he bites his toe nails. Apparantly, he bit it too far down and his toe got infected. We are out buying him new shoes, and all the pain is because his toe is infected. We soaked his toe in warm water and sterilized a needle and Daddy drained the infection. It took a couple of days but the toe is no longer purple.

We keep reminding him that if he bites his toe (or nail) he will make it infected and we will have to take a needle to it again. Amazingly, when we were taking care of his toe, I covered his eyes and he did not even feel the needle in his toe!

Another Trip To the Doctor!

I had to take Caleb to the dr yesterday because his mysterious rash returned the end of last week and got BAD over the weekend. We have thought it was poison ivy (this is the third time he has broken out since school started), but I wanted to make sure. If it was poison ivy I was going to have to go talk to the principal because he would of had to have gotten it at school.

Well, the dr walked in and was amazed when he saw Caleb! He could not believe how bad he had it!! I told him what we thought it was, but that we wanted to make sure! Sure enough - poison ivy!! He was put on steroids and we have to put cortizone cream on the spots. He has it all over his arms, hands (even palms), stomach and face. He has a few spots on his lower back but only where he could easily reach.

I went to the school this morning - never made it to the principal. I was telling the secretary what was going on and the nurse happened to be standing there. She apologized and said that she had not had any complaints about it before. They said they would tell the principal and have him get maintanance to go out and look for it and weed it what they find. Hopefully they will pick up what they weed it - or that will be pointless!!

Hopefully between this and the fact that it is getting colder, we can stop the poison ivy - at least for a little while!

Fall

Fall and Spring have always been my favorite seasons. I love to see how God changes the trees to such beautiful waves of golds, rusts, and reds. Then after a dreary winter to see the green that comes with Spring.

Well, today, as we drove to my drs appointment, the boys very excitedly kept talking about how colorful all of the trees were. I guess this was the first time they quit argueing in the car long enough to look out the window and see the beauty all around them. The colors have been changing for the last several weeks, but it was like God just colored them last night while we were sleeping.

We had a good conversation about the season changes the entire drive to Little Rock. It was actually a nice trip!!

My Son...The Editor

Caleb was reading a book this evening and came in and told me he found a mistake. I looked and sure enough the sentence read Mr. Mouse tried on her new hats. I told him I was proud of him for finding that and he went back to reading. A little while later he came back in and in the same book said there was another mistake. It said What do you want to be when you get a bigger. Apparantly the (almost) eight year old is a better editor than the editor of the book!!! To bad he does not catch his mistakes when he is talking!!

16 Weeks

Okay, I am posting a side shot. I don't think I have any side shots from any of the other pregnancy, so I thought I ought to take some so at least they can see what Mommy looked like pregnant. As things stand now, I will be A LOT bigger with this one than I was with the previous three!!



Paul says my stomach looks like a watermelon (maybe it has something to do with the fact that I can't get enough watermelon!) instead of a basketball (as with the past three). Wives tales have it that if you carry like a watermelon - it is a girl. I might be grasping at straws, but I need all the help and encouragement I can get!!

You can compare this photo with Bryce's and see if he is growing with me!!

Bryce Is Expecting?

Last night Bryce was sitting in bed with me talking about the baby. He was asking if the baby was growing (the fact that my belly is getting huge doesn't mean anything!!). I asked where the baby was and he lifted my shirt and poked my belly button. I went back to what I was doing and glanced over at Bryce and saw this:

"Look Mommy, where is Elizabeth Grace?"

I think his belly is expanding with mine!!!

Cravings!

I meant to add to my last post my cravings. I have been craving pretty healthy things lately like salads, apples, watermelons (that is a big one right now - and not easy to find!!!). The strangest craving I have had thus far...raw potatoes.

Last night at about 9:30, I asked Paul to peel a potato and slice it for me. He thought I was crazy, but did it anyway! It was so good! I have never had a problem eating raw potato when I was making mashed potatoes or something, but I have never CRAVED it.

They say if you crave something it is your bodies way of telling you you need something. I guess there was something in that potato that my body was needing!!

16 Week Checkup

I just got back from my drs appt. to check on the baby. I am being sent to the cardiologist because it feels like my heart is continuously skipping beats. Because of the history with heart problems he just wants me to get checked out by the cardiologist to be on the safe side, but he does not think it is anything to worry about.

As far as the baby goes, everything seems to be good. We got a good strong heartbeat, which Isaac and Bryce were both excited to hear. We go back in a few weeks to have an ultrasound and try to find out the sex of the baby. WE CAN'T WAIT!!! This will be the longest few weeks of our lives!! I have this sneaking suspicion (or fear) that the baby is not going to cooperate and we will not be able to find out.

When we know something - we will pass it on.

Isaac's "Pokey-Dot" Update

Isaac went to his plastic surgeon today to have his hand looked at. He has had it bandaged (completely wrapped) for 2 1/2 weeks now. The last couple of days I have not made him wear his sling though because the dr said it should be healed after 2 weeks.

I looked at it yesterday and looked kinda bad, but you could not really see it because of the glue. It had started to peel off, but was still somewhat attached to the incision site. Today, the dr came in and said it looked great and the nurse was going to get some of the glue off. She came in and had to cut the glue off piece by piece because it hurt when it was pulled on.

She got most of the glue off, but where the glue was still attached to the incision, she left alone. It looks so much better without the glue all over it. We have to put triple antibiotic ointment on it everyday and the first few days he goes to school he has to have a regular bandage on it.

He seemed to be in some pain while she was cleaning it up, but is fine now. He is pretty excited to see his hand and he is excited to have his hand unwrapped!! I will try and get the hospital pictures and take some pictures of his hand now and get them on here this weekend.

WHOA CASA NOVA!!

Last night we were all playing the xbox together. Paul and I were setting up a game of Sims for the first time. I was "building" my person, which you get to pick everything - body, face, clothes, shoes, accessories, make-up, etc. When I was going through the clothes options, Caleb said that one of them was sexy.

WHAT!!!!

Paul and I died laughing when we were able to pick our jaws up off the floor. Paul asked him what he knew about sexy.

"It is the same as being hot, except you are sexy when you are pregnant - so you are hot and sexy!"

We again die laughing. I am not sure what to think about my son telling me I am hot and sexy. I might be able to take it as a compliment, except it is MY SON, and he has no idea what he is talking about (I hope)!!

Interesting!

For some reason, at Caleb's school yesterday they decided to do a mock election for the sheriff's office. Caleb was telling me about this and I found it interesting. For one, why are they doing a mock vote with second graders who know nothing about politics? Are they trying to get an idea of what parents are talking about and voting? Or are they just trying to show the kids what is going on?

Here is what I found interesting. The boys only watch PBS when they watch TV. We don't watch a whole lot of tv when the kids are up, we usually watch shows after they go to bed. Caleb told me he voted for Sheriff Phil Mask, who is the sheriff in office now. I asked him why he chose Phil Mask to vote for and his answer interested me. He said that he had seen Phil Mask on television and he had a cool deep voice and he just thought that was who he wanted to be the sheriff.

To be competely honest, I am ashamed to say, that I don't know much about the sheriff or those running for sheriff. No one in this house has discussed who is running for sheriff, so the only places he can be getting this is from a) school or b) tv.

It just goes to show what I have said a lot - the kids don't have to be sitting in front of the tv staring at it for them to pick up things that are said on it. If he did get it from tv, he got it at some point when it was on and everyone was running around seemingly ignoring it.

For everyone who thinks kids aren't listening unless they are staring at you - this proves that they are!!! It came straight from Caleb that he "learned" about Phil Mask from the tv!!

Sadly - this is how many ADULTS vote!

At Least He Won't Freeze

Bryce outgrew his jacket from last year. I had gotten him one, but he would not where it because it was too bulky. I have not been able to get him in a coat at all this year. So, today we went on a mission to find him a coat. We went to Target, they had NOTHING!! Our next stop was the Old Navy next door. They had two different coats in his size. I went for the puffy, warm looking one. He put it on, after some argueing, and immediately said it was too big (bulky big). He then went and grabbed a dressier coat. It is cute, but does not look like an everyday coat.

I put the coat on him and he asked for a mirror. We walked to a dressing room to find a mirror. He looked at himself from several angles, kissed the mirror and said he liked the coat. He then went and decided he wanted a warm hat and gloves (which we have never been able to get him to wear!!). They had several too choose from. He put one on and headed for the mirror again. I followed and he decided he needed to see the others. I, this time, decided to grab several. He finally chose one and wanted to wear it out.

I am quickly learning that when Bryce won't do something, the secret is to make him think it is all his choice. Just like with the vegetables!! He is just stubborn and wants to make his own choices and I have to allow that (within reason). I am just glad that I am finally figuring this out - it will make life much easier!

I will try to get a picture of him with the coat/hat/mittens he picked out by himself! I am sure this won't be a problem because he LIKES wearing them now that it was HIS choice!

Ding Dong....

Bryce was telling me the songs he sang at choir tonight. He got to where he was making up goofy things and telling me they sang about it (like Taco Bell, McDonalds, etc). I ask if he sang a song about me and he said yes. I asked if it went something like this - Ding dong the witch is dead. He told me that was the song they sang about me.

Thanks Bryce - I guess I set myself up for that though!