A Pair of Bookends!

We woke the kids up.

We told them to sit on the couch.

The lighting is bad, but it was 6AM. Haha.

We weren't going to find out/tell but when you are going to the doctor every week - 

its kinda hard to not find out.

This was not a good reaction from Lucas.  But after it sank in he was screaming "Dreams come true!"

He has never been this happy, he almost wet his pants!

He told everyone who called that his prayers were answered and he needs to stay good or HF will change the baby to a girl. Haha.

I totally knew it though. I am having the same reactions I had when I was pregnant with Lucas.
I need to say when we did find out Nathan was laughing like a girl.
He was more happy than I was, probably because he was done with all the attitude in the house?
I am excited. We got just what we wanted and feel like our family will finally be complete...
with a set of boy bookends, cramming ALL that drama in between. hehehe

Post 8 - Perinatologist

*Note - This post happened in the past*

*As of right now, baby and mom doing are okay*

I know I have gone on and on about Dr. Hobbins. He truly is the best doctor in the world.  He is so comforting and nice and patient friendly.

I went in after a DELICIOUS Lunch Date @ Tamayo.

I was in a wheelchair, but I got to leave the house!

I purposefully ate spicy food so baby would be wild.

We got to the Dr.'s office, they called me in and then they got to business.

Since I have had 5 bleeds Placenta was #1 on the list.

It looks good. It is only 2cm covering which is still annoying.

They checked the veins and placement and everything looks good.

They couldn't see any potential bleeds but could see evidence of the last one.

They took hysterectomy off the table.  The placenta doesn't appear to be attached to the "problem area."

They moved up. The baby is so high, like rib cage high.

Everything looked great. Hands opened, fluid good, bones measured 2 weeks ahead.

Baby is in 77th percentile for weight and height.  Well over what it should be for weight which is good.

Baby's Kidneys. This has been a worry for several weeks.

They are no longer dilated. No surgery, no concerns.

Heart pumping like a champ.

Baby looks great. I didn't get a "due date" I got a delivery date. They will not let me go past this day.

If I can make it to this day I would be thrilled.
I would be 34 weeks on the day that they decided.

Still a preemie but not a micro preemie.
They are taking me off extreme bed rest on the 16th of December...things will be "safe" then.

If "it" continues to follow trend, "it" could be well over 5 pounds at 34 weeks!

We couldn't be happier with the news. Such a weight has been lifted.

Being on bed rest and asking for help has done it's job!

I am going to try and push through the next several weeks to make it to my next perinatal appointment.

I hope I don't bleed again and that I can make it to Delivery Day!

We are grateful for the kind thoughts and prayers we have received.
We are also grateful for our friends and people in the ward who have helped by bringing meals, and taking the kids on days Nathan and his mom couldn't be here.

Thanksgiving 2011

We went to the Witte's this year.  

We were there from 10-8:30

Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Future Witte's, 2nd Cousins, and Grandparents were there.

Scarlett was mad because I told her to stop eating. She ate all morning and then had 2 plates of dinner!  You better believe I made her go to the bathroom before we headed home!

These were our place mats.

The kids were awesome. Lucas enjoyed Sienna his 2nd cousin who is 9 or 10. They played and played and Lucas was sure he could out do her in math. Haha.

I hardly moved, which was perfect.

Dinner was good, Family was great, Kids were well behaved. Couldn't ask for more.

Wednesday Randoms

1. Lucas's school had a fun fundraiser where the teachers/staff are the employees at McDonalds.

They take the order, make the food and deliver it.

Lucas begged to go, but I couldn't take him and the stars aligned and Nathan was able to squeeze it in between work full time, school full time, and being the mom and dad full time.

It was also fun because we never eat fast food. I can't even remember the last time we had fast food!

Lucas placed his order with Mr. F the school principal.

He was so happy that Mr. F KNEW his name and all about his family. I love his school so much!

2. Bed Rest Sucks. Like More than I can describe.

Because I can't do much this happens WAAAAY too often:

3. I love to cook. Its my outlet, my most favorite thing to do for my family and because I can't do it, I have been bookmarking millions of recipes.  The ward has been so great getting meals to us every week but I needed something else. So Nathan asked which one he could make and I picked a pretty easy one...

Italian Sausage Soup

It was so good. It made me sad that I didn't make it! :)  

It also made my need to cook worse.

4. I often worry about Scarlett because she doesn't have school or anything special to do, so I had Nathan pick her up a coloring book and we get special coloring time together.  During this time I was reminded that she is just fine!

 She was making an angry face. Hahaha.

This one is serious face. Hahaha.

5. Someone asked me how I was doing mentally.

Mentally, I was sad. Not depressed, but sad that I can't fully enjoy this pregnancy like the others because I am physically tired of "resting" and worrying about making it to the next day.

I am sad that I don't get to be the mom my children are used to.

I pray that it doesn't affect them long term.  Luckily I get little snipets of the kids assuring me that they love me and that keeping baby safe is the most important thing, not going to the park like we usually do.

That last part was awfully heavy. Sorry about that.

I am glad we got to go to my sister in laws for the kids to get a break, for me to talk to a grownup and to change up our boring lives, right now.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I truly am grateful for our many blessings, our trials too. ;)

9 months!

Juliet, sweet Juliet is 9 months old today!

She is all over the place. Climbing, scaling furniture, crawling but the best part is that she laughs while she is doing ti. Like Haha, I am mobile!

She hardly wants to be held, she would rather just explore.

Her laugh is infectious, her personality is so sweet and you just can't help but squeeze her!

Such a fun loving addition to the family.

Love you Ju-jitzu! Hahaha.

Post 7 - Here we go again!

*Note - This post happened in the past*

*As of right now, baby and mom doing are okay*

After such a great appointment, everything seemed to be on the up and up.

I got up to say goodbye to family that came over and it started all over again. Bleeding, a lot of bleeding. I was having back cramps and went straight to Platte Valley. They determined there that I was in fact in labor. They sent me to University after stabilizing me and I was there all night. I got a round of steroids for baby's lungs and then was on a million monitors.  The back labor stopped, the bleeding stopped and they kept me there for 3 days.

More steroids, more checking, no more blood.

They told me they wanted me to stay for another 8 weeks.

I couldn't do that. I couldn't leave my family for that long. I needed to see my kids and vowed to the Doc's that I would be on complete bedrest. I told them I have lots of people who are here willing to help me. I wasn't actively bleeding...anymore.  The nurses and OB understood.

They made me sign an AMA (against medical advice) and I got to come home after 3 long days.  It is going to take everything within me to ask for help, because I hate to do that, but to keep baby in, and my children safe - that is just what I will have to do.

If I bleed again (time #5) I will have to stay at the hospital and deliver..no matter what. I would love to make it past christmas...for obvious reasons. Please keep us in your prayers. Viability is the most important thing right now and the longer "it" stays in the better. The thought of a Micro Preemie scares me, but I know I chose to do what was best for me, my sanity, and my family.

I am grateful to BH for taking my kids to church and making sure I am okay and to CM for visiting me 3x in the hospital. :)  It made the stay so much better.

So far I have been getting help with meals, pick ups and drop offs and bedtimes because Nathan is still in school.  It is so hard to be on complete bed rest but I am doing what I can and that's all I can do.

Wish us luck. :)

Bridget's Mermaid Adventure

The day finally came.

She woke up and got a special surprise...A Mermaid Outfit!  I couldn't resist.  Last year's Strawberry Fairy sold me on her needing something for this party too! Haha.

The kids followed the seashells (not pictured) to the trade your shoes to fins sign, and did just that!

Scarlett, Camryn, Caira, Maddie, Bridget, Alli, Lindsey and Ellie

Every girl got a lei, a tail, a flower in their hair and then we started Lunch!

 Sea Shells, Gold Fish, and Octopus Dogs.

Camryn and Lindsey shouted "I love hot dogs!"

Bridget made that sign all by herself. I wanted to do more, but she insisted that I needed to "rest"

The girls ate to the Little Mermaid Soundtrack.

They "Aaaahed" in the right parts.

Then they started on their treasure boxes...

I added glitter Letters.

Then we played pop the bubbles with real bubbles and balloon bubbles.

So much laughter and fun here. Seriously.

Then the girls headed upstairs to open presents...

Everyone was excited for her and she loved everything she got. She has the best little friends.

Then we came back down from swimming and dancing.

After the laughing and giggling, it was time to round everyone up for a potty break. 

This was so fun because everyone had mermaid tails on and it was hard to go up the stairs.

I got a great laugh.

Then it was time for everyone's favorite game.

Dive through the hoop.

There are a million of these pictures, but these few were my favorite.

Then the girls got to hula hoop and dance with the music a bit more...per their request.

Then it was time for cake!

Bridget wanted spaaakle cupcakes and everyone to top their own, so that is what we did.

An oyster, a Shak or an Octopus were the topping choice...plus sprinkles. :)

 Nathan needed to grab a Birthday Kiss to which all the girls laughed and laughed and Bridget shouted 

"Okay, Whatever!"

 Inside each treasure box the girls got a ring pop, a candy braclet, some gold coins, and a mermaid notebook.

They also got a little thing of bubbles because they loved them so much earlier. 

It was great fun, exhausting for me just because I wanted to do more but was limited physically this time.

Everyone left with smiles and hugs and Bridget and Scarlett passed out 10 minutes later. Haha.

November 9

I am grateful for the talents that I have been given.

I have learned a lot from my parents, and a lot I was just plain born with. :)

I am so grateful that I was born to parents who never limited me in imagination, or drive to learn/do more.

I learned over the years that I am a good blend of both sides and got some bad things too.

All in all, I am pretty happy with the way I turned out, and that I am not done learning and growing.

I am also grateful that I have married someone who encourages me to keep going and do what I know best.

I have another blog, I don't know if you knew that but its ALL about what I do with my kids...

Toddler Boredom Busters

I have met and helped so many people with this blog and am so grateful I have this forum to help and learn from others.  Check it out if you want.

Or you can like me on facebook! :)

I have met so many people in the corporate world who have supported me and given me things to giveaway on that blog and it benefits our family and friends so much.

November 8 - Finally FOUR!

Our Bridgey Goose is 4.  I say finally because I am not a fan of the 3's. 

Bridget since she started Tot School and now PreSchool has grown so much.

She is still her independent sassy self but she isn't as "naughty" as she used to be.

Which is a funny statement because everyone who meets her and has heard me or read about her has always said, you know, Bridget really isn't BAD she is just FUN.

Which is totally true.

I came to the realization that if I approach things with her making the decision, she is absolutely awesome.

If I tell or ask her to do something and expect her to obey like her siblings usually do, her wiring automatically tells her NO! haha.

Bridget is exactly what we wanted her to be. When I was pregnant with her so many years ago we discussed names and really wanted a girl who was spunky, outgoing, outspoken and full of personality.  We wanted her to stand out from a crowd and be totally different than her sweet brother. 

We liked a few names but once I said Bridget - that was it. We knew it was the right fit.

When she was born Nathan looked at her and made the final decision and said "Hey Bridget!" and I swear she rolled her eyes and we knew it was the right fit. HAHAHA.

Bridget is very compassionate, willful, intense, passionate wild, ambitious, driven and a friend to anyone.

She reminds me so much of Katherine Hepburn. Someone with tenacity, who is high spirited, and funny.

They actually share a birthday! 

My favorite quote about her is:

"Katherine Hepburn always played hard to get with Hollywood, refusing to fit into any sort of mold."

Seriously you could say that about my Bridget.

I would never want her any other way. It is sort of refreshing and scary at the same time.

Bridget is so happy to be four.

She feels like it is one step closer to Kindergarten, which it is.

She planned her birthday party mostly by herself and wanted to invite EVERYONE she had ever met, but we narrowed it down to 7 kids, plus Auntie Steph.

She is so beautiful and loving and caring and promises to give me 7 grandchildren. She also promises to not give them dumb names like grumpy, dopey, doc, etc. haha.

Here is her Birthday Song...which was sung at 6:15am:


Here is her birthday Breakfast!

Cinnamon Roll Waffles!
This time, since I can't "be in the kitchen" I put Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls in the Waffle Iron for 4 minutes and poof! Cinnamon Roll Waffles! If you have time, make them like the link! DEEEEELICIOUS!

Happy Birthday my Goose, Goosearella, Bridgeena, Elmira, and Louise my Squeeze!
PS - Those pics are natural Bridget Poses!

November 7

Today I am grateful for my husband. He is such a great person and friend. He is my #1 fan and I get unconditional love and acceptance, he always makes me feel like I am special and liked. He knows when to not fight me on things, like signing an AMA or how to build something that I have clearly drawn specifically to what I want. Hahaha. I am the luckiest girl in the world for finding a man who truly is perfect for me.

Even when he thinks he is being GQ.

I still like him.

Thank you for all that you sacrifice for us. A full time 50+ hour a week job, Full Time School, taking over my duties at home since I am on bedrest and most importantly loving us to the fullest.  I am so grateful to have you in my life, even if it means you will never take that phone off your right hip! : P