...I would gladly endure unmedicated natural childbirth two or three times over per baby if I could trade that for a guaranteed nausea/vomiting-free pregnancy. Just so you know.![]()
Just for the record...
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Words from the Garfields
From the big Garfield, in response to me looking in the mirror (reluctantly) and commenting on how I look like death warmed over after vomiting for a week straight. His reply? "Na, just death heated to a gentle, rolling simmer, but not warmed over." Thanks a lot, dear.
From the little Garfield, who was my lucky companion as I braved a trip to Taco Cabana. Crispy tacos sounded like they may agree with me, but I knew I wouldn't make it all the way through the drive-thru without being sick. So I pulled over to an obscure part of the parking lot with a grassy area first, and told Buddy Boy that I'd be back in to get him a taco in a minute. I faced away from him, wondering how scarred he'd be by watching me be sick. But what did he say when I got back in the van? "Mommy, why were you looking for tacos in the grass?" Good---completely clueless!![]()
From the little Garfield, who was my lucky companion as I braved a trip to Taco Cabana. Crispy tacos sounded like they may agree with me, but I knew I wouldn't make it all the way through the drive-thru without being sick. So I pulled over to an obscure part of the parking lot with a grassy area first, and told Buddy Boy that I'd be back in to get him a taco in a minute. I faced away from him, wondering how scarred he'd be by watching me be sick. But what did he say when I got back in the van? "Mommy, why were you looking for tacos in the grass?" Good---completely clueless!
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A quick update
Well, the happy news is that I had a good doctor's appointment on Monday. Due to my miscarriage history, I requested an early sonogram to be able to see a heartbeat---and there it was! Nice and strong, with a tiny white spot on the screen that is my baby. What precious reassurance.
Not that the incessant vomiting wasn't indication enough that some being is wreaking havoc with my innards right now. But still, it never hurts to be reminded that I'm puking with a purpose.
I'm 7 1/2 weeks along now. My spirits are definitely better than they were a week ago, in part because this week has been less physically traumatic, and in part because I know I have a week less to be sick than I did then. I'm thankful for the life that is within me, and will be even more thankful when I can enjoy being pregnant from somewhere other than my bathroom. :)![]()
Not that the incessant vomiting wasn't indication enough that some being is wreaking havoc with my innards right now. But still, it never hurts to be reminded that I'm puking with a purpose.
I'm 7 1/2 weeks along now. My spirits are definitely better than they were a week ago, in part because this week has been less physically traumatic, and in part because I know I have a week less to be sick than I did then. I'm thankful for the life that is within me, and will be even more thankful when I can enjoy being pregnant from somewhere other than my bathroom. :)
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Pining for the Pineywoods
I was supposed to wake up to this view today...![]()
This is what it looks like at the Pineywoods Family Retreat that our church goes on each fall, where we do a lot of canoeing, some hiking, a little dancing, lots of delicious eating (of food we don't have to prepare ourselves), and a whole lot of just chillin' as a family. It's wonderful, and something my kids talk about all year long.
Well, this year Mommy just had to be a spoilsport and decide that a 6-hour van ride and a shared bathroom were most likely not going to work out so well under current conditions.
So last year's memories will have to last one more year...
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...and Lord willing, there will be six Greens in attendance next Fall. Are the pre-registration forms for 2009 out yet?![]()
This is what it looks like at the Pineywoods Family Retreat that our church goes on each fall, where we do a lot of canoeing, some hiking, a little dancing, lots of delicious eating (of food we don't have to prepare ourselves), and a whole lot of just chillin' as a family. It's wonderful, and something my kids talk about all year long.
Well, this year Mommy just had to be a spoilsport and decide that a 6-hour van ride and a shared bathroom were most likely not going to work out so well under current conditions.
So last year's memories will have to last one more year...
...and Lord willing, there will be six Greens in attendance next Fall. Are the pre-registration forms for 2009 out yet?
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Pregnancy and the holidays
This weekend will mark four weeks of me being sick, and that fact alone is helping my spirits improve. Because no matter what remedies I try, time is really the only thing that helps me get past this horrible sick phase. I probably have another month or so to go, if other pregnancies are any indication, but even knowing that I may be entering the second half gives me hope. The days are still very hard, and sometimes time drags ever so slowly, but each passing day is one less that I have to be sick.
And I'm also hopeful that when I emerge from this vomitous fog, the holidays will be upon us, and perhaps I can enjoy them! Thanksgiving will be cutting it close, but I'm hopeful that I'll at least be less sick than I am now.
My oldest had a great line the other night. We were in our van heading home, and she started getting excited about Christmas. She said, "Oh, I can't wait! It's almost time for baking cookies, and then we get to have eggnog and decorate our tree and listen to Christmas music." And then, after a pause, as if dragging out something that's vaguely in her memory bank, she added, "And do we sometimes get presents at Christmas, too?"
It was very sweet to know that our attempts to downplay the commercialism at Christmas are working so far. It's all about the memories of things we do as a family to the little ones, isn't it?![]()
And I'm also hopeful that when I emerge from this vomitous fog, the holidays will be upon us, and perhaps I can enjoy them! Thanksgiving will be cutting it close, but I'm hopeful that I'll at least be less sick than I am now.
My oldest had a great line the other night. We were in our van heading home, and she started getting excited about Christmas. She said, "Oh, I can't wait! It's almost time for baking cookies, and then we get to have eggnog and decorate our tree and listen to Christmas music." And then, after a pause, as if dragging out something that's vaguely in her memory bank, she added, "And do we sometimes get presents at Christmas, too?"
It was very sweet to know that our attempts to downplay the commercialism at Christmas are working so far. It's all about the memories of things we do as a family to the little ones, isn't it?
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Too good to be true
It's really not that I think people enjoy reading about vomiting, but I HAVE to let the world know that it is 8:15 p.m., and I have NOT thrown up a single time today! For the last four weeks, I've been getting sick about 15-20 times a day, so this is monumental news. I know the night is not over, but I may be willing to go to bed in a few minutes just to close the day out while I'm way ahead.
So why the sudden sickness drop off? Well, lots and lots of prayers being answered, first of all. Secondly, I can't help but think it has much to do with the fact that some dear friends of ours have taken our children to their home for three days. I have had almost two full days of no one needing anything from me, no need to get up at any time, pretty much no responsibilities whatsoever. I got out of bed at 11 this morning, and have kept a very relaxed pace all day. Because I didn't have to worry about getting everyone ready, I was able to leave the house and just stroll around a few stores for several hours, which was a wonderful distraction.
I also think the Lord knew that my frail, whiny frame had simply had enough. I hadn't kept any food down in days (and hadn't had much time to even try to get any down between "episodes"), was losing weight at an alarming rate, and felt like I was teetering on the brink of needing to get myself some extra medical attention. Lest anyone think I've been handling this sickness with grace and patience, I assure you that I unfortunately have not. Daily I moan to my husband about the sheer agony of it all, whine that I can't take it anymore, and beg him to put me out of my misery. (The smart man wouldn't dare do such a thing after running the show alone for the last month.) I cry about it, writhe around in a nauseated heap on the bed, and don't dare look at myself in the mirror.
BUT today...ahh, today. Today I've had a reprieve, and while I don't expect it to last, I have been thanking the Lord profusely for the glimmer of hope. Today has been a reminder that this, indeed, will come to an end, and that there is a baby being knit in my womb. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"
**Update: Well, there was one horrid episode around 10 p.m. that I couldn't avoid. But still, I'll take that any day over the usual!**![]()
So why the sudden sickness drop off? Well, lots and lots of prayers being answered, first of all. Secondly, I can't help but think it has much to do with the fact that some dear friends of ours have taken our children to their home for three days. I have had almost two full days of no one needing anything from me, no need to get up at any time, pretty much no responsibilities whatsoever. I got out of bed at 11 this morning, and have kept a very relaxed pace all day. Because I didn't have to worry about getting everyone ready, I was able to leave the house and just stroll around a few stores for several hours, which was a wonderful distraction.
I also think the Lord knew that my frail, whiny frame had simply had enough. I hadn't kept any food down in days (and hadn't had much time to even try to get any down between "episodes"), was losing weight at an alarming rate, and felt like I was teetering on the brink of needing to get myself some extra medical attention. Lest anyone think I've been handling this sickness with grace and patience, I assure you that I unfortunately have not. Daily I moan to my husband about the sheer agony of it all, whine that I can't take it anymore, and beg him to put me out of my misery. (The smart man wouldn't dare do such a thing after running the show alone for the last month.) I cry about it, writhe around in a nauseated heap on the bed, and don't dare look at myself in the mirror.
BUT today...ahh, today. Today I've had a reprieve, and while I don't expect it to last, I have been thanking the Lord profusely for the glimmer of hope. Today has been a reminder that this, indeed, will come to an end, and that there is a baby being knit in my womb. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"
**Update: Well, there was one horrid episode around 10 p.m. that I couldn't avoid. But still, I'll take that any day over the usual!**
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An undesired "vacation"
The last 5 1/2 weeks have been very different. This pregnancy has me in a non-functional state moreso than any of the other pregnancies, and I've been realizing lately just how little I've done since I started getting sick. For instance,
Things I have NOT done in the last 5 1/2 weeks:
*Cooked a meal
*Done a load of laundry
*Menu planned or grocery shopped
*Washed a load of dishes
*Taken a complete shower without having to cut it short to be sick
*Read my Bible (or any other book, for that matter)
*Completed a full homeschool lesson with my daughter
*Kept on top of paying bills on time (yes, with frustrating consequences)
*Enjoyed food of any sort (and those who know me well know that this may be the hardest blow of all!)
*Gone to church...and I miss everyone
Things I HAVE done over the last 5 1/2 weeks:
*"Tossed the cookies" upwards of 300 times
*Begged the Lord to make it stop
*Begged my husband to make it stop
*Spent many days literally going from my bed to the bathroom and back, all day
*Slept an average of 12 hours a night (one way to make the days feel slightly shorter)
*Developed a new level of gratitude for family and friends who have graciously stepped in with help---bringing meals, watching my kids, and encouraging me in general
*Increased my love and appreciation for my husband, who is having to sacrifice in a very real way this pregnancy. After long days of physical work, he's come home to do all my jobs as well. Not only has he taken on full care of the children, but he's done a marvelous job keeping up with our home (far better than I do!). And he's also helped my mental state by organizing parts of our home that I never thought would be done, like the garage, the office, and more. Once everything is perfect around here, I'll stop faking my sickness. :)
Anyway, I'm not sure of all that the Lord is trying to teach me during this difficult phase, but I do know that He has given me a season to slow down, like it or not. It's hard for this list-making, task-oriented person to let my life completely stop, but I've had no choice. And it's amazing to see at what a basic level we can actually function. Many of the daily things that I thought were non-negotiable have become impossible to do, and I'm seeing that for a time, we can still survive without them.
And for those of you who have stepped in to make this time more bearable for us, I thank you so much. You are the reasons my children have neither starved nor maimed each other out of boredom. Maybe we'll name the baby after you.![]()
Things I have NOT done in the last 5 1/2 weeks:
*Cooked a meal
*Done a load of laundry
*Menu planned or grocery shopped
*Washed a load of dishes
*Taken a complete shower without having to cut it short to be sick
*Read my Bible (or any other book, for that matter)
*Completed a full homeschool lesson with my daughter
*Kept on top of paying bills on time (yes, with frustrating consequences)
*Enjoyed food of any sort (and those who know me well know that this may be the hardest blow of all!)
*Gone to church...and I miss everyone
Things I HAVE done over the last 5 1/2 weeks:
*"Tossed the cookies" upwards of 300 times
*Begged the Lord to make it stop
*Begged my husband to make it stop
*Spent many days literally going from my bed to the bathroom and back, all day
*Slept an average of 12 hours a night (one way to make the days feel slightly shorter)
*Developed a new level of gratitude for family and friends who have graciously stepped in with help---bringing meals, watching my kids, and encouraging me in general
*Increased my love and appreciation for my husband, who is having to sacrifice in a very real way this pregnancy. After long days of physical work, he's come home to do all my jobs as well. Not only has he taken on full care of the children, but he's done a marvelous job keeping up with our home (far better than I do!). And he's also helped my mental state by organizing parts of our home that I never thought would be done, like the garage, the office, and more. Once everything is perfect around here, I'll stop faking my sickness. :)
Anyway, I'm not sure of all that the Lord is trying to teach me during this difficult phase, but I do know that He has given me a season to slow down, like it or not. It's hard for this list-making, task-oriented person to let my life completely stop, but I've had no choice. And it's amazing to see at what a basic level we can actually function. Many of the daily things that I thought were non-negotiable have become impossible to do, and I'm seeing that for a time, we can still survive without them.
And for those of you who have stepped in to make this time more bearable for us, I thank you so much. You are the reasons my children have neither starved nor maimed each other out of boredom. Maybe we'll name the baby after you.
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Happy 6th Birthday, Emma!
This beautiful little girl is our firstborn, Emma. Six years ago today, she officially made me a mother, and she's been a blessing to us ever since.
Emma's personality is quite different from mine, which caught me off guard at times during her first few years. I think most mommies assume that they will see a little mini-me in their daughter. But the more I come to learn of who God made her, the more I appreciate and enjoy her as a person, often because of how different we are. She's a delight to be around, and I tell her regularly that I could not be without her, for more reasons than one!
She is an animal lover, and I can't express what an understatement that is. It would be more appropriate to say that her world revolves around dogs and horses. But pretty much any animal will do in a pinch. She's good with them, unafraid and seemingly a natural at things like feeding and caring for them. And they sense it in her and gravitate toward her. I see animal husbandry of some sort in her future.
She also loves singing, being read to, playing outside in our yard, riding her bike or scooter, drawing, stuffed animals, meticulously tucking things in, having "girls' day out" with me, spending time with all of her grandparents, hot chocolate, baking with me, helping her Daddy in the yard, the zoo, Sea World, giggling with her brother for hours at night when they're supposed to be sleeping, Play-doh, Family Movie Night, swimming, doing gymnastics, and running very fast.
She dislikes: clothing on stuffed animals, ultra-girly things like brushing hair, going to any type of doctor, and bugs of all shapes and sizes (except roly polies).
Emma's our "old soul", who takes things quite seriously and thinks about things beyond her years, with a vocabulary to match. But she's also quite the little girl, carefree and playful and loving her own imaginary world. And she insists that she doesn't want to get married because she wants to live with "her best Mommy and Daddy" forever. We'll take it! :)
We love you, Emma, and are so blessed to have you for our little girl.
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We'll be doing more celebrating this week as grandparents join us for Thanksgiving, but this past weekend we did do a few fun things.
Our kids were invited to a Build-a-Bear party. Here they are bathing their new friends:
Then we let them play on some of the rides. Would you believe I've gotten away with never putting money in these machines for all these years? I'd just let my kids sit on them, and have them get their thrills by pretending that the bull was riding, or the car was driving. I know...mean mommy. This seemed like a worthy occassion for blowing our cover, though. ;)
Here's Emma on her first carousel ride:
And here's her sister looking quite stunned by the experience (she actually loved it but I caught her by surprise):
Their brother opted for the wilder motorcycle ride:
More birthday and Thanksgiving fun to come!
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Sea World---ever the adventure
Sunday morning started out in a pretty non-adventurous way. My hubby was too sick to go to church, and I wasn't sure I could brave it alone with 3 kids, so we all decided to stay home. My 3 yo son woke up saying he didn't feel well (or "peel well", in his f-less vocabulary), and didn't eat much breakfast, but I didn't think much of it.
And then it hit me: if I left a sleeping baby home with a sleeping sick Daddy, I could sneak the "older" two off to Sea World! Our season passes are about to expire, and they were offering some free giveaways to pass holders this weekend. We could have our last hoorah before the month just kept getting busier. Sounded like a great plan. I packed our lunches, snacks, and stroller, and we were off!
We had not gotten ten minutes from home when my son decided to start vomiting. I'm on a major highway, so I hand him some napkins and assure him that Mommy is going to pull over and help him. It was about this time that my daughter starts gagging and saying she's very grossed out. Aren't exits usually really close together? Why the heck was this next one 87 miles down the road?!? Ah, there it is. We turn into a Krispy Kreme parking lot, and I pull into a spot as far from other humans as possible. I fling open all the van doors for fresh air, and direct the queasy daughter to roam about the grass and try not to think about being grossed out. I go around to my son's side, only to discover that someone has discarded a baby wipe, full of its revolting contents, right where I needed to put my feet. Should I re-park? Na, we were out of the van with all the doors open, and moving would take too much time. (I'll spare you the suspense: with stories like this, you would assume I stepped on the poop, but with some fancy footwork and repeated warnings to my daughter, we managed to avoid it.)
I stripped my son of his soiled shirt, wiped everything down with wipees and napkins (note to self: always keep a roll of paper towels and a towel in the van!), and told the kids we needed to head back home. "No! Can we please still go?" Even the sick one was fully on board with proceeding with Plan A. Sigh. Think, Stephanie. Ok, are there any extra clothes in the van? Oooh! A bag of hand-me-downs in the trunk! Dig, dig...rats. It's only girl clothes. Hmmm...too girly for my son to wear for a few hours? After all, they're just flowers and ruffles. No, that would be cruel.
Aha! His sweater! If I zip it all the way up, no one will no there's no shirt under it, right? Right! Ok, so on it goes, and we get back in and continue on our way. I keep asking Buddy Boy if his tummy hurts, and he keeps assuring me it does not. (Note to self: never trust a three year old with ulterior motives.)
(Additional note to self: kids never throw up just once.) We had not been out of the parking lot for 60 full seconds when Round 2 began. (Note to readers: if you will kindly recall that Mommy is still not out of the nausea/vomiting stage of pregnancy herself, it will add to the drama of the story.)
Now at this point, Stephanie-mother-of-one child would have definitely gone home in tears. Stephanie-mother-of-two children would have probably gone home to at least get a change of clothes, then would have decided it was best to stay put and call off the outing. But let me tell you, Stephanie-mother-of-almost-four was going to see whales today if it killed her, gosh darn it. If the sick child insists that he can handle Sea World, then by golly, so can I. It's all outdoors, anyway, so it would be way more fun to throw up there than at home, right?
(Yet another note to self: when a child is throwing up, it's best to leave them undressed until you arrive at your destination so you can preserve any clean clothes you may have.) Exactly. His sweater now had his breakfast on it, too, so we're back to square one on the clothing issue. Could he go into Sea World with no shirt? Wrapped in a blanket, maybe? Oh wait...that had gotten vomit on it, too.
Fast forward a little. We were able to use a jacket of Emma's (that was blue!), rinse out the blanket in a sink at Sea World and let it dry throughout the day, and we had one of our best Sea World excursions to date.
The weather was absolutely perfect (69 degrees, sunny and clear with a nice breeze), there were no crowds at all compared to summertime, we got to pet the dolphins more than ever before, and when the day was done we'd seen three shows and all the animal exhibits. WAY more than I can usually accomplish in that amount of time when fighting the summer crowd and trying to ignore the extreme heat. And Buddy Boy? He got his appetite back within a couple of hours and didn't get sick once while we were there. And we came home to a Daddy and baby who'd had a wonderful day together, as well.
All's well that end's well, right?
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Here's one of our little flippered friends that we got to spend a lot of time playing with:
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And then it hit me: if I left a sleeping baby home with a sleeping sick Daddy, I could sneak the "older" two off to Sea World! Our season passes are about to expire, and they were offering some free giveaways to pass holders this weekend. We could have our last hoorah before the month just kept getting busier. Sounded like a great plan. I packed our lunches, snacks, and stroller, and we were off!
We had not gotten ten minutes from home when my son decided to start vomiting. I'm on a major highway, so I hand him some napkins and assure him that Mommy is going to pull over and help him. It was about this time that my daughter starts gagging and saying she's very grossed out. Aren't exits usually really close together? Why the heck was this next one 87 miles down the road?!? Ah, there it is. We turn into a Krispy Kreme parking lot, and I pull into a spot as far from other humans as possible. I fling open all the van doors for fresh air, and direct the queasy daughter to roam about the grass and try not to think about being grossed out. I go around to my son's side, only to discover that someone has discarded a baby wipe, full of its revolting contents, right where I needed to put my feet. Should I re-park? Na, we were out of the van with all the doors open, and moving would take too much time. (I'll spare you the suspense: with stories like this, you would assume I stepped on the poop, but with some fancy footwork and repeated warnings to my daughter, we managed to avoid it.)
I stripped my son of his soiled shirt, wiped everything down with wipees and napkins (note to self: always keep a roll of paper towels and a towel in the van!), and told the kids we needed to head back home. "No! Can we please still go?" Even the sick one was fully on board with proceeding with Plan A. Sigh. Think, Stephanie. Ok, are there any extra clothes in the van? Oooh! A bag of hand-me-downs in the trunk! Dig, dig...rats. It's only girl clothes. Hmmm...too girly for my son to wear for a few hours? After all, they're just flowers and ruffles. No, that would be cruel.
Aha! His sweater! If I zip it all the way up, no one will no there's no shirt under it, right? Right! Ok, so on it goes, and we get back in and continue on our way. I keep asking Buddy Boy if his tummy hurts, and he keeps assuring me it does not. (Note to self: never trust a three year old with ulterior motives.)
(Additional note to self: kids never throw up just once.) We had not been out of the parking lot for 60 full seconds when Round 2 began. (Note to readers: if you will kindly recall that Mommy is still not out of the nausea/vomiting stage of pregnancy herself, it will add to the drama of the story.)
Now at this point, Stephanie-mother-of-one child would have definitely gone home in tears. Stephanie-mother-of-two children would have probably gone home to at least get a change of clothes, then would have decided it was best to stay put and call off the outing. But let me tell you, Stephanie-mother-of-almost-four was going to see whales today if it killed her, gosh darn it. If the sick child insists that he can handle Sea World, then by golly, so can I. It's all outdoors, anyway, so it would be way more fun to throw up there than at home, right?
(Yet another note to self: when a child is throwing up, it's best to leave them undressed until you arrive at your destination so you can preserve any clean clothes you may have.) Exactly. His sweater now had his breakfast on it, too, so we're back to square one on the clothing issue. Could he go into Sea World with no shirt? Wrapped in a blanket, maybe? Oh wait...that had gotten vomit on it, too.
Fast forward a little. We were able to use a jacket of Emma's (that was blue!), rinse out the blanket in a sink at Sea World and let it dry throughout the day, and we had one of our best Sea World excursions to date.
The weather was absolutely perfect (69 degrees, sunny and clear with a nice breeze), there were no crowds at all compared to summertime, we got to pet the dolphins more than ever before, and when the day was done we'd seen three shows and all the animal exhibits. WAY more than I can usually accomplish in that amount of time when fighting the summer crowd and trying to ignore the extreme heat. And Buddy Boy? He got his appetite back within a couple of hours and didn't get sick once while we were there. And we came home to a Daddy and baby who'd had a wonderful day together, as well.
All's well that end's well, right?
Here's one of our little flippered friends that we got to spend a lot of time playing with:
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Elizabeth turns 2!
(But not before I snuck a video of her stating her age at 1!)
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The weather and other such unimportant subjects--like sonograms ;)
Today was a wintery day. A front blew in quite suddenly, bringing with it temperatures that are supposed to drop into the 20's tonight, and very cold drizzle. The skies were overcast all day, and the wind was howling. All in all, it made for a very contemplative afternoon. A quiet couch by the window and a cup of hot tea were in order, so I obliged.
And the timing of it was perfect, because I had a lot to consider. Did you know I'm pregnant? You did? Well, why didn't you clue me in on it? You see, up until today, I haven't really felt pregnant. I felt incredibly sick, but so much so that I wasn't able to concentrate on the sickness being related to a baby. Then the holidays came with all their splendor and distraction, followed by January, which was welcomed like an old friend, bringing with it hope of reestablishing some order and "normalcy" in our lives.
Which brings me to today. A cold, blustery day that I'd been waiting impatiently for---the day we were scheduled for a sonogram. So then why was I so darned nervous all morning as the hour closed in? Because reality was about to hit, that's why.
We really didn't care if our first child was a boy or a girl, and for the second and third we were only slightly more curious on the matter. But for some reason, I knew that the fourth child's gender (in our family's case) was going to make a big difference in the way our family dynamics would shape together. That doesn't mean we would've been disappointed either way. It's just that trying to imagine both scenarios painted completely different pictures. Would it be another sweet little girl, who would give us a four-to-one female/male ratio during the day? Or would it be another son, who would balance out the scales and give the kids another brother?
Knowing that the Lord knew this child and the number of their days before the foundation of the world gave me the comfort that I needed, but by golly, I was still nervous about finding out. Our family would be perfectly ordained the way God planned it...but what way did He plan?
We took our firstborn with us, and armed with caffeine, hoped the baby would cooperate. Sure enough, it did! But that sent us into a whole new slew of thoughts. Garfield, Emma, and I were all in a stupor for hours this afternoon as we let it sink in. So much to consider, now that we know! It was nice to spend the afternoon in prayer for this child in my womb, now being able to visualize him/her so much more, and having the time to process the reality of it all. Quite the delightful and blessed day.
Until next time...
...What's that you say? Oh? You'd like to know the gender, too? I'm sorry, I plum forgot that you might be interested in that little tidbit of information.
Well, if you care for me to share,
Think pink if you dare!
But I'll go *wink, wink*
Because our bundle of joy
Is a sweet baby boy!
(Thanks for playing along and reading this far.) :o)![]()
And the timing of it was perfect, because I had a lot to consider. Did you know I'm pregnant? You did? Well, why didn't you clue me in on it? You see, up until today, I haven't really felt pregnant. I felt incredibly sick, but so much so that I wasn't able to concentrate on the sickness being related to a baby. Then the holidays came with all their splendor and distraction, followed by January, which was welcomed like an old friend, bringing with it hope of reestablishing some order and "normalcy" in our lives.
Which brings me to today. A cold, blustery day that I'd been waiting impatiently for---the day we were scheduled for a sonogram. So then why was I so darned nervous all morning as the hour closed in? Because reality was about to hit, that's why.
We really didn't care if our first child was a boy or a girl, and for the second and third we were only slightly more curious on the matter. But for some reason, I knew that the fourth child's gender (in our family's case) was going to make a big difference in the way our family dynamics would shape together. That doesn't mean we would've been disappointed either way. It's just that trying to imagine both scenarios painted completely different pictures. Would it be another sweet little girl, who would give us a four-to-one female/male ratio during the day? Or would it be another son, who would balance out the scales and give the kids another brother?
Knowing that the Lord knew this child and the number of their days before the foundation of the world gave me the comfort that I needed, but by golly, I was still nervous about finding out. Our family would be perfectly ordained the way God planned it...but what way did He plan?
We took our firstborn with us, and armed with caffeine, hoped the baby would cooperate. Sure enough, it did! But that sent us into a whole new slew of thoughts. Garfield, Emma, and I were all in a stupor for hours this afternoon as we let it sink in. So much to consider, now that we know! It was nice to spend the afternoon in prayer for this child in my womb, now being able to visualize him/her so much more, and having the time to process the reality of it all. Quite the delightful and blessed day.
Until next time...
...What's that you say? Oh? You'd like to know the gender, too? I'm sorry, I plum forgot that you might be interested in that little tidbit of information.
Well, if you care for me to share,
Think pink if you dare!
But I'll go *wink, wink*
Because our bundle of joy
Is a sweet baby boy!
(Thanks for playing along and reading this far.) :o)
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A dubious distinction
From the mouth of my 6-year-old, Emma: "Mommy, I forgot. Is it lizards, or squirrels that when you hold them by their tail, the tail can break off and they'll grow a new one?"
I thought that was a hilarious mix-up, and couldn't get the visual out of my mind of a squirrel's tail just popping right off!
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Easing back into bloggy world
You thought you were rid of me, huh? Well, it's not THAT easy! I just come and go on the blogosphere in spurts, like everything else in my life. C'mon, you should know that by now.
So anyway, starting off with a quick little post is always a good way to break myself back into the habit.
The other day the kids were feeling cooped up in the house, so I sent them out back to play. They'd not been out there ten minutes before deciding to lug our kennel to the porch, and play this little game:
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At some points, they were all three in there, seemingly having a very important conference about something or another:
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I guess being cooped up isn't all that bad if it's voluntary. And to think, I worry about their room being too small. Ha!
(Saaay...I DO like to blog, Sam I Am! More than I like green eggs and ham!
And I would blog up in a tree, so long as my children let me be.
And I will blog both day and night, and I will blog whilst offspring fight.
While they sleep, while they eat, I will blog---oh, what a treat!
And I will blog and ignore my doggy, I will blog while laundry's soggy.
Family can feed themselves, I'm sure, 'cause blogging really is the cure!
I WILL blog now, Sam, you see! As soon as these children will let me be.)![]()
So anyway, starting off with a quick little post is always a good way to break myself back into the habit.
The other day the kids were feeling cooped up in the house, so I sent them out back to play. They'd not been out there ten minutes before deciding to lug our kennel to the porch, and play this little game:
At some points, they were all three in there, seemingly having a very important conference about something or another:
I guess being cooped up isn't all that bad if it's voluntary. And to think, I worry about their room being too small. Ha!
(Saaay...I DO like to blog, Sam I Am! More than I like green eggs and ham!
And I would blog up in a tree, so long as my children let me be.
And I will blog both day and night, and I will blog whilst offspring fight.
While they sleep, while they eat, I will blog---oh, what a treat!
And I will blog and ignore my doggy, I will blog while laundry's soggy.
Family can feed themselves, I'm sure, 'cause blogging really is the cure!
I WILL blog now, Sam, you see! As soon as these children will let me be.)
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Our Tourism Queensland Applications
G'day, Mate!
A few weeks ago, hubby and I heard about the "Best Job in the World" opening: a 6-month gig living as island caretaker on the Great Barrier Reef. Your duties include going on excursions around the islands and then reporting back to the world via blog, in order to promote tourism to Queensland, Australia. You also have to do minimal upkeep of the island (such as feeding fish and checking mail), in exchange for free stay in a gorgeous beach house. The pay is also nice.
Um, it took me about all of .02 seconds to start hyperventilating. Could a job like this really exist? We both looove this type of thing, especially since it includes diving and such, and we've always wanted to go to the Great Barrier Reef. Oh, wait. Neither of us could just up and go to Australia alone. But...hang on...keep reading....you can bring your family?! Honey, let's apply NOW!!!
I've got to admit, I've been shamefully obsessed with this idea ever since I heard about it. I had trouble falling asleep, working out all the logistics in my head. (The job starts 2 weeks after I'm due, but hey, it's a fourth baby. No biggie.) I'd dream about it. I'd wake up with a racing heartbeat just thinking about it. I was having fishy visions dancing in my head all the day long, and was teaching my 2-year-old to say "Great Barrier Reef". I was researching all the dangerous Australian animals that I needed to keep my children away from, lest they get eaten and/or poisoned. Ah, those were fun weeks just thinking about the possibilities!
And then the rubber met the road, and we had to put together our 60-second application videos. Tougher than one might think. You can't go a second over, lest you be disqualified. You're supposed to tell them why you're the best person for the job, exhibit an adventurous spirit (don't laugh---I have one, it's just temporarily buried), and show some island knowledge.
Here's Garfield's video (if you notice a crazy person either climbing up/jumping off large mountains in his pictures, that's my insane husband): watch Garfield's video
Did you remember to give him 5 stars? Ok, now mine: watch Steph's video
My dreams were pretty much shattered when 34,000 people from 200 countries ended up applying, but hey, it was an insanely fun idea while it lasted. They will announce the short list of 50 on Monday, so if you hear crying from my house, you'll know why.
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What we've been up to
Well, we didn't win a chance to go to Australia for 6 months, but that's ok. Once we saw who they picked for the Top 50, we knew it was the wrong gig for us---almost all their selections were late teen/early 20's single wild folk. Needless to say, we didn't fit the bill.
But we've had plenty of little adventures of our own around here. There have been tea parties on a blanket in the living room, complete with milk in tiny tea cups, Oreos, and blueberry coffee cake.
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Getting to wash the tiny dishes herself was a treat for Emma.
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We've had the construction of various buildings, such as this lovely cabin and stable. It must be comfy, because all our horses seem to be called to a nap.
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We've spent time playing outside in our yard, and also meeting up with a group of friends from MOPS at a park. (Emma is her daddy's daughter, by the way. She shot up and over the top of this climbing wall like nothing, before I even realized she was on it.)
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We visited a new batch of Siberian Huskies near my parents' house in Boerne. Emma, who lives for dogs, remarked on the way over there that, "Mommy, I can barely breathe because the butterflies in my tummy are so excited!" (Sorry, Grandfather. I didn't mean to chop you out of the picture.)
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On the baby front, our little guy is rambunctious and growing steadily, and I already feel large as a barge at only 26 weeks. This picture was taken about two weeks ago, and I know I've grown since then.
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And we also celebrated my incredible hubby's birthday last weekend with special dinners, flan, and peach cobbler. Happy birthday, Garfield! You're the best husband and Daddy in the world! Here's a video of Elizabeth explaining Daddy's birthday dessert.
Thanks for checking back in!![]()
But we've had plenty of little adventures of our own around here. There have been tea parties on a blanket in the living room, complete with milk in tiny tea cups, Oreos, and blueberry coffee cake.
Getting to wash the tiny dishes herself was a treat for Emma.
We've had the construction of various buildings, such as this lovely cabin and stable. It must be comfy, because all our horses seem to be called to a nap.
We've spent time playing outside in our yard, and also meeting up with a group of friends from MOPS at a park. (Emma is her daddy's daughter, by the way. She shot up and over the top of this climbing wall like nothing, before I even realized she was on it.)
We visited a new batch of Siberian Huskies near my parents' house in Boerne. Emma, who lives for dogs, remarked on the way over there that, "Mommy, I can barely breathe because the butterflies in my tummy are so excited!" (Sorry, Grandfather. I didn't mean to chop you out of the picture.)
On the baby front, our little guy is rambunctious and growing steadily, and I already feel large as a barge at only 26 weeks. This picture was taken about two weeks ago, and I know I've grown since then.
And we also celebrated my incredible hubby's birthday last weekend with special dinners, flan, and peach cobbler. Happy birthday, Garfield! You're the best husband and Daddy in the world! Here's a video of Elizabeth explaining Daddy's birthday dessert.
Thanks for checking back in!
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I can't promise I'll try, but I'll try to try
Whew. It's been a month since my last post. That's got to be some sort of record. I won't promise to get back on the blogging bandwagon, since I have a good reason for falling off: I started using afternoon nap time to do lessons with Emma. Yep, this means that I no longer have that precious 1.5-2 hour break in the day with uninterrupted quiet time. Several things have gone the way of the Dodo in giving up that break, blogging included. But so far, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make in order to not have to worry about keeping the little one busy while I work with Emma. For now, it works.
So, I'll leave you with this little "interview" I conducted with Emma (age 6) and Garfield (age 3.5). I asked them these questions in private, and recorded their answers exactly as they gave them. I thought it was hilarious! Oh, and if you see anything in parenthesis, it's my two cents.
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Emma: I love you.
Garfield: I love you.
2. What makes mom happy?
Emma: For me to play with her hair.
Garfield: For me to clean up everything in our house, and when I be kind to Elizabeth, and when I obey.
3. What makes mom sad?
Emma: When I don’t obey.
Garfield: When I don’t obey you.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Emma: By tickling me.
Garfield: By being silly.
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Emma: Like me.
Garfield: Baby toys. (We figured out later that he probably thought I asked him what I liked as a child.)
6. How old is your mom?
Emma: 30.
Garfield: I forgot.
7. How tall is your mom?
Emma: The size of the middle tree in our backyard. (It's about 20 ft. tall!)
Garfield: All the way up to your forehead, but you’re bigger than me.
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Emma: Take a nap.
Garfield: Clean up. And play with swords. (Um, yeah. Sure.)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around.
Emma: Sometimes go some places.
Garfield: Vacuum.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Emma: Relaxing. (Way to rat me out, Em!)
Garfield: For living with us.
11. What is your mom really good at?
Emma: Writing lists.
Garfield: Cleaning up.
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Emma: Jumping on the trampoline because she has a baby in her belly.
Garfield: Having a poofy dog in your ear. And vacuuming.
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Emma: She helps take care of the kiddos while Daddy’s at work.
Garfield: Vacuum.
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Emma: Cauliflower w/ cheese.
Garfield: Chicken.
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Emma: She gives me treats when Garfield goes potty.
Garfield: Vacuuming.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Emma: Kung Fu Panda. (That's me: fat, and into martial arts.)
Garfield: You. And me.
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Emma: Go on Girls’ Day Out.
Garfield: Play.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
Emma: We both have brown eyes.
Garfield: Black hair.
19. How are you and your mom different?
Emma: She has a bigger nose than me.
Garfield: Because I’m wearing grey, and you’re wearing black and blue.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Emma: Because she takes care of me.
Garfield: Because you take care of me.
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Emma: The consignment store.
Garfield: Sea World and the zoo.![]()
So, I'll leave you with this little "interview" I conducted with Emma (age 6) and Garfield (age 3.5). I asked them these questions in private, and recorded their answers exactly as they gave them. I thought it was hilarious! Oh, and if you see anything in parenthesis, it's my two cents.
1. What is something mom always says to you?
Emma: I love you.
Garfield: I love you.
2. What makes mom happy?
Emma: For me to play with her hair.
Garfield: For me to clean up everything in our house, and when I be kind to Elizabeth, and when I obey.
3. What makes mom sad?
Emma: When I don’t obey.
Garfield: When I don’t obey you.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Emma: By tickling me.
Garfield: By being silly.
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Emma: Like me.
Garfield: Baby toys. (We figured out later that he probably thought I asked him what I liked as a child.)
6. How old is your mom?
Emma: 30.
Garfield: I forgot.
7. How tall is your mom?
Emma: The size of the middle tree in our backyard. (It's about 20 ft. tall!)
Garfield: All the way up to your forehead, but you’re bigger than me.
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Emma: Take a nap.
Garfield: Clean up. And play with swords. (Um, yeah. Sure.)
9. What does your mom do when you're not around.
Emma: Sometimes go some places.
Garfield: Vacuum.
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Emma: Relaxing. (Way to rat me out, Em!)
Garfield: For living with us.
11. What is your mom really good at?
Emma: Writing lists.
Garfield: Cleaning up.
12. What is your mom not very good at?
Emma: Jumping on the trampoline because she has a baby in her belly.
Garfield: Having a poofy dog in your ear. And vacuuming.
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Emma: She helps take care of the kiddos while Daddy’s at work.
Garfield: Vacuum.
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Emma: Cauliflower w/ cheese.
Garfield: Chicken.
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Emma: She gives me treats when Garfield goes potty.
Garfield: Vacuuming.
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Emma: Kung Fu Panda. (That's me: fat, and into martial arts.)
Garfield: You. And me.
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Emma: Go on Girls’ Day Out.
Garfield: Play.
18. How are you and your mom the same?
Emma: We both have brown eyes.
Garfield: Black hair.
19. How are you and your mom different?
Emma: She has a bigger nose than me.
Garfield: Because I’m wearing grey, and you’re wearing black and blue.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Emma: Because she takes care of me.
Garfield: Because you take care of me.
21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Emma: The consignment store.
Garfield: Sea World and the zoo.
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But baby whales are cute, right?
I hope so, because I'm the size of one. Here's a picture of me at around 38 weeks; I'm now 40 weeks and counting! (I will say, this photo is deceptive...my belly is really much bigger than it looks!)![]()
Anyway, truth be told, I've temporarily lost interest in blogs--my blog, other peoples' blogs, the whole deal. My computer time's been slashed, so I've been going behind the blogosphere's back, and getting my "fix" over on Facebook. I don't consider myself to be an instant gratification person, but for a busy mom who only gets a few minutes at a time to hop online, FB gets me the quick updates. It doesn't give me the writing outlet I need, though, so I'm sure I'll be back to blogging once things get settled in with the new baby.
Speaking of which, you may have noticed I'm a couple of days past due. Oddly, I'm perfectly fine with that. I think the fear of impending pain outweighs any anxiety I have over wanting to get it over with. I've never been one to want to hurry labor along; they'll come when they're good and ready. Every extra day is just additional time to cash in on the unusual productive streaks that hit me as birth approaches. I'm wondering if my hubby's ulterior motives for wanting a big family have anything to do with knowing that his wife is suddenly uber-efficient on projects that I've been procrastinating on for months (or years)?
Our first two kids were a week early, and our third one was ten days late. So we'll see what this little guy does. This pregnancy has had some differences from the first three:
*The worst of the "morning" sickness was far more intense, but also shorter, this time.
*Even after the vomiting, etc. ended, I've felt a somewhat constant sense of indigestion throughout the pregnancy.
*My round ligaments have brought some really fun excruciating pain at random times, usually during the night.
*Varicose veins have made their debut on my legs, but I've been told they can disappear again after birth? We'll see.
Whoa...that list sounds like a whine-bag wrote it! So here are some good things:
*The timing of the pregnancy was new, and I got to be over the sickness just in time for the holidays, which made me really enjoy them.
*I've had no anxiety whatsoever this time about adding another child to the mix. I guess by number four, you realize the logistics will all work themselves out, and the new baby factor doesn't seem as daunting. I think it will be fun!
*The kids are all really looking forward to the baby. Even the youngest, who's not quite 2.5, loves to talk to him, tell me how cute he is, and says she can't wait to hold him and love on him.
My doctor just left town for a few days, and Garfield secured some work that he'd like to complete this week, so we'll be very happy if the baby decides to stay put until at least this weekend. But of course, whenever the Lord says it's time to meet our newest one, we'll be thrilled to do so! In the meantime, I'll just keep resting and nesting, and enjoying the other three.
Here are some random pics of the last month:
My birthday dinner date at The Vineyards
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Garfield and the kids, having a blast in the kiddie pool
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Anyway, truth be told, I've temporarily lost interest in blogs--my blog, other peoples' blogs, the whole deal. My computer time's been slashed, so I've been going behind the blogosphere's back, and getting my "fix" over on Facebook. I don't consider myself to be an instant gratification person, but for a busy mom who only gets a few minutes at a time to hop online, FB gets me the quick updates. It doesn't give me the writing outlet I need, though, so I'm sure I'll be back to blogging once things get settled in with the new baby.
Speaking of which, you may have noticed I'm a couple of days past due. Oddly, I'm perfectly fine with that. I think the fear of impending pain outweighs any anxiety I have over wanting to get it over with. I've never been one to want to hurry labor along; they'll come when they're good and ready. Every extra day is just additional time to cash in on the unusual productive streaks that hit me as birth approaches. I'm wondering if my hubby's ulterior motives for wanting a big family have anything to do with knowing that his wife is suddenly uber-efficient on projects that I've been procrastinating on for months (or years)?
Our first two kids were a week early, and our third one was ten days late. So we'll see what this little guy does. This pregnancy has had some differences from the first three:
*The worst of the "morning" sickness was far more intense, but also shorter, this time.
*Even after the vomiting, etc. ended, I've felt a somewhat constant sense of indigestion throughout the pregnancy.
*My round ligaments have brought some really fun excruciating pain at random times, usually during the night.
*Varicose veins have made their debut on my legs, but I've been told they can disappear again after birth? We'll see.
Whoa...that list sounds like a whine-bag wrote it! So here are some good things:
*The timing of the pregnancy was new, and I got to be over the sickness just in time for the holidays, which made me really enjoy them.
*I've had no anxiety whatsoever this time about adding another child to the mix. I guess by number four, you realize the logistics will all work themselves out, and the new baby factor doesn't seem as daunting. I think it will be fun!
*The kids are all really looking forward to the baby. Even the youngest, who's not quite 2.5, loves to talk to him, tell me how cute he is, and says she can't wait to hold him and love on him.
My doctor just left town for a few days, and Garfield secured some work that he'd like to complete this week, so we'll be very happy if the baby decides to stay put until at least this weekend. But of course, whenever the Lord says it's time to meet our newest one, we'll be thrilled to do so! In the meantime, I'll just keep resting and nesting, and enjoying the other three.
Here are some random pics of the last month:
My birthday dinner date at The Vineyards
Garfield and the kids, having a blast in the kiddie pool
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Is this it?
Hmmmm...I've been having contractions since yesterday evening. I went to bed at midnight, but they woke me up again at 3 a.m., so here I am, posting at this ungodly hour. I'd love to know within the next 2 hours if this is real labor so that we can determine if Hubby should go to work or not. (His project is clear across town, and involves picking up day laborers, so it would be quite a hassle for him to leave and be called back an hour later.)
Night owls can't be held responsible for any unintelligible writing they do in the wee hours of the morning, so I should end here for lack of coherent thought. If there's anything else to report, I'll try to check in.![]()
Night owls can't be held responsible for any unintelligible writing they do in the wee hours of the morning, so I should end here for lack of coherent thought. If there's anything else to report, I'll try to check in.
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An update
For those of you who aren't on Facebook, here's the latest:
Contractions started getting farther apart this morning after I went back to bed, but have continued throughout the day---very irregularly. Just lately have I noticed they seem to be getting closer together again. We'll start timing them after the kids go down to see where we are. I do think all the things I've experienced today are part of latent labor, and that they will lead to active labor at some point. It doesn't seem like it's going to fizzle out altogether.
I'm used to these long, gradual labors. Wouldn't know what to do with a fast one...![]()
Contractions started getting farther apart this morning after I went back to bed, but have continued throughout the day---very irregularly. Just lately have I noticed they seem to be getting closer together again. We'll start timing them after the kids go down to see where we are. I do think all the things I've experienced today are part of latent labor, and that they will lead to active labor at some point. It doesn't seem like it's going to fizzle out altogether.
I'm used to these long, gradual labors. Wouldn't know what to do with a fast one...
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Going to try and rest...
It's about 11:30, and we're going to try and rest for awhile. But I have a feeling these contractions aren't gonna let me sleep. They've moved from 15 minutes apart to about 10 within 2 hours or so, and are becoming regular at 45 seconds long. This has to be the beginning of the end of pregnancy!
I'm guessing we'll be heading to the hospital sometime in the wee hours of the morning, and hopefully having this baby tomorrow! Grandfather is spending the night, so our childcare is in place, and we've prepped the kids that they may wake up to find out we're at the hospital. There are some apprehensions, but also a lot of excitement. They've waited an eternity for this baby---considering they have no concept of time!
I just wish my doctor wasn't out of town, but we're praying for a great on-call doc and fabulous nurses. Please join us in praying that all goes smoothly and that I can be strong!![]()
I'm guessing we'll be heading to the hospital sometime in the wee hours of the morning, and hopefully having this baby tomorrow! Grandfather is spending the night, so our childcare is in place, and we've prepped the kids that they may wake up to find out we're at the hospital. There are some apprehensions, but also a lot of excitement. They've waited an eternity for this baby---considering they have no concept of time!
I just wish my doctor wasn't out of town, but we're praying for a great on-call doc and fabulous nurses. Please join us in praying that all goes smoothly and that I can be strong!
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More Pages to Explore .....
