Better late than never

Sorry about the long delay in writing. We're slowly but surely getting things ready for baby. I've washed the clothes, and the boys and I went through the box with all the bottles and other nursing stuff. Hopefully I still have all the pieces to the breast pump. I'd hate to spend more money on that. There are still many things to get ready. We need to figure out if the swing is still in working condition or if the move and storage has ruined it. I will definately buy a new one if necessary. We'll set up the swing earlier so the boys can practice swinging the baby (doll). I seem to remember that when Thomas was a baby, Matt was always trying to swing him faster than necessary. Doug and I are going to take a hospital tour next week so that we know where we're going when the time comes. I only barely remembered that I need to put together some sort of bag to take with me to the hospital. But I get so worn out, that I just sit in front of a fan or lay down.

I was looking for something to read and I decided to try out The Work and the Glory series. So far it's ok. I really like the fictional aspect of the book. When it comes to the historical facts it's a little weird for me. It seems weird for me to read this story and then have scriptural stuff or historical stuff that is important and sacred to me written in as part of a fictional story. (for those who don't know, The Work and the Glory is a series of books that is a fictional story taking place during the early years of when the Mormon church got started and everything. So it has fictional people mixed in with historical people like Joseph Smith and their experiences and trials). Doug told me to make sure that I don't base my testimony off these books. I'd like to think that I have a stronger testimony than that.

Last week we got to take Thomas to the Dr. He got a little cold, but he was breathing rapidly and he ended up coughing so much that he threw up. At the doctor's office they ended up giving him 2 breathing treatments with a nebulizer. Then we took the nebulizer home and we took turns giving him breathing treatments every 4 hours for the next 24 hours. Thomas is also on steroids to help clear out everything. He is much better. The Dr said that athsma is probably in his future and it would be smart to invest in a nebulizer at home so we are prepared for the winter months and allergy season. Poor little guy.

That is all. Nothing too exciting around here. Things will be a little more chaotic and exciting around here in 5 weeks.

Lions and tigers and...boys, oh my!

Matt came upstairs and handed me this mask. "Here mommy, you can be the elephant"

He said, "Good, now we can eat you!" and ran out of the room. Then the boys entered the room growling and snarling with their masks.

Guess the size, Win a prize

So I have 7 weeks (give or take a few days) left. I feel ready to have a baby right now. I'm exhausted and nothing tastes good. Yeah, I do have things to do to get ready, but I'm so tired I don't know how it's going to get done.

Anyway, for those of you who don't see me on a daily/weekly basis I thought I'd include a preggy photo of me now at 33 weeks. And I thought it would be interesting to compare me at 7 months with me at 9 months with Matt and Thomas. There is such a difference in the two photos with the boys that I have no idea what size child to expect this time. So, just for fun, if you want to guess the size, I'll send you a prize! (probably my favorite chocolate). And as an extra bonus you can even guess the date! The official due date is July 30th.

So here I am at 7 months. Imagine how much bigger I'll get over the next 2 months. Good thing we've already purchased the van, because I have 1 inch of space between my tummy and the steering wheel in the Escort.

Here I am at 9 months with Matt. This is how big I was the day I had him. Funny how everyone told me I was small back then. I guess maybe I really was. Matt was a textbook delivery. He came on time. My body went into labor all by itself. I woke up in the middle of the night and started timing contractions. I took a nice shower, ate a good breakfast, and went to the hospital where he was born 3 1/2 hours later. I was in control of my body, breathed through the pain, didn't have any drugs at all, and I loved it. He was 6 lbs 5 oz.

Here I am at 41-42 weeks

with Thomas. I'm huge. I had to stop driving the last month because I couldn't fit behind the steering wheel. I couldn't reach the faucets on the sinks unless I turned sideways. My body did not go into labor all by itself. I was induced a week 1/2 or so after the due date. We went to the hospital in the morning, got all hooked up to Pictocin, and waited. 6-7 hours later when things started getting painful they checked and I was a 6, and I said "do you think this will be over within an hour?" And they said "no way". Then I said "bring on the Epidural." Doug would point out all the really big contractions on the printout and I was grateful I couldn't feel them. I could, however, feel hunger pains. And of course no one would feed me. That was the hardest part of the whole day. I was starving. Thomas was finally born (he was posterior and again I was glad I couldn't feel the back pain), and the Dr. and nurses was all amazed at how big he was. My Dr. was shocked at the fact that I didn't have gestational diabetes because he was so big. He weighed 8 lbs 13 oz.

So there you are. The first two were totally different deliveries and there was a 2 1/2 pound difference. So, any ideas of what to expect with this one? Wish me luck.