Too Tired to Post

Hi all. We're home. We're gearing up for the first night at home. Hopefully I get some sleep. I should be asleep right now. So I'll post pictures tomorrow.

"Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow. You're only a day away..."

So tomorrow is the big day. I go into the hospital early in the morning and will come out with a baby. Any more guesses as to how big he is going to be? Remember, if you guess the size, you can win a prize!

We will send out an email either tomorrow night or the following morning (depending on what time everything happens). If you have never recieved a newsletter from our family email, let me know (send me an email, or comment here) and we will add you to the list. When I get home later this weekend I will update with lots of pictures.

Wish me luck! And pray that it doesn't take too long!

Baby timing

So, if you've been keeping track of the floating baby countdown off to the right, you've noticed that all of a sudden the days left over jumped from 10 to 4. You may be wondering why. Last week at my Dr appt, my Dr asked if I would like to be induced on the 24th. So, if my body is ready (ie. fully effaced) then I will have a baby on the 24th. (yes, this Thursday!) I'll let you know on Wed after my appt what's going on. (Well, after I go out for lunch of course. Without children! My friend and I scheduled our appointments at the same time so we could do lunch. Smart eh?)

Trilingual Musicality

Somehow we have raised a musical genius.

OK, maybe not a genius. But something very interesting has come to our attention.

Each time we have Family Night we sing songs, and we let the boys pick out their own songs. Needless to say we have sung "Angels we have heard on high" every Monday night for the last couple of years. The boys can turn to the page in the Hymn book without fail. Matt has the page number memorized. I guess that Thomas just knows what he's looking for. He doesn't know his numbers very well, and he certainly can't read. So imagine our surprise when he was holding the French Hymn book and he flipped right to "Angels we have heard on high" and proudly announced he found it. We were quite shocked. The music is even a little bit different between the two languages. I was slightly skeptical, so we closed the book and I asked him to find it again. He did. Then just for kicks, we gave him the Swedish Hymn book and asked him to find it. He did. How in the world is a 3 year old finding this song in books where he can't even read the language, doesn't know his numbers, and the music even varies with each version?! (I've highlighted the different musical versions if you want to see the difference. I couldn't find the Swedish one online). I know he has to be looking at the music. So I am wondering if Thomas can find this particular song in other languages. Maybe if I get a hold of any other Hymn books in different languages, I'll test him. It sure is a mystery though.

Safety in a Maternity store

So today was very hot (like 95, with who knows how high humidity). We were trying to figure out something to do to get the boys out of the house and use up some energy, without going in the heat. I suggested walking around the mall. Now Doug really doesn't like the mall at all, especially on a Saturday. But I mentioned going out to eat and video game store and he was hooked. So we piled in the van and went to the mall. We walked the length of it and got something to eat, then the boys wanted to go up and down the escalators. We went into Sears to check out vacuums (ours is on its deathbed). I've never seen two people so excited about vacuums. The boys were jumping up and down, "Wow! Look at this one!" After that we went to a video game store. Thomas wanted to go back to the escalators. So Thomas and I rode them up and down a couple times and then I decided that I wanted to go into the Motherhood Maternity store to look at some nursing clothes (there's no way I'm buying new maternity clothes with only a week left!). So while I was looking at stuff, Thomas wanted to look at himself in the mirror. Next to the mirror was a man apparently waiting for his spouse. He looked down at Thomas and asked him, "Is that a basketball on your shirt?". Thomas was excited that someone noticed him and started jumping up and down and starting to say yes. Then he stopped all of a sudden and looked very serious. He looked at the man and said, "Wait. Are you a stranger?" Then I heard giggling coming out of the changing room. The man smiled and said, "Well, yes I am a stranger" Then Thomas said, "Hey Mom, watch this." He turns to the guy and says, "I'm not allowed to talk to strangers"

Now, you may wonder why Thomas would say this. Lately he has had this bad habit of talking to random people and telling them his name, his brother's name, their ages, his parents names, and whatever pops into his head. We keep telling him that he can't do that. So, for the past couple weeks for our Family Night we have talked about how it is important to not talk to strangers. So after reviewing for a couple weeks, I was quite pleased to see Thomas actually follow through. I almost felt bad for the guy at the maternity store. He was just trying to talk to a little kid, but I'm sure he understood why we taught our kids to be careful. Even if the other person feels like our kid is being rude, too bad. It's for our child's safety.

Fête Nationale

Aujourd’hui c’est la Fête Nationale (Bastille Day). C’est la journée d’independence en France. Nous aimons le fêter avec les crêpes, la musique française, et en parlent le français avec les autres amis qui parlent aussi le français. Mais aujourd’hui je n’ai pas l’énergie á faire des crêpes. Et je ne veux pas que ma ventre soit proche de la cuisine (ca peut être trés chaud pour le petit bébé.) Peut-être on peut jouer au Monopoly en Français. Peut-être on peut enseigner quelques mots aux garçons. Alors, aujourd’hui si vous voulez faire quelque chose française, vouz pouvez écouter la musique, manger la cuisine française, ou regarder un video en français (avec les DVDs c’est tres simple!) Bonne journée!

...And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air...

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Tonight is was supposed to rain, and it did. However, when the boys got their PJ's on, the rain momentarily stopped. We deliberated for a little bit about taking our chances and going out to see the fireworks. So, we took their PJ's off, put them in sweatpants, grabbed a couple lawn chairs, a couple A&W Root Beers, the bag of Doritos, and we were out the door. As we were driving, the rain started up again. "Oh well, " we thought. " At least the boys will get sleepy in the car". We drove to the Metro station and went to the very top of the parking garage. And waited. After about 15 minutes the fireworks started (much to our surprise). The boys were very excited to see the fireworks. (I think this was one of the first times they saw them. Last year we only saw a couple minutes worth behind some trees). When the rain came down harder, we moved our back row seats in the van to tailgate style, and the boys sat on them and got a great view while keeping dry. I sat in a lawn chair holding an umbrella. Too bad I didn't have the camera. Overall we had a good time. We need to give the boys experiences like this from time to time.

I can still hear occasional fireworks going off. Good thing it's raining so things won't catch fire with random back yard fireworks gone bad. The boys are sleeping and the big boy (yes the man of the house) is setting up yet another video game console.

We had talked about getting the Wii, and thought that maybe it would be a nice distraction for the boys when the baby comes and they won't feel left out. Doug, however, pointed out that we had better make sure that it works properly before the 30 days are up or we won't be able to return it to the store, just in case. I think he's looking for a good excuse to get it out of the box early. But he does have a point. So I mentioned that he could get it out and test it out tonight after the boys go to bed. Then we have to keep it hidden until the baby comes so it is a really cool surprise. I wonder how many times Doug's going to play it after the boys go to bed between now and then. Oh well. I'll have to keep my eyes open for "Cooking Mama" (a game where you get to mimic cooking skills.). Matt should like that one. He's always asking me to teach him how to cook and he loves the show "Iron Chef" on the Food Network. He says he wants to be an Iron Chef some day. Fine with me. My goal is to make sure my kids know how to cook when they leave the house, and not just Mac & Cheese.

Well, the game is now set up. Gotta go. Too bad I have no energy to have a boxing match with my husband. Maybe in 4 more weeks.

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.