Encouraging news

Definitely a Girl

Yesterday was my doctors appointment. This is the appointment we should have been so excited for, we had our 4th ultrasound. It was so fun to see her. She cooperated for the most part. She measured just a hair small, but no biggie. She was so cute though. I loved watching her stretch her legs and kick the ultrasound wand. As much fun as it was to see her I was nervous to see the doc, but everything went well. He said she looks perfect and I am even measuring better than my last appointment, which means the bed rest is working great. It also means the contractions and pain were causing me to progress towards preterm labor (or at the time miscarriage). He said I need to continue doing what I am doing and everything should be fine. I love Dr. A he is my favorite of the group he reminds me of Dr. C who delivered Ash. They are both more laid back and actually listen to you and give you great advice. He told Ky that he will have to help him out in a few years when all the girls are teenagers. He has this awesome color coded hormone wheel he made, it is super funny!! Anyway, this past week has been so much better! I haven't had very many contractions and almost no pain. I have also felt better that I could do a few more things, Ky still tells me to get back on the couch! I still spend the day on the couch but at least I can go out for an hour or two and be fine. Also, my cross stitch stuff came in the mail so I have more projects to do. First I am tackling taxes, yuk!

I also am finally putting on some weight, I gained 3 pounds this past month. I am now 2 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight. I guess there is another plus to being on the couch. The RD scared me when she said I wasn't eating enough to sustain the baby. I can't help but wonder if she will be our smallest baby yet. I am just hoping for under 8 pounds! To be clear I am not trying to keep my weight down I eat what I can, whatever that may be, mostly fruit. Which brings me to my 2 funny cravings 1. mint and I don't like mint very much but the baby loves it, 2. mustard I can eat it on anything! I can't do meat unless I am craving it. I eat a ton of fruit and cucumber slices.

Here is what else we have been up to.
Kaite had fun with her pottery wheel, FYI this makes a HUGE mess!

We have been working on the basement and have 2 coats of mud on already. The girls love to help, especially Kami.

And we finally got some decent snow last weekend. The girls got soaking wet but had a ball. However, they didn't enjoy the power going out for 6 hours, Ash was so worried about what would happen when it got dark.

The kids have been kids and loving it. My house is a wreck but I am still pregnant! I guess everything else can wait!

***Kaite told me she wants another pixie cut, yay! She has been looking so raggedy. I love her hair in the individual pic on the left. It is so cute and easy too!

20 Weeks

I am 20 weeks today and half way there!!! Honestly, my goal is 36 weeks but I would be very happy with at least 34 weeks. I really hope we can get there. For the most part if I stay on the couch and rest I don't have too many contractions and the pain is mostly gone, but that doesn't always seem to be the case. I thought the contractions and pain were mostly activity induced but now I am wondering and it is really worrying me. At least they are significantly less when I do rest.
I have been having bad dreams about having her early. I even see her intubated and her eyes taped shut, it really scares me. I am really trying to be positive about all this, but I do have a back up plan in case she does come before 34 weeks. Maybe all my projects will keep my mind off it I picked up a few to work on. We have our next appointment in just over a week. We get to have the "real" ultrasound. I am anxious to see her again and to see if any of my measurements have changed. Also, we will be meeting with the doc I really like. Hopefully, he will be more encouraging about things or at least less scary!!

Good News

Kaite got put into the gifted and talented program this week! Way to go Kaite and a year earlier than Ash. We are so proud of her, and she is so proud of herself!


Mahon fixed my computer! Which means I didn't lose all our pictures and barn files, this was causing me great stress. Turns out it didn't even have enough memory left on it to turn on, haha!

I am going to town today to find a cross stitch to work on, I am very excited! I am also hoping my body cooperates enough to let me walk around the store!! I stocked up on some books so I should be good for awhile, until the cabin fever kicks in!

Getting Harder...

Today I finally sat down and did some research on my last doctors visit. What I found did give me quite the wake up call. On my last visit a week and a half ago I talked to the docs again about all the contractions I have been having except that they are getting really painful now.....they are still braxton hicks not real contractions, but I have been having so much pain that it has concerned me. Well it concerned the doc too. I ended up having to have an ultrasound to make sure I am not dilating or thinning, everything went well and we were able to confirm it is a girl. He did tell us what things needed to measure at, but just said if I didn't he would talk to us about our options, oh and mentioned the words "threatened miscarriage". I figured he was talking about bedrest and drugs, nope after some reading today I found out that is not the case. The actual solution is quite painful, complicated, and surgical. I am now more motivated than ever to stay on my couch when I can. I do need to get a few more books from the library though. I can't even say how tough this has all been. I am a very independent busy person and there are so many things that I can't do now it is killing me. He did tell me I need to rest as much as I can, and Ky has been very supportive of this and won't let me do anything when he is home. It is so hard for me though. I have actually been bored at times.....not easy for me since I have so much to do.
Last Sunday was the worst though. I managed to make it to church for a total of like 20 minutes to help Kaite with her talk, I was in so much pain I had to leave. I still am not sure how I managed to get changed and on the couch when I got home let alone get to church in the first place. The doc told us that we have to make it to 22 weeks, yeah right lets go for 36 at least. It wasn't the most encouraging thing to hear. I just can't understand why this pregnancy has been so rough. I am still below my pre-pregnancy weight, but the baby is growing good and she is a strong kicker. I am glad this is our last one I don't know if I could make it through another one my body just doesn't like to be pregnant. Oh and I have already started breaking out in my pregnancy rash, this time on my arms thank goodness! Although, I usually make it until my seventh month before this starts..... I will be so glad when this is over and she is here!

2011 Year in Review

We made it through the year with no major injuries or broken bones!

January found us with tons of snow and a gymnastics meet. Nicholas baby blessing and London wrap ups.

February we had the dog derby, went to the cabin, Ky got accepted to school, we watched the packers win the Superbowl, went ice skating, and played in the snow some more.

March found us putting in a new engine, my lymph node shrinking, Ash's operetta, dad's day at kindergarten, my birthday, and 13 years together.

April we dyed eggs, had Easter egg hunts, played in the sun and had our first sun burns, Ky started school, we were growing plants, Kami turned 3, a royal wedding, and mom's day at kindergarten.

May we got to go to two concerts Mindy Gledhill and Paul Cardall, had grandparents day at kindergarten, Mar had her seminary and HS graduation, we had Missy's baby shower, smores, started swimming lessons, planted trees, and dug holes for our windows.

June we had more swimming lessons,the end of school, a kindergarten graduation, we got a new nephew, went to the drive-in and saw Cars 2, Ky had a birthday,and we did lots of bowling.

July had fireworks, a trip to the cabin, lots of water time, celebrating the end of Ky's semester, and some fishing.

August we went to Washington, played at the beach, put in our basement windows, went boating a lot, and Kami started gym.

September had a positive pregnancy test, Ash's birthday, a baby blessing, more boating, school started for the girls and Ky, multiple trips to the orthodontist, new head gear and a retainer, and Ash started ballet.

October we spent harvesting the garden, had spud harvest, Halloween, the first snow of the season, a reading contest they both won, Ky shot the infamous skunk that plagued us all summer, a new dryer, and I finally finished my cross stitch.

November we had Thanksgiving, got the basement sheet rocked, had our first ultrasound, went to Harry Potter, and revealed our big surprise.

December flew by with Kaite's birthday, Ash's nutcracker, Christmas at the cabin, Ky finished finals, Christmas parties, a chess match, and 2 more ultrasounds confirming we are having a girl!

I can't believe that 2011 is over already it went by so fast. The year didn't end the greatest for us so I hope it gets better as it goes. 2011 was a pretty good year, things went really well for us. 2012 is shaping up to be a bit of a struggle, but I hope it will get better. I do think 2012 may be even more crazier if that is possible, adding a new baby will do that! We are excited about the new adventures that lay ahead! I did enjoy spending New Year's eve with Ky and Ash (when I wasn't sleeping) a definite advantage to him not being in YM. Ash stayed up and watched the ball drop, she made it longer than I did! However, having 9am church the next morning wasn't the greatest, everyone was a little crabby. My computer crashed again and I have been trying to get it back up and running for the past two days, I think I am in over my head..... it may be time to just get a new one. What a way to ring in the new year huh! And we don't even have any snow! Oh well good bye 2011 and welcome 2012!

Christmas 2011

This year for Christmas we headed up to the cabin with my family. The days before we went we spent making goodies and getting things ready to go. We made cookies, fudge, truffles, pretzel bark, caramels, a cheese ball, and spinach dip. The girls were a big help and Kami loved decorating the cookies.

When we got up to the cabin we had to make it festive. The girls helped grandpa cut down a tree, which we decorated.

They helped hang up decorations and lights upstairs.

Everything turned out really pretty!

Christmas eve was spent making our traditional decorations and playing games.

Then that night we opened up new jammies.

The girls loved them.

We read our Christmas stories and then headed off to bed....

...or so we thought. That night Kami got sick all over her new jammies, sleeping bag, and bed. Sometimes dealing with her allergies can be such a pain, but the next morning things were all better. The girls enjoyed their gifts from santa.
Ash got a telescope, life, and a bunch of girly stuff.

Kaite got a race car set, cars monopoly, and painting stuff.

Kami got a space mickey, a pillow pet, and barbie stuff.

Then we opened the rest of the presents. The girls got tons of stuff as usual, my family spoils them. Here are just some of the gifts.
Mar gave them nerf guns.

A play house from my parents.

I was so excited to give Ash this ballet bag, she loved it.

Lots of barbies.

The girls got everyone presents from the santa store at school.

Ky got me a new necklace, I totally love it!

We bought Ky Top Gear his fave show, but his best gift was the laptop my mom gave him for school.

Kami got a new V-reader and has played with it nonstop.Lots of wii games.

George and Ky spent an hour setting up Kaite's race track, she loves it.Then all the girls played just dance 3. Kami really got into it.

We spent the rest of the day playing games and hanging out. We were all so glad to have a white Christmas since there wasn't much snow at home. We had a really good Christmas and it was nice to be with everyone. Next year George will be in SC so it was nice to get together before he leaves. I told Ky that next year we have to stay home since I felt like I have been gone two years in a row now and since we will have a 6 month old. We really had a fun time and I think we could have stayed up there a couple of more days, it was nice to escape reality and see Ky.
I think my favorite part of Christmas this year was Kami. She really understood what was going on and really got into the excitement. She was so fun, they all were!