Yes, I fell off the face of the earth, but I’m back!

Being pregnant is hard work!  If you don’t believe me, just ask me… I’ll tell you. 

No, I don’t get sick.  Don’t hate me! 

I definitely make up for it in sleepiness, exhaustion, hip pain, anemia, pelvic pain, heartburn…..

… and EGG BURPS!  (This is by far Anthony’s least favorite symptom.  He is always the recipient of the smell.  At least he doesn’t have to TASTE it like I do… Sheesh!)

Oh, and the weight gain thing.  None of the aforementioned symptoms have hit yet, with the exception of the sleepiness/exhaustion.  And maybe a little heartburn.  But trust me, they’re coming. 

But really, I’m not here to whine.  I’m simply stating my reasons for falling off the planet.  I’m just so tired!!

And now for a complete change of subject… are you with me?

WOMEN AT THE WELL! 

My ward put on a wonderful musical program of Women at the Well last week.  K and A were asked to be a part of it because they are in Achievement Days.  They sang a song with the Young Women and also recited the YW theme.  I just have to say that I had no clue we had so many musically talented people in our ward!  It was absolutely wonderful and spiritually uplifting. 

And now let me just say… We’re in trouble!! 

Look at these beautiful girls!  We’re going to be beating those boys off with a stick.  Biased?  Nah!  Not at all. 

And now for another complete change of subject… still with me?

MARATHON!

Anthony ran his first marathon of the year this past Saturday.  He was hoping to make it in 3 1/2 hours so we (the kids, my mom, and I) were early to see him cross the finish line.  We got there at about 3 hours.  We waited, and waited….

and WAITED!  He finally crossed just after 4 hours. 

I kind of expected him to take a little longer than he had hoped because his right calf has been giving him issues recently.  And just as I suspected, he had backed off around mile 12 because his calf started tightening up.  K was able to run across the finish line with him.  She thought that was pretty neat.

He’s really hoping to qualify for Boston this year so we’ll see what happens.  Not that we could ever afford to make it to Boston but I guess just knowing that you qualified is enough.  It’ll have to be. 

And Anthony’s sister… she came across the finish line at just under 5 hours. 

A marathon at all is a feat to be proud of no matter what your time is!  Every time they run one a teeny tiny part of me thinks that it would fun to try someday. 

Fun!  Ha!  That’s funny, no?

And then I see how they’re walking around after (like they’ve been riding a horse for three days straight) and I come back to my senses. 

That teeny tiny part of me is kicked to curb in no time at all!  Anthony was hobbling around for 3 days.  No thank you!   

 

Smash Books

The first time I ever heard of Smash Books was on Pinterest.  One of the gals that I follow has a whole board dedicated to them so they kept popping up on my… ‘feed’?  Is that what we call them? 

Anyway, it looked like a whole bunch of miscellaneous papers, thoughts, pics, lists… pretty much whatever you wanted.  So, I had an idea…

My kids collect garbage!  To them it’s not garbage, more like treasures.  They get upset when I call it anything that sounds ‘trashy’.  Excuse the pun. 

They get little papers from church with thoughts and quotes on them (not what I consider garbage, it just gets cluttered), notes and letters from friends and cousins, and sometimes they like to save things like candy wrappers.  Why?  I know not.  They just do.  But I get tired of finding the trash all. over. the. house! 

Enter, the Smash Book!

Each child was presented with one of these sketch books.  ($3.?? at Wal-Mart – I don’t remember the exact amount.)

And now they can smash whatever garbagy treasures they want into their own personal smash book and I don’t have to find it everywhere.  My kids have smashed everything from church quotes and calendar pictures to lists of things they desire for their future and candy wrappers.  And there’s always room for more because they’re supposed to look cluttered. 

Gotta love it! 

This One is Going to Be Different

I had something completely different planned for today but when I went upstairs to grab my camera to download pictures, I got distracted by my bladder.  After using the restroom (something you needed to know ;)) I came back downstairs… without the camera.  I’m exhausted.  Therefore, you get tomorrow’s post today and today’s post tomorrow.

So, here goes.  

I’ve made a few changes this pregnancy. 

****First off, I’m going to a midwife.  Admittedly, I was a little nervous about this decision but I keep hearing what a wonderful experience it can be so I made the decision.  I went to my first appointment a week ago and actually really enjoyed it. 

Well, except for the actual exam part.  That’s never fun… ICK!

But the midwife actually took the time to get to know me a little bit and I felt like she really cared.  I wasn’t just another patient in room 12.  We talked about each of my previous pregnancies and she noted anything significant such as the fact that I tend to produce very short umbilical cords and C was wrapped up in his so tightly that he was unable to descend until the doctor actually reached up (inside my body!) and broke the cord with his bare hands.  After that, C wouldn’t take a breath (they tried for two whole minutes with him on my chest) and they had to rush him to the resuscitation room.  They tried everything they knew to try but it hadn’t worked.  From there they had to call a CODE BLUE… TWICE before anyone showed up and was able to get him breathing. 

Thank heavens for her!  She wasn’t even supposed to be on that floor.  She heard the code called over the system the second time and rushed up there. 

The next step they were going to take was to crack his chest.  YIKES!  I don’t even know what that means but it doesn’t sound fun.

Other than that we’ve never had a problem **knock on wood**!

Ok, so that was kind of a side note but pertinent, nonetheless. 

The midwife was so kind and I loved that she was willing to do an early ultrasound for me, just because I asked.  It was too early to hear a heartbeat but darnitall! I needed something to make it more real.  She snuck me in there and I got to see my little peanut for just a brief moment!  I also loved that they wanted to see me before my 10th week of pregnancy. 

And I don’t even have to go as often… how cool is that?  I’m on a 6 week schedule instead of a 4 week.  It was completely up to me but she said she trusted my judgment since I’ve ‘been around the block a time or two’… or five!  ;)

It’s a midwife group so I won’t necessarily see the same one each time.  And whichever one is on call when I go into labor is the one that will be there for delivery. 

Maybe I’m a little scared about that one.  What if there’s one I decide I just don’t like and she’s IT!  UGH!  But so far I like all one of them that I’ve met. ;)

****The second change that I have to make has to do with my weight gain.  Anthony has lost A LOT of weight!  So much, in fact, that I’ve never known him to be this small the whole time that I’ve known him.  Do you know what that means?  I’ll tell you!

If I end up gaining my usual 50 pounds per pregnancy (yes, 50!) I will end up HEAVIER than my husband!  That has never happened before!  I just don’t know if I could handle that. 

So, my goal is to only gain 30.  How do you other moms do it?  I always hear about people gaining only 15 or 20 pounds and I just don’t get it!  I need to know your secrets!  Maybe my tummy wouldn’t be so stretched out if I only gained that much.  I’m determined to figure it out!  Too bad I’ve already gained about 5 pounds… stupid cravings!!

****Another change that I’m making is the hospital.  Why drive clear downtown when there is a perfectly awesome (and new-ish) hospital right down the street?  I never delivered there before because I loved my doctor and he just didn’t go there.  However, the midwives I chose deliver there and I am actually really excited about it.

My due date is November 23rd, the day after Thanksgiving. 

The day AFTER! 

I really don’t want to be in the hospital for my feast… cross your fingers for me that this baby comes early!  Not too early, just a week or two would be great. 

****The final change is that we aren’t going to find out what this baby is!  We’ve always found out at our 20 week ultrasound and this time we want to be surprised.  However, we’re a little nervous that we’re going to figure it out at the ultrasound anyway.  Obviously we’ll look away when they look at the anatomy but if the baby happens to flip or change positions while looking somewhere else…. we’re both pretty good at knowing what we’re looking at now.

And just another tidbit… my very first doctor, with K, told me at my very first appointment that the first trimester is the equivalent of running a marathon EVERY DAY!!  That’s how hard our bodies work to create the perfect environment for our little ones to grow.  And boy, do I feel it!!  No wonder I’m so stinkin’ tired all the time.  You’d think with all the marathoning I’m doing I wouldn’t have a weight gain problem.  WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME?!

What experiences have you had with doctors or midwives?  Were you able to stay within the ‘limits’ on weight gain?  Tell me your secrets!  Anyone deliver at home?   

 

And Baby Makes 6

It’s true!  Anthony and I are expecting… again.  And B is going to be a big brother!  It’s probably not much of a surprise to anyone and certainly not ‘NEWS’ at number 6 but we’re excited and can’t wait to add a new little ray of sunshine to our growing family. 

Never in a million years (several years ago) would I have guessed that I would someday be the mother of six little munchkins.  This is the girl who was, first and foremost, never going to have my own kids… I’ll adopt!  Why go through the pain?  and second, Six kids?  That’s insane?  Three kids, maybe four… MAX! 

Umm, well, you can see how well that’s going for us ;)

It seems that at number three was when we were considered ‘perfect’.  No one questioned the ‘why’ of that many kids and everyone oohed and ahhed over what a cute little family we were.  And then at number four we were somewhat FREAKISH!!  That is when people started to count us when we walked into a restaurant or a grocery store or just about anywhere.  And we got ‘the looks’. 

At five is when people really started think we were weirdies!  The counting continues and now we get the awestruck question, “Are they all yours?”  When I answer yes, the usual response is one of two things, “Wow!  You’re brave!” (got that one twice in a 10 minute span a couple months ago) or “You must be really patient,” to which I give a hearty giggle and shrug.  If they only knew that patience is one of my weakest of weak points :/  A work in progress to be sure!

I can only imagine the looks and comments we will get at six. 

Now the question is… How did we get here?  Well, besides the obvious ;)

Anthony was completely on board with the idea of 3 or 4 kids.  We had number three… a third girl, and of course we had to try again for a boy.  At this point I had asked Anthony what he would think if I told him that I might want to have six kids.  His exact words:  I would have six kids if you could guarantee me that the next three would be boys. 

Luckily, number four proved to be the winner for getting a boy.  We totally could have been done!  But it just didn’t feel right.  I’ve always heard that a mom just knows when she’s done and I didn’t have that yet.  It just wasn’t there.  Besides, little C now needed a brother!  Maybe we’d get lucky and have a second boy… (not likely if Anthony had followed in his dad’s footsteps… Anthony is the only boy… of EIGHT kids, and he didn’t come along until number SIX!) 

But TADA!!  We got our second boy!  We’re 2 for 2 on the next three.  However, Anthony is now eating his words and kind of hoping for another girl this go around. 

BOYS ARE HARD!! 

Love them to death but holy cow, I can’t keep up!

The picture at the top of the post is how we told our families.  I got the idea from my friend, LeShel, who just recently announced her pregnancy (also #6!) and that’s how she told her kids.  I thought it was an adorable way to do it. 

On our way to my FIL’s birthday party earlier in the week, we stopped by the hospital gift shop and grabbed the t-shirt.  I held it up for the kids to see and asked what they thought of B’s new shirt.  The girls all laughed and I asked why it was so funny.  A said, “Because he’s the little brother!”  Then I asked if they thought it meant anything.  A and H were clueless at first but K’s facial expression quickly went from a grin to a serious, thoughtful look as she half whispered, “Are you… pregnant?” 

When we told them I was, there were several squeals of delight.  I asked them if they were excited or scared to have a new brother or sister.  All the girls claimed excitement while C calmly sat in his carseat and said in a monotone voice, “I’m scared.” 

We all laughed!  I’ve since tried to explain the concept of a baby growing in mommy’s tummy to him but he keeps asking, “Did you eat that baby?”  Funny kid!

Oh, but anyway, once we got to the party, my SIL was the first to notice and it was right away.  She looked at his shirt, looked closer and said, “Wait, that’s not true is it?”  When we told them it was true my MIL claimed that she had known already.  She always knows!  She’s got a sixth sense about these things, I swear.

My family was out of town and I was impatient so instead of waiting for them to come home and doing the same thing for them, I took the picture you see at the top with my phone and sent it to them without any explanation.  They were quick to figure it out, obviously.

I’ve already had my first appointment and know my due date but all that is coming in a future post very soon.   

Because Every Mom Should Read This

One of my Facebook friends linked to this article the other day.  I clicked on it, not really knowing what to expect, and was moved almost to tears. 

Almost.

It’s so great to know that I’m not the only mom out there that isn’t quite there YET in the SuperMom department.  The internet can sometimes give us a false sense of what reality is for other moms, other people in general.  We only get to see such a small part of each other’s lives.  Mostly the good, the SuperMom moments! 

Please, go read this article! 

Lots to catch up on

It’s been like forever!  An entire eight days!?!  So unlike me but I’ve got a good excuse.  We’ve been sick! 

It all started last Tuesday when A started running a fever.  My mom kept her and K for sewing lessons while I took the boys to meet up with Cari again (after dropping H off at Liberty Girls) and she took some fabulous pics of us!  I needed an updated pic for my blog and honestly I didn’t look picture worthy that day.  Not that I ever really do, I’m really not very photogenic (unlike my sister who can’t take a bad picture to save her life!), plus I was running late that day.  It was hectic.

But somehow, Cari managed to take fabulous pictures of a not-so-fabulous subject (that would be me) and I must say, I’ve never looked better!  ;)  Admittedly, there was a bit of photoshopping going on but Cari insists it wasn’t much.  I’d love to take her word for it but seriously, there had to be a LOT to fix!  Honesty is always the best policy.  (Now I just need to get the pics on my sidebar.  Tomorrow’s project.)

 

I didn’t realize that she was going to snap a few of the boys also.  I’m sure it was mentioned somewhere in our emailed conversation back and forth but somehow I missed it.  So, they were both covered in lunch remnants and crumbs (face and clothes), hair was anything but done and they both needed to be bathed.  Oh, and C’s ‘outfit’, if you want to call it that, was absolutely stunningly picture worthy… NOT!  He was wearing a plain red t-shirt, a black/red/white crocheted beanie, and a tie that he found on our way out and refused to remove. 

And yet, somehow, Cari was able to make him look absolutely adorable!  It’s totally him.

B just had a snot face and lunch was dried all over his face and shirt.  But cute as can be… as always.

And after that day, it was all downhill.  We all took our turn with whatever this virus is going through our house.  Fevers, chills, croup, congestion, achiness, loss of appetite, tummy aches… it’s been fun!  It’s still not over either.  As of right now, A is just finishing up with croup, I’m still congested, and C and H are still running fevers. 

Oh, but we celebrated yet another birthday at the end of March… Anthony’s.  See, each of us girls selfishly claimed our own month for our birthdays but the boys all share.  I think it’s funny.

Come to think of it, Anthony never even got a cake.  Hmm, well that’s sad.  I better fix that.

This past weekend was conference and I loooved every second of it!  Did you?  I always think that there’s no way the current conference could ever top, or even match the last one that we had six months before. 

I’m wrong… every time.  None of them are better than the others but somehow the messages reflect exactly what I need at that time.  Love that! 

Sunday was April Fool’s Day, as I’m sure you were well aware.  I have to admit that I don’t love that holiday.  Probably because I’m no good at pulling off pranks, I’m a terrible liar, and I can’t keep a secret to save my life! 

K was able to pull off a couple good ones though.  The best was when she taped the kitchen sink sprayer hose.  She made it so it would spray when the water turned on.  Both Anthony and I were the recipients of that one at different times.  And you can’t get mad on April Fool’s Day.  You just can’t. 

And now we’re just trying to get better.  And start blogging again. 

Because 8 days is way too long. 

The end.

How was your week?