Thursday, September 28, 2006

How Do You Spell Relief? K-I-C-K-I-N-G

This part of pregnancy is a tough one. From 18 to about 21 weeks, I can feel definite kicking, but only sporadically. I got some good kicks a few days in a row, but then for 4 days, nothing. Just as I started to worry, a few more kicks. Then another 4 days feeling nothing. Last night the baby finally rolled over to a spot where I could feel LOTS of movement. Phew! It's so cool to feel the baby moving and kicking, but nerve-racking when it stops for very long.

My uterus is about up to my navel now, so easy to feel, though I can still bend over to tie my shoes easily. In fact, yesterday I wore my regular jeans and they were not uncomfortable at all. I'm still not showing obviously yet either. I just look even fatter, LOL. I had bought a bunch of new shirts this summer and had been enjoying wearing them, but now they don't look good anymore, since the area around my ribcage has popped out (the baby pushed all my belly fat up under my boobs, I guess, LOL).

Today Troyer was laying with his head on my lap/stomach, and he said he could tell when the baby moved! My next appointment is on Monday, but it's just a regular check up. The big count-down is for Wednesday, when I have my ultrasound! Everyone cross your fingers for a clear view!

Monday, September 18, 2006

A Surprise Trip

On Saturday I was reading the paper and saw and add for A Day Out With Thomas in Strasburg. Usually I don't find out about those kinds of things until it's too late, unless I plan ahead for them. This time I noticed in time to decide to go on Sunday. I didn't tell any of the kids until Sunday morning, though, because I didn't want to take all of them. Last year I did plan ahead, and I took 4 of them (the oldest 2 were at Grandma's for the week), which meant driving the van. We had a great time, but parking was nasty (at least for me, since I hate having to back up in it). This year I was determined to take the car instead, which meant choosing only 3 to go. All morning I deliberated; I knew I'd take Levi and Micah, and it seemed that I would obviously take Caleb, because he's 6 and a good age for that sort of trip. But Caleb had not behaved well this week (really all summer!) and on the other hand, Troyer had been especially helpful and had not fought me or his brothers all week, and it would be nice to reward him. Also, Troyer is very good at helping me out with Levi, whereas the others are not as good yet at dealing with him. I was actually leaning toward taking Caleb, but he spent the whole time during breakfast whining about wanting to go and stomping his foot when his brothers would taunt him that I would't pick him, so that I hated to reward him for that kind of behavior.

All that to say, in the end I took Troyer, Micah, and Levi in the car, and we drove over. It's about an hour away from here, and I wish we would have gotten an earlier start. We got there about 11:15, but it starts at 9. I hadn't bought tickets ahead of time, which I knew was risky, but worked out ok last year. Well, last year we got there just after it opened and we were able to get tickets for the train ride for 11:15. This year the earliest I could get tickets for was 3:15, which I think was the last ride of the day! Holy cow, it wasn't even 12 yet. I knew there was no way I could last 4 hours waiting for that ride, and neither would the boys. Levi was going to miss his nap altogether, and Micah would be bored way before that. So we ended up not buying the tickets. The boys were a little disappointed but were really very good about it. I know Caleb would have had a fit, so I was glad I hadn't brought him!

We had lemonade and funnel cake for lunch, then Micah and Levi got Thomas tatoos on their arms. They are both really thrilled with those. After that we walked through the play tent where they have tables set up for the kids to play with the wooden track sets. Since we were late this year, most of the tables were already missing the trains, and again, the boys were disappointed. Also, Micah got bumped in the arm while standing at one of the tables, and his tatoo wasn't quite dry, so it smeared a bit. He was very upset about that. I felt really bad for him.

We walked through all the toy store tents, and Levi had a hard time keeping his hands off of everything! He especially liked the books that had noise buttons. At least there was enough to distract him so when he had to put one thing down he was ready to walk over and pick up something else. LOL

The kids got to ride on 2 of the little rides they have set up there: the "Cranky Cars" which is a small car on a track that you propel by cranking, kind of like pedaling but with your hands, and a mini-steam train ride. We got on line for the freight car ride (which was kind of like riding in hay wagons pulled by an engine) but it was out in the sun and while standing there I started to feel like I would pass out. It was the weirdest thing, as I have never felt like that while pregnant before. I never felt hot, and I didn't think I was hungry, but I got light headed and dizzy, and started to blank out. I had to tell the kids that we couldn't stay in line, I needed to find a place to sit. Even odder, as soon as we started walking again, I was fine. I found a place to stand in the shade while Troyer took Micah on a different ride, and after that I was ok.

We went through another tent that had clothing and I picked out a t-shirt for Micah and Levi. I think Troyer would have liked one too, but they don't come in that large of a size, LOL. By that time it was only 1:15, but I knew I was done, and Micah was getting bored, so we decided to go home. I'm glad I hadn't bought tickets for the 3:15 train! The event is set up with the train track running between the station and the tents, with a crossing for pedestrians, so every 15 minutes or so the train would pass by and everyone could wave to the passengers and see Thomas pulling the train. I was glad that at least Levi got to see Thomas, even if he couldn't ride on the train.

One penalty I had to pay for deciding to make this trip at the last minute was that I forgot many things in my hurry to get out the door. I forgot a stroller, and I can't believe how good Levi was about walking everywhere. He never complained! I also forgot my camera, so I have no pictures. I am sad about that. I also would have liked to have along a few extra bottles of water, which might have helped with the dizziness, even though I didn't feel thirsty.

Here are some pictures of the boys with their tatoos and new shirts :
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Levi is having some leftover chicken nuggets for breakfast

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Once we got home, I found that Chris had had the other 3 boys clean out the van, including vacuuming it! Woohoo! They made many remarks about how much nasty food they found. Maybe that means they will eat less in the van? Well, I can hope anyway, LOL.

I decided that since it was a nice day I should take advantage and cut their hair! Wow, it was many weeks overdue, and I was starting to be embarrassed taking them to church. I was so glad to have the opportunity to do it! I would have done it the last two weekends, but it had rained. I did 4 haircuts; Caleb didn't really need one yet, and Levi isn't ready for clippers yet.

So here they are looking human again (except maybe for Samuel, who didn't want to have his picture taken lol):
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Now Micah is having some chicken nuggets

Monday, September 11, 2006

An Exciting Moment

Last night I was lying in bed and I thought I could feel the baby moving. I put my fingers at the top of my uterus where I thought I felt the movement, and soon I felt a little kick right against my finger! Wow it seems early to be able to feel kicks from the outside, but I know I am not mistaken. It was so exciting! I know soon enough it will tire me out to have the baby kicking all night and keeping me awake; but right now it is great to have the assurance that she (No, I don't know boy or girl yet, but hey, let me be a mom to a girl at least until proven otherwise!) is growing and healthy!

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

The Rest of the Weekend

I am happy to report that as a whole, the weekend was pleasant enough to make up for Friday. Friday itself really had nothing redeeming about it. It did rain on us, and we had to go out to pick up my cake. The store I ordered it at has a nasty woman working behind the bakery counter, and this woman just has no business working with customers. The day I ordered the cake, she was clearly put out that I was pestering her with something so annoying as to order a cake, nevermind that it's her job to take said orders, and she'd have no job if she had no cakes to bake. I was strongly hoping that someone else would be working there for the weekend, but no such luck. A friendly woman asked my name, but then turned and repeated it to Nasty Woman. She went in the back, retrieved my cake, and shoved it at me without so much as a Thank You or Have a Nice Day, not even a small smile. Harumph. It was raining on the way back to the van, which was parked at the very back of the lot because the whole lot was full. The boys refused to dress warmly in spite of my warnings, and complained heartily all the looong way back to the van about how cold they were. I got to sing "I Told You So" several times, and enjoyed it.

When Chris got home from work, the boys told him it was my birthday, and he replied, "No it's not, it's tomorrow." Really? My mother was mistaken all those years ago? It's not even that he didn't know what day of the week it was, he actually said, No, it's the 2nd, isn't it? We've been married 14 years now, and he still doesn't know what day is my birthday??? Ugh. So he quick rounded up the boys to sign the card and hand me my unwrapped gift. But hey, he had the gift and card already bought, so he gets points for that. And he got me something I actually like, so extra bonus points for that, LOL. He got me the DVD National Treasure. I love that movie, and am so hoping they make a sequel.

On Saturday it was still chilly so I slept in and let Chris take the boys to church. He only stayed for Sabbath School, because his leg is still bothering him (we're not sure why it hurts) and he wasn't going to be able to sit in the pew for 2 hours. We spent the rest of the day just hanging out. It was nice. Saturday night is our traditional Movie Night, so we watched National Treasure.

On Sunday I slept in again, then went out shopping. I picked up my cake, but also did a big grocery run and had lunch out by myself. I was pretty tired by the time I got back. He had spent the day helping the boys replace all the doorknobs on the bedroom and bathroom doors. The boys had somehow managed to break all the locks, so none of them locked anymore. Very annoying after the 4th or 5th time being ahem interrupted. That evening we watched our latest Netflix movie. It was 50 First Dates, so we waited until the kids were all in bed. It was pretty funny, and that's saying a lot since I don't particularly like Drew Barrymore or Adam Sandler.

On Monday Chris' parents had a Labor Day picnic at their house, so after lunch we packed up the boys and headed over. The day was beautiful, just right for sitting around on the deck out back and snacking while the boys played hide and seek in the barn and climbed trees. There was supposed to be a big crowd there, but a lot of people didn't come, so it was a little boring. But still pleasant. We ended up saving my cake for the picnic because we hadn't had time to cut it on Sunday night. The boys were happy for that, but honestly, we had barely finished Noah's cake from last week, so I had no appetite for it. I wish I had gotten a picture of it, it was a Pirates of the Caribbean cake. It was pretty cool!

Friday, September 01, 2006

Happy Birthday to Us!

Happy Birthday to that SOSOM!

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In honor of my birthday today, the boys have been bickering extra loudly, extra early, and over extra stupid things. And Chris came home from work last night sick. Seems he was working too hard. And Ernesto is coming to dump the last of its rain on us this afternoon. Happy Birthday to me. Aimee, I hope your day is going better than mine! And I hope Chuck doesn't have too much trouble driving down to Mark's today, he'll be driving through that storm. Ick.