36 weeks

Today the boys are at gma Debbie's and are spending the night, so I have had the day off! I'm missing them, but it is nice to relax. I dyed my hair and went for an adjustment and hair trim, so I feel refreshed. Tomorrow at MOPS we are having a "Spa" time, so that should be also relaxing. I'm headed off for more relaxation, but I thought I'd post a couple pictures. My back is really starting to feel the pull of the baby. Ugg. Still haven't had gall pain, though!!! Praise the Lord!!!

Two pain free days!!!

I am so pumped right now. I haven't had a gall attack since Thursday night! I've had two uninterupted nights sleep. It is awesome! I'm sure that I didn't have one on Friday b/c I didn't hardly eat anything, but I ate normal yesterday and it was good. I haven't had any lettuce or brocoli, so maybe that DOES make me sick? I made some chicken noodle soup last night and will probably just keep making and eating that regularly. Thank you to all who have been praying, I've felt it, but keep it up;) I think the countdown is 30 days!! Since I now know its a girl I had Brent bring up the tubs of clothes that people have been giving me and sorted them out by size. I have been so blessed! I have a TON of clothes. They look so small, too, but I know that they'll be big on the baby at first. It sort of has just dawned on me in the last couple days that I'm actually going to have a baby soon. I guess all I've been thinking of lately is seeing an end to my gall pain. I am really excited now, though, it was so great having that ultrasound!

We stayed in all yesterday and today except for church. The tempature says -15 right now (w/out windchill) so its best to be inside. We made popcorn and watched some of the Grammys tonight with the boys, until I noticed Hunter was falling asleep on me, so we put them to bed. Hunter was so funny while I was looking at the girl clothes. He kept saying, "Oh, thats so cute!" and "Baby Callie is going to look so cute!" I can't wait for him to meet her, and Tate also, although I'm a little nervous that he'll be more jealous than anything. He has been really really clingy lately. Yesterday while I was trying to make that soup he screamed at the top of his lungs for me to hold him for about 10 mins straight. He's so extremely cute, though, and I really like his cuddling.

Hunter said the cutest thing to me yesterday before I had even showered. He looked at me and said, "You know what, mom? You're pretty." I didn't feel too pretty right then, so that was so sweet of him to say.



Here is Hunter in his new cars shoes. He wanted to put them on first thing in the morning.


In the Thomas tent:


Taters the Ham:

Reading the newspaper:


Sweeping the floor, they are very good helpers(which is nice since THEY are the ones that make the messes):

The day of Ultrasounds...

Today was a REALLY busy day. I had my OB appointment scheduled for 10:30. I dropped Tate off at my friend's house and we made plans to meet at Burger King after my appointment to let our kids play in the playland there. Tate's shot mark ended up looking better. Its still there, but it is fading fast, so that was a relief. I took Hunter with b/c of the ultrasound scheduled. We had to wait a long time b/c he was delivering. I had prayed and prayed that he would start taking my gall pain seriously, and when the nurse saw I'd only gained 1 pound in two weeks I finally got through to them! The doctor seemed a bit concerned that I am not keeping food down really, so he went ahead and ordered an ultrasound on my gallbladder. Then he thought the baby was breech, so he ordered a position check ultrasound for the baby at the big ultrasound room. So...we were able to get in at 1, so we went to Burger King(I did not eat anything) and then came back for that. They checked my liver, pancreas, kidneys and gallbladder and didn't find any stones. I was pretty disappointed, b/c I know something isn't right and the pain is so severe, but the lady said(and my doctor also said before when I had the ultrasound on my gallbladder pre-pregnancy) that the ultrasounds don't always show the problem and that my gallbladder could be not functioning properly which would also cause the pain I'm experiencing. The only way to tell, however, is to do a HIDA scan. The scan I was going to have the day I found out I was pregnant. It can't be done while pregnant. So... at this point the tech is going to give the report to the doctor and then we'll decide what to do from there, but it looks like not much will be done till after that HIDA scan, which is after the baby. I asked what food I should avoid and she said that lettuce is hard to digest and to stay away from dairy. I found the bit about lettuce interesting b/c that is ALL I have been eating this week. I eat lettuce salads for lunch and dinner. I thought it would be something healthy and non fatty, but apparently I need to stay away from them for now. I havne't had a salad today, and this is probably the best I've felt at this time of day all week. I think I'm going to be living off of chicken noodle soup and thats it for the rest of the pregnancy. I think that if I contiue to be sick they will take the baby early, since I'm not gaining weight like I should and in so much pain. I feel encouraged that we're trying things, though. My chiropractor said my back is out really bad where my gallbladder is. I went there twice this week. Anyway, then after the organ ultrasound they did the baby ultrasound. The tech was being trained by another head tech, and the head tech did the baby one and they said the baby was head down, so that is a relief!!! She showed me that the baby has hair and we looked at the heart for a long time and that looks really good, and then she showed me that we are DEFINATELY having a girl!!!!!!!! It was totally obvious! I have seen the proof I need to belive now! I am really excited! I knew this pregnancy felt different and now I know why for sure. We got to see her face really well, too. She was putting her thumb in and out of her mouth, we saw her mouth open and shut and we saw her yawn. Everything was so clear! I've never had an ultrasound this late in the pregnancy before, so it was amazing how much bigger and clearer some things were. It was a HUGE relief to me to see that the baby looks healthy, after all the pain this week and how much stress I've felt the baby has been under. I'm really excited and it has encouraged me and given me the boost I need to get through the rest of the pregnancy. I think this pregnacy would be great w/out the gall problems. I'm not near as uncomfortable as I was this late with Tate. Hunter was great at the doctor's office, considering we were there half the day. And it was so nice to not have to worry about Tate getting into stuff at the doctor's, thanks a million Nikki!! I had my fun friend Erin over tonight while our husbands were busy and that was a fun, relaxing ending to a hectic day. I am pretty exhausted now, though, so off to bed to dream about all things pink!!!

Our New Pets...

Hunter and I just spent a very ambitious afternoon together. Check out our new fish. He named them Jonie, Moratio, Mariah, and Grandpa Steve-Hunter. Thank goodness for craft books!

Making our "aquarium"...


Hunter singing Happy Birthday to them...

A little bit better.

I am feeling a little bit better today. I still have some pain in my back and stomach. Surviving yesterday was pretty awesome. I had some more abdominal pain from the gall bladder last night and at 3:30am I called the hospital to be sure that they couldn't help me, I was bent over in pain, but the nurse said I could call and try to get in with my doctor this morning. I tried, but he isn't in until Friday, which will be when I go anyway. I kind of figured they couldn't do anything b/c thats all I've been hearing, but the pain is so intense and frequent that I think something is wrong. Like maybe it is not the gall bladder and something worse. I'm pretty sure its the gall bladder, though. I was thinking of just going to the doctor here in town for a second opinion, but if I hear one more time that there isn't anything they can do until after I have the baby I WILL scream. So sick of hearing that. I've been just taking it easy today. My goal until the baby is born is just to relax and survive. The house might suffer, but if we at least have clean laundry and dishes.... The most important thing to me is to have a heathly baby.

Tate had his shots almost two weeks ago now, and I've noticed in the last day or so that he has a quarter sized red spot and lump where one of his shots was. I finally called the peditrician today and talked to a nurse. She said that if it is still there on Friday for me to call and bring him down. Friday is my OB appointment that I was going to take Hunter to, b/c of the ultrasound, but now I might be leaving Hunter and taking Tate. I can't handle both of them myself while on the exam table. I'm not going to think too hard about that until I have to. Tate seems fine otherwise. I can tell it hurts to the touch, though.

The boys have been WILD today! They have been running all over the place and tackling each other. At one point they both took off their pants and put a show on for me. They basicaly danced around singing songs. I enjoyed it, it was pretty cute. I made them waffles for lunch, and they both spilled waffles all over themselves. Good thing I hadn't made them put their pants back on yet! Now I only have to wash their shirts. I should have known better than to make them waffles on the day I gave them a bath. Tate loves to mess with his hair and get it all dirty RIGHT after a bath. So he has syrup in his hair.

Well, I think I'm going to go try to catch a really quick nap before Hunter's quiet time is up. I wish I had some funny Hunter sayings for you, he's been cracking me up but the lack of sleep has done a number on my memory.

Here are a few things I'm thankful for. I'm trying to outweigh the negative going on with all the positve things I have to be thankful for:

-only about one more month till baby!!!!!
-our taxes are looking really good at this point= a HUGE answer to prayer
-that I can stay home. Even though it is hard to watch the boys while feeling so ill, I would hate to think about how it would be if I was working.
-some alone time with Brent last night(the boys went to gpa and gmas) in which we just chilled and watched a movie.
-my super hilarious boys to cheer me up
-friends that care about me and offer to watch my kids
-my awesome husband who has been really helping out a lot lately

See, I have a lot to be thankful for!!!

I want a sick day.

Over the past two days I could say I've only gotten about 4 hours of sleep tops. I've had two nasty gall attacks, and I CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE!!!!! It's getting worse and worse and worse, and I am oh so discouraged and depressed. I feel like a terrible mom b/c I can't do anything but lay on the couch, and I can't even provide a comfortable environment for my baby to grow, if it is indeed able to grow on NO FOOD! I'm at my wits end. I'm exhausted and weak. Just needed to get that off my chest.

A Busy Weekend.

It was a busy weekend. That is just how I like them anymore. It makes the time go by until the baby gets here. The count to my due date is at 36 days I think. That is not so far away! I have been having some contractions, but just at night and they don't last very long.

On Friday morning I had 3 of my girlfriends and their kids over(total of 9 kids I think, with two on the way) I had made some brownies, and two of the girls brought some treats, too, so we had a nice time eating:) It was a little chaotic, though, so I think I'll try to keep the number down next time. Its always nice being able to talk to more than just one mom at a time, but that might have to be a summer thing, since we can go outside then. I am getting so antsy for spring! I want to go outside with the kids! Soon enough, I guess.

Then on Saturday afternoon we had our friends the Loukota's over and they spent the night. We never get to stay out past 8, so we thought it would be fun to have a slumber party so that we adults could actualy play some games uninteruppted. It was pretty fun, the kids got along great.

And last night we went to our friends the Frank's house for the superbowl. It was a very pleasant and relaxing time! The food was great and it was fun to watch Tate and baby Miah together. They were both laughing at each other and it was so cute. It was a great time.

We put the kids down for a nap(Hunter naps on the Sabbath) in their room yesterday and went downstairs to watch the third Bourne movie(we've been having a marathon this week, very fun!) Anyway, an hour later we went upstairs and heard the kids awake. I'm fairly sure they didn't sleep AT ALL! Hunter's bedding was in Tate's crib and they were both up and laughing. I asked Hunter if they even slept, and he said yes, but I think he was pulling my leg. I told them an hour was too short, they needed to sleep more, and he said, "But mom! At least we were quiet!" So needless to say they fell asleep on the way home from the Frank's house. They also slept later this morning. Hunter was half asleep when I put on his pj's and laid him in bed, and he said, "Mom! Do not be overcome by evil!" and then said goodnight. I thought that was really random. A got a good laugh out of it. He listens to a Steve Green kids cd while playing that has scripture songs on it and one of them is do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. That song must have been in his sleepy head. I used to listen to those songs when I was a kid.

I had another gall attack last night. It was the worst a little after we got home from the superbowl. I got pretty sick. My attitude was surprisingly positive, though. I can feel that someone is praying, and I am grateful for that. Prayer helps! I went to the chiropracter this morning, and of corse my back was out in that area. He asked me when I'd be getting my gall bladder out. I will be doing that as soon as they let me! I've been spending my nights propped up on three pillows.

On Friday night I took Tate out to the local grocery stores with me, just the two of us. I could tell he just thought that was great. He never gets to do anything just the two of us, and he smiled the whole time. He handed the checkout lady the groceries and waved and said goodbye to all the ladies after we were done. I will have to do more of just the two of us times, b/c I think thats important, esp for the middle kid. When we got home Brent and Hunter had rearranged the living room furniture, so we have a different set-up now.

And for a little husband bragging. I was still recovering from my lack of nights sleep and gall attack and had to leave the house a mess to make it to my chiropracter appointment this morning. I told my friend that I thought it would be awesome if Brent had the house cleaned up when I got home, and as I walked in the door I was greeted with a clean, picked up house! He really speaks my love language! I was thrilled! Now I get to blog instead of clean! I sure do love that man!!!