When life throws you a curve ball, blog.

Oh my, where to begin. Life is sometimes so humorous that I just have to humor it. If that makes any sense at all. :) This morning I went to my prenatal checkup. Left the house a little before 8:30am, and was cruising in the HOV lane for awhile before I realized I was the only one in the car. I'm so used to having the kids with that I hardly ever have to think about if I'm HOV-lane qualified at the moment or not. Traffic was not bad at all so it wasn't any kind of deal, and I was plenty early to my 9am appointment.

At Kaiser they have baskets lining the check-in desks at the OBGYN departments filled with those cups you collect pee samples in, wipe packets, and small brown paper bags. So when you're checking in for a prenatal appointment, you grab one of each, then head off to the nearest restroom to complete your sample to turn in when the nurse calls your name. I have always found it somewhat amusing. I like it.

Did that, went back and sat in the waiting area and filled out the depression sheet (they always like to gauge how you're feeling with the pregnancy) and also my birth plan, then read my pocket Bible till they called my name. I've been getting into the Psalms lately, I feel like I haven't given them enough attention previously in my life, and at this stage being a little older, I'm starting to appreciate them a lot more!

Birth plans also somewhat crack me up. It's like, there is so much happening in the time right before the baby is ready to come out to when they're checking everything with the baby, washing, measuring, etc. , that it would be hard to expect any nurse to keep checking the sheet for all of your preferences. Obviously some things are big enough to discuss, like meds or no meds. I felt like with Hayley the nurses kept trying to push the epidural. At this point, being a somewhat seasoned veteran if I may call myself that, I don't think that will be an issue. More pressing for me is getting to the hospital at the appropriate time. Which everyone keeps reminding me of. Funny. :)

Anyway, where was I. Oh yes, nurse calls my name, takes me back for the typical weight, blood pressure and heart rate measurements. I'm up to 187lbs if anyone was curious, I know I'll be somewhere around 200 by the end, probably a little over. Then we went into the room, and she asked me if I was feeling dizzy. I said no, I felt fine, and she commented that my heart rate had registered really low. I explained that I had come a little earlier and had time to sit longer before, so maybe that was why? Since I always climb the stairs.

Dr. came a little later, new one today, she was around my age. I liked her a lot; we talked about birth control options and other things; she measured me and we listened to the baby's heart beat. Then she mentioned about my heart rate being low, so I asked her what it was, and she said-- get this -- 34, and we both thought the machine had read it wrong so we should check it again. She first felt my pulse at my wrist, and said she felt an irregularity. So she had the nurse come back and retake my heart rate, and she went and got another Dr. to come hear my heart. Heart rate was 70 (usually it's like 80 when I'm preggo, but that point is irrelevant right now). The second Dr. listened to my heart with the stethoscope and heard the irregularity as well.

So then... I was sent off to the Cardiology department to get an EKG, which is where they put the stickers around your heart and on your ankles, then connect wires to them and get readings for a few minutes.

Then... I went back to the OBGYN department, where the second Dr. told me she'd like to get an ultrasound done of my heart, and also have it monitored for the next 24 hrs.

So then... I went back to the Cardiology department to get the heart ultrasound, and after that they hooked me up with this take home kit, that is literally hooked up to my body. It is keeping track of my heart movement as I write this. Woah. It was a little trippy seeing my heart on the ultrasound machine, kinda used to seeing it on a much smaller scale in a baby inside of me, not my big 'ol honkin one. It was cool though. So ya, right now I've got five stickers around my chest area, which have wires connecting to each, and they all connect into this little handheld device that is storing the data. It will turn off tomorrow at the 24 hour mark, at which time I return it to the Cardiology department and get the results sometime next week.

I can't shower until it's done, bummer.

First thing Seth did when I came home is reach out for that top wire, just like I thought he would, lol. It's right underneath my collar bones and I'm wearing a V-neck sweater, so it is VERY tempting to him.

I am not at all worried about all this, and actually it's been fun in a weird way to experience all of these new and interesting things that I will now be able to say I've experienced. The doctors told me these irregular heartbeats sometimes happen during pregnancy, and then quit after the kid is born, or it could be something I've had for awhile and no one has noticed until now. At first they were discussing sending me to Labor & Delivery to check up on the kid, but since he was moving around this morning they said he is obviously getting enough blood through the placenta. So a stronger emphasis was placed on making sure I took the time each day to fill out my Kick card. I'm not worried about the kid, but I suppose I can for once make an effort to fill out the kick count card. He moves plenty every day that I take note, but for some reason it's a little annoying to me to have to count 10 movements and how much time that takes. So I've always squirreled my way out of them.

Jeremy made a good point after I came home--what are they going to do with the data, especially if the irregularity continues after the pregnancy? And I don't have an answer for that, I have no idea. Honestly, not worried about it, who knows how long this has even been going on, and I feel completely normal.

Anyone have any experience with this?

So ya, my morning was taken up by my time at Kaiser, and I missed second breakfast & morning snack, so by the time I got home at ll:30am I was starving and devoured my meat & cheese sandwich, carrot sticks and apple.

Another funny thing, well, probably only to other women who have been pregnant. Let me tally my restroom visits: 1 when I got there for my sample, 1 before EKG, 1 before my second trip back to the Card. dept., 1 before heading home. Total: 4. Time elasped: roughly 2 1/2 hrs. If you had a boy dancing on your bladder you'd be in the same boat. Word.

I did get a lot of Bible reading done this morning during all my waiting times, so that was cool. It definitely always puts me in a good mood and able to handle life a lot better.

President's Day Hike @ Edgewood

Post-hike entertainment:

The Breakfasters

Apparently this is the occasional Sunday thing, as both of these were from Sundays.
11/13/11

2/12/12

Just a couple of random pictures I've had up on the desktop to post; I like to see the differences. Seth looks older, Ada's hair is completely different. Those jammies that Hayley is wearing in the second picture down, the turquoise ones---Seth LOVES the pants on those things. Because they're satin, and that is his favorite fabric! When she wears those, he's usually right there with her, holding on to them and sucking his thumb. Sometimes he'll even attack her and try to tackle her, it's really funny. She gets a kick out of it. :) And then when she gets dressed for the day, if she leaves them where he can reach, he can be seen dragging them throughout the house.

For awhile there he had gotten ahold of a couple of gold satin pillow cases and had them stashed for snuggling purposes throughout the day. But don't worry, we aren't satin-depriving the kid, he's got satin on the back of his blankie bear, and also on the edge of one of his blankets.

February. Pow.

A lot of family birthdays in February! Happy Birthday today to my mother-in-law, tomorrow to my brother, Elijah [#17!]; 18th was my brother Daniel's, and 15th was Jenny's.

Kid updates! Pictures from yesterday, 2/22/12.
Hayley

The wind caught her hair right as I snapped this picture, and with her pose, just one of those that I have to post. She can be a character! Although probably only her immediate family sees that side of her. :) She didn't have school this week, as it's 'ski week'. Technically presented as 'winter break', but referred to as the former. It's a NorCal thing. Her spring break is in April. In Kansas we just have spring break in March, so this is an entirely new concept. And she also gets out of school a lot later--middle of June! As much as she enjoys school, I think she's enjoyed kicking back for a week and getting lots of play time in with Ada. Well, I guess she keeps reminding me to help her work on her words, which we've done a few times. Apparently she's going to have a test on recognizing them next week, so it's been on her mind, she likes to do well.

Thought I'd mention some more things that she helps out with that have come to mind: she pours water at dinner time, peels carrots, can pack a bag with a change of clothes for herself & her siblings, open the garage door (it's a manuel lift-up kind) and get the stroller out for our morning walks to school. It's cool that she can do all this stuff now, she's a big helper and good example to the younger ones. There are on occasion the adjustments needed for attitude, but for the most part she's a pretty stable individual who likes to please. What she loves to do in her free time: color & draw and create with different scissors and paper punches, etc. She really likes making cards for everyone in the family. And she really likes it when I color/draw with her, which I admit I probably don't take the time to sit down and do with her enough. Not that I mind doing that, but usually I'm on my list of things I want to get done, especially if a younger kid or two is napping. But I know it means a lot to her, so sometimes I stop and smell the roses so to speak. :)

We are also into trading back rubs, and brushing each other's hair.

Ada

Ada is starting to get into the trading back rubs thing, although sometimes she'll tell me I'm tickling her. :) And she likes to brush my hair so she can snuggle with it, but she's not so much into getting her hair brushed. On the napping thing, there was only one day this week she took one, so I suppose we're gravitating back to the not so much napping stage. Definitely depends on the day!

She has been wanting to help out more in the kitchen, so last week I let her crack some eggs for the first time. She did well! And was very excited to be able to do that big girl job. She also enjoys getting to stir ingredients together, and watch what I do. Run the mixer/mill, etc. It's neat that she is showing interest in working in the kitchen! Fits her hands on personality. Plus she loves to taste the batter if I'm making something sweet. ;) But who doesn't!

We have a rule here that you have to finish your dinner if you want dessert, and sometimes if she's just not as hungry she'll say she doesn't want dessert, but then when other people are enjoying theirs, she tries to put on her charm and get a taste from someone. Like tonight, Hayley shared a sucker from her Valentine's Day stash with Seth, who in turn gladly gave Ada some tastes. Because he learned how to share from Ada. :) She does like to share with her brother! Food, anyway. :)

Seth

Seth was so happy to get that sucker (he loves suckers!) from Hayley, that he did a happy dance when he first started in on it. Pretty cute! We're pretty strict on the amount of sugar the kids get, so that after dinner dessert is a big deal. Not that he gets his every night, because when we eat dinner on the later side, he's pretty much off to bed right after. And it seems like lately he's been trying to get as messy as possible to score himself a bath before bed. At least that's how it seems. :) He does love his baths though!

I've discovered he says, "at" when he wants to do something. So he says that for bath, and if I ask him if he wants to go play at the park, etc. He says "out" for playing outside in the backyard. And some time ago he stopped saying his word for milk, and just starting going "mommommommommom", pretty much 'mom' over and over in a continuous tone. Oh well, it works. I've been trying to come up with little jobs for him to do, as he likes to be useful and help out. So sometimes I'll hand him something and tell him to put it in the trash, and he likes doing that. And helping me put clothes in the dryer and getting to shut the dryer door. I remember doing the same things with the girls at this age, it's such a cute age. :) They're adorable, everything is so exciting to them, they're easily entertained, did I mention cute? Haha. A few weeks ago Jeremy and I were watching him play in the living room, and Jeremy says, "We're not going to be able to stop having kids, are we." And I said, "nope."

Speaking of...
Blake

Well, I don't know him that well yet, but he seems happy enough inside. :) Kicking and moving away, still think on the Hayley/Seth level and not so much the Ada level. I joke that if he's got red hair, I want my tubes tied ASAP. LOL, oh man, we probably joke too hard with the red head. But on a serious note, she has been the most challenging child, so there is an element of truth to it. Glad to have her, I know God has used her to make us grow as parents! I definitely got my "mom" voice with her, which has been great. And she is such a loving girl, full of spunk and definitely keeps life interesting. Our Daniel. (Daniel was the challenging kid in my family. Keeps life interesting and everyone is always talking about him! Still that way today.) So anyway, however Blake is, we will love him and are so excited to meet him!

We are considering stopping after this one though, just because it is so handy & orderly. 2 and 2. And then there is the wear and tear on the pregnant lady, mostly in the form of varicose veins which do get worse with each pregnancy. But hey, it's up to God, and we're going to wait at least a year and see how we're feeling then. Either the feeling of peace, that our family is complete, or "let's have another one!". :) We'd like to keep our kids close together, and be finished before Hayley hits middle school. Of course people make plans all the time and they don't always happen as planned. But you know, we plan, and if God's is different we go with His. Word.

Disappointment turned to Smiles

2/4/12
Seth was taking his nap and the girls wanted to go to the park. It was such a nice day, we had to go! So the boys stayed home, and we had a girl date to the park. I was thinking it'd be fun to revisit the little playground at the end of Baylands Park that we hadn't been to since either before Seth or when he was a baby. But when we got there, we saw this:

We were bummed. The playgrounds at this park are on the older side, so I'm guessing it's about to get ripped down. Which is sad, because that's one of the cool things about this park, is that the playgrounds are unique! But of course if it's a safety hazard I'm all for making it safer. My kids get enough injuries without help, haha. :) Speaking of! -- So then I said, "how about we go to the park where Hayley lost her tooth?" That's how we always refer to that park now since that incident.

Feeling the Sqeeze

Picture from 2/9/12.

This was not my original idea, I have either seen someone do it at a park before, or a picture online; but that day I thought to try it. My two youngest are a bit big... so while they were complaining about being squished (mostly Ada) I said, "let me just take a picture and I'll get you out!" while I snapped this shot. Maybe when Blake gets old enough for the swing he & Seth can try this out. :)

Update on the kids. That's right.

All pictures taken today. Current, baby!
Seth

Little man is growing up! He'll be 15 months in a couple of days. He understands and communicates so much, a bright guy. He's very good with his hands, Jeremy discovered the other day that he can pry those 'childproof' socket covers off; I was wondering why an outlet was missing one the other day! After Jeremy watched him take one off and told me about it, it all came together. He has always been good with little pieces; he enjoys all the ones that come with the girls' older toys! Third child is completely different with that kind of thing; with H she couldn't be around them until after turning 2. He does remind us of H in looks and personality, but is still definitely his own self. The little engineer. :)

He gets a big kick out of throwing things right now; he'll throw a toy and then laugh, pick it up and repeat. He did that with the drain plug in the bath a few days ago, was having a blast until I had to take him out. He tried to ask for a bath today, but he had just had one yesterday and wasn't in need, so I sadly had to tell him no. I had taken off his pajamas and he was just in his diaper, and kept repeating "bath". The cuteness almost made me want to say yes, but it also wasn't a good time for me, so thus the no. That boy loves his baths. Well, all of our kids always have, so I guess our family likes the water. Word.

That blankie bear he's holding is with him all the time now, that is a recent development this month. He starting wanting it when we'd take him out of the crib, so it's close by during the day. He calls it his 'me me', I think because how he asks for things is by saying "me", and that is pretty high on his list of desirables. "Milk" is up there too, but he knows the word for that. I'm trying to work with him on please, but old habits are hard to break. And also, instead of saying & signing "all done" at mealtimes, he's started throwing his food on the floor. Every kid hits the stage, not my favorite, I try and break them asap. But it doesn't help when the fam starts cracking up sometimes! Ok, I'll admit, I've laughed a couple of times too, but usually I'm the hardball. I've made him pick up the food on the floor when it is bigger pieces of stuff, but things like rice, forget it. And that's the funny stuff that he likes to make rain all over. *sigh* Good thing he's cute. :)

He's been working on increasing his speed the last couple of months. For awhile there his legs couldn't keep up with the speed he was trying to achieve, and was taking a lot of falls, but recently he's had a much more fluid transition from walking to faster-ness. Not sure if I'd actually call it running yet, more like gliding. In running there has to be a moment when both feet are off the ground, and I keep forgetting to watch for that, but I don't think he's quite there yet.

Ada

Freshly 3, oh my. :) So that no nap thing? Ha, didn't last long. She has her internal schedule of waking up early, so the no nap thing just wasn't cutting it. So I started trying to trim her usual nap time of 2 hours in half, and would put her down an hour before we had to pick up H from school. That worked until one day I woke her up and it was like a demon-possessed person; she screamed all the way to the school..... so after that I put her down earlier to let her wake up naturally, and so she usually clocks in an hour and a half nap now. On the demon-possessed thing, myself & H have been known to be in such a state when awoken prematurely, we must have some kind of reaction to a certain stage of sleep being interrupted. That day when Ada was screaming, she finally woke up after H came out, and then wouldn't believe me when I told her what had happened before her head was back in place. The lesson here, don't wake the females in my family unless you absolutely must, because you just don't know what you're going to get!

Ada is a lot different than she was half of her life ago. From the time she could walk until around 2 1/2, I didn't feel safe taking her to the beach by myself. And to be fair, it's not like I even took kids to the beach myself anyway before that, just once when I just had Hayley when meeting up with friends. It's more something we do as a family [with Jeremy]. But anyway, in that time frame, at the beach, it was like all she could think about was being in the water. At all costs. She had no regard for how cold she was, or if there was someone to watch over her, or her life, basically. Her main objective was to get to the water. Period. A tiring prospect, especially when pregnant with Seth! So how nice it is now that I'm able to go to the beach with all three and not worry. I've very much enjoyed our two recent beach goings! The kids all do great listening, and Seth hangs with the girls, so it's nice.

Recently I taught Ada how to fold washcloths; I've been trying to get her more involved with the daily chores, as she does like to help out most of the time. She has assisted in putting away her clothes for some time now, and also in helping Hayley set the table for dinner. And she is a good big sister with Seth, although there is still the not so occasional infraction, LOL. Sometimes she doesn't know where to draw the line; sometimes I wonder where her head is at. Like at the last beach time, after Jeremy came and was laying with us--she went to set herself up as a barricade for Seth because she thought he was straying too far from her imagined zone. Which that was fine. But then somehow he ended up sitting on the sand, and she was pumping his head down almost to his lap. Oh my. It looked hilarious, but was not ok. So I hid my face and had a quick laugh, then yelled at her to come back to me for a talk. Seth was fine, he just went back to playing after she left. That's why we say, he's going to be a tough kid with her as an older sister.

Ada is a kid who loves life. She loves being around people. Different personality than the rest of the family. Not that the rest of us don't enjoy being around people, but we're more introverted. She thrives around others, doesn't matter if they're friends or someone she's just met at the park. Case in point: last week I took the three to a park, and there was a girl around Ada's age who was there playing with her dad. Ada immediately inserted herself into their game, while Hayley hung back. Hayley then started to try and pull Ada away from them, as she didn't know the new people, and also she wanted Ada to play with her, and she (H) was too intimidated to play with Ada along with these new people. (I found all this out later when talking to H.) I had to call H over a couple of times to have a talk with her that I was there watching and it was ok for Ada to play with them, and she could play with them too, etc. etc. I even went over and said hi to the dad, asked him how old his daughter was, to show H that it was ok. Ada was having a blast the whole time. I have a feeling she's going to be a popular girl in school; people seem to gravitate towards her.

Hayley

Hayley just learned how to tie shoes! She's watched some of her friends do it at school, and I sat down with her yesterday to give her a lesson. I found out I didn't have all the patience I needed at the time, so I set her up with a youtube video which her and Ada watched several times, and she followed along and practiced. She had it to where she could do it some yesterday herself, and then this morning she did both of her shoes all by herself, no problem! Score. She had to move into her bigger shoes, which is why she needed to learn--the teacher had it noted at the beginning of school that he did not have time to tie 20-some shoes every day, so they could only wear shoelaces if they knew how to tie them themselves. Which I can totally understand!!

She's doing great in school, was the student of the week last year in the fall, and also made student of the month. We're not putting the bumper sticker on our van though, neither Jeremy or I are into bumper stickers. But we are still proud of her of course! :) She's definitely a good school type, she enjoys sitting and coloring and learning, loves doing her homework packet every week. She reminds me a lot of myself actually. With Jeremy's level of competitiveness. And also some other Jeremy characteristics. Probably a good balance of the two of us in looks and personality, but I think if you asked anyone they'd probably say a bit more of me, so we'll go with that. I can relate to her a lot, which is not surprising after reading the Birth Order Book. She is the same birth position as me, and also a lot like me, so thus the relativeness.

She too is a good big sister, gives her two younger siblings horsey back rides now! How lucky for them. And she watches out for both of them, gives help unasked a lot. I've enjoyed my talks with her about things from school; friendships, things she's learning, different situations. She usually always reports who got in trouble that day. :) She's a good kid. She went to Jeremy's first running meeting last night, occupied herself with art stuff during the meeting. Jeremy joined a running club, Quicksilver. It turned into a date afterwards because Jeremy took her out for an ice cream cone--should have seen the smile on her face when she got back home!