Ultrasound Pix and What I Think About

I can't believe all the years I spent being unthankful for the kids' health when they were babies (and when they were preborn).  I used to smile when the doctor listened to the heartbeat, but I expected it.  I didn't think bad things really happened to people like me.  Now...it makes me cry to hear a heartbeat.

I had a good doctor's appointment last Friday-an ultrasound then doppler to see if we could pick it up yet (my doctor's good like that-he knew if we did doppler first, I'd freak out for a few minutes till we saw an ultrasound!), but we couldn't.  But everything was fine, and we knew since we'd just seen a strong heart on ultrasound.

Today, different story.  We went in just for doppler, to hear the heartbeat (we thought I was ready.  Ha!)  We saw a new doctor (they called at nine last night to say my doctor had a family emergency, and they rescheduled me), and she was sick, but wonderful.  She got it.  (Very Important.)  She tried doppler for a few minutes, but no luck.  We were sent down to the high tech ultrasound (finally...abdominal ultrasound!), and I experienced some déjà vu right away.

The last time I'd been in that room was with the twins last March.  I was also 12 weeks exactly.  So to sit on that table..was surreal.  Then she started the ultrasound, and last year came flooding back-my ignorance that there was no sound coming from the babies, my ignorance when she said she was going to get the doctor.  All of it, was right there in the room with me.

I just cried when I heard the heartbeat and she measured the sound waves to get a strong heartbeat of 164.  Just relief and thankfulness.

Real Sound Waves!

The baby was moving all over the place, but she caught a side profile ; )

My friends tell me all those prayers we prayed for all those babies were saved up, and they are for this baby.  I don't know, I just trust that God has a plan, I'm in it, and and currently we have a very healthy, exact-size-for-date baby growing.  Could it really be the real thing?  Could I really meet this child?  That's what I think every day.

That and I wish it was easier to go to the bathroom.  Pregnancy and progesterone really slow down your system.  I only share this for selfish reasons.  ADVICE??  Yes, I'm eating fiber, fruits and vegetables, beans...but dairy is my enemy.  And I need calcium!  I'm going to work on it-I just looked up top sources of calcium and get this, here they are in order:

1. dried herbs (!)

2. cheese

3. sesame seeds

4. tofu

5. almonds

6. flax seeds

7. yogurt, milk, and other dairy (really, down at #7?)

8. green leafy veggies

9. brazil nuts

10. herring (no, thanks)

See?  I'm going to be okay.  I'll eat some dried herbs and almonds, and lots of sesame seeds. : )  (and don't nuts have fiber?)

Praying for all my pregnant friends, and those that desperately want a child (I know how that feels too), that they may see the joy in a sweet baby, new from Heaven.  And for friends and relatives newly in Heaven-that they rock the babies already there.

Lost in a Maze, but a Razorback Maze...Woo Pig Sooie!

We're gonna do some catching up! ; )  We have been enjoying our sweet fall days-sweaters in the morning, shorts in the afternoon..and lots of pumpkins! : )

Last week, Clay had a school Musical, School Daze! : )  He had a solo, so we were excited to hear him-he's had speaking parts, but not a singing part before.  He did really well!  Ethan opted to sit on the row in front of us, with our neighbors! : ) ..until he leaned back and hit his head -wham!- on the seat.  Then..he was all ours again! ; )  He's in turquoise squished in the row below:

Here's Clay (in blue stripes) singing his solo!  It had a High School Musical (basketball/PE) vibe!

And then..we jump to my newest wreath!  I started with fall leaves/sunflowers/pumpkins, but it looked really plain from the street.  I decided to dress it up for Halloween with some orange sparkly tulle, a black/silver bow, and a big black J that was just sitting in the laundry room waiting for a job!  Kinda busy, but I'm not a plain girl. ; )

Oh, look what I found.  My broken lamp.  A picture from my phone for posterity (and a baby book!)

Clay playing catcher at his game last game.

And Ethan yesterday making Momma cry.  He got stuff out of the Recycle bin, and was copying the letters off the boxes and cartons onto the driveway with sidewalk chalk! : )  He's so smart!  And he was singing the sweetest songs, but I couldn't catch them on the voice recorder.

And yesterday?  An awesome time at Sandra's house with the kids carving pumpkins!  I know she took great pictures, but I was plagued with an awful headache (today makes three days..) so I didn't take any.  I just enjoyed watching the kids.  And I made a big "J" on my pumpkin, but the holey part of the J fell out-I'll do better next year.  It's an arty J now!

And today?  The Ozark Corn Maze!  Here is an aerial picture of the maze (Can you say, AWESOME?):

Can you see the big Razorback leaning on the A?  And the Go Hogs?  We were lost in there! ; )

 

The girl scout juniors (and sisters!) before the Corn Maze!

Cute photo op...except the blue pumpkin-headed scarecrow is tired of pictures.  Or just plain tired.

They had a petting zoo-with goats and sheep.

They were feeding the sheep hay!

They were conning this perfectly sane goat to go UP this crazy contraption!  Here is the bottom..

..and here's the top!  Can you imagine?  (When we pulled into the parking lot I was freaking out thinking the kids were going to climb up to see the corn maze from above!  S-C-A-R-Y!

Then we rode the tractor/wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch to find our very own pumpkins..

Mary Claire loved the teeny ones!

We stayed till they closed down, and the sun was setting-a great trip! : )

American Girl Fashion Show!

Hey ya'll!  It's definitely been too long.  I'll have to fill you in on the exciting stuff...both good and bad! : )  I am never bored.

I'm better, lots of rest and some antibiotics later!  I think I may actually be catching back up (well, not in laundry, but am I ever caught up?)  So, Saturday we started with an exciting show..

We went with friends to the American Girl Fashion Show!  It was at our Art Center of the Ozarks (where they have choir and musicals) on Saturday.  Sandra got us great seats together!  They were right in front of the stage (the one the girls walked out on, the "catwalk"!), and we could see perfectly!

The girls all sat together, and Nora sat by me! : )  Mary Claire is right next to her-they were SO good during the show!

Right after the Fashion Show, we had a reception-and the girls LOVED it!  Tiny colorful treats, yum!

The theme was Hawaiian (I think for Kanani, the American Girl!), and they had colored gold fish, cupcakes with sprinkles, and a tiny bowl of strawberry sorbet with a teensy spoon and umbrella.  So cute!

They also had pink lemonade, which she really wanted.  I was so worried it'd be all sugary, but it was NOT! : )

There were two "stores" set up: Barnes & Noble had books, kits, and mini dolls there...decisions, decisions.. and then the clothing/gift shop.  Obviously we got too busy in there to take pictures!  She chose a shirt, pink capris, and the accessory kit (white shoes, scarf, and fingerless gloves!).  They were so cute, and all had special AG Fashion Show tags!  They also had hats, bags, and shirts for both big girls and dolls.

She wanted to buy raffle tickets for all the giveaways, so I had her fill them out!  I'm guessing we didn't win..

All the girls together! : ) (with their dolls!)

And me and Mary Claire! : )  She never took her jacket off, so you couldn't see her dress!  I wish I'd dressed up more! ; )  ..(I was feeling big-ish, so it was hard to dress me.)

Really, we had a wonderful time!  The girls on stage did a great job and looked so cute.  Our girls were well-behaved, and they were so sweet!  Mary Claire knew a couple girls and told one of them how pretty she looked. ; )  I was proud of her.  And the goody bags?  Rocked!  A paper doll kit, complete with three American Girls, stencils, lots of fabric-printed papers, shoes to color, a hanger for doll clothes-it was an awesome bag!


Then we transitioned to the ball field!  We had four games again, and we started at Ethan's-I had to feed them while Ches was coaching!  I got them hot dogs and popcorn (ooh, so healthy!) and then went over to watch Clay and feed him.   He was already playing-I feel bad for him when Ches is with Ethan, and no one is there to watch him!  He played at first base, catcher, and outfield.  He is doing the best at catcher I think.  He has a pretty good arm, and can catch most of the balls (if they don't go over his head!).  He has to hustle back to cover home plate if the bases are loaded, so that's hard!  I always yell out if there's a runner on third to be watching!  (maybe that's why I feel bad if I'm not there?) ; )


Then, we had a little down time at home-I knew Sunday was coming, and I get tired!  We got everyone washed and ready for church.  We were all exhausted!  The kids swam for a little while..we are stretching summer..I'm not ready for fall!  We'll close the pool by Halloween, but they just want to get a few more days in.  Now, to be comfortable, they like it above 86 degrees!!  It takes a full day to get it up there with our nights in the 50's!


...I won't give you the entire negative update..but suffice it to say that a big boy has learned you don't write a "Stay Off My Top Bed" sign in marker on your carpet, two boys have learned you don't climb to the top of a 20 foot tree between Sunday school and Mass, and those same boys learned you don't play in your church clothes all afternoon on a trampoline (blackness), and while playing with black walnuts (ditto, but more brownish). (Oh..and you don't clean the soppy wet marker carpet with your nice monogrammed towels.)  ..and a little one learned not to come sliding down the stair banister with a shovel in hand-when there's a glass lamp along the way.  Yep, I'm in the market for a new lamp.

I learned that when you think you have a double dental appointment, you should call to make sure to prevent a revisit the next day! ; )  We also learned that being snappy telling the microwave repairman that you'll just buy a new one instead of pay for the $225 part plus $80 labor wasn't so smart.  There's not another microwave short of $1100 that will fit into that hole.  Hmm.  And..if you want to get waxed, you should call more than a day in advance.  Otherwise, you are waxing on lunch hour (but she's so nice to fit me in!).  I also found out that if you wait too long to talk to someone, their friend might have passed away. : (  Gosh-a week makes a whole difference in someone's life.


Blood sugars roller coaster, our temperments roller coaster, our microwaves fail us, and we learn.  Thank goodness for those bright spots in our week (home runs at practice, a great fashion show, and a flawless stove top.) ; )

Feeding the Insulin

Yesterday was breakfast for six.  Us five plus some insulin to feed.  Mary Claire went off to school without finishing her breakfast (and active insulin on board!), good thing it was countable mini-wheats!  I found them on the counter (yes, soggy in milk!), counted them (the things we do!), and called Ches who was en route with the kids on the way to school.  He came back, and I gave her a fruit bar (a pair!) and two fresh mini-wheats to make up the difference in carbs.  I hate that she can't just not finish her breakfast without a talk and a warning!  And we have to pre-bolus for breakfast, since she rises so fast.  That girl scares me.  Sometimes she seems so on top of things, and sometimes she's just a kid.  I hate that I expect her to grow up so fast too.  Guilt. The monster that doesn't rest.


I am so overwhelmed by our terrific JDRF Walk, and yet, I still have more thank you notes to write, so I'm not quite done!  I got one of Sandra's thank you's today in the mail, So Cute!  I always forget about those adorable picture cards!  I'm SO going to order some of those.  She puts in pictures from the Walk, and a note of thanks at the bottom-she's one of my smart friends.  I love her! : )


And...I am still surprised every week. ; )  Still pregnant-and tomorrow marks 10 weeks.  He moved my due date back to the original date (April 26th, but I'll have a c-section at 37 weeks since I start dilating early, and they have to catch me pre-labor) since my ultrasound was right on today.  I was so stressed since I had to start antibiotics yesterday that it would do something..bad.  So, I'm super relieved now.  I even totally hydrated all day yesterday, and stayed in bed a-l-l day (except for my doctor's appointment to get meds!).  I might miss out on some life, but it's important to me.

I go back next Friday, and maybe we'll check to see if we can pick up a heartbeat on doppler.  He said he'd do it after the ultrasound, since it could really freak me out if it's too early for doppler first!

We are making an effort to slow down a little, and I've let a few things go..but there are still so many things I committed to before I knew.  The kids' fall school fundraiser is the Husky Hoedown, and it's quickly approaching.  I have to get fliers ready to go home in next Monday's folders (and every Monday till the Hoedown)!  I pulled up all my old documents from last year, and they should be pretty easy to modify.  We just need to get lots of tickets counted and bagged so they are ready for ticket sales.  Is that a job you are dying to do?  I could send some your way! : )  Just holler!