Sincerity is an Idol; Prove it with the Bible

  From our pastor's blog.  An Infant in a Cradle: Sincerity is an Idol; Prove it with the Bible: The plain truth is, that "sincerity and earnestness" are becoming the idol of many Christians in these latter days. People seem to think it matters little what opinions a man holds in religion, so long as he is "earnest and sincere", and you are thought uncharitable if you doubt his soundness in the faith! Against this idolatry of mere "earnestness" I enter my solemn protest. I charge every reader to remember that God's written Word is the only rule of faith, and to believe nothing to be true and soul-saving in religion which cannot be proved by plain texts of Scripture. I entreat him to read the Bible and make it his only test of truth and error, right and wrong.


~ J.C. Ryle, The Upper Room, “Our Profession."

Better a brief warfare and eternal rest

“I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.”

Matthew 10:34

The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have taken up his cross, know ye not what your Master said? “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, he brings war. Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities. Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth’s sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master’s steps, for he has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.

~Spurgeon devotion for dec 28

Look What I Can Do



This is what can happen when you give your baby a chance to sit up.. they just might do it.  I used to let the other two kids practice thinking it helped them learn.  I'm thinking it doesn't matter... Aliza spends a lot of time in her saucer, laying on her back on the floor playing or sitting up on our laps.  I will say she's been doing that from a very early age but she always leaned up against our arms.  And did I mention my babies hate bumbos... so she never got that experience.  So this is the newest trick last week and she also started saying " da da da da da"  So cute.  She had her 6 month check last week and she weighs 14 lbs 8 oz (25%) and is 25.5 inches long (50%). more pics on shutterfly 

M.I.A and Baby Update

This is the first day I have felt decent in 2 weeks. I got the second sinus infection of my life and missed out on Thanksgiving. It was nasty. I felt like I did in the 6th grade when I was sick for 3 weeks, minus having a mom take care of me and instead having 3 kids to take care of, one who is nursing and my milk supply went down and I started having to get up in the night again. That's a long sentence but you get me.

Aliza is now 6 months old!! So a recap of her 5 monthness. We started solids! And we jumped in with both feet, the only babyfood she has had has been prunes and rice cereal. Otherwise, it's applesauce, sweet potatoes, mommy's somewhat spicey meatloaf, baked potatoes, homemade chicken and noodles, yogurt, mashed bananas. Suffice it to say, she is well acquainted with texture by now and it's cheaper too. I use Linda's old babyfood grinder. She really liked the meatloaf and I was surprised. :) She has stopped biting me. She started sleeping through the night again with the help of a 10pm nursing after she had been in bed for a couple hrs, but that has all changed since the milk decrease, but I can tell it's back on the increase and she went till 6 am this morning. Almost there. She is a delight of a little baby, I call her a little joy, which is fitting since her name means joy. She is snuggly, smiley, giggly, screamy, drooly, good good baby. I know it's weird but sometimes when I''m holding her I close my eyes and picture myself pregnant with her, which seemed like forever and wondering what she was like and then opening them and here she is in all her snuggly cuteness. Did I mention how cute her legs are?? How can they not be when her thighs are chubby and all of 2 inches long?? So as demanding as a baby and a nursing one at that can be and how I sometimes feel tied down not to be able to just get up and go, I remind myself how time flies and this is my last go around, live it like you got to go back in time for a second chance. No major news on the big motor skills, still only rolls from tummy to back, which is ok with mommy, life gets harder when they mobilize, she picks up and plays with her toys and loves her saucer.

That's it for now ;) oh and I put up new pics on shutterfly

2010 share

Click here to view these pictures larger

Labor Flashback

Dang, I realized I didn't type out my labor process, not that my few readers are deprived but it's been almost 5 months and I'm pretty sure I've lost some of the details and I want to remember this for the baby book. My contractions of D day were slightly different and I had more pressure in my lower abdomen I noticed taking Isabelle to school that morning but didn't get my hopes up. They were somewhat persistent in the way they tightened and I told Katie on the phone hmm maybe I should be timing these, I am two days past my due date. I remember calling Mitch in the afternoon telling him I'm thinking maybe something is happening but don't come home they don't hurt much. I laid down on the couch that afternoon to see if that would go away, they had been 15 minutes apart, and I only had two in the hr I laid down, but they still had that weird lower ab tightening, I didn't have that with the other two, it was more of pain going into my lower back. I picked up Isabelle from school and her sub teacher asked something to the fact of when are you going to the have the baby??? I told her I thought I was in labor. She probably thought that was weird, yeah I think I'm in labor, just driving the kids around... When we got home they stayed about 10-15 minutes apart, and I called the hospital to see what the nurse thought, to come in and get checked or not... this is always more of a dilemma when you have kids that need watched should you go in. Our friend Sara come over at 8pm after the kids went to bed so we could go in. I was uncomfortable butnot bad yet. So fastforward 9 pm, I was hooked up to monitors for 20 minutes or so, then checked, I had been 1.5 centimeters a couple days before and I was to 2cm, while the ob on call was not impressed, I WAS!! :) Since I hadn't progressed much for the past month this was a big deal. So I had to walk around to convince them. So I was booking through the halls, I could walk and talk through them and we got them 3 minutes apart, got checked again and monitored blah blah, long process, I was to 3 cm at that point. I knew I was in labor but I was still not being told I was not being sent home. I went on another round of a walk 20-30 minutes. This time I couldn't walk as fast and I had to stop and do the leaning on the wall rail and breath through them which for the first time and I acredit this to yoga I actually breathed and didn't tense through the pain as I had always done before, on the bed on my side, gripping the rail in pain. I actually even in the room would get up off the bed and lean over for my contractions and they were a lot easier to deal with than just sitting or laying. I told the nurses, I KNOW I am in labor. So got checked again I was to 4 cm. I asked if I was staying, they said yes you're staying. I was over it and said " call the epidural man." Here's where things got less zen. You have to have an iv of fluids beforeyou can have an epidural and that's the downside to the drugs is being hooked up to so much crap, blood pressure cuff etc; They had trouble with my iv, so I've my contractions every 2 to 3 minut's while I am stuck in dug around, I think by 3 or more people. ( Mitch was NOT happy) I have to break for contractions then have them try again. All the needle digging makes me start to feel faint and nauseous and I start the shakes. I had this with the others Mitch remembers but the poking got it rolling this time. I asked them if they could just iv me in the inner elbow, I know THIS works because I get my thyroid checked regularly. So counting the blood draw required before the epidural I got stuck a total of 8 times and it ended up in the inner elbow. They checked me again I was to 5 cm. I can't remember at what time the anesthesiologist got there but it was a challenge to stay still through the contractions and the shaking but I was still. I got relief really fast and I could feel what felt like cold water running into one side of my lower back and it was an achey feeling it was weird when he was putting in the meds. So it was a wonderful warm comfy feeling. I still shook and it made the blood pressure cuff go really tight, I ended up with bruises from it and of course the needle jabs. The dr came to check me, I was expecting to be ready to push because that's how it went for the other two. I was to 6cm, I asked her, is that IT?? The dr decided to put me on pitocin because when I wasn't walking my contractions spaced out. I had never had it. Another weird thing, she still hadn't broke my water. Never had a dr not done that for me. I did start to feel it break or leak after the pitocin. Which was weird. I was hanging out trying to sleep for a couple hrs but it was hard because of the shaking and my blood pressure dropped a couple times which made me stop shaking go figure and I ended up needing ephedrine. So it's about...4:30ish at this point and I told then nurse I felt the pressure and sure enough she said, I was presenting. This was the first time I actually felt like I NEEDED to push!! The nurse kept telling me to wait since I don't push for long. The dr came in and actually had to snag the bag right before I pushed. I thought that was weird! ( I still can't get over the not breaking the bag thing can't you tell?) There is something nice about feeling so relaxed right before delivering, that's just my personal experience. So I pushed a few times during one contraction, I was trying to take it all in because I knew this was the last time I was doing this. I still remember the "stop pushing" while they suctioned and finally pulling out her little slimey body and putting her up on my chest, for the first time having a baby, I cried a little., it was the end of an era for me, savor the miracle for the last time. ( 5:02am) It's an amazing moment you can't describe, to finally meet that person you've been waiting 9 months for. I could tell she was not a huge baby. It was so nice and relaxed, I held her, I even told the nurses, she's gurgling you might want to sunction her again, I got to nurse her right away and it was a while before she was even weighed, they said they could do that whenever I wanted. The cool thing about nursing is that you can calm them right down out of the womb, they're geared for it right after coming out. She pooped, no diaper... lol it was still cool. The dr had Mitch take a picture of the cord, that had a "true knot". She said " she's a lucky little girl". I know a sovereign God sustained and protected her as I was none the wiser.
There, well that was more lengthy than I thought...

Sanctus Real

This is worth a watch/listen. Not many things strike a deep emotional cord with my husband, unless it's anger when it comes to football that is, but this did and he shared with me. Life is a battle everyday to love the Lord and minister in the most important way you can as spouse or parent, to your spouse and your children.

The Baby

Oh you little adorable thing you. Here is Aliza's 4 month update. She has started getting me up at night, and I mean for the past month or more and sometimes twice. Lately it's back down to one. I wondered, cereal? Not ready, spits it out. She is easily distracted when nursing lately, drives me crazy!! She has started cluster feeding in the evening and staying up 3-4 from 5-9 pm instead of 8 pm which is ok as long as I'm feeding during the waking hours. If she is not hungry, she gets TICKED if I try to nurse her and she has also started to bite me with her gums. I yelp, she looks up at me and laughs. mmm hmm. When she is hungry she gets right down to business, so it's like I'm having to relearn her at this stage. She loves her saucer, she plays in there forever, as in I can vacuum and dust while she plays. She is a snuggle baby doll that nestles in your chest and sucks her thumb. Oh that thumb sucking is SO cute. I'm sure it won't be at 3 yrs old but for now it's so cute! She is a giggler, screamer, loves to pick up toys and chew on them now. Grabs Christian's hair and won't let go. She is more of a fusser than a crier for the most part. Her stats are 12 lbs 5 oz weight and 24 inches long both 30%. And her head is 50% can't remember the measurement.

So that's it, this adorable little morsel has me running to the Lord for strength, wisdom, and sanity right now while she wakes me up in the night. She has grown SO fast already and I'm trying to soak in all the babiness for the LAST TIME. ;)

OH and I keep meaning to say, I'm going to be an aunt!!! My youngest brother's wife is 14 weeks pregnant, and the bigger surpise is, with TWINS. I'm pretty excited our kids will finally have cousins and Aliza will have some playmates when we go back to my folks to visit.

My Boy...

Christian, is crass, he comes up with it on his own, he trys to incorporate, poop, pee, boogers, privates, bottoms, belching, farting and the like into everything. He gets in trouble everytime, yet he just can't help himself and someday I might think this is as funny as everyone else does...

Here is his latest funny quote. The senario: it's election time so we have all the political ads running. One is for Chuck Grassely that says " Chuck Grassley works for us.... I'm Chuck Grassley and I approved this message." We were eating some sara lee new york cheesecake, which is YUM after lunch this week when that ad came on. So Christian says " CHuck Grassely works for cheese. I'm Chuck Cheesey, and I like cheese." It still makes me laugh...

Mitch Update

Mitch had his follow up apt today from his MRI where they injected his arm with dye. Which, by the way, made his arm hurt even worse. Anyway here is what we know so far, his labrum is NOT torn. His rotator cuff is torn on the back side and his bursa sac and everything else in there is and I quote "gnarled". He may not need surgery, we will see in 6 weeks. Today the dr gave him a cortizone shot which should help with the inflamation and pain and he is to do his exercises at home that the therapist had shown him. The dr wants to try this first, surgery may still happen but maybe this will work, and that would be AWESOME if it did. I could tell Mitch was in better spirits after the visit and the shot also some numbing agent in it and his shoulder was starting to feel some relief already. I'm praying that the Creator enlightens the dr as to what needs to be done for him to heal. So we will see what happens!

Shutterfly

Check out my link list above. I made sort of a little sister Shutterfly site to the family blog. As usual please don't share my sites with others without my permission. ;) Flickr has limited storage and I ain't payin for it.

Mitch

After over 7 months of pain, it looks like Mitch has a Labral Tear in his rotator cuff that's going to require surgery, he has an MRI next Monday to see exactly what's going on. Recovery sounds like something else. So thankful the poor guy will be getting this awful pain taken care of, eventually.
All the while he's been going to work, coming home, doing yard work and vehicle maintenance, getting groceries. The work week is tiring and the weekends are more often working weekends than just getting to relax and do nothing.

If you're interested to see what recovering from surgery will be like, go here.

Signs and symptoms.

What About Bob

Often I as I'm pondering random details of life, often temporal, I get that What About Bob moment from Ziggy. " I'm' going to die, you're going to die, we're all going to die." And I realize so much of the things I ponder are worthless because it won't be long and I'll be dead and beginning real life in eternity with my Lord. I alwasy used to picture heaven sort of foggy, bright, dreamlike, not very detailed. Funny how we all have things pictured in our minds about God, His character the way He works that are so biblically inaccurate. Anyway, Mitch has reminded me more than once that Heaven is more real than all of this. So true. I've come to realize all things will not be made right until this is all over the Lord has set things right in the end. At these moments I start praying for the 3 little souls fast asleep in their beds. Show them Yourself Lord. I don't need fact ascenders, proper little robots, I want them to KNOW HIM. I think one of Satan's greatest tools is distraction, busyness and this life is full of it ( even "christian" activities), I see myself taken away by it and think, what actually mattered eternally today?? ( this doesn't mean to live in chaos and laziness, that goes without saying as the bible teaches against such things) Did I take the time to get to know my children really deep down and help to show them how wonderful our Savior is. Someday I will be dead and eternity is the life I was always meant to lead. Do you ever read scriptures and finally something clicks that you never comprehended before? I thought of that this week thinking about our messed up man-made views of God and how he reveals more of Himself to us through Scripture, His spirit, trials etc and thought of how awesome it is that one day we will have the overwhelming amazement of seeing Him as He IS.

I happened to read this the end of sept, I love how the Lord does things like this.


“Howl, fir tree, for the cedar is fallen.”

Zechariah 11:2
When in the forest there is heard the crash of a falling oak, it is a sign that the woodman is abroad, and every tree in the whole company may tremble lest to-morrow the sharp edge of the axe should find it out. We are all like trees marked for the axe, and the fall of one should remind us that for every one, whether great as the cedar, or humble as the fir, the appointed hour is stealing on apace. I trust we do not, by often hearing of death, become callous to it. May we never be like the birds in the steeple, which build their nests when the bells are tolling, and sleep quietly when the solemn funeral peals are startling the air. May we regard death as the most weighty of all events, and be sobered by its approach. It ill behoves us to sport while our eternal destiny hangs on a thread. The sword is out of its scabbard—let us not trifle; it is furbished, and the edge is sharp—let us not play with it. He who does not prepare for death is more than an ordinary fool, he is a madman. When the voice of God is heard among the trees of the garden, let fig tree and sycamore, and elm and cedar, alike hear the sound thereof.

Be ready, servant of Christ, for thy Master comes on a sudden, when an ungodly world least expects him. See to it that thou be faithful in his work, for the grave shall soon be digged for thee. Be ready, parents, see that your children are brought up in the fear of God, for they must soon be orphans; be ready, men of business, take care that your affairs are correct, and that you serve God with all your hearts, for the days of your terrestrial service will soon be ended, and you will be called to give account for the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or whether they be evil. May we all prepare for the tribunal of the great King with a care which shall be rewarded with the gracious commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant”
~Spurgeon

How do you title this?

“Behold the man!”

John 19:5
If there be one place where our Lord Jesus most fully becomes the joy and comfort of his people, it is where he plunged deepest into the depths of woe. Come hither, gracious souls, and behold the man in the garden of Gethsemane; behold his heart so brimming with love that he cannot hold it in—so full of sorrow that it must find a vent. Behold the bloody sweat as it distils from every pore of his body, and falls upon the ground. Behold the man as they drive the nails into his hands and feet. Look up, repenting sinners, and see the sorrowful image of your suffering Lord. Mark him, as the ruby drops stand on the thorn-crown, and adorn with priceless gems the diadem of the King of Misery. Behold the man when all his bones are out of joint, and he is poured out like water and brought into the dust of death; God hath forsaken him, and hell compasseth him about. Behold and see, was there ever sorrow like unto his sorrow that is done unto him? All ye that pass by draw near and look upon this spectacle of grief, unique, unparalleled, a wonder to men and angels, a prodigy unmatched. Behold the Emperor of Woe who had no equal or rival in his agonies! Gaze upon him, ye mourners, for if there be not consolation in a crucified Christ there is no joy in earth or heaven. If in the ransom price of his blood there be not hope, ye harps of heaven, there is no joy in you, and the right hand of God shall know no pleasures for evermore. We have only to sit more continually at the cross foot to be less troubled with our doubts and woes. We have but to see his sorrows, and our sorrows we shall be ashamed to mention. We have but to gaze into his wounds and heal our own. If we would live aright it must be by the contemplation of his death; if we would rise to dignity, it must be by considering his humiliation and his sorrow. ~Spurgeon

I've wanted to share that for awhile. I think it's beautiful. It puts the believers life in proper perspective. At times when I would struggle with those blasted anxiety attacks or worry in general I remember thinking that Christ knows exactly what I'm going through and worse, He felt it, enough stress and worry to sweat blood and ask the Father if there was any way this cup could pass from Him. Also thinking in Isaiah how it says of Him, He is acquainted with grief. Anyway it's so comforting to know He is so intimately involved with all we are dealing with.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (New King James Version)

Our Compassionate High Priest

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Indeed

Most of the so called " christian service" which now obtains in the religious world is seen and heard of men, but much of the service which God has appointed His people is beheld by none but Himself. (emphasis added)Most that passes for " christian service" has a tendency to puff up with a sense of self importance, but that which God assigns humbles, by a realization how far short we come in measuring up to His standards. Much of the humanly invented "service" is wrought in the energy of the flesh, where as that which God requires from us can only be performed by the enabling of His grace. Those activities now, so prevalent in the religious realm occupy with the creature, but that service which God has enjoined fixes the eye on His glory. ~ A.W. Pink

So Yeah

Thing are busy, why is life so darn busy and I feel like we barely do anything extra. Our weeknights consist of Mitch getting home shortly before supper, eating, homework, bathes, kids to bed, ourselves ready for bed and to bed. 6:30 is supper and 8 pm is bedtime, and I aim to be in bed at 10 since Aliza has decided she needs to get me up to nurse one in the night, she has become a great nap baby staying up about 2 hrs then ready for a nap to it's about 3 naps a day. So we are kinda beat. My yeast issues seem to be rearing their ugly head again. I was mixing tea tree oil with my Bag Balm ( awesome name huh?) for the nursing region every night and I figured in late Aug, I think I can stop doing this I'm sure the yeast is long gone by now the baby is almost 3 months. nope, 2 nights of not doing that I have been struggling with symptoms ever since. I don't feel like it's gone back into my ducts yet so that's good, I think this may be my plight while nursing, I plan I asking my dr at Aliza's 4 month check if she can just perscribe another 2 weeks of difulcan or something.
In other people running with their check engine lights on news, Mitch has had rotator cuff problems since last winter that he further or re injured right after Aliza was born. It was done at work so it's not costing us thankfully. He has been in about a month of rehab with no improvements. It was so bad that for about 10 weeks he couldn't hardly sleep at night, ( he can now thanks to some prescribed painkillers) he can't raise his arm and his hand shakes just holding a hymnal. After much pleading he let me make an apt for him to get the ball rolling on getting this thing resolved. He meet with the orthopaedic sp? surgeon early oct.
Ok well the baby calls and I must go for now.

summer 2010 fair 064

summer 2010 fair 064, originally uploaded by Audge3.

been a while, sorry, a woman's work is never done. I am never lacking for work to do. Here are our pictures from our labor day weekend (week) trip to see my family. There are also new pictures in the Aliza folder on flickr if you're interested. More from me later... eventually.

Never Ceases

A couple Christian quotes that my parents think are the funniest. My mom said to me today, you're so used to it, you don't even think it's funny anymore... :)

I hope this isn't a rerun quote but I have a lot going on...

Talking about lunch Christian told me what he wanted on his sandwich: Garbage, an eyeball, and hair. You can't teach this kid something that's embedded in his genes from his Grandfather and I mean my Dad who thinks gas is the funniest thing EVER.

Today as I'm cleaning the bathroom. " Mom, I've used my imagination enough. Can I play video games now?"

Sweet Summer Gone

summertime 042, originally uploaded by Audge3.

I knew summer would fly this year with the birth of Aliza. Isabelle started school yesterday and now rides the bus! It went really well which I'm thankful for and she gets to stay on the same all the way to school no switching! I''m not too excited about her having math homework every night on top of the reading books and now spelling. Good grief, 1st grader people!!
The kids are obessed with mario brothers and they often pretend that Isabelle is mario and Christian is luigi. Before school Chrisitian said to me, "Peach?" (I somehow am peach) " Yes Christian?" " no say, what Toad?" He was Toad yesterday I guess. " Yes Toad?"
" I'm going to miss Mario"
Aliza has become a very wonderfully easy happy babe. She has started going to bed at 8:30-9 and waking up at 7am. She has also started napping longer, no weird cat naps and a hodge podge of a day. It was really frustrating me but I thought she sleeps through the night, the naps will come give the kid a break and seemed like once I quit trying to force things she did it herself. Thank you Lord. :)
In other news my thyroid is a little low. I felt edgey lately and it felt off, they didn't put me back on my alternating dose of 75 mcgs and 50's after the baby they just did 50's which I questioned but you know how that goes. Anyway I guessed my TSH would be 2.94 I feel best at around 1.5 anyway it was 3.94 on the high end of normal which means lower thyroid. He was going to keep me on the 50's but I plead my case through many obsticles and finally he agreed to go back. I started breaking out in hives last week and my hair loss tripled. I read online it could be thyroid for the hives or postpartum hormones. Either way the edgeyness should get better. So that's that for now, Click on the pic for more and pics of the baby as well.

Discovering The Fun of Daddy

baby 004
Originally uploaded by Audge3

Lashes

july2010 015, originally uploaded by Audge3.

I have been meaning to document the most beautiful eyelashes that I have ever seen. I feel that these have been misplaced onto someone who will not fully appreciate them.

Love This One

july2010 025, originally uploaded by Audge3.

Aliza has really started to love her bathtime! I've started doing it every night before I put her to bed because it makes her so happy and settled for sleeping that 8-10 hrs at night. All my babies loved their bathes and I think the key is getting that water nice and warm. Granted none of my kids were born loving bathes but it didn't take long before they did. And while I'm thinking of it, something I didn't learn till my 3rd baby. Lanolin is hands donw the best thing I have ever tried for diaper rash. My babies always got rashes during the newborn stage because every diaper has poo in it at that point, but the lanolin worked wonders, it's sort of like carwax, it makes the moisture bead up. Anyway it's late and that's all for now.

cooing

summer 2010 074
Originally uploaded by Audge3

7 weeks old!

summer 2010 048, originally uploaded by Audge3.

Aliza is getting easier!! She loves playing and cooing and has been sleeping through the night ever since that first night of 7.5 hrs. Last night she slept for 10 straight hrs and not a peep from her!! I went to bed at 10:30 so that was pretty awesome to not have to get up till 7:30 am! She also took a really good morning nap for me. She does tend to just catnap throughout the day and want to nurse a lot but I suppose I shouldn't complain. :) She has gotten to like bathes. I am feeling much better these too. I best go for now before she gets tired of playing under her gym.

Happy Days

An update! :) I am feeling better, a lot better, tired at times, but I have a newborn so yeah. Anyway Aliza is doing really well this week. She slept 7.5 hrs last night, amazing!! And of course I had to check her at 2 am to make sure she was still breathing. She has been getting less demanding, settling herself to sleep, staying asleep in her own bed, happy to watch the kids play and be talked to. It is wonderful!! She also rolled over last weekend, can't remember what I blogged already. I've got almost 3 months of the budget to catch up on, that is my next big goal. I was able to eat supper last night, no crying babe, and make supper ( with my hubby's help). I can get things done here and there it's great and I'm so thankful!! I will add some pictures to flickr soon. She's growing way too fast. In other too fast news, school starts a month from monday, it's ridiculous, what's so wrong with sept to end of may, give the kids and their mom's 3 whole months off. Oh well, I'm healthy so I should just be quiet. :)
ps Aliza's eyes could not be bluer. :) Her eyebrows couldn't be blonder. How does a dark person with a full Italian grandmother birth such light people? ( Fall in love with a blonde man I guess) :)

A kinda crappy postpartum

So where have a I been the past few weeks?
Let me just give you a recap of my health since birthing.
First night home, sneezed before I got a chance to prepare, blew some stitches, the dr said I would still heal up on my own and I seem to be. Wish that was my only issue. :)
Day after getting home felt a yeast infection coming on my left side, burning while nursing. Had Mitch get me lotrimin.
By one week postpartum, I was at the dr with a bacterial infection on both "mams" bleeding, cracking a fissure on one side, blisters. AWESOME.
About a week after that, I felt the yeast returning. This time it's in my milk ducts to boot, which is very painful at times, just go to breastfeeding.com and read all about it!! I had no idea it was possible to have go into your ducts. Anyway, on one round of diflucan, 3 days. A couple weeks or days don't know it's all running together, horrible pain is back, another round of the same. Then that weekend I get an awful sore throat that I swear is strep, it turns out not to be but I end up running a fever, feeling like I am about to puke upon standing, and the baby has the same virus and is out of sorts for the weekend as well. The sick, calming and nursing the sick. My ladies are doing fine at this point. My virus seems to improve on monday and tuesday, burning pains in left side begin again, I go back to the dr, 2 weeks of dilfulcan this time. It takes a while to see improvements and my sore throat from my virus won't seem to go away even though the severity is lessened, it still keeps me up at night scratchy and swollen and hurts to yawn. My mamaries seem fine the beginning of last week, Alexa my sis in law is going to come over that week, and I'm looking forward to it, Wednesday rolls around, I'm feeling decent, the baby is becoming easier, happy, cooing starting 3 weekends ago and smiling from birth, giving me one 5-6 hr block at night. Anyway, I start to feel gaggy and nauseous while making my breakfast wed morning, I think I'll end up having diarrhea like Idid the morning before. But it's that, plus puking. I decide to lay down and I need to nurse the baby, 5 minutes in I'm feeling the feeling again, I burp her, put her down she's bawling, I go and puke again, it's amazing, I return to nurse, 5 more minutes in, I have to go and puke AGAIN. She is finally fed and thank the Lord Alexa is there!! She takes the baby. I try to rest, but no I must puke one more time. I have never puked/diarrhea so much in such a short amount of time, less than an hour, it was horrible, but short lived. That night Mitch sleeps in the basement, we don't need him puking, and of all the nights, Isabelle wakes up with a gusher of a bloody nose that takes 25 minutes to stop and I'm woosey. SIGH
So now, my breasts are giving me issues AGAIN, my throat still hurts 3 weeks later. It's pretty bad when your baby's fast asleep and your stupid ailments are keeping you up!!! So I go back to the dr monday, ( it was their idea) and I have a couple pills of diflucan left. So yeah, i'm weary, trying to function, in between stuff and somehow take care of myself JOKE!!! Mitch was really sweet last night and went out and got me a filter for the cool humidifier and sugar free coughdrops to help me sleep, I'm trying to stay off sugar to not feed the yeast in my body, which I LOVE sugar. :( So I'm hopeful that the Lord will see fit to give me some relief soon as He is well acquainted with the inner workings of my body and my troubles and I know he'll give me the grace to get through each day or hour. I think of that song " day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here" something like that.
The baby loves to smile and coo and loves when her siblings give her attention, her little bod is strong and she holds her little head up very well. That's all for now.. let's hope anyway. I just want to LIVE again!!! :)

mayjunealiza 051

mayjunealiza 051, originally uploaded by Audge3.

more pics

Aliza Ann

In case you didn't check the album feed at the bottom of the blog..
June 3rd, 2010, 5:02 a.m; 6lbs. 9 lbs, 20 inches long. I've been M.I.A from webworld this week dealing with a NASTY bacterial infection on my ladies, symptoms started sunday, I thought it was yeast but apparently not. Bleeding, crying, pain, pumping instead of nursing for a while, went to dr yesterday and in one day things are starting to improve, thank the Lord. She let me sleep for a 4 hr block last night then a 2 hr. She weighed 7 lbs today at the dr and is doing a great, she's a really good baby and I'm looking foward to not going around bawling feeling and looking like I've been nursing a wolverine, I never had problems like this before!!! I was able to nurse on one side today and I'm so thankful, tomorrow I will try the other side. So I'm seeing light at the end of my nursing nightmare. My postpartum always starts off with a bang with pulling all nighters at the hospital, I ended up being jabbed 8 times, they had issues doing the IV but dang it I needed the fluids for the epidural. I pushed a few pushes through one contraction and she was here, with a knot in her cord, I'll post more pics eventually, Mitch took a pic of the knot, the dr suggested it lol. so it's been an exhausting week starting on a major sleep deficit, I thought I blew some stitches sneezing the first night, then the infection. I'm SO glad my mom was here this week!!! I would've died without her, probably really. :) The kids are doing great and love their sister, no issues with them at all. That's all for now, sorry for those of you I've not been able to touch base with yet. I appreciate you contacting me!!!!
ps, no cleft chin this time and she is my blondest baby! It looks blonder when her hair is freshly cleaned and puffed. :)

What I wish I Knew

After going into a lengthy facebook message to a friend yet to have children explaining what "crotch soaking" was all about, I thought about all the things I didn't know about birthing in the hospital that first and second time that I wished I knew now. So here's rough list of what I would tell a first time mom.

1. Limit your visitors, ask people to call first, and you may not guarantee that you're up for it. Limit the time spent, say something like, yeah if you want stop in for a few minutes in between a feeding that would be great. Ask the nurses to not let anybody call the room, or give your room number out. That way you won't have anyone unsuspected knocking at the door or calling if you have finally fell asleep. You will already have nurses bothering/checking you, your pad that you're bleeding all over, and squishing on your uterus. Then they will be checking the baby as well, off and on, night and day. You will also be dealing with signing birth certificates, hospital pictures, lactation consultants, hearing screening, there's just a lot of crap going on.

2. Your crotch is going to hurt if you push the baby out yourself. You will need to be changing pads, and soaking in sits baths at least 3 times a day. Hence the visitor issue, nothing like feeling like you can't leave to soak and your crotch is burning.

3. Nursing is a learning process, it's worth it to unlatch the baby if they aren't on right, trust me. Wear nursing pads even if your milk's not in and air dry your nipples before putting your bra back up. I learned this the hard way, mine got stuck to my bra, and I had to peel it off, there was blood and hence the name " hamburger nipple" entered in our family. See how visitors can pose problems for this???

4. Don't be afraid to have the nurses hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign on your door at certain times ,when dang it, you just need 2 hrs of uninterrupted sleep because the odds are working against you in a mighty way.

5. If your baby is hungry, don't feel bad about taking the baby back from a loving family member, and warn them, it's boob-time, so stay at your own risk. You aren't a baby birthing, bleeding, lactating hospital hostess.

6. Speak up for what you need, most all nurses are wonderful, caring and will work with you to find some rest. Don't be afraid to use the nurse button for fear of being a " bother" especially if you're paralyzed from an epidural, sitting in a chair, waiting for some inept cleaning people for way too long to change the bed while you're holding a sleeping baby in a chair and would like to catch a snooze yourself at 4am and despite the fact you're throwing pillows at his head, your husband just wont wake up off that little couch.

7. Have a little confidence in your own motherly intuitions, don't do anything that you don't feel great about just because it's going to inconvenience someone, or you haven't been a mom before and they have or whatever. You're going to make mistakes but the ones that bug you the worst will be when you wished you would've just gone with your gut, a little prayer and counsel never hurts but it's your baby. Your baby.

8. Schedules can work wonders after a few weeks!! Don't feel guilty about baby's sleep taking a certain amount of priority, but it is good to be flexible, small babies can nap just great in their carseats while out and about, and let me tell you, you'll want to get out a little. :)
Ok so unless I think of anything to add, oh WAIT

9. Tinkle before nursing, gets the bladder out of the way so it helps the uterus return to normal size easier when nursing stimulates contractions.

10. After you're home, make sure " help" means helping YOU in whatever YOU may need, picking up some random thing at the store, bringing you food, holding the baby while you nap or soak, doing a load of laundry, or dishes even just keeping you company while you nurse for hours. :) I remember hearing a story of a woman who's mom in law came and held her baby all day so that the mother could clean the house. Nice, so you've been incubating this baby for 9 months and suddenly it's doing you a favor to not get the hold this long awaited bundle and clean instead....( this is NOT my story... because you all know.. I don't hate cleaning. :))

So that's my advice, you've been warned. ;)

The big 4-0

Let me just say that, I have a fairly candid dr/patient relationship with my OB. I've not spared any details as you can imagine. So when she walked in the room and saw me sitting there in my blue sheet (with some sort of look of my face apparently), as she's closing the door she just starts laughing, she knows I did not want to make that appointment. :) I told the nurse I'm not expecting much progress although I did have tons of contractions yesterday but they subsided once I laid down for bed. I told my dr I even cleaned the van inside and out and installed the car seat. I'm not NOT laboring for lack of trying. She said I was crazy. Crazy OCD I admit! :) SO... I weigh 162. I am measuring 37. Two weeks ago I was measuring 38 so a little dropage. My cervix is 10 feet long ;) and I'm dilated to 1 and... a half. Even the dr was saying something to the effect of man, nothing's happening. I said yep all at once or nothing it seems with me. She told me, well I'm on call on Friday, so if you haven't had the baby by then, we'll break your water and start pitocin. Que the HALLELUJAHs! 7:30 Friday morning. Unless something happens before then, it's great to have a definite end in sight!!
We'll probably keep visitors to a minimum with all the crotch soaking, mammary flashing( I'm not a very good discreet nurser ;) ), and random sleep getting and not getting that's going to be going on. So hopefully my next post will be some flickr blogging of my squishy faced raisinette. Bring on the blobby belly and the smell of Tucks.

Wide Awake Pink Concealer for Dark Under Eye Circles

Wide Awake Pink Concealer for Dark Under Eye Circles click on this link, go, go NOW!! ok sorry, I'm still pregnant so I may as well blog... I need a break from the sun and heat anyway. So last week I ordered my summer shade from sheer miracle, ( did I mention they have me 10$ off just for blogging/linking to them, which I had done a long time ago, so that was a nice perk) I also decided to order for 2.50 the sample of the pink concealer. The sample was no bigger than a pea and I thought, GEE... that's minute... well a little goes a long way and this is stuff works awesome!!! It's really hydating and smoothing, really smoothing and does a great job masking the darkness I have on the inner corner of my eyes. I feel like all other concealers sort of magnified any texture or fine line issues, but this is quite something in my opinion, you aren't supposed to use it on the whole under eye, just the darkness, I just dabbed a little and blended. It wears amazing throughout the day and I don't know why... but it almost feels like my skin there has been smoothed too, weird, but good. ;) Did I mention all natural?? Oh and I don't know if was just my skin tone but I thought I might really have to work at blending it since it is a pink concealer but it really doesn't go on that pink at all.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals, Fabulous Eye Cream, .5 fl oz (15 ml) Another eye fave. I have been using this for months, and it has really helped smooth my eye area as well, it has retinol but it's really gentle, and I feel like I'm a good judge of that because ever since highschool my left eye is really sensitive and will get itchy and puffy if I get something too harsh near it. Good ingredients.

No more on news on the birthing front... I slept crappAE last night, feeling gross and being kept with stupid probably non-dilating contractions... so so READY for this to be over!! I did finish Trusting God yesterday, so I got a book read this pregnancy at least, may as well be sort of productive in my extra time... did I mention my Southbeach Prenatal Yoga is getting pretty difficult at 39 weeks pregnant?? What I wouldn't give for some blood streaked mucous plug right about now... he he sorry I didn't warn you for that one. ;)

To Birth Another Day

39 weeks today. The End. Ok nevermind, I can't talk that little. I am STILL only dilated to 1cm and long cervixed. I did lose two lbs. I am measuring between 37 and 38.. huh what? that's what I said, it's because the baby is sitting lower these days, it does help the reflux a little. :) The dr wants me to be more dilated before inducing me. Understandable, I told her by that time, I'll just probably be in labor on my own. That seems to be how things work for me. She did give me a little hope that maybe the thunderstorms could trigger labor because of the shift in barometric pressure. Why not?? I'll hang onto anything. I went into labor with Isabelle on a full moon so who knows. So yeah, a little bummed to be making that 40 week appointment. I guess my out of control thyroid during Christian's pregnancy did effect me having him at 37 weeks.
My labor predictions now are...2 days before or after the due date... and I swore I wouldn't see June pregnant...

Yes, give thanks for "all things" for, as it has been well said "Our disappointments are but His appointments." ~ A.W. Pink (you like, Dan??)

Another pregnant weekend

Please oh please let this have been my last pregnant weekend!! :) I had another bad night of sleep like I did a couple weeks ago with contractions waking me up every 10-20 minutes then fizzling back out. This time though I just kept going back to sleep instead of pondering if this was IT. :) I've had my share of uncomfortable, menstrual-like cramping for a while now so I don't know what to believe other than I'll be in real pain before I even consider calling the hospital to see if I should come in. Grossness alert... I did have some mucousiness throughout the week but what it means who even knows. I am such a get er done person that this is driving me crazy, but I'm trying to just give it over the Lord, he has planned right when I birth and me wanting it bad enough is not going to change His perfect timing. I may as well hand this aspect of Aliza's life over to Him too right? :)
The upside to waiting week after week is getting more things done, haircuts for my family, me coloring my roots, getting the van all spiffy... we're still trying to figure out why we are getting 12 mpg and check engine light issues, blah buh dee boo. I organized the kids clothes even further now that is seems cool weather is FINALLY all over for the summer. I ended up organizing the linen closet, going to goodwill again. Also on Saturday we had a little family fun day and took the kids to a fun park that is beautiful and they also have animals to look at. Then we got to go out on a date that night so that made it a fun non birthing weekend. I also got my first baby present this weekend so that was fun!!
Tomorrow is my appointment, the one I didn't want to make it to and I'll be 39 weeks. I really hope somehow something has progressed enough so that maybe she can induce me so I don't have to go past 40. We shall see....

38 week "update"

Today I am 38 weeks. I am measuring 38 weeks. I have gained 5 oz. I have not dilated any more than 1cm and my cervix is still long. I can't say that I'm surprised, I have been anxiously awaiting the expulsion of my mucous plug and it hasn't happened and gauging from my other two kids, that usually happens around 2 cm. So hear I am, perpetually pregnant. My... lets just say it, crotch pain/soreness continues. And I also have very sharp sudden pains as well in that region as well. Aliza has a way of settling in on one side of my pelvis in the night, depending on the side I'm sleeping on, and the pain of it is quite... breathtaking and I have painfully roll myself out of bed and get on all fours and try to move her. She's actually done this for a few months but it keeps getting worse. My nights consist of flipping over every hour and having to get up to pee until about 4 am where it's amazing to get a 4 hour block in to not have to get up, I may still have to turn. My husband has been getting great sleep downstairs as his share of the bed has been taken over by my pillows and my great big bod. His snoring doesn't wake me, and my rolling over, gasping in pain, waddling to the toilet about to wet myself because getting up triggers a braxton, doesn't disturb him. I miss him. :) We are looking forward to our spa like getaway to the hospital.... pretty sad isn't it??? :)
So the dr said we'll check next week and see if maybe we can do something before the due date. yes PLEASE. Things can happen all at once she said, which is what my children seem to due, so I hold out hope. :) I hope I don't make it to next week's appointment but I'm not holding my breath. I think Aliza's first blog quote that I blog should be " I ain't NEVER comin out!"

Mother's Day

Me and all 3 of my muffins. A lady in church was entertained that morning from the alien-like movements coming from my belly. " you're baby's very active". Isabelle made me a card while I was in bed that morning that said " I love you Mom, Today is Moms day, happy moms day, we will go to chrch( that's how she spelled it) love, Isabelle." So sweet.
Then we have the below picture, remember that commerical that went something like this.. " big big big BIG, so HUGE and BIG!" This is me last night, 37 weeks and 3 days. And I did work on packing the hospital bag finally, it's not completely done but you can't be completely done till you are actually going to go anyway, at least for me, I have a lot of face crap to pack. Check out those veins.. they look downright placental.... did I mention I'm running out of clothes that fit??? Here's hoping this is my last pregnant weekend.

37 week update

I turned 37 weeks yesterday and had my appointment today. I was hoping to not gain weight for another week but those hopes were dashed and I gained almost 2 lbs in a week... who am I kidding, with all I ate last weekend, I deserve it. I forgot to ask what I measured. My bp was good. My cervix is still long but I am a whole centimeter dilated now, so I suppose I should be glad for that. :) The dr said she won't electively induce unless I'm dilated to 3 and that doesn't seem to happen for me till I'm in labor on my own anyway. Ugh, I can't go to 40. I just can't, it's depressing!!! Healing with Christian was a million times easier than with Isabelle and there was no utero pooping with him along with laboring with a catheter up my birth canal flushing fluid for most of my horrible 5 hr back labor before I could get my epidural don't get me started on THAT one.
Isabelle told me my belly looked like a mountain last night.
I suppose if I want to labor so badly, I could at least get some of my hospital bag packed...I did last night and today get Mitch's hair cut, Isabelle's bangs trimmed, and I Capture cleaned the kitchen and living room carpets and vacuumed the whole house including the stairs, which those had not been done for.... a real long time. :)

36 weeks

35 wks 5 days, originally uploaded by Audge3.

Had my appointment today!! I've become quite uncomfortable ( very, very) in the lady region area the past few days, the ways in which I have to get myself turned over and slide out of bed is quite the sight I must say. I told Mitch, he's going to have to start helping put on my pants because it HURTS to lift my legs up that much!! Aliza kicks the crud out of me, more than the other kids and it's startling at times and kinda hurts...
Anyway appointment updates.negative for group strep b. I actually lost 2 ounces!!!! YEE HAW to that one. For the obvious and because it's a good sign things are coming a close on the pregnancy front. I am measuring 37 weeks and I am not effaced ( typical with subsequent pregnancies) but I am dilated to a whopping half centimeter. Not a lot, but I'll take at 36 weeks!! I have always birthed my children in less than 24 hrs after losing that lovely mucous plug. TMI? You shouldn't be surprised by now. ;)

Isabelle's 6!!

may 10 038, originally uploaded by Audge3.

This flickr to blogger thing is pretty nice!! I can get my pictures up here fast for you loved ones!!

Some Random Christian things

My son loves tv so much, he will watch it on and off ALL day if I let him, so I now limit him to 2 hrs a day, which still may sound a lot to some people... the other day I had the midday news on. After that comes some soap opera and I was putting laundry away etc and I figured I need to go turn off the t.v. I find Christian laying on the ottoman, watching it, he loves tv that much.....
A cute/sweet thing that I'm blogging it so I remember it for future reference is this: Lately Mitch has been working a lot of hours and trying to get things in an inhuman amount of time and he's been sick this week to boot, I stinking HATE parade time. I won't even go there.... anyway, another late night home of being a single mom, Mitch came home and mowed since it had been a week and half with the rain. I'm getting supper for the kids and Christian is sitting at the table and I don't know what he said that preceded this but he said to me " you know how much I love my Daddy." So sweet.
Well the news is over and I hear that soap opera on right now, I better go make sure someone is not kicking back and watching it....
In other kid conversations, Isabelle and I have already had to talk about boyfriends and girlfriends and kissing and marriage...all from something a classmate said to another at school. Oh well, may as well start embedding God's wisdom over dating now so there is no confusion in the future. ;)

tooth

tooth, originally uploaded by Audge3.

testing this

35 weeks, 161 big ones.

Had my dr's apt today. Did the group b strep test and when I came out with my nifty blue sheet around my waste, Christian complimented me, " you look cute Mommy" I don't know why, but he always compliments me on the flowery smocks and sheets at the OB....funny. :) Aliza's heartrate was in the 150's, and she seems to be head down according do the dr's feeling around. I weighed in at uncharted territory, 161 lbs. I asked her about if Aliza could come early like Christian even though I had the thyroid issues, she said it's hard to say but it is true that once you've gone early you can do it again. So I am hoping for a couple weeks early!!! Also had my thyroid checked Friday and my numbers are great! I'm so thankful to have had minimal thyroid issues during the pregnancy!
I'm trying to think of any other updates but my brain is pregnant and not dependable...
oh yeah, about my Hugo Naturals shampoo I got, I feel like it's not cleaning quite as awesome as at the beginning so I'm thinking of trying the Lemon Verbena version that is more clarifying and seeing if using that once a week helps. I do however only shampoo a couple times a week :) but my hair rarely gets oily, it just gets scalp buildup... so I don't know... I do feel like my hair is soft and healthy and clean, I'm just being super anal after I shower that I can't scrape anything from my scalp with my fingernail...sorry if that's gross but it's really not to me with birth and all it's juices pending.
More randomness, Isabelle's tooth pics.

While I'm thinking of it

We toured the hospital today we are going to deliver at. The point of this post is, they let you use a laptop if you don't have your own to do pics or what not. We don't have one so I am pretty excited about this!! I need to purchase a USB cable for our camera and I think we should be good to go. SO, if you scroll down to the bottom of the blog, you will see "Aliza Ann"'s flickr feed. It posts on it's own when I upload pics to my Aliza album. I'm planning on updating facebook when we get to the hospital but I will post pictures on flickr so you nonfacebookers can still see them and I will post her stats and all that. I suppose I will even be able to update the blog itself, but if I just get to uploading pictures you know where to look, hopefully that will go smoothly...

My Pro Pics with Sarah

Pictures

A couple weeks ago my sweet friend Sarah of sarah nebel photography, did some maternity pictures for me. ( i'm sure she'd love it if you became a facebook fan) We had a lot of fun if you can't already tell from the pictures. She also let me put in my family for the first few shots, then they went off to play. I am so thankful for her special documentation of the last of pregnant days!! The evening was great, except for the pervey dude at the very end telling me I should take off my white sweater so I just had my tank top on and that my husband would really like it, and some other " compliments" of a creepy nature. He caught me off guard first asking me how far along I was, I just kept thinking, I'm getting in the vehicle... get in the vehicle, call Mitch to see where's he's at, let's get out of here!!! Mitch was NOT happy, not " boy I would've done this or that" but not really done it, as in I'm glad the kids were with us and he was able to go back and have a big, ugly confrontation. He was not happy some perve was allowed to run free. ANYway... Thank you Sarah AGAIN and I LOVE the pictures!!!

Random updates

I am big and tired, getting out of bed for my 3-7 pee breaks a night continues to get more and more challenging. Today I planned on planting flowers, but things changed when Isabelle got a rash that looked like a heat rash or something all over her trunk and it was still there this a.m. Took her to the dr, no fever, not contagious, she thought it was from something internal bothering her and she told me to give her zyrtec for a few days. So while we drove 20 minutes to the dr, we went ahead and went to the mall there, and Isabelle and I got our hair cut, hers is really cute in my opinion, shorter with some layers, easier for summer washing. We also did some shopping I needed to do while in that specific mall. We then went to Lowes and Kohls after getting to meet Mitch, he got to get off early today ( as in he already had probably 45 hrs in). So that was nice but I am beat.
In other news, can't remember if i blogged it, but Isabelle had a slightly loose tooth in Feb that had her permanent tooth behind it already broke through, we have been working and working on loosening this baby up and this week she was a trooper and let me work on and finally pull it, she was SO excited! She took it to school for show and tell and got a little treasure box for it, she also took her 50 cents to school and so thrilled she could buy something at the bookfair, ( I warned her she might not be able to afford anything with 50 cents) anyway, she got an eraser and a bookmark. Also, I didn't know till last weekend while Mitch had the kids at a park, that Isabelle can cross the triangular monkey bars. We were at that park because my friend Sarah was taking maternity photos for me and we also did a few family ones. Once I get the disk I'll upload my favs. I know Kay and Aunt Denise will want to see them. :)
Other updates... as of yet I have not made to 160 yet... but I'm thinking I will at my next apt at 34 weeks. I am hoping to go around 38 weeks, but who knows, the dr said she won't induce earlier than 39 so I'm thinking induction the day I turn 39 weeks... ;) what would it be like to not miss an entire night of sleep birthing??

Happy 4th Birthday to my boy

Last Thursday, Christian turned 4. I really can't believe that my baby boy is four...and as you can see by my lack of posting, things have been busy around here for us, they always are in the spring, and even more so with getting ready for Aliza. We have Easter, Christian's birthday, Isabelle's birthday, Mother's Day in the spring every year, not to mention all the yard work, van washing, cleaning out etc. The weather has been beautiful, I don't think we have had a spring this nice since I birthed Christian, I remember coming home to 80 degree weather and leaves on the trees then too. So it must be that if I'm birthing, it's going to be a good spring, you're all welcome. ;)

This year one of Mitch's co-worker's wives who's a sweetheart, loaned me this big cupcake pan. I planned on using this for both kid's b-days. I had issues with the cake sticking to it the pan and had to do a lot of spackling with a whole can of frosting on the base, it was quite the task and I'm so glad I did it before the day of his party!! So it ended up looking like more of a little mushroom hut than a cupcake, so we went with it. The hut had a cracking and leaning foundation but the kids still thought it was pretty cool and I suppose that's all that matters!! Christian's favorite thing he got was mariokart wii from us this year, Isabelle was pretty excited too, as you can imagine. Here are pics from his day and also of easter.

2 More Months

yes that is my belly button poking out...

http://flickr.com/gp/47135298@N05/u8953N
First, here are the kids' room pictures, all done, finally!! One cool thing I didn't include in my pic descriptions was the great deal we got on wood blinds from home depot!! There discontinueing some of the blinds and they had them on sale for 23 reg. 57 dollars. The only thing was is that they were too big and we needed them cut down. We got one cut without a hitch, the next window got chipped on one side, so the lady sold that one to us for 5 bucks!! We took it home, Mitch cute the other side and I touched up the chipped parts and you would never know!!
And I have Aliza's room done!! I just need to get diaper rash cream and kleenex for that room. I am planning on getting that Buttpaste the natural version, I have a coupon but Walmart didn't have that version. At the bottom of the blog I have an Aliza album feed that you can click to check whenever.
I am still liking and doing my prenatal yoga I blogged a while back about. (twice a week, I'd like it to be more but projects and cleaning and life and groceries take me away from that)
2 pregnancy must haves for this time around for me were Be Maternity from Target. I got the white BeBand, it is SO nice, it helps to keep your pants up, and hide if you can't button them, I still have to adjust it some, but it sooo much better than constantly yanking up my jeans, smooths out muffin top issues, AND you can use it afterward, I'm thinking, more blob hiding, less plumber crack worries, and a little cover up while hiking up shirts to nurse.
The second thing from that BeMaternity is their tank tops, I got black, it is so stretchy and comfy, I love it because it shows off your bump early but grows with you. If you look at my belly pics, I'm wearing it at 20 weeks and am wearing today at 31 and I still have more room to grow in it. And you could totally use it afterward, nice and long. I think I made a paragraph sentence above about the band... oh well.
Also, I'm so excited to use this for Aliza,
Nature's Baby Organics, Organics, Shampoo & Body Wash, Vanilla Tangerine you can click on the link and read the reviews if you're interested. If you check back in my health/beauty posts I am still using for myself now and will use for her that Stoneybrook lotion.

I've also gotten some Hugo ( not the perfume) shampoo and conditioner I really like!! I am using the jasmine shampoo and the ylang ylang conditioner. If you're interested just search them on iherb and read the reviews. I was interested in trying something like WEN but I figured I could find something cheaper and more natural, a couple of the reviewers said they had been WEN users. The shampoo does great with actually cleaning my scalp of buildup which I was skeptical it would, and conditioner, I put in and comb through, but it's not your average slippery slimy stuff. Anyway, I love it thus far. I usually wait to use things a while before I review them and I did with all this stuff, minus the baby wash, but the reviews make me confident I will love it too.

Other pregnancy stuff, I was sad last night because when I woke up, Mitch was all the way on the edge of the bed and I felt unloved for a moment, then I realized my pillow I used for my back/belly, depending on what side I'm flipping to had forced over there, poor guy.

I also got teary today because while grocery shopping, there was this sweet old lady that reminded me of my grandma, just kinda the way she looked and the sweet way about her, we shared a few words about ketchup and arthritic hands....

Anyway, 2 more months and I can't WAIT to meet my baby girl!!! And I really need to take some pictures of my other children and video them... my muffins are turning 4 and 6 within this month or so!!! Isabelle got to have an easter egg hunt at school today and 80 degree weather was perfect for it!!

Craftiness

I know why I'm not a crafty person, it's time consuming and tedious. I got a bug on to make my own mobile this week. After seeing a cute one in a magazine and searching online for ideas, and mobiles that cost 100$, I thought, I can do that. So here it is my mobile, with all supplies from, Walmart, I hate that place but it served me well today.
It cost me about 12 dollars to make mmm hmmm, I wish I could say I did this in an hour but it was more like 4, lets be real here, the making my own pattern, the cutting that cramped my hand, the stringing, balancing, evening out, hanging, it took a little bit but I kind of enjoyed this project.
I used:
2 diff. packs of photo-mounting paper, 4$ each.
2 1/8 inch wooden dowels. .25 each.
fishing line that holds 4 lbs, about 2.50
elmer's glue I already had, or should I say Isabelle...
a small white ceiling hook I already had.
my own pattern. aw yes and my creative memory circle cutter deals for the circles.
I also added a picture of the crib on flickr, the bumper pad was 8.47 and the skirt was 5.something. Not too shabby. Once I get both kids rooms completely done, and they nearly are, I'll take more pics. I know you can't wait....ha.

pregnancy brain, proof reading, spellcheck

I notice lately when I post I leave out words and word things way WRONG. The first line of my last post, said " I slepted like crap last night", I promise you, I dont' talk this way I only type this way. Like a 4 year old. Judge me, because I judge myself.

Some therapeutic venting.

I slepted like crap the past two nights and this did not just start happening either, I've been struggling to sleep well at night for a about 3 weeks. Last night I could not sleep because of the stupid pressure in my throat, chest and upperback, I even took pepcid before bed, and finally after tossing and turning and peeing all night, I got up at 3:47 and took tylenol, something has to help right?? I heated up my ricepack thing and put in under my upper back, then ended up putting it on my chest and falling asleep finally, I know it doesn't make sense. ARGH, I'm sleeping with pillows like I'm in my last month, my belly gets sore and aches after a long day so does my back in that one spot that radiates to my abs. Today I had another ob appoint and gained 2 lbs in 2 weeks... so much for 2lbs in one month... also the dr had trouble finding Aliza'a heartbeat and when she did it was slow, she told me she didn't think baby liked me on my back so I moved on my side the heartrate was right back up. I often sleep or wake up on my back, so that's neat.... Last night I would've rather been up with a newborn and at least sleeping well when I got the chance. I do try to count my blessings that I'm not sick, and I was not having anxiety issues. I'm ready for pregnancy to be OVER. I love the miracle of life and knowing your baby is growing in you but the ailments get old and I will never understand people who have a billion kids and have their bodies be in a constant state of discomfort... i'm just not a breeze through it pregnant person, and I'm older than 24 when I had Isabelle.
Also while I'm venting, I'm wearied of sickness!!! I had a nasty cold in Feb that took over 2 weeks to go away... a little over 2 weeks ago, Mitch and Isabelle had a fever running sore throat, headache virus. Isabelle's last day of the virus, I got a migraine, she was in school for 2 days then got the stomach flu and puked at school and I had to pick her up. She was well for the weekend as we all were... then monday night Christian comes down with a virus that won't go away and fridayI take him to the dr and he has strep and an ear infection. Things could be worse but I'm venting right now and... I need to stop becauseI could go on and on. I wish I got to see my husband more.
ok so waaa we all have problems, but those are my current ones.

A Fansome update

2 updates in one, one kid related, one pregnancy related.
28 weeks, glucose tolerance test, no news is good news and I haven't heard back yet sooo I think it's safe to say I passed. My iron was a smidge low, same as with Christian but not enough to warrant any supplementing. More leafy greens and iron fortified food. Even though in less than 24 hrs before, I pounded a huge bowl of shredded wheat, granola cereal, and had a salad with green leaf lettuce with supper. So I don't know what else to do there... I feel fine enough.
AND I weigh 155. I just can't touch 170, it's too scary, it's uncharted territory. I asked the dr, when have a I gained too much weight?? She laughed at me, and said oh you could do a half a pound a week, 2 lbs a month...right, I have probably gained 2 lbs since leaving there earlier today. Aliza is a highrider and I got kicked in the ribs which I don't recall ever happening to me before. Oh yeah and I measured 29 weeks, which was " great". I go back in 2 weeks, we are already to THAT point, crazy!!!
And now kid stuff, my children make up words, out of 2 different words, perhaps you have heard the word " hanitizer" ( hand+sanitizer, makes perfect sense right?) or Christian has come up with the word "fansome" (fancy+handsome) and I think they assume these are real words. I told Christian the other day I needed to comb his bedhead ( we were going in public) :) he asked me if he was going to look " fabulous". After cutting Mitch's hair, he asked me only half seriously " does Daddy get a treat if he holds still??" with the big huge grin. I hadn't cut poor daddy's hair since before Christmas. :) Christian kept telling him he looked " fansome" the change must've been that dramatic.
So hence the title of this post, fansome, 2 words in one, 2 updates in one.

3 more months....

So why did I go a month with no belly pics and do them at 26 and 27 weeks?? Because yesterday, Katie said she looked at my pics and said I looked huge. And when I went to Isabelle's parent teacher conference, her teacher said, you're getting bigger, when are you due? I said I'm 27 weeks, about 3 more months, June 1st, her eyes got big and she said " good luck" I am getting uncomfortable way too soon. Bending is annoying, my back hurts everyday, and it started at 16 weeks hurting and the it's only increased with time, and I'm just TIRED, my body is so beat at the end of the day it reminds of when I was at the end of my pregnancy with Isabelle, I've been going to bed at 9:30 at night. I can't even enjoy my bathes anymore because my back hurts me in there too!! Which is sad :(. I have all these things that I want to get done but my big bod is stopping me. I suppose doing projects on top of already doing the usual is going to have to be rationed out and no more moving furniture around. :) I'm about ready to buy a belly band thing. My belly is almost as big as when I was pregnant with Christian at around 36-37 weeks... and I'm 10 weeks from that...
In other (conference) news. Isabelle's still doing great in school. She is in the high reading group ( although they don't tell the kids which group that is) She still goes to her extended math group and got good reviews on listening, having good ideas, being respectful, polite and kind to her friends. What's funny is back when I was kid, being polite, respectful was status quo and there were probably more respectful than not, I'm thinking not so much now days. Mommy was thankful for the good review!!
Two times this week, the kids got themselves, coated, shoed, and buckled into the van with the garage door open so all I had to do was walk out and get myself in... now that was awesome... too bad Isabelle fell off the wagon today and was late and made us wait in the van, due to just having to complete a puzzle when she was to be getting ready, no Wii today, there were tears....

The amazing things pregnant women cry about.

Starting today, my parents got rid of their lan line to save money and just use their cells. I knew I wouldn't get through once the first came but I speed dialed the home phone just in case, the number is no longer a working number... hmmm, I looked down at my phone, it said my former last names house and the number that I remember memorizing before starting school and it was just a constant in our lives, my Dad had this number since he lived in that town in his twenties. I called Mom to talk to her as usual but on her cell. I started to tell her it was kinda sad that number is no more... then I just flat out started bawling, about a phone number... I could tell she started crying too but I'm thinking my own pregnant, melancholy, patheticness had something to do with it. My Dad comes in and there we are bawling on the phone... about a phone number. Mitch will find this story funny I'm sure!!! My Dad did, although, he had hoped somehow to use the number as his cell phone number but sometimes you just have to let things go... ;)