A New Goal

Having children has been the greatest thing I have ever done, but having children has also caused me to severely slack on my home duties. It's been frustrating for some time, especially since pregnant again, to look around my house and see soooo much that needs to be done all the time. It seemed to get discouraging, and so much so that I finally was just like-I don't care, it can wait. I have come to realize though that it doesn't help my mood any if I do wait. Obviously there are times and moments that it HAS to wait or should come second to my children but there is also a point where it does need to be done. I put it off far too often than I should. And not only does a messy home affect me, it affects the whole mood of the home and everyone in it. It sounds corny, but there is a peace that comes in a clean home, a peace and a happiness. Oh, and definitely a sense of accomplishment. Mike has always been such a help not only with the kiddos but with the house as well. As of late the poor man has been so exhausted, due to work being a bit more than draining and taxing, that for him to come home to a mess makes me feel lower than dirt. He needs to come home to a place where, when he walks in the door, he can feel the lift of stress and know he can spend time having some fun with the kids and letting go of work. Again, it doesn't mean that there will never be a time when there's a mess when he comes home-it just doesn't need to be every room! :) (besides, I swear, that 4-5:30 time is the time when somewhere in the house falls apart-kids think they have free range when Mom is cooking dinner) So, after reading an article found on Pinterest the other day, I have made a new goal-and one that is super achievable-even preggo. I was amazed at how much I got done last night-I did end up doing it for longer than an hour, but not a lot longer than that, and I felt even better since the kids were asleep and Mike was gone. I went to sleep not feeling overwhelmed, looking forward to my day today, and proud for the hubby to come home at some point and feel like he could relax after a SUPER long day. And you know, it was pretty nice to sit and relax with him, even if it was just for 30 minutes before we went to bed!

Anyway, here's the article, maybe it will help someone else as well! I will do an update at some point on how I am doing on my goal.

The article is HERE.

A Couple of Funnies

We're working on getting a new camera, I promise! It just might take a little bit.

So, I wanted to jot down just 2 of the things I have heard in that last 2 days, because that's all I can remember at this point!

On Tuesday evening we were driving home and were stopped at a light-this is the spot that always stinks really bad. Maddie was jabbering on about something that I was listening to when I hear Makinley repeating herself over and over, like it was something really important.

I stop Maddie but still can't understand what Makinley is saying.

Me: "I don't know what you're saying sweetie."

Makinley: "Wus dat shmell Mommy?"

Me: "Oh, I don't know, what do you think it is?"

Makinley: "Isss, POOP!" Iss stinky like POOOOP! Hahahahaha!"

Now, if you knew Makinley's little voice, it made it 20 times funnier. And then she wouldn't let it go and belly laughed the entire 6 minutes home, and had me and Maddie laughing just as hard!

Last night the girl's were getting in the shower and right before that Maddie was rubbing my belly and talking to it and then Patch came over and wanted to feel and see if the the littlest Mr. was moving. I told him to let me get the girls in the shower and then we could sit on my bed and he could feel the baby. So, we get situated and then this convo happens, 

Me: "Oh, hang on, I need to go potty real quick."

Patch: "Oh, is the baby sitting on your gutter?"

Me: "Hahahahahaha-yeah-hahahahahahaha!"

He corrected himself later but man, I had a really good laugh at that!

A Preggo Momma's Post (beware!)

Just to note, we're on day 2 of everyone feeling good again! Wahoo!

I just wanted to write this down, just for my records, it can be hard to remember things from when you're pregnant, ya know, after the fact.

This pregnancy has definitely been different for me. I know everyone says that each pregnancy is different but for me, the first 2 were a breeze. I definitely threw up WAY more with the first and not at all with the second but other than that-they were nearly identical...that I can remember. Makinley, the 3rd pregnancy brought out my incredibly feisty side and more back pain than I thought possible. I carried her very differently and was way more tired and nauseous. I am sure Mike thought something happened with his wife over night-that feistiness I spoke of...yeah it really was rough-especially for him. (which kind of completely explains Makinley in a nutshell:) My emotions were there but again, expressed more in blunt-ness and frustration rather than my typical tears.

And then this time around, hmmm. Everything happened sooner, for sure, but it's been hard to put it into words. Whiny, yeah, I guess that sums it up. I have been a whiny whiny girl. I have some feistiness but it comes and goes in spurts, it's not permanent. The tears? Not so much but when I do have it it lasts for a day or 2 and it's always triggered by missing my busy husband-and then everything else comes out too. All 3 previous pregnancies I have been able to sleep well until around 25 plus weeks. I haven't slept well since before I found out I was pregnant-the crazy dreams and nighttime potty breaks started around 2 weeks-seriously. And then not being comfortable started super fast-my bones are just taking it all differently this time. This little man is hanging out way lower than any of the other ones and therefore causing an inability of walking pretty often. By the time Mike gets home I am sure I look like I need hip and knee replacements! :) Haha! 

However, while all of this may sound super negative and bad, I would take it anytime-it is the most amazing and incredible thing I have done, ever. It is really hard but the most incredible hard thing ever. It really isn't complaining either-in my eyes-because it just is what it is and to me, to remember what a difficult thing my body has done is important. It makes the most difficult and amazing changes a body can. I can't express my awe in words of what is happening inside (and outside for that matter) of my body. I feel and watch him moving all over and it is just nothing short of indescribable. Watching the kiddos rub my belly and talk to it and to watch the wonder and excitement in their eyes makes my heart melt. They are just as thrilled as I am with changes going on and what it all means for the near future. And, I know that it's doesn't get to happen for every woman or it doesn't happen as easily for some women as it does for others, so, I'll take it all, no matter how hard it may seem. And my struggles and hardship doesn't compare to that of a lot of others either.

I am just super grateful today for this experience again and for all the struggles and amazing things that my body is doing in the process, and for this little nugget who is cooking/kicking away!

Hmmmm!

The last couple of weeks has been, well, interesting.

Things were crazy busy between dental appts., kindergarten pre-registration (seems a little over-kill, right), a Family Fun fair, Father/Son campout, and the list goes on.

Oh, and the entire last week (seriously, Sunday to Sunday) we spent at the house because every kiddo here got sick. It was one of the longest and crabbiest weeks of my life-there may be some of that crab left but...I am working on it! ;)

Let's start with the first on the list, because it was monumental. So, Patrick went to the dentist when we lived in Virginia, and he was hesitant but didn't put up a fight-like I expected. So, we scheduled an appt. for him and Maddie 6 months ago...and he wouldn't have it. It was what I had anticipated for his first ever appt. Except, he had already been before and had his teeth cleaned!

Anywho, we finally had another appt. for him a week or 2 ago and he did marvelous! YAY!

Speaking of Patrick, he is now pre-registered for school! I am not exactly sure of what all will finalize his registration-since they have all his documents, but apparently we do the rest online at some point. He does have Kindergarten kick-off the end of this week and he gets to meet all of the kindergarten teachers and go with them and get comfortable-which will be fantastic, since he has really no desire or enthusiasm to go. So, hopefully, this will get him more excited!

Maddie's school holds a fundraiser each spring called the Family Fun Fair. And fun it was! They had fair rides and yummy fair food, games, face painting and even finger nail painting! A fair was a first for Maddie, and she loved it! Mike and Patch were at their Father/Son campout so it was a GNO for Momma, Maddie and Makinley. I was so proud of Maddie, she wanted to ride everything-and she rode most of them! She had a blast, and I loved watching her get so excited to see all of her friends. 

She was happy, happy, happy!

The Father/Son campout was...interesting! That Friday and Friday night were by far the coldest we had seen in a couple of weeks! The food prepared by the stake that night wasn't child friendly, Patch got a yucky tummy problem, which presented a problem since he really needed a bathroom close by, Mike froze because he gave Patrick his sleeping bag because Patch's wasn't warm enough (he's a good daddy), breakfast turned out great-which was a relief since they were all starving from the night before, and then the service project wasn't designed well for Dad's with littler sons. However, although all this went wrong Patrick still came home with a smile on his face...and Mike had a really worn out smile! :)

This entire last week the kids have all been incredibly sick. It started last Sunday-the 21st, with Makinley throwing up, that lasted throughout the day and brought the other end as well. She was still really sick Monday into Tuesday, however, that "other end" lasted all the way to Thursday! 5 days for a tiny girl, and hardly any eating! I remember getting so excited on Wednesday when she ate an entire piece of toast and a few bites of rice-sad but seriously, such a break through! Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning brought Maddie into our room saying she didn't feel well and she was burning up with fever. She stayed home Wednesday hoping to get better since she had a field trip Thursday. She was off and on all day that day, going to bed feverless. She didn't sleep most of that night because of an awful cough that decided to rear it's ugly head. She came in our room really early on Thursday morning saying, "Mom, I didn't see the clock for 9, 10, 11 or 12 last night!" She tried so hard to be perky and sound like she felt better but her scalding skin proved otherwise. Tears ensued for a while until she realized she didn't have to put up a front to being sick anymore and she essentially collapsed on the couch just watching tv. We got into the doc. where she was running 102.5-which is a big deal for her. We left with them pretty concerned about her but chalking it all up to a virus. We stopped by WalMart to grab some children's advil, a new thermometer, and some Vick's vapor rub-Makinley cried the entire time because her belly hurt so bad, but then her bum did too-so she wouldn't go to the bathroom. And then, at the end as we were checking out Maddie ran to the bathroom and got sick-that made our 3rd trip to the bathroom. Maddie's fever seemed to peak at 103 that day. She continued to be sick until Sunday, and then Patch took his turn. He started throwing up in the morning and did just a couple of times that day but ran a high fever as well all day long. He's kind of funny though when he's sick. He doesn't stop talking...even when he's throwing up!

This morning brought a girl finally able to go to school! Wahoo! Her eyes still look sick-which sounds weird unless you saw them the entire time she was sick, but, no fever and no throwing up! Patch, seems good at the moment as well! Now, we need to get this house looking like it hasn't thrown up for that last week!

Thankfully, though all of this, Mike and I have stayed healthy! That's quite the blessing and one that I am holding onto while fighting the grumpies and "woe is me" attitude. This wasn't a complaining post, just one for our records-for it was rather interesting! :)

Oh, and if anyone wants a 2 year old for a week, they can come and get her!

Let me emphasize 2 year old! :)

(This too shall pass!)

Hahaha!

Half Way!

Again, slightly behind, but only a little this time!

We have hit our half way mark with this pregnancy! I am supposed to have a picture to post with this but that will come later today, usually by the time Mike gets home I am looking, ummm, a little rough. :) So I will try harder today to keep it together!

Everything is going really good though. My sciatic nerve is being quite a bit less than friendly this pregnancy-which isn't something that I have experienced with any of the others. It has put me on the ground a couple of times and caused me to not be able to walk at others. The last few days have been better though-I am pretty sure little man has shifted and moved upward a bit more, which has helped tremendously. I am having a few more better nights of sleeping these last few days too, since my nerve has let up a bit-so that's been nice as well. Since he's moved a bit he is no longer kicking me where no one can feel it but me. He's a really active little guy and proved so as he proceeded to kick Patch in the head for a good 5 minutes yesterday! It was awesome! Not to mention, but I will, that he had been kicking/punching before that and continued to after that for forever! I love every second of it. 

With the realization that he will be here in less than 19 weeks (given that my scheduled c-section is the 22nd of August-1 week early) a lengthy list of what all needs to get done has been writing itself non-stop in my head! Today it goes down on paper! :) We have a lot to do! But that's good too-it will make the time go by faster hopefully-the first half seemed to last forever this time around. 

Anyway, we are getting so excited around here and are glad we are counting down now!

This was in the morning, when I was ready, it's always a little smaller in the morning.

And, by the end of the day, there is food on my clothes and I have had a change of clothes as well-into something more comfy...so much for keeping it together yesterday-I am sick with some sinus stuff though, so we'll blame it on that! :)

It's the little things

I never knew that it would be a big deal to have neighbors stop by and introduce themselves and leave goodies, but I was wrong. After almost 9 months we had our first neighbors come by, apologize for it having been so long, give us cookies and stand on our porch and chat with us for about an hour. We have actually met nearly all of neighbors because our kiddos play outside and are not shy but, it was just so different to have someone make such an effort-that really sounds dumb but...maybe it's the preggo hormones?? Haha!

Anyway, it was awesome. And not only did they stand and make us feel so welcomed but when they found out we were LDS, it, for the first time since we moved here, was not a big deal to them (or at least they didn't make it that way)! We haven't had super positive experiences when people have found that out-no confrontation but this "oh..." that leaves every other thought going through their head floating around like an awkward turtle. I actually had a neighbor, "Oh, so it's just because you've never known anything else." When she found out I had always been one-super uncomfortable! But anyway, that doesn't matter, but it was nice not to feel judged for it. It was just kind of an awesome evening, and I am just grateful for the little things in life that make us smile.

Past Due but 1 YEAR!

I am really late writing this post, and it's a no-picture post but, it's all good! :)

Oh, and it's gonna be really LONG!

March 17th marked our 1 year mark of being in Alabama! It still seems surreal that it has already been that long. Some days, or weeks rather, definitely feel like it has been that long but, overall it flew by! We really miss Virginia a lot-the sites, the friends, the church ward-but we love having our own home now and living closer to family.

It has been quite the year too, since getting here. Nothing went at all the way that we thought. I don't know that we have ever prayed and fasted so hard in our lives-I am actually so grateful for that part though. The Lord tested our faith so much, and there were definitely more days than I care to admit that I think I failed on that one. We lived in temp housing from March 17-May 27(ish). During that time there was no compensation that Mike was making for his work, which that actually lasted until July 4th. Anyway, in April Mike's grandfather passed away and we made a last minute trip to MO for that. I believe it was a week and a half later that we got in an auto accident and are van was totaled-it took us another week or so to find a "new van", and that wasn't very easy at all! Around the 27th of May, it may have been a day or so later, we moved over to Jeff and Kelli's house (that's a super long story in and of itself) with them and their 4 children, along with Jeff's parents and their 3 children. So, yes, there were 6 adults and 10 children living under the same roof! HAHA! Communal living at it's finest! :) In the middle of all this we were trying to find a home for when it all worked out (and looking back it's good that we didn't when we had wanted). We found one, only to end up having more issues than should have when trying to buy a home (on the sellers end). We backed out and started over, again, it was actually good considering the business was take so long to close and we may have had to move the closing date of the house back a couple of times because of it. So, a week in June I kept all 10 of those kiddos during the day for 4 days so Kelli and Becky could attend Girl's Camp. It actually went very well and I found it a perk amidst all the stress of the business stuff. Finally, the very end of June the business was for real ready to close!! It was official on July 1st-what a happy happy day. And very good timing, we weren't sure how we were going to make it the next 2 weeks. We finally got paid on July 4th, back paid that is for all those weeks of work. We almost threw up when we looked at our bank account! We got lucky and found our house that week, possibly the last week of June, and closed on it July 19th-I like to say I got a HUGE birthday present last year, just a few days late! :) I headed to MO again, by myself  the last week of July for my nieces baptism. The week I got home we found out we were expecting. Maddie started kindergarten.That following weekend I miscarried at 7 weeks and spent a couple of weeks trying to figure out my hormones, an ER visit and a few appts. later I was good. We had a fabulous visit from Mike's parents. Mike had been having shoulder problems since 2 weeks before we moved to AL and finally went to the Dr. about it and had to start therapy and have a slew of tests done. The kids were in and out of the Dr. all fall (it was a rough one this time around). Our ward boundaries for church changed and were now in a fresh new ward-combining some of the 2 wards we had already been in and part of another one as well.  At Thanksgiving Mike flew out to DC and helped Jamie and Evan and their family move down to Alabama and made it home Thanksgiving night. December brought ALL of my side of the family down for my nieces baptism-it was a lot of fun! Mike was also called as the YM's president the beginning of that month for church. The day all the family left Mike went into the hospital and found out he had appendicitis and had surgery the next day. The girls were at Kelli's house puking while we were in the hospital and we took them to the Dr. the day after Mikey got home. Then came Makinley's 2nd birthday! Christmas Eve morning I found out we were pregnant and so that turned out to be Mikey's BIG Christmas present that he got Christmas Eve (a nice pregnancy test with a bow on it...no lie!:) January brought more illness but toned it down on us for most of the month. We couldn't shake the millions of virus' going around this year, we seemed to get every single one and they started back up in February-full force, Maddie missed a lot of school that month. And then again in March. So, sickness and Mike never being home due to work being quite psychotic these days is how we ended our first year. And let me tell you, even though this may seem a drab post and seem dreadful-we wouldn't change this year for anything. We have learned a heck of a whole lot about a heck of a whole lot! The Lord has been here every step of the way and we so thankful that, most of the time, we were able to see and feel that. We are hoping that the new year is a bit calmer and healthier but hey, we'll take anything so long as we are all together!

Happy first year to us!

Baby Boy

It has been confirmed! Baby #4 is definitely a boy!

Things are looking really good and we couldn't be more excited or impatient for this little nugget to get here!

I love this picture though, I love how his little arm is up next to his face, I love his big round belly-I just love it all. I found myself surprisingly super emotional near the end of the ultrasound when she finally showed his profile. I don't know why that did it but it did. He's been moving like crazy this week too. I had felt him quite a while ago but it wouldn't be consistent. The last few days have been fun though! He gets pretty active in the morning and here and there throughout the day, but then gets crazy active right before bed. Mike felt him ever so slightly last night for the first time-that always gets me the most excited! I think it finally makes it all more real when Daddy finally feels something going on in there. Ahhh, I know it's such a blessing, and not easy for so many people, and I am just so excited and happy and hope and pray that things continue to go well! 

P.S. We've narrowed it down to 2 names-and even then I am not 100% sure that either one of them will be it. Mike is incredibly picky on boy names but these were the ones he didn't have any issues with. The middle name will be Michael for sure and the first name, at this point, will either be Brandon or Preston. We'll just have to wait and see!

Spring

Alabama has been trying to have spring since the end of February-beginning of March, which is when all of our daffodils bloomed, and then quickly died. Well, it's finally here and how long it will stay before the real heat moves in is the new waiting game. However, on Easter after church, we hung out on the deck together and blew bubbles while dinner cooked-and I took pictures of our beautiful bushes in the back.

And they probably all look the same to everyone else, but they make me happy!

Eggs and Easter Morning

We died Easter eggs on Saturday night-it didn't go as good as we'd hoped, whatever kind we got  didn't wirj very good and the eggs didn't dye well. Oh well, it was still fun! Here's the kiddos getting their baskets on Easter morning as well...and ignore all the folded clothes in the background, we hadn't gotten them put away from the night before. :) Patrick was super exhausted that morning, but I love his sleepy eyes-he's such a cutie! The girls dug into the candy quickly!

So focused!

And I swoon! Look at those eyes!

Something about these girls and the Cadbury Egg...not sure where they get it from since Mommy and Daddy won't eat them!

Gotta love the Easter grass! ;)

Probably one of my most favorite pictures of him ever-so cute!!

Hoppy Hoppy Hoppy

First of all, I cannot believe it has been a full month since I posted last!

I have run into an issue with the camera that we have and kind of subconsciously decided that since it had issues and there were no pics being taken then I shouldn't blog because...well, how fun is blogging without pictures?!

Anyway, I at least got some pictures on Easter from my phone.

We had a good Easter. The kids had an Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning (no pics from that though) and then we kind of just chilled the rest of the day, and it was fabulous. Sunday morning and day seemed crazy, although in reality it wasn't-I was just REALLY crabby because I was completely worn out and so everything just seemed terrible, but really it was just fine. As it is every year, Mike's mom made the Easter attire and it turned out super cute! Honestly, I was skeptical when I heard it was black and white-I have always loved the pastels and bright colors that Easter brings-but I was so glad that the skepticism was unnecessary, it was all SOOOO cute! The girls looked beautiful and the men, oh so handsome with their bow ties. Our chosen accent color was a lavender purple. I didn't find anything in that color for me but did find a plum purple which seemed to go just fine-although there isn't a picture with me in it. :)

Thank you Meema-we LOVED them!

Well, apparently my phone and computer haven't updated together so, I don't have all the pics from my phone-just snagged this one off of Facebook. As soon as they update together I will post the other ones-Mike also has a bow-tie and the girls are standing so you get a better look at the dresses, and the beautiful detail with the piping. SO CUTE!

 Aren't they beautiful!?

Full

I guess I spoke a little soon yesterday by declaring that the morning sickness was pretty much gone, today has been so bad. However, I do think it I have some stomach thing along with it-in fact, I know that I do. Tonight, my emotions are very on the surface. It's been a long day, not bad, well-I feel like it was for my kids because I was not functioning and pretty much laid in bed all day-but long it has definitely been.

However, tonight, I feel overly grateful for a husband that is understanding and that helps so much all the time-even when he is thoroughly exhausted and stressed himself. I have awesome kids, who have gone with the flow as there Momma has been no fun for a while now. And I am grateful for this body of mine that allows me to bring these awesome children into the world-I know it is not that way or so easy for so many women. Glad, even though emotional, that my thoughts could turn this direction tonight.

I caught a part of Hope Floats the other day and all week long I have had the a phrase from it repeating over and over in my mind,

"My cup runneth over."