Ultra-sound pic (finally)

Here's a pic of the baby they gave me during my ultra-sound on the 9th! It was supposed to be a pic of the face, but all they could get was the skull!! Oh well, close enough anyway....I think there's a foot on the right of the pic too.

So anyway, here it is for those that want to see. They said the baby is about a pound now so its getting BIG!

Alone Again...

DH had to go out of town for work and won't be back until Monday. So here I am alone with the kiddos this weekend. Hmmm now what do to get us out of the house so we don't drive each other nuts?? :-) I actually drove by a small street carnival just setting up yesterday so I might take the kids to that this weekend. You know one of those cheapie scary set-up-in-2-days carnival?? If we go I will try to get a pic or 2.

I had an ultra-sound on the 9th to check the growth of the baby. They said everything looked good except they couldn't get a good view of the heart valves so they have to do another u/s (ultra-sound) in 6 weeks. The tech tried to see the sex of the baby and couldn't get a real good look at that either but she *thought* it might be a girl. So for now I am thinking pink, but we shall see. Another girl.....wow. I had hoped it would be a brother for DS but both my girls have wanted another baby sister. I wil be happy either way, I just pray God gives me lot's of grace if it is a girl!! When they all hit their teens it'll be trouble!

DD#1's last day of K-4 is tomorrow. She's excited to be getting bigger and is already looking forward to K-5 and telling me all the supplies we need to get for her! LOL Can you tell the girl loves school?? :-) I will be homeschooling DD#2 through preschool this coming year and we'll enroll her in the Christian school when she's 4. Saves a little money and I like to keep them close as long as possible!

Umm....not much else going on around here. Just yard work, I am thinking of planting a strawberry patch for the girls while DH is out of town. Something to keep us busy anyway.

I will leave you with some parting shots of my DDs with their butterfly garden. They got a kit and were sent some live catterpillers in the mail. They grew the catterpillers and saw them turn into cocoons and eventually into "Painted Lady" butterflies. Here they are releasing them (the directions said Painted Lady Butterflies are indiginous to almost all of the US so we could let them go in our yard).

Another pile of laundry

Today there is nothing going on, I mean nothing. Chores chores and then pick up DD#1 from school, and then make dinner, clean up and bed. That's the jist of my day today. I don't have too much to report but I figured I need to leave something for my audience to read.

Baby is doing fine, I have a prenatal appt on Thursday (routine) and then an ultra-sound on the following Monday. Not to find out the sex of the baby (Army policy says the ultra-sound tech can't tell me) but to measure the baby's growth and whatnot. If I want to find out the sex, I have to wait and schedule another ultra-sound with a civilian tech who works for the Army there at the hospital. apparently, she doesn't fall under the same rules as the enlisted technicans do. I am hoping its a boy so send me plenty of boy dust! *~*~*~

DH is doing alright, chugging along trying to finish his bachelors degree. He's usually bogged down with 3-7 hours of homework on any given day (and that's AFTER a 12 hour workday!) So we hardly see him anymore.

DD#1 had a sleepover at her gymnastics studio this past Saturday. They stayed up until midnight playing games and having fun. But poor thing looked like a zombie when I picked her up!! I remember staying up like that....now I swear I am too old to stay up past 11!!!

DD#2 loves gymnastics as well. That's all she talks about and I am thinking of letting them go twice a week as school is getting out soon for summer break and I don't have to pay for DD#1's lunches for school. Of course then there's swim lessons to consider too!

DS is fine. Apparently a dare-devil too! We have a corner shelf by one end of the kitchen counters. DS figured out how to use them as a ladder and DH caught him wandering around on the counter yesterday!!! Talk about scary! Now I have to find a new spot for that shelf before Bubbah get's up there and falls and busts his head open!

Another note, I am still planting in the front yard, when its done I will post a few pix, but right now it doesn't look like much.

TTYL

Ahhh nature...

There's a really cool nature preserve by our house and this past weekend DH was actually available to go do something with the fam. So we loaded everyone in the truck and went for a walk around the park's lake and saw some waterfalls

The lake isn't very big but it looks promising for the fam to go fishing some day. There's a trail that goes around the whole thing and so we decided, what the heck. Unfortunately, there are a ton of steps and we had the double seated jogger stroller with us for the 2 younger ones. Soooo DH and I each had to take an end and carry this thing up and down these steps. Can we say WORKOUT?! :-) Anyway, while we were huffin and puffin these steps, DD#1 spies 3 turtles basking in the sun (one got bashful and dove out of sight)

And don't mind the yucky water...it's mud from run-off after like 2 days straight of torrential rain.

So DH and I biceps bulging, made it through the steps around the lake and head towards the cascades. A beautiful day, birds singing, wild flowers everywhere and the nice white noise of the rushing water. i could have stayed there all day if I had the chance.

When we get to the cascades I of course whip out the camera for some family pix... Here's my sexy man with the 3 munchkins:

And here's me with the kiddos (a not-so-happy Bubbah):

It's just amazing that God could make all of this earth just as beautiful if not MORE *just* for our enjoyment and His. I mean, how can you NOT appreciate the Maker when you see His handy-work everywhere?

TTFN

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone out there in blogland is having a great Easter! This is the day we celebrate the resuurection of our Lord Jesus Christ! The tomb was empty hallelujah!

Last night the girls and I decorated eggs. it was fun and they really enjoyed it. I tried to get Bubbah in on it but he jst wanted to eat them. lol that kid loves hard boiled eggs!

Of course DD#2 was sick this morning so we weren't able to go to church. The kiddos woke up and had a few things in their Easter baskets and got to go threw the house looking for plastic eggs Mommy and Daddy hid for them. Both girls have been BEGGING to go fishing so we got them some Barbie fishing poles, a Disney princess coloring book and a chocolate bunny. DS got a little play tool kit and a small nerf football. Oh all the kids got a small soccer goal complete with cones, gloves for the goalie, and a ball. We tried getting DD#1 in soccer this year but were too late for the sign-ups.

Later on we have some "resurrection eggs" to find. In each egg there's a small something that helps tell the story of the resurrection (a small purple cloth, dice, a nail, etc.) DH and I are going to tell the story after naps. DD#1 and I are the only ones awake!! Oh and DH wanted something besides the typical ham Easter dinner....so we are having home-made chicken enchiladas with rice for dinner. Yumm, I have been on a Mexican Food kick lately so this will be goooooood!! And low fat too, this recipe I have is really yumm and not quite as bad for you as the restaurant enchiladas.

I am 17 weeks and 3 days pregnant today and already feeling like a whale. I know people don't think i LOOK fat but it sure feels that way. I am just so afraid of gaining too much weight and not being able to take it off after the birth. I mean, I am getting close to 30 here and my body doesn't like to work out or shed pounds like it used to. Maybe after I am done nursing I could try the South Beach Diet or something. My friend is have some luck losing pounds and it doesn't seem too difficult of a diet.

I have pictures for you that I will be posting soon, I promise! Until then, have a sweet day!

Big gut Part3

So here I er "we" are at 15 weeks and 5 days. I am actually starting to show a bit and once in awhile can feel the little bean's tiny taps. almost feels like a muscle spasm or something but I know it's bean. You'd think that by #4 I'd be an expert at these things! LOL

I have an appointment on thursday so I will let you know what happens.

If you want to see my progress you can look

Belly part1

belly part2

Field Trip

I got to be a driver for my DD's field trip to the Fire Dept. I had to take DD#2 and DS with me. The kids got to watch a fire safety movie and tour the fire house to see where the fire fighters eat and sleep. And then they got to see the fire trucks and go inside for a minute.

DD#1 had a good time but poor Rhi was scared. One of the firemen put on all his gear O2 mask and all and that was a tad too much. But it was good that they did that and told the kids that this guy was there to help him and not to run away from him or be scared. I never thought of that, that during an emergency the kids are stressed enough and to see a big dude in a mask would just seem like a big monster.

So, do you guys have a plan in casr of fire? This has really made me think. We don't have a fire plan/drill but I am planning on making one and practicing soon. And posting all the emergency numbers by the phones.

The kids' bedrooms are on the 2nd story and there's only 1 door to the livingroom. If there's a fire in the kitchen the kids might have to jump out of their windows!! So I have heard of ladders or blow-up slides that you can attach to the windowsill so they don't jump and kill themselves, KWIM? So I will go look that up and let you know what I find.

Anyway, here's a few parting shots of my kids and DD#1's friends. TTFN

My Ma

I finally talked my Ma (aka Mom) into a blog. It's in the bare-bones stage (and like mine isn't??) but please go check it out and leave a comment! Ma's Blog!

I took the 2 little one's to the dentist yesterday. Rhi rhi did beautifully and didn't even cry once! I was shocked as Malayah was bawling like a baby. But then again she's had so much work done in her mouth alread I don't blame her for being scared. Jamison had to be held down so he cried a little. But they both were thrilled to get new toothbrushes so it turned out well.

I am trying to decide on spring planting. I always envy all the people with beautiful gardens and want to try to do something similar. I have been searching the 'net for spring planting ideas. So far not so good. I don't know a thing about plants. If we had money to blow I'd hire a landscaper to help me. But I am on my own.

The girls have some strawberry plants growing in the kitchen window. I would plant them outside if it would actually WARM UP! It's been in the 30's at night so I don't want the little plants to get frost-bitten. lol

I will get Rhi rhi to take a pic of my belly later to show it off.... until then ttfn

PB&J strikes again!

All my kids have fallen victim to "the sandwich". You never know when it will strike!!!

Sitting there all comfy eating lunch taking a few bites here and there (a bit of apple sauce in the hair never hurts). When SUDDENLY "the sandwich" takes hold! There is no fighting it....slowly but surely your eyes droop. The room spins ever so slightly, and before you know it, there you are asleep, covered in PB&J snoring your life away! LOL

Crop er Carpet circles

So we have a little alien trying to contact their mother ship in my house!!! AAA!! Well, a pink alien anyway! LOL


I am letting it soak in carpet cleaner and hopefully the washable markers will live up to their names and WASH away.


Sorry I have been MIA again. Nothing going on I guess. Everyone is all better from the flu and respiratory viruses. I caught a cold but no biggie.
BTW happy spring! Yesterday was the first day of spring! But it sure doesn't look like it, it's like overcast, misting and about 42 outside. I can't wait for the warm! We have a brand new sandbox just waiting for a little sand.

DD#1 went back to school after her spring break today. We had Open House last night and all 3 kids were wanting to stay! I think she is glad to be back as it's too boring at home. LOL I had planned to go and do a few fun things with the fam, but with everyone sick we all just stayed here.

No new crafts to report or anything here. I finished that panta headband and that's all so far. I keep wanting to start something else but I am afraid I won't get anything done. And DH informed me the other day that it really bothers him when I don't finish what I start and leave it there for weeks. (roll eyes). It bothers me too but darn I didn't want to hear that!

I sold our salt water tank on Ebay today. We took a huge dive as far as what it's worth vs what we sold it for. But with #4 on the way I just don't think I will have time or patience to care for it. I am a little sad to see it go because Jamie and I worked so hard on it for so long. But really it's a money vacuum and we really need to SAVE and not SPEND.

TTYL

Long time a comin'!

Here are a few pics of Malayah's horse show she did on the 5th of March.

One is of her riding in one of the english walk/trot classes and the other is of the costume contest. She's wearing a dalmation costume and her horse is supposed to be a fireman. The saddle blanket says "Wildrose Farm Fire Dept." and she has a homemadefireman's hat. Unfortunetly she was competing with another horse wearing a beautiful unicorn costume and one with the ole stars and stripes...so she didn't place. (and I worked for forever on that stupid costume)

About 2 weeks ago the sun came out and it was in the 60's so I sunscreened the kiddos up and we found sandels and went out to go pot some veggie plants.

And finally here's the FINISHED (yes I said finished) panta! I actually finished something! Hallelujah. lol It's a little wide for a small girl but I think it's cute. And Jamison sporting his new house coat...and yes he's sick in that pic...still has the flu. (which BTW my ENTRIE family but me has been sick the past 2 weeks!) And Malayah holding a smiley face mug with flowers sent yesterday from my dear friend, Muriel! Thank you!!!

waaaay too long!

So it's been a LOOOOONG time since I posted anything on here! I wish I could say I have been busy, partially yes, but mostly just tired and dealing with kids' stuff.

Malayah had a "Fun Horse Show" this weekend. It was hosted through the farm where she takes lessons. She was in 7 different classes and didn't place in any of them. :-( I felt so bad but she had several odds stacked against her. Number one: the night before she had come down with a cold and I thought she was going to be fine but at the horse show she went downhill and got a fever. But she refused to quit (my brave girl) and rode in all her classes. So she was feeling pretty crappy. And Number Two: in all of the classes they had little ones and high schoolers and adults competing all together so OF COURSE hardly any of the little ones received ribbons. I mean here's my daughter who has only been riding 8 months and she's pitted against a girl almost 4 times her age with about 10 + yrs experience on her. ARGH makes a Momma mad.

So anyway after we get back from that my other 2 kids get sick as well. So DH and I are trying our best to help them get well and STAY well ourselves! I bought DH some "airborne" immune booster stuff (I can't take it because of the herbs) and a big jug of "GermX" and that new clorox spray . Dh is working 12-14 hour days so he can't afford to get sick! And of course I already feel pretty crappy sometimes and a fever is never good during pregnancy so I pray I don't get it either!!!

I have been in a creative funk lately, my panta I started forever ago is only 1/2 done. I want to move on but really, I NEED to finish this before I go to something else. I want to make my middlest DD a hat for spring. She got a red Santa dress complete with Santa hat for Christmas and has been wearing the hat ever since. She loves the hat but of course, everywhere I go I hear comments about it ("is it Christmas already?") and one little boy about 10 yrs old ran up and started pulling on the pompom on the end while she is trying to keep her hat on and walk away. I thought that was extremely rude!

So I want to make her a more "spring-appropriate" hat. Allena is making one for her DD that I think is the cutest!

But anyway, I will post pix of the horse show in a day or so. The camera is once again upstairs and I am too lazy to go get it right now! LOL TTFN

Big gut lol

So here I am at 10 weeks and 3 days along (my ticker is a tad off). Don't mind the sweatpants, it's Sunday and the whole fam is just chillin. Rhianna, Jamison, AND Daddy are sleeping away! :-)

I still have a little morning sickness now and then but it's not bad. I am hungry a lot more than before though! Tomorrow I go in for a prenatal physical so maybe I will be able to hear the heartbeat! I hope so. I feel bad though because I am not as excited for this pregnancy as with the other ones. I watched a 3 yr old girl and her 2 month old brother last night for our friends (it was a date night for them). It was alright, the kids did fine but DH was stressing over work and school and of course Jamison was super jealous. I think I am more nervous than anything. I worry about DH handling 4 kids. I mean it's not ordinary circumstances....he has just come back from war and has PTSD and is trying to finish his Bachelors and trying to retire AND the new baby all in the next 8 months! Granted it's not easy for me either but I worry all the same.

I worry about the baby integrating in the family and the jealousy that will come. I know God had us get pregnant for a reason but sometimes I get so worried about everything that sometimes I wonder why He did this. all I keep saying though is I def want to get something done permanently so I don't get pregnant anymore.

Oh and then I feel horrid about even feeling this way. Of COURSE I love this baby and WILL love him/her regardless. I don't want my baby to ever think that they weren't wanted because they ARE. I just worry about the future and hope that everything falls into place.

And then my Christian mind takes over and logic says all I have to do is put my trust in Him and He will take care of everything. Argh but it's not easy

2 Posts in one day!

Wow so I must be on a roll or very bored or something! Here I am posting AGAIN today! LOL Allena wanted to see pix so I went and took a few.

Oh and I was tagged like FOREVER ago to post a few pix of where I do my artsy-craftsy stuff. I mainly sit on the ole couch and knit/crochet. (there's my 1/8th completed "panta"!)











Now I have a nice recliner to choose from as well (the long ago promised pic of what DH got me for my bday....a CHAIR!) Showing off my nice "dukes of Diyala" afghan we bought to support my hunny's unit when he went to Iraq.




















OR if I have to do some rubber stamping or sewing I sit here at the table.














Now here are some random pix just for you! A pic of Jamison's crib....without one rail. We are trying to train him not to fall out of bed and so far so good. I think he likes having the railing off so he can get in and out at will. Of course though we now have to put a baby gate across the doorway so he won't wander around after bedtime. He's usually very good about staying in bed though. I have a toddler bed that I am repainting and will post a pic of that when I am done. As you can see I am trying for a dinosaur theme in his room.

Here's a pic of my would-be veggie garden. I planted corn, carrots, spinach, green beans, pumpkins, and water melons. I had a good number of spinach and carrots growing until I went up to PA. Sniff sniff the soil dried up and all that's left is the corn and beans and a little pumpkin sprout. No watermelons have shown themselves much to Malayah's dismay.

Anyway, I smell a stinky so off to change a butt! ;-P

Friends

My fam and I got to travel up to PA to see my best friends! We all met in Germany and have since been scattered to the winds. This weekend was the first time I have seen them in 9 months! Pam and Allena were there but quite a few of our other buds were MIA. But the 3 of us had a blast anyway....and we can't forget the kids, all 8 of them! Yes, 8 kiddos packed into a tiny 2 bedroom apartment! LOL that was fun!

It was bitterly cold up there! I'm talking 5-7 degrees sometimes! I really dislike being THAT cold ya know. A Cali girl can only stand so much cold before they turn into a popcicle! So we all hung out indoors....talking and laughing like old times. A trip to Michaels craft store, an evening of swimming (at the hotel's pool) and the bestest meal ever! TGI Fridays! I have LONGED to go to that place for a month now! And oh was it good! LOL Now I just wish I could eat there all the time, those Jack daniels recipes are to DIE for!

Of course Pam and Allena were knitting a lot of the time I was there. I have been in a fink lately when it comes to any type of craftiness. So now that I am all motivated again I need to get cracking! What to make...hmm Malayah has been dying for a poncho and I can't seem to find *just* the right pattern. Perhaps that's what I'll try. That and I need to sew my Mom's throw that's been in my closet 1/2 done for 2 months.

But none of that now, I'm off to take Rhi rhi to her gymnastics class!

We've got a live one!

I had my OB appointment today and DH actually got to come with me! We both got to see the little bean with their heart beating away! I am so relieved as I have had 2 miscarriages and it's always scary until you get to see that little heartbeat!

So here's the pic...a little fuzzy, but really, who can tell what they are looking at anyway? The ultra-sound tech must have extensive training in crossing their eyes and holding their tongue just right to even get close to guessing what the hey that little blob is! Kinda like those paintings with all those little dots? You are supposed to look at your reflection or cross your eyes or something to see the 3D image? anyone have any idea what I am talking about? :-) LOL

Anyway so my due date is Sept. 21st and i am 9 weeks and 1 day. I need to change my ticker up there....

It's been awhile...

I guess I haven't felt much like blogging lately. There's not too much to say, just the same ole same ole. I can, however, share some pix of what I got for my birthday!

This is a picture frame made from home-made paper. My friend went on a missions trip to Thailand and said they specialize in paper-making over there. also she bought me this cool box full of patters, "knitting on the go". It has a really cute teddy bear hat pattern that I might make for Bubbah.

Here is laya acting goofy behind a bouquet of flowers from my MIL. I also got a bouquet from my Momma!

And I had ordered some Pampered Chef awhile back and voila! It was here right ontime for my birthday! (disregard the yucky banana and starfish!) lol

DH also got a COOL present for me....well, it's for the fam too. But that will have to wait for another day. TTFN

Happy birthday to me!

Well today is my birthday! It's amazing how I almost forgot! As you get older birthdays just don't seem as special as they did when you were younger, huh? DD#1 was asking if I was going to have a party. Nope...and she wondered, "why not?" I told her I didn't have any friends around here and she tells me that I need to go out and do stuff and make friends. Just the same lines I fed her when she started her new school. :-) What goes around comes around I guess.

I have tried a little to make new friends. I started to go to a woman's bible study on post but stopped because it starts at 9 am and morning sickness still raises it's ugly head about then. So there's not much else I do to meet anyone so here I am, stuck with my "virtual" friends.

So anyway, here's to another 27 years!

Pix for your entertainment

SO yesterday I was too lazy to trudge upstairs and get the digital camera to show you some pix. So I felt bad and am showing you now! LOL

Here's the girls playing in the snow on saturday

And Grey Ghost wanted to see what snow was....he kinda liked it and tried eating a lot of it. LOL Soliel (my 9 yr old cat) on the other hand hated it and stood by the doorway meowing pitifully. Awww... :-)

And here's the start of the snocone goodness! Unfortunatley I didn't get a shot of 1/2 the porch's snow covered in red koolaid mix! All I can say is I hope it all washed away or we're gonna have a major ant problem come spring!

Anyway, that's all I have for now....TTFN

Snow and an accident

Yesterday we actually had snow again! It was there for about 2 days (melting today) so my oldest DD Laya got to play in it! Unlike last time when there was 4 " of snow before she went to school and NONE when she came home! So they made a fort and Rhi tried a snow angel. They actually got to ride on their sled and saucer too! Also we have one of those "snoopy snocone makers" so I took the syrup mix from it and mixed it and the girls got to have REAL snow snocones! Of course they were spraying the juicy red stuff on everything and when they were done it looked like a masacre out there! LOL I had to yell at them to quit eating all that sugar cause they were going for the whole bottle of the stuff!!

Super Bowl night was good. I cooked goodies like a mad-woman and Dh had like 8 people over for his little "shin-dig" I had 2 other ladies to alk to so it wasn't SO bad. Dh really had a good time drinking beer and yelling at the TV. Of course he was happy to see the Steelers win as it's Allena's hubby's fav team!

And the accident: Dh just called me and I guess he was going through a green light and the old lady doesn't see her red light and comes flying through the intersection. Dh said he saw her and tried to hit the breaks but too late.....he crashed into her broadside. Luckily no one was hurt at all (he was going like 15 mph when they hit). But his piece of crap truck is now even more of a piece of crap. LOL Hopefully we can get it fixed soon! I am just so relieved that he's alright and the old lady is ok! Dang I hate car wrecks! I have been in 3 and none of them are fun!