32 weeks. That means 8 weeks left. 7 months. November seems so. far. away. I remember thinking back at the 6 month mark that once I got to this point, it would all seem downhill from here. Wrong. It doesn't seem so downhill at this point. Two months has never felt so long in my entire life. I don't ever remember this last part of pregnancy seeming so long...
Tim's work, our church, hosted yet another shower for us this week. That blows my mind! How many people are blessed enough to say that every one of their baby's has had a shower in their honor- all the way through their fourth? And knowing that we are having another girl this time, there is not much we need. We're pretty set on clothes, now that we've had a girl in both seasonal extremes. After the shower, I sat down to write thank you cards for all the gifts and felt so humbled that there was just no way for me to convey how amazing I think it is that they would do that for us and for this new little one.
Can you guess what the gifts were, and what the gift cards were used for? Diapers and more diapers!
In going through our things, though, I have had a new realization that's made me chuckle. We have been through so much baby STUFF that there are a few things that could use round two. A bouncy seat that no longer vibrates. A front carrier that was a lesser, cheaper off brand to start with that now has a broken buckle. A second changing pad would be good, since we'll have two in diapers once again. But who wants to buy this stuff for a fourth baby? So I've begun a mission to find people who would be kind enough to loan us a few of these items.
I've also been hearing all about Ergos lately. It seems that Bjorns are a thing of the past, and Ergos are the new latest greatest things in front carriers. So I find myself trying to justify getting my hands on yet another piece of baby gear, that we really probably don't need, but I sure would like to try out.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Week 31: Labor Day
We had some friends over for Labor Day this week. The plan was to have dinner and then walk to a neighborhood yogurt bar for dessert. The place is probably just under a mile a way, a walk that we've made plenty of times. The older kids are even getting to the point where they either walk along with us or ride their bikes. We walked to the same place on Memorial Day with a couple of friends and have done so a handful of times over the course of the summer.
Except this time, I thought it was going to be the death of me! It felt so far away! And amongst our herd of 4 adults and 5 kids six and under, I am fairly certain that I was the slowest one in the bunch. I was trying to disguise it, but I was struggling to keep up.
And I knew the adventure was going to haunt me for the remainder of the night and into the next day. It was going to make it a difficult night's sleep for me.'
But not wanting to be one to give up or give in, I laced up the shoes and trouped out the door with the rest of the crew. All in anticipation of frozen yogurt with any and every topping you could imagine. Including sour apple flavored gummy army guys.
Except the yogurt place was closed for the day in honor of Labor Day. No joke!
Except this time, I thought it was going to be the death of me! It felt so far away! And amongst our herd of 4 adults and 5 kids six and under, I am fairly certain that I was the slowest one in the bunch. I was trying to disguise it, but I was struggling to keep up.
And I knew the adventure was going to haunt me for the remainder of the night and into the next day. It was going to make it a difficult night's sleep for me.'
But not wanting to be one to give up or give in, I laced up the shoes and trouped out the door with the rest of the crew. All in anticipation of frozen yogurt with any and every topping you could imagine. Including sour apple flavored gummy army guys.
Except the yogurt place was closed for the day in honor of Labor Day. No joke!
Week 30: 29 August, 2011
Kids say the darndest things.
For real.
There is a high school girl in our group, a freshmen, whose mom just had a baby this summer. Some of the other girls at church were asking me how far along I was, and I told them seven months. This normally kind freshmen said, "You're way bigger than my mom was at seven months." After floundering for just a moment or two, I responded somewhere along the lines of, "Wow, really...and by the way, just so you know for the future, it's never nice to tell a pregnant lady how big she is. You might want to remember that for when you reach adulthood." Someone's gotta teach 'em, right?
On my one day of work this week, I had a first grade girl take note of the coffee cup I was carrying. Her observation was obvious when she said, "Are you even supposed to drink coffee when you're pregnant?" Again, I disguising my baffled expresion just enough to answer, "It's decaf."
Geez, Louise! Since when do I need to worry about six year olds passing judgment on my health while pregnant!
It has taken 4 pregnancies to get to this point, but here, now in the fourth, Tim has been granted a whole new meaning to nesting! I had been suggesting for some time that I wanted to rearrange our downstairs family room area. He had finally gotten on board with my layout for the room. And then taken it to a whole new level. He decided that if we were going to go to the trouble of rearranging, he wanted new furniture to replace some of the freebies we had been using since we first got married. It started with just one piece but then turned into a couple.
So we unexpectedly spent the weekend furniture shopping. Thankfully, we decide some things better than others, and we made our decisions relatively quickly. Now it's just a matter of waiting for the stuff to be delivered, so we can finish the rearrangements and restore some peace and order to our basement.
I'll take what I can get; it may not have been baby preparation stuff, but any time he gets the bug to organize, I'll jump on the opportunity!
For real.
There is a high school girl in our group, a freshmen, whose mom just had a baby this summer. Some of the other girls at church were asking me how far along I was, and I told them seven months. This normally kind freshmen said, "You're way bigger than my mom was at seven months." After floundering for just a moment or two, I responded somewhere along the lines of, "Wow, really...and by the way, just so you know for the future, it's never nice to tell a pregnant lady how big she is. You might want to remember that for when you reach adulthood." Someone's gotta teach 'em, right?
On my one day of work this week, I had a first grade girl take note of the coffee cup I was carrying. Her observation was obvious when she said, "Are you even supposed to drink coffee when you're pregnant?" Again, I disguising my baffled expresion just enough to answer, "It's decaf."
Geez, Louise! Since when do I need to worry about six year olds passing judgment on my health while pregnant!
It has taken 4 pregnancies to get to this point, but here, now in the fourth, Tim has been granted a whole new meaning to nesting! I had been suggesting for some time that I wanted to rearrange our downstairs family room area. He had finally gotten on board with my layout for the room. And then taken it to a whole new level. He decided that if we were going to go to the trouble of rearranging, he wanted new furniture to replace some of the freebies we had been using since we first got married. It started with just one piece but then turned into a couple.
So we unexpectedly spent the weekend furniture shopping. Thankfully, we decide some things better than others, and we made our decisions relatively quickly. Now it's just a matter of waiting for the stuff to be delivered, so we can finish the rearrangements and restore some peace and order to our basement.
I'll take what I can get; it may not have been baby preparation stuff, but any time he gets the bug to organize, I'll jump on the opportunity!
Week 29: 22 August, 2011
*Sophia in Kindergarten
*People's comments about size: OLD
Not much to report on this week. Sophia has officially started kindergarten. Which doesn't have much to do with being pregnant, although I have come to the conclusion that in my very humble opinion, her school does not seem to have the best pick up procedure in town.
Each day, when I pick her up promptly (ish) at 11:55, I park as close as I can and haul both my growing baby belly and my current baby of the family, all the while towing a curious preschooler along side us all the way from the street, through the school's parking lot, across the playground and up to the outside door of Sophia's classroom. Not an easy jaunt for me in this state. If we're running late, I'm in trouble deep because there really is no way for me to get there quickly.
And that makes me flash ahead to winter when I am no longer pregnant, but instead towing a preschooler, a toddler, and a newborn to make that trek. (Did I mention it will be winter?) Not sure which scenario is worse! It's these minor details that make me think this year will be a little chaotic and complicated.
I have also officially gotten over people's comments about my size. I mean really, why does a person ever think those comments are OK? Keep your mouth shut, people. I'm sure it's not twins. I probably am getting bigger by the day. I have almost three months left. Leave me alone! And I mean that in the most respectful way! :)
*People's comments about size: OLD
Not much to report on this week. Sophia has officially started kindergarten. Which doesn't have much to do with being pregnant, although I have come to the conclusion that in my very humble opinion, her school does not seem to have the best pick up procedure in town.
Each day, when I pick her up promptly (ish) at 11:55, I park as close as I can and haul both my growing baby belly and my current baby of the family, all the while towing a curious preschooler along side us all the way from the street, through the school's parking lot, across the playground and up to the outside door of Sophia's classroom. Not an easy jaunt for me in this state. If we're running late, I'm in trouble deep because there really is no way for me to get there quickly.
And that makes me flash ahead to winter when I am no longer pregnant, but instead towing a preschooler, a toddler, and a newborn to make that trek. (Did I mention it will be winter?) Not sure which scenario is worse! It's these minor details that make me think this year will be a little chaotic and complicated.
I have also officially gotten over people's comments about my size. I mean really, why does a person ever think those comments are OK? Keep your mouth shut, people. I'm sure it's not twins. I probably am getting bigger by the day. I have almost three months left. Leave me alone! And I mean that in the most respectful way! :)
Week 28: 15 August, 2011
Let's also dub this week "The Week Of Babies!" Three new little arrivals this week. Wow, has it been fun to meet and hold the little ones. But let's be honest. As excited as I am for each one of them, as I've held each one, I've really been thinking ahead to November and looking forward to holding OUR new little one. For real. I can't wait!
It's been kinda fun to have each of these babies born just as I've entered the third trimester. Just as I was beginning to look in the mirror and wonder HOW was I ever going to survive 3 more months, holding these three little ones has given me hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. That's obvious to anyone who isn't pregnant, but sometimes, as your body's growing, you just feel like there is no way you can endure any more. Especially this fourth time around.
In celebration of each of our friends' babies, I've done some shopping this week. Ok, again, let's be honest. I have shopped for friends. But I have also simultaneously shopped for a new little Nielson girl. Back in debating if we were going to find out the gender of this baby, one of the things I thought was that maybe, just for once, it would be fun to do some shopping ahead of time and have a few new things ready for this baby. And then we found out we were having a girl. And I decided that I couldn't justify shopping, seeing as how we already have plenty of things for little girls. And then I decided new life in itself justifies shopping. This little girl deserves at least a few things of her very own! So I've also picked up just a few new little girl items.
And as I have been shopping, I've succumbed to the fact that maybe I am more girly than I like to admit. For I have discovered that it has been therapeutic. As I've been browsing clearance racks for right size/right season rock bottom sales for a new little baby girl, I've been dreaming and imagining and wondering what this little girl will be like? Will she have hair? How big will she be? Will she be a good sleeper? What color will her eyes be?
For the first time in this pregnancy, I've started thinking beyond pregnancy to baby. Whoa, here we are at third trimester, and I haven't even REALLY thought about having a baby in the house again. And yes, I'm super excited. (But yes, I am also thinking it's maybe a good thing that I haven't spent too much time thinking about it, because the thought of four kids in 6 years maybe would have scared me a bit!) But starting to dream about this baby is really what has maybe shed light on the end of this tunnel of pregnancy.
I went straight from meeting the second baby arrival of this week to the doctor's office for my 28 week appointment. You know, the one with the dreaded orange stuff. Except this time, it wasn't orange. It was clear. And tasted mostly like really sweet Sprite. It really wasn't too bad. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping it was good to me and doesn't reveal any hidden surprises (ie: gestational diabetes).
Usually, while you wait the hour after you drink the stuff to have your blood drawn, they make you watch these scary videos on preterm labor and postpartum depression. I guess since it's my fourth time around, they figure I'm an expert, and didn't make me waste the time. Instead, I spent the hour finishing a book that I was actually very much enjoying reading without feeling guilty that I wasn't doing something else.
After I donated vials of blood for the all so noble purpose of lab testing, I headed back up to the OB department for my rhogam shot. Lucky for me, I got the nurse who insisted on giving the shot in the butt. I have learned that it can be done just as easily in my arm. Even after I complained, she persisted in making me bare my booty for her. (Before Noah was born, they poked me in the arse. Afterwards, they did it in my arm. Lesson learned. When it was time with Phoebe, I graciously asked for my arm instead, and my wish was granted. No big deal.) Seriously, she tried to convince me it was because it was easier. Easier for who? When I tried to tell her my last couple had been done in my arm, she told me she could do that only if I was much bigger. I have never been known to give up easily, and I wanted to tell her that the last time I had one in my arm, the nurse commented on the size of my biceps and how it was plenty easy to give me the shot there. No lie. I told her it was from carrying around little kids all the time.
The sure sign that I am exceptionally hormonal during this pregnancy was my over reaction to the whole situation. I was irrationally angry that this nurse insisted on making me pull down my pants for her. Ya win some and ya lose some, and I guess I it was clear that I lost that one!
It's been kinda fun to have each of these babies born just as I've entered the third trimester. Just as I was beginning to look in the mirror and wonder HOW was I ever going to survive 3 more months, holding these three little ones has given me hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. That's obvious to anyone who isn't pregnant, but sometimes, as your body's growing, you just feel like there is no way you can endure any more. Especially this fourth time around.
In celebration of each of our friends' babies, I've done some shopping this week. Ok, again, let's be honest. I have shopped for friends. But I have also simultaneously shopped for a new little Nielson girl. Back in debating if we were going to find out the gender of this baby, one of the things I thought was that maybe, just for once, it would be fun to do some shopping ahead of time and have a few new things ready for this baby. And then we found out we were having a girl. And I decided that I couldn't justify shopping, seeing as how we already have plenty of things for little girls. And then I decided new life in itself justifies shopping. This little girl deserves at least a few things of her very own! So I've also picked up just a few new little girl items.
And as I have been shopping, I've succumbed to the fact that maybe I am more girly than I like to admit. For I have discovered that it has been therapeutic. As I've been browsing clearance racks for right size/right season rock bottom sales for a new little baby girl, I've been dreaming and imagining and wondering what this little girl will be like? Will she have hair? How big will she be? Will she be a good sleeper? What color will her eyes be?
For the first time in this pregnancy, I've started thinking beyond pregnancy to baby. Whoa, here we are at third trimester, and I haven't even REALLY thought about having a baby in the house again. And yes, I'm super excited. (But yes, I am also thinking it's maybe a good thing that I haven't spent too much time thinking about it, because the thought of four kids in 6 years maybe would have scared me a bit!) But starting to dream about this baby is really what has maybe shed light on the end of this tunnel of pregnancy.
I went straight from meeting the second baby arrival of this week to the doctor's office for my 28 week appointment. You know, the one with the dreaded orange stuff. Except this time, it wasn't orange. It was clear. And tasted mostly like really sweet Sprite. It really wasn't too bad. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping it was good to me and doesn't reveal any hidden surprises (ie: gestational diabetes).
Usually, while you wait the hour after you drink the stuff to have your blood drawn, they make you watch these scary videos on preterm labor and postpartum depression. I guess since it's my fourth time around, they figure I'm an expert, and didn't make me waste the time. Instead, I spent the hour finishing a book that I was actually very much enjoying reading without feeling guilty that I wasn't doing something else.
After I donated vials of blood for the all so noble purpose of lab testing, I headed back up to the OB department for my rhogam shot. Lucky for me, I got the nurse who insisted on giving the shot in the butt. I have learned that it can be done just as easily in my arm. Even after I complained, she persisted in making me bare my booty for her. (Before Noah was born, they poked me in the arse. Afterwards, they did it in my arm. Lesson learned. When it was time with Phoebe, I graciously asked for my arm instead, and my wish was granted. No big deal.) Seriously, she tried to convince me it was because it was easier. Easier for who? When I tried to tell her my last couple had been done in my arm, she told me she could do that only if I was much bigger. I have never been known to give up easily, and I wanted to tell her that the last time I had one in my arm, the nurse commented on the size of my biceps and how it was plenty easy to give me the shot there. No lie. I told her it was from carrying around little kids all the time.
The sure sign that I am exceptionally hormonal during this pregnancy was my over reaction to the whole situation. I was irrationally angry that this nurse insisted on making me pull down my pants for her. Ya win some and ya lose some, and I guess I it was clear that I lost that one!
Week 27: 08 August, 2011
Three months left. If I'm truly honest at this point, I am not sure how I'm going to make three more months. Even the simplest things sometimes seem so complicated these days. We went to a family festival-ish event this weekend, and the simple walk from the parking lot to the event about did me in. You know it's bad when my three kids (including the one who's just beginning to walk), are flying past me and I'm bringing up the rear. Waddling. Holding my belly. Hoping to somehow make it to the car before I fall apart!!!
I've all but given up exercise at this point. Ok, I keep trying to delude myself into believing I can still do it, but really every attempt ends in defeat. Which absolutely baffles me and causes me to be more sympathetic. I always exercised all the way to the end of pregnancy, but this time around, that just doesn't seem possible. I've always poo-poo'd walking as a form of exercise. But a simple walk across a parking lot right now makes me feel like I might have a baby sooner than I expect. It's so different than any of my other pregnancies that I don't even know how to explain it.
I've been thinking about the Duggars. A lot. I mean how on earth does a body have 19!!! babies? I just can't fathom it. I am feeling like this is about the extent of what my body can handle. I absolutely CAN NOT comprehend doing this 15 more times. How does your body hold the 19th one in there?
Thinking big picture, I've probably done less sitting on the couch during the course of this pregnancy than any of the others. As I learned during jury duty, I just don't lead a sedentary lifestyle. Not because I'm boasting about how active I am, but because 3 kids 5 and under just doesn't allow for that. And probably because of that very truth, this is the pregnancy in which I have felt the NEED to just sit on the couch and put my feet up more than anything.
I started back to work this week. (I use the word "work" loosely, as I only work one day a week.) Apparently most of the people I work with didn't know I was expecting. I had a brief "conversation" with a co-worker. It was so brief, in fact, that it probably took me longer to review it and make sure I was interpreting it correctly than the actual conversation itself.
In passing on the stairs, my co-worker says, "Oh. Going for number 4, hunh?"
Thinking quickly: what is she talking about, baby, oh yeah. Respond: "Yup."
"Wow."
Reading this replay does NOT do it justice. If only I could convey the tone behind that, "Wow." It was not really a "wow" response. Really, it said, "You're crazy. That's crazy. What are you thinking? You're nuts." Maybe even "You're stupid."
All that in those 3 simple letters. I wrote early on about the various reactions we were getting in telling people that we were once again expecting. This one, although much later, by far takes the cake in my book. It was the outright rudest response I've gotten. I may be crazy, but I am not stupid. I just love kids. And love being a mom. And can't imagine a house that isn't full of little bodies and all the chaos they bring. Bring. It. On.
I've all but given up exercise at this point. Ok, I keep trying to delude myself into believing I can still do it, but really every attempt ends in defeat. Which absolutely baffles me and causes me to be more sympathetic. I always exercised all the way to the end of pregnancy, but this time around, that just doesn't seem possible. I've always poo-poo'd walking as a form of exercise. But a simple walk across a parking lot right now makes me feel like I might have a baby sooner than I expect. It's so different than any of my other pregnancies that I don't even know how to explain it.
I've been thinking about the Duggars. A lot. I mean how on earth does a body have 19!!! babies? I just can't fathom it. I am feeling like this is about the extent of what my body can handle. I absolutely CAN NOT comprehend doing this 15 more times. How does your body hold the 19th one in there?
Thinking big picture, I've probably done less sitting on the couch during the course of this pregnancy than any of the others. As I learned during jury duty, I just don't lead a sedentary lifestyle. Not because I'm boasting about how active I am, but because 3 kids 5 and under just doesn't allow for that. And probably because of that very truth, this is the pregnancy in which I have felt the NEED to just sit on the couch and put my feet up more than anything.
I started back to work this week. (I use the word "work" loosely, as I only work one day a week.) Apparently most of the people I work with didn't know I was expecting. I had a brief "conversation" with a co-worker. It was so brief, in fact, that it probably took me longer to review it and make sure I was interpreting it correctly than the actual conversation itself.
In passing on the stairs, my co-worker says, "Oh. Going for number 4, hunh?"
Thinking quickly: what is she talking about, baby, oh yeah. Respond: "Yup."
"Wow."
Reading this replay does NOT do it justice. If only I could convey the tone behind that, "Wow." It was not really a "wow" response. Really, it said, "You're crazy. That's crazy. What are you thinking? You're nuts." Maybe even "You're stupid."
All that in those 3 simple letters. I wrote early on about the various reactions we were getting in telling people that we were once again expecting. This one, although much later, by far takes the cake in my book. It was the outright rudest response I've gotten. I may be crazy, but I am not stupid. I just love kids. And love being a mom. And can't imagine a house that isn't full of little bodies and all the chaos they bring. Bring. It. On.
Week 26: On the Road Again...Again
Week 26. Can you guess where the first day of week 26 began? Yes, folks, if you guessed the car, you'd be right once again! I mean, why stay home if you have a mini-van with a DVD player and AC and can travel, right?
But this trip seemed so much easier than any of the others. It was only a 3 1/2 hour drive, and we would be spending a few days on the lake with Tim and a bunch of high schoolers. Packing was easy; shorts, Tshirts, sandals, swimsuits, and towels for everyone and we were good to go! After all the packing I have done this summer, I think this trip's packing time might have totaled 30 minutes. As my kids would say, "Easy Peasy!"
The only thing that was different about this trip was that I was driving solo (as in solo adult) with the 3 kids. I think that might have been my first road trip with the 3 of them by myself. Turns out it was a lot of fun. Except for the part where I picked the last Starbucks in the metropolitan area to stop. Which turned out to be several miles off the interstate, with no drive through, so that when I finally found the needle in the haystack, I didn't even come away with the much anticipated "needle" because the kids had all already fallen asleep and I couldn't leave them in the car for a cup of coffee. No matter how needed it seemed. (And before you cast judgement, even if it seemed needed, it was still just a cup of decaf I was after!)
And let me tell you, there is not one single Starbucks between Brighton, CO and Ogalalla, NE. Not one. I was doubtful, but I tried to keep my hopes up. Lesson learned.
Other than that, the few days at the lake were spectacular. We had a great few days of family bonding- minus Tim! Me and the kids all stayed in one small mobile home. It had one bedroom, with bunk beds and a queen bed and just about a foot of walk space between the two. This is where Sophia, Noah and I slept. Phoebe slept in the super small living room, in her pack n play, behind the couch! Amazingly enough, it worked out well. And after preparing food for all the high schoolers, I even got a chance to kick back and watch some cable TV at the end of the days! (After Phoebe would fall asleep, I'd veg out on the couch in front of her watching Food Network. Somehow, she would sleep through it all.)
I earned my keep during the days by cooking for the high schoolers. It worked out fairly well in that Sophia & Noah were actually able to ride the boat while I was prepping the meals. Phoebe would stay with me and scrounge scraps while I cooked. This wasn't entirely planned, but it worked out well so that I felt like I was doing more than just tagging along on this trip.
I was so thankful to be with Tim, in any fashion at all, and see what the "Lake Trip" experience was all about. Although I never left the shore of the lake. And since the water was ridiculously high, and the beach was taken over by trees, I never even got a good view of the lake. Tim laughed when we got home and I asked, "How was the lake?"
As I've said previously, I've never been one to use pregnancy as an excuse to slow me down. But with as choppy as the water was reported to be, and as bumpy as the boat rides supposedly were, I never stepped foot on the boat. No boating, tubing, skiing, or anything "fun" for me this time. And I learned something that kinda surprised me. I really enjoy boating and water sports more than I knew. I was truly disappointed to have missed out. I've only started water skiing in the last few years and since I only get the opportunity once or twice a year, I didn't realize how much I've come to look forward to it.
Although, I felt especially reaffirmed in the wisdom of the decision to stay off the water when one friend told me that is how she found herself on bedrest for 3 months with her fourth son! Yikes. I have no idea how we would survive if I were put on bedrest.
Again, though, I felt like this trip took a toll on my body. Hiking back and forth all over the campground, from the beach, to our cabin, to the main house where all the food was, pushing the stroller the whole uphill way, I got my workouts in. Not to mention standing on my feet for hours boiling countless cauldrons of spaghetti noodles and grilling brats over our fire of Hades grill. The meals weren't complicated, but cooking for many teenage boys who have been in the sun and on the water all day long requires Costco to the millionth degree size portions of everything! When I was lucky, there were crumbs left for me at the end of the meal!
All in all, it was one of my favorite trips of the summer, and I was so glad it worked out for us to go. And I was so glad to be home at the end of it! With no more traveling in our foreseeable future!
But this trip seemed so much easier than any of the others. It was only a 3 1/2 hour drive, and we would be spending a few days on the lake with Tim and a bunch of high schoolers. Packing was easy; shorts, Tshirts, sandals, swimsuits, and towels for everyone and we were good to go! After all the packing I have done this summer, I think this trip's packing time might have totaled 30 minutes. As my kids would say, "Easy Peasy!"
The only thing that was different about this trip was that I was driving solo (as in solo adult) with the 3 kids. I think that might have been my first road trip with the 3 of them by myself. Turns out it was a lot of fun. Except for the part where I picked the last Starbucks in the metropolitan area to stop. Which turned out to be several miles off the interstate, with no drive through, so that when I finally found the needle in the haystack, I didn't even come away with the much anticipated "needle" because the kids had all already fallen asleep and I couldn't leave them in the car for a cup of coffee. No matter how needed it seemed. (And before you cast judgement, even if it seemed needed, it was still just a cup of decaf I was after!)
And let me tell you, there is not one single Starbucks between Brighton, CO and Ogalalla, NE. Not one. I was doubtful, but I tried to keep my hopes up. Lesson learned.
Other than that, the few days at the lake were spectacular. We had a great few days of family bonding- minus Tim! Me and the kids all stayed in one small mobile home. It had one bedroom, with bunk beds and a queen bed and just about a foot of walk space between the two. This is where Sophia, Noah and I slept. Phoebe slept in the super small living room, in her pack n play, behind the couch! Amazingly enough, it worked out well. And after preparing food for all the high schoolers, I even got a chance to kick back and watch some cable TV at the end of the days! (After Phoebe would fall asleep, I'd veg out on the couch in front of her watching Food Network. Somehow, she would sleep through it all.)
I earned my keep during the days by cooking for the high schoolers. It worked out fairly well in that Sophia & Noah were actually able to ride the boat while I was prepping the meals. Phoebe would stay with me and scrounge scraps while I cooked. This wasn't entirely planned, but it worked out well so that I felt like I was doing more than just tagging along on this trip.
I was so thankful to be with Tim, in any fashion at all, and see what the "Lake Trip" experience was all about. Although I never left the shore of the lake. And since the water was ridiculously high, and the beach was taken over by trees, I never even got a good view of the lake. Tim laughed when we got home and I asked, "How was the lake?"
As I've said previously, I've never been one to use pregnancy as an excuse to slow me down. But with as choppy as the water was reported to be, and as bumpy as the boat rides supposedly were, I never stepped foot on the boat. No boating, tubing, skiing, or anything "fun" for me this time. And I learned something that kinda surprised me. I really enjoy boating and water sports more than I knew. I was truly disappointed to have missed out. I've only started water skiing in the last few years and since I only get the opportunity once or twice a year, I didn't realize how much I've come to look forward to it.
Although, I felt especially reaffirmed in the wisdom of the decision to stay off the water when one friend told me that is how she found herself on bedrest for 3 months with her fourth son! Yikes. I have no idea how we would survive if I were put on bedrest.
Again, though, I felt like this trip took a toll on my body. Hiking back and forth all over the campground, from the beach, to our cabin, to the main house where all the food was, pushing the stroller the whole uphill way, I got my workouts in. Not to mention standing on my feet for hours boiling countless cauldrons of spaghetti noodles and grilling brats over our fire of Hades grill. The meals weren't complicated, but cooking for many teenage boys who have been in the sun and on the water all day long requires Costco to the millionth degree size portions of everything! When I was lucky, there were crumbs left for me at the end of the meal!
All in all, it was one of my favorite trips of the summer, and I was so glad it worked out for us to go. And I was so glad to be home at the end of it! With no more traveling in our foreseeable future!
week 25: Heading home
The beginning of week 25 found us where else, but in the car once again? This time we were winding up our time with family in the Midwest and heading home. We broke up our nearly 1,000 mile return trip from Minneapolis to Denver with one final stop in South Dakota to spend one more day with the in-laws, and then drove from Sioux Falls home in one final stretch of travel.
We arrived home somewhere around 3:00 am, in the middle of Tuesday/Wednesday night. Just in time to jump right into the remainder of the week. Tim headed out to work on Wednesday morning. I tackled the mountains of suitcases that turned into mountains of laundry.
It was SO good to be home. It might be hot here, too, but at least it wasn't so humid.
I love our annual summer trips to the Midwest, but I am SO thankful to be home. I must say that the traveling was much harder on my body than it ever has been, and I feel large, hot, and tired. That about sums it up. And I have a long way to go.
We arrived home somewhere around 3:00 am, in the middle of Tuesday/Wednesday night. Just in time to jump right into the remainder of the week. Tim headed out to work on Wednesday morning. I tackled the mountains of suitcases that turned into mountains of laundry.
It was SO good to be home. It might be hot here, too, but at least it wasn't so humid.
I love our annual summer trips to the Midwest, but I am SO thankful to be home. I must say that the traveling was much harder on my body than it ever has been, and I feel large, hot, and tired. That about sums it up. And I have a long way to go.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Week 24: On the Road Again (7/18/2011)
After two very quick weeks at home, we found ourselves loading up the car one more time. Although we most definitely enjoyed our time while the kids were at Grandma & Grandpa's house, we were ready to see them again. So...we got back in the car and headed east for a family reunion of sorts.
Yet another ten long hours of riding in the car. Maybe I should explain that I usually LOVE road trips. I love the uninterrupted family time. When else do my husband and I get to spend that long together, confined to such close quarters? It's a true indication of how this pregnancy is affecting me to realize that not only am I not excited about road tripping this summer, but I am mostly dreading it.
Our time in the Midwest was just in time for record breaking temperatures and heat indexes. Not only was it H-O-T, but it was HUMID!!!! Consequently, this was the first time in my life that I found myself wanting to use pregnancy as an excuse to do nothing but sit on the couch in the air conditioning. I've never really been one to slow down much because of pregnancy, but I sure wanted to this week. I found myself drawn to shade like a moth to light. And I would have been more than happy to park my rear end there to stay for hours at a time. If my kids would have allowed for it, anyway! Which, needless to say, is like blowing kisses in the wind.
So I chased after little ones and carried on as usual. And took advantage of every moment I could in the air conditioning!
It was so great to have our kids back again. And so great to see family that we don't get to see very often. And to be away from our normal daily routine. But, I would dare to say this week was my hardest week of pregnancy. Between the heat and the back pain, I most certainly found myself counting down the days until November 7th.
Yet another ten long hours of riding in the car. Maybe I should explain that I usually LOVE road trips. I love the uninterrupted family time. When else do my husband and I get to spend that long together, confined to such close quarters? It's a true indication of how this pregnancy is affecting me to realize that not only am I not excited about road tripping this summer, but I am mostly dreading it.
Our time in the Midwest was just in time for record breaking temperatures and heat indexes. Not only was it H-O-T, but it was HUMID!!!! Consequently, this was the first time in my life that I found myself wanting to use pregnancy as an excuse to do nothing but sit on the couch in the air conditioning. I've never really been one to slow down much because of pregnancy, but I sure wanted to this week. I found myself drawn to shade like a moth to light. And I would have been more than happy to park my rear end there to stay for hours at a time. If my kids would have allowed for it, anyway! Which, needless to say, is like blowing kisses in the wind.
So I chased after little ones and carried on as usual. And took advantage of every moment I could in the air conditioning!
It was so great to have our kids back again. And so great to see family that we don't get to see very often. And to be away from our normal daily routine. But, I would dare to say this week was my hardest week of pregnancy. Between the heat and the back pain, I most certainly found myself counting down the days until November 7th.
Friday, October 7, 2011
week 23: Hanging with Hubs
This week was a first for us. Ever. Tim and I found ourselves in a situation we hadn't been in- ever. Or at least for 6 years, depending on how you look at it.
My sweet in-laws, who obviously love our kids to pieces, were chomping at the bit to spend some time with the kids this summer. So all 3 kids got to spend almost a week at "Grandma and Grandpa Camp" at the farm in South Dakota.
This meant two things:
1.) After less than a week at home, we loaded up all the kids and gear and headed out on yet another road trip. Again. I was less than thrilled at the prospect of another 10 hours in the car.
2.) More importantly, Tim and I had almost a week at home with just the two of us. In our own house. On our own schedules. With nothing to do but what WE wanted! All the while knowing our kids would not only be in good hands, but they would most likely be having the time of their lives without us! (Many times we teased them that we had changed our minds and were going to stay in South Dakota with them. This was ALWAYS met with moans and groans and clear indication that we were not welcome during this time.) This clearly made 10 hours in the car not only worthwhile, but ~almost~ exciting!
To say that we felt pressured to capitalize on these 5 days would be an understatement. It was such a tough balance to squeeze it all in. We definitely wanted to "play" and be together, but at the same time, we had a handful of things we would be much better off accomplishing without kids underfoot. All to be worked around Tim's usual schedule, of course, including Wednesday night youth group for both of us, Sunday church activities, etc., etc. (Also sadly enough, we had multiple funerals and memorial services to attend in that short time, too.)
Since over half of our time was already scheduled, on our way back after dropping the kids off, we literally made dual lists: a fun list and a work list. We didn't want to forget anything. Our goal was to maximize our time to the fullest.
Our most daunting item on our list was to begin converting our guest room to what would become Sophia & Phoebe's new room. It's a cave of a room downstairs with old school, dark wood paneling halfway around the room. We spent a fair amount of our free time painting that room a tan and light pink. Maybe not the top choice for either of us, but at the same time, it would have been nearly impossible and would have taken probably 5 times as long with all the kids in the house. Thankfully, we were able to mostly finish the room in the time the kids were gone.
Our fun items included date night, use of a gift card to a local seafood restaurant, a movie night, a hike, golf for Tim, and a couple of dinners with friends. We had also intended to play tennis, and baseball for Tim, but it rained some monsoons in that week, making both of those activities impossible.
Between the painting and the hiking, my body was again feeling like it was taking a beating, and I made my second trip back to the chiropractor.
They all say, and I have well learned by this point that each pregnancy is different. I am wondering what on earth it is about this one that is making it so much harder on my body? I am doing my best to not complain about it, but the honest to goodness truth is that I am frequently finding myself wondering how on earth I can make it through the next several months.
My sweet in-laws, who obviously love our kids to pieces, were chomping at the bit to spend some time with the kids this summer. So all 3 kids got to spend almost a week at "Grandma and Grandpa Camp" at the farm in South Dakota.
This meant two things:
1.) After less than a week at home, we loaded up all the kids and gear and headed out on yet another road trip. Again. I was less than thrilled at the prospect of another 10 hours in the car.
2.) More importantly, Tim and I had almost a week at home with just the two of us. In our own house. On our own schedules. With nothing to do but what WE wanted! All the while knowing our kids would not only be in good hands, but they would most likely be having the time of their lives without us! (Many times we teased them that we had changed our minds and were going to stay in South Dakota with them. This was ALWAYS met with moans and groans and clear indication that we were not welcome during this time.) This clearly made 10 hours in the car not only worthwhile, but ~almost~ exciting!
To say that we felt pressured to capitalize on these 5 days would be an understatement. It was such a tough balance to squeeze it all in. We definitely wanted to "play" and be together, but at the same time, we had a handful of things we would be much better off accomplishing without kids underfoot. All to be worked around Tim's usual schedule, of course, including Wednesday night youth group for both of us, Sunday church activities, etc., etc. (Also sadly enough, we had multiple funerals and memorial services to attend in that short time, too.)
Since over half of our time was already scheduled, on our way back after dropping the kids off, we literally made dual lists: a fun list and a work list. We didn't want to forget anything. Our goal was to maximize our time to the fullest.
Our most daunting item on our list was to begin converting our guest room to what would become Sophia & Phoebe's new room. It's a cave of a room downstairs with old school, dark wood paneling halfway around the room. We spent a fair amount of our free time painting that room a tan and light pink. Maybe not the top choice for either of us, but at the same time, it would have been nearly impossible and would have taken probably 5 times as long with all the kids in the house. Thankfully, we were able to mostly finish the room in the time the kids were gone.
Our fun items included date night, use of a gift card to a local seafood restaurant, a movie night, a hike, golf for Tim, and a couple of dinners with friends. We had also intended to play tennis, and baseball for Tim, but it rained some monsoons in that week, making both of those activities impossible.
Between the painting and the hiking, my body was again feeling like it was taking a beating, and I made my second trip back to the chiropractor.
They all say, and I have well learned by this point that each pregnancy is different. I am wondering what on earth it is about this one that is making it so much harder on my body? I am doing my best to not complain about it, but the honest to goodness truth is that I am frequently finding myself wondering how on earth I can make it through the next several months.
Week 22: Home again
Something happened in the time we were in California. Not sure exactly what, but I definitely came home different than before we left. At the end of June, when we left Colorado, I was quite obviously pregnant. But I still hadn't really taken out any of my maternity clothes. I was intentionally holding off as long as I could because I knew how I would come to loathe those clothes by the end of November. Ironically enough, this is the longest I've ever held out in "normal" clothes.
But we got home at the beginning of July, and all of a sudden, I felt...well, pregnant!!! I felt big. I looked bigger than before I left. Several people made the dreaded comment, "You've popped!" Clothes that I wore right before we left were definitely not going to fit any more. It was time to pack them away. (Which was actually very ironic because I had that very debate with myself before we left. I agonized more about packing for this trip than I ever had. If I packed my regular clothes that I had been wearing, would they still fit me by the time the trip was done? But at the same time, I didn't want to fill a suitcase with maternity clothes that were still much too big and would therefore make me look like a house.)
And my body had taken a beating at camp. Between the long walks all over camp to get from place to place, maybe also my early morning runs didn't help much, and repeatedly clamoring in and out of a monstrous 15 passenger van, not to mention hefting and heaving other small children in and out of the same van, for several days on end, I was feeling older and less limber than ever!
The day after camp, I headed out to my much neglected gardens, and attempted to pull weeds. After just a few short minutes, I found myself "stuck." It didn't matter which direction I moved, it was going to hurt. A lot. And I don't like to talk about any of my physical discomforts very much; it makes me pretty uncomfortable. But I knew I was in trouble.
And, I'm barely past halfway through this pregnancy. With the way I was feeling that afternoon in the middle of my gardens, I was truly baffled at how I was going to make it through the next 4 months. So my super sweet and very concerned husband (who was maybe wondering how he was going to be fed, and who was going to wash his clothes, not to mention take care of his other 3 children) scheduled my first ever appointment with a chiropractor.
Thank goodness. I am not sure that I could have made it through the upcoming months without some adjusting! Less than coincidentally, the chiropractor he chose is a maternity specialist, and supposedly caters to pregnant women. (Although, in thinking about it, in all the time I've spent in his office since my first visit, I haven't yet seen another pregnant woman come in or out!) Anyway, because of that, he offers a flat fee that covers as many adjustments as you want/need during your 3rd trimester. I have a feeling that with the way this pregnancy is going, that will come in handy before long!
But we got home at the beginning of July, and all of a sudden, I felt...well, pregnant!!! I felt big. I looked bigger than before I left. Several people made the dreaded comment, "You've popped!" Clothes that I wore right before we left were definitely not going to fit any more. It was time to pack them away. (Which was actually very ironic because I had that very debate with myself before we left. I agonized more about packing for this trip than I ever had. If I packed my regular clothes that I had been wearing, would they still fit me by the time the trip was done? But at the same time, I didn't want to fill a suitcase with maternity clothes that were still much too big and would therefore make me look like a house.)
And my body had taken a beating at camp. Between the long walks all over camp to get from place to place, maybe also my early morning runs didn't help much, and repeatedly clamoring in and out of a monstrous 15 passenger van, not to mention hefting and heaving other small children in and out of the same van, for several days on end, I was feeling older and less limber than ever!
The day after camp, I headed out to my much neglected gardens, and attempted to pull weeds. After just a few short minutes, I found myself "stuck." It didn't matter which direction I moved, it was going to hurt. A lot. And I don't like to talk about any of my physical discomforts very much; it makes me pretty uncomfortable. But I knew I was in trouble.
And, I'm barely past halfway through this pregnancy. With the way I was feeling that afternoon in the middle of my gardens, I was truly baffled at how I was going to make it through the next 4 months. So my super sweet and very concerned husband (who was maybe wondering how he was going to be fed, and who was going to wash his clothes, not to mention take care of his other 3 children) scheduled my first ever appointment with a chiropractor.
Thank goodness. I am not sure that I could have made it through the upcoming months without some adjusting! Less than coincidentally, the chiropractor he chose is a maternity specialist, and supposedly caters to pregnant women. (Although, in thinking about it, in all the time I've spent in his office since my first visit, I haven't yet seen another pregnant woman come in or out!) Anyway, because of that, he offers a flat fee that covers as many adjustments as you want/need during your 3rd trimester. I have a feeling that with the way this pregnancy is going, that will come in handy before long!
Week 21: CA bound
I know a lot of people think I'm kinda crazy, but the truth is that no matter what, I would much rather pack up our whole crazy family and join Tim in any kind of adventure than stay home and single parent without him. Even if it means traveling across the country to California in a 15 passenger van with all three of our kids and a bunch of high schoolers for 8 days at camp. Okay, let's be honest, I say that people think I'm crazy because that sounds crazy even to me!
In any case, that's exactly what we did. We drove for two days, with Tim in the driver's seat, Phoebe in the seat right behind him, me in the row behind her, and Sophia and Noah right next to each other in the row behind me. Our other driver opted to ride shotgun with Tim. Who could blame him? The down side of that, though, was that for thousands of miles across the country, I didn't have a single conversation with my husband!!! Even though he was in the same car, just a few feet in front of me!!! Instead, I found myself situated perfectly between kids, "trip bags" full of goodies and entertainment, snacks, drinks, blankies, pillows, carseats, kids and chaos.
Thankfully, because we live far enough away from family that we find ourselves on the road frequently, our two oldest kids are already great road trippers, and you wouldn't be able to believe that there wasn't really a complaint between them. (Other than the fact that Sophia would occassionally tell me that her bottom was sore! Mine too, kid, mine too.) For Phoebe, this was the first road trip that she was old enough to realize that she had been confined to her carseat for nearly two days straight. She didn't sleep much the first day, but other than that, she did alright.
Our final destination was a camp in a small California town about 65 miles mostly north and slightly west of LA. We were there to serve for the week, in whatever capacity we were called to. This happens to be the very same camp that I worked at for several summers during college. I was SO excited to be back and even more excited to show my kids what it was all about. They, of course, are much too young to understand my emotional attachment to the place, but it was fun to have them there nonetheless.
The camp has grown significantly since the time I was there. It's WAY more spread out than it used to be. This, of course, means more walking. I am SO thankful we squeezed the stroller in with all our other cargo, because there is no way I would have survived the week without it. It felt like I was hauling kids back and forth all day long as it was; I can't really fathom that I would have made it without being able to load two of them into the stroller for our treks. I'll be honest and admit that I move at about a snail's pace (or less) these days, but still, it would take me a good twenty minutes to migrate from one end of camp to the other. Good thing no one was depending on my speed and promptness!! It certainly made me miss my younger, more agile days of working at camp!
We spent the week at camp, helping in all kinds of different ways, and then when camp closed up on Friday afternoon, the majority of our group headed to 6 Flags Magic Mountain for an evening full of roller coasters and adrenaline. Have I mentioned that my favorite roller coaster in the world is at Magic Mountain? And have I mentioned that I love amusement parks? And that I haven't been to one in more years than I can count? Oh, it was torturous to send the rest of the group off and settle for an evening of In n Out Burger and Cars 2 in 3d with my family. Don't get me wrong. Under "normal" circumstances that sounds like a nearly perfect family night of entertainment for me. But when all the high schoolers came back oohing and aahing over the new rides at Magic Mountain, I was definitely feeling like this baby better be appreciating the sacrifices I was making for her. Cause that felt like a big one! :)
The next day, we headed into Long Beach for a day on the beach before we loaded back up in our vans to journey home. Just exactly where a pregnant lady wants to hang out, right? The beach? In a swimsuit? Ha!! It's all right; I was highly distracted by the excitement of taking our kids to the ocean for the first time. I ~barely~ thought about feeling like a beached whale.
After one last night in California, we once again loaded into our vans for the two day drive home. All in all, it was a great trip. I was SO thankful to have had the opportunity to join the group, and be a part of the experience. My body was SO thankful to be home and done with the 15 passenger van and sitting on my rear end for days on end!
In any case, that's exactly what we did. We drove for two days, with Tim in the driver's seat, Phoebe in the seat right behind him, me in the row behind her, and Sophia and Noah right next to each other in the row behind me. Our other driver opted to ride shotgun with Tim. Who could blame him? The down side of that, though, was that for thousands of miles across the country, I didn't have a single conversation with my husband!!! Even though he was in the same car, just a few feet in front of me!!! Instead, I found myself situated perfectly between kids, "trip bags" full of goodies and entertainment, snacks, drinks, blankies, pillows, carseats, kids and chaos.
Thankfully, because we live far enough away from family that we find ourselves on the road frequently, our two oldest kids are already great road trippers, and you wouldn't be able to believe that there wasn't really a complaint between them. (Other than the fact that Sophia would occassionally tell me that her bottom was sore! Mine too, kid, mine too.) For Phoebe, this was the first road trip that she was old enough to realize that she had been confined to her carseat for nearly two days straight. She didn't sleep much the first day, but other than that, she did alright.
Our final destination was a camp in a small California town about 65 miles mostly north and slightly west of LA. We were there to serve for the week, in whatever capacity we were called to. This happens to be the very same camp that I worked at for several summers during college. I was SO excited to be back and even more excited to show my kids what it was all about. They, of course, are much too young to understand my emotional attachment to the place, but it was fun to have them there nonetheless.
The camp has grown significantly since the time I was there. It's WAY more spread out than it used to be. This, of course, means more walking. I am SO thankful we squeezed the stroller in with all our other cargo, because there is no way I would have survived the week without it. It felt like I was hauling kids back and forth all day long as it was; I can't really fathom that I would have made it without being able to load two of them into the stroller for our treks. I'll be honest and admit that I move at about a snail's pace (or less) these days, but still, it would take me a good twenty minutes to migrate from one end of camp to the other. Good thing no one was depending on my speed and promptness!! It certainly made me miss my younger, more agile days of working at camp!
We spent the week at camp, helping in all kinds of different ways, and then when camp closed up on Friday afternoon, the majority of our group headed to 6 Flags Magic Mountain for an evening full of roller coasters and adrenaline. Have I mentioned that my favorite roller coaster in the world is at Magic Mountain? And have I mentioned that I love amusement parks? And that I haven't been to one in more years than I can count? Oh, it was torturous to send the rest of the group off and settle for an evening of In n Out Burger and Cars 2 in 3d with my family. Don't get me wrong. Under "normal" circumstances that sounds like a nearly perfect family night of entertainment for me. But when all the high schoolers came back oohing and aahing over the new rides at Magic Mountain, I was definitely feeling like this baby better be appreciating the sacrifices I was making for her. Cause that felt like a big one! :)
The next day, we headed into Long Beach for a day on the beach before we loaded back up in our vans to journey home. Just exactly where a pregnant lady wants to hang out, right? The beach? In a swimsuit? Ha!! It's all right; I was highly distracted by the excitement of taking our kids to the ocean for the first time. I ~barely~ thought about feeling like a beached whale.
After one last night in California, we once again loaded into our vans for the two day drive home. All in all, it was a great trip. I was SO thankful to have had the opportunity to join the group, and be a part of the experience. My body was SO thankful to be home and done with the 15 passenger van and sitting on my rear end for days on end!
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