I feel so loved!

This is the only football game of Drew's that I will make it to. I was on bed rest part of the time, sick, one week was cancelled because of rain......it was so cute. I felt bad....I had to leave in the middle of it just to use the bathroom, and the car was so much closer than walking to the school that we got back in the car drove home....yes just so I could pee! Lazy, I know.
Here is Elaine playing around with Drew and Izzy before the game started.....I love this pic......doesn't it look like she just caught a great pass......I actually think that she was fooling around and I just happened to snap the picture.
I didn't get a pic of Izzy playing football but the girls made sure that I got pictures of the clovers that they were picking from the grass as we were trying to watch the game.

This was Saturday mornings surprise! Can you guess?.......peanut M&M's, Mozzarella cheese.....(yes it did have a stench) and I think there was Hersey's Nugget! Good chocolate going to waste! My big worry was that it was on the stove.....at least they haven't figured out how to turn the stove on. I think I need to go those protector thing.

This past weekend was General Conference for Church. For those that don't the first weekend in April and October we have "TV Church". It is broad casted over cable, Dish network, and some other companies. We can go to the church building to watch it or stay at home. We have always had a monkey bread type of thing as kind of a tradition before or durning conference....I took the idea from the Brice's. Saturday I was craving a good omelet.....AND Kris happens to make GREAT ones!!! I also recently found out that he really isn't too fond of the Monkey Bread. So this was breakfast on Sunday. Let me say it was YUMMY!!!! I had Sausage, green and red peepers, mushroom, tomatoes, and cheese. I am craving another just thinking about it. Of course mine had to be cooked last because Kris didn't want to cook anything after 'fungus" was in the pan. I love mushrooms! Yes I did it all, minus a couple of the inside things feel out onto the plate.....maybe that is why I am still gaining weight. I really normally do at the end of my pregnancy....I mean I pack it on. BUT this time as been different...I didn't gain much at all the past few weeks....until last week....4 lbs in one week!!!! Yes 4!!!! BUT I didn't break the record! Don't ask.
This really made me feel loved. I was sitting in on the computer sending am email and the door bell rang.....which is weird we just don't get visitors this time of the evening. The dog didn't even go nuts like he normally does.....on the porch was a plate of very DELICIOUS cupcakes with orange frosting....this Ghost and a note that said:

"Happy Halloween

You've been "Ghosted"!!!

The "Ghost of Halloween" has visited your house.

Enjoy your treats! With the next 24 hours you must

"Ghost" someone else in the ward. Post the "Ghost"

on your front door until Halloween. This will ward off

the "Ghost" return.

When you deliver your treats, be sure to leave these

instructions along with the "Ghost's" picture. It is

important that you deliver your treats secretly to a home that does not have a

"Ghost" posted. Have a fun

and share the Halloween spirit!"

Isn't this just the cutest!!!!

The mystery pictures!!!

Can you guess what these two pictures are off?

I love white towels.......I however do not like white towels that my kids have used to clean up Oreo's that have been soaked in milk. They become mush.....gross, gooey........think it is going to stain? Let me know what kind of things you guys have all tried to get stains out....my white towels are getting so messed up.

This one is better......In the large glass the white stuff is milk......left over from the Oreo dunking glasses...the kids combined into the bigger glass. The blue stuff is the interesting part....tissue paper. I am actually surprised that the milk didn't turn blue from the paper. I had opened a baby gift and left the tissue paper crumbled up on the table, and yes that is a pencil in the cup. Guess they needed something to it stir with and it happened to be close. When I took the cup to the sink to empty the milk before throwing the paper away there was more to the cup.....under the tissue paper was a Handi-snack crackers and cheese container that had been placed under the tissue paper and over 1/2 of the Oreo cookies that were left in the package.....what an ooey gooey mess. The slug in the bottom of the glass reminded me of my dad, I know what a weird to remind me of my dad. I have to dunk my cookies.....he thinks it is saving time, or something, to crumble up the cookies in a bowl and then pour milk over them and eat it with a spoon. GROSS!!

I hope they don't call him four eyes!

A couple weeks ago Drew came home with a note from school that said he had to have an eye exam and this new state form filled out and sent back to the school by Oct. 1st or he wouldn't be welcome back until they had the form. With this coming on the soonest appointment that we could get was today-Oct. 1st........I was kind of surprised to hear that he needed glasses. Here is a pic.....love that they were ready in an hour. This is seriously the only pair that didn't make him look like Chicken Little. I think they are so cute. I am also really hoping that everyone in Kindergarten thinks they are just as cool as he does. I wanted something kind of funky for him, but everything funky had rhinestones in them and it was very clear that they were meant for girls. This pair happen to be the first pair that he picked up and tried on.

Good news all the way around and a funny

Good news from the Dentist.....X-rays looked good...swelling is normal and they expect everything to go back to normal. In the picture you might be able to tell that her right tooth looks a little shorter than the other one, that is just because her gum above it is still really swollen and purple. She does still need to eat soft things and go back for another X-ray in 6-8 weeks. Which is when all three kids have their 6 month check up. She loves the dentist....yesterday when she found out that she had wait another day she whinnied about so much I eventually had to leave her with Kris and just get out.....I was going nuts! That and the fact the kids dumped all of the toys into a huge pile and they added all the draws that normally are supposed to go in to the top of the pile. I was so not happy. Not that my playroom area is normally all neat, picked-up and in order......but it was before they dumped everything! Why am I the only one that knows exactly which draw each toy goes into. Awhile ago I went out and brought 4 of those stack, plastic draw things and made sure to get the clear ones (just so the kids could see into them.....they don't get it) and I even labeled each draw and had each of the kids help with it so that so that they would know and that this would be a thing for them.....okay so I am done rambling about my odd thoughts for the moment, BTW thanks for listening.

Drew also had his ENT appointment yesterday......it was interesting.....we reviewed his CT (Temporal Bone scan) results......and apparently there is nothing physically wrong with his ears! This leaves us wondering.....so the next step is to have the specialist up at UW review them and see what he says.....the ENT guy in Rockford is stumped. Nothing explains his hearing loss now. I know-he is a guy selective hearing and all.....At least we have 3 of 5 doctors appointments for this week out the way!

Things are coming together for the baby.....I have gotten a going home outfit-this is a special thing in our family....or at least to me....I don't think Kris really cares about it. I am sure that other moms get it, it has to be cute, and perfect for the weather....and that other oh so precious baby stuff. AND I also order a blessing outfit....for those interested we are tentatively scheduling it on Oct. 19th. If everything goes okay and as planned. Yes I know it seems really soon...especially considering that the baby isn't even due until the 18th, but mom my will still be in town and I would love to have her here....she has been at each of the other kids so I want to keep the tradition up it at all possible. I am hoping that since we live near family now that some of them will come too (hint, hint).

OH-another good thing. It is only about 60* today I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! I got to open the windows and air out the house-we stink, or at least the house was just starting not smell so great. The cat is totally going nuts and keeps running back and forth between each window and checking things out. Funny Funny!

This morning when getting ready to take Izzy to the dentist I mentioned to Kris that I was wearing pants and tennis shoes.....I haven't done that since I have gotten big yet......he chuckled at me and asked "how are you going to get your shoes on?" Now that I write it-the questions sounds kind of mean but he knows me......it was hard. I was laughing at myself trying to do it.

Teeth

I know everyone wants to see a pic of her entire face....but the camera died. This morning as Kris and I were waking up to get ready for church we heard Izzy start to cry.....a LOUD cry. So he rushed down stairs to get her..... Elaine come up with her as blood is dripping from her mouth and explains that Izzy tripped over the swiffer in the kitchen. At first I thought that it was just the two holes on the inside of her mouth....nope straight through the top of her bottom lip and down and out just under her lip on the outside.....or at least that is what we think happened. Her two top teeth were bleeding but looked fine at first. We gave her Tylenol and had ice on it. Awhile later I noticed that her upper gums are swollen, purple and both teeth are loose. We have had a similar experience with Drew and he ended up being fine....his accidents were a couple weeks apart ...but not this bad and both of his teeth turned a nasty gray color and then over time have lightened up. Poor thing....she can't eat. I made Spaghetti for dinner with garlic bread....she is willing to eat the bread after I break it up into little pieces for her put into the back of her mouth. She did eat her lunch-a peanut butter sandwich which I cut into itty-bitty pieces. Anyone have (or know of someone who did) a similar tooth experience???? I want to know what you did. I do plan on calling the dentist in the morning. I hear that it takes a little bit for the root of the tooth to die, so I am not sure if they will want her to come for X-rays right away to wait a few days.....Poor thing....

I did say that I would post a picture of toothless Elaine too. At least Elaine is the appropriate age to be loosing teeth. I really really hope that Izzy doesn't loose hers.

I got to sleep in!

My morning started off great! I mean GREAT! One little thing made all the difference....my alarm didn't go off. Yes, this is a good thing, it felt like a Saturday. It wasn't supposed to go off. I know that normally when some says that there alarm didn't go off on a weekday it really isn't a good thing.........but rest assured this was a great thing....until......Elaine came up stairs and said something on the lines of what they made for breakfast. Not good! She explained some of it, and I got very worried. Anytime the kids make there own breakfast I get worried. I have often wondered.....how do other moms do this.....do they really get up before the kids and take a shower, do the hair and make-up and get all Joan Cleaver?!? I see other house....I wonder? Is this my laziness, or do I have monster children.....or politically correct very inventive children? They just love finding ways to give me more things to do. Must be their job....they are trained in the premortal existence that the only thing that can take from this life when they leave is their knowledge......they are to learn in every way possible. I really only know one person that gets up and does the entire morning routine before getting her kids up. She gets up at 5:30-sorry not for me. I think my kids are up by then anyhow. We really don't know what time they get up....they are up before us and that is all we know. I don't see it being even remotely possible for me to get up before them. Really what do you other moms do?!? So back to my morning..... I head downstairs.....now you have to understand how my house is set up....when you go down the stairs you end up near the front door....and we eat in the back of the house.....I just had to stop and get the camera before heading back to the eating area. This is what I found.

It really doesn't look so bad.....There are a total of three plates. The one at the bottom of the picture is cut off. My main concern was the one in the middle. Can you tell what it is full off? It looks like chocolate milk at first. Elaine did try to clean up the mess for me (so sweet)......but these are paper plates, Dixie....yes when they get wet the get soggy. So when she did try to pick it up some of the stuff on the plate feel to the floor. I see it now...you are trying to imagine the splat of chocolate milk on the floor.........it wasn't chocolate milk. See the sugar shakers in the picture. One had powdered sugar and the other had a mixture of Cinnamon and sugar. That is what made the plate mixture look like it was chocolate. I also noticed my beyond yummy homemade strawberry jam that was brought over as part of one the the dinners last week. The container of my wonderful jam is sitting almost empty on the table as well. Notice the whisk on the plate? I ask Elaine where all the jam went .........

She pointed to the plate.........

AH!!!! MY JAM!!! You have to understand I loved this jam.....

Well at least they tried to be semi-healthy with breakfast.....adding some peanut butter. I think the Nilla Waffers must have been all gone....I didn't find any of them on any of the plates....or maybe they were just using them as dunkers.....EW......just the thought makes my stomach turn. The bread on the table was soggy too......I couldn't even pick it up......

I am almost glad that they didn't start to clean things up....the norm in the house is to run to the laundry room and grab a towel to clean up the mess....most of the towels in this house are white. They are starting to get brown stains on them.....too many chocolate milk spills. I keep yelling "NOT A WHITE TOWEL! Get a brown one!"

You might be wondering if not having the alarm go off was worth it........YES.....every little bit of it was great. AND the mess really wasn't that hard to clean up. I will have to mop later, but only do that after the kids are in bed. I have learned not to carry paper plates full of milk to the sink.....just bring something to dump it in to the table and have towel already laid out.

25 days!

It is 25 days until my official due date, however with the doctor being willing to induce early it is really only 16 or 17 days. SO HAPPY! Yes I am counting....in a BIG way. I am officially off of the modified bed rest, but when I asked about it at my last appointment I was told that I should be the judge of it. EW....so now I over do it and complain about it....but I am able to do thing, which I am happy about. I was beginning to feel like a slacker-mom, which is a surprise because I really do tend to be a lazy prego. I really never want to be pregnant again. I have never had pain like this, not with any other pregnancies or really at any point in my life. My fingers and toes look like sausages when I wake....people want pics, but I don't know....I think about it. My nose isn't fat yet, and it was last time.

It feels so weird for me not to have a name picked out....I have never done this. I always pick a name early on and refer to the baby as that name instead of "the baby". Evan really is my second choice right now, but Kris doesn't like my first choice.....I might still have a chance and getting the first choice, but I want it to be a surprise.

Things have been crazy here.....it is going to get cold soon and it always seems to sneak up on us on a Sunday morning and the girls end up wearing winter dresses that are too small with tights and sandals.... it really is a always quite funny. We manged to get out on Saturday and buy a couple more things for the kids and winter. I am sure that I will be cold, but at least they will be warm.

Elaine lost her second tooth on the top and now the is completely missing both of her front top teeth. I think the new ones might start to grow in before Christmas......and yes she is already practicing the song "All I want for Christmas...". I'll post a pic as soon as I take one.
I had some of the best dinners from the Relief Society over the past two weeks. With Kris back in school again and things the RS president arranged to have dinner brought in every other night. I have been in some wards were dinner were good, and another where it your really hoped that they just forgot that you had a baby or even needed dinner, I know that sounds terribly ungrateful of me, but here I can speak my mind. The meals that were brought over from this ward are always GREAT!!! We have amazing cooks here. There wasn't one meal where I didn't feel like I had to have the recipe and eat it again within the next week. Here is the recipe for Candied Chicken....the last meal that was brought. AMAZING! We got the chicken, a great potato dish, Green beans, rolls, homemade strawberry jam, and these really good bars for dessert....tasted just like a Reese's Peanut butter Cup. Every meal was like this....great and a ton of food, with homemade stuff. And just think I am sure that people will insist on bring some stuff after the baby is born....I am hopping to not have too many at that time. Mom will be here and Kris will be off from work and I feel like I have already been helped so much.

CANDIED CHICKEN
Flour and brown chicken parts and put in a baking dish (she used legs)
Cover with sauce.
1 1/2 Cup brown Sugar
1/4 Cup mustard
1/2 Cup ketchup
1 Tbl Worchershire sauce
1/4 cup onion
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup water
Bake at 350* for 1 1/2 hours.

It was the drugs.....

I feel like such a bad mom. Tuesday night....in the middle of the night I heard this loud beep. I really didn't think too much of it.....I actually thought that it sounded like the smoke alarm...but just a single beep not a series of beeps...in my mind the battery was low on that particular alarm and would need to be changed in the morning. Seriously I didn't think anything of it-when alarms go off they really go off, over and over and over again not just one beep. Maybe because I was so drugged. I kept going off through out the night, and the time between it sounding was getting shorter in length.....I am blaming it on the drugs.....I was not thinking straight.....really what else could it be? I really wasn't going to get the step ladder, find a battery and change it in the middle of the night. Kris gets home in the morning and wakes me up by saying "I think we might need to get out of the house!" "What for?" is the only thing that I could think. The house was kind of foggy looking, and it wasn't the smoke alarm that was beeping single beeps it was the carbon dioxide(or is it monoxide?-I get them mixed up) detector that was beeping. This was the bad mom moment for me. Kris took care of things....he changes the battery and says that it is okay. It was only beeping because the battery was running low. I felt so low......here the detector thing was going off and I was making excuses for it instead of checking....I am so glad that it really turned out not be a big deal.....I would have been just crushed if it really had been a real issue. AND we are guessing that foggy house was caused by the humidifier I have been running to help me sleep at night with the head cold thing that I have going on top of everything else. I did mention that I was drugged above. I love codeine. The doc gave me this cough syrup with codeine in it, and the instructions say to take it every six hours or as needed, so I only take one dose right before bed. I have actually been able to sleep. At the beginning of the week I only was getting about 3 hours of sleep each night, and that is not a consecutive 3 hours just a total of 3 hours. Between getting up to pee, kids coming into my bed because they weren't feeling well either or not being able to sleep because of the head cold. The first night I took this cough syrup I slept....and it was wonderful. Ever take a nap and sleep too long and wake up feeling worse than what you did before you went to take a nap....that is me.....I do wake up feeling drugged and not completely with it. It wears off after about 15-20 minutes then I really do feel much better....rested.

Update....
After getting some email comments and rereading the above post.....I am not overdrugging! I just think a little helps A LOT! Didn't mean to make is sound like I was so drugged I could only sleep.... I am normally so out of it when I wake up anyhow that a little codeine just made me that much more groggy.

Another Cute Cake!!!

I know this isn't the best pic.....but at least I remembered to take a picture! This is such an adorable cake. Our family has just had the cutest cakes lately. We had Kelli's (maternal cousin) baby shower today. Her mother in law made the cake. I sent her an invitation and this is what she came up with! If you want to see the invite scroll down, I know that it is on here.....in an August post somewhere....Such a great job!!! It was great having a shower and seeing the family that came. Thanks for letting me do the shower Kelli!

The past week

I love it when kids turn about 3-4 years old and they start to get witty or start saying the cutest things and just the perfect time. Tyler is here visiting, and Izzy doesn't really know him. She is shy until she gets to know someone. They were standing near each other behind the love seat and he picked her up swirled her behind him and dropped her on the love seat.....she was not happy about this. Later she made sure to tell me that "Uncle Tyer (yes she says it with the "l") is SO RUDE!". I laughed....I didn't even know that she knew the meaning of rude.


Even though Drew is having a great time in Kindergarten I think that he still has to work on his listening. Each day they get three smarties if they didn't get a warning and only 1 if the did. They also have the vine with bananas hanging from it on the wall. Each of the bananas has a name of one the students on it. If you are so bad that your bananas gets moved off the vine.....you know your in big time trouble. Drew hasn't had is banana moved yet. BUT quite a few days he has come home from school and says he only got one smarty because he didn't listen. I am beginning to think that he know he can misbehave once and still get buy with things. At the end of the week if has not had his banana moved from the vine he gets an entire roll of Smarties for making smart choices! Oh the things that teachers come up with....I don't think that I could ever be that creative.

Both of Elaine's top two front teeth were loose, until last Sunday. She loosed one up and it was grossing me out. I have never been grossed out by loose teeth but she could push it completely forward and hold it at a horizontal angle between her lips. I told her she had to pull it out before dinner of she wasn't allowed to come in the room. I know....I am such a mean mom. We have been teasing her that she might be singing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" soon, but I am beginning to think that it will at least part of the way grown in by the time Christmas rolls around. It makes it officail to me.....she is so big. Kris thinks she looks like a hockey player and I think the missing tooth is perfect for a witch!

My kids are gross......I was making mini muffins for a baby shower today and I went to pour the milk into the measuring cup over the bowl with the mix and egg already in it.....chunks started to fall out of the carton. I couldn't figure it out. I can't stomach spoiled milk but these chunks were different. It was hard to tell what they were when they were falling from the carton into the measuring cup.....so I dumped the cup out into the sink and when the milk rolled off and down the drain we had cereal in the sink! I am guessing that Drew and Izzy thought that it would be funny to put cereal into the milk instead of milk into the cereal. WEIRD!!!

Bed rest.....well modified bedrest

I went to the OB today totally expecting to be somewhat dilated with all the issues that I have had this week....nope. Which I am really happy about. The doctor keep telling me that he wanted me to rest more.....I don't think that he understands that I am the laziest pregnant lady that anyone will ever meet. He left the room to check out something under a microscope and when he was gone I asked Kris if he got the impression that I was being put on bed rest. He didn't know so he suggested that I ask the doc when he came back in the room. When he came back in and I asked his response was "Basically-you need to rest up more". So I asked what my limitations were......I was worried that he was going to give the run down about only showering and using the bathroom stuff. Luckily it isn't complete bed rest just once I start to have a contraction or when I start feeling pain I need to go and rest up. I have a contraction every time I stand up! Good thing it is only going to have to be until I hit 36 weeks which is in 2 weeks.
I am throwing a baby shower next Saturday (along with another cousin of mine) at my house for a cousin who is due a month after me....this will be fun. I am very grateful for my family who has already said that they will help out. Kris of course is so looking forward to cleaning for and do the shopping for the shower. Good thing I am keeping it simple!
Another thank you.....my cousin Michelle lives 13 miles north-ish of me and I called her as soon as I got home from the docs to tell her about things.....and to see if she could come help out with the kids, lunch, and the typical household stuff. She is coming down during the week once her kids are off to school. She will leave just before Kris normally wakes up for the day. This does add a lot on her, but I can't tell you how great this is! Not only do I have physical help with things I will really enjoy the company and time spent with her. THANK YOU THANK YOU Michelle!!! I also called our Relief Society President from church to fill her in and see if she find a back up for me when it is my time to teach this month. I am not scheduled until the 21st which is the 36 week mark.....I really want to teach and plan the lesson and stuff.....and long as I am not having contractions when I stand up. She is also organizing dinners for every other night......I love it. Kris will take care of things on the opposing nights....he just started back to school this week so all of this extra help comes on the perfect week.

Izzy the little helper

Izzy still likes to help out. She has never been allowed to bring up the trash cans yet. I just thought that she was too little, and they were too close to the street. Trash cans are big, but she just wouldn't listen.....Grandma even helped her. She brought up all three and only had help with one......she couldn't figure out how to get to stand on the wheels.....it didn't stop her from trying. She even did it all one handed.....she wasn't willing to put the flower down.

Fun Weekend (for me at least)

For a long time I have been wanting to organize all the bin of clothes in the basement. I used to keep it up....but some reason I got lazy and I have been tossing all the boy and girls clothes together when the kids grow out of them. I should have known better. Kris set up the table and got a bin for me and of course it was little girl clothes......I love little girl clothes. Girls really just are funner to dress. AND I have figured out that I do want another girl, I don't want to be pregnant again.....don't get me wrong I am happy that I am having a boy....I wanted it this way....to even things out.....but there is just something about little girls. Kris says that this is it, we are done having kids....or at least we are done with pregnancies. So while looking at all of these little girl clothes I was getting emotional not because I know that I am not going to give birth to another girl but I because my plan was to get rid off the girl clothes and after seeing them I just wasn't ready to part with them, when I got out each outfit my mind would flood with these memories of the girls and events that happened with each outfit that I held. I know I know, I am so sappy right now. I have even given a friend a hard time about the same thing-really they are just clothes! I couldn't do it, on Kris' suggestion I stuck all the girls clothes back in the bin and just did the boy clothes that the baby would fit into soon. Good idea.

Got all that done and when I was in the shower I got to thinking.....Thursday night most of Kris' family that live in AZ flew in. Aunt Elaine and Uncle Ken (8 years since we have seen them) daughter Emily who we last saw at our wedding, Uncle Bob (I have never seen him and it has been 16 years for Kris). Plans kept getting changed and it didn't look like we were going to be able to drive down and see them. Isn't that sad, I feel awful when I pregnant that I just didn't think that I could handle the drive down to Indiana where they were staying. BUT we just had to go and see them. I didn't want 8 more years to go by without seeing Aunt Elaine and having Elaine get to see her. Plus the kids and I had to meet Uncle Bob. So we planned the trip.

Then I went out to lunch with my cousin Michelle and had an interesting time shopping for some still needed baby items. I am so flaky....I couldn't even concentrate on shopping....that is unusual! I got a new baby monitor....the cat broke the last one that I had. When I got home (total blonde moment again!-this one lasted all weekend). I realized that the monitor has a night light on it. I don't like to sleep with a light on, and the baby will be sleeping in our room. I have even gone to and looked at other stores for different monitors...they all have night lights or are extremely expensive. This morning I was telling my cousin about my delma, and realized that if I am in the room with the baby I don't have to have the monitor on and so the light will not be on to bother me.....and yes it took me 3 days to figure this out!

We left on Sunday morning met up with everyone lunch, which was so great. Being down in Indiana we had to go to the Frogs Tongue. For those of you who don't know-there is a hotel in Portage that has a waiting pool with a frog in it that is actually a really cute little slide that the kids love. When ever we go down there we have to go and let the kids enjoy some Frog Tongue time.

On the way home we stopped in Algonquin to eat lunch at a Mexican Restaurant.....yes the only good one out here is an hour away. There is a See's candy shop not too far from the restaurant so of course we had to stop and get some chocolate. At first we were all going to go in and pick a few pieces but Kris was really tired so I ended up just going in and leaving everyone else in the van. Elaine still wanted to go in and she was trying to convince Kris that at least all the girls should go in.....Elaine says: "Why can't Izzy, Mommy, and me all go in and pick some chocolate?" Kris responds with "What would I be if I let 3 girls who love chocolate into a chocolate store with a credit card?" Elaine says: "A good father". We were laughing so hard....

Onto why this weekend wasn't fun for some. Emily (AZ cousin) had a horrible migraine while out here and had to be taken the ER....I think she is doing better now. When we were eating I got a call from a cousin, my Aunt Jean Ann ended up in the ER with chest pain and had an EKG and the results were not normal so they admitted her to the hospital. Then Kris and I have a friend who is going through a really ruff time. Her teenage daughter, Heaven, is sick and the docs are still trying to get the bottom things. So-please add all of the people onto your prayers!

Totally Addicted......

So last week we came across FlavorIce and Kris brought the box, and I thought that was crazy-what do we need more popciles for? He has been eating them like crazy and I had none....until last night. I get so overheated that I eat my way through a box of popciles faster than anyone can believe. I had to have a bit of one of Kris' last night and I didn't stop....I ended up eating a few before bed. So much better for you than the Kit Kat bars. I remember loving them as a kid, but never really thinking of them much as an adult. I like slushing things and not frozen things. Kris bangs them against the side of fridge until they are slushy......I never thought of that, and now I am bashing them against the fridge too! PERFECT! I really think I had one of each flavor last night....

I just can't seem to get enough of Kit Kat bars lately. Everyone knows that I love candy, but this is new intense thing for me. I LOVE them. It is my new craving and I can't seem to get enough! I have always had a thing for chocolate, but the wafer things is what is getting me now. I know that this too will pass but for now and I am really enjoying it. AND over indulging.....no wonder I am packing it on!

Last week was an interesting week for school stuff. Right before it started I mentioned to Kris that I was freaking out, having anxiety problems and such. I kept asking myself these ridiculous questions. "What happens if one of the kids gets hurt at recess? What happens if they walk in front of the bus? What happens if Drew doesn't know where to get off the bus?" Random random questions, but still I was really truly fearful of these things happening to the kids. Well, every single one of the things that I listed has happened.

On the second day of school Elaine comes home and I great her at the door-she has what can only be described as road rash from her eyebrow to hairline above her left eye. I freak out asking "What happened?" She says "There is a note in my backpack that explains it." As if it is no big deal. So I rush to check out the backpack and the only note in there isn't about how she got hurt but how to take care of a child with a concussion. HELLO! ELAINE! I ask her what happened again, and this time with a snotty attitude she says "I told you that note would explain it." After a bit a of pushing and explaining that the only thing that the note said was how to take care of a child who had a concussion was she willing to explain what actually did happen. I guess she was just swinging too high on the wings and fell off.....onto the mulch but the much had moved and it was exposing the mat that is under the mulch. So really no big deal we got over it quick and you can hardly tell that she had mat rash just a few days ago.

The next morning I am at my Stampin' Up club meeting and I call from the school nurse on my cell. Drew has been hurt and has a cut over his eye. Here is the conversation:
School Nurse: "Hi I have Drew here in my office, he ran into a poll in the hallway and has a cut above his eye, we have put ice on it........etc...."
Me: "Do I need to come and get him and take him to get stitches?"
SN: "No, he is doing fine, he never cried about it, and he is laughing." (Anyone who knows Drew I am sure can picture this in there head, Drew really would think it was just the coolest thing to go to the nurses office.)
Me: "Does he want to go back to class?"
SN: "Yes, I think he does."
Me: "Well, with you being a nurse, is it safe for him to go back to class?"
SN: "Oh I think so."
Me: "Great! Send him back!"

There was more to the conversation....basically laughing at the fact that she had both of my kids in her office in the first 3 days of school.

Elaine likes to walk down the middle of the street. The bus driver is tired of this! He told her yesterday that if she does it again he is writing her up. What does that mean? Has anyone ever heard the bus driver writing you up? Does she get detention for it? So I guess that answers my question, if one of the kids walks in front of the bus-the driver yells at them. I can handle that, I am glad that he is paying attention to where the kids are once they get off the bus.

And of course we know what happens when Drew doesn't get off of the bus-they bring him back! I love that each of my questions was answered with simple things and not the dramatic ones that I was coming up with in head.

Last week I had another ultra-sound. Loved it!!! This little guy is moving around a bunch and his big for how far along I am. We confirmed again...still a boy. From the measurements and things is is 4lbs and 12 oz. So that is 12 oz. more that what the norm is. This is so neat.....we had a great profile shot of him and he was swallowing and sticking out his tongue and things we saw it all, it was amazing how clear it all was. I could have sat and watched it forever. He has big lips-almost as if he was puckering, and HUGE checks! Just like Izzy did when she was born. So the date at the present time is Oct. 10thish. I have another ultrasound on the 9th and so the doc said that night or the next day. YIPPEE!!! Still looking like a big baby but with him coming over 2 weeks sooner than any of the other kids hopefully he wont be as big as what we are thinking he could be.

Maybe I should think about blogging more often like I used to instead of having these marathon things....but at the same when things happen I think that are really blog material and then later on I find myself rethinking it and adding a bunch at the same time.

First Day of School! (super long blog)

Today was the first day of school for Elaine and Drew. So happy! They both were very excited, and I really am happy to get back a normal schedule.... below are a few pics. The end of last week and the beginning of this week was crazy. We suddenly realized that Elaine had grown out and Drew had grown up, and neither one of them really had any shorts that fit. So I had to do some mad shopping-I know every knows that I normally think that is a great thing but I just hurt so bad right now that the idea of walking from the parking lot to the mall entrance seems overwhelming not to mention each of the different stores and then trying clothes on kids, and pushing the double stroller around so that 2 of 3 are at least strapped in. I have been getting really car sick so that threw out actually driving up to the outlet mall. Okay enough of me complaining, last Friday I got the computer and did some online shopping! What did I do before the Internet? I ended up finding a few outfits for each of them on line, and still ended up having to go to the mall. Who knew that all the summer clothes goes on sale in August and you have to pick through things just to find the right sizes!!! Okay, okay being the shopper that I am I really did know that but it didn't make it any less annoying. I am still in pain from my shopping trip on Monday-but I got it done!!!! YAY!

Drew right before heading out.

Elaine right before heading out.

Izzy had to be involved so here is all three of them.

They have so much stuff to take on the first day that I wanted to get a picture of Drew with backpack-how he didn't fall over backwards-I have no idea.

I had the kids sit down next to all the stuff that I had to take with them. There are bags of things that wouldn't fit into the backpacks. When I was younger my mom always took me to school on the first day of the year. I loved it! So I have decided to keep that thing going with my kids. Not that they could even get on the bus and carry all of there stuff.

Elaine at her desk....I loved the crossed eyes!

Drew sitting as his table. I was so excited when I realized that he was using his left hand! I really want one lefty. I know that most people know what hand a child is going to use by the time that they are this age, but Drew has been switching back and forth, and we are letting him decide what feels right, but I really really want at least one lefty!

This is Drew and Karina. She was in his preschool class and they are the only two that moved into kindergarten together. They have a great friendship-I think that she has a crush on him and I have been trying to figure out if the feeling is mutual, but he doesn't say much. They used to ride the same bus and would always sit next to each other and he seems to be her security blanket when she is unsure about things. So neat-she was adopted from Russia and looks just like adoptive mother. They first time that I met her mom I just new that Mary was Karina's mom, just by looking and I was shocked when I found out that she was adopted! Amazing how those things end up working out!


With it being Drew's first day of Kindergartner and with me being pregnant I thought for sure that I would get way emotional over it all. I was teary eyed when we walked into the class room and Kris was fine. Then we left the class room I was okay and Kris was having his moment. We (as parents) got a treat bag....I didn't read the note until we had a "meet & great" the PSA in the school library...then I took a look and got teary eyed again! In the bag was an apple and a note that said:

"An Apple for the teacher

Is really nothing new

Except when you remember

Parents are teachers too."

Isn't that cute!!!! BUT the note on the outside is what really got me....:

The First Day

"I gave you a wink and bright smile

As you entered my room today.

For I know how hard it is to leave

And know your child must stay.

You've been with him for five years now

And have been a loving guide,

But now, alas, the time has come

To leave him at my side.

Just know that as you drive away

And tears down your cheeks may flow

I'll love him as I would my own

And help him learn and grow.

For as a parent, I too know

How quickly the years do pass

And years ago, it was my turn

To take my baby to class.

So please do put your mind at ease

And cry those tears no more

For I will love him and take him in

When you leave him at my door."

I am sure that Kris didn't notice, but when I read that-it was so hard to keep in. I kept looking around to see if any of the other parents were about to let loose. Only one....and she was a back corner-I didn't want to join.

Drew is home now and has had quite the eventful day....I am guessing. We got a letter in the mail from the bus company stating that he would dropped off at the driveway at approximately 12:24. I was out waiting for him at 12:20, so excited to hear how his first day when. When I still didn't see the bus at 12:40 I decided not be that parent that freaks out....and wait until 12:45 to call the bus company and see what was going on. So 12:45 comes and goes and I call trying to make it a laughable situation, but I was kind of freaking out. Come to find out the county is repaving a road today (of all days) and that all the buses are running a bit late, but she was going to call the bus driver just to make sure that everything was okay. So I put on hold and she come back to explain that the bus driver had already been by but he didn't get off, but when she called him name after the phone call he popped up and answered.....he had been sleeping! I think I was out there early enough to catch him but I did step inside for a minute to go to the bathroom and left Izzy in charge of looking for the bus out the window.....maybe I a shouldn't trust a 3 year old! Or hold it? At the same time, knowing that this is the first day of school and he is in Kindergarden you would think that the driver would have been a bit more watchful. I had to explain that he had some delays and probley didn't get it. She wants me to make sure that he sits in the front-I guess I will be sending an note to the teacher.....I am not thinking that he is not going to remember it.

Tagged AGAIN!

Okay so if you don't want to read my tag responses....skip it. BUT someone wants to here about thing...


Tagged by Tarra

A. Attached or single? Attached for .....I am going to say 9 years since that is how long we have known each other and we never really did that separate thing even from the beginning

B. Best friend? Tiff and Howie (Michelle)

Cake or pie? at this point in my life.....both....okay really it depends on what kind it is

D. Day of choice? Friday-date night, or at least it is supposed to be

E. Essential item? hair straightener, or dental floss

F. Favorite color? red or yellow, I am liking orange a lot lately

G. Gummy bears or worms? Bears and Worms!

H. Hometown? I guess Redlands, CA

I. Indulgence? that one to two hour time frame after the kids are asleep and I totally veg

J. January or July? I really love the 4th of July, but there is something about having Christmas done and still having snow......

K. Kids? 3.5

L. Life isn’t complete without? hum? I really don't know

M. Marriage date? 3/3/00

N. Number of brothers & sisters? 1 brother.....and I guess my mom claims that I have 2 additions-they just got 2 kittens

O. Oranges or apples? both

P. Phobias? Snakes

Q. Quotes? It is something never standing taller than when you are on your knees.

S. Season of choice? Fall

T. Tag seven peeps! ....okay at the bottom

U. Unknown fact about me? I am lazy.....I guess a few know, but I am really really lazy

V. Vegetable? tomato's (I know), carrots, peppers.....love most of them actually

W. Worst habits? I really don't have any bad habits....oh yeah I am lazy, (can I write that one again?)

X. X-ray or ultrasound? I would have to say ultrasound right now....seeing the baby is so neat

Y. Your favorite food? right now, yummy stuff from a restaurant.....a good one-I am hungery, and craving an orange chicken bowl from Applebee's.....even though I don't consider Applebee's one of those good restaurants....just a craving.

Z. Zodiac sign? Cancer
I tag:
1. Amanda

2. Michelle-myspace it

3. Megan Westwood

Lake Ripley and a surpise shower

A couple of months ago my cousin Michelle and I decided to have a "Family Reunion". We even made these really cute invitations.....(okay she made.....I wasn't feeling good). We are going to do this every year! I would post a picture of one of them but that would mean taking one and downloading it and that just sounds like too much effort for now. This past Saturday was the day of the Reunion at Lake Ripley......it is such a great area. It is a park like setting with trees all over the place and picnic tables, then there is a playground right on the beach area. The water right in front of the playground area is roped off for the little ones and it isn't a very steep grade at all. It is great! Everytime we go we talk about going back soon because it is so convient and such a great place. I once again forgot to bring the camera and so here are a few pics that relatives took of the kids and things.
I have no idea how Kris was able to convince Izzy to float over the pink tube floaty thing.....but it sure did turn out cute.
I just thought that this pic was funny AND since people have been asking for updated belly shots...here you go. I know that I am getting big when I can wear Kris' basketball shorts and fill them out!

Elaine must be building something in the sand here. I never did find out what it was.

The view looking up through the trees.

Izzy splashing through the water.

Izzy swimming-or at least she thinks that she is swimming.....in less than a foot of water.

Elaine and Kris talking.....it look like she was getting in trouble for something....or maybe she was cold....I don't know.

I don't have hardly any pics of Drew. I guess it must be because he is such a wild man it makes it difficult to get one of him.

My family totally surprised me and threw a Baby Shower for me when we were here. I had no idea. Not even a clue. AND here I thought that I wasn't a person easy to pull a surprise on. I think that it was Michelle and Jackie that planned it all.....they were late getting to the lake and brought a cake with them. A REALLY REALLY cute cake. I saw the cake and didn't think much of it-other than that it was really cute. Then there were all of the presents set around the cake...and I still didn't get it. The presents were even baby boy themed.....still no clue. My little cousin had a birthday on Monday so I thought that it was for her so I even asked "How come no one told me about the Birthday party I would have gotten a gift? Now I feel bad." The rest of the conversation went...............

"That isn't a birthday cake."

me: "It's not?" Totally not getting it.

"Did you see what was on the cake?"

Me: "Yeah, puppy dogs, snails, and frogs....." THEN I got it. I was really surpised.

Here are a few pics of the cake. I think was Michelle and Jackie's first time with Fondent frosting....I love it. I think they did such a great job. I really didn't make it easy for them to plan this either. During the week before I kept coming up things to do with them. They were so good about, I don't think they got much sleep.....they spend quite a bit of time with me and then did all the baby shower stuff when they should have been sleeping....THANKS GUYS!!! I really loved it all!

Can you believe it....those dogs are made of frosting?

I know that you can't tell from the pic but on the back side of the cake there are flies, and the frogs closet to them are catching flies!

I got a little chuckle

Yesterday Kris had his Chiropractor appointment, and asked me to wake him at 2 so that he time to get read and be there at 3:15. The office is about 30-45 minute drive from our house. I was having so much fun socializing with my cousins and we ordered pizza for lunch that came way late-1:50pm (now that is a late lunch) I completely lost track of time. I didn't remember to wake him up until 2:40! Poor guy....I go into the bedroom and wake him up-"It's 2:40 you have to get up...." He stares blankly at me at asks "How did that happen?" It sounded like he was asking how it was 2:40 as if it has never been that time in his life. I explained that I was a flake and forgot to wake him up.... He is quick to say that I am not a flake and asks me to call the office and let them know that he sleep in and was it okay that he still come in even if he was a little late? Sure I can call the office. Now here is what I found funny....I call the office and the receptionist answers the phone "Hi, this is Genia how can I help you today?" My response is "I am a bad wife." She laughs hardly and with a slightly flirty/curious tone in her voice asks "How bad are you?" I was so glad that she had a sense of humor about the entire thing and once I explained everything she said that he could just come in.....and no I did not use Kris as an excuse like he asked me to.


Michelle and Jackie (the cousins mentioned above) had come over to help me make me Baby Shower Invitation for a shower that another cousin and are giving in September. Okay-they really did all the hard stuff and even came up with the invite itself. I only picked out colors, the size and cut paper. BOY was I ever glad to have them here. Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!! Here is a pic of how they turned out. Aren't they cute? I really think so!

This is just another example how Izzy can sleep anywhere!
And now when the zoomed-out version of the pic you can tell that she crawled up and over my legs while I was laying curled up on the Love Seat resting and she curled up in the space behind my knees and feel asleep. This was after Kris and I came home from our get-a-way. It looks like the kids sure played hard.

Vacation and kids

Let's start with the good stuff....

Drew had his last baseball game, and the good part of this is that I remembered the camera!!! I love this pic. Can you tell that his sunglasses are upside down? I saw him put them on and figured that it was better for him just wear him like that then me to be mother yelling "fix your glasses!"

I came into the kitchen the other day and Izzy was doing dishes. I really do love that she wants to help, and I love the towels already on the floor for the clean up that I knew that I was going to have to do. She cries when I make her stop.

While on our weekend away, Kris and I stopped by a mall that wasn't too far from the hotel....and there was a Sports store that had all kinds of really great stuff in it. Of course Kris had to buy Bears jersey's for the kids. I about had a heart attack when I found out what a kids jersey cost!!! Highway robbery I'm telling you-no wonder they can afford to pay those players what they make! At least everything was on sale! We even got a a jersey onesie for the baby-and yes the baby will wear it along with everyone else when it comes time for games. Kris wanted me to get a jersey too....but I am still a "closet" bears fan and that would just be to much. Beside I really to want to stay part of the Wendtland family.

Now for the not so good, but still turned out okay stuff.....

Kris and I decided that we would take a long weekend before the baby came. Leave the kids with friends and take off. This was really our first time since we have had kids. We have taken a night away and stayed with friends in Ca before but this was different. We had been thinking of doing this for awhile and even had the weekend picked out, but with the house in MI selling and not really knowing how much money that would cost us at closing we put off actually making reservation anywhere. Then we couldn't decided weather to go to Lake Geneva or Chicago for a get-a-way. With the way that Kris has been feeling we decided to go in the quiet Lake direction. Of course while putting this off none of the places that we wanted to stay had any vacancies. BUT we found a really great Bed & Breakfast place up in Oconomoc, WI. It looked great. It was called the Inn at Pine Terrace . Check it out, I am sure that you will agree that it looks like a great place to stay. We reserved room 12....

We dropped the kids off at the Hobbs' and took off. Made a little stop on the way, but managed to get to the Inn about 3:30. Really neat looking place, historic and all that kind of stuff, even had a double Whirlpool tub. When reviewing the Inn on-line I noticed that had Pecan Stuffed French Toast for one of the speciality breakfast.....YUMMY!!!! I was sold on that. We got up to our room-on the third floor.....and it was so hot! Okay I know some reading this don't think 80* is hot, but I am pregnant and one of those way temperature sensitive people.....I get sick if I get overheated. I know I am a big wimp....but that is just how it is. So we are thinking "let's get the air going and see what happens". We stayed about an hour or so in the room and it was just not getting any cooler so we head out for dinner and the lady that checked us in asked me "How's the room?" "Boiling" was the only things I could come up with. I knew that we had to get out of the room or I was going to end up sick. So we head out for dinner and I am already not feeling the greatest because of the room temp. We eat at Olive Garden-the old stand by that Kris hates-actually I just really wanted bread sticks and Alfredo dipping sauce. Not the greatest dinner and then we head back to the Inn thinking that the air would have kicked in and it would cooler. By this point the Inn Keepers are back and say that the air is working. We head back up to the room and it is still 80*. To make a long story short we decided to to leave the Inn because it just was not cooling off-and head toward Chicago and stay in a regular hotel room (which is exactly what we didn't want to begin with!) We left about 7:30 and it was supposed to be about 1 1/2 to get to the new place...but I ended up so sick that it took over 3 hours. I had to keep stopping in order to get sick. I was still really sick on Friday and we didn't even get to really do anything. There was a mall just down the street so we did get out of the hotel room for a few hours but then it was back in bed for me. I felt so bad for getting sick and kind ruining our romantic get-a-way. BUT in the end we talked it over and decided that before we even went the purpose of our trip was just to relax and unwind, just be us together. We did relax.....so I guess we accomplished what we set out too, but it sure would have been nice to not feel like I was going to throw up if I got out of bed.