Pregnancy Update, 29 Weeks

So, I realized that I really haven't posted any pictures of me pregnant this time around.  So, since I'm now into my third trimester, I thought I would post some!

 A side view (Ammon is reaching up to touch my belly; it's not a big smudge on my wall-those are still hidden enough to not be seen by the camera . . .)

This was actually the reason I thought of taking a picture.  I'm starting to get a few of the baby things I have washed and ready, and when I pulled this little onsie out of the dryer, it looked so small!  But, when I put it on my belly, I realized how cramped the babies really are in there and why it gets to be so dang uncomfortable!!

I'm waddling plenty, and I don't think that is going to get any better for these last two months!  But, it has been fun to feel the baby a lot stronger, especially for the kids!  It was funny to finally see Ammon's reaction when he actually felt the baby kick.  He pulled his hand away really fast and had the strangest look on his face, and then walked out of the room!  It was hilarious!  Of course, he has a baby named Ammon in his tummy that will be coming out soon, too!

We signed Isaac up for soccer this spring, the first of our kids to play it!  He has only had about 3 practices so far, but seems to really like it!  We've realized since taking this picture that the socks aren't meant to be worn so high, and that they should fold over his shin guards, which are also suppose to be worn OVER his socks, and not under them, but he's part German, so it's okay!

Going along with my last post of Ammon being tired, I had to share this photo of Ammon sleeping.  He loves his puppy wee-wee (blankee), but not to actually cover him.  No, he either sleeps on top of it bunched up like a pillow, or wears it like a wig!  

Ammon has really grown a lot these last few months, which is good since he isn't going to be the baby of the family much longer!  He wrestles, talks so much more, and just loves life!  Lately, he has started thinking he shouldn't have to wear a shirt much (what is it with boys taking off their shirts?), and frankly it hurts too much for me to bend over and pick it up multiple times to fight the battle, so there are some days when he goes shirtless!  This was one of those days!  He decided that while a shirt wasn't necessary, a hat and shield were!

Finally, I thought I would share this photo of all the kids being, well, themselves!  They sure keep me on my toes (and hands, knees, and everything in-between!), but I sure love them and love that we have each other!

Tired!

So, I thought this would be an appropriate title for this post for two reasons!  

The first reason is because Ammon has stopped taking naps on a daily basis, and most of the time this works well and he goes to sleep earlier at night.  But, there are still those days where he just can't make it, so I find him sleeping in funny places and ways! 

This bottom picture is of Ammon (on the couch) and Lex (on the floor), who is Ammon's cousin that is only about 2 1/2 weeks younger.  So, it must be a stage thing. . .

The second reason for the title is because I have been tired lately!  I can't complain; in some ways I feel better this pregnancy than any of the other five.  But, I am getting older, this is my sixth pregnancy, I still have four small children at home, I'm trying to finish school, and I'm TIRED!  It's hard to keep up with the daily must do's to keep my home functioning, and frankly I'M not keeping up with it.  Thank heavens my husband is home and is an angel and does SO much!  He is usually the one putting the kids to bed at night, making at least half the meals or more, and I don't think I've touched the vacuum in months!  He does the homeschooling with Isaac at least half the week, and I'm honestly so grateful and blessed to have such a wonderful man!  We celebrated our 11th anniversary on March 1st, and while we were not able to do anything fancy for it, I am more grateful and in love with him than I would have ever dreamed when we first got married!  We have gone through so much together, and I know we can get through anything!  He is an AMAZING father and a supportive husband, and my best friend!

It's A . . .

Boy!!!  It only took number six to break our pattern of boy, girl, etc., but it is officially broken!  No club feet, and my placenta is attached at the back (which is a good thing instead of by my scar)!  The only issue that came up has to do with the umbilical cord.  I guess there are normally 3 veins/arteries that go through the cord; two leaving the baby with old blood and one going  back in with new blood.  My cord only has two; one going in and one going out.  The doctor at the ultrasound said that most of the time there is no problems associated with this defect itself, but what they have found is that when there is one defect, there is usually at least two.  A common defect associated with the cord one is a heart defect.  But, at least according to the ultrasound, everything else, including the heart, looks perfect and totally normal!  So, hopefully that means there really isn't another one!  He also said that typically with the cord defect women start going in weekly starting at 34 weeks for stress tests to check on the baby later in development for signs of stress, and get another ultrasound at 34 weeks to make sure the baby has continued to grow and develop normally and to make sure the baby doesn't need to be taken earlier.

Everyone is excited, although EmmaLee was the most disappointed when we found out it was a boy.  She really wanted a girl!  But, I told her this meant that she still gets to be my baby girl, and that seemed to cheer her up!  She's been talking to my stomach ever since, telling her brother that she loves him!!  We are so excited for our new guy to join us!  Now we just have to figure out a name; we had a girl name all ready, but nothing for a boy!

Finally, it was kind of ironic because my doctor's office actually scheduled my ultrasound appointment, but yesterday when we got the ultrasound was Caydin's 10th birthday.  It actually made finding out what the baby was even more special.  I think a lot about how how Caydin and this new spirit that will join our family are together.  It helps me feel closer to Caydin knowing that our two worlds are really not that far apart.  I also can't believe that Caydin would have been turning 10 years old!  I have been a mother now for a decade!  How it flew by, much faster than many of the days felt!  Happy birthday, Caydin, and I hope you and your newest brother had a blast celebrating on your end!!  Love you!

And After

Look, a uvula!

Why They Had to Go

This is a picture of EmmaLee's throat before her tonsils were taken out.  The slightly lighter pink thing in the middle is her uvula, but you can't clearly see it because her tonsils are so big they are practically blocking her whole throat opening!  I don't have an after picture yet because she is still a bit sore and can't open her mouth that wide yet, but I can tell you that as miserable as her recovery has been, it was SO worth it!  Before she snored SO loud, and not just snored, but STRUGGLED to breath.  It was the most horrible sound and thing to watch, especially for a parent who already struggles with paranoia when it comes to her children breathing!  The first day or two after the operation, she did snore a little due to swelling in her throat from the surgery, but now she breaths WONDERFULLY!  She is so quiet and peaceful that I sometimes have had to put my face almost on top of hers before I can hear her!  It is a night and day difference!  

One funny side effect from the surgery that is suppose to be temporary (about a month long) is that her voice is different.  I don't know how to describe it, but it is different!  It's cute too, though, so if it goes or stays, we're okay with it!  Another side effect that I wasn't expecting was how much weight she ended up loosing.  I don't have a scale, so I don't know officially how much weight she lost, but she did loose several pounds at least!  Pants that used to fit snug or even tight are super loose on her now, and you can see it in her face how much thinner she is!  She ate almost nothing for a week and a day before she finally turned the corner and started eating.  She drank just enough to keep her hydrated enough, but it was very disconcerting as her mother to see her not eating!  I'm sure she'll put the weight back on, thank goodness, because she is making up for her lack of food by wanting to eat all day long now!  But, it's one time I am happy to oblige her!

Overall, it was a much tougher recovery than I had anticipated, but the long term results are definitely worth it!

Expecting!

It has been, ahem, a few months since I last updated.  It has been a bit of a trying few months for us, with my kids struggling at school, the decision to homeschool Isaac, getting EmmaLee's tonsils out, and still looking forward to getting some pretty good dental work done in the next couple of weeks for Eden and Isaac.  All this combined with Rob and I still going to school, and let's just say time has gotten away from me!  

And, as you can see from the picture, we are also expecting baby #6!!  I am 12 weeks along, and due June 14th, 2013.  I have not felt very good with this pregnancy, surprise surprise, but luckily my doctor gave me some medicine pretty early on, so that has helped!  I am already into maternity clothes, and already feeling some of the pregnancy inconveniences, such as tendon pain, and my hips going out so I can't walk, etc.  It will be interesting to see how I feel as I actually get bigger!!  We are excited, though, and it has been fun to see the kids reactions this time around.  Everyone else came so quickly after one another that it was often hard for them to understand what was really going on.  Now it is fun to hear and see their excitement!  They love trying to come up with baby names ("Giltrude, mom, it is a beautiful name for a baby girl!" EmmaLee)!  It is nice to have Children that are old enough to understand better what is going on, and even help out when needed!  Eden is such a helper, even with Ammon when I need her to.  It makes it feel a little more possible that I just might survive with my sanity in the end! 

Time is Flying!

Time just keeps moving, whether I'm ready for it or not!  Rob and I are getting ready to start another semester of school, as well as three of our kids starting back in school!  Eden is going into the 3rd grade, Isaac 1st grade, and EmmaLee is starting Kindergarten this year!  CRAZY!  If Caydin was here, 4 of my 5 children would be in school!  I would like to think that now that the "crazy summer days" are almost over, I should be able to keep up with my blog better, but I'm afraid that my "crazy fall and winter days" are, well, just as crazy!  I'm planning on tutoring again at the school, which should be starting sometime in September, so between pretty much every member of my family being in school, me working, and just trying to have family time together, I'm not sure I'll be much better than I've been!  Someday things won't be as crazy, but then it won't be as crazy for a reason, and I'm not sure I want that either!  So, for now, I guess I'll just take things as they are and do my best to survive them all!

I had to throw this picture in because I love it!  We were at Antelope Island, and Rob got this great shot of Isaac, who is doing some kind of happy dance while walking, and Eden with a great smile!  Love my family!