She's an acrobat

I had an appointment with my midwife last Friday and she mentioned the baby was head down but a tad off to the side and recommended a maternity belt. So Sat. I was cleaning on hands and knees all day to try to get her to center herself, then off to buy the maternity belt. Used it all day Sunday and Monday and had another appointment on Tuesday with my backup midwife (I'm planning a homebirth). As she was feeling my belly she said she wanted to do a quick ultrasound because the baby felt head up. So as soon as she put the wand on my belly there it was head up! Sheesh!! Figures it had to be something with the mw that oks the homebirth! So we scheduled a version. As much as I wanted to wait because I knew she would flip, I also didn't want to upset the back up dr and mw because well... it's hard for homebirth midwives to get a back up dr. That night Jason gave me a blessing of comfort and I feel confident that she will get into position and stay and have a healthy labor and delivery. So that night and the next day I did breech tilts and thought I bet she turned when I was wearing the belt, and put the belt on upside down lol! Then the next night went to see my other midwife and she was feeling my belly saying she really thought the baby was head down and couldn't tell so we ran down to her office to do a quick ultrasound and yup she was head down!!! YAY no version!!! I was sooo relieved! I would have done it so I wouldn't have to worry about a breech birth and I know the back up dr would have delivered a breech baby especially since this is my 4th but I really wanted a homebirth and everything as natural as possible. So everything is back to normal again and she better stay put!! Of course I'm worried she's going to flip again and I won't notice it. I'm sure it will all work out whatever happens, I have faith.

So other than that everything has been going great! This pregnancy has been great! No discomfort like with the boys. It's been amazing! My prayers have been answered! Now we just need to finish preparing for the homebirth!!

Dream house

So our dream house I mentioned in my last post has some major issues so that would be why they were asking so little. They still have an underground oil tank that apparently was leaking and leaked oil in the yard and the wetlands behind the house.... not something we want to mess with nor would we have the money to mess with. But since we still have not sold our house it's not a big deal anyway lol.

So lets see what's new here, Jake is doing terrific in school!! He comes home everyday with a mini book that he can read. Well I was thinking he was just memorizing what his teacher had read to the class probably several times. We were at his dr's appointment and I had him read 3 books just to see what he knew (we read books at home, but it's usually Jason or I reading them, we never think to ask him to read lol) He did awesome!! There were just very few words that were too big for him to get but I was in complete shock how much he really did know!! Then I started to realize, he's really growing up!! Yeah I know he just turned 6 but wow, my little boy is becoming a big boy! His teacher says he is wonderful in class and works soooo well independantly, she says he is one that gets the math so quick (must get it from daddy lol) she could have a classroom full of Jakes! He just finished Basketball which he really enjoyed! He will be starting T-ball in April which he can not wait! He is also getting super excited about a baby sister! It's cute to see how he notices all the babies around and comments on their silly face or how cute they are. and is always interested in how big she is.

Tyee is doing great in preschool. He really enjoys going but surprisingly he is really shy. Tyee is not the shy one, I always thought it would be Jake but they both have proven me wrong! What do I know?? I'm just the mommy! lol Technically he could start kindergarten next year but he has a really late Sept bday... 9/27 and the cut off date is 10/1. So I really think I'm going to keep him in prek another year, if we can afford it. As of right now we can't so I will probably be homeschooling him till kindergarten (wish me luck!) He does really well with recognizing numbers and letters and we have officially memorized our phone #! He is an amazing artist for his age! Even Jake will comment how well Tyee colors and draws. As many pictures that he colors and draws it's soooo hard to pick the best ones to keep!! He is soooo excited to be getting a baby sister. He talks about her alll the time, he is always kissing my belly and joking that he's smacking her butt (we talked about how the baby is poisitioned in my belly so he knows where her little tooshie is and likes to pat it... not actually smack it ;) He also is so much fun watching him notice babies and talk about how cute they are. Mostly his cousin Sami and Luke.

Luke is just getting so big!! He is my biggest guy so far! We call him our little monster. He's been obsessed with Little Einstiens and that's all he wants to watch... allllll the time!! I've tried limiting it but he is one stubborn little man! And boy can he throw a tantrum lol. Not used these kind of tantrums, Jake and Tyee never did these type if hardly at all. but I think we've figured out what works if we have the timing right. As long as he's not hurting himself or anyone else we let him lay down and cry and sometimes he even kicks his legs. Then he's over it and forgets why he was even upset and gets up and starts laughing! He's really going through a fun stage, a very tough one when we have to go out but at home or at the park or somewhere that's ok for him to run around, it's been fun! He enjoys patting my belly and saying baby and sometimes even lays his head on my belly, too cute! At my last midwife appointment he actually had to get up on the bed while my mw checked for the baby's heartbeat. He just HAD to be included and tell the mw there was a baby in there. So much fun!!!

Jason's been doing great! Keeping busy with work and part time job with Gerd and with church. He tries to spend as much time as he can at home with us and when he does the boys LOVE IT!!!

Me, I'm just big, fat and pregnant lol. She gets the hiccups ALOT! Just like Jake did. She's also a roller just like Jake was, Tyee and Luke were more of kickers and stretchers. I can't believe I'm 33 wks almost 34. That's 6 wks left!! And if I follow pattern and I'm a wk early like with the boys that's only 5 wks!! Wow it's going really fast! We actually have nothing ready. Some ladies from church did throw me a shower and I got lots of cute clothes and a tandum stroller! My sisters got me a swing and LOTS of clothes and toys and onsies! Overall we really made out great!! So I guess our big projects are making room for her clothes and figuring out where she's going to sleep (ok so chances are it'll be our bed lol). It kinda stinks that we can't decorate a room for her, or even a space for her. Maybe some day. I don't think it will really feel like we're having a girl till she's actually here lol. (And if you've only had more than 1 or 2 of the same gender, you'd understand what I mean. I don't think anyone with the first ones being both genders can completely understand)

So I guess that's about it for us lately. We're all excited about a girl joining our family, the boys doing so well in school, Luke getting so big and things actually going smoothly for us considering how the economy is so horrible and adding one more child to an already small house lol. We're keeping our heads high and we know things will work out.... eventually but will work out.

Pity Party

Wow I didn't realize how long it's been since I've written in my blog! So I guess lots has happened since then. Nothing super exciting but we did find out the gender!! We had the u/s on Dec. 1st, and asked the tech to take toilet shot and put "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!" So the end of Dec we opened the envelope and here's the pic!

It's a baby GIRL!!!

There's no mistaking... It's a Girl!

So needless to say we were shocked! Excited of course! Jake yelled "I knew it!" Tyee just looked at us like.. yeah I knew that already! It's so cute to see how excited they are about getting a sister. Everything pink they see they think they need to get it for their new baby sister. I went out looking at girl clothes and found myself looking more towards the boys stuff lol. I've been very blessed in the clothes department because my sister Tina who just had a girl in May is handing down some girl clothes so YAY!!! And THANK YOU!! We went through all the boys clothes, we had about 3-4 bins from 0months-18months, and either gave it to friends who are having boys or dontated it. It was kinda sad looking through all the cute boy clothes realizing we'll never be using them again. But I guess it's time to fill them with girl clothes lol!! Of course getting rid of all the boys clothes I started to think, "what if the ultrasound tech made a mistake and it's a boy? We're gonna be in trouble!" Good thing I kept my most cherished boy outfits!

So other than that exciting news, Christmas was fun, we had started a Christmas fund last year so we wouldn't feel too strapped for money this year and it worked out GREAT! The boys got new bikes and the Wii, which they are super excited about! Now we have to try to keep Luke off the big boy bikes... he's not liking that lol. Of course with all the snow we've been getting we haven't really been able to take the boys out to ride their bikes, but in the spring they will sure enjoy it! BTW, I'm ready for it to stop snowing!! I love that the snow covers the ugly dirt and dead grass but it's been wayyyyyy to cold for me!!

So here's the pity party lol! We're still trying to sell our house, which we were well aware it would take us at least 15 months (that's the average in NJ at this time). I'm starting to get the nesting feeling and we really don't have a place for another child, it's already tight as it is. I would put her in Luke's room but there's no room. His room is the playroom because Jake and Tyee's room can only fit bunkbeds.... just barely (which is actually the same size as Luke's room). So we found our dream house!! It totally needs work and updating but it fits our budget and there's soooo much room to grow into this house! We wouldn't even have enough furniture to fill this house. I never thought we would even get close to a house like this, it was more than I would ever ask for, more than I ever dreamed of! It's a cap cod style, with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 car garage, a cute (needs work) little tiny sunroom off the kitchen (which also needs a ton of work... like gutted work!). Finished basement with a half bath down there. and a 5th bedroom in the basement (they can't technically call it a bdrm because it's in the basement). It's a perfect house for us! They were asking so little because it's bank owned. Of course we can't put an offer in on anything till we sell our house... so we just found out it went under contract. Now being that it's bank owned it will take at least 6 months for it to close, so we still have a slim chance but I'm not getting my hopes up. I'm trying to have faith that if it's meant to be it will happen and we will sell our house when the timing is right. And Heavenly Father will help in guiding us where we need to go. But right now it's hard not having a nursery to decorate, or have a place for all the baby's new clothes or not even sure where we are going to put a crib or pack n play for the baby. It probably will go in our room, it's just alot of moving around of furniture, like we'll have to store the computer and desk till we get into a new house. Luckily, Tina to the rescue again!! she has a laptop she's not using so we'll still have internet! lol I feel selfish asking but if you feel inclined to keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we can be patient through this and that we will keep an open mind about what we need to do, we would greatly appreicate it!

I hope everyone's year has started out wonderful and healthy!!

Christmas Tag

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? both

2. Real tree or Artificial? artificial

3. When do you put up the tree? as soon as jason has a chance to help me get the stuff out of the attic

4. Do you like eggnog? LOVE IT!!

5. Favorite gift received as a child? barbies, barbie house, barbie car

6. Hardest person to buy for? there's a few

7. Easiest person to buy for? My kids and jason

8. Do you have a nativity scene? 3

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? hmmmm can't think of one off the top of my head

11. Favorite Christmas Movie? home alone 1and 2

12. When do you start shopping? depends, last year I think we started in Aug. this year the day after Thanksgiving

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? ummmm sorta

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? the whole Christmas dinner

15. Lights on the tree? white

16. Favorite Christmas song? santa baby

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? we go to jason's mom's

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? hmmm not sure

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? star

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? kids open gifts from each other and jammies and sometimes a game on Christamas eve, then the rest on Christmas morning

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? That some try to take Christ out of Christmas

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? on our fun tree, star wars, cars, bat man, superman and one barbie. on the nice tree right now it's gold and red

23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? ham, mashed potatoes, corn, egg nog, homemade pie

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? to spend it with family in a happy joyful setting remembering the reason we celebrate Christmas.

I tag Erin, Meagan, Troy and Mel

We got Elfed ... AGAIN LOL!!

The boys couldn't go to bed till I finished this, they laughed and laughed and laughed!! It's fun doing these, and I'm getting so excited for the holidays!!!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/jOUUXqf3QJ2oiHzTCMeb


On a side note, I'm finally feeling real movement!!! I've been feeling the flutters and stuff but Sunday he was really moving around in there!! Now is when it starts to feel real!! Wow I'm actually pregnant... AGAIN lol!!!

FLU SHOT?!?!?!?!?!

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-health/20081016/Flu.Shot.Fight/?cvqh=itn_flu

So they have made it "mandatory" to have children in daycare and pre-k get the flu shot in NJ. I am sooooo not happy about this. It's only Tyee that I would have to have get the shot but I do not know enough about the shot to say "sure poke my son with a needle full of stuff that could actually make him sick." My Dr doesn't even recommend the flu shot and didn't even have it available till just this month, ... and only made it available BECAUSE of the new law. I am doing some research to find out how I can get this waived. I just do not think it is neccesary to give Tyee or any of my children this shot. If they tell me Tyee can not go back to school because of it, then I for sure will be sending him to kindergarden next year and he will just have to do kindergarden for 2 years. (I was planning on having him stay in pre-k cuz he has such a late bday. cut off date is Oct. 1 and his bday is Sept. 27th) So any help on getting this shot waived would be greatly appriciated. He's all up to date for all his vax, I'm just mad about this new law mandating these children to flu shots!! They need to back up their reasons alot better than, "so we can reduce the risk of children getting sick." I do not go for that. And I will not be shooting my kids up with some stuff that they can't even say is completely totally safe. My children are not ginea pigs. What happened to parent's choice?!?! Taking away our freedom.

Oooops!

So I thought I'd post some pics. This is after Tyee's Halloween Birthday party, I walk in the kitchen to Luke helping himself to a piece of cake lol

He thought it was funny!!
We went pumpkin picking with my sister Michelle, Tina and their kids. Doesn't Luke look like a big boy!!
Their cousin Justin, these 2 are the troublemakers LOL
I tried to get a cute brother pic....

Kinda having a hard time getting everyone to have the perfect smile....

Then cousin Justin had to give cute Luke a kiss awwwwwThen it was ALLL OVER !!!! LOL
Tyee loves to draw, I caught him sitting near a ditch just drawing pictures, it was so cute.
And last but not least!!! Can you read his shirt?


It says, "Ooops, They did it again...... (I'm gonna be a big brother!!)

So Yup, Luke is going to be a big brother in April!! We are so happy to be adding another one to our family! The boys are so excited to have another baby sibling, they're hoping it's a girl but I'm sure it's a boy lol!! Yes, we are crazy!! We are totally crazy about our children!!!

Cough, cough, cough, cough.......

So Tyee has had this nonstop dry cough for ummmmmm over a month now!! He's waking in the middle of the night from the coughing waking him up. I thought maybe it's allergies, but I'm thinking nope since I have given him Benedryl and Zyrtec and it doesn't seem to be doing a thing!! I just hope it's not asthma. I'm taking Jake and Tyee to an allergist soon (since Jake was having issues in the middle of the summer and it's coming back again) I blame it all on Jason... Yup! Cuz I don't have allergies, but he's allergic to pollen, cats, dust, mold,... you name it. but apparently not dogs???? go figure!! I just feel so bad listening to this nonstop cough. And the teachers keep making comments. I did take him to his pedi. but I had such a difficult time understanding him, which I usually don't. He's from China and has a very deep accent, he's a great Dr, but I felt really jipped this last appointment. He didn't even check Tyee out, I guess he figured it was an appointment for Luke, but I specifially told the receptionist that I needed to ask questions about Tyee. So I hope this specialist will be able to give me some answers, cuz I'm feeling like a horrible mother each time I pick him up from school and the teachers comment on how he's coughing allllll the time.

And our most recent family pic!

Now I just have to figure out how to change our previous family pic.... cuz I have time to do that! LOL (I think Tyee might be wearing the same t-shirt lol!!)

The Please Touch Museum

Since we were so close to Phillie when we were at Sesame Place we took the boys to the Please Touch Museum. http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org/ It was soo much fun! The kids had a blast! Although I didn't get any good pics of Jake, the batteries died grrr!