Brothers

Psalm 119:1-4

PS- I know I spelled his name wrong in the video. I do know how to spell it, really.

PPSS- this was taken a few weeks ago. He now can recite the first 12 verses.

A Milestone

I felt the baby move on Monday.

What a great feeling.

I wasn't sure at first, but by the end of the evening, I was sure.

He/She was kicking me all evening.

I loved every kick.

It's a bit early for me to feel the baby move.

Only other babies I felt this early or earlier were Anna and Ellie.

Oh my. Is there a pattern here????

Pics found on my camera

Mouse Update

I had just returned to bed after visiting the bathroom early, early this morning. Just as I settled back in and got my pillows just right and closed my eyes, I heard it.

But this noise was totally different than the scratching I had been hearing. It sounded like there was a whole herd of mice right under my head.

I screamed.

Loudly.

"DO YOU HEAR THAT?" I screamed to Paul, who was laying right next to me.

"I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING BUT YOU SCREAMING. BE QUIET!" he replied, not so nicely.

Yep. We heard it again, and I was out of there and in the living room in record time. A few minutes later he came out and informed me that what I heard was the mouse caught in a sticky pad, thrashing about, trying to get loose. UGH Of course, it was on my side of the bed. He went in and finished it off and brought it out to the garbage outside.

By this time, my nerves were shot and I was not about to go back in the bedroom, so I spent the rest of the night on the couch.

I am very thankful. But that dumb mouse scared me so bad! It was awful.

And the worst part??

I'm not convinced he was the only one in the room.

High Risk

I've been high risk with every pregnancy, some more than others, and always due to blood pressure. It's been my nemesis, never knowing when I walk into the doctor's office what it will be. At times, I've left the doctor's office and went straight to the hospital because it had been so high. I try to stay calm, but it can be nerve wracking, not knowing what the numbers will be from appointment to appointment and never knowing when or if I'll be put on bedrest.

This pregnancy has started out with a bang with my old friend. First time I went to the doctor, back in December, my blood pressure was through the roof. The doc didn't seem too concerned and switched my medicine to a pregnancy friendly medicine. When I went back in January, my blood pressure was the same- very, very, scary high. The doctor then informed me that I was "too high risk" for him, between my bp reading and my "advanced" age. He sent me to the high risk doctor here in town.

I had my first appointment yesterday. Again, my bp was very high, although somewhat better than at the first doctors. They were very concerned, and put me on a second medicine. I was starting to get concerned about these high readings, knowing that it can't be good for me or the baby. I have been taking it rather easy since I went to the first doctor.

I tested my bp at Walmart today. Are you ready?

134/83.

Let me say that again.

134/83.

PERFECT

Thank you God!! I was so relieved that it is normal right now. I know it probably won't stay that way and I'll deal with it when it comes, but for right now, I am enjoying being "normal". Now if only the morning sickness would leave me for good...

Sam

"Mom, I loved what you made for supper. I love you cause you're the best cooker ever."

Sweet.

Randomness

• I did not intend to take another blogging break. My new laptop has a virus and is being fixed, so I've not had my own computer for a few weeks now. And just this week, our router stopped working.
• Which means the only computer with Internet is Paul's laptop, which he uses quite a bit.
• And it also means that the only way you can have Internet in our house is to be hard wired to the modem in my room, which is a problem.
• Because there is a MOUSE living under my bed. UGH
• We first heard him Saturday night and put out sticky pad traps.
• It hasn't worked, so now Paul is putting out regular traps.
• The mouse woke us up early this morning with the scratching. It sounded like it was under my head. Can I say UGH again???
• My next dr. appointment is Thursday. Please pray for my blood pressure to be ok with the stress of the mouse. (GRIN)
• Saturday, I had a great day. Sunday was ok, and yesterday was very bad. I thought I was "turning the corner" of feeling better, but I guess not yet.
• I'm 14 weeks (3 1/2 months)
• We've started back to school, to the delight of some and the chagrin of others. I'm somewhere in between.
• Samuel has Psalm 119: 1-4 memorized perfectly and even Ben can fill in the blanks with the appropriate words. It always amazes me what sponges they are at such early ages.
• It has been very cold here these past 2 weeks, in the teens almost every night. I think today has been in the high 40's. which now seems rather warm to us.
• Our wood stove has been going non stop for those 2 weeks.
• I think that's all the "news"!

Like Father, Like Son

Paul had a little helper when he was finishing up some work on the porch. Sam loved being up on that ladder (it really wasn't that high) and he loves helping his dad, especially if it involves hammers, nails and ladders.

Silly Faces, Dirty Faces and Haircuts

Heard from the back seat...

"I wish I didn't grow up to be a human. I wish I could grow up to be an alien."

-Sam, age 4 1/2

Nuchal Fold Testing

I bet most of you have never heard of this. I had not heard of this test until about two years ago, when I was pregnant with Ben. It is a test done between the 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy, and it measures the fold of skin at the back of the baby's neck. Supposedly, if the measurement is high, it indicates some kind of a problem.

When I went to my doctor back in December, he scheduled me to have this test done, because of my "advanced" age. I did not ask him any questions, because I had misunderstood why I was going to the high risk doctor. When I finally realized that it was this test I was scheduled for, I was quite surprised. I did not want to have this test done because I did not want to know that there "might" be a problem and dwell on that for several weeks. I also did not want to be told there was a problem, and then be expected or encouraged to terminate the pregnancy.

I called the doctor last week, with the intent to cancel this test. The receptionist that answered the phone was very kind and answered all my questions. She told me that many people call and cancel because they feel the doctor will encourage them to terminate; she said they never encourage that.

So I kept the appointment. Late last night, I decided to do a bit of reading on this test, to prepare myself for today. It really is an easy test- just an ultrasound. But I kept on reading, and found out that this test has alot of false positives- alot of telling you there "might" be a problem, when in reality there isn't. I don't know if any of you remember me going through this with Ben, but it made for an anxious several weeks as we waited for the results. (I didn't have this test with him- this was from a blood test)

I woke up this morning and went to the appointment, all with a feeling of dread. I prayed on the way there that God would send me someone who would understand what I was feeling and would validate my feelings.

I walked into the little nurses room to do the blood pressure and stuff and told her right off I was having second thoughts. She immediately told me I did not have to have this test if I did not want to. I told her my concerns, and she understood and told me I was right. If this test was abnormal, there were more tests, maybe an amniocentesis (which I would never have), but the thing was, they wouldn't know what the exact problem was until the 20 week level 2 ultrasound.

My response? Well, I'll just wait until then. Why should I take a test that may or may not be totally accurate when I can wait 7 weeks to have the ultrasound, which should find any problems? Seemed awful clear to me and I walked out of the office, feeling much better. The nurse couldn't have been nicer and was a direct answer to my prayer.

Other than termination of the pregnancy, I do not know why anyone would choose to have this test. One opinion I read said that this test was just a ploy to get the insurance companies to pay for the higher priced test, the amniocentesis. I'm not sure how accurate that is, but it sure makes you wonder.

A New Room

Since our family is expanding this year and we have outgrown our house, Paul decided to turn our back porch into a room. It already had a roof and a floor, so that made the job somewhat easier. Paul's dad, his brother Tony, Paul, Jr. , Zack, David and Garrett have been working hard for 3 days.

This is facing the patio and the neighbors house.

You can start to see the room taking shape here.

The side wall.

The door to the patio. The room will have a double window and 2 single windows and 2 doors, which should let in some much needed light.

Paul Jr. helping put the window in.

It's hard to get a good perspective with the camera. They are making such progress, but it will take a while to finish.

New Year's Eve

We had a combined New Year's Eve, 17th birthday party for Zack and a 2nd birthday party for Andy. It was a wild time.

Andy got a nightgown in the white elephant gift exchange.

Tony and Elena

Ben provided the dancing. Karoke

More dancing

Andy-man got into some markers and made himself look like Hitler.

More singing.

And even more singing.

Uncle Dave

Yes, even both my sons sang! And they did very well!

Beautiful, Wonderful Snow

The house my Grandparents lived in for many years.

Mom and Dad's backyard

The long icicle on the deck

Mom and Dad's house right before we left.

Christmas Day

We woke up to a White Christmas. Very Exciting!

Our Christmas stocking this year.

We thought the kids would get use out of these heavy socks!

Benjamin helping to pass them out.

WHere's mine Daddy?

Benjamin getting panicky because everytime daddy handed him one, he ad to give it to someone else!

Excited, groggy kids and dog.

Reading our new Christmas book from Aunt Pat.

Sam playing someone's DS.

Opening gifts.

One for Benjamin.

CAn he reach it?

Yes, he did and he loved it.

Uncle Cliff helping Sam put together his new puzzle.

Amy

Josh

Uncle Cliff's strange game that shocks you

Grandpa

Rebecca and Cliff who celebrated their 25th anniversary in November

Ellie with some of her gifts

Playing Amy's new wii