He's here

Okay so I KNOW that Nikolai has been here for almost two months now and I haven't put his information up yet but what can I say... I'm very busy.

So here's the Reader's Digest version of his birth, you know with out all the gory gross parts.

So on Feb 18 at 6 in the morning Tait and I headed into the hospital for an "elective" induction it's call that because I wanted to have it and since there was no "medical" reason for it that's basically what it's called... and I was pretty miserable and whiny that the doctor decided to do the induction YEAH! So we went in and they asked all the standard questions like am I having any contractions or has my water broken anything like htat and of course the answer was no because I was electing to go into labor so they had to start it for me. So I was started on Potocin and the contractions started. Nothing too serious and everything was going pretty smoothly. They checked me off and on for the next 4 hours and I was updating my face book as the day went on, why not right? I really wasn't making much progress I really wasn't dilating very fast and so I figured it would just take me awhile since it was me wanting the baby to come out not the other way around then at around 10 my water broke so I was super excited about that b/c I knew that once that happened within 24 hours this baby was coming OUT! So after that happened the nurse said 'well you are definitely in for the long haul now' so the contractions started getting harder and by noon I wanted something for the pain b/c it was starting to hurt a bit. So they gave me this medication that made me feel super strange. It was like I was moving in slow motion. Tait said I was hilarious when I was on the medication but I just remember feeling really strange. So Dr. Park had come in and out and was waiting for me to get father along finally I was dilated 4 cm which is the turning point for getting the epidural so I was able to get it! Hooray! So they made Tait leave the room, which was new b/c in Indiana Tait was always the person that I could "lean on" when I was hanging forward, but not in Wisconsin. But anyway. Tait was out of the room for a good 45 minutes while they did the epidural and I finally got to 5 cms but it took until 3 pm ot get that far. The nurse came in and kept readjusting my monitors because the baby's heart rate kept going off the chart and they wanted to make sure that things were progressing. I was worried because at that point I couldn't feel the contractions and my fear was that they were stopping and so they were going to have to do a c section. So I kept asking Tait to read the monitor to see if they were going... he kept saying "it looks like it" Then the nurse came back in again and said that baby's heart rate keeps dipping really low when ever I had a contraction so it answered my question about whether I was still having contractions but she showed me on the paper when I had 'large' contractions how his heart rate would go super low. She said she was going to report this to Dr. Park and since I hadn't dilated more then 5 cm she was concerned. Then not 20 minutes later she came back in and said that i needed to be on oxygen to help the baby's heart rate. So she put me on that, then had me do all these different positions on my different sides then she said "well that's not really doing what i need it to do" so she said that she wanted to put an internal monitor onto the babies head to make sure that she was getting an accurate reading, that took forever. but she got the task accomplished and said she would report back to Dr. Park then around 4:00 ish she came back and said that she was very concerned about his heart rate and then checked me again and said that i hadn't made much more progress as far as dilating not 15 minutes later Dr. Park came in, she must have called him. And at this point I was laying flat on my back, oxygen filling my lungs and just waiting. Dr. Park said came in and goes "well you are about 8 1/2 - 9 cm so is she prepped?" and the nurse goes "prepped for what c section, yeah" and he goes "no for delivery he goes she has just a little bit more to go but this is her third baby she should be ready to push and be able to get him out" So he told me I'll be back in 15 minutes so he left the room and she goes "well I thought for certain you were going to need a c section but looks like you are ready to go" so they got me "ready" in whatever fashion that means and then all of these people came into the room, it was like they were bugs or something and all just waiting... then Dr. Park came back into the room nd goes "okay we are going to have a baby in 15-20 minutes at the most" and sure enough 15 minutes later baby Nikolai was born. Now he had some trouble getting out b/c he said his head was in a strange position but once he moved his head he came out really easy. Once he was out I said out loud "well I"m definitely done with this" and Dr. Park laughed and it was all fine. Then they cleaned up me and the baby and I was able to hold the little boy. He was beautiful he was very bruised on his head from where he was slamming against my pelvis but for the most part he was just perfect.

Now they got me all cleaned up and everything then 30 minutes later the girls all walked in Lehna, Maya, and Helen. Tim followed in later but they three came in all smiling. Maya wanted to hold the baby and so did Lehna so I have those pictures. It was very fun to have the girls so excited about their new baby brother.

Nikolai Anthony was 20 1/2 inches and 8 lbs even and he was born at 4:44 pm so he is EVEN all the way around.

I have to say that having a little boy is definitely different than the girls I never got peed on by the girls and I have gotten peed on by this little rascal a couple of times, I'm sure more will happen. He seems pretty mellow as far as personality. He cries to eat and wants a clean diaper to poop in. He definitely fits into this family well. Tait is over the moon about having his little boy and I have to say that I'm pretty happy about him too.

Update since having him he is 5 weeks old so he can smile on his own but we haven't seen him smile at us yet when he's awake. Now when he's asleep he gives the BIGGEST smiles, of course we haven't caught them on film yet! He is trying to hold his head up but he really just likes to cuddle and snuggle, which I love. When he's awake he demands to be held and we have been able to 'trick' him by putting in the swing during the day so you can still get something things accomplished. But he is just perfect. He looks just like his daddy and has my blue eyes. I just can't wait for him to really smile at us that always makes me happy. He is starting to make sounds back which is really fun. The girls ADORE him Maya is over ally adorable to him, so much we have to make sure she is gentle with him. Lehna loves being the big sister and helping out when she can. It's really been wonderful adding another baby to our family and like I said before we are now complete.

Soon more to follow and hopefully pictures.

Baby News Update!

So its weekly updates now... don't get too used to it b/c it probably won't happen after next week.

So here's the scoop the baby is coming NEXT FRIDAY! He CAN come before but chances of that are pretty unlikely. We had the ultrasound on Wednesday and he is 6 lbs 13 oz but they said that could be up to a pound off either direction so he's the perfect size... if he comes out any smaller than 6 lbs he will be my smallest baby but if he comes out at 7 he will be smack dab in the middle of the girlies. The ultrasound revealed that he is still in fact a boy. That was one of Tait's FIRST questions was if she could double check to ensure that we will be seeing blue and not pink... and she goes "oh yep that's a little boy in there" Then she took her measurements and by the time she got around to checking so I could see he had crossed his legs and wasn't moving... he did the same thing with his little face he put his little hands right up over his face and we couldn't see his face the little rat so it was the same thing that Maya did when we tried to get a look at her too. The Ultrasound went pretty well I think for the most part besides not being able to getting to see his face but she said he looks good, and she said that he moves a lot of as far as long as I told her I knew that because he kicks quite a bit and she goes "well it looks like you have a busy bee on your hands then” So YEAH another one!

So when I went to the doctor he goes "well do you want to schedule an induction on the 18th?" And I said "what about the 14th?" and he goes... "Hum too early you need to be at least 39 weeks and that will be Friday so that would be the earliest” so I said "okay works for me" So there you go. I'm super excited let me tell you it makes it much easier knowing that he's COMING and coming in 5 days!!! I can't wait wait wait I'm sure this week will be the LONGEST week ever but hopefully not. This gives me time to get my very long list of "to dos" at work and get set for him to come. Now sleeping at night because of my excitement is a problem. I wake up and I'm awake for 2 hours at a time because my head won't just let me sleep it's super annoying, but it's just getting me used to when Peanut DOES get here I'll be up anyways so it's all good just getting back in the swing of things. The girls are UBBER excited. We made a paper chain of how many days it would take for him to get here and we got to take some extra days off b/c it's only 5 days now and Lehna was super excited to be able to take them off. It's just really exciting that I know he's coming!

I am a little nervous about being inducted b/c I know that increases the chances of having a c section but from everything I hear from my doctor he doesn't seem too concerned about it. But I think that's just fear b/c of what my old OB would say to me. Everyone that I have told that I have this OB says he's just the best, that's why they have dubbed him the "Mormon" doctor b/c almost all the women in our ward uses him or have had him before. So I feel like I'm in really good hands. He asked me what concerns or questions that I have and he went through what was going to happen and he said by Lunch baby should be here... so there you go. Its sounds so easy. I hope it is!

So this weekend I double checked everything to make sure that I have things ready. I got a bag of clothes from one of the ladies at church which it's older sizes so that's a good thing. I put them all away and I think I'm okay. We didn't bring in the bassinet yet but we may just use the pack n play for awhile until we move him to the crib. We have the bassinet from Tanna upstairs so he will have a place to sleep while Helen watches him during the day. So it's exciting!

We filed our taxes this weekend as well and we don't owe so it was WONDERFUL news! So we went ahead and just sent those through. That will be one less thing to worry about later.

While I'm off work. I hope that I don't go too stir crazy when I'm off. I really do enjoy working but I have to tell you the break sounds SO wonderful. I have a gift certificate to use from the book store so I may order a couple of books and maybe I'll get them read while I'm off when Peanut is sleeping and Maya is busy doing her thing. She's so independent it is fun, of course I'll be taking Lehna to and from school everyday so that will fill in some time. But it should be fun I can't wait. My coworkers are ready for me to go they are fully prepared the lady that is filling in for me as Branch Manager while I'm gone is up to speed as to what goals are and what we are working so that's taken care of.

Tait is going to take off two weeks when baby gets here. He is going to take the first week off when Peanut first gets here then he is planning on taking another week later on. So it should be interesting with it being broken up but I know that at work his nurse is getting ready to go to Hawaii for a couple of weeks so it actually works before for them if he does break up the time.

So I will update again as soon as I can hopefully this isn't the last post for awhile but you never know! Oh and Peanut can ALWAYS come earlier than Friday, I'm just saying.

So keep your fingers crossed for us and hope for a speedy delivery and that everything goes smoothly.

A blizzard of emotions

Maya doing her posing fighting cabin fever (ps she dressed herself)

What a crazy week it has been! I haven’t been able to sleep very well to be honest with you because at my last Drs Appointment the doctor told me that he would check me and see where I am with my progress and see if he could ‘get things started’ boy I didn’t really know what that meant but all week I just kept thinking… hey this weekend we could have a baby b/c he’s going ‘get things started’. Well I went to my doctor’s appointment and he did check me to see where I’m at and he did some irritation of my cervix which was not very pleasant, I must admit, and he said I’m dilated… so YEAH and he said that I’m still a little long but he said that he needs me to ‘start my process a little faster’ then he added, ‘now do I think this will send you into labor, probably not, but it might’ hummm so all I could hear is “hey this could send you into labor” what a cool thing… well the weekend is almost over and Saturday I have to admit I had contractions all day off and on but NOTHING. No baby yet. So where are we now? Well concerns from the Doctor he asked me how big was my biggest baby and I told him 8 lbs (Miss Maya) and he goes, well I want to order and ultrasound for you b/c you are measuring big and to be honest with you with you testing higher for you glucose test we don’t want baby to get too big because right now you are measuring bigger. Soooo… We have an ultrasound scheduled Wednesday… now what does this mean. Well I don’t really know to be honest with you… but maybe something. We talked about induction. He said that he won’t induce before the 18th of Feb!!! But he said that he really wants to see what the ultrasound looks like first because he wants to see how big baby is to see if we need to change some plans… so hopefully. It’s hard to be hopeful when all you want is the freaking baby OUT! I’m so not patient pregnancy was definitely not made for me I’m just way too impatient for all this nonsense.

I went back to read some of my blogs to see if I could find a pattern with my last pregnancies to see if there was a sign of when baby would be coming. I guess I wasn’t that good of a journalist because I didn’t see anything helpful. So I guess I just have to freaking wait… one thing I did notice was that I basically got this impatient with both kids around this time soooo that’s a positive, I think.

So we go back to the doctor on Friday after the ultrasound on Wednesday and pending on what he says I will be forced to walk another weekend pregnant. He’s cooked already dang it come OUT! I know I know patience. My mother in law was saying “when that baby does get hear you really will understand that busy is” I just chuckle when she says things like that. So that’s the baby progress, not much.

So we had a major blizzard around here this week. Tuesday night we got 23 inches of snow it was insane we had a 9 foot drift right outside our door and had to shovel to get outside… which was kind of fun. I went out there and shoveled what I could I took LOTS of breaks. It was exciting let me tell you. On Wednesday we had a snow day mostly because everyone was under so much snow it was crazy. This is the most snow that this area has gotten in over 30 years so at least we didn’t have to hear “well this is Wisconsin” all week because seriously it doesn’t even make any sense and EVERYONE here says it!
I took some pictures and I was getting ready to load them to the computer when I discovered my camera’s battery needed charged… it’s a good thing I wanted to get the pictures off or I wouldn’t have realized that the camera wasn’t going to work so therefore no pictures of peanut when the little Nut does decide to come out. So it was a good thing I decided to update.

I have to tell you this pregnancy is definitely making me MUCH moodier than the girls did. I’m just ready to have a break from work and have this baby out so I can dress him and hug and kiss his little hands and feet… but again. That part isn’t up to me. And I just CAN’T STAND IT! The girls ask me when he’s going to come out and I tell them, I don’t know. I am getting tired of telling people when I’m due and saying “yep I’m ready to have this baby” It’s almost depressing.

But anyways enough whining… I am able to get some pictures off so enjoy from our blizzard.

Snow drifts right outside our door

Veiw from outside the back of the house

View from our front window!

Baby Baby Baby... will you EVER get here!

Okay so I’m updating Christmas and the latest and greatest all at the same time… what can I say…

Okay so things have been going really fast around here and then in other areas… not fast enough… speaking in baby speak that is.

So we had a little scare yesterday. Last night as I was driving home from work I was thinking about baby Peanut and I was trying to remember the times that I really felt him kick and to be honest with you I couldn’t really remember and this baby I swear is half rabbit and I feel him all day… so I thought that I should call the doctor and ask them advise because I hadn’t really felt him and I had a contraction and thought “hum that’s kind of interesting” So I called and asked them what I should do and they suggested that I come in and get checked just to make sure that baby was okay. So I did. A little over an hour later and being hooked up to the machines baby was fine… he started to really kick as soon as they put the monitor on there… and the nurse goes “you know it never fails this happens but she said it’s always better to check” So we went home… Maya thought the baby was coming home and so we tried to tell her that the baby wasn’t coming we were just checking to make sure everything was fine but she was jumping around and such… it was so cute… it was kind of heart breaking to tell her he wasn’t coming home yet… so at least we know that she’s excited. Lehna wanted to come along with us and we told her that she couldn’t come after a few minutes she was okay.

So baby was fine. I am supposed to start going to weekly appointments this week so I’m pretty excited about that actually b/c that means its CLOSE! I’m pretty ready for Peanut to get here I’m super excited to bring him home and hold him and do all the baby things that you do. I know its right around the corner and I should really enjoy the time that I have with just the girls but it’s hard not to really be excited. We have decided that we are done after Peanut. Tait will have his baby boy and well I’ll be done with babies… I will be ready to do other things and put babies behind us.

I’m really excited about having 2 months off of work. I really am excited about that for as sad as that is. Work is a lot of pressure and it will be a relief to just relax and enjoy my time with our baby and the kids. Not that I want to quit my job and be a stay at home mom I’m just excited about being able to relax and enjoy my time when I can, but I’m certain that I’ll be ready to go back. I love kid time but I also love adult work time too… so I’m totally okay going back to work.

As far as work goes it’s going. I want more clients and so does my boss I have a lot of pressure to perform and get where we need to go… so we are moving in that direction just really slowly… I wish it would go faster and when we have clients that fall off b/c they get hired on makes it frustrating for all involved. But my team and I are working on getting more and that’s all we can do right? My boss believes in high pressure to get you to perform which I have to say works and then it doesn’t all at the same item. He is very successful so it does have its measures but still sucks when you aren’t performing where he THINKS you should be… he told me today that the hammer is going to come down… I don’t know what that means b/c I feel like I have enough pressure to perform so I’m hoping that maybe him just “saying” that is enough. I don’t want to end up with an aneurism! Anyway work stuff is boring.

The girls are just growing and growing so much it’s just so cool to watch them change and grow. Maya the other day was talking and I was like “wow she really is growing up” just by the way she was talking. She isn’t going to be the baby any more so we are enjoying her right now.

Lehna is in Kindergarten and let me tell you she is doing really well as far as development she is still above the curve which is good. We are still working on making sure she stays ahead… but you know she will slow down. We are working on reading right now and she was reading the Biscuit books (boring let me tell you) and she was able to read pretty much all of the articles but the other words we are still working on she could guess some of them just by what was going on in the pictures so we don’t want her to develop that habit b/c eventually the pictures WILL go away.

Maya will start 4 year old kindergarten next year which I know she will really enjoy b/c she keeps talking about going to school and her friends so I know she’s craving kids to play with. She does play with the kids at church so she does have some interaction just not as much as Lehna did at her age. So hopefully Maya won’t be too far behind when she goes to school.

Well I wanted to include some pictures of our latest sledding trip. I watched as they sledded but it was fun. So enjoy some pictures! I will update soon… hopefully before Peanut comes… but you know… it’s hard to say…

It’s Christmas Time in Wisconsin

Okay so maybe Christmas is over but at least the holiday season isn’t COMPLETELY over with yet. I know I know my updates are near and far between can’t be helped.

Okay so let’s jump right into this shall we! Well I was so excited about being able to spend some holiday time with the kids that I wanted to make sure that I had things planned for them and I to do together… So the first stop was to get something ornaments for the kids to paint… well when I found out that Hobby Lobby either doesn’t have them any more OR they just didn’t have them period that made me get a little bit more creative. So we went to the kids isles and picked up some window catcher and some paint and off home we went. I also stopped at the store to pick up some cookie stuff for the next door.

So on Thursday of Christmas week we painted window catchers which for my girls was actually a successful project. I wasn’t ready to kill anyone while we were doing the project so it was successful. Lehna was in a HUGE hurry to finish her and Maya was patiently working on her and getting her’s just perfect.


Then on Friday we had Tait home so we decided to make some Christmas cookies. I KNEW it was going to be a mess and well it was but it went okay. The girls were well prepared for mess and so was I again no one died so it was successful. The girls were SOOO excited about Santa coming and I have to admit that my kids were HORRIBLE the last couple of weeks and threaten them with “Santa isn’t going to stop” simply was NOT working the way that it SHOULD have worked. So by the time it was time for bed I was ready for them to go to sleep. They were soooo excited and they did their best to stay up for as long as they could. Lehna and Maya finally fell asleep. Santa finished in record time this year… he started at 10 and was finished by 10:15 so it was great. Of course it helped the Santa had wrapped all of the gifts a couple days before so there wasn’t that mess to work on, but it went smoothly. Soon after Santa left we got to sleep. It was a pretty peaceful night until 2:59 and Lehna and Maya BOTH came down and go ‘has Santa been here yet?’ I was thinking “didn’t you have to walk THROUGH the room to come down stairs and you didn’t notice” and Tait calmed asked what time it was and after giving him the time he said “oh no it’s time to Sleep Santa HASN’T been here yet” and since my children have no observation skills they took it and went right to sleep in the guest room. Which I was excited about that and then at 6 am they were both awake and we headed upstairs and let me tell you they were SO excited. We couldn’t get the video camera to work which was disappointing but we still had fun anyways.


The girls were great they opened and destroyed a perfectly organized living room in seconds it was truly great! Afterwards the kids played for a couple of hours and then it was time to pack up the van and head off to Indiana. We went down and had a good time at Grandma Sullivan’s house. It was nice getting to see all of the family there again and playing games with the family. After grandma’s house we went to Marcus and Jackie’s house to spend the night which was very cook that we could spend the night there. The girls loved being able to see their cousins and they were soooo tired that after a few tears they were fast asleep.


Overall it was a great trip to Indiana and Christmas was great. We told the girls that Santa can still come and take back the gifts which is kind of still happening but you know how that goes sometimes… I’m sure it will work for awhile so I’ll enjoy it for what it’s worth.


So peanut update. Time is ticking down so fast it’s amazing!!! I’m super excited that it is don’t get me wrong. I’m still worried about not having some things for the baby like car seat, bottles, and etc but I’m sure that we will get it all worked out before the he makes his appearance. Only 7 weeks to go and he’ll be here.

He loves to kick the heck out of me. When I’ve had anything with sugar or caffeine just looks out b/c he will kick me until he’s done… It’s really been a fun time though I am enjoying myself. I keep telling myself that this is the LAST time for babies to be in me so enjoy it… but it’s hard. Being pregnant just isn’t my favorite thing I know that once he gets here that it will be awesome!

So only 7 more weeks and he’ll make his appearance. If he wants to be early that’s okay too 

Skating

Okay so this week I’m like 2 days behind my time to update but heck at least it’s before this baby comes out!

Well I took pictures of our Monday adventure. The girls LOVE ice skating right now so I decided to bring my camera and hopefully capture some pictures of these kiddos. They were pretty funny Maya hardly smiles at ALL which is crazy but she talks about it nonstop before we go and after we go but I think she’s just concentrating. Lehna this time wasn’t ready to go where as last week she was READY to go. The girls are asking for skating lessons and I told them that they should as Santa for ice skating lessons. I looked up the price and it looks like something Santa might be able to do.

We have been talking about what to get the girls for Christmas b/c we really don’t want to get them a bunch of toys because they have so many already so we thought maybe we could go “more expensive” just not as many. So I have been looking at maybe the Kenetic for the Xbox I think that the girls would really enjoy it and it doesn’t require a control to use, b/c they struggle with that with the Wii because of the remote so I figure it would be fun for them.

I was also looking at the American Girl dolls since we aren’t going with the too many toys and then just get them an outfit then for their birthday maybe get them another outfit, the dolls are freaking expensive but I thought that they would really like them, I just don’t want them to end up at the bottom of the toy box. But they have these “tea parties” for you and your American Girl Doll and Sharon whom I work with said they are REALLY fun that the girls just love it because the treat the kids like little princesses so I think that would be fun for the girls to do once the baby is born, maybe for their birthday. I don’t know just an idea; again I just don’t want the dolls to end up at the bottom of the toy box which with these to who knows it’s a possible thing.

On Thursday I got a prenatal massage at a local spa and let me tell you that were wonderful. The masseur did “trigger point therapy” which means he would feel in my muscles where the triggers are and he would slowly work them out. He spent a TON of time right around my shoulder blades and he said that I had a lot of knots there. So at the end he gave me some stretches to help keep my muscles loose which I have been doing because he made my back feel soooo good. He said that I should come back and I said “talk to my husband” it was just really nice.

But after my massage I took Friday off. I decided it had been a long time since I took a day off and I needed it. And it was good because Trent and Alta came up to visit us this weekend. I can safely say that on Friday I took the “tour” of the living room, I went the complete circle of nothing but vegging out it was WONDERFUL. Then on Saturday Tait, Trent, and Tim went to Madison to watch Indiana and Wisconsin play and I went to a Mary Kay party, which I had never been to one of those before, strange, but good.

On Saturday night my boss was in a Dancing with the Stars event which he was a competitor in. It was for a local organization that helps children with grief of a parent or sibling, the program part of the night was VERY sad but the entertainment of dancing was really fun. My boss actually won so that was fun it was 50% judge and 50% audience and we had 5 tables all yelling for him so it was good that he won. The event was really fun we hung out with my coworkers and other adults I laughed quite a bit.

I did go to the doctor on Friday and I found out that I’m 8 lbs up… yuck! I know it’s important but still sucks. And the baby is doing fine. The doctor was REALLY cruel and came in and goes “oh you what now 34 weeks” and in my head I was like “am I really 34 weeks already, maybe my calculation has been off” then he goes “oh no you are only 25 weeks they calculated it wrong” I was like DARN IT, but I knew that’s how far I was I was just hoping for a closer due date. Baby is moving around all the time, I have a feeling he’s going to be a night owl because he is all over the place a night and when I’m trying to sit still, of course this is probably the only time when he doesn’t feel mommy moving around so he takes full advantage.

Well that’s life. Feeling good, slowing down a little but still trying to function on all cylinders so it’s fun  that’s life right now. Thanks for reading about us.


a LITTLE shaky

I'm doing my Tricks with a smile!

do I look Scared?

Here we come!

Opps!

Down again!

Post Post Post Post

Okay so it's Saturday and I just posted last week and I'm posting again a week later... scary hua... yeah I know... don't get "too" used to it.

So it's been a good day but man I am BEAT!
Today we did a service project with our Cub Scouts with Y-Link, which is a Young Professionals group here in Kenosha. We were helping with a food drive for the local food pantry we handed out flyers at a grocery store and took the donations as the people came out, it was quite and EASY project but it was COLD today so it all makes up for it. We were there for 3 hours, we were there about 1 hour too much our cubs kind of "lost" it after 2 hours but it was okay because I think they had a good time. One even said he didn't want to leave. One told Tait that he is grounded at home so he likes doing this better than what we would be doing at home, so I am taking that as a compliment.

After that we went to the area right outside where I work and took pictures. My office is RIGHT next to the woods and with all the fall colors and rocks and such I couldn't resist such a pretty landscape so I took the kiddos there so YEP pictures! I already ordered some from snap fish... so exciting stuff let me tell you.

Then after we took pictures we went to the park I promised the girls we would do something fun today and Maya choose that so that's what we did. I rode the tire swing with the girls and baby peanut did NOT like that, so I had to stop trying to ride it. Lehna wanted to have a Movie night... so we did that tonight as well we rented the new Tinker Bell movie and the girls were TOTALLY attached to it. Lehna this summer got a necklace that has fairy dust in it and THANKS TO MY WONDERFUL NEIGHBOR told her that there was no such thing as fairies and that it is just a great story but they don't really exist. I was sooooo upset that the mother, who's a school teacher, tried to take that away from Lehna, Lehna who didn't bat an eye goes "but what about the tooth fairy?" And the Mom didn't respond back to that, so I was proud of her. So I was a little worried. Lehna said "mommy can I try to catch a fairy" I told her that, according to the movie, that they only come from fairy land during the summer time so she would have to wait till then. So she was okay with that answer. So she said that she'll have to build them a house and put it in the backyard, just like they did in the movie, and hopefully she would catch a fairy.

I'm totally beat though I think that part of the problem is I didn't sleep really well last night. I was really worried about work for some crazy reasons just lots of things going on and worried about deadlines that we have going on. Hopefully this open house we have scheduled for Monday will yield a good work force... we are getting people in but nothing at high caliber and it's kind of a problem. So about 4 this morning I emailed one of my staffing people the list of things I wanted done on Monday. I know I know but can't help it it was PLAGUING me, I didn't hear anything from here today so I don't know if he didn't get the email or is just ignoring it... either is possible.

It feels like midnight and its only 8 pm what a sad sad life I lead. Although I do forget about baby Peanut quite a bit and I know that he takes so much of my energy but can't use that as an excuse on the weekends, that's what I use during the week!

So on Monday we usually take the girls swimming after we get home from work, at the gym we go to. Well on Tuesday Maya woke up and ran into our room and goes "daddy you can't go to work today we have to go ice skating today" Tait goes "Maya we have to go to work" and she didn't take that as the correct answer b/c she was convinced we were going Ice Skating... So I pulled the schedule for ice skating and on Mondays the same time we normally swim they have open skating, at the gym, so we are going to take them to open skating. Tait is going to go out on the ice I'm going to sit on the side lines, I don't think my doctor would recommend ice skating being 6 months pregnant... just guessing on that. So every day Maya and Lehna have BOTH been asking how many more days will it is before we go ice skating... I hope they don't expect ice skating EVERY Monday I do enjoy my swimming :)

Well on Tuesday Tait and I meet with the Bishop about our callings. We both have been in cub scouts for the last year and a half and I have been concerned because they haven't shown any sign they were planning on releasing us anytime soon and with the new baby coming I'm REALLY concerned about having Helen watch another kiddo on Tuesday night so we can fulfill out callings. So we asked if we could be released... talk about guilt. It's funny b/c the Tuesday before we had two parents come over and tell us what a great job we do with cub scouts and how much they really enjoy us being the leaders and how grateful they are that we are in there... so it was like total guilt in asking to be released b/c I know that Heavenly Father calls us to these positions so I feel like I'm being bad asking to be released but I'm just ready I guess. I understand why we were called in there together, I got the message loud and clear, but after going through the book 2 times already I'm ready for something different. I think I'll be released soon and then Tait will come out not too long after that. The bishop did tell us that people have requested us in their "openings" but he said that since we do such a good job in the calling that he wanted to keep us in there... so I guess that's a good thing, I just wonder, where in the heck am I going to end up next, hopefully it's nothing "made up” I mean I don't want one of those. We have SO many people in our ward and they really try to give everyone some thing and so they kind of come up with callings that I'm like "Really?" so I don't want one of those but who knows... I guess then next place will come when it comes.

So baby update. I'm feeling baby peanut move around SOOOO much I feel like Alice Tinker but seriously if it keeps moving around in there like it has been I swear it's alive... I love Vicar of Dibley. He kicks and pushes and does the thing where it feels like he's stretching out his fingers I HATE that when they do that... I don't know if its fingers or toes but it feels HORRIBLE, it's like he's trying to claw through my stomach hate it! Maya did it all the time too I used to hate it and baby Peanut has decided to take the same path as his older sister. (sigh)

I tried to go to the doctor on Friday but when I was there he was called into labor and delivery and was going to be there for another 1/2 hour before he was going to be back and I had two other people in front of me, and I was like "Hum seriously I don't want to wait" so I left and rescheduled. It sucks though b/c I had free tickets to go see Bill Rancic which if you don't know who that is, he is the was the FIRST winner of the Apprentice and he has a reality show call Bill and Guiline on E which I LOVE I think they would be really fun people to be friends with, and they just bought a house close to where we live... so I'm thinking of stalking them, okay just kidding. But I was really excited to see him but I found out that he wasn't going to speak until 10 and my appointment was at 10:30 so I wasn't going to be able to see him THEN on top of not getting into my appointment I was a little bummed b/c I missed Bill b/c of the doctor. But oh well I guess it's just not to be that we are supposed to be friends.

Well that's life right now... exciting exciting exciting...

Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Halloween!

So another update what a treat!

So mommy got a new toy this weekend can you guess what it is? That’s right mommy got a new digital camera… So I have been wanting a new camera well since forever and my first one we got was when Lehna was born and let me tell you it wasn’t “top of the line” it was something that helped get word of her birth out quicker!

So this weekend we invested in a new toy… It’s a new Cannon Rebel DTi2 which it’s super cool; it acts just like my rebel film camera except its digital… I’m hoping to have lots more pictures of the girl’s lives up for the world to see. So be prepared for that.

Halloween this year was very fun; the girls were very into it. Lehna went as an angel until she lost her halo and then she was just a regular fairy and she put it. Maya was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz I feel kind of bad b/c she has NO idea who that is, but I know and that’s all the matters right? I know I know… horrible. But both girls went to trunk or Treat at the Church on Friday night then on Sunday we had trick or treating Maya was done after 15 minutes of walking… which was horrible. She kept asking to go home so we did. After all the candy she got Friday and the candy my mom brought down on Saturday they were set… So they didn’t need too much. We had a baby shower for Jennifer and Stephen on Saturday and that was a lot of fun, and it wasn’t too far away so needless to say the weekend went by so fast, I hate that, if only the week could go as fast as the weekend I would be one happy girl.




This weekend I don’t know what we have planned so I’ll have to find out from the planning committee… hopefully not too much, but I REALLY have been wanting to go down to Chicago on the train and take the girls to the shed aquarium so maybe, maybe we’ll do that IF we don’t have something else planned, I certainly hope not.

Well that’s really all of an update I have, I know so disappointing…

So... Let it begin

Well so much for keeping this updated. I tell you... It's just one of those things that sits so far back on my back burner that it's damn near off the stove!

Well I feel badly b/c this is a good "journal" for the baby when the baby gets here and this one well... didn't really keep updated... so this will just be a LONG update...

So far things with the pregnancy are soooo normal. I didn't get sick at all this pregnancy I did have some morning sickness feeling but nothing really to get excited about. Then my other "issues" that I had with both children with spotting happened A LONG time with this baby it lasted about once a week for the first 4 months... so now we are almost in month 6 and ith as stopped thank goodness! So I guess this should have been some key points for me... but I'm kind of thick. Sooo This baby revealed in the ultrasound is a BOY! So we will be looking for blue blue blue. I have to admit I was kind of bummed b/c the girls had such cute clothes and I was washing everything and now I'm like "hum" I don't have boy clothes... so Sister Jackie has come and SAVED me! She has let me borrow the first 3 months of clothes she had for her boys so I feel pretty good... I am defintely SET for the first 3 months. I have a TON of onezies I mean I have like those forever! Now clothing like outfits... hum after month 3 I'm kind of like "hum" So as I'm "shopping" the problem is that the clothing right now that is available is for winter size and depending on what "size" baby peanut actually is this time next year it's hard to shop too far ahead... so it looks like I'm going to have to do more shopping for this baby after he gets here. So too bad for me right?

Baby Peanut is moving around and kicking and streching quite a bit this baby I didn't really start feeling "a lot" until I was about 5 months for some reason I kept waiting in month 4 but nothing was really happening, just "little" bumps but now it's full blown kicks they are still pretty random but feeling them and that's all that matters.

Cute story Maya and Lehna came to the ultrasound and when the tech announced that Peanut was a boy my started to Cry... she goes "no mommy you tell that lady that she's supposed to be a sister not a brother" so it was very sweet... then the lady said "look his mouth is moving he's smiling at you" she promptly goes "no I don't want him to smile at me" soooo then she covered her face... Well she is now in a better place she still asks if he's a boy or a girl and when I tell her she goes "okay" but I think once peanut gets here then she'll really get excited. But I know that with her being so baby happy that she will be great when he does finally get here.

Baby is growing and growing and we have had such little issues with this baby it's kind of nice. We have just a few more months to go and with us living here in WI now I can only imagine that even in Feb we'll still have winter... so peanut will be nice and warm in his new sleepers and outfits... since we don't take them anywhere for daycare I am imagining he will spend a LOT of time dressed in sleepers and not much in acutally outfits so we should be okay.

We moved the girls downstairs during the summer and put them across the hall from our room in the basement b/c it was cooler well I told myself that once Lehna starts school they HAVE to go back upstairs... well we are now in Oct and girls are still down stairs... The girls love being together so I'm thinking that for christmas we are going to get bunk beds and take down one of the beds upstairs and combine them together and make the move then. The baby is going to be across the hall from us and the room is pretty much ready, drawers filled, bed up, changing table "almost" fully stocked but we are getting there... I still have some time.

Lehna is really liking school, so far she is doing well. We got kind of a "midterm" and she has some problems with recongizing lower case letters and she has trouble with describing like "short/tall, open/closed" and I don't know if it's just the words she didn't know when they asked her or what... So I don't know very strange b/c normally she can do it... so we have Parent teach conference is in a couple of weeks and we'll see what's changed.

Maya has been staying home we decided kind of last minute that we were going to keep her out one more year and put her in preschool next year. I know that she will be fine once we get her in school she loves nursery and playing and I know that she'll be fine at school too.

Peanut on the other hand I have major concerns b/c he won't have daycare or anything so church nursery will be the first time he will have to be away from us so hopefully that won't be a total mess... but time will tell.

Work is going well. We had some turnover at my office mainly b/c of me wanting them gone so I was able to hire my team from my old office. I know that they are great people and they each bring a new talent to my office so I"m excited. We are growing and growing client by client but it is a lot of work. It defintely takes a lot more than I thought it would and there are days that I put a lot of pressure on myself. And that's mainly where it comes from is self inflicted I just don't want to fail. So right now we are okay, we just need to keep getting better and better... althought part of me can't WAIT for peanut to get here so I can take 8 weeks off! Isn't that just horrible... LOL

Tait is doing really well with his weight loss he has lost 50 lbs since July and is doing great every week. We have stopped going to the gym consistently we go about once a week and I know it's frustrating for Tait, but right now I"m not in weight loss mode I'm in "let me sit here awhile" mode... which I know I'll pay for later. But once this baby gets here you can BET I"m going to be out working out and going to the gym and hopefully getting back where I need to be... I really want to get focused on the goal and get it going.

So that's life right now... Busy Busy we do stuff pretty much every weekend but it's good. Can't complain too loudly!

Weekend fun, camping and trip to Indiana

Well I am going to try to keep updating this weekly but it’s difficult to do because I’m out of the habit… so what’s new and exciting.

Well this baby is going to be like my other two children and is giving me the same “issues” that I had with both of them early on. So I called the doctor to let him know what’s going on and they said that I needed to come in for a blood test and they are going to do an ultrasound. So since I have been through this before they took the blood test yesterday and I’m fine levels are where they are supposed to be they said that they still wanted to do the ultrasound on Friday. So the good thing is we get to see the baby on Friday. Of course seeing the baby this early the baby will look very much like a spot but we should be able to see the heart beating and for me that’s always the exciting thing J

This past weekend we headed down to Indiana for camping and family reunions. It was a very hot but it was fun. I was kind of crazy with the sun block making sure that the kids were nice and covered so they wouldn’t get burnt being outside every day, luckily the girls were just fine they got a nice golden brown. Tait on the other hand was burnt to a crisp he had me put on sun block once for him and that was it. So he was pretty ouchy and sore for a couple of days. It’s now peeling and itchy to its okay now.

The camping was fun. I think the girls really enjoyed seeing their cousins and having fun just playing outside. The place where we camp is this big field next to this big pond. The first night we were hit but a huge swam of June bugs were HORRIBLE, they didn’t last very long but they were everywhere, and I didn’t notice that they pinched but I think they did bite a few people. So that was fun. We stayed up pretty late and then went to be and were back awake at 7. We stayed there until 10:30 then headed to Tait’s cousins house for the pool party. It was nice to be able to wash off in the pool as clean as you can get swimming in a pool after camping. But we had a good time. The girls played for HOURS in the pool and got sooooo wrinkly but they didn’t care. Tait and Trent went and played 9 holes of golf, I kind of drifted off asleep in a chair but I would wake up. Maya finally did fall asleep and she was down for a good 3 hours. Lehna however was having a great time playing in the pool.

After swimming we headed back out to the camp site and then a lot more people came the second night. So that was a lot of fun having so many people out there. Then they had a huge firework show. It was really impressive. A couple of the fireworks did fall over when they were going off so there was a few moments of “oh my goodness” but you know overall it was fine. We then crashed early because we had stayed up so late the night before and then with the kids running non stop it was insane. Lehna complained that her tummy hurt and we all went to bed.

In the morning at like 5 Lehna woke up and then decided to get sick all over. It was pretty gross but it was a pretty easy clean up. We knew we were going to have to wash her hair someone tomorrow at the camp site and we were able to get is accomplished. I don’t know if it was all the running around and eating or the heat or what but we knew the next day with the other family reunion we were going to cut it short so we could get the kiddos home.

So on Sunday Tait’s family had another family reunion for his dad’s side of the family. We ate and then pretty much left. I felt bad but the kids were so cranky because of lack of sleep and just wearing themselves out. Tait offered to drive home and for the 3 ½ hours I sleep for 3 hours of it. It was the fastest trip ever! So it was nice that Tait drove the length of the trip. I would wake up about every hour and ask if he wanted to switch and he would say “no not yet, I’m fine” and then I would fall back to sleep. Both girls slept as well so he had a pretty quiet ride back.

So that was our weekend it was a lot of fun and I know that next year it should be pretty fun as well.

Update!

So it’s time for an update.
I have decided first and foremost that the garden thing isn’t working for me any more… my life is WAY more chaotic then this English garden thing so I can’t pretend any long that that’s what the cover of my blog should be because it just doesn’t represent me… so that’s the first thing that I have to update everyone one.

I know it’s been a terribly long time since I have updated but you know it’s just takes more time then I have sometimes to come in here and update this thing… I like having it because it does help me vent out XYZ but still it’s just one of those things that I just don’t spend enough time doing… but another thing is I WILL start doing it again… BECAUSE one of the reasons why I love this blog so much is it’s my record keeper I can look back and any of the older postings and find out what was going on, why we were doing it and it’s a memory jog for me and I really like it because I kept such good records of the girls when they were babies and when I was pregnant with them and I like that because I can go back and read up on the pregnancy stuff if I can’t remember with whom I did what with… So another reason why I’m dusting off my blog is because Tait and I recently found out that we are going to be expecting our THIRD child yep you read right we are doing it again. Most people don’t know this information so SURPRISE! I am not very far along I’m not one of those women that find out 10 weeks into their pregnancy nope I found out RIGHT away… so I’m only 6 weeks along. So as I say “barely” pregnant I know how one can be “barely pregnant” but it’s just how it feels sometimes when it’s so new.

So I can say for certain that pregnant I am. As for this pregnancy is it much like the previous two… hum yes and no… mainly no, but certainly some similarities. I feel like this time it’s a boy… that’s my early prediction so I’m sure in a few months from now I’ll be wanting to edit but this is my prediction so far. My skin looks GREAT I have gotten MANY compliments about how great I look so that’s a positive. And with the girls I didn’t feel like that. So it’s a positive. I am having waves of nausea but nothing long term or anything like that just bouts of it basically which is really nice. It could be SOOO much worse.

The girls are enjoying the news of having a sibling and they go back and forth of wanting a boy and wanting a girl so it’s kind of fun seeing what “mood” they are in. They ask when the baby “peanut” will get here and I keep telling them after Christmas and right before their birthday’s I figure that will be enough of a time line… but you know they are kids so they don’t understand.

I have to say though that with this baby my clothes are already getting tight… which is pretty annoying. It’s frustrating to have them feel so snug already so I have decided that this weekend I’m doing the sweat pants thing and I don’t care who sees me.  I am also very tired… I don’t remember being this tired with the other two kids but I’m sure I felt it. I just want to go lay down somewhere and sleep. So it’s exciting times around here.

Family life is great and work life well stressful its fine. I enjoy my job it’s soooo busy and everyday is different but it’s good.

But that’s life for now… I’ll update soon 

So new look and a new attitude

I am very proud of my new blog I have to say. I was really struggling on how to switch the stupid templates b/c the “easy” uploading just wasn’t working it kept telling me “you link is corrupted” or something like that… so then I tried to look at the “help” links yeah well let’s just say they were not helpful at all. I think that in order for me to get a really cool background that I have to convert my current blogger to the new blogger but there is NO information as to how to do this… so I was just plainly stuck… so I had to cut and paste this page from a text file then change the text file. As you can see I do have some strange things the ‘weight loss’ box at the bottom wasn’t cooperating so I just left it there for now until I have more patience to try to figure it out. And I had to hand key all the links at the bottom so if you are NOT on the links please email me so I can add you there. In the moving of blog pages I lost ALL of my links so I had to try to remember who was all on there and may have missed someone! But Any Who!

So I have an announcement I am changing jobs… I know I know I do this so often it’s hard to keep track. But I’m going back to Express I took the job with them on Tuesday and I start in a week. I’m very excited about the new job. It’s the Branch Manager position so it’s kind of a BIG job but I think that with being the Branch Manager for PCS I think that I’m ready to go now, I have the skills necessary, or at least I hope I can fake it long enough in order to learn them in time. I’m going to have to do outside sales this is the part that I’m least excited about. But I figure that I’m pretty good at BSing so maybe I’ll be okay AND they know that I have never done outside sales before so they will train me on how to do it. And if I suck… well hopefully I won’t. But I am totally excepting for me to have days that I HATE b/c of the sales… but if I can get us big enough then I can hire an outside sales person and then not have to worry about it as much. That’s the plan anyway we’ll see what happens.

So we have been busy around here. I’m still stuck at my weight loss challenge. I seriously am going UP in numbers not down. I am losing inches I can tell you that b/c I can see it in myself and in my clothes but the darn numbers aren’t going down. So it’s all good but still frustrating at the same time. I think I’m going to start really dieting… I hate doing that and I know I have failed when I try but seriously maybe if I start to see SOME results it will get me more motivated to keep going b/c right now it’s really hard to stay motivated it’s like the biggest stair step ever I just can’t GET OFF!

Lehna’s Update. This girl let me tell you she doesn’t fall far from the tree. She is such the mimic the other day she told Maya to come watch the movie in her room and Maya like any little sister told her No. Then Lehna goes “don’t you tell me no little girl” Yep she may have heard that a couple of times in her life. She is just so funny. She is so dramatic is humorous. Yesterday we went to the USI vs. University of Milwaukee-Parkside Basketball game and they have a mascot of a bear and she CLUNG to us and cried about how she wanted to go home b/c she was afraid the bear was going to eat her. It was crazy. She doesn’t like any one in animal suits she gets SO freaked out. I told Tait this means NO DISNEYLAND for her not until she grows out of this or the kid won’t enjoy herself. She is getting so big. I think that with us going to the gym 3 times a week and her going to her very active preschool class she is starting to loose some of her extra poundage she is big anyway for her age but her weight was concerning. But she is starting to slim down. Which I’m really happy to see. She is still a funny kid. Her sense of humor is starting to grow and she is becoming quite the little lady. She still loves to dress up and play with her dolls. The other day all of her bears were dressed up in her princess outfits and she was teaching them school. Her imagination is very strong. She is still very dependant on others to play with her. She will play by herself but she doesn’t like it she would rather have Mom or Dad play with her when Sissy is busy playing.

Maya Update: Maya is the complete opposite of Lehna. Maya is so independent of anyone. She plays well with other children; she’s in the mine stage so you do have to keep this in mind. But she can totally be okay going into the front room playing with her doll house and have conversation all on her own and be totally okay. Where Lehna isn’t like this. Maya is also my bug girl and rock girl. She can’t go very long without looking for a rock to pick up and bring inside. She likes to hide them b/c she knows Helen won’t let her bring them inside. She is actually in this stage right now where all she wants to do is wear a dress. She has this pink dress that she wears CONSTANTLY she doesn’t like taking it off even to wash, it is kept clean, but not for very long. She likes to wear her night gowns too. She is still carrying around her pacifier We were doing really well as far as keeping it from her during the day and giving it to her at night but then we started slacking off on it. It’s just like her potty training we really haven’t tried on this either, but she truly has NO interest in this, we ask her and she tells us know all the time so she’s not really into it yet. Maya is just starting to shoot up like a weed too. She’s slimming down and going up. She is just so little to me still; it’s hard to believe she’s going to be 3! It seems like we were just waiting for her and now she’s here and is just growing up so big.

Well that’s all the updates I have for now.

New Post

It’s time for another Update! So I went on to Blurb.com so I could upload my blog over the past 5 years and get everything in one shot… Well up loaded it and it is 350 pages! Yeah I don’t think I want to pay for a book that big… So I’m going to have to hack it down and delete some things to revamp it… so it’s all saved and bound very safely together. But I’ll work on that… hopefully in the next 5 years I’ll get it all done. I’m giving myself a large time frame, b/c I know what a procrastinator I can be.

So I have started a fitness competition at work. It’s a 14 week competition and it’s based on percentage. I have been trying to loose weight for the last couple of weeks but I haven’t been working on my diet at all so now it’s time to start working on my diet so I can win. It’s pretty exciting I know, but I’m trying to loose freaking weight so this should be fun. Well at least I’m hoping that by have people around me all trying to loose weight that that would help with having constant distractions of cookies and candy being brought into work. We have been working out at least 4 times a week so that’s a good thing, we are trying to vamp it up more to 6 times a week but we do get busy so we’ll see what happens.

So this weekend the rex plex had a huge open skate thing for like 2 hours on Saturday complete with a inflatable jumping castle soooo, never have ice skating before I thought it would be a good thing to try at least once. Tait I have to say was NOT excited about the new try but heck you only live once right. So we went and paid for skates and went up and got ready to skate our little hearts out. Now Lehna has done this before b/c in her preschool they take them once a month ice skating during her school so she kind of knew the in and outs of ice skating of where to go and all that jazz… So we stood in line got our skates and got ready to skate. Lehna was right off the back skating by herself; she was a little shy but not bad. Maya kept a hold of my hand and tried to skate, she did a lot of falling at first but soon she was addicted and didn’t want to stop, even when mom was down for the count. Tait was pretty funny. He didn’t think his skates were tight enough b/c he said he could feel his ankles turning as he tried to skate, but he hung onto the walls and tried the best he could. I had to stop and retie my skates SEVERAL times b/c the laces were constantly getting loose. Finally about a ½ hour left we went over to get some free lessons in the other arena and the instructor asked if I had ever done it before and I told her know, I think she could tell by the fear in my eyes and she took like Maya’s hands and lead her out onto the ice. So we were in the lesson rink and the teacher handed Maya a bucket and I kind of “road” with her, you know to help her, yeah right, and she soon took off right from underneath me. She was all over the rink with the bucket and was skating around laughing having a good time. One of the instructors came over to me and said to march with my place and place my hands out straight… so I tired… LOL this is where I went wrong… I ended up flat on my arse. It was hilarious it was the first time that I actually fell completely to my butt, usually I fall but not all the way done just to my knee so then getting up was another story. I asked Maya to come over and bring the bucket so I could use it to get up, the little rat came over to me laughed and skated away. Tait just laughed as he watched the whole thing. It was a good time. I think I would like to take lessons. Maya can start having the “tot and me classes” in March so I think April is when we will sign up until then we’ll just have to go during open skate and leave it at that.
Well that’s pretty much what’s been going on around here. We have been pretty busy with working out and trying new things. The girls are pretty happy about having memberships to the Rex Plex b/c they get to swim every time we work out.

I am happy to say that we finally got the computer from Kris so now we have a computer at home again yeah! So hopefully I’ll find my computer camera cord and be able to upload pictures soon! It’s nice not having to always rely on my work computer.

Christmas Update and Year Wrap Up!

It’s time for another update… I know that it’s almost a new year but that’s okay b/c it does not hear yet… So it’s time for a Christmas Recap and a Year round up….

Christmas has come and gone and it was a lot of fun at the Wagner Zoo! We didn’t travel for much which was kind of nice but we were able to see the family and the girls were able to have a Christmas morning at home which was really nice. I was kind of afraid we wouldn’t have that for the girls but we did.

The girls were gifted LOTS of presents from Santa. He felt the girls were extra good this year, which is kind of strange the short time leading up to Christmas Lehna developed the WORST attitude and I kept having to threaten to call Santa, but maybe she figured that Santa had already gotten her toys ready so it didn’t matter what she did, who knows. But Maya’s large present this year was a Lovin Family doll house complete with all the rooms except the parent’s bedroom and Santa couldn’t find it ANYWHERE! So that is the only room she didn’t have. But she had a van and several other “extra” toys to play with it… And she really likes it we all were playing it and she just laughed and played it was fun. Lehna got a lot of “girly” things this year, things like make up and jewelry she really wanted that kind of stuff and that’s what she got. She seems to really enjoy girlie stuff so Santa got her a bunch of that kind of thing. She seems pretty happy with all of her gifts.

After our Christmas Morning I made breakfast and we headed down to Indiana for Dinner at Grandma’s. It was actually a pretty easy trip I wasn’t sure what traffic was going to be like and it was actually good traveling. We went down and saw the family and that was fun. We were even able to bring home the victory of Trivia Pursuit. So in your face on that! Just kidding of course. We didn’t do any family pictures though so that was kind of strange, but we did play the family gift game and Tait and I brought home so cool Purdue clothing! I was excited b/c they don’t sell anything Purdue up here and I didn’t want to order any online b/c then it was SUPER expensive to go that route. After dinner we went to Marcus and Jackie’s where the girls got to see Evan and Zachary and they treated very nice to lunch and breakfast. The girls really had a good time playing with their cousins. And I had a good time hanging out with my Brothers and sisters.

The next morning we headed to Williamsport to see Tait’s side of the family. I’m glad that they have their get together the day after b/c that makes it easier on us to be able to see everyone. So we spent some time there and after dinner we headed back to Wisconsin. The roads were CRAZY coming back right around Williamsport but as soon as we hit the interstate the roads were great. The trip back was fine.

The factory that we are working at has been laying off employees b/c the “busy” season is now over, which kind of sucks for us b/c now I am kind of over staffed. But we are trying to come up with things to keep us busy.

So now a year in review.

Well this year has come and gone so quickly. We have made some major changes and I have to say so far the changes have been good. We decided to have a fresh start and decided to move to Wisconsin to kind of start over. Tait took a job for the state of WI and after 6 months he decided it wasn’t the job for him and switched to a new job. He loves his new job and it doesn’t have commute so it’s a plus for him and our wallets. The girls and I moved up here in April and I was unemployed for a couple of months. I enjoyed being a stay at home mom but really wanted to find a job doing something so I could feel like I was contributing to our financial needs. Soon something fell into line for me and I was able to get a job a new an exciting challenge. I really enjoy what I do I like being the leader so it’s fun.

We have moved twice since moving to WI and I like our second house the best it’s smaller but it “fits” better for us the neighbor is nice and there is a park just down the street. We have new callings in our church and as or right now we are doing it, but wish we could have something else. We are also one more step closer to getting to the temple which is something we have been working as a couple for the past several months. I know that when we FINALLY get there it will be well worth all the effort.

The girls have really grown this year. Lehna still asks to go back to her “old” house in Indiana but I really don’t think she remembers a lot about it. I think when we move it makes her anxious I was moving some stuff around in there room the other day and she asked me if we were moving and after I told her no the worried looked left her face. I guess too many changes for a 4 year old is too too many. Maya still is my baby even though she is getting so big. She is going through another growth spurt so she is starting to lose her baby fat around her tummy. She still refuses to be potty trained doesn’t want anything to do with it and still takes a Pacifier but she is going to lose it next month. She can’t be three and have a pass I won’t allow it. So I think it will be harder to break for Maya than it was Lehna b/c Lehna wasn’t taking it at daycare where Maya has hers ALL THE TIME!

Lehna loves preschool she is making a lot of friends and seems to have fun going every Tuesday and Thursday she doesn’t like it when the handicapped children come in after swimming though she still gets really anxious and starts to scramble for the teacher. I guess after having ONE kid growl at her has really turned her off. She is getting so big that some times I have to remind myself she IS only four so I have to let some things go when she’s being a BRAT! But hopefully this next year will bring some more positive things and the girls will continue to be happy. I know that after getting sealed in the temple I will feel better about my relationship with Heavenly father and the relationship I have with my husband; we just have to keep everything into perspective.

So that was 2009 so let’s press on into 2010 and hope for fun things to happen!

My poor Blog :(

How I have not updated you in so long... it feels sad :( Well if it had feelings maybe it would feel sad. I am updating this like ONCE month... which from the side you can SEE that is more than SOME of my family members. I know I'm just giving you crap this update.

Well things are crazy at work right now. We are in the SWING of the 4th quarter and let me tell you it's CRAZY. Today we got the best compliment... As a company the 2nd shift start up is HORRIBLE... mainly b/c of the supervisors... but let's put the blame on the right place right... it's surely the staffing companies right? You know we don't have this issue on 1st or 3rd but OBVIOUSLY it's the staffing companies... so they asked the staffign companies to help with "start up" Well it's annoying and kind of a pain the the butt but we have been complying with the supervisors and managers request to have us out on the floor placing... So we have been. TODAY we had the Director of Production tell us that we had by far the BEST staffing company for start up prospective and he really appericates all of our hard work getting our associates to the right areas and helping getting the start up going easier... He said that he is trying to get the other staffing company up to meet our performance how about THAT! YEAH POINT ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS! I'm very excited about this... I told my staff that I'm going to frame the email and we can read it everything we get yelled at for things we can't control... so YEAH! So that is good can't wait to tell the VP tomorrow! Of course we have to remember this tomorrow when we are getting out butts handed to us b/c of our attendance... LOL dumb snow!

So here's what is happening around here... work and work and work some more but after and before we have been BUSY around here aside from work. Tait and I joined the Rex plex it's a HUGE fitness center/ activity center. They have a kick butt swiming pool complete with water slide and lazy river... AND ICE SKATING... how about that! And it saves us money for Lehna's preschool it was a crime NOT to join. We have tried the pool twice and we are planning on going ice skating VERY soon. See Tait and I have a bet... we have a competition rather going, on who can lose the most weight, who ever wins gets to pick the place where we go on our second honeymoon... so the gym will help us accomplish this well that is the plan anyways... I want to get another 30 lbs off, I'm so excited that I have that part off but I still have so much more to loose it's INSANE! But it has to come off... has to has to has too... I want to look AWSOME in a bathing suit... well... at least passable... LOL I want to go somewhere hot and warm for our second honeymoon like Cancun or Cozemell or something cool like that..,. Tait says he hasn't decided where he wants to go... but I don't want to take a chance... LOL so I have to WIN!

The girls are doing so well. WE have so far missed the flu season, I think it's b/c Lehna only goes to preschool 1/2 days on Tuesday and Thursday so there isn't any time to get anything... but let's hope we miss the whole thing... THAT would be great.

Maya is hilarious I have to tell you. She is so busy and can play so well by herself. She also is a CHATTER box she will start talking to you about crazy things over and over and look and you and go "right mommy" and I just go "hum yep" and she'll go "see mommy says yes" too funny. She has also learned a few bad words too... (God Dang it) is a familar phrase and (Oh shoot) are also two of her favorite phrases I swear she picks it up from Seasme Street... dang big bird... okay so that may not be true... LOL

Lehna tells EVERYTHING she knows to every body the lady next door she knows everything about everybody and she's a little pushy well Lehna was telling her all about Helen and her knee surgery and how we moved from Indiana, I mean the kid didn't shut up about all the things she was telling about... so keep that in mind if you ahve a secret don't TELL HER!

Funny story about Maya... Yesterday we had the plumber come over b/c we had a leak by the furnace... Maya grabbed onto the Plumbers leg and told him that she was Maya and it was her birthday and wanted to know if he wanted to come and have cup cakes... LOL the plumber just kind of laughed and talked back to her. Helen said she kept trying to get her upstairs and out of the basement. Helen said at one point the guy asked if there was a small pail he could use to catch the water and Helen gave him something and he said he thought he had something in his truck... and he went out and go it... then Maya asked Helen for the same bowl that Helen had just suggested to him and Maya then took it to the guy and goes "here you go" LOL the guy laughed and goes "thank you" LOL my kids... LOL crazy.

Well we are NOT finished christmas shopping... we started yesterday but we are probably going to do a lot this weekend. We got a few of the "major" things on line this year... that was a good way to do it... we just have to finish Lehna she is kind of hard this year... but I think it's b/c I haven't really looked for her yet. Maya is done and she was EASY this year... I need to find christmas tree ornaments but I'm sure by now all the good ones are gone... so we'll see what I find this weekend. I wish there was an actual "mall" around here... we have an outlet but you have to wonder outside and it's just not the same thing... so it should be interesting to get everything done... they have a matel store... we are going to check it out on Saturday... I'm not sure what to expect but I'm sure I'll be able to finish Lehna up. I still also have Tait to buy for and he is of course super hard to by for. He needed a pair of tennis shoes so yesterday I got him a pair then he came home with a pair of freakign shoes... LOL oh well so now he has two pairs.

Well that is the exciting times of us... pretty gripping isn't it? Oh well that's life sometimes... you know life is going well for us right now. I give credit to Heavenly Father (not to be too churchy) but seriously it has really changed some thoughts and feelings recently and I'm really grateful for it. It's making life easier to bear.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

New Do

Here is my new Do... I'm a Red Head now... why not is what I say...

News and Information

Well as I was sitting at my computer with the girls we had two flocks of geese fly over us. And after Lehna let go of my arm I was able to point to them and say “they are geese flying south for the winter.” And then a brief lesson about why they do this… not long to be followed but a section of the same geese flying back over us in the wrong direction. So we watched and laughed and I have fully accepted that fall is HERE. I like Fall I like the in-between seasons, fall and spring are my favorite holidays I love the changing of the seasons and this is just one of those times that I enjoy. Around here it’s about 10 degrees colder then what I’m used to so as the kids across the street are decked in only sweat shirts I have my kiddos bundled up in heavy coats and gloves. I’m sure this time next year we will be ol’ pros and this kind of weather will just brush off of us. I’m kind of excited about winter in Wisconsin believe it or not, I like snow and I love wearing layers so a perfect combination. They were talking about snow flurries this weekend so that should be fun. 1st snow in October yeah!

Work has been kind of slow believe it or not. We had two weeks in September that I thought I was going to lose it but it has been much better since then. The girls have really taken to spending more time with Tait, and honestly it has been nice b/c when I come home they aren’t like swarming bumble bees. I think that I have my crew trained now to where I feel really good about leaving them alone. I still feel like I should be around but I am starting to leave earlier now and working more of a 42 hour week instead of a 55 hour week so that’s progress. We are supposed to get busy again in a couple of weeks so I’m just kind of enjoying the “down” and then hopefully we’ll be ready for the up again. I HOPE.
I have made some changes to myself. I decided to continue to eat smarter and since I spend most of my time at work my snacking has been greatly reduced to nothing and I have actually lost more weight. I’m at my smallest point so that’s a positive. I still have about 60 lbs before I hit my target but that’s better than 85 so I’m happy with that. I just can’t’ mess it up when the freaking holidays come around. I have also gone with a brand new hair style. I have always wanted to die my hair and I did. I picked a red copper and it really looks nice on my, I have a short angle do that takes no work in the morning and it looks super cute.
A couple of changes around here. Our house that we have been living at has sold. So in a couple of weeks we will be moving. The idea of moving doesn’t really appeal at ALL to me I might add but we have a house and we will be moving in two weekends and I’m getting excited about having a house that WON’T have showings. It’s a smaller house we have really been blessed to live in this house but at the same time I know that it’s a blessing to the home owners to see it being sold. We found a house in Kenosha and will be moving there. I’m kind of excited about moving to Kenosha actually b/c in Kenosha they have PreK so Lehna will be able to go to school. We have her enrolled in preschool right now but I really enjoy the fact that soon I won’t have to pay a weekly charge for Preschool instead it will be free YEAH! The school she’ll be attending is right down the street so I’m even more excited about that.
Some more exciting news is Tait and I am working towards our endowments so our family can be sealed for all eternity. It has been something that I have always wanted for my family and with this year being such a horrible challenge I have really seen what amazing strengths I see in my marriage and family and I know that we are am making the right choice for our family. I don’t have a date yet but one will soon follow.
So with that, that’s what is happening in our life right now. Trying to get ready for the big move, Christmas is right around the corner, and enjoying me. Who could ask for anything more

Another Week Under the Bridge

Well Just sitting a work watching the clock slowly tick away to 5 p.m. I was nice to my employees today I let them leave early and I stuck around to hand out the remaining checks... such an exciting life I lead. I told my employees to enjoy it now b/c in a couple of weeks... we all will be working LONG LONG hours... (sigh)

Work has started to feel like it's getting back under control of course this is just the honeymoon period and it's going to pick up with such speed it's not even going to be funny. I'm really enjoying my new position when I have a chance to actaully sit for 5 minutes. It's really been fun hiring people and getting them in the positions that I need them to be so I can Manager better.

Life outside of work it going okay. Lehna and Maya have really enjoyed spending time with Helen during the day. I don't know how much Helen enjoys it but hopefully it's something she IS enjoying.

I feel like there are times tha tI don't even see the kids or Tait or anyone. Even just logging onto facebook is crazy. So I went a bought a few games for my Iphone so I could at least "look" like I'm working when actaully I'm playing scrable... LOL I love technology. (well most of the time)

This weekend we of course have big plans. I have a feeling it's going to be a weekend I wish we would have just sat around... but who has time right? We are going to go down to Purdue to watch the football game. We are bringing the kidd0s and we got ourselves a hotel with an indoor pool and we are going to go to the game, and swim... then come back on Sunday morning. I am sure traffic will be horrible around Chicago and I hope that the girls are in "okay" moods for the game but we are going to be getting them up early early Saturday morning to head down... so it's anyones guess how the day will turn out.

Then on Sunday we are driving home and then just relaxing... we aren't going to do anythign fancy or exciting just relaxing. I can't wait. Is that sad? I just want a weekend where I don't have to think about work and just lay around and do nothing... it's sad... I feel so slouthish. But I know the storm IS coming at work and I'm trying to get as much time and relaxing that I can so come November when I'm ready to scream b/c people at work are misbehaving that I can just say "only one more month" that is why I need to relax this weekend... to stock up.

I wish that I had more exciting things to say besides work stuff... but that's all that's happening right now... It's seriously work work and more work... fun time fun times.

Enjoy the your weekend!