Pregnancy Journal

8-6-12
I realize I've had a lot of these lately, but I just had to comment on a few things.  The other night I started having contractions again.  Just out of nowhere.  I mean it's been a couple months since I had any to speak of, and so it was kinda weird.  I was just laying in bed in the middle of the night and there they were about every 5 minutes.  Not exactly, so they weren't regular, and it was all too familiar, the night I "went into labor" with Charity started coming back to me.  So I knew it wasn't anything to worry about, but still, they were waking me up even!  It was strange.  Went on for a few hours and then just stopped I guess because I woke up in the morning.  So that was weird.  Then for the last few days I've had this pinching pain that feels like someone is trying to break my water.  And I've only had that done once, but it immediately brought back memories of that moment!  You don't forget that kind of pain that's for sure!  I'm totally nervous now that things are going to happen when they shouldn't!  It's making me a little bit of a nervous wreck.  There are times when I think it would be nice to just have him and get him here, but then I think about all that I need to do still and how much growing he still probably needs to do and it just stresses me out.  I know this little guy is a tough one.  I've felt it so much during this pregnancy.  I know he is stronger and possibly less sensitive that some of my other boys.  I feel like he has a lot ahead of him that he will need to be strong for and that worries me too.  It shouldn't, but I just have a way of thinking the worst :).  I guess it's a good thing though, because I feel like if there is anything difficult with his delivery or getting him here, I know he will be able to take it.  He's strong.  And hopefully, I'm just a worried pregnant woman who can't get her mind off this baby!  My latest annoying symptom (I've actually had it for a while now, but until recently it hasn't been as much of a problem) is the swelling in my feet!  UGH!!  I really wasn't feeling all that left out in the whole swelling area, as far as pregnancies go.  I think I had a little when I was pregnant with Charity, but that was all.  I've been very blessed obviously because it STINKS!!!  I didn't even mention how yesterday as we were walking out the door to go to church, I went to slip my cute little Sunday shoes on and all I could fit through the top was my big toe!  They didn't fit AT ALL!!  There was no way there were going on.  My first thought was, I'm not going!  Because I don't have any other Sunday shoes.  And there was no way I was going to wear something else!!  I'm glad I had the little story about the little boy with the nurse shoes pop in my head at that moment.  I realized I was being too materialistic and that letting shoes get in the way of me going to church would be wrong.  Plus, all my kids were in the car and anxious to go..... I slipped my little purple slip-ons on, and left, trying not to think about who might comment on those.  Luckily nobody did.  I was grateful I didn't have to have a bunch of people looking at my gigantic feet and cankles.  So anyway.  I now have swollen feet under my belt.  Not that I ever wanted to.

Journaling

- Taking Nate to work this morning, Bradley and Erika were the only two with us, they were being so cute!  Erika was showing off how well she can say her "L"'s.  She's been working on this for a while now and I haven't even documented it :).  It started with "LLLLUKE!" (which sounds more like Louk, but she's trying) and today she was repeating the word "LLLUV!" over and over.  Sounds adorable, and she's so proud of herself.  Bradley piped in with how amazed he is that she can say her "L"'s.  "I couldn't even do that when I was 2!"  My only hope is that she doesn't quit saying, "Me wuv dis" or "Me wuv dat one".  Those are my favwits :)  8-4-12

- We've been watching a LOT of the Olympics as a family.  It's been a lot of fun to see the kids get so into it!  I LOVE the Olympics, always have, and Nate, I've learned, loves it even more than I do!  We've had a lot of fun watching all the new world records in swimming, and cheering for our Volleyball team.  It's been cool! The kids seem to really love it as well.  The other day though, I asked Luke if he was going to be in the Olympics someday and he said, "No, I'm gonna be an American Ninja Warrior!"  How cool is he :).  He can already do the spider wall obstacle :).  I wouldn't put it past him.

- I love how Erika calls Buddy (and other beings) her "Feetie-pie"

- Today is Sunday.  Today went well.  I was very nervous for today and all things considered, I think it went rather nicely.  My boys need new Sunday pants (which I keep forgetting to buy) and shoes, apparently, and they looked really funny today with their too small stuff on AND "spiked hair" (courtesy of Kelly), but now I'm just nitpicking :).  The kids got ready really well.  Noah went to his class so well. So did everyone for that matter, but they always do, except Erika.  She was so excited to go to church and her class today, all morning, she even gave everyone permission to be the ones to take her to class- that was adorable, arms outstretched, "evwy one can!" when Charity asked if she could and Kelly felt left out :).  Funny girl.  But for some reason, when it was time to go, she started getting tired.  She insisted that that "my class make me ti-ohed" (her class makes her tired).  How creative is that?  She did seem really tired all through church though. I gave in and let her come to my classes with me (this may have been a bit of insecurity on my part as well... I saw her as a good little friend, and possible excuse to leave the class when I got restless.... I can admit it).  She sat there next to me all through Relief Society, hardly made a peep and then did about the same all through Sunday School, until she wanted to go rock.  Seemed like a good idea to go rock her to sleep then, rather than waiting for Sacrament meeting to start and have to leave the kids while I rock her.  Didn't quite work that way though, when we got in there, she wanted to go back, so we walked around, picked up the kids and went to the Chapel.  They all did SO WELL today!!  I really was proud of how good they did.  We must have given it to them good last week.  Erika had a few moments, then fell asleep on my lap, then woke up with her foot asleep, and then sat through the last few minutes.  It was miraculous really.  The big kids all jumped up and bore their testimonies as soon as the Bishop was done.  They're so awesome!  I totally wish I was as fearless as them.  They did very well, and I was holding back the tears this time.  It's touching to watch your kids make such decisions without any prompting on my part.  Good times.  We made cookies when we got home, since Erika had become fixated on the idea after seeing Noah's cookie from his teacher... we'll finish those tomorrow I suppose :) we all took a nap, and then ate Nate's yummy dinner that he made for us and headed out to the Walk-About.  I had a good time talking to people who I haven't talked to either in a while or ever.  It felt really good.  Socially.... I've been a little off lately.  I learned the other day, at the swimming pool that it's been a while since I sat and enjoyed a social situation.  It had felt new and different to look around at people and just smile and enjoy watching people with their kids.... that kind of thing.  I used to enjoy that so much and lately.... well.... the way Nate put it, when I'm pregnant I have so many things going on within my own body, pains and just crazy things, that I become very inwardly focused.  And I agree.  It's been a while since I really thought outside of me and my family.  It's too bad I just barely figured that out, but I'm grateful for the reality check.  I need to get back out there.  Sure makes it easier to forget what's going on inside (the crappy stuff, not the sweet little baby we're making :) ), and that is a good thing!  So anyway- it was a good Sunday.  Only 3 more weeks!  8-5-12

- Kelly got bored today, most of the kids had a friend over, or were at a friend's house, and I was jut sitting there, so I suggested we play a game.  Kelly went and got Nate's Bass Fishing Monopoly game and insisted that we both play it with her :).  Charity joined us and we had a rousing game of Monopoly for most of the evening.  It was a lot of fun.  I was totally losing most of the game, Charity had most of the properties.  Nate won some money for having the "largest bass", that made me laugh and for some reason sent this shooting pain up through my body (I guess I shouldn't give specifics for where it was hurting, but let me just say, I think Wormie has a crochet hook or something with him in there and he's been attempting to break my water himself!  That's all I have to say about that.)  It hurt like no other!  After a while Lukey found himself upstairs and bored also, so Nate sacrificed his spot in the game to let Luke finish it out for him.  Luke pretty much won, though we had to just quit before Kelly, Luke and I were out of money.  Charity had run out and ditched us.  It was getting late and time for dinner.  But we figure Luke probably would have won.  He had the most money and the better properties.  I think I would have been next to go, even with all the railroads (or whatever they're called in that version).  It was a lot of fun though!  I enjoy a good board game every now and then.

- Kelly was our lesson tonight for FHE.  She taught us about being kind, generous, and thinking of others.  There's really no better teacher of these attributes than Kelly.  She did it with a series of acted out scenarios with her sibling helpers.  She had some really new ways of thinking about it and I was proud of her creativity.  Things got a little stressful for her with helpers not helping as much, and it took a little more patience on Kelly's part.  I thought things went well though and she got her message across.  It took a minute or two to reassure of her good job, she's awfully hard on herself, but she came to.  Things got really funny during the treat tonight too, we all got a good laugh about Noah and his "eating the bottom of his ice cream cone" and it "getting a crack in it".  We were seriously all giggling and doubled over with our little ice cream cones in hand.  I love those moments.  When we're all on the same page, just having a good time.  Erika traded with Nate to be the opening song again :).  Just had to make note of that.  I think she's been the song every week for a couple of months now :).  Funny girl.  She did Head Shoulders Knees and Toes this time though, not the fast/slow leading.  Erika came up to me with chocolate all over her face, points to this little spot on her lip and asks if it's blue.  I told her it was brown from the chocolate and she proceeds to lick and then ask, "Still?" over and over again.  Really fast, "Still?", lick, "Still?", lick, "Still?", lick..... hilarious.  My kids "crack" me up.  (the "Crack" jokes will be funny for days, now, I'm sure ;) )  Overall, it was a good night.  8-6-12

Journaling

- "It's raining flowers!" says everyone.  Our big tree in the backyard drops these millions and millions of blossoms all over our yard this time of year.  It would be really fun and pretty if there weren't so many bees as a result.  Unfortunately, Luke and Noah both have managed to step on and get stung by the bees because they chose not to wear their shoes outside.  Luckily they've learned their lesson and don't go out without shoes now, but it's kinda sad.  And very discouraging for them to go outside.  I think Luke has just chosen to avoid it altogether. And they fall as fast as you can sweep them up, so we just wait.  7-28-12

- Everything is Erika's "favwit!"

- Sunday I did my last Sharing Time as the First Counselor in the Primary, and I was officially released.  It was sad.  I was bummed.  I know I shouldn't be.  It's actually a huge relief to not have to plan and prepare the Program for Sacrament, but I'm still a little let down.  I was only in there for 9 months!   Oh well.  That's how it goes I guess.  They officially released me from Organ as well.  Maybe I should ask to have my Visiting Teaching calling back?  Huh.  Anyway.  Sacrament meeting was a nightmare this week.  It's crazy how difficult it can be some weeks, and how well they do others.  I hope I've posted about the good ones, there have been several, but this was not one of them.  Everyone was fighting over where to sit, the minute we walked in the chapel.  Then throughout the whole thing I was having to break up fights and beg kids to behave.  There was so much noise!!  Especially once Kambree joined us.  She is just in and out of the row, and riles up everyone.  It's tough.  I will be happy when Nate can get a new schedule.  He did try to bit on a Monday/Tuesday days off schedule, which would leave him working the Mid on Saturday night and able to come to church with us on Sundays.  But that didn't quite pan out.   Bummer.  But I do have faith that something will come up.  He was blessed with that in his setting apart, so hopefully that is fulfilled soon.  So anyway.  Kind of a strange Sunday.  Nate had pity on me when he got home, we made the kids sit and practice being reverent for almost an hour while we lectured them about it as well.  It was pretty intense (yes, Nate, like camping).  They are such good kids, it's hard to come down on them so hard, but sometimes it is necessary.  I think they will do better next week at least!  It meant a lot to me that Nate would step in and help with that too.  Then he insisted that I get a nap while he made dinner.  He is my hero.  Sleep is difficult, but it was a nice break.  My Mom and Simon came over after dinner (a very nice steak dinner by the way), and told me how splotchy my face is and how tired I looked.  So that was fun.  7-29-12

- Monday, our big event was Nate and I cleaning out our room!  Not just cleaning it up, but de-junking a lot!  I'm really excited about it actually.  Seeing as how the new baby is going to need to room with us when he gets here, we do have to make some changes to the arrangement of the furniture, and get rid of a lot of the clutter.  It's refreshing really, and is feeding my need to nest which I haven't felt I've been able to do yet.  I'm not thrilled about cramming all the baby stuff into our tiny little, already crowded room, but what can ya do!  Making do is what we do, I decided.  We've really gotten good at it, and I should just be grateful we've had so much opportunity to get used to it.  We also made it out to the Gateway to the fountains with the Holley's.  That was a lot of fun too.  I will post about that since I did manage to take a picture or two.  For FHE we had another movie night (call it Mom and Dad's tiredness), but with the Owl movie that Bradley picked out, since it was his lesson.  He had wanted to go swimming, but we really didn't have it in us after sitting in the hot sun at the fountains for 2 hours.  Maybe tomorrow.  But it was fun.  The movie was interesting.  The kids did well even with Kambree here.  She sure wasn't made for sitting still.  Erika was so thrilled about the treat she had picked out :)  Mini Ice cream cones, she passed them out all by herself and made sure everyone had one before she got hers.  It was adorable.  It's a lot of fun to see my kids enjoying and taking advantage of the blessing of FHE.  I'm really gaining a testimony of it's importance and I'm so grateful we've gotten in such the habit of having it.  It's nice to feel like we're doing something right anyway :).  7-30-12

- Tuesday was our Swimming day!!!  We made the kids bust their bumbs to get the house cleaned up.... a much needed thing.... and then rewarded them with a trip to the pool!!  This was our first time in a very long time for some crazy reason, and I hope we don't wait as long again!  I smiled for the whole 2 hours straight!  We went into the diving pools first.  Bradley is Mr. Dare Devil, tries whatever flips and dives off of the high dive, and the low dive!  It's fun to watch him be so daring!  Who would have thought he would be like that!  Kelly went off the high dive for the first time today!  That was pretty cool!!  Charity got brave again for the first time in a while and went off the high dive, we were proud of her.  We tried to talk Lukey into going off the diving board, I know he would love it! but he is cautious still.  He's afraid of the swimming back to the side part.  I think he would do fine.  Maybe next time ;).  Then we went into the kiddie pool area.  I got to sit on the side in my street clothes while Nate played sheep dog.  He was so fun with the little ones!  It was a lot of fun for me to watch!  Some of the funny things I heard:
Noah: "I just burped but I didn't dwink any watoh!"

Me: Dude you are getting me all wet! (when Luke sat by me and got real close :) ).
Luke: Who cares?

Erika: (after sitting in the fountains) "Is tickos in dewh" (it tickles in there)

And I'll never forget the look on Charity's face when Bradley called out to her, "Hey, Charity!  *insert name of Charity's 3 year crush* is here!!"

The older kids were gone a lot, on the big slide and then to the diving boards, but they were fun to watch too!  It's crazy how much fun it can be to watch my little people having fun.  It's probably good for me to just sit back and watch every once in a while.  I would have been too exhausted to appreciate it if I had gotten in.  They all looked so happy, totally made my week!!  7-31-12

- On Wednesday we drove out to Heidi's to help her transport a new mattress.  We got a little lost driving through American Fork which was actually kind of interesting because it got us thinking about whether we could live there or not.... it's a thought at least.  The nice lady that was selling the mattresses had a lot of nice things to say about big families after she heard we were having our 7th, which always makes me smile and happy to have met her.  The kids were so happy to see Heidi, we all got to test out her old mattress and then we decided we needed her big bean bag and loaded it up in the back of our car.  The funnest part (if funnest was a word) was going to Lunch with Heidi and John.  We went to Buffalo Wild Wings.  We missed the all you can eat boneless wings by like 5 minutes, but we still ate and had a good time!  It's really fun to hang out with Heidi and John.  They enjoy the kids, and make them feel special, but entertain me and Nate with nice adult conversation as well ;).  It's a win/win for us :)  Hopefully they have fun too. Here's to hoping Heidi sleeps better on her new bed too!
I had stayed up ALL night (seriously.  I went to bed at like 6:00 am for some dumb reason) so I was in desperate need of a nap!  Nate took the car to the car wash and I took myself to dream land.  The kids took care of themselves.  Kinda crazy, but I was in a dead sleep for about 4 hours!!  Woke up to a ring at the door, it was the RS President to pick up some ice cream.  Nate came home from his Presidency meeting and we all ate a VERY late dinner.  Fun stuff!  Full day!  Time for the weekend to be over I guess.  8-1-12

Random Pictures

Ever since Kelly did her pageant she has been coaching her little protege.  And Erika has loved every minute of it!  They dress her up in whatever crazy costume they can find and then Kelly tells her how to prance around and wave and smile.  She had a photographer at this session, I believe it was Bradley, taking pictures of the star.  It's so cute!!!   I can't say I don't think it's adorable.

Monday afternoon at the Gateway Fountains with the Holley's!  Fun stuff!

Pregnancy Journal

8-2-12
Went in for my check up today.  Things are good.  I feel like a dork because I kept making reference to wanting to have him sooner than we can.  I need to stop that.  My babies just don't come on their own, I need to come to grips with that.  Poor Dr. Thackeray felt the need to apologize and explain that the hospital is cracking down on the early schedulings and stuff.... kinda lame.... but I feel bad that he felt like he had to tell me that.  I'm such a pain sometimes.  I wonder if he regrets letting me sign on as one of his patients 8 years ago when I was getting ready to have Bradley..... nah.  We've been his best customers.  I do have to point out that I really don't want to have him early, when I think about it.  I don't want him to have any problems, and I don't want the summer to come to an abrupt halt.  I want to get all the stuff done that we need to and it's not even close, so really, it's silly that I even joke about wanting to have him sooner.  Silly me.  I have to also point out that by some miracle, and I know Heavenly Father did this all for me, school is starting in September (the 4th to be exact) and that is a whole week and a bit AFTER Wormie comes.  All the other years we've been at this school, school has started right around the time that Wormie is coming.  Because of the high temps, and complaints from last year, they decided to start it later this year!!!  So I consider that a VERY huge blessing and I am SO grateful that I will be home, and mostly recovered (I like to think positively about the postpartum.... I am realistic sometimes, and I know things don't always go according to plan, but I can dream :) ), by the time my four big kids (I canNOT believe they'll all be in school ALL day!!!), start school.  Makes me happy.  Wow!  Something that makes me happy!  And I'm able to notice it!  How lovely.
The whole pelvic bone coming apart thing is perfectly normal apparently and if I just hold my belly up, pushing the baby upward, I should be fine.  Yeah right.  How annoying.  I think his poor little head is going to be smashed and bruised when he gets here.  I hope I'm wrong.
We told the kids his name last night!!  That was fun.  They all seemed pleased with it and haven't said anything negative!  Wahoo!  I let cute little Lukey announce it, so I think he kind of thinks we went with it because of him :).  And he's not ENTIRELY wrong in my case.  It is really hard for me (and Nate) to start calling our babies by their names.  I'm not sure why that is.  Feels strange for a little while.  Maybe having the kids call him by his name will help... who knows ;)
We still need to get fabric and make him some blankets!  I wish my sewing machine was working!
22 more days!  I think I'll make it!  Maybe....

*Later on, Luke made the announcement that he thinks that "whoever thought of his name, should get to be the first one to hold him" :)  We're already fighting over who gets to hold him first :)  Now that's love!