"You are not here to live a mediocre to average life; you are here to live an amazing life, a miraculous life. If it weren't for your challenges, there would be no miracles. You must do that which seems impossible, for it is only in the impossible that miracles are had." - author unknown, but very respected

Friday, February 24, 2012

Pregnancy Journal

2-24-12
So I'm about ready to scream.  This cold is killing me.  I have so much pain in my neck and head.  I keep having these dreams that I have a tumor.  It's weird.  I'm ready to be done with this part!  I keep thinking about how with my boys I got feeling better much sooner than I did with my girls' pregnancies, and part of me thinks this baby is a boy, so I keep getting anxious to have a little of my body back (at least not feel like throwing up at the sight or thought or smell of food).  But then Nate will say things about how he thinks it's a girl and I get all scared, and well.... we don't know anything, so I'm left to just wonder.  I would love either a girl or a boy in the end, but as far as the pregnancy goes... the boy ones were easier.... so I lean toward that.  I probably shouldn't say this out loud.
I am dying to go in for my next appointment.  I hate waiting.  I want to hear my baby's heartbeat and be assured that things are alright.  I know everything is fine, but I like to REALLY know it ;).  It never stops.  Even with the seventh pregnancy.  Good grief.
So anyway.  I got a lot done this morning and now I'm tired and stalling.  I should go clean up the toy room now.
I'm about 12 weeks, I feel like crap and hopefully I start feeling better soon :)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Journaling

- On Saturday night, Nate took me out to celebrate Valentine's day.  We went out to the Gateway and ate at Ztejas.  The food was amazing and I was really blown away by the service.... I don't normally care or notice, but it was so incredible how quickly they brought out the food, all the servers were very nice, the food looked fantastic, and it just made it feel like a fancy restaurant.  It was really nice.  I love eating out with Nate because he always tries new places, new foods, appetizers... it's just really fun.  I like that.  If it were up to me we would be boring, eat at Chili's or Applebee's every night and order the exact same thing every time.  So anyway.  I had a good time :).  After dinner we went over to the theater and saw The Vow.  I really liked that movie!  I had not heard much about it and hadn't seen the previews, so it was a pleasant surprise.  I cried through a lot of it, just putting myself in the characters' shoes, but it was really thought-provoking and interesting show.  Anything with memory-loss just gets me for some reason.  It's my old fear.  I was grateful my husband was okay with seeing a chick flick :)  He sacrifices so much for me.  Makes me feel special :).  It was a really nice, relaxing date.  We both haven't been feeling good, so it was a much needed break from life.  The kids spent the evening with Grandma and Simon.  Steve also came over for a bit to play capture the flag with them, so I think they got a good break as well.  Something we all needed.
2-18-12

- Sunday was nuts for me.  It was my week to conduct in Primary, but our pianist was going to be gone and she had said she was desperate and couldn't find "anyone else" to sub for her, so I consented.  Luckily Carol took over the conducting so that I didn't have to perform a comedy act bouncing up to the mic and then down to the piano, doing a one man show.  So I sat and played the piano for all of Primary.  Then in Sacrament meeting, I was playing the organ and had to finish the closing song, jump up to say the closing prayer and then hurry and go back to the organ to play the postlude music.  As I'm saying it now, it doesn't sound that bad, but I hated it.  No matter how guilty I feel I will refuse to say a prayer the same week that I am playing the organ.  The guy made me feel like a dork.  He's all, "Can you say the closing prayer in 2 sundays from today?"  And I said, "Well, I am playing the organ that Sunday?"  And he quickly retorted, "So is that a yes or a no?"  All huffy because I was making him say more than 1 sentence to me.  So I accepted.  I hate to say no.  I hate feeling like I could help out and didn't.  I hate thinking about what he would have thought of me and if he would have been bugged that he had to find someone else.... bla bla bla.... all my stupid things.  So I consented.  But I will not do that ever again.  I shouldn't have to do that.  So anyway.  It stressed me out.  I'm a baby about stress lately for some reason.  When I got home, I laid down in bed and slept for 5 hours.  I have the best husband on the planet, yes I do.... he let me sleep for 5 hours.  So anyway.  Hopefully this cold will let up soon!
2-19-12

- Monday was our day off, President's Day!  The whole family was off!  It was so exciting!  We spent most of the morning, Nate and I, trying to feel good enough to do something.  Nate spent a LOT of time preparing and cooking his Coconut Fried Salmon for the cookbook sampling open house thing.  I had planned on making my Tangy Meatballs for it, but luckily I had looked through the book for the recipe to make them and realized it didn't make the cut into the cookbook.  So while I was annoyed that it wasn't in there (along with a million of the recipes I wasted time sending in- I'm not really bugged, just sound like it), I didn't have to make the millions of meatballs I was going to have to make.  I was slightly relieved.  We headed down to Nate's parents' house and stayed there for an hour or so.  It was nice, I guess they had a pretty good turn out, sold 2 1/2 boxes of books, and make quite a bit of money.  So that was good to hear!  We had promised the kids something fun, and since Nate and I were seriously out of it, we decided a movie would be fun.  We went to Journey 2 the Mysterious Island.  Most of the kids liked it.  It's always fun to go to 3D movies with them, they constantly reach up and flinch at things flying out at them.  Charity and Kelly got a good giggle about the peck-popping.  And Kelly liked the baby elephant.  Bradley liked all of the animals on the island and how different they were.  Luke said, "None of it."  When asked what his favorite part was.  It wasn't really his type of show I guess.  Makes me laugh that he's so brutally honest :).  He kept laying on my lap and asking me when it was going to be over, so I knew it wasn't his favorite :).  Noah on the other hand, he had a blast!  He loved the lizard part!  He has been playing with his lizard all day today (the next day), doing all the same things that the lizard in the movie did.  He basically took notes and has been making good use if them ;).  Erika liked the butterflies, but she, like Luke, was not completely entertained the entire time.  She was ready to go way too soon.  Overall though, we had a good time!  I love that I can predict how soon the popcorn bucket will get spilled all over the floor, and also how soon each kid will ask to go to the bathroom and get a drink.  It makes it easier for me to handle not actually watching much of the show.  I'm learning :).  I loved what I saw though, I hope we can rent that one when it comes out.  Good times.
2-20-12

- Nate's back at work today!  What a crazy week it has been for he and I!  He and I have both been fighting this cold for the last week or so, and Tuesday he just couldn't hardly drag himself around, so he called in sick.  He was planning on going on Wednesday and was feeling a little better, but his stomach had different plans!  He threw up that morning, right before he was going to take the kids to school.  Luke was funny about it, but this was the first time Nate has thrown up in 10 years, so we felt pretty bad for him!  Took all of his strength for the rest of the day and it wasn't until Thursday he was finally able to feel a little more like himself again.  He decided to give himself one more day off, and just use the day to recover complete.  So Friday he is back.  It's weird to not have him home.  I sure have enjoyed his company and appreciated his help.  Even when he's sick, he's still working hard for his family and that has been priceless with how we've been feeling.  We've both had to do more than we thought possible.  Somehow the kids have gotten out of it alive.... nobody else has been sick!  It's a huge relief, but very strange!  I'm always waiting for someone to throw up out of nowhere.  SO anyway.  Hopefully we're done with that and Nate can get back into training at work and get on with things!
2-24-12

- Life has been full of craziness this last week.  I'd love to catch up on it all, but I don't think I will.  Maybe as I remember things.  Hopefully this cold will subside soon.  I feel like my head weighs a million pounds and I wish I could breathe through my nose, but I'm trying to stay positive.... yeah right.  I did get the opportunity to go on Charity's class field trip Thursday (3-1-12) thanks to my Mom babysitting.  We went to the Water Treatment Plant, the County Dump, and the Recycling Center.  This wasn't as fun as our trip to Lagoon last year, but SO educational, and I really quite enjoyed it!  I think everyone's favorite part was the claw :).  What a fun job that would be!  It surprises me all the things they told us about garbage and how quickly we as society accumulate it.  Makes me want to do a little better at Reducing, Reusing and Recycling.  I'm not the best.  My least favorite part about this field trip was the temperature!  It was snowing most of the day and we were in and out of buildings.  The worst was having to eat our lunch out in the snow and wind!!!  I'm a wuss.  I didn't love that.  And it really didn't help with my cold.  Oh well.  The rest of it was fun and I loved spending the time with the coolest girl in Mrs. Davis' class.
Today, 3-3-12, I had the opportunity to go to a baptism.  Chandler in our ward got baptized today and they needed a pianist.  I LOVE baptisms.  I know I've said this before, but it really is neat.  I liked having Bradley with me too.  I am glad he will get plenty of opportunities this year to witness that and get excited for his.  It's kind of a ways away, but I'm sure it will come faster than we think :).
While we were at the baptism Lukey got to go to yet another birthday party, for his friend Aeden.  He sure looks grown up when I pick him up and he looks at me all nonchalantly.  Like he doesn't need to be excited to see me because he's only been away for an hour and a half, and he was having so much fun the whole time, that he really didn't miss me all that much anyway :).  Cute boy.  I love watching him.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Valentine's Day for the Maynes Family

Our Valentine's day started out with Nate's famous heart-shaped egg sandwiches, topped with strawberries, blueberries and blackberries!  Nate took my shift at Bradley's class, which was nice :).  And while he was gone I got his present all ready for him and left it on the front door for him to find when he got home.  I like it when I can spoil Nate a little.  Hopefully he liked his gift.

I took some time to get things ready for the game I was in charge of at Charity's class.  I made some heart bean bags and gathered a few baskets.  I know it was kind of a generic game, but I got tired of trying to come up with something creative, that would still be fun.  I think you lose some of the fun element, when you get TOO creative.  Or maybe I'm just lazy, who knows :)A little later in the morning, before we left to pick up Luke, there was a ring at the door, and to my surprise.... FLOWERS!!!!! 
 I LOVE getting flowers!  I think it's so fun!  Especially on Valentine's day, to know that Nate had to plan WEEKS ahead to spoil me.... just means a lot to me :).  I can say, I don't NEED flowers, but I smile and think about my sweetie every time I see them, so it's definitely a plus :)

We picked up Luke and then went and got some lunch and headed to the park.  I love that it's been warm enough lately to spend a little time at the park.  The kids need that I think.  We get sick of being stuck in our house!  I brought my camera and took a bunch of pictures of the kids playing.  That was fun.  It's been a while since I did that for some reason!  I've been on a photo slump.























After lunch we came home to surprise on our doorstep.  Grandma Hatch had left a basket full of fun stuff for the kids with a balloon tied to it.  That was a pleasant little surprise!  
Thankfully we had a little time to relax a little before I had to go to Charity's class party.  Nate turned on Real Steel for he and the kids.  I left.

The party was a lot of fun.  I couldn't believe the variety of strategies those 4th graders came up with!  It was hilarious to watch.  Lukey came with me so that he could help retrieve the bean bags, he did SUCH a good job!!  Normally I don't think of Luke when I need a quick helper, he's generally not the most helpful like that.... but he sure proved me wrong this time!  He was a speed demon!  I think the kids got way more turns than they would have without him!  I'm gonna have to take advantage of this at home maybe :).  Jk.  There were SO many goodies at that party!  Donuts, cupcakes, the candy I brought as prizes, soda pop!!  I couldn't believe it!  Mrs. Davis seemed happy that they would be going home on this sugar high  and not staying there for her to deal with.

When we got home, Nate and the littles were sound asleep!  So we tried to stay upstairs.  Nate had been up all night with the little princess, and was exhausted, so I was happy he was able to catch up a little!  I was glad he had decided to take the day off as well because I totally felt this cold hit me as the afternoon came on.  I was so sore and tired! 



The kids all dumped out there boxes and examined the goods.  I couldn't believe how many homemade, creative ones there were!!!  Everyone's so creative!  I wish I could think of that stuff ahead of time.  I guess buying them is just so much easier and my kids think it's so amazing that I let them get the candy ones now (I didn't used to because I think the kids have enough candy, but then I realized that the plain old card ones cost the same as the candy ones!!), that it just seems like the way to go.  Maybe next year we'll get creative and do something unique.... maybe. Or the next year.... who knows :)

Sarah and her boys came by with cute little homemade Valentines for Erika and Noah (and some extra Muddy Buddies for the rest of the kids, which they scarfed down faster than you can say.... something.... they were gone so fast!).  It was fun to play with Charlie and watch Alvin.  We don't get to see them enough anymore.
The kids were all playing outside for most of the afternoon and that is always a good thing!


After the Hatches left, and Nate was at the store with Kelly, I decided to take a minute to rest on the couch.  I was having chills.  Surprisingly the kids let me fall asleep, and I woke up to the smell of a yummy homemade dinner (well, actually it was Lukey's crazy little face I woke up to... breathing on mine, with his nose almost touching mine.  Always a funny way to wake up.... and freaky at the same time).  Nate had whipped up some chicken and a broccoli salad.  He's so amazing.  And so good to me!  I had had all these plans to do a fun Valentine's dinner..... but this was so much nicer!

We finally got our house cleaned up a little that night.  It took a while, but all the days of not having time to clean up at night, had really caught up with us!  This new system has been a good one until this last week, so it was tricky to get things under control again.  Very grateful for my hard workers though, who did what they could and helped out.  Happy Valentine's day to us :)

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Pregnancy Update

2-16-12
Last night I played capture the flag with the kids in the backyard, and I don't know when it happened, but I totally did something to my hip.  I've been dreading this pain a lot.  I had it in the first and second trimesters with Erika until I fixed it with Physical Therapy.  I so don't want to have to go to PT again.  I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what she would do, so I could have Nate do it.  We'll see.  Bums me out.
I was a horrible Mom this morning.  I'm not sure how to cheer myself up in the mornings!  I feel like crap.  This morning, almost first thing, when I came down the stairs, Bradley jumped out to scare me (he's such a fun kid :) ), and I guess from the jump and quick adrenaline rush, I almost threw up.  I've been really nauseous anyway, but that just threw me over the edge.  It's so frustrating.
I wish I could call in sick today, but I have SO much that needs to be done now.  Since I let things go during the first part of the week like I shouldn't.  I really need to get things under control so that I don't have to kill myself the last half of the week.  It's so hard to get things done when I feel like this.  I guess I'm about 11 weeks right now, so I'm hoping the "morning sickness" will be gone in the next month or so.  It was with my boys.  I guess we'll find out soon enough.  I'm starting to wonder if this baby is a girl.  I can't wait to meet my baby.  Everyone around me is having babies right now and that's always hard.  I don't even feel like holding any of them.  Kinda nuts.  Oh well.  7 more months.... I can do it!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Family Date Night

As a little pre-Valentine's celebratin', we decided to do a big family date night.  The girls all went with Daddy, and the boys all went with Mommy.  Kind of a split up family night, but I think that's good sometimes.
Earlier in the day we took Erika to Build-a-bear to make her first stuffed animal.  Most of our kids got one when they were born or shortly after, but not Erika and she was the only one who hadn't been there.  We thought this would be fun for her since the plans for the evening weren't really geared for her.  I had a few coupons, and we had racked up a few gift cards, so the cute, pink Kitty she picked out ended up costing only $7!  Pretty cool.  She was so cute there!!  I loved watching her face as she walked around picking things out.  It was difficult for her to pick out her animal. She wanted them all :).  She talked to the girl that helped her stuff it, and was SO cute about it all.  She loved "bathing" her kitty :).  She picked out some cute clothes and I'm still wondering why Build-a-Bear keeps the cheapest clothing down at kid level.  My kids have never picked anything up high, so we end up saving a little money :).  Nice for me, dumb for them.  She picked out a little cell phone for her kitty and then named her "Pinky" with some help from Mom.  She wasn't really sure what it meant to pick out a name.  She LOVED the box and insisted on carrying the box all the way back to the car.  Totally toughed it out the whole way!  The box was almost as tall as her, so she had to hang her tongue on the last half of the way :).  She had the cutest face on the whole time.  It's so fun to spoil kids sometimes.  She loved the attention.
So anyway, that night, Nate took the girls on a "shopping spree" to pick out a few outfits each.  I've enlisted Charity to give the report on their half of the night.... here it is in her words:
We went to Kohl's and we got some REALLY cute outfits. I got a blue shirt,  a blue dress, two new pairs of jeans and some new tennis shoes!!!  Kelly got a couple really cute shirts and she actually got jeans (she hates jeans by the way)!!!!!!!! She also got some new tennis shoes. After we went shopping we went to Applebee's for dinner. It was lots of fun!!!

The boys and I had so much fun!!!  We stopped at the mall to pick up a gift for Nate, and then had dinner in the Food Court at Hot Dog on a Stick.  It was so fun to hang out with just my boys!  They're all growing up so much!  Bradley talked all the way there and kept saying, "Do I talk too much?", "I'm talking too much, huh?", "I like to talk a lot."  It was so cute!  I loved it.  So then we got to Nickelcade.  I loved their excitement when we got in the place.  They had never been there before but any small arcade places that they have been were more than thrilling, so I figured a place that big could only be better :).  They couldn't believe how many nickels they got!  Cute little Noah took a long time to catch on to the whole earning tickets part, so he spent most of the first hour riding all the little toys.  It makes me laugh just thinking about him sitting on the horse, moving back and forth and saying, "This is boring now, when is it going to be over?..... Can you get me off?"  And then asking to sit on the next one... a boat :).  They all did the same motion and yet he rode them all at least once, leaving the previous one going as he got on the next.  Made me smile.  He also tried every single driving game as well.  I had to push on the gas pedal for him, but he loved it!  Luke and Bradley went around frantically looking for the machine that put out the most tickets :).  They were fun.  Noah and I got to play air hockey too and I couldn't believe how good he was at it!  He's not all that well-known for his hand-eye coordination, so I was really impressed!  He would hit the puck back pretty quickly and blocked his goal really well!  I couldn't believe it!  At one point, after accidentally knocking the puck in his own goal a few times, he announced that we were going to start trying to get it in our OWN goal from now on :).  Makes me laugh.  He's such a funny little guy.  Altogether the boys and I all got 615 tickets!  We decided to divide them up between the 3 of them and they all picked out a wimpy little prize that they loved :).  It was so much fun!  I couldn't believe how well-behaved they were, they all stayed nearby me the whole time, and even though there were kids climbing all over the machines and cheating, they didn't even try any of that.  I was proud of them.  As we were getting into the car, they said, "We need to bring the girls here! They would love this!"  That made me happy to hear that they actually do love being with the whole family.  And that they had enough fun, they wanted to share it with the others.  
It turned out to be a really fun night for everyone.  They all went to bed SO quickly and quietly, with little struggle ;).  I like it when they wear themselves out like that.  Good times.  Unfortunately.... no pictures.