Brownies on Board

Weigh In Monday 11-15

2010-11-17T12:53:00.000-06:00

I don't know how I am going to do at the weigh in tonight. I ate like crap Wednesday, Thursday and Friday ugh and didn't work out those days. So we will see. I hope by this time next week I will be in a new decade of weight. Brad was home this week every night and we were busy running around the other days. Oh well. This is a new week.

My new classes start at the Y tonight!! I hope I have a good turn out and don't scare everyone off like my classes seem to have in the past. They are too hard or people can't talk during them. ugh! Everyone wants their butts kicked until you kick it then they whine or drop out.

I had a MRI on my knee today. Hopefully it is something simple like just wearing a brace and not anything serious but we will see. Supposed to find out tomorrow.
Background on the knee ~ this summer after softball it would ache and hurt really bad. Going from a squatted postion to standing was almost impossible the day after a game. But it didn't hurt really during the games so I thought I was just overweight and old. Then recently as I have been working out more it will do this sweet pop and sort of give out on me. It does it when I am jumping a lot or sometimes just walking. It is kinda achey all the time but I can pretty much do anything still. Elliptical doesn't hurt tho. Sometimes in zumba it kinda gives on me because there is a lot of jumping and pivoting. So I wanted to get it checked out before I did something major to it. Because if I could not workout I would be bummed but if I couldn't play softball next summer I would be furious!!

So I will post my weigh in later tonight and tomorrow hopefully I will hear good news about my knee!

Here are my pics for this week. He was jumpin while taking pictures can you tell???

Lost 1 pound at WW and haven't heard back about MRI yet.

Weigh In Monday 11-8

2010-11-08T21:54:00.001-06:00

I did pretty good this week, I lost 2 pounds! I only got to workout 3 days this week. I was either busy or had a little sick girl. So I am a little surprised at my 2 pounds.

Today I did the elliptical for an hour then did abs for 20 min. I am in training for my new classes that I am excited about. 3-2-1 Get Fit and Just Abs at the Y!! I got 1.5 Survivor points today and I only need 3 this week so I am hoping to get 5 or 6 every week. I am going to try to get it 2 workouts a day. I go to the Y in the morning around 8:30-9 ish and workout for an hour or so. Then I want to do something in the afternoon or evening instead of eating. So I might go back to the Y or do one of my workout DVDs. The more I workout the more I can eat. So while doing my training for my new classes I also need to write out some workouts so that I can do them in my classes.

I will have my professional photographer take my photo tomorrow since I forgot to do it today. I will post my weigh in Monday on Tuesday. That's about how things go around here.

I am going to take my measurements when I get to the next decade of weight to see what changes have been made. I am sure the big loss in inches will be going from a B cup back to an A cup. But if my stomach is flat too then I don't care if my chest is. haha

Cassie took these so they are a little more in focus and straight haha

Weigh In Monday 11-1-10

2010-11-02T09:17:00.000-05:00

I did not eat well Halloween weekend ~ Oh well this is a new week and I will do better. My goal this week is to track everything I eat and my activity. Survivor starts today!!! I will not be going to the Y today because my little Chelsea has a fever and a runny nose. It will be ok I only need 2 hours this week any way so it will be easy to get that later in the week.

Here are my Week 2 pics ~ taken by the famous photographer AJ

Keep in mind I am moving and coaching my photographer haha

I will have to see what my WW weight is tonight I will post it on here later. I lost 2.6 this week which is pretty amazing considering I ate Halloween candy and ElReys. Looking forward to a great week. My little girl wasn't feeling well today so I didn't get to the Y but I worked out at home with Jillian.

Weigh in Monday

2010-10-25T21:44:00.000-05:00

Ok so I have started back to Weight Watchers today with my two cousins Jen and April. I had my favorite 3 year old photographer take my picture this morning. Hopefully I will look better every week and he will take better pictures too haha.

Today I worked out at the Y I did an hour on the elliptical and 20 min on the paramount equipment. I have eaten only 10 points so far today my target is 25 and I am not planning on eating til after our WW meeting today at 5 pm. We will see how that goes.

My new obsession is gum ~ the super spearminty or pepperminty kind. Because after I chew it nothing ever tastes good not even chocolate haha. So hopefully this helps.

Survivor starts at the Y next week and I hope to get at least 5 hours in every week even though we only need 2 the first week, 3 for the next two weeks and then building up to 6 hours the last 3 weeks. This is good motivation to work out during the holidays. Derek is going to do it with me so that will help too.

I will post my weigh in after I go to WW this evening. I also have a soccer meeting tonight (shoot me for saying I would coach). I hope it turns out better than my other coaching my own kids have gone in the past. AJ said he wanted to play so who am I to turn him down. I will blog about our first game on Saturday.

I am up 1 pound but since I started WW a month ago I am down 3 pounds so after eating whatever I wanted for a month 1 pound is good.

Quick update

2010-10-19T08:18:00.000-05:00

OK so Brad is working in Joppa, IL. What you have never heard of Joppa?? haha It is really close to Kentucky which is far away from Clinton. It sucks being a single parent thru the week hard core! But at least he has a job now so we can't complain too much. We aren't living in a box or with my parents so I guess that is a plus.

We got a hamster a few weeks ago and the little Magruber got out of its cage. Cassie didn't get the cap on the top locked when she "checked on her". So now we have a hamster named Cookie some where in the house for the last 3 or 4 days. I haven't heard it at all at night so I have no idea where it is. The beagle that is supposed to be able to track things is no help. I am not even sure she is a real beagle. haha So I hope it is still alive but then some times I think it would be better dead then I just find the smell. Ugh

Chelsea Belle is 10 months old!!! Where did the time go?? We got all the kids their Halloween costumes. Cassie is Sandy from Grease ~ Cool Sandy not dorky cheerleader Sandy
Nathan is Robin again ~ PS he wears this costume at least 4 times a week
AJ is Blue Batman because Black Batman is bad
Chelsea is Baby Ariel

I will put pics of those on here after Halloween!

My fantasy football team is in the pooper they have been sucking bigtime!

Chelsea Belle is cruising and standing a little on her own she will be walking in a few weeks.
AJ is still crazy as ever not pooping in the potty because the floor in his bedroom or his underwear or pullup is a much better place to poop.
Nathan is going to pass Cassie up ~ he already out weighs her by 10 pounds and I think he may get taller than her too. He is doing well in school except for the T's and L's on his behavior chart. T- Talking L- not listening.
Cassie is doing well in school too. She is still her fashionista self. She is still a skinny minnie.

We are all doing pretty well ~ except for missing Daddy. It's hard on them too.

Weighing In

2010-09-23T08:02:00.000-05:00

Ok so I got busy yesterday and forgot to post my weigh in. I am down 4.4 lbs!! The official WW weigh in is Saturday morning so I am hoping it is more by then. Yesterday I did Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred for the 1st time. It is AWESOME!! It is only a 20 minute workout but it is a good one!!! She does 3 circuits of 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs. The only thing that is hurting is my upper back from these rows with dumb bells we did. I am going to try to do 2 of those today or one of those and some other workout.

Then we walked to Danny and Ashley's which is over a mile away so we walked about 3 miles. My double stroller became a quadruple stroller on the way home so if you really want a work out push a stroller with like 180 lbs of children on it!!

Horoscope for the day

2010-09-22T08:06:00.000-05:00

Action is the word of the day. Whether you're initiating it or feeling the brunt of it, you'll be caught up in the vortex of it. Try not to lose your temper today, Cancer, and don't be surprised if people act rashly and insensitively. Perhaps this is their way of saying they need you and that your energy and input are important. Have confidence in your words.

This is my horoscope today and I think it is directed to one little man in particular...

He is a roller coaster of emotions lately. He cries the loudest cry because if you cry louder more people will hear you and try to get you to calm down. He bawled and cried his loud cry in the car on the way home from Winchester because "I lost my byer!!!" Byer = Pacifier And I had Cassie unbuckle and look for it after about a minute of looking she yells, " Andrew it is in your hand!!!" He cries "Oh" then puts it in his mouth.

Andrew is 3 1/2 he STILL has a pacifier and he STILL won't poop on the potty!!! When I get some energy I will attempt one of these. I am not sure which to do first. If I do the byer that means less sleep for me and anyone within earshot. If I do the potty that means more laundry and hours in the bathroom for me and him. Ugh!!!

Andrew also says I love you Mommy on a daily basis out of nowhere. Then proceeds to list everyone he loves. So sweet. He "helps" with Chelsea Belle. And anything he gives her that she is not supposed to have is because: "But she loves it Mommy!!"

We will attempt one of these things today ~ We will see what kind of mood this kid is in when he wakes up then I will pick. I am thinking potty right now and limiting the byer to nap and bedtime.

Back to it

2010-09-19T20:40:00.000-05:00

Well I am officially back to Weight Watchers Ugh. Now that I am not nursing or seriously stressing over maybe living in a box with our 4 children, the weight will come off. I have lost it before when Nathan was 2 and Cassie was 4 before I had AJ and Chelsea. I was at my happy weight. I am not gonna put that number on here because my goal weight is most people "fat weight" on here. So I just have clothes from then which was 2006 it sounds like forever ago. And I have a pair of goal jeans that I bought. I just want to be fit and get my flat belly back. I do NOT want to be a size 2 or even a size 4. I would look completely weird if I got that small and I would have to like go on Survivor and starve myself to get that small. I just want to get where I feel good. I want to weigh what I did when I got married. So that is all and I will post my loss on here. I want to lose 30 pounds. I want my body fat percentage to be in the teens. I am hoping for 15% when I am at my goal.

My goals this week are to workout every day and stay within my points. Tomorrow I am going to the Y in the morning maybe to Amy's class which is body sculpting then zumba. It is a good mix of strength and cardio. Then Tuesday I will probably have to work out later at night because we have a funeral out of town to go to. So I will check in on Wednesdays and since Saturday is my official WW weigh in day I will post then too.

Long Time No Blog

2010-09-09T10:02:00.001-05:00

So it has been forever since I have blogged so here goes... For the past two days I have had some nasty stomach bug it is gone now. I am pretty sure the Monical's pizza I ate last night cured me!! Usually Monical's has the opposite effect. huh who knew?? Brad has also had it these last two days. Chelsea has had runny diapers and so has AJ. Nathan is the one who had it first and shared it with everyone. Poor kid had it for 5 days!! He missed 3 1/2 days of school the first week!! Just waiting to see if Cassie gets it...

Great News!! Brad finally got a job!! Yay!! We don't have to move back in with my parents!! haha He had been laid off since February 1st. In case you were counting not that I was but Feb. 1 - Sept. 1 is 7 long months!!! Which means 7 months of half the income and twice the husband!!! I did appreciate his help with the kids and it was nice with Chelsea Belle being so small but it was more than time to go back!! I think it says a lot for us that we can be together every single day for seven months and not kill each other or get divorced!! I said many times I know we love each other but like is a different story!! haha But there is a downside to the Job. He is working 3 hours away which means he stays in a hotel during the week and comes home on weekends. It has been an adjustment from going to always having another grown up here to being the only one. It means no breaks for me, but he is doing what he has to do and so will I.

I cut and colored my hair back to blonde. I don't feel like myself when I am not blonde. And I always think I want my long hair from high school back until I grow it out and wear it in a pony tail every day! I think my hair has finally stopped falling out. At least it has stopped falling out in chunks!! I think that was probably stress.

Let me tell you about how Tuesday went... Well to tell about Tuesday, Monday is first. I got the stomach flu/bug from hell starting Monday afternoon. I was in and out of the bathroom and curled up in the fetal position Monday afternoon and all night long. Which means not much sleep!! Brad also gets it in the middle of the night and has to leave at 3 am to get to work at 7 am. I get a screaming wake up call from AJ who is having a serious meltdown about chocolate milk. He wants some and we don't have any milk in the house which is THE WORST thing we can run out of in our house!! He screams for a while I send him to the living room where he sobs out there for a while and falls back asleep. I wake up to Chelsea Belle at 6 am get her a bottle and text my mom and brother to please bring us milk. All the while my stomach feels like someone punch me repeatedly!! My brother brought us a gallon of milk when he got off work at 7 am. And I told him about my stomach problems and I was pretty sure Chels and AJ had it too and he put his shirt over his mouth like a mask and promptly exited. My mom then came by around 7:50 with Lunchable so I wouldn't have to pack lunches and a gallon of milk too. She took the kids to school because they missed the bus. Thank you Tim and Mom!

I then braved Walmart to get every stomach medicine I could find. Tums, Pepto, Immodium AD all of it.

Then it just gets better. I get Chelsea to nap in the afternoon and sit AJ in front of some cartoons and go try to rest. I am woke up by AJ yelling 'I think I need to go to the Doctor!!!' I jump up and look at him he has white stuff all over his eye and it is stuck shut. My first thought is he glued his eye shut! He says 'Nope I stuck gum on my eye." GREAT!!! I can now smell it. It is my Orbit peppermint gum that has got to be burning his eye because his eyes red all around it and watering. So then I pick gum out of his eyelashes for about 15-20 minutes. After we were done he assured me that he would not do that again. We will see...

Then as if this day wasn't crazy enough, just before the bus pulls up after school AJ has a runny blow out diaper. As I am cleaning him up I hear the bus pull up. I finish cleaning him up and go outside and Cassie is standing in the driveway. I say 'Hey where is your brother??' She says "I don't know I thought he already came in" So I look around the side of the house and in the back yard and yell his name. No Nathan anywhere. I ask Cassie 'Did he get off the bus?? Was he on the bus?" She says I don't know I think he was on the bus." OH WONDERFUL!! So I call the bus garage and sure enough he had fallen asleep on the bus. So about 15 minutes later they brought him back by after he rode the whole bus route. He wasn't worried at all thank goodness. I was worried that he would freak out when he woke up but he said, "I just woke up and rode til Rick brought me back." OK Then I tell Cassie about 100 times You need to make sure he gets off the bus when you do! She said OK I got it!! We will see on that one too!

But yesterday I felt a little better and today I feel really good. And I am super happy about that cuz I got some Kenney Festival food to eat this weekend!! Come see me and April in the Taco Wagon at lunch time on Saturday!!

Cassie is running for Student Council. I really hope she gets it!!! We find out Sept. 17th I think. I am gonna have to tell her to get her classmates to vote for her. They pick 3 from each class. *fingers crossed*

Nathan is reading so well in first grade. BUT this kid cannot remember to purchase a lunch ticket!! He has only had hot lunch 2 times and did not pay for either one!! I sent him with a dollar for breakfast and 3 dollars for 2 lunch tickets. He comes home with 2 dollars. I said what is this why do you have money left. "Well I couldn't find it in my pocket to buy the tickets and I gave one dollar to Katie at recess and one dollar to Livie but Livie gave hers back to me later." I think I am going to have to physically go buy the tickets myself! Ugh!!

AJ has been talking so much better lately it is like all the sudden he is pronouncing words and names better and using fuller sentences. He is getting so smart. But we can not poop on the potty. We are starting potty boot camp next Monday!! We were downed by the stomach bug this week so it was postponed. I would rather go thru labor and delivery, crying babies and no sleep again than potty train!! I hate it!!

Chelsea is pulling up and cruising a little bit. My dad has predicted she is walking by my sister's birthday which is September 27th. Which is also her 29th birthday which is one away from 30!! haha. Chelsea is missin her daddy time!! I thought Brad was gonna have to wear a papoose and take the crib to the hotel. But she has been doing really good but when he is home she wants him!

So that about sums it up for now. Later!

Wednesday

2010-08-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

3 of my favorite people!

Love you Grandpa aka Great PawPaw

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-07T22:41:00.000-05:00

Wordless 'Ready for Wedding' Wednesday

2010-06-30T07:51:00.000-05:00

Chelsea 4 1/2 months

2010-05-07T00:11:00.000-05:00

Chelsea Renee is 4 1/2 months now. I can't even believe how fast these last few months have gone by! It is crazy with a newborn you do the same thing every day. Feed, Change, Snuggle, Rock, Bathe, Repeat. It is just a cycle that you do over and over everyday. It seems like the days are long but the months have gone by in a flash. She is now in the stage where she smiles everytime you she sees you. I love that! She is not eating all the time like she did before. She still doesn't nap regularly yet but that is ok because she is sleeping all night for the most part.

See our littlest Brownie has had some tummy trouble. I wrote about how I couldn't drink milk or eat dairy while I was breastfeeding. We had a super fussy colicky baby when I did. So I stopped and she was a different baby. Then we switched her over to formula at 4 months. She did fine for about a week on formula alone then she started the colic again. The screaming, the back arching, the spitting up, the overall grumpy little girl. Then I changed her formula to one for gas and fussiness. And again we have our happy girl back.

She is rolling over and can get back onto her back again. After some grunting and a few screams. haha. Her hair is getting really thin and she looks like and old man who won't admit he has a receding hair line. Cuz it is super long on top but it doesn't get long until about halfway back on her head. We use hair bands and bows to cover this up. haha. I never really but bows and stuff in Cassie's hair but I love putting them in Chelsea's. It's weird. And Cassie is like a girly girl now.

I don't know how many other moms have this problem. I am shedding bad! For over a week my hair has been falling out at an alarming rate. It does this everytime when my babies are 4 months old. But it is still annoying! My thick shiny pregnant hair is all falling out! haha I got out of the shower and ran my hand thru my wet hair and I had so much hair in my hand that I could have braided it! I am not even joking! Now I will spend my summer trying to disguise all my new little baby hairs that are going to come in.

Here are some more pics ~ for Laura!! hahaha

All I will tell you about Nathan quotes is this ~ the boy cannot go more than a couple hours with out discussing or yelling something about his wienie or wiener. I just hope that he doesn't do it at school! And there are really too many wiener quotes to remember.

But I will just say that he is still under the impression that girls have wieners despite Cassie's denial of such a thing and my confirmation of her denial. He wants visual proof and Cassie and I refuse to do so.

So my life revolves around baby care, attempted 3 year old potty training, anatomy discussions, refereeing, homework, trying to get in a workout, attempted 3 year old tatrum aversion, attempted sleep for at least 4 consecutive hours, making chocolate milk 2 hot and 1 cold, countdown til summer vacation, and lots and lots of poop.

And it's a good thing there is more love than poop!! :)

I told Brad today that neither one of us would ever have to work again if I had a dollar for everytime I came into direct contact with poop that was not my own.

WIENERS!!

p90xed out! haha

2010-04-18T21:16:00.000-05:00

Ok so Braddy and I have started doing P90X workout. We have done it for 3 days. I am a little sore but not too bad but I fear I will be tomorrow because we also played softball at Grandma's today. I need to get our before pictures on here. You know the ones were you are fat and sad with no makeup. Then I will post pics every 30 days. Brad says this summer he is wearing a speedo. I am a little scared and anyone who may see this should be as well.

Nathan has been sick since Tuesday ~ poor kid. He has had an ear infection, puked, been dizzy and just plain wiped out. But he was pretty much back to normal today aside from getting a little tired.

I have almost completely weaned Chelsea Belle from breastfeeding. I am feeling so guilty about this. Even though I did it with her the longest it is really hard. I want to switch her to formula but even as I am typing this I am crying yet again about this. I have cried every time I have stopped breastfeeding with all the other kids. But this time is way harder because she is my last baby. I will never nurse another baby. It was hard the other 3 times but with Cassie, I knew we would have another baby. Then with Nathan I was pretty sure we would have another one. With AJ it was still a possibility. But we are done having kids. We have talked about it and that is what we have decided. So it makes this time so hard. Anytime anyone even asks me about it I can't talk about it without tearing up. I want to wean her at least I think I do. I am not sure I can though. The other kids kind of let me know when they were done. But I don't know if it is me or if she still wants to. I may change my mind.

The reason I feel so guilty about it is because it seems like a selfish choice. Like I don't want to be tied down to her or something. Because I enjoy that extra hour of sleep when Brad can get up and feed her. I am going to feed her tonight and probably let Chelsea decide.

Another reason it seems so selfish is because it is easier to lose weight when I am not nursing and I don't have to watch what I eat so closely. And working out and playing sports is much easier with out 'breastfeeding' breasts. I don't think it will be any easier if I do it longer either. I don't know.

Spring has Sprung

2010-04-02T22:39:00.000-05:00

I am so glad that the last couple days have brought 80 degree weather!! Hopefully it doesn't get below like 50 anymore! Kids are playing outside it is great!

We are making some serious progress with our laundry/playroom. It is painted bright colors and my washer and dryer are side by side. They have never met in the eleven years we have lived here! But now they are gonna be friends I can tell.

Kid updates:

Cassie had her tonsils and adenoids out last Friday. She is doing great. She gets rundown easily and it is more annoying to her than anything. She is getting to know her limits and I remember when I had mine out at 11 that the 4 or 5 days and a week after hurt worse because it is healing and gross back there. She has been a trooper. I figured we would have to wait on her hand and foot but she is doing so good! Her voice has changed it is a lot higher pitched. I told her she sounded like Brittany from the Chippettes and she took it as a compliment. She is so great. She wore her Raven costume to the Big McDonalds tonight. My kids are fearless in their wardrobe choices! I love that about them!

Nathan has lost his first tooth!! He had 2 loose ones on the bottom and one was pretty much flapping the other day and I told him it looked ready to come out so he tried to pull it and couldn't and I said well I can do it if you want me to. How bad do you want it out? He said real bad just do it! So I said take a deep breath and I yanked it out! It was funny he was so proud he called everyone and was ready for the Tooth Fairy to come. The other one still isn't ready to come out but I told him he has to wiggle it more. I told him he looked like a yokel because his one tooth on the bottom has shifted itself into the middle with a big gap on each side and it looks funny. He said What the heck is a yokel??

AJ has had a rough spring break. He has only had a nap twice this week and both times he has just pretty much collapsed in exhaustion. He tries so hard to keep up with the big kids he is too darn busy to rest! He is so stinkin cute and it is a good thing because he is the most onery little boy ever! He followed Cassie and Nathan up the slide at the big McDonalds so he was pretty proud of himself as he called to me and Brad from the top level. He still loves his little sister oh so much! She had a powder-sugar kiss print on her forehead to prove it yesterday.

Chelsea Belle is doing great. Mommy is still off the milk and limiting her self to like 1/2 a serving of dairy a day. This makes Chelsea a much happier girl. She is giggling and squealing a lot. Brad had her belly laughing earlier today. She is so sweet. I think she may have hazel ~ greenish eyes. They aren't getting darker like Cassie's did and they aren't getting lighter like the boys' did. She still has quite a bit of hair.

Bye for now ~ this Momma is tired. Good night!

Don't GOT MILK :(

2010-03-09T08:49:00.000-06:00

OK so it has been 3 days since I have had milk.   Now for most people it's easy to not drink milk or eat cereal. But I. LOVE. MILK. Period.   I am doing this for my little Miss Chelsea ~ she DOES. NOT. LOVE. MILK.    I did some research on why she might be fussy and gassy and generally in a bad mood. One of the things was if the nursing mother (that's me) drinks milk some babies can't digest the milk protein well and it bothers them.

If  you think that something you're eating is causing problems for your baby, it's usually something you've eaten two to six hours before feeding. The most common culprits include cows' milk products.

I have one of these babies. Since I have been milk-free, she has been much happier and sleeps better and does not cry as much. So it is worth it not to have milk for a couple more months.

Brad offered to buy me some Silk and I told him bring me a bucket to barf in also! This little one may have to be on soy formula when she makes the switch. So for now I will not be eating cereal which is my go-to meal at any time of day.   I can still eat cheese in moderation just not a big glass of milk or 2-3 bowls of cereal at a time.

Tonight Cassie gets her makeover for casual picture day ~ which is Cassie talk for getting her hair cut. I will have to post a pic of that tonight or tomorrow. She is taking her American Girl twins and she has dress to match them! So it should be cute.

Baby Feet and Brotherly Love

2010-02-23T23:12:00.000-06:00

LITTLE.

SWEET.

BABY.

FEET.

Belonging to Miss Chelsea Belle!!!

Big Brother CAN NOT get enough of this little girl!!!!

Cheese Mom!!!

What a nice hug!!!

Trying to get both thumbs in there!!!

~ Faux Hawk courtesy of Daddy ~

didn't get wet hair brushed after shower hence it stands up!!

She is punk!!!

Valentine's Day

2010-02-15T08:21:00.000-06:00

I have a few funny stories from Valentine's Day so here we go.

The first is from none other than Nathan Brown ~ We were finishing his Valentine's to take to school. They were very manly Transformer ones and there were 4 that had Bumblebee that said Bee my Valentine. It told him he should give those to girls he liked (joking) and he was like OK! Which surprised me because he has been a longtime member of the He-Man Womun Haters Club. I said who do you want to give the first one too? He very quickly says Jessica. I said ok you like her?
He says "Yeah Mom, I am gonna build a statue of her when I grow up.
Wow!! My son is way more romantic than his father!! haha

The next is from my overly dramatic daughter. This girl is the queen of drama!! We were home all day on Valentine's day. Brad had gone to the store earlier and brought me home flowers. But most of the afternoon Cassie spent in her room watching her shows and playing while Brad and the boys and I played Wii and watched movies. At 4:00 pm I was getting ready to meet the girls to go see a movie so I told Cassie goodbye and that I was leaving. She at first said Ok. Then she comes out to the kitchen crying.

She says in her exasperated crying sobbing most dramatic voice:

I can't believe you are leaving on Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day is special! Valentine's Day is a day for families to be together! I can't believe you are breaking up our family on Valentine's Day! I just want to spend time with you on Valentine's Day! You can go to the movie any day but Valentine's Day! How can you leave your family on Valentine's day??? It is SPECIAL!!!

I will remind you once again this is the girl that hadn't left her room for the last 4 hours!! haha

I calmed her down and went to my movie.

Chelsea Belle has been sleeping pretty well in her crib lately! Let's hope she keeps it up. Cassie has had a super bad earache and a fever all weekend. My kids can never get sick on a Monday or a weekday. Always Friday night or Saturday! What is up with that! So they have to wait til Monday to see the DR. I am going to take her today even though she says she feels better. She just doesn't want to take Augmentin and have to eat yogurt or get diarrhea which I can't blame her!

The boys are still crazy!! AJ had a little fever Friday night too but he snapped out of it. Nathan hasn't been sick at all. And he is the one who has been playing out in the cold!

I am so sick of winter I could scream! The only good thing about winter is Christmas and seeing family! Now Brad is laid off and is home all day and we can't go outside and do anything. I can't wait to take the kids for a walk to the park or go out to Weldon Springs! I am tired of being cooped up! I can't wait til it is nice out and around 10 am I send my kids to the backyard for a couple hours! Then eat lunch and send them back out!! haha I am sick of the dryness of our warm house! I am not one to complain about the humidity and heat in the summer! Bring it on!!

So until the snow melts and we start to see that green stuff again ~ I will be a little grumpy!

Nathan

2010-01-31T08:19:00.000-06:00

My son is so funny and sweet! He woke up about 5 minutes ago and came in here and said, "Wow I didn't think you were even here!" I said, "Did you think you were home alone?" He said, "No I saw Cassie and Chelsea in your bed. And now me and Chelsea are married." I asked, "Why are you and Chelsea married?" Nathan said, "Well I kissed her on the lips and now we are married." I laughed. And he says, " Well I really did kiss her on the lips." OK bud. haha

What a sweet goofball!

Good night!

2010-01-27T12:22:00.000-06:00

Last night was a good night after about 4 in a row of not so good nights for Miss Chelsea. She cried for only about 15 minutes or so. I had to change her sleeper because she smelled like smoke and I always have to change after going to my grandmas because of the smoke smell. Well while I was changing her she flipped out. This was screaming on an entire different level. She was red with arms and legs sprawled out and holding her breath. I picked her up while she was naked trying to calm her and she peed all over my shirt. I thought oh great this is the beginning of a long night. I dressed her while she was screaming. Then sat in the chair and fed her. She calmed down and ate. She ate for like 30 minutes and fell asleep. This was before 10:00 pm!! I again thought this is too good to be true. So I held her for another 30 minutes and laid her down in our bed in her pillow. I went back out to the living room to await the screams that usually follow laying her down the first, second, and sometimes 3rd times but there was quiet. The other 3 Brownies went to bed and stayed there and fell asleep. There was a strange quiet calm in the Brown house last night. It was much needed!!! I laid down around 11 pm. I woke up around 3 am to feed Miss Chelsea. She fell back to sleep around 4 am and slept til the kids got on the bus.

I forgot what it was like to sleep and not have your head be pounding all day with every cry or cartoon song on TV. It was great!!

Chelsea Belle is 6 weeks today. I go to the doctor on Friday. It seems like the last 6 weeks were a blur. The days and nights seem long but the weeks have gone by so fast.

Braddy is going to be working 10's tomorrow and over the weekend after that he finds out if he gets laid off or if they are going to keep him on or move him somewhere else. So we will wait and see.

No Sleep and Bruised Booty

2010-01-26T10:54:00.000-06:00

Night before last I got to sleep from 12 am - 3 am. Then AJ came into our room. Then at 4:00 am Chelsea woke up. After that Brad's alarm goes off. After that what is the point of laying back down when Chelsea is just going to be up in another hour or so and I have to get up and get the kids ready for school. So I started doing laundry at 5 am. I did not get a nap because Cassidy stayed home from school yesterday. (whole other story) And last night I held a screaming girl til 12:30 am she finally fell asleep and stayed asleep. I got to sleep around 1 then woke up around 4 to feed Chelsea got back to sleep around 5 ish and then woke up at 6:30 to get the kids ready for school. I could probably sleep standing up now. I might be asleep now. Who knows.

Ok so Sunday night the kids are all in the boys' room watching a movie when we hear this bloody murder screaming. Cassie comes running out of the room holding her butt and screaming in a language that I do not speak. She is going crazy. Crying and Screaming about her butt and falling. Finally she calms down enough to tell us she fell off the bunk bed ladder and hit her butt on Bumblebee ~ the transformer in case you didn't know. She is still going nuts. I inspect her butt and she has a red mark on her cheek but nothing major. I tell her to go lay down. She says she cannot sit down because it hurts too much so I have her lay on her stomach.

Cut to Monday morning ~ She claims her butt hurts so bad she cannot sit at all. Not even on the cushy couch or recliner. I am thinking Oh great she broke her tailbone. So I let her stay home because I can't make her go sit on a hard chair all day or have her standing all day at school. So I tell her she will be my little helper today and clean her room and basically be at my beck and call all day. She starts cleaning her room ~ for Cassie this means she goes in her room and stands amidst the mess and does nothing. This is at 8:30 am. I tell her she can watch TV while cleaning if she cleans 9:30 TV gets turned off. She comes out of her room in a dress and is flipping it up. I notice she has a blood spot on her underwear the size of a quarter. I ask her if she hurt her pee pee when she fell. She says yes so I have her take her underwear off and do a more thorough inspection. She has two small scrapes on the top of her pee pee and two huge bruises on the insides of her legs that are blue with red in the middle. I feel so bad that I did not see this the night before but she didn't say anything about these areas hurting last night.

She then says in her exasperated dramatic voice 'OK I have to tell you the truth about how I fell.' I said what did you fall at the top of the bed? She says Well not exactly. I was actually on AJ's dresser skateboarding and fell off onto the box of toys with Bumblebee in it.

Good to know. She says Please don't be mad I am sorry I lied to you. I said why did you lie? I didn't want to get in trouble for being on the dresser. I said well I guess you learned why you don't skateboard on the dresser didn't you? Yeah I will never do that again. Then she says the guilt of lying to you kept me from falling asleep last night. (Oh geesh) We then had a discussion about telling the truth and she then had to clean some more.

Nathan quote:

This morning I asked Nathan if he had any lunch tickets left at school.
Nathan: I don't kow maybe not.
Me: Do you need money to buy a lunch ticket or do you have some?
Nathan I don't know
Me: (joking) Well what good are you? You don't know nothing.
Nathan: (loudly and matter of factly) Well I know what 2+2 is!
Me: Well then you should be able to count your lunch tickets!
Nathan: Ok I will.

Brownies to the 4th power

2010-01-24T15:09:00.000-06:00

OK so I have officially been a mother of 4 for about 5 1/2 weeks. And about 3 of those weeks have been with Braddy working 12's from 6 am to 6:30ish pm. This is about to drive me crazy!! I am missing my partner in parenting! haha Did I mention this shift is 7 days in a week and last time I checked yep that is all the days. So I get my partner for about 2-3 hours a day. I have been trying to be extra patient with my children while I am here by myself. Cassie and Nathan have been very good at helping out and AJ is growing more patient with Mom not being able to get his chocolate milk or start his movie at the drop of a hat. I can't really complain about the outage because it is good money and it is a job period. And if they lay him off after this he may go to LaSalle for 2-3 weeks for their outage. LaSalle is 90 miles away which is 1 hour and 30 minutes of drive time. So he would have to stay in a hotel closer to there so he can work 12 hour days. This is good and bad and I told him he had to decide because I didn't want to. haha

I am cleaning my house today because for the last 2 weeks I really haven't done anything. I washed chocolate milk cups and that is about it. People are running out of undies and socks so I guess it was time to break down and do some laundry. My sink was piled up high with smelly dishes so I broke down and did the dishes. I could barely open the bathroom door so I put the dirty clothes in a laundry basket in the hallway and it will eventually make its way to the washer. I haven't folded any clothes yet but I have about 6 baskets of clean clothes and that is all ya get.

Chelsea Belle has not been crying as much at night which is great. And I probably just jinxed myself but oh well. She slept in her swing for about 4 hours last night. I think the crying is belly problems because if she is screaming and I lay her on the floor and massage her stomach she is quiet and then after about 10 or 15 minutes of that she toots and poops and feels much better.

She loves her baths. She love love loves her siblings. And they love love love her! Sometimes too much. AJ is constantly kissing her, hugging her, high fiving her, giving her 'baby bumps' it is too cute but you gotta watch him!

I am tired most of the time lately but that is to be expected and spread the word: new moms that 'look tired' don't need to be told they 'look tired'!! We know we look tired!!! We are tired!!!!

That is all for now!!

2010-01-21T11:25:00.000-06:00

Today I slept in. I let my children sleep in. They were late for school. And I do not even care!! I got about 3 hours of sleep last night and usually get 4-5 hours but they are never a straight 5 hours it is broken up. So I made the executive decision not to wake my kids up and rush around to get them on the bus. We all slept in and had a stress free morning. It was much needed!

Chelsea Belle may have a touch of colic. None of my other babies were cryers so this is very new to me. She just wants to cry from 9-12 ish at night. She eats and cries. She gets her diaper changed and cries. She has about 10 minute breaks in there where you think she is finally gonna give up and go to sleep but then she has to burp or poop or something and it starts again. This probably wouldn't be as bad but I am trying to get 2 other kids to bed. (I say 2 because 1 kid - Nathan goes to bed and goes to sleep) Cassie and AJ do not. I don't have the energy to keep AJ up all afternoon so I let him sleep longer than I should which makes him not tired at bedtime. If I could just spend quiet time with Chelsea she might be able to calm down and go to sleep without all the crying but Braddy is working 12's and has to get to bed.

I bought some gas drops today so we will see if that is the problem. I have never been one to give my kids medicine just because. I hate taking medicine myself. And don't think it is necessary to give the medicine every time they sniffle or cough.

So today I am probably not going to do the laundry or pick up toys or do much of anything but play with AJ, snuggle with Chelsea, and watch tv. If I am lucky maybe a nap!!

My kids are still saying funny stuff but I can't remember anything right now because my brain has been turned into mush and I am lucky to remember my own name or my kids names!!

Someone asked me what I named my baby the other day and I just stood there for about 10 seconds until it finally came to me! Oh yeah Chelsea that's it!! Geesh!

Happy Birthday Cassie!!!

2010-01-15T12:25:00.001-06:00

Cassidy Elizabeth Brown is 8 years old today!! I can't believe it!! She shouldn't be that old yet ~
I really shouldn't be that old yet!!! haha

Here are some pics of my 1st baby girl!!

She is crazy. She is moody. She is loving.

She is smart. She is loved. She is 8 years old.

She is a great big sister. She is funny.

She is a night owl. She loves her brothers.

She loves her baby sister. She is girly.

She is a fashionista. She talks to herself a lot.

She is creative. She is competitive. She is emotional.

She is and always will be my baby girl.

Happy Birthday Peedie!!!

We love you!!

Seven Things

2010-01-12T13:44:00.000-06:00

My sister has tagged me in this Seven Things blog so here goes...

1. I had my 4th child 4 weeks ago. And yes we are done. And yes Brad is getting a vasectomy. Stop asking! It isn't really anyone's business but Brad and mine how many children we have or what our birth control choices are. I always wanted 4 and now I have four ~ the perfect amount 2 crazy handsome boys & 2 beautiful sweet girls!

2. As uncomfortable and sometimes painful pregnancy is ~ I will miss it. I always do. I won't get to experience it again and sometimes it makes me sad but I have all the kids we want and part of it is my post partum hormones talking.

3. I plan to be at my goal weight before July 10th. That is 6 months from now if you are counting. That is when my little brother is getting married. And when I will be in a hot little bridesmaid dress. I have just started working out again. Can't wait to be strong again. To have that little bump on my arms (muscles). To not have to search for something that fits, zips, buttons, or covers.

4. I am gonna be on my own for the next 3 weeks. Brad is working 7 days a week ~ 12 hour days. Which means he is only home for about 2 hours before the kids have to go to bed. They miss him and I really miss him! So that means he is tired when he gets home and needs to go to bed at a decent hour. I will be the one telling Cassie to lay down for the 27th time and I will be the one taking AJ back to his room letting him choose sleeping on the floor over the bed. I will be the one changing all the diapers, waking in the middle of the night, sleeping 4 hours, then getting up to get kids ready for school, and I will be so happy when this outage is over and things get back to normal!!!

5. I let my babies sleep where ever they will sleep. Cassie slept in her swing several times, Nathan slept in his bassinet or in bed with me, AJ slept in bed with me, and Chelsea sleeps in her boppy pillow on our bed or lying right next to me. All of my kids were fond of nursing while lying in bed with me and usually I pass out during this.

6. I still have a stack of Christmas cards sitting in front of me. They have pictures of the kids in them and I wrote them out before Chelsea was born so I had to wait to get a picture of Chelsea to put in them. Maybe I will hand them out at Cassie's birthday party on Saturday (if I remember).

7. I have a new addiciton to the show Forensic Files. I currently have 10 episodes recorded on my DVR and that is how I plan to spend the rest of my afternoon. Even though my laundry pile runneth over and the kids rooms are a mess ~ I will be sitting in the chair watching Forensic Files and dozing off while my two little Brownies are napping. So good day I got to get to it.

Motivation

2010-01-11T19:53:00.000-06:00

Ok so I finally got into the YMCA to workout today. I did 30 minutes on the eliptical and it felt great! We will see how it feels tomorrow!! :) But I have done that dreaded first step ~ I went back! Now I am 27.5 lbs away from my goal. I have lost 31 lbs since having my baby girl. I want my strong athletic body back! And I will get it back! Cuz I have to fit into and look hot in this...

I have 6 months!

PS I have no idea how women with C cups or larger do anything! Especially workout!! My non-prego-non-breastfeeding size is an A or barely a B. I have never complained about this because I like my small boobies! These C and sometimes bigger depending on feeding time are in my way and do not feel so good when they are moving around. haha

Here is my birds and bees type talk with Nathan the other day.

I am giving Chelsea a bath and AJ and Nathan are helping/watching.
Nathan: Well she's got her belly button now but she doesn't have her pee pee yet.
Me: (trying not to laugh) She has her pee pee bud. Girls don't have the same pee pees as boys do.
Nathan: Why not?
Me: They are just different. That is what a girl's pee pee looks like.
Nathan: Let me see.
Me: Look right there that is her pee pee.
Nathan: No yours! Let me see YOUR pee pee.
Me: (laughing) Mine looks just like hers you don't need to see mine.
Nathan: OK I will just wait til you take a bath next time and look.
Me: Why don't you go play in your room.

**I am making sure I shower when Nathan is at school for a while. hahahaha

Baby Weight and Bridesmaid Dress

2010-01-07T16:11:00.000-06:00

Ok it is almost exactly 6 months away from my brother's wedding. In which I will be wearing a sassy silver bridesmaid dress. I have to order it before the end of January. And let us not forget I gave birth to my 4th child 22 days ago!! I am to measure myself and call the bridal shop so they can order my dress. I am dreading what size they will tell me I need as of now and the arguement that may occur when I tell them I need a smaller size. But the motivation to get this weight off is going to be great. (I wasn't even being sarcastic) I need a goal and this dress and looking like a hot 30 year old mother of 4 is what it is going to take!!

I am going to have them order me a size 12 no matter what size they tell me I will need. Then I will need to have it altered even smaller by July. I am getting antsy about getting back to working out. I have 30 lbs I want to lose. Sadly only about 5-7 are from this pregnancy ~ the other 25 are from #3. But I will get it off!!

I will be working out with Derek everyday and then eating better (somewhat) I can't go on a super strict diet because I am breastfeeding. Miss Chelsea is more sensitive to what I eat than any of the other Brownies. Like for instance I had 3 hot wings that were not all that hot because I could eat them and I am a wimp. But she was not happy with how my milk tasted later that night she was ticked. I thought I was going to have to have Brad get her some formula for that feeding but we got thru it with no bottle. I have had to cut down on my dairy because she pukes if I drink too much milk. And I. LOVE. MILK. I love cereal (at least 2-3 bowls at a time) and I will drink a big glass of milk everyday. Not anymore :( but it is better than having an unhappy puking little girl. I just have to find something else to eat for breakfast and lunch. Oh well.

So my workouts will start slow and I will probably start next week because I just can't wait any longer. I wish it was warm and me and the little ones could go for walks but that will have to wait til spring. For now I will be at the YMCA. I am going to take Miss Chelsea with me into the wellness center instead of leaving her in the ~~germ factory~~ playroom. AJ will have to be sanitized when he leaves there. And I will have to get over the initial going back and talking to everyone for 30 minutes before I actually get to workout.

All the Christmas candy will find its way into the trash can too. I will go grocery shopping for ~~good~~ healthy food. And I will use my calorie burn from breastfeeding to get this weight off. One good thing about having 4 kids is that I don't have much time to eat so it should be easier to lose weight! :)

Resolutions

2010-01-01T10:38:00.000-06:00

Ok So it is a New Year 2010 baby!! I am not gonna be like so many of my facebook friends and say that 2009 sucked it and proclaim 2010 as a new beginning. 2009 was just fine in my book. I got pregnant with my 4th child, I turned 30, Cassie and Nathan are both in all day school, AJ is my little stinker that gets to stay home with me all day, and I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Chelsea Belle. So what if you had some bad luck in 2009 be happy you have your health, families, and friends. Can't stand it when people who have kids talk about how nothing is good in their lives! Grow up people!! I think you need to count your blessings instead of all the crap that you think is being done to you!!

Sorry that turned into a bit of a rant!! Onward...

2010 is not a new beginning it is just a continuation of my great life. I have four amazing children and a wonderful husband. And an awesome extended family that I love spending time with!! So I am blessed!

Onto the resolution part of this blog. I have lost almost 30 lbs since giving birth to Miss Chelsea ~ I gained about 35 ish. But (this is a big butt ~ spelled correctly) I had about 20 lbs of AJ baby weight still lingering around my rump! haha My Dr. said that women in general only lose about 70% of the weight they gain with each pregnancy which would put me about 36 lbs over what I was before I got pregnant with Cassie. Which is pretty much where I am now. And if I am lazy and eat whatever I want I would stay this weight forever. However I do NOT plan on doing that. Once I am up to it I will be back at the YMCA with Derek working out. Anyone who wants to can join us. I plan on going in the morning with Derek and then in the evening with anybody who wants a workout buddy ~ mother and father. Braddy will be working 7 ~ 12 hours days a week for about a month so I will have to do something to get out of the house or I will GO CRAZY ~ or crazier that is.

Another resolution is to not let my part-time job interfere with my family's or my own happiness. It is just a part-time job. It does not put food on our table ~ I make $8.00 an hour for crying out loud!! I will only say yes to the jobs that I want to do and not be guilted into doing things just because I am the only one who knows how to do things ~ people can be taught!!! If I didn't do it ~ someone will be forced to learn so I think it will be ok.

Another resolution is to enjoy my kids ~ I already do enjoy them but to chill out about their rooms being clean, not being able to find glasses, library books, homework pages, etc... Cassie and Nathan are such good helpers with Chelsea and AJ even helps get diapers and stuff.

Another resolution is to try not to have an eye twitch everytime someone asks me how the kids are doing with the baby. And when they ask if AJ is jealous it is more annoying than the 'don't you know what causes that?' comment. They all love her!!! Cassie is very happy to finally have a little sister! She is her 2nd mother. Nathan is the most lovey dovey with her which kind of surprised me I will admit because he acts so nonchalant about everything but Chelsea. And AJ is NOT jealous!! He loves her ~ sometimes a little too much. I think the song "Love Hurts" is about a toddler loving a baby. He wants to hug her, kiss her, hold her, and point out all her 'little features'. Little eyes, little nose, little ears, little mouth, little fingers... all while actually poking or or grabbing said features.

And yes I have 4 kids and yes I am a little crazy but I am going to have a house full of people at Christmas when I am a Grandma and that is all that matters!!!

Ok so I am gonna wrap this up because it is getting to be a short novel. Bring it on 2010!! I will leave you with a few pictures from Christmas time.

Cassie and Chelsea

Nathan playing his DS

AJ with is rugburned nose on Christmas morning

Cassie with her Snuggie

Miss Chelsea with her Santa dress

AJ chillin in Cassie and Chelsea's room

Chelsea with her pretty bow

Nathan pointing at Cassie taking his picture?

~All 4 Brownies the day after Christmas~

Chelsea Renee is here!!

2009-12-19T13:01:00.000-06:00

After what I thought was my hardest pregnancy ever... Miss Chelsea Renee surprised and delighted her mama by being the fastest and easiest labor and delivery!! Here is the run down for the day...

7:00 am ~ go into hospital to be induced, hooked up to baby monitors to see if there is any contractions before Dr. Morisetty decides what we are going to do for sure.

10:00 am ~ Dr. says I need Cervadil because I am only dialated to a 2 to soften the cervix. Sidenote: This is a flat looking tampon thing that has drugs in it that they put up against the cervix to soften it and it is a 12 hour drug. Which means it will be in for 12 hours before they will start pitocin. Which puts me at delivery well after 10 pm. Not too happy about that.

11:00 ~ start having contractions on my own with just Cervadil in.

2 ish ~ Contractions pretty strong Cervadil out now dialated to 3 cm ~ I request my epidural (which I have never had before with the other 3 Brownies)

(Dr. Morisetty told me that if I wanted and epidural it had to be done between 3 and 4 cm or I wouldn't have time for one because after I got to 4 he said it would go super fast from 4-10 cm)

3:15 ~ Epidural is in and taking affect

3:30 ~ I get super tired all the sudden and then there are 4 nurses in the room and they tip my bed so that I am almost tipped upside down, there is one rubbing my stomach vigorously (although I didn't feel it very much) and the other nurse is putting epenhedrine in my IV. Then they go ok we'll just have to keep an eye on you. My blood pressure had dropped big time and that made the baby's heartbeat drop too.

3:45 ~ After the all clear with the BP dropping ~ The nurses leave the room and I look at Brad and tell him I think my water just broke. He offers to check for me ~ I was like I don't you want to check. haha So he calls the nurse and she comes in and checks and sure enough it had broke. So she checked me and now I am dialated to a 6-7 cm.

4:05 ~ They check me again and I am a 9 - 10 cm and ready to go. They have to call the Dr. and he has to drive from his office by DMH to St. Mary's quickly! haha
(When the nurses said they were calling him they all said we know what he is going to say 'Tell her not to push yet' ~ I have heard him say that before too!

Sometime after this I start shaking uncontrollably my legs, arms, my teeth rattling ~ the nurse said it was just my hormones.

4:15 ~ I now have an audience awaiting Dr. Morisetty ~ 3 labor/delivery nurses, a baby nurse, and a resident med student all standing and watching me waiting for the dr. My nurse Janice that was with me all day asked if I felt like a pot of water waiting to boil. I can't believe how much more enjoyable this process is when you are not in severe pain!! It was not bad at all.

4:25 ~ Dr. is there and I start pushing ~ Miss Chelsea is laying on her side so most of my early pushing is her turning to face down the way she is supposed to be.

4:44 ~ Miss Chelsea Renee is born!! 7lbs 13 oz (my biggest baby) 19 3/4 inches with lots of black hair!!

This was by far the easiest, quickest delivery. I felt like a dummy for not having an epidural for the 19 hour labor of Andrew!! I had no incisions or tearing (first time ever!!)

Here she is Chelsea Renee Brown ~

About 20 minutes old

Proud Big Brother Nathan

Super Happy Big Sister Cassie

Miss Chelsea ready to go home!!

My mom took all the pics of AJ with Chelsea so I will put one on here when I get them.

Nathan said, Hmmm So that's what baby's eyebrows look like ~ kinda fuzzy.

AJ was so excited to see her! He kept saying 'She nice' 'She cute' Little fingers, little eyes, little ears, little nose.

Cassie was so happy to have a little sister. She came and saw us both days in the hospital and held her all the time. She also cried every night when she had to leave because she wanted to stay at the hospital.

Now all the Brownies are home and happy! Now we are Brown ~ Party of 6!

Waiting on a baby girl!

2009-12-10T08:33:00.000-06:00

Ok so I am 38 1/2 weeks pregnant now. I have been having little random contractions and a lot of pressure every so often. But no water breaking or anything that would send me to the hospital. Tomorrow I will go to the Dr. and find out when I can be induced. He is hopefully going to tell me I can go tomorrow if I want and I will say yes please!! If not I will say, How about today?? I could go today!! I'm ready, I'm ready right now, I gotta sign somethin? So hopefully tomorrow I will get to go to the hospital.

Now for a bit of complaing ~ consider yourself warned! My legs haven't really been swollen since last week when I went to the dr. But my feet on the other hand have been. The last couple days if I sit or stand for too long without putting my feet up they swell. And it is not my whole foot it is the area right below my ankles on the inside and it looks like I have two tumors it is very uncomfortable. And the left is always bigger. My back doesn't really hurt like it did with the other babies. My hips do hurt and I have had pressure off and on for about 3 weeks now. And tomorrow if I am not dialted more than a 1 like I was last week ~ I don't know what will happen!! I will be ticked! My abdomen is sore and crampy. Ok that is all for now!

Last night all 3 kids remained in their beds after bedtime and went to sleep and stayed there until morning. This has not happened for a few weeks. It was amazing!

Also last night I slept long enough to have some weird dreams! I dreamt that I went to the dr to be induced and woke up to find myself in a dentist chair having my braces removed instead. I couldn't talk because of all the instruments in my mouth and I was woozy. The dentist and his assistant said 'oh your teeth look so good without braces' and I couldn't talk until they were done and I got a drink. Then I said I am still pregnant and they said yeah but you got your braces off. Who knows!!

Then I had a dream that I was hungry late at night and all the restaurants were closed so I had to meet some guy in the back parking lot of IGA to let me in to get food. And I was so worried that someone was going to tell Brad I was meeting some guy in IGA's parking lot. Don't remember much else about that one.

The kids are getting excited for Christmas Break, Christmas, and a new baby sister. AJ isn't really sure where this baby is that everyone keeps talking about but I think he will be so excited to see her when she arrives!

I have a couple quotes/funnies for ya!

Yesterday I was in the bathroom and the door flies open and AJ is standing there chomping on a cold hot dog then says, "Naaaaaahhh What's up Doc??" Then laughs really hard and runs away! I was dying laughing! He has only seen Looney Tunes a couple times.

Then this morning we were getting ready for school and Nathan was not getting ready like I said. I told him to get his boots and coat on or I was gonna count to 3 then I was gonna smack him around. (It is a figure of speech don't get your liberal panties in a wad!) He looks at me very seriously and says, "Well start counting."

Waiting Waiting and Waiting some more

2009-12-03T08:20:00.000-06:00

Tuesday night we went to the hospital for a non-stress test because this little girl hadn't moved in a couple hours. Usually it is non stop kicking from about 8:30-11:00 or so. But from the time I laid down at 8:30 til about 10:00 she hadn't kicked or moved at all. Which just freaks me out. I had had a lot of pressure earlier in the evening. Which with the other kids I never had until I was in the hospital being induced. So we called the Dr. then called my mom and she came in and stayed with the kids that were already asleep thankfully. We got to the hospital a little after 11:00.

I am not kidding as soon as the monitor was put on my stomach ~ she kicked it. Which was great but it seems like she may already be ornery like her siblings! So the entire time I am hooked up (about 45 minutes) she kicks about 20 times. I was having little contractions but nothing regular or anything. When we got home I had about an hour more of these annoying contractions. They are annoying because they don't really hurt and I still haven't had this baby yet. haha

Last night we went to the Christmas parade after we all laid down I had about an hour of annoying contractions again. With all 3 other babies I have never had contractions or gone into any sort of labor on my own. So I am hopeful that I will go before I have to be induced. I always had a random contraction here or there with the other babies but nothing that lasted for an hour and I have not had pressure like with this one either. This is all probably just getting my hopes up, but we will see.

I go to the Dr. again tomorrow ~ I am hoping to be dialated to like a 3. But I told Brad when you have 3 kids I think you are always dialted to at least a 3 at all times haha!

Here are somethings that could happen tomorrow ~ my water breaks when he checks me ~ I am dialted more than 3 ~ even better my water breaks today! But like I said I have never gone into labor on my own so these things are probably not going to happen. With the other kiddos I walked a lot after 37 weeks to get things started ~ it didn't work. But this time I can hardly walk around the grocery store because my hips hurt and my legs are tingly.

But I will wait until this little girl is ready to come out. I am sure he will induce me at 39 weeks like he did last time. That would be December 15th but maybe I can ask if he could do it on Friday the 11th. If I am going to be induced any way I might as well do it over the weekend so Brad doesn't have to miss much work and the kids will be out of school and my parents can watch them without taking time off work. Might as well make it convient. :)

Ok So hopefully tomorrow some of my maybes and mights will be answered. I will keep you posted!!

C'mon Baby Chelsea!!

2009-11-30T16:01:00.000-06:00

Today I had my first weekly appt. According to my doctor I will be 37 weeks tomorrow so I can go at any time now. I say 'can' but I am not hopeful. I have been induced all 3 times and don't expect anything to happen on its own this time either. I had my Dr. appt today and was supposed to be checked to see if I have dialated but I needed to have my sonogram first to check to see if my low-lying placenta was "blocking the exit". So he didn't want to check my cervix without knowing where exactly my placenta was so he would do any damage.

I was a little grumpy about this because he scheduled my appt. for 2 hours before my sonogram. Oh well. Even if I am dialated I will have to be induced again I am sure because with Nathan and AJ I was dialted to a 3 for 3 weeks and still had to wait to be induced.

At my sonogram we found out that my placenta is now at the top of my uterus so all systems are go. And I do not have to have a C-section which makes me very happy! But I wanted to double check to make sure it was in fact a girl but she had her butt pressed up against my placenta and would not show us. And her head was so far down that she couldn't get a picture of her face either. So I got a nice picture of her spine. haha. She is in the correct position head down, back out so she is in the starting block.

Now I will start the at home BS that is supposed to induce labor that has not worked the other 3 times. Brad keeps offering to "induce" me but we tried that 3 times before and I am conviced that some man said that sex would induce labor just to get some. haha It is a load of crap! So I will be checking out stuff to do to get labor going but it won't work and I will be induced at 39 weeks again.

My bag is half-ass packed ~ only the clothes in her diaper bag have been washed ~ my fridge is empty. So I will have some things to do in the next couple weeks to keep me busy.

But my laundry pile is under control for now. The other kids have clean clothes that are actually in their drawers. Our house is clean for the most part. The Christmas tree and decorations are up. The Christmas presents are bought and half of them are wrapped.

Now just waiting...my most un-favorite thing to do in the entire world!

And note to self I will not be going into public again until after the baby is born. I went to the Eagles Saturday night because the band was playing and I wanted to spend time with grown-ups. I wish I would have stayed home because about 27 people thought they knew me well enough to either touch my belly, say something about how big I was, ask me how many kids I have only to have some stupid ass remark like 'don't you know what causes that yet? HA HA', even had one drunk guy try to guess how many months along I was then guess how much the baby was going to weigh. I was very nice to these people even though I strongly considered punching some of them. Small talk is so annoying when you are pregnant because it consists of you answering all the same questions and listening to people say the same "funny" things to you over and over again.

I go back to the Dr. on Friday so he can check me and maybe he will break my water on accident or I will have induced myself by then. (Yeah right!) I am just going to say I have 2 weeks for sure left! Don't want to get my hopes up!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2009-11-26T09:11:00.000-06:00

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! I did not go into labor yet so I guess I will be attending all Thanksgiving dinners haha. Here is a little Thanksgiving quote from my children.

Nathan was telling me how the Pilgrims and Native Indians did not have cars or phones. I was agreeing with him saying no bud they didn't.

Then Cassie pipes up and says, "You know what the Pilgrims did have?? Diseases ~ that the Native Indians did not have immunity to and Pocahontas died."

Wah Wah

Debbie Downer!!

Honest Scrap Award

2009-11-05T14:49:00.000-06:00

Ok I am not as into blogging and reading blogs and talking about blogs as my sister Natalie who gave me this award ~ Thank you!! But I will do the 10 Honest Things About Me. I don't read 7 blogs so I can't spread the love that hasn't already been awarded to all the people I know. haha

So here goes ~

10 Honest Things About Me

1. I love staying home with my kids and raising them! I would have 10 if we could afford and wouldn't have to live off the state! Cassidy, Nathan, AJ and the soon to be Miss Chelsea are my life and I love them dearly!!

2. I have a serious love/hate relationship with being pregnant!! I love being pregnant when I am feeling the baby kick, talking about babies, showing off my big belly and sharing my experiences with other moms. I hate being pregnant when I am trying to get out of my bed or chair, or when I am trying to help AJ or carry him, and really hate being incontinent and having to pee every 5 minutes. But we all know the end result is super worth it!! :)

3. I love my husband for many reasons ~ one being I can say pretty much whatever I am thinking about a subject, person, or whatever and he either agrees with me or at least lets me say my peace!!

4. I think Baked Cheetos wrapped in Carl Budding Beef with a side of Pepsi is about the most delicious snack ever!! And not just because I am pregnant I have been doing that since like jr. high.

5. I hide "my" snacks from my children. I will put my hostess cupcakes and fruit roll-ups in a cabinet they can't even see into little alone reach. :) Too bad ice cream would melt if I put it up there!

6. At any bathroom, especially public ones, I will tear off about a foot of TP and throw it out before I get what I am going to use. I don't know when I started this but I do it and can't help it. What if the person before me touched this TP to rip off their piece ~ do I really want that?? lol

7. Summer is my favorite season! I love playing softball and swimming and being outside in general! Anyone who has more than 1 child and says any other season is crazy!!

*No socks ~ sandals or flip flops

*No coats to zip or cram into a carseat

*Kids can be outside!! a lot

*Swimming wears them out!!

*Getting dressed requires at most 3 items ~ shirt, shorts, underwear ~ done!!

8. I will DVR something that is on TV now and flip thru channels or pause it until it is at least 20 minutes into the show to avoid commercials. I am a DVR hog!! On Wednesday nights I record like 5 shows. My poor husband can't watch anything he wants because if I try to watch my shows live ~ he makes fun of most of them so I record them which takes up 2 TV's and one of which is in our room which angers him a little. But he just goes and plays guitar ~ practice is good for him!

9. I will eat cereal for every meal! My cabinet has about 8 boxes of cereal in it. This also annoys my husband who needs a hot meal that includes some form of meat and potato in it.

10. I should seriously see about buying my milk straight from a dairy or just buying a cow! We go through between 4-6 gallons of milk a week ~ every week!! My kids drink chocolate milk all the time. And my cereal consumption also has something to do with it.

So there you go!! I could keep going with the honesty but then what would I write about the next time? :)

KIDS!

2009-11-05T08:44:00.000-06:00

Two nights ago I was laying on the couch and the baby was really kicking so I called Cassie over to sit down with me to feel it. She is feeling the baby kick and she loves doing that. Then she tells me that my belly button looks like the end of a hot dog! I start laughing and so does Brad. Well when I am laughing my belly button/hot dog end goes in and out which makes the kids laugh even harder. Alright enough belly time! lol

Then Nathan comes over to feel the baby kick ~ he really does not care but thought it was kind of cool. And then he asks me which hole is the baby going to come out of? Then points to my belly button and then to my mouth and says well which one?? I am again laughing and making my hot dog like belly button go in and out which gets him laughing and then he just walks off without an answer. So I was kinda happy bout that!! With AJ he told everyone AJ popped out of my belly button. So why burst his bubble!

I am actually surprised Cassie ~ our little Miss Information ~ did not pipe up and give him a lesson in gynecology. Because she does know which hole they come out of and proudly told everyone when I was pregnant with AJ. haha I let her watch A Baby Story with me so she is quite knowledgeable on the subject.

And AJ just likes to come touch my stomach. We asked him about 4 months ago where mommy's baby is and he pointed to himself and said "MEEEEEE!!" So now when we ask where is mommy's baby he pulls up my shirt and pokes his little finger into my hot dog belly button and says "in there". And we say where is mommy's big boy? and he puts his hand on his head or chest and says "MEEE!! or AJ!!

We are all getting so excited to see this little girl. I only have 6 weeks left!! We are all bummed about having to miss going to Aunt Vonnie's this year after Thanksgiving. We always drive the 5 hours to her house in MO on Friday after Thanksgiving and spend the weekend there. The kids always have so much fun!! I wish I could at least send Cassie and Nathan over there. I will be 37 weeks by then and don't think a 5 hour car ride is something I want to do. And I kind of want to go to my hospital and my doctor to have the baby ~ weird I know! :)

Nathan quote: (oh there is more) A couple days ago he had got out of bed and came out happy that the sun was shining and it was actually "daytime" when he had to get up. I went in his room and he had opened all his blinds and the sun was shining right on AJ's bed. So I came out and told him please don't open your blinds cuz it might wake AJ up.
He says well I just wanted to see if it was daytime and if the sun was out.
I said that is fine just open 1 blind and see then close it again next time.
He looks at me very seriously (as always) and says "Well good now we got that settled!"

Family Pictures

2009-10-29T11:07:00.002-05:00

We had our family pictures taken last Sunday by our friend Becky Rodgers out at Weldon Springs. These were our last pictures as a Party of 5. In just 7 short weeks we will be Brown ~ Party of 6!! I can not wait to meet this little girl who has been using my vital organs as soccer balls!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our photo shoot!

This is my favorite one of our family!

Favorite kid picture!

Cassie's Favorite

I love this one of Nathan! He has so many different expressions and faces! haha

AJ with his cheesy grin!!

Cassie, Mommy & Baby Girl Chelsea

Me and Braddy! & baby!!

Now I can't wait until Miss Chelsea is here so we can get our full family picture done. We will probably do that in the spring time!

Nathan quote: I have had a cold and cough for like 4 days and this morning I was telling Cassie to hurry up and get dressed. Nathan is in the kitchen and starts laughing. I say "What?" And he says laughing, "Whoa Nice man voice Mom!"

Yes I do sound like a man with this cold! I am anxiously awaiting the return of my woman voice!!

Fetal Position??

2009-10-13T09:29:00.000-05:00

I don't think anyone informed Miss Baby Chelsea that there is such a thing as fetal position. Right now I think she is stretched out horizontal and has her feet in one kidney and her head in my other one! This has been going on for over an hour. I have drank juice, gone to the bathroom, tried laying on both sides and moving around to get her to move. But she must like it. It feels like a super running cramp right now.

I have started going to the doctor every 2 weeks now. And I have to have another sonogram at 36 weeks for my low-lying placenta. He said he is not concerned but we have to do it to make sure. He also said "The placenta is not blocking the exit, right now." Which was kinda funny. I had to have this done with AJ too. At 36 weeks I had a sonogram with AJ to see if the placenta was blocking the exit. And it was not. After she got the info she needed she tried to get a picture of his face for us. This went on for about 10 minutes of her saying his head is just to low it is right up against your cervix, I can't get a good picture. Then Brad steps in and says, "I don't think it matters we are going to see him in a couple weeks anyway." Which I was relieved because then the lady stopped pushing on my stomach and bladder!

Cold season is at our house! I have a chesty type cough and headache. Which I am in denial of. AJ has been pretty quiet this morning and Nathan coughed a couple times before school. So I am off to Wal-Mart to stock up on kleenex, lysol/clorox products, cold medicine and anything else we need.

And I don't think me or the kids will get vaccinated for the H1N1 flu. The schools are offering it for free. But my kids have never had a flu shot before and I am just not that sure of it. But there are a lot of other moms who are not doing it either. So I guess we will just wait and see.

Since she still hasn't moved I am going to take a warm shower and see if that helps.

Nathan quote:

I am in the shower yesterday (which was Columbus Day) Nathan runs into the bathroom and says, "MOM??" I say "What bud?"
Nathan, "THIS IS THE BEST COLUMBUS DAY EVER!!!!!"
Ok Son!!
I believe this was dubbed the best Columbus day ever because he didn't have to go to school or put on pants all day! lol And for the record none of my children got dressed or put on pants all day yesterday!

And I forgot this one. Friday after school I picked Nathan up and he got in the van and says, "Mom, you know what you get for picking me up??"
Me: "What do I get?"
Nathan: "A thumbs up and a BOO-YAH!"
I laugh and look in my rear view mirror and he is giving me a thumbs up and yells "BOO-YAH!" and then does this crazy laugh.
Too funny!

And the part I said about AJ being quiet this morning is over! haha

Just in time

2009-10-10T20:33:00.000-05:00

I have pictures of the kids in a frame that has their hospital picture, 1 mo., 2 mo, etc up to their 1 year old picture in it. I finally finished AJ's yesterday! haha Ok so I haven't exactly been on top of things. I am going to say it only took me 1 1/2 years to do it because he is 2 1/2 now. :)

Here is what they look like. Hopefully baby Chelsea's will be done before she goes to kindergarten ;)

Nathan

Cassie

Here's all 3 of them. I know they look weird because I just stuck AJ's up there so it would be done!!

My funny funny children

2009-10-10T17:42:00.000-05:00

OK I have to start this by setting the scene. We are leaving to go to Decatur to get Nathan's new glasses. Brad made homemade biscuits for breakfast. As we are leaving Cassie and Nathan both grab one to eat with jelly. They finish them as they are walking out the door.

And we are getting in the van and the neighbors across the street (who happen to be Mexican) have about 4 or 5 cars in front of their house and several people on the porch. Cassie looks over there and looks at me and Brad and says, "Looks like our neighbors are having a fiesta!" and as she says fiesta does a little shimmy. It was so funny!!! Brad and I are trying not to laugh too loud because the neighbors are right across the street and outside. Cassie says "What? They are having a fiesta aren't they??" Just get in the van!! Brad says we should blame Dora!

Then about 60 seconds after the fiesta comment, Nathan says, "Dad next time we go for a ride you need to bring your biscuits." We chuckle at this comment. Then he says, "HA I'm all about the biscuits!!" Which makes us laugh very hard. So we knew they were all full of it for the day!!

AJ also has a very sweet way of getting you to do things for him. He puts his hands together like he is begging and says PEEEAAAAZZZZEEEE!!! Then he will look right at you and say again Peaze Daddy or Peaze Momma. You can't help but say yes to this!! Usually it is directed at Brad to give him another horsey ride or to wrestle again.

Kelsey had her baby!

2009-10-10T07:55:00.000-05:00

Kelsey had her baby probably right before I was typing my blog!! I got a picture of her beautiful baby girl at 3:00 pm. She named her Karoline Lee! She has some dark hair and is so cute. I am going down to see her next week when she gets home from the hospital! I can't wait!! Congratulations Kelsey! You will be a great mommy!!

30 Weeks down 10 more (or less) to go!

2009-10-09T14:51:00.000-05:00

I am 30 weeks pregnant today. I have 10 weeks left. Yesterday I felt horrible! My body ached all over and hurt to move even a little bit.

I had to work yesterday from 8:30-11:30 at a job that I don't feel appreciated for doing. That is another story. When it was time to leave usually on Thursdays at 11:30 AJ swims at the Y. He talked/guilted me into going home and grabbing our suits so he could swim. The big red boat was in the pool and he kept saying Mama I swim, Mama big boat, Peeaazzzeee Mama. Oh alright! Seeing how happy he was swimming and playing in the boat made me feel a little better (mood wise). As for body wise I was hurting! My belly and back hurt so bad! I had tried sleeping in the chair then on the couch the last 2 nights and I must have slept wrong (the 3 or 4 hours I actually slept). Last night I went to bed in my bed and slept all night and woke up this morning feeling great. At least as great as you can feel when you are 30 weeks pregnant.

Went to the doctor today and got my rhogam shot. I am A- and Brad is A+ which means I get a shot in my 3rd trimester. Then not to long after the babies are born in the hospital I get another one. I have started going every 2 weeks so now time is going to go by fast. At least I am hoping. I did my glucose test on Wednesday morning. The drink they give you is so gross. She asked me if I wanted orange or lemon lime. I asked does it matter?? You have only 5 minutes to drink this sugary nasty stuff that is in like a 10 oz bottle. I had a headache the rest of the day from it. But the test came back OK. In the middle of November I get to do the weekly pelvic exams! So excited for that!

Brad's cousin Kelsey was due on October 4th and she still hasn't had that baby! She has been to the doctor several times this week and they keep sending her home. She is dialated to a 3 as of yesterday so at least there is some progress. This little girl will be her 1st and I am so excited for her. I hope she has her over the weekend so I can go down and see her!! She doesn't have her name yet because she is going to have to see her first to give her just the right name. I just know Cassie will have to go with me when I go see her. She is getting excited for her little sister to get here.

The girls' room is almost done. We still have to fix the ceiling tiles (annoyed sigh) and get Mr. AJ out of the crib. This is a task that I have been putting off for lack of a better reason ~ laziness. I will be the one sitting in the room putting him back into the big boy bunk bed a hundred times a night. I may have to cut his naps down so that he will be extra tired at night. We will see, hopefully I will work up the motivation to do it next week.

The kids have decided on their Halloween costumes. Cassie will be Raven from Teen Titans. I will take her picture in the costume but this is what it looks like.

Nathan is going to be Robin from Teen Titans.

And AJ is going to be a horse. Cassie and Nathan wanted him to be someone else from Teen Titans but he wouldn't even know who he was supposed to be. So he picked a horse.

Not sure if Brad and I are going to dress up or not. We will see.

Nathan quote: Last night I let the kids stay up a little past their usually bed time of 8:30 or was planning to at least. At 8:15 I went in Cassie's room where all the kids were watching cartoons and turned the light off and told them they could finish watching their show and then go to bed.

At 8:30 Nathan comes out into the living room and says in a very exasperated tone, "Is it bedtime yet??" I said, "Are you tired? Do you want to go to bed?" He looks at me very serious (as always) "Well yes! I AM going to bed because I am tired!" I said, "well then it's bedtime you can go to bed."

Any other night they just protest when I say it is bedtime and last night Nathan acted like he had to beg me to tell him to go to bed! Too funny.

Home Improvement Pictures!!

2009-09-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

Aside from my beautiful daughter you can see the carpet, glue covered linoleum and the 4 rows of tiles we had put down. There are many before pics because I didn't take many pictures in there because of the nasty floor!!

This my table with the nice new floor underneath!!

Nice new floor!! Now I need to find some rugs for it I think.

This is the old back door! It has been this way since 2007! We are losers!! But it will be fixed this weekend!!

**and yes that is my washing machine in the kitchen ~ don't even get me started on that one!!!

** And yes since my post this morning I cleaned up the kitchen and bedroom just to take these pictures!

Now on to the bedroom!

Our bed does take up most of the room but we don't care because all we do is sleep in there.

Someone had to come see what I was doing!

Go-Gurts are the best!! Yummo!!

My shelf is missing one picture! It will be evened out in December! On the hooks below I want to get something with all the kids names to hang down from it. I will probably make something with stencils when I do I will put more pics up.

Home improvements/Crazy Pregnant Nesting

2009-09-30T08:32:00.000-05:00

We have been very busy in this little Brown house. We have switched rooms with Cassie so the girls (Cassie and Chelsea (yes we have a name Chelsea Renee) can have what was our room because it is bigger. We moved back into the small room. My future sister in law Hilary help me immensely!! Thank you so much Hilary!! Two weeks ago on a Tuesday morning I sent the kids off on the bus and sat AJ in front of Nick Jr. and got to work. I cleaned out what is going to be our laundry room and a little playroom for the kids (to be finished Spring of 2010). That took about an hour and a half. Then I went to work on Cassie's room. I put all her toys in baskets, carried out all her bigger toys, took apart her bed and put everything into the laundry room. I then took down all her posters, stickers, and taped up drawings off her bubble gum pink walls. I was just getting finished with this when Hilary got here with her carpet shampooer and her love of cleaning. lol. We vacuumed and washed the walls. Then she shampooed the carpets. Then we got to painting. We painted the room Ocean Fog it is a blueish green color. We finished the painting and she did another run with the shampooer. When Brad got home later, he and I moved all of our furniture into that room. Needless to say this pregnant lady was worn out!!

The next day was gonna be worse!! Our bedroom aka the room where all things accumulate and never leave was a disaster!! We went thru dresser drawers and moved them into the new room. Found 2-3 garbage bags worth of trash. Finally it was done. She shampooed the carpet and we moved all Cassie's things in. We left the computer desk because there is going to be some major sorting thru the junk that is piled on it. And we need a smaller desk to put it in the laundry/playroom. Then Hilary and I cleaned up the boys room which was easy. And she shampooed their carpets.

And I don't even know what day it was but Brad dismantled the huge rickety entertainment center and gave away the huge TV that was on it. Now we have our slightly smaller tv on a small stand and it makes our living room look so much better and more open. And we shampooed the living room carpets.

Then I got ambitious last week and started our kitchen floor. This kitchen floor has been my nemesis since we moved in here 11 years ago. It had this thin hideous aqua carpet in it. Years ago our fridge leaked and we had to cut some of this nasty carpet up. Under it we find perfectly good linoleum covered in carpet glue. I am not talking a little glue I mean whoever did this wanted this carpet to stay down in 100 mile an hour winds and thru the end of time! So a few years later when I was pregnant with AJ we decided we would rip up this carpet and see what we could do with the floor. It took forever to scrape up this glue enough to stick on the new floor tiles. Which is why for the last 3 years there has only been 3 rows done. We had 3 rows of good floor, a row of glue linoleum floor, and the rest was still the nasty carpet. I started in on it last week because I am pregnant and do things like this. I ripped a good size section of carpet up and started to scrape. I did this all day long and got about 5 more rows of tiles down. Brad came home from work and said lets do the rest. He rips up the rest and we get to work. We have had these tiles for about 3 years and we were 12 short. So the next day I went to Menard's to get the rest hoping they still had them and they did. So now my kitchen floor is DONE!! It only took 11 years of me hating that carpet!!

Why is it when you finally do something you are like 'Wow that didn't take that long or wasn't that hard...so why didn't we do it sooner??' Having the kitchen floor done seems like something so stupid to be so happy about but I was really happy about it!

Our next project is another that has been put on hold for who knows why. It is our old back door. It just needs 2 2x4's, some insulation, and a piece of drywall. This project is probably gonna set us back less than $30. So why haven't we done it yet?? UGH! 3 stinkin years!! So annoying! We have been spending our extra $ when we have it on eating out or going out or whatever. We had a conversation the other night about this. Why don't we skip going out to eat one time and finish something around here. Wow what a concept. We are going to Menard's tonight.

I will post pictures of our new rooms and kitchen floor when I can clean them up enough for everyone to see them. haha

Sorry if you were bored with reading this but that is what we have been doing these past few weeks. Brad said, "Wow we only need to have like 3 more kids and this house will be finished!" We go into crazy home improvement mode when I am pregnant.

My Nathan quote:

Nathan forgot something when he was leaving the other day and I brought it to him and told him he forgot it.

I said, "What would you ever do without me?"
He looks at me very seriously and says, "Panic, I guess."
Hahaha!

AJ is talking more and more these days and I am sure I will have to reserve a spot for his quotes too.

My 1st Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-30T07:58:00.000-05:00

My Crazy Dreams

2009-09-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

I always have crazy dreams but they are amplified by pregnancy...

Ok the first dream I am going to write about was early this morning right before Brad woke me up to go to work. I was hosting a banquet for Super Cross riders in this huge warehouse. I had a bunch of professional Super Cross people coming to eat at the banquet and then tons of fans and my family was going to be there. On the way to the banquet the bus carrying all the riders crashes and they all die.

The caterers ask me if we should go ahead and serve the dinner. And I said 'Yes we can't let all this cinnamon toast go to waste.' I look out at the hundreds of tables and each plate has one piece of cinnamon toast on it.

Then people start telling me I killed Jeremy McGrath and the other riders because they were on their way to my banquet.

Then Brad woke me up and I was all flustered. lol

Then last weekend when we were "camping" out at Grandma's I came home to sleep. I had a dream that we were all sitting around and talking like always and a opossum kept walking around us. I was the only one who thought this was a problem and everyone kept telling me to leave it alone and it was cute.

This opossum also kept changing from the disgusting opossum to the cute ones like on Ice Age 2 and standing on its hind feet. Well then the nasty opossum bites my niece Olivia because she was petting it and going all Elmyra on it. Everyone just tells me 'well she shouldn't have been messing with it'.

So finally my grandpa is going to get rid of this opossum. He gets my upright vacuum cleaner and starts to beat the opossum over the head with it. He finally knocks it out and I go over to look at it and it is Andrew!!! AAAAHHHHH! Then I woke up and immediately went in to his room to check on him. lol

Super Random Thoughts

2009-09-09T13:14:00.001-05:00

I am so excited for my baby shower!! That means it is almost baby time!

I can't wait til next weekend...we are doing a clean sweep/changing of the rooms which has happened everytime we have a new baby!! Brad and I are giving the girls our room and taking back the little room that is Cassie's. We are going to paint it because it is bubble gum pink! haha

Is there a way to make hinges on a chainlink fence gate stop working?? Our neighbor is in our yard about 5 times a day feeding/checking on our dogs. It is getting beyond annoying!!!

AJ is talking more and more...now that he isn't being told what to say all day long by big brother and sister.

I can't wait til February/March of next year when we will have the $$$ to finish the playroom/laundry room. That will be so nice!!

I am really ready for Apple n Pork so I can eat everything in sight!! BTW I made my Dr. Appt for the Friday before A & P so I won't have to worry about my weigh-ins!! It is almost worse than Weight Watchers haha.

I am seriously dragging a$$ today. My abdomen has this achey sore feeling like I over did it yesterday by walking around Weldon Springs and carrying AJ for 1/4 mile.

I have heartburn almost everyday now. I phenomenon I had never experienced until I was pregnant with Cassie and thought I was having a heart attack!!

I never really thought about my labor and delivery part of being pregnant as much as I have been doing lately. I am probably going to get an epidural...thanks to AJ aka Captain 19 hours of labor!! I am worried about this labor for some reason. I have always been like 'no biggie just gonna get this baby out' and this time I am dreading the labor part. Hopefully now that I am older (yuck) and wiser I will make decisions that make this labor go smoothly.

I watch 'A Baby Story' and cry almost everyday. I am a dork for doing so!

I have a new theory on conversing with people that I dislike or that annoy me...I don't. I completely avoided talking to a few people the other day even though we were about 5 feet away from each other for about an hour. After years of trying to be civil and make BS small talk...what is the point. I don't care if I ever talk to you again and you don't care if you ever talk to me again ~ unless it is to criticize my parenting or to tell me that you have done something bigger and better than I have ~ so let's just not talk! K? :)

I am excited to see my brother-in-law, Brent. I can't wait for him to meet AJ. He has been in Colorado for the last 4 years. I am ready to talk to somebody different with a different opinion. And believe me he will provide that!! haha

I do not want my baby to share a birthday with other children. I don't care how that sounds.

I left a bag at Decatur Wal-Mart last week and didn't go back for it because I did not realize it until the next day. It only had a paint brush, shampoo, and toothpaste in it. I had a cart full of pool noodles that I was buying for the Y and didn't make sure all of my stuff was in the cart. Probably because I couldn't see over the 15 noodles I stuffed in my cart.

I am not sending AJ to 3 year old preschool. Nathan loved it but then did not like 4 year old preschool because he was bored.

Why is that when people talk about a married couple (no matter who the couple is) someone always says something about them getting divorced or 'might be' or is 'having trouble'?? ANNOYING!! If you don't know for sure...as in talked to the husband or wife as of yesterday don't comment on the subject!! PS Brad and I are NOT having trouble or a divorce. :) lol

That is my dose of Randomness for the day. Sorry if you read this and are now thinking "That was a waste of 5 minutes I will never get back!!!"

2nd Grade, Kindergarten, and home with a 2 year old

2009-09-03T08:52:00.000-05:00

We will start with Cassie the second grader. Cassie is loving school!! She is like her mother and loves the social aspects of school. Seeing her friends everyday and being Miss Social Butterfly is the best part of school. She loves her teacher, Ms. Harbach...which is crazy because Ms. Harbach is my little brother's age. haha So far she is having a great time at school and she is at Grandma's school. My grandma is the head cafeteria lady at Lincoln School. Cassie gets to see her everyday and I get the low down on what she eats or doesn't eat every day. lol

On to the middle child, Nathan. This kid does not care if he goes to school or not. He likes lunch and recess and occasionally PE. He doesn't know any kids in his class and I am sure he will make friends soon. He does not like to talk about school. It is like Fight Club or Vegas to him. What happens at school stays at school. For Kindergarteners they have you pack a baggie with extra clothes in it in case of spills or whatever. The 4th day of school my son came home in his extra clothes. He spilled his chocolate milk from head to toe evidently. Then on the 8th day of school (I hadn't replace the extras in the bag yet) he came home wearing some shorts I had never seen before. They were the school's shorts he informed me. And the story goes that he had to pee really bad and told the teacher but she didn't listen and before he could get to the bathroom he peed a little in his pants. I said well you just need to make sure you use the restroom when you get restroom breaks and tell the teacher before you have to go that bad again. He looks at me and says, "What do you think we get a hundred bathroom breaks in a day??" I guess I did. But he will be fine and make lots of friends.

Now being home with my favorite 2 year old...AJ. This kid is onery and has a temper. We didn't get the "Terrible Twos" with Cassie or Nathan but we got enough for all 3 kids in one cute little blonde boy!! This little man will be happy playing and then something will set him off!! Look out! He loves to throw things and stomp around when he is mad...Gee I wonder where he got that...Brad!! His dad does that too when he is mad which isn't very often but that is where he gets it. You tell this kid 'no' and then duck because you are getting a leapfrog letter magnet thrown at you across the room. I don't even remember what I told him he couldn't do a couple weeks ago but he threw 2 magnets stomped into the living room, dumped my basket of socks I was folding, then stormed down the hallway picking up random toys and chucking them out of his way. Needless to say, Andrew spent some time in his crib after that.

Two nights ago he was in the bathroom...alone. Which is trouble right there. He was running the water and "washing his hands" which he has done before. I usually give him a minute then make him get out. Well this time he turned on the hot full blast and stuck his hand in there and was screaming like crazy. I went in there and he looked at me like What the heck?? He kept saying 'hot water'. I said yes it is hot you don't need to play in the sink anymore. He just looked at me and said sobbing "ok". We are gonna try to make this toddler a full-fledged big boy by the time the baby comes in December. We are gonna get rid of the passy and the crib. He is going to sleep on the bottom bunk with Nathan. (I am more worried about this one because it means less sleep for me) And hopefully potty training if I have the energy.

Well I gave you my Nathan quote in the blog so I will check ya later!!

Things you shouldn't say to this Pregnant Lady!!

2009-08-31T09:44:00.000-05:00

Ok so I love hearing what people have the nerve or stupidity to say to women when they are pregnant. *sarcasm* Here are some of the ones I have recently heard and ones from my past pregnancies...

"Wow you really look pregnant now!!"
Response on outside: *smile* "yeah I do"
Response in my head: Really??? No kidding! Thanks for pointing that out!! I hadn't notice until just now!! @$*%@

"It's about time you wore a maternity shirt, you needed to stop wearing t-shirts."
Response on outside: another smile "I guess"
Response in my head: "Shut up I will wear whatever I want!! I would wear a bikini top around if it was warm enough!!

"Look at your belly it is getting big!"
Response on outside: "yeah they told me that would happen" *fake laugh*
Response in my head: "Look at your belly it is bigger than mine!! What is your excuse???"

"Can I touch your belly?? AWWWWWW It is getting big!!"
Response on outside: *smile* "OK that is enough thanks"
Response in my head: "Can I touch your belly?? Awwwww It's kinda squishy!!"

I was talking to another mom and we were talking about how our kids bicker and argue and fight and it drives us crazy and we were glad school started. (She has 3 kids) I said I know this summer Nathan and Cassie were fighting non-stop for the last 2 weeks before school. She says

"And you are having another one so you can't complain, you wanted it"
I did NOT punch her. I just said, "Yes I did."
I wanted to say: "I guess only people who don't plan their pregnancies can complain about their kids behaviors. I was unaware of this."

Then when I was pregnant with Cassie (I was looking in the baby section at the Decatur Wal-Mart) a woman came up to me and asked me if I was having a boy or a girl. I said we didn't find out. We wanted it to be a surprise. And she says, "Oh good you ARE pregnant I thought you were just fat!" I was speechless and turned around and walked away.

I am sure there will be more to come!!! People can't seem to shut their mouths!! I don't really know if it is because they think they know you well enough to say these things or if they are just that oblivious to the fact that it might annoy me?

Nathan quote time... Nathan came down stairs after needing this movie started for him upstairs at my mom's. I said "jokingly" Get back up there and watch that movie. He says I gotta go to the bathroom. I said "jokingly" Well hurry up and go and get back up there and watch your movie!!! He says *laughing* Quit being so bossy! *laughing* I said I can't stop being bossy, it's my job!!!

He says completely serious, "Well you need to get a real job!!"

What to name this baby girl??

2009-08-26T08:15:00.001-05:00

Ok so with everyone one of my babies I had the names picked out early like right after I found out I was pregnant. And with this 4th baby it is hard!! Like she may get named in the hospital...which I can't stand the thought of!! We have a list of about 10 names or so and I can't pick "the one" and it is driving me nuts!!!

This is also why I have been induced all 3 times with my babies. I couldn't stand the thought of being home alone, or at the mall, or grocery store and suddenly going into labor. I have fears of me loading 3 kids into the van and driving myself to the hospital.

With Cassidy my due date was January 15th and that was a Tuesday. On the Friday before I had a doctor's appointment and I had been telling Brad how ready I was I hoped he would induce me and everything. Then at the appointment he asked if I wanted to be induced and we said yes. He said well drive over to the hospital and I will be over in a couple hours to check on you and get things started. I freaked I said I can't go today, I'm not ready. (Nevermind the fact that I could have already gone into labor on my own with no planning it). So he said if I didn't go on my own over the weekend he wanted to see me again on Monday. So Monday came and we went and checked into the hospital at like 5 pm or so. They gave me Cervidal (sp?) to soften my cervix and help me dilate ~ I was only a 1 at this point. By morning I started having contractions on my own and we started pitocin around 6:30 am and little miss Cassie was born at 10:32 am. So 4 hours of labor ~ this is easy I think I will have 10 babies!! (or so I thought!)

Then we are pregnant with Nathan. I was due May 17th a Monday. This time I was ready to be induced. I had been dialated to a 3 for about 3 weeks and they kept telling me, "Oh you won't be back for your next appt. you will already have this baby by then" Yeah right!! So with Nathan we went in at 7 am and they started pitocin and he was born at 3:59 pm so about 8 hours of labor ~ still not bad.

Then we have Andrew, #3... Same story, I had been dialated to a 2 or 3 for a couple weeks. I thought for sure with this being the third one I wasn't going to have to be induced. I was wrong. He was due March 19th. So at my 39 week check up Dr. Morisetty asked if I wanted to be induced I almost yelled ~ YES!!! So the next day I went in to be induced on Monday the 12th. Thinking I was going to have my baby by dinner time, have the family down to see him, and get to eat dinner! I was wrong again!! They started pitocin about 7:30 am. I laid around waiting to dialate forever. The other two times they couldn't believe how fast I dialated with the pitocin. This time was different. The nurses were annoying me because I would tell them sometimes the contractions would stop. I wanted to get up and move around. Well you can't be hooked up to the fetal monitors if you do that so they said no. This angers a woman who has laid in a bed for 10 hours with nothing to eat but a donut 12 hours earlier. So at the shift change a new nurse came in. The first thing out of her mouth was "Jeez let's get this show on the road and have this baby!" I liked her immediately. So we moved me around a little and contractions started being more regular.

Oh and by this time Brad had snuck out and eaten 3 times!! I told him I would have to kill him if he ate in front of me!

So we increased the pitocin and I slowly started to dialate. Now I probably wouldn't have been as annoyed and ticked off if the other two took this long. My water still hadn't broke and the nurse wanted to break it but my doctor didn't want to yet.

PS~I hadn't had an epidural with the other 2 so I thought I don't need it with this one either. I kept telling myself it wasn't going to last much longer...but it did. So in hindsight I would have had an epidural at like 6 pm if I had know he wasn't going to be born until after midnight.

I was in hard active labor from about 7:30 pm til my little darling was born at 12:17 am on Tuesday. My water was broke at like 10:30 pm and then it started going better.

So this time around I will go into the hospital not deluding myself into thinking I have fast labors. And I will get an epidural if needed.

We have our names in a baby name poll on babycenter.com
Here is the link so please vote then leave me a comment on my blog about what you voted for. Thanks!!

http://www.babycenter.com/403_girls-name-baby-4_10357160_294821081.bc

Nathan quote: "Mom I gave the lunch lady my money and she gave like 5 tickets!!!"

Baby Girl makes 4 and evens the score

2009-08-03T12:43:00.000-05:00

Now wasn't that good rhyming skills?? We are having our 4th child in December. This baby needs a name and we have a list a mile long and can't get it narrowed down. I want a masculine girl name like Danielle or Samantha...I think. Or I want something super girly like Lyndi or Chelsea.

My husband likes to find ways that he claims "other children or people" will make fun of the names I suggest. It is annoying! And the other night he said it bothers me how much I love him haha! Sometimes that is true!! He can annoy me all he wants and I still love him...now that is ANNOYING!! LOL

Back to baby talk. I am 20 weeks pregnant which is halfway!! I have started really feeling this little girl kick. That is always awesome. And I am to the point where bending over is becoming a problem. Bending over with my gut is hard enough and now when I bend over I get an elbow or knee pushed into my liver or kidney or some other vital organ.

I have retired from softball for the 2009 season. So everyone can quit asking me when I am going to quit.

I can't believe summer is almost over!! Where did it go?? I am ready for the 2 older children to go back to school. I think Nathan will like kindergarten and wants to go so he can eat lunch at school and have recess.
Cassie is excited about 2nd grade and gets to go to Great-Grandma's school. We are going camping this weekend (if the weather cooperates) at the lake we have been saying that all summer and now we are down to the last 2 weekends of summer!

Nathan quote: Tim and Hilary got engaged and Nathan was the most excited...NOT. Tim said, "Hey bud Hilary and I are getting married." and Nathan frowns then says very seriously, "I don't care, I don't want to be in it!"

Nathan the matter of fact kid

2009-07-21T12:45:00.000-05:00

My middle child is a very unique one!! He is very funny and doesn't even try to be. I am going to try to remember some of his outtakes from the last few months.

A more recent one is probably at mom and dad's the other night. He is eating cookies and tells grandpa he needs milk to dip them in. Grandpa gets him his milk and he dips a few cookies in it and is going to get down from the counter. I tell him he better drink that milk that Grandpa got for him. He looks at me oh so seriously and says "I can tell you right now, that's not gonna happen." Everyone can't help laughing out loud so that is his new catchphrase. Nathan can you pick up your toys? "Not gonna happen"

Then last night we were at my parent's house and Nathan was eating dinner outside at the little table and we were all at the big table. AJ was throwing rocks and getting told not to, and then smiling and throwing more rocks. So finally I had it. I got up to grab Andrew and Nathan sees me coming and yells "RUN!!!" this makes AJ take off in a dead sprint away from me. I about pee my pants laughing. And Nathan is cracking up and says 'Did ya see that I told him to run and he did" "He understands"

I am still laughing while writing this!

I can't remember anymore right now. Cuz I am almost 30 and pregnant!!

Cassie's meltdown/dramatic scene

2009-07-21T12:25:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged in months so here goes. Cassie is a super drama queen. Yesterday the kids and I went to the big Walmart and before we got there I gave them the usual pep talk/ threats to be good. They wanted to go to the big McDonald's for lunch so I thought that was good enough incentive to behave while in walmart. I was wrong...I don't really know who's children were in walmart with me but they were not mine. haha

Cassie and Nathan fought while I picked up my pictures, bugged AJ who was in the cart, got him to hit them and poked them in their eyes, which they yelled about, Cassie and Nathan fought some more.

All while I am talking thru clenched teeth telling them to be good or no McDonald's. They both said ok ok we'll be good. That didn't happen. So I said no McDonald's. Nathan was just quiet about it and never said a word about it.

Cassie however said and cried enough for everyone. We were going to pick up some mulch and look at paint on the way to the paint she cried the whole way saying she will be good now if I just say we will go to McDonald's. Whatever! Then a walmart worker said 'hey pretty girls don't cry' to which my daughter yells a loud 'wahhh' in his direction. So we leave without mulch or paint.

And we get to the van and she is saying I just want a reverse button and we can go back and be good in walmart. over and over again. I tell her she should have been good the first time I asked then she would get to go to McDonald's.

So she is sobbing in the back of the van and we leave. Well we have to drive by McDonald's to get out of Forsyth. and the light is red right in front of McDonald's. (Oh Great!) She then says I'm gonna unbuckle and come up there and turn this van into McDonald's!!! I can't even be mad anymore because she is so dramatic so I am laughing to myself.

She calms down on the way home and right about Maroa there is a semi in front of me...guess what? It was a McDonald's truck!! What did I do and to whom did I do it?? haha She sees the truck as I am passing and says 'I am gonna break into that truck cuz I am starving!!!' I was laughing out loud at this point and she says 'well are you seriously going to let your children starve???' 'My stomach is growling and I can't eat another bologna sandwich...I need a warm cheeseburger!'

This is just hysterical by now. PS she had a happy meal the night before! I just torture this child!!

I think she will definitely be in some school plays!

Ok OK New Blog

2009-05-20T12:05:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged in a while mostly because I am busy being tired! haha The kids are all good!

Cassie is very tired of going to school everyday...as am I!!! It is hard to make someone get up when you don't even want to get up! And they have to go to school til June 10th which is probably the most retarded thing I have ever heard of!! Why did they let them have a week off for spring break????? I would rather not have spring break and get out when every other school is getting out!!! Warrensburg had just as many snow days as us and a week for spring break and they get out this Friday!!!! I know WTF! Oh well if it is nice that last week or so she might just have to be 'sick'.

Nathan is 5 now...but not according to him because he hasn't had his party yet. Which is on Saturday. He chose BWW over Chuck E Cheese for his birthday dinner. That blew my mind and kinda ticked off his sister (which was even more incentive to pick BWW). But BWW has a crane game and a shooting game. He didn't even remember they had food. After pumping about 8 bucks worth of quarters into the crane game...

He finally won this bear!! So it was a good day!!! After BWW we went to Sturgeon Grandmas and had cake and brownies (because he wanted both) and then everyone rode the new dirt bike!

AJ is getting bigger and talking a lot more now. Yesterday he found a french fry on the floor (from like a day or two ago) and said 'oooh french fry' very plain and then put it in his mouth and marched off.

So I will leave you with that. This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend!!! It will be awesome and fun as usual!

Nathan quote: At May Days he went down the giant slide all by himself and had a total look of utter fear on his face all the way down. I was kinda giggling to myself but then waiting for the crying at the bottom. He got to the bottom took a breath then yells: " That was totally wicked!!"

And then at BWW I was telling mom and dad about how he looked scared and he interrupts and says 'Oh I was not scared!' I just looked at him and he says very matter of factly "A Little Scared"

He has a preschool graduation program tonight and then his party on Saturday so I am sure I will be full of Nathan quotes! So Laura you won't have to worry!

My kids are comedians!

2009-05-06T07:45:00.001-05:00

Ok so I have some funny stuff my kids have said to me just this morning within about 5 minutes of each other!

First Nathan is in my room playing his leapster and I come in and turn on the light and tell him I am going to get dressed.
He said that's ok, I won't look at you. .
I said Thanks Bud. (kinda giggling)
Then he says Well I never want to see you naked Mom.

Then I go into the bathroom and have my pants and sports bra on and Cassie comes up to me to ask me to untie her double tied shoes. I notice that she is staring at my chest and then she says, Mom I don't know how to tell you this but I can see your little knobs.
Thanks Sweetie!!

So I have laughed pretty hard twice this morning!

And yesterday AJ fell into the pond at Great Grandmas. So maybe now he will stop throwing stuff in it and sticking his hands in it. But probably not.

Nathan quote...(yes there is more) We were driving yesterday and I was asking him if he wanted me to come to school with him when he takes his birthday snack to school. (because I was asked to work that day)

So I ask him, Hey bud do you want me to come to school with you when you take your birthday snacks or do you not care if I come?
Nathan: I don't care if you come.
Me: You don't want me to come or you do want me to come with you??
Nathan: Well, You can come with me but you gotta stay out of the way.

Too Old to be Pregnant!?

2009-05-04T08:04:00.000-05:00

This pregnancy has only been 7 weeks long and I feel like poo poo!!! Almost everyday I throw up or can't eat because I am going to throw up or can't move to fast because I am nauseous. Hopefully I only will have another month of this because I can't take much more of it. And how quickly I forgot how the prenatal vitamins wreak havoc on my digestive system!! If the vitamin stays down...I have to eat a full meal then take it. And if it does stay down it is almost worse. I am gonna have to get on board with Jamie Lee Curtis and get some Activia!!

I also have never been 29 and pregnant so I am sure that is a factor in how I have been feeling. I have no idea how 40 year olds can be pregnant!!!! I also have 3 kids to get ready and take care of in the mornings and fix meals for... sometimes while gagging. I think if I could sleep til 10 or so I would feel better!!! Oh well.

Hopefully my second trimester will be great!!!

And oh by the way there will not be a 5th!!!!

Field Trip Day

2009-04-30T21:36:00.001-05:00

Today we went on a field trip with Nathan's preschool class. We went to the zoo in Decatur. Ok first of all I as a general rule hate the zoo...any zoo!! But Andrew and Nathan had so so much fun that I actually enjoyed myself (and I am moody and pregnant) so it was totally weird that I liked it. Brad was scared when I said we should all go back in a couple weeks.

I hate zoos not because I am some liberal hippie that thinks animals should be free and live as mother nature intended. But for the fact that most of the time the animals look so darn depressed and are either sleeping or hiding. So yes a tiger or lion or elephant is cool to see in person. But seriously most of these animals are pathetic at zoos. And Scovill Zoo in Decatur is a very small zoo. The best part is these 2 super sorry looking alligators they are in a pen the size of my living room with a pond that is smaller than some hot tubs. I don't think they would do anything if someone did jump the fence. They look at you like 'kill me...make me into a purse, suitcase or something!!!'

But I put all of these zoo resentment issues aside today because my little AJ had the time of his life today!!! He was so stinkin cute he walked the entire zoo and refused to get into the stroller. He ran with his brother to see the next animal. He loved the snakes and turtles. But I think his fav was the goats...he calls them baaas (like a sheep sound). Natalie got this pic of him squatting down looking face to face with a goat and it cracked me up!! If you have ever seen Andy Sandberg do his impression of Mark Wahlberg talking to a goat you know what I mean!!! Hilarious!!!

Nathan had fun too. He loved the snakes and lizards and checking out all the animals. It rained on us about the last 30 minutes it misted then the last 10 minutes (when we rode the train) it poured!!! So we are riding this miniature zoo train in the pouring rain. The canopy over the train cars was cloth so it just dripped right on you. But it was one of the best field trips I have been on with the kids.

Then we wrapped up the day with Cassie's FIRE program. *(Fight Illiteracy Read Everyday) At the new junior high. She was so proud to get her folder. She had to read and write reports on 4 books a week for 5 weeks. She hated every report she had to write but she loves reading!! And she reads to her brothers and it is one of the only times all 3 of them will sit quietly and enjoy each other.

It was a good day! The kids were very good today and had fun.

Nathan's quote... As we are on our way to Cassie's program (Nathan is a little tired from the zoo trip and playing outside) So he does not want to go to her program.

Cassie asked Nathan a question and he mumbles something back to her.

She asks him what he said...He whines it again (still no one can make out what he says)

This goes on for about 3 times with him yelling it and no one being able to translate what he is saying.

Cassie then says "Nathan say it again without using your whiny voice or yelling voice!"

Are you ready????????? Here it comes........

Nathan: "I said, 'Your program is gonna be just as lame as you are!"

After that Brad was the mature one and said between laughter that it wasn't nice to call his sister lame. I, on the other hand, cannot breathe because I am trying to laugh quietly.

Brad says that he thinks Cassie is cool to which she protests and says 'I think you mean pretty!' So her ego was not hurt by Nathan's comment!!

So I will leave you with that!!!!

Peace out!

6 weeks pregnant

2009-04-27T20:59:00.001-05:00

I am now 6 weeks pregnant. I am not feeling the greatest. I dry heave in the shower every morning...yet this morning I didn't wait til the shower. I was going to get Cassie some chocolate milk and had to do an about face for the bathroom. As I am hovering over the toilet (gagging) Cassie is asking me about something for school and Nathan is saying 'I gotta pee'. So the shower is the only place to do it privately (somewhat at least). To keep myself from throwing up every morning I just don't eat until around 10 am. It has worked so far. Then Saturday night at El Reys I ordered fajitas and it looked and smelled so good but halfway thru my first fajita, I had to push my plates away from me. It made me nauseous to look at it on the plate. So I was ticked, hungry, and about to puke.

I am also tired so so tired!!! I can hardly make myself get out of bed in the morning. Friday when Brad came home from work he caught me napping haha...Thus that means I nap every single day when he is at work. Which is not true. And I think he knows that but not quite sure he really believes me.

And my boobies are already getting bigger...yippeee...NOT. I can't stand having boobs that get in my way. I have to buy some new bras...cuz my A's and barely B's aren't gonna cut it anymore. And I have to buy a strapless bra for April's wedding. It will have to be like a C cup probably. Which I will only be able to wear that one time!!! Oh well.

I am gonna sign off for tonight cuz I need some sleep!!!!

Nathan quotes for the day...there is more than one cuz he was on a roll today!!
I come out dressed up for the funeral today and Nathan says, "Mom you look good...and by good I mean pretty. (while pointing his gun finger at me).

He is getting dressed on my bed and takes off his pull-up and I notice something brownish black on his boyish area.
Mom "Hey bud what is that?"
Nathan "I don't know"
(I then remove this unknown object)
Nathan "It's gotta be a raisin!"
Mom "I don't think it is a raisin bud"
Nathan "Well if it isn't a raisin, that's pretty gross!"
Mom "Yes, Yes it is son"
( I think it was just a dirt clump that got stuck in some places that formed it into a raisin like shape...either way it is funny!)

Neighbors

2009-04-22T11:35:00.000-05:00

OK so my neighbors that live behind us...Our backyards have a chain link fence with a gate to get back and forth in because his brother used to live in what is now our house. Think they can come into our backyard whenever they please. And they think we don't feed our 2 dogs. So they buy dog food and feed them "for us" Which made our older dog about 25 lbs over weight last summer...surprised she didn't have a heat stroke and die! And don't be like oh they are old and just need dogs to take care of because they have a dog and they dogsit another dog all day everyday!! So they have 2 dogs at their house all the time!!!

Our poor neglected dogs are so lucky to be taken care of by these neighbors...NOT. The man is in my backyard about 5 or 6 times a day because the dogs need fed, treats 3 times a day, and fresh water every couple of hours. It is incredibly annoying. I understand why he likes to spend time over here because his wife is one of the most annoying people I have ever met!!

I think some of the plans for the summer will need to involve the continuation of the privacy fence!! This morning the woman yelled at Nathan from her back door because he dumped out the dog water. And made him cry. I said don't worry about it!! He tried to tell her he dumped it out because AJ plays in it and gets all wet. So he was actually doing a good job. But she didn't listen and kept yelling about the dogs needing water. So both boys came in the house!!

It is getting old!!! 10 stinking years we have been doing this crap!! And that is my venting about my neighbors!!

Sorry you had to read that!! haha

Nathan quote: "Mom I wish I could hug your head"

Today...but I am going to do yesterday cuz it is morning

2009-04-21T10:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I...
Ate: Arby's Beef n Cheddar...oh I was thinkin Arby's!! Dinner was Tacos, rice and beans...which decided to resurface around 11 pm...love the 1st trimester!!

Felt: tired AJ took a late nap and then couldn't get to sleep and then around 2 am I kicked someone in the head...It was Nathan laying across my feet. He was then moved to the living room.

Listened: AJ play his guitar...so cute and funny!!

Watched: The Devil Wears Prada

Loved: That AJ just had an eye infection and was fine and being pregnant!

Hoped: the weather would just get warm and stay warm!! Spring is sucking it right now!!

Enjoyed: water exercise last night...good work out and I didn't feel like puking...until 11 pm at least

Wondered: If I will have a boy or girl...hoping for a girl to even the score.

Drank: fountain Cherry Pepsi YUMMO and sweet tea

Wanted: to go to bed early

Looked: clothes for the kids...I have got to get organized and on top of my laundry mountain!!!

Tag! You're it!
Leave a comment here if you will accept my tag.

Random Picture Challenge

2009-04-21T09:45:00.000-05:00

It's that time again...Random Picture Challenge. Hosted by 4 little men & girly twins.
This week's challenge was:
April 2008 or 13th folder
42nd picture or 4th if you don't have that many
Well, I had that many :)

This is what happens when my husband holds my camera!!! Lovely pics like this!! It is me talking to my friend Shaye and I looked up and saw Brad with the camera (hence the annoyed look on my face!)

Sick kids?

2009-04-20T08:29:00.001-05:00

Today Cassie has deemed herself to sick to go to school. She has a stomach ache...no puking or other end trouble. She always gets an ailment when she has to do book reports. She kept it up after the reports were done. So am I supposed to believe her or not. These are the executive decisions I don't care to have to make. I want to tell her suck it up and go to school or that her stomach really doesn't hurt. (which I have no idea if it does or not) But then I am like...I wouldn't really want to go to school on Monday either. lol AJ on the other hand is obviously sick, he has a runny nose, coughing, gunky gross eyes, and feels a little warm. If she had that going on I would have no problem letting her stay home. So I am taking Andrew to the DR which means I can't sub for everyone at the YMCA today because there is no one to watch the boys and I don't want to infect the playroom with whatever AJ has. Which I am sure doesn't make my boss very happy but my kids come first and always have. It is a part-time job and I am happy to sub for people when needed but sometimes moms can't get the call an hour before they are supposed to be there and have everything work out.

So I am letting Cassie rest for a while then I am going to call and get AJ a DR appt. Then most likely take her to school. Nathan has coughed a couple times but I don't think he feels bad like AJ does.

So that is all I have to say this morning. Maybe more later...

Nathan quote...I asked him how he felt this morning (because Cass and AJ didn't feel good) he says "Well I can't see my forehead!"
So whatever that means!

5 weeks Prego

2009-04-18T07:26:00.000-05:00

I am getting very sick of this sore throat/snot thing that is going on!! I would just take the amoxicillin I have left from the last time but I am 5 weeks pregnant and don't really know if that is ok to take. Should have went to the DR. yesterday, cuz today is Saturday and no doctor's offices want to be open on Saturdays. Oh well. I will see if I can get in somewhere. If they prescribe me what I already have I will be mildly annoyed but glad I can take it. And my middle child woke me up at 6:30 am today...did I mention it is Saturday??

I am concerned about fitting into my bridesmaid dress in June. Mostly because I am hungry all the time!!! I feel the need to eat everything in sight!! If I can get into that dress it will be a miracle. It fits perfectly now. I have told my husband to not let me eat everything in sight and gain 10 lbs in my first trimester. He agreed....then has the nerve to say that I get angry when he tells me not to eat something. Where did he come up with that?? Oh yeah...I get angry when he tells me not to eat something! But that is his job!! He is the one who gets the eye rolls, the complaining, and sometimes smacks!!! He doesn't know what it is like to be pregnant. I told him it was hormones and he said...you are barely pregnant. Well I am more pregnant than he is!! So I guess I can say whatever I want!! Ok maybe this paragraph was the hormones typing!! haha

So I love the name Lyndi for a girl. I have liked it ever since I heard it high school. Brad went to FFA stuff with a girl named Lyndi Strumstefer or something like that. And I have always liked it. So if "super hoping" we have a girl I want to name her Lyndi. And on to the middle names... I want to name this baby (boy or girl) with the middle name after my grandparents. My grandma's middle name is June. I also love the name Emerson which I then realized was my Grandad's middle name. So that is cool. So I like Lyndi Emerson June Brown. Or Lyndi June Brown. Brad doesn't really like the 2 middle name thing. But I do!! So comment on here what you like best. Or any other suggestions.

For a boy I kinda like the name Harrison...but I don't want him called Harry! So I don't know... It is so hard to come up with strong boy names that are not wienerish sounding. Pretty sure I made that word up!! Anywho I want the middle name to be Richard cuz that is my dad and grandpa's names. I kinda wanted Sturgeon for a middle name but that would be weird I think. So I am cool with Richard. And about every boy name that I like...there is some damn wiener kid with that name so I can't use it!! Name association is a major thing for me. Like if I like a name but if there is a kid I already know with that name and they are bratty or whiny or whatever. I can't use that name!!

Girl names are so much easier for me to pick out. Boy names are hard because they have to sound strong, not be too common, not be girly sounding...it's just hard!! So that is another reason I am hoping for a girl!! haha

So that is all I got for this morning so... Later!!

Nathan quote...(At the YMCA after swim class in the bathroom getting dressed) "Mom, when I get naked I always have to pee. (walks over to the toilet...naked) and says "Activate Pee Power!!" Then does this grunting/flexing thing and pees. It is very hard to be mature around this kid!!

2009-04-16T09:03:00.000-05:00

OK so I have had my first "morning sickness" last night before dinner and this morning after breakfast. So it is not really morning sickness. With Cassie I only got sick a couple times. With Nathan I craved El Reys and then it came back up everytime...(that is Nathan's fav place to eat now) And with AJ for about 3 or 4 months one meal a day was coming back up and it was a surprise which one! Nothing ever smelled bad or tasted bad it just would come back up. So I think the same thing is going on this time. I hope I can keep up exercising and doing the stuff I always do.

Softball starts Wednesday!! I am so excited I hope it does not rain or be freaking freezing when we play. And we are practicing Saturday. So hopefully practicing a couple hours 4 days before the game will make up for the 6 months we have had off. haha

So I think everyone at the YMCA knows I am pregnant now...at least I hope so I don't like telling people. I would rather they hear about then say things like...in whispery voice, "I heard you were pregnant again, is it true are you pregnant again, cuz I heard you were pregnant." When I was pregnant with AJ, I had someone tell me they thought for sure it must have been an accident because I already had a girl and boy. Which left me a little speechless. UMMM Some people like having kids and want more than two. So can't wait to hear what this person has to say this time.

OMG 4 kids you must be crazy!! Well yes I am crazy and I love my kids and they were all planned! The last 3 took a lot less 'planning' if ya know what I mean!

Braddy just got the word that he gets to go work at Clinton Power Station which is awesome!! It is 1. a job 2. close to home 3. he won't be here all day with me for another week! We love each other but our relationship is based on him being gone at least 8-10 hours a day. haha I am just kidding Brad! He knows, he gets it!!

Well I am gonna sign off for today I will try to write again this evening then maybe my blog won't be a short novel.

Nathan's quote..."Mom, I love your brain! Your brain is like a thinking machine!"

Hangin with my Brownies

2009-04-13T14:36:00.000-05:00

Today we went to Chuck E Cheese (where a kid can be a psycho according to Cassie and Nathan) to fulfill the bribe for Nathan to wear his tux and be good at Danny and Ashley's wedding. The kids had a blast! Then we went to mall for ice cream and AJ had to have his own cup of ice cream because he is a big boy!! I enjoy having the kids out of school! I cannot wait for summer!! I want hot weather and no school!!

And I want to talk about iCarly this tween show on Nick. Brad and I can watch it even when the kids aren't around! It is one of the best shows that my kids like and we like. It pulls you in!! haha Brad is gonna be angry that I said he likes that show!

Ready for softball to start. It is supposed to start April 22nd which is next Wednesday! Hopefully the first 4 games don't get rained out like last year!! Our first 3 games are at 9 pm...yuck. But at least we will know about rain outs before we have to leave. We need to practice and get ready to play!! Don't have much time to do it!! Oh well.

Nathan's quote: (When spending the night with Ashley and Danny and putting on his pullup for the evening) He told Ashley, "Don't look it will be ugly!"

2009-04-12T23:03:00.001-05:00

1st blog

2009-04-12T22:48:00.000-05:00

Ok so this is my first blog on here. I am just gonna spout out some randomness. I found out I am pregnant with my 4th child on Friday. Yes it was planned!! We do know what causes pregnancy and how to prevent it!! We have always wanted 4 kids! I look at my grandparents and I love being at there house when all their 5 kids are there with their kids and the house is full and loud and crazy and that is what I have always wanted!! I am hoping it is a girl so I can have 2 and 2. If not oh well I know how to do boys now!! I will probably cry and look like a complete ass if at the sonogram they tell me it is another boy but oh well! I am excited! And Yes I am still going to play softball and exercise just like I did with the other 3 pregnancies!! I am hoping my cousin and his wife can get pregnant so we can do this together. I hope I can give her some guidance. I should be able to teach a class on it now right?? Well I don't have much more to say right now. There will be more to come.

I am gonna end every blog with a Nathan (middle child) quote...

And this is my Nathan quote of the day..."I didn't pee my pants! I peed my underwear then pulled up my pants!"