Dos Babies Appointment #2

I had my second prenatal appointment yesterday and saw a new Doctor. Third sneak peek of the babies.

We were so excited to get in with (in my opinion) the worlds best doctor the beginning of December. Then we got the call his contract was up the end of the year. So we scheduled with another doctor I had heard really good things about. With twins the Doppler can't always pick up both heartbeats, so they do a bedside ultrasound to check. Which I love, it's nice to visually see that they have grown and are active.

The current plan is to wait until after the first week of January and see if my original obstetrician is practicing anywhere else. If he is we will be going back to him. If not, well I think we have found another doctor that will be good. Maybe not Thee Best in the Whole World, but Dr. R set that bar high.

My biggest request was that if the babies are in good position and it is safe to do so, to deliver without scheduling an induction or c-section. So far that isn't an issue, some doctors prefer to schedule a c-section automatically with twins and I'm a little intimidated to recover from surgery and take care of 5 kids. Plus I'm really really hesitant  about following lifting weight restrictions because I know with a toddler and two babies I will be lifting. 

Dr M is also going to help me with a healthy eating and exercise plan post babies to help get me on track. On my own my weight yo-yos but has settled at an unhealthy place and it's time to get serious. Dr R was on board with doing the same, so lots of changes coming 2016.

Results. The babies were stacked on top of each other. Baby A's heartbeat was 140-145 bpm and Baby B's was a little faster, but she didn't put a number to it. My blood pressure was good and I've stopped losing weight from morning sickness. So everyone looks healthy and we are doing good.

November Musing

This week is quite the week. Rehearsal Dinner Tonight, Thanksgiving the next day, and a wedding on Friday. I'm gaining another Sister-in-Law as the Hubby's younger brother ties the knot.

Thanksgiving was cancelled by my family, so instead of traveling we will be celebrating the holiday with my inlaws. I thought that would mean we could do Christmas with my family, but that isn't sounding good either.

We are waiting to hear back from a contractor about getting our basement floor replaced and hopefully getting the basement finished this winter. I can't wait for that. The big boys would share a room in the basement and everyone will have more room. Our basement is the same square footage as the main floor so we will be doubling our living space!

I have so many plans. There will be 2 bedrooms and a full bathroom in the basement, a storage room and possibly an office. The rest will be wide open. For running and playing and the majority of toys.

A kitchen wall will be torn out and replaced with a half wall that will let more light to the stairs and a open feeling to the basement. Bear will have the nursery rearranged as we get ready for the twins to share the space in the Spring.

Hopefully we will also remodel our main bathroom upstairs once we have the basement one finished.

The Hubby feels like we have already outgrown our house with our 3 kiddos and is convinced when the twins arrive it will be too small. I think we will be doubling the room we have now and with a finished basement it will make all the difference.

My other plan for the basement is a built in playhouse with play kitchen, table, workbench, etc. I also have a plan for a book nook. Open shelving and bean bags with lots of light. I'm also really hoping the project is done before winter is over so the kids have a place to burn off energy when it's too cold to play outside.

Lucky #6&7

7 is a lucky number right?

7

I keep focusing on that number, because it will soon be the number of people in my family.

I will be cooking meals and washing dishes for 7.

Laundry and folding and making beds....for 7.

7

My husband and I had a deal. We would decide how many kids we wanted one at a time. I would declare I didn't want any more while pregnant and battling all day sickness and my hip coming out of place. NEVER AGAIN! No more for us. He was supposed to remind me how I felt after the baby came and proceeded to grow and my ongoing baby fever took hold. He tended to always say, one more would be fun. I wouldn't mind one more.

Well, we broke the one at a time rule. We are having TWO.

Mom+Dad+Kindergartener+Preschooler+Toddler+Twins=Seven

I'm excited...and scared. Usually at the same time.

Well almost halfway there.

7!!!

He's a Keeper

I have to brag up my Hubby a bit.

I haven't been feeling well. I am tired and having trouble keeping food or even water down. I'm dehydrated and to be honest - lazy. The smell of food, especially meat cooking, makes me sick. This pregnancy has been rough so far, and yet I am grateful. 

My Hubby came home after putting in a long day working on the farm. All I had accomplished was doing the dishes and maybe a load of laundry. I went to take a bath to try and stop the cramping.

Without saying a thing he started making supper, had the boys pickup their room, the living room, and kitchen. Then he vacuumed and swept the kitchen floor. He also unloaded the dishwasher and put everything away. Got the kids in pajamas and we said bedtime prayers as a family.

I am so blessed by him. I feel guilty too for him having to come home and not having a hot meal ready. I have good days and bad days. So on the good days I try to catchup on anything I fall behind on and hope it makes up for the bad days. Pregnancy is exhausting, but I'm blessed to be growing two little bundles and with an awesome husband.

Billboard Classics

I mentioned The Farmer in the Dell is a current kiddo favorite. However, it is not THEE favorite.

The number 1 song that is ever requested in our house, and begged to be played on repeat if we are in the car is.....The Final Countdown by Europe.



The Big D once asked me to sing it for him while we were working on our preschool lesson at the kitchen table, then held up his hand and said "stop mom, the car sings it better". 4 is the age children begin to appreciate and decipher talent from tone deaf.



All three children love it. Bear, who I was concerned about not talking yet, will say Ninal Dowdown (final countdown) by hearing reference too or the opening. Toes of the song. She dances and sings while we watch football....and randomly in the kitchen when the need is felt. She points a lot, grunts, says Mom, Daddy, shoes and Final Countdown.



I will admit, no matter what errand we are running seems infinitely more important. Supper to the field? Getting the mail, garbage to the dump....really anything. We are on a mission, don't mess with us.



The boys sing and argue over who will be in charge of making what instrumental sounds. The Big D likes the tongue out wiggling minion like lalalallala for the electric guitars, while Jbug prefers a high nasal method. There can only be one drummer and much discussion over why the planet Venus is in the lyrics.



Mostly, the Final Countdown is deemed a superhero song. Along with Metallica's Ecstasy of Gold and Tessie by the Dropkick Murphys.



So now you know the top 4 hits of our little household.
#1 Final Countdown
#2 Ecstasy of Gold
#3 Tessie
#4 The Farmer in the Dell

Get a Life

The Big D gets his mords wixed up sometimes.

Currently a favorite song in the house is The Farmer in the Dell

So all day long I hear:

The Farmer takes a Life!

The Farmer takes a Life!

Hi Ho the Dairy-O,

The Farmer takes a Life!

Me: Thats Wuh-Wuh-Wuh - Wife, Bud.

Not Luh-Luh-Luh-Life

Big D: Okay Mom

The Famer take a Wife

The Farmer takes a Life...

Big D: When I'm a grown up I'll get married and have a life. And my life with have lots of kids.  I'll be their ruler, and my life.

Me: You won't be ruler of your Wife.

Big D: No, me and my life will be rulers of all our kids.  And you can babysit all my babies and watch them and love them for me and my life.

On a side note, reports vary to how many babies the Big D will have.  He says God will bless him with 'lots' and 'many' some early reports estimate 100 all at once. He has also informed me that I am to cover everyone's eyes at his wedding so no one sees him kiss his new life.

A Look Back at Summer

Aunt X 6

Squeeee! and other excited noises!

Some pretty big news today.  I received a text message this morning from my sister.  Baby #4 was in such a hurry to meet all the people who love her that she said - "Yeah, I'm not going to wait until October 13th, I want to hug my Mommy today"

Oh little Leah, you are soooo beautiful and I can't wait to hug you and love on you and tell you how special you are and make your Uncle remind me to let you get settled and take care of my own children.

You are a blessing to your Mom, Dad, 2 big sisters and your big brother.  It looks like one of your big sisters is also adjusting well to not being the baby anymore.

A Post I Really Wish I Didn't Need to Share

Well...there is always something happening in life isn't there?

Friday my Kindergartner came home with head lice.  I have never had lice, my Hubby has never had lice.  We have only heard about them and knew next to nothing about them.  Earlier his summer I knew they were going around and at Fair time.  So when school started I took away my kiddos ball cap and added a drop of tea tree oil in his shampoo.  Then I hadn't heard anything more and assumed the outbreak was over.  I wasn't even checking.  He has reached that age were he wants more privacy and doesn't want Mom to help with bathing.  So I set water temps, quiz him down through the door to make sure he scrubbed everywhere and that's about it.  If I feel I need to I occasionally make him let me shampoo his hair because its super thick and I don't think he always actually washes it.

Anyway, Friday I noticed him scratching his head and he said it was itchy.  I  put him through the shower and did a good scrub on his hair, thinking that was the issue.  Then I remembered I overheard other moms on the playground saying they couldn't wait for winter because it means no more lice.  So I checked my kiddos hair, asked my Hubby to and he said I was paranoid.

Saturday, kiddo still says his head is itchy.  I check again and thought maybe I saw a bug.  Not what I thought lice looked like,,,but I didn't really know what lice look like.  Called in the Hubby - he told me I was paranoid again and there was nothing there.

Sunday morning, my head is itchy and kiddo is still complaining about itchy head. I don't see anything in his hair...but caught site of a bug on his PJ shirt...and it was an adult louse. Yuck.  So I march kiddo to bathroom tub and shave all his hair off...and then I start seeing lots more evidence that he was indeed infested.  I check kid number two and decided, I couldn't see anything with kid number 1 and he definitely had them.   So I shaved his head too.  Then I demanded the Hubby check me. He called the principal at home and left a message to let the school know and requested them to bring in the County Health Nurse for head checks.

Hubby reported again I was paranoid and there was nothing in my hair.  So I called my sister and message an Aunt that I know had gone through this.  Then I made my Hubby talk to my sister to tell him what to look for and where to look.  I had nits in my hair.  She recommended because my long, super curly, super thick hair would be near impossible to comb through to have him cut it off at least shoulder length.  Then in a couple weeks if we are all clear I can go to a stylist.  I love my Hubby and am sure glad he is a better farmer than beautician.

So why I am sharing this cringe worthy story?  Because I believe we shouldn't be so ashamed we keep quiet.  Lice can spread, if we don't say anything how does anyone know to check?  If they don't check they keep spreading.  I honestly can't tell you how long we have had lice in the house.  My younger son did not have them, my Toddler did not have them.  We never found live bugs in my hair...but there are nits (eggs) so they had to have been there.  All full of admissions - I am a 31 year old woman who still fights cradle cap and dandruff.  The top of my head tends to get a little itchy.  My neck became incredibly itchy on Saturday. My son started itching and complaining about itching on Friday.  How long before you are itchy after getting lice?  No idea.

What I do know is that the itchy is an allergic reaction to the bites.  It is common but not everyone gets itchy. We have thick thick dark hair in this house and the nits can be the size of a grain of sand, the lice are brown.  I couldn't see them in our hair not knowing what to look for.  I would love to wrap up with "in short" but this post is anything but.  I wrote this because our school does NOT notify parents if there is a case of head lice.  If you request a head check they will check ONLY the one class.  How are we supposed to stop an outbreak if you don't know about it, or what to look for?

So I'm sharing our story.  Sunday I called all of our neighbors and parents of kids my children play with.  Then I messaged every parents of kids that school with my son that I know and asked them to pass on the word to the parents I don't know.  I shared a post on Facebook.  And I am going to the Community Health Nurse daily to be nit checked, along with my Toddler and Bald Son #2 who isn't in school.

Spread awareness people.  Share what to look for and where to go if you are unsure.  The sooner it is treated and resolved the faster the outbreak can be over.  As for me...I can't wait to get the all clear to go to the beauty shop and see what we can salvage of my hair.

PS - Please share hairstyles  ideas for Short Curly Hair and wish me luck.  The Hubby won't let me shave my head.  I even promised I could buy a wig for his brothers wedding next month and could wear a hat in public.

Schooling & Such

Goodness where does the time go?

My oldest is starting Kindergarten tomorrow. We had one of his best friends over today for lunch and playtime before the open house to see their classroom and meet their teacher.

We walked  down to the school together. Quite the jaunt as we live one whole block away. The boys were all pretty excited. When we got in the doors Josh told everyone he was starting Kindergarten tomorrow.

Then the Big D followed up with. "And I'm not going to Kindergarten, I'm just a farmer"

I just love these kiddos to pieces and all the funny little things they say.

My other adventure I am starting is homeschooling the Big D. I enrolled him in the Seton Preschool Program. In part because he has no desire to go to preschool and I'm not going to force him, however he was sad his brother was going to school without him. The other part is because I've been considering homeschooling the kids anyway and a no pressure, test out the system/curriculum/support, my patience and scheduling test run seemed like a good idea.

The boys have a lot of questions. Questions about God that I hadn't even really thought much on in my 31 years. Incorporating learning with basics of our faith along with the 3 Rs's seemed like a good idea too. Because everyone in my family loves books a big part will simply be reading. I actually have a book addiction which I am saying is okay because I'm buying kids books. I think my Hubby may have wished I didn't get my hands on an Usborne books catalog, the Scholastic website, or the Barefoot Books website either. Side note, if anyone sees Monster & Me books please let me know. We have Monster Wants a Costume and I'm in love with the book.

Family Love

Big D: I love our whole fan-ly [family] I love baby

Me: Why do you love baby?

Big D: because she is my little sister.

Big D: and I love Josh, because he is my big brother.

Me: And why do you love me?

Big D: cuz you are my mom

Me: and do you love dad because he is your dad?

Big D: No. I love dad because he is AWESOME!

Well then, I guess the rest of us he feels obligated to love.

Why are dads always cooler? 

Me: Hey, I have a question for you. You love Mom right? Can you tell me why?

JBug: Yay, because you are nice.

Me: And why do you love Dad?

JBug: because he roughhouses with me

Me: why do you love Baby?

JBug: because she is so cute

Me: and why do you love Daniel

JBug: uhmm....sometimes he is silly.  And he is cute too.

Small Blessing #258

I am fortunate.  My children aren't nearly as picky eaters as I was. (Though the Big D is going through a not eating the color green unless its a salad stage.) I would have ate cheerios 3 meals a day. I hated pancakes and french toast...and also tacos.

My kids like pancakes.  I wouldn't say they are my favorite,  but I dont hate them. I actually like them with blueberries or chocolate chips. The kids love them plain or with any combination of things I have thrown in. Made from scratch or a mix, with whole wheat flour and honey or white flour and sugar. To them it's all good.

My kids also like french toast. Again plain or with toppings and additions. For the record I also like french toast these days.. .though probably  everyday.

This morning was rough. I stayed up too late reading a book. Then I was up too early with the baby. So I layed like a lump on a log curled up on the couch while my children swore to be dying of starvation and thirst. Finally I stirred and I heard "couldnt we at least have toast? ANYTHING we are soooooo hungry". I looked at the time and was embarrassed at how late it was. So I made french toast.

So quick and easy, yet still has the look of a thoughtful meal. And it struck me. I was such a pain as a child because I didn't like any breakfast meal that was quick and easy. (Aside from cold cereal). I'm sure Mom had the same kind of days I do. Same list of chores and varying amounts of sleep...and she DIDN'T drink coffee! Seriously Mom, how did you childrear without caffeine?

Signs of Spring

Bear enjoyed getting to be outside in the nice weather.

The jury is still out as to if she enjoyed her big brother "helping" her drive.

  All the kiddos were big fans of seeing the baby chicks.  Now its Springtime.

The boys have been taking turns (and sometimes tag teaming) going with dad to the farm.  My oldest recently watched for the first time a calf being born.  He described it as "a little gross, mostly cool and awesome.  Do you know where baby calves come out Mom? I do....the BUTT!!!!!" 

You can be thankful I didn't share pictures of that.

Music to a Mama's Ear

No Bud...I don't think you look seven.

Big D: If you like my body and you think I'm seven, come on baby let me know! If you think I'm seven, if you think I'm seven let me knooooow.

The Big D likes to sing. He doesn't always have an ear for lyrics though. This coming from a mom who used to belt out "Davy, Davy Crockett, a man who don't know deer".  You know, it might be hereditary.

Big D: I love you too much. With Snails are my witness without you loving me back.

If you have watched the movie The Book of Life lately you might recognize the jingles he has stuck in his head.  If not...well I'm guessing you have at least heard the first one at some point. 

Substitutions

I have a terrible habit of thinking I have everything I need to make a recipe. Reality tends to not match my line of thinking.  Most things I make are "inspires by the intended recipe"

The Hubby figured this out when he was still the Boyfriend and had automatically started asking "Are you sure you have everything you need? Did you look at the recipe? " by the time he was the Fiance. These days he has just come to accept if he is home before I have started cooking he might get an errand request.

More typically I am googling substitutes. Here is my question:

How many substitutes can you make before it's not the same recipe anymore?

Bonus Question: How many can you plan on making before drawing the line and saying "New Plan"?

Last night we had "inspired by Chicken Cordon Blue casserole" with no ham.

Photo Bomb - Winterish 2015

Merry Christmas

Captains Underpants?

Kiddos crafting.  Winter means lots of indoor time.

Helping Dad clear the driveway and play with the new skidsteer.

New Loot from Christmas.  

Puzzles and Boardgames.

Howdy

Little Miss Mess Maker

Tissues taste delicious

Take a picture of my plane....ok, now take a picture of my silly face...

Tongues are always wagging around this joint.

The 3 Amigos