And Baby Makes 8

We welcomed Baby #6 to our family on December 10, 2018. I suppose somewhat controversial, but we chose an induction to make sure we had someone available to watch our older kids, we didn't have to worry about the weather, and with a history of fast labor insured I could deliver at the hospital.  3 out of 5 of the older siblings were born by 37+2 weeks. 4 out of the 5 were born by 39 weeks.  Only Bear had gone past her due date.

However, Baby #6 I believe was also on her way to going past her due date.  If baby's arrival wasn't so unpredictable or if we wouldn't have had an available grandma last weekend I would have waited another week to see if she would have been a bit more ready to come.

Everything was successful though.  My Doctor broke my water Monday afternoon and felt fingers, then a little hand grabbed and held on to her finger.  This caused some mild concern, and they brought in a bedside ultrasound to double check baby's position.  She was head down with her hand by her head, that is also how she was delivered.  A week later and she still prefers keeping a hand next to her face.

 Last pregnancy photo and First non-pregnancy picture.

(Disclaimer, the picture was taken the morning after following lots of sleep, a shower, and makeup)

The stats:

6 pounds 9.8 ounces

20 inches long

13 inch noggin circumference

Born

December 10, 2018

5:28pm

Halloween 2018

My husband is not a big fan of Halloween. Actually my husband isn't really a big fan of any holiday, but ones that don't feature a get together with multiple good cooks, rank pretty low. He did say he would hand out candy. 

This year costumes were easy.  Although I did temporarily break the heart/creativity of my oldest.  Who wanted to be his wizard character from the online math game Prodigy. His wizard avatar he made has the darkest skin tone available and many elaborate features for wardrobe, which was ever changing.  He drew me a picture and said he could paint his face black and we could do such and such helmet, the candle shoes with real wax, a special themed armor, undecided on a variety of types of wands...I finally shot him down.  We could do a wizard, but it would be run of the mill...or maybe Harry Potter!  Nope, not good enough.  Look kid, the costume you want is beyond your mother's skill set to make, even with your helpful drawn diagram.  It is not available to purchase, and I am pretty sure blackface is considered racist in 2018.  Pick something else.

Several weeks of pouting, there is nothing else he could possibly want to be. Then I told him if he didn't come up with an idea I got to pick his costume.  He decided Minecraft, though some creature I had no idea how to make.  Dad to the rescue.  Stopping at a WalMart on the way home from Bear's dental work he grabbed a costume labeled Minecraft.  Child ended up being thrilled and loved it.  Success!

The other kiddos were easy.  The Big D saw pieces to a knight set at the Dollar Store and declared that was what he wanted to be.  So his costume was $4 and easy.  I had planned on making a tunic with the roll of black felt I have stuffed in my closet to go under, but I didn't and he still loved it.  The girls I had bought Dollar Store wings earlier for dressup and Bear decided she wanted to be a fairy princess.  By Halloween she wanted to wear her Elsa dress from last year and declared herself a winter fairy, she threw on a crown from the toy box on the way out the door.  The Twinks were content with wings as well.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

The morning of Halloween I had a prenatal appointment and the kids had asked me that morning what I was going to be this year.  I hadn't planned on dressing up. Ooops, then I remembered I usually do put on a simple costume when I take them out and about on the candy hunt.  WalMart to the rescue again.  I picked up some fabric markers, a cheap wig, and fake vine greenery.  Last minute Mother Earth.

We hit the assisted living home and made the circuit and gave Great Grandma some hugs.  I also realized that the Twinks were a bit more effort than I was up to managing.  My typical helpers were already getting hyped up on sugar and more interested in getting their next fix than helping Mom wrangle wayward fairies.  Also, pro tip, make sure your trick or treaters can easily hold a loot bag, canvas bags are too big and then get caught up in the straps and trip...a lot.  A lot, a lot.  Shortening the straps with quick knots is confuddling and doesn't help anything.

We made our 2nd stop to Grandma's house and the youngest fairies got to stay at her house until their father finished feeding the livestock.  Then they accompanied Dad to hand out candy at home. The 3 bigs and I walked to the 3 parking lots doing trunk or treating and into a few of the businesses.  Then we hit Auntie's house and another Great Grandma's house.  The plan was then to walk the 2-3 block around our neighborhood and call it a day.  We made it 2 extra houses and the kids were ready to go home. Roughly 2 hours of trick or treating. I was proud of myself for not being the one to call it quits. I would have been content to make popcorn, sit with my feet up and hand out candy. Also Bear's teeth were no longer sore and she was ready for munching on candy.

 We ran across cousins while downtown trunk or treating

 I maybe shouldn't have had them staring into the sun.

Coffin photo op the kids loved. 

 Another photo op.

Super Easy Last Minute Costume.  Bear didn't feel my Earth was realistic enough, but it was good enough for me.

Lessons in Love

True love.

Your husband comes with on road trip for daughter's dental surgery. Lets you go to Pier 1, pick the restaurant to eat at, and browse Target and does all the driving.

Later at the hotel when he is miserable sick and asks you to drive to buy him peptobismal...you internally mutter about getting woke up, but have the foresight to check with the front desk.

Next, hope everyone is feeling okay in the morning and find out if exposure to possible rotovirus means postponing surgery. I have received 3 phone calls leading up to confirm child has not been recently sick. She went to bed complaining of a stomach ache tonight.

Fingers crossed for a healthier morning. I love you guys...please don't breathe on me. Dear Lord I hope I don't have to do the driving tomorrow.

On the Road Again

Tomorrow my twins will be staying the night at Grandma's house.  They have never spent the night away from me before.  My oldest two will be having a sleepover with their cousins, a first with that set of cousins. I am a bit more apprehensive about the toddler duo.  Potty training I would say is about 95% done.  Hopefully they do good for Grandma.  With my big household I do 2-3 loads of laundry every day so it isn't a big deal to throw in an extra pair or two of underoonies and sweatpants.  I am enjoying a break after 9 years of changing diapers.  Grandma's streak is more impressive, she hasn't had daily diaper changes in 23 years.

Bear will be going with her father and I to Billings to spend the night before she having dental work done in the morning. I am trying not to let my nerves show.  She will have IV sedation.  She is terrified of needles, she has cried and held my hand with wide scared eyes watching me have blood work done. No food after midnight, clear liquid cutoff at 3:30am.  A recommendation to keep her up late and hopefully she sleeps up until the appointment.

I want to see about taking her to the movies.  She has never been to the theater before and it could be fun.  Maybe order good to go and veg out in the hotel room, maybe go swimming.  Something fun, that she doesn't get to do often being the middle child of 5.  Also lets be honest, something I don't often get to do being the mother of 5. 

Bear isn't an adventurous eater, but she also isn't hard to please.  She is not a great sleeper, so I have a feeling keeping her up late won't result in her sleeping in.  We have a theory that she just lays quietly in bed listening for signs that someone else is awake. She is often the last to fall asleep and the first to wake up out of all of her siblings.  When she is asleep she is a deep sleeper, but I sometimes wonder how many hours she actually does sleep.  I have crept quietly into a dead silent room to hear a cheerful "oh hi Mommy!"  A while back I had decided that I should start jogging in the morning, never did get up earlier than her.

I am actually also feeling some severe mom guilt over this whole dentist thing.  She had just turned 2 a few month before the Twinks were born.  I was (maybe still am) in survival mode.  I didn't prioritize brushing teeth for her like I did her brothers.  She loved to brush her teeth and went and did when and if I reminded her brothers...but uh 2 year old aren't known for doing a great job.  She has some pretty severe cavities, enough she may end up with crowns and not just fillings.  I feel terrible.  I let her teeth get this bad, and it could have been avoided.

When we get home my husband will leave to help my folks ship calves, and then see what is left that needs combined.  I am hoping for no breakdowns and my FIL being able to finish up at least the safflower. Time is flying, but always work remains.  Now I am off to finish packing for multiple children heading multiple directions.  

Random Thoughts - October edition

The kiddos managed to get out of flu shots at school this week. I forgot to fill out their forms and said I would take them all to the county health nurse...who is busy all week. So next week, flu shots for my tribe of 5. Crossing my fingers we avoid exposure for a few more weeks  to make sure they have time to take effect. There has been much whining and pleading to avoid getting the aforementioned shots. This mom doesn't feel all that bad for them.

Today I did my 3 hour glucose test. That means 4 blood draws. I also received the tdap and flu shots. And also because I was curious how accurate my tester from 7 years ago is, I pricked my finger and tested my blood the same times as the lab...and an extra time this morning. So 11 needle pokes for Mom today.

I passed. So I have that going for me. Not diabetic!

Baby is healthy, I am measuring 1 week ahead at 33 weeks. Heartbeat was in the 120s. Was the 140s last appointment.  5-8 weeks until baby makes an appearance. My top pick for a girl name was crossed off my list, as I have a new cousin that will get the moniker a month before I could use it.

My goal is to get a list of 3-5 girl and boy  names each and bring to the hospital. My husband dislikes all names.  The only name we ever agreed on was used by child #3.  We need the push to fill out the birth certificate.  Instead of running names by him and them all getting shot down, I am going to make my list with names I really love.  Then when the time comes and if he has nothing to add, then he can pick from my list.  Honestly it was a similar approach for Child #1.  We agreed on a girls name but didn't have a boys' name, so he picked my favorite name. The I-just-birthed-a-baby-card carriers some weight.

My other goal is to get some freezer meals made.  Instead of 30+ different recipes, I am going to make 4 or 5 batches of a handful of family favorites. Should make assembly quicker and easier, with the added benefit of sure fire hits.

Summer 2018 Wrap-Up

Summer 2018 is almost a wrap.  It was spent with a lot of time at home. Also some good chunks of time not at home.

  A basketball camp, library reading program, Tball, trips to the splash park, a new puppy, swimming lessons, lots of parts runs and delivering meals to the field, some arts & crafts, a few doctor appointments, many messes, swather & combine rides, trips to visit grandmas including a special trip to the Fort Peck Theatre.  This week is fair week so I guess summer break is officially over.

Of our standard routine, we only missed out on a trip to Medora. The boys are ready for school to start, Mom isn't.  Ya know, the norm.

Waiting on Dad to finish a round and grab his food.

Swimming lessons!

Oh ya, halfway milestone for Baby #6!

Welcome to the Family Tess

The puppy has been a good fit with our family.  She does run the risk of being loved to death, but so far so good. We agreed that I will continue getting up at night with our human babies, and that my husband gets puppy duty.  Which I am personally loving. Though she will move to being a full time outdoor doggo as she gets bigger and we get a doghouse made.

The girls and I went and picked her up on Saturday afternoon, and then stopped by the farm on the way home to meet the men of the family.  So many smiles has me wondering if we shouldn't have gotten a dog sooner.  Dreams came true Saturday for 5 children (and their father).

She wasn't actually named until Sunday afternoon and it may have been more painful than picking out names for our children. We settled on the name Tessie though so far it has already been shortened to Tess. 

There has been no shortage of snuggling and the amount of time the kiddos are willing to spend outside on hot days without water fights and fistfuls of Popsicles has increased dramatically.  Instead of rushing through chores to earn screen time, we are rushing through chores to get more time with the doggo.

Gracers says "Pup Cute! Tess Cute!"

She prefers old sneakers to her chew toys.

Welcome to the family Tess.