BED REST

A lot of people have asked me what I do to pass the time away while I am on bedrest.
Here are my top ten :

1. Read...I have read 2 books and about 14 magazines
2. Watch tv... do you need an update on a show? Just ask me about it
3. Eat. I am trying to gain weight...seriously, I want a fat baby.
4. Talk on the phone...thank goodness for cheap long distance
5. Google home furnishings, halloween costumes, baby stuff...anything really
6. Crochet...my friend Ashlee brought me the stuff, I googled a how to website and finished one 18 inch chain which Piper then cut loose, so I guess I have to start over. I don't think it will end up being a special talent of mine.
7. Obsess over every detail of my room that is driving me nuts...the socks on the floor, the crumbs on the carpet, etc.
8. Make lists of things I will do when I can move about freely again.
9. Sleep, seriously all this laying around is exhausting
10. Sad but true, I tend to have a good cry about every 3 days...It isn't all bliss, all this "me" time in bed. Ha ha. I hate being unproductive, having a messy house, feeling like I don't know what is going on with my family all the time...apparently I am supposed to be learning something.

Wow...that sounds really pathetic, but don't pity me, I am going to get a baby out this, and that was the goal afterall! My good friend Ashlee came over last week, did my hair and makeup and took these photos of me and the kids...I really wanted some before the pregnancy is over...thanks Ash!

E.R.

So I spoke too soon. Two nights ago, I woke up to a big gush of blood, and a clot about the size of my palm. Tim and I rushed down to the E.R. and spent the night getting a variety of tests done. The conclusion: Complete Placenta Previa. Not good news, but luckily the baby is doing fine. My placenta has implanted directly over the cervix, making a C-section the only safe option. However, I am now on strict bed rest until I either get far enough along to schedule c-section, or until I start contracting, dilating, or bleeding. The big concern of course is the risk of hemorrage, and the baby bleeding out if the placenta is compromised by tearing away from the cervix as I progress. Hence the inability for me to be upright...the less pressure on the placenta...the better. So as I lay here in my bed typing this, I am trying to be grateful for all the little things that have gone right instead of worrying and focusing on the disappointment of not having another home birth. So here are the ways in which we have been blessed:
1. Finding out before I was in actual labor...probably saved the life of this little baby, and possiby mine as well.
2. Instincts, or promptings, mine and Tim's...we both felt like something was not normal, and that we needed to investigate, we had actually scheduled some tests and an ultrasound the same day that this all happened.
3. A great midwife who was right on board with us the whole way, and who told us to get to the hospital immediately. A woman who I love because she took my phone calls at 2 am, 4 am , and 6 am from the hospital and comforted me, and encouraged me.
4. I am glad this didn't happen while we were in Texas or on the airplane, 3 days earlier.
5. A good nurse who didn't treat me like a crazy person, and a Doctor who respected where we were coming from and was encouraging, and willing to work with us on keeping this baby safe, without keeping me in the hospital for the next month.
6. Jessica, I don't think the fact that she ended up here is just a happy coincidence.
7. Good friends and neighbors who are all willing to help, generous with their time, and food, and friendship.
8. For once I am really glad that I am a neurotic freak...I had actually finished packing, mostly, and had things organized enough that being on bed rest won't absolutely kill everyone else as we get ready to move.

Deep in the Heart of Texas...

Tim and I just got back from Dallas, Texas last night. We love to go back there and visit, since it is where we lived while Tim finished Chiropractic school. One of Tim's mentors, Frank Sovinsky was speaking at the Parker Seminar...it is a big deal, and we decided we would go listen to him and also reconnect with some of our closest friends...





OOPS! Did I say friends? I meant foods.

We do have this sick obsession with all the food you can get in Dallas. We spent one whole day at the Texas State Fair, which if any of you have a chance to go...you should. It features the world's tallest ferris wheel, lots of fun vendors, and the most deep fried food I have ever seen. They deep fry jelly bellies, oreos, snowballs, banana splits, grilled cheese sandwiches, and just about everything else you can think of. Not only that but you get to see real Texans...



Actually my very good friend Marlo and her husband Jerry drove up from Austin to meet us, and we had a great time with them at the fair, and wandering around Dallas. We picked up where we left off the last time I saw her...like 6 years ago. So much fun...

FEIS

Last weekend Tatym participated in the Boise Feis (pronounced fesh), which is a huge Irish Dance competition with dancers from all over North America. She has been doing Irish dance for 3 years, and was really excited for this year's feis. She was entered to compete in 6 different dances, and finished with one fourth place, 3 third place finishes, and HOORAY...one first place!! She can't wait until she turns 10, because that is when the girl's are allowed to get really sparkly, fancy solo dresses. Way to go Tatym!

What is Wrong With Us???

So the economy is in the toilet, the housing market is collapsing, and what do we do? We buy a new house! What is wrong with us?
Let me explain/justify this a little: 3 years ago we bought a lot out here and were planning to build a home. We had the house plans all drawn up, and then the market sky rocketed. We made a decision to forego the new house for a few years, and take the money we made (more than double what we paid), and get out of debt. So we did that, and it has been great! However, our desires for a newer, bigger, more private home have not gone away...so we have been keeping our eyes open looking for what we had in mind when we designed our home that never got built. We have looked at dozens of houses over the past few years, but we really haven't seen anything that wowed us until a couple weeks ago. We found this house, just a few blocks from where we live...a big plus, since I didn't want to move out of our dreamy little community. It is new, the builder was building it for himself, but the market tanked and so did his ability to hang on to it. Since he started construction in 2006, he has dropped the price on it $200, 000. Lucky us! Anyway, long story short, we spontaneously bought the house and agreed to close on October 1st. Needless to say...I am a frantic pregnant lady right about now! I am trying to pack, keep this house clean, and try not to get myself put on bed rest!

Flag Football Season....

Josh had his first flag football game last Saturday. It was pretty fun to watch, though we realized that at this level, it really comes down to who has a big, fast kid that can out run the others. Josh played Offensive lineman, and then he also got to be running back for a couple plays. His team got beat soundly, and Tim is taking it pretty hard, but I keep reminding him that this is just for FUN!!
Here are a few pictures of Josh doing his thing on the field.

Jessica

So our niece Jessica has saved our bacon. She decided that staying home in Raymond for 4 months until she went to school, would be boring, so instead she has come to stay with us. I think she will probably be really bored here, but I haven't told her that yet. She is working in Tim's office a few hours a week, and doing some cleaning and babysitting for me and a few of my friends. It is quite glorious to have another adult around who actually likes my kids and is capable of caring for them on occasion. My kids are pretty much bugging her constantly, and I think that she might be hitch hiking back north soon just to have a moment of peace. But until she escapes, I am loving it. I can actually go places without my kids, and Tim and I might even have a weekend getaway before this baby comes. Yee hah!

Football Season

Well, it's that time again. Football season has officially begun. When we first moved here, I said to Tim, "Don't you think it would be fun to make BSU Football one of the things our family does?" I have often wondered what was possessing my brain at the time of that question, but needless to say, Tim didn't need more encouragement than that, and we are Bronco Fans. We have had season tickets since we moved here, and we have even been known to tailgate...and lest we forget, we always wear our team colors. Sometimes I get a little annoyed that our fall plans must always revolve around "the schedule", but really it has been great fun for us and our kids to go to the games, and have a team to really cheer for. I will admit that I am a bit of a fair weather fan, and I sometimes don't make it to the November games...I guess true fans wear headphones so they can listen to it as they watch it (totally my husband), and then come home and watch it again on T.V. because it is recorded too. Aye aye aye. GO ORANGE! GO BIG BLUE! FIGHT, FIGHT, BSU!!

The State Fair

Well we broke down this year and took the family to the State Fair. Really, I think next year we will take alternate routes across town so our kids don't see it when we drive past it...yeah right. We opted out of family night on Monday...103 degrees...no thanks. We went yesterday after school, and the weather was much more compliant, about 84. The thing about the fair is...I really only want to go for the food, but my kids want to go for the rides and the games, and since I am preggers, and not really into any creepy carny ride that can be set up in 3 days, I end up waddling around behind everyone with mini donut glaze on my face, asking things like : "Do you really want to go on that lamo roller coaster?", and "Do you feel sick now? Maybe we should go get some food." Or the classic, "Are you guys tired of these rides yet?" and "No way, I am not spending five bucks so you can win a 79 cent goldfish that will die in 2 hours at home!"
So by last night, my feet hurt, my back hurt, my stomach hurt...(I may have gone overboard on fair food, but when else can you eat elephant ears, corn dogs, teryaki noodles, and mini donuts all in one spot?) My purse was about $100 bucks lighter, and the kids were filthy...it was AWESOME!!! The Stones spent a few hours traipsing around with us, and they are the biggest fair-lovers I know...maybe they are rubbing off on us! All in all...great memories....for the kids.

First Day of School

I can't believe it's that time again already...the beginning of another school year. Tatym started 4th grade with Mrs. Hill, and Josh started 2nd grade with Mrs. Brooks. They were both thrilled with their teachers, and so excited to start on Monday that they could barely sleep Sunday night. It has been a busy week, and we are struggling to get back into a routine, especially at bedtime, but the exhaustion should kick in pretty soon and get us on course. Piper started preschool on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons, so for 3 more months, I get a few hours to myself once and a while. It is pretty weird, but great! I use this time to blog, shop, clean, or nap...probably more of the latter come November! Josh also started flag football last week, and Tatym started piano lessons. We are busy, but happy!

Olympic Obsession

Yikes...I am a little obsessed right now. I really can't stop myself from watching olympics all day, and half the night. I am so tired, and my house is a mess...this is a cry for help.
Actually I think today is the day I get something done. I can always watch the olympics in fast forward later. I love tivo. My favorite events so far...well watching the U.S. beat France in the swimming relay was pretty phenomenal, but I have pretty much loved all of it, the gymnastic, diving, volleyball (beach, and regular), and of course let me just say for those of you who missed the opening ceremonies...HOLY CRAP! I don't think anyone will be able to compete with that, sorry but China is crazy!

Waterton 2008

After all the fun reunions, Tim flew up to Canada and joined us and we went to Waterton for 8 days. We got the cabin all to ourselves and had a great vacation. We did 3 hikes, Bear's Hump...a must, and Crandell Lake, and Bertha Falls. Piper did complain a little, but she did them all herself, and was quite proud of that when it was all said and done.
We also became a fishing family. We spent quite a few hours fishing at Crandell and Cameron Lake, and actually caught several Rainbow trout, and a few brook trout. Tim taught himself and the kids how to clean them, and cooked them up for dinner or breakfast after every catch.
Other than that, we spent a lot of time hanging out down at the lake, swimming, eating ice cream, and looking for bears. Our closest encounter was a mama with 2 cubs very near the Crandell Trail. Luckily we didn't see them until we were done and driving home...phew. We also went ghost hunting at Prince of Wales hotel one night, and were lucky enought to see Belinda (the hotel's ghost) up in the bell tower. All in all, it was glorious. Waterton, as you know if you have read my blog, is one of my favorite places on the planet,and I think my kids feel the same way. We were reluctant to leave, but also ready to be home.

Family Reunions....July 2008

Okay, so I am finally home after 3 weeks in Canada. It was a great 3 weeks, and a busy 3 weeks. I got to Raymond on the 12th, stayed there for 2 days so my kids could play with their cousins who currently live in Utah. Then we zipped over to Mountain View for my Grandparents reunion. The Rell and LaRue Francis Reunion. It was fun to see my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins, that I haven't seen for a long time. We played games, had a bunko party one night, went fishing at Payne Lake, and spent one day in Waterton together. The kids all got along great, but the highlight was really the fashion show that all the kids put on. Aunt Dawn has this awesome collection of dress-up clothes, and Piper has been harassing me non-stop since this fashion show to beef up our own collection of dress up stuff. It was pretty cute I have to admit.
After the Rell and LaRue reunion, I was able to spend a few days with my sisters and parents. We took the kids down to Chin Lake, and Grandpa pulled everyone around in the tube, and the kids had a great time playing in the muddy lake. It is so awesome for our kids to build these kinds of memories together, I know they will always remember the fun they have with their cousins.
Then a couple days later we made an appearance at the Charles Dudley Reunion in Magrath. That is Tim's great-grandfather. It was a big group...nearly 300 people showed up, and I didn't really know very many of them. The kids had a blast, as the reunion was held at the new Stake Camp in Pot Hole Coulee, and it included a rudimentary, but very functional waterslide. They loved it, and wore themselves running up the hill so they could slide down over and over.