30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 1

So I've started to think that perhaps people that follow my blog might be getting bored with some of my posts - they're all so alike. So as I was catching up on blog reading tonight, I found the 30 Day Blog Challenge (courtesy of Erin). So, here goes Day 1.

Day 1-post a recent picture of yourself & 5 interesting facts about you. Well, since I did just post a recent photo of myself, I won't do that again. Here are 5 interesting (maybe) things about me:

1- I clean fish better than my husband. In fact, I won't let my husband clean any fish because he just mutilates them. Last year all I wanted for my birthday was a good fillet knife & my awesome mom delivered!

2- I have a tattoo - I know, lots of you already know that. However, most everyone that I know that has a tattoo says how addictive they are. Weirdly, I have no need for another one any time soon. Not pain related or anything, just don't have anything I have to have.

3- I wasn't any good at sewing until the last year or so. I am a self described "requires intensive supervision while sewing" kind of person. I couldn't even lay a pattern out myself! I'm impressed with my bad self for making so much progress in such a short amount of time!

4- I was President of the French Club in high school, but I don't remember a lick of French!

5- I've contemplated going back to school, but I can't decide what I want to do if I do go back! I fear that if I get a master's degree I'll be "over qualified" for this valley & will for sure never get a teaching job around here. However, I also feel that there is a surplus of elementary ed teachers in the valley & that if I don't get another degree, I will also never get a job in this valley!

So, there you have it. Five interesting (at least somewhat) facts about me. If you want to do the 30 day Blog Challenge, here is the list:

day 1: recent picture of yourself and 5 interesting facts about you

day 2: your favorite movie

day 3: pet peeves

day 4: a dream of yours

day 5: your parents

day 6: your celebrity crush

day 7: an animal you'd love to keep as a pet

day 8: a hobby of yours

day 9: a place you love

day 10: a person you love

day 11: favorite tv shows

day 12: photo of you taken ten years ago

day 13: something you're afraid of

day 14: your makeup bag

day 15: your family

day 16: something you're looking forward to

day 17: favorite book

day 18: what makes you different from everyone else

day 19: something you bought recently

day 20: what did i wear today??

day 21: your friends

day 22: a place you've traveled to

day 23: favorite recipe

day 24: favorite photo

day 25: your house and your favorite rooms in it

day 26: a habit you wish you didn't have

day 27: a picture of you last year and a picture of you now

day 28: something that stresses you out

day 29: favorite vacation

day 30: photo of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days

Trip to Labor & Delivery #2

Yesterday I made it to Sam's 1st piano recital (video to come later). Around 5:30 I started timing my contractions because they were feeling closer than they have yet. They were anywhere from 10-20 min. apart. I decided around 10 to get in the tub to see if they'd quit. Once I got out of the tub, they actually got worse. They increased to every 3-5 min. I kept texting Trav to try and talk to him. I didn't want to go back to Labor and Deliver without talking to him first. Finally about 11 I was in tears and told Sam to "call grandma". So, about 11:30 my parents came up. My dad stayed with the kids and my mom took me back into Labor and Delivery. They hooked me up to the monitors and checked me. They said I was 50% (40% last time) and a 1+. I was happy to hear I had made progress. My dr. was the one on call too. They decided to give me a shot to try and stop or slow down the contractions. That was a burning sensation I wasn't anticipating. After the shot, the contractions slowed down, but didn't stop. They checked me again before I left and decided that although I was 50%, I was really only a 1, not a 1+. Wasn't happy about hearing that. We finally left around 2 am. They sent me home with 2 Lortab and more ambien. They also called in a prescription for the Lortab and the ambien for me so I can "self medicate until the end". When I went to the dr. yesterday and he told me, "This just might be one of those pregnancies where you're in and out of Labor and Delivery a bunch of times before she decides to come for real." I didn't really take that comment seriously.....until last night. On the bright side, after I talked to Trav at 11 pm, he had his boss called and he got a ride out of Pine Dale at midnight and was home around 5 am. What a way to start his week off huh?

Trip #1 to Labor & Deliver

Since Thursday I have had increasing pain and contractions. On Sunday I showed up at my mom's house at noon in tears. Those that know me, know I just don't do that. I have a super high pain tolerance. Mom kind of freaked out at that point. She sent me downstairs to lay down while she kept the kids entertained. Around 6 or so that night I called the dr. on call. She said she thought it sounded like I might have a bladder infection and that I should go into Labor & Delivery and get checked out. So, mom and I hauled the kids to my in laws house and dropped them off. We got to Labor & Deliver around 8 pm. They did a urine check which turned out completely fine (great actually) and put me on the monitor. They checked me and said I was STILL at a -3/-4 and a 1. Great. Thanks kid. So, they sent me home after about 3 hours with 2 percocet & an ambien. Mom spent the night at my house since the ambien can completely knock a person out.

This morning I couldn't function well enough to get Sam to school on time. So, she was about an hour and half late to school. Glad the office person and her teacher were understanding. (Mom had to be to work at 6 am.) I dropped the boys off at daycare & called to follow up with my dr. They decided to have me come in at 1:45 today instead of waiting until Wednesday.

Fast forward to dr. appointment. Weight is at +56 lbs, bp is great, no swelling, urine looks good, belly measures 37 wks (not 35). Basically am told that dr. is thrilled I've made it this far b/c he wasn't sure I would but that he'd still like to get 2 more weeks out of me. Basically tells me to do what I can to get contractions to stop or slow down. Awesome.

Fast forward to 4 pm today. Decided to time contractions. They've been anywhere from 28 min - 2 min apart. Last little bit they sped up but now I'm thinking they're going back to their 10 min apart show. I hate this! Contractions with Samantha were NEVER regular at all - even during hard labor. So, here I sit, trying to decide if I go back to Labor & Delivery or not. Mom has her cell phone nearby but has to work in the morning. Wondering what tomorrow will bring. Sure glad that Trav comes home tomorrow!

Sam cracks me up

I totally forgot to write about this in the post below. Since the kids are watching Despicable Me, I was thankfully reminded.

So last night as we were getting ready to leave my sister in law's house to come home, I had told Nash about 14 times to get his boots on. He still hadn't done it and I was getting frustrated so I told him, "Get your boots on now or I'm going to kick your butt!" Just as I finish telling him this, I hear Samantha off to one side say, "Oh no! Not the box of shame!" I couldn't help but bust up. I LOVE the movie Despicable Me & it was perfect timing on her part. What a kid!

Spring Break

Here is a side by side comparison of me at 35 wks with Caleb (left) and 34.5 wks with Brookelyn. I think I'm lookin' pretty good this time! My weight is up to +57 lbs according to my mom's scale today. Lucky for me, I don't think it's showing quite as much this time! Looking at these pictures makes me REALLY glad it isn't June & I'm NOT that big again! I did notice Thurs & Fri night that my ankles are a little swollen, but not too much. Let's hope it stays that way.

Thursday night the big kids spent the night at Aunt Jamie's & Uncle Robbie's in Farr West. They were SOO glad to get out of this house & do something. They've been going stir crazy all week because the weather has been so yucky & Sam's closest bestie has been gone to Ohio since Monday. I haven't really been up to having play dates over here either. I went down Thursday early afternoon & stayed until 5:30 or so & then Caleb & I came home. I debated about leaving Caleb, but he was telling me for a few days before that his ear hurt and his nose has been terrible. So, Thursday night was just me & Caleb. He fell asleep before I hit Brigham & stayed asleep until 8:30. I should have woke him up when I got home, but I knew he needed the sleep. Stupid me - he was awake until 2-2:30 am! And he doesn't just chill out either - he likes to run circles around the couch/island or sit on my lap while I try & sew (just imagine the help I get). Friday I took Caleb into the pediatrician. He said Caleb's tube in his left ear is starting to come out & has basically turned sideways & that's probably why it's hurting. It wasn't infected or red (wow). He did have a sinus infection though, so we got a Rx for that. After the pediatrician's office we picked up his Rx and made 1 or 2 other stops before heading back to Farr West. We got to Farr West around 3ish. The kids played and played. They were soo bummed when we finally left at 9:30 last night. Of course, all 3 zonked before we hit Brigham. And, amazingly, they stayed asleep when we got home! I only got 1 picture while we were there. Uncle Robbie brought 3 bikes upstairs for the kids to play (let's hope they don't ask to do it at home, b/c the answer is NO). Sam was pushing Caleb & Jaxton in the little blue car while Clayton & Nash did circles around them & everyone else!

I finally finished 1 of the aprons I have had laid out since November. It was going to be for my sister in law (Jamie) as part of her Christmas. I just ran out of time in December to get it done, so it's been sitting in my "pile". I finally decided I should get it done for her birthday (Monday). So, while Caleb was up running circles Thursday night, I managed to finish it. I think it turned out super cute & she was pretty excited.

I'm excited b/c Jamie has helped me make a craft for the kids' new rooms. She drew their names out (she has awesome handwriting) and we cut them out of different scrapbook paper & backed them with a solid color. I need to rubber cement the letters together & then I'm ready for the next step. The boys' are going to go onto blocks of wood. Their names are in red/blue b/c that's what colors their room is getting done in. I think I'll paint their blocks white to make their names really pop. The girls' I'm going to mount onto a white paper & then place in random 8.5 x 11 or 5 x 7 picture frames. I know I've got some frames I'm not using downstairs. For the other frames I need (we did Samantha & Brookelyn not Sam & Brooke) I'm going to go over to the DI & see if I can find some decent frames. If I can get all wood ones, I'm going to paint them white so they are a little more tied together. When they are done (and the room is repainted pink) I'm going to hang them on the walls by their beds. They are going to be super cute & I can't wait to get them finished!

Last night I was having contractions & I figured when I went to bed they'd stop. No. They continued off and on all night long. So, I didn't sleep much. The fact that Caleb came in around 2 or 3 with leg cramps didn't help. I don't think it would have been so bad if once he fell back to sleep he hadn't decided to use my belly as a pillow! I finally moved to the couch around 6 and all three kids were up around 8. I was super glad my mom didn't have to work today. She came & got all three of them around 1:30 and kept them for several hours so I could get some sleep. Contractions still haven't stopped, but they've slowed down. The funny thing is, I seriously have done like nothing the last 2 days. The entire time I was at my sister in law's house I was pretty much sitting (we were working on the letters). Guess Brookelyn's just getting ready to make her appearance? I go back to the dr. on Wed. so we'll see what he says. I think he'll be glad that next week is going to be my last week at work. That way I can spend more time "down" (ha!).

Travis found out around Christmas time that Halliburton will pay for him to finish his college degree. So, in January he reapplied to USU. He was accepted and last time he was home, he went and met with an advisor in the Business dept. He's decided to finish his degree (only about 9 yrs after he quit going to school b/c we got pregnant with Sam) in Business Administration. He's going to do the entire thing online. He researched computers and ended up buying a laptop. He can register beginning Monday. He was going to start with 12 credits, but being the awesome wife I am, I convinced him that would be overdoing it his 1st semester back, especially considering it will be summer semester & we'll have another kid. He finally saw my reasoning & agreed he'll just take 3 classes (about 6 or 7 credits). I think he's excited to get back to it. He has 77 credits total that he has to do in order to finish. He figured if he does about 8 credits summer semester & about 12 fall and winter semester, it will take him 2.5 years to get it done. Not too bad, and I'm happy because Halliburton is picking up the tab instead of us! I just wish we would have known about it when he started working there 2 years ago!

This turned out to be a longer post than I had planned. Sorry!