Weekend Recap!

We've had a great weekend!  Emily and I went to the local children's museum with Miss Jamey, DD, and Avery on Saturday morning while Paul was on call at the hospital.  The kids had such a great time, and Emmy was SOOOO excited to see Miss Jamey.  She even asked me to wear special "Miss Jamey clothes" that day...not really sure what those were exactly, but she looked very cute in her outfit that day nonetheless.  After the museum we went to Chick Fil A and the kids all played together.  Then it was home for a nap and after nap Daddy was back home!  He had a great call day and only got called in once after rounding in the morning.  I LOVE call days like that! 

 (Sorry for the low-quality pic...I took it with my phone!)

 ("Miss Jamey clothes".... haha!)

Saturday evening we decided to go the very easy route with dinner and went to a local fast food-ish type place.  I didn't have shoes on (don't ask...I actually forgot them) so we changed plans and brought the food back home with us.  Now, I asked Emmy if she wanted to bring the food back to our house and have a picnic because she was disappointed that we weren't taking her out to eat (she is now in love with the IDEA of going out for meals....but sitting still from start to finish is still a major hurdle).  She changed "picnic" to "Ladybug Picnic" based on this Elizabeth Mitchell CD I downloaded recently that has a song called Ladybug Picnic.  So, we brought the food home, I put a red and white checkered blanket on the living room floor, and we ate our dinner there.  It was so much fun!  I looked at Paul halfway through dinner and told him this is what I always dreamed of- doing silly things for our kid(s) and making sweet family memories.  I looove how much fun we can have with her now.

Sunday we had a lazy morning, just venturing to the grocery store before Emily's nap.  Much to our surprise, we heard from my parents and sister, who were less than an hour away and wanted to come see us!  Needless to say, we were very excited to see them and Emily was super happy too, even though I woke her up from her nap to see them.  She wasn't cranky at all (and if you know her well, you know this is impressive!)  We played with my family for a while and then they had to keep heading home.  Later Sunday night I asked Em what her favorite thing about the day was (I ask every evening).  She said, "Pop!"...which is what she calls my dad.  It was too precious. 

So that's our weekend in a nutshell.  Emily also informed me that for Halloween, she would like to be a T-shirt.  Yup....you read that right.  I don't have ANY idea how I'll handle this one, haha! 

Look for the monthly update next weekend- we're almost 34 months now (and 34 weeks next week with Audrey...both of my girls are "34"!!)

Time Flies!

This week has flown by!  I returned to work on Monday, which was nice. I had a few weeks off from school this summer (less than 3 total!) and to be honest, I was a little bored by the end of it.  I was glad to go back and see all my teacher friends and get started with trainings and meetings.  Also, it's nice to be occupied during the day...I am spending a lot less money! (Smile, Paul....this is a good thing!!)

Tomorrow I will be 33 weeks along with Audrey.  I am still having regular Braxton Hicks contractions every day but not too many of the actually painful ones.  Paul has been giving me backrubs a few times a week which generally helps subdue the pain for a day or two following.  One major downside to being back at school is all the sitting in folding chairs, etc. during the meetings!  I actually brought my own chair- a camping/outdoors chair- to school this week to help me be a bit more comfortable.  I'm planning to take some pictures this weekend so I'll be sure to post those soon.

Emily is a little fussy this week, and we're not quite sure what's going on.  She has been completely falling apart in the evenings after school.  Since she has gone to school every day this summer I can't blame my return to work on her behavior.  The only thing I can figure out is that they've transitioned a few new kids into her class and a few of her friends have moved to the Young 3s room, including her friend Eva who she just loves to pieces...so maybe that's it?  Whatever the case, I hope it gets worked out soon....I feel so bad for her but these tantrums and fits every night are making us crazy!  It's a little like living with Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde!  I just try to take deep breaths and think, "This too shall pass..."

Anyway, just wanted to update quickly.  We're still here, still moving right along...just busier now! :)

What Daddy Did....

Last night Emily woke up around 11:30 and had obviously had a strange dream.  Here's the conversation that unfolded when we went in to check on her:

Emily: "Daddy, did you poop on the floor?"
Paul: "Umm, no, I didn't poop on the floor."
Emily: "DADDY! WE. DON'T. POOP. ON. THE. FLOOR. It's not nice!!"
Paul: "Ok." 

Em: "Did you do that? Did you poop on the floor?"
Paul: "No, I didn't."
Em: "YES YOU DID DADDY! We don't DO THAT! It's yucky!"
Paul: "OK Emmy...I won't do it again."

 HAHAHAHAHA!  It's amazing the things we will admit to doing, just to calm our children down.  I have also agreed with her before that the sun is actually the moon....anything for a moment's peace!! 

Emily-isms

Emily says so many funny things that I am feeling compelled to write them down. I'll continue to repost this post whenever she says something especially funny!

-Emily climbed into bed with me this morning, lifted up my shirt, and said,"Good Morning, Audrey!!" Now that's a wake up I can live with. Love my sweet girl!

-The other day, she was upstairs, fighting her nap, and yelling out things like, "I am ready now", "I don't need a nap anymore...." and my personal favorite, "Moooomy.....pwease come and get your baby!"

-Me:" Do you want the water or not?" Emily:"Not!"

- Tonight I told Emily I didn't want to rub her back anymore because it was hurting my arm and she said,"Mommy, wemme see your arm." *grabs arm, looks closely* "I fink you are gonna be OK. Now....rub my back." Then she lay down on her pillow and put my hand on her back and said, "There.....that's my sweet girl."

-Emmy felt Audrey kick today...her eyes got HUGE and she yelled, "Baby Audrey give me high 5!!" So precious!

-This afternoon, fter Em got in trouble for hitting: "It is very hard to be good, Mommy!" HAHAHAHA!

-Emily, after I got out of the shower, and I am putting my moisturizer on my face: "MOMMY! Don't rub your ASS!" (her NC accent is getting thicker and thicker...eyes = ass). Let's hope she doesn't share this one at school!

-I asked Emily if she was Mommy's angel...she looked indignant and said, "I not an angel!!"


- She has become obsessed with the movie Charlotte's Web. Now, anytime she doesn't want to do what we are asking her to do, she calls out, "NO- I can't!! I promised Wilbur!" It is SO funny!

- She would absolutely NOT call my father in law this morning to wish him a happy birthday because, she says, it is NOT his birthday (it really is). It is HER birthday (it really isn't!)

- Over the weekend she was sitting in my lap and Audrey was bumping her in the back. She squirmed a few times and then said, "MOMMY, don't poke Emmy in the back!"

- She was riding in the car with Paul and me over the weekend and Paul switched lanes so we could turn. Emily bursts out with, "NO NO DADDY- don't put the car over here!" She also does not appreciate having to stop at red lights. It is hilarious what she notices now!


Me: "Emily, tomorrow is Show and Tell.  What are you going to take?"
Emily (with NO hesitation): "My hand."
Me: "Your HAND?  You mean, your hand wearing your new bracelets?"
Emily: "No....just my hand." 


NEW as of Aug. 2, 2010

Emily: "I want an apple, Mommy."
Me: "OK- do you want me to cut it up?"
Emmy: "No, I want it like a ball. Do not cut it. Do not drop it. Do not throw it at me." 

Emily: "Bye, I going to the doctor now!" Me: "Why are you going to the doctor?" Emily: "I haffa get some batteries!"

Emily: "I want to go play with my baby doll. Come on, Grandmother!" -Emily to me, this evening. Apparently she's begun to notice my fine lines and wrinkles.....

Emily: "I DON'T WANNA GO TO SCHOOL! I want you to take me out for dinner! [breakfast]"
Me: "They're going to have breakfast for you at school. I just have to drop you off and then you can eat."
------she mulls this over---------
Emily: "WE DON'T DROP EMILY! That is NOT NICE! That hurts Emily!"

Emmy: "Mommy, do you like me?" Me: "Of course! I LOVE you!" Emily: "But do you like me?" Me: "Yes, sweet girl, I like you." Emmy: "I like you too Mommy."

 

Baby Audrey Update- 32 weeks/ doctor visit

Had my appointment today.  Dr R was ready to repeat the fetal fibronectin test today if I wanted to, but I told her about the cramping, contractions, and spotting last week and we decided not to do it after all.  She was glad to hear that things have basically stayed the same since last week and I'm having the same or fewer contractions every day.  So, no news is good news!  I will go back on the 23rd unless I need to be seen earlier.

One funny thing...they asked if Audrey moves 10 times in an hour....um, Audrey moves 10 times in 2 minutes!  She is going to be a wild girl, just like her big sister.  I just know it!

Baby Audrey Update- 31 weeks

I had an appointment yesterday for my fetal fibronectin test (ffn) and to discuss how the week has gone since I was there last.  I explained about having more pain-like contractions as opposed to just annoying/ uncomfortable Braxton-Hicks contractions.  Dr. R did the ffn test and an internal exam as well.  She was not pleased to note that I am dilated to an "easy 1cm"; however she was able to feel that I have about 2cm of cervical length left.  She is not making me do bedrest right now but said for the next 3 weeks (until 34 weeks gestation) she wants me taking it VERY easy, not lifting Emily, no running around all day long doing errands, etc.  Basically, "very modified activity level" until 34 weeks, when we'll discuss it again. 

I called this morning for the ffn results and it turns out the sample was damaged on the way to the lab and they didn't run it.  Dr R is on call this weekend and instructed that I should call or come to the hospital if I need her (um, no thank you) and to just plan to come to my appointment next Wednesday morning.  If I have a lot of contractions over the weekend I am supposed to call on Monday morning and get the appointment moved up. 

So, my uneducated medical opinion is this:  once I get to around 30 weeks, I think the baby just runs out of room.  We seem to be following the exact same path we took with Emily- lots of contractions, cervical length thinning, early dilation, etc.  I think my torso is short enough that eventually, there's no more room to go up (toward my ribs) and the baby is forced to put pressure on my cervix instead, as well as growing more out (like, belly getting bigger).  Whether this will result in a pre-term delivery is still up in the air...with Emily, we had to induce labor to get her out (granted, if we had waited she probably would have come on her own in the next few days, but my body held on until 38 weeks and 3 days with her before we intervened).  With Audrey, I just don't know.  I really wish I had a crystal ball and could just find out what 's going to happen with her!!!  (Don't worry...when I find said crystal ball, I will patent it, then sell it to the masses!) :)

This modified activity thing is TOTALLY do-able, though, which is great.  Luckily, Emily is nearing 3 years old...so she's much more independent than if this was a year ago and they were only 2 years apart.  All she needs my help with is getting into her car seat, high chair, and carts at the grocery store.  Otherwise, I just need to budget more time for when we are going places. 

Additionally, my school schedule is pretty easy for the next few weeks-
Aug 2-6: Off completely; no plans other than doc's office on Wednesday and haircut Friday- this is week 32 for us.
Aug 9-13: Back to school for teachers, a week of trainings and workshops- so sitting all day- this is week 33.
Aug 16-20: Another week of trainings, workshops, and sitting all day- this is week 34!
Aug 23- 27: No kids until Wednesday, then just 3 days of teaching and I am 35 weeks.
Aug 30-Sept 3: Full days of teaching, which I will try to sit as much as possible.  This takes us to 36 weeks...almost full term!

So hopefully, things will stay as they are now and I won't deliver her early.  The best news is that being more sedentary for the next few weeks is completely possible.  I have already set up my classroom and have things ready for my kids.  All I need to do is complete little, menial tasks like organizing things, labeling items once I get my roster, and typing lesson plans, etc. on the computer.  So cross your fingers that we don't meet our girl for another month or so, at the very least!!   

So Long, Booker Boy

Yesterday we drove to Virginia to take my sweet Booker man to his new home with Paul's cousin Lorrie's family.  It was such a hard day!  I know that he will live a much happier life with Lorrie's 2 boys, especially because Emily didn't even really play with him- she mostly stayed angry at him because he would knock over her toys when she was playing.  We don't have enough time to devote to him and luckily they do....Booker is going to love having Jack (who is 4 in September) to play with every day!

But...it was ROUGH- Paul and I both cried like babies, and then on the way from there he looked at me in the car and said, "I loved him." and I busted out crying some more. But I got a great email from Lorrie this morning saying that they had made a video of Jack getting B yesterday and that Jack had already planned to spend the entire day today in the yard playing ball with Booker.  Booker may have finally met his match!  Also, Jack wouldn't stop petting and loving on Booker and woke up this morning and yelled, "I LOVE MY DOG!!!!!!!!!!!"  So in the end, I still agree it was the right thing to do. However, like I said yesterday in the car....sometimes doing the right thing means doing the hardest thing.  But I am so happy my dog has a happy home, even if that home isn't with me. It's going to take some adjusting for sure.