Busy Saturday

Last Saturday my neighbor, Gwen, threw me a baby shower.  It was an open house at her house, lucky for me she lives kiddy corner from me.  A lot of different ward members came.  I was surprised how many people came.  They were all so very generous and we are so blessed to have so many good friends in our neighborhood and ward.  After a couple of hours, the people stopped coming and I took the goods home and showed them to Tony and the boys.  It totally filled the whole crib with all the goods.

A little while later family started coming over for Tyler's family birthday party.  We had a full house of our family and we loved it.  Someday we will have a bigger house and it wont be so squishy, but besides that it went well.  Tony got out the grill and cooked hamburgers and hotdogs and then after opening presents we had some cake and ice cream.  I couldn't believe it, during dinner I ran out of ketchup.  I ended up calling my neighbor, and "borrowed" some from them.  It was a funny thing to ask for, but thankfully she had some.  The boys had a great time playing with all their cousins and Tyler got some fun gifts.  Luckily the weather was pretty good, so the kids played mostly outside and down stairs.  Tony and I got Tyler an explorer kit and Tyler has played with it everyday since.  It is good to see him use the things we buy him.  It was a very long day, but a good one.  I thought for a while I might not make it to any of the activities because my contractions we coming so fast and strong for a while, but they calmed down and the baby is still cooking.

Busy Week

Josh and Koda before church

This week has been a pretty busy one.  On Monday the boys had their well child visits.  Tyler woke up that morning saying his ear hurt, so it was pretty good timing since we were already going to the doctor.  It was the first time he said he didn't want to go to preschool because he wasn't feeling well.  So we stayed home in the morning and then went to the appointment in the afternoon.
The appointment went well.  Tony had the day off, so he was able to come with me.  Both boys look really good overall.  Turns out that Tyler and Josh both had ear infections.  So we're not sure if they just didn't get all the way better from the last ear infections, or if these are new ones.

Tyler was a little on the short side, but looking good.

Weight: 40 lbs (44%) 

Height: 41.6 inches tall (23%).  

Josh is more on the tall side.

Weight: 30 1/2 lbs (60%)

Height: 37 inches tall (72%)

Head: 48 1/4 cm (26%)  

It'll be interesting to see if they keep on this same path.  She was a little concerned that Josh wasn't talking better, so she said we can wait and see how he is at three or we could start him on some free speech training.  It's kind of funny because it seems like since that appointment Josh is already speaking better and using more words.  I think that we will wait for a couple months and then decide.

On Tuesday was Tyler's actual birthday.  I can't believe he is already five.  We kept the day pretty low key but did take him to dinner at Wingers.  They sent him a free kids meal coupon and we all had a good time eating dinner there.  

Kimball Sutherland

Yesterday Julie got induced and had her baby.  Kimball Boyd Sutherland came at 2:15 pm weighing a hefty 9.4 lbs and 20 inches.  They are all doing well.  I had my midwife appointment for my 38th week appointment.  I was at a 3 plus and 70% effaced.  So I am progressing nice and steadily.  I thought with all the contractions I have been having that I would have been more dilated, but I'll take whatever I can take.  My midwife said everything is looking good.  I have only one more appointment for next Friday.  If I haven't had her by the 30th, then I will get induced that day.
Later that night I went to dinner with some friends from my ward.  Well, really only one of the ladies still lives in the ward, the other two moved a couple months ago.  We went to The Cheesecake Factory.  It was lots of fun chatting with friends and eating yummy food.  It was even better because my friend, Natalie, paid for my meal as my birthday dinner - she is so good to me.
Today after I dropped off Tyler at preschool, Josh and I went to my parents.  I left Josh with my mom and then went and visited Julie at the hospital.  Little Kimball is super cute.  His hair was so soft.  He just slept while I was there, I just love that.  I can't believe that will be me in a couple of weeks (or less).  After I picked up Tyler and we all hung out at my parents for a couple of hours.  Josh took a nap and then Sherri and Rich stopped by and we all got to catch up.  I wished that I could have held Kimball for longer, but she'll be coming home tomorrow so I'll get plenty of chances to snuggle him.
Tomorrow we are having Tyler's family BBQ birthday party.  Before that my ward is doing a shower for me, so that should be fun.  I didn't really want a shower because I feel a little silly having one when it's not my first baby, but my neighbor was super excited to do it and had it all planned...so I'm having a shower.  We'll see if anyone shows up.  Should be a busy, but fun day tomorrow.

Tyler's First Friend Birthday Party

Tyler decorating his mask

Tyler turns five years old on Tuesday.  He has been asking for a friend birthday party since Josh's birthday six months ago.  So Tony and I have been planning on throwing one for him, even though I am so big and pregnant.  We were planning to do it very low key.  We invited three girls and three boys, so plus Tyler and Josh that made eight kids.  It was a good number.

Josh saying "cheese" while decorating his mask

All the kids eating their goods as Super Heros

Tyler really wanted a Super Hero theme, so I made masks for the kids to decorate and then kind of last minute my mom and I made all the kids capes.  My mom had some super fun shiny red and blue fabric that she said that she would let me have and showed me how to make capes out of it.  It turned out to be super easy and I am really glad that we were able to do that.  The kids all loved the capes and it really made it a "super" party.  The weather was really nice today, about 60 degrees, so the kids mainly played outside.  Some of the kids played a matching game, but mainly they just played all over.  Then we opened presents (I think that was Tyler's favorite part) and then had cupcakes and ice cream.  Some kids left after about an hour and a half and others stayed for two hours.  It was a good amount of time and I think all the kids had a good time.  Tyler said that he wanted his friends to leave so that he could play with his new toys, we'll have to work on that attitude for sure.  I am glad that we didn't try to plan a whole bunch of different games and crazy things, because I was pretty tired just from decorating and cleaning to get ready for the party.

Tyler and his big 5 cupcake

Tyler opening his presents from his friends

I told Tyler that he wouldn't get a friend party every year and he seemed okay with that.  I am thinking maybe every like five years - I guess we'll see what happens in the future.  A couple of the mom's stayed and we got to chat while the kids played, so that was fun for me.  Tony did a good job playing with the kids and making sure Koda was a good puppy.  It was fun, but I am glad it is over.  Now we have our family party next Saturday.  We are going to BBQ, so I hope that it's nice weather again.  It is always fun when family gets together, I just hope that I don't allow my self to get too stressed about the whole thing.  I am sure they won't care if my house isn't perfectly clean or I'm a lazy hostess that night...that's what so good about family.  They love you no matter what.

37 Week check-up

I had my 37 week check up with my midwife on Friday.  It went well.  The baby sounds good, she is measuring about 37, so right on.  My midwife did check me and I am dilated to a three and about 50% effaced.  So I was glad about that.  All these contractions are doing something.  I will probably be induced by my due date if I haven't had her already.  Tony and I hope that she comes on her own within the week that I am due, I guess we'll see what she decides.  I have my next appointment on Thursday.  We'll see if anything else has progressed by then.  Wahoo.

Deca Fun with Family

On Thursday I dropped the kids and dog off at Tony's parents and then headed up to Layton to help chaperon Julie's students and then be a judge for the Deca competition the next day.  Julie had a doctor's appointment on Thursday afternoon, so I just went to her doctor's office and then we both left from there.  It was much more fun to drive up chatting with Julie then just all by my self.  Once we got to the hotel we met up with the other advisers from her school and got into our room.  We dropped off our stuff and then went down stairs to help with the quiz bowl event.  Julie and I both read questions, scored, and timed the event.  It was pretty fun because we are so awesome.
After the quiz bowl it was time for dinner, so we walked across the street to Roosters.  Their food is really yummy and we had a good time ordering whatever we wanted and chatting with the students and other advisers.  After dinner we went back to our room and got comfortable and just chatted until 11:00 pm when she had to go do room checks.  Then we both fell to sleep.  I did not sleep well at all that night, but these days I don't sleep very well even at home.
We got up and got dressed the next day and headed down for some breakfast.  After we ate then Julie went to cover her event and I went to do my judging thing.  I got a pretty easy event and was glad that I didn't have too many students to get through.  Once I was done I went and found Julie and helped her with her events.  By that time my dad had arrived to announce the semi-finals and final awards.  We got some lunch and then a little later my brother Kevin had gotten there to judge the final events.  Things were running behind so we all got to watch my dad on stage try to entertain the students while we all waited for the results.  They ended up having too many judges so Kevin, Julie, and I decided to go out for some dessert after the semi-finals.  We went to Red Robin and Julie and I had the best most yummiest dessert - mud pie thing.  I am still thinking about how good it was.  I can't wait to go back and have another one of those - YUM.
Then I decided I should probably start heading home.  Tony picked up the boys and the dog and met me at home.  It was nice to get away for a little bit, but nice to be home.  Our neighbors, the Kunzler's, brought us over some yummy bread and some books for the boys.  They are awesome people and friends.  We really are such blessed people.

I'm tired

Josh had another rough night last night.  He kept me up for a long time and I am really feeling it today.  I'm not really sure what was wrong.  He's been on antibiotics for a couple days now, so he should be feeling better from his infections, but he kept having me rub his feet.  I don't know if his feet actually hurt, or if that just makes him feel better.  I sure hope that he can get back to normal healthy Josh.  Tyler seems to be doing tons better.  His cough is few and far between.  Lets hope we can keep it that way.  My cough is getting better as well.  I still have one, but it is better.  Tony on the other hand is now feeling worse.  He started us all off with his cold and it has come full circle back to him.  He is going to stop at the doctors on his way home from work and see what's wrong.  We really just need to get this sickness out of our house.
I had my midwife appointment today.  Everything looks good with baby Megan.  She is measuring at about 36 and I have dilated to about a one.  She didn't say anything about being effaced at all, so I am assuming no.  I had to get tested for Group B today, so I figured while she was down there she might as well check me.  Ouch, I forgot how much that hurts - lots of pressure.  I don't have another appointment for two more weeks, so we'll see what happens in that amount of time.  We talked about a possible induction on either the 29th in the afternoon or the 30th in the morning.  I didn't want to be induced unless I was late, but Tony found out that he has to be back at work the third week in April.  So if I want him for two whole weeks I need to have the baby around March 30th.  I guess we'll see what we decided.  We are hoping that she comes on her own sometime that week.  It's crazy because it seems like it is coming quickly, but then it seems so far away.  Funny how things are.

Green goop

After I posted yesterday I noticed that Josh had some green goop in his eye.  I wiped it away and decided to wait an hour to see if it would come back or if maybe he just got some from his nose into his eye (I know, gross).  So about an hour later, there was more goop.  So I called the boy's doctor and after getting a little testy with the nurse she scheduled us to come in.  So Tyler, Josh, and I headed to the doctor.  We had to wait a little while, but the boys were generally happy and well behaved so it wasn't too bad.  When we saw the doctor she said that Josh not only had an eye infection, but an ear infection as well.  I also told her that Tyler complained once about his ear hurting and so she checked him out and he currently has a double ear infection.  WOW - these kids are tough.  I figured something had to be wrong because their coughs were just not leaving, so it is kind of nice to know that I am not totally crazy.  They are both on antibiotics and I am hoping, and praying that they will start doing better soon.  I am so glad for doctors and medicine to help us when we are sick.  Let's just hope (and REALLY pray) that we all can get healthy and stay healthy for when this little baby comes.  This is one tired momma!

And we're still coughing

Yep, that's right.  All four of us are still coughing.  This cold needs to leave this house and never, ever come back.  I must say that we are at least sounding better, but the coughs still lingers.  I finished my antibiotics from the bronchitis that I had last week.  My lungs are feeling tons better, but I am still coughing.  Laughing always brings on my coughs.  Crying really gets the boys coughs going...then it usually ends in them throwing up from coughing so hard.  I have been giving them their vitamins daily and trying to up their intake of vitamin C, I only hope that these things are working.

The other day Tyler was being a pill and he was sent to his room.  After a couple minutes I went in there to check on him and I found him sitting in the closet pouting.  So I left him there to pout.  After a while I noticed that he still hadn't come out so I went and found him asleep on the hard toy chest.  I figured he must have been pretty tired because of how he was acting, but I didn't think he would fall asleep on the toy chest.  I checked on him about a half an hour later and he had moved to the bed and covered himself with pillows and blankets and went back to sleep.  Then last night Tyler fell asleep at 6:30 pm in the chair.  This cold is really taking a lot out of him.  I'm glad he's getting the extra sleep his little body needs.  Josh has slept in a couple times, but still hasn't been napping.  I guess those days truly are over.  I wish he would've waited until this next baby was at least six months old to stop napping, but I guess this way Tony and I get to enjoy quiet evenings.

One year older and wiser too...

Yesterday I turned 31 years old.  It is kind of weird getting older each year.  The numbers get larger, but I don't feel like I am that much older then I did when I was, say 25.  We did most our celebrating over the weekend, so it was a pretty low key day.
They boys and I all have coughs so we spent the day staying in.  We watched kid shows on the Wii and played many a game on the Wii as well.  Tyler is getting really good at being able to turn everything on and do it all himself, so he has been playing the Wii a lot more lately.  It is really nice for me to not have to set everything up every time. 
My friend and neighbor, Gwen, bought the boys over a Valentine's treat and me a birthday present (a candle and yummy cupcake).  Then she stayed a chatted for a while.  It was just what I needed.  The day seemed to be going by so slow, but she really helped to make the day more enjoyable.  Plus the boys love playing with her little girl, Ava, so it was a win - win.  Unless they get our coughs, then I will feel bad.
Tony picked up some Cafe Rio on his way home from work and we all enjoyed our yummy food.  While we were eating my friend, Natalie, stopped by and gave me a card with a coupon for a lunch and "pre-delivery' pedicure as a birthday gift to me.  Natalie really is too good to me and spoils me often.  She is a very good friend and we always have a good time together (despite our 12 year age difference).  Also I found some cookies and conversation hearts left on my door step.  I think they were from my friend Bronwynn.  We were suppose to go to the Library with her and her kids, but with the coughs I had to cancel.  She mentioned that she might drop some off.  Then to top it off our most favorite adopted grandparents (Brother and Sister Baumann - from two doors down) stopped by with cookies and puzzles for the boys.  They spoil us too.  We really are so lucky and blessed to have so many amazing friends and neighbors.
After dinner Tyler's cough got worse and he started throwing up after a big coughing spell.  We put him in the bath and it seemed like it was just getting worse and worse.  We decided to give him a breathing treatment just to see if that would help at all.  It seemed to help a little, but he just couldn't stop coughing.  So I called my neighbor, "Uncle" Max - who is a repository therapist, and talked to him about Tyler and Josh and what he thought we should do.  He talked to me about a couple different things and then he said to bring them over and he would listen to their breathing.  Normally he comes to our house but he had just had an angio that day and needed to stay where he was - he so good to us to listen to the boys.  He said that both their breathing sounded good so to give them something to stop the coughing.  I had some Robitussin Cough that a pharmacist said I could give the boys, just in a smaller then adult dose, so that's what we did.  After about ten minutes  Josh was sounding better so I put him to bed.  Then I tried to put Tyler to bed, but his poor cough just wouldn't stop.  Every two seconds - the poor kid.  So I asked Tony to give him a blessing.  After the blessing we let him stay up with us for a while and within about 15 minutes he feel asleep in my arms.  I was glad that he was able to sleep because our next step was to take him into the Urgent Care.  Thank heaven for blessings and for husbands who have the priesthood to give the blessings.
Tyler did wake a couple different times coughing, but never enough to get out of bed.  I was very grateful for that.  Josh did pretty good until about 5:00 and then he had a hard time getting back to sleep because of his coughing.  He eventually did and they both seem to be feeling fine today.  They still cough, but it isn't constant and they have high spirits.  Me, on the other hand, is coughing worse each day that goes by.  I sure hope that it doesn't get worse where I have to go into the doctor.  We are all staying home again today, so lets hope that another lazy day will be good for us all.
So as far as romance, there wasn't any - but their was a lot of love.  Tony sent me a very sweet text that morning about how much he loved me and how he couldn't ask for a better wife and mother to his children.  It was very sweet and made me cry.  Tony also bought me some new slippers.  Koda, the dog, had gotten both pairs of old slippers and chewed them up, so it was very thoughtful of him to buy me some nice new ones.  Tony's not always the best with words and telling me how he is feeling, but I do always know that he loves me and would do anything for me.  I really am so blessed to have him as a husband and best friend.  We always have a good time together and I am so glad that he is stuck with me for eternity.  We really do make a great team and I couldn't ask for anything more!

Weekend fun

Random picture of Josh - love him!

This weekend started off by my taking the boys to Steenblik's for a sleepover with Grandma and Grandpa.  I dropped them off in the afternoon because I had an appointment with my midwife.
My midwife says that everything is looking pretty good and that I am measuring right on for my weeks.  The heart beat sounds strong and no protein or sugars in my urine.  My next appointment is in two weeks and then I will get my Group B test done and she'll check to see if I have started "progressing."  That is when things start to get exciting - okay, it's really only exciting if you actually start progressing and continue to progress.  Otherwise, it is kind of sad to stay the same each week.  Guess we'll find out as the weeks come.
After my appointment I met Tony at home and then we headed out to go to dinner.  After trying three different places whose wait time was way too long, we ended up at Lone Star Steakhouse where my sister, Teagan works.  The food was good and it was fun to see her working there.  They even gave us a discount because we were her family.  So that was fun.  After dinner we headed over to walk around Costco (because we are that cool).  Then we headed home where we pretty much just watched some TV and then went to bed (yep, we are party animals).
Then next morning we decided to go over the Walmart and Sam's Club and walk around.  Shopping without kids is so nice.  After that we went over to my sister, Julie's house to see how their addition was looking.  My sister wasn't there so we stopped by my parents for a visit and then headed back to Julie's.  We all decided to go to lunch after Julie's husband Boyd was finished with his first coat of paint.  So while we waited, Tony and I went with my mom to Costco to get some things for dinner the next day.  By the time we got back, Boyd was pretty much ready to go.  We all headed over to Culver's and had lunch.  It was pretty good.  Tony and I had wanted to go there for a while, so it was nice to actually try their food.  After lunch we went back to the Steenblik's to pick up the boys.
The boys had a wonderful time playing and having a sleep over with, not only the grandparents, but with their cousins too.  We ended up staying there for about an hour letting the kids play more and then headed back home.  The boys were super tired from all their fun and went to bed nice and early that night.
On Sunday we went to my parents house to celebrate my birthday.  We had a nice dinner and a lot of our family was there.  The boys had tons of fun playing with more cousins and we enjoyed chatting with the family.  I asked my mom for a pedicure for my birthday, so I am excited to go and get pretty toes one of these days before the baby comes.  All in all it was lots of fun.  We sure do love our families and are so thankful for all that they do for us.  We sure are lucky people!