Pancake Pen

Enter the pancake pen! Who knew making pancakes could be so much fun? I purposefully made pancakes today just so I could use this cool new tool. I bought it while on a venture to the pricey upscale kitchen gadget store, Williams-Sonoma. It's a nifty way to help teach letters and numbers, too.

Ten weeks today

Today was little bambino's first prenatal checkup. I had thought about switching doctors to someone closer to us, but after talking to a lot of people (thanks Facebook friends!) and neighbors, I ended up deciding not to switch. After today, I was reminded why I like my doctor and am glad I didn't switch. She didn't have to even look at my charts about all my prior pregnancies, she recalled everything and we talked freely about how this pregnancy would be handled. I feel very comfortable being under her care. One weird little thing is that I told her I was experiencing a lot of shortness of breath which of course one doesn't feel until the end of the pregnancy. I can't even go up stairs without feeling like I just sprinted. So she ordered some tests to test my heart (gulp!) and blood, but it turns out everything is normal so now we can chalk that up to the casualities of pregnancy. I am to ease into a moderate exercise program and she says that should actually help the shortness of breath.

We then got to look at little bambino on the ultrasound. He/she is so SMALL. It's hard to believe I am already in maternity clothes when the baby is the size of a grape! And I haven't gained any weight. Crazy! There's only one baby there, which is good since I have a history of preeclampsia and when you are expecting twins, your chance of preeclampsia increases. Another thing I was happy to hear was that she is going to take a little more laid back approach (sort of) than she did with Michaela's pregnancy. I was having protein in my urine with hers and had to be put on bedrest and frequent doctor visits and ultrasounds, etc. to make sure preeclampsia didn't sneak up on us. Dr. Brown said perhaps that the proteinuria is just something my body does when I'm pregnant and so they will just check the protein, but if it doesn't get too high, we will treat the pregnancy as normal.

Good visit today. I'm thankful to have found a doctor I like.

Update

Boy, I went through some photos and realized I haven't even blogged about our trip to Lake Havasu Memorial Day weekend. So much fun! The kids just loved the water, we innertubed behind Grandpa Kessel's boat and wore Chewy out by letting him swim, fetch sticks and explore some of the terrain. Most of Mike's mom's family was there and it was relaxing to have so many hands to keep the kids busy. Thanks everyone!

And it's July. Mike got offered a job with AirMed as a flight medic. This has been a dream of his since I first met him. He used to want to be a pilot before his mission, but then his career choice was halted when the Air Force wouldn't accept him because of a previous ear drum injury. Then we got married, and he started paramedic school; he mentioned how wonderful it would be to work with LifeFlight or AirMed. When I told him he should go fot it, he said he would never be below 200 pounds so there wasn't any way he could ever work on a flight medic team. (The weight limit is somewhere around 200 pounds.) Now he is below 200 pounds and is one of AirMed's newest flight medic team members. I know I know I am biased and it sounds little cheesy, but I am very proud of him and how hard he has worked to get this. I haven't seen him want something this bad before and so it was very satisfying to see the joy in his face when he got the call that he got the job.

And in the midst of applying and interviewing and testing for AirMed, we found out we are expecting our fourth child February 15th. Right after Michaela was born we looked at each other and said, "We should have at least one more." Crazy, I know, perhaps we were drugged up on happiness at the time! Then we realized (especially me) how difficult it is to try and recover from back to back pregnancies and have two little babies at home. I couldn't even discuss a fourth child until Michaela was around 2 years old. Even then, I couldn't bring it up. But then Mike and I finally seriously talked about it and talked about it. We knew economic times would get better, we just didn't know how soon. My doctor had said if we wanted another one, I shouldn't wait longer than 2 years or so with my history of preeclampsia. Plus, I am 34, not so terribly old, but I had always said I didn't want to be having kids after I was 35. As we talked, we decided if we were to have a fourth, now was the time or we were done. But having three just seemed too small. We had the room. After a lot of thought, we just decided to go for it and hope for the best. And six weeks later I was expecting. Pretty lucky. Didn't think it would be that fast, but well, we haven't ever tried too long and didn't try at all for Michaela. We are blessed that way.

When we found out we were expecting, we were both so excited! Even Mike had a big grin on his face--that's a little rare. He's pretty stoic. But then two weeks later the morning sickness hit and then the fatigue and now I am wondering why I was elated to get pregnant!!!! Ah, I think I am feeling my age. Or maybe I just have too much self-pity. I have discovered, however, the power of positive thinking and trying to keep my mind off the nausea. The kids sure help. And now I am starting to cry. I must be pregnant! They are such good kids and really are good to each other most of the time. Caleb is getting so dang smart and loving and helpful. Jake is just Jake and I just love to hold and squeeze him. Michaela is such a little she-devil, but I love it. She loves to follow me around and do whatever I am doing. I just enjoy having our kids around! I thought it was going to be hard to have Caleb home all day during the summer, but I found how much joy there is in our home with him around. I'm actually not looking forward to when he will be gone most of the day. I know we will miss him.

Oh, and I decided to quit my job with BYU-Idaho. With Mike's new job, he will be gone a lot more and I decided the kids needed me to be more available. It was kind of scary for me to let it go, I have always worked, but I think it will be better for our family.

Okay, let's see, is that all? Nope, Caleb will be starting piano lessons in the fall. I'm excited for him. He used to be excited then decided he wanted to play guitar, which I think is great, but I think he just a little small just yet. So I told him to start with piano because it will help him learn guitar.

Mother's Day

A nice mother's day. Mike got up with the kids at the crack of dawn, 'cause for some reason our kids are wired to get up then every morning. I got to sleep in for 2 more hours. That was probably the best gift of all! Then I got french toast, fresh strawberries and a glass of milk in bed.

Caleb, while in cahoots with his dad, said to me one day, "Guess what we talked about at school today?" Me, "What's that?" Caleb, "We talked about our favorite food to eat. Do you know what I said? Peanut butter and honey sandwiches." Me, "Oh, really?" Caleb, "Uh huh, what would you have said was your favorite food?" Me, "Oh, probably pizza." Wow, Caleb did really well because I didn't even catch on. Guess what I got for dinner last night? Homemade pizza. Mike apologized for the funny meal for Mother's Day but he had wanted Caleb to take part in the scheming and the kids were able to help him make the pizza. Cute, cute, cute.

I also got the LDS Primary Songbook. I have wanted it ever since, well I can't remember how long I have wanted it but have never bought and then kept forgetting to ask for it as a gift. I also got a fruit basket to hold all the fruit I keep out on the counter. Caleb made these cute flower coupons at school that said things like, "Wash the dishes," "Clean Mommy's room," etc.

The kids sang a song at church today. I have been helping Caleb and Jake practice it at home. I decided to record Caleb singing it, cause Jake never did sing it. He would just sit and watch us.

I was drunk, and I was loud, I was invincible, and I was proud

So, tonight Mike serenaded me on the guitar with this song...What's not to love about my reserved tough husband?! I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cringe...

I was drunk, and I was loud, I was invincible, and I was proud After ten thousand beers and 28 years I finally figured it out
It’s about time, I settle on down
Well I’m not saying this is the end
And I still go drunk with my friends
And I might miss my life, for a moment in time, no I aint had my last sin
And ill tear up that desert with you,
And I know we will have more than a few
Well it got me this far, with plenty of scars, the only one with those tattoos
After ten thousand beers and 28 years, I finally figured it out,
It’s about time, I settle on down
I was drunk, and I was loud, I was invincible, and I was proud
And I’ll never change, I’ll stay the same, and I live my life, my own damn way
After ten thousand beers and 28 years, I finally figured it out
There’s plenty of time, just to settle on down
I was drunk, and I was loud, I was invincible, and I was proud
After ten thousand beers and 28 years, I finally figured it outThere’s plenty of time, just to settle on down

6 years

That's how long ago Mike and my life changed forever. More than when we started dating,more than we were sealed for time and all eternity about 8 years ago. But six years, a slimy bloody, squirmin bundle was pulled out of my stomach and placed on my chest. After about 45 hours of tiring and failed labor enducing, Caleb finally came out for all the world to hear. I recounted his birth story Saturday April 24th morning as he was curled (or rather precariously perched in my lap since he is 4 feet tall to my 5'3") in my lap as we looked at his birth pictures on the computer. "Why did I have to come out of your tummy, Mom?"

"Cause you and I were getting sick. So they tried to make you come a little early so you and I didn't die."



"Wow...that must have hurt!" he exclaims as he sees the pictures of the C-section. Jake Jake covered his eyes, "Scwary..." he said. "Yea, it did, but I got lots of medicine to help me."



"Oh..."and wishing to move on to hear about the happier parts of his birth story, "And what did I do when I first came out?"



"You started screaming!"

With his infectious grin, "Why did I do that?"



"Cause you were cold and maybe a litte mad."



"How big was I?"



"About this big," I show him what 21 inches look like.



"Wow, I was so tiny," He says as he giggles and tries to curl up more, unsuccessfully in my lap as he tries to wrap his arms around me.



I play with his strawberry blonde hair. "Yea, and your hair was SO red when you were born." He laughs some more.



He wants to hear more about what happened when we brought him home, but it's tough for me to point out the happy little moments I had. His birth was hard for me to recover from. It was traumatic and painful. Of course now his gracing us with his presence in our family has more than blurred those painful times. One day, perhaps I will explain to him how it was hard for me--how the nine months of his colic made me wonder what the "joy of motherhood" was all about. Perhaps when he has his own child and his wife begins to show signs of post-partum depression, I can tell him then and offer advice and support. But for now, I am choosy about the details I share with him. For the struggle was mine and mine alone.



Even now it's hard to write about because not very many people know the struggles we went through. How do you explain something like that?



It's so much nicer to hear about how this gangly cowlicky-blonde-headed hazel-eyed boy has developed into such a bright amusing, engaging little man. He's special.



Shall we talk about his birthday party? His dad made him an R2-D2 cake. And even though, I have been branded as the uncreative cake maker and not allowed to design the cakes, I am the consultant to my artistic large firefighting husband. He must have spent 10-15 hours in planning, buying and constructing that cake. In the final hours of the production it was tricky getting the fondant rolled out, and quickly placed on the cake before it dried. When Mike retires firefighting, I think he should start his own reality show like "Cake Boss." Or he could have a hobby/pastry shop where he could sell video games, workout equipment and cakes. Okay, so maybe that kind of shop wouldn't do well economically....Maybe he should just focus on cake-making.

Easter Fun

A digital scrapbook by Smilebox

Easter Weekend was so much fun! Colored eggs Friday night because Mike had to work Sunday. Easter Bunny agreed to come a day early so Daddy could celebrate Easter with us. The kids were cute looking for their eggs because Jake and Caleb got Clone Trooper Easter baskets and Michaela got a "Tincess" (a.k.a. "Princess) basket to gather the eggs in. Caleb had to work a little harder this year to find his eggs since he is getting so dang smart. The Easter Bunny hid one egg up on the sliding glass door curtains. Caleb tried to get it down, but it came crashing down when he bumped the curtains.

Michaela, upon finishing egg hunting immediately put on her "Tincess" jammies while the boys played with their new Star Wars figures and counted how much candy the Easter Bunny left.After Michaela tried on her Princess jammies she wanted to try on her new Easter dress and shoes. The boys could have cared less about their new Sunday outfits. :)