What's on my camera this week?

I'll admit it, I'm not really feeling it tonight. But I did want to update the blog anyhow since it has been a while and since I have the weekend off, it will be a while again. Just not feeling great just now--headache and tummy ache. Some bowel issues too, but I won't go into that. And maybe a little down too, tired and just a bit irritated at the world (and the healthcare plan). Just one of those days I suppose, I will be my happy self by tomorrow I am sure, especially since my beloved gardens will be open again after a barely endurable 5 month hiatus (even though yes I still took the kids last week with my fav employee sister and yes we went sledding there on New Year's, so technically we have been there). Anywho, here's what's on my camera from this week: Gross, sorry but I wanted photo evidence of this NASTY bug I found in my food. At first I thought it was an olive so I had eaten some of the veggies already. Full body shiver.

We made a fondant cake for my sister Hillary's birthday and for a UVMOM project I was delayed in getting done. Davis was such a big helper--he was there for almost the whole time, 2 hours!

Carter used the opportunity to lick the bowl (getting batter in his hair) and to play wii. To each their own.

Davis carefully rolling out fondant pieces.

The finished product

Proud kiddo with the finished product, he was so excited to make it for his aunt.

Sick Hillary blowing out the candles. Sorry you were so sick on your birthday hon. And that I was so cranky too. Thanks Cyndel and Jarom for coming to play, my how the boys love you all.

Little C asleep with his Star Wars bobble heads tucked in with him. Behind them is his "Star Wars the Clone Wars" Easter basket. Oh my. Seems like a waste of money, but man those kids use them a lot and take them everywhere. And since I am thinking of a Star Wars themed Halloween this year, we can double them for that too.

This is what happens when Davis says, "Mom, we're not doing anything." They were "building a castle" in the bath tub. A mess and an accident waiting to happen but in the spirit of imagination I let them continue with the rule that they had to put everything away when they were done. And yes there were complaints (my eyes are SO tired, my feet hurt, I can't walk) but they did clean up.

Davis also had a sweet thought this week--I woke up to snow and mentioned how yucky it was and Davis said, "I think it is kind of like peace." And it was peaceful once I took the time to really look at it. And a little child shall lead them . .

Not pictured--lots of playing outside, another trip to Farm Country, a few visits to Target to get Toy Story 1 and 2 on Blu-Ray for only $7 each (including a free ticket to Toy Story 3 worth $8.50), and going to see Alvin and the Chipmunks the squeakquel. The boys laughed and enjoyed it, wasn't my favorite but okay. Also picked up New Moon and saw a short clip from Eclipse, excited about that--although I have to say the hair/eyes are different for each movie and from the short peak at Eclipse, I'm not sure I like this director's version of that. I've been reading Stephen King's new one, Under the Dome and while I can't say I would recommend it to anyone due to language, violence, sexual, and just plain disturbing content I am still intrigued by the concept of a town suddenly trapped by an invisible force and the break down of society that ensues. Also a good reminder to check my food storage.

Oh and baby #3 had check-up #2 and all is well. 10 lbs lost and I think I am headed up again so that will probably be it. Heartbeat was strong, 152 and quickly found. While I think I still look very much the same, baby has replaced fat and sleeping is becoming interesting. I keep trying to sleep on my stomach but it doesn't quite work. Time for a new body pillow I think. Also still hard for me to grasp there is a little someone growing inside even though I have seen him/her twice on ultrasound. I think when movement can be felt it will become more real. The nurses have assured me they will help me find the gender as soon as it is discernible so that is really only a few/couple weeks away. I will be 14 weeks Sunday. Very much looking forward to Easter next weekend--one more fun holiday and the last big candy holiday for a while.

That's it for us--I am going to curl up with my book and hope ER leaves me alone for a while. Loves!

Z and Green Week

So Z week was delayed and not that exciting thanks to the evil cold that took me out for most of the week. I'm still shaking the last of the yucks from my head but thanks to Zofran I am feeling better. Not 100% but more functional than I have been in a while. Makes me so much more optimistic about life I must say. I've also thought a bit about my relationship with food. I love food. I like to eat and my weight challenges reflect how food makes me happy and also how it is stress relieving in some circumstances for me. So I have just put together that some of the depression from being pregnant is not being able to enjoy food. It is still a forced effort just to eat so to not have that joy in my life has been sad. Alas, the food is still out there and I will enjoy it again some day. In the meantime I am soaking up any sunshine I can get--including that brought to me by my silly little boys. We had a nice day last Friday so Friday fun day included 1.5 hours at a park and then a "picnic" in our backyard consisting of foods they had chosen from the store: Lunchables, Capri Suns, HandiSnacks, and Spiderman popsicles. Balanced diet all the way folks! :) So Saturday we finally made it up to the Zoo for Z week. Two earlier plans were cancelled due to illness and both on lovely days. So Saturday of course is was snowing/raining--wet, cold, yuck. We still stopped at the Dutch Store to get Lowell a Sammy (no lunch meat for me :() and I had to get a pic of Carter and his "duys--(guys)". Lowell's Star Wars bobble heads that he insisted on taking everywhere that week and now who dutifully watch over him in his bed. Though I noticed last night they are mostly "bad duys" (Darth Maul, Jenga Fett, and 2 assorted weird bad guys vs. Luke Skywalker) so not sure how protective they really are. Anyway, silly Carter boy.
Carter with his duys in a tunnel at the Zoo--shielded from the weather.
D and C under the umbrella
Unfortunately the elephants weren't out so we didn't get to see Zuri the baby for an extra Z word and recently both of the Zebras died, so just Zoo for Z week and we didn't even stay very long. Oh well. Big hoorah ending to our alphabet adventures--it has been fun though and a great way to try new things and have something to do in the long winter. After the zoo we went to see Disney on Ice. Yes that is kind of a "girl" thing to do, but this was Worlds of Adventure starring Cars (but it turns out for only 10 minutes, which we missed most of being late-darn). Davis has been really interested in going to see a live Disney show but none of them come to Salt Lake--so we went to Disney on Ice to somewhat appease him and you know what, he loved it all the same! He and Carter were mesmerized, barely moving for the whole first hour. We got front row seats in the upper balcony (just $2.50 more/ticket, so worth it!) so they could hang over the rail and see everything quite well. Of course they both said their favorite part was Mickey, another brief portion but those kids are Mickey fans. I thought it was okay, Lowell and I were both almost dozing but it was cute, the music was pretty good and it was fun to see the ice skaters. Fun time by all, and mostly worth the money.

Yesterday we had an especially fun day--St. Patrick's day! Lowell's family is Irish so each year we celebrate St. Patty's day a bit more than the average to honor his heritage just like we celebrate Dutch Christmas to honor mine.
The boys woke up to leprechaun prints throughout the house
And even on the window (gasp!) that messy leprechaun. It led out to his "treasure" in their swingset playhouse. Here they are finding it:


So worth the couple of bucks in random treats for their reaction--so easily pleased. We also went on a picnic to a park with Hillary and loved some smoothies and sandwiches and another1.5 hrs at a park. They met another little boy there and were fast friends. Then we had Lowell's family over for a big dinner and play time with the cousins. Added bonus, Becky and family recently back from Korea were able to join us, yea! Bummer-I slept through a good portion of it, I was so beat from back to back call nights and then keeping the kiddos busy. But I caught the tail end and some yummy food, potato leek soup with Irish soda bread, potatoes with cabbage and onions, and some glazed carrots. They had pork chops too--but they are on my food aversion list, so no go. Good times--oh and an assortment of green drinks which I was in charge of as well as pots of gold to hand out for everyone to take home too.

Here's another little clip of the boys from last week, just silly good fun.



And that's all for this week. We have been focusing on green and may do another color next week or perhaps a shape or just kick back. Hillary has been on Spring Break this week and we have Cyndel next week so we're just enjoying both of them and some nicer weather (even though it isn't so nice outside just now). Hope you are all well, loves!

Y? Because we love you!

So Y week had a bit of a bumpy start. My poor Davis boy was sicky sick (which yes has spread its way around but has [knock on wood] passed up Carter amazingly). Still we ventured over to BYU to honor the best Y around these parts. I had hoped for great weather and perhaps some hiking, at least part the way to said Y but it was not in the cards. You could hardly even pick it out on the mountain as it blended in with the snow so well. Maybe later in the summer. We went to the Creamery, uhhh . . .where's the Creamery. And while I'm at it, where's DT? So out of the loop. Yes I live in Utah but no, I actually rarely go to BYU. Kind of creeps me out really, not sure why. So for the past several years I have only been there to go to graduations and to get chocolate milk for our friend Sam. Didn't know they had torn down DT and rebuilt the "Creamery". Note, the new one is little and kind of lame. No sundaes. Just ice cream cones. And my silly little boys didn't want any! Davis I understood since he had been sick, but come on! We talked Carter into some and I had a scoop of red sherbet something or other. We then wandered about showing the kiddos campus, my old dorm (Fox Hall--hi Kristen and Erin!) and the building across the way of our silly friends (hi Mark, Scott, and Michael!). We walked through the creepy sculpture garden that used to scare me at night and then headed back to the car as Davey was going down hill. Lowell had to carry him and then he threw up several times outside the Bean Museum (which we've not been to, someday) poor bubby. I had my camera but didn't find anything photo worthy oddly enough. But there was our weak tribute to the "Y".
On a slightly more pleasant day we tried out a new park, the Olympic park in Lehi and it was great! We spend almost 2 hours soaking up some sun. Can't. Wait. For. Spring!

Carter giving me a Y
And Davis on the Yellow slide, it's a stretch I know.

Carter bug has been fascinated with Star Wars since he has gotten into playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii with Daddy. Davis, not interested--weird. So McD had Star Wars toys and I got some Star Wars fruit snacks that were on sale and just had to laugh as the boys were enacting all sorts of drama with the candy pieces. Davis is more or less tormenting Carter and stealing his snacks to eat. Carter took his to bed with him and everything! On a side note, Lowell also got Lego Indiana Jones and today at the park the boys played "Indiana Jones" for half an hour. Jumping across tables, finding treasure, cracking their "whips"--all with theme music of course. Too funny, so glad to see their imaginations budding, makes park time all the more fun. Having a twin brother does as well!
For Y we also played with Yeast (bugs--oh how we love to feed them to wake them up and then watch them grow!). Thanks for the idea from Amanda, we had ourselves some Yummy bread. I felt Rice Krispies counted as Y for Yummy as well, so we had that too.
And we worked in the Yard. The nasty snow melted (again) and daddy and Davis spent a good amount of time outside digging up the gardens together. Getting itchy to plant. Plus I can see my tulip buds poking out behind Davis's foot. Come on spring!

We also went to see Princess and the Frog, not sure if I mentioned that last week. We liked it okay, if a little dark for my taste. Some of the "voodoo" magic could have been toned down for me. We also went to see this little one:
Who is growing along just fine. Still a little area of bleeding that they are watching, but nothing too concerning I suppose. The little one was waving his/her little arm at us which was fun and the boys have gone on and on about it since. They heard the heart beat and would be happy to tell you all about hearing their "sister". Not sure where they got that, but they think it is a girl, as do we. A while yet until we'll know for sure. That appointment graciously led to the first Z of the week, Zofran. And not a moment too soon as I came down with a horrible cold that night (the Zofran took some time to get, but arrived in time to halt the 30 hours that I had been unable to keep anything down). It's been a lousy couple of days and I am just reminded of how it sucks that you can't take anything for a head cold while preggo. Oh well, forming a healthy baby is more important than my aching head, but I am still cursing it a little bit. I even took a sick day from work, which trust me, happens extremely rarely. But after working Tuesday night when I threw up 4 times and then had to draw a gal in the ER (while thinking if my Dr. knew just how dehydrated I was, I would be there myself) I decided I needed a day. Of course I am back tonight, but just treading water. Whine, compain, whine. Yep! But tomorrow we'll pick up Z week with the Zoo and then go to see Disney on Ice! Hooray!

Xtra Xtra Read all about it

Last week we had fun with X by going on a treasure hunt for X marks for the spot. I decided the place the boys would know well enough to follow a large map would be the zoo. I didn't realize until the night before that it was free day at the zoo, but really it wasn't so bad. It was snowing off and on so not as busy as one might expect in free-loving Mormon filled Utah. My dad and Cyndel joined me. I sketched a path on 2 maps and then had the boys follow it. Carter

Davis They were really quite studious with it, locating each animal along the path and then moving on to the next one. It was a great way to visit as the boys stopped to visit more of the animals than they sometimes do but also didn't drag their feet along the way. Really it worked out quite nicely. The last part of the journey had the paths divided so each kiddo could find the X on their own. Cyndel ran ahead to set up the prize:

Davis was the first to find it, he's saying "Arrh" for pirate treasure, because of course all treasure must be left by pirates. Each night as I put them to bed (really only half the nights as I am at work the others) I ask the boys what their favorite thing for the day was. I was impressed that Davey's answer that night was "grandpa". His second favorite thing was the treasure, so I say that ranks my dad pretty high. We're sure glad he can join us on some of our adventures.

Carter was pleased to find the treasure as well, though his favorite thing for the day was the penguins. To each their own. We sure love our Cyndel and are especially glad she stayed close to home for school, Salt Lake is just perfect, we get to see her all the time.

Grandpa and Carter on the way back to the van. Mmmm, we also enjoyed Einstein bagels that day, that's was my favorite thing :).

We saw a foX earlier in the week just strolling around by my parent's house so we took note of the X in it's name and the sound X makes fox.

And then we had Xrays done:

Okay, not really--the date says it was December 2nd, but yes I took pictures then anticipating X week and the limited activity options we would have.

Carter

Davis, we see Dr. Smith in AF (PG?) and we love him and his office--all Disney themed.

I actually did go to the dentist this week as well but alas no Xrays for me. It was odd for me to schedule my next appt in 6 months, it would be just 2 weeks from when I'll have this baby. I actually scheduled it for a week after so I'll be able to have Xrays and it was odd again to not have to consider the day of the week as I will not be working at that time (I plan on 8 weeks or so of Maternity leave). While 6 months is still a plenty long time away it surprised me how far I have come. Really 10 weeks is hardly anything, but there is some satisfaction in making progress, 25% there. Last week I thought I was starting to feel a little better, this week proved that wasn't so. But today hasn't been as miserable as others. And the other day I actually wanted to eat, was interested in food. So perhaps there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I have ultrasound appointment next Tuesday to check on a subchorionic hemorrhage that no one is really worried about but it is fun to get the bonus u/s. I am thinking about bringing the boys since they are so interested in the whole baby thing now and it may be more real to them if they can see it moving around on the little screen (me too!). This week as we have discussed car seats and strollers and baby names it is getting more real and more fun. I'll be nervous all the way through to the end but I am hopeful for a healthy happy person to join our family in just 6 months.

What else did we do last week? The boys and I went to farm country as per a request that didn't get fulfilled last week. They did well and I love winter there as it is so quiet. They also are having babies, a careful glimpse of spring. We saw the brand new baby lambs there yesterday still wobbly on their little legs. We also went to see Planet 51 at the dollar theater--I wouldn't recommend it. It was okay, but even the boys got bored with it and there were a couple of references that I thought were a little too much. I am resigning myself to the fact that we just may not do as much every week as we have in the past. That playing at home is not the end of the world. That if Carter plays Lego Star Wars for 2 hours but is quiet and content while I snuggle a vomiting/diarrhea Davis, well it's not stellar parenting but he probably won't be scarred for life. There's some memory, hand/eye coordination to learn from video games right? Mostly I hate the feeling of not being in control of my own person. Of not feeling like or being myself. But I'll hold on for that light at the end of the tunnel and hope for a better person to shine through on the other side. I'm already thinking about Lagoon passes for the summer and all the fun things to do with the munchkins as our family of 4. And just because we have an extra member doesn't mean I have to hang up my "Field Trip Mom" Sash--s/he just gets to come along for the ride. And when the boys are in first grade and my friends have left me for the whole day, I'll have a new little person to make friends with, one who is easier to transport by myself.

I hope all of your week's are going well--we're pretty well done with Y, so I'll update that soon. I wanted to recommend a blog for anyone who hasn't been there already: http://stakerzxposed.blogspot.com/ You'll have to go back a few pages to find the beginning of the "story" but this poor mom had her small son drown in their bath tub. She then sat with him in a coma at the hospital for 2 weeks. He then miraculously recovered and is doing well. Wonderfully her comments since they have returned home have been uplifting and inspiring. All about never taking the moment for granted or not giving your children your best. Highly recommended read!