As Of Late

Not much has been going on that's journal worthy of noting. But for the sake of sounding boring, here's what we've been up to:

Lance

• Work
• Fixing the horn on his VW bug
• Barbershop 
• Getting the fireplaces ready for use

Kimball

• Learning to do his "chores"
• Has to push the dining chair to the counter to help mommy with every meal
• Loves watching PBS kids on my phone (we only get one PBS channel here, bummer!)
• Is obsessed with the moon
• Is obsessed with cuddly things and always carries them around (At first it was his puppy that he sleeps with. That has turned into four more stuffed animals, his pillow, a blanket, and a plush book. He carries all of these wherever he goes).

Becky

• Lots of cooking for Lance's diet (making more freezer on-the-go breakfasts, trying a lot of new recipes, assembling smoothie packs)
• Reading a book mom sent me called "The Incredible Gifts of Women"
• Trying to rest more throughout the day to help baby girl nest a little longer
• Dreaming of yummy desserts to make just for me
• Still have some rough days as long as I don't push myself physically (Last night I went grocery shopping for the month which was a huge mistake and took a toll on my body. At least I learned it was over my limit).

We did get another offer on the house which wasn't all that great, but we did counter and are waiting to hear if they accepted our counter offer or not. We probably won't find out until Monday so we're keeping our fingers crossed!

Doctor Visit

I didn't really know what to expect with today's doctor appointment with the perinatologist. The only thing I had to compare it to was the Boise appointment, which was extremely long, emotionally and physically draining, and loaded with lots of uncertainties and bad news.

The ultrasound was much shorter than I expected which was nice and it's always good to see the baby. She has a cute little profile and definitely has Lance's lips/mouth. Addressing all the concerns from the Boise doctors, this is how she's looking: the heart still looks great, the cord is fine, she's measuring small, and the ecogenic bowel has cleared up on its own. I was really suspecting the bowel would clear up on its own and since that was the main (and only) concern last time and has now corrected itself........yay! Everything looks great.

Their main concern right now is her size. She's measuring at 2 lb. 2 oz. which is only in the 10th percentile. All the measurements of her bones are still small but in proportion to the rest of her body. She's just a petite little thing! They're thinking something is wrong with the placenta which in turn is stunting her growth. Either the placenta is only functioning at 80% or so instead of 100%, or I have a bit of placental abruption. She's not getting the blood and nutrients needed to grow on the same scale as a regular size baby.

They did hook me up to do a non stress test to see if I'm having contractions. I was only in there for 20 minutes or so and it showed no contractions. Just really strong braxton hicks which have become much stronger the last few days.

I go back in two weeks so they can monitor her growth more closely. If she isn't consistent in growth and slips from 10th percentile to 3rd (for example) then they will take her early. The doctor we met with today was AWESOME. I really, really liked him a lot. He was very thorough in explanations and answered all of my questions.

One question I had was if I could travel. Christine's baby shower is October 19th (Mom is hosting and it's her turn for craft day) and Lance still owes me for my birthday so he was going to take Kimball while I went home Thursday through Saturday to surprise Mom and Christine. It would have been an awesome surprise, they wouldn't have suspected it in the least! But given my conditions the doctor told me no. Major bummer!!!

All in all, good news today! I'm amazed what a difference it makes to have a doctor who listens to you and who answers all of your questions. When that happens I always leave much more confident and encouraged. I feel good like I can face the next two weeks and endure it well. Yay for encouragement!

Weekending

This weekend was rather gloomy. The skies were gray and overcast, breezy and a little chilly. It certainly didn't make us want to go outside or do anything. Lance had to work Saturday afternoon so Kimball and I just stayed inside and played. After dinner Lance took us on a tour of the mortuary. Wow. Big. But it was really good to see his office and all the places/things he refers to when he tells me about his day.

Today I subbed in relief society and taught the lesson. Believe it or not that's the first time I've taught RS. I've taught sunday school and yw and primary and everything else but RS so it was good to get to know more of the ladies. I just love everything about the RS organization. I love that I can move to a new place but still have women who are more than happy to help even though they've just met you. For this reason alone I don't know how people survive without the church!

I have nothing on my agenda this week other than my doctor appointment on Tuesday with the high risk specialists. I can't wait for this appointment! I'm really anxious and really nervous. I'm really hoping they'll tell me all the concerns they had about the baby have corrected themselves with time and that I can deliver early. That's the best case scenario I'm hoping for. I'll just keep my mind on the positive and hope its a great appointment. It'll be long but at least Lance will be there for support.

I keep forgetting to document Kimball's progress of transitioning to a twin bed. We started about 1.5 weeks ago knowing that it'll be a learning curve for him and a patience tester for me. But he's done really well! The first few nights it took him two hours to fall asleep and I was very persistent at putting him back in bed every time he got up. I quickly learned that doing it this way wasn't best for Kimball because he thought it was a game and it got him all riled up. Of course he would get out of bed and lay on the floor in front of the door and unless we move him, that's where he'll sleep all night.

What works best for Kimball is to let him fall asleep wherever he may, and then put him in bed once he's asleep. With just two days of doing this he now stays in bed and doesn't go for the floor at all. He does well with nap times too. Yay!

House Update

Well, the shorten condensed version of the house is that the sale did not go through. We did all the FHA required repairs needed for the buyers to qualify for their loan so we thought everything was a go. But then the underwriters and appraiser and whoever else figured it's illegal for us to sell the house. What? How is it illegal to sell a property that we own?

Because the rental doesn't have an authorization of occupancy (or whatever that term is called, I can't remember) we can't sell it. We also don't qualify and there's no way for us to get an authorization of occupancy because we have two buildings on one lot. If it was a duplex or on two different lots then it would be no problem. But we have two buildings on one lot which now means we have to make the rental uninhabitable.

How do we make it uninhabitable? We have to remove the kitchen. Not just the fridge and oven. We have to take out the cabinets, counter, and sink in the kitchen. I have no idea if this is a big project or not, luckily there aren't many cabinets and it's a small kitchen. But, come on! It's still really annoying to have to do that when we just gutted that place to make it livable. Oh yeah, and we have to kick out the tenants who have been awesome.

So right now, we aren't sure what we are going to do. I'm waiting for Lance to talk with Bill. But in the meantime we're paying rent on our duplex plus mortgage.....something better happen soon because we certainly can't afford that!

A Toy Story

I found the best toy store I've ever seen in my life. All those old, vintage toys that are classics that you can't find anymore? The White Elephant carries them. All the Melissa & Doug toys? The White Elephant carries them. Even games and brain teasers and prank toys for older kids? The White Elephant carries everything, I was in heaven. I wanted to get some for myself just to have them! And of course Kimball had to ride the elephant before we went home.  :)

Learning The Thumbs Up

 Almost got it

Excellent!

 Love my boys!

I Need To Read This Everyday

"With any major decision there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don't give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. "Cast not away therefore your confidence." Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you."

-Jeffery R. Holland

Weekending

Friday night I needed to have some time to myself. After I fed the troops I left Kimball with Lance and I ventured a whole half mile to Ross. I gave in and bought myself a few maternity clothes which I swore I'd never do since you only wear them for a month or two and they are so dang expensive! But we now live close to any store imaginable and I frequent the discount stores. I got 3 or 4 shirts and a pair of pants. Now, if you know me you know I need honesty about how I look in something. I don't want to be a frumpy, homely looking mom.  So I asked the girl working in the dressing room how I looked in the maternity pants. Haha, I could tell she didn't want to be honest but I made her, she said the bum was too baggy and needed to be tighter. I thought they were comfortable and didn't have a size smaller so I bought them. This is a shirt I found and really liked but I wasn't sure about the chest area, as usual I'm too small, so I texted a picture to Mom, Christine, and Trish to tell me their opinions. Like I said, I need honesty. I don't want to look like a fool.

 29 weeks

The point is, I was very surprised how much better I felt about myself once I bought some new maternity clothes. I wear a lot of hand me downs (don't get me wrong, they are great) and a lot of holey, stained t-shirts. I think I felt frumpy and homely without realizing it. So I feel a little bit better about heading into the next 11 weeks with something decent to wear.

Saturday afternoon I got home from running an errand and walked inside the house in tears. I was in pain! I don't know what it was, it started out as a nagging, dull pain that was annoying and turned into a sharp, stabbing pain. By the time I got home I was doubled over. Something on the right side was really hurting, probably something stretching or pulling but it hurt bad. I started bawling and quickly asked Lance for a blessing. It eventually went away so we could go to the fair that evening.

Saturday evening we went to the county fair so Kimball could go to the petting zoo and ride a few rides. Turns out he's not big enough for the rides, even if an adult goes with him so that was disappointing. He loved all the animals. We ate some yummy fair food and attended the demolition derby. Boy, it was a slow start. The announcer had to introduce each driver individually and then the cars raced. An hour later they still hadn't started the demo derby but once they did, the wrecking was awesome and we had a good time. I got a caramel apple for the road and we headed home. Just in time too, the pain on my right side was coming back with a vengeance and of course, no sleep for me. I hate the no-sleep pattern that's been going on the last few weeks, not cool.

Morning Outting

Today Kimball and I walked around the mall just for something to do and to get out of the house. I also wanted to keep an eye out for clothing stores I'd like to shop at for post baby clothes. We had a good little jaunt. Then I found the best part, this mall has a children's play area! Yippee!! Kimball loved it!

Stare off with Mr. Lion

Sheer Joy

Ouch!

When Kimball is bathing it's usually my time to paint my toes while he's splashing around. Tonight's painting is probably the last time I'll be able to do that for a while. Bummer! Also may be the last time I'll be able to bathe Kimball.....bending over is much too painful!

Note To Self

I am writing this to help my future self in deciding if I should have more kids. NO. I will probably want more because babies are just so pure and innocent. But, I cannot go through another pregnancy! I have been struggling the last few weeks being pregnant. Just enduring it and dealing with the symptoms is really messing with my head.

I'm now 29 weeks along and for some reason, all the third trimester symptoms came on all at once. Not gradually, no. All at once. The difficulty breathing, extreme uncomfortableness, back pain, rib pain, no sleep, etc. Of course the breathing is made worse with each braxton hicks that I get and I get those quite often. Too often. And since the baby has gotten bigger those braxton hicks have become much stronger I'm usually doubled over in pain. Ugh! I hate it all!

The worst part has been, just like the first 20 weeks, enduring it all mentally. The best words to describe it are courage and endurance. I don't have the courage to get up every morning, and yes I will admit that sometimes I leave Kimball in his crib for an hour or so talking to himself because I simply cannot get out of bed. I just can't face the day. I don't have the endurance to make it through the day or week. Mentally, I just shut down and can't go on. It's awful. I feel so guilty because I have Kimball to take care of and he deserves better than me.  Of course the feelings of guilt don't give me courage or endurance so I've got to battle the guilt too.

I should be happy that I'm pregnant and I am. I just don't know how to finish out these last 2.5 months. I want this baby girl so bad, I just don't want to be pregnant. Pregnancy and me don't agree at all, whatsoever. I think being pregnant is one of the worst things ever and I hate it. I love children and babies and I want them, but getting them here is definitely the biggest trial.

So I'm back to taking everything one day at a time. Because right now I don't know what else to do. Still wish I would have bought that case of laffy taffy, maybe tomorrow or the next day will push me over the edge to just give in and order it. I love this girl and I love Kimball and I love being a mom more than anything. Just breathe.....I can do this.............I hope?

Menu Madness

For once in my life I actually made a menu. Lance is starting to diet again and he always does so much better when we tackle the meal planning together. We went over the foods that he is and isn't eating, came up with dinner ideas, and I went from there. I looked up several "on the go" breakfast foods that I could make up ahead of time that Lance could just grab from the fridge/freezer and be on his way out the door. Anyway, after making up the menu, ingredient lists and a grocery list, I probably spent six hours just getting it all on paper. Today I bought the groceries and now it's time for me to get to work whipping up on-the-go breakfasts.

Getting the menu all ready was a bit of a chore and took a long time but it is so nice to just glance at it and not wonder every single night what we are having for dinner. Plus I can do any prep work that I need to the day before to help lessen the time it takes to make dinner. We will see if it saves money on the grocery bill, I certainly hope so!

I Think I'm Nuts

My latest fix has been strawberry laffy taffy. Not the grape, banana, green apple, or any other flavor. The little bite size ones are too small, the rope ones are too small, I love the large sized strawberry goodness. I don't know what it is if it's a texture or flavor thing, but most likely both. It's heaven.

Last week was a little difficult and I had some rough days. The only thing I knew that would help me is a strawberry laffy taffy, so on my home from Costco I stopped at the gas station and bought three of them. (Come on, I need two for backup!) The problem is, there isn't a store who sells just the strawberry kind. So I've been on the hunt searching all over the internet to buy a case of these. Can I really justify spending $30 on a case of laffy taffy?! Probably not, that's insane! I haven't bought them. Yet. But if I have more bad days this week where I just can't cope with being pregnant, I may just splurge!

Little Charmer

Handsome Devil

Look at this heart breaker, he turned 7 today! He's had a rough couple of weeks. When Joseph and Trish took the family on vacation to Lagoon, he got sick and was throwing up. After they got home (a day earlier than planned) Devin was still throwing up and in a lot of pain so they took him to the ER. His appendix had burst! Poor boy, so glad they got into the hospital. He missed the first day of 1st grade and has made a slow recovery but is feeling better day by day. The family spoiled him today for his birthday and he deserved it, he's been through a lot! Happy birthday buddy!!

Sunday Stroll In The Park

Golfing With A Plunger

How Do We Like It?

Everybody that we meet always asks how we like Spokane and we always tell them the same thing: so far so good. We really do like it here, everybody seems super nice and Lance was offered pot twice the first day we got here. (We forgot pot is legal and how many hippies live here). However, there are a few things I really don't like:

1. This is listed as number 1 for a reason, I really don't like that it gets dark so early! When we left Twin it was dark at 10. Here it's pitch black at 9pm and since we've been here and summer is drawing to a close, its now dark at 7-7:30. That really bothers me. I've heard that winters are worse with it dark at 3:30-4pm.
2. There are gigantic spiders here! When we moved in our duplex was crawling with them since it had been vacant for a few months. I've since deep cleaned everything which has helped a lot and bought some bug bombs but I haven't been gone from the house long enough to do the bombs. Did I mention gigantic? They are big spiders!
3. Bugs. I don't like them. The ants here are like mutants, they are gigantic as well. Oh and bees? Bees seem to be everywhere we go, I don't get it. What's with all the bugs?

The other day we went to a company BBQ which was really fun. It was great to put some faces to names and meet most of Lance's coworkers. We had a delicious meal followed by some volleyball and bocce ball. While others were playing ball I turned around and snapped this picture of the sunset, at 7pm. (See #1). 

Riverfront Park: Pig Out In The Park

Today we were blessed again with Lance at home! There's an annual Pig Out In The Park at the Riverfront Park that we decided to go to. We were reluctant because with it being Labor Day plus the kids aren't in school yet, we thought it would be super crowded and a nightmare. But luckily the crowds weren't bad at all and we had a great time together! There was a live band, TONS of food, a bounce house, face painting, and a few vendor tents. Normally at the park there are lots of kid rides, an IMAX theater, a sky lift ride, a train, a pony ride, and a bunch of other stuff we didn't get to. In the winter they turn it into an ice skating rink.

Kimball rode on the Carousel for the first time and even though he never smiled or showed any emotion whatsoever, he still enjoyed it. 

 Look at this awesome slide!

 

Along the river were tons of ducks but we could feed these ones. A family close by shared their cereal with Kimball so he could feed the ducks. If I'd known there were birds to feed I could have brought my own cereal or bread or popcorn, but the family was very nice. I think Kimball ate half the cereal himself.

We found this weird, furry guy and had to get a picture with him. I still have no idea if there was an actual person in there. Kimball didn't really know what to make of him. (And me at 27 weeks).

Manito Park

Lance actually had a weekend off. Yay! That hasn't happened for a long time and we were very much looking forward to spending the day as a family. We decided to go to Manito Park which has beautiful gardens, a cafe, a playground area, nature trails, a duck and turtle pond, and other various things we didn't get to see. It's beautiful! 

We first went to see the ducks and unfortunately we weren't allowed to feed them. Kimball wasn't really into it, he just wanted to jump in and swim with the ducks.

We then went to the playground area that had a few different jungle gyms. It also had a large sand box which Kimball loved.

 He made friends with a non english-speaking boy in the sand box.