A Little Randomness If You Please

       Thanks to everyone who took the survey, I hate to admit it but it looks like I should have at least anticipated the possibility of an exam happening in pregnancy. I'm so glad I got to learn the hard way! I really did appreciate everyones assurances that I couldn't possibly be the most horrifying thing the OB had ever seen, it comforts me as I cry myself to sleep. ;)

       Moving on. I officially despise Britney Spears. She adds nothing of value to our society. I am doubting you have heard her new song so I'm not even going to ask- but I heard them talking about it on the radio or else I don't think I ever would have put it together. The lyrics say something like, "love me, hate me, but all the boys and all the girls want to, if you seek Amy"....Here is a hint, the title of the song is "If You Seek Amy" and that phrase sounds like you are spelling a bad word followed by 'me'. I was appalled. What are we, in middle school? I mean seriously. Is Britney that desperate for attention? Obviously. But I refuse to be subjected to it. That is not "Art", it's offensive and I can't stand the fact that there are children starving all over the world and we pay Britney millions of dollars for lip syncing to trash like that. I used to actually pity her but not any more. Not when you are using your fame to spread a foul message like that.

       Okay moving on from that icky tangent.... So, I don't really know why I tend to chronicle every bump and bruise my children incur on the blog but for some reason I do. Let's start with Aly. She was the latest to to fall victim to the bee's in the backyard. She was messing with them and honestly had it coming, as sad as that is. What was worse was when I went to take the stinger out of her finger, she jerked her hand away and got stuck by the stinger a second time, though this time in her thumb. Both spots were quite sore for a bit but the Baking Soda did the trick again- though Aly believes whole heartedly it was the bandaid that healed her. 

      Then we have Kohen, playing Hide and Seek with Kenna when he somehow slipped and fell in the bathroom where he had been running to hide and hit his head on the edge of the seat of the toilet. Full on broke the toilet, ripped the seat off the hinge (after our week of sickness the toilet was in no shape for a photo shoot...you're welcome). His forehead now looks something akin to Worf from Star Trek, poor boy. And after the whole thing with Natasha Richardson dying from a seemingly minor head injury, both Nathan and I have been keeping a close watch on Kohen, he can't sneeze without us asking if he's okay.  

Anyway, Spring is officially here so I hope that everyone is enjoying it and hopefully the weather where you are is warm and rejuvenating, or at least will be sometime soon!

Rough Week

Late Saturday night about the time the clock struck midnight, Nathan and I were tucked in bed discussing each of our lessons we were to be teaching the next day at church when we heard a sound that has come to strike fear in my heart and a gag in my throat. We discovered Aly in her bed covered in...well...  Anyway, all night long Aly threw up every half hour and later every hour until about 7 am. Nathan and I, and Aly were all exhausted by sunrise. This is the first flu Aly remembers having and she was so distressed and upset by it. She would get sick and for some reason decided it was the bowls fault so she didn't want to use it- that was a difficult and messy hurtle. But after she'd be sick she'd say sweet things like, "that was not nice" and "my tummy's hurting my fweewings". Poor baby. I'll spare you the play by play for the rest of the week but let's just say it has taken her until today to feel better and she suddenly looks terribly skinny to Nathan and I. 

That brings us to Thursday morning 3am. Kohen comes in our room not feeling well. Please no. No, no, no, no, NO!... But yes. It was all happening again just like it had with Aly. Another example of Kohen's unflappable optimism happened in the morning before school when Kennedy came in our room and discovered Kohen on our floor. As we explained he was sick she looked worried and said, "Well...I'm not sick." Totally depressed I give a doubtfull, "So far..." and Kohen chimes in cheerily from the floor, "SO GOOD." That boy...and his dad for that matter. Bless them and their optimism.

Unfortunately, Kennedy took her turn for the worse in the afternoon and Nathan joined them last night. It seems to have morphed into something a little less violent for the last two which I am grateful for. So for right now I am the last man standing and I know not when I will be struck down but I am trying to keep things functioning and take a lesson from my boys and be optimistic. It has been a long, long week but hopefully we will all be feeling better soon and able to enjoy the 75*+ weather we've been having.  

Let's Go Fly A Kite

Nathan took the kids out to fly a kite Kohen had gotten from preschool and has been itching to use. It was the perfect day for it (I assume, seeing as I stayed home per usual) and by all reports it sounded like an idyllic kite flying experience.
The hills here, I am told, are only green for not quite 2 months while it's rainy. Nathan and I were amazed when all of the yellow/white hills turned emerald green. It's been beautiful though now that the rain is gone the green is already starting to fade. This would be the look of sheer joy on Aly's face...

I love when we catch moments when they are being sweet with one another. Proof that it does happen :)
My goggled goober- He's been on a goggle kick the last few days. Actually wore these goggles to preschool. Love a man with self-confidence.
FYI- if this kite flying fun looks like something you'd like to do I saw the kites today at Walmart for $1. That would be what I would call a good deal.

Kohen's Turn For a Night Out

Due to my recent blah status Kohen has had to wait a while before he would get a turn going out with both Mom and Dad. The opportunity came when some people in our ward were going to a Warrior's Basketball game and could get "great seats for cheap". Nathan and I thought Kohen would love it so we tentatively bought 3 tickets and when Friday rolled around I tried to pull myself together in time to go. Our friends who were going were also bringing their son M. who happens to be Kohen's buddy. We rode out together in our van and the boys sat in the back entertaining themselves talking and laughing about spiders and sharks- we got a kick out of listening to them.
The "great seats" turned out to be the 2nd to last seats up in the nose bleeds but Kohen still seemed adequately impressed with it all so that's what matters. He enjoyed the food and spent literally all night nursing the 20 oz. soda he got, probably the highlight of his night.

When the break between the first and second quarters started Kohen was nervous thinking it was over. I explained it was a break, like a time out. He gets this confused look on his face, "but why are they in time out?"

Then the real hilarity began because a gaggle of scantily clad women trodded out onto the floor. All of a sudden our nosebleed seats were more than close enough. Kohen was watching with his mouth hanging open a bit then he says to me, without moving his eyes off the girls, "Mom, they aren't wearing any pants..." True, their shorts were more like underwear. Kohen became increasingly distressed as the routine went on asking why they didn't have pants, and as they exited, asking me if they were now going to go get their pants- and on and on. Finally when the players returned he seemed relieved. "They've got their pants on, huh?" Then about every 45 seconds he would ask me if it was time for another time out yet. After asking me several times I finally got it. "Kohen, did you like that break?" yeah, he admitted. "What was your favorite part?" he looks up at me a little coy and says, "the underwear."

During half time Kohen was sitting with Nathan and when the girls returned and he asked about the "underwear", Nathan told him they were actually shorts and that seemed to take most of the shock out of it, thankfully. Anyway, both Kohen and M. were awesome throughout the game. We were sitting so far up I'm not gonna lie, I seemed to have the hardest time paying attention. But the boys did great. It was late when the game was done ( It was a great game, the Warriors won) so the boys were getting pretty silly and having a fun time. In the last pic perhaps you can see why M. is more than a full head taller than Kohen and only a few months older. As for me, I swear I was there, but I was kind of just trying to get through the night. But it was nice to get to spend time with our favorite little guy. He's a crack up.

Please Be Joking....

Let me just start by saying I have had the same Dr. deliver all three of my babies before in Boise (shout out to Dr. West!) and I was loathe to have to find a new Dr. here in CA. Going on the recommendation of a "friend" -whose status as such is now under review- I picked a new doctor. Fine. Nice guy, Nathan and I enjoyed meeting him at the first ultrasound and especially seeing the baby and the heartbeat etc. 

So for my appt. today I was looking forward to what I have always been used to, quick weight and blood pressure check, a listen to the baby's heartbeat and I'm outta there. So I was completely shocked when the nurse informed me they would be doing a Pap and Breast exam. What?! First of all that kind of activity is not something you just spring on a woman...or at least, do so at your own risk! Umm, I would've liked to have had the opportunity to shave my armpits and even an extra swipe of deodorant would've been appropriate I believe. And any other Pap Prep if you will, I'm not even going into. The mental preparation I was deprived of didn't help matters either. Anyway, today ended up being unusually humiliating...

I think my previous Dr.- who is obviously much more knowledgeable than this Dr.- had told me that do to hormones and changes in a woman's body during pregnancy, it isn't a good time to do these tests. So that left me wondering today if this is a common practice for OB's to do on pregnant women or what?! Common sense tells me that it may not be so wise, but you know, what does 'my common sense' prove? So anyway, since this is kind of personal if you feel like taking an anonymous survey (up and to the right) maybe we can get a better idea of general practices...

Man, I did not see that coming today. I just kept telling myself, surely he's seen worse than the 5 o'clock shadow in my armpits...

Pixie's Visit

Nathan was out of town the last two weeks and my mom (known as "Pixie" to the kids) came to the rescue for more than half of the time to pretty much take care of our household since I am largely useless these days. I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am my mom was able to come down. The kids are always excited to see any of their grandparents, Pixie was no exception.

I love this picture from our pajama party movie night one night. Everyone looks great and then we have Aly giving us the best "duh-har" face ever. It totally reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes when Calvin's dad is trying to get a good picture of him for the Christmas cards and every time the camera snaps he makes a face, it's one of my all time favorites. 
While Pixie was here the children were quite well fed with balanced meals vs. what they get when I'm on my own these days- yogurt and a string cheese- cuz we all know that's a highly balanced meal (two dairy's and a lot of sugar= lunch the pediatrician would be proud of). 
There was lot's of playing of course which I documented all from the comfort of my well used spot on the couch. Pixie spent time in the backyard with the kids, even jumping on the trampoline with them. Who could've foreseen the unfortunate side effect that now my children think I should always be jumping with them.
And as always there were several dance parties where all participated (I was photographer) and lot's of pretend play etc.

*One day Kennedy solemnly says to my mom:

"Pixie, I have a really hard question for you...Did Jesus make Santa Clause?"

(lol, great question Kenna)
My mom did all the cooking, dishes, laundry, and cleaning the entire time she was here which was such a burden lifted from me, I can't even tell you. But she also felt sorry for me every time I got sick which was sweet. Poor Nathan, after multiple pregnancies and literally about a thousand times I've thrown up, he's kind of become numb to that aspect. You can't hardly blame him you know, it's hard to have something like that become absolutely common place and still react to it every time- even I don't do that. So anyway, it was nice to have my mom be my mom and feel sorry for me and take care of me. I was sad for a dozen reasons when she left. 

This is a pic of the only time we all went out. I couldn't let my mom visit without going out once, so I sucked it up and we went to CPK for dinner. I think they had a nice time which is what counts. Thanks for coming Mom, I love ya!

PS.- Thanks for all of the hilarious comments about the Birthday List, I seriously laughed my head off reading them. Thanks for reassuring me that in this area, at least, I am not crazy. And for the record, Kennedy had to decline the invitation. We will be busy that Saturday...I am sure. :)

Behind the Times or Bad Manners?

Okay, this morning a mother of one of Kennedy's classmates, who I haven't met before sent me an Evite to invite Kennedy to her daughters birthday party. Her daughter is in the early class, Kenna the later one and so the girls classes overlap for under 2 hours each day. Anyway, Kenna doesn't know this little girl very well so I wasn't thinking she'd go to the party anyway but as I read through the Evite I was a little shocked to find this list at the bottom: 

What does Katie want for her Birthday?

Well, she likes dresses size 6X-7, or any new clothes

The new HSM #3 movie or CD, or gift cards to Target

(she is getting a Nintendo DS from her sister along with the DS Pets Cats Clan & Ocean Rescue game already) So maybe a DS Game like "Little Pet Shop Garden" or "Little Pet Shop Jungle," or any other DS game.

She could also use the light blue small Nerf cover for the DS (Target/Toys R Us)

Maybe a gift card to Payless Shoes, that girl loves shoes! 

I hope that helps give you some ideas. 

See you at the party!

 

As far as Birthdays go in our family we kind of feel like the celebration and traditions are big and the presents are a bonus. Our experience has been the more friends and presents at the party, the less the child seems to appreciate the gifts/party or even have fun. So for now we try to keep things family oriented but this is just our way of doing things, not to say it is how we will always do things or that it is right or wrong.

But this invitation? I am gonna judge. I think it is way out of line! The further I read the more my mouth gaped open. Seriously?!  I can't get over it. What happened to "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit"? But then I started thinking maybe I am the one who is old fashioned and out of touch, maybe the majority of people celebrate Birthdays more in this way and the list is appreciated. I REALLY want to know if I am the one outta my mind or is it the author of the invitation?  You are my friends, I will accept and trust what you say~