Around town...

Apparently, within a 15 mile radius of us, all of this is going down:

• Around 50,000 homes without power.  They're hoping to have it back by later tonight but it may be 48 hours.
• Northbound freeway is supposedly closed from __ to__  until around 6 PM.  Alternate route is open but be on the lookout for flying debris.
• C mayor declared local state of emergency.
• Even taking surface streets is dangerous because of flying debris.  They're asking people to stay in their homes.
• They showed video of guys who were on the freeway and got hit with pieces of the McDonalds and In-n-Out Burger signs.  They were buying first aid supplies for their faces.
• All schools in ___ are closed.
• Some major colleges closed, some high schools closed.
• The winds are expected to continue until around 6 PM tonight.
• Weather is reporting wind gusts of 78 mph in __, 83 mph in __, 53 mph in __ and 102 mph in __
• Outbound air flights are postponed until further notice.

The local news has photos of downed trees, fences, powerlines etc ALL AROUND US.  In town, the neighboring cities etc.  CLOSE! 
Closer: across the street, the power has been out all day and might be out for as much as 48 hours.  A neighbor who moved slightly farther away brought over her cell to charge at our house because theirs is also out (1 mileish away).  Neighbors are spending the day at families/friends who have power.
Here?  Nothing.  Nada.  Heater on, making fudge, no limbs in the yard, thinking it will be nice to use the stove for dinner etc.  Hmm...

The Newest One

A doesn't have a pseudo name yet- we could be like sister and just call her "Beebee!" or "It". She follows brother's pattern of asking to "hold it?!" As seen below- I can't resist letting her try (with help). Lady loves being a big sister!Despite the innocent looking face. This little one has spent the last two nights repeatedly waking up as soon as you set her down. Our routine has been something like this: feed her, she falls asleep, hold her till she's out-out, put her in her bed, she wakes up, try to coax her back to sleep with the binky, wailing ensues, back to holding.
It's called: up-all-nightus.
Bummer.
Hopefully she'll go back to her wonderful habit of sleeping five hour stretches at night. I'm crossing my fingers!

Three.

7 lbs. 2 oz. 19 1/2 inches.
11/1/11

Decision

Not today. Dr's terms.
Not Monday. My terms.
Tuesday.

She'll get here!

After a teary-eyed, not feeling good appointment yesterday the OB asked me if I wanted to talk about a day to be induced. UM, YES!!! (Really, what kind of question is that at this point?)
OB: "How about Monday?"
Me: "How about FRIDAY!?
He's thinking about it. Not very seriously. He'd rather Monday- it's closer to my "official" 39 week mark (the one he changed from tomorrow folks). He's having me come in for my appointment first thing in the morning (instead of late afternoon) to check me. I think I'm going to bring in a list of reasons he should induce me tomorrow.
1) Monday is Halloween. She doesn't (and her mother doesn't) want to have a holiday birthday!!
2) I'm not sleeping. I say this and people think, "Well you won't sleep once she's here..." but they don't realize that when she's here- YES, she'll get up a lot at night, but then she'll GO BACK TO SLEEP- and I can sleep too- instead of toss and turn, or since rolling over seems impossible right now, wiggle and groan. I'm looking forward to SOME decent sleep- even if in short intervals.
3) It's a weekend. What better time for King? True, he can take time off any time- but weekends are such perfect timing. Belive me, I'd know. The last two have both been induced on Fridays or Saturdays. I think its becoming a tradition.
4) Should I mention its a tradition now?
5) WE'RE PAST 38 (and if you ask me- past 39) WEEKS! I'M READY! SHE'S READY!! WE'RE ALL READY!
6) All these contractions I've been having (one night: 2 hours: 5 min apart... then they stopped... arg...) are doing NOTHING. Dialated to a ..... zero. Still. Darn.
7) This should have been listed first: I want to meet and hold this little girl!!!

I guess I'll know by 10 am tomorrow what will be happening. Meanwhile, today we're cleaning, shopping, and working up a storm just in case I win this little debate. If not- the end is still in sight. Monday isn't THAT far away... I guess.

And here we are. Somewhere between the Dr's version of 38 weeks and my version of 39. In all its... roundness...

And....

HE'S DONE!
Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe, Done, done, DONE, dOnE, DoNe, dOne, donE, doNe...
D. O. N. E.
Special session over. Normal hours restored. Family parties celebrated. Play time with the kids in full swing. Ahhh- normal life is so nice.
Yes, I'm a tad excited. NOW can I have this baby?

Trying to document frustration without whining...

PART ONE: THE CUTE PICTURE AND THE FRUSTRATION


This is my honey. (In the newspaper to boot! Isn't he cute?!)
He's been VERY, VERY, very, very, very, very, very, very.... I could go on... VERY, VERY busy lately. For months he's been attending public hearings/meetings around the state and at the capital working on this redistricting project at work. Now before anyone mad at the process jumps down his throat, he doesn't make any actual decisions regarding the maps- just draws them for the Legislature. Many, many late nights and weekends of work later... his wife has been counting down to the special session they were supposed to be finishing YESTERDAY.
And then...
...they couldn't agree on a map.
AAAARRRRGGGGG!
Lawmakers hemmed and hawed and did the democratic process (which I am usually a huge fan of) and postponed making a final decision for two more weeks. And this very pregnant wife cried. (note: I may or may not be extra emotional right now.) You have to understand. I in no way hold King accountable for the extra long hours he has to put in at work right now. He's got the know how for this big job and it has to get done. And since they're putting in all this time- they need to make sure its done right!!! But it would sure make me happy if the ones making decisions would HURRY UP AND MAKE UP THEIR MINDS!
Back to the story.
I attended my cousins wedding today and each time someone asked me where my hubby was my eyes welled up with tears and I started crying. I'm not a crier either! You see- with a little over four weeks to go in this pregnancy, I was hoping said baby would come two weeks early (like the previous two). But with pending big meetings in two weeks, baby may come- but we wouldn't have had the down time, rest time, family time I've been SO counting on (for MONTHS) BEFORE the baby comes. I know, I know. We'll get family time after, and its wishful thinking on my part planning that the baby will come early- who knows when she's really coming. And who knows. Maybe this project will be done, agreed on, and tied with a bow with a few days of rest to spare before she comes... but what if its not? What if I go into labor in the middle of a big meeting. I KNOW King will still be there for the birth, he'll still get time off after... but will we all be so tired that we're emotional wrecks- or is that just me these days?
I was telling all this to my dear grandmother this evening as she chucked at my tears (again) and my predicament with trying to be a patient parent. That second topic alone could take several posts of its own. Remind me to tell you about placing phone calls to King at work- knowing he's outrageously busy- to have him talk to his son (or daughter) before the tired mother loses ALL her temper with 3-year-old antics (or 1 year old as the case may be). Tangent- sorry.
Anyhow. After the chucking- which she says she can do because she's been there- she told me I needed to write this down in my journal, and this is as close as it gets to journaling these days. She said that even though I was frustrated, one day I could look back and laugh knowing how real the frustration, the pain, and the tears were- but one day I'd be able to see past it and laugh - hopefully. Maybe she was chucking at how pathetic and narrow minded I sound. I've thrown myself a sufficiently huge pity party by now.
So here's hoping she's right. I'll let you know if I laughed 20 years from now.

PART TWO: NO WHINING... except for what was already expressed...

While 3/4 of my brain has been stewing over the predicament above all day. A tiny part has been reminding myself that I am blessed. Very, very blessed. I'm working on a project right now to help me remember to count my blessings. It looks like a birthday calendar- a line for each day of the month/year, but its to record the best part of my days- the tender mercies and blessings I overlook on hard days like today. And since there's no time to start like the present, here's today's.
1) I got to go to a wonderful marriage today. I love going to Temple Sealings. I love thinking about the day I was married and how lucky I am to have King.
2) King has a job. And a good one. And a steady one. And he's earning TONS of comp. time with all the extra work he's doing. He informed me tonight he has 50 hours of work in for this week.... its only WEDNESDAY folks. I guess this means lots of time off when the baby comes and during the holidays- which will be wonderful.
3) This baby is healthy and coming soon. Maybe not as soon as I'd like- but soon. I can do this... I can do this...
4) My parents have been a big help this week. We've stayed at their place instead of traveling back and forth for wedding events- and they sure have been great with the kids. Helping change diapers, make meals, play with them.... its been good, no great.
5) I always feel better (mentally) after I sleep. And I'm going to sleep now- which is a really, really nice thought.

Wonderful Day

Yesterday was a disaster. Capital D. Font Size 200. That bad. I'm not sure of all the contributing factors. Something about Lady not napping, Brother whining, too much crying by all parties (me included). All day long I thought to myself, "Why are we having three kids again?" Not my best mothering thought.
Today? Miracle.
Again, I'm not sure of all the contributing factors.
We did have an FHE lesson last night on communication... long story short, I say, "Remember the Whales" and Brother is supposed to stop interrupting, whining, yelling etc. He's allowed to say it to me when needed to. Maybe that was factor #1. Our communication today was bliss. There was almost no whining, no crying, no yelling. Ahhh. I'm pretty sure I can't give all the credit to one tiny lesson, but still.
Factor two? I got to go to my Stake's religion/Book of Mormon class ALL BY MYSELF. Lady is old enough to go to the nursery. I got to sit and soak up instruction for an hour and fifteen minutes with no distractions or interruptions. This might have seemed like such a huge blessing since I miss all the lessons at church. I'm currently playing the piano in Primary, and between that and children- its been a few years since I got to sit and listen to a lesson- not just read on my own. I l.o.v.e. hearing others points of view, insights etc. That was a HUGE blessing in my day.
Factor #3. Lady napped. Napped long. Its amazing what a bit of sleep does.
Factor 3.5 I slept better last night. The night before last an unnamed little one kicked my ribs and stomach all night long and I could never get comfortable. Last night someone must have told her a thing or two because I only woke up twice with leg cramps or uncomfortableness. Nice.
Factor #4. A friend I haven't seen in years is in town (from across the world) and is planning a visit Thursday! Hooray for old friends!! They always make you smile!
Factor #5. This should have been listed first. Last night after a horrific day I spent EXTRA long praying, pleading with Heavenly Father to bestow huge amounts of patience on my head. Not only for my sake, but for my children as well. Don't underestimate the power of asking. I love the quote (not quoted here) that talks about blessings waiting in store for us if we will only ask. Now, mind you, I ask for patience LOTS. Lots and lots. But I got an extra special portion today. It was lovely. And much appreciated.
Factor #6. I had such a good little helper for a son today. Where stubbornness ruled as king yesterday, today I had an angel. He helped unload the dishwasher, wash the floor, plant some new plants that unexpectedly (and wonderfully) arrived in the mail to replace ones that had died a few months ago. He helped with his sister, apologized when he'd bonk her, shared, cooperated. I could go on and on. The crowning moment for his day was probably our trip to DI. He found a tiny etch-a-sketch (remember those!) in good condition and I showed him how it worked. It didn't have a price tag on it- but he asked an employee (by himself!!) how much it cost. $.75. He had enough pennies- so he paid for it himself. He looked SO VERY proud of himself. He's been working hard to finish potty-training to earn those beloved pennies. It took every last one (and three of mine) but he did it. He clutched that tightly the whole way home and announced he was going to earn more pennies!! I'm so proud of him!
Long story short. Today was wonderful. I have felt so blessed today. There was nothing miraculous in and of itself- nothing I'd normally write home about. Nothing that was life changing in and of itself. Its just that I felt so many tender mercies of the Lord. I had quiet time to reflect and learn, time to enjoy playing with my children, time to rest, and time to work. It was the perfect balance. To top it off. King is finally on his way home and I'll get to spend the rest of the evening with him!

I hope your day was even half as lovely- and it still would have been a good day!

Summer Catch-up.

Over 360 pictures later, I realized I was a bit (...ok, a LOT) behind uploading my meager documentation of the summer.
So humor me as I peruse through some of my favorite pictures of our VERY crazy busy summer.

Thanks to a kind friend, we've been able to visit the zoo a million (ok, half dozen) times this summer. Brother thinks its neat to be as big as a (baby) gorilla.
Some trips I can't tell if Brother likes the dinosaur displays, the fake animals, or the actual animals better. Sister thinks everything barks or growls- and pretty much just goes around for the ride.
See what I mean?(See this joy- all from a fake horse...)

We've also taken trips to the dinosaur museum, the aquarium, camping excursions, and the latest Labor Day camping at Yellowstone with Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle J. The park was suprisingly animal-less (we didn't see even ONE herd of buffalo, just a lone one here and there), but we did see an occasional animal, and enjoyed the scenery. If you ever want some free entertainment, ask brother about the geysers.Grandma and King helping the kids play on the rocks.
(I'm not sure how I didn't get any pictures of Grandpa...)Uncle J.Throwing rocks in the river.
(Who needs animals when you've got rocks and water?)Lady travels in style.And gets carried around to boot!The scenery.The kids. Whatever brother does, Lady must do also. We're going to have a duo-visit to the emergency room one of these days. I'm sure of it!King and Brother exploring the river.

Here's hoping you documented your summer better (or at least didn't get as behind as we did).

Failed Mother's Intuition

Anyone out there have spotty Mother's intuition.
It seems to me that if I hurry and rush my child to the Dr. there is NEVER anything serious wrong (like teething... seriously...). But if I try my best to treat what I see and wait things out, by the time I head to the Dr. one of two things happens:
Scenario 1) The fever/illness subsides the INSTANT I call the Dr. and then I'm left wondering if I should keep my appointment. 1/2 the time I show up and wonder how foolish I look.
Scenario 2) I go in, and it was something more serious I should have shown up for earlier. Like... scarlett fever. I'm currently apologizing to my daughter over that one. What I thought was eczema over-reacting was something quite different. Shows how well I'd do as a doc, ey?
Good grief.
I need my mothering instincts to hurry and reboot before baby #3 gets here!