Pass the cake

My apologies...the last two weeks have been a blur and I'm just thankful I've been able to keep up enough so that my children have had clean clothes!

First...Josh is officially FIVE years old!!!!



I have no idea where the time has gone. One day you're changing diapers and dressing them up in silly little outfits...


and the next day you're sending them off to Kindergarten.



There is no other way to say it...but that was a tough day for me. For Josh's birthday I had given him a few "starting school/kindergarten" books. Some were more for him...others were for me.

So we sat down the night before school started and read them. I asked him if he was excited for school and he said that he was scared and began to cry. Of course my pregnancy hormones got the best of me and I was a blubbering mess. Once we got out all of our tears we read the books and both felt a lot better.

I told him I would give him one of my head bands and he could keep it in his pocket so that if he ever missed me he could reach in his pocket and know that I was thinking of him. I think he reminded me five times before he went to bed and twice the next morning to put my "pretties" in his pocket.

We got ready for school, packed up his bag, took a few pictures, ran to see Dad at work and then it was the moment I was dreading. We both walked up to the school hand-in-hand and patiently waited for the doors to open.

I took him to his room, we found his seat, turned in all his supplies and took a quick tour of his room. The bell rang, we gave each other a kiss and a thumbs up as I walked out the door. All with no tears.

I walked outside the school and just sobbed. Even thinking about it know I become a mess. What is wrong with me?!?!?

Dustin came with me to pick him up (I think we were 20 minutes early). The bell rang and he came running out with his class. He said he had so much fun and was so proud of himself that he only needed to reach in his pocket twice.

I was so proud of him, too. He obviously handled everything a heck of a lot better than his mother.

He's been home with Strep now for two days - the first case the doctor had seen and the first the school had seen. So tomorrow may be a little rough to get back into things.

Remodeling/Construction on the basement is in full force. Dad damn near killed himself last week and I was right behind him. By Friday night we were ready to set the place on fire...and ironically, Dad almost did! Ha!





These photos were taken very early in the week because now everything is drywalled and in the process of mudding. The family room has been wired for surround sound and all the recessed lighting and outlets are working. The new windows just came in today and hopefully the long weekend will bring along some major progress!

Saturday we took Dad up to Mason City to meet Thomas halfway. The drive was perfect and the kids were wonderful. It's always hard to send Dad off after he's been with us for such a long time. I get used to having someone at home with me in the evenings (and admittedly, a second pair of hands to help with the kids)and Josh always has a hard time understanding why he has to go home.

Other than that not much else is going on. I am anxiously awaiting my morning sickness period to pass. This weekend was particularly tough and unenjoyable. However, I am still in disbelief that the first trimester is almost over and, even more so, that we are even pregnant. God certainly has a funny sense of humor!

Baby Update: 11 weeks

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden. She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Nothing.

That's what I've got this week...nothing.

Between morning "all day" sickness, pure exhaustion, trying to get the house put back together from our disastrous water loss, preparing for our favorite little boy's 5th birthday party, preparing for overnight guests, preparing for our favorite little boy's first day of school, and getting ready to remodel the basement next week...I have had no energy (or time) to take one photo. It's pathetic.

We obviously have our plates full right now and neither Dustin nor I can muster enough energy for a fun filled weekend with the kids.

I only got a couple hours of sleep on Sunday night so last night all I wanted to do was sleep. But since the worker's had gotten our appliances back in place and the kids were happily running around the house I figured I might as well get to work. I worked in the formal dining room for almost two hours. The film of drywall dust covered everything and made dusting a joy. Then I had to scrap/scrub the splatter of glue off the wall that the floor installers left.

After I vacuumed and put everything back in its place I was exhausted. Yet I continued and worked at putting the family room back together. I'm not sure why I tried so hard because within 20 minutes you couldn't tell I had picked up or vacuumed.

Defeated, I waited for the Schwan's man and bought some toffee bars. Thankfully, that was the first piece of food in 24 hours that stayed down.

Yesterday I had an OB appointment. I've lost 5 pounds since last Thursday. She asked how it was going and I just about started to cry. "My throat is raw from puking, I had to dress twice this morning because I got sick all over, my husband works nights so I am the only one to make supper for my kids and the sight of food sends me wretching and then it scares my kids." She was so sweet and listened to me and asked if it was this bad with my last. I did not hesitate, "NO!" I mean, it was bad, but not like this!

So she said she'd put me on medication if it does not seem to get better within a week and said to try and eat whatever and whenever possible. Next time I'll probably get another ultrasound so that's something to look forward to in the meantime.

Update on Baby: 9 weeks

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks.

146 beats per minute!!

Sound familiar...it's how fast Lauren's heart was beating at my first ultrasound with her!!!

I had spotting last night and my doctor just wanted to check things out so I had a quick ultrasound this morning. Everything looks great!



It's a bad picture but I got to see the little arms and legs moving and the heart pumping blood through his/her tiny little body.

I think it might actually be setting in that we're pregnant again!

Dustin's piece of heaven

We had planned to head to Duluth for Dustin's birthday. Considering his passion for shipping, boats and water Duluth, MN, is pretty much his Mecca.

We headed up to Minneapolis on Thursday morning and we were already on the road by 6:30 in the morning. Aside from some horrendous rainstorms we made it there in a good time and were able to join dad for a quick lunch downtown.

After lunch we decided to head back to dad's house and grab a quick nap in order to prepare for our trip to IKEA and the Mall of America. Dad's dog, Cassie, has been having some um....how shall I put this..."intestinal" issues so she has been quarantined to the kitchen. As the kids got ready for a nap Dustin let the dog out and left her blocked in the kitchen...thanks to a baby gate.

We all went to sleep and after a good nap woke up...to stench. Yeah, she hopped the gate and had relieved herself SEVERAL times. I immediately called dad so that he could hear my dry heaving. Hehehehe. Dustin went and surveyed the damage. It was bad. I believe six in all.

Dustin and I were arguing about who should clean it all up. Josh, all dramatic, waves his hands up and down and says, "Guys. Do you think your kids should clean this up? Your daughter, Lauren?" OMG. We about died. He is so funny.

We didn't make it to IKEA but we did make it to the mall and Josh got to ride on a ton of rides so the day wasn't a complete loss!






Friday morning we got up and headed to the Science Museum of Minnesota. They had an exhibit for Star Wars and Josh and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see some actual Star Wars memorabilia.

The first level was all about shipping, the Mississippi River and nature. Josh got to attempt driving a virtual barge.



He started out nice and strong and then quickly grounded the barge. They had slices of trees that were 300+ years old and ancient hunting tools. Dustin and I found it very interesting.

Then we headed to the Star Wars exhibit. I am not quite sure why I like Star Wars. It's my geeky side, I guess. I cannot stand Star Trek or anything Sci-Fi...except for Star Wars. Admittedly, I am not sure why most people who like Star Wars are freaks. And let me tell you...there were plenty in attendance that day. This is one of the parts of my life that Dustin got with the package deal.






Lauren was a good girl throughout the museum. She sat quietly in her stroller and watched all the people crowd around. Periodically, we would let her out so she could strech her legs...and then she found the stuffed lion.



I heard her scream, "KI-KI!!! KI-KI!!" (This would be Lauren very excited to see a kitty.) We laughed so hard. I felt bad pulling her away from it because it was honestly the only part of the tour she enjoyed. But after 45 people walked by and looked at Lauren like she must have been raised in the wild to think that an animal that large was a kitty, I had to make her leave.

Then the dinosaurs. Dustin and I just stared at the bones and marveled at the size of these things. I cannot imagine them once roaming the earth. They were huge!!




Then Friday afternoon we ran to IKEA, of course, and by dinner time we were off to Duluth.

Duluth had a huge Maritime Festival and by the time we got checked in to the hotel and brought our things up to the room the fireworks were just beginning. Lauren thought they were the coolest things ever and would clap and squeal randomly.

By the time they were over it was almost 10:00 and we were all wiped. One bad night's sleep later and we were up and out the door by 6:30 in the morning. We took the kids down to the pier and walked around while it was quiet and not crowded.




We went and had breakfast and then Dustin headed back down to the pier with the kids. I went up to take a nap (growing a human is hard work).

Dad and I rejoined them just in time to watch a huge ship come through.



I don't care how many times you watch it happen...it is the COOLEST to watch the bridge go up and down like an elevator. Add to that the sheer size of these vessels and it's one of the neatest experiences. Josh was in awe!

Lauren had more fun chasing after the seagulls than paying attention to anything in the water. That girl has no fear.



We didn't do much other than eat, shop and walk. We had such a nice time and the weather was gorgeous. Dustin is set to move there any day. He said as soon as he finds a job we're moving! We'll see, although, I would admit I'd love to live there as well.




It went so fast and before we knew it we were back home. We had such a great time with dad and Thomas...just wish it lasted a bit longer.




Baby update:

Your baby is now 5/8 of an inch long, about the size of a kidney bean. New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. His arms have lengthened, too, and his hands are now flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart. His knee joints have formed, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways.