Death by drywall

Since I seem to be back to a more normal "me" lately, I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous fall weather last Thursday and take the kids for a nice walk. Either I'm out of shape, the kids have gained weight or a combination of the both...but that walk wiped out half my energy before the evening had even begun.



I think I should have had the kids pull me in the wagon because then they'd be the ones out of energy and I'd be fully refreshed by the brisk, fresh air. Instead it was the other way around.

Once we got home I made a nice spaghetti supper (Josh's favorite) and even made a batch of cupcakes (Lauren's favorite). After supper we did a little Halloween project. I had purchased these foam pumpkins a while back and thought we should wait closer to Halloween to assemble them because in my household...they'll only last a week of two.





Josh did a great job on his pirate pumpkin and Lauren helped, in her own little way, by throwing away all our sticky tabs and yelling "Kiki" (a/k/a Kitty). They turned out cute and Josh was proud of his masterpiece.

Friday night Lauren was being super silly so I got a few photos of her being wacky. She was laughing at herself and playing peek-a-boo with the camera. As soon as I got the camera out she was in full performance mode.





Saturday was a crazy day from hell. We worked down in Josh's room for most of the day. Dustin painted the ceiling and I painted the walls. It was a disaster. We didn't have ceiling paint so Dustin used some white paint we had. Wrong! It was semi-gloss and looked like crap. The color on the walls...was awful. I wanted gray but this had too much blue and looked almost purple when it dried. By the time we were done for the day I was irritated beyond belief and had to quick make dinner and get ready for a work party.

Sunday morning we had to go buy some new ceiling paint and a new color for the walls and a run a few errands before meeting the family for Uncle Joel's birthday lunch.

We all were stuffed after lunch yet each of us found room for chocolate shakes. Poor Lauren could barely keep her tummy covered she was so full!




After lunch I was bound and determined to have Josh's room completely painted by the end of the day whether it killed me or not.

So in between doing 10 loads of laundry I repainted the ceiling, put two coats of color on the walls, painted the trim and painted the wood for inside the window. By last night my back was in spasms, my feet were numb and my entire body was screaming. I was so achey that I couldn't even fall asleep so every 45 minutes I kept getting up and switching laundry loads until about midnight.

I am thrilled with the results and even though all I want to do is crawl into bed when I get home tonight I will muster up some energy after the kids go to sleep and continue painting.



I had a little freak out session about the basement this weekend. We have about two months before this entire project needs to be done. I set a Christmas deadline for a number of reasons but the biggest being that as soon as tax season gets here all work will halt. Because I'll be working a million hours, Dustin will either be caring for the kids or working and then all of a sudden it will be baby time.

Having to see the basement in such disarray every day is just a constant reminder (or nag) and it's wearing me down. Dustin's gone so much that he only sees it once or twice a week so I know he doesn't have the same "doomsday" outlook that I have. Hence the source of a lot of our heated discussions. On a side note, I once read a study about how many marriages can't survive a remodeling project. I doubted the validity at the time I read it. I get it now.

Basically I never start anything I can't finish so I refuse to do that now. But...if this basement kills me (like I feel it's doing) please put something witty on my epitaph about how I'd rather die than fail.

Baby Update: 19 weeks

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Go Lauren. Go Lauren.

So last night Lauren and I were cuddling in the recliner and she looked at me with a paniced look and said, "Uh oh." and pointed to her butt.

I said, "Do you have to go potty?"

She said, "Yeah."

So off we went to her potty chair. She started to pull down her pants and got situated on her seat.

Ten seconds later and she was standing up and looking at her accomplishment!

Man...if I could get this girl out of diapers by the time I have to start buying them for the baby...well, let's just say I'd be one happy mama!!

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere!

Honestly...I'm sitting here after folding laundry for the last two hours and don't understand how anyone in this house can complain about having nothing to wear. I usually do laundry on the weekends and since I was out of commission last weekend, got behind a week.

I did laundry from the moment I got up on Sunday until I went to bed that night and still have about three loads left. We literally had NO towels left and had to wait for the first load of towels to dry before I could give the kids a bath last night.

It was bad.

Anyway...I digress.

We ended up going to the pumpkin farm on Saturday morning. This is our favorite farm in the area because it is the perfect size for small children. It's about 40-45 minutes away but it's totally worth it. Well, we thought we'd take a little side route this year and get a chance to see some of the season's changing leaves.

And boy did that extended drive give way to some very interesting conversations in the truck.

Conversation #1 - The birds and the bees

I don't know how we even got on the topic but somehow Josh was talking about a bird and its eggs. And when the baby comes out of the egg it's called "hatching". So far...I'm good.

Then the question...."Mom...how does the egg get out of the mommy bird?"

The look of panic on my face made Dustin bust out in laughter. I composed myself and silently cursed all this knowledge he's gained in Kindergarten. I said, "Well, it's kind of funny. The mommy bird kind of 'poops' it out." Oh God. He giggled and said, "Are you serious?"

I'm like, "Uh yeah!" He giggled again. Then he named about 100 animals and asked how each of them had babies.

Having had a c-section with each of my children, I have the easy explanation as to how mommy has babies so we've already had that conversation...but it's one of my favorites and I don't believe I've ever blogged about it.

A few months after Lauren was born he asked how she got out of my tummy. I explained to him that the doctor gave mommy a big owie on the tummy. He was very concerned and asked if it hurt. I told him that yes, it did hurt but that mommy took medicine to make it not hurt so much. I told him I got a huge band-aid and that just like his owies...mine healed up!

I wanted to tell him the truth and told him that I would show him my scar if he wanted to see it. That's when he started to cry and came running to my arms. He was sad that I had to go through that in order to have him. I gave him a big hug and said, "Josh...if I didn't have that...I wouldn't have you. Well, that or I'd have a 5 year-old in my tummy still!"

Then when we were in Des Moines this last camping trip we started talking about it again. He said, "Mom...I don't even want to think about that again. It makes me sad."

He's such a sweetheart!

Conversation #2 - Bi-lingual

The drive was taking much longer than expected and Josh said,

"Man...this is far away. Do these people talk different out here?"


Once we got out to the farm Lauren immediately spotted the goats and started squealing like a little pig!!





Josh was thrilled to spook the chickens and make them run in fear. That of course made him laugh and inhale the God-awful stench of the chicken coop. Then he was the one running in fear which made me laugh!



Lauren was in no mood for photo ops and had ripped off her "pretties" (a/k/a barrett) by the time we got her to sit down for a second. So...out of the twenty photos I took...these are the best two. So what does that tell ya?




We really had a great time and the kids had fun so I guess you can't ask for much more than that!




Baby Update: 18 weeks

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

All about baby

This weekend is good to have over and yet it was eventful. Go figure.

Friday I wasn't feeling very good. I was a little nauseous but mostly just in some general discomfort.

Saturday morning Josh got to go with Harrison (a friend) to his Grandma's cabin on the river. So Lauren and I went grocery shopping and Dustin worked in the basement. I know...we are a fun group.

Saturday night mom, Titi, Joel and I had tickets to Kathy Griffin. Even though I felt awful I could not pass up seeing her.

Our seats were AWESOME! We were in the 7th row!!





It was a sold out show and she was hysterical! Dad and Thomas had seen her the night before up in the twin cities so I was totally phsyched to see her.

Unfortunately, I started to feel worse as the night went on. I had a piece of pizza for supper before the show and it was the first thing I'd eaten in a couple of days. But as they say, "The show must go on!"

About 45 minutes into the show my back was throbbing and by the time the show was over I couldn't breathe. So I climbed up all the stairs at Carver Hawkeye Arena (and there are a few), found mom and, in between me trying to catch my breath, told her to take me to the ER.

We made the LONG walk back to Titi's car and the stubborn woman I am, requested we drive all the way back to Cedar Rapids so that I could go to Mercy Hospital. Can I just say...God forbid I ever have anything seriously wrong with me while I'm not within driving distance of Mercy Hospital? I may just tell them to let me die!

Twenty minutes later I met up with Dustin at the ER. The doctors were worried I had a blod clot in my lung because I couldn't take a deep breath and because of the pain I was in. My blood pressure was out of control and my pulse sent everyone into a tizzy.

Then the puking started and unfortantely the one piece of food I'd eaten in two days was evenly divided between three or four sickness bags. Once they got an IV in (OUCH!) they pushed two whole bags of fluid in me.

I had two chest x-rays, an ultrasound on my legs, bloodwork, an EKG, and the wosrt test of all, a CT scan. They said there have not been many studies on the effects of a cat scan on an unborn child but went through a million possibilities - all of which were horrifying. I just sobbed which made everything hurt.

I guess not every CT scan involves a dye, but mine did. I laid in this tube with my hands above my head praying over and over again for our child. Please God, keep this child safe from harm. Keep him or her healthy after all this testing. I promise I will be a better mother. I didn't cry until they injected the dye. The dye felt like it was burning the inside of me and as I literally felt it pulsing through my veins my tears poured out in fear for the safety of our baby. It was just awful and remembering it now...well, I'm still a mess.

Fortunately, they found nothing: unfortunately, I am still in pain. Once they got some fluids in me my pulse was still elevated but not anything they were freaking out about anymore. My blood pressure came down to normal levels and all the tests came back normal. They gave me a prescription for Vicodin and seven hours later we were on our way home.

By the time we had the prescription filled and got home the kids were up a mere 60 minutes later.

The pain seemed to get better on Monday but by Tuesday morning it was back. I had my regular check up with my OB yesterday and she said that she would figure, given my wonderful test results, that it is a ligament causing all the problems. She also gave me the WONDERFUL news that these types of injuries don't tend to heal on their own during pregnancy. Great!

In other news, I am down another 4.5 pounds! I was thrilled, but Dr. Hocking said she'd like to see the scale stop going down at my next appointment. We did get to see baby on the portable ultrasound machine and he/she was squirming away. I couldn't bear to look after everything that happened this weekend so I'm taking her word that everything looked good.

I am trying to take more "belly shots" of this child, as it is my last and I sometimes regret not taking more with Lauren. So, in my new found pocket of courage...here is my 17 week shot!



This weekend we're going to the pumpkin farm so next week's blog should be a little more exciting!

Baby Update: 17 weeks.

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

Drop, drop, fizz, fizz

My goodness. This week has been full of sickness, doctor's appointments and puke buckets. It started with me on Friday night, then the kids on Monday (early morning) and continued with another doctor's appointment just last night.

This is what we know; I don't have strep and Josh doesn't have appendicitis. Lots of help, huh?

Anyway, in the midst of all the coughing, sneezing and puking...we ended up having a nice weekend with Dad and Thomas. Dad, Dustin and I replaced the windows in the basement. What a task!

Those old windows gave Dad and Dustin quite a fight! Removing the old ones took 10 times longer than installing the new ones. And even with all the broken glass the only severe injury was Dustin stabbing himself with the crowbar...on accident.

Dustin and I installed the vinyl trim on Sunday after our company left and I am SOOOOO happy with how they turned out!



It was Josh's weekend to have Q-bear. Q-bear is a little teddy bear that each child gets to bring home for a weekend. He has all these different clothes and even his own toothbrush. Then after your fun filled weekend with Q-bear you are supposed to write up a cute little story about your weekend.

Friday Josh, Q-bear and Grandma Cathy got to go see the movie Igor. And then Saturday night we went down to the Amanas to thank Dad for all his help in our basement. Josh and Q-bear were wiped and both fell asleep on the ride down.



It was pretty cute how he wanted to include Q-bear on all our adventures. I didn't mind...as long as I didn't have to change any diapers!

After our yummy dinner (Lauren's favorite was the ice cream dessert) we decided to take a stroll around the Amanas. All the shops had closed but the evening was just beautiful and the sunset was breathtaking.




Dustin mowed the lawn on Sunday so the kids and I came out for a little fresh air. Lauren is becoming more and more "girl" every day. She has a favorite pair of shoes that she INSISTS on wearing and she is almost constantly carrying her favorite purse.




I honestly don't know what I am going to do with that girl!

We don't have much planned this weekend except for I get to go see Kathy Griffin!!! A few good laughs may just be what the doctor ordered!!




Baby Update: Week 16

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length . Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too.

It ain't all fun and sunshine

Thursday was Josh's first Open House for school. Uncle Joel was nice enough to have dinner with Lauren so that I could give Josh some one-on-one time for his special night.

We headed off for school and he was just a mile a minute in the backseat. He was SO excited! We ended up having to park a few blocks away so we had a nice chat on the walk to the front entrance. He was letting me know what to expect and listing everything he wanted to show me.

By the time we got to his classroom I thought his head was going to explode. He was running around, all crazy-like, and I was scrambling to keep up. He showed me his favorite book, where he lays during "quiet time", the word board, where his girlfriend sits (don't ask) and just about every other square inch of his classroom.

Mrs. Wilson had a list of things we were to be sure to ask our children about and the last item was "Their Family Tree". I asked Josh where his family tree was...he drug me over to the coat rack. Each of the children had drawn a huge tree and Mrs. Wilson had written "The Bricker Family" across the top of Josh's. I read all the little apples; Beth, Dustin, Lauren, Josh...and Baby. OMG...I started to tear up. He was so proud...as was I.

We went to see the gym (where he showed me how to run ladders), the music room (where he showed me where the bongo drums were), the art room (where we ran into his "best friend") and the library (where we spent a small fortune at the book fair). Last but not least he got to show me the playground.



If the look on his face is any indication...he loves his school.

Then on Friday Josh had his 5 year checkup. It was not a fun visit.

First, we get there and they hand me a clip board to fill out a survey. As I turned around to find a seat he walked right into the board and nailed his eye. So he bawled, his eye swelled up and by the time they called his name he had a black and blue mark. Nice.

He got four shots, flu mist up the nose, a finger prick topped off with the embarrassment of having to get naked. I felt so bad for the guy. His legs hurt all weekend and by Friday night he was running a fever.

I'm not sure the Dairy Queen treat following the appointment made up for anything. But it sure made me feel better.

Other than that our weekend was pretty uneventful. I cleaned upstairs and Dustin worked in the basement. The kids worked their hardest to undo everything I did so I finally set them in our bed and let them watch a movie.



And last night Dustin got Twizzlers and we all got to cuddle up for a Tom & Jerry marathon. The perfect way to wind down a weekend.



Baby Update: 15 weeks

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam.

I've been feeling baby move around quite a bit lately. The first time was about two weeks ago and both the kids were sitting on my lap. I'm quite certain he/she was just trying to make some room for him/herself.

Out of the mouths of babes

Conversation #1

Josh: Mom, today at school my best friend pushed me at recess.
Me: Josh...best friends don't push each other.
Josh: That's what I thought.
Me: If that happens again you tell him that best friends don't push each other. And then you go tell the teacher.
Josh: Yeah, cuz' that's not appwopwiate (a/k/a appropriate) behavior.
Me: Uh...no it's not.


Conversation #2

Tonight the kids and I made banana bread and while we were waiting for it to cool we watched a Christmas Veggie Tales in my room. The kids were getting rowdy and picking on each other rather than watching the movie.

Me: Guys! Quit it!
Josh: Mom, Lauren keeps sitting on me.
Me: Lauren, sit down. Josh, don't touch her.
(They continue picking on each other.)
Me: GUYS! Last warning!
Josh: Then what?
Me: Uh, you go to your room and Lauren goes to bed.
Josh: Are we driving you crazy?
Me: Yes!
Josh: Yeah...I thought so.


Conversation #3

We went to Wal-mart to pick up a few items. Josh and I loaded the bags in the back of the van and Lauren watched on from the cart.

Josh: SHOE! SHOE!
Me: What are you talking about?
Josh: SHOE! Lauren's shoe!!!
(I noticed her shoe was in the middle of the parking lot and went to pick it up.)
Me: Thanks, dude!
Josh: I saw the shoe and was like, "That's Lauren's". And then I saw she was missing a shoe.
Me: Wow!
Josh: Was I helpful?
Me: Yes!
Josh: (to himself) Go Joshie! You're awesome! Go Joshie! It's your birthday!

What else is new?

We left for Des Moines on Friday afternoon only to run into rain right outside of Cedar Rapids. What else is new? Out of all the times we've been camping this summer we have avoided rain once. ONCE!

Dustin coincidentally started complaining of a wrist pain around Tama which meant by the time we hit Des Moines he was "unable" to use his right hand. So I stood out in the rain and pumped the tanks full of water. I stood out in the rain to direct him into the spot. I stood out in the rain to set the hitch. I stood out in the rain to crank the jacks. And yet somehow Dustin looked like he had done all the work by the time he got into the camper.



I stopped to take some time and mock him and then turned back around to drive back into town to pick up some groceries.

The next morning we got up and realized how much the Saylorville lake had changed since last time we'd seen it.



The last time we were there that entire area was covered in about 50+ feet of water. I was shocked. We had no idea the lake was up that much and were a little freaked out by it all.

We walked all the way down to the beach and realized that right where we were standing had seen 50+ foot deep water. Makes you feel pretty small.



Dustin and Josh decided to race and shortly after they sarted Lauren thought she'd join in. Shockingly...she did not win.



The campground was great, the company was even better. We met up with some friends and their children from Omaha and just "vegged" all weekend. It was great!

The kids all wore themselves out on the playground and Lauren was bound and determined to try and keep up with them all.



By the time we left on Sunday...the kids were disgustingly dirty. But I certainly didn't have the energy to give them a bath before we left. Alas, I rode between two dirty kids...with sticky hands.




Mattie looked at me from the front seat like I had gotten what I deserved. I figured she should enjoy it while she can because by next camping season the baby will be taking my seat, I will be taking her seat and she'll be stuffed back in the camper. :-)



Baby Update: 14 weeks

Welcome to the second trimester! This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

Today's appointment

I lost another 5 pounds (even after having Chinese for lunch with Joel)! AND I got an ultrasound!!!

Dustin and I got to see the beating heart and Mr. or Miss Bricker bouncing around like a crazy person in there!! Even Dr. Hocking had to chuckle.

Everything looked great and we'll be back in another 4 weeks!

Glass of whine

I got an update from BabyCenter.com today. Every week they email me with tips and discussions about the various stages my child may be going through. Today's made me laugh right out loud!

Whining and screaming: If your 15-month-old has started sounding like a hyena or worse, you're experiencing his intense desire to interact with you.

Oh...we are SOOOOO there! Although, I think she's just trying to drive me nuts and actually has no desire to "interact" with me. Not to mention, her brother feeds off of it and the two of them make my house sound like an African safari. In the meantime, my exhaustion gets the best of me and after listening to their whining for an hour I break and send them to their separate corners.

While I'm sure it's probably not the best example of my parenting style...it is keeping me from having a nervous breakdown. So, rather than giving this child fetal alcohol syndrome, I have chosen to do what gets me through.

As a side note, it is amazing that our neighbors haven't called the police on me. I can't imagine what I'd think if I walked by a house and heard two children screaming, a dog barking, and a crazed mother shouting, "Guys!!! Stop!!"

**shaking head**

We went to our second parade in one week this weekend. This one had a few less tractors and a lot less candy. Josh was freaking out.





We always go into these sorts of things with the best intentions. But somehow things always get sidetracked and mid-event a child's tears ruins the fun. And usually by the time the event is over Dustin and I just want to get "the hell out of dodge."

This parade was no different.

The only really cute thing that happened was that Josh was spotted by one of his classmates and she was jumping and shouting, "Josh!!! Josh!!" He waved and smiled. I said, "Do you know her from school?" He said, "Yeah, she's in my class, MOM." I said, "What's her name?" He said, "I have no idea."

Again...**shaking head**

After church on Sunday, Dustin somehow found enough energy to do a little work in the basement. My biggest accomplishments this weekend were making a soup on Saturday and making lasagna on Sunday. I digress. Even though Dustin worked for a few hours in the basement it, frustratingly, looks just about the same as it did two weeks ago.




The wreck from the basement is creeping up the stairs and infecting the rest of my house. It's an utter disaster. I need to have a huge bonfire and set all the junk mail cluttering my countertop, the toys cluttering my floor and other various junk in this house aflame. I can't keep ahead of the kids, the dog (who is going through a NASTY shredding phase - I'm sure it's just my punishment for the kids tormenting her) or my husband for that matter.

So lately I've been in the mind frame, "If you can't beat 'um...join 'um." I swear Dustin would live in squander before he'd get sick of it. So, in a week or so, I won't be able to take it anymore and I'll kill myself to try and get a hold of everything again.

My only consolation, is that Dustin will suffer just as much as me. Not because he has to help...but because he has to listen to me whine. Hmmm...I wonder where the kids get it.

Baby update: 13 weeks

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed and your odds of miscarriage drop considerably.

Prayer

I'm slacking...I know.

Good news...Josh LOVES school. But he hates daycare. Dropping him off is barely better than it was on the first day but my sympathy and guilt have been replaced with frustration and irritation. This morning, when he was jumping around and crying, I looked at him and said, "Enough!" and walked off. Seriously, enough.

I picked him up this afternoon and he's a bucket of smiles and actually looked bummed that it was already time to go. Jeez!

Last Friday night I invited mom to join me and the kids at the mall for a little "indoor play" and food court dinner. After we ate I decided to take Lauren to Claire's so I could buy her some new hair pretties. Her hair has grown so much and I can't seem to tame its wildness. So we found some cute things and went up to check out. Then it happened...her first public tantrum and I was by myself.

As soon as she started screaming I began to pray....

ME: Dear Lord, please make her stop screaming.
CASHIER: Can I interest you in any of our flavored Chapsticks?
ME: Dear Lord, make this cashier shut up. Give her the wisdom to realize I am in no mood to buy the Dr. Pepper Chapstick and all I want to do is get the heck out of here.
ME: Uh...not tonight.
CASHIER: She must be tired.
ME: Dear Lord, I see you've given her at least a basic level of wisdom to realize that my screaming child, who's writhing on the floor, is tired. She is obviously a genius.
ME: Lauren!! Goodness.

This about the time I realized that everyone in the mall had now entered Claire's and was staring at my daughter. I remembered from my days of working at Claire's that there was some sort of attraction to screaming children getting their ears pierced. I'm not sure what sadist type of person wants to see a small child in pain, but nonetheless, I noticed that people have not changed and that a crowd had gathered to see, what they assumed, was a little girl who just got her ear pierced.

As soon as the crowd realized it was just a bratty child and not a cute little girl who just got her ears pierced...they turned on me.

We finished the transaction and I pretty much ended up dragging Lauren out with one arm and dragging the stroller out with the other. I was mortified and trying to hide the steam coming out of my ears.

After that, I went and found Josh playing the Wii at Game Stop with mom, where, while waiting for him to finish his game, a small child had taken down his pants in the middle of the store and his mother was screaming. Oh God did I laugh. Once mom and I composed ourselves, I realized that I had just witnessed God's sense of humor again. He's good!

Then we went to Von Maur to look at the Shoe Sale room. Lauren had ball and made every woman in the department chuckle. She tried on about a dozen pairs of shoes and brought out a selection to mom to try on as well.

And with that we were done with our shopping excursion.

Saturday we went to the Blairstown Sauerkraut Days parade. Miss Diva was "in the zone" and ready for some serious candy.



The kids had a blast and got a ton of candy. And although it was a typical Iowa parade (tractor, farm animal, tractor, farm animal) it made me miss small town living. You know where everyone knows everyone and families have been friends for 30+ years.






After the parade I pushed Josh in the stroller and carried Lauren on my hip. The kids got the candy so mama wanted her funnel cake. Fortunately I got my funnel cake...



but soon the smell of sauerkraut got to me and we had to leave...quick.

Sunday we worked in the basement and Monday we heard that Larry's brother had passed away. I quickly gave the kids a bath and got them dressed so we could join the family at the farm.

While bathing Lauren I noticed a few red marks on her face. But by the time I buckled her into the car I noticed they had spread. So I stopped at a pharmacy and picked up some cortizone cream.

We headed to the farm and expressed our condolences, looked at old pictures and visited for awhile. Dustin had taken the kids out to the barn to see the horses and Josh had attached himself to four defenseless kittens. Shortly after we got there, Dustin brought Lauren in and I realized she was covered in red spots.

Turns out, what we thought was chicken pox, was merely a reaction to the chicken pox vaccination she had received two weeks prior. Unfortunately, my camera died and I didn't get any pictures and of course by the time I found the charger...they have cleared up.

Tomorrow is Kris' funeral. I can't imagine losing a brother, let alone a child. No parent should ever have to go through that. I know tomorrow will be a difficult day for many people and I continue to pray for everyone's strength and comfort. We certainly are blessed, at times like these, to have our faith in God.

Baby Update: 12 weeks

The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.