The latest

Here I am at 30 weeks. I am wearing my absolute most slimming shirt, my MIL even commented on how tight it was, and I told her I would wear it every day if I could because it sucks in my belly a little. But really, how can you hide 30 pounds. You just can't! So in real life I look much huger than this, and people always comment on how big I am. I'm okay with it though, I'm only 5'3", my body is like a studio apartment for these babies vs. some people's 3 bd/2 ba luxury condos they provide for their babies. The sad thing is that my baby is treated like a non-paying tenant. Always on the verge of being evicted!

I had my 30 week appointment yesterday. It went really well, and I was treated almost like a normal person. He told me I'm getting the steroid shot at my next appointment. I begged him to let me stop taking these darn progesterone shots soon because they make me so nauseous and itchy (Itchy inside my muscle, eww!). He told me to get over it and keep taking the shots for 5 more weeks. So last night was my shot night and for some reason I was totally compelled to do my own shot. So I did! And I did just fine with it. Isaac happened to walk in on me doing it and kept yelling, "Don't do it Mom, get it out of you!" But, it worked out just fine, and I really just wanted to see if I could do it myself.

The only other person in this family that is suffering is Dave. He has to deal with his wife laying around all the time. He has handled it well though. The boys are doing fantastic. They scarcely even notice that things are different. They are so incredible, I feel so lucky to have such easy kids to manage from the couch! I did get a really great outing last week as we went to the Draper temple open house. It was a neat experience to watch my boys and my brother and sister in awe over this beautiful temple. Afterwards we went to the Macaroni Grill, and I thoroughly enjoyed eating out! Here is me and my cute Bubba.



I always joke about making a paper chain to count down for events. We actually did it this time! Isaac and Daws made a paper chain to count down to the baby. We only counted down to 35 weeks, I figure we can add links if we make it that far. We started it at 49 links, which still took Isaac a long time, so I figured that was enough. We are down to 35 links today, that still looks like an awful lot. The boys had so much fun doing this, and counting the links. It was about twice the height of Isaac by the time it was done.


Here is Isaac "posing" for the camera. I don't know what it is about 4 year olds, but it seems like they think the very weirdest pose they can conjure up is generally the best. My little sister Lauren was a very similar poser when she was 4, we have some great shots of her! And I can even remember posing, probably when I was about 5, and thinking that it truly must have been the best picture of me with my foot sticking out in a funny direction.

I, like the kind parent that I am, told Isaac that was a really weird pose, and took a nice, normal, smiling pose next. But I thought this one was better to post, so I guess Isaac knew what he was doing!

And Henry just figured out what the camera is for, and has been giving me huge smiles for his pictures. What a ham!


I have tons of cute video of these kids, I need to post some video clips soon. But I guess this is enough for now.

Dear Baby

Dear Baby,

I write this letter in my head as I lay here restlessly longing to be asleep. I think the word "difficult" would be an appropriate label for this pregnancy. I contemplate whether this could possibly be worth it, but then I think of your brothers and I know it will be. I know I will get a tremendous reward at the end (you) but I realize that there really isn't any recognition for what I go through to get that reward.

I, being a woman, can truly understand the terrible discomfort that my own mother went through to get me here. But do I really appreciate it? Not really. To truly show my appreciation for what she has done I should probably kneel down at her feet and thank her every day for giving me life, similarly to the way I thank the Lord for my life. Really, I owe my existence to both of them. Well, that's never happened. Not once. So I know, that you, being a man, never experiencing first hand pregnancy, will certainly never appreciate what I am doing for you, and that's okay.

So I write this letter, not to complain, but to explain my love for you, and all that I am going through for you. I go through all this before I even know you, yet I do it in faith that you will be worth it. Pregnancy is certainly the most selfless act of my life, never have I given up more of myself than when I am pregnant, and probably never again. I bring you into this world as a part of God's work, for truly he finds his eternal happiness through his children, as much as we do.

You were certainly ready to come here baby, as soon as we could get you here. I mean that in more ways than one. I filled my prescription of fertility pills and found out later that day I was already pregnant. You are the closest thing we have ever had to a surprise, not surprised that you were coming, but surprised that you came so easily. I laughed as I saw the test turn positive, as I was not expecting it. Three days after I found out about you I got sick. I had no time to prepare mentally or physically. I spent months feeling sick, throwing up, and spending night and day in bed. I nearly slept round the clock, and Isaac and Dad really took care of the babies most of the time.

The sickness and fatigue didn't really go away when I hoped they would, I think it was a solid 3 months of sickness. VERY shortly after I realized I was better, and right before Christmas I started into labor with you. And thus the bedrest began. To stop the labor, I had to take pills which gave me a racing heart, a hot face, and a terrible headache. I sat on the couch all day on Christmas, trying not to move, knowing I should be up at the hospital.

My doctor allowed me to temporarily go off of bedrest, but ordered me to stay at home and off my feet as much as possible. Also at this point I started receiving weekly shots in the hip, administered by your father, which sting like crazy, cause soreness for a day, make me sick, and encourage me to eat all day (not that I needed any help with that).

Son, I have a hard time breathing. Not because you are pushing on my ribs, but because my little body has a hard time taking in enough oxygen for the both of us. I also go to the bathroom 5-6 times in the night, and sometimes several times an hour during the day. I can't accomplish much even if I try, it takes me a long time to do simple tasks because I have to stop and rest so frequently. And of course, I'm not really sleeping very well at night since I get up so many times, I am very uncomfortable, and it feels like you are doing the riverdance every time I lay on my left side.

Basically my whole life is on hold until you are born, and I work so hard to keep you in longer so that you can have the very healthiest little body to live your life in. And some day, really not too far off in the future, I will have all this behind me, one more pregnancy under my belt. And if your delivery is anything like Dawson or Henry's, I will feel almost as good as new within hours of your birth.

So someday when you can read this letter I want you to remember how special you are. I want you to know how hard your mother (and father, although I do think he gets the easier role in this) worked just to bring you into this world. Again, I know you'll never really appreciate it, but maybe you can go easy on me for some of the mistakes that I am certain to make in raising you, just knowing that for a few months I gave my whole self to you, giving up my body, my health, my comfort, and my lifestyle. I love you baby, and am excited to meet you, but lets wait a few more weeks, okay?

The Aimee Biada Life Celebration Trip

No, we didn't just get back from Cancun. We went last June. And my summer was so busy I never blogged about it. But this trip was SO fun! We were so grateful to Aimee for planning this for us, and paying for it! It's kind of fun blogging about this right now, when I am really craving sun and swimming.

We spent a week at the Moon Palace resort. There was so much to do, we really needed a month. Here are the pictures, completely out of order, but oh well!

This resort was so huge they arranged it by fruits. We stayed in Melon.


Here are the Biada's on the bus. I guess this was on our way to a snorkeling tour. All the tours were included, and there were way too many to choose from!


Bubba was an absolute dream on this trip. (Big surprise, I know) We just took this stroller with us almost everywhere and he napped right there. There was no "putting him to bed" he just turned his head and fell asleep when he was tired. It was amazing. He slept in there while we swam, and when we saw his toes wiggling from our point of view in the pool we knew he woke up.


Dawson.... wasn't quite as good as Bubba (surprise again?) He had a cough and everytime we put him to bed he would cough for a minute until he threw up. Every morning we had piles of sheets and towels that he had thrown up on. The first night he slept in the bed with Isaac and threw up in the bed. Isaac found his new famous line that night, "This is not good, this is not good!" Dawson also felt the need to run around all the fancy restaurants. Mealtime was not nearly as fun as it could have been, but luckily Dave took Daws out most of the time. He was very selfless, thanks Dave!


We really enjoyed all the great drinks. Pina coladas, daquiris, Miami Vice, Limonada, mmmm! Here we are toasting to Aimee at our celebration dinner.


We kept finding new things at the resort to do. You couldn't possibly do them all in a week. Here we are playing Giant Connect Four.


Dawson also caught a little bit of the Mexican bug. He had some diarrhea and got a yucky rash. So we let him play at the beach with a naked bum for awhile. Don't worry, there was no one else at the beach.


Sand face Isaac


My brother Josh LOVED the kid's club. Isaac liked it too. We made sure to be around for the whipped cream fight at the kids club. It sounded so fun to me. Isaac hated it! He doesn't like whipped cream and he doesn't like being messy. So he washed up and went swimming. He is the little stripey jumper in the middle.


Another cute shot of my sand boy


This is Kate and I, and yes I am almost drowning. Why do I love swimming in waves that almost drown me? I don't understand it, but these waves were SO fun. I think they were extra big from a hurricane somewhere else. They had red flags up saying not to swim, but I'm glad we ignored those! I love that clear Carribbean water!


Lauren and Dad


Everyone dipping their toes in. The water was so warm it was like a bath.


There are quite a few Palace resorts and you can take a free shuttle to all of the close by resorts. We spent a day at the Beach Palace. I took this picture as I sat on a lounge chair by the pool. We had a fantastic day there, and at night they played the disney movie Cars on a GIGANTIC screen over the pool. It was so fun, my boys were so excited.


A picture of the resort


This is my self portrait in paradise. This was the beach they took us to after our snorkeling tour.


Both babies fell asleep on the beach after snorkeling. (Not that they snorkeled!)
We covered them up with towels. Can you tell which is which?



The "spinnaker" sail was so fun. I don't think this kind of thing would be legal in the United States, but they have you jump off at the end. I loved it!

Here is my dad up high

Here is Dave, I couldn't believe he dared to jump!


Senor Isaac


Dave and my Dad took their boys to Coba, which is one of the only ruins they let you climb up anymore . Dave, Dad, and Isaac made it to the top.

Isaac and Josh with Dad/Grandpa


Isaac up at the top. Doesn't he look so hot? Temperature wise!



My gorgeous, dark sister and Isaac with their coconuts. We were worried they might not let her back into the states, but luckily the passport proved her citizenship.


The food was so good. Everything was presented so beautifully. But of course everything did have a slight Mexican taste to it :)


Dawson with chopsticks and a bottle of milk?


Our attempt at a family picture. Dawson wouldn't cooperate, Isaac blinked, and Bubba looks adorable. Typical of the time. Dawson has come a long way since then, he is quite pleasant, and you can't hardly get Bubba to sit still for one second for a picture now.


Kate came with the Lows to Chichen Itza. Here she is with the boys on the bus.


Isaac enjoying an ice cream with dancers in the background.


My cute little baby at the ruins. Everyone stopped and pointed and asked about him.


Isaac in front of the main temple at Chichen Itza


My mom and her little girls went parasailing. I couldn't believe it. I've never seen my mom be that brave!


This really was the trip of a lifetime. Thank you Aimee for providing it!

Did you think to pray?

Two nights ago I was laying next to a snoring man. It was really late and he collapsed instantly. I was cursing the fact that he falls asleep within seconds of laying down and that it takes me longer to fall asleep. Suddenly he rolled over! I thought I was delivered from the snoring, but then I noticed he wasn't on the pillow. He was kneeling... sort of. He was there for a minute or two and then he fell back to the pillow and muttered, "I prayed."

He doesn't remember it. But it happened. I thought it was funny, but it also made me really proud of him that he won't forget to pray even in his sleep!

Attention former Ledgewood ward members

If you aren't from the Ledgewood ward, this won't be of any interest to you.

Last month I was assigned a new gal to visit teach. Our conversation during our visit eventually led to the fact that we both were from New Jersey, Morristown area, and eventually that we were in the same ward and she had been to our family's house in NJ! This is the second time in my 8 years of visiting teaching that I have been assigned to a Ledgewood ward member (I visit taught one of the Condie girls in college). Anyway, she is part of the Price family and you can see her blog by clicking here. I know I have a few Ledgewood ward readers and if you remember the Price's now you can see what they are up to. Leave her a comment, I'm sure she'd love to be in contact.

We had a fun time talking about the people we knew and especially reminiscing about the roadshow. She was one of the Cabbage Patch kids. And I think that is the same roadshow where my family starred as the little white ducks? My mom is trying to locate that home video so I can digitize it, and then I'll have some excellent blackmail material for all you who starred in it. (Especially my Dad who must have been wearing some awesome tights with his duck costume!)

Third Trimester

I'm officially in the third trimester. And I have never been more thrilled. There was a time there that I wasn't sure I would make it to the third trimester, and now I have a lot more hope of having a healthy baby. Hopefully I don't have 13 more weeks in me, but maybe 10!

Cute Baby

This may not be the cutest baby you've ever seen, but it is, without question, the cutest baby I've ever seen. And after 14 months with this kid, I still can't get enough of him!

WANTED

My doctor recommended I hire a person to come clean my house twice a week. This is more what I am looking for.

WANTED:
Unexhaustable, potentially superpower posessing, individual to perform the following duties about every 45 seconds, all day long, every day:
Pick up all the shoes and put them back on the shelf
Push the chairs and barstools back in
Flush Isaac's toilet
Put the bathroom stool back in the bathroom
Put the toys back in their place
Wipe up sticky fingerprints on every single surface
Put the kids cups back in the cupboard
Make and Remake the beds
Change diapers

Truly, all these items need to be re-done approximately every 45 seconds, and to tell you the truth I like my privacy, so I would appreciate if you're invisible.

Oh yeah, and this is an unpaid position.

I would be so grateful if I could find what I am looking for. I feel so amazed at how frequently I do these things!

Dr. Dave

Last night Dave did his first shot on me. It was like something out of Dumb and Dumber. First of all, I had the nurse teach me how to prep the shot. So as I was getting the shot ready, I took the cap off the needle. And it was hard for me to get the cap off, so when I finally pulled it off I stabbed my finger! I don't even know how that happened. Then I saw the size of the needle. I didn't see it last time, but when I saw how thick it was I thought I might die! This is a picture of the same size needle as mine, and no... that's not a micro mini syringe, it's a regular sized syringe with a big fat needle. Dave even said, "That's not a needle!"
Then Dave got nervous about the whole thing and pretty much forgot everything he was taught. At one point he even asked me if he should suck the syringe back out before he took it out of me. NO! We bantered back and forth and were really close to just quitting and visiting the nurse tomorrow. Finally, I leaned over and bit on my hand and told him to just do it. I was leaning over for a long time, and at last I looked up and he told me it was done. I honestly didn't even feel it. It hurt quite badly when the nurse did it, but it was painless when Dave did it! I couldn't even believe it.

So my husband is an excellent shot giver! What a man! Here's to at least 3 more pain free shots... (BTW I researched it and found out that if you get the shot before you go to bed, most of the pain of the shot absorbing is gone by the morning. It worked pretty well, this is much better than last time.)

Black Wednesday Shopping?

Okay, so there is no such thing as black Wednesday, but it felt like it. My dr. told me I couldn't push my kids in the cart at the grocery store. But since there was this incredible deal going on at Albertson's, I decided to go at 6:00 am when they opened, before Dave left for work so I wouldn't have any kids with me. I thought I would be the only one there at that hour. I WAS WRONG! I showed up at 5:55, and there were probably 30-40 people lined up waiting for the store to open. They opened the door and all the ladies ran in with their carts. Luckily, it calmed down after that, but the lines were terrible.

Here is a picture of what I got. I spent $40, but I got $15 store credit for my next trip, so it was really like spending $25. And I plan to go back for more! (Actually, I plan to send Dave for more!)


7 boxes of Green Giant vegetables
2 Family Bags of Green Giant vegetables
3 boxes of Popcorn
4- 6 packs of Yogurt
1- 4 pack of YO+
1 box Fiber One Pastries
6 boxes of Gogurt
2 boxes of Crest toothpaste
11 boxes of Multigrain Cheerios (Dave's favorite cereal)
5 boxes of Pillsbury Toaster Strudels
9 boxes of Fiber One Honey Nut Crunch Cereal
3 boxes of Bisquick
Pantene Shampoo
Pantene Conditioner
2 boxes of Blueberry Muffin Mix

Not bad for $25, huh! My cart was completely full. If you're interested in doing this, check out www.pinchingyourpennies.com under the Albertson's special this week. I used mostly printed out coupons, so even if you aren't a couponer you can still do this deal.

17- Alpha Hydroxyprogesterone... Friend or foe?

I have so much blogging to do, and I am so very lazy!

The latest on me however, (ME, ME, ME) is I have been upgraded from bedrest to limited activity. Which is a great thing! The whole week of Christmas was kind of a mess, I was having contractions just from readjusting my position on the couch. I did end up with a trip to Labor and Delivery, much to my dismay, only because the dr.'s offices were closed though. It was my first L&D trip where I left without a baby, but it was kind of nice that way. Especially since I REALLY don't want a baby right now.

At my L&D trip they did a test called Fetal Fibronection which tests and enzyme and quite accurately predicts tells you if you will not deliver in the next 2 weeks. Mine came back negative and I felt like I had just won the lottery! And really, the medical bills of a 25 week baby are probably equal to a decent lottery win! They also checked my cervix which was only a fingertip dilated, so I was thrilled!

I haven't taken Nifedipine (That terrible contraction stopping drug of which I have a love/hate relationship with. I love that it stops contractions, and hate pretty much everything else about it!) since Christmas Day.

And lastly I started on my 17-Alpha Hydroxyprogesterone shots weekly which are given intramuscularly in the hip. Now doesn't that sound fun? The jury is still out on this one, it is proven to help with preterm labor 40% of the time, and I'm just not sure I'm in that lucky 40% yet. I think I may have a few less contractions, but some of them feel stronger than before. It's hard to know what is real to me and what is just the 'ole placebo effect! At least my bottom and leg were only sore for a little over a day. And the nurse taught Dave how to do it, so that will be interesting won't it? What a guy for being willing though!

So I am doing a lot better, but I would be willing to donate these contractions I'm having now to someone who is like 39/40 weeks and would really like them. If you're interested let me know, because I really don't need them now! (If only!:)

And if you look at my pregnancy ticker, I made it to 26 weeks! The baby gets bigger and healthier from here, so I'm crossing my legs as long as possible.... or until 37 weeks anyway ;)

Here is a picture of my shot supplies. I feel so proud to have my own syringe disposal! Now these shots better be worth it!