The Magic Shot

So as many of you know, 4 of 5 has been sick. I don't mean not feeling well, runny nose, grumpy kind of sick. I'm talking, fever blisters, rash on the torso, lethargic, can't eat, drooling because she can't swallow, kind of sick. It started Thursday night, with a fever, and a couple of accidents. (her sicknesses always start with accidents) She was sick on Friday, Saturday, and still not getting better on Sunday. She got a blessing on Sunday, and woke up worse today. After, everything I knew how to do to help her, I decided to get her in to see Dr. Allred. He is the only one I like to take her to. He gets her, he knows her, he loves her, and ultimately, he lets me, be her advocate, and judge for myself what she needs. I can't tell you how many times, I've called him and said, here's the situation, can you call in this and this, so we don't have to come all the way down there. Or, hey, I don't like the way she reacts to this, can we try this. He is in his Stake Presidency, and I know he is an inspired man. He was the one that took over her case when she was in the NICU, and told me to take her home, because she wasn't eating there, and he knew she and I would both do better at home. Sure enough, she was nursing with in 5 days of being home. He suggested supplementing her with high calorie formula, but let me decide what I thought was the best thing for her. We never had to do formula. So I take her in this morning, and he says, 'I'll eat my hat if this isn't strep'. In my mind strep= antibiotics. Not her best friend. SO I ask him, if there is any other option besides 10 days of this crud, that will ultimately become what 3 of 5 refers to as explosive diarrhea. (yes he's a boy, and I think he just likes the word) And, if you look over there at my side bar, we have 9 days or less until baby. I just can't. So he goes and gets this liquid blessing in a syringe. I'm sure it hurt. I looked painful. But, 20 seconds later, she was done, and better, and eating a sucker. Who on earth would sign up for 10 days of that crud, if you can do it in 20 seconds. What would you do? Seriously? The shot is painful, but would you do it and just get it over with? Or do you prefer the 10 days?
My other kids have had a sore throat, but they seem to feel better to day. I'm just irritated, the kids start school, and 4 of 5 gets sick.
SO here's my other issue. I got a positive GBS result. It freaks me out. My OB gave me some penicillin to start when/ if I go into labor on my own, but I've thought it was starting 3-4 times now. I haven't taken any, but how do I know? My labor has never been over 5 hrs, but I need 2 doses, 4 hrs apart, to make sure the baby doesn't get it. What do you do? I've never had GBS or known anyone who has.
Anyway, that's life right now. I'll update after my appt tomorrow......

Have I Ever Told You

(I don't know how these things keep coming out in reverse order)
How much I LOVE to put things in bottles and pressure cook them? I get such a sense of accomplishment. A sense of "hey this is my contribution" It's hard work, it takes a long time, and it is completely rewarding.
I had all but given up on thinking I was going to bottle this year. Our tomatoes haven't gotten much bigger than a Roma, and I dreaded the thought to peeling 1000 tomatoes that would only yield a batch of sauce. But, I got a call yesterday from a friend who knew where I could get a decent price on tomatoes, "did you want any?" Sure, bring my 2 bushels. Well, I got 1/4 of the way into them and realized I didn't have enough lids. SO I peeled and cored 1 bushel, did 2 batches with the lids I had left, and still felt good. I still need to process the other 2 batches, but that's the easy part. Then tomorrow I'll do some whole and maybe some paste. I think I am going to try to cram as much canning into the next 2 weeks as I 'can'. This is going to be easier with 2 kids, than 3. I wish peaches pears and apples would get ready before the end of September.
Off the canning topic, I have decided I REALLY like our dog. It was a little touch and go those first few weeks. He barked and barked and barked the other night, and kept me up almost all night. In the morning we found out someone had been in our yard. Good dog. that's what they are supposed to do. If you know where our house is located, you would know why, a dog is a must. So this morning, my mom calls, and about 10 minutes into the conversation, I realize I hadn't seen 4 of 5 for a few minutes. That is always really bad. I always keep the doors locked, and make eye contact with her every 10 minutes or so. So I look up stairs down stairs, out in back, I can't find her. I think, just go check the front door. It's closed, but not locked. Crap. So I go outside, there the 2 of them are feeding weeds to the chickens. It's odd, because the dog takes off if he gets out. And, 4 of 5 takes off if she gets out. But there they were just sitting there. The dog even went to the fence to get back in, when I told them to go inside. I think, we'll keep him. Until he does something dumb, like eat the cherry tree, again.

Baby Update

Let me explain the picture first. This is what happens when you send kids outside to play, when they want to be sitting in front of the TV. They stand in front of the door, looking sad. I went to my dr. appt today, hadn't progressed more than 1/2 cm. Oh well. Then I went to my non stress test, and that looked great. my fluid was a little low, but they weren't concerned. Then I went out to wait for my US. About 20 minutes later I ask, do they know I'm waiting? And the receptionist informs me, I'm wasn't on the schedule. So, now I'm getting a little irritated. At my appt on the 11th, I was sitting right there when the nurse made the appt. So when I show up for it on the 18th, and she tells me i wasn't on the schedule I thought, okay a little mix up, no big deal. I make the next appt for the 25th. I go in today, and she says I'm not on the schedule, I just get irritated. Luckily, they squeezed me in. The laughable part is, the receptionist tells me I am scheduled for a fetal weight scan. Not an US. UM, how else are you going to see how big the baby is? And isn't size and weight the same thing? I could care less how long the baby is.
SO they get me back there, and the tech starts measuring leg, head, stomach, and then tells me "she " is sitting on "her" foot. So I ask, are you saying I'm having a girl? She says I think so, but at this stage in the game, because the baby is so crammed in there, it's hard to tell. I kind of hope she's wrong. I really think this is a boy, and I like my boy names. I am stumped on girl names. Oh well, it was confirmed, it is going to be a baby, and everything looks healthy. I really am not asking for anything else, except that it stays put until September. Oh, and the tech told me, were at about 7 lbs right now, and measuring just right for how far along I am. "Give or take a lb"
So, I'm looking for input.
Boy names-
Elliot Chase
Benjamin Chase
Oliver Chase
Girl names-
Ella Mae
Hazel Mae
Lucille Mae/ Lucy for short (I haven't run Lucy by the husband yet, But I LOVE it)

Blog Funk

Instead of blogging about how stinking tired I am, I just haven't blogged. It has been a great week of kids in school. But instead of doing anything productive, I've been putting together a puzzle. Yesterday the people doing electrical work across the street, turned our power off for 5 hrs, and it was 85 in here. And my desire to clean was used up before I had company last week, now my house looks like it did before I cleaned.
I'm starting to feel anxious about meeting this new person. Not about having another baby, but to finally meet this little person who has been kicking my insides. It is actually quite painful. the more time passes, the more excited I get. I'm still sleeping pretty well, but I wake up still feeling exhausted. I'm getting a little nervous that we're nearing the 9 lb mark. I have a fetal size US on Tuesday, and I'm afraid if we are there, she's going to want to induce me early. I really want a Sept. baby.
So, instead of going on and on about my current state, I probably won't blog much, unless something happens.

Here's a Change For You

So I went in for my 36 week appt. today, and we did the strep test and a check of progress. I was expecting a 0 dilated and -4 station, and 0% effaced. Instead I was given a 2+ dilated, 70% effaced and -2 station. Not surprised the baby is still really high, they always are until my water breaks, but at 36-37 weeks, I have never been dilated or effaced. Surprise.
SO I ask her if she will set up an induction for the 9th, and she says sure, but you aren't going to make it that far. I go in to set up my NST for tomorrow to check fetal size and to see how the placenta is holding up due to my GD. Then set up an induction for 9-9-09. Luckily she called when she did, that day is filling up quick. But because I have 9+lb babies, GD and 4-5 hr long labors, I got put at the top of that list. So now the plan is to go in on the 9th and have her break my water to start labor, then let me be until she has to come back and catch the kid.
The only thing in the way is 4 of 5 starting school on the 9th.

School

Note to self, 2 of 5 needs new pants For being a highly anticipated day, I was totally unprepared. I think it was the Lagoon day yesterday. It took my prep day away. Luckily, the first day of school isn't too easy to screw up. they don't need anything, they just need to show up. It was hard to get them up this morning, because they were out so late last night, but after the fight with 1 of 5 about shoes, we were out the door. I bought her this new pair of shoes that she really really really wanted. She went to put them on this morning and I told her she needed socks. Well, she didn't want to wear socks. (this is a common argument in our house. To sock (me) or not to sock (her) I really dislike shoes with out socks. It's gross and your feet get dirty and sweaty and stinky, then the dirt and sweat turns to mud. Then you come in and take your shoes off, and get my new carpet dirty. Summer is annoying because they wear flip flops. Have you seen what feet look like after wearing sandals all day? So we wash our feet before we get into bed. I know, but everyone has something right?) SO she then tells me, you can just give them to DI. So I tell her, well maybe we won't be buying you new shoes anymore, you can wear 2 of 5's hand me downs. Well, that caused her to burst into tears. I know, I am soooo mean.

Anyway, Long story. I have 3 of the 5 in school all day, 4 of 5 starts on the 9th. I start my weekly appts today, and with that non stress test and U/S. Weekly. How am I going to swing this?

Did You Miss Me

Tis the season for busy.....We had our family reunion this weekend, and I had a house of people since Thursday. (not that my house isn't always full). It went by really quickly, my sister was a wonderful house guest, her boys were really good, and the food turned out really well. The only scary part was her bringing her 3 week old, which was a reminder of what was coming. He wasn't a negative part, but it just reminded me of how totally unprepared I am. I remember feeling like this with 5 of 5, I didn't get out clothes or a bouncy seat, or swing until I brought her home.
Luckily, 4 and 5 of 5 did well with him. That was a huge sigh of relief.
So today, the day before school starts, we are taking the kids to UDSF Lagoon day. The weather should be good, and the kids earned the outing last school year. SO buy one get one free seemed like the perfect time to take them. 4 of 5 has a yucky nose, but it hasn't seemed to bother her.
The summer is winding down, the reunion is over, Lagoon out of the way, school starts, I start my weekly dr.s appt tomorrow. (can't remember what time) Seems like summer is over, and the only thing left to do, is go have a baby. I don't have the usually anxiety, the 'I want this baby out NOW' feeling I usually do about this time. I know the "baby" stage is really short. just look at Kristy's baby. She just had him last week, I mean 5 months ago. 9 months of pregnancy used to be worth having a new baby doe a few weeks. I can't say that I feel the same way anymore.

A Day in the Life

I had been planning on posting all day, but my computer had other ideas. Blogger seemed to be down. Nothing exciting, just preparing for company. August seems to be family reunion time all around.
Got the basement, laundry and bathrooms done today, yesterday was the bedrooms, and decluttering, tomorrow will be floors and redoing everything the kids have undone. I was planning on "nesting" when the kids went back to school in 6 days. (yes I'm counting) But, company coming to stay bumped that up a bit.
I'm also having a really hard time with my blood sugar (I keep wanting to shorten that to BS, but think better of it after I see what it looks like after I've typed it) Breakfast is a disaster. I crave cereal. It's quick and yummy. I can't eat cereal. I have been able to manage a bowl of Rice Crispys. Luckily I really like them. I wish I could have a bowl af Raisin Bran, or Fruit Loops.
I just feel so worn out at the end of the day. Lately I have been making it to about 2 pm before I start getting a little grumpy because I'm tired, and my feet are swollen and my kids are still saying mom, mom, mom, mom. That is another huge reason we are done. I need to be able to be 100% for them. I need to be able to do for them, especially the littler ones. And my older ones need me to not snap at them because I've exhausted all my energy taking care of the little ones.

And last...... what do you, those of you that have, or have had chickens, do with them when they are done laying? What are the options, if any. We're not interested in feeding birds that aren't "putting out". And I've heard they are no longer edible after the first year. What do you do?

Monday Madness

We just got home from a festival of Dr. appts. 4 of 5's 4 yr. and 5 of 5's 18 month. The dr told me that 4 of 5's thyroid was on the high end of normal. If she is off, we will start synthroid after the results. He told me that all the kids he's seen, that have DS have had to be on it by the time they hit puberty. She was 30.8 lbs, and 36 inches tall. Pretty typical.
5 of 5 was 19.8 lb, I didn't get a height , but she's "not big enough for a sit up car seat yet"
We are now on our way to a viewing. My half brothers GMA passed away this weekend, and we are really close to the family. I spent some of my summers with GMA and GMPA Larsen and my brother. They had the coolest house, 5 minutes from the beach.
Life is busy, we are ALL looking forward to the kids going back to school on the 18th. I need to get my house back in order before we have a baby. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around a new person. I may go into hiding for 6 months......
We have a family reunion this weekend I need to gear up for also. We're going to have a ton of company, I'm exhausted thinking about it. It never is as bad as I think it's going to be. But anyone that's ever been 8 months pregnant can sympathize, I hope.

The Results

A lot of you were right. That was a picture of my 'dream' house, with it's most important feature, the canning kitchen. It was Trent's GMA and GMPA's house in Rigby. This is the built in BBQ out side, they were probably on 3/4 of an acre, and half of that was garden. Not just garden, but immaculate garden. Neat rows, no weeds, raspberries, beans, corn, tomatoes, dill, garlic. Any thing you could or would want. Apple trees.....plums. This is a back view

Front

GMPA built this house for his amazing wife. They were both amazing people, I wish I could have gotten to know them better. And the canning kitchen was my dream. It had a 1950's oven and stove, 600sq ft of canning and storage space, a potato cellar. Trent said GMPA would make candy down there too. If Trent could have found work out there when GMPA passed away, we would have bought the house. I would have been happy raising my family their also. Well, the one exception would be the irrigation canal in the back. I have a scary story about 2 of 5 and the canal. To me, kids and water don't mix. My greatest fear in the world is one of my kids drowning. I think that would be my 1 reason to not move there, if it were an option.

What Is This

It's a Boy. Well, Not Anymore Really

As most of you readers know, We have dog woes. Our first dog, Blue, escaped. Always, and pooped more than he ate. And he ate A LOT. We filled his food bowl up 4-5 times a day. It was excessive. He was a good looking pup, but we found a guy that had a female replica of Blue, he took to her, then the guy took him. It was perfect.
Then we got Lyman. We got her off KSL, and was not told she didn't well with kids. Well, she did really well with the 'kids' she bit 4 of 5 . A lot. She also nipped at the neighbor kids if she was out. We thought about placing an ad for her on KSL, but didn't feel good about giving her to someone, with her temperament. Then the idea of turning her in, we could have done that, but never got to it . So we were just going to keep her, and keep her away from 4 of 5. Which was half the reason we wanted a dog. That, and Trent kept getting his car broken into, and our shed kept getting broken into. We kind of felt like we needed a dog. On the 27th, we had company for fireworks (which Lyman HATED) and the kids left the gate open. That and the firework caused her to run off.
SO here we are dog less. But not for long. I came across an 8 month old German wire hair pointer. (no shedding. You could see the hair fall off Lyman when she came inside) I called to see why they were getting rid of him, and the guy said he barked and his HOA didn't like it. And his kids were going back to school, and they didn't have time for him. No biggie, we're okay with a barking dog. We're pretty far away from neighbors, and we're home all day. SO we went to go see him. Man this dog was hyper. And big (60 lbs). We decided to take him and try him out. That was a disaster. He barked a lot. And really loud. We're thinking, what have we done. So the next day we put the shock collar on him and tried it out. Didn't even phase him. And there was some guilt associated with that. So we tried the sound button that is supposed to serve as a warning before the shock. That luckily did the trick. On day of the sound button, and he no longer sits out there and barks. SO we decided to keep him. We even fixed him, in an effort to take a little wind out of his excited sails. So we now have Rusty. We don't have to worry about having company over, except he's a little hyper. But it only takes him about 2 minutes to calm down. With Lyman we always had to tell people, don't touch the dog, she bites. Rusty is a crappy leash walker, so I think we will get him a harness.

Ugly as all get out, but we like him.

Selected

We got notice today (as I'm sure a lot of you did) That our 4 of 5's picture will be shown at the NY Buddy walk in September. I can remember if it was this picuture, or this other one.

Monday Mishap

Saturday night after bath time, 5 of 5 decided she wanted to play the game, 'put a towel over your head and run into things' Entertaining for all, right? Right. Until 2 of 5 decided to "help" and throw the towel over her head, causing a chain reaction which included loosing her balance, and ramming her top lip/ face into the fire place. Blood every where, panic, creaming crying... you get the picture.

I hate when kids hit there face on things. It bleeds. And it bleeds a lot. Then you just pray the teeth are okay. And you literally feel the pain, because you know how bad that hurt. Is that equivalent to the crotch shot for men? Pain felt by all?

We all walked away from that, she had a fat lip, that lasted about 24 hrs. About 30 hrs after that incident, she was in the living room spinning in circles, and lost her balance, and fell face first in to the trunk that in sits there. (above picture of the second event, after a graham cracker bite) Hitting her bottom lip and gushing blood out of her mouth again.

She is accident prone, and my climber. Not a good combo. I can't tell you how many times I say, "get off the table" (see first picture)

She is cute though. She decided to stream line mom and dad, into 'mad' which I guess could be worse, it could be damn,

If I could just keep her off the table, and from heading face first into things.

We also got our first power bill after the insulation job. Saved 50$ this month. And used way less energy. I'm trying to get it under the 1000 kw reading in Aug. You fall into a lower rate under 1000.

I also filled out Trent's Pell Grant papers. Which means he maybe starting school here in Sept. Depending on how quickly he gets approved.

And last but not least, (by any means) 4 of 5 has been wearing under ware to bed for the past week. And so far, dry. No accidents. Knock on wood. I'm excited to only have 1 in diapers, (for the next 5 weeks) She's been potty trained for almost a year now, night time trained could not come soon enough. And 5 of 5 has started telling me after she's gone, and hiding to go. Can I tell you how good it will feel to have none in diapers.......

The Results

Yup, you were right. It is 1 of 5. Trent's parents have a raspberry patch in their back yard, that you can't keep the kids out of. The kids are not the ones to watch for. It's the brother in laws, that are 'swarm of locust' like. But every July, this is where you can find the kids, when we go over. Nothing better than fresh raspberry ice cream on the 24th of July. Or raspberry syrup over vanilla ice cream.
Here's hoping ours multiply and replenish. We haven't had much luck getting them to stick out here.