Nice...

Nice things....

1. Terrible two's that began at 18 months (with both kids).  Really.  'Cause they are NOTHIN' compared to how my kids act once they turn 3.  There should be a word to go along with the 3's, but it has to be much worse than terrible.  Tatum reminded me about how much trouble the 3's were on Monday and Tuesday evenings when we were attending functions as she morphed into a monster.

2.  Strong willed children.  Because really, I would rather have strong willed children who stand up for what they believe in than one who is swayed by whatever.  I must continually repeat this as I deal with the molding of said strong willed children.

3.  Reminders about how great the Mommy hat is that I wear.  They come in the form of, "Mommy, you're the best Mommy ever.  Did you know that?"  Tatum said this to me tonight after asking who bought her the ballerina outfit she was putting on and I answered that I had.

4.  The love my kids have for each other.  It's demonstrated in so many ways.  Kellen will crawl into Tatum's bed to snuggle with her just because.  It's demonstrated in the 'hero saving the princess from the monster' games that are currently taking place as I type this.  And in the fact, that many a morning, I see two little heads walking into my room, hand-in-hand, to climb into Mommy and Daddy's bed.  And because Kellen will throw a fit if someone other than him makes lunch for Tatum to take to school.  And when Tatum insists to go with me into Kids Klub to pick Kellen up from school.  And in the 'let me help you' I'm now hearing from Kellen as he's trying to calm and soothe her since she just hurt herself.

Rollin' along

I had the dreaded glucose test today, and oddly enough, the orange drink was better tasting than I remember it being the last time I ingested it.  Changes in the recipe, perhaps?  Who knows.  I'm not calling it great, but I didn't have that hard of a time getting it down, either.

Last night I asked Kellen to help me remember NOT to eat when I woke up, showed him the orange drink, and told him I was taking a special test in the morning using the orange drink.  When I went into he and Tatum's room this morning to check on them and wake them up, Tatum woke with her usual happy-go-lucky, morning person self and Kellen yawned, rolled his head to face me, and mumbled, "Mommy, remember that you can't eat anything this morning because of your test."  It was just the sweetest thing!  He then got up, got dressed, and headed out to the kitchen, where Daddy has assembled quite the feast for their breakfast, opened the refrigerated and then proceeded to hand me my orange drink, "Here's the special drink for your test, Mommy."  He was just the sweetest thing!

He and Tatum both were oh-so-concerned about me as I clocked myself drinking the juice, and then made note of the finish time.  I think they were wanting to see the next step, and didn't quite understand that it wasn't taking place in the dining room, but at the doctors office.

I had a quick visit with the nurse, passed the glucose test apparently with flying colors, and then chatted with the doctor for a bit.  I have another sonogram scheduled for Monday, just to get all bone measurements, since Peanut was facing the wrong way and a little uncooperative for those measurements during the last u/s.  Then I'll see the doctor in another month!  So far, so good with how things are progressing.

Medical updates aside, last week was spring break, and we had a variety of activities planned for my actual days off.  The shot at the doctors office apparently worked pretty well, because I felt pretty well Thursday and Friday.  A little too well, perhaps, as I seemed to overdo it and paid for it on Saturday and Sunday.  At any rate, Thursday we went to 7 Acre Wood where the kids played for HOURS.  Tatum was enthralled with the animals, petting the llamas, goats, and riding the pony.  She loved the pony so much that she rode it twice, then proceeded to ask Paw Paw to buy her a pony.  I think we might have brought a quarter of their dirt and sand back with the kids, actually.

On Friday we headed into downtown Houston and went to The Downtown Aquarium.  The kids just LOVE that place!  Tatum was really into it this year, more than last year, but she still wouldn't pet the stingrays.  Go figure.  We timed it just right to watch the switching of the tigers and then enrichment at the tiger exhibit, and then made it outside in time for the live animal show and was able to take our picture with one of the animals.  (I'm trying to upload the pictures into a program so that I can link the slideshow on here, we'll see how that works.  So far it's uploaded 36% of the pictures in the time that I've been typing, so I may have to add that slideshow at a later date.  If you're on Facebook, check out my photo album.)

As I already mentioned, Saturday and Sunday were a bit of a blur for me, as I just layed around and realized that I had overdone it.  I'm sure the kids had plenty of fun on Saturday with their Maw Maw, Paw Paw and Daddy and then Daddy on Sunday, but I slept through most of it, so I can't really comment too terribly much on those activities.  Except that I do know that Kellen, Daddy and Maw Maw went shopping and bought Kellen an Easter outfit that is a surprise for me.  Kellen doesn't want me to see it until he puts it on Easter morning.  I have no idea why that is, but that's ok.

So right now, things seem to be rollin' right along.  Kellen started t-ball this week, our family organizational and scheduling skills need to step it up a notch to handle two nights a week of practice, but yesterday afternoon went really well.  I found out today that I was selected to model for a local photographer who wanted some maternity bellies for some ideas he has, so I'll do that in a couple of weeks and then get another shoot once Peanut gets here.  I'm really looking forward to that because despite my desires to do so, I haven't gotten maternity pictures actually done with any of my pregnancies.  Taking pictures of myself in the mirror or handing Matt or my parents the camera and trying desperately to get some belly shots and belly shots with Kellen minutes before I left to go to the hospital didn't exactly fulfill my 'maternity picture' ideals.  We'll see how the shoot goes.

Despite the hectic nature of life right now, God is giving me calm.  And I am really enjoying it.

More updates...

So for one, it's spring break.  And I'm officially off of work.  For some reason, I had been working under the illusion that I had Wednesday through Friday off when in actuality it was just Thursday and Friday.  I came to that realization last week.  And I've been mourning the loss of that 'vacation' day in my head since then.

But you know what, it all worked out ok.  IF I had been off of work, I most likely wouldn't have been in town.  And I would have delayed going in to see anyone about my sore throat, coughing, and occasional sneezing, despite the fact that I've just felt 'off' for the last (almost) week.  And the bronchitis would have gotten MUCH worse.

Yes, I have bronchitis again.  I must be very good at bronchitis, or at least a good hostess to it, because it seems to come and visit me often.  I also apparently have fluid behind my ears.  My mother so brilliantly pointed out to me that might explain my dizziness and feeling faint when I go from a sitting or kneeling position to standing up.  Never crossed my mind until she said that, but it certainly seems to explain things.  At least a better explanation than, 'Oh, I'm just pregnant.'  My sinus cavities are also apparently clogged.  Blessings come in all shapes and sizes, because the PA was very surprised I hadn't been having headaches or pressure because of this.  Nope.  This might also explain, in part at least, why I'm having trouble sleeping.  Because if you can't breathe very well when you're sitting up, which apparently I cannot, due to all of my blockage, breathing when you're trying to lie down is quite a bit more difficult.  Again, a much better explanation than, 'Oh, I'm just pregnant.'  And it was apparently a good thing that I went in when I did and caught it early, because in the PA's words, 'You would have been in urgent care later this week or this weekend,' if I hadn't come in today.

So, a shot of rocephin (and I have no clue as to whether or not I'm spelling that correctly, but whatever) and a prescription for an antibiotic and mucinex D later, I went back to work.  Limped back to work that is.  Those shots are painful!  I'm still feeling the effects of the actual shot tonight!

Oh, and did you know that pharmacies aren't allowed to sell you mucinex D through the window?  As in drive through window that I thought would be much quicker for getting my prescription?  It wasn't.  Who knew?

At any rate, the antibiotic shot should get my healing process started much quicker, and maybe this round of bronchitis won't wipe me out for a month like the last one did.  But hey, I didn't wait nearly as long to go into the doctor this time, did I?

Blessings come in all shapes and sizes, and who knew that my having to work a day I thought I was getting off would help me out in this way?

Peanut cooperated

So for those of you who read this on occasion and don't have a Facebook profile, I realized that I have neglected to update the world via this format on the gender of peanut.

Peanut was fairly cooperative when Matt and I went in for the ultrasound, and gave us a fairly clear view of HER bottom. 

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we're having another girl!

It's been a couple of weeks now since we found out, and Tatum has adjusted quite nicely to the idea.  She's having a hard time with grasping that she'll be both a little sister AND a big sister.  She continues to think that she'll be a little sister and a big brother.  Go figure.  We're working on it...

As for Kellen, it seems as though he truly feels he'll never get to speak again.  He's blessed with one complete chatterbox of a sister, and thinks that is how all girls are.  So in his mind, if he has a hard time getting a word in edgewise now, it's never gonna happen when there are two of them hanging around.  We'll have to be sure and give him some one-on-one time so that he can actually talk with us!  And perhaps not come down on him too hard when he interrupts, because I can't entirely say that I'll blame him.

When I did mention that the two girls will most likely share a room when Peanut (no, we still haven't settled on a name yet) gets a little older, Kellen's response was a very sad, "But who am I going to share a room with?"  So I guess the results are in with the room-sharing experiment.  They really like being in the same room!

Happy Birthday sweet Tatum!

3 years ago Tatum came into the world and forever changed my life. She brings such joy to each and every day and I cannot imagine my family without her. Happy birthday, Tatum!!

She realized today that it was REALLY her birthday.  She's been calling herself three since the party on Saturday, and it didn't make much sense to try and correct her.  Maw Maw apparently tried to tell her yesterday that her actual birthday was today, but she didn't accept that.  This morning; however, after she and I talked about it, she ran around the house singing "Happy birthday" to herself and having a grand ol' time.  She is so precious.

I realized again today just how truly blessed I am.  Some of the reasons for that continued realization and reminder are fodder for another post, so I'll get back to them later.

After picking her up, we swung by the house, she watched an episode of "Yo Gabba Gabba" then we went to pick up her brother.  The surprise was then ON...to McDonald's we went for a treat dinner.  And the additional surprise was that I had called Nikki and arranged for Logan and Kylie to play with the kids for her birthday.  She had asked about them earlier in the day, so we were able to connect so they could have a birthday play date.  Then back to the house for a birthday cupcake and cake, then off to the bath and bed...

Goodnight world, and Lord, help me never to forget how truly blessed I am with the wonderful children you have bestowed on Matt and I to raise.