Wednesday December 8th

Another day closer to leaving to get Kyla-Dawn and her friends and I can't wait although I am watching road and weather reports anxiously because after all it IS December.
This morning Derk took Michael to the city to art lessons and I am home with the girls and Zach. Derk is getting groeries while he waits and i am cleaning house and trying to move some things out of the dining room so we can sand the walls when Derk gets home. Josh hasn't shown up today yet from Terry's where he is house sitting till Friday. The sun's shining now, but apparently we're to get an Alberta Clipper tonight that will drop 3-5 cm of snow on us before it leaves again. I'm feeling stressful and tired today but am forcing myself into action as there is SO much to do before we leave on Tuesday.

And so life begins... with 7 yr old tiwns

My twins are 7 yrs old as of yesterday.  Another new age and year to discover things and grow in. They seem so much younger than 7 but according to the speech therapist, they're progressing about grade level yet neither reads yet.  To me, they act more like their 5 yr old brother but of course he seems advanced in a lot of things for a 5 yr old so perhaps they are just their own age level and he's the smarter one lol.

Lately, Autumn-Rose has begun reading a bit and she's doing better at that then the other two who just want to look around the room and guess at the words.  Ember seems better at math than her twin so they sort of compliment each other.

Today was a different sort of day.  We ALL slept in somewhat, even daddy.  After a breakfast of French Toast made by Derk, I got them going on morning chores and somehow, that turned into all of us taking apart my oven door and cleaning it inside where stuff had gotten to my constant annoyance.  I've still got the inside of the oven to finish cleaning, but the top, sides and oven glass etc are all done and looking great.  Crazy project to pick out of nowwhere but the end results are awesome and I got more kitchen cleaning done too.  The kids tried to get the flyer route done that they are filling in for this week.  No flyers have arrived though so... they are still waiting.  sigh....

They had fun playing the twins new game and just finished lunch.  This afternoon is Canadian History again and they are looking forward to it.

It's Blustery Day!

Wow the wind is whipping outside today!  Sun's shining though and school is underway and progressing nicely.  Derikkah is asleep in her chair thankfully because she cat-naps preferring to be in YOUR arms or on the breast for her entire nap and whne laid down, she suddenly is awake and perky.  What do you do with a smiling lil bundle who is definitely NOT going to sleep any longer. 

Anyway, Autumn-Rose is doing well in Reading, starting to pick it up finally at least a little.  Ember, is not really interested in looking at the book rather she looks at everything else going on first.  Zach is pretty much the same way but HE just turned 5 on November 14th and the twins will be 7 tomorrow so...

They are all pretty close in school levels though and so I've held the twins back and now am teaching the three of them together.  Once I get past this hurdle of teaching not one, but THREE kids to read at the same time, then we'll be good for a few years until Derikkah is ready and hopefully she'll be like her older sisters and Michael who just began to read one day. 

Jenaya got 100% on her PRE-TEST yesterday and so I said she didn't have to do any more of that lesson and she got a dollar.  Michael got 100% on his final for the week previous so he got a dollar.  Now, Jenaya is ahead of the rest of them but she's an awesome speller.

As for school, this year we are doing mystery of history which we're starting today.  I think it will be a good program, biblically based and takes the kids through history from creation onward.  We also are studying Canadian history using the Story of Canada.  We are also watching DVDs of Canadian History put together by the CBC.  They actually go better with another Canadian History book, but it was a bit too immature for some of the kids and MOH goes for all grade levels depending on what you add or take away from it all.  So after lunch we shall see!

SOS 4 is our grammer program this year.  The girls like it and I like the fact that some of their school is pre-planned and on the computer in case of emergencies or illness or trips.  At least then, there is some work mom doesn't need to teach and they can do on their own.

We are also trying Life of Fred math.  So far the kids are bulldozing their way through the first book as we had some problems with fractions going on and the entire book adresses that topic.  It's cheap too.  I paid under $23 for it and I can get it from my local supplier which is awesome.  We may go back to Saxon or we may not, we will wait and see how this helps us first.

I'm pretty burned out since I've been teaching my children since Kyla-Dawn was 3 almost 4 yrs old and we had Jade who was 9 at that time.  So that means I've been teaching since 1993 which comes out to 13/14 yrs this year.  So far, two are graduated and this year, I have Michael in grade 10/11; Larissa in grade 7, Jenaya grade 4, Autumn-Rose, Ember & Zachary in Kindergarten - Grade 1 levels so I'm pretty busy and then there's my sweet lil 28 wk old princess.

My kids are watching a science video online from science kids.  It's actually interesting and real.  It's also keeping the kids in once place and seated so that's a plus for their mama right now although I don't believe in allowing things like this to babysit my children, but I will take anything as a bonus.

My little orange daisy is just spinning outside.  I'm really surprised since we got it in early summer, I thought it'd be toast by now, but despite the storms we've gone through and rain and snow, it's still standing in my window box and it helps us figure out if it's windy or not and even tips us off to storms!

We are a very weather oriented family.  We always go by the flags on Main St. which we can see from our home to tell us if the wind is a north or south wind (sometimes east or west and then we really worry) and we watch the sky for signs of weather activity.  We've had lightening hit in front of our van,  driven (with Josh driving as a newbie driver) through the edges of a tornado spawning bunch of weather even though we found that out after the fact.  We've been through a lot of weather and rain or snow, tornadoes or blizzards, it's all been interesting.

Derk and I and baby Derikah are getting ready to get ready to head to New Brunswick on the 14th to pick up Kyla-Dawn and some of her friends for Christmas.  It's going to be a long but fun trip and we're just crazy enough to do it and enjoy the whole thing.  We'll be returning her at the end of the holiday.  Haven't quite decided on the return date yet, but she has to be back by the 3rd or 4th.

Well time for lunch.  Hubby made it and it's time to set the table.

UPDATE: Life's a Blizzard around here

A day of mixed emotions....Thursday, April 29th

Yesterday, my friend's two little boys under age 5 were riding on the back of a quad driven by their uncle who was 14.  Somehow, I don't have the details yet, a truck hit them and all three are in bad shape.  So far, they've put the one little guy in a drug induced coma to help with the swelling on his brain and the other little guy is going to have a good scar apparently.  The uncle, I have not had any news on and since HIS mother is a great friend of mine, I'm really praying hard for all of this huge family.

I spent the night coughing and hacking and my stomach is so sore I can hardly breathe or move today.

The rain is coming, sprinkling now and did a bit yesterday too but the real rainy period is to begin this afternoon/evening.

Today starts ladies retreat and I can't go.  I have a doctors' appt on Friday.

Also this morning we got our income tax refunds back and ohhhh how welcome that was so I've ordered new jean skirts for my 3 oldest girls and myself.  Hoping they arrive before youth retreat because Larissa and Kyla-Dawn need them badly!

Wednesday April 28th 2010

Today I am 38 days pregnant!   Today I also see a totally different doctor, my old doctor from the twins and Zach.  The reason?  Oh boy!   Last Thursday I went to my normal weekly appt and found out my bp was 159/100.  Doctor said he was putting me in the hospital immediately to remove the baby!  we told the kids, stopped by Walmart to get me a book and away we went.  Nervous but so excited to get the baby early!  Well.... once there, settled in and all, suddenly the doctor changed his mind and there was to be no c-section at all.  They put me in ICU and put me on magnesium sulfate for the next few days.  Our family was in shock, no baby after all?  In the meantime, I developed a bad cough, lost bladder control again, and although I was in ICU, nobody seemed to care about my sore throat and loss of bladder control, or the extremely loud bad cough that was getting worse by the second!

At 3 am the ONLY rude nurse I had while there, came and caught me researching side effects of magnesium sulfate only to discover I had some of them already.  I'd already told her I didn't feel well on that drug and wanted off.  I had over heard her and another nurse talking about me and what if I was having side effects.... that's why I was doing this.  She did NOT like me doing that and tattled to the doctor who suddenly appeared early around 6 am and basically did the soothe the patient thing, sorry for waking you, we're going to send you home to rest, everything is fine again.  Well... it wasn't!

We have decided not to use this doctor.  We have no trust in him and found out since that he has done stuff like this to a friend of our son's too.  So we tried to get me back to my old doctor who is in the city not the other place where I was to deliver.

I called yesterday and he talked to me himself and I am meeting him at the hospital today at 11 am and am very nervous.  He's said he sees no reason why baby can't be taken out, and I've got a cough that has ripped my side so bad I can't stand the pain.  I'm hoping and praying he decides to take it today!  He did say delaying 24 hrs if they felt they could stop the cough, but I'm really thinking the cough is worse because of the baby in there!

So I managed to get SOME sleep last night and here I am up at 5am this morning, stressed, anxious and hopeful that something good will happen today.

Tuesday, April 13th

Another week is ending and as of tomorrow, I will officially be 36 weeks.  Not long to go, but it feels like forever!  Had a really bad last few days, contractions all through song service at church and playing piano and singing was REALLY rough, but we got through it.  Yesterday I almost passed out in the bathroom.  My friend lent me her blood pressure tester and mine was really low.  I had a wicked charley horse and pressure in my right leg and Josh spent an hour massaging it for me after Derk had already spent about the same time.  Still hurt at bedtime, but is much better this morning.

This morning, we are supposed to get rain and it's gray out there.  They even predicted a possible thunderstorm!   Supposed to be 15C and windy today.

Still have sick kids, Zach had a high fever yesterday, Jenaya was puking on Sunday with a high fever, we've gone through a bottle of tylenol already sigh... Audi is doing better today and so is Jenaya.  Haven't seen Zach yet.  Had a terrible dream this morning that we lost him while out in what seemed like Regina where I used to live.  Awful dream trying to find him. 

Feeling a bit better today and hoping to get school accomplished since Josh is home today all day.  tonight is Michael's lessons.  Derk found the leak in our pipes yesterday but in order to fix the issue, we have to gut the bathroom and redo it.  It's because of the way the tub surround was put in.  Dad did it, sick and in the dark because I was coming home that night with Zachary just 24 hrs old and in the awful ice storm.  our power and heat were out and he kept on working intent on finishing.  So stupid, but now?  5 years later almost?  We are still paying for that hasty job.  We can't fix our living room ceiling until we fix the leak and we can't fix the leak unless we gut the bathroom.  WHAT FUN!!!  Well, my room is finished being drywalled and is half mudded and taped for the first coat.  Derk hopefully will work on that tonight.  We have some decisions to make too regarding when to start the parental leave, when to gut the bathroom etc.  sigh... it's going to be scary for a month or so, but we'll make it somehow.

Time to get dressed and get moving I guess.

Wednesday April 7th

Guess what?  I think baby has turned head down again.  Tummy feels more normal as it has been recently and all the little wiggly parts are down where they were before so I'm thinking we're back to head down.  I'm usually right so we'll see on the 16th! lol

Josh did a huge bunch of laundry yesterday.  It's hard to do it, because we have to take it to the laundry mat to dry so we have to have it all done at one time and have the change to do it as well and it takes hours to get it all done so we need someone to do it who has the day off or something and that day was yesterday and Josh was the person!  He drove Michael to art lessons and Derk and the girls went to dry it all and then to the library to get books for me.

Not really sure what I'm going to do today, probably continue going through my room and re-organizing drawers and clothes since soon I'll have more variety to wear... can't wait for that!!! and putting away some of the winter stuff.  So that's where things are at for today.  It's a bit chilly out this morning -3 but supposed to warm to+10 later on so I'll send the kids outside again.  Maybe today the girls will have learned their lesson from yesterday and get their work and chores done in the time allotted so they can go out too!

Here's hoping for a productive day!

30 Days LEFT!!!

Today is April 6th and that means 30 days exactly till May 6th when my baby will be born by c-section.  Yesterday's doctor's appt, wasn't bad, but not great.  I've gained 2 lbs in 2 weeks which is on target for a total of 16 lbs gained thus far and I'm going to be 35 wks tomorrow so we're doing great there!  Lowest weight gain ever!  Baby is definitely MOVING in fact, that was part of the more bad news if planning a vaginal birth, baby has gone breech after being head down since week 29 for sure.  Oh well... for a section that part is not important!
What IS important is that my sugar was pretty good and the doctor was very happy with me there.  Still have to see dietician, monitor what I eat and keep testing sugar etc., just to be safe but they think I will be just fine.

We are waiting on my blood results about the anit-c antibody I have to see if the levels are rising.  If so, then that means the baby's blood is making mine fight back and so they will need to remove the baby faster than planned.

The bad news, is I'm starting to swell, in the hands mostly and a bit in the feet, had a dull throbbing headache all day yesterday and my blood pressure had jumped from 108/70 to 129/86 in a 2 wk period which is high for me who usually is 110/70 and a huge jump of 21/16 from the first to the last test.  I have terrible indigestion, the iron is not working like most people and so I'm running to the bathroom every 15 minutes, plus I have heart palpitations and a chronic cough that comes and goes out of nowhere and is sucking in while coughing out.  I'm SICK of that one!!!  Stomach is SO sore from coughing since January.

I still have protein in my urine as well but not sure if that's increasing or not and so am now on a pre-eclampisa watch just in case, need to keep resting and now am seeing the doctor on a weekly basis just to be sure.

Today, I'm resting on my bed working on work I can do on my laptop and from my bed.  Not feeling well at all.  However, the sun's shining and it's supposed to be 10 again today.  The bridge is ramped but not closed and the peak hit here yesterday afternoon so they think all will be well.  For that I'm SO thankful!!!  So is my hubby who needs to cross that bridge every day twice!  Otherwise he'd add another 30 min to his commute in and another home.

GOOD FRIDAY - April 2, 2010

Good friday and it's a typically fitting day to remember the death of our Lord.  Pouring rain all night long, now that service is over with, it's hailing and I could swear I just heard thunder!  A stormy day, nice to be able to stay inside.

I'm in bed now, tucked in with my laptop and books to rest after giving everything I had in me to play and sing this morning.  I'm so sore!  Baby has dropped and changed position or something and that in turn has left muscles that were unused before, now are being used again when I play or sing and the areas by my rib cage HURT!!!

It was a good service though we had to cut it shorter because of having to do meals on wheels.  We have that till Sunday too. sigh...

Anyway, it's done for today, attendance was pretty good too and now Josh is making a yummy dinner for everyone.  I wish I could help, but better to rest I guess.  I had a sore last night that I accidentally scratched and it bled so much I had a puddle of blood in my hands!   Blood's way too thin I think right now.  Need to keep that iron pumping in there and not use it all up until I have the baby which is scheduled for May 6th 34 days away!! Also had a long hurting contraction at 12 noon.  It's almost a half hour later and nothing more so wonder if I will get more, but it sure was more than braxton hicks!

Monday March 29th 2910

We are celebrating Michael's 15th bday today.  It's really tomorrow, but today works best for all of us as tomorrow is a busy day.

Kyla-Dawn is supposed to be coming later, Derk and Josh are both working right now and somehow I need to motivate kids to get the house in order after a busy weekend.


The sun is shining supposed to go to 17 today and should be a nice day but the flood is coming.  By easter it should be cresting here and they say they will be closing the 75 and our ring dike so it will make life so much harder to get to appts and work.

38 days till my c-section.

Time to get this day started!

NEW DATE FOR C-SECTION... sigh...

The imail arrived around noon with a letter from the hospital and in that was my surgery date for my c-section and thus announcing the birth of baby Derkson.  I am not very happy this really screws up life for my kids especially my oldest daughter who has to take time off three weekends in a row if she is to come when the baby is born.  They've set my section not for April, but for the 6th of May instead of the 3rd originally decided upon.  I was afraid of this.  Anyway, it's done for now and all I can hope for is something will change their minds, or that I will go into labor.

Thursday March 25, 2010

Went to the doctor yesterday.  Derk stayed home to take me and Josh because Josh suddenly got sick on Wednesday night.  We thought strep but apparently it's not.  Whew!  I'm prone to getting it and do NOT need that now!

I've not gained anything in a month.  Total gain 14.5 lbs entire pregnancy.  Hopefully baby is eating ME!   My iron however went down even lower than the first low rate!  It's 111 as of yesterday even with the extra iron and with my c-section looming, we need to get it up way higher.  My blood pressure also was back down.  Lower than my normal low of 110/70, it was 108/70!  No wonder I can't DO anything! sigh...

Otherwise, though except for monitoring the diabetes thing and the protein in my urine, baby and I are doing well.  So that's good at least.  Also, I just might get my end of April baby yet.  Nurse thinks hospital will make him let me have it then.  We'll see I guess.

Very cold outside today and so I am going to rest all day and take the now TRIPLE iron instead of the ONE I was taking and hope it works!

Derk's promised to finish my ceiling tonight and then it will be time to tape and mud.  I can't wait till this room's done!  Only 39 days till my c-section if it's May 3rd, and if I get April 30th, it will be that much sooner!  Gotta get strong and get things finished up around here!

Sunday Sunshine!

Well, it's true I am 32 wks and 4 days pregnant, but not about the 51 to go.  I've got my c-section scheduled for May 3rd as far as I  know... unless something happens that changes that, and so it's more like 43 days to go!  Getting excited!

Yesterday I got some baby things from a friend of mine and everyone was so excited lol.  Then my daughter brought me some baby clothes she bought and we got more excited.

This week was a crazy one, super busy and I did more from Thursday to Sunday than I've done in this entire year so far!  Thursday was our ladies' meeting while the minister's were in their board meetings.  I managed to last till it all got over around 10pm.  Totally exhausted and ooooohhhh so sore, but I did it.  Friday I felt awful and was in pain much of the day but managed to get back with the entire family on Saturday for the rally service.  It was nice to see almost all our church there too.  Great turnout!

Anyway, this morning I am resting as usual.  Was pretty wiped out last night and went to bed earlier than normal.  Also ate Chinese food and ice cream and ended up with high blood sugar levels even 3 hours later! Still on the higher side this morning than normal, but I'm doing okay.

Got our business meeting this afternoon and then church tonight too so lots on my plate for one more day then I can sort of dedicate my time to getting everything ready for baby's arrival.  At last!  Whew!

Time to go watch POA's service!

Friday! At LAST!

Time is flying by.  60 days to 40 wks but since I don't need to go that long this time around, I'll be laughing by then lol.

Today was another hectic day around here and brought more changes and some heavy decisions to be weighed regarding our future.  Not all bad, actually it could be very good, but on a different path than we thought we'd be going.  Leaves more details to be worked out and a lot of IFs and MAYBEs to be sorted through to do what is going to be best for us, our health and our future.  However, God knows and He will help us sort things through.

Kids are at youth and the littles are downstairs playing.  I have a few moments alone to reflect on the day.  I've dropped again and not too sure how much lower this baby can get before it comes out!  I have my waist back!  Maybe I will be able to fit into some regular skirts before this weekend when I have to see people I haven't seen for my entire pregnancy almost.  That'd be nice!

Kinda scary in a way, because although I'm so super tight whenever I'm on my feet, I am feeling that nesting urge taking over and it's way too soon for that.  Today I've had contractions all day long and they're beginning to get stronger and hurt.  I want to get my bedroom finished and painted before this baby shows itself!  well... hubby and the boys will do that, but I still want it done.  Still need a crib and/or bassinette among other things.  It will come but I don't remember a baby when I've had so little time to prepare!

March is MELTING!!! YAAAY!

March is melting... literally.  It's been raining since last night sometime and the huge mountains of dirty snow the plows so nicely placed in front of my sidewalk, driveway and the neighbor's yard, are melting into the dip that is at the end of our driveways which means a HUGE puddle, but way less unsightly snow although I'm not sure the girls will be so happy.  That was THEIR fort, ski hill and whatever else they wanted it to be all winter!

Anyway, I'm thankful for the rain.  Hopefully it's not TOO much and produces a higher flooding risk that is there already, but it washes everything away and makes it all clean again.  It's still foggy for day 12 I believe which is a record for Manitoba!

The whole doctor thing was a bust the other day.  I didn't get my April due date by 3 measly days BECAUSE of my gestational diabetes although my OTHER friends get their babies taken even earlier due to it.  I just can't seem to win with these things!  So.... May 3rd it is tenetavely scheduled for. That's all I know and final word is up to hospital.  Funny though HE delivers c-sections on Thurs and Fri and Fri would be April 30th but nope he goes with MONDAY MAY 3rd sigh...

My bp is rising.  Since I normally have low BP, it's only 114/87 but that's a consistant rise over the past 3 weeks from 102/64 to 100/70 now to the 114/87 and they say it's the bottom number they worry about.  Not sure how high that has to get before they feel it's dangerous though.

Dietitian says my sugar recording was great and that since I'm barely in the diabetic camp, if I continue to monitor and nothing changes, no insulin required which is a relief to me.

I gained 2.5 lbs in 9 days and lost 2 lbs in 7.  Go figure.  I'm just hoping the losing is coming off of ME lol.  I've only gained 14 lbs and have 8 wks to go so I don't think that's bad at all.  Especially since I've not been feeling very hungry lately!

The biggest concern right now is my low hemoglobin.  For someone facing major surgery in 8 weeks it's really low and they want it up.  He's got me on pure iron (well as soon as I get the prescription filled he will lol) and they are hoping that will bring it up again.  Back on the materna pills for 2 weeks and it was only up 1 point.  He says not fast enough.  I'm sure I will feel better once it's up.  My tongue is all sore and ugly and they say that's a symptom of low iron.  I've had that most of my life and I've been anemic most of my life too. Finally know what that's from now!

Baby is doing great and is very healthy.  Heartrate is strong and it moves ALL THE TIME! lol.

Derk and I have some major decisions to make regarding his health and parental leave which his work is wanting him to take to heal his feet up. It will definitely make things tight financially, but if he could get his feet better, it'd be worth it.

March's Melting Moments

WOW!  It is melting out there!  Hard to believe it but the sun's out, we've had foggy mornings all week and a high of about -1C.  I've sent the kids out each day to get as much fresh air as possible and today, got Michael to open my bedroom window and it's stayed open all day!

Update on doctor:
Saw my doctor yesterday and all is okay.  She says I have an upper airway issue still after being sick so long and so need to continue my inhalers.  Yippee... hate taking those things!  I suppose it's better than coughing to death though right?


So, baby is head down, ultrasound proved that, doing well, and bang on weight and size wise for 30 wks.  I go see the doctor who will do the c-section next week and I can't wait for some answers!

Also saw the dietitian yesterday for the gestational diabetes.  My bp is low, 100/70 although the bottom has come up a bit since last time, but after standing on my head 5 min before to put on my shoes, I'm sure that's why.  Anyway it's low instead of high so nothing to worry about, but my sugar goes up during the first hour too high and that we're dealing with.  Right now, it's early yet and they hope they caught it early enough so that I won't have to deal with diabetes the rest of my life.

Derk on the other hand, now has 2 new meds for his diabetes and they are hoping that works.  Otherwise.... who knows what's next.

I'm exhausted today, swollen from yesterday's travels yet and not feeling too chipper.  Been lying down much of the day to keep my legs up.  Still not quite down yet.

Tuesday again..

It is funny but I don't think I like Tuesday very much these days.  These are the days when my kids act up, my hubby and Josh are gone to work all day and I feel like trash usually and today is no exception.  Of course, I now know WHY I feel like trash.

Yesterday was my dr's appt.  I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and have been told I will probably need to take insulin shots.  THAT made my day!!!   The good news was I only gained 4 lbs in the past month and that's a total of 14 the whole pregnancy so far.  A funny note, was while using the bathroom, I had noticed a piece of nylon stuck in my velcro on my casual dress shoes.  I pulled it off and thought no more about it.  Well, when I stepped on the scales at the doctor's something felt off and I looked down to see my stiff toes of my bad foot ALL out of my nylon and it looked so funny I about lost it right there!  LOL.

Anyway, my iron levels have dropped dramatically from 136 at start of pregnancy to 112 yesterday.   My sugar was 5.6 which is okay but I had not eaten anything.

My doctor thinks perhaps this one will come early, head is down and possibly engaged.  I have 77 days left but they will take it at least a week early anyway maybe more if my sugar goes up.  My doctor also thinks I have a hernia from the coughing and puking while I was so sick.  I know it hurts there like crazy. 

No pre-eclampsia though, my bp is actually LOW at 102/64 and that's probably why I can't stand lugging my body around in stores etc.  That and the low iron.  Apparently the low iron can cause the low bp!

SO I have been taking vitamin D and today looked on the bottle to find not to take while pregnant or nursing!!!  WHY?  I look online and the sing the benefits of taking it loud and clear and yet the actual pills say no way!  BIZARRE!

So today's kind of a bummer because I have not slept good at night the past two or three nights and am extremely exhausted all day.  After the doctor's, Derk and I came home and slept for an hour!  We NEVER do that! sigh...  He put my new blinds up for me last night and I love the way they look.  It's slowly coming together!  Hopefully all done and painted before I deliver!  I'm impressed though!

Well time to get something done about lunch here.  Not sure what that will be.  I'm not very decisive lately lol.

Sick on Sunday

I have two sick kids today plus whatever is going on with me.  My friend says I could be pre-eclampsic and to get to my doctor.  Luckily I have an appt. tomorrow.


I'm so tired of lying around doing nothing but my vision is not letting me do much either because it's often so blurry.  How am I supposed to do books and things when I can't see anything sigh... have an eye appt on Thursday so am really hoping they change my prescription. 

Don't have much else to say at the moment... mind is blank vision blurry lol.  I'll stop here.

Thursday's Triumphs!

Yay!  It's been so long since I could write something positive in here, but at least I'm feeling much better and am back hard at schooling my children instead of existing through it, and am getting my church end of year work done more and more each day!   I will meet my first deadline which I set for myself this weekend and I'm pretty glad for that.

I just came down stairs to find that the younger kids trashed the entire main floor.  HOW DO THEY DO IT?  sigh...  They had about 1 hour after Josh went to work and I came down and they range in age from 4-14 so honestly guys!  You don't really NEED to act like little babies anymore!  Even my 4 yr old is normally a neatnik and is very smart and organized.  Soooooo... mama is NOT impressed with them all at the moment and computer time and outside time has been put on hold till this is fixed.  Oh and I mentioned the fact that tomorrow is allowance day and suddenly.... wonder of wonders..... miracle of miracles.... they are finding the energy to clean up their messes!!!  Oops some of them have snuck UPSTAIRS now!   GRRRRR lol.

Daddy will be off work in an hour and home about 20 min after that so I'm going to be real glad to see HIM!

Anyway, I'm still coughing, wheezing and have that sucking cough every so often.  Not sure why.  Never have had this happen in any other pregnancy.  My blood pressure feels like it might be up a bit, and my blood sugar definitely IS.  I'm supposed to go for the long sugar test on Wednesday.  Not looking forward to that.  Was supposed to yesterday and went and found out it was cancelled.

Sooooo trees are covered with hoar frost, sun's shining and it's about -7C so a good day to be outside but instead?  They are cleaning!  ME?  I'm getting off of here and writing my receipts!

Sunny Sunday but ohhhh so chilly!

Well I did it!   Yesterday I went into the city with Derk and actually walked around Walmart!  Got a new nightie and some new shoes for me, a few things for Derk and kids, and some baby stuff.  Two little pj outfits and a hat and some pampers swaddlers diapers.  SO at least I have SOMETHING now!  It was fun and I was exhausted.  We at at McDonalds, in the van so I could undo the zipper in my skirt because it is up to my chest being a regular size not maternity.  Luckily it was a very LONG skirt and still is lol. 

Then I stayed in the van and read a book while Derk did the grocery shopping.  It was a good day but oh my am I SORE this morning.  Staying home this am, as hubby wants me to be doing and will go to church tonight for the first time in over a month if all goes well.  I'm feeling pretty good other than being so sore.  After lying in bed for over a month, it's understandable I'd be sore walking around like that.

My friend had a baby girl yesterday. 

Thursday's Trials n' Triumphs!

YAHOO!!!  I just broke te 90 days mark!   89 till my due date, less if they take it c-section as planned.

I'm so weary this morning.  I can't sleep but my eyes hurt and I can't seem to get awake completely either.  Understandable after the evening I had last night. 

First of all, Michael was sassy and rude all afternoon, wouldn't do his work and so he got in trouble from Derk last night.  He keeps saying he can't find his math book and won't look for it so Derk made him get looking.  After tearing the house apart, bawling his face off and being a total jerk, he suddenly remembered a bin I'd sent to the church but that the kids didn't take right away.  He felt the book was in there and went off at almost 9pm to check.  Sure enough!  There it was!  SIGH

Then Josh called for a ride and Derk went to get him, the littles had been sent to bed.  Suddenly we heard a crash and screaming.  Ember was goofing on Jenaya's bunk bed and fell off of it smashing lip and nose.  There was blood everywere and one look at that nose told me it might be broken.   We got the bleeding stopped and got her downstairs by the time Derk and Josh came home and iced it.   Then came prayer and discussion on what to do.  We hate the doctors here and only use the hospital in extreme emergencies for stitches or whatever.  They give you a choice of 3 diagnosis!!!  Honestly they do!

Anyway, after the ice and prayer, her nose looked much better, I consulted with a nurse friend and also looked up info online and decided we could wait till this afternoon to take her to Winkler to our clinic if we need to.  She is doing great this morning.  Derk woke her when we went to bed last night and checked on her early this morning.  I fell apart!  I couldn't handle anything... the blood, the nose injury... nothing.  Am I getting old and finicky?  Or just pregnant?  sigh...

So that was last night and all evening I'd had incredible pressure and pain in my left leg to the point I was almost in tears.  A hot bath only helped for a few minutes.  In fact, that leg throbbed until around 5am this morning!  I also had wicked heartburn all night too and so between that and the worrying about Em, was up most of the night.  Then at 5am, the snow plows were doing something on main st. and their lights and noise woke me up.  I propped myself on Derk's pillows and rested till 7:30 when the girls got up and then although I FEEL awful, couldn't go back to bed so am now sipping coffee and am about to dress and face this day.  SO glad tormorrow is payday and this weekend is a long one!

Anti-Procrastination Day - Wednesday

This morning started slowly and kind of chaotic.   Josh had to go to work, it was garbage day, the dogs needed walking etc.  Michael of course, wouldn't get up, was up too late last night.

Once Josh left, I called a front & center and gave the kids their orders.  Michael on my laptop doing his SOS in MY room... Larissa and Jenaya doing downstairs cleaning and twins cleaning their bedroom while I sorted through files and papers from the past year, tossing more than I kept and organizing what was left with Zachary being my garbage guy.

By noon, I was finished, Larissa had started and finished her school too and Michael was done his and sent for chores but he did not do them.  Instead he was on the computer which means the passwords will be changed yet again so he can't get on any time he wants to.  Very inconvenient, but he won't stop sneaking on there.

Michael wouldn't go for the mail and threw a fit therefore is now grounded for the day.  I'm sick of his attitude and he just does NOT learn!  sigh...  Larissa is making lunch, the twins are setting the table and Zach is playing while Jenaya does her school.

After lunch, Michael has to remove battery from lumina and start cleaning out the lumina and the white cargo van.  He is NOT going to be impressed let me tell you!

There's got to be a way to make him straighten up!  SIGH...

Well everyone else is co-operating and i'm so impressed with my work so far.  Hoping for a great afternoon too.

Tuesday.... nuff said.

What a day so far and it's only 10:30am!   Oh good... here come the snow plows and our broken down lumina sits yet again on the street.  Someone is supposed to be coming to get that out of here, but they have not come. 

My day began at 4am waking when hubby's alarm went off an hour early because they had a huge tour coming in today and had a shut down in the plant and couldn't get areas cleaned.  So today they're all in there frantically trying to make up for lost time.  sigh...

My legs are snakey and my stomach hurts so bad from all the coughing I've been doing.

Phone rang at 8am telling me the church alarm went off and scared the doctor's secretary.  Got Josh to deal with that as I knew nothing having not been there lately, and then finally got a call from Derk telling me he did send a text but it never has shown up to me.

Obviously this day is not starting on a good note, there was no milk for my coffee, the coffee was watery anyway and my 14 yr old son has just dragged his body out of bed at 10:30 sigh...
There's gotta be a way to turn this day around and get some good out of it!  Josh is off today again and we need to accomplish alot in his school.  We did a great job of it yesterday!   Got a catering book and exam done with 95% in it, got most of his subjects done, the kids got theirs done and the day went rather well.  The night however didn't go as great and it seems to have carried into today.  sigh...

Well, I'm going to try and see what I can do to change things around and get them on track!

Monday's Moans n' Groans

Monday started ohhhh somewhere in the middle of the night for me.  I woke up suddenly after finally falling asleep just a bit before, only to freak out remembering that hubby's driver's license expires tonight at midnight!  sigh... I love those middle of the night reminders of things usually deadlines! 

The REAL morning was around 8am when I woke again and realized Derk left his cell phone here.  That means no contact with him so i'll probaby need to stay in or on this bed all day until he gets home incase anything like Friday starts up again today.  Josh is home today and we need to get moving on school while we have the time.

Snow has stopped and the sun's out.  SUpposed to be -12 today which we can handle!

Sunny, Snowy? Sunday

Well here I sit, home alone on another Sunday morning.  I heard the neighbor shovelling her driveway this morning but not sure how much snow we got.  As of bedtime last night it wasn't much but they did say 10-15 cm so we shall see I guess.

The entire family loves the doors Derk painted yesterday and he's really glad he did it too.  I knew they would look wonderful!  Even IF it's just a temporary fix, still it's better than that icky white that's been there since we moved in. 

In a few minutes I'm going to watch the Pentecostals of Alexandria and really am glad they broadcast online because otherwise I'd get no church at all!

Happy Sunday people!  I AM on the mend, DO feel LOTS better, but it still isn't complete yet.  Ears are pounding, back throbbing... and of course all the prego symptoms that keep me up half the night.  However this too shall end.  I'm only about 10-13 wks away from seeing this bambino!

Saturday, February 6th 2010

Saturday again.  Still sick.  Had terrible contrations, tightening, and other things going on that concerned me alot.  Thankfully with drinking lots of water, monitoring them and stopping what I was doing and resting, everything stopped. Feel bigger, sorer this morning and my husband will NOT let me off that bed other than to dress, use the bathroom and later I can go down stairs and sit on the couch.  BORING... sigh... but I really don't feel well yet.  My ears are plugged, sinuses acting up still and I'm gaggy over everything.  Not sure why or if this is part of getting better or not, but those are the facts and so here I sit bored to tears and sick and tired of bedrest!

I've been sick since January 20th and that means if I'm not better in 4 days, it will be 3 weeks!  That's a long time!  Baby's moving alot!!! and is obviously growing.  Hopefully it's the baby growing not me!  How nice it'd be to come out of this with no extra weight or dare I hope a few lbs of MY OWN gone? 

Time to find something else to do that will hold my attention for awhile.

Thursday, February 4th 2010

Thursday morning...
Michael stayed up too late and didn't get up again this morning.  My normal lament I guess.  It doesn't matter when one sends him to bed, he doesn't sleep!  sigh...

Josh doesn't work till later so we have another day to get cracking at that school.  We had an episode here with him two nights ago and told him a few home truths about school and how hard he had to hit the books if he wants to graduate.  Being a homeschool mother, knowing our situation and his, makes it really hard to crack down on him, but it had to be done or else fail him.  Work is taking precedence over school and he promised that wouldn't happen.  So we hash all that out, he goes to work and finds the new woman quit and another is pregnant so will be quitting within months, and a third may need surgery and also might quit working there.  That means HE will get MORE hours not less and we can't have that.  Not for 6 months anyway!

Larissa and Jenaya have taken teaching the littles their phonics on and are doing a great job of it while mom is recovering.  I am feeling alot better, but still don't have much energy and as soon as I get off the bed and try to do things, have coughing fits that rip my stomach apart. My doctor said to rest and not cough like that if at all possible because it's stressing the baby so I'm trying not to be moving around too much just yet or getting upset although this week, that's not been an easy task at all!

I'm taking vitamin D now too.  I'm really hoping it helps.

This week is almost over with now and I can't believe it's gone so quickly.  I ordered a crib set for the baby that I really really wanted and got off ebay for a lesser price than I could have gotten the equivalent here.  Not that we had it here.  Now I'm waiting on its arrival.  So far, I will have that, a blanky and 4 bibs.  That's it!  Pretty pitiful!

Well, guess its time to get this day revved into high gear.  It's going but not quite fast enough for my liking today.  I have some things i'm hoping to accomplish in my room.  One is to clean it up.  It's not that messy, more untidy because of our renovations we did last week and of course with me so sick I couldn't do much and so there's school, library books and all the church work I have to do in the next 3 weeks and then laundry plus tools in the corner and just some tidying and organizing to accomplish.  I actually FEEL like attacking some of this today and that's a first in over 2 weeks so I'm excited!

My ears are pounding.  I know this happens when I'm pregnant, but its also because of being sick.  I wish hubby was home, but it is almost 10 am already so another 5.5 hours! lol.

On with my day!

Terrible Tuesday!

Okay, I'm sick, trying to recover, almost 6.5 months pregnany and miserable that's true, but this morning takes the cake.  Ember has gotten into a stage where she does things just to upset people and she's mean and sly.  I hate to say such a fragile sweet dimpled little girl could be such a bully but really she seems to be just that lately!  She's constantly picking on her twin sister and little brother and it doesn't matter if you give less or more attention, she does what she wants and too bad for you.

Even when Derk and I give a command she refuses to listen until she's pushed all our buttons and we are on the brink of insanity.  This morning all she was asked to do was brush mommy's hair which she does regularly and loves doing.  Nope... not this morning!  SHE wanted to go do what the other girls were told to do and so did her little act.  It's kind of whining, pawing the air at the person blocking her way from what she wants to do or where she wants to go, and she will NOT stop.  She continues doing it over and over and over no matter what we say or do.  I've been noticing this behaviour lately where she will continue an action even if the item has been removed.  For example, one night she was making a racket with her drawing in church and the kids had paper everywhere.  I'd had enough and after leaving the piano, took all their pens and crayons and papers away.  Everyone else was upset but oh well... mom took it except Ember who was continuing to draw on her paper kneeling on the floor.  I took the paper and she tried to continue to draw on the pew.  Took the pen and she kept her hands in the circular motion and would not stop until I grabbed her hand and held it still!!

This is the type of behaviour we get.  Or she'll push her feet on someone beside her slyly until that child cries and gets angry and then we get upset with them and tell them to stop fighting only to discover what she's been doing and even once we know and see, she will NOT stop it!

I'm at my wits end!  So today she's been sent to her room to clean it since she will NOT behave and she won't do that either.  I'm so tired of her antics and yet do not know what to do with her.  At the moment, she's threatened her twin with something she says she'll hit her with.  I have a couple of kids with tempers, but this goes far beyond.  SiGH....

Her twin sister, Autumn-Rose on the other hand, is  usually cheerful, helpful and sings ALL day long.  No joke.  Derk said she was in her room singing for over 2 hours.  Her entire play was in song!

My older girls are doing great today.  Michael wont' get up as usual, but Larissa did and got everyone going.  She even made scrambled eggs for the kids this morning as Josh is at work.  She's turning 12 in May and lately has begun to show some maturing that I really am glad to see.

As for me today?  Not coughing as badly or as much.  Other symptoms are lessening as well and I actually got dressed in nice clean clothes this morning and made the bed although by the time I finished, I was back on the top exhuasted.  I feel better yet worse, stronger yet weaker in a lot of areas and my body is sore all over from the lying in bed and the coughing episodes.  It's been well over 10 days now that I've been sick, think about 2 wks actually tomorrow and I'm more than ready to feel better!  Taking my meds and they seem to have been helping yesterday and today.  The least bit of exertion or stress though can still send me into a bad coughing fit and leave me breathless.

It's only 10 am!!!   I'll be SO glad to see Josh at 2:30 and Derk at 4pm!!!

Sick Saturday - Revisited.

Saturday and I'm sitting in bed at 9:34am drinkng coffee, playing with my farmville on facebook and checking out the blogs listed on the homeschooling email group I'm part of because I'm still sick. 

Yesterday's doctor's appointments gave me a very bruised icky looking vein in my left arm, another poke in my right arm before and after the icky glucose test they did for gestational diabetes.  At least the orange sugary drink was cold this time.  I was so thankful for that one!

We were delayed there, and had to rush all the way to Winkler where my doctor is because I do not trust this hospital or its doctors here.   I've had more issues with their caring for my children who needed to be seen in emergancy situations, had to choose between two or three diagnosis as to what might be wrong... not something I feel comfortable with, so Winkler it is.

MY doctor was very sweet letting me in 10 minutes late due to the delay here, listening to all my concerns and symptoms including the contraction in the middle of Zellers in Wpg, and told me that I have bronchitis complicated by the asthma which I had sort of suspected that or pneumona.  I'm on antibiotic, two puffers and already had a better night last night, feel a bit better this morning too.  She told me if I have contractions like that again, I should go to the hospital to be checked, to take it easy and also noted that my nostrils are very narrow.  Maybe that's why I have such a hard time with my nose all the time!

Anyway, after that, we grabbed DQ and headed to Carman where we picked up (or Derk did... I waited in the car of course) our latest order for school books and then he said he felt like headng to the city and doing the groceries then instead of today.  Fine wth me... except that meant sitting n the car for almost 2 hours while he did it.  Oh well.... he got me a Timmies English Toffee and a Boston Cream donut.  I did okay. 

By the time we got home, I was so exhausted I could hardly stand it.  Tried to take a bath and was so super tired I got out and hubby tucked me into bed.  I slept almost 2 hours!  Totally abnormal for me.

Today, I'm feeling quite a bit better except for all my sinuses aching in my face, the cough that lingers but doesn't come quite as often thank goodness as the doctor says that is stressful on the baby.  Some of my other symptoms will diminish too as the coughing stops she tells me and I sure do hope so!

So, yesterday, hubby bought me a cute baby blankie.  My first thing for this little one.  I have absolutely NOTHNG for this baby, no crib, bassinette, high chair, carseat or stroller, sling, diapers, clothing.... NADA.   Gave it all away now here I am needing it again!   I have 2 maternity dresses and some tops that I wear over my skirts, but since I can't get to church or anywhere it really doesn't matter what I wear does it?

I'm pretty tired these days but hope that will improve since I took my first vitamin D yesterday.  We will see.  It's an experiment.  But... perhaps it's already working and that's why I  am feeling so much better so fast?  Who knows...

Guess it is time to call down to Derk and see what this day is going to bring for our family.

Another sick day...

Another rough day for me.  I'm still very sick and the wheezing and growling sounds in my chest, throat and nose aren't making me feel very good.  I'm worried about getting pneumonia since I'm prone to that or bronchitis.  This cough is vicious and I woke up twice last night choking to death.  What really is scary though, is for the past two nights, this has happened to me and my husband has lain there BESIDE me while I choked, strangled and about died and SLEPT THROUGH IT ALL!  Glad it wasn't more serious!!!

Anyway, got the boys and girls switched around yesterday, new schedule made and ready to put into practice on Feb 1st.  All part of getting ready for this baby's arrival in a few months.  The two oldest boys get the girls smaller main floor room and the girls plus Zachary get the upstairs big room which will give them more space to play and sleep.  This all is temporary as we're planning on moving this spring/summer/fall... depending on how fast we can finish our renovations and get this place on the market.  It's just too small these days.

I just found out Charlotte our dog we think is either pregnant or experiencing a false pregnancy has eaten holes in both pairs of brand new pants I bought for Michael!  SIGH... the kid needed new pants so badly and we got him 3 pairs of jeans and a pair of sweats for bed and the dog ate through his sweats and jeans and the other two pairs don't fit him properly so we were going to either return them or give them to someone since they were $5 a pair but now he's back to NOTHING again!  grrrr

Derk's in Portage la Prairie today on a tour of another plant his company owns.  I feel like he's a million miles away!  Josh is at work till 2pm and Derk's supposed to get back to the plant around 2pm as well.  I have no car, and our parcels have arrived but can't be gotten because someone over 18 needs to sign for them  sigh... AND I CAN'T GO!

It's nice and sunny out there today but -23 and with windchill feels like -33!  Not a day to let the kids play outside!

Time to rally the troops again.

Wacky Wednesday

Just feel lousy today.  I know I'm getting better and that sometimes getting better makes you feel worse, but I really don't want to go through all this today.  sigh...

Hubby and I talked some things over last night and are doing some house rearranging today in order to make life a bit smoother.  He's at work though, so Michael, the girls and I will be doing it all, well I'll be directing them to do it all I guess.

One's in the bath now, and the rest are supposed to be doing their assignments, but who knows... got to check on them.

Me?  I've been choking, strangling, wheezing and whatever else one does when trying to recover from this terrible cold/flu etc.  The pregnancy part doesn't make it any easier either.

Well enough of my whining today.  Had to get it out somewhere!

Time to get back to my work.

Still Sick

Well, I'm almost 25 weeks pregnant now and this last week has been almost a blur of sickness for me.  Things have come to a stand still and I've spent the last 5 days in bed sicker than a dog.  I'm on the mend, I know that, but still miserable and the coughing has done strange things to my sick pregnant body and it really really hurts in places I never knew could hurt from coughing!

Anyway, other than that, life continues despite me and the blizzard was a godsend because it kept hubby home on Monday to look after me so I slept and slept some more.  Sure hope he doesn't get as sick as I have been.  So far, nobody else has gotten as ill as me and that's a good thing!

I've got so much to do this next 3-4 weeks and I need to focus on feeling better and getting back on track.  I have deadlines that are government and cannot be toyed with, so sick or not, I have to meet them and it'd sure be nice to feel better first! lol.

As far as the baby goes... no new news there.  I don't think I'm gaining weight though, more like it's gaining, I'm losing.  I hope I'm right about the sex of the baby because we only have one name and that's that.

Sick Saturday

I am soooo sick this morning.  This cold is awful.  Sore throat, aching jaw and sneezing all the time.  Nose sore and pouring... sigh... kids have or had it too and hubby and Josh are getting it.

No milk or cream this morning so the girls are going to the store.  It's snowing out there so hard it looks like white rain.  Only vehicle running is Josh's and life really feels awful to me this morning.  Of course things are always worse when one's sick.

We possibly are buying a transport minivan on Monday and the guy might trade it with one of our vehicles that aren't running properly.  Our white cargo van.  That would be so nice to get at least ONE of thes vehicles out of our yard. 

He also said it's not our windstar's motor but rather thinks it's the catalytic converter so that's sort of a relief, and told us our Lumina which is a 92 and was just a junker we bought for the teens and me to use back in 2005 when Derk worked through camp and i  was pregnant, is TOAST.  The timing chain is gone he thinks and well, it's not worth the work or expense to fix.  I'd be glad to retire that car too.  The mini van would work well for us.  We'd already discussed getting two minivans rather than trying to run our 15 passengers anymore or whatever else we had.  Our family size will be 11 but Kyla-Dawn lives in Ontario and has her own car, and Josh has his own and often times kids go with Josh anyway.  If just one or two of us go somewhere we often borrow his car because it's cheaper so a second minivan would work fine.

We will see I guess how it all plays out.

Thursday already and it feels like I've accomplished nothing!  Not really true, but normally I'd have done so much more sigh....

Anyway, yesterday I got my girls to help in my room abit.  I was not feeling well at all.  More contractions and things, but by bedtime, was doing much better.  Derk and Mike went to the city and got me printer ink and a lemon cake I was wanting... plus some pants for him and a few other needed items.

One of these was a keyboard for the other computer so we'll have 4 set up soon.  Then I can spread their SOS  out and the 4 who take it will each have their own station to use.  Whew!!!

Mike's at the store at the moment... Larissa is doing her SOS and Jenaya is entertaining the three littles and herself on the big computer.  Jen's been sick with a cold all week and now Audi and Emmy and probably Zach are coming down with it too.  Audi had such pink cheeks this morning.  Jen had a slight fever and sore throat with a lump in it she said, then yesterday a cough and today runny nose and feeling much better so lets hope this thing rages on by quickly!

Josh is working split shift today so 10-2pm and then back again at 6 til 9pm.  Derk gets off at 3:30 as usual and will be home by 4pm.  Another crazy day around this place.  It's snowing and is the first signs of that Colorado Low coming through from now till Sunday.  not sure how much we'll get though.

Another day sitting on this bed, having contractions of some sort.  Not sure what is happening, but it just doesn't feel right at all.  Not like it should be feeling at this point in pregnancy.  I'm trying to get an appointment with my doctor to see what's going on.

Kids seem in slow motion today as well.  Jenaya has a bad cold and so she's not doing things as fast as normal although she says she feels much better today and managed to take out the dogs and garbage this morning.  She's doing her school now on the computer.  Josh is cleaning up after breakfast and Larissa had to bath Zachary and now do her chores.

Michael JUST got out of bed despite us calling him and waking him up for almost 2 hours.  Sigh... he really gets me down.  It's him sleeping so late that ruins our days schoolwise or anything else we need to do and I'm SO sick and tired of it.

Derk had bloodwork this morning and so went to work later and will get home later.  I've been having a backache for 2 days now and contractions this morning about every 45 min or so.  Guess I'd better start timing them and seeing for sure when they come and how long sigh...  I'm 24 wks and it's way too soon.

Derk thinks I'll be on bedrest the rest of this pregnancy and that I'll have the baby early.  We will see....

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Past the halfway mark of this month and today Jenaya is 8.5 yrs old exactly.  It's also my 24 wk mark or 6 months if you go by the 4 wk month.  SO it's a big day for milestones!

Derk's got an appointment tonight with the specialist and we aren't quite sure what he will say.  I'm hoping to go with him.  Tonight is also Michael's art class.  So lots to do today. 

Last night Derk put up one side of the windows's wall of drywall.  Looks good even with the "decorations" my toddlers added to the drywall while it was standing in the dining room awaiting use!!!  One smaller side of the windows to go ceiling to floor and then under them.  The slanted part of the roof, actual ceiling and then a bit over by the closet and door and we'll be done. Oh and another small section by my bed I guess.  it's coming.  Can't wait till it's finished and painted.  i want at least this room done before the baby arrives.  It's hard when you have to do it in such small increments but that's because of lack of time... sometimes money too lol.  Lately time.

I'm doing okay as long as I sit on the couch or bed most of the day.  Annoying, but as Derk says, you know your body and you need to listen to it and do whatever it takes to keep that little bundle inside until it's time.

I'm hoping to get a little organizing done in my room today after the renos last night in hopes of actually getting my year end paper work finished before February!  Everything has a fine film of drywall dust on it on top of the mess made by shoving things here and there so my work's cut out for me lol. 

Since I am going with Derk tonight to the doctor, I need to be ready for that too but am kind of excited about getting out of the house for the first time since last Friday!  I won't be doing more than driving in the car, maybe sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office, but still it's something right?

The trees are beautiful this morning.  All covered with Hoar Frost and the thick blanket of fog around it all makes it all the more mysterious and pretty.  How I wish I could go for a walk today!  Sigh... however, since I had to miss both services yesterday, guess not eh?

Well today is the bedroom zone on Flylady and mine certainly needs attention.  Got a few new things in here that need organizing, some tidying of course after LIVING in here for the past 2 weeks almost, and then the paper work waiting to be sorted and dealt with to prepare end of the year papers, business meeting and for our personal income taxes.  Since Josh is working, we have 3 income taxes even though Kyla-Dawn has moved away.

I need to get the kids moving on their schoolwork, I have the feeling they aren't doing what I asked them to do sigh... I need a camera and video system in every room lol.  THEN I'd have a grip on them ALL the time hee hee.

I'm feeling kind of down these days, or maybe it's because I'm thinking several things through.  Trying to decide where our lives will take us in the next year or two.  It's all so hard to think about without knowing certain key parts, but that's about all I think about these days.

Also thinking about our children and where I want them to go school wise in the remainder of this year and years to come, the birth of this baby, our home renos, amoung tons of other things preying on my mind.  When you are pregnant and have to just sit around and figure out money or the lack thereof, and bills the abundance thereof, it really weighs a body down!

Anyway, my thoughts are heavy and soul searching today I guess.  Decisions are looming around the corner and which way will we go with them?

Sunshiney Day...January 16th 2010

Last night I went to the city with Derk, had a sundae and never left the vehicle until Zellars  where I walked a few minutes and suddenly had an awful contraction that left me sweaty, gasping and freaked out big time.  We had to leave with nothing.

All the rest of the night I rested, had contractions and drank 1.5 L of water but still feel tight and icky this morning.  Hubby says I'm not to do anything.  SIGH.

Derk got his hair cut this morning, then came home and the boys helped him push our not working cargo van backwards down the drive so that we can park our other van which has some serious issues.   Not without denting the front and back bumpers of the car they used to push it with!  sigh...

Oh well, tis done and another burden off my back I guess.  Now Derk's taking Michael to get him some new jeans and groceries and then somehow, we'll have to figure out how to get the laundry done too.  All with me banished to couch or bed.  Not going to be fun.

Thank Goodness It's PayDay!!

We did it, barely but we did it.  We made it till payday.  Whew!  This time was especially tight.  Things were crazy and we were hit with a lot of unexpected expenses.  Hopefully the next pay period will be easier!

It is sunny out there and -1C!  In mid January!  The are saying above normal temps for almost the rest of the month and that'd be SO nice after the weeks of really cold we endured in December!  I'm so ready for spring!  But then, of course I am!  My due date is in spring lol.

Josh is at work, the kids are getting up slowly and I should get into high gear.  Already have looked the budget over and paid a bill online.  Now, to finish that up and see what's what.  Derk's said his foot is killing him and can he come home.  I know he's stubborn enough to stay and finish the day but he really does need to come home if that foot's bugging him that badly.  We've got to get it fixed somehow!

Thursday, January 14th

Yay tomorrow's payday!  I don't know why January seems like such a hard month financially but it's usually when things hit from the blue and there's no extra money to deal with it all!  I'll be glad to see payday tomorrow!  Whew! lol

Well, yesterday was our doctor's appointments and Derk's issues are getting more and more serious.  His diabetes is getting worse I think, and although we are trying to control it with metformin and diet, they found protein in the urine and so a whole bunch of tests have been ordered.  He gets the bloodwork done next week.  His feet are getting worse too.  So bad, his boss handed him a form to put him on light duties at work, to be filled out by the doc.  So I'm not sure how that's going to go, but he says he's in tons of pain today at work.  One more day after this one to go and then you can rest a few honey!

Me?  Well, I'm doing fine.  The scare on Sunday is okay.  All is still fine, just my bp is lower than it was last time.  it's 100/60 now.  Not sure what that all means, but just know the lowest it's been was 90/50 and that was scary.

I apparently have a choice as to birth plans and  am seriously considering c-section after looking at a bunch of factors that could cause me grief during my pregnancy, my tendancy to go overdue, have to be induced and have large babies.  There are pros and cons to either way, but my age, weight, pregnancies in the past all point to the fact a c-section would actually be safer and kinder to my body and MUCHO easier on mama!  Well, except for recovery of course.

I misplaced a chequebook and finally wrote the cheque on a further numbered batch that was in storage only to mail the cheque and find my cheque book an hour or two later.  SIGH...

Anyway, I'm thinking this day couldn't go any SLOWER!  Everyone was up at a good time, but in slow motion!  I'm eating brunch now, french toast and molasses and then it's serious school for the next few hours.  We got alot accomplished this week, but I'd like some more before the weekend.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Can you believe that this month is just about half over already?  WOW!  Time is flying by so fast!  This morning, Derk went downstairs to find the washer pipes had thawed and since Michael had taken the hoses off the taps but forgot to SHUT the taps off, guess what was flowing all over the back hall floor!  Yup water and we don't know how long it'd been doing that for!  They were still frozen at 1am when he went to bed but rushing like a mighty river at 5am when he woke up for work. 

I'm on day 3 of hubby imposed bedrest due to some things in my body not feeling right on Sunday.  I see my doc tomorrow so we'll see what she says.  I don't want this baby too early!

Yesterday we got lots of school done especially Joshua and I was glad about that.  With him graduating this year and working pretty much full time, it's hard to fit it all in, but it's coming and so we'll make it happen somehow!

Well not much more to report except we have two dead and by dead I mean never going to recover dead, batteries that we now must replace.  Not sure why they went at the same time, but they did. sigh...  We have to wait till payday so that means we're ALL using Josh's car.  Poor guy.

Sunday Morning, January 10, 2010

I am in bed.  Yes, home from church and in bed.  Had some contractions and other things going on this morning and we decided rest was in order.  I'm watching the webcast from POA on my puter or at least listening to it when I'm not exactly watching.  Stomach feels very odd.  Baby's moving alot so that's good, but not sure why the sudden contractions.  I think they are just Braxton-Hicks, but I will be telling my doctor on Wednesday when I see her.  Hopefully all is well.

So I'm home alone except for the dogs, who apparently thought THEY were the only ones home lol.  So I found out when I got up to go to the bathroom and they began to bark like someone was entering the house ha ha.

Here's hoping I can go to church tonight.  I have to quit this post because the baby is kicking the laptop bigtime and it feels weird!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Okay, it's sunny outside and that's about ALL the good I can find in this morning!  Honestly!  First I overslept and woke up needing the bathroom so badly being prego of course, plus my head's aching and I just felt icky all over.

Dress and head to the bathroom only to sit quickly with my blurry vision not detecting my 4 yr old had sprinkled when he tinkled.... or maybe did the whole job on the seat!  i sat and guess what?  YUP!  Not a pleasant experience for me that's for sure.

Come down stairs and no coffee's made, Larissa's on my puter and when I kick her off, she goes over to the other one where the younger kids are fighting over who gets what horse on some little game on there.  Or at least Ember was bossing everyone around and I'd had enough super fast so now they are kicked off that puter.  Cars are still outside in a non-running condition which had better be rectified today, and everyone is sitting around doing nothing.  WHY?  BECAUSE MOM SLEPT IN!!!!!  SIGH....

Someday they are going to have to figure this thing out and get going.  I am 22 wks pregnant and I can't do what they do anymore!  grrrrr.  So that's my mood for the morning.

Even the weather isn't co-operating!  It says FAIR on my little gadget, but the temp is -24C and with windchill it's -39C!  It was supposed to be warmer today.  The internet keeps going in and out and in and out and so I'm positive someone has it in for me today before I even opened my eyes!  I mean... come on!  Who dreams that your daughter takes you to a huge hill of soft snow and you are prego in moccasins and you are supposed to climb it to see a bunch of figures she made out of jello???? OR then once that doesn't pan out, you go to this door and there in a big garage, is millions of tea lights spelling out HAPPY FATHER"S DAY... HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY...  when it's winter?  What on earth did I eat last night!!!!!

Friday = Freak Day!

My wake up call this morning was provided courtesy of the town's snowplows right outside my house.  Now, we have 2 cars out on the street and usually they plow them in nice and tight if they are left there.  Neither of them can move today.  The batteries died and need to be charged and/or replaced and its been too cold and we have not had the time after Derk gets off work to get the job done.  This weekend he's promised to do it, but of course, here come the plows TODAY!  SIGH...

Anyway, we were lucky.  They cleared in front of our house, our driveway and the sidewalk so that's a bonus and it looks like they didn't leave too much snow around the cars either so all is well so far.  I can't stand the sound of the plows.  I've had too many run-ins with these plows here in town because of vehicles needing to be on the street.  We just got our driveway made last fall.  Someone had changed it prior to us living here and so when they redid the streets and sidewalks at some point, there was no ramp to drive in just a curb.  So... it's caused no end of grief for me.  I'm sick and tired of having to throw on coat and boots and run out there jump in the car and plow through a foot of plowed snow just to get out of there so they could finish plowing.

The sun has just showed its face!  It says -23 C on my little desktop weather eye and it feels like that too.  FINALLY!  Last night, the temp was low with a windchill of -50 in some parts of Manitoba!  Yup it's January all right!

I am glad for the light in the house today.  I mean from outside.  It's usually so dark and gloomy.  A person could get downright depressed some times in this living room even though there are 2 windows!

Once the plows left, then the girls decided to wake Michael up by screaming and chanting protest style... GET UP! GET UP!  over and over and over and over and he's still not up!

Josh is at work as is Derk.  Josh gets off at 2:30pm and Derk an hour later and then our weekend will begin.  Not sure that everyone will love me this weekend as I intend for some things to take place and none of them involve ME lol.  My men folk have some outside work to do, yard and vehicles, plus some inside renovation work to get done.  My girls will have plenty of housework to get done too.  It's going to be a busy weekend.  Oh!  You want to know what I will be doing?  Church books and homeschool planning of course!  Gotta get it done.  Josh is now going to stay at work on days when he works split shift.  He usually works 10-2 and then has 3 hours off before being needed again from 5-close at 9pm.  I told him to take his school work there and just work on it.  His boss said YES!  Just use MY desk and my office so he's pretty thrilled!  I think it will do him good to have about 3 hours of uninterrupted work time with no kids yelling and screaming at him or bugging him, no chores, no body asking for a pencil or bumping his elbow.  He's graduating this year and this time should really help.  His Biology is on mp3 so he can take it with him and just sit down there and listen, or listen on the way to and from work, and he can also work on other assignments there as well.  He can call home if he needs help with something too so it really should accomplish alot!

Today my mission is to get the house tidy, kids schooled, and plan Josh's school schedule for the next 2 weeks that I have a work schedule for him.  His hours change every day so I try to make him a specialized schedule every new schedule he gets.  I'll be glad when he's done school.  This takes hours to do, and once he's done, it will be time freed up for me to do other things, but of course by then, I'll be breastfeeding my new baby too! lol.  It never ends does it?

Time to get going again!  Break's over.

Wednesday, January 6th 2010

Already the first week of January is flying by so very fast!  Part of me is very glad about that as it makes my due date closer, but part of me needs the time to stop or at least slow down!   School is getting underway but very slowly.  Not near as fast as I'd have liked, but other things like ultrasounds, doctor's appts., etc have cut into our precious time and soon it's going to get far worse!

Today Derk has Josh's car again.  Poor Josh had to walk because none of our vehicles are running.  This all happened during the holidays when it got so super cold and now we can't seem to figure them out and get going again. sigh... looks like one needs a brand new battery.

I have one pkg of yellow washcloths and three little yellow and white bibs that say I love my daddy on them for this baby and that's IT!  Seriously.  I don't have a diaper or towel or even a pair of socks and time is racing by with more and more vehicle repairs and other issues and on top of that, I lost the twins Universal Child Tax money this past month when they turned 6.  That was a big hit.  I want to buy a bassinette for this baby not a crib to start with because I prefer them close by me and besides our house size demands that we use each room for way more than it should be used.  I'm hoping we can move once the baby arrives.

We found the perfect name last night and the very few that know of it, love it too.  I'm so happy with it.

I'm taking a breather between doing grade 3 math and organizing my room better for schooling these kids for the next 6 months.  I've packed away any books it's obvious we won't be needing.  I need the space!

I wonder if the washer's pipes have thawed out yet.  It cost quite abit of money to have to wash AND dry the clothes at the laundry mat, but on the other hand, it all is done within the hour or two and there's no waiting around all day for clothes to be washed and dried.  Pros and cons to each way of doing it I guess... cost there, no water or electricity used at home... not sure which is cheaper!

Going to the bank and city tonight to get church book supplies so I can get on with my year end reports and things before I get too huge lol.

Lots to do, so little time to do it in!
My mantra lately I guess, but time to get me a new timer and start using it too!

Today's the day.

Well it's here.  Ultrasound day and I'm really nervous for some reason.  Of couse hubby's sermon on the "dark mile" yesterday didn't help, but it really wasn't about this.  It's just my age and wondering if there is more than one in there... so many questions about to be answered in this one ultrasound and then I'll know how to proceed from here, but it's nervewracking at the same time!

Today I have already spilled coffee on the shirt I wanted to wear to the appointment.  Last night, Derk fell down the stairs, yup all 16 of them, the ones that scare me going down them because of my belly and not being able to see carefully.  Our house needs to be adjusted below the house on the teleposts and so the stairs shift at times, so there's that, plus one is cracking and the bottom one has a piece missing from it.  It's okay if you're used to it but we can't wait till it's fixed!

I'm finding my throat is bone dry and chokes me.  More like strangles me it feels like anyway.  I have to get my 1 litre bottle of Dasani because I need to drink it before my appointment today.  yaaay... I'd think at this point I'd not need it, but oh well.  Whatever I guess. I'm finding it hard to concentrate while waiting for time to leave.  I just want it over with.

Sunny Saturday (COLD too!)

Wow, Saturday January 2nd is here and it's COLD out there.  I mean REALLY cold.  I'm talking -29C and with windchill -40C.  Not fun at all.  Josh had to work today and we kept his car here.  It's the only vehicle we have running.  The town plowed our lumina in our yard so we can't even get it out and our van's battery is dead dead dead sigh... It's not running good as it is, and I just don't know what we're going to do!  There's no money to fix vehicles right now.  NONE.

Anyway, life is slowly getting back to normal.  Josh is at work, Derk goes on Monday and then school will begin again.  Sooooo I've got lots to accomplish today in preparation for that.  At least it doesn't involve going outside! lol.

I felt a baby this morning!  I woke up and there was a hump in my upper stomach.  I put my hand on it and felt an entire baby it was neat, a feeling I'd forgotten.  Of course, once I got up, it's gone now, but for a brief second I felt all of it between my fingers.

My kids are getting cranky.  It's been too cold to go outside and it looks SO nice out there, sun shining down and all that, but so dreadfully cold.  So they're stuck inside and everything's boring by now.  Either that, or they are doing cartwheels and running the dogs from one room to the next!  SIGH... then MOM can't take that one!

Time to get this day in gear.
Sleeping in will soon be a thing of the past lol.

Happy New Year!

It's 2010!  Hard to believe my due date approaches faster and faster now that I'm finally in the right year to deliver lol.  My first baby was born in 1990 and this due date is 20 years later in 2010.  Hard to believe I've been pregnant for much of that time!  Anyway, it looks like we are approaching the final addition to our family and I'm ready to move on I think.  This pregnancy is wearing me out.  My hair is a frizzy, dry, tangled mess and I just showed Derk split ends today that were over an inch long!  I lost a foot of hair with Kyla-Dawn's pregnancy and am praying that doesn't happen this time.  I feel quite dehydrated and exhausted although this should be my good time.  With the weather outside beautifully sunny but extremely cold (-33 with windchill -45C) I'm glad I can stay inside and glad this pregnancy thing makes me feel warmer than normal.

Derk and I intend on changing a great many things in the coming year and it's going to take hard work and sheer determination to do it but we are sure going to give it our best shot.  One thing that is going to change, is the events we attend or don't as the case may be.  We have often gone to things we could not afford to go to just for the fellowship or because we felt obligated. This year, things have to be different.  One reason is financial, but the other one is my pregnancy and when things are scheduled don't agree with my fatigue or due date etc.  Looks like our kids will miss youth retreat this year due to the fact it's been upped to my due date unless the ultrasound changes all that.  We'll see...  I'd sure love to deliver earlier!!!

There are things I really want to attend but due to how pregnant I will be at that time, I doubt I will get to.  Besides, that, we are putting all our extra money (yeah right... family of 10 and more on the way and we have extra money?? ha ha) into our house and our extra time (same thing applies but we're trying anyway) too.  It's got to be done.  We are suffering in this dumb house and never have the time to deal with anything.  We need to completely gut our bathroom roof to floor this spring and that's going to have to be a non-stop job until it's done.  yippee!  lol

Oh well... those are a few of the changes... maybe good maybe not so good that we are making.  Another one is the next 5 months before I deliver are going to be marathon schooling especially January and February since those months are cold, dark and kids are inside more.  We usually do this to some degree, but this time, I have 3 littles learning to read and one son graduating in June, plus the other son and two girls who are in the middle.  So... with 7 kids in school and only one prego mother who has a business meeting to get ready for and year end work to accomplish... it's gonna be interesting to say the least.  I hope I'm up for it all!  Well... no choice really lol.

So with those things already on my list of things to work on, and many more to come, never mind church decisions, I'm going to be a super busy lady this next 5 months and I'm sure the time will fly by!  This both good and bad I guess.  I want it to fly by but at the same time need it not to really fly by that fast lol.

Well, hubby just made yummy homemade pancakes for brunch.  We're going to have another turkey dinner later on around supper time.  If I feel energetic, I'm going to make my carrot cake with my coconut pecan sauce for it.  Right now, I'm waiting for my men folk to finish eating so I can cut hair and then I want a shower myself!  I can't stand the hairy feeling I get after cutting hair!

Happy New Year everyone!
I hope 2010 brings blessings of the financial nature and good health to all who read this.