No worries

I've been worried since 30 weeks along that this baby was going to come early because of all the contractions.  I should have known better than to be so worried!  Today at my appt while the doctor was listening to the heartbeat she said, "oh you're having a contraction right now."  I shook my head and said, "that isn't a contraction."  Technically I suppose it was, but it was so little and insignificant I hardly even notice those anymore.  So pretty much no more progress has been made...okay, I'm at 40% effaced I guess, but still - nothing to be excited about.  I take that as a sign that this baby isn't going to come before his due date and therefore I am free to do as I wish, so after my appt next week I am driving to Ogden for my friend's wedding and to spend my sister's birthday with her and see my other sister and her family.  I'm over worrying.  My new attitude is going to be "Que sera, sera!"  Whatever will be, will be.  :)

A not-so-very smart idea

Oh my goodness, I am not the smartest person on the block.  The sad thing is I really was trying to be smart.

Let me back up a bit.  I've been feeling pretty good the last few days and felt for the first time that I really could make it the last 3 weeks without wanting to do whatever possible to get this baby out of me faster.  I was very grateful for the reprieve.  Okay, that being said - yesterday I had this crazy intense radiating and constant pain along my tailbone.  Almost like it was broken, but from the inside.  Odd.  So as the pain got worse throughout the day I thought it had to be one of two things: either beginning back labor, or maybe I needed to empty my bowels.  To eliminate the first idea I decided to do an enema, except I couldn't find one in the house and I didn't feel like going to the store.  So what brilliant idea did I come up with?  Castor oil.  It's been the best known laxative for years!  Thinking that I would at least do it the smart way, I looked up the dosage of castor oil that people use to induce labor (typically they use at least 2 TBS) and decided it would be fine to take 1/2 TBS to move things through.  All the articles I read stated that if your body wasn't ready, it wouldn't induce any labor and nothing would happen, except some loose bowel movements.  So totally safe for me because obviously my body isn't ready as of my last appt, right?

Who knew a 1/2 TBS could do so much?  It worked on moving things through alright, but it also worked on irritating my uterus.   As my contractions grew worse and were coming every 2-4 minutes and lasting for a minute or more I became determined that this baby would NOT come out, and began doing everything in the book to try and stop them.  Thankfully they finally died down through the night.  I should mention WHY I don't want this baby to come right now - my mom is flying to NM to visit my sister and her family there for a week.  She rarely gets to go down there, and I would feel awful if I had the baby during my sister's time with her.  Today the contractions are still there, but I'm super determined they won't go anywhere, and now I know NOT to take any more castor oil.  Like I said, it was a not-so-very smart idea.  :)  haha.

Happy 24th

My last couple of posts have been pretty pessimistic, so I decided it was time to lighten it up a bit.  :)  Let's see, where to begin...we've stopped swimming lessons for the time being and I'm not sure when we will pick them up again.  I hate to stop them while they are on such a roll, but I haven't figured out what to do with Brother Bear yet.  Physically he is ready for the next classes, but mentally he just can't follow directions and that would be difficult if there were more than 2 kids in the class.  He and I are both over taking water babies, and he won't just sit and wait with me while the other 2 are in their class...hmm.  I have to admit, even I have missed going to the pool everyday.  We went once this week and I feel like I've failed or something.  :)  Silly.

Princess is all done with t-ball and loved it.  She is really looking forward to starting 1st grade - especially eating lunch at school.  :)  I'm dreading her being gone so long during the day, but at least I have her to myself until after Labor Day!  We had a girls night out last night and saw the movie "Ramona and Beezus" followed by dinner at Applebees.  We've been reading "Ramona the Pest" together so it was a fun night.  I'd recommend the movie - just good clean fun.  I cried.  My excuse is that I'm pregnant and have out of control hormones, but I'm pretty sure I would have shed a few tears even under normal circumstances.  :)  I decided I need to take out Cowboy and Brother Bear separately too before the baby is born so we can have some one-on-one time before another baby takes over my attention for a while.

Cowboy saw Harry Potter for the first time last night during their boy time and now everything is his flying broom and magic wand.  I didn't think he'd like it as much as he did, but I'm hesitant to let him watch anything but the first movie (he's pretty imaginative and tends to get REALLY into things and get scared).  Brother Bear also liked it and does anything Cowboy is doing at the moment.

I have a consult set up with the pediatrician on Tuesday to talk about the kids a bit without them being there.  I'm concerned about a few things, but top on the list right now is Cowboy's extreme fear of animals.  This is my child who LOVED all animals and now he has suddenly developed this phobia/anxiety of them - to the point he is terrified to go outside for fear that a cat or dog or bird is out there.  Like terrified to the point of completely quaking.  He'll go outside only if Princess is with him and we have checked several times to make sure there are no animals out there.  Even in the backyard he'll stay out for a few minutes at a time and then run back in because something may be out there.  It's so sad and I have NO idea how to help him.  So that is what I'm talking to the doc about - whether it's a phase I let pass, or if we need to maybe get a pet sooner than we were planning to help him out.  It's sad for me to see my active 4 yr old choose to stay inside rather than play out with his friends because of his fears.  Hopefully the doc will have some suggestion.  And if it is to go ahead and get a pet at home, I really hope our landlords will be agreeable to it...

Anyway, life is good - and I should probably note on here in reference to a previous post on Twilight that I'm pretty sure we are going to go ahead and use Jacob for the baby's name.  We've had it on our list of boy names for 6 + years now, and really if it fits, like one of my dear friends said - who cares if it's a popular name?  :)  lol.

Whatever.

I give up.  I am obviously NOT in tune with my body and what it is doing.

Very little progress has been made - like I'm at a 1 and a whopping 20%, and honestly that is such a good thing.  I like my babies to stay in at least 37 weeks for their development (although they would be fine earlier, you just always want to go as long as you possibly can, right?).  My frustration lies with how my body is feeling/reacting to these last weeks.  I could easily go until mid August if my body would just stop with all the contractions and pressure.  After the doctor yesterday I just decided I was going to ignore my body and just get things done. That worked until after swim lessons and some extra swimming time and lunch.  Then I HAD to lie down because I felt sooo terrible.  Then last night I was having such horribly hard contractions and sudden swelling we had to take our meal on the go (we went out to eat because I was feeling so great).  This morning I've had very difficult time moving around.  Seriously body - either feel better so I can get things done, or progress so I can have this baby!!!  Frustration station I tell ya!

Gratefully I have 3 of the sweetest and most helpful kids ever - I love those kids so much!

Baby stuff

I'm going in for a check up this morning and as I've been thinking about things to talk with the doc about, I've decided my body is trying to tell me this should be our last baby.  You would think that pregnancy gets easier with each subsequent child - but I have to say, I'm tired.  I hurt.  I'm done.  With the exception of the week that Brother Bear dropped sooo low into my pelvis I couldn't even close my legs, the last week has been one of the worst as far as pain goes in all of my pregnancies.  I want to know if all the pain is moving things along at all, but at the same time, if I'm having so much pain and NOT progressing - I think I will just sit and cry.

I'll post later today after I know more...with the title tears or cheers.  :)

Recommendations/Reviews

I have opinions about a lot of things, so I'm thinking about maybe starting a new blog dedicated to reviews and recommendations of anything and everything from movies/books to cleaning products to recipes.  I don't even know if anyone would read it or frankly care what I think, but it would give me an outlet besides Zane.  I'm still considering it, in the meantime I'll post some recommendations on here.  :)

A couple of months ago we joined up with Melaleuca.  Zane worked for them a few years ago in the call center, but we haven't used any of their products since he quit.  Brother Bear has some pretty bad eczema and Melaleuca has an amazing product that really works to clear it up, so we joined.  In the past I have only used the cleaning products (which really are good) and the Renew lotion so we ordered a pack that gives you almost one of every product they sell.  I'm glad I did because I found some pretty great products I never would have tried.  My hair hasn't been cut or trimmed since December, combine that need with a dry climate where we are and needless to say, I've just been wearing it in a ponytail because of all the nasty ends and damage.  We are also swimming in chlorine every day - another doozy on the split ends.  A couple weeks ago I started using Melaleuca's Envia hydrating shampoo and conditioner - HOLY hannah!  I'm not kidding when I say it has not only repaired the damage, but my hair is so healthy and free of those fly aways.  At first I was worried that it might be weighing my hair down, but after a week I realized it was actually making my hair healthy for the first time in a LONG time.  So everyone keeps asking if I got a hair cut or did something to my hair.  :)  Pretty cool.  Princess has also been using it, and we don't even need to use detangler on her hair after her showers.  I have also really liked their sunscreen, body washes (both the Renew and Body Satin), and Zane likes the vitamins.  So far, Melaleuca's been good for us.  Eventually I may step up the ante and actually start doing it more as a home business (if you want, you can just be a customer or you can start doing as a business at any time, so there's no pressure which I like).  For now, I'm more interested in passing along to my friends and family what products work as I try them out for myself.  But of course, if you want more info I have that too.  :)

The other thing Zane discovered recently is an email meal service.  I won't go into much detail, but we are going to sign up and try it out to see if it's really as good of an idea as it looks.  It's called E-Z Meals and it's endorsed by Dave Ramsey (whose book "Total Money Makeover" is a must read for anyone).  Here is the link - I'll let you read up about it by yourself since my post is so long already.

Those are my recommendations/reviews for today, and I think I will do that other blog.

4th of July

Before I tell you about our weekend, I know I have lots of photography friends who read my blog so what digital SLR do you use or recommend?  Second, does anyone know any food coloring options that you can't taste???  I HATE using anything but pastel colors because I can literally taste the coloring in any frosting, are there any other options out there?

We had a great 4th of July weekend.  Zane had 4 days off, but unfortunately he had to use one of them driving over to Rexburg to fix the car once and for all.  We had the school rebuild the engine but they forgot to fill the transmission up with oil before we left, so by the time we got it back home, all the gears were gone so we had to tow it back for them to replace the transmission.  We finally got it home again father's day weekend.  They got a refurbished transmission and we noticed that it was leaking transmission oil pretty badly so Zane drove it back Thursday night for them to fix all the seals on Friday.  No leaks again so far, so let's cross our fingers everything else stays the same!  :)  It's a great car with 475K miles that we were given, so we figured if we spent the money on replacing the engine, it would last another few hundred thousand miles or so and it's still better than any car we could buy for under $2K.  Yay for Hondas!  :)  That took up his Friday, but we still had the rest of the weekend to enjoy.  Saturday we cleaned up the house and went hiking a little down in the canyon - it was so beautiful!

Doing laundry the boys decided they liked the underwear on the head better

(and no, Cowboy isn't strangling BB - he thinks he's posing)

I can't believe I am actually posting a pic of myself pregnant.

He has this uncanny ability NOT to look at the camera - EVER.

Church was good on Sunday.  Something that really struck me on Saturday was the 3rd verse of the national anthem.  I think more people should study that particular verse, particularly those in any authority position in Washington.  "Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand between their loved homes and the war's desolation! Blest with vict'ry and peace, MAY THE HEAV'N RESCUED LAND PRAISE THE POW'R THAT HATH MADE AND PRESERVED US A NATION! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, AND THIS BE OUR MOTTO: 'IN GOD IS OUR TRUST!' And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"  We keep moving away from God in a disguise of separating church and state, but it feels that as a country we are now supposed to be completely separated from God, as though he has no role or part nor should He.  No matter what religious affiliation you are, I hope you stand up and be counted, not only as a patriotic American, but one who believes strongly that God is at the head of this nation, not man.  We had a fun bbq at our neighbor's Sunday night with lots of fireworks - we all had a great time!

Once again, not looking at the camera.

He LOVED doing the sparklers

Dad was doing all the fireworks, so that's why he's not in the pictures.

Monday we had fun and went to swim lessons and stayed for open swim.  They have moved Cowboy up to the older classes because he is such a swimmer.  BB is taking after quickly.  Both of us are super bored in our water babies class because he is so far advanced, but I feel like he is just too little for the bigger classes (in ability to listen and understand directions).  Princess and Cowboy loved swimming and diving for their new dive toys with their new goggles yesterday.  :)  It's always fun to swim with dad!  We were supposed to go to a bbq that night with my old college roommate and I felt so bad because I completely forgot.  I remembered earlier in the day, but when 5 o'clock rolled around I couldn't remember what it was that we were going to do that night.  *sigh*  I felt so bad.  Hopefully we'll catch her the next time she's in town!

Going against the grain

I'll admit that I can be an odd duck at times.  I have a confession: I am extremely tempted to never watch  Eclipse and any remaining Twilight movies.  I know, GASP!  WHY in the world would I ever do such a thing???  Simply because I am over the hype and hysteria.  This annoyance of mine hit a peak when I was walking into the toy section at Wal-Mart and saw all the Bella, Edward, and Jacob BARBIES.  Really?  Barbies?  I hated the first movie.  Liked the second, but mainly because I think the actor who plays Jacob is the only one in the cast who can express emotion without going monotone when he's trying to be serious or sad.  Edward in the books is supposed to be like an Apollo.  To me, Edward in the movies is a skinny pasty white boy with an ugly hair dye and contacts who I will say is a terrific actor - in other movies.  I know for a fact that the vast majority vehemently disagree with me, and that's okay.  I'm also annoyed that so many are naming their kids Edward, Jacob, Bella, and Cullen.  Really it's because I liked the name Jacob way before any of the books got popular, but now it's the #1 name for boys and I just can't quite bring myself to name my next baby Jacob - like planned.

Yes, I am an odd duck, I'll admit.  And I probably will end up seeing Eclipse in the end - one can only go against the current so long, right?  :o) haha.