Christmas Happenings

This year I pulled out the video camera instead of the still, so I got absolutely no pics of Christmas. I don't know how to edit and post video, so y'all will just have to use your imaginations...
It doesn't matter how many times I tell myself that I am NOT going to wait until Christmas Eve to take care of all the Santa duties, inevitably, EVERY year - Rob and I spend most of the night wrapping everything that 'Santa' brought. This year wasn't so bad though, we were only up til' 12:30 a.m. We cleaned up and headed for bed around 1 a.m. At 2 a.m. we are awoken to shouts from Cade..."Santa came, everyone! Santa came!" Rob ran down to stop him before he started tearing in to everything, but it was too late - all three olders were up, thankfully, Quentin was still snoring and unaware even with all the racket that Cade was making. Rob sent everyone back to their respective beds and told them to go back to sleep. Yeah, right! Cade tossed and turned and he and Jaron whispered and giggled about what Santa might have brought them, oh, and Brenna was sitting bolt upright in her bed, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as well....
Finally Rob relented and let them go down to choose one present to take back to their beds. That appeased them for all of two minutes, then we were once again listening to Cade's restless tumblings and the occasional sneaking down the stairs. He peeked...EVERYWHERE. There were things in the garage..he ran up and reported to his siblings, there was a note from Santa by the cookies..he reported that in the loudest stage whisper possible. He checked out the stockings and gave report as well. That was the last straw - Daddy told him that he was ruining Christmas for everyone, and that he had better get to sleep in a hurry or risk Santa coming back to reclaim all the presents. He finally settled down and I think everyone finally fell asleep around 4 a.m.
Rob and I woke up again around 7:30 a.m. and decided that we would let Quentin have first crack at the presents...this is where I started filming...he didn't care that Santa had come..he was just ultra-tweaked that he had been woken up! He cried and cried, layed on the stairs and cried some more. He finally got over his upset, however and made it downstairs the rest of the way. He was more than happy when he saw all the presents and kept looking at me, saying,"Christmas? Santa?" Then Rob handed him one of his presents.."Mine?" "Yes, yours", we said - and the melee began!
The older kids came down shortly after, and I do believe that all of Santa's handiwork was completely undone in about 15 minutes flat. Everyone was pleased with what they got and Christmas was declared a success, once again!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday and has a wonderful New Year!

I Guess I should Post SOMETHING...

I visited my 'required bed rest til' delivery' sister in law the other day and we were talking about internet and blogs and such and I mentioned that I had been neglecting mine......and she said "I KNOW!!!!!" Sorry...just haven't thought that there was much to say of late, I've been on Facebook quite a bit and most of the recent stuff is put in my status.
Everything is going fine..I am done with Chemistry, I got a C-, which apparently they don't like in the nursing program, but I am beyond caring. A C is a C as far as I am concerned...*sigh* but I will probably end up taking it again along with Anatomy and Physiology because I got a straight C in those two...I can see where A&P would come in handy with the nursing career, but Chemistry??? Seriously folks, I am quite certain that my knowledge of Chemistry will not determine whether or not I will make a good nurse! I can just see it now....patient: "It is absolutely IMPERATIVE that you know the molar weight of the sodium in the saline drip you are putting into me! At least the Lewis structure....." Me: "Uh...sure...draw that one right up for you..just a second..." Whatever..not gonna happen. EVER!
On the pregnancy side of things...well..I am definitely expanding. I had yet another ultrasound a week ago, and things look great - BUT - they want me to come back in another month..just to "make sure". This is all concerning her heart..yes..most definitely a 'she' - made them check again while they were looking around. They say that everything looks good as far as they can tell, but that the heart images are 'sub-optimal', so they want another look when she is 'bigger'. They actually made a deal with me..if I agreed to come back to them, then they wouldn't refer me to Primary Children's for a fetal echocardiogram, so I agreed. Why are they making such a big deal of this? Most of you know, that Rob had a wee heart defect when he was born, known as coarctation of the aorta. It was actually quite serious at the time and most likely could have taken his life, but some miraculous surgery was performed, blessings given, prayers said and everything turned out wonderfully. He is seriously one of the healthiest people I know, and I am grateful to Heavenly Father and all those who had a hand in keeping him here. Because without him..I wouldn't be experiencing all these wonderful 'blessings' that I have been priveleged to bring to this earth...
But I digress, back to the unborn one...
So, due to that hiccup in my husband's life, we have a higher chance of any sort of heart defect AND the fact that I am over 35, makes the doctors just a wee bit over-cautious. Nevermind that I have four perfectly healthy children, there is always a chance that THIS could be the one with problems. The end result is, they can see that she has four perfectly normal chambers, and that all the valves are functioning properly, but they cannot see the aortic outflow....because she clamps her hands down on her face whenever they try to 'take a peek', and won't budge, for anything. So her left arm obstructs their view, and they find that just a bit frustrating. The doctor did finally admit to me that most of these types of defects don't show up until after birth anyway, and that there is definitely no sign of catastrophic defect...but they want to be 'sure'. So, back I go on Jan. 2nd for another look, and hope that my insurance doesn't start hollering too loudly about it!
We are slowly but surely getting Christmas decorations out. The lights are on the house, the tree is up, maybe the decorations will get on it tomorrow night, we shall see.
I am doing this entry from my home computer, as I have been cancelled at the hospital yet again. A lot of the float pool personnel are beginning to grumble and I have heard a few other CNA's talking about getting another job to ride this out. I am not surprised at this turn of events...with the economy the way it is, everyone is going to feel the pinch. I am just grateful the gas prices have dropped to a reasonable level and that I have a back up to fall back on!
So, sorry, nothing much exciting happening here, but hey, I posted something new!

Bidding A Fond Farewell to My Toes

I have officially hit the 20 week mark in this pregnancy, and it has been blessedly uneventful! I had moderate morning (all day and night)sickness that completely disappeared by week 15, which was promptly followed by intermittent heartburn. I have experienced some contractions already, but that is normal for me, so I don't pay too much attention to them. I have finally begun to feel the baby move on a regular basis, which was a huge relief for me! At my last appointment, my midwife informed me that I have gained a whole pound, and that they would take what they could get. I guess they wanted me to have gained more by this point...I was thrilled with that news! Afterall, I'm already carrying around quiet a bit of excess weight from all my 'other' babies, the less I gain, the better! I am enjoying this pregnancy so far, and am grateful that I can! Above is a shot of my belly, I can't see my toes when I stand up, and don't expect to for the next 5 months!
I attended parent teacher conferences this afternoon with my husband. The kids are all doing well. Brenna got all A's and one B, this is the first year that letter grades are assigned for her. She loves school, and it shows! The boys are doing well, right where they need to be at this point in the year. All three of them have some wonderful teachers that are just what they need, and I am happy with that!
Quentin just celebrated his third birthday this month. I can't believe how big he has gotten! I still see him as my baby, and I guess I will until the new one arrives.

Here's his latest escapade of the day, and he actually didn't make that much of a mess!

Here he is playing with some of his birthday presents from us and grandma...this boy LOVES trains and just about any type of vehicle...


Well, that's all I have for now! I'm tired, so I'm going to take a Zantac, and go to bed!

Proud Mom Moments

A few things have happened in the last few weeks that make a mother proud. First, Jaron got his Bobcat award after working really hard for the last few weeks!

Quentin has decided that maybe potty training IS for him!



And last, it isn't really a proud moment, but just something that has made me really, really happy!

A Quick Announcement...

IT'S A GIRL!! Will post more details when I have more time...A Chemistry midterm is calling my name!

Most of you already know....

That I am pregnant with our fifth child. Fifth, and final. This is it, no more for me..no matter what the outcome. I used to have this thing about even numbers and that I didn't want a middle child, blah blah blah....and blah. Nope, five is just fine! We get to find out what the lil' stranger is come this Thursday...I, of course, am hoping for a girl, but am fairly certain that I will be adding yet another brother for my only daughter to enjoy. I will most happily be wrong, and she would be overjoyed to have a sister, and not another pesky little brother. Like I said, no matter the outcome, there will be no more!

I am still working for IHC, and still enjoying it for the most part. I have an opportunity coming up here in the next couple of weeks to cross-train over to maternity. I am very excited about this, as this is originally where I wanted to be. I might have had to go a round about way, but I am finally getting there!

I am still taking Chemistry and still wondering why. I guess I am just a glutton for punishment. I really want to get my nursing degree at some point, and this is required. But, ask any nurse if he/she EVER uses any of that miserable subject, and the answer is always a resounding 'NO!' followed by 'worst/hardest class I ever took' sigh....so I will continue to soldier through and hope that I pass, so that I can promptly do mass file delete in the cranial area as soon as I am done!

Halloween is around the corner, and the kiddos are excited! Brenna is a dressy devil, Jaron is a Whoopie Cushion, Cade is the grim reaper/scream guy, and Quentin is a train engineer. We had a test run on the costumes with our ward Halloween carnival, I took pictures, I guess I should post them...maybe I will, at some point.

My mother in law was here for almost two weeks and it was nice to see her again. Each one of the kids got their own 'day' with grandma and greatly enjoyed it. I even got to spend some time with her putting a little something special together for someone, which I enjoyed immensely! Of course, she helped out as well, which is always appreciated. I hope she had a quick and safe trip home, as I didn't get to say goodbye!

So, there, I have posted something for my public...is everyone happy now?

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