Baby 4 is keeping me on my toes!

Well, it’s been one heck of a past 48 hours, and I think I just experienced my first false labor ordeal.

In my past 3 labors, I felt pretty confident and sure of myself.  Sure I had lots of Braxton hicks, and the odd question of, “could I be in labor” a few times the week before each child arrived, but nothing where I went into the hospital or called for back- up, or packed a hospital bag unnecessarily.  In fact, they were all pretty normal early labors, “ text book” I’d say.   My contractions would start as mild and gradual, and then become closer and more intense, and then they’d hit the point I just knew that I’d need to head into the hospital.  I’ve told friends expecting their first child, “Oh- you’ll just KNOW!”

Well, on Tuesday I didn’t feel the greatest.  A bit under the weather and tired.  By supper I was having cramps and contractions fairly close together, and I thought,” THIS IS IT!”  They felt like real contractions with back pain and cramping and close and consistent.    But, then they’d slow a bit, then pick up again.  I knew that the inconsistency of them probably meant it wasn’t the real deal, but it sure felt REAL!  I was exhausted by ten pm with the uncertainty and strain, and noticed they were slowing down a good amount when laying down, so I just decided to try and fall asleep and see what the night and early morning might bring.

I slept great until 5 am, then woke up just wide awake with more dull pain and cramps and feeling VERY off and awful.  However, I didn’t have any contractions.  So, after considering everything decided to take on the daycare kids, send Dave to work, and see what the day would bring.  By 8 AM, I regretted my decision, as I was having contractions 2-3 minutes apart, long and painful.  I put all the kids in front of the TV, and moaned away trying to time them and decide my plan of action.  After about 30 minutes of this,   I decided to call the hospital and see what they thought I should do.

After talking to a nurse on the phone, she advised I come into the hospital to be assessed.  She said not to rush, but to get child care arranged and leave within an hourish. SO, I called Dave home from school.   He got home in  10 minutes flat, and pumped out some lesson plans for his supply while I called parents to pick up kids, and arranged childcare for my own, and  finished up packing my bag.   This with many pauses on the staircase or floor to breathe through a contraction, etc.   By the time everything was lined up a bit over an hour later, my contractions were spacing out to about 5 minutes apart and were less intense.  We headed into the hospital, and got checked into an assessment room pretty quickly. 

Sure enough, the monitors registered contractions 5 minutes apart, but they got less and less intense over the 2 hours I was there.   I expressed my pure uncertainty as to whether this was true or false labor to the nurses.  I would swear I was in labor one minute because of the pain and intensity, and then have nothing for a while.  I have never been early, and that was also a big question mark.   I had a great seasoned nurse, who assured me that 4^th babies were always “tricky” in their timing and very rarely seemed to follow textbook patterns.  It was both reassuring and scary to hear.  Finally, they checked my dilation, and although a few cms (which is normal for somebody who has had a few kids) they thought I was a bit too high and hard, and that my cervix was not currently, “laboring.”  They sent me home and said to relax, have a bath, go for a stroll.  Perhaps it would pass, or progress.

Oh man! I felt so devastated.  It was so much stress and work making all those plans to get the kids and Dave’s classes covered,  and then to be sent home!  I felt bad for all the people who just reorganized their life for me.   I cried on and off the whole van ride home, all the while experiencing random painful contractions here and there, and still feeling like I was in labor!    I arrived home to confused kids, and some friends who were hanging out with them.  They offered to stay the night and next day or 2 in the event I was just in super early labor, and also just to ease my load and help out.  The workload of my life feels a bit unmanageable at this point, and the stress of wondering if I was in labor, made me readily accept.  

After a relaxing afternoon rest and bath,  I got up and had a cup of tea, and by 4pm, was certain I was in labor.  I was having contractions 2-3 minutes apart that I had to breathe and sway through, and bolt to the bathroom for, thinking the pressure might bust my water!  This went on for a little over an hour, and I was feeling so thankful the kids were in good hands, and that Dave was available.....and then it just STOPPED!  Totally stopped.  For an hour. Nothing!  I had a few more hours of milder ones 5-10 minutes apart, but by 9 felt totally exhausted from the day, and went to bed to see if I could sleep.   

It was the strangest sleep last night!  I slept hard and well, except for every hour or 2, I would have the most intense contraction from nowhere.  It wake me up out of the blue and would make me JUMP out of bed, and lean forward and grasp onto the corners of the bed and holding in my breathing and moaning as best I could from the snoring Dave.  They would last a minute, and then I’d just get my feet under me and brace myself for another one....and there would be NOTHING!  Not even a Braxton hick! 

So, this morning the same pattern has followed.   I woke up feeling heavy and having some back pain and dull sort of aches.  But all that has happened is every few hours out of nowhere a contraction hits like a log, and then nothing follows.  I did meals and homeschooling  with the kids today, and the lovely Sarah Guindon has been hanging out with them otherwise.  I had a great afternoon nap, and since then haven’t had BOO!  Nilch.  Nada! Zero. 

So, I feel entirely confused and somewhat frustrated, and I think it may have been a false alarm?  Or, maybe I am going to have a very long drawn out early labor for a few days?  I am VERY thankful to have Sarah staying with us until tomorrow, and so my mind is much more at ease currently as I write this. 

Although, I must say I feel terrified my body just did a lot of prep- work for the real deal, and when labor does come, it will be fast and furious, but I won’t believe it’s real, and then I’ll have a baby in the van!   I’m feeling uncertain if I should be in “labor go” mode....or just forget about the past 48 hours, and pretend nothing will happen until my due date!  I have friends all signed up for different shifts the 2 weeks surrounding my actual due date who are able to come quickly to relieve me....but should I try and put plans in place in the meantime?  Oh, I just don’t know.  Taking it one day at a time is hard.

Taking things one day at a time is hard when you are super pregnant.  Really hard.  Trying to keep my chin up.   Thanks for reading, and weigh in on your guess for my due date on my facebook page.  Date and Time!  That will be fun to see.  I’m out!

So, that is where I am at! 

Why 30 will be good

I’m sitting here in the quiet, eagerly awaiting the return of Dave and the kids from New Brunswick.  I’m certain I have a few more hours, but can’t wait to see them!  We all traveled to Fredericton together the end of July for our annual Family Visit.  I don’t want to say the trip was a disaster, because it certainly wasn’t.  I have a few very fond memories and I hope I look happy in all the stunning landscape pics I hope to post tomorrow.  But we all got very sick a few days into our trip, and it me a long took a long time to recuperate.  While I would have liked to do more game playing, socializing and special things.... I mostly laid low and tried my best to act pleasantly while giving myself inner pep talks.  “Chrissy....don’t cry.... don’t throw up.... don’t go to bed it’s only 10 am.... try to smile....make some conversation...”  The combination of stomach flu, sore ribs following, heat and third trimester nausea was a bit much for me amidst all the traveling and events.  I think Dave and the kids had a pretty good time, and it was nice to catch up with family.  I hope it will be in the budget to go back next summer for a “redo” of sorts.

Prior to our trip, Dave told me for my 30^th birthday he wanted to give me a week to myself.  So, he had planned to send me home after our usual 2 week stay, and then stay an extra 5 days with the kids at his parents.  I was very happy to agree to such a wonderful gift, and I was happy everyone was healthy by the time I took off on Monday morning.  I was so proud of Dave, as the night before I left, he was researching all free and fun things for kids in Fredericton and put together a weekly plan to go here there and everywhere keeping them entertained and out of the house. 

I had a (both quick and long) car ride home with Katie and Dan who were travelling back after a week out East, and couldn’t wait to fall into a hot bath and bed when we arrived Monday around supper.  However, the house was a bit gross smelling and so I decided to do some “dog laundry” before passing out.  It was at this moment, our old and faithful  washing machine decided to die and the seal went on the bottom creating a flood in the basement and one panicked pregnant lady.  Thank the Good Lord for faithful friends who ran over with their wet vac and rescued me after I attempted to soak up the water with 20 towels and move the machine and ...it was just too much!  After getting all that sorted out a few hours later, I went to toss something in the garbage only to discover compost left under the kitchen sink and a host of maggots and fruit flies galore.  I spent some time ridding myself of that mess, and then just decided to wash the floors and dust while I was at it.  So, I spent the next several hours cleaning and crying.   Happy stay-cation to me!

I’d just finished reading a natural labor book the day before ( why I want to do this naturally again, is sort of beyond me) but it talked a lot about how common it is for pregnant women to  feel like crying for no apparent reason in the last few weeks or months leading to delivery.  And how important and good it is to LET IT OUT and go with it, instead of repressing it all.  So, I tried to heed said advice as I am naturally a holder-inner, and spent MOST of the next day crying on and off as well, and then felt a whole lot better!

So, what have I been doing with my 5 days of freedom you may ask?  Well, I really have done more sitting and sleeping and reading and listening to music than I have done in 5 years.  But, I would go craaaazy doing that all day.  So, I have done productive things I enjoy like: catching up on baby books, made a pile of freezer meals, organized the kids toys, researched washing machines, put together a fall daycare schedule, chores lists for the kids, and caught up with several girl friends.  It’s amazing how much you can actually TALK with just a few kids around instead of 5 or 6! 

I have also had a lot of uninterrupted   thinking time to review the year and anticipate the year ahead.  I consider my year starting in September and ending in August because of Dave’s work... and that’s just always the way I have done it.   Anyways... I have come to the conclusion that year 29 was challenging and long in several ways.  Adjusting to the daycare venture was a HUGE life adjustment.  Homeschooling  Jesse was rewarding but took adjusting to as well.  A miserable Pregnancy was the primary culprit in most of my distaste for the year, a long winter didn’t help, and then a spring and summer taken over by the job of moving and adjusting to a new house was also pretty major.  I am thankful for friends and family who helped in both big and small ways through this year, but I am ready to LEAVE IT, and jump into 30.

I am looking forward to a lot of things this year.    Baby Four is definitely at the top of the list.   I can’t wait to MEET THIS LITTLE ONE!!!!  I know I have to birth the child, and then heal, and deal with less sleep.  But I will take all of that over the grey dulling of my inner core that seems to hit hard when I am pregnant.  My biggest issue is not all the discomfort from carrying the babe, or the extra stretch marks or veins, or the barf and back pain and fatigue.  These things certainly all contribute, but mostly, I feel like my husband and kids get robbed of a good mom and wife for the year.  I really do feel like a 50% version of myself for 9 months.   Every time I have delivered my babies, I feel like a new person just a few days after.  It’s like a fog has been lifted and my spirit has been lightened, and I always say to myself, “This is what I’m like!”    I’m really excited to find out the gender of this little one as well.  I think it will make the laboring process a bit more motivating with that suspense at the end.    The baby is due October 2, and I feel like September will be a challenge to handle all the business while being so big and uncomfortable, but once he or she is here, I hope it will be much easier and enjoyable.

Another excitement is that I am looking forward to Jesse and Janna’s homeschooling curriculum.  Jesse starts in with Math and Handwriting and Science experiments this year on top of his core requirements, and I am pumped to tackle this with him.  Janna will also get a 30 minute school time with me later in the day that will involve reading some great literature with a short discussion after, introduction to letter sounds and formation, and a fun activity each day.  I just told her over vacation that she would be starting homeschool with mommy and she was SO PROUD telling everyone, but especially telling Jesse.

I am looking forward to a less strenuous daycare schedule.  I just have 2 part time boys this year who I really enjoy.  I am only working M/W/F’s starting in September and I find it pretty enjoyable that way with a down day in between.

I am looking forward to Dave going back to work and terrified at the same time.  My work load is about to triple- for real- and I’m mostly nervous about how to handle it with this big belly making many things difficult.   It’s been super to have him around for the summer, but he’s a great teacher and worker and I know he feels his calling in the classroom not with a bunch of toddlers day in and out.   We are going to try and arrange for an EVERY WEEK date night this year, and I am really excited about this.  We tried for every other Friday last year, but it was hard to find babysitting OR feel like doing anything at the end of the work week.  WE are aiming for a mid week Wednesday date night together, and this should be SUPER if we can make it happen every week.  If anyone out there wants to offer free services once a month on Wednesday nights, we are open- okay? The kids would be in bed.  We can pay you with popcorn and cable?

With all these exciting things in the horizon, I do get the odd panic attack.  A newborn baby, 4 other kids, homeschooling ,  a husband to love,  friends to invest in, a BIG house to clean now, groceries to buy, snacks- meals- snacks- meals, diapers-poop-diapers-poop.   But, I am mostly thankful that I am able to stay home with my kids at this age and stage even though it may be crazy.  It’s so important to me.   I am super thankful for Dave who is an absolute super star dad and supportive husband, too.  It makes this crazy journey doable and wonderful.

Well, that rant put in another hour of my day.  I hope I can stay awake for the arrival of the masses.  Who knows WHEN I will blog next.  On Wednesday we all start ”back to work,”  and I have a bunch of full time kids the weeks leading up to school, so it could get wild.

Thanks for reading. I’m out!

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

Well, Dave declared it officially summer a few days back, and today is my declaration!  Yesterday was my last day with extra kids (beyond my own) for almost a month, when I’ll start back up mid August.

July has been pretty swamped.  The move certainly was a big part of that, as is adjusting to the house and yard work.   But we have also been very busy with visitors, daycare kids several times per week, and appointments.  We take July to catch up on yearly dentist and doc visits, and things that are hard to do with all the kids on my own during the year.  Add in Dave’s woodworking spree, long runs most days, and my waddly- slower- moving self.... oh and the 3 little demanding kids of our own.  WE are ready to slow things down.

I have no intentions of taking back over the family blog on a daily basis, but will do a few posts during the summer as I feel like it.  We leave for the East in less than a week, and I am looking forward to having much less cooking and cleaning to do for a bit.   It’s always hard to strike a balance with all the family and friends we want to see, and things we want to do, AND trying to relax a bit.... but it’s always a great change of pace, and we look forward to slower feel the Maritimes offer.

Anyways, it is a stunning day here.  Not even 20 and breezy and sunny.  The boys are out at Vacation Bible School for the morning, and the girls and I have some gardening to do.  Janna loves to help water plants, Robyn is pretty good at entertaining herself in the back, and I have some berries to pick.  I tried making a Gluten Free strawberry rhubarb pie a few weeks back and it was TO DIE FOR.   Today will be the attempt at a raspberry rhubarb pie fresh from the garden for some supper company we’ll have arriving after nap time.   I think we’ll fill up the kiddy pool in anticipation of the next few days of sunny nice weather as well.

Happy Summer one and all.  Thanks for reading and Take care!

Chrissy

May flowers..

If any of you follow Dave’s blog, NO, this is not a hijack due to the gross chicken post J  I just have a few minutes on my hand and felt like doing a quick update.  Dave does a great job of capturing some of our day to day moments, but I like to ramble on about my latest organizational tasks and things about the kids...so here I go.

The weather has been AWESOME the past month.  It makes such a huge difference to be able to pop out into the front or backyard with minimal work.  Or, send the older 2 out on their own while Robyn and I get some work done around the house.

Packing has been going super.  I made a list of things to be working on each week, and I have been able to stay on top of it without being overwhelmed.  Currently, half the kitchen is packed up (you know  all those things you use once in while but can get by without for a month such as a brie baker, fondue pot, wine glasses, etc?)  The upstairs walls have been cleared of hooks, stickers and pictures.   The bedrooms are down to the bare basics of clothes and bedding with just a few toys and books out.  Most of our books, and 3/4 of the toys are packed up.  My sewing and scrapbook and art supplies are packed away. The storage room has been purged, organized, packed and labelled.   I have lots of little decor items packed away.  I have been trying to make a weekly list, and just tackle the packing tasks as a rainy day arrives, or the kids are just playing really nicely for an hour here or there.  On the packing list this week is to take down all the pictures and wall hangings on the main floor, and in the basement, and get them all wrapped and packed up, as well as do some work in the filing cabinet.

It’s been taking up most of any spare time I have, as I am finding myself needing 10-12 hours of sleep in the course of a 24 hour period.  I find this totally frustrating to require a daily nap, and early bed time, but am trying to listen to my body, and take the sleep I need to grow this little baby.  I remember needing a lot of sleep when I was pregnant with Jesse, and so I am feeling like this is another little sign that maybe I’m carrying a boy.  Just my hunch...although I think there is a greater chance it’s a girl, my inkling is a boy.  We’ll see in due time...

The kids are doing great.  This is Jesse’s last week of homeschooling for the year, and I’m happy he’ll have June off to spend extra hours outside.  He adores riding his bike, and spends any minute he is allowed outdoors in the front or backyard.

Robyn seems to have a similar outdoorsy love, and spends half her time inside putting on different shoes from the entry way and asking me to go out.  Dave and I were dreading having an 18 month old to sunscreen this summer, as we remember both Jesse and Janna having meltdowns over being sun screened at her age, but oddly, she really loves having sunscreen applied.  If I pull it out and start lotioning up the other kids, she runs over and butts in the way and hollers frantically at me to give her a turn with it.    She likes trying to ride all the little (and big) bikes and scooters outside, and appreciates ants and bugs and dirt.

Janna is not as enthralled with nature.  While she loves heading out for a shopping trip, church, a Tim’s date, or errands, she does not like the “elements” that surround her outside.  The bugs, the dirt, the wind...etc. all severely ruffle her feather.   She often snuggles up on my lap on the step or our front lawn chairs while the other kids play and run around.   It’s funny how different the kids are, and fascinating to watch them in their own uniqueness.

Dave is in the last stretch!  He has been running or biking into work several times a week in an attempt to get in exercise during this extra busy time.   A few more weeks of classes and then the final shove.  The banquets and evening commitments have started, and I forgot how much I dislike doing dinner and bedtime on my own, especially after caring for 4 or 5 kids on my own since 6 am.  But, the summer is in the horizon, and having a good chunk of time off together is worth it ( I think?!)

Well, kids are finishing up snack, and we are going to head outside as there is a pause in the rain.  It might storm a bit later, so we’ll suck up the fresh air as we can.

Thanks for reading! I’m out!

Chrissy

the low down

We’re into May, and the grass is finally green, the trees are starting to bud, and we have a week ahead with predictions of sun and temperatures into the teens.  April flew by with lots of fun things going on.  We had nana and poppie visit from New Brunswick, then Easter to celebrate, and last weekend we had a kid free weekend OFF. 

Tamara took our kids again, and it was much needed!  Things have been super busy at Dave’s school (although I find that things are ALWAYS busy at Dave’s school)  Dave is not only involved in many extracurricular groups, but with the small and close-knit size of his school, he ends up being involved in what seems like, most all happenings.  For example, he is the media arts teacher, so for the big school play that took place last week, he not only had to organize the cappies event (which he leads) but he ended up having his classes do posters and promo materials, and head shots, etc.  Anyways, if he only had to teach classes, he would be a much free-er man.  But, he does such a great job at going above and beyond at his work and I’m proud of him.  There is just over a month left of classes, and then a month of exams, and marking and banquets  and school wrap up.  The end is in sight!  I am always just as excited for this time, as Dave’s school is pretty all consuming and the house and child responsibilities are usually mine alone to battle around this time of the year.

It’s kind of good to keep busy, though.  It’s been a tough pregnancy with continued fatigue and strong bouts of morning sickness here and there.  Certainly, it’s been an improvement from the first trimester, but I don’t feel great most days.  Having lots on the go keeps me distracted and away from self-pity I think.   I am almost at the half way point.  Whoa! Where did the time go?

Speaking of having lots on the go, to add to the May and June list is to pack up our entire house!  We are moving the end of June to a new place just 4kms south of here to a single home in Barrhaven.   We had no intentions to move, but a really great opportunity showed up on the door step and we truly felt like a gift straight from God was being given to us. 

The new house is just lovely! There are lots of things I could say about it, but that would be a long blog.  I will suffice myself with 3 things I am excited for.

1.       

Space!  We’ll be up to 3 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, a finished basement, etc.  The mud room and double garage with be most certainly used well.  But, my favorite space addition is definitely going to be the backyard.  Barrhaven tends to have smaller square backyards.  But, the house is on a corner lot, and deeper back without any rear neighbors.   It is entirely fenced in and has a new deck, swing set, sand box, shed, playhouse, garden, a long jump pit it if you like J, and lots of green space on top of this.  It is fully fenced and so it will be wonderful to send the kids outside to play, or enjoy BBQ suppers on the patio.   Dave is looking forward to having his own yard to mow, and I’m looking forward to sipping on icecold lemonades, lounging on a deck chair with a massive baby belly,  watching him do his thing.  HA HA.  Well, there are some flower beds, as well as a garden to tend to, and so I will happily try and learn along side of Dave how to tackle the rhubard, raspberries, garlic, asparagus, herbs, etc they have growing.  We were informed they are all easier to manage, so we’ll see how that goes.  Growing up, my mom disliked flowers and gardening.  WE moved into a house that had delightful landscaping and over the course of living there, she had all the beds ripped up and several trees removed.  So, I don’t have much experience in any of this, but I’m excited to learn. 

2.       THE LOFT.  My favorite room in the actual house is a living room that is half way upstairs.  It is huge with vaulted ceilings, a wall of windows, a fireplace, and a brand spankin’ new plush cream carpet.  It is “railed in” and so you can see downstairs or further up stairs from within it.  For now, it will be the kids playroom with a few comfy chairs.  It will nice to have a sunny and open spot for them to cozy into (especially during the winter months) and I like that the mess of toys will be up and away from the main floor...but I could still hear or see them if I was downstairs or upstairs.

3.       Royal tub! We have a full ensuite bathroom with one of those huge soaker tubs nestled into the corner.   I’m a bath person, and so this carries huge promise and excitement for those odd days I get to squeeze in a bath. 

SO, there is a lot of work to be done in the next few months to get done while watching the gang of kidlets.  I have vowed not to let packing rob me of the nicer weather FINALLY in the horizon, and so my plan is to get tons of packing and house work done on rainy days and evenings.   Last week we had rain almost every day, and so I got a few dozen boxes packed up, and the storage room sorted and purged.  SO, good things are happenin’!

What won’t be happenin’ for the next while is my blog.  However, Dave decided out of the blue to start in with his summer blog on the family early, so you can read about our adventures on a daily basis here: http://apartment1004.blogspot.com .  I have no idea how he is going to pull off blogging each day during these last few months of school, but if anyone can do it, it’s Dave!

Thanks so much for reading one and all.  I’m out!

Chrissy

April- Hallelujah!

The girls are playing nicely together, and the boys are out on an adventure this morning.  Our kids were far too snotty to take to church and put in nursery and Sunday school, so we decided to stay in this morning.  Of course you never want to pass on a cold to another family, but more selfishly, I am terrified of the kids picking up another stomach bug.  It was about a month ago that we dealt with stomach bug of doom for several weeks.  I think the kids might have picked it up from the swimming pool.  And sure enough, after another swim this past week, they seem to have developed pesky colds that have them up all hours of the night asking for help blowing their noses, requesting cough drops, and my favorite thing Jesse wails when he is a bit under the weather during the nights...”Mom, my head is shaking!”

Anyways, March was horrible, and I am trying to repress it, so I won’t spend too much time discussing that one!  Onto April, we have Jesse and Janna doing swimming together for the next couple of months, and then from June- August, Jesse will do soccer, and Janna will go back to gymnastics.  She did the winter session with Dave, and ADORED it!  Every Tuesday that has rolled around she pouts and asks why she can’t go back to gymnastics?  So, we will be signing her up for the summer session, and I know she will be just thrilled.  

Back to the present day.  The kids were a tad too under the weather to tackle church, but it was apparent a few hours into the morning that they needed a change of pace,  particularly Jesse, who has been rather sombre the past few days.  The thing that Jesse loves is one on one dates ending with a sweet treat.  So, Dave decided they’d bus to the O Train, and then after an exciting Train ride, they’d get off at Carleton U and hit up the Tim’s there for a donut and coffee.   I’m hoping he’ll be in much brighter spirits when he returns. 

The girls and I went for a walk to check out the status of the closest parks.  There are 3 that are about a 10 minute walk away (in different directions), so I set off with the girls in the double stroller, with a planned loop that should have taken about 45 minutes.  We checked out all 3 of the parks (still too snowy to navigate and entertain babies), but the path that usually cuts me across a field to get home, was covered in snow.  I should have turned around and backtracked home, but decided I’d check out where this one side street ended.  It ended VERY far away, and our walk almost doubled in length!  The girls were great though, and Robyn only fell asleep for the last 5 minutes.   I must say my hips are feeling mighty funny after such a long walk, but the fresh air and sun was refreshment for the soul.  

The weather isn’t great in Ottawa.  But, it’s certainly an improvement, and in comparison to the poor Maritimes that has been hit with horrendous storms and amounts of snow, I’ll take it!  It’s 6 and sunny today, and tomorrow is supposed to be 12 and sunny.  I’m hoping a few weeks and the parks will be playable (mind you, I’m sure muddy).  

There is so much to look forward to in April over the next few weeks that we'll survive the snow that is still on the ground.  Nana flies in from Fredericton tomorrow afternoon and stays for a week, with Poppie joining later on in the week and for the weekend.   Jesse has been counting down the sleeps since 18 days I think.  The following weekend will bring Easter celebrations, and then the following weekend Dave and I will be child free.  Tamara is taking all 3 again for the full weekend, and we couldn't be more excited.   I’ve got a spring cleaning list to keep me busy on the rainy and cool days likely in store for April, as my plan is to be outside from May-August.  Seriously, after such a LONG and COLD winter, I will be embracing the 4 months of sun and warmth with all my heart.

Well, lunch needs to be made, as Robyn is getting the hungry grumps. Thanks for reading. I’m out! 

March break, pregnancy blahs, and the end of winter

I think I preface most of my blogs with this statement lately, but I’ll say it again: It’s been a while!  I see that my last blog was right around Janna’s birthday.  This was shortly after I found out I was pregnant.  I have not dropped off the face of planet, folks.  (Although, I really wouldn’t mind re-locationg close to the equator these days)  It has just been a couple of crazy months, with little to no extra time,  I tell ya. 

When Dave and I decided to try for another baby, I figured that the end of winter would be a good time to “DO” Trimester 1.  I have never been good at Trimester one.  The nausea, the barfing, the runs, the exhaustion.  But, for me, the worst is my emotions go a bit wild.  Everything that I may have previously found a bit sad, I find TEAR INDUCING- sobbing- shaking sad.  Things that may have made me bristle a bit, make me outright ANGRY and my nostrils flare, and I go around slamming things.  I feel like a bit of a manic version of myself.  So, I figured I should get this OUT of the way while I was also hating the end of winter.   I never do so well in February, and totally understand this Canadian thing to fly south for a week in February.  I’m sure there will come a time for me to do this when I don’t have nursing babies, really little kids, and a tight budget.  For now, I just dream, and go a bit stir crazy.

Where was I?  Yes, we decided to aim for the bad time of the pregnancy for the bad time of the year, and at a time where I was SUPER busy with extra kids to watch.  I was hoping it would distract me??? And you know, it kind of has.  The kids have so much joy, and they keep me on my toes.  They keep me listening to cheerful music, singing, reading happy books, heading outside to play, planning art activities, and eating well.  And while my days have been going well, I sort of crash on the family by supper.  The other night Janna spilled her water all over the table.  A tiny bit dripped on her, and a HUGE amount all over me.  She burst into tears, and I said, “ Janna, It’s okay.  You don’t need to cry over a bit of water spilled on you”  And then I looked down at my SOAKING jeans, and burst into tears.  I think Dave took care of bed time and the cleaning that night.  But, usually, he deals with the kids after supper, I clean up the house, and then am in bed between 7 and 8 once my work is done.   There has been no energy for anything else.  Hence the lag in blog.

I had been looking forward to March Break SOOOO much!  It was like a beautiful sliver of light in a grey sky that kept me looking up and moving ahead.  I would get a little reprieve from the hard work, and some time to do special things with just my family.  I had a list all made: pizza party, basement campout, skating at night, museum trips, one last sledding adventure, etc.   

On Friday at 5, once my 3 extra little people took off for the day, I crashed into a warm tub of water and ate pizza while Dave fed the kids supper, put Robyn to bed early, and took the older two swimming. (What a good man, I have)    It had been a rough week, particularly with Robyn who had an ear infection and was joining me in crazy world because of her meds.  I think this swim trip I recommended MAY have been a mistake.  I think this is where, perhaps the kids picked up, “the plague.”  Janna kicked it off  for us in the wee hours of the morning with intense vomit and runs, and Jesse joined the next day, and Robyn the next. 

I am both thankful and frustrated that it happened over March break.  It is great timing in that I have only a couple of working days with extra kids here, and Dave around to help and for moral support.  But, my list of fun things.......* tear* The kids have literally been laying around on the couch like zombies, and asking to go to bed at all hours of the day.  They have barely eaten a thing, and any bit of drink or food they do eat, comes out violently in one way or another L     

Dave and I have a good system going.  I am normally fine with the kid’s gross fluids, but I have found it super hard on my already nauseated self.  So, Dave has generally ran to wherever they are, stripped them and cleaned up the mess, while I run a bath and get them washed up and redressed and comforted.   Aside from the lurching, it has been SOOO quiet around here.  I miss the loudness and giggles and smiles.   Robyn and Jesse seemed to be on the up and up this morning, but are back in the pits this afternoon with Janna.   I am thankful that Dave and I have been spared so far.  I hope it stays that way!

Dave has been my super hero the past couple of months.  I feel like he just gets how to handle my emotions now (better than I do).  I guess by the fourth time around, he knows what to suggest, what to say, and not to say!   He’s definitely picked up any of my slack, and been encouraging and upbeat despite my tired daze by 5, and random emotional outbursts.  

He has also been very gracious when it comes to my pregnancy cravings.  With each kid I have found myself needing lots of milk and fruit.  With Jesse, I think it was blackberries, Janna might have been kiwi, and Robyn perhaps strawberries?  With this one, I have needed a glass of OJ when I wake up.  It’s the thing that pulls my tired butt out of bed and gets my feet down the steps.  I have also been chugging lots of milk and have a grapefruit most mornings.   It’s been easy to keep the fridge stocked with these things, and finding something for breakfast is not too bad.  But, my worst point of the day is supper.  I always feel SUPER gross at this hour, and there is ONE and ONLY ONE meal that I can possibly imagine cooking or eating that will not make me puke.  The bad thing is that it is different every day!  And I don’t really know what it’s gonna be until the kids wake up from their naps and my stomach starts churning.  So, there have been lots of runs to the grocery store for ingredients around dinner time.  My meal planning is kind of out the door right now.  I still plan, but we don’t really follow so well.    Today I needed a Greek salad.  Yesterday I needed roasted potatoes, the day before that pizza.  Last week I needed a chicken pot pie.  The week before there was spaghetti one night, and hot dogs another.  It’s just ridiculous.  Always different, always random.   But, as far as our plans go, this is the last baby and pregnancy, so I am just trying to embrace it all a bit?   

I really hope the kids get better in time to enjoy a few fun things before Dave heads back to work.  I have 2 more really busy 5 day work weeks with 2-3 extras each of those days, but then a couple of my extra kids are finished their contract, and I’ll be back to 4 day weeks with 1-2 extra per day.  I’ll be at the 14 week mark around then as well, and so my nausea and exhaustion should hopefully let up as it has in the past 3 pregnancies.  I have generally had really awesome second trimesters.   So, my new sliver of sun through the grey clouds is April 1.  And let me tell you, Mother Nature better not play some April Fool’s joke involving a snowstorm and 25 extra cms of snow.  Seriously.  I might have to run away for a week, and hijack all our savings for our east coast summer travel and fly to Hawaii for a week.   You may have been wondering if this thought came to me right now.  Nope.... it’s been brewing....

Well, on that unsettling note, I should be off and away. The kids are going on almost 3 hours of naps, and I should get a bit of work done while they are resting up.   You should SEE the laundry that the stomach flu (*3 kids) produces.  It is crazy.  Thanks one and all for reading.  And don’t worry for real about me.  April is coming, I can make it without running away I think.   I’m out!