I went in for my 32 week checkup earlier this week. And it turned a little traumatic. First of all I have been battling an upper respiratory infection so we had to discuss that and get some antibiotics prescribed. Then we talked about baby’s movement. I mentioned baby hasn’t been moving quite as much as usual. Not a huge deal, but worth mentioning.
Dr. Brozena measured my belly and got a strange look on her face. She measured again and told me although I’m baerly 32 weeks, I’m measuring at 34 weeks. Then we decide we should do another sonogram at my next appointment to get a reading on baby’s size (woohoo!!!) Then…she goes to listen to baby’s heartbeat and can’t find it. Um. Can you say PANIC!! First I say baby isn’t moving as much, then I’m measuring pretty big, then we can’t find the heartbeat????? Luckily my sweet doctor is awesome and she (I swear) ran to get the sonogram machine. She was able to find baby and the heartbeat very quickly with the sonogram machine. Heart was beating away, she just couldn’t find it because baby is laying transverse on the top of my uterus. Silly child. She said baby is curled up in a super tiny ball at the top of my uterus. Interesting.
Praise the Lord all is well. I have been on antibiotics and am getting better. Baby is moving a lot again. Sonogram is scheduled for next Monday (May 6th). I’m anxious to see how big baby is. As of now c-section is scheduled for June 17th, but I would have NO problem with moving that date up a week or two 🙂
**As an update. On Sunday baby noticably dropped. Again, kind of freaked me out since I’m only in my 33rd week. Next Monday can’t get here soon enough!
***I think I might be done working out too. I’m so sad about this latest development, but I went to the gym this afternoon and it was very hard on me. So sad. I have finally gotten into a good routine and now I have to stop for a while. Oh well…
In preparation for Baby #3, we have moved Alison into the same room with Reed. We pulled Reed’s brown crib out of the garage and set it up in his room. We have been building this idea for several months with each of them, and there has been no sign of conflict, especially with Reed. The two of them have been playing together so much better these days as their friendship is growing. We no longer have to watch that Ali will get beat up, in fact, she can fend for herself against her big brother rather well.
So, last Sunday afternoon, I pulled the crib out to setup in time for afternoon naps. Both kids got super excited as I was putting it together, and we tried our best to field the barrage of questions from Reed. Afterwards, they played a little, but wound down for naps in each of their beds.
The challenge here will be either getting both kids on the same schedule, or adjusting our routine with Reed to allow Ali to go down first, and then get Reed into bed without disturbing her. We will update this post as it develops. For now, they are both excited and this will no doubt grow their relationship (and probably form a sibling alliance against the powers that be).
We held the 2nd annual Easter egg hunt at Granny’s house on Good Friday and had a great turn out again. Everyone enjoyed the time outdoors and the weather did not disappoint.
The Aggies are now part of the SEC and baseball season is finally upon us. For all the hoopla that the football team got for entering the nation’s toughest conference in football, baseball has flown under the radar. The SEC claims recent National Titles in 2009 (LSU), 2010 and 2011 (both South Carolina). Needless to say, the all-around competition has taken a step up.
With that said, tougher competition usually equals higher expectations, and higher expectations usually equals more attention (media and attendance). We got our first sign of this when season tickets sold out shortly after they went on sale for the season. We had to mindful of when the general admission single game tickets went on sale so that we could guarantee tickets for the games we wanted to go to. The next sign came when we pulled up to Blue Bell Park around Noon with our camper… there were already a fleet of RV’s setup for the weekend, and we even thought we were early! Gone are the days of this little secret vacation spot we have in College Station during Spring Break for some college baseball. No more last minute tickets and prime tailgating spots without fighting the crowds. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted, but it won’t deter us by any means.
The Friday night game is always my favorite. The anticipation leading up to the series and the cool weather under the lights makes for a really great environment. This game did not disappoint. It was a tight game with plenty of drama (see “What’s the Deal with Superman”), and the Ags won. We had friends meet us at the bus afterwards, so Reed got to stay up EXTRA late with us and our guests.
One thing about sleeping in an RV or camper at Blue Bell Park… you WILL hear the train go by ALL night. I think Juile counted 12 that first night. Forget thinking you will sleep through it, no matter how tired you are, just hope you can go right back to sleep.
Saturday was the big tailgate as always, and our friends from Dallas and Houston descended upon College Station to join us. The kids are all growing up, and we are not done multiplying either so there are still new faces every year. The game was packed so we relegated to the lawn where everyone could be together and spread out by the playground.
On Sunday we are always ready to go, but it is always the most relaxed time around the ball park. We got Reed out on his new bike around the parking lot and then packed the truck and camper. One of these times we will stay for the Sunday game (and this should have been the time), but we opted to get on the road.
The Aggies swept the series against Georgia. To the SEC: Welcome to Aggieland!
If you have known Reed at all, you know he has an aversion to new things, especially when it comes to vehicles. His PowerWheels Jeep for Christmas a few years ago was our first example of this. To this day, he has never driven it by himself. However, the kid loves cars and “fixing” them. If he would just get past his frustrations he would love it so much.
Unbeknownst to us, my parents bought Reed a bike for his 4th birthday. We had actually considered this ourselves, but his aversions made us think twice. Regardless, they bought this one for him to use out at their house where there is plenty of space to ride (and not just in the street).
We had an upcoming trip to College Station for Aggie Baseball, and we were going to be in a big parking lot for the entire weekend. This would be a perfect time to focus on the bike and see if it was going to be something he chose to learn or not.
We got it out Friday and he had no problem sitting on it, but didn’t quite understand how to push with his legs to make the pedals go around. I mostly just held the outer part of the handles and pushed him around. He did find out that pedaling backwards is the brake. When the frustration set-in, we sat down on the ground at the bike and I showed him how the pedals go around while I lifted the back tire off the ground. That seemed to help him make sense of the concept.
On Saturday we had our big tailgate and a lot of distractions, so he mostly just showed off his bike to everyone, but didn’t want to spend time riding it. I watched him sit on it for long periods, but never went anywhere.
On Sunday morning, after all the chaos from the weekend was gone, we got back on the bike. This time, I did not hold the handles, but instead would push him to get his momentum going. This made it easier to pedal, so he got his feet moving as well. This seemed to be the key. I literally watched it click in his head as he started to move his legs independently. As one foot got to the top of the rotation, he would push with that leg. Then he was off… I would get him started every time he stopped, but it was only if the pedals were in a position that he couldn’t do it himself.
The video below is shortly after it clicked for him, and fortunately Julie was on the spot with the video camera.
We’ve been using our popup camper for about a year now. Between the lake and tailgating, we have broken it in quite well, and the kids are used to the accommodations. However, all of those trips have been along side the Reasonover’s bus, which has all the OTHER amenities (ie: running water, heat, fridge, kitchen, microwave…). So we haven’t exactly been roughing it. It was time for us to branch out on our own with our little popup and take a weekend alone as a family.
Cliff notes version:
We went to Guadalupe River State Park. One trip to the ER. One night of freezing temps. Campfire meals. Plenty of laughter, screaming and crying. Lots of walks and fresh air. Hundreds of rocks thrown in the river. Best part of the weekend… the grin on Reed’s face when we woke up in the popup and sang “Happy Birthday”.
Check out the pictures, videos and full version below.
Full version:
Guadalupe River State Park is 30 minutes outside of San Antonio, and even closer to our side of town. This was perfect to focus on the destination and not so much the road trip. This is the shortest trip we’ve ever taken with the popup. The lake and College Station are each 2.5 and 3hrs respectively. We opted for a Saturday to Monday since the drive would be so short. It was certainly a nice change since we are always facing traffic getting out of town after work on a weekday, so we allowed ourselves the luxury of going-with-the-flow the morning we left.
We were in our spot by 11am, and that was after a trip to HEB on the way for last minute items… like diapers. The weather was amazing and the kids were in a great mood. This was shaping up to be a GREAT weekend already.
Then all of that derailed…
Not 15 minutes after we had setup the camper, unloaded the truck and began unpacking, I was playing a little baseball with the kids. Alison went to go get the ball and tripped over a rock sticking out of the ground. She cried instantly, and when I scooped her up, there was blood down her face and a puncture wound on her forehead from another rock she had fallen onto.
I handed her off to Julie and raced for the first aid kit that I had packed in the camper (hat tip to Scouting). We cleaned it, and after confirming with Laurie over the phone, we were off to the hospital. We scurried to pack the valuables in the truck and throw the rest into the camper. The park headquarters recommended a few urgent care facilities (Boerne or Bulverde), but we knew she needed stitches and our recollection of Reed’s stitches at an urgent care facility was NOT pleasant. Julie’s gut was to go all the way back to SA and go to Methodist Children’s Emergency.
The cut was jagged enough that the doctor confirmed the need for stitches instead of just gluing it. Julie stayed was Ali and I waited with Reed in the lobby. Reed was a champ through the whole ordeal, but Chick-Fil-A and the iPad certainly played a role. Laurie met us in the waiting room just in time for me to go back and meet Julie and Alison right before the procedure. The doctor and nurses were amazing with her even for the short time that I was there. Blowing bubbles and singing songs was certainly not part of the experience at an urgent care facility.
Three stitches later, the doctor asked us what we were going to do about our camping trip. Julie replied, “Well, I guess we are going back.” The doctor and all the staff in the room smiled. “That’s my kind of family!”, said the doctor. Indeed we did go back. Our weekend was derailed and now Alison had a band-aid on her forehead, but three hours start-to-finish we were back at the campsite!
Now, where were we…
We were in an RV hookup lot that was about a 1/2 mile walk to the water. As soon as we got back, the best thing for us all was to get out and enjoy the great sunshine by the water before it got too dark and we needed to cook dinner. Alison was showing no signs of slowing down. A stroller ride, throwing rocks in the river, and a stop at the playground were just what we all needed.
Dinner the first night was foil wraps of chicken and potatoes over the campfire. Dessert was another foil wrap that Julie stole from The Pioneer Woman, called “Banana Boat“. Sweet gooeyness of marshmallows, caramel, chocolate and crushed graham crackers mixed into a sliced banana still in the peel! Awesome and a keeper.
That night was COLD. We had electricity of course, and a space-heater to warm the camper, but it was no match for the 35 degrees that first night. The kids slept wonderfully, but Julie and I were up chatting a shivering to keep warm. I also heard our cooler get attacked by the racoons you could hear in other campsites around us. By the time I got out there, the cooler lid was open and a rather fat raccoon was waddling under my truck. I surveyed the damage and he had only just disturbed our eggs.
Sunday morning was still very cold. We stayed in the camper as long as we could stand it, but our tummies started talking louder, so I got the stove setup for Julie. Eggs with cubed ham and potatoes is what she cooked while I did some dishes from the previous night. Julie’s prep work before we left certainly saved us a LOT of time getting meals on the table while we were out there. I commend her on that for sure.
We took our second trip down to the water after breakfast, and did a little more walking this time to see a different part of the river. The park has a “Discovery Center” down near the parking lot closest to the river, so we spent a good while in there with the place almost to ourselves.
Nap time back at the campsite was more of a rest time, at least for Reed. Julie and Alison were out, but Reed laid with me and could not lay down long enough to go to sleep. I at least got to lay down for a while and he sat up next to me just peering out the windows of the camper at our neighbors or watching the iPad. At least he had some down time.
We made our final trip to the water after nap (this time we drove) and spent it throwing rocks into the water at our original spot. Julie and I just sat down and let the kids be kids. Reed was piling rocks into his toy truck’s bed, and Alison was getting dirty in a tiny inlet of water. I videoed the scene and got some classic footage of them at this age. We stopped at the playground on the way back and stayed until Reed’s meltdown killed the mood. Fortunately we had the truck and could just throw him in and not have a long hike back to fuel his fire.
Back at the campsite, Reed and I got the fire ready while the girls took off to shower. Sausage and hot dogs over the fire, along with chips and then s’mores for dessert made for a rather simple meal after a long day. It was warmer the second night, so we stayed up and enjoyed the campfire a bit longer. When it was time for bed, the kids practically put themselves to sleep (the sign of a good day outside). We enjoyed a quiet, late-night beverage by the fire before we turned-in ourselves.
We slept much better and warmer the second night. No raccoon attacks, either (that I know of). When Reed woke up, the three of us sang “Happy Birthday” to him there in the popup. The grin on his face was a shining moment from the whole weekend. He had talked for months about camping for his birthday, and here we were doing it.
We made quick work of breakfast bars and packing before we loaded up. At Reed’s request, we stopped to pickup some donuts on the way home.
I think I write about Lent every year. It is my favorite season. It wraps the pain and discipline of the Lenten season in with the glory and redemption of Christ rising from the grave on Easter morning. What could possibly be more awesome than that? *As a sidenote I truly wish the Christmas season was more like Lent. I would be in heaven if the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas morning was centered on sacrifice instead of indulgence…but there I go on my soapbox again. This will become funny when you hear what I’m doing for Lent this year.*
Back to Lent…it starts tomorrow with Ash Wednesday. Randy and I try to dicuss our plans in advance so we are on the same page and so we can keep each other accountable. I am such a discipline freak that I don’t usually need accountability, but it is so nice to share the struggle and sacrifice with someone else. This year we are doing several things to honor the Lenten season.
1. Randy and I are going to read the New Testament together. We have studied the gospels and Acts several times so we are going to focus on the rest of the New Testament, starting with Romans. By keeping the text short I’m hoping to really read the words and not just be focused on finishing. Usually when I read the bible I am tired of reading by the time I get to Romans and beyond. So this time we are starting there. I can’t wait!
2. Randy is going to start an exercise regimen. I don’t know what exactly he has planned, but it is something he has wanted to do for a while, and this season is a great motivator!
3. Here is the ironic part. Remember my soapbox about the indulgence and excess of Christmas. Well, many times the reason we are on a soapbox about something is because we are already struggling with that particular thing and it’s easy to blame society on our own shortcomings. Hmmm. For Lent I am giving up shopping. Ouch. Our budget has been taking a big hit lately because I have become impulsive. I feel so ugly on the inside when I’m so frivilous. It is time for me to get myself back under control and stop with the spending. My plan is that we will buy the essentails; groceries, gas and diapers. And nothing else. I realize there will be a few necessary exceptions to this like Reed’s birthday is in a few weeks. And we will need to buy Easter outfits for the kids. I am so excited for this challenge for me. I can’t believe how out of control I have become. I’m ready to start this season of discipline and SO ready to get myself back under control. I think the root of the problem is that I’m a little bored at work. That does not do well for budgeting when Amazon and Old Navy etc are just a click away. My only hope is that I won’t need any maternity clothes between now and Easter…wish me luck!!
We are officially at the halfway mark! Baby is growing well and so far everything looks great. The sonographer couldn’t get a great view of his (I just started calling baby ‘him’ we held strong and didn’t peek!) heart so we will redo the sonogram in 4 weeks. Oh darn!
Baby is measuring right on track at 20 weeks, and a weight of 12 ounces.
Alison and I had the best morning on Saturday. Reed wanted to stay home and play, so Alison and I headed to visit DB at Starbucks. Alison is so into accessories right now. She wore two necklaces, boots, her puffy jacket and sunglasses for our morning outing. Here are some pictures from Starbucks.
After DB finished her lunch break (at 9:45!) Ali and I headed to Nordstrom Rack so I could buy some shoes with my Christmas gift certificate. Alison was definitely in her element. Before I show you the pictures I want you to know that we have never been shoe shopping before. This is all innate ability to shop well.
The first picture are the first shoes she put on. She declared those to be ‘too big’, so she put them back in the box and back on the shelf where she grabbed them (all by herself). She then proceeded to try on about 8 pairs of shoes…all in either neon or bright yellow or green. Every.single.pair. I missed several of the shoes she put on, but here is a little picture collage of the shoes she tried on. The best part was that I kept walking behind us to make sure I cleaned up any mess she had made…she didn’t make a mess at all! She put every box back on the shelf where she got it. So stinking funny.
And yes, she wore the sunglasses the entire time we were in the Rack.
