my sweet little family

Olivia's party :)

10:09 PM

I realized right before Liv climbed into bed, that I didn't take any pictures of her on her actual birthday! So, quickly we had a mini photo shoot :)

Tonight was her party! 9 little girls from her school came over for 3 hours! We had pizza, watched Monsters University, opened presents, and ate cake and ice cream. These little girls can sure eat! That many girls in one small house was a LOT, and when the 3 hours were over, we were all pooped! :)

Liv and her friend Ellie :) so sweet....

Her friends were so gracious to her with some fun gifts!

and they had a blast singing to her, too!

Ellie grabbed her hair for her, so we didn't have a repeat hair starting on fire event :)

Happy birthday sweet Olivia! Hope 7 is the best year for you yet!

pregnancy

37 weeks

8:35 AM

Dr appt today...baby's heart beat was in the 130's. My blood pressure was 142/86, so I had to do lab work and urine culture. All came back normal, but need to take it easy. Also, we have an ultrasound next Thursday because baby keeps measuring bigger. We shall see what comes from that!

How far along: 37 Weeks

Total weight gain: right at 30

Symptoms: rib and back pain, heavy body, racing heart, headaches, contractions, just kind of crummy

Maternity clothes: yup

Stretch marks: nothing new!

Sleep: if I don't take a daily nap, I am beyond exhausted

Best moment of this week: celebrating Olivia's birthday!

Miss anything: really am missing feeling normal

Movement: lots!

Food cravings: no

Anything making you queasy or sick: no

Have you started to show yet: yes

Gender: boy

Labor signs: contractions still....more often, but nothing super crampy yet

Looking forward to: Olivia's birthday party tomorrow!

Olivia is 7!!!!!

12:00 AM

this girl....

oh this Olivia of ours!

Today she turns 7. SEVEN!

It's crazy to think that we've had her in our lives for that long, but it seems as if she's always been here.

Olivia is so fun....spunky, spicy, funny, loving, cuddly, stubborn, daring, and we just love her to pieces.

Happy birthday, my sweet sweet girl!

You will be my baby for just a short while longer,

and then you'll get to be a big sister!

Can't wait to see how you grow into that role!

I LOVE YOU oh so much!

pregnancy

36 weeks

9:05 PM

How far along: 36 Weeks

Total weight gain: 28 I think

Symptoms: life is getting kind of miserable.  headaches, back ache, rib pain, contractions, blood pressure...ugh

Maternity clothes: yup

Stretch marks: nothing new!

Sleep: if I don't take a daily nap, I am beyond exhausted

Best moment of this week: not sure....

Miss anything: i miss having a normal non-pregnant body

Movement: lots!

Food cravings: no

Anything making you queasy or sick: no

Have you started to show yet: yes

Gender: boy

Labor signs:  contractions have gotten different, more pressure, tailbone pressure especially...

Looking forward to: more resting and nesting and getting prepared for this life changing event in a few weeks....

pregnancy

Preparing and Nesting

10:01 PM

Prep for this new baby boy has finally begun! Since we found out about this pregnancy, all of the "things" we have been getting have been going in our basement bedroom. In the last week or so, the following has been done:

washed all of baby boy's 0-3 month winter clothes
washed all of the blankets, burp cloths, sheets, towels, etc.
washed all of the "things", meaning the bouncer, swing, sleeper, play mat, etc.
put the crib up
washed all baby toys
washed all bottles, suckies, etc.
made a nursing cover, many burp cloths, car seat cover, diaper bag holder, and wipe case
began packing my hospital bag
probably more... :)

So, slowly but surely, we're getting there! I will say that with how I've been feeling, I will be very surprised if baby stays put until C-section day....but, we shall see! :)

Sweet Dixie

10:42 PM

We had a good week with Miss Dixie. She and Winnie played a lot, she slept a lot, we finally heard her "voice" with a soft whine and a little bark. Day by day we realized that we just could not handle having a blind puppy.

It was one of the hardest weeks I think I've had for a long time. Dixie is so very precious to our family, and we just hated the fact that we couldn't keep her. I set out on a search for the perfect family for her.

A few weeks ago, I had messaged my mom and mentioned a couple that I went to Bible College with. On Facebook, this couple talks about their pets as though they are their children, and the love they have for animals is so apparent. I said that I wished I could find a family just like that for Dixie.

That couple saw a post I put up on Facebook, and they contacted me and felt so led to inquire and adopt little miss Dixie. I knew that I wouldn't be able to let her go to anyone but them.

We arranged to meet 1/2 way between where we live and where they live. I had planned on doing the driving, but I had been having such a hard week with contractions, plus Olivia was home sick that day. So, Daddy stepped up and drove 2.5 hours to take Dixie to her new home...

The night before she left, there were monster tears at our home. It was so painful to let her go, and it still hurts a lot to think that she is not in our home. Watching her walk out the door with Daddy was one of those moments that I will never forget. It hurt so so bad.....

Daddy was so great to send messages as he was driving so I could see her....

They stopped and had some outside time while they were waiting for her new daddy to come and pick her up.

Here is her new daddy, Eric. Daddy said that she licked him, and seemed to really like him. She slept on and off on her next trip back to her forever home.

Here is Dixie with her new mom and dad, and brother and sister. We have exchanged numerous messages, and Dixie is doing wonderfully.

She is mapping out their house really well, is sleeping well, and has made her way into the hearts of her new family....

We miss her like crazy, and talking about her still is hard for us...but, we know she is in the right home. We are so thankful that this family felt led to adopt her, and are looking forward to watching her grow up with them!

pregnancy

35 weeks

3:50 PM

How far along: 35 Weeks

Total weight gain: 28 I think

Symptoms: lots and lots of contractions during this week.  Stress induced, but there has been a lot.  They have changed, also.  They are a bit more uncomfortable....

Maternity clothes: yup

Stretch marks: nothing new!

Sleep: finally able to sleep without a dog/puppy waking me up!

Best moment of this week: getting to love on Dixie

Miss anything: not having contractions!

Movement: lots!

Food cravings: no

Anything making you queasy or sick: no

Have you started to show yet: yes

Gender: boy

Labor signs:  contractions

Looking forward to: packing the hospital bag, and continuing to get ready for baby boy...

Puppies are gone (well, almost)

10:31 PM

I decided to turn on some WICKED last week, and Dixie went over to listen to it, and then fell asleep on the potty pad!

Rocky went home last Saturday! His family came all the way from Wisconsin to get him!

Liv has really been enjoying reading lately! She brought home a book from school, and read it to the puppies! Sonny seemed to love it!

Sonny left on Thursday after school! He is going to be living 1 hour away! His new name is Gus!

I caught Rosie and Dixie cuddling together this week....

Dixie was spending more time out of the kennel with us to see if her and Winnie can learn to live with each other.

They LOVE to play together under strict supervision! Winnie loves the squeaky toys, too!

more cuddles with sweet Dixie!

Howie, after his bath, before his pick up!

Howie left us late Friday night! He will be living in Mpls!

Looking very bare in the kennel on Saturday morning!

Rosie and Dixie taking one last nap together!

Rosie left around noon on Saturday! She is living in Iowa!

So, that leaves Dixie! We set up this nifty kennel for her, and it's working so far. As heartbreaking as it is to admit, we have decided to try to find a home for her. Momma doesn't have enough to give to a new puppy and a new baby. So hard to come to that conclusion, and we're very sad about it. Searching for the best home for her! She deserves the best! :)

pregnancy

34 weeks

11:07 PM

How far along: 34 Weeks

Total weight gain: 25 ish...ick

Symptoms: contractions are getting to feel a bit stronger, and a bit different.  Tired a lot, legs and arms feel heavy a lot, too.

Maternity clothes: yup

Stretch marks: nothing new!

Sleep: i love to sleep!  didn't get a nap one day this week, and it affected me...how sad is that!

Best moment of this week: beginning to wash all of baby boys clothes and "stuff"

Miss anything: sleeping straight through the night without getting up...ha!  better get used to that!

Movement: lots!

Food cravings: no

Anything making you queasy or sick: no

Have you started to show yet: yes

Gender: boy

Labor signs:  8-10 contractions a day

Looking forward to: setting up the crib, organizing all of baby boy's stuff in the coming weeks!

10 things....

7:22 PM

10 things we have learned from raising puppies:

1. they can poop in the shape of pretzels

2. they are the only ones who can break out into a wrestling match during an instrumental version of Jesus Loves Me, and not get in trouble

3. each others throw up is just as exciting to them as a normal meal

4. anything that is not taped to the floor is fair game for eating and chewing

5. they like to play the role of "mother" to each other and help clean each others "danger zones"

6. hair, toes, arms, fingers are all forms of teething toys

7. 8 weeks of cleaning up their stuff = endless amounts of paper towels, toilet paper, and laundry detergent

8. one puppy is a lot of work, and 5...well, it's just plain insane.

9. they love you unconditionally, want your attention at all times, and nothing makes them happier than just being with you!

10. Puppies are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pregnancy

33 weeks

9:29 PM

How far along: 33 Weeks

Total weight gain: 24-25 ish...

Symptoms: contractions, getting tired more easily, very unmotivated

Maternity clothes: yup

Stretch marks: nothing new!

Sleep: love it, and seems like I am almost needing a daily nap.

Best moment of this week: really enjoyed some time with our friends Dustin and Ashley...that was really nice!

Miss anything: not feeling like i'm tired all the time

Movement: lots!

Food cravings: no

Anything making you queasy or sick: no

Have you started to show yet: yes

Gender: boy

Labor signs:  8-10 contractions a day

Looking forward to: getting things set up for this baby!  we haven't done anything yet...waiting for the puppies to leave first!

Puppies are 6 weeks!

9:10 PM

We have been spending a lot of time outside! At least a couple of times a day! The puppies LOVE it, and it tires them out, which I love! I also love when they pee and poo outside rather than inside!

Don't let him tell you he doesn't like these pups :)