Charlie Brown Tree and Baby Update #7

This is our sad, sad, little Christmas tree. It stands 3 feet tall and fits on my little table thingy that we have by our couch. Its hard to see, but there is a star at the top and it has to be perfectly straight, or else it makes the tree lopsided. The kids keep trying to steal the candy canes, so they have been randomly placed back on the tree. We have had this tree since we were first married, and due to the fact of having a little house at the time and a super small budget, this tree was perfect! As I was putting the tree up, Slade looked at it and said, "that tree is a baby tree, mom. Hahaha!! That's funny!" So, I will be going out after Christmas this year and buying us a bigger tree and better ornaments.

Baby Update #7

Just a quick update about the baby... I had a follow up appointment with my doctor yesterday and he went over everything the specialist told me last week. BUT, he is sending me BACK to the specialist to have the same tests done as a precaution, which the specialist recommended. He questions why this baby is so small if everything came back normal. She shouldn't be in the 2nd percentile if everything is working properly. I was told my babies are on the small side, but not considered tiny like this one. Slade was born on his due date weighing 7 lbs and Daisy was born 6 weeks early weighing 4 lbs 14 oz. My doctor still thinks something is going on with the placenta, but we may not find out until I deliver. I have to be watching for ANY symptoms of preterm labor, and if I have anything questionable, I have to go straight to the hospital without a second thought. My water broke at home with my other two kids, and contractions started an hour later, so that is all I know what to look for. Anyway, I hadn't gained any weight since they saw me last, but I do feel bigger! She moves around a lot and has a strong heartbeat. I also have to visit my doctor every week starting at 32 weeks until I deliver. For now, we just sit tight and pray this little girl won't come early since everything looks good.

*Friday Update: I was at my parents house for dinner with the kids while Skylar was working, and I went to the bathroom and there was blood!! Not just a little... I was told to go to the hospital right away, so my mom drove me while the kids stayed with my dad. I called Skylar on the way to let him know what was going on and told him I would update him once I got to the hospital. So when I got there, I was sent up to L&D triage, gave a urine sample and then was hooked up to the monitors to check on the baby. She was moving around and had a strong heartbeat which was extremely comforting. The results of the sample came back negative for anything, so I was sent home! I am so grateful nothing resulted from that little scare, but now I have to be extra careful and keep a look out for any more blood as well as decreased fetal movement. I hope this little girl isn't going to be as much drama as she is already showing to be.

Baby Update #6

Good news! The baby looks wonderful! We went to the specialist today and had an ultrasound done. They can do some amazing stuff! Turns out that she is just small. The blood flow is normal, her heart is awesome and I have enough amniotic fluid for her to swim around in. They will, however, continue to monitor her growth to make sure she is growing. Because she is measuring so small, but my dates are right on, they will chart her growth on a curve from now on. I will have many more ultrasounds until she is born, which I love because its fun to see her. I go in for a follow up appointment next Thursday, then another growth ultrasound the week after that. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!

Baby Update #5

I went in for my 27 week appointment today and was able to get one 3D ultrasound picture! Its fun to see the baby that way, but this little girl kept hiding so this was the best picture we were able to capture. I'm still not showing like I should be, but I did gain 3 pounds since my last appointment. Turns out that the baby is measuring in the 2nd percentile for growth, and they get worried when that number is below 10%. My doctor is sending me to a specialist for extra testing to make sure the baby is getting the blood flow that she needs and is not stressing herself out by trying to get blood to her brain. If the test results indicate she is not getting the blood she needs, it means my placenta is not doing its job. I go to the specialist on Tuesday, then see my doctor in three weeks for a growth ultrasound. If she is not growing, I may be put on steriods to prepare my body and the baby for delivery. My doctor does not want the baby to come earlier than 32 weeks, but we will just have to wait and see. He also doesn't want me to worry, but that's not an easy thing to do! I am very nervous, but I know that we will be able to handle whatever comes our way. Thoughts and prayers would be much appreciated!! Thanks!
So, until next time...have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Family Playdough Night

Now that it is getting darker earlier, we are having to find fun things for the kids to do inside before their 8pm bedtime. I had made playdough a couple weeks ago and I also found a box of 101 cookie cutters at WalMart for super cheap, so I broke those out and we had a blast!

Little did I know how creative my husband could be. He started sculpting a face and kept looking at MY face for inspiration...

But, we both agreed it ended up looking more like him anyway.

Slade had to join in on the fun and wanted a face with a big nose...

Of course I had to make one too! Slade decided his needed toes as well...

The kids had so much fun with all the different shaped cookie cutters. Daisy was unsure of the playdough at first. She's played with some before, but just like everything else, she has to taste it as well.

Yeah, leave it to Skylar. It was a really fun night and we spent most of it laughing really hard. We'll be doing that again!!

Okay, you asked for it!

So, I was tagged to do the 4th file, 4th photo and here it is!! Pretty gruesome, huh? I could have cheated and had a cute picture of Daisy, but that wasn't the rule! This is the poor Javelina my husband brought home from hunting. He thought it would be a good idea to chop it up and eat it. Yeah, not so such a great idea. It was nasty and I will never try one of those things again, no matter how it is prepared.
I tag Kendyl, Kayci, Alisa, Melanie, Jamie, Stefanie B., Kara, Jody, and Kristi. Have fun!!

Happy Birthday Slade!

Our sweet Slade turned 3 today! Time goes so quickly...

Born November 9th 2005

Slade, we are so grateful to have you! You bring so much joy to our lives. You keep us laughing with all the funny things you do and say. We enjoy every moment with you. It has been really fun to see you grow up to be such a fun little boy. We love you!! -Dad, Mom and Daisy

Open House and Skylar's New Toy

Last Saturday I took the kids to the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport (or whatever its called now) Open House. We went a couple years ago, but this year there were many more things to look at. Skylar wasn't able to join us, but my Dad, brothers, and Kayci's family came along. The kids loved it although it was blazing hot!

Smokey the Bear! My kids were terrified of him. Poor guy must have been so hot! After Smokey walked away, Slade said, "Daddy is gonna shoot that bear with him's arrows?" Haha!

I personally love airplanes and helicopters and these airplanes were fun to watch. They would fly by really close and then do some fun stuff in the air as they flew away.

Slade and Daisy in the Airport Firetruck! We ended up knowing the Engineer of this truck so we held up the line while he told us a few stories of putting out airplane fires. Sorry to those who were behind us :)

The Gilbert Firefighters gave Slade this awesome tattoo that he shows off to everyone. I think this is his first tattoo ever, he was so thrilled. He has yet to let me scrub it off, although you can no longer tell what it is. He will shield it in the tub.

Sitting in a huge helicopter. Not sure what kind it was, but it looked like an Army one :)

Slade and I flying an airplane! He told me that he wants to fly airplanes when he gets big. He also said he wants to fly helicopters, drive firetrucks and be a police guy. I guess that's every little boy's dream.


Skylar's New Toy

Skylar did a side job at a golf car place and was able to score this golf car! He treats it like his baby, which isn't surprising, and he has spent many hours working on it out in the garage while I have had to try to keep the kids out of his way.

THE BEFORE

THE AFTER

Excuse the stuff in the garage. It is so fun to drive this thing around. Don't worry...there are seatbelts!! It's also licensed so we are LEGAL! We have fun taking rides as a family around the fields by our house and my husband has found some fun dirt mountains (as Slade calls them) to play on. Skylar plans on taking it on hunting trips because the back seat folds down to a flat bed which will come in handy when packing out an animal. He says he got it for me and the kids to use while camping for something to do because he is often out scouting for Elk or deer and we don't see him until after dark. Now all we need is a small trailer to hual it on :) Anyone have one they are wanting to sell?