Life among the Oaks

Classic Texas

2009-04-07T10:19:00.003-05:00

Classic pictures in the Texas bluebonnets (complete with Texas size bows). The kids love doing this so much they never want to get back in the car when we're done. There are trampled "mazes" through the flowers and the kids always want to run through the mazes. We were a little frozen taking these, but they turned out pretty good.

Drs, Drs, Drs...

2009-03-24T10:43:00.005-05:00

Between well visits for 3, dental visits, and sick kiddo visits we have spent our fair share of time at the dr. office lately. Katelynn will have tonsils/adenoids out in June. Here's to hoping it helps!
Caroline is 7 weeks now and smiling at us all the time. We laid low most of spring break, but did go out to the lake. Here's some pics...

Oh...and did I mention the new dog?? She is sweet. We got her from the SPCA and she is already house broken, etc. and came with the name "Daisy".

Sucked into the vortex...

2009-02-20T09:55:00.003-06:00

Known as facebook....Here's another picture of my cutie though! At her 2 week check up she weighed 8 lb, 13 oz. 21 inches. Growing fast!

In love....

2009-02-03T10:10:00.003-06:00

She's here

2009-02-01T13:53:00.001-06:00

Caroline Elizabeth arrived Friday at 3:13 pm weighing in at 7 lb 11 oz. and 20 inches long. We are home now and all is well.

Pictures later when I'm not so tired. :)

Or maybe not...

2009-01-28T14:31:00.001-06:00

200 contractions (or at least it feels like that many) later and I'm still pregnant. No luck with the arrival yet. I think she has decided February sounds like a better month for her. Guess we'll see...

And the date approaches..

2009-01-26T17:14:00.002-06:00

Another doctor visit, another day down. :)

Finally a visit with a positive note...She co-operated with all of their "monitoring" and things looked great. I was rewarded with a new number- a 3. I have never been a 3 before getting to the hospital so that is good news. I am telling my friends I am a walking time bomb- just ready to go off at any minute. :)

Lots of contractions this weekend - now I just need some to stick around. The weather is supposed to be really yucky the next 48 hours so you know....that means it has to happen during the messy weather.

Here is my latest....

2009-01-20T17:36:00.002-06:00

Niece. Nope- this is not mine. I am still pregnant. :) Eva was born last Thursday to my brother-in -law and sister-in-law. For any of you who have seen my infants- they have NEVER had hair anywhere close to this!!

I had another doctor visit today. I am starting to hate these. Pretty much they confirm that fact that 1. I am pregnant 2. I am still pregnant 3. I am closer to my due date and still pregnant. Ugh... They check you and tell you this "magical" number (one for me right now) that I know means nothing (I have never been past a one with any of my kids) and it can bum you out - like I have some kind of control over it. Ugh...

I am torn anyway-I want her here, but then again- our little family functions pretty well right now- am I really ready to throw in a new addition?? I know it will all be fine and for now I will continue to enjoy my sleep and eat some more cake from my surprise shower on Monday. :)

Another week...

2009-01-14T16:45:00.001-06:00

Went for my weekly checkup today. Things look the same. They did a sono (since my last one was 8lb. 11oz) and they "predict" her to only be 6 lbs. That was a bit relieving since I did not want to entertain the thought of a 9 lb. birth. Not much else going on. Go back next Tuesday....

Shower at work was way fun! Lots of diapers and wipes. So thoughtful of my campus. I work with great people. The cake was way cute. I'll have to post a pic. later.

Not much else to say...ready for the joy of pregnancy to end...

37 weeks...

2009-01-07T19:05:00.002-06:00

I went in for my 37 week check up today. All is well and nothing exciting to report. Hopefully she will make her grand entrance sooner rather than later since I have enjoyed about as much pregnancy as one person can take. None of my babies have made it all the way to their due date. My first was 2 weeks early and the other 2 were 3 and 4 days early. Here's to hoping....
I need to make it through next Wednesday at least- work has a nice little shower planned for me. So fun!

35,35 ,35

2008-12-27T09:15:00.001-06:00

I noticed my pregnancy ticker says I'm 35 weeks with 35 days to go and I turn 35 next week....Let's hit Vegas!!

A week off to rest

2008-11-24T18:27:00.001-06:00

We are all off from school this week and what a welcome event. Of course, I have lots of glorious plans for things to "get done" around the house and fun things to do with the kids. Those have already been altered- I just got back from the doctor with my daughter having a nice case of strep throat to start the week off with....let's hope the whole week doesn't go this way!

Pumpkins, pumpkins...

2008-10-14T19:02:00.004-05:00

NOT MY BELLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but just how I feel today- big as a pumpkin....about as attractive as one too. It's those lovely days of pregnancy when you feel and look pregnant- nice round face, nice round belly, nice round clothes....ugh....This is a day when I hate my hair (thank you Beth my hairdresser who refused to cut it for me today...she told me she will do nothing but trim until I deliver....no matter how much I beg and plead just like I made her promise me at the beginning of my pregnancy) hate my clothes (just want my nice normal things back) and am tired of being tired!!!

To top it off I am in LOVE with anything sweet. I am trying so hard to eat healthy and keep up with my exercising (so far at 24 weeks I have gained 20 lbs. according to dr.) but anything pumpkin makes me throw that out the window!!

As I sit here tonight, I have pumpkin muffins in the oven. It's the battle of willpower or work it off later....as the buzzer rings I know which one is winning....

The name game...

2008-09-24T16:26:00.002-05:00

Oh how I dread the name game....
Why is it SOOOOO hard to find a name that:
1. Both parents agree on
2. Sounds right with our last name
3. Other people like
Ugh....
This has led me to the dreaded book store to look for the "magic" name that works for us. This is always the hardest part for us....okay....labor is not exactly a breeze either but at least there is an epidural for that!!

Suggestions welcome, but probably not taken! :)

weekly smiles

2008-09-16T16:09:00.002-05:00

Things to smile about this week....

Katelynn scored 4 goals at her soccer game last night
Katelynn has a new name everyday that she insists we give to her sister (none of which we like)
Katelynn says she refuses to talk to the baby if name her the name we like (still debating...this could make for a very quiet house....)
Our operation "goodbye spongebob" (aka locking all tv channels) has made our lives SOOO peaceful
Brent does his homework now without complaining
Brent shares so and helps with his brother and sister
Matthew whispers at night when he walks into his own room to go to bed and whispers goodnight (as if not to disturb himself...hehehe)
Matthew still loves to cuddle
Picnic at the park in the beautiful weather Sunday night with the kids
A sweet husband that helps me with the daily routines of keeping up with 3 kids and a very tired wife
Bitesize chocolate....which will make me frown post baby as I sweat it off...
Pumpkin anything food season- love it all
Feeling our new little girl move around all day...what a sweet reminder of what is to come...

What a fantastic life...

Big day...

2008-09-09T06:13:00.001-05:00

Here are the stats....
I have gained 13 lbs. so far....
I am almost 20 weeks....
The baby is on track for size...
Development looks great....
And the big news everyone is wanting to know.....

We will be welcoming a new girl into our family!!!

We are thrilled!! Our 5 year old daughter is one giant smile about having a sister.

Love my job..

2008-09-02T17:31:00.002-05:00

I cannot begin to say how happy I am with my new position at work!! I love my job. Don't get me wrong- it has it's challenges, but I am in such a better place mentally and workload wise than I was last year. I miss being at the same school with my kids, but I love that we actually get home an hour and half earlier this year than I ever did last year.

On a preg. note...I am putting on some nice pounds. Food is my friend again, after being my arch enemy all summer. We go next Monday for the big sono to make sure everything looks healthy...and to find out the gender. We didn't find out with our first two and that was thrilling beyond words. We found out with out last one, and I just want to know with this one too. It's still thrilling, but in a different way.

First day of school

2008-08-25T17:07:00.001-05:00

My Second Grader

My Kindergartener

Great day for me too in my new classroom. None of preschoolers cried coming to speech class. That is always a great first day!!!

Fun in the Sun

2008-07-27T14:29:00.009-05:00

A new haircut for my soon to be new Kindergartener!

We have the greatest back yard and love our neighbors with horses. (They love our apples...)

My snorkeling maniac.

My diving board addict- since this pic. no longer wears her vest.

Life is good....

Not a fun day.

2008-07-23T14:08:00.002-05:00

Our 7 year old beautiful rhodesian ridgeback died in our back yard yesterday. The vet thinks she had a seizure, stroke, or heartattack causing her to be immobile and to die of heat stroke in the sun. She was outside for less than 2 hours with plenty of water and shade so that is their best guess. I am better today, but with the preg. hormones it was a bit rough yesterday (not to mention my husband was out of town so I had to handle all of it...) We got her as a puppy before the kids came along. She was a sweet (despite her 85 pounds) girl and was so great with all of our kids.

The kids have a great attitude. They told me "Now she can play with Lukie (our other dog that died of cancer last fall) in heaven! They will be so happy to see each other again!" with smiles on their sweet little faces.

Feeling better

2008-07-16T12:29:00.002-05:00

I hate to even put it in writing....but it seems like my constant nausea and vomiting are subsiding. :) Yeah!!! I have felt pretty okay the last week. I'm still not back to my 100% self, but feel at least 75% like me most of the day. I won't say it's gone, but I'll spare you the details. I even braved a yoga class this week- which consequently kicked my rear and left me sore for 2 days. (This is not some sissy breathing class folks...)

Anyway, summer goes on and I'm starting to realize that we are actually going to have another little person in our family by this time next year. After watching Shrek 3 this am with my kids at summer movie camp, I realize it will be fine (plus- unlike Shrek- I am only having one- not three- and mine will not likely be an ogre). Whew! And I have to give my current 3 credit- although they have their moments of getting on each others nerves, they are all really good kids. Taking them to the movies continues to be a piece of cake. When I see other moms struggling with their own challenges at the movies I am so thankful to be blessed with such sweet kiddos.

Also...how fun is this... my brother in law and sister in law who live a few miles away from us are expecting as well with a due date one week earlier than mine. How fun to have 2 cousins born so close!

Happy Wednesday!

Summer Update...

2008-07-10T13:56:00.006-05:00

So far this summer we have:
Gone to the lake
Gone to swim lessons
Gone to Wednesday summer movie camp
Gone on a special Mommy/Daughter trip to the American Girl store
Had our first child diagnosed with strep (the little guy)
Played in the sprinklers/baby pool
Played speedminton (way fun)
Gone to tennis lessons for the older 2 kids
Gone to friends' pools to swim :)
Watched fireworks on blankets in our front yard
Watched more fireworks with friends on 4th of July
Gone to Target 975 times
Had a birthday party for grandpa at our house
Gone to friend's birthday party
Going to basketball camp
Going to cheerleading camp

And for those of you who did not catch the above ticker....
I have personally spent a lot of time sleeping, feeling sick, getting sick, laying on the couch, and going to the doctor...Baby #4 is on the way...

Summer Free!!

2008-06-05T16:55:00.001-05:00

Yeah!! Finally my last day of the school year. I am SO excited to have some restful fun days with my 3 sweet children all summer. :) I am more than ready!!

Why Can't I "JUST SAY NO!"

2008-05-20T19:20:00.004-05:00

So I requested a new position at work for next year. It is a preschool position working only with 3-5 year olds who qualify for speech and language services. They come, generally, twice a week for about 2 hours each time and it's set up more like a "class" than a typical speech session. There are 3 classes a day for 4 days a week, with the other day for testing and IEP meetings. It is a position with an SLP in the class (me) and a paraprofessional to help. Well..... I got it!! I am SOOO excited to get back to my age group that gets me the most excited in the world of speech. Before I came to the school district I was working ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) in Virginia serving birth-3 year olds. I still miss those days, and honestly, if it wasn't for the school hours I would go back to that in a heartbeat. So....this is the next closest thing with better hours (and no driving which is also a blessing) to be with my own 3 kids.

When bargaining for this position, I had to make a choice to take this program or to continue to be the district "lead" for speech. I was not being paid to be a lead, so there was no salary difference and it meant getting back to what I loved...so of course....I chose the preschool program. So.....today....in typical school district fashion....the plot changes....here is how the conversation goes....

Director: So....I really need someone next year to be our "go-to" person for speech questions. I can't leave that all up to our co-ordinator (who has no speech background) and you have done an outstanding job this year....

Me:...So....what are you saying?? (Thinking: crap- if they take this preschool position back I am going to have an absolute cow)

Director: Tell me what you didn't like about being lead....

Me: blah...blah....blah...blah....blah....(use your imagination....I don't enjoy people management is the bottom line)

Director: Well, we really need someone we can ask questions from and it really needs to be you...

Me: Hmmm.....any plans for memorial day weekend???

Later....I email them saying I will consider it IF they let me draft out what responsibilities I will retain and what responsibilities I will delegate. I am crazy and can't say no. Sometime I think it would be eaiser to think like my husband or my dad and bluntly say "Sorry, I'm sure you can find someone else to do that."

Loyalty- we all feel it sometimes and we can't quite figure out why. Today I felt it and still can't put my finger on why. I don't think it is an ego thing for me- I think it's that "I must help if they need me" complex. I have suffered from that for many many years....know any cures?

What can't you say no to?

Back from the dead...

2008-05-04T09:33:00.002-05:00

Whew...what a stressful, busy couple of months. Here's the brief summary:

Beach trip was FANTASTIC!!! Thanks Uncle Kenyon for your bed and breakfast- we will be returning!!
Matt turned 2!! He is living it out in typical wild child fashion. He is making two year olds everywhere proud...and of course....smiling the entire time no matter what he is doing.
Work...work...work...the 10% crazy parents can really make the job tough...hoping for some changes to my position next year to alleviate the stress!!!!
Registered Katelynn for Kindergarten- I can't believe she is that big!!
Well visits for all 3- that is always quite an adventure. I knew I was in trouble when the receptionist asked if anyone was helping me out...
Looking forward to the end of the crazy school year train and the peaceful lazy days of summer!!