Let's take a picture of us...

Fara loves to see herself in the camera. :) It makes me giggle.

Seven Quick Takes

1~
Ella is still having tummy pains. I took her to the clinic yesterday. Basically she has the same bug the other two did, it's just she never vomited so she is having a harder time getting over it. Hopefully another day on Mirilax will straighten her all out. Poor girl, between the pain and the drama caused by the pain, I am at the limit of my nursing capabilities.
2~
Three year olds are funny. Fara has convinced herself that "fruit punch" is an actual fruit. I have tried to explain that it is a mixture of several fruits, but her little mind just can't hear that. She keeps saying, "Is this a fruit punch?" about every fruit she doesn't recognize.
3~
I am physically starting to notice the pregnancy for reasons other than fatigue and random vomiting. When I stand at the sink to do dishes, or lean over to pick-up something off the floor, there is a little bump that gets in the way. It's still not visible to most anybody, due to the extra weight I carry. But it's fun to know I feel that bump.
4~
I have been trying to make gratitude a major theme in how a speak to Mr. Workin' or how I refer to our marriage. I have heard that gratitude just adds a positive light to any a situation. A marriage is something that has to be worked on, on an ongoing basis (enough of the word on!) and it seems like a simple enough thing to do. And, I think I can tell him I am thankful for the little things a couple of times a day until it adds up. Everyone likes to feel appreciated.
5~
Wyeth is soooooo ready to go back to school. He hasn't said anything about it academically, but he misses his friends. It seems like he has gotten more difficult to entertain as the summer has progressed. My biggest beef with him, is his constant needs and wants and we shoulds. Grrr. Just be happy with what you have kid!
6~
My Holy Spirit to-do list is getting longer by the moment. Between back-to-school activities and the Fall Event looming near, I could make much of every day about HS. I love it. It has given me a sense of purpose around the kids, but not directly for them that has helped me relocate myself.
7~
I am having to fully restrain myself against baby prep shopping for the new baby. We need next to nothing for the new baby, but I just love all that sweet stuff. I have been cruising ebay, but also find myself at baby boutiques. :)

14w5d...First Offical OB

Yesterday at nearly 15 weeks, I finally had my first ob appointment with Dr. K. She has been back from her maternity leave for a week or so, but I was gone last week. I have been excited to hear the baby's heart tones, but also I have been nervous to broach the subject of a vbac. Mr. Workin' and I talked about it during our hours of "windshield time" in the car, and he agreed that a vaginal birth is just so much easier to recover from. I have been telling people when they ask which is better/worse, that both form of delivering a baby hurt. It's just with the vaginal birth the pain is up-front and the c-section is painful after and all about recovery time. When we decided to have another baby, I knew a repeat section was a possibility, but in my heart of hearts I deeply desired a vaginal birth. Sooooo, with that being said, I asked Dr. K and she said, "Of course! You are a great candidate for a vbac. You have had two vaginal births and go into labor naturally."
I was ecstatic! It felt like a huge victory. I get to go into labor, and work to deliver my baby! Of course these things are also scary and out of my control, but I truly believe my body is capable of getting the baby here. I get absolutely giddy thinking about it.
The rest of the appointment was routine and great. My labs look great, my weight is down 15 lbs between my scale at the beginning of the pregnancy and their scale yesterday. My fundus measured right at 15 weeks (which I was surprised she even measured), the baby's heart tones were 150 bpm (boy?), my blood pressure was 130ish/70, While I was there, I also asked about scheduling the big ultrasound a week early so I will know the sex in time to shop at our big consignment sale. Dr. K was agreeable with that as well, so we will know the sex on the 16th of September.

Family Vacation Part 2

We decide to take a week and adventure down to Wyoming for some time with my side of the family. We intended to leave around 8 am on Saturday morning, but when Wy woke at 3:30 am still complaining of stomach cramps and having not held anything in his tummy for 20ish hours, I decided to make a quick dash to the er (quick and er are not good together...when am I going to get that?). We could have wait for the immediate care clinic to open, but I really wanted to get on the road. Mr. Workin' says, I am now "one of those moms" whom run to the er for the littlest thing. But I disagree, since we thankfully have insurance.
I am fairly certain the er dr. thought I was an alarmist, but it did take several attempts to get him to hold something. After 3.5 hours, we concluded it was just a nasty bug and headed home.
We got on the road at about 11:30. When we got to BH, the Minis (my brother and his wife) had helped mom and dad prepare a feast of sorts. After dinner we roasted marshmallows for s'mores. Wy wasn't able to have any, but the girls were a delightfully sticky mess.
We spent the next several days just playing with the kids and enjoying the family. The folks belong to a golf community with a great swimming pool. The kids had a great time while Mr. Workin' and I soaked in the sun.
Thursday morning we headed to Wheatland to visit my mom's folks. They are in their mid to late 80s, and kickin' along twenty miles out in the counrty. It was a great visit. It's so fun to let the kiddos just be outside and play for hour on end. The kids are getting old enough to really put together who these grandparents are. It's cute.
It was a great trip overall. When we were about half way home, Fara vomited on herslef and all over her carseat. She seemed to have pick-up the same bug Wy a week before. Ella was the next to go down in the last several hours before we got home.
I would say we were pretty lucky to avoid the sickness while actually visiting other people. :)

Adventures with the Swansons

We are so lucky to have two sets of available and involved grandparents in our children's lives. While Mr. Workin' and I headed to Vegas for a friend's wedding celebration, the girls headed north to be with Grandpa and Grandma Hayes. Wy, on the other hand, headed south to hang with Papa Cowboy and Grannie. Everyone traveled well and had a great time with the grandparents.

This was the longest Wy has ever been away (ten days), and other than being completely bushed, he had a wonderful time. One of his big goals was to learn to fish. On his second fishing adventure, he caught something...a frog! I've been told he didn't want to touch it at first, but because he's a catch and release kinda guy, he had to unhook the frog and take him back to the pond.

I wonder if the girls will be ready to head south? I am pretty proud of my brave boy!

This salad...

Really this salad is what dreams are made of. I have been eating it for years and years, since childhood really, but it was about four years ago when my friend, Diana reintroduced to me.
Here is her recipe. I love it! Like slap people that try to share, and lick the bowl good...
7 Layer Salad
1 head lettuce, washed and torn
1 green pepper, chopped
1 C. chopped celery
½ thinly sliced red onion
1 pkg frozen peas
2 C. mayonnaise
2 tsp sugar
1 ½ C. grated Cheddar cheese
1 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled.

Assemble ingredients in large bowl in order above. (I use glass bowls to show off how pretty it is). Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge for several hours or overnight before serving.

I would just like to put it out there...if you bring me a bowl of this salad...it means we are frinds for life. We may already be friends, and that is well and good. Really someone should teach Mr. Workin' how to may it. It's like the best peace offering I can think of.