In the Books!

Last week we passed an important milestone in this pregnancy....we are now into the second trimester!  Supposedly, I will start to feel a little more energetic and less queasy...Still waiting on some of that, but nonetheless, we rejoice that we have achieved this milestone!  The boys are anxiously awaiting the day they can put their hands on my tummy and feel little brother or sister kick them back.  Soon....very soon!

SHHH! Can you keep a secret?

On Friday mornings, Phillip has men's bible study, so Aiden and I take Andrew to school.  Because it is so early and Aiden likes to sleep, I usually pull him straight out of bed in his pj's and load him in the car.  One Friday last year, I thought it would be fun for us to stop at the donut shop after we dropped Andrew off at school for a little Mommy and Aiden time.  Well....it quickly became tradition.  We don't do it every week, but many Friday mornings you can find us at our favorite donut shop....And Aiden is usually in his pj's and sporting the bedhead look. 

 

Since I didn't want Andrew to get his feelings hurt that we make this stop without him, I told Aiden that it is our secret.  In fact, it was a couple of months before Aiden would even fess up to Phillip and tell him where we go on Friday mornings. 

 

This past Friday was the first week of school.  So for the first time in several months, I pulled a sleepy Aiden out of bed and loaded him in the car to take Andrew to school.  As soon as Andrew got out of the car, Aiden said, "You know that donut place???"

 

So guess where we ended up??????

 

 

Is that you????

For the past week or so, I really have been thinking I was feeling the baby move.  But I just wasn't for sure.  A friend of mine who is pregnant with baby #4 and due in October, told me it was the same way for her.  She thought she felt her little one moving but questioned it for about three weeks before saying, YES! that is definitely what I feel. 

Well, on Wednesday I WAS SURE! Aiden and I were sitting in the chair when I felt something poke my stomach.  I said, "Aiden, don't poke Mommy's tummy!"  I looked down at him and he had an odd expression on his face.  NOTHING on him was touching me....not his hands, his feet, elbows...NOTHING!  I laughed and told him that must have been the baby.  He began laughing hysterically!  And then it happened it again and we shared another big laugh.  It seems the baby is already pointing the finger at big brother and letting him take the blame for things!

Since then, I have been feeling it more and more....looks like we have an active little guy or girl on our hands!  Such a fun feeling!

What's Up, Doc?

Last Friday was filled with doctors' appointments.  First, we headed to the gastro doctor for a checkup for Aiden.  Last year at this time, our sweet boy was in the hospital dealing with issues related to his colon.  Finally, after over a year of seeing his doctor, HE RELEASED US!  He feels Aiden has made such good progress, that unless there is a problem, we don't have to go back.  It was a little bittersweet because he has been such an integral part of helping us with Aiden's issues and has just shown such care for our boy, so it was kind of sad to say goodbye, but at the same time we were thrilled!  He wants me to continue to text his cell phone every now and then with updates (I told you he was an awesome doc!), but he feels Aiden is doing very well! 

After that we grabbed a quick bite of lunch and then headed to the surgeon's office for a wound check and dressing change for Aiden's foot.  The pathology report still was not back, but should be in this week.  The doctor is pleased with how the area looked. He even asked Andrew to help him change the dressing.  Andrew was so excited to help...even if Aiden was a little skeptical of the whole thing!  Aiden got a new "cast" (dressing)...blue this time instead of green.  He will leave it on for another week and then mom and dad will change the dressing - Maybe Andrew will give us a hand! 

And Aiden got some cool new shoes that he is able to wear over his dressing.....so for a bit longer he will be rocking the electric blue and bright green sandals with socks. 

It was a LONG day, but we are SO THANKFUL for good reports!!

GREAT Baby Check!

This week, I had my 12 week checkup at the baby doctor.  Heard a good, strong heartbeat - Love that sound!  And no weight gain as of yet for Mommy!  (It must just be rearranging itself!)  I'll take that!  This week I will wrap up my first trimester.  Still having times of queasiness and tiredness, but overall not feeling too poorly.  I do feel very different than I did the first two times.  I don't necessarily think that means I am having a girl (as some have suggested)....I really just think it means my body is five years older and showing it!  We continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy and baby!

BEST Potato Soup Recipe

Since I have been pregnant, I have wanted SOUP!!!  Never you mind that it is almost 100 degrees here.  I have wanted soup.  And more soup!  I've been eating tomato soup, chicken tortilla soup, more tomato soup, and then I started craving potato soup..... And when you are pregnant and have cravings, you don't think rationally until you satisfy said craving!

My favorite potato soup is from Rafferty's restaurant....it's not too chunky...not too cheesy....it's JUST PERFECT...and Phillip cannot stand it!  (Claims it stinks...but can we really trust somebody's tastes that loves fruit shakes with peanut butter, bananas, blueberries, and Greek yogurt???  Point made!)  So with no Rafferty's nearby, what's a girl to do??  Well, it is the 21st century and supposedly we have the world at our fingertips....so with a quick internet search, I found this recipe....and my friends, it is CLOSE to the original...as close as I have ever been able to come.  And SUPER easy to make!!  So without further adieu:

BEST Potato Soup Recipe

6 to 7 potatoes peeled and diced
1 medium onion, diced
water
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese
1/2 to 3/4 stick butter
1 can condensed cream mushroom soup
1 can condensed cream celery soup
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp garlic salt

In large saucepan, cover potatoes and onion with water.  Cook until tender.  DO NOT drain water.  Add cream cheese and stir until melted.  Add butter and stir until melted.  Add soups, milk, and garlic salt.  Stir until blended.  May add more milk if desired.  Simmer for a few minutes.  Serve with bacon, shredded cheese and green onions, if desired.  ENJOY!

After making this and tasting it, I texted Phillip and said "I am in a very happy place right now."  I told you pregnant women are just not rational until their craving is satisfied!

Next up, chicken and dumplings....I must get some!  Trying a new recipe this week.....will keep you posted!

This Little Piggy Stayed Home

This past week, Aiden had a little surgery on his toe.....his second toe...you know, the piggy that stayed home...between the one that went to market and the one that had roastbeef.

 

  He has a toenail that has always grown funny...instead of growing smooth and out, it grows up and VERY thick.  In fact, my dad has a toe that grows the same way, so Aiden has affectionately called it his "Gumpa Toe" and is VERY proud of it!

 

About two years ago, it developed a dark spot.  A friend of mine who is a retired pediatrician suggested we take him to the dermatologist to rule out a nail fungus.  At our first dermatology visit, she had a couple of other docs look at it, too, and then said, "It does not appear to be melanoma...in fact, melanoma in a child this age (he was TWO at the time) under the nail would be extremely rare."  WHOA!!  This was not at all on my radar!  I thought we were here for a fungus!!

 

Well, to make a very LONG story a bit shorter, she watched it on and off for two years.  It would go through periods of darkening and then lightening, which she attributed to hemorrhaging under the nail.  She felt there was something underneath causing this...felt like it was benign...but told us, "You just hear those horror stories, so as a parent myself we want to be sure." 

 

At one point, part of the nail came off....she wanted to biopsy it, so we headed to her office with nail in hand in a Ziploc bag.  When she tried to take it, Aiden informed her, "THAT'S MINE!"  He only let her have it because she traded him a sticker AND sucker.  (He negotiated for BOTH.)  When we got in the car he looked straight at me and full of fortitude said, "I AM GOING TO GROW ANOTHER GUMPA TOE!"  (I told you he was proud of it!)

 

She wanted us to have the nail removed and the nail bed and matrix underneath biopsied.  OUCH!!!  And because he was so little, he would have to be put to sleep and she wanted a pediatric plastic surgeon to do it to try and maintain the integrity of the nail bed.  In addition to easing concerns about what lay underneath, she also thought by removing it and allowing it to regrow, it would keep him from having additional trouble with it as he gets older. 

 

SO....OFF WE GO to the pediatric plastic surgeon....all for an ITTY BITTY toenail and lots of peace of mind. 

 

Here he is getting all checked in.  He thought the "light" they put on his finger was REALLY cool.

 

 

Waiting to get his "happy juice" before surgery.

 

 All done!  He did NOT want to wake up...he was SNORING.

We finally were able to rouse him enough to drink some of the slushy they brought him, but he wanted no part of it.

 

 

Supportive big brother! 

The nurse gave him a slushy for being such a good guy that day.

 

 

Phillip and I joked and said these were the two most expensive slushies ever....Deductible + 20%.  We were joking that we were glad that Andrew was getting a slushy so we could get our monies worth...BUT then once Aiden fully woke up and we were getting ready to leave, he proceeded to throw up his entire slushy (nauseated from the anesthesia).  When it was all done, Phillip and I laughed because we technically just ended up with the one slushy...Moral of the story: Can't beat the system!!

(On these exhausting days, you have to find humor in something!)

 

Little man slept all of the way home.

 

Finally got home and he was VERY proud of his green "cast."

He has two stiches and a stint in and can't get it wet for a good long while.

Doctor said he did not see anything especially angry or suspicious, but we will wait for the final pathology report to be sure.

 He is one tough dude!  He really does tolerate pain well.  We gave him motrin around the clock for the first 24 hours, but overall he did VERY well with only minimal complaints.  It is still hard for him to walk and he cannot really wear shoes, but I think he handled it better than most adults would have!



Inquiring Minds

Now that I have shared a pic of the baby bump, I have to share this....A couple of days ago, Andrew asked, "Mommy, how big is your tummy?"  So, I pulled my shirt tight around the bump so he could see it.  All along he has been asking how big the actual baby is.  So again, he said, "And how big is the baby? An inch and a half????"  I answered yes and held my fingers to show him about the size.  He never said anything, but he cocked his head to the side and just had the most puzzled look on his face.  I could read his mind!  What he wanted to say was "If the baby is only that big, then how come your tummy is this big???"  Ahhh, the honesty of children can be truly humbling!!!!

The Bump

I have heard with your third child, you tend to show a lot sooner (something about those muscles being loose and worn out....guess the secret is out that I do not have abs of steel!).  I actually showed pretty early with both of the boys, so I guess it should be no surprise that I already am sporting a nice little bump. 

 

Here is the first picture of the bump.

12 weeks

 

 

 

Phillip has affectionately entitled this picture
"Barefoot, Pregnant, and in the Kitchen".

Beach Vaction 2013

Back in July, we headed to the beach and just spent the week being beach bums.  It was great!