The LAMB Family

2011-10-19T14:58:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is Kynan and Kaci's 2nd birthday! It's hard to believe it has been two years since that day. They are both so big now, you would never guess they were so tiny when they were born. I can barely lift them! To be fair though, I am nine months pregnant and they weigh more than 30 lbs each.
Kaci is having to get straps for her legs. I don't know if that is what they are called, but basically, she is going to have to wear a belt with straps that wrap around each leg and clip on to her shoes. Her legs turn inwards naturally, and we've tried fixing it with therapy, but it just isn't working. It is a left over from being squished inside for so long. She is going to HATE this. She can't stand us putting a long sleeve shirt on her. I don't want to think about how she will respond to us wrapping straps around her legs. Should be fun times for all.
Kynli is due for her c-section November 1st. Just 13 days away. I wish she would come a bit sooner though. I don't feel I'm as big as I've been with other pregnancies, but I am definetly ready to not be pregnant any more. If I'm going to be losing sleep, I'd rather it was because of an infant than 'just because I can't sleep.' Annoying.
Kalyn and Keali are getting excited about Kynli's arrival. Kynan really doesn't care, and Kaci, while she knows something named Kynli is in my stomach, well...we are just worried she will try to kill the baby when she gets here. She is very possessive and gets violently jealous. Not a good combination. We are doing all we can to prepare her. Hopefully she will surprise us all and be the best big sister ever.
We are having our own home version of Cupcake Wars this weekend. It is Heath and Keali vs. Kalyn and me. I don't know about our opponents, but Kalyn and I have been planning out our cupcake (we are only doing round 1 to Kalyn's disappointment...I refuse to make 1000 cupcakes) for a couple of weeks. I think we finally have a plan formulated. Now to execute properly and to keep the competition from snooping...

2011-09-18T18:32:00.001-05:00

What is wrong with my computer? It just took minutes to pull this up. Yuck. Thought I would post some pictures. We’ve been very bad about taking photos lately. Most of what we take is with our phones, so if the picture quality isn’t the best, you know why.

This is Kalyn and Keali at the beginning of June following their basketball camp. They both did much better this year than last.

Keali just chilling out on the couch with the twins.

In August, Heath’s Mom was watching the twins. A couple days later, this showed up in the local newspaper. My baby girl, sans-clothing. Julia swears she tried to put a swimming suit on but Kaci wouldn’t let her. My response was, she is only 22 months old! Oh well, she is a cutie. I just hope she doesn’t get used to posing half nude in public.

This was the first day of school for Kalyn and Keali. I think they look very cute!

Keali wasn’t too excited about going back to school, but she put on a brave face.

‘

Kalyn was excited, but nervous about 1st grade.

This was my birthday in August. As usual, I had to work on my birthday, so while I was out for the day, Heath and the girls made me two cakes and got some beautiful roses for me.

Kynan is just a cutie pie. What would I do without his cheese?

Kaci can be super precious when she wants to be. Mostly she is just mean, but this was a good moment. Sorry it’s a bath pic.

We continue to be busy juggling our lives every day. Football season is in full force now so I’m a single parent most nights of the week. Kalyn sometimes will step up and really help me out, but she is also feeling a bit of pressure I think being the oldest. She tries so hard, but occasionally will say “I’m only a kid” or “I only have two hands” when I ask her to help me out. Sorry baby. Wish I could do it all myself (not really) and pamper you for life, but you gotta learn sometime. She is good at watching the twins and sometimes will even help clean up (on her own terms, of course).

Keali continues to make the worlds most annoying sound every day. Really. I would remove her voicebox if it wouldn’t be considered abuse. I don’t know what it is, but she makes this sound and I just want to chop off my ears and start hitting things. We are working on that.

Kynan has started speaking more in the past week. It’s fun when I realize I know what he is saying. His favorite thing to say right now is, “Where Daddy go?” Not that Daddy is always leaving, but when he goes into a different room, it can be quite traumatic…?

Kaci has gotten even more obsessed with shoes. Not that she loves picking out shoes, but something is VERY wrong if somebody isn’t wearing their shoes. “Oh NO!” she cries every time she sees bare feet. If your shoes are anywhere in sight or in her reach, she will retrieve them and assist you in putting them on properly. It’s really cute, but dramatic.

I’m down to 7 full weeks left (6 for the c-section). I think I still haven’t realized just how soon that is. I know in my head it is just around the corner, but I have so much to do between now and Kynli’s arrival, it feels like months away still. We did a fetal-fibronectin test on Friday to see if I am at risk for pre-term labor. I’ve been having a lot of contractions and pressure, so just to rule it out, we did the test. Thankfully it came back negative, giving us almost a guarantee that Kynli won’t show up for at least 2 more weeks. For the time being, she is a very active little girl and enjoys poking her bony parts into me. I’m ready to not be pregnant, but I admit I will miss being pregnant. I’m usually miserable when pregnant, but I do really love feeling the baby move around and I know I’ll miss that. No more babies though! I am pretty sure I’m done!

2011-09-09T20:02:00.001-05:00

On call. Again.

I’m on call a lot lately – probably because I’ll be out the second half of the semester and unable to take call, but still. It stinks.

Life continues to be full of super busy monotony. Sounds weird, but that is what it is. At work we are preparing to host the RA conference for our region. It is the first weekend in October. Less than a month away and still so much to do. The committee I am advising is responsible for registration and hotel accommodations. It didn’t sound that hard when I volunteered for it, but I also didn’t know I would be 9 months pregnant at the time of the conference! Paperwork has started coming in and I’ve been hit with just how much goes into a project like this. Just a month and it will be over. That is what I have to keep telling myself!

Kynli has taken to being super active in the middle of the night. Just like a baby. I don’t mind so much, I do enjoy feeling her move around (my favorite part of pregnancy by far!), I just wish she calmed down a bit more when I attempt to rest. She is a wiggly worm though.

Kynan and Kaci are going to FINALLY start physical therapy next week! With the addition of PT, they will each be in therapy for 5 hours per week. Luckily, we are able to have them go at the same time so it isn’t like we are having to (Heath actually) take them for 10 hours out of the week. I hope we see results soon. Their problem isn’t too pronounced though so it may just be a gradual improvement. Their speech therapy and developmental therapy has yielded amazing results so far and they are getting more talkative (recognizable words) every day.

Right now, Kaci’s cutest words are “Spongebob Squarepants.” Kalyn has started watching Mighty Morphing Power Rangers (why did I ever like that show?) and I swear Kynan said, “Go Go Power Rangers.” this evening. Very cute. Kaci said I Love You for the first time this week, though it sounds more like, “Ah Waaah Uuu.” Still. We know what it means and it melts my heart when I hear it.

Kaci is a biter. I picked up the twins from Heath’s parents a few days ago. Kynan had a very pronounced bite mark on his forearm and on his back. His BACK! I hate to say this isn’t the first time he has been mistaken for a particularly tasty morsel, but I just don’t know what to do other than tell her to stop because it hurts. This evening Kynan was crawling over Kaci on the couch and she just bent over and tried to sink her teeth into his side! Any suggestions are welcome. Kalyn and Keali never bit anyone so this is new for us. Kynan used to bite, but that was just instinct I think. He has stopped.

Kalyn’s school is doing a myriad of fundraisers. Last week she told me they were selling “Pickles on the Playground” for 50 dollars. I told her I was pretty sure it wasn’t 50 dollars, probably 50 cents, but she was insistent. When I told her I wasn’t about to spend 50 dollars on anything, let alone a pickle, she stated, “But Momma, It is a PICKLE!” If it isn’t the size of a house, I’m not buying it. It was 50 cents by the way.

Keali is Keali. She makes the most horrible sound I’ve ever heard when she is upset. It makes me want to rip out her voicebox and tear my ears off my head. I can’t stand it. I’m working with her to get her to express frustration in a less annoying way, but so far I am losing. She is very cute though and a bit of a monkey. She is a performer when she doesn’t think anyone is looking, but gets very embarrassed when she is caught. She is very funny.

Heath is at work tonight, and I’m about to go to bed. First I have to swallow half a bottle of Mylanta, then I will be good to go. Happy Weekend!

2011-09-04T20:38:00.001-05:00

Hello! Haven’t blogged lately. Not really that much going on. I finished training with my staff (thank goodness!) and we opened campus for all the students to come back. Heath had football practice all through August and Kalyn and Keali began school again.

Kalyn is in 1st grade and doing very well. She came home after her first (and second also) week and exclaimed, “Well. I survived my first (or second) week of school.” I didn’t know it was such a battlefield, but life has changed a lot since I was that age, maybe it is?!

Keali is in her second year of pre-school, and while I really can’t stand her teacher, she is doing well. She is very artistic which translates into LOTS of paper coming home. Once again, I am cursed with the decision of what to keep and what to dismiss. That’s a nice way of saying throw away.

The twins aren’t in any permenant program right now, but they do attend developmental and speech therapy twice a week. They were supposed to have started physical therapy weeks ago, but we are having a hard time scheduling it around what Heath is doing (they go in the mornings since he is home then) and what the therapist has. Truth be told, I’m getting a bit angry it is taking so long.

Actually I get angry about everything. I’ve never made it a secret that I suffer from depression, and being pregnant makes it worse since I am not able to properly medicate. In addition to that though, I also have generalized anxiety disorder and post traumatic stress disorder (stemming from the birth of the twins). As we get closer to Kynli’s arrival, I am re-living a lot of different things and I am terrified. I live every moment in fear that I am going to again have a premature baby, or worse.

Kynli is moving really well and growing appropriately at this point, so the single artery cord is not anything to stress over at this point. We are still keeping an eye on it though. On top of all my emotional/psychological issues, I am STILL the only Area Coordinator since we have yet to re-hire for the position left vacant in June. My supervisor has since early August taken over most of the responsibilities that I dealt with during the summer (those in addition to my own) so that has been quite a bit of help, but work isn’t running as smoothly as it has in the past, though it is getting better.

I’ve started seeing my psychologist again just to have non-medicinal therapy to get me through the next two months. She says it is pretty much a miracle that I am functioning at all based on my background and the added stress of being the only AC, and an unplanned, high-risk pregnancy that causes me physical pain with every step (a left over from torn ligaments and tendons from when I was pregnant with the twins – it doesn’t hurt when I’m not pregnant) and having four kids at home with a husband who works at night. I try to explain that Heath really is the one who keeps everyone alive, but she seems to think that I’m doing pretty well given all the circumstances. I still don’t feel great about it. I have a lot of guilt. That’s funny kind of because though I feel tons of guilt, I have absolutely no interest in fixing what is causing the guilt. I’m too tired. Not always physically tired. Emotionally mostly. Yuck.

On the bright side, I have an amazing support system. Heath basically took care of the kids single handedly all summer (and still does with the twins in the morning) and puts up with my moods most of the time. He also has completed the bulk of the housework pretty much since I found out I was pregnant. I have good friends who help out with housework and such when they can, but mostly provide great emotional support and they just let me talk (that’s a nice word for what I actually do) when I am stressed. On top of my hubby and friends, Heath’s parents are big supporters, though I don’t know if they realize just how much they do that positively effects me and my family.

Mom is coming up to visit next weekend. At least, that is the plan. Oh, and we got great news yesterday! My brother in law Richie and his wife Debi are expecting their second child. This means so much to them and I am happy for their blessing.

In all, this pretty much sounds like I am miserable, and in part I am. The normal part of my brain trys to rationalize everything out, but the abnormal is a lot more powerful! At least I still believe things will get better. 9 weeks and counting.

2011-07-09T19:47:00.001-05:00

We are having a baby girl! At first (I’m not gonna lie), I was disappointed. We already have three girls and I really wanted a brother for Kynan. However in the two and a half weeks since we found out, I’m very happy we are having a girl. My only hope at this point that she doesn’t end up looking like the other three. I just would like to see a girl who looks different.

We are going to name her Kynli. We aren’t sure of a middle name yet. Heath has one picked out but I really hate it. I’ll have to figure something else out.

So, in addition to figuring out she was a she, we also found out that she has a two vein cord. A normal umbilical cord has two arteries and a vein. Kynli’s only has one artery and one vein. It doesn’t have to mean anything, but it is associated with various ‘anomalies.’ That’s a scary word. My doctor scheduled another ultrasound for two weeks out so we could check again and verify (we did that yesterday and she does have the single artery cord) and cautioned us not to look it up on the internet.

Of course, when I got to a computer I began looking it up. SCARY!! All sorts of things from Trisomy 13 and 18 to renal defects and cardiologic defects. Low birth weight is also a common side effect. (Trisomy 13 is the super scary one.) In the two weeks in between ultrasounds, I made peace with this fact. The doctor has been very careful to look at all the organs and anything else that may indicate an “anomaly.” So far, everything looks really good. I’ve also had the quad screen already and it didn’t turn up any genetic problems.

We could have some additional testing done, but there is nothing we can change even if something were found and there is no point in worrying about something we can’t change. Yes, it would be nice to be prepared should Kynli have some sort of problem/s, so we are going to keep a close eye on her and if anything should appear suspicious, we will do the testing.

Kalyn and Keali are excited about Kynli. Kynan doesn’t seem to care (I doubt he or Kaci understands anything about Kynli) and Kaci points to my stomach and says “Sissy Kynli” (in baby speech, of course). It’s really cute.

Kynan and Kaci have tested as being developmentally delayed, and are now in developmental and speech therapy. They’ve only been going for a couple weeks, but I can tell a huge difference in their speech already…especially Kaci. Neither one really likes to be dropped off to therapy, but neither one ever wants to leave either! The people we take them to are really good and only work with children. They have a variety of gyms and play rooms for the kids to work in. Kalyn and Keali go into the gym as often as they can too, just to play in the ball pit!

My summer has gotten almost unbearably complicated now that GHD training has started. The schedule this year is actually much better than last year, in that I get home around 5 pm almost every day and I don’t have quite as many weekends with active training session. It is so exhausting being pregnant with four young children during training! And this pregnancy has been so hard.

Luckily for me, Heath has been able to pick up almost all of my slack this summer and when it hasn’t been him, it’s been his Mom, a babysitter, or my friend Patience. I pretty much get home and want to go to sleep. I immediately begin counting the minutes until I can get the kids to bed rather than cherishing those few hours I get to spend with them. I’m trying to do better though and Heath is very supportive.

The first three weeks of August are a little scary to think of because of RA/CA training (much more time consuming than GHD training) and two-a-days for Heath’s football team. He will be working all day. I will be working all day. I think I have the first week worked out with a babysitter, but the next two weeks will be much more difficult. I can’t wait until August 29th! That date used to be August 22, but my boss is going on vacation the Monday after we open campus for a week and since we don’t have anyone hired for the position I usually work closely with, it will just be me. I’m sure I’ll survive though. I may sleep for a month afterwards!

I get so tired thinking about adding another child to our brood. I also get tired of the looks I get walking around the mall or in stores when people see me walking/waddling with four young kids and clearly pregnant again. I don’t wear my wedding ring because it gets stuck on my finger and is uncomfortable. I’m sure they think I’m of the lowest class of people, but I know the truth. I would love for someone to say something to me though about it.

I’m making bread right now. This is a task I attempt two or three times a year. I was raised by one of the best bakers in the world (Mom) and I have never yet created a loaf of my own that came anywhere close to her bread! I even use the same recipe, but it doesn’t matter. I just can’t do it. Much like my Mother-in-law’s breakfast gravy. She has even walked me through it, her making a batch on one side of the stove and me on the other. I do exactly what she does but it is never as good! I’ve given up on the gravy. I still try the bread though. I’m trying a new recipe today (Honey White Bread from the Barefoot Contessa—I LOVE HER!). I hope it is good.

2011-06-08T12:42:00.001-05:00

The next day was better. I didn’t really get anything accomplished, but I did do a lot.

Last night was the girls’ next –to-last t-ball game. They have both grown so much this season. I’m not sure though if we are going to do this next year. It’s a lot of hard work to get the kids there on time, and it’s really hard to sit in heat indexes of over 100 degrees to watch the games. Oh well. We will do what we do.

I have a doctors appointment this afternoon. Doubt we will have a look at the gummy bear, but hopefully there will be an easy heartbeat to be found!

2011-06-06T09:23:00.001-05:00

It’s not going to be a good day. I started off so well. I got up, worked on laundry, got the twin’s sippies readdy and got the girls dressed.

Then I got the babies up. Kaci had pulled her diaper off in the middle of the night and…well, I’ll let you use your imagination. I’ve been vomiting for the past 30 minutes as a result.

He is at a conference today and since we couldn’t find a babysitter, I’m staying home to watch the kids. I don’t have the patience for this! So now, I’ve had to sterilize the babies’ room, sterilize the bathroom again (I just did it and it is a job I loathe) and do a couple more loads of laundry that I wasn’t planning on doing. Yuck.

On top of this, Kalyn and Keali WON’T stop talking! Or getting in my way! Moms, you’ll understand. Everywhere you need to be…there is a kid there instead. Augh!!!!

I didn’t sleep well last night and all Kalyn wants to do is go to the park. We have a high of 99 today. That isn’t including the heat index. Its going to be miserable.

This afternoon, I have to take the twins to be tested for more developmental delays. Since I don’t have a babysitter, guess who I also get to take???? My kids behave very well for other people. NOT for me. I don’t know what time Heath will be home tonight, but I can’t guarantee that I’ll be here…or sane when he returns.

2011-06-04T13:30:00.001-05:00

I don’t know why, but I seem to be surprised every year how hot it gets in Arkansas! I always remember that it is super hot, but I forget what it actually feels like.

I would rather be naked then wear any type of clothing. Unfortunately, society and my self image won’t allow me to do that so I’m having to do the best I can. I’ve gotten a number of light maxi dresses. I always thought they looked cute and they do. And they are super comfortable in this weather. I love them. The problem is getting Heath to agree to buying about 20 more. I would like a good selection to choose from, LOL!

Speaking of the husband…He has taken to watching LOST. I watched the show in the first season then became very irritated that I didn’t have a clue what was going on. This time around is no different. Hmmm.

So, yesterday at work I got what Heath is referring to as a “Promotion Demotion.” I have the same title, same pay, and twice the work now. My co-worker Mark is not going to be returning after June 30th and that leaves me to pick up his work. I’m trying really hard not to panic, but the timing could be a lot better! We will of course hire a replacement, but with the way hiring works here, and the schedule our department is going to be keeping this summer, it will probably be September before we ever get to interview candidates. And October before they probably would start (assuming we found somebody we wanted to hire!).

If you’ve been paying attention, I’ll be pretty pregnant right about that time. As I said before…the timing could be better. I don’t care what anyone else says though…I’m going on maternity leave and there isn’t anything anyone can do about it.

Kalyn and Keali spent last night at their grandparent’s house and are spending the day with them. I can tell Kynan and Kaci are loving the extra attention from Heath and I. By the way…I do regret naming all my babies with a K, though I will probably have to name this one like that too.

2011-05-29T19:36:00.001-05:00

Three day weekends were sent to us straight from Heaven! I’m so happy to not have to work tomorrow. I’m not on duty either!

Yesterday was nice. The older girls went out with Brad and Melissa to Blanchard Springs and had a blast. Heath and I went out with the younger two to the mall. We were able to pick up some basketball shorts for the girls and some candy for me! I’ve been wanting Runts for the longest time and the only place to get them around here is the candy store in the mall.

Later, Heath and I went to see Baby Jace in the hospital. As I predicted, he was born yesterday morning and he is adorable! It’s good for me to hold babies right now. I think I’m starting to feel this little one. Every once in awhile, I think I’ve felt something. It’s still too early to know for sure, but I like the feeling anyway.

So, Jace. He is little, 4 lbs, 13 oz. He is doing well. He has a tiny little nose, lots of dark hair, and he has the most gigantic feet I’ve ever seen on a newborn! His feet are just as long as his legs from ankle to knee! They are precious! I was punished though for unwrapping him long enough to take a look. He did NOT like that! He began crying…this sound his Daddy calls the “Raptor cry.” I was the lucky one to be holding him when he had his first sneeze. The most precious little sound! April always sneezes in multiples. 5-7 times. Jace sneezed 5 time! So cute. I can’t say it enough. He is such a sweetie pie and I’m so happy he is here!

Today hasn’t been as good. Heath is battling some type of stomach bug and I’ve started to get it this afternoon. I just feel yucky. Once of my new hall directors came to drop some stuff off today. I went over to let him in. I didn’t realize that “a few things” meant his life long collection of everything! I was the only one over there and he had tons of stuff. I’m limited in what I can carry, so I did what I could and recruited help for the rest. It is HOT outside! HOT.

Tomorrow we will spend time with family and with luck, I’ll get to take another nap. I love naps!

Kaci has started to become more verbal. Yesterday, while at his parent’s house, Heath sat next to his mom. Kaci was in her lap. Kaci pointed at Heath and shouted, “Go Way!” She doesn’t like to share. While driving home, I tried to get Kaci to dance. She pointed at me and shouted, “Don’t.” Hmmm. Maybe sometime we will get some positive responses from her.

2011-05-27T16:26:00.002-05:00

This is shaping up to be my most difficult pregnancy ever. They seem to get worse and worse. Any whoooooo.
My friend April and her husband Jeremy are having their first baby today! I actually think it will be sometime tomorrow, but they are at the hospital right now! I'm so excited for them. They've also suffered from infertility and Jace is really a miracle baby for them. I can't wait to meet and hold him!
The girls' t-ball season is coming to a close and I couldn't be happier. This year has been harder. I'm not really sure why. Weather, I know played a big part. We are also on an extremely young team (most of our players are 4.) I've enjoyed watching the girls, but I'll be happy when this is over. Kalyn and Keali (Keali in particular) have gotten so much better this year. Heath and I aren't sure if we will do this again next year. Kalyn would be on a competitive team at 7 years old and they have tournaments and travel away games every weekend for about 2 months. I can't handle that with Keali, twin two year olds, and a baby. We will see, but it isn't looking too promising!
I'm SO looking forward to this 3 day weekend! Can't wait to have three whole days off. I'm not even on duty!

2011-05-19T10:09:00.002-05:00

So now, I am 15 weeks and three days. That is almost 15 and a half weeks. LOL.
I am doing much better with the pregnancy now. At least the knowledge that I am pregnant. My morning sickness has been so much worse that it was with the twins. I've found that my morning sickness has gotten worse with each subsequent pregnancy. Kalyn was virtually non-existant. Keali, I felt horrible but never really got sick much. The twins I was nauseous the whole 7 months, and with this one, I'm nauseous all the time and actually get sick 1-4 times a day. Yuck. I'm already past my first trimester. I hope this doesn't continue through the whole nine months.
So, I've never hidden the fact that I take anti-depressants. After Keali was born, I developed post partum depression and left untreated, it progressed into a deep depression. I finally realized I was hurting my family and sought treatment. I loved treatment. I felt so much better about life and myself. I was able to be more like the mother I wanted to be for my children.
Then I got pregnant with the twins. I immediately weaned myself from my medication and within a couple of weeks hit the bottom again. I stayed that way through the pregnancy and when they were born early, I knew I needed to start back up immediately to help me handle the emotional and physical roller coaster I had just gotten on so I started the meds the day after they were born.
It took my doctor and I 18 months to get my medication right after the twins were born. I was back to being able to better control my emotions and reactions to situations (I had also been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.) And a whopping one month later was pregnant again - this time very unexpected.
Aside from not wanting to be pregnant, I was terrified about having to go off my medication again. I called my psychiatrist and told him I wanted to stay on the medication for as long as possible. He agreed I could do that until the third trimester. When I saw my OB though, he suggested that I get off that particular medication immediately and substitute another one. I agreed because beyond anything else, I want to take care of this baby. He is mine and I am responsible for his wellbeing. So I switched meds.
Now, five weeks later I have not yet hit bottom (though I am more prone to depressive states), but I have absolutely NO PATIENCE with anyone or anything. I'm kind of a...well, I'll let you fill in the blank (but it starts with a B and rhymes with witch.) I have what could be considered by an outsider, an attitude problem. Situations which in the past, even in my most depressed mind I would have shrugged off and just taken it, I am standing up for myself in a rather forceful manner. It's not me, but at times I like it. On the other hand, in addition to irritating those I love most, I am driving myself crazy. I wish I could have patience, but once I start to lose it, well...it's just better to let me go off by myself. I have a really strong urge to start cursing at everything and everone around me. I haven't done it yet, but it has been difficult.
25 weeks left. Pray for me!

2011-04-14T15:24:00.001-05:00

Monday afternoon Heath and I went to the doctor to talk about the pregnancy. I was terrified. Mostly of finding out there was more than one baby. I was fairly certain we wouldn’t find out on Monday because we weren’t scheduled for an ultrasound. I was also very curious about a due date, and I figured that going to the doctor might help me accept this whole thing a bit better.

I was right. We didn’t find out about the number of babies, but we made an educated guess (best chance) at a due date of November 8th. We did confirm the pregnancy too. That was important. I was schedule for an ultrasound Wednesday morning.

Scheduling an ultrasound in a city half an hour away from home at 8:30 in the morning when you have to take twins to grandma’s, and two girls to two different schools was not a good idea. We were very rushed to get there, and thank to the prerequisite “full bladder” I was very cranky. Heath kept teasing me about twins. I wanted to believe there was just one baby, but he was right the last time, so he could be right again.

Luckily, I got my way and we only have one. Unless someone is hiding.

My due date is right on—I will have to have a c-section though so we currently have that scheduled for November 1st. That’s one thing about my pregnancies that I’ve always liked. I always have an end date that is prior to the due date to look forward to. So. After November 1st, I will no longer be pregnant!

I have to be honest. I haven’t been at all happy about this ‘surprise.’ I didn’t really care if God wanted this or not. Clearly He did, because I was able to do this naturally. I just thought it extremely presumptuous to not ask my opinion first.

But when I heard that heart beat. I wasn’t prepared for it. Suddenly this baby became very real to me and I realized he (hoping for a boy) needs me to love and protect him. He doesn’t have anyone else to do that for him right now. I fell in love with this little gummy bear. He is cute. I can tell.

So, while I can’t say that I’m thrilled with this—I have accepted it and I’m looking forward to holding my baby in a few months!

10 weeks down. 30 to go!

2011-04-11T13:12:00.001-05:00

Terrified.

If I had to choose one word to express my emotions this day that would be it.

I have a doctor’s appointment today. Firstly—I’m hoping to find out a due date as that is somewhat in question (don’t ask for specifics…I just don’t know). But I’m scared of what else they may find. Mainly—more than one baby. I know my fears are barely justified, but they are there and I can’t stop them. Especially since my wonderful hubby keeps saying that he feels like it is twins. He said that the last time and turned out to be correct.

Then there is the sheer exhaustion and discomfort I’ve been in. I’m still attributing it to stress, but who knows?

I’m scared.

2011-04-03T20:57:00.001-05:00

Knocked Up.

A term I usually reserve for unwed pregnant teenagers.

But that is how I felt this week.

I’ve been asking Heath to purchase a home pregnancy test for me for about a month and a half. I have my own reasons—at it wasn’t because I thought I could be pregnant. Wednesday, he sprung this on me, “Melissa. I feel like there is another baby waiting for us.” This got my mind working and I insisted he purchase a test.

Since the symptoms of my PTSD have started to decline the past few months, I’ve been able to consider the possibility of having another baby—in 3-5 years. I’m not ready yet—but I feel like I could be an a few years. I’m not completely opposed to the idea.

I’ve never been secretive about the fact that Heath and I have always had to use fertility drugs to conceive. That is most likely how we ended up with Kynan and Kaci. Drugs. Their birth was quite traumatic for me (hence the PTSD) and threw into question the thought of having more children. Would it be safe? Would it be wise? A lot of uncertainties. Bed rest, early labor, another abruption. Who knows!

Imagine my horror/shock/surprise/reaction when I saw the test was positive! I instantly began to hyperventilate, and Heath took the kids to his parents house so I could process without scaring them. I’m not ashamed. I cried. I panicked. I began to blame everyone. In fact, I’m still blaming everyone else but me because clearly I am not ready for this.

Obviously it is Heath’s fault.

The people in my office jinxed me by saying a couple months ago that I would be pregnant within the next year.

The doctor didn’t insist on my BCPs when I decided to go off them three months ago. I didn’t think I needed them! I only ever began taking them as a method of controlling hormones after the twins.

Kalyn, found a crumb on the floor a month and a half ago and put it in my belly button. (remember the poppy seed story) I humored her because she wanted me to have a baby. I didn’t know she was going to impregnate me!

Hmmm.

But here we are. Pregnant. Again. I can’t say that I’m thrilled with the idea (or the reality), but I imagine with time, this will change. It was weird to see a positive test and not feel excited by it. Totally different than any other time!

I’ll go to the doctor in a bit over a week, and we will find out a due date then. At this point I don’t know how far along I am, but somewhere between 4-12 weeks. This explains my exhaustion, nausea, headaches, grumpiness, and a host of other symptoms that I had been explaining away with reminders that I’ve been working too much and too hard.

On a happier note, today, we went to the ASU Museum to view Kalyn’s artwork! She had a piece selected about a month ago. It was quite an honor to be chosen and she is certainly proud of herself! It was a beautiful piece. After viewing the painting (a rainbow with flowers) we went through the rest of the museum. Kynan had a blast once Uncle Brad let him out of the stroller! He ran from display to display squealing with delight. He and Kaci both crashed as soon as we got back into the car. They were so cute!

2011-03-29T10:09:00.001-05:00

Life has been busy. I’ve been traveling for work, and when actually here, been doing even more stuff for work. I’m exhausted! Luckily, I have a great Hubby who has been taking great care of the kids and a supportive extended family who have been helping out as well!

Not much in particular to say. The kids are growing so fast!

Kalyn is practically a tween and makes us laugh daily with the witty and innocent things she says. She has joined the Advanced Reader’s group in Kindergarten and reads all the time. She told me the other day that she finally believes me when I say reading is more fun than tv. She has vowed to watch less tv and read more. She really is very good and enjoys reading us bedtime stories each night.

Keali has the loveliest eyes. They are so expressive. She is really funny. Keali has a dry sense of humor—something I’m not sure I’ve seen in a child before, but she deadpans and makes the funniest comments. She is learning about bugs at school and loves singing me the songs the teachers share about insects. She knows it creeps me out and she finds it hilarious!

Kynan. Well. He screams like a girl. There. I said it. He is a handsome little boy, the apple of my eye, and he doesn’t even like me! He loves me, sure. But would rather have nothing to do with me. It isn’t that girls are gross. Mommies are gross. I guess I’ll just have to get used to the idea. Makes me sad though. He is such a boy. He climbs on everything and gets into everything. I guess I didn’t believe that baby boys and girls were that different, but he is SUCH A BOY!! Unfortunately for us, when he does something naughty, he flashes his grin and more often than not gets away with it. When are we going to learn our lesson?

Kaci is Mommy’s princess. She can’t stand to have anyone else near me—claiming her rightful spot on my lap as soon as anybody gets too close. She snuggles in and gives the sweetest smiles. She talks periodically. Okay. She babbles all the time, but every once in a while it will make sense. Usually it is some variation of “Stop! Bubbie! Stop!” I guess she hears that alot LOL! She is still a bit of a bully, but Kynan is taking up for himself better now. She struts around the house with her glorious tummy pushed forward. Her tummy is only surpassed in impressiveness by her booty. She is a round little thing and so cute. Papaw calls her “Emmer” because she walks just like my Mother-In-Law’s mother did. She is a bit bowlegged. I hope she grows out of it.

We’ve been blessed to spend some time recently with family we don’t often get to see, and the girls are looking forward to summer. They just ended spring break and did NOT want to go back to school! T-Ball will start up soon, so I’m trying to get myself excited for that. Hmmmm. T-ball for two and two toddlers running around the ball fields. Not my idea of fun, but Kalyn and Keali can’t wait! I hope Heath is able to be as involved this year as he was last. It was wonderful to see him getting to have fun with his kids like that. I also hope we have a great coach like we did last year. That can really make all the difference.

Heath is working hard. Basketball season is over and we are now in baseball, softball, and soccer. I hate the beginning parts of these sports because it is still so chilly outside—especially in the evening. We aren’t able to visit him at work too much until it warms up, but it is fun when we do!

So basically—we are all well and trying to do our best. Life is crazy busy, but we are happy!

Oh—and Heath bought me a Nookcolor this last weekend! I’m so happy with it!

2011-02-16T20:07:00.001-06:00

Wow. It’s been so long, it took me five minutes to find the icon for Live Writer on my desktop!

Life has been busy! A kindergartener, a 4-year old, and twin toddlers are keeping Heath and I very busy! In the past month, we’ve had Kalyn and Keali’s birthday party, and I can’t really remember what else. I wake up in the morning, go to work, pick up the kids, put them to bed, and collapse in my own bed exhausted—just to start the whole process over again the next morning.

I’ve maxed out on my medication, but I think the increase is doing me good. I feel much better than I have. In addition to this, I’ve volunteered to help out the seniors in the Exercise Science program. They need faculty and staff volunteers to be personal trainers to. So. For absolutely no money—I have my very own personal trainer! AND I get to work out in an amazing new facility. I haven’t been this physically active since probably seventh grade and I feel great!

I go to bed exhausted—but the tired that comes from actually doing stuff, not the tired that stems from depression and lack of motivation. I wake up much earlier in the morning and have too much energy to go back to sleep. I’m getting ready to start my third week of this and I am shocked and amazed by the difference I feel already! I can’t really see a change in my body yet…but I feel much better and my clothes are fitting differently. It is wonderful. Best of all—I am not hating working out! I actually enjoy the sweat I break into because I know that I’ve earned it.

A couple weeks ago, I even took part in a 4K. I walked almost the whole thing, but I was so proud of my accomplishment (and I got a cute pink t-shirt!) The down side of all this is that I’ve been sore for the past few weeks! HaHa! I’m not working out too hard—I’m actually pushing myself a lot, and I’m not injured, I’m just using muscles that really haven’t been used in who knows how long?! It is a good pain and I am so proud of myself. Heath has been an amazing cheerleader and extremely supportive of my efforts. My main goal is to do this all semester (I will, because Cassie’s grade depends on my showing up regularly) and then continue the habit of going. My University gives it’s employees 3 wellness hours a week to use and I really haven’t used them in the past. I am now, and I love it! I’m getting a lot of support from my supervisor and others in my office. It is really nice.

At home, the twins keep my jumping. We finally took the plunge this last weekend and refused to give either one a bottle. They have been fighting the transition to sippy cup for months. Heath and I have never had a baby use a bottle past 10 months old, and Kynan and Kaci are almost 16 months! We made the mistake of going cold turkey Sunday morning. Right before church. Yeah. It wasn’t pretty.

They are doing great now though—plenty of bribes of chocolate milk and strawberry milk (Heath’s idea) got them hooked on the idea that sippies won’t kill them. They haven’t had a bottle since and though they still aren’t loving their sippy’s, they are doing much much better.

Kalyn is doing so well in school. We have her parent teacher conference tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. Keali is a joy for her teachers as well—they tell me this almost every day! Both have attitudes the size of Texas when they want them, but for the most part they are loving and wonderful.

Happy February!

Crazy eyes!

2011-01-03T19:49:00.001-06:00

The first day of real life after winter break. I’ve been awake for 13 hours and I’m about to crash!

This morning went so much better than I thought it would. I asked Heath to get the girls ready while I took a shower. When I was finished, Heath—and the girls were still asleep. I woke Heath up again and asked him to take care of the girls. He rolled over and said, “I am.” Uh. Really? Then he opened his eyes and realized he had been dreaming.

The girls didn’t wake up in the best of moods, but they certainly weren’t at their worst! We all made it to school/work on time and even a bit early. SHOCKING!

Work was work—just trying to get back into the swing of things. It always takes me a day or two to catch up and feel as though I know what is going on.

I picked up the kids and took them home. I had to go back to work, so Patience watched them. When I got home, everyone was either bathed, or asleep! Kalyn was out like a light (prior to 7 pm), and the three youngest were all clean and ready for bed!

I got everyone in bed by 7:30 (I figure an early night won’t hurt them since they were so tired). Now I’m about to fold some laundry and then I’m going to answer my pillow. I hear it calling for me.

Good night!

2011-01-01T15:59:00.001-06:00

My goal for the new year? Mop my floor.

DONE

Next goal—convince Heath to let me have carpal tunnel surgery. I am typing this with one finger.

2010-12-31T18:22:00.001-06:00

Ahhhh. New Years Eve.

Not doing anything! I’m still unwell—and even fainted this morning. I think I was just dehydrated. Anyway, it’s rainy and yucky here and our ward New Year’s party doesn’t even begin until 9 pm. I’m usually trying to be asleep at that time, so I think I’ll pass.

Kalyn is really excited about moving up a class in Primary on Sunday—and has been giving Keali pointers on how you behave in Primary and what happens there (Keali will be a Sunbeam!!). It is so cute to have this almost-six-year-old issuing directions to her ‘minion’ (as she so lovingly calls her).

I’m bummed my winter break is almost over, but it as been a very laid back break. I didn’t get much of anything done, but I feel as though it was good to not push to work while I was off work. There is always time to clean—but spending time with my kiddos is much more important.

2010-12-28T17:20:00.001-06:00

Winter break has been marvelous. Complete with a nasty tummy bug going around the family and sinus infections. But other than that, it really has been nice being with the kids all day.

Both Kynan and Kaci are walking now. Kaci still more than Kynan, but both are getting better and they are so cute! Kynan will climb on anything—and I mean ANYTHING—he can. He doesn’t need to be getting to anything specific—just UP. The higher, the better for him.

In true baby fashion, the twins enjoyed Christmas—the wrapping paper was mildly amusing, but the boxes were a big hit. The toys were okay too, but the boxes were the highlight for my little lovies.

Kalyn and Keali were pretty good for Christmas—we only had a few bratty outbursts and a couple of conversations about the proper way to receive a gift. We tried really hard to talk about the true meaning of Christmas, but we will have to work harder on that next year.

Heath and I had our 9th anniversary too! It was great. We almost never do anything fancy for our anniversaries—a trip to Walmart with just the two of us is pretty amazing, so when we were able to go out for an entire evening together, I was thrilled.

I was likewise thrilled with my gifts. We usually don’t do gifts either (or if we do they are practical). Heath gave me a new watch—a beautiful two toned watch with diamond accents. He also gave me a new leather jacket and He Took Me Shoe Shopping and bought me four pairs of shoes! I was super happy.

If you haven’t already heard what I gave Heath, prepare yourself.

I got him a KitKat.

He is the hardest person to buy presents for! He always guesses or hates what I get him, so I decided to not do much of anything this time. And BOY did I hear about it! Luckily while we were out together, he found a book he wanted so I ‘gave’ that to him.

I did better for Christmas though. I gave him an ice cream machine & cookbook as well as a Superman book and a soldering gun. He has been wanting all those things, and I was happy to get them for him (though he didn’t exclaim in joy when he opened them). Of course, he did better than I did and got me lotions, socks, and fuzzy slippers. I also got a techno-hoodie! It’s fun.

When Heath brought in my presents to be wrapped, he sent me to the back bedroom to hide while he did it. He had the girls help him. When I came out from the back, Keali said, “Mommy. You are NOT getting fuzzy slippers for Christmas.” Heath made an exasperated face and Keali quickly calmed him down by saying, “Don’t worry, Daddy. I told her she WASN’T getting fuzzy slippers.”

Aw, Kids. It was adorable.

2010-12-14T15:07:00.001-06:00

I’ve really been stinking at this blogging thing this past year. I am just so busy—and when I’m not busy, I’m trying to spend quality time with my family (or by myself…personal time is severely underrated).

I woke up this morning about 4 am thinking it was Wednesday. I was really happy about this because Wednesday is the middle of the week—meaning that I only have half a week to go until the weekend (and consequently winter break from work). I was bummed when I realized we hadn’t yet completed Tuesday. So here I am.

I’ll be perfectly honest. I don’t think I’ve done a single work related task today. My heart just isn’t in it. I’ve spoken with a few people—mostly catching up on lives and such. Wait. I just took a work related phone call and remembered that I did hire a student this morning. I guess I have done a little bit.

I’m really just ready for 4:30 to roll around so I can go get Kalyn and head home.

My heart is hurting. Bryan is leaving us tonight.

Bryan has been living with us for the past couple of months while he completes a half semester class. He has been such a help watching the kids in the afternoon and it has been nice getting to know him better. He was young when I left for school so I always just remembered the little smiley blond kid. He has grown up. The semester is over now though so he is going back home. I’ll miss him. Kynan and Kaci will miss him and regardless of what they say…Kalyn and Keali will miss him too!

Alright. Now, I am being forced to work so I better sound off.

BLAM!

2010-12-08T11:21:00.001-06:00

Last night I went to the late night breakfast at ASU. It is tradition that staff serve breakfast to the students the night before final exams start. This year they decided to make it a true midnight breakfast.

Lucky for me, my boss said I didn’t have to come to work until 1 today to compensate for me being up half the night. It was fun though and I got a cute t-shirt out of it. There isn’t a whole lot I wouldn’t do for a cute t-shirt. Sad, isn’t it?

Heath got up with the girls this morning to take them to school (I was very thankful because I was awake until 4:30 due to his snoring). The girls have been begging him to take them to school for a while now, so I’m sure they were thrilled. I helped him get them dressed, but then I went back to sleep.

I got a couple hours in, then I got up and I’ve been hangin’ with the babies and Heath. I have to go to work soon, but I’m certainly enjoying my morning off.

I’m so looking forward to winter break in a week and a half. A couple weeks off with my family should be rejuvinating!

This morning, I was washing Kaci in the tub. I took her cup away from her to rinse off, and she wasn’t happy at all. She gave me a look that clearly said, “When I take over the world in a few years…YOU are the first to go.” I have to admit, I’m a little scared.

2010-12-04T09:51:00.001-06:00

It is so hard to go back to work after a week off! I did my best though and even got my office mostly clean! Yay!

It is the weekend again—thankfully and I plan on spending time with my kiddos and hubby. Maybe we will get the house picked up a little too. I’m not the best housekeeper and things have been suffering a lot lately.

All the kids are doing well. Kalyn is smarter than the rest of us. Keali is a super sweetie. Kynan is the king of whine, and Kaci isn’t far behind him. Naturally the twins are very sweet babies, but each wants so much attention, I think they whine to get it.

2010-11-29T18:35:00.001-06:00

What a day.

But first. Thanksgiving.

The week of Thanksgiving I took off work in the hopes that we could spend some extra time in Hot Springs with my family. Much to my dismay, Kalyn and Keali had school Monday and Tuesday! This is shocking because usually Nettleton schools close when the University is closed. Anyway…I knew I was on duty the last part of the week so this left only Wednesday to go to HS. But Heath had to work Wednesday morning so I gathered up the kiddies and drove the three hours myself.

The kids were all very good. The only problem with the drive down was the fog that was super thick for the first 150 of 180 miles. We got to Moms house and ate pumpkin pie (I loved this because I usually don’t get pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving) and visited for about an hour. Mom had to go to work and we followed her to the store to buy Kalyn some clothes.

I got to the store and realized I left the diaper bag at my Mom’s so I left the kids with Mom and drove back to the house. It took much longer than I wanted to, but what can you do?

I picked the kids up and we headed off to Dad’s. To be honest, I really felt in the way at Dad’s house. Linda had just gotten home from having surgery and Jennifer and Jeremiah had just arrived as well. Me and four rambunctious kids were probably NOT the best thing for the Hale house! Anyway, I got to see almost everyone and that was nice. The kids were really good. I staged a “baby fight” that was super funny, but I think some siblings judged my mothering at that moment. It was funny though. The twins always want what the other has and they fight to the death (well, almost). Kaci is something of a bully and can totally hold her own with Kynan.

We left for home a bit early because it was supposed to rain and it gets dark early. I have a hard time driving in the dark if it is raining. Thanks Lasiks!

We got home in time to see Richie, Debi, and Kylee who had just arrived, then Heath and I had a quiet night with the babies since Kalyn and Keali chose to sleep at Mamaw and Papaw’s.

Thanksgiving was nice, I ended up sleeping through about half of it (I had a headache for about 4 days). I didn’t do the black Friday sales. I refuse to do that anymore! Saturday and Sunday were nice too.

This morning I went back to work and thought I enjoy my job, I admit that I wished I was still asleep. It was dark and rainy all day. That makes me SO sleepy! I went to pick Kalyn up from Camp Raider and ended up locking my purse, phone, and keys in the car. I had to borrow a phone to call Heath (the only number I have memorized). He called his Mom to come pick Kalyn and I up and we finally made it home—an hour later than normal. Thank goodness Bryan made dinner—I’m not sure I could have handled it!

My Eyes! MY EYES!!

2010-11-16T16:32:00.001-06:00

It’s raining.

It’s pouring.

It’s frickin’ cold outside!

Yesterday I spent a good hour at work watching video cameras from one of my residence halls—trying to find somebody causing a disturbance.

Just to clear this up—I had a report of a disturbance and was looking for proof of it in the recorded footage—FYI—I didn’t find anything.

Imagine my co-workers surprise when I started screaming, “Stop! Stop! You are right in front of a camera!” at the couple who decided to get handsey with each other at 1:30 am right in front of the camera. My GHD said she felt like a spy. I felt like a voyeur.

And I didn’t like it.

Moral of the story—If you are going to do something in front of a camera—make sure you are okay with somebody watching it. Perhaps you should think if anyone wants to watch it. They probably don’t. Just a thought.

2010-11-14T11:58:00.001-06:00

Do you ever feel as though you are going crazy?

I do.

All the time.

I sometimes feel myself slipping into my own reality—and occasionally I have trouble remembering if something actually happened or if I just dreamed it. It seems to be getting worse. Maybe I should see my therapist again…

Any who

I have the cutest sweetest kids in the world! Last night, Kaci finished her bottle (I know she is almost 13 months old—I’ve never had a baby on a bottle this long before, but neither she nor her brother have any interest in sippy cups) and then looked at her Uncle Bryan and began waving the empty bottle at him. A clear demand that she get another one—STAT. It was adorable. We will have to curb that though at some point.

Kynan has this little half-smile he gives me sometimes. He looks just like Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones. Heartbreaker.

Keali has the most precious imagination and loves playing with puzzles. She will create a complete world and carry it completely through. Precious.

Kalyn just wants to snuggle. She doesn’t think she gets enough Mommy time lately. I’ll do my best to make it better for her.

2010-11-13T17:00:00.001-06:00

Last Thursday, Kalyn and Keali went to bed very well. I managed to get into bed fairly early too. About an hour after I fell asleep, Keali walked in. I asked why she wasn’t in her own bed and she said, “The Tooth Fairy hasn’t come yet and I’m tired of hiding under my blanket.” I asked why she was hiding. Because the Tooth Fairy is scary.

The TF did eventually come and left Kalyn $2.00. I was in their room when she woke up. She stretched, and quickly lifted her pillow to find the cash. She was pretty excited and when she realized she had two $1 bills, she handed one to Keali! She said it wasn’t fair that she got two and Sissy didn’t get any! I was so pleased! That was a very sweet thing to do.

Today I’ve been cleaning the house (those of you with kids will understand my frustration that it doesn’t look as though it has been touched) and doing laundry. I’m exhausted!

2010-11-11T17:46:00.001-06:00

It’s finally happened. The tooth is out!! It’s been loose for weeks. Endless questions of “when will it come out?” And today is the day.

Today at work was good—though I didn’t get a lot done. One of my best friends shared she and her husband are expecting a Gummy Bear! That is what the baby looks like…a Gummy Bear! The ultrasound picture they have is the most adorable one I have ever seen at that stage and I am thrilled for them. Congratulations!

With that news coming around 9:30 this morning, it was hard to concentrate the rest of the day! Like I said…THRILLED!

Heath brought the babies up to my office. Kynan has officially been labeled a “Chick-Magnet” by Heath. We cut his hair into a mohawk the other day and Heath had it spikey. The women—LOVE IT! And he is such a little heartbreaker anyway!

When I went to pick Kalyn up from school, my day got even better. I walked in…looked for my baby girl…and there she was. Smiling. Without a tooth! She was so proud!

It was just like a movie! We ran into each other’s arms (really…we did) and hugged. She was so excited and to see that made me so happy for her!

We gathered her belongings and went to the car where she tried to show me her tooth. But…

Dun

Dun!

THE TOOTH WAS MISSING!!

We frantically searched the backpack and around the backpack. My precious daughter began to get really upset. How can the Tooth Fairy pick up a tooth that isn't there? We went back to the cafeteria and looked around. Next we found a custodian to unlock the classroom door. No tooth!

The next step was clear. We recruited half of the Camp Raider staff to search while I formulated a back up plan.

After we still couldn’t find the tooth, I told Kalyn we would draw a tooth when we got home and the Tooth Fairy would pick that up. She would understand that this happens sometimes. Kalyn was actually pretty okay with it.

We got back to the car and I looked in the backpack one more time. Well. It just so happens that Kalyn’s backpack has a secret pocket that I’ve never seen before and the tooth was in there! I was relieved to say the least.

On the way home, Kalyn called her Daddy and informed him that he could tell the Tooth Fairy that she prefers cash as her present.

I’m okay with that. All in all. A great day!

2010-10-31T22:07:00.001-05:00

Finally some pictures!!

At the babies birthday party with my great friend Patience. She organized a super awesome scavenger hunt that the kids loved.

Me and my baby girl. Not such a baby anymore

Kynan: “Yes. It is difficult being devastatingly handsome.”

“But don’t you worry. I’m easy on the eyes.”

Isn’t she beautiful!

Melts my heart!

My babies are 1!

My older babies!

The big cake!

Kynan’s cake.

Kaci’s cake.

Bubbie wasn’t terribly interested in the presents—but he loved the wrapping paper and boxes.

Kaci was pretty enamored with the bows.

Blowing out the candles. I didn’t plan it, but most everyone wore red! Go stAte!

Time to dig in!

Kaci kind of liked it.

Kynan—not so much.

So I kind of forced the situation.

Okay—Kaci really liked it.

Kynan really didn’t.

It took quite some time for him to forgive me.

Nope. Not yet.

It was a great day. Beautiful outside and though the babies were a little cranky, (I absentmindedly scheduled the party for their naptime) it was a lot of fun.

These are my “other'” kids.

L-R Back: Charlie, John, Devin, Brandon, Justin, Kayla.

L-R Front: Donald, Delaney, Sharnea.

The other day I was leaving a staff meeting. I opened the door and HOWL was standing right outside! I of course screamed in terror because you don’t expect to open a door and find a 6 1/2 foot red wolf standing there. Then I got my picture taken with him!

2010-10-27T11:08:00.002-05:00

Okay. Still no birthday pics. I just don't have time!
The conference in NC was really good. I went with a sinus infection and I think I ate something bad while I was there, but all in all it was good. I really missed my hubby and babies, but I did enjoy some of the quiet!
When I returned Monday night, I got hugs from everyone. Mamaw and Papaw came in about 5 minutes later and all the kids acted like they hadn't seen them in four days. What was that about! I got a hug. The grandparents got screams and tackeled. Hmm.
I did get a good snuggle in with all of them later though so that made up for it.
I went back to work yesterday but had to leave early with a huge headache. I drugged myself up at home, but couldn't sleep it off, so Bryan and I went to pick Kalyn up from school (I was...shall we say, under the influence, so Bryan drove). Maybe it was my meds. Maybe it was just Bryan. He is a slow and exceedingly careful driver! It was nice. Except for the part when he ran the stop sign. (Sorry Bryan!)
Today I am back at work and I attended the Employee Benefits Fair. I won a $50.00 gift card to Olive Garden! Yeah!

2010-10-23T10:30:00.002-05:00

I'm in Charlotte for a conference. It's going well but I miss my family! Last night was just a little too quiet!
The twins birthday came and went. And I was okay! My nightmares are getting worse and I had a minor panic attack the other night. Kynan and Kaci are my angels though! I'm so happy to have them in my life! And guess what?
I'm Kaci's favorite! This has NEVER happened with any of our kids and I have to say it's about time!
She is my little snuggle bug and I couldn't do without her!

2010-10-19T20:58:00.001-05:00

I haven’t uploaded the pictures from the birthday party yet, so that story will have to wait.

Yesterday, I picked Kalyn up from school and I noticed she was a little more quiet than normal. We drove home and she refused to get out of the van. I asked what is wrong. She began to tear up.

I was thinking, “Oh my! What is going on!” so I asked her why she was so upset. She began to tell me, in the most tearfully sad voice, how she had done a worksheet at school and when her teacher graded it, she got one question wrong.

She was absolutely beside herself! I explained that people don’t always get all the answers right. She said that she has never gotten a question wrong and she doesn’t understand why this happened.

I finally got her out of the van, but she lay down prostrate on the sidewalk and refused to move—just sobbing. I called Heath and he told her what I did. He asked what question she got wrong. Apparently, she was looking at pictures and had to identify what the objects were. She incorrectly labeled a bucket a drum. As she told this to her Daddy, she said, “I just wasn’t thinking! I don’t know why I did that!” She detailed out several times the obvious difference between a bucket and a drum.

How messed up is that! Heath blames himself for being a perfectionist (actually, blame isn’t the right word—he is amused). I blame myself because of my neurotic tendencies.

Any advice?

This morning, Bubbie got ear tubes put in. He did so well! He woke up almost happy, but has been very sleepy all day. It’s for the best.

I felt like I was getting a sinus infection when we left the hospital, so this afternoon, I went to the doctor. Sure enough. So I got meds, a flu shot, and a steroid shot to kick start the anti-biotic. I’m going to North Carolina this weekend, and the thought of flying with an infection was terrifying. Hopefully we can nip this thing in the bud. But now it is 8:55 pm. I’ve been away since very, very early this morning. I can’t sleep because my arm and tushie hurt from the shots. I’m just waiting for the pain meds to kick in. I’m tired!

That being said, having Bryan here is working out great—and the girls are finally adjusting, I think. Keali even drew a nice picture of Bryan at school. Yesterday, she gave him all of her school drawings “to remember” her by. Bryan didn’t know if he should take this as a hint or not. For now, he is here and I am thrilled he is. He is really good with the kids and with me being so much older than him, it is nice for us to re-kindle our sibling relationship.

2010-10-16T10:33:00.001-05:00

I was reading my cousin’s blog the other day and saw the cutest thing! Freezer paper screenprinting. So, I hopped in the car, drove to Hobby Lobby and made these the other night. All it took was freezer paper, fabric paint & glitter, an iron, and my handy dandy Cricut. They aren’t perfect, but I had a blast making them!

Today is Kynan and Kaci’s birthday party. They won’t be one until next Wednesday, but I’m not really ready for them to be a year old! It was on this day last year that I was put on bed rest. I’ve been having flashbacks for a couple weeks now—that hasn’t happened for a few months and it is causing problems for me. I’m concerned it will get worse as we get closer to the 20th, but I don’t think there is anything I can do about it. My PTSD has been being treated for nine months or so, but the symptoms are resurfacing. Yuck.

I read on someone’s facebook status the other day that Mother Nature must be in menopause because she keeps having hot flashes. It is the middle of October and still reaching 90 degrees on some days! Augh! It is supposed to be autumn. It is supposed to be cool. We are supposed to have football weather and football season is quickly coming to a close! I’m getting concerned that we will never get autumn and will go straight to winter. It’s a shame because I love autumn.

Bryan moved in with us for a couple months last Sunday. The kids are having to adjust—but some of the adjustments have been really funny! Kalyn was talking to Bryan the other day. He didn’t understand something she said, and she rolled her eyes when he asked and said, “it’s okay. You are new.”

Keali drew a picture of her home at school on Monday. She drew the apartment and seven people. Her teacher knows that there are only six of us, so Keali had to explain that “a guy moved in, but he doesn’t really belong there.” Mrs. Theresa was very confused!

Heath and I attended Kalyn’s parent teacher conference the other week. Of course, our daughter was once again confirmed to be a genius. She is so smart! In talking with Keali’s teacher, she says that Keali is remarkably smart too. She is one of the youngest students in her class, but is testing above all of the other children. It’s hard being the mom of super smarties! Just kidding, but really…they even know they are smart and believe they are smarter than me. Maybe they are—but I don’t need to be reminded of it.

2010-09-29T10:41:00.001-05:00

For Kynan & Kaci

Saturday, October 16th @ 2:00 pm

Mamaw & Papaw’s House

Please join us for cake and ice cream

Red Wolf Den ResLife Rocks I'm In ResLife

2010-08-19T17:34:00.000-05:00

When you have time check out this clip. It was created by some of the CA staff (not mine, but I'll claim them anyway!) for Res Life ROCKS--the closing activity in training. Look for a cameo from me!

2010-08-14T20:49:00.001-05:00

Training has one more week. August 23rd can’t get here quickly enough. I spent all day at work—8:30-6:45~ That is over ten hours. I think…

Over all training is going very very well. It can be difficult to go through because this year’s is my 14th. 14th time of hearing close to the same information. I’m not being trained here—we are training the RA/CA staff. It can get boring. And exhausting.

At least I have a fun staff to work with. My Hall Directors and RAs are great. The other GHDs and CAs aren’t so bad either. I’m happy I like the people I work with.

I miss my family though. Training weeks take a lot away from the time I get to be with my family. I got home at 6:45 tonight and Heath and the kids were visiting family in Blytheville. I don’t grudge them the visiting time. I miss them though.

They are on their way home now. I wish it wasn’t so late though. No snuggle time tonight. :(

2010-08-13T21:48:00.001-05:00

This afternoon, Heath was talking to Kalyn about boys. His basic statement was “all boys are gross except for Daddy and Bubbie (Kynan).”

Kalyn asked if Heath’s brothers liked boys. Heath said, “I hope not!” Kalyn replied, “well…Matt likes boys!”

We thought it was funny because Matt is a bit of a metrosexual.

When I got home from work this evening, Kalyn had our whole night planned out. First we would go to the mall and buy candy from the quarter machines. Next we would go to Toy Castle and walk around. After the toys we would shop for clothing for Mommy and Daddy then go to Dillards to ride the escalator. Finally on the way back to the car we would stop by the play area, then Keali decided we would go to Target.

We did everything the girls wanted to do, just not in the right order. While at the mall, the local news station was doing a child fingerprint kit. We stood in line for a while. The girls were delighted to see Whinny the Pooh, Tigger, Elmo, Belle, Alice, and Prince Eric walking around the mall. They were so cute!

Of course I took pictures, but I’m too tired to upload them now.

2010-08-12T20:22:00.001-05:00

I’m so mad! Maybe frustrated is a better word. I took the BEST video at my staff retreat earlier this week and now I can’t find it! I almost want to cry.

But on to more important information. We had Kaci’s MRI a couple weeks ago and got the results last week. Everything is not perfect, but don’t panic. This is going to sound worse than it really is. Kaci has delayed mylenation. That just means that her brain isn’t growing as quickly as it should, but it is a common problem with ex-preemies. We will test again in six months to be sure it is growing correctly, but nobody is really very concerned about it so I am taking it as not a big deal.

Kaci also had ear tubes put in this morning. We were at the hospital for over five hours. For ear tubes! The procedure itself was only about a minute. The bulk of the time was spent waiting for the OR to open up. Heath and I had taken all of the kids with us because we figured it wouldn’t be more than an hour or so. Boy were we wrong! And boy were we happy that for the most part all of the kids behaved very well.

Kaci woke up really cranky, but once she started feeling better she began yelling and talking. I think she can finally hear herself clearly and she is very happy about it. She really hasn’t shut down her vocal cords since.

I took the day off work (and RA/CA Training which is going very well—but sapping tons of energy), but had to go in from 4-5 for RA/CA Convocation. I again had to take all the kids with me because Heath was at work. Thank Heaven that half my staff wanted to hold the babies! I just turned them over and had to keep an eye on Kalyn and Keali (who halfway through went to sit with Kayla DuVall).

I was very blessed today to have well behaved kids!

After Convocation, I decided to go ahead to the store to pick up some groceries and Kaci’s prescription. It didn’t occur to me until I pulled into the parking lot that I was alone. As in only one adult with four kids—two of which can barely crawl. I panicked for a brief moment but reminded myself that I really wanted to not wait for Heath to go out.

Luckily, I found a cart I was able to put both babies in. The girls, again surprised me and behaved very well in the store. We got what we needed then headed home where I managed to feed all four kids. I’m rather proud of myself.

Heath is home now, and the babies are going to bed. Kalyn and Keali aren’t long for this night so I think I can finally call it a day!

Best wishes to all and prayers to those of you who need it or who I’ve promised them to.

2010-07-31T17:22:00.001-05:00

My hand is still slightly swollen from the wasp sting. How long is that going to last? It is also very itchy. And on top of that discomfort, I was stung in the wrist that has carpal tunnel and the swelling has really aggravated that—to the point that doing anything is fairly painful! Ouch!

We haven’t heard any results on Kaci’s MRI. I am told that is good news. Still. If nothing is wrong I would LOVE to know it! Kaci did so well with the MRI and the anesthesia. She got a bit of a fever the next day, but it quickly went down. She was great!

I can’t believe how big she and Kynan are now. Kaci has learned to sit up this past week—Yeah! They are both eating baby food on a regular basis and most of the time prefer it to a bottle. Little steps in the right direction.

The weather outside is SO hot and uncomfortable. Heath has football practice beginning Monday. Next week is predicted to be the hottest week of the summer. Yuck! Poor man. I feel for him. I can’t stand being out of air conditioning this time of year. Some people can sweat and it doesn’t look awful on them. I’m not one of those people. I sweat, turn blood red and splotchy. Icky. I’m getting irritated thinking about it.

Training for work continues to go forth. Tonight I have dinner with the group at Upper Crust. Next week I have a lot of work to do to prepare for the arrival of the RA staff on Friday. I love this time of year at work. Training is certainly one of my favorite times. I just wish I had a little more time with family. But…I’m looking forward to August 23rd. Things should begin to slow down then.

Kalyn got her letter for Kindergarten. We still don’t know what class she will be in, but we got her supply list and went shopping last night. She is SO excited! I’m SO bummed. I cannot believe my daughter is old enough to go to kindergarten. Prom and then college is just around the corner and I am NOT ready for that yet. Stop Growing Up, Kalyn!!! STOP IT! For that matter, STOP IT Kalyn, Keali, Kynan, and Kaci! Oh! It breaks my heart to see them growing up…and yet, I can’t wait to see what kind of people they grow up into.

I do love being a Mamma!

2010-07-29T08:53:00.001-05:00

I’ve had a crazy wish for as long as I can remember.

I’ve always wanted to be inside a real life musical. You know…you are doing every day stuff and suddenly, music starts and you and the people around you suddenly burst into song and dance. Silly, huh?

Well yesterday…it HAPPENED!! To Me!!

It all starts back two months ago ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(picture the screen getting wavy and chimes sounding as we travel back in time)

I am sitting in my usual Thursday morning staff meeting. It is George, the ACUHO-I Intern’s first staff meeting with us. He is going to be with us until the end of July, so to help him get to know us, we are all instructed to introduce ourselves, and tell him something about us that nobody around the table knows.

When it gets to my turn, I say, “I’m Melissa Lamb, and I have always wanted to be inside a musical.” George says, “What? Like High School Musical?” I say, “Kind of. You know the cafeteria scene? Well…I would like to be sitting somewhere doing something normal and then burst into song and dance.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Present Day…well actually yesterday…

George was giving his end of internship report to the entire staff. We were all sitting in a big room, watching his powerpoint. He spoke about the projects that we assigned to him and what he had accomplished. Then he started talking about his impressions of the people he had been working with. He spoke about Patrick our Director, April and Julie our Associate Directors, the Central Office team. Then my picture came up on screen. He noted that I had four kids, and that I love spending time with my family. Then he flashed us back to the staff meeting scene I have already explained.

Out of nowhere, 525, 600 Minutes (from RENT) started to play. Matt Morgan (one of my RAs and a Theater Major) begins to sing. Then Kayla DuVall (another RA and longtime friend) stood up and begins singing. I started to catch on at this point.

George came and got me and brought me up to the front where the four of us sang and danced. My own real life musical! It was great!

When we were done, George explained that when he heard me say that two months ago, he determined that he was going to make my dream come true. And he did!

Thank you Georgie!!!

George is the one wearing a blue shirt forth from the right. It’s the best picture I have of him.

2010-07-26T18:10:00.001-05:00

Ouch!

I was stung by a wasp this afternoon. I don’t believe I’ve ever been stung by a wasp before. It hurts! My hand is slightly (very slightly) swollen, but hurts like it’s been banged by a hammer! The experience was all bad though. The stinging (or incident) occurred at the exact moment a lightening bolt flashed above me. I thought for a moment I had been struck by lightening. Did I mention it hurt? I quickly saw the offender fly away though and came back to my senses. It hurt.

Anyway.

Tomorrow morning we take Kaci for her MRI. It’s just precautionary after her shakes she had a few weeks ago. We have to wake up earlier than human nature usually requires, drop the kids off, and then drive a couple hours to the hospital. It should be a long day.

Once we get home, we have my staff coming over for dinner.

It should be a long day!

One of my favorite shoes is Everybody Loves Raymond. I know it is in re-runs now, but I just love it. I was watching last night when Kalyn came into the room. Robert was saying something negative about Ray and Marie, Frank, and Debra were agreeing. Kalyn asked, “What is this called?” I told her. She then said, “Maybe they should call it Everybody Hates Raymond.”

My baby is so smart. And she is leaving me in less than a month to attend Kindergarten. Why!!!!!!?????

2010-07-20T11:16:00.001-05:00

I’m sitting in training. Again! I can’t believe we are so close to the end of July already! Today is student conduct day. I’ve been through this before, but I’m here because the presenters are just so much fun! No seriously. They are a lot of fun.

We are preparing to go to our retreat towards the end of this week. It is going to be HOT!! The temperature prediction for each day we will be there is 98-99 degrees. That isn’t including the heat index. It is going to be miserable! But I am so excited! Why? You ask?

High Ropes.

I get to do a high ropes course this year. I missed out last year thanks to a high-risk pregnancy. This year—no such conflict. I get to got up high.

I say I am excited now. I may get up there and completely freeze up. I don’t know. My head knows I will be completely safe, but I may have to convince my body of that. We will see—but as of now—I am thrilled! Even though it will be outside in the scorching heat/humidity.

I’ll miss my kids. Heath will miss me. We will get through it though. I’m very blessed to have a supportive husband who is also an exceptional father.

2010-07-19T12:13:00.001-05:00

Must.

Get.

More.

Sleep…

2010-07-17T21:06:00.001-05:00

Another week of training is over! Only a lot more to go…

This weekend was well needed and wanted. Today, I woke up with a huge headache and it only got worse as the morning went on. Heath insisted that we go out because the babies were getting cranky being indoors and I’ve been having a lot of headaches lately. The weather, I think, is causing the headaches. Very humid, muggy, and HOT.

After out for a while (and several doses of alieve) and my head started feeling better. I was thankful! We did some shopping, and spent time with the kids. This evening we went to dinner with Heath’s parents. It was really nice to see them and we had a nice meal.

My headache is coming back, but this time I am certain it is because of the shrieking 5 and 3 year old.

Kynan and Kaci are doing well and we have gone 10 whole days without taking either to the doctor’s office! Is this a new record? It may be. Anyway…Bubbie is sitting up now and Kaci is starting to try. Bubbie is growing out three new teeth and Kaci is working on her second.

Almost time for bed. Church in the morning. My weekend is almost over! Boo Hoo.

2010-07-10T13:15:00.001-05:00

Remember a while ago I was so excited because we found out the Twins got accepted into the program that would help us pay their medical bills? I was super happy because I had been told it would date back to birth. Well…it didn’t. It dated back to November 1st—which was very helpful with the amount of problems Kaci has had—and the ensuing bills…but it did nothing for the helicopter ride, and almost two weeks in the NICU. At that was A LOT of money!

I spoke with their social worker and for the past couple of months we have been working on getting another type of coverage for the babies that would cover those first two weeks. I found out today that they were accepted. And I am happy. I’ll hold my breath until I get the official letter—but this is one more prayer answered! Our family has been very blessed.

This past week, Kaci started twitching—think seizure twitches. She was doing it every few minutes and it would last for 20-40 seconds or so, but it didn’t seem to bother her at all. Heath and I figured it was probably just another reaction to her medication (the neuro-irritant), but took her to the doctor anyway. The doctor agreed with us but said that it may be central nervous system based too. So. We took Kaci off the medication and she will also have to have a MRI. Since we took her off the meds, she has stopped shaking (it took a few days to wear off), but we still have to do the MRI as a precaution. It hasn’t been scheduled yet. We will have to go to Little Rock to do it since Kaci will need to be sedated.

Other than that—we are all getting over colds (why are we always sick?) and the girls are loving their summer.

2010-07-04T23:34:00.001-05:00

It’s likely that my posts will be brief and few for the next couple of months. Training for fall has started and that keeps me very busy during the day. When I get home, I have a few precious hours with my family, so I may not choose to post anything.

We’ve had a nice weekend—except for Heath being unwell. Why does it seem that we have been nothing but sick for the longest time? Everyone else is doing well enough. The twins still have ear infections and are teething too! Kaci has been very cranky and Bubbie not much better, though when they are happy they are the cutest things ever!

Kalyn and Keali are loving their summer and the past two weeks with Daddy. He goes back to work tomorrow. I have tomorrow off, then back to work!

A Few Pics

2010-06-25T13:04:00.001-05:00

I haven’t posted pictures in a while. Here are a few that have been sitting on my memory card.

Kaci Bear

Whinin’ Kynan

I just LOVE these onesies! My friend Patience gave them to the babies and I adore them!

Last week, Patience was over. Kalyn had been quiet for a while so PB went to find out what she was up to. This is what she found.

That can’t be comfortable.

The girls had their t-ball tournament last weekend, and their last t-ball game last night. Last night they had their pizza party and got their trophies. Kalyn acted like this was just another day. Why wouldn’t she get another trophy. She felt she earned it and she deserved it.

Keali was ecstatic. It was one of those moment’s as a parent that you just feel so much joy because your little one is so happy! She was really cool about it until the trophy hit her hand. Then she jumped up and down, squealing, “Daddy! Look! My trophy!” She could barely contain herself.

I love this picture. They are so happy!

Heath is a VERY proud Daddy!

2010-06-22T12:42:00.001-05:00

This morning I took the babies to TLC. As I was strapping Bubbie into his rocker, one of the classroom assistants told me that yesterday, a little boy (who is always wanting to be right where my babies are) was crawling by Kynan’s rocker. She said Kynan sat up in his seat and grabbed a handful of this little boy’s hair. The boy was crying, Bubbie was laughing hysterically. This story prompted me to tell the workers what happened last night.

Heath took the girls out shopping. I put the babies to bed and all was well. After a few minutes, Kaci began screaming. Kaci can scream. Loudly. I went into the room and turned on the light. Poor little Kaci-Bear was flat on her back (as I had left her). Kynan was laying on top of her, pinning her to the bed. LAUGHING LIKE A MANIAC!! I told Heath if Kynan knew how to speak he would have been yelling, “Tap out Sissy! Tap out!”

In the back of my head I wonder if Kynan is going to turn into a bully. But for now…that giggle is just so cute!!

2010-06-20T21:08:00.001-05:00

I went back to work last week after a week long vacation. I played catch up most of the week when I wasn’t helping my supes with their presentation. Julie and April (both Associate Directors) are presenting at ACUHO-I this upcoming week. They created their presentation, and I helped tape Rebecca (the Director of the Honor’s College) to insert her part into the presentation. I am not technologically savvy, but we did okay! At the end of the week I taped Lt. Col. Helms for the same presentation. Poor guy was so nervous about the final product, but he did just fine. Which brings me to some exciting news! Probably not exciting to anyone not involved with University Student Affairs, but I’ll tell you anyway.

In the Residence Life world, we have things called Living Learning Communities. These are communities of people studying in the same discipline or same type of academic focus. We at ASU opened the Honors Living Learning Community last fall—a new complex of three buildings built and designed specifically for Honors students. We collaborated with the Honors College to develop programming and have had a fabulous partnership.

This coming fall we are opening two more Living Learning Communities! The first will be the STEM Den—housing focused specifically for students studying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. We are working closely with the Dean of the Science and Math department and with many of the faculty members for this program.

The second we are opening is the ROTC Living Learning Community. I’m excited about all of our LLCs (I am the coordinator for all of our LLCs), but I am super excited for the ROTC LLC. We’ve done quite a bit of research and as far as we can tell, we will have the only ROTC LLC of this kind in the country (and probably the world!). We will have ROTC Cadets living together and programming together in this complex. We have been working very closely with the Military Science Department—and a whole lot of ranks! LT. Col. Helms, Master Seargent Hayden, and a bunch of others whose ranks confuse me to pieces. I don’t understand military lingo—luckily they don’t mind my ignorance and allow me to call them by their first names. Side note—at the end of my meeting with them on Friday, we all walked out together. I felt SO Important surrounded by men in uniform! Silly, I know—but SO TRUE!

It is just so exciting to be involved with something this big and groundbreaking. It is equally exciting to be working with professionals who are as enthusiastic about these programs as we in Residence Life are!

Okay. So back to last week. I played catch up and help the bosses. Thursday, Heath and I took Kaci to her neuroligist appointment. To make a long morning very short—everything went very well. Kaci did great and the results were great—nothing seems to be wrong. It is probably that one of Kaci’s medications is giving her the seizure-like episodes. She is NOT having seizures though. We are very happy about that!

We took kids to the doctor’s office a couple times last week. Kalyn, Kaci, and Kynan all have ear infections—Keali is the only healthy one!

Friday and Saturday were Kalyn and Keali’s t-ball tournement. They lost both games (I was secretly happy since this meant we didn’t have to be out in the extreme heat anymore), but both girls played SO WELL! I was super proud of both! Kalyn tagged a girl out, and Keali was the only person to score a run in one of the innings! They improved so much this season, and they really enjoyed it. They both got medals for playing. Keali said, “Mommy! I always wanted a gold medal…and NOW I have one!”

We still have two more make up games, then both girls get a trophy and a pizza party. I think this it what they were waiting for all season!

Kaci has started rolling over! She also got her very first tooth Thursday and enjoys sticking her tongue out so she can feel it. Kynan is so close to crawling. Just a few more weeks I think. Both babies are super adorable as always.

This week I will work Mon-Wednesday, then I’m off the rest of the week. We also have our Welch Family Reunion Friday-Sunday. I’m looking forward to it!

2010-06-16T16:04:00.001-05:00

Lots of stuff going on. Not much to blog about.

Ready for the family reunion next week!

2010-06-11T21:02:00.001-05:00

One of the projects Heath and I worked on this past week while I’ve been on vacation. It’s hanging in the girls room. We did a MASSIVE clean out/up of their room and it is really cute now! I’m proud of us. I am far from being Martha Stewart—and decorating is NOT my forte, but I think we did a good job!

You Can’t Reason with Children

2010-06-10T20:44:00.001-05:00

Kalyn: Klarice used to go to my preschool when she was younger.

Melissa: No. Klarice didn’t go to your preschool, she went to another one.

Kalyn: Yes she did—she TOLD me!

Melissa: Who are you going to believe? Me. Or Klarice?

Kalyn: Klarice. Who do you believe Sissy (to Keali)?

Keali: Mommy.

Kalyn: Okay. I believe Mommy too.

Melissa: Alright then. Some things Klarice tells you are not true. She did not go to your preschool and her elementary school is NOT haunted by ghosts.

Kalyn: Oh yes it is. She told me.

Melissa: She wasn’t telling the truth. I will always tell you the truth. There are no ghosts.

Kalyn: Yes there are. What about when things move when nothing moves them?

Melissa: Like when the wind blows and moves them?

Kalyn: No. When something invisible moves them.

M: Like the WIND?

Kalyn: No. When someone sprays invisibility spray on themselves.

M: Invisibility spray doesn’t exhist.

K: Yes it does.

Keali: We saw it on Spongebob.

M: Spongebob isn’t real. He is a cartoon.

K: He is real. Squidward…well…I haven’t decided if he is real or not yet.

It was at this point I realized I had lost.

On a not so comical note (the previous conversation happened on the way home from t-ball)—Keali was a SUPERSTAR at t-ball tonight! She walked to home plate by herself. Hit the ball by herself. And RAN by herself! She was amazing! Kalyn did very well also. Heath wasn’t there to witness this event, but he is afraid she did so well because he wasn’t there. I think a full week of basketball camp gave Keali more self-confidence. Enough to play how we always knew she could at t-ball. It was great! I was one proud Momma!

2010-06-05T20:42:00.001-05:00

We have had a very full day! I woke up around 6 am—I just wasn’t sleeping well. I got up and played with the girls for a little while. I made them pancakes—they love pancakes. Keali got to choose the color today. She chose green—not a surprise. Kalyn used her not-inconsiderable influence over Keali to have her add red to the mix too. This resulted in a muddy-purple color. Not appetizing—Heath flat our refused to eat them but they did taste fine.

After we bathed the babies, I went back to sleep. It’s my vacation after all! I napped for about an hours then woke up to help with the project of the day.

The girl’s room. You should be hearing horror music right about now.

And now here we are. 8:30 pm and almost done with it. We packed up most of their toys and organized the rest. Washed sheets and blankets then re-made beds. Swept, moved furniture, etc. It was a JOB! But it finally looks half-way decent.

Heath took Keali shopping this afternoon for food. Kalyn and I stayed with the babies. The babies slept, then Kalyn fell asleep. I decided to clean the kitchen, fold some laundry, and make laundry soap.

We started making our own laundry soap a couple months ago. We got the recipe from the Duggar’s website and I have to admit that while I was skeptical in the beginning—I really like this stuff. It is not difficult to make—you can scent it any way you wish (I choose jasmine), and it lasts a really long time. All of the ingredients cost us about $10 (Fels-Naptha Soap, Borax, Washing Soda, water), and the borax and washing soda are huge boxes that will last forever. So cheap! We mix it up—place it in an old laundry detergent bottle and get 5 bottles of laundry soap for the price of 1!! It’s great—and it works wonderfully.

We’ve had so much fun playing around and cleaning as a family today (I know! I can’t believe it either!)—now we are going to watch a movie together and snuggle. I’ve got chocolate chocolate chip cookies in the oven, a cold jug of milk in the fridge. Does life get better?

2010-06-04T10:56:00.001-05:00

Vacation is just hours away! I was of course, off work Monday for Memorial Day. I worked Tuesday, but Wednesday was out because Kaci had her swallow study done in Little Rock. It went how we thought it would. She is aspirating a bit on thin fluids so we will just have to continue to thicken all liquids. Kind of gross—but what can be done?
I worked yesterday and today and now I will have all of next week off! The girls have basketball camp that Heath and I will go to with them (Heath as the AT, me as a curious Mom). Other than that and a doctor’s appointment for Kaci, I don’t have much planned. I hope to get some things done around the house, but mostly just rest up for the remainder of my summer. For a lot of people who work in education, summer is the peaceful time. My job really doesn’t have a peaceful time, but my most restful time is the end of May and beginning June. Beginning July 1 I start GHD Training and then I’m in training for about 7 weeks and we open up for the fall semester. Once fall semester hits, it doesn’t quiet down until December. I guess it’s a good thing that I love my job and that training is my favorite time of the year! The only bummer is that it takes away quite a bit of family time. It also doesn’t mesh really well with Heath’s schedule. That is one reason why I’m so happy about this vacation. I’ve never taken a week of vacation before. I am going to soak up all of this family togetherness!

Our family reunion is at the end of the month and I’m just about prepared for it. I’m looking forward to seeing the people I don’t get to spend much time with. I’m not looking forward to having two babies who still don’t sleep through the night in a cabin—but again…what can be done? At least they are adorable!

Shoo Stork! Don’t Bother Me!

2010-05-31T20:41:00.001-05:00

Heath saw this picture yesterday and thought of me. I have to say…this is SO TRUE for me right now!!

The only thing that doesn’t fit is the man. If it was really Heath, he would be trying to bribe the stork with food.

2010-05-29T20:31:00.001-05:00

The van-hunt was successful! Though not without some disappointment.

The first van we looked at had everything we needed and looked amazing. The price wasn’t the best, but it was workable. As we inspected it though, Heath found a HUGE and FURRY deposit of mold growing in the built-in child safety seat. Nope. I know that stuff can be cleaned, but I really don’t even want to take the chance with my precious Kaci’s lungs.

Second van—wasn’t there.

Third van—was okay—except the air conditioner couldn’t blow air faster than a fly, so that was out.

Then I fell in love. With a 1997 Chevy Explorer conversion van. I’m not kidding. It was brown/tan/khaki and I loved it. It was so spacious and comfortable. It had a 13 inch television, VCR (we would have to change to a DVD), the back seat folded down into a bed and there was plush carpeting throughout. Mood lights were set in the ceiling and wall and she drove like a dream.

Heath made fun of me the whole time, but I LOVE that van! The price was amazing too.

Unfortunately, it was a bit older than we wanted and not at all practical for Heath’s work. Boo Hoo!

Heath found one final van on the internet for us to check out. It is a 2006 Pontiac Montana—brown (pretty brown), and perfect for our family. We got a great deal on it and now have a new to us van! Buh-by ugly green Ford Windstar!

Since we got the car shopping out of the way yesterday, today was a lazy day. We got up late (anytime after 7 am is late for us), lounged for a while, then headed off to the happiest place on earth (known to most as Hobby Lobby.) We picked up stuff so I could make a few items for the family reunion auction coming up.

After that we grocery shopped then Heath dropped the babies and I off at home while he and the girls went on a date. I began working on my project for the reunion and finished three of them! I have to say… I LOVE how they turned out! I’d post pictures, but several of my loyal readers will be at the reunion and I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Let’s just say that I think they will fetch a decent price! (The earnings of the auction go towards paying for the reunion each year, so it is for a great cause!)

I made a spaghetti dinner for my family, Heath’s parents, Devin and Holly and now Heath is off watching UFC fights at Uppercrust Pizza with his brothers and I’m about to attempt bedtime with the girls.

It has been a WONDERFUL day! I’m looking forward to church tomorrow and Memorial Day Monday.

I’m proud to have had both of my wonderful Grandpa’s be veterans. Grandpa Hale was in the Air Force. Grandpa Jensen was in the Army. I also have a super cool Uncle Randy in the Army, and a cousin-in-law in the Army as well (I’ve never met him, but I’m proud anyway)! These men and women are so brave and loving to do what they do, or to have done what they did for our nation.

One of the girls at work had her fiancé deployed in Afghanistan. He was injured this past week and is in critical condition. He will have life long effects if he survives. Thankfully he has been flown back to the US and is receiving the best treatment, but it is a reminder of how much our service men and women give to us. My thoughts and prayers are with Cassie and Levi. May God protect you as well as our fellow brothers and sisters in harms way.

Hello Kelley!

2010-05-27T16:29:00.001-05:00

Just not much to post about lately. Here is a quick update on everyone:

Heath—car problems. We’ve had to switch vehicles because it would just be more convenient if the van broke down on campus rather than on the highway.

Me—Four Day Weekend! I’m taking tomorrow off—maybe we will car shop. I’m so ready for a break. 4-day weekend, work on Tuesday, off Wednesday (for Kaci), work Thursday & Friday, then off for a week!

Kalyn—LOVING the extra time she gets to spend with Daddy now that pre-school is over. She has also gotten quite a bit smarter and reminds the family every day that Diet Coke will make you skinny, but Mommy only drinks regular Coke, so that is why she is getting fat. I can’t help it—Diet Coke makes me sick to my stomach.

Keali—Last day of day-care is tomorrow. She is so excited to spend some extra time with Daddy. It is difficult to get her to do anything right now. You pretty much have to make her do stuff. Take getting dressed as an example. She will NOT get herself dressed. Heath and I have to physically dress her if we want to take her out of the house. She is getting a little bratty.

Kynan—REFUSES TO SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT. This is one of the only areas Kaci is better than him—she sleeps. He doesn’t. Still—can I get too upset when he giggles and grins at me? Not really. The other day I went to change his diaper. He giggled as I started to get near his diaper. Silly boy. Then he giggled harder as I pulled the tabs off. As I pulled the diaper away and realized he had left a present inside he busted into full blown laughter. Yup. He is Heath’s son. If there was any question before—Kynan proved it with that little stunt. Oh—and he almost weighs 21 pounds. The doctor isn’t worried about his weight—she just calls him Thick.

Kaci—What can I say about my delicate little girl? She is having a swallow study done in Little Rock on Wednesday. We are trying to figure out why she has such rattley lungs. We are also going to visit a pediatric neurologist in the next few weeks. She may be having seizures—and she has lost almost all trunk control (not that she ever had much). She is a floppy little baby. It is nice when we are cuddling because she just forms herself into our bodies. But it is very upsetting that she isn’t progressing as she should be. Hopefully we can get it all figured out and taken care of.

Okay. That’s the quick update!

2010-05-25T08:31:00.001-05:00

Kalyn’s very last day of pre-school was yesterday. My precious little 7 lb 7 oz baby girl is growing up too fast! She is so tall for her age, and is so pretty! She is super intelligent, funny, sweet, and sassy. I love her so much. Why does being a Mom have to be so hard! I don’t think Mom’s should have to work out. The emotional work out we get each day should be enough to keep us in shape. I have such good ideas.

Uncharacteristic Positivity

2010-05-20T10:49:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a day full of joyful moments! Work…well it was work. What I am talking about came later.

After work I picked up Heath and the girls then went to go get the babies. While at my In-Laws house, I went “butterfly hunting” with Kalyn. She is learning about insects at school and is eager to change my opinion of them. Say this in your head with a superior, I know it all tone. “Mommy. The spiders DON’T want to eat us! They are friendly!”

Anyway, we went butterfly hunting. We traipsed around the yard looking for the elusive butterfly. I saw a moth and got really excited until I was shot down with a “That’s a moth, Mommy. We are looking for butterflies.” Okay. Can’t fool that girl. We walked around for a long time and didn’t see any butterflies. Kalyn rescued me from a couple of bees and I had a mini fit when a frog jumped in front of me. Luckily (so I thought), I had the presence of mind to slap the butterfly jar on top of the frog and I caught it! Unfortunately, this upset Kalyn because frogs eat bugs and terrified Keali because she apparently has a deep rooted fear of frogs (I didn’t know! It was fun to chase her with it though). The only person who appreciated my act of heroism (really…me and bugs/amphibians/pretty much anything don’t mix), was Slade. He had a great time looking at my capture.

So…after awhile we let the frog go (Holly did the honors because I wasn’t about to touch it) and resumed our hunt. By this time, Kalyn decided that the tiny moths were good enough to be considered butterflies so we got to work. Uh Oh! The moths were small and tricky enough to escape from our nets! We tried for about 20 minutes to catch them—running all over the neighborhood, but alas I gave up and went inside. MaMaw agreed to go hunting and they actually caught two moths/butterflies. I think she did it with her bare hands. I love my daughter, but I will not catch a moth with my bare hands.

But to see the happiness on her face with her insects! Pure joy! Beautiful.

Last night I was holding/feeding Kaci. I started to look at her tiny perfect ears. What a miracle! They are perfectly formed and so beautiful and soft. I began playing with her little ear lobe and spent some time reflecting on the miracle of life. Kaci is so perfect!

The day before yesterday, I got the twins’ progress reports from TLC. As I flipped through the 56 pages of the reports (56 pages for each baby!) I was discouraged to see so many incompletes and not attempted. Some I understand—a 7 month old really shouldn’t be walking yet. But others were frustrating. I noticed though that each time I got to a task/activity that a baby has reached 100% in, I filled with happiness and pride. My babies may be delayed, but they are geniuses! I think they are perfect!

2010-05-17T20:33:00.001-05:00

The special stake conference we had yesterday with Jeffrey R Holland was great! The talks were so inspirational and wonderful. I loved all of it. Jeffrey R Holland is a funny guy! I laughed so much. But before he was over, he became very stern. I can’t remember his exact words, but the general message was, young people (teenagers), if you leave the church, you WILL regret it. He said it more than once.

After church, we had a picnic in front of the Temple. The girls loved the picnic, and I admit it was pretty nice, even though I sat on the wet ground and had a wet behind the rest of the day!

We took the older kids horseback riding with Melissa and Brad yesterday afternoon. The girls LOVED it. Well. Kalyn loved it. Keali put up with it. The horse we rode was Cash. She was very gentle, though I believe she was totally over us after about 5 minutes!

Kalyn kept saying, “Faster, Melissa! Faster!” Melissa was quite adamant that this was as fast as Cash was going to go!

After a while, Melissa rode with Kalyn and they went a bit faster.

As soon as they picked up speed, Kalyn began laughing and didn’t stop until the horse did! It was a beautiful sound.

This is a beautiful girl!

Awwwww. Keali. She agreed to ride the horse.

Here are Melissa and Heath trying to talk her into staying on the horse for more than 3 seconds.

And here is Melissa getting Keali off the horse—after about 10 seconds.

Heath took this picture, and then while showing it to me said, “Look! I took a picture of you.” I’ll let you imagine how long he stayed in trouble for that little joke.

This was taken after Heath and Keali came to a financial arrangement. Heath would give her $2 if she would ride with him. She finally was talked into it.

She didn’t ever really fall in love with it, but she was very happy about her day’s earnings!

There was a slight disagreement in the middle of the ride. Heath claimed to promise Keali two doll hairs. She was pretty sure it was two dollars. I sided with Keali and she got her money.

I don’t think anyone thought I would get on the horse, but despite being woefully incapable, I love horses…even though I was worried I would break Cash’s back.

Kalyn and Melissa running (or rather walking very fast).

She loved it. I’m still waiting for her to ask for a horse. She won’t get one, but I can appreciate the love for the animal!

This evening, we had yet another t-ball game. Keali reverted to needing to be dragged to each and every base. Kalyn had to hit off the tee, but did pretty well. Keali was a bit of a DIVA. I don’t know what the best course of action is. Do we continue to have her play (i.e. stand/sit on the field crying) and teach her that you follow through, or do we take her out since she isn’t totally into it and won’t be able to make it through the tournaments (Heath won’t be able to run bases with her)? I’m torn. I think we will probably keep her in there, but I guess we will see how it all turns out.

T-BALL

2010-05-14T20:54:00.001-05:00

Please enjoy these pics of the girls at t-ball.

Kalyn is getting so much better at hitting!

I like this action!

Even coaches get bored during the game and have to turn to their iPhones for entertainment.

Check out the concentration!

Love it!

This is classic Keali pose during t-ball.

She was so good!!

I can’t remember this girl’s name, but I LOVE the expression on her face!

Kalyn

A rare action shot of Keali.

Such a sweet face!

Oh! And another one!

This is what Keali usually looks like out on the field—mid cry.

Or standing as close to Kalyn as humanly possible.

Kalyn

Another mid-cry from Keali.

I’m enjoying t-ball a lot more this year than last—for a few reasons. I’m not pregnant anymore and suffering from morning sickness (all day & night), nor am I as moody and sensitive to temperatures (though I still HATE the heat). I also have two great girls to watch, and I don’t have to chase a toddler around.

The twins do pretty well at the games, but they haven’t been the past week since they’ve been sick.

And the number one reason I’m enjoying it more is Heath has been able to make it to almost every practice/game. He enjoys helping coach the girls and getting to spend that special time with them. They love having him there. I love Heath getting the opportunity to spend this time with the family—especially since he usually works in the evening and the girls don’t get to see him a lot.

He usually plays the 1st base coach. It is so cute when all of the players make it to 1st—they give him a high five! He also takes pictures while he is out there. One girl always gets to the base and then says, “Okay, let me see!”

Next year will be more difficult—the twins will probably be walking around and cranky, but hopefully Keali won’t have a nervous break down every few minutes (she is getting better though).

And…did you see the color of the t-shirt? Green. Keali’s favorite color! She is convinced they did that just for her.

Oh—and it is THE WEEKEND!! YEAH!!

I have a date with friends tomorrow to see Letters to Juliet. I’m excited!

Sunday, Jeffery R. Holland is going to be in Memphis to speak to our Stake. It isn’t often we get GAs out here, so we will be going. That afternoon we plan to take the girls horseback riding with Melissa (Brad’s Melissa). I haven’t told them yet…but they will be SO EXCITED!

2010-05-13T20:27:00.001-05:00

We took Kynan back to the doctor this afternoon because he just isn’t getting better. He was diagnosed with a viral infection as well as laryngitis. I’ve never heard of a baby with laryngitis, but I don’t doubt he has it. His poor little voice is all but gone. Nothing for us to do for him except wait for the illness to go away. It’s hard when your kids are sick and you can’t do anything for them.

On a happier note, the girls had their first t-ball game Tuesday night. Kalyn did very well. Kaci batted, hit the ball and refused to run. I have excellent video footage of Heath dragging Keali from first to second base. It was priceless!

This evening, they had another game. Kalyn did great again and Keali hit the ball and actually ran to 1st. She had to be dragged to the other bases, but this is improvement, no?

Everyone was so proud of how much she has improved! They are very precious. When I get some extra time, I’ll post some pictures.

Happy Day Everyone!

Don’t Hate

2010-05-11T20:48:00.001-05:00

Mommas—Don’t be jealous. I know your sons are adorable and sweet, but I believe this little Heartbreaker takes the cake!

2010-05-10T14:26:00.001-05:00

What a day!

Kynan and I were sick all weekend. This morning we took Kynan to the doctor to see how he was—and we took Kaci too just to make sure she was okay. Boy am I glad we did!

Kynan has strep throat. Poor baby! He also has weezy lungs and a cold. He had been running a fever all weekend—got up to 102.5.

Kaci had been a bit weezier than normal—she always has a little rattling to her lungs.

The doctor gave both of them a breathing treatment since they were rattling. Kynan got worse, but Kaci got better so off to the hospital we went for some chest x-rays.

Kynan’s came back normal, but Kaci has pnuemonia. For the THIRD TIME!! Can’t the chick catch a break?

So—we are taking Kaci off rice cereal. She has been on it for months to thicken her formula. She is gaining too much weight now so we are switching her to a different kind of thickener that doesn’t have calories. We have also added Flo-vent to Kaci’s inhaler treatments to help out with the lung damage. There’s more stuff involved, but I can’t remember it all at this point.

I’m so thankful that we took Kaci in too! She wasn’t even acting sick. I never would have guessed.

2010-05-10T00:50:00.002-05:00

Bubbie Chubs and I have been sick all weekend. Other than that--it was a pretty good weekend. For Mother's Day, Kynan and Kaci gave me the BEST present ever! They both slept from 10-7!! I know!! Their timing couldn't have been more perfect. And though I don't expect it to happen again any time soon, I am so thankful that I got one night of fairly uninteruppted sleep. It was great!
Richie, Debi, and Kylee came up to visit and it was nice to see them. Kylee is growing so much--it's amazing how you can see other's children grow, but it seem like your own change over night. I was thinking about Kalyn the other day. She is huge! Really tall for a 5-yr old and smart as a whip. I mean REALLY smart. I've always known she was super-intellegent, but she is really growing up too fast. Luckily for me, she will still hold my hand, snuggle on demand, and give me the sweetest kiss and smile whenever I want. I wonder how long that will last? Hopefully a while longer. I'll miss it when she begins to think it isn't 'cool' to like her Mom. Hopefully that day will never come :)
Happy late Mother's Day to all of the women out there--those with children and those without. I think every woman who loves children should be celebrated on Mother's Day. Some women--no. Some people don't deserve the distinction of Mother, but loving children isn't always easy and those who do love children--I am so thankful for.
I'm thankful for my own Mom who sacrificed so much to give birth to and raise 9 children. She has gone through some rough times, but has kept her faith and love of her Heavenly Father and for her children even though some have at times turn their backs on her. She is amazing.
Also to my Mother-In-Law who is the most unselfish person I have ever met. Julia loves everyone without question and gives gives gives. She is amazing with children--I think they can sense a purity in her spirit.
I hope that someday I can live up to the standard of "Mother" that these two wonderful women have set.

2010-05-06T15:12:00.001-05:00

I feel like someone is stabbing my right temple with a screwdriver. My head hurts!

2010-05-04T16:34:00.001-05:00

It’s been a little while since I wrote.

We have been so tired. I think that all of the lack of sleep is really catching up to Heath and I. He hasn’t had a decent nights sleep in over six months. It’s been over a year for me. We are exhausted! Getting out of bed in the morning is getting really hard—and it is getting difficult to not become angry when those babies start crying in the middle of the night. Why can’t they just sleep?!

Good news though. I found out this morning that Kynan and Kaci got accepted into TEFRA—that program we’ve been working on for over three months! Such a relief for us and our family! I’m so happy.

We had another t-ball practice last night. Kalyn is really coming along. When she throws the ball she THROWS it! It doesn’t matter if the intended target is 5 feet or 50 feet away. She chunks it with all her strength.

Keali…Not so much. She was stuck like glue to Heath at last night’s practice. She would hit the ball then refuse to go to the base. The poor little thing is SO shy. Bribes didn’t even work this time. Heath and I agree that she may not make it through the season, but she would be heartbroken if we took her out. Any suggestions?

2010-04-27T19:27:00.001-05:00

Kalyn and Keali had their first t-ball practice of the season last evening. It was priceless!

I left work early so I could get everyone ready and to the ball fields on time. We made it (thanks to some careful driving instructions from Kalyn—apparently I wasn’t driving or parking properly). We found the correct field and met the coaches.

Kalyn immediately took Keali and started playing with her and the other girls. They seemed to be having a fun time and Kalyn was certainly better than she was last year. Keali was acting kind of shy—she gets crippling shyness from her Daddy and I. It’s a miracle Kalyn is as outgoing as she is!

Practice goes on and I start to notice that wherever Kalyn is, Keali isn’t far behind—usually within an inch or two. Kalyn went to practice batting. Keali went with her and waited. Then it was Keali’s turn to bat. Uh-uh. Not doing it.

She started crying and ran to the fence to tell me that she didn’t want to play t-ball anymore. She was scared of it and didn’t want to play. I went out on the field and got her to the plate. She finally agreed to bat—but only if I stood right behind her with my hands on her shoulders. She cried the whole time.

It will be a long season!

I also got the opportunity to show how graceful I am to the whole softball complex (okay—so probably only 4 people were watching—I know there were at least 4 because that is how many people commented on it to me later). I was walking to retrieve the girls’ bats from the other team (who stole them by the way). I was dressed in my work clothes and didn’t see that the chain link fence wasn’t quite in place. I tripped gloriously and hurt my knee a bit. It is fine now—but the whole incident was a little embarrassing. At least I got the bats back!

So…

A while ago I blogged about TEFRA—a program that we are trying to get the twins into. It would really help us with the medical bills. It takes about 3 months from start of application to being notified and we are hitting the three month mark this week. I can barely breath I am so nervous.

It won’t be the end of the world if the babies aren’t accepted—but it would be wonderful if they are. I just can’t stand the anticipation that goes along with waiting for potentially great or really bad news.

For those of you who pray out there—please pray for us that we get into the program. It really would help our family out so much.

2010-04-26T11:10:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was Stake Conference. Our Stake Center is in Memphis, so I didn’t want to go. I mean…who wants to spend that long in a car with infants? I do not.

Anyway, Heath insisted that we go so we got up early, got ready, and drove to Memphis. As part of my agreeing to go, I slept almost all the way while Heath drove. Ha! We got there and the theme for the conference was the 13 Articles of Faith. For those of you who don’t know what they are, here they are!

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Basically, the Articles of Faith are 13 statements of what we, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe. The speakers had been assigned which Article to talk about and by the end they had all been covered.

The talks were amazing! I really enjoyed it.

Unfortunately, because we decided so late to attend, I didn’t remember to pack anything for Kalyn and Keali to do so they were very disobedient and irreverent children. Kynan was adopted by the Meekers as soon as we got there and he was the perfect baby for them! (Figures that as soon as we got him back he was back to fussy and whiney!) Kaci did fairly well, but was rather fussy. She is starting to get a tooth we think.

After conference, we went to TGI Fridays. I know, I know. Buying stuff on Sundays. We were hungry (didn’t plan the trip well) and it is the closest TGI Friday’s we have! We don’t have one nearby so we have to go when we are close. It was so yummy. Babies were fussy, but I was so tired I didn’t really care.

On the way home, I slept for a little while. After we got home we were all pretty tired. We lazed about the house for the remainder of the day and were all in bed asleep by 8:30 pm! WOW! It was lovely!

I woke up this morning wishing I could have a couple more hours of sleep though! Can’t I ever get enough sleep?

2010-04-24T21:07:00.001-05:00

I bought a netti pot yesterday. I have friends who have used them for years and swear by them. My allergies have been getting worse the past couple of weeks so I thought I may as well try it out. It can’t hurt right?

I absolutely love it. I think it is too soon to tell if it is helping, but I feel better after I use it. Heath is horrified. Kalyn and Keali are disgusted. It’s rather a disgusting process—but I do feel better!

This morning I was a single mom while Heath was at a conference. I got up with the babies all night so Heath could sleep (I know! I’m the best wife ever!)—and since they got their 6 month shots yesterday they were plenty cranky all night.

Kalyn and Keali almost never had bad reactions to shots. Kynan and Kaci though have been running fevers since yesterday and Heaven help you if you touch their legs in the wrong way. They’ve both been cranky today and extra snuggly. Poor babies!

Kynan now weighs 19 lbs 4 oz. Kaci is 17 lbs 8 oz. They are getting so big! Both are completely on the charts for normal 6 month olds—though Kaci is only barely on there with her head circumference. They are both still significantly delayed developmentally, but the doctor assures us that by two years old they will have caught up. I hope so. It is so hard to have delayed children after having had two advanced children. So many comparisons.

Anyway…Patience came over late morning and managed to help me get the girl’s room clean—with very little help from the girls. I am so thankful for PBs help. She is a lifesaver and I love spending time with her. You are the best Patience!

Heath was able to come home early from his conference, so he has been spending time with the kids. I got to take a nap this afternoon (Yay!) and then took Kynan on a Mommy-Bubby Date to Krogers for some supplies for lunch tomorrow. I was planning on making chicken spaghetti, but I think I forgot to get the cheese. Hmmmmm.

Over-all a great day and clean sinuses! Gross!

2010-04-22T21:19:00.001-05:00

My trip to California was great! I left early Monday morning. I went with my supervisor Julie to a Strengths Quest Educators Seminar. We arrived in the afternoon and picked up our rental car—what else but a convertible?! In my opinion it was a bit cool to be driving around in a convertible, but I wasn’t the driver so… :)

We didn’t have anything to do Monday, so we took a drive down the PCH and stopped at Crystal Cove to gaze at the ocean for a bit. It was absolutely beautiful! I’ve been to the ocean a few times before—I won’t get in anymore (long story), but I love looking at it and hearing the waves crash.

Monday evening we went to PF Changs—YUMMY! Julie and I were both so excited to go since there isn’t one very close by where we live. The food was really good. I was so tired I went to bed fairly early.

Tuesday we got up and went to our seminar. It was amazing! Tom Matson, the leader was so funny and fun to talk to. It was a very interactive presentation and the day went by very quickly. Tuesday night we went to Tapas for dinner. It was so good. We had some mac and cheese made with shells, manchego and goat cheese. I haven’t ever had mac and cheese that good before!

We stayed up a bit later Tuesday night and I didn’t sleep very well. Bad dreams.

Wednesday we finished our seminar—very good. I learned a lot and was able to understand a lot better the concept of strengths. I’m happy I went.

We spent Wednesday afternoon and evening flying home—then driving. I got home a bit after 1 am this morning. I helped Heath get the kids ready for school this morning, then he let me go back to bed while he took the kids. I had a dental appointment to get my permanent crown, then we shopped for a bit.

This afternoon I picked the kids up then decided to surprise Heath at work. We all enjoyed spending the extra time together and now I am ready for bed again!

Enjoy the pictures!

What A Day

2010-04-17T20:50:00.001-05:00

The young man passed away early this afternoon. I helped pack up his belongings for the family to pick up. He had a lot of things. It was so difficult to know that I was seeing his room just as he saw it just prior to what happened. It was surreal actually. Like walking into somebody else’s life.

I pray for his family that they will be comforted during this tragic time.

I really need my California trip now. I had been looking forward to it. Now I NEED it. I’m going for work, but it will feel like a vacation compared to the past couple of days. I leave early Monday morning. I’ll miss Heath and the kids, but I hope to be rejuvenated by the time I get home.

This morning my friend Patience took Kalyn and Keali to the petting zoo. She took lots of pictures, but I haven’t been able to look at them yet. The girls have been talking about it all evening though. They had a great time!

While they were away, I was able to get a little cleaning done around the house. BOY DID IT NEED IT!! I can’t remember the last time I mopped and my floor was horrendous. Looks tons better now.

I also found out why my mini van has had it’s odd odor lately. While I cleaned it out I found two petrified hot dogs, petrified pieces of bologna and ham (all from Mamaw’s house) and something that had been fermenting in the cup holders next to each girl’s seat. I got nauseous cleaning it out, but the car smells SO MUCH better! Guess I’ll have to implement a no food/no drink policy for the girls when they are in the vehicle. Yuck.

2010-04-16T13:23:00.001-05:00

It has been a very long day. It began at just after 1 am this morning. I was called and informed that one of our students had been shot. As I was the Area Coordinator on duty, I got to be the on-campus contact for my department. I was in near constant communication with my superiors for the remainder of the night and of course throughout today.

How terrifying.

I don’t understand why things like this happen. My heart is so heavy for the family of the victim—he is not expected to live much longer. It is a scary scary world we live in.

Of course the babies had to wake up and eat in the midst of my phone calls. I held Kynan while I fed him and just looked at him and held him so close. Life is sacred and I think we all take it for granted.

2010-04-15T19:32:00.001-05:00

When Kalyn was a baby I was singing to her. She placed her hands on her ears and screamed.

Tonight I was singing to Kynan. His lower lip puckered and he started crying. And not because he was so moved by my voice. He was terrified.

Maybe I should stop singing?

2010-04-14T12:51:00.001-05:00

My boss gave me and my co-area coordinators a day off today for AC Appreciation. So, I asked Heath to get the babies and girls up, dressed, and off to school so I could sleep in. Well, the babies were angry so I ended up getting up anyway and helping Heath get everyone ready. When he took them I went back to sleep for three glorious hours!

While I was getting the babies ready for a bath, I overheard this conversation between Kalyn and Keali.

Kalyn: “Keali, why are you being such a bratty girl?”

Keali: “I don’t know.”

Kalyn: “Sweetie, why are you sad? Is there something missing in your life?”

(let me interject by saying I have never heard a child as another child that question.)

Keali: “Yes.”

I had to walk away just then so I didn’t catch the rest of the chat, but Kalyn came into my room shortly after to tell me that Keali had something missing in her life and together they had finally figured out that it was new nail polish on her hands. I was asked to please paint Keali’s finger nails tonight and that if I did, it would help Keali not be a ‘bratty girl’ anymore.

Okay then.

I love my kids. They have their moments when I just want to go into my room and never come out again, but for the most part I think they are wonderfully sweet and astute children.

Kaci is starting to teeth now and has been screaming non-stop. She started gnawing on her fists yesterday so I guess a tooth isn’t far away. Why do they have to grow up so quickly?

Kalyn and Keali never really were bothered by teething. Kalyn never fussed and Keali only fussed a little. Kynan and Kaci though…well, you’d think they were being tortured. Very dramatic.

2010-04-13T17:58:00.001-05:00

Is anyone else super excited about GLEEs return?

I am so excited!!

2010-04-12T11:27:00.001-05:00

I’ve had a good day.

The babies did as well as they’ve done in a couple weeks last night (yay) and I got to sleep it little more than usual. When we got up this morning I made bacon, biscuits, eggs and gravy. I made this for Heath and the girls because they really enjoy it. I’m not a huge biscuit and gravy fan, but I do LOVE bacon.

Poor Heath has been really sick lately with a sinus infection. Wanna hear something funny? He got a prescription for his sickness from a doctor. No. He didn’t go to a doctor. He spoke to my OB/GYN and he wrote the scrip for Heath. I just find that hilarious.

Anyway, he has been unwell and I’ve been doing a little more than usual to compensate. I am not a compassionate person. I can baby Heath when he is sick for about two hours, then I’ve been about as nice as I can be. I don’t know why I’m like this, but I am. I’ve been really good this time though but today I’ve had enough. I insisted on taking a nap this afternoon. I’m still so tired so when I got the opportunity to sleep, I took it.

Kalyn and Keali have been singing all day. This is how lazy our day has been—it is 9:25 pm and the girls have not yet worn clothing. They’ve been running around in undies and dress up clothes. I don’t care. I’m tired!

Kynan and Kaci have been kind of cranky on and off today. Teeth. Yuck. Such sweet smiles when they are happy though!

Roasted some asparagus this evening. Up till now, I’ve been the only one who enjoyed this yummy veggie. Kalyn and Keali tried it and loved it! Heath wouldn’t touch it. But I’m glad that I can add one of my favorites to the growing list of veggies the girls will eat.

Still don’t know if it is a fruit or vegetable, but Kalyn has started liking tomatoes! Since a baby, Kalyn has gotten physically ill just tasting tomatoes (in any form but catsup). She tried them a week or so ago though and really enjoyed them. I love that our tastes change as we get older.

2010-04-06T19:18:00.001-05:00

When I picked the babies up today I mentioned that I thought Kynan was cutting a tooth. The women in the classroom all said, “No. He already did!”

I missed my baby’s first tooth. One of the parts of being a working Mom that stink.

2010-04-06T11:24:00.001-05:00

Monday thru Thursday of this week I am taking off work at 2 so that I can pick up and take care of my precious twins. Yesterday, on my way to get them, I stopped first and picked Kalyn up. As I dropped her off at school yesterday morning she had asked if I would pick her up early. I replied that I couldn’t because I needed to work. Then, plans changed and I ended up taking off at 2. So I picked her up. She was so happy! I got her in the van and as she buckled her seatbelt, she asked why I had picked her up. Then she smiled and asked, “is it because you wanted to spend time with me?” Yes Baby. It was. She can be such a sweet little angel!

We had an eventful afternoon with Kynan and Kaci. Kynan is teething and Is. Not. Happy. About. It.

The poor little guy is very uncomfortable and has been waking up extra times at night crying. He jams his fist in his mouth and gnaws at it. I feel so bad for him. He isn’t developed enough yet to hold/handle a teething ring, so that is little help. Tylenol doesn’t seem to help him much either. Poor baby!

He screamed for about two hours straight—there wasn’t anything I could do to get him to calm down. Finally he fell asleep. I put him in bed and he woke up again screaming. It just about broke my heart. Luckily, Kaci wasn’t cranky (that’s a change!) and so I only had one fussy baby. Kaci doesn’t seem to be teething yet, but I’m sure it is only a matter of time.

2010-04-05T19:25:00.001-05:00

I can’t be certain, but I think Kaci just cussed me out.

They start younger and younger.

2010-04-05T09:48:00.001-05:00

I’m still waiting for maintenance to come hang my paintings. I can hardly wait to see them on the walls! I know many of you haven’t been able to sleep due to the anticipation of seeing them, so I’ll go ahead and post pictures.

Aren’t they beautiful!

The weekend was nice. Saturday morning we walked to a track meet with Heath. It was a lovely walk. The weather was beautiful. When we got home, Heath took care of the kids while I took a two hour nap. Boy did I need that! To pay back the favor, I took care of the kids Sunday morning while Heath slept in, then we went to his parents for a barbeque.

It again was a beautiful day and the food was fantastic! I haven’t been able to eat much lately thanks to my achy jaw, but what I was able to eat was delicious. We came home in the late afternoon and got the house (everything but the back bedroom) completely clean and several loads of laundry done.

Why does laundry never get finished?

We got all the kids in bed by 7:30. 7:30!! They were all exhausted, and I was so happy to get them to bed early. I thought that would translate into me going to bed early too, but Heath wanted to get some more picking up done, so I assisted (like I had a choice!). Finally got to bed and asleep about an hour before the babies woke up to eat. They weren’t as bad last night as they have been about getting up. At least they ate fairly quickly.

And here we are at another week.

Two more weeks until southern California!! I’m really looking forward to this seminar.

I’m really looking forward to southern CA! I won’t get to do much sight seeing, or playing around, but it will be nice to get out of Arkansas and the south. If only for a couple of days. I’ll miss Heath and the kids though. Why does there always have to be a catch?

2010-04-04T09:22:00.001-05:00

We have been having lovely weather lately.

Yesterday, we got up and walked over to the ASU track so Heath could stop in on a track meet his school was at. The track is about 3/4-1 mile away—not too far, but further than we usually walk. I think Heath expected me to whine about the long walk—but I am still loving that I have the ability to walk that I didn’t mind the distance at all. The girls however…

But it was a beautiful day. When we got home, Kalyn relaxed (her words not mine) by riding her bike in the parking lot with her Daddy.

Babies are doing well. Girls are precious as ever.

Happy Easter everyone!

2010-04-01T13:45:00.001-05:00

I am so excited!

At work I have a decent sized office—definitely more than a cubical. It does not, however, have a window so it is fairly dark and depressing with it’s florescent lighting.

To give some color—and not having the ability (or taste) to decorate, I’ve just been putting up ASU athletic posters and things like that.

A few weeks ago, I asked my sister-in-law Shannon if she would create some paintings for my office. She agreed and I told/show her some things that I liked, but basically left the whole process up to her. Today I got them!!!

I love them. When I walked into my office (I was at the dentist…again when they were delivered), it was so bright! These paintings will definitely make my days brighter and happier.

I’m not going to show you them yet. I’ll wait until I get them hung (already sent in the work order), then take pictures of them in all their glory.

Thank you Shannon. You are so talented!

2010-03-29T16:45:00.001-05:00

I have to say that I really enjoy my job. I’ve had jobs in the past where I would wake up in the morning and my first thought was how much I didn’t want to go to work because I hated it. I don’t do that now. My first thought in the morning is usually, “Kynan/Kaci! Why can’t you sleep a little longer!” But I don’t dread going into work.

That being said, today has been the longest day and I am counting down the minutes until I can go home. I still love my job…I’m just really tired!

A Very Decent Weekend

2010-03-29T12:36:00.001-05:00

Saturday morning—early morning, I took both of the babies feedings so Heath could sleep some more. When I was done, I went back to sleep and Heath got up with the babies and girls. I slept in very nicely! When I got up, I made pancakes for the family—in such a good mood, that I actually made two different colors of pancakes (yellow and green for those of you dying to know). They were yummy and when we were finished we got ready for the day.

Heath had planned out a project for the girls to do. We bought poster board and craft supplies. We also printed out some pictures and the girls chose which to use. They decorated their posters—I made one for Kaci and Heath will make one for Kynan. At some point we will get around to hanging them, but the girls had a blast making them and it was a great project for our family. Great idea Heath!

When we finished, we spent a little time at Mamaw and Papaw’s house, then came home and went to bed. We went to church Sunday, then afterwards the girls, babies, and Heath went to his parents and I stayed home to clean up the house a little. Dad, his fiancé Linda, and Bryan came up for a little while. It was nice to get to meet Linda and to catch up with Dad and Bryan a bit.

We got the kids to bed at a fairly decent hour and pretty easily, then we went to sleep as well.

Spring Break is over now, so we got up early this morning to make sure everyone made it to their respective schools on time. I hope that being back on their schedule will help Kynan and Kaci out. All during spring break they woke up three times a night to eat! We had been down to one. I hope we go back to that soon because I don’t think I can do this much longer!

2010-03-26T13:38:00.001-05:00

A co-worker showed me this a couple days ago--a micro phish copy of the ASU Herald from 1924. It was an ad for Coca Cola. If you know me, you know I love Coke. I found this very interesting!
"FACTS__Carbonated Beverages
COCA COLA contains nothing that has to be labeled imitation or artificial, and it has passed the censorship of the AMERICAN PUBLIC, THE COVERNMENT CHEMIST--and is the PUREST BEVERAGE in the soft drink field.
Carbon dioxide gives LIFE to Coca Cola or PEP and is very beneficial to most persons.
Carbon Dioxide has been recognized as an aid to digestion and general health and to have valuable germicidal qualities. A fact not so well known, please note this, is that mothers milk also contains 10% carbonic gas by volume. Proof that NATURE realizes the health giving qualities of (carbon dioxide gas).
Drink Coca Cola in Bottles. 5 cts."
Wow! Mothers milk! Who knew?

2010-03-22T09:02:00.001-05:00

This blogging thing has taken a back seat for the time being. I am so busy! When I am not busy, I’m trying to spend as much quality time with my hubby and kids as I can, so writing on the blog isn’t number one. Sorry!

I’ve been continuing to do GHD selection and interviewing—the process will continue for another couple of weeks. Shortly after that is over, I am going to California for a couple days to attend a Strengths Quest Educator seminar. I’m really excited about this. Strengths Quest is a program that my office started using last year. It identifies five areas where individuals are strong—and then teaches you how to work with those areas and how to work with people with different areas. For example, my top five strengths are:

Achiever—I have a need to be the best. Uh…really?! This one was obvious.

Intellection—I like to think—I like to be alone to think. It doesn’t matter what I am thinking about—It doesn’t have to make since to anyone else, but I enjoy my thought processes. I really identify with this one as well.

Adaptability—I’m able to adapt fairly easily when my plans go array. This one I’m not completely sold on—I know I can do it, but I DON’T like to have to adapt.

Harmony—I like things to be in balance. Relationships and such. I don’t like conflict.

Responsibility—I can be counted on to do something right. Yes. I. Can.

So anyway—My supervisor and I are going to this training seminar so we can become SQ Educators. I’m really looking forward to it.

This weekend was nice. I got home Friday evening to find that Heath (and his Mom) had cleaned most of the apartment. Heath did this so we could spend time together, rather than time cleaning this weekend. It was great! We were able to spend time together, but mostly if I got a spare moment, I slept. I don’t know what is going on. I could fall asleep in a heartbeat this weekend—it didn’t matter how long I slept or how often. I could fall asleep so easily. I’m still exhausted and could fall asleep right now, but I’m at work so that would be frowned upon.

Kaci and Kynan have been extremely fussy lately. Heath thinks they are teething. I think they don’t like to formula we have them on. We are changing their formula and keeping an eye on their gums. They do like to get their gums rubbed. My babies are too little to be getting teeth! No!!!