Big news

Well it's official we're having another girl. I'm in shock- I knew in my heart for about a week that's its probably another girl, but I was hoping we would finally get a boy. I feel bad for Jason because I see how close he is with his father and now he won't have that kind of relationship. He says he's fine but in a few years when hormones get louder I'm betting he won't be.

The girls got to go in with us to see the ultrasound. They were so quiet, I had threatened them that they can't talk because I didn't go to my regular Dr. so I wasn't sure what to expect. The lady was nice and she did talk to us and show and explained to us everything. From the way it looks the baby is healthy. I go to the regular Dr next Friday to talk about the results.

The girls made several cute comments during the ultrasound. Katie to Jason, "When are they getting the baby out?" The poor thing thought we were going to have the baby and then come home. I guess I didn't explain myself to well. She also wanted to hold my hand through half of it and she looked like she was going to cry when Jason didn't understand, but in the end we held hands.

When she announced that it was another girl, the girls were quiet for awhile and then the lady left the room Katie goes, "well next time"- I explained No we're done now it's up to Karissa to have the boys in the family and Karissa wants to trade this baby in for Adam.

We had decided that whether if was a girl or boy that after 3 we're done having kids. It's too hard on me physically because of my blood pressure and I have them early and they have all been a low birth weight too! So no matter what my brother-in-law, Jason thinks we're not going to try and keep up with their 4! Nathan you will just have to be the only boy in the family!!

The good thing is that I have saved 10 years worth of clothes and all the baby items I've ever had so we're good- they all will be born in the same month when this new one comes along too. So no seasonal problems.

I'm alittle worried about all the hormones that will be racing around the house in a few years including mine because I remember living with my sister and mom and how much fun that was.

I'm blessed that so far everything seems fine and healthy.

Stranded in the snow

We've had a snow day that has lasted all week. I know Karissa hasn't been out of school for a week before and I was trying to think back if I've ever missed a week of school. I know when I lived in VA the answer is NO, but I'm not sure about when I lived in CO. My guess would have to be yes to CO because I remember the snow being so high- my mom has pictures of it being up over our chain link fence.

The girls have been playing together nicely now don't get me wrong we've had several fights and yelling matches break out, but what can you except from not moving from the house until Thursday. We went to the movies on Thursday just to give Jason a break from all of us. He's been on vacation all week and it's been a great one because I've not had to worry about him driving. He made several comments that he's glad he's not delivering this year. A friend of mine saw a UPS truck in a snow covered ditch waiting for a tow truck on Wed. Again Im thankful, but he's been painting all week and he's ready to be done. He is painting the majority of our house which includes the living room, upstairs hallway and the foyer and anything else connected to the living room. We've decided we have too much open space.

We're hoping that he finishes the job on Monday. He took two weeks off (mainly because work is slow this time of year) to do the job and then it got to the point where he wanted to get it done and enjoy the next week off. I hated to watch him trim because we have beyond vaulted ceilings and he has a fear of heights, but he did it. I'm thinking I wouldn't have and I don't have a fear of heights. I love the new color in the house and it is dark enough that handprints won't show up!!!!

we've been lucky that we've had our heat this time around in the snow storm. In 2003we had to go live with his parents for 4 days along with every other refuge that came to live with them that week. So we feel blessed that we're OK.

Karissa's first basketball of the season

She has really improved from last season. She is so timid so we were so excited when she stole the ball and took it all the way down the court.

It was 50 degrees today!!

Not getting the mother of the year award

I already know this, but I didn't listen so please learn from my mistakes. Last night Karissa came home after dinner with maw-maw and paw-paw, they were celebrating her good grades, and she got out of the tub and I was cleaning her ears with a q-tip. You should never clean your kids ears with q-tips and I know this, but I've been careful for 10 years now until last night. We needed up in the ER because I went in too far and her ear started to bleed. I was shaking so bad because I thought I hit her eardrum. I called Dennis and Mary and they came and sat with us and then when Jason got off work at 10:00 he came too. The great news is that I just hit her ear canal which was bad enough and she is fine now, I will never clean her ears again.

This was so scary to go through. My kids are pretty healthy so we never have any health scares so this put me over the top. I'm so greatful for Jason's parents for coming and sitting with me, they would do anything for Jason and I and the girls. I have the best in-laws. We left the ER at 11:00 so the next day I took her to school so she wouldn't have to get up so early to catch the bus, it's the least I could do after everything else I did that night.

She has informed me that she told her friends so I told her "I know- I'm sorry, mommy will not be getting Mother of the year award this year," and she laughed so everything is good again.
I do know one thing that is for sure- she will never let me near her ears!!

Our Honor Roll student

We are so proud that she made the honor roll. She works so hard and it doesn't always come easy to her. She is growing up so fast and I'm not ready for it!

Katie's new ballet class

Katie's teacher moved her up in to a new ballet class. She loves it and when my mom was visiting we both got to go in class and watch her.

Our first snow day

I feel bad for my girls because they love snow so much and we hardly get any. I feel like they are missing something because I grew up in Colorado and Virginia and we had "real snow". They get so excited and try to sled on 1/4 of inch so I was glad that we had more of it this time. They both were very sad when it was gone the next day.

Blankets for the girls

I am not crafty nor do I pretend to be, but Brooke showed me how to make the girls a fleece blanket and I very proud of myself that I did it!

Katie was with me and picked out her pattern and you can never go wrong with cat anything for Karissa. They love them and they are so warm. I caught Jason under Katie's the other night- I didn't get a picture though.

Another big event in our house is that Karissa made the A/B honor roll. She has come along way and she is really doing good in school. We are so proud of her because she is working so hard. I can remember when she was 4 and I didn't think I could survive her childhood. She has always struggled to get C's and now this looks like it's her year to shine. I really think that she is enjoying school for the first time. We love you, Karissa!!!!!

Karissa's lastest lego design

I thought I would post the lastest lego beach house. She's getting really good at the kits!
Look closely to the left at the grill with a chicken leg on it- they think of everything!

A visit from Matthew and Katrina

Jason's best friend from way back before he left for Jamiaca at the age of 11 came to visit us. Matthew is an Air Force pilot on the search and rescue team. He will be leaving for Iraq for his second tour in Feb.

About 9 years ago his dad died of a brain tumor. We were so proud of his sister because she was involved in the church service of all the cardboard testamonies. She was only 16 when he died.

My girls love Matthew.

My Dr's apt.

I had a great Dr's apt today. I was nervous because I was going alone, Jason didn't get home til 9:30 this morning and he had been working all night long so I didn't ask him to come with me.
I have been taking blood pressure medicine ever since Katie was born and my Dr wanted me off of it. I've been without it for 2 weeks and my blood pressure was 120/72- which is great for me.
4 weeks ago on the medication it was 130/80. So I just hope it continues to stay down. I also got to hear the heartbeat again which was a blessing!!!

I have a ultrasound scheduled for Jan 30th so I hope to find out what I'm having. Then I go back on Feb 6th so the Dr can go over everything he found on the ultrasound. I pray that we have a healthy baby!
I'm excited to be able to find out what it is because with the girls we didn't find out until delivery day.
The girls have both said that they don't want a sister because sisters are a pain. So we'll see-my family doesn't have a great track record of having boys.

Jason's job

Well we've been blessed because so far this week Jason has worked 3 days. I say this because he didn't get a pick list-which is a route for the week, so that means he's on call. We've been through this before, but the difference now is that I'm not working. We're hoping that we just need to get through this until the end of March and then he will get a pick list because all the vacations start.

The great thing is that we knew about this so he took 2 weeks off, at the end of Jan through the first week of Feb. So we know he will get paid. He also is going to paint the foyer, living room and all of the upstairs. YEAH!!

We found out that if he goes back down to package cars because of not working he can't come back up to feeders until a bid opens up and it could take 2 years, but our other option would be for him to work in the building for 2 shifts week by week. He would just have to be laid off for a week before that happens.

Happy New Year

We had a great New Years!
I went shopping for food for the party with Brooke. Then we ended up and Brooke and Wayne's house along with Ken, Tiffaney and the twins. They had to leave early because Gabriel got sick all over the couch and Katie (too much cheese and Wii). Needless to say Katie is a sympathic vomiter and Jason and I were gagging. I thought I was going to lose it. My kids never get sick or throw up. There's a first for everything.

After they left Jason and Wayne played guiter hero and now Jason is hooked. Then Brooke, me, Gillian and Karissa played Sing it- gotta love Disney songs. It's really sad that we know the words, but we had a great time and left at 2:15.

Karissa and Gillian made friendship bracelets all night all until Sing it. I remember doing the same thing with my friends! I keep thinking how fast time is going and I get alittle-Ok alot- sad.
She'll be in middle school next year and Katie will start kindergarten. It will be a trying first day of school for me (and Karissa with her anxiety issues, but we'll get through like we do every year.)

Karissa and Katie are finally starting to get along better. They don't fight as much as they did so I hope this is a start of something new. Katie loves her big sister and wants to do everything Karissa does -which will be a problem in years to come. Katie thinks she is older then her 4 years!

We hope you and your family will have a great New Years too.