How should we pass the time??????

We could pretend to sleep in the closet.
Or pretend we are the patient.
Or blow up glove balloons.
Or moon the group.
Am I really going home with this crew?

The Crew

Jaycie LeeAnn Happel

All done and delivered, without pain meds!! What a great experience!!
Wow I have some hair!!
The troop from left to right; Carter 13, Addelynn 4, Reegan 10, Cade 3, Cael 8, Quincy 6, Jaycie, Mackenzie 16, and Kyler 1.
Trust me she is as sweet as she looks!
Freshly delivered.

6:42 pm, 8lbs 2 ounces, 20" long. This was a great delivery done without pain meds. I felt very in control the whole time with the exception of about a minute during pushing where it was really OUCH!!! It is nice to feel so refreshed and normal after delivery vs all drugged up or trying to feel my legs again. The staff here is trying to talk us into a #10!!

It is time

Well despite my best efforts to get little Jaycie out on her own - she is a stubborn one. Hmmm where would she have gotten a character trait like that? Unless she decides to cooperate and come in the next 12 hours I will be getting induced tomorrow morning at 7:30am. Doctor is going to break my water and let me try and get things going on my own. I have already fought through the emotions of being disappointed, and I realize that since this labor will be started in an artificial way, if I am unable to go at it without meds I will do what is best for the baby and myself. No need to be stuck in one way.

I stayed busy today by running errands, here is today's errand line up; Lisbon library to return books, post office, Aldi, Hy-Vee, Fareway, Marion Library, home school library, get Mackenzie's birthday present (I will not say where, since she does read this), KMart, and Half Price Books.

Walked 2 miles when I got home, and Mackenzie and I made a very delicious supper. Then I took Jack on a walk. Jack did something tonight I have never seen before. He was lifting his leg to pee and he took a poop at the same time. Wow, I was impressed. Do not fear, I had a bag!!

Now, I have often thought a human cannot got #2 without also going #1, whether that was the original intent or not. Are dogs the same? Nah, I have seen Jack do #2 without doing #1.

Tomorrow I should be making a post about a new little one!!

Keeping busy

One might think I am constantly busy with a house full of Happel children, but I do not find that to be true, life just moves on a certain pace each day, and I rarely find myself overwhelmed. On occasion I have my overwhelming moments, but I think almost everyone does not matter how big or small our household size is. Anyway, deciding to relax a little and enjoy my last few days pregnant proved to be a good time today.

The children and I had chiropractor appointments, and we wondered if maybe an adjustment might convince baby to come out! So far, no go on that one. Then we went into town and ran a whole bunch of errands. Goodwill, Walgreens (less then .50 for some dental floss picks, and shaving cream), Whole Health Foods (love the Raw Kumbucha), lunch at Carlos O'Kelly's (kids love it here and it is a real treat), KMart for some shoes, CVS (more good stuff for next to nothing), Aid to Women to make a food donation, and then home. We had a great time out and about.

Had a message on my machine when I got home from another home schooling mom who lives in Robins. She said she was making us dinner tonight, and would bring it to the home school building for Mackenzie to take home with her after band. WOW!!! Chicken, cheesy potatoes, and brownies. What a blessing that was to our family tonight. Completely out of the blue as well. God is so good!!!

Thought about making an excuse why I should not exercise today, and trust me, I had plenty in my mind ready to spew out, but found none of them really worthy, and so walked one mile, you know how I feel about walking one mile, but hey, again, it is better then nothing - right??

Mental Challenge

Let me admit it has been a bit challenging for me to wait out this baby girl, and then each day I do not have her I face the induction factor. The one thing I was hoping to avoid this time around. I have been comparing it to preparing for something for 10 months only to fall short. For someone who is a tough upstairs as they get I have been mental mush. New attitude is to enjoy these last few days and stay busy!!

Speaking of girls, mine had such a blast together preparing for Robin Hood. As much as I enjoyed the show, the real blessing was in how close the girls grew to each other, and for that I am truly thankful. Here is a photo they took of themselves while shopping at Bath and Body Works (one of my favorites). They are wearing matching lip gloss. The make-up on Reegan is only due to the play as they were in between performances.



We went to a free style tourney yesterday, no matches for Cael, and Carter took 2nd. We love watching free style, for the first time in years though we will not be doing the state tourney. I think we are doing on more tourney on Saturday and hanging up the shoes. We vary the season length and this year we are cutting it shorter then ever. Carter is playing both park and rec and junior high baseball and so he will be very busy with that through June. Reegan, Cael, and Quincy are also playing ball and so my math (old math) days that is 4 children and 5 leagues. Yes you may officially call us crazy!!

Reegan

I could not take my eyes off of her during the show, she has a real stage presence, and a smile that will not quit. These kids do a fantastic job as elementary students putting on a play.
Here are a couple of fresh cuts!!

Yes it is true

I am overdue!! Now all I ask for is 12 hours so I can see Reegan's play tonight. Performance #2 is in session right now. The girls came home last night so excited for how it went and for their big day today of two more performances today. They are planning on spending their free time in between shows going to lunch together and shopping. Dean was so sweet and gave them some money last night so they could buy themselves lunch and buy themselves some things while shopping.

Here is a little tidbit of info you may or may not know. If you buy a family membership to the Science Station in Cedar Rapids (or a lot of museums) you will be able to use that family pass to get you free or reduced admission to 250+ museums in the US and other countries. The cost of a family membership in Cedar Rapids is $60.00. You can get a lot of museums in for $60 in a year by buying this pass. Here is a link to more on this program. http://www.astc.org/members/passlist.htm. I will be getting mine through Cedar Rapids this year, because that is a really good price. We have used this a lot in the past.

Things I have come to realize

1. I will not be pregnant forever; maybe another week and maybe not. Still 3cm dilated, passed a non stress test today (well baby did) and fluid levels were good on the ultrasound. If still pregnant, I go back to the doc on Wednesday and discuss induction. Boo!!

2. If I am pregnant forever, there is sure to be fame and fortune involved.

3. I do not think it is going to snow again this spring. I kept feeling it would, and just could not fully enjoy spring thinking is was just a false hope of warmer weather. But while taking the dog on a walk, (on a leash) last night I realized that it is really nice and warm and smells really good out.

4. I will have to check the Lisbon school website each day since Carter will be dual enrolled next year. Thanks Skeeter for the reminder.

5. I think I can call Alliant to get the old fridge now. The new one works!! Works well too I might add.

6. Naked 3 year olds standing on the porch to welcome you home from the post office is really cute.

7. Quincy may be able to fart at will.

8. Mackenzie has some really good friends, one of which I believe is in the process of trying to secure some tickets to take her to the Taylor Swift concert. Pretty cool.

9. The wrestling mat may live forever in the family room, and oh well, it is providing a lot of entertainment at the moment.

10. I really love being the mom of all these little Happel children!!

39 weeks 6 days

Now as much as I am willing to go late in this pregnancy, I will admit to being a bit surprised that I am still pregnant! I had Quincy on his due date, Mackenzie, Cael, Addy, Cade, and Kyler early, and Carter and Reegan late by a week. I really do want to be able to go to Reegan's play Saturday night, oh and the boys want to wrestle on Sunday, so maybe next week? Lots of evenings I begin having contractions and then they go away. My hope is that when I see the doc today, we can make sure all is still going good with baby, and then let me still try to go into labor on my own.

I am well aware I will not be pregnant forever, but the fame and fortune that may come with it makes it tempting!!

I would really say that Cade is potty trained. He had only one accident two days ago, takes his morning pee in the toilet, and caught himself just beginning to poop himself and stopped and finished on the potty. Super deal!! I am impressed with him actually and with any milestone it is hard to watch him become such a big boy. He even wants to dress himself now. Not to be outdone, Kyler came upstairs today with a pair of Dora undies on over his diaper. Wonder how those got on him?

I must add that whoever said the best part of waking up "is folgers in your cup" is WAY WRONG!! The best part of waking up is a set of arms around you and an "I love you".

I did manage to shake my mental fatigue yesterday. Tried to errand out the baby with stops at Target, Learning Ladder, Bath and Body (therapy shopping), McDonalds, Aldi, Dollar General, YMCA, FareWay, Hy Vee, YMCA, home school, Papa Murphy's, YMCA, Gas, a car wash, and home to unload. No baby fell out. Thought I better get my exercise in, so I seriously had to talk myself into walking just a mile, once I got started it felt so good I kept going another mile for a two mile walk. One of the miles she calls the classic mile, and the second one works the arms a bit more. One of the arm moves really reminded me of "I must I must I must improve my bust!"

1-800-MENTALMIDGET

Does anyone know if this is a working number? If so, I need to call it ASAP!! Let me say it is easier in theory to wait until your baby is ready then it is 2 days from your due date, up all night, unable to relax, headache, and feel like you are going to get sick. Mental toughness is one of the character traits I like about myself. It frustrates me to cry and have weak moments. Remember that Saturday Night Live character who did his "daily affirmations" in the mirror? I was thinking of doing some of those myself, but the mirror was too fogged over from my inability to get out of the shower this morning. Whine whine whine - and yes, I will take some crackers to go a long with it, but no cheese please.

Anyway, I have to get myself pulled together. Wednesdays are busy busy, and I am not about to cave!! Not to mention it looks like God has completely blessed us with an amazing day! Amen.

The great part about not sleeping is the God connection time, ah yes, I love it!!

Mackenzie and Reegan are coming home full of smiles and stories from dress rehearsals, and I am so thankful that they are getting to do this together. My girls are so spaced out in age 16,10,4. That they often do not find common ground. This is a real blessing to see the two of them together.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmm.................

Having your children take a walk with the dog, who is on a leash, only to have him attacked by one dog and accosted by another. Two dogs, one barking and carrying on, the other beating up Jack, and my kids screaming as they are watching him be lifted off the ground by a dog who has him by the neck. And we are the ones who have the "dog at large" violation from the city. One of the dogs involved happens to belong to the people who decided that kids should not play in the ditch water after a big rain, and so called the cops, AND they have a chain linked fence.

The hotel in NE who now has $600 withdrawn from our checking account for a table that was broken by an Iowa boy while they were in NE. Not one of my boys either. Dean signed nothing stating he was in charge of every kid and any damage and has not authorized any charges. First it was $200, then $150, and at this point they owe me $600.

A fridge that was DOA, since it arrived at my house just about a month ago. This should be resolved tomorrow - should. Maybe just maybe I will be down to one fridge in the kitchen.

A city that tells you where you can put something in your yard. Really? It drives me nuts. You mean I cannot park that motorcycle where I want to in MY yard. I guess it really is not my yard, and it is not my sidewalk, even though I am paying for it, the city still gets to tell me when I am to shovel it. Oh and please pay this estimated water bill by the 20th each month.

Cade who stays dry and clean all weekend poops himself this morning and peed his pants. Of course he must have been trying to impress Dean over the weekend. To give him some props he stayed clean and dry the rest of the day.

"The wait" this is what I call this period of time where one waits for baby to say ok, I am ready. I am just a bit nervous to go to the doc on Thursday, I hope as long as all is well with baby she will let me stay pregnant. She said she would, I just have to hope all is well with baby and I have no reason to think otherwise.


Things that are COOL!!

Mackenzie is feeling much better, and got promoted again. No more curtain pulling, total bummer and now Dean has wasted all his coaching strategies on curtain pulling. However, now she is involved with props and loving it!!

Addy no longer has ear poop coming out of her ears.

Carter has a voice that sounds almost normal again, but we will proceed with surgery in May. Means to me, that he should heal and be back to 100% very soon.

Cael, Carter, and I got haircuts today for $25.00 total!! Since we frequent Great Clips they know us there, and it is fun to visit with the ladies.

Reegan, is loving her time with Robin Hood. I cannot wait to watch her Saturday night. Mackenzie said she was really good tonight and in fact the whole play was really good.

Cade is really starting to get the potty thing, and I am sorry but his personality and facial expressions are priceless, and I am so thankful to have had the privilege of being his mother.

Kyler loves the outside, stroller rides, and Barney. Good for him, Janice found me a double umbrella stroller on craigslist. It is just what I was looking for and we have taken 5 walks with it already. 20 months old already.

Quincy had a pair of pants on the other day, they were hitting him just above the ankles. I said hey bud I think you should change your pants they are a little short. Before he changes I say can I see what size they are? 24 months. Seriously Quincy? You are 6 1/2.

Cael loves to freestyle and greco wrestle. He says dad, I cannot wait to throw some people. Love it, and love his swagger.

My new DVD came today, the one from Leslie!! I decided to give the two mile workout a try today. Not bad, made my hips hurt a little though. I am just super pumped up that it actually came, and they were good on their word.

Dean (cannot forget the man) is doing very well, keeping very busy and has recovered from the trip to NE, now if only our bank account could do the same.

Robin Hood

This is the big week for dress rehearsals, and the play Robin Hood. Reegan is really excited about the play and we are all so eager to see her perform and also see how that curtain raises and lowers!

Off to get some of my shaggy haired boys hair cuts. Oh, and I think I will get one too. Great Clips $7.99 hair cuts this week. Works for me. I do miss the salon experience, but have come to realize I can still get a good cut for a lot less money which means a lot to me.

So the fridge still does not work. It did for a day and a half. I am getting a little frustrated but am trying to stay patient. I really just think after a month and $700 I ought to have something that works. Call me crazy.

A love note

Dear Jaycie, you are feeling very comfortable in there all snug and warm. I need to ask you a favor now, this is a really busy week coming up with dress rehearsals, practices, and a play. Do you think you could snuggle in there until next week? I know you are due in 5 days, but that is just an estimate, feel free to come late. Love you baby, Mom.

Shhhhhh

Everyone is gone except Kyler and me. He is sleeping and I am thinking about doing the same!! 6 days from my due date right now. I find this hard to believe and better yet, I cannot believe how good I feel. It is amazing, seriously. I am 41 years old due any day with my 9th child. I have every excuse in the world sitting in front of my as to why I should be miserable right now and I cannot take one of them. I feel fantastic. I am still exercising 5 days a week too. Every now and then I wonder if one time it will kick labor into gear but knowing me, even that will not work.

Dean took six of the children to the IA Spring game, they were thrilled to be in the midst of the Hawkeyes and in Kinnick to boot. I mean these are the Orange Bowl champs. Cael and Quincy brought footballs to autograph. The great thing about Quincy is that he brought a black football and a black marker. He really thinks it will be no problem seeing the autographs, and who am I to tell him any different.

Mackenzie had to be in Marion today for a tech rehearsal for Robin Hood. I saw Dean giving her more hand over hand instructions on how to raise and lower the curtain the other day.

Dean took me to dinner last night and then let me buy some things from Bath and Body works. YEAH!! Buy 3 get 3 free. I am going to be smelling very good!! They just keep giving you coupons too, so I will be back. I really do like the option of choosing my smell each day. Right now I get to pick from 4 smells.

Finished a fantastic Karen Kingsbury book last night, it was worth the sleep I gave up for it.

39 weeks and counting

It is here already, 39 weeks which means only 1 week until my EDD. I know many women get all excited and think any day now once they reach 37 weeks as that is the new "term". I am old school I am still thinking it takes 40 weeks to brew up a baby. I have been induced a few times at 39 weeks. Actually, I have been induced every single birth, so this is a new experience for me to wait it out. Doc did offer me to not go on my own but I am still opting at this point to let her decide. Does not mean I will not change my mind if I get to 41+ weeks.

I could not avoid "the check" today and found out I am 3cm. So at least the painful "practice" contractions are doing some work. So now I wait.

Cade is again on the "potty train". All aboard!!! So I bought him 17 pair of underwear, and let me just say at the rate of pee and poop that are not making the toilet that ought to last about a day and a half. Now, he has also gone on the potty and the tree. He got a little on himself when he peed on the tree. He thought it was sort of funny, and Kyler, I am positive in an act of brotherly love dumped a bottle of water all over his pants so Cade would not be alone in his wet spot.

I in no way will be winning the "mother of the year" award. My poor Addy was up last night quite a few times complaining of an ear ache. I finally brought her downstairs to take a look and wow was I surprised at what was in there. YUCK!! So I cleaned it out thinking I was fixing it. Well now that would not have been true. I ended up taking her in this afternoon to the doc because they just kept ooozing. Come to find out she has swimmers ear. One might ask when she swam last, that would be March 19th. So a month. No wonder the poor girl has been so whiny.

I also had to take Carter in today as well because he stepped on a nail yesterday and needed a tetanus booster. He was a champ and said wow that hurt a lot more then I thought it would can I get a Dora band aid? Nurse laughed and tried to find him one. He then told her he was just kidding.

We had pizza tonight from Pizza Palace, a craving of mine. While Mackenzie is in there picking it up and visiting with Luke and Faye Alger, my favorite Kid Rock song comes on, so I crank it up. Well our windows are down since it is such a delightful night. A college girl comes out and gives me the rockers unite fist pump. I felt the bond, and thought to myself again that I just cannot be the type of person one would expect to drive a 15 passenger van, well other then almost 9 children piling out of it!!

Overheard at the Happels

Many stories from NE, included a few "your mama's so poor" jokes. One favorite "Your mama's so poor she cannot afford a free sample"

Dean and Carter making a very big joke over Mackenzie needing to be in Marion on Saturday for a tech portion of rehearsal for Robin Hood. She has been promoted to curtain opening and closing. So Dean starts laughing and Carter starts making the pulling on the cord motions to help her out. Very funny. However, Mackenzie says they will not be laughing when she is opening and closing the curtain on Broadway!

Not so overheard, was Cael and Quincy who asked if while Addy and Cade slept in the family room could they wrestle on the mat as long as they were not loud. They may have held the longest silent wrestling match on record.

Me saying, oh my, 9 days until my EDD guess I better stop being a rebel and pack my bag!! My mental game here is this; until April 23rd I really have nothing to be concerned about. Best not be letter her call my bluff here.

Me saying YEAH!! As I got an email back from the company that Leslie Sansone has her in home walking workouts. I wrote to them telling them my story and they wrote back offering me a free DVD of my choice.

Me telling Dean I thought I should get Cade some underwear and perhaps rubber pants to keep the mess in, and Cade saying "I don't think so".

**************************************************************************************
Hey the new fridge works, and I keep testing the new dishwasher, it has passed dried cheese and spaghetti o's!!

Off to get some good grocery shopping done, and to finish the bag packing. I just hate having a bag sit there looking at you and saying "Yep, I am still here, and you are still pregnant!". I go in tomorrow for my 39 weeks check up. Not going to get away with denying a "check" this time. So far I have been, but was given the heads up that I would more then likely have to let her check me this time. Well the good news is that it will add about 1 minute to the 5 minute appt. Weight gain at this point is 26lbs.

Do not be jealous

and wish you had a wrestling mat in your family room. With as much wrestling as we do, you would think we already had one in the house, but we have not. To the kids this seems like a perfectly natural thing to have in your family room. I am thinking there will not be as much sweeping to do in this room while the mat is there. It is not going to live there forever. It is going to become the new carpet in the boys room. The old is 14 years old and has seen it's share of kid and dog pee, poop, and puke. (3P's) It is in need of being replaced. Dean was really hoping to find a section of mat to put up there, and we were given one tonight be some friends of ours, Darin and Kate Williams. What he and the children will do is tear out the carpet and put this in the middle of the room. They will then border around the mat with hardwood. It will be awesome and I am sure see its fair share of action. I know Dean will love having it for working with the boys specific on any areas needed. I know Dean is right now thinking of Cael and "fine tuning" him.
The Happel children feeling really excited about the new mat.

Happy Birthday Reegan!!

Reegan Marie Happel turned 10 yesterday. I have always called her the little pollinator. She is like a bee, just flying around enjoying a little bit of this and a little bit of that. She has all kinds of energy and is kick to flash a big smile!! She also is an incredible helper to me, just jumping in often unasked to do all sorts of things. She is a sharp girl with an eye for nature and anything outside. She can run, jump, and play all day. A true delight each and every day.

She is quite the budding actress. You may remember she was the dog in the "I Live in Lisbon" play. She even got radio time for that. She is also just about ready to have her first MHSAP play; Robin Hood. I have heard from the director a few tines that Reegan is very talented. She enjoys drama and sports. Only not the girl sports, but flag football and wrestling.
Jack is her dog, she also is an animal lover.



I LOVE YOU REEGAN!!!

Normal

Normal is good right? All Mackenzie's blood work came back completely normal. YEAH!! Now is it just a virus, nutrition, or both maybe? We look back and a few weeks ago I was very tired, which seemed odd even though I am pregnant because it has not been a pregnancy filled with aches, pains, and tiredness. I also sported a head ache for 10 days. Addy has been feeling run down and Quincy took a two hour nap yesterday. Maybe we do have something going around here and hanging on tight.

NE Duals are underway - I will post an update when they are done wresting for the day.

Leaving for NE

Dean, Carter, and Cael just left for NE, they will be wrestling/coaching at the USA Heartland Elementary National Duals.
Here are the five kids who just left; Ethan Timmerman, Jacob Fenske, Carter Happel, Nick Williams, and Cael Happel.
Three dad's packing the truck.
Where should we ride? "Where can I hide so I can go along?" says Mackenzie.
Cael ends up with Darin and Dean in the truck.
Oh wait, Jack wanted to go too, he jumped in the truck with Darin.

GOOD LUCK BOYS!! I KNOW YOU WILL MAKE US PROUD!!!

Mackenzie and Grace

Well Miss Mackenzie has not felt like herself in about 3 weeks. Things like this frustrate me. The unknown. The inability to feel 100%. Nothing obvious. So after returning to a very boring and uneventful dr appt, we took her to the doc. She has been very tired, sometimes breaks out in a cold sweat, feels dizzy at times, just a lot of different things. She was just given a clean bill of health at the docs three weeks ago, so we found this strange. They took some blood and will be looking at anemia, diabetes, thyroid, and they checked for mono. The mono test came back negative. Which is good for all the boys she has been kissing!! (hehe) I find it so interesting, she does not date, but I have people come up to me often to tell me that they heard she was dating someone. I am wondering if this Subway guy has something to do with how she is feeling, perhaps the whole "eat fresh" thing is a HUGE facade!! Or maybe this is the mystery guy she has been dating! LMDO!!

They will call me tomorrow with results from the rest of the blood work. If all comes back negative then we get the diagnosis of "the virus". My personal thought is iron, and I had just bought her a new vitamin on Saturday. I will update you what we hear. I am really hoping this will be as simple as iron, the virus diagnosis is so frustrating, and the other options are just more then I think we want to be involved with.

Also, we have some friends who are in the process of adoption a little girl from Ukraine with spina bifida. Grace is 3.5 years old and will turn 4 in September, at which point she is scheduled to be moved to a mental institution. She has no known cognitive delays...this is just what happens to disabled orphans in many parts of Eastern Europe. Having a nephew with spina bifida I really have a heart for this adoption. Not to mention the thought of a little girl getting a new and loving forever home filled with love and siblings is awesome. What a blessing!! It will be a pleasure watching them walk the road God has laid out for them.

However, adoption is not free or cheap. They just got word today that they are a match and that this will probably move through pretty quick. They will have many fundraisers and I will keep you to date on those. The first can be linked to from here: http://adoption.adeanthing.com/fundraisers/.

Here is a photo of this beautiful little girl.

38 weeks

38 weeks!!!

Heading off to my 38 week appt today. Here is the latest photo of "the bump". Still feeling pretty good, and not too uncomfortable. Just a little tired of the constant "practice" contractions.


"MILK" it does a body good!!!

Oh, I forgot about the know it all / annoying home school boy yesterday. We are all recalling his stories right now. The best was when he was "excusing" Carter because he thought he was tooting, however it was the chair he was sitting in. He was actually interrupting the talker to say "excuse you" and looked right at Carter. LMDO!!!

Mercy Medical Center

The children and I had a field trip to Mercy Medical Center today, and no not to give birth. We saw the cafeteria, the pharmacy, out patient surgery, and x-ray. It was really a neat tour and we learned a lot.

The out patient surgery portion was pretty neat, as Carter will be there next month and so I think he may have gotten some questions answered and his mind at ease some. These hair nets that we got to wear were a hoot!! Kyler was a naughty boy, he was loud and wanted juice, something I did not bring. His idea of sleeping or lack of sleeping last night did not make him very agreeable today.




All in all it was a great time, and the kids got some fun things at the end including a t-shirt.

Went and did my weekly shopping and found some great deals. It was wacky Wednesday at Hy Vee so anything you put into the paper bag they give you is an additional 10% off. I saved $5 with the bag alone. Also .10cents a gallon on gas afterwards. Where I made my mistake was saying no to the drive up for groceries only to find out how hard it was raining out! I was drenched in a really cold second shower. Fareway had the buy of the day with Snuggle fabric softener for $3.38, and I had $3 coupons - lovin' it!!

After all that going and going today, and then going more when I got home, I only managed to get a mile walk in tonight. Oh well, like I keep telling myself, something is way better then nothing!!

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Cael and Quincy, these two are so much fun. They really are great boys, and they get a long really well with each other, in fact, I often wonder at what point in their lives will they realize that they wake up and go to bed beside their best friend? I seriously enjoy watching their little boy minds work and laugh often at what they come up with. They play hard all day and with a lot of gusto. Cael is 8 and Quincy is 6. Both are very protective of me, and love to take care of me, an by little men. I feel so blessed to have these little guys. You do not often find them apart from each other. Cael is going to NE to wrestle this weekend, and Quincy will really miss him and ask often when he is coming home. He does this whenever Cael is even just at practice, so most often Quincy just tags along.

Here are March trophies, note there is no one for 1000 minutes. (sad face) I did have between 7-800 minutes but not 1000. I also know there will be no 1000 minutes this month either. (second sad face). However, I am having to just talk myself into starting each day, and then no troubles, just that start part!!

Mackenzie, Cade, and Dean took the ducks to the Alger farm last night, and Mackenzie was sad to see them go. Wow did Kyler love those little things. He kept leaning over the box and talking to them and then telling us all about it in 1 year old garble. I could not help but wake up to the storms last night and think of those little things out there.

Finished that book last night, less then 24 hours after starting it. I must say it was really good, I enjoyed it a great deal and am looking forward to starting new one. First, I must make my grocery list and cut some coupons, however, my plans are being derailed by a couple more good looking little guys in Cade and Kyler who want me to play outside with them.

This is me

This is me!! Not sure why really, I would like to blame it on hormones. Hormones that are gearing my body up for labor and have most likely caused the head ache that is in day 8. Anyway, I need a slight attitude adjustment, I have not been grumpy like this in a very long time, and trust me, I am just not a pleasant person.

I cannot even blame the fact that I am uncomfortable, because I really am not. For only 18 days until my due date I am still able to function pretty well. In fact, I am still walking 2 miles a day in 30 minutes. I am so thankful for this exercise - seriously thankful.

I started my first James Patterson book, yesterday "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" so far it is so good, and I am having trouble putting it down. I am glad he has a lot to choose from. Been a long time since I have read a good book and so I am really enjoying this one.

Mackenzie went to a horse sale with a friend of hers today. No horse was bought but she is coming home with 4 ducks that he will come get later. Cute little things I am sure, we are excited to see them when she gets home.

Oh here they are........

Blog on

Miss Mackenzie has decided to start a blog as well. If you are interested in what a 16 almost 17 year old, high school home schooled junior, oldest of 8 almost nine children, has to say about life you can follow her at http://mackenzie-happel.blogspot.com/.

Saturday without wrestling, was I might say a little boring, and I was a bit grumpy!! Maybe even more grumpy then I am willing to admit. Lots going on all day, Mackenzie to lunch with a friend, Carter playing basketball downtown with friends all day, Reegan having her girls club meeting and spending a few hours at the history center, Cael and Quincy had a friend come "into town" to ride bikes, Addy, Cade, Cael, and Quincy getting a chance to bottle feed baby calves, and Kyler just hanging out being Kyler. Dean and I went to town together which worked out better then it usually does. He would much prefer to put a stick in his eye as opposed to going shopping, and we had to go to Wal Mart and I HATE it there. We survived it, and were still talking after wards. I tried many times to talk him out of going with me, but he insisted on some quality time, and he did a mighty fine job of behaving himself too!!

Easter we stuck around here which was nice and relaxing. The most time consuming thing we have going on right now is this dual meet competition next weekend in NE. Mackenzie is just crossing her fingers that I will give birth this weekend while the guys are gone so she can go with me. If I do not go this weekend, then she would like me to give birth to her on May 4th which is her birthday. So either two weeks early or 11 days late - she is not asking for much.

Three weeks and counting

These last few weeks have been about the number 3!! Right now I am three weeks out from my due date, whoa doggie!! Crazy. My mind is not able to wrap itself around it, but my body is feeling it. I have had to slow down the exercise and I can tell when I have been up and about all day long. Honestly, it is a frustrating feeling.

I met all my goals for the month of March for exercise, 5 of 7 days each week and I was over 700 minutes. This month will be the same goals of 5 of 7 days until baby comes or I have to stop. I keep wanting at times to quit because my body feels tired, but then I say well if I quit now, and the baby comes two weeks late then I have to take the time off after well that is just too much time off!! So I plug away, and honestly it has helped me mentally and physically with this pregnancy so no need to stop. I am also so hopeful it helps with PBBDS.

I need to take a new photo, perhaps tomorrow.

Speech therapist is done with Carter, she says not much more she can do, so he will be having surgery on May14th to remove those two nodules. Should be a very quick in and out surgery and recovery should be quick as well. After we were there today we took some time to shop for my sister who is unable to do heavy lifting after the c-section birth of Eliza. Surprisingly, Carter did not chewing off of his legs to avoid going into the store and it was a rather lovely time. We shared some really good laughs. It felt great to be able to help Janice!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKEETER!! (April 2nd) 29 and holding...............................................................