Great Pics!

Oh I was so excited to see these pics! The kids were photogenic, if I can brag a little :o)

They also had a lot of fun just running around outside. I realized both need new shirts, Eve is officially out of size 3 and Derrick is a good size 7, some 8's. No more Smalls or size 6's for this boy!

Congratulations!

Congrats out to Dave and Karly on the safe arrival of Caitlyn Charlotte!

I took the kids shopping today for Alisson and Bradon's Big Sister/Big Brother gifts. They were more interested in the toys than the things I thought Karly might appreciate more (coloring books and puzzles). They would hurt less when Bradon throws them :o) he he he

Caitlyn is a little peanut. I got to take a quick peak at her before she left the room. She was 7# 12oz and 20 1/2 inches. I don't know what I would do if one of my kids was that size! But she was absolutely beautiful. All cozy, wrapped up and sleeping. Just the way I like them :o)

Eve has been having a rough few days I think. The last 3 nights she has wet the bed. She's had a new schedule over the past few weeks, and I think she's just stressed out. I spent more time with her today, and plan on doing even more tomorrow - including reading to her which she asks us to do ALL DAY LONG! But I think she needs more one-on-one time, so hopefully that will help out. She wasn't feeling well a few days ago, but she doesn't seem to be sick any more. So hopefully this will all pass. Luckily I still had a few diapers left. She was NOT happy about having to wear one, but I explained to her that if she wakes up with no potties in her diaper, she can wear panties again. I was just sick of washing her bedding this much!

Ryan said they played very well together today while I was at work. So that's good. They are both feeling much better and back to their normal, energetic selves!

I've been having a TON of Braxton-Hicks (practice contractions). Very annoying. I wish I could get them to stop since I won't really be needing them :o) My hip is doing better in some ways, and worse in others. I can now walk without severe pain. But I can't sit on the floor without severe pain. However, since I do more walking than sitting on the floor, I'll take it! I'm usually in desperate need of a nap just after dinnertime, but won't take a nap since I would probably want to keep on sleeping! And now it's 11pm and I'm still awake. I should go. Stay tuned for pics. I plan on taking some fun ones tomorrow before it's too cold to be outside for a while!

12 weeks to go!

Only 12 weeks (about) to go! Baby is about 2 pounds now, and over 14 inches from head to toe. Baby's active. Gets the hiccups or something like them and it annoys me :o) I'm VERY tired. The closing shifts on the weekends are starting to get to me. So I'll give them a few more tries and we'll see if I can handle it. Otherwise I'll drop down to just a first-off instead. I haven't been first-off in so long! I was scheduled for it yesterday, but when I returned to work it was changed, so I closed. But it went well. Pretty slow, and I know it's bad to say - but I'm so glad it was!

My hip still hurts to the point it takes my breath away and I don't want to move. Usually when I'm sitting on the floor, or trying to get out of a vehicle. I haven't had that kind of pain when walking - so that's good! It's painful to do the exercises, but I still try to do them. I figured anything will help, right?

Kids are doing well. Getting over a bit of a cold. Our old humidifier had some water (and some mold growing - ICK!) from last winter, so that got thrown out. So I'm looking into a new one as I'm sure we'll use it this winter sometime. Ryan and I also looked at making bunkbeds for the kids so we can fit three in that room. So we'll see how that goes.

Derrick is getting very good at drawing - especially stick figures and faces. It's pretty cute! Eve absolutely LOVES to color. They can spend hours coloring and doodling. I gave them each a notepad of paper and it kept them occupied for a wonderful length of time :o)

New Outfit

Thanks Gran! I LOVE my new candy outfit!

The kids are also enjoying going to The Little Red School House. This is the *gulp* daycare that I found that could take them once a week. When I say they are going to go play there, they usually clap and jump up and down. So I'm glad they like it there. I just needed someone on Tuesdays, and this way they get to play with a few other kids. It's small, which I like. So far they have been there three times, and each time they've gotten outside for a few hours! You should have seen them yesterday - they were covered in leaves and dirt and paint. They had a BLAST and crashed after dinner. Well worth it :o) It's almost like a little preschool. They may not be learning numbers and letters (I can help teach them that), but they do art projects and other stuff. They usually don't want to leave when I come to pick them up!

It's hit me the last few days that in less than a year, Derrick will be gone for 8 hours a day M-F! I can't believe he'll be in Kindergarten. I hope the school we wanted to send him to changes back to 1/2 day. This all day Kindergarten I don't really care for. And this fall was the first time they switched to be like every other school in Mankato, so now there is no more option of 1/2 day :o(

We also have to replace both water heaters in the duplex :o( Bummer. But at least I'll be able to take a shower for longer than 10 minutes with hot water! :o)

4-year-old Reasoning

Yesterday Derrick and I went shopping for some groceries. On the way, the song "Big Girls Don't Cry" came on the radio. After a few verses, Derrick said to me: "Mommy. Big girls don't cry. Ok? So you can't cry any more. The truck says so."

:o) The truck says so. Too cute! And he had an interesting story on why I can't cry anymore. I asked him when I cry and he made up some story. Kids.

Thankful

Here's some pics from Josie and Emily!

One-year ago today, we had our accident. We're very thankful that we had very few injuries (ones that healed quickly), and that we found a new vehicle we love!

I'm now 26 weeks. WOW! Only 13 to go! (I get to knock off 1 week since they are scheduling the day so I don't go into labor.) Since I have HUGE babies, maybe I can talk her into going even earlier, before Christmas. But we'll see ;o) Feeling pretty good, except for my hip, especially after my closing shifts. Ready to fall asleep right now, but I'm getting used to needing some extra down time/rest/sleep.

Emily came over to play (you can "meet" her in some pics below) today with the kids so Josie and I could go look at some houses. It was soooo fun! Especially laughing at the house where the kitchen had no sink and had a urinal. NEW house. Not some old run-down house, one in the Tour of Homes. Crazy! But we got some good laughs. And some good ideas for our future homes. Eve was NOT ok with there being another kid in the house to play with her toys, Ryan said she was incredibly jealous of Emily. Derrick loved having her around, showing her toys, etc. So, just as he was with Eve, he'll be a very good Big Brother to the new baby. Eve is the one that probably won't take it so well. She's the baby, and makes sure everyone knows that!

New Camera!

Ok I don't have the new camera yet, but I've been saving my fun $ for weeks now and I have enough saved up to finally get one! I appreciated that my mom and dad gave me their old one, but it just doesn't take pics like I'd like it to - NOW! With two kids, I need something that takes pics when I push the button. And one that will take a video longer than 15 seconds. I really miss taking videos of them talking. They have the goofiest stories.

The library visit today went much better than the last. They agreed pretty quickly on a video, and they found lots of books they wanted. Since we go there every other day practically, I limit their books to one each. But with this whole new section of books, I let them have more. They are enjoying "reading" them as I type. Sort of. Now they are swinging stuff around. So that didn't last long. Can't wait for them to learn to read on their own. I'm not into reading that much, but I think when they are more into chapter books and not so much just picture books, I'll enjoy it more. I'm reading the 5 Minute Bible Stories to them every night - one chapter each night. And I like that. They get restless, but they know that's the only book I'll read to them before bedtime.

I also found a daycare that will take the kids on a "drop-in" status. I only need someone on Tuesdays over the lunch hour. I'm still waiting to hear back from a friend of mine to see if she can take them. So we'll see who we go with. I also need a sitter every Friday from 4 til Ryan's done with work - usually around 5-515. So less than 6 hours a week I need someone, but it's been hard to find :o( Without paying for a full 50 hours a week! I can't imagine having my kids in daycare full-time. There are many days I wouldn't mind shipping them off, but I'd want them back the next day. And it will be all too soon when Derrick enters kindergarten and is gone all day. I can't believe it's less than a year away already. Time to teach him to write his letters! We have a bunch of books he loves to go thru - fun games on top, lines to write on the bottom of each page. He's more into the game parts, obviously. But he has written a few numbers and letters very well. He can write his name, but not so well yet. And only if you write it first, then he writes it below. He's so smart, as soon as I put the time and effort into really showing him how to do it, I know he'll catch on. He's great at drawing and coloring (and staying within the lines!). It's one of his favorite things to do!

Craziness

Last night I could hardly sleep :o( I think the baby grew, and my lungs weren't ready for it. It was hard to breathe all night, and most of the day - just couldn't seem to get a full, deep breath in. Yes, I have three more months to go! This one might end up bigger like Derrick, we'll just have to see. I don't remember this with Eve. But then again, I don't remember much of Eve's pregnancy. Now it's going better.

I also had my first therapy appt yesterday. My left leg/side is week, hense all the pain and stiffness when I walk most of the time. I was given certain exercises to do to help get some stability back. I tried to do the exercises, but it requires me to lay on the floor and it's incredibly painful to lay on the hard floor on my lowback/tailbone. I have another appt tomorrow. I'm sure this will all be better in a few weeks. It feels ok to do some of the exercises, but when I am supposed to relax in between reps, that's the part that hurts. I should get a mat or something. That might just help.

I took the kids to the library today to get a new movie. But the deal with them the last few times we've gone, they BOTH have to agree on a movie. I'm trying to get them to compromise every now and again. DID NOT WORK TODAY! Derrick was bound and determined to get his Strawberry Shortcake movie, not the Strawberry movie Eve picked out. Screaming, yelling (on his part) in the nice, quiet library. Yeah, not so fun. The library has this big fountain with huge rocks surrounding it, and Derrick kept running around them, crying that he wanted his movie, not listening to me one bit aobut giving me the movie, be quiet, etc. Not fun. And pretty embarrassing. I loaded them in the truck after I caught him (hard to threaten a child in front of everyone), buckled them in, and then went back and got movies for me. Derrick was mad. He went straight to bed when we got home. He only acts like that when he is super tired. Which he was. They are both growing, and need naps during the day, at least every other day. I hope tomorrow is better. And their schedules have changed, with Ryan's new job, me still working. They want to spend time with both of us, and we haven't quite figured out how to do that. It's getting better, mostly on my part to make sure they get more cuddle time in and play time with Mom.

Ryan's had a few rough days at work, but that's what happens with sales. I'm sure his day is coming soon with some good sales! I think he still enjoys it more than Security, so as long as he is happy, I'm happy. :o)

Old School

Ha! A friend of mine, Ashley, uploaded this pic to facebook. Had to put it on here. Gave me a good chuckle. Ryan and I are going to get a printer/scanner/faxer/everything-er in a few weeks, so I'll be able to scan old photos and newspaper clippings also. So be forewarned.

Therapy

Well, it's been almost a year since our car accident. I went into the chiropractor today and said that I'm still having problems with my hips. Hard to explain, but there are many days a week that when I walk, it's like a nerve is getting pinched or my muscles are so tight that it's actually painful and difficult to walk. I suffer thru it, like I've done with any injury in my life. But I'm getting annoyed with it bcuz I'm not able to work as much as I'd like to on closing shifts. So, Dr. Paula suggested we do some physical therapy to get some stability back in my hips. I'm up for anything right now. Just sitting here I can feel a knot in my butt. I've tried doing several stretches a day, but at times I can't get my leg to move to get back up. Something's going on and I'm giving into going in for help. With baby on the way, it may only get worse if I don't get it figured out. Hopefully it's something simple, a certain stretch or exercise I am not currently doing that will heal me up!

Kids have been going to be so much better lately now that one falls asleep in our room, and the other in their room. Kind of a pain to do that and it may be a hard habit to break later, but I'll take any nights without fights at bedtime any way I can!

We went to the library yesterday and the kids picked out a couple of videos. They are currently in the Barbie Nutcracker movie. Derrick picked out a Land Before Time video, which I really like. All the Land movies have had some sort of theme in it to reinforce in the kids, this one is listening to their parents. And when I asked Derrick what the movie was about, he said that! I was impressed he understood. AND he listened very well yesterday. I made sure to comment on that to him that I like it when he listens to me the FIRST time I tell him to do something.

Goodbye, Marcie!

We had a nice time saying Goodbye to Marcie! She leaves tonight :o( I can't wait to hear all of her stories and see some good pics from England soon.

Now meet the Powers Family:

Papa, Derrick, G and Eve.



All us girls - Sarah, Me, Marcie and Megan



Us original kids - Me, Matt, Marcie and Scott.



Uncle Scottie giving BOTH kids a piggy ride.



Derrick vs the Treadmill.



The Grandkids and Soon-to-be Grandkids:
Eve, Derrick, Kyrsten and Jeremy



Derrick, Ryan, Me, Eve - Best family pic I have.



Matt and Megan



ALMOST all of us.
Ryan, Derrick, Me, Eve
Marcie (missing Daryl)
Matt and Megan
Mom and Dad/G and Papa
Scott, Jeremy, Sarah and Kyrsten



Scott, Jeremy, Sarah and Kyrsten
(Scott and Sarah are FINALLY engaged!
Now hopefully it won't be 7 years before a wedding)



The original sisters


The kids loved being at G and Papa's. So did Zale - he got to do some much needed running. We didn't get a lot of time to spend there, less than 6 hours, but the kids were happy they got to play with G's toys and take some fruit snacks home. They are already asking to go back! Unfortunately, it was raining most of the time, but we still let the kids play around in the light mist for a few minutes to get rid of some energy before heading home.

Marcie's Going Away Party

Can't believe Marcie leaves on Monday already. She'll be studying in England for this school year. So we'll head back to good ol' NR and have a little party. I hear Pizza Hut pizza is the menu item of choice for her last meal. Sounds good to me! :o)

I'm doing well. Tired, but keeping up. We have lots of meetings all over the place, but we are having lots of fun! I'm still working like normal. I'll keep that up as long as I can. Makes this pregnancy go by faster!

Ryan is keeping busy between both furniture stores. He's doing very well at sales! I like hearing how well he's doing every day. He has some fun competitions with fellow coworkers to get them to sell more. We'll have a busy month in October, as he has only one day off, and that's the day he goes to Omaha.

Kids are also doing great. Eve is talking everyone's ear off that will give her any ounce of attention. Her vocabulary is increasing more and more. But she's caught a few phrases from something on a video that I didn't know was on there and therefore I have my work cut out to teach her not to say it. She's still not always sleeping thru the night and usually ends up in our bed every other night. I never cared when Ryan was working overnights, but three's a crowd now.

Derrick seems to also be learning by leaps and bounds. I wish we could have had him in preschool this fall, but wintertime will be just fine. He has a number of preschool books that we go thru to learn how to write numbers and letters. He also learned how to draw stick figures! It's so neat - he only draws his Turtles, but it's a start. I'll have to get him to draw one on paper instead of our chalkboard so I can keep a copy of it.

Well, I'd better go. Need to find a sitter for tonight and tomorrow night yet. Why do I keep waiting until the last minute?

Birthdate

We have a birthdate for this baby! No I'm not telling, you'll just have to keep an eye out after Christmas. :o)

Doc appt went well today. Measuring well, which is a change from the other two! Baby's heartrate is in the 150s. Kids got a kick out of going to the doc like the other times. They just like talking someone new's ear off I think!

Happy Birthday, Gran!

Happy Birthday, Gran!! We love you!

We finally decided on insurance last night. Nothing like waiting until the last second, almost literally! We needed it to start today. So we are all covered, and we'll hopefully never have to use it. But it's there just in case. And I'm glad it's finally taken care of.

I'm about 22 weeks now. Can't believe how fast this one is going by. Baby is pretty calm. I hardly feel him/her kick, and when I do, it's not much. I know that can change, but I'm soooooo hoping this baby is more like Ryan than me, I can't take another one like me - I've already got 2!

Derrick has been doing summersaults all night. Oh, excuse me. "Turtle Rolls" is what he's calling them. He is so into the Ninja Turtles it's crazy!

Eve's pronounciation is getting so much better. She will talk your ear off, be forewarned if you ever come in contact with her. All I want is peace and quiet and I never get it if that girl is awake. I feel bad for her teachers already. But it's fun talking to her and getting her perspective on things.

I bought a new vacuum as ours hasn't really worked for such a long period of time I don't even want to tell you. I'm looking forward to it's arrival so I can get this house clean! The kids and I spent 45 minutes in the basement separating out the toys and picking them up. Sad part is I'm only about 1/4 of the way done. Well, maybe more since I spent most of the time picking up legos. The rest should go by quicker - just chuck the toys in the toybox! Or the garbage. My choice :o)

Finally!

AHHHH! I've been offline for a week! I'm going thru withdrawals, as I'm sure you are also without any updates from us :o)

Britt and Christine's wedding is finally over, and it went very well. She looked beautiful! And the kids can no longer call her "Almost Auntie Christine". We'll have to drop the "almost". The only complaint I have is that I didn't get my family picture I asked for :o( I've been waiting months for it! I was so mad!

I also survived the trip. Altho my hip is in some pretty bad pain right now. I have some heating packs and some stretching to do tonight to help it go away. I hope it works!

Enjoy the pics, I have a bunch of them! Sorry they are all over. I would accidently hit the wrong button, but it's taking forever to download them, so I didn't want to delete them and start over. Deal with it :o)

Tomorrow We are Off!

Tomorrow, right from work, we'll be leaving for Indiana. I'm about 1/2 packed up. Once the kids are asleep tonight is when I'll get the other 1/2 of my packing done, with Ryan getting his done tomorrow when I'm at work. It'll be nice to have the next 5 days off from work!

So, tonight yet - I have to find a kennel for Zale. Oops. Then we'll priceline a hotel. Kids will LOVE swimming in the pool again. Pack up my clothes and shoes. And do the dishes. I'm so bummed my dishwasher broke. Oh well. It was fabulous to have one for the last few years! I'll get a new one in the new house next spring/summer time.

Ryan also started work officially today! He's selling furniture again and is really enjoying it. Today was pretty slow, but he was excited that he was kicking everyone's butt in sales :o) He's such a competitor! But when it comes down to it - it's based on commission, so he's in the best position. He'll only be at this store for 8 weeks as it is going out of business. So we'll see where he is after that!

Ok, I'd better go. I'll upload pics of this weekend if I'm able to from the inlaw's computer. We should arrive in Indiana early Thursday morning (plan is around 1-2am). Then Thursday morning I'm helping set up for the wedding. Friday is my THIRTIETH birthday! Whoa! And the wedding. So we'll see what I get to do for fun that day :o) Then the rest of the weekend to spend time with family and get some business accomplished while we are there. See you all on Sunday or Monday - not sure when we are returning!

Pink Cake

I got my pink cake! I got my pink cake! I got my pink cake!

Yesterday G and Papa came for a visit. We went to the park for a picnic and I finally got the pink cake I've been telling people G was making me (before G knew she was going to have to make me one!). I ate all the pink frosting, then I said I wanted to go play. That's all I really wanted :o)

The park had fun slides and animals and birds to look at. I even saw a peacock put all his feathers up. He's a big birdie when he does that, with pretty colors.

We had fun with G and Papa. G got me 2 bags of clothes, that I had to try on until I found the shirt I wanted to wear. G also got Dirkie 2 Turtle shirts - he LOVES them! And we have some new puzzles we've been playing with all morning.

Ultrasound

I went with Mommy to see the baby! I just wanted to talk the lady's ear off and not pay any attention to the pics of the baby. Mommy got some pics, but only one or two she likes. The pic of the baby's face is weird - looks like a skeleton. Mommy doesn't like it. She said she got a nice profile pic of both Eve and me, but this baby she didn't :o( But that's ok. Right after Christmas we'll get to see the baby anyways. The lady said our baby weighs 11 ounces! No idea what that means, but it sounds cool. We made sure to tell the lady not to tell Mommy if it's a boy or girl. I say she's having a girl. What do you think? Take a vote!

G and Papa come tomorrow, so I'm sure we'll have lots of stories for then. Then next Wednesday we leave for Gran and Grandpa's! It's been almost a year since we were at their house. Hopefully this time our truck won't get an ouie again. I think Daddy should drive this time. But don't tell Mommy I said so!

Haircuts

FINALLY. I finally got Derrick into get his haircut - as you can see from previous posts, he's become a little shaggy. But look how sharp he looks now! He's like a new boy.

I also braided Eve's hair for the first time. She stood still the entire time! I put a video in and she didn't move. I'll have to remember that.

VBS and Stuff

Today we went shopping. With both kids. I need shock collars on them some days and this one was one of them. Just Eve. Derrick did well. Eve likes to run thru the clothes racks and hide. I needed a new shirt for the upcoming wedding, and a specific one - one to match in the family pics. So after looking thru tons of pinks, i didn't want to do that. I went with a black and white patterned shirt, with black pants that came with it. I fell in love with a different shirt, kind of a bunch of different polka dots all over, but it was more than the shirt and pants combined of the other one I liked. So me being the sensible one, went with a pair of pants and shirt for less. I like it tho. It's my first new outfit in a long time. Even if it is maternity. I'm looking forward to wearing it!





Derrick also got his first baseball glove! With Dad home during the day for now, he's been begging Ryan to play catch. So we bought him a glove that actually fits him now that we know he's interested in playing. It's soooooo cute! I'll get pics of it later.





Kids also went to VBS this last week and enjoyed it. This was "Preschool Bible School" as they thought they were going back to the previos Bible School from the week before. And this second VBS was at the church Derrick went to preschool at. I have lots of pics from that - so enjoy! I'll also record them singing their Bible School songs - it's stinking cute! One part the kids all yell AMEN! and Eve can't quite do it - so she yells, AH-YAH! It's nicknamed the Karate Jesus song :o)

7 Years!

Today we are celebrating our 7th Wedding Anniversary! Lucky 7 - so this should be our best year yet, right? :o)

I have lots of pics to add. But need to run to work. So I'll upload them at a later time.

Have a great day everyone!

Glasses

The kids found my glasses from when I was 16. Don't ask why I still had them, or where they ever found them! Eve liked them upsidedown.

18 Weeks

18 weeks now. I went shopping for a new shirt for work, my doesn't really cover me if I have to grab something above me. But, I really couldn't find one. Won't spend full price on a shirt I'll only wear for a few months :o) I have a different one I can wear for now, but I'm sure in a month or so, I'll have to keep an eye out for some cheapy ones. Or I'll just head to the women's section and buy an XL shirt. We'll see :o)

Baby is about 5 1/2 inches now, and 7 ounces. Moving around like crazy, but I don't feel a lot of it. Thank goodness, it will be soon enough when this little one will be so big I can't breath (Derrick) or grabbing one of my ribs (Eve).

Gran thinks it's a boy (she really hasn't been wrong in her life). That's what I feel it is. And it will be nice to use some of those baby clothes of Derrick's that he outgrew after wearing it once or twice!

When I was shopping today, I took Eve with me. We went thru the baby clothes and picked out one boy outfit and one girl outfit. Ok, she picked it out. She was excited. Until she saw a Dora dress and said we had to buy it "for the baby" :o) Sure Eve.

Derrick likes to say how big my belly is getting. "Mommy, your belly is getting SOOO BIIIG!" Thanks for pointing that out Dirkie. But he knows that my belly has to get "super big" before the baby comes.

Gran

Gran's surgery went very well! It was a long one tho - 6 hours. Grandpa said the doc came out smiling - so that's a great thing! She's also going home TODAY already. The kids made her a present I was hoping would make it to her before the surgery, but their mail takes a few extra days to get thru Chicago/Gary or something. So hopefully it's there for when she gets home today.

The kids have been playing remarkably well today. I didn't fall asleep until after 1am (I closed again at work), and I didn't get up until just before 10am! I was pooped. I was afraid I'd come downstairs to a huge mess. But they were just playing nicely.

This past week they were at VBS and LOVED it! Eve was even able to go and she had a wonderful time, especially with all the singing. They keep asking to go back. I hope we are able to send him to preschool this fall. But we'll see. Eve could also start in January, which would be great after the baby comes to be able to have one less child for a few hours during the day while I get used to 3 kids under 4 in my house! :o)