Our family zoo... Free admission

It's been warming up around here, well for the most part. We have been enjoying a few fun things. The girls have loved riding their bikes, especially through the puddles.

Finally all of our snow is gone! We are getting ready to start seeds this week for peppers and tomatoes. And we discovered our mole problems have gotten worse, they ate all the roots off our apple tree. I am now even more determined to poison those suckers!
We got the basement painted!!! We just have a few more little things to do including prepping the floor then we will be ready for carpet. We are hoping the end of next week or beginning of the week after, depending on Chad's schedule. We still have to order in the carpet for the living room since they didn't have enough in stock, so it will be a few weeks before that gets in. The girls have already started moving things to their closets and we hung up the curtains and stuff. I am so excited! I think Kaite is the most excited out of everyone, I think she would move in there now without carpet if we let her!
We spent last weekend with George before he left. We went and saw Hunger Games. I enjoyed it more than the book and Ky loved it. I thought it was well done and the actors were good. I am not a fan of that post apocalyptic stuff, but it was a good movie. We all said goodbye to George and he left for SC on Tuesday. It is sad that we won't be seeing him for like a year. I think we have all gotten use to having him around at least every couple of months. Kami was really sad when she realized he was gone, she said "but I wanted to give him another hug". She is such a sweetie.
Kami has really gotten into her V-reader and preschool computer program lately. She loves to go sit on my bed and play.

I took Kaite to the orthodontist two weeks ago. It turns out her jaw angle is worse than Ash's but Kaite's is a lower angle problem which is much easier to treat. She will need headgear just like Ash but the neck kind. He wants to start her ASAP, but I think we will wait until after her B-day. I don't think I can handle all that right now with the baby on the way, plus it will help if she is a little more responsible!
I had my appointment last week and I am measuring right on, Ky says I look small for me though. I did get lectured on the preterm labor symptoms again. Ky says did you tell them you will be in everyday if you do what they say! Seriously, I am feeling so much better though. I had no idea how crappy I was feeling because of the iron deficiency. I think almost all of the things that were bothering me are gone. My contractions have gotten better too and I haven't had any real bad labor scares since I started taking the pills. I really don't like to take them. I have to watch my diet so close and with my heartburn it can be tricky.
The baby is growing so big and strong. She has found my tender spot on my tummy and sure likes to kick it, and she found my bladder! We are so excited for her and I am so excited to be done!

I heard something interesting on the news the other day, they say 33 is the happiest age. I guess I will find out real soon if that is true!

Today we celebrate fourteen years of marriage! Wow, I can't believe it has been fourteen years. It seems like we got married yesterday, but then again it feels like we have been together forever. We have had our ups and downs, but four girls later life is really good. I don't think either one of us would change a thing.
Here's to another great fourteen years!!!

Here is what we did the past two weekends.
Two weeks ago after Kami was feeling better, but everyone was still too sick to go to church Ky had a good idea.

We spent the day penny rolling in the living room. Ky said "how many people can penny roll in their house". We had so much fun. The girls loved it and we are still finding pennies all over the house!

Last Saturday was St. Patty's day. We started out with green shamrock pancakes.

Then we spent some time in the basement, it is now ready for paint!!! We are hoping to have that done this Saturday, and we found our carpet in stock (well enough for the girls' rooms and the stairs, we will have to order the rest). Anyway, we spent the rest of St. Patty's day with my family. James was home for the weekend and it was the last time we will all be together for awhile since George is leaving next week. We had a good visit and the girls loved playing with their uncles. This Saturday we are going to see Hunger Games. Ky has really loved the books and is now on the third one, me not so much. He has been so excited for the movie, so we are all going before George leaves town. I am hoping for a nice springy weekend!

So we had to take Kami back to the doctor on Saturday. We have had this really nasty cold going around, it seems to have gotten worse as it passed around us. When we took Kami in on Wed (our normal doc was off that day) she was presenting like Ky. They gave her the antibiotics and nebs and sent us home. Thurs she seemed a little better in the morning, but by that night her headache had gotten worse and she started complaining of a stiff neck. I was going to take her in on Friday but found out the doc we really liked would be in Saturday. We decided to wait and hope the antibiotics would help and she would feel better. Based on all her symptoms: headache, stiff neck, fever, not eating or drinking, and she was so lethargic I was worried about meningitis. Well, we went in Saturday and he examined her very thoroughly he didn't look encouraged. I even told him I didn't want to hear him say meningitis and he just gave me this look..... First we drew blood and her white count came out low, then he tested her for the flu-negative. He came in and told us he was "really trying to talk himself out of doing a lumbar puncture". He did say that her WBC was encouraging (because it was low) which means that it was most likely a virus. We talked about how if it was viral meningitis we can only treat the symptoms. After awhile he agreed to give her a dose of steroids and some narcotics (to help the headache) only if we promised to call him if she got worse or stayed the same. The plan was he would direct admit her to the hospital and do the LP. Sometimes it is so helpful that I have worked with him, otherwise I think he would have just done the LP but he knew I would call him like I promised. I think the LP would have only confirmed the viral meningitis (which is what he was leaning towards but it could still just be a virus) but since we can't do anything but treat the symptoms why put her through that. She was still a little spunky with him at one time and she was so mad she had to have another shot at that office -3 out of the last 4 times she has been there she has gotten a shot! Anyway, I gave her the narcs when we got home and within an hour she was eating EVERYTHING! She was also dancing around the living room, it was awesome! She was still so pale, and that says something since she is such a whitie to begin with! After the drugs wore off she was complaining again but still eating so definitely not worse. She slept through the night (first time in a week) and Sunday woke up with a big grin and just gabbing. She says her headache, stiff neck, and sore throat are all gone! She seems fine and not sick at all. Still I have been trying to make her rest, I don't think I am succeeding! And she was upset when I told her we couldn't go to gymnastics, but I am so glad to have my little girl back! I was so worried about her and I am glad she didn't have to be admitted. It's funny but you can't even tell she was so sick two days ago. I am hoping it was just a virus, but still I can't help wonder......

So not to jinx us but everyone seems to be feeling better, even me. When they told me the iron supplements would make me feel so much better I honestly thought I didn't feel that bad. Wow, I can tell when it is time to take a pill or if I have waited too long. Saturday I didn't get my morning one and by the afternoon I was more miserable than Kami! Let's hope that things are on the up now with us!

Wow, well this past week has been something. Kaite had the stomach flu, and even had a vomiting incident at school. Ky and Kami have bronchitis. Kami is so sick the doc thought it was pneumonia at first. I am still in shock that I missed how sick she was. She cries and sleeps all day, I am not sure she is getting much better. She hates her breathing treatments and medicine, plus she doesn't want to eat. She complains constantly about a headache- this really worries me. We may have to visit the doc again. This particular cold has now made its way through all of us, but seemed to get worse as it went. We haven't had a decent nights sleep around here all week. Ash has been perfectly fine and now Kaite is all better, thank goodness!!
I had my doc appointment yesterday. Since I had to reschedule I didn't get my regular nurse, and I managed to give the one I had a good scare. The glucose crap gave me a bad reaction this time and I got so dizzy at the office. The nurse and her student (doing her clinical rotation) wouldn't let me out of their site. Then she drew a bunch of extra blood "just in case", its a good thing she did. Turns out my H/H and Fe are really low. So now I am on iron pills (high dose) twice a day. I was told we have to get my iron up before I have the baby or I may need a blood transfusion and have to stay longer in the hospital. Great this is what I needed more problems!! I am also on a high iron diet and have to watch what I eat since it can interfere with all the pills I am taking. Ky says I have to eat a bowl of Total everyday since I can get almost a days worth of iron from one bowl, yuk I don't like Total. I also had my RhoGam shot and had to argue with her about having it in my arm. How frustrating! They finally agreed and I told them the flu shot was worse, it still isn't bothering me. Later the doc told me they like to give it in the hip because one gal had a bad reaction to it in her arm and thought she was going to die, oh my. I told them I have had it now 3 times in the arm and 2 times in the hip and the arm is so much better! I can't walk when they give it to me in the hip and it HURTS! Oh, and my sugars were all completely normal inspite of my reaction I had. Also, I lost 4 pounds in the last two weeks.
I am officially 28 weeks now and in that last trimester phase. I feel more comfortable with where we are now, I know if she was born now she would survive. I did have a good laugh though when she kicked the Doppler wand twice! Even the doc was shocked and she didn't kick around it or even close, she kicked it! She has a spunky personality already. And she may be a daddy's girl, she loves him so much. She will move and snuggle up to him whenever he touches my belly or when we are laying in bed at night, I think it's because he is so warm. She runs from Ash's cold hands, and likes to kick Kami when she snuggles with me! She is funny, she always wakes up to Kaite and likes to do flip flops when Kaite talks to her.
I feel like my life has been turned upside down this past week.


Congrats to George! He is graduating from his Naval Officers Training today.

Ashley's business fair was last Friday night. The gifted and talented kids have been working on this for the past two months. They learned everything about a business from the ground up. She did all the planning, product picking, and advertising on her own. She was so excited.

She wanted to sell hot chocolate. We weren't so sure about this, we didn't know how we were going to keep the water hot. Luckily, Ky was able to borrow a water warmer thingy from the S&R. She didn't sell as many as she wanted, but she did make a profit. The gym was really hot and not ideal for hot chocolate (check out her pink cheeks), but we have an awesome idea for next time. She had so much fun and Ky was a good sport to help her with everything. Thanks to Mar and her friends, and Chris and Chantelle for coming and supporting her!
Me and the girls spent the night enjoying all the Dr. Seuss activities they had. Then we had to hit the gym for all the exhibits. Kaite found a feather booth and has been asking me forever to get a feather in her hair. She had her own money and did it, she loves it!

Of course she picked a red feather! We had a fun night, but me and Ky are both so glad it is over!

A random pic of Kami from my phone. She is posing with her pink ring.

I am so ready for some sun!!! Winter just doesn't want to give up here. I have been wearing my flip flops and capris around the house, I am dying to wear them around town though. Ky has been making fun of me too! Here is what last weekend looked like.

Our deck door, the whole front of the house looked like this we couldn't see out any of the windows.

We spent the weekend working on the basement and hanging out. It was just the two of us and wow was it quiet! Friday night me and Ky went and saw The Vow courtesy of the doctors office, they gave us a pizza and a movie coupon. I loved it, but I cried. I think the college girl next to me thought I was crazy! Also, there was a preview for a new movie coming out about being pregnant, it looks so funny and so true!

Anyway, thanks to the storm the girls spent the weekend at grandma's. We weren't quite sure what to do with ourselves except SLEEP IN!!!! Ash won't let us sleep past 730 on the weekends so it was so nice, and since church got canceled we got two days of sleep. We were glad to get them back though, it just isn't the same around here without them!

Yesterday we started leap day with "muffins with mom". Kaite was so glad I was able to drag myself to it, I spent the rest of the day on the couch though! By the afternoon the next storm hit us, the girls got sent home early and Ky got snowed out. We hope he can make it home tonight. He is working on a big project for the city council meeting coming up and has to be to work, to bad he couldn't spend today home with us-no school.
Here is what the girls did today.

Some of the drifts in our backyard.

At one point in time Kaite pushed Kami down the hill really hard and she smashed into the side of the garage, it was so funny! And yes she was fine.
Last week my blender tried to bite the dust again, I keep band-aiding it back together. Ky bought me this awesome blender when we were first married. I love it! I make so many smoothies and drinks that require crushing ice it has done awesome and never gums up. Well I was quite disappointed, but it is like 12 or 13 yrs old- still its a Kitchenaid. Well I was surfing and came across a site that explained how to fix it, all it needs is a new $4 coupler! I am so excited, sad that that is what makes me excited now a days!

I am also excited that I found Ash a really nice winter coat (next size up) at penney's for $16! It is even the brand I love that is completely water proof and so warm.
I am still working on baby stuff and making some decent progress. Only 13 weeks until my due date!

Happy 19th Birthday Mar!!!