Monday was the BIG day! Hannah was to be relieved of her full leg cast (we hoped!) and Bill was to get the news he was hoping not to hear... time for knee surgery! Hannah went first, her x-rays showed a ton of healing and Dr. Burns decided to put her in a 1/2 leg walking boot! Not even a half cast! WOO HOO! That means baths with the whole body in the tub again! Clean feet, bent knees, and no more wheelchair!! Here's a couple of pics of her saying "ADIOS" to her pretty pink cast! She wasn't thrilled with the "saw" that cut it off- and the noise was a little much, but she was BRAVE!!! That's my girl!

Next was dad... here's a pic of the two GIMPIES on the table:

Bill had an MRI done last week due to an injury that he sustained about 6 weeks ago. He has been in pain for that entire time, trying to be tough and ride it out until his knee healed, only to find out that it wasn't going to heal itself. He has a small tear in his PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), a decent sized cyst behind the ligament, and a medial meniscus tear and degeneration. Yeah- a lot of medical terms, I know! All of it is correctable by having laproscopic surgery on his knee. So, he goes in Friday morning for the procedure. He's a little nervous, but he promised Hannah he'd be brave just like her! What a pair!

So Hannah's in a walking boot cast- and she's happy as can be. She's not quite into walking on her leg yet as it's a little sore and weak from being in a full leg cast for 4 weeks. But, with any luck, she should be walking soon!

And Bill will be on crutches for a few days and then walking after that-- so by this time next week, we should have some pretty happy walkers! (It's a good thing we're getting all this done now... no more injuries after Jan. 1st! That's a new year and a new deductible! :)

And Bill, if your reading this: Love ya babe, you'll do just fine! And I can't wait to practice my nursing skills on you--- hee hee!

The other night a few families joined us for a Gingerbread House Contest-- and, while Bill and I still carry the bragging rights from the Skinner's Riverbank Contest, we set out to win again, this time for the kids! Here's a few pics of the 3 "winners!" Although we all know who the real winner was-- SIVLEY'S ROCK!!!!!!!!!
Tanner's "most original" Gingerbread house:

Copeland's "most creative" Gingerbread house:

Sivley's "Most Traditional, Best Ever, Really Cool, Wish I'd of thought of that!"

#1 Gingerbread house!

So can you tell we've been a little preoccupied with the broken leg?!? It has made a very needy child even needier!!! But I am thankful for her. She still finds joy in everything- I can't believe it, or maybe I shouldn't be surprised!! Hannah has learned to scoot everywhere. That wheelchair is just too bulky and slow for her! I can't tell you how many socks we've gone through- (most of them mine) as she wears them over her cast so her toes stay warm. But all that scootin' is making holes in the heels of every sock she wears! So I am taking sock donations if anyone's interested! hee hee. We go back to the doctor tomorrow to check out how her healing is going. Maybe they'll change out her cast to a half leg--- in my dreams! Dad is the main "lifter" around the house, but when he's not home, it's me, and my 6 month pregnant body is feeling it! She's a heavy little thing w/ that cast! Everytime one of us picks her up to take her potty or put her in the car, she says, "I love you so much mom (or dad)!! You're the best mommy ever! Thank you for helping me! I love you, I love you, I love you!!" It's nice to be adored and appreciated! Love you too Hannah!

In other family news-- we are busy busy this week with music and our Stake Nativity Festival. Hunter and Brock have been practicing for weeks to sing in the Stake Children's Choir at the Nativity. They perform this Friday night at 6 pm, followed by the Stake Adult Choir (which I am in) at 6:30 pm. This is my favorite time of year to be in choirs. It's a busy time, but the music is so beautiful and the spirit it brings is so strong-- I splurge and allow myself a little "me time" to sing in the choirs at Christmas. Nana and Papa Seamons are coming this weekend and will be here "just in time" to see our performances! We can't wait!

Saturday night, Hunter sings in the City of Frisco's Tree Lighting Celebration called "Merry Main Street." His school choir takes the stage at 7:30 pm. I'll be sure to post pictures after the weekend. We also have Bill's office Christmas party during the day on Sat. which is the highlight of the kids' holiday season. It's pretty fun and they go all out. From rock climbing to pony rides, superheros and obstacle courses, it's a great family day. This year they've added a mechanical bull- we'll see how our cowboys do on that!

We had a nice and quiet thanksgiving. We missed our families as this was a year we couldn't travel and no one could come for a visit... so we spent the day with some friends and had a nice celebration. We sure have a lot to be thankful for... we are so blessed!

I promise a more exciting and picture-filled post the next time, but I did want everyone to know we're still alive and kickin'- BARELY!! Love to all!

So, I've been tagged by my great friend Kristin..... thanks babe! I guess I am supposed to write 6 facts about myself and then tag 6 others. So- watch out, you may be next!! ha ha. Here we go, for your reading pleasure and entertainment:

1. Kristin tagged me because she wanted me to tell you about my microwave timing issues. Yes, I am a freak, yes, I am neurotic. I CANNOT, under any circumstances stop my microwave on any other number but a multiple of 5. (5, 10, 15, 20, etc.) Oh yeah baby- even if something is boiling over, NOPE- can't do it. Have to wait 'til it gets to a multiple of 5. Hey- it's good for the kids when they're learning to count by fives! :) I also have to have my TV volume on an even number, usually 12 or 14. You won't ever catch it on a 17 or something like that. If you do, you know Bill's been watching it- and if that's the case, it's on ESPN too.

2. My lifelong dream is to be a nurse. I have wanted to be a nurse since I can remember. I am obsessed w/ medical issues and medical shows. (Ok, so Grey's Anatomy is much more about the hot Mr. McSteamy than the medicine, but it's a good excuse!) I WILL be a nurse someday. Last semester I took a class to get me started, but now I am preggers again and nursing is on the back burner. But it's still lit and I'm still just itching to get in there and become a nurse. One day--- after the childbearing years are over!

3. I LOVE bread. I can't get enough bread. Guess that's the explanation for a lifetime of weight issues. White, wheat, sourdough, banana, zucchini, french, oatbran, you name it, I like every kind of bread... except Rye. I will fill up on bread at a restaurant and take my meal home 9 times out of 10. Ice Cream's not bad either! hmmmm.... better change my fav foods to carrots and celery if I am planning on losing this baby weight!!!

4. GREEN is my favorite color. I have always liked the color green. Back in the 90's, it was forest green, then I went to lime green, now I am more along the lines of avocado/artichoke green. But it's always been a hue of green- for as long as I remember!

5. I have a hair fettish. I can't stand hair anywhere. You'd think I would have shorter hair or something, but my own hair even grosses me out. However, the darker the hair, the grosser-- I just can't stand seeing hair off of someone's head. I want a hairless (ok maybe not hairless, but at least a "shedless") dog if we ever get one. Hair just grosses me out!!!

6. I love being pregnant, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE newborns. I crave going into labor so I can have 3 days at the hospital in relative peace to spend with my newborn baby gift from God. I enjoy every kick, punch, rock, and roll inside of me for as long as I can feel it. I am just starting to feel this baby boy kicking me pretty hard and I love it. I will enjoy his kicks while he's inside and then hold him forever when he makes his entrance into the world in March!!

So here's my tag- Emily, Jess Whiting, J Fred, Amy B., Stephanie R., and Haley- YOU'RE IT!

The rules: Player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves. At the end of the post, player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and posts a comment letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read their blog for the rules.

So we had our 20 week ultrasound (a week late!), and all is well!! The first question Hannah asked me when we got home was, "Is it still a boy?" Yes, sweetheart- it is STILL a boy! He's healthy and growing very nicely in the womb. Dr. Peters, the perinatologist took an extra close look at this baby's heart and everything looked great! He dismissed me from high risk status and told me to enjoy my pregnancy! YAHOOOOOO!!!! Can't wait to meet the little guy! Stay tuned for a poll on names... we're still undecided!

So I pre-arranged to scare the heck out of my boys tonight! Love it! Our friend's, the Tanners, dressed up for a halloween party last night as a vampire and wherewolf (thankee Alice and Jacob! **twilight readers know what I'm talking about!!)... anyways, Len came up with the idea to ding dong ditch us tonight and when the boys go running out to see who "Boo-ed" us, he'd jump out of the bushes at them in his wherewolf costume. After the guff I get from these two boys all week long, it was about time to get mom's revenge--- so here it is, on video for ya'll to see! The boys didn't get as scared as I thought they would, but it's still pretty funny. (BTW, I pre-warned Hannah so she didn't freak out, and I was holding Barrett- he got the most scared!)

Well, they did it!!! The 9 year old Bears and the 8 year old Bears BOTH made it into the playoffs!! WOO HOO! That means dad will be home to see at least one more game! Brock had a great game today with quite a few really key blocks and some good tackles too. Brock plays offensive guard. Hunter's team cut it close, but pulled it off in the end for a 21-18 win. At defensive tackle, he really pushed through the line and got into the ball quite a few times. It was a great Saturday with lots of cheering and screaming at these boys! Good game guys!!
GO BEARS!!! GO BEARS!!! GO BEARS!!! GO BEARS!!! GO BEARS!!! GO BEARS!!! GO!!!

After having 4 babies, I now know the meaning of that phrase! But that is the pain I actually crave when I am pregnant. I LOVE the first feelings of labor because I know what follows it- a darling newborn baby to cuddle! But pain without a reward? Come on now! So last week I threw out my back. Talk about pain. I was pretty much in bed for 3 days while everyone around me picked up the pieces and helped out- thanks girls! That was a pain, but it's feeling better now.
So, today, I went to the OB for my prenatal checkup. All went well- gained too much weight(in my opinion!), but that many trips to Taco Bell will do that to anyone! After my appointment was over, my doc asked me if I wanted to get my flu shot there at her office. Now, this is the mom who wants to be a nurse, who really doesn't have a fear of needles, hardly cringes w/ blood taking, and gives her daughter a shot everynight. I don't have issues w/ shots. So, I said, Sure, no problem- cuz I certainly don't want the flu! The nurse comes in a few minutes later to give me my shot and I CANNOT even tell you how DANG MUCH that shot hurt! Like a mother! Seriously!!! I've had flu shots before, they don't hurt. I held in the pain instead of bawling like a baby, and put on my happy face as Barrett is crawling up on the exam table to take a peek at mommy's arm. After the nurse left, I kinda held my arm and took a deep breath, put Barrett in the stroller and made my way for the door.
Just as I walked into the waiting room, the nurse calls my name and says, "Mrs. Sivley, can you please come back to the exam room?" Great! What now? I for sure thought there was something wrong w/ my urine specimen and I had a UTI or something like that. She comes in and VERY apologetically tells me that she gave me the WRONG SHOT!!! What? No wonder it hurt so bad! She actually gave me the HPV immunization to protect me from cervical cancer. Nice! She told me she was sorry and that they wouldn't charge me for the shot, which costs $120 normally (gee thanks!). She also told me it is not harmful to the baby or me to get it while pregnant, so no worries. Then, she holds up the REAL shot and asks me if I still want my flu shot. No problem! I've got one good arm left! That one hardly hurt at all and I was on my way in minutes... so that was my excitement for the day- 2 shots in this mama of 4 1/2, one which hurt like a baby, one which hurt like a mother!!! OWEEEEE!!

Well, Barrett and I went on a fun date today! We went to the Big Orange Pumpkin Patch in Celina, Texas. It was SO FUN!! He was a cheezer, of course, smiling it up big time! He looks so old!

They had a petting zoo, complete w/ goats, sheep, donkeys, and good ol' Texas Longhorns! He had a blast feeding the animals. They also had a really fun hayride, afterwhich we got to go pick out our very own pumpkins. It was a fun fun day! Love you B!

So I don't set an alarm... my kids ARE my alarm every morning at 6:45 a.m. I hear their alarms each go off individually and I hear them get up, get dressed, brush teeth, make beds, (I've got them trained well, huh?!) and then they all come downstairs and drag me out of bed! Brock and Barrett are usually the first ones down, with Hunter close behind. Hannah takes a little more time to make her bed- so she's usually last.
This morning, my sweet Hannah girl was FIRST. She came down in her cute outfit I had layed out for her last night, all dressed and ready for the day. "Good morning mom!" she said. I rolled over and hugged her from the side of my bed. She hugged me so tight and I pulled her up into bed with me. She was just so cuddly- my cute little five-year-old kindergartner! I said, "do you know how much I love you?" "How much, mom?" I stretched my arms out as wide as I could and said, "THIS MUCH!!!" She then started singing our song: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..." and she sang it twice, all while snuggling with me. It was one of those moments I will remember forever. This is my precious little girl! My little girl who told me, "You owe me big time mom for putting that picture of me crying on the computer!" My darling little girl who I worry about day in and day out, wondering when the day will come that we'll be heading into another heart surgery or something else that just happens to pop up in her health. I will cherish this morning's hugs, kisses and song and know that it won't last forever! Whether she grows up and gets "too big" for that, or heaven forbid, something should take her away from me, I will never forget the picture my heart took this morning. I love you Hannah girl!!!

And Hannah's simply devastated!!! The poor girl! You would have thought we told her she was grounded for a year! She truly thought she was having a little sister-- and SO DID I! I had to hide my sadness, I didn't quite display it as obvious as Hannah did, but I was a bit bummed to realize those darling girl clothes I have in the attic may never get used again!! The important part is... HE is a healthy little guy and right on track for an early March delivery! We couldn't be more thankful! Now- to choose a name..... I'm about out of boy names by now!

All is well in the Sivley household. It's so nice to have the 3 older kids at school all day- it really makes for some quiet times for both Barrett and I! Barrett enjoys tearing the house apart all morning while mom is catching up on emails, cleaning, and getting ready for the day. Then it's a quick clean-up before we run errands and get back home in time for OUR nap. I am enjoying our one-on-one time, and I'm pretty sure he is too!

Football is ALMOST over! Don't tell my kids, but I am CHEERING!! These 6 day a week football days are really wearing on this old pregnant mommmy. Hunter got a great sack this past Sat., and dad was even there to witness it! He was back in town for a glorious 2 days this weekend. He's off again for another few weeks of saving the world--- one terrorist at a time! We miss him though!

More posts and pictures to come-- gotta go save my house from the BARRETTMEISTER!!!

I am so excited! I've been working on my new business of making breastfeeding covers for about a year now. I hired a terrific web-designer to do my website and it just launched YESTERDAY! Check it out at www.peekbaby.com It's so cute and fun! I am looking forward to lots and lots of sewing in the next little bit! I hope! Wish me luck!

In other news, we are HEAVILY involved in football! You know how Texas Football is= RELIGION! Hunter plays on the 9 year old Bears and Brock plays on the 8 year old Bears. (Nice for apparel purchases eh?) Just worked out that way! They are doing fantastic and having a lot of fun. We have football 6 days a week and on the 7th day we REST!!!!!!!

School has started and can I just say that I LOVE Texas? Full day kindergarten! Oh yes, you read that right! Hannah is in school from 7:30 am to 3:15 pm. She walks to and from school w/ her brothers and she is happy as a clam! She is so social, she was wearing me out here at home! I know, crazy-- me being the social butterfly I am- she puts me to shame! She is loving it though an the boys are too. Hunter's in 4th grade (am I really that old?), and Brock is in 3rd. Barrett and I have tons of fun here at home together while I get chubbier- oops, I mean more pregnant by the day. When you are Barrett, "Who's mama's buddy?" He says, "MEEEE!" He's so cute!

Brock got baptized on Sept. 1, 2007. It was a great, funfilled day! We had football in the morning, his baptism at 2 pm, and we went to Medieval times that night. It was a wonderful day and at the end of it, he said, "That was the best day of my life!" His baptism was so special and we're so glad Nana and Papa Seamons were able to come out to Texas for it. He's pretty squeaky clean!

That's it for now, gotta go sew! Come on orders..... I'm waiting!

Well, we've had a great time and visited just about everyone we can think of to visit in Sunny California... NOW WE'RE READY TO GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With Bill having been home alone now for 2 weeks, me being pregnant, tired, sick, and on the road- and these crazy kids- I think I'm ready to sleep in my own bed and have some down time. Plus I miss that cute hubby of mine! Here's a few pictures so you can see just how much fun we've had on our 6 week trip West. Enjoy!