All treats, no tricks

This may be the last time everyone agrees on a theme,

so we're going to enjoy it while we can.

May the force be with you!

The world's fastest year....

Happy first birthday to my sweet, baby Hope! It's been a great year, but can you please slow down? It's going by way too fast.

We did it again!

We just can't resist dressing up as a family for Halloween. This year Ryan decided on our theme months in advance. But for some reason, I was still putting together the final pieces before we walked out the door for the Fall Festival. Oi!

Did you spot everyone?

Because Jaida's costume always seems to be just a little harder to call.

(And Huey, not in costume, appears to be retching on the lawn. Lovely.)

Is it a little clearer now? She's Great Shape Barbie.

It might be the last year that she agrees to play our little game. It's getting harder and harder to find a costume she's willing to wear for us and she keeps threatening to "go out on her own".

There's Jessie! Yo-de-le-hee-hoo!

And Buzz in action--to infinity and beyond!

Have you ever seen a cuter alien?

You have saved our lives, we are eternally grateful!

Need a closer look? I thought so.

I couldn't find a costume small enough for Hope, so I had to make it. Looking back, perfectionist that I am, I wish I had made the eyes horizontal ovals, instead of circles....

But Ryan keeps reminding me that she is recognizable and that is the point.

Not to mention, like I said before, I was putting this together the day she was supposed to wear it, so I'm lucky I got anything done at all.

Even though I don't look like the Bo Peep in the movie,

everyone knew who I was.

And Ryan went so far as to shave the sweet retirement goatee he'd been growing since "Woody doesn't have a beard!"

Another Halloween and fun was had by all!

Did you know?

Did you know that we spent New Year's at Disneyland with Ryan's sister, brother-in-law, and nieces?

Did you know that this year the Vail Veterans Program expanded to include families and we brought our kids to Vail to ski and play in the snow?

Did you know that sometimes you just gotta saddle up for Cowboy Breakfast at the child development center?

Did you know that some giraffes like to eat cookies?

Did you know that a girls only weekend with your best friend might have to become an annual tradition?

Did you know that you should always ask the vendor how much it costs to purchase two swirly light up wands at Disney on Ice? (Really. You should ask before you tell the kids yes.)

Did you know that it's hard to get three kids looking the same direction with smiles on Easter Sunday?

Did you know that Jaida received the sacrament of confirmation this year?

Did you know that Ryan got his prosthetic ears and they look so real that I forget they're fake?

Did you know that Ryan and I were invited to the Wounded Warrior Project's Courage Awards and benefit dinner in NYC? Both Trace Adkins and Bill O'Reilly received awards and we got to attend a taping of the O'Reilly Factor.

Did you know that Jaida attended her first formal dance this year and I think I had as much fun as she did picking out her outfit?

Did you know that Maya completed her Strong Beginnings Pre-K program and the graduation was almost too cute for words?

Did you know this is my attempt at catching you up on the main events of the last six months? We've been busy. It was this or nothing.

Baby report

Warning: The post you are about to read contains the words placenta and uterine. If you feel this is TMI, do not continue reading!

Even though we haven't mentioned it in awhile, we really are having a baby. And we really are excited about it. Although many people wouldn't plan on having a fourth baby (certainly not a 4th c-section), we did. But we do plan on it being our last. As much as we love children and love having children, this is it for us. And while this pregnancy has been really good, it has had just enough worries that we are certain it's time for us to stop.

One major concern we had was the position of my placenta. It is low lying and anterior. For most people that is not a big deal, but because I've had 3 c-sections there were some added risks. One risk is that of placenta accreta, where the placenta attaches too deeply to the uterine wall. This can lead to lots of complications including premature delivery, hemorrhaging, and hysterectomy. The other thing we were worried about was the possibility of having to cut through the placenta to delivery the baby. Thankfully, at 28 weeks, an ultrasound confirmed that my placenta had moved up enough that it should no longer overlap my previous c-section scars and we are no longer concerned about those risks.

At present we are worried about my platelets. Apparently they are low. From what my doctor tells me, normal is about 150, dangerous is about 50, and at my last blood draw I was at 130. We are now monitoring my platelets every few weeks to see if they are dropping and how fast. If they continue to drop below what the anesthesiologist feels is safe (maybe around 100), I won't be able to have an epidural for my c-section. The risks of having an epidural with low platelets include blood clots in the spinal cord, which could result in paralysis. Not good. So for me that would mean having a baby under general anesthesia. Not ideal. Ryan wouldn't be allowed in the OR for delivery and I would go to sleep pregnant and wake up not pregnant. Weird. Also, because we don't know the sex of the baby, I would probably be the last to know, by the time I woke up from the anesthesia. While this isn't as unpleasant as placenta accreta, it is certainly not what I want. We won't know if I'm having an epidural or general anesthesia until the morning of delivery, currently scheduled for June 30th.

Since there isn't anything we can do about my platelets, other than pray, we needed to come up with a plan that we were both comfortable with in regards to finding out the sex of the baby. We are both kind of old fashioned and don't like to find out until that magical moment when the doctor holds the baby up and says, "It's a girl!" or "It's a boy!" We waited with our other kids and the moment did not disappoint. But if I am going to be sleeping through it and Ryan will be waiting in the waiting room, the moment seems a little less magical. But we didn't want to find out now, either, and then end up having everything go as planned and then already know what we're having. After much brainstorming, we decided to have a 3D ultrasound and have the technician determine the sex of the baby but not tell us. She printed a picture and sealed it in an envelope. If the morning of the c-section we find out that I have to have general anesthesia, we will ask for some private time together and open the envelope. If my platelets don't drop and we have an epidural, we won't know until they hold that baby up and we can see for ourselves. That's the plan. Ryan hid the envelope (because he doesn't trust me or Jaida) and we both signed the envelope along the seal so we will know if it has been tampered with. This is serious business!

Below are a few pictures to let you see how things are progressing. With less than six weeks to go, I'm feeling pretty good. Starting to get a little more tired, a little more clumsy, and definitely waddling more. But I'm trying to enjoy every moment, relish every kick, and memorize what it feels like to have a child inside of me. I know too well that it goes by too fast and the next six weeks will be over before I know it. I am very excited about meeting this little person, but I can wait. Even the waiting is a blessing.

Ultrasound at 20 weeks

24 weeks pregnant

32 weeks pregnant

Baby in 3D ultrasound at 33 weeks

Let's try this again

Apparently the following clue was a little too abstract for some people.

July 2010

I was trying too hard to be witty and creative.

Maybe this next clue will help clear things up.

Is that better?

July 2010

We are family

My sister and her kids came for a long weekend once we returned from our road trip. It's always so much fun to get the cousins together. Even though we had a house full with kids aged 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, & 14, everyone had a blast! We love it when they visit!

Family Time

Our house has been full of family these last couple weeks.  First Nana and Papa John came to spend a few days with us.  They are only in the U.S. for a couple of months, so we were glad they had time to drive out to Texas to see us.  Hurricane Dolly kept us mostly indoors with all the rain it brought.  But we still had a great visit.  

Nana, Papa John, & Jaida

Maya hiding from the camera

Noah likes it when Papa John feeds him breakfast.

The next week we had a house full with Grandpa, Stephanie, Asa, Aslyn, and Aevin.  It was non-stop excitement with all the cousins in the house.  We went tubing on the Comal River and it was a perfect day.  Then the kids hit the pool on base for water slides and fun.  We got to celebrate Aslyn's 6th birthday with cupcakes and presents.  And everyone just really loved being together.

Turning in the tubes at "Rockin' R" after a great day.

Getting a group picture (it had to be "photoshopped" because Maya 

was crying in almost every shot!).

Back from South Bend

Ryan, Jaida and I just returned from a quick weekend trip to South Bend, Indiana. We were there for the wedding of our good friends Tim & Kristin and were fortunate to spend time with so many wonderful people that we know from our time in Twentynine Palms. The wedding was beautiful and took place on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. What a campus! The Basilica of the Sacred Heart was amazing! And we were just thrilled to be in such a beautiful place witnessing such a beautiful event. We flew in and out of Chicago so we made a little time to check out Navy Pier. The weekend went by too fast, but we're so glad we went.

Maya and Noah had to stay home this time, but they got to stay with my sister, Angie. Angie is one of those aunts that never stops spoiling the babies and they loved every second of it. Between letting Maya share her bed at night and holding Noah constantly, I'm sure I'll have some work on my hands getting them back to our routine. But that's what aunts are for I guess, and a little spoiling never killed anyone. Besides she took some really cute pictures of my kids this weekend. Check them out!

I have other things I've been meaning to post about, but all the traveling from the last three days has left me pretty tired. I'll try to catch up soon. Until then... Love, Pam