Adventures of George

Mason's Kindergarten class has a class room pet, Curious George the Monkey. It's a good thing he is just a stuffed animal, for my boys' sake. Each weekend one of the kids get to take George home with them. There is a booklet that comes with George for the kids to put pictures in and a place to write down all the weekend adventures. Here are a few things Mason did with George.

Mason took George to the wedding reception of one of my former Young Women, Shiloh and her husband, Scott.

Eating cake and ice cream at the reception, sadly George didn't get to eat any.

George and Mason helped Dad mow the lawn.

Making sure George was safe while riding in the car.

George came to Mason's cousin, Madeline's first birthday party. George was really mad that he didn't get any cake the night before, so he wasn't going to let another opportunity to eat cake go by.

That George is always getting into trouble.

On Sunday George got to borrow one of Mason's ties and go to church with us.

Happy Birthday Jeffery

I have the best husband in the world. Today is his birthday. He spent his birthday alone. How sad. He worked Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and tonight. When he has more than one shift consecutively, he stays there to save gas. I really wish I could have spent the day with him.

Back to why I have the best husband in the world. Well, I just do! Do I really need a reason?

I know lately he hasn't felt like the best husband because he can't find full time work. You know how men are, well most of them anyway. They pride themselves in being able to provide for their family, it is part of their identity, a part of what makes them a man. I know there have been times these last few months when he has felt horrible, like he did something wrong and that it is his fault he was laid off. I have never blamed him or been mad at him for being laid off. I have loved having him home more and even though I know he needs to find full time work not only for our finances, but also for himself, I wish he could just work part time always. He has been such a huge help to me with the boys, the house work, and making dinner all the time. I truly have been spoiled by him. I used to not enjoy having him home during the days (like when he would take vacation) because it would mess up my routine. Now, I have gotten so used to having him home and have come to love it that I feel lost and so lonely when he is gone, even if it is for just one day.

Anyways, I have the best husband. He may not make millions and buy me diamonds every week, but he is the best because he loves me and shows me he loves me everyday by the little things he does for me.

Baby check up

Today was the latest baby check up. I understand why they need to be every two weeks, but I still think they are kind of pointless.

I am measuring small again. I should be measuring 31 cm, but am measuring 27 cm. I am SO NOT worried about it, my back pain has returned, but I think it is worse than ever before, so I am positive she is just positioned really far back. I know it could mean that Shiloh is not growing properly, but since I had the same back pain with Cooper and he came out two weeks early weighing 7lbs 10ozs, I am not worried.

Shiloh's heartbeat was 140bpm.

I gained 2 more pounds, so that's a 10 pound total weight gain.

Shiloh likes to do gymnastics and push her arms and legs out as far as she can. Sometimes all the pushing she does really hurts me. My stomach feels bruised from the inside. I love to feel her move, I will miss that after the pregnancy. The one thing I can say I will not miss is the back pain.

I am 31 weeks 2 days pregnant.

Life update

Remember how Jeff's former employer filled out paperwork for unemployment stating that Jeff quit and then later provided unemployment with a forged resignation letter "from Jeff"?

About three weeks ago we got a letter from unemployment with a ruling and a brief summary of each persons rebuttal. In Jeff's former employers final rebuttal, they stated that they did indeed choose Jeff's last day of employment with the company, and in choosing Jeff's last day, they admitted that they "laid Jeff off" or "let Jeff go", without directly saying it. Either way, it proved that Jeff did not quit. So unemployment has paid Jeff back for what they owed him.

Telling the truth does pay off in the end.

Decorating

We finally have some decorations up in Shiloh's room! We still need to figure out what we want to do on two of the walls, but I think we've got a great start. So this idea we stole from our wonderful sister-in-law, Michelle, who is super creative. Isn't stealing someone else's ideas the highest form of flattery? The "S" was $8.99 at Jo-Ann's, but it had a small crack on the back, so I got 75% off! I used paint that we already had so this project was cheap!

Then we found this 3 pack of white 20"X 20" canvas', also at Jo-Ann's for 40% off. I talked Jeff into coming up with a design for them. He used paint that we had left over from painting Shiloh's room, so this project too was cheap! Jeff doesn't really like his paintings. I guess it's too girly for him. I LOVE IT though and I'm sure Shiloh will as well.

Preschool

Yesterday was Cooper's first day of preschool. He will go one day a week to a Music and Motion class at the same preschool Mason was at last year. Cooper was pretty excited to go to preschool but was not happy that he only gets to go one day a week. I mean gosh! Mason gets to go to school five days a week and he only gets to go one day! Standing proud in front of his homework chart. Look how old Cooper looks in this picture. How did that happen?

Ready for Mom and Dad to leave so he can get down to business.

Peaches and Pears

Two weeks ago I canned 14 quarts of pears, then this week I canned 14 quarts of peaches. I learned the basics of canning last year from a friend, but I didn't know how to can pears or peaches, so I looked it up on the Internet. Don't they look beautiful? I can't wait to eat them.

Best $ spent

Saturday was Heroes day at the fair. That meant that all police, fire, and military got in free. Mason and Cooper also got in free because they are under a certain age. So all we had to pay for was me. We went down early in the day, before the crowds came. We walked around all the displays and found this really cool race car track. The boys were instantly glued to the display. I instantly had images go through my mind of us prying them away from the display, telling them that we aren't going to buy it. But when the gal said the whole set was only $20 I was sold. Now I just had to sell Jeff on it. That wasn't very hard, he must have had the same thoughts and images going though his head.

Mason and Cooper have played with this every day, for most of the day. The track is really easy to put together and change, even I can do it. Another great part is that Cooper got this activity table for Christmas to put his trains on. Well he only has a small track and we've never bought him more, so the table sits empty most of the time. This car track fits perfectly on the table.

King of Kindergarten

Last Thursday Mason was "King of Kindergarten". He got to decorate a crown however he chose. (The picture over his right eye is a rocket) He also got to bring five things to share with the class. He brought a family picture, the latest ultrasound pictures of Shiloh, a spider man toy, a toy fire engine, and a toy fire chief's vehicle. He got to tell the class what he brought and why.

Baby check up

I had another check up today. Doesn't it seem like I just had one? Oh wait...I did, two weeks ago. This pregnancy is going fast. (Now that I am not sick). I just had a normal check up, no ultrasound, nasty "juice" to drink, no blood draw. How boring.

Last time (at 27 weeks) I was measuring 22cm, I am now measuring 28cm. Shiloh must have repositioned herself a bit, but not all the way, I still have lots of back pain.

Her heartbeat was 148 bpm

I gained 2 pounds, so a total of 8 pounds gained this pregnancy.

My doctor said he will do another ultrasound around 36 weeks to check on Shiloh's growth.

I am 29 weeks 2 days pregnant.

First day of Kindergarten

Today was Mason's first day of Kindergarten. This has been one long awaited day. Every day for the last week Mason has asked us how many "wake ups" he had until he started school. He could hardly contain his excitement this morning! All dressed and ready to go, one hour before it was time to go mind you.

Cooper had to have a picture with his big brother. Cooper is so jealous that Mason gets to go to school and he doesn't.

I tried to get Mason to do the letter "K" in sign language for the picture.

Waiting for the bus. Another long awaited part of going to school. We gave him the option of riding the bus, or riding with Mom and Dad. He, hands down, wanted to ride the bus.

Getting on the bus with our neighbor, Evan, who is in first grade.

Sitting on the bus.

Mason's kindergarten teacher requested that parents come on first day for a special story, so we followed the bus to school.

Waiting to go into his classroom. Doing his morning task, tracing his name.

Then it was time for the story and after the story all parents were excused to leave. Not one tear was shed by me or Mason. I think a year of preschool really helped prepare both of us for this day.

Mason rode the school bus home. I though about going to the school and following the bus home, but didn't. Mason did well and made it home safely.

Mud

On one of the last warm days of the summer, Cooper decided to make a BIG mud puddle in their dirt box. I usually stop him right away when he starts to put the hose in the box, but since the weather was going to go from 90's and sun to 70's and rain over night, I figured I'd let him do it at least once before he wouldn't be able to until the next summer.

All muddy and enjoying every minute of it. This mud puddle kept both boys happy for about an hour.

Life...

...has been one big roller coater lately. I usually like roller coasters, I don't like this one. Usually when asked what's been going on and I can reply, "not much", I count that has a huge blessing because it just means life has been good, with no big trials.

We have had one big trial after another over the last 5 months. Of course we have had lots of blessings come our way too. I'm sure Heavenly Father has given us those blessings to reassure us that he does love us and is mind full of our needs and that we can, and will get through all this.

Here's a run down of all our more major trials:

First at the end of March we found out we were pregnant. Usually this wouldn't be such a big trial, but it was this time. I REALLY wasn't ready to have another. I had been fighting with Heavenly Father for months. He would give me little promptings telling me that we needed to have another and I'd fight back with excuses like: I'm not ready, mentally or physically...we are just getting to where we want to be financially....just wait until we get the car paid off....then we won't have any debt and can afford to have another child.

Then two weeks later the morning sickness kicked in. This was not my normal morning sickness. I was sick all day long, every day. The morning sickness was very mentally and physically taxing on me. I thought it would never end. Thankfully it did, exactly 9 long weeks after it began.

In the midst of the morning sickness, the 4Runner broke down. It didn't just break down, it needed it's engine replaced. It took 7 weeks for the 4Runner to be fixed due to two bum engines, 1 week of waiting for each engine to be shipped to the shop, and some other minor problems.

On June 11th, just a few days prior to the 4Runner being fixed (and the repair bill becoming due), Jeff was laid off. It took Jeff three weeks to find employment, but not full time employment. He loves where he is, just wishes it was more hours, or at least more consistent hours. Last week he had 26 hours, the week before only 3 hours. He is still struggling to find anything full time in his field.

Two weeks ago Jeff got a letter from unemployment stating that his previous employer gave a different reason than Jeff did for his departure from that employer. His previous employer submitted that Jeff quit. The previous employer also slandered Jeff's character and work ethic in his submission to unemployment. So Jeff had to fill out more paperwork, explaining the situation further to unemployment that he was laid off, that he never quit, or gave notice of quitting and that he gave 100% to that employer up through the date he was laid off. Then last week Jeff got an email from unemployment that stated that his previous employer submitted a letter from Jeff that Jeff signed giving his resignation. Jeff never gave his previous employer any such letter, or signed any such letter, or gave any verbal resignation for that matter. We have not heard anything further from unemployment. In the mean time, until unemployment makes a decision on the case, we will not receive any unemployment.

It has been really hard for Jeff and I to not be really angry and lash out at this previous employer and do some of the things to him that he has done to Jeff. Notice I have never once, in this post or any of my previous posts, said the owner's name, the company name, or said anything bad about the owner, his character, his ethics, or the company? There have been times over the last 2 1/2 months when Jeff and I have been really angry, but with lots of prayer, the anger quickly fades.

I continue to pray that Jeff will be able to find full time employment. I would love to put this trial behind us. I know, in time Jeff will find full time employment and that this trial, just like all trials will pass. There are times when I think I can't handle the stress of this trial, but I am quickly reminded that my Heavenly Father will not give me any thing that I cannot handle. I know we have things to learn with this trial. Trials only make us stronger. I have learned a ton already during this trial, there must be more to learn though, or the trial would be over, right?

In each of the trials we have had over the last 5 months, I have learned something. Some things I have learned before, but obviously I needed a reminder, or I would not have to re-learn it.

Becoming pregnant, on my Heavenly Father's time, taught me to listen to him the FIRST time he tells me to do something, don't ask questions, make excuses, or hesitate. Have the faith that HE knows what is best for me, wants the best for me, and will provide the best for me if I would only listen and obey, and put that faith into action.

Being so sick for so long taught me that I am a stronger person then I thought I was. It taught me to rely on my Heavenly Father more. To pray more. I grew closer to my Heavenly Father through this trial, now that is a blessing. It also taught me that I need to have more compassion for those who get so sick during pregnancy.

Having the 4Runner break down, well I think that one was Heavenly Father's way of telling me that I can afford another child. I'm sure he was laughing hysterically at me when I was making excuses that we couldn't afford another child. Yeah, I'll show you what you can and can't afford.

Jeff being laid off, has again made me rely on my Heavenly Father and brought me closer to him. I have learned to more willing accept and ask for people's help. It has always been hard for me to ask others to pray for me. Why? I don't know. I guess because I think I'm very strong and I don't need people's help, even if it is just to have them pray on my behalf. I have learned that I need to go to my Heavenly Father for help sooner then I usually do. I can't always just figure things out on my own, I need him, his help, his comfort, his love.

I am now seeing the blessings that come from paying our tithing and fast offerings and following the prophets advise to get out of debt, have money saved for emergencies, and food storage. I know that we would not be surviving as well as we are if we had not heeded this counsel. Jeff's paychecks have been much, MUCH less than they used to be. Our bills have stayed the same, but somehow we have not had to use much of our savings. I cannot explain this myself, I cannot figure out the math as to how we have had enough money to pay our bills when the paychecks have not been much. The only explanation I have is that we are being blessed for paying our tithing and fast offerings and heeding the counsel of the prophets.

Baby check up

Today I had another check up. I have been anxiously awaiting this one for 8 long weeks. I had another ultrasound to see if my placenta has moved up. It has! Phew. I really didn't want to have a C-section.

The other reason for the ultrasound was to check on her growth. At the last ultrasound Shiloh was measuring 9 days smaller than she should. Shiloh is now measuring 12 days smaller than she should. My Doctor says that I could have just ovulated late, which I know I did, but not that late. But there is also a possibility that she is not growing properly. My Doctor wants to monitor her growth closely to make sure she continues to grow at the rate she should. So I will go in for an ultrasound every 4 weeks, as long as she grows the amount she should in 4 weeks, even if she is still smaller than she should be for the Nov 23 due date, then we won't have to worry so much about her growth.

When I get closer to the due date I will probably have to do non stress tests as well. Just the name stresses me out! I guess the non stress tests will measure her growth and the fluids around her. My Doctor wants to make sure her lungs develop enough before delivery, and on the flip side, that she doesn't get too big that I'd have to have a C-section.

I am also measuring smaller than I should, only 22cm when I should be measuring 27cm which wouldn't really be cause for concern if Shiloh was measuring where she should be, so I think this is also why my Doctor wants to take all these extra steps to make sure she develops like she should. I am not too worried about me measuring too small because at this same point in my pregnancy with Cooper I was measuring 4 cm smaller than I should, then at my next appointment 2 weeks later I was measuring 1 cm bigger than I should. Cooper was just positioned further back, and finally decided to move and give me a break from all the back pain. I have similar back pain with Shiloh, I am hoping she decides to re-position herself soon too.

I gained 5 pounds this last month, so that's a grand total of 6 pounds gained so far.

At this point my Doctor is not going to move my due date back to Dec 5, where she is measuring to be, because really, she is going to come on her own anyway.

Shiloh is head down, face down right now (hopefully she just stays that way), so the tech wasn't able to get very many good shots of her, just a ton of profiles. I did get to see her yawn, that was pretty cool!

I am 27 weeks 2 days pregnant.

What have I gotten myself into?

I have been watching my three nephews 2-3 days per week for a little over two years now. After next week, this no longer will be the case. I am looking forward to having more free and flexible time....

Don't get me wrong I have loved having my nephews, but with #3 on the way, transportation of 6 little ones, 5 still in car seats, would be a bit more challenging, unless I or my sister want to get a van that would accommodate. Neither of us really want to. Can you blame either of us? I love it that my boys have become really close to their cousins....close to killing them...or being killed! OK maybe only a few times. I think they are all just ready for summer to be over and to have a little space from one another.

The thing I'm looking forward to: being a better friend, one who actually hangs out with her friends. I'm sure all my friends think I never want to do anything with them. I do want to, but with having 3 extra kids a few days a week, all I want to do when I just have my 2 is run errands, clean the house, have some quiet time, and mostly veg. So to all my friends who have called to see if I have wanted to hang out, or go to the park and I have turned you down multiple times. I am sorry. (You know who you are) I am going to try to be a better friend. If you'll still have me!

After I realized how much more time I will have on my hands, I said, Dang! I need something to fill a little bit of my time! So, after lots of thought and prayer, I have decided to start my own "business" selling Tupperware. It's funny really. I've never thought myself one to sell anything, epically at home parties, I've always made that very clear. One of the reasons I never thought I would is because I really didn't have time for it. Really I didn't. But now I do.

My grand opening party is this Saturday the 28th, 6:30 at my house. If you didn't get an invite and want to come. Come! If you need my address, call me or send me a message. If you are like me and are, lets just say, frugal, and don't want to spend any money. Come anyway and see how much free stuff you can earn just by hosting a party. You'd be helping out your frugal side, and helping me get started. If you can't come, but would like to order something, call me and I can bring you a catalog and an order form.