Wagons Ho!

wagon teams . . .

cowboys . . .

88 degrees . . .

wide open lands . . .

dusty trails . . .

blazing sun . . .

dust devils . . .

. . . sounds like a snippet from your history books, don't it?

Well, lucky us, that was our fantastic day today! Cowboy Cal (my mom's brother, pictured above) and his girlfriend, Sue, organized a huge wagon train shindig that our family got to participate in and be a part of. I donned my cowboy hat, Kevin broke out his chaps (ok, no not really . . . but I wish!), Kaden wore his cowboy boots and the other kiddos brought their enthusiasm for adventure!

And boy, did we get adventure!!! 8 miles, 3 hours of adventure out and all around Maybee, Michigan.

Within the wagon train we had pairs of draft horses pulling double wagons, single drafts pulling wagons, teams of miniature horses pulling carts, single minis pulling carts (little body, BIG attitude!) and a wide assortment of riders. There was a huge span of ages in the crowd too and, of course, the boys quickly made friends with two other little boys on the wagon and back at the farm.

Each of the boys had a blast taking turns riding Uncle Cal's pony (named Pony - so original!) and Elijah even got to try his hand at driving a wagon! I was so amazed at how calmly he handled the horse and cart and was one proud mama!

(I just love sharing one of my passions with my kiddos and family.)

We finished up the afternoon with a huge spread of food that Cal and Sue provided and we pigged out, gathered around tables in their pole barn. What a great time meeting new people and getting to know Cal and Sue's friends and neighbors.

Yes, it was killer hot. Yes, we were all stinky and sweaty. Yes, we are all fried to a crisp, despite applying layers of sunblock. Yes, we all forgot our water bottles and felt majorly dehydrated. Yes, we stopped traffic as we traveled the roads of Maybee. Yes, it was an awesome day and a great memory-maker! Yes, sign us up for next year!

Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun!

(Click on the photos if you want to view them bigger)

Last night was a rocking, side-splitting, blast from the past! It was 80's Night at our Girl's Night Out Coffee Night!

Although I was just a kid during the 80's, I found dressing the part of an 80's fashionista to be rather natural. In fact, other than a few borrowed accessories (thanks Darlene!) most of my ensemble came directly out of my own drawers and closet!

Uh-oh, did I just admit that?!?!?

However, I think I'll stick to my straightened locks and bangs, and my non-hot pick clothes for just a while longer.

It was so much fun to see the creativity and 80's fashion-sense of all the other valley girls! We had a madonna look-alike, a sporty valley-girl, an 80's prom queen, and so much more!

Have fun spazzing over these totally righteous images. :)

Trampoline Family Fun!

Tonight was an absolutely GORGEOUS evening, and we just had to enjoy the weather by being outside. I love these peeks of summertime hidden between the blustery days and the rainy days of spring.

As you may have already guessed, before we knew it the whole family was piled onto the trampoline and Kevin pulled out our camera and our new wide angle lens. Kevin and I swapped turns behind the camera and everyone had a blast showing off and performing. Even Lanie got in on the action! :) Check out our fun and funky images . . .

Delanie Sings!

We seem to be very into video blogging recently, but with kids it is a great way to capture their cuteness! Recently Delanie has started cooing and singing all the time. She is very vocal, especially to her daddy - they are the sweetest moments and I had to capture it on film.

Sorry for the crick in your neck since the video is crooked. :) Anyone know how to rotate a video?

As if you haven't already seen enough of our kiddos, here is another video of Delanie and I "talking". It's not all that exciting, but still adorable, if you ask me. :)

Here We Go!

Today or tomorrow we are having a baby!

At my last doctor's appointment on Tuesday, my protein levels were back up. My doctor decided she is not comfortable letting the pregnancy continue due to the stress it is placing on my kidneys, and she actually asked me if I could go straight to the hospital right then. Of course my mind was rushing with the overwhelming number of thoughts and logistics to process with that idea! I hesitated mostly, though, because I was still hoping the ABC was still an option. She is a great doctor, and although I know it would be easier for her to just send me over to the Labor & Delivery in Novi, Dr. Pezeshki began thinking of alternative options to try to give me a chance for the ABC. As long as my protein levels are the least bit elevated, I am not permitted to be induced at the ABC (by having my bag of waters broken) because I am considered high risk (that is, the LOWEST high risk possible, but still officially "high risk"). However, if my proteins levels came back down there wouldn't be an issue. So, Dr. Pezeshki said that we would delay the induction until she had the time to run one more protein test (a different, more accurate test) that would take 3 days to process.

SO, here we are . . . I went to the office yesterday with my sample and for bloodwork, and today I find out where I stand. Will I be induced today at the ABC or tomorrow at the Labor & Delivery? Either way, this is a momentous day for me since it is the last day I will be pregnant (almost positively the VERY last time, unless God has other plans). I am so thankful and relieved to know the end is very near because I have reached the very big, very uncomfortable, very yucky stage of pregnancy - but my longing for this to be over with is definitely bittersweet. I may never feel the butterfly flutters and the martial artist kicks again. I may never cradle my belly and know that there is another being growing miraculously in my womb. I may never be an intimate part of nurturing the development of a new life through the amazing and miraculous capacity of my female body. I will definitely miss these incredible and awe-inspiring parts of pregnancy. These last few moments will certainly be treasured and filed away in the area of my brain reserved for the most important memories of all, crowding out all of the unpleasant realities pregnancy can bring (morning sickness, heartburn, total and utter exhaustion . . . you know the ones).

Realistically, the fact that either today or tomorrow we will be holding our newborn daughter is our arms has me incredibly excited and overwhelmingly nervous all at the same time. I am so ready for this, and I am so NOT ready for this all at the same time! Her birth has been highly anticipated and the days could not have gone quickly enough for us, but I've done this newborn thing before and I know how much work I am in store for. Am I a glutton for punishment? Even as uncomfortable as I am right now, it is still easier to care for the baby in utero then it is the first three sleepless months. Apparently some part of your reasoning and common sense dims at this stage of pregnancy, however. ;)

Today or tomorrow! I think I can wait, just that much longer . . . !

Please pray for us today and lift up the baby's safe delivery, if you could. I wouldn't mind either if you asked for quick labor and easy pushing for me while you're praying, if it's not too much to ask. :) Thank you all, for your love and support throughout this pregnancy. I hope to have pictures, stats and information posted soon after the baby is born. Check back in a few days.

Thank you and God bless!

Speculation

I almost titled this blog entry "Pointless Speculation" because of the very fact that speculating has absolutely nothing to do with causing action to take place, but I wanted to sound more optimistic than that. :)  Still, wishful speculation doesn't put one into labor . . . 

Today, I am exactly 14 days away from my official due date (May 20th). At this point, most people would just be beginning to prepare for the imminent arrival of their newborn. I, however, feel as if I have been ready and waiting for the past month. I knew all along that this was a foolish thing to do, but this girl just can't help herself sometimes. :) The thought process that made me "sure" that I would have the baby right around now may be explained by the statistics below:

Elijah's due date - Feb. 2, 2002

date of birth - Jan. 17, 2002

---------------------------------

born 15 days BEFORE his due date

Ethan's due date - September 8, 2004

date of birth - September 5, 2004

---------------------------------

born 3 days BEFORE his due date

Kaden's due date - March 18, 2006

date of birth - March 5, 2006

---------------------------------

born 13 days BEFORE his due date

Like I said, I know that the above statistics don't necessarily prove that this baby will also come early, but the fact that I also dilated and effaced earlier than normal had me hopeful as well.  :)  I have been told that the more times you are pregnant, frequently the earlier you begin to progress, but that didn't stop me from hoping.  Also, the Braxton-Hicks contractions have been regular for over a month now as well.  I'm beginning to think that's it's a little ridiculous that a "seasoned" mother of three wouldn't recognize true labor from "practice" contractions.  Ah well, each pregnancy and labor is unique, so how can one predict how each will go?

So, what's your bet?  I still think I will go into labor sometime before May 10th, but each day that I feel good (such as today) discourages me.  I felt more ready to have a baby a week ago than I do today.  I am always exhausted, but the contractions and crampiness seem to be less regular.  I have actually been sleeping halfway decently (considering the big ol' belly and all . . . ) and haven't noticed any differences in my ability to breathe or a break from the heartburn which might signal that the baby has "dropped."  We are doing all the sorts of things that are supposed to bring about labor (minus Castor oil - that one just seems WAY too messy and uncomfortable to me) and still, I feel pretty good.  My positive spin on this is that perhaps my body is allowing me to be at my best right before the true work begins.  If I could get my energy level up, I'd feel like I was nearly at the top of my game.  For this, I feel blessed!  :)

I'd love to hear your personal stories of the days preceding your labors, if you'd like to share.  Every one's story is so different and unique, and it's nice to see how everyone has progressed.  Please share here as a blog comment, or leave a comment on facebook.  I'd love the distraction of your stories if you have the time.  :)

The end is inevitable, to be sure.  I will just have to bide my time and be patient.

God bless!

Confessions of a Recovering Narcoleptic

"Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder (a dyssomnia) characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep. The condition is most characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), in which a person experiences extreme tiredness and possibly falls asleep during the day at inappropriate times, such as at work or school." (Thanks, Wikipedia!)

No, I do not clinically have narcolepsy, but as a result of being a very pregnant mother of three busy boys I have developed some very (humorous) narcoleptic-like symptoms. The most obvious symptom would be my irrational ability to fall asleep in the most unlikely places and while doing the most unlikely things.

Recently I have been dealing with a few particularly difficult days (brought on by my pregnancy-induced anemia and hypoglycemia, I would suspect) and seem to fall asleep practically every other minute. Some of the more obvious conditions that seduced me into momentary slumber included read-aloud time with the boys (cuddling up on the coach is a sure-fire way to sing me to sleep, even when I'm the one reading), Elijah's read-aloud time to me (I parked us at the kitchen table for this one, hopeful that the hard wooden chair would keep me awake and vigilant. But alas, apparently I am able to succumb even when uncomfortable), attempting to soak away my weary muscles by reading in the bathtub (this is simply a surefire way to end up with a soggy book) and while watching a movie with Kevin (even if it was only 8pm and it was an exciting adventure movie - Quantum of Solace is not typically considered a lullaby by most . . .).

Some of the more unusual places that I have drifted off include sitting on a stool next to Kaden in the bathroom as he potty trained (cold hard seat . . . cold hard wall . . . 3 year old perilously perched on the porcelain . . . oh yeah, I can totally see what beckoned me), reading Eli his short story problems in math (one sentence and I was out!), during a particularly powerful and exciting bible study by Beth Moore (if it was boring and monotone falling asleep might not be a big surprise, but she is loud and boisterous and very engaging at all times . . . huh?), taking a shower (I just had to close my eyes for a second since the warm, steamy water was so wonderfully relaxing. Good thing I was leaning against the shower wall or may have dealt with a concussion from this one), eating breakfast (this was a close, almost face full of milk and cereal encounter), while writing this blogggggggggggggggg............... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

What?! Huh?!

Okay, maybe I'm not quite that bad, but it feels as though I could become a sleep causality at any moment and must be steadily on my guard. I have to be especially careful while driving, as you can imagine how dangerous I could be to everyone on the road (not to mention to my dear, sweet, unsuspecting kiddos in the car with me)! Please pray that I will be able to overcome this recent malady so that nothing too traumatic happens to me and the boys (the idea of the face full of milk and cereal still frightens me . . . ). :)

Hello, my name is Heather and I am a recovering Narcoleptic.

Officially 30!

Here are some pics of my recent birthday celebrations. We celebrated on Friday afternoon with Kevin's parents and grandparents and then we celebrated with my family on Sunday evening. I still can't believe I'm 30! Here's to a whole new decade . . .

CELEBRATING WITH THE AUTRY FAMILY:

Decked out in my party hat! One of my best buds! Self portrait Me and My Best Friend These scarves were my gift from Kevin's grandparents. His grandma hand made them both. Aren't they beautiful?So excited about the Aqua Globes!

CELEBRATING WITH THE WRIGHT FAMILY: Another of my best buds!

Preparing the candles on the cake

Bring on the inferno!

They think I need a little help putting out all of the flames!

Kevin's on cake cutting duty - it was still pretty frozen solid

A slice of perfection!

Papa and Cole enjoying the chocolate rush!

Sugar buzz!

Trenton loved the ice cream and frosting - yum!

There's no denying it now - i'm old! :)

A Weekend to Remember

This past weekend was definitely a weekend to remember for Kevin and I! We were blessed to be able to attend a Family Life Weekend to Remember marriage conference at the Amway Grand Plaza hotel in Grand Rapids. Just imagine . . . just the two of us . . . no kiddos . . . in a beautiful, fancy hotel . . . for an entire weekend! Spoiled luxury, I assure you!

The conference was amazing and indeed life changing. I would say that Kevin and my marriage was strong and great before the retreat, but now as we move closer to oneness, we are stronger and even more on fire for each other. That alone makes the weekend an amazing success! To top it off, though, was just the opportunity to spend good quality time alone together to grow closer, play and explore the hotel together. Neither of us had ever been in such a phenomenal hotel and we had a lot of fun walking the halls and corridors, snapping pictures and playing around with our camera equipment. Although none of photos would be considered photography masterpieces, we love them and will treasure them because they represents such a fun, carefree time we spent together.