It's that CRAZY time of the year!!

It is crazy for EVERY mother of school-aged students, but when you add both parents who are teachers to the mix, and it gets downright hairy!!

Chris went back to work for part of the week the first week of the month. We sent Robbie back to daycare that week so he could start to get re-adjusted (as could I) and not have the major change the same week as I was having to go back to work full time. That turned out to be a GREAT idea! By last week, daycare was 'old hat' for him, and he would gladly march on in each day! That made it so much easier on me!!

Last week Chris and I both went back full-time. We had county wide meetings Monday through Wednesday and then went to our schools on Thursday and Friday. My niece kept Isaac and Adam the first part of the week, and then they went to work with us each one day on Thursday and Friday.

Then we ALL went back full force this week! I find it really hard to believe that I am the mommy of a fifth grader! Wasn't I just in fifth grade a few weeks ago?! How time flies when you're having fun! Isaac (as you probably figured) is a big fifth grader now, and Adam is a second grader. Adam is excited about going back to school because he gets to go upstairs this year!!! They each are in the classroom with their best buddy, which makes going back to school lots more fun! They seem to be adjusting well!

And in additional news, Robbie is FINALLY sleeping better! He is sleeping in his own bed the majority of the night, which is a H-U-G-E relief to me. I am still not quite used to it! After 16 months of jumping up and getting him when I hear him for all this time, I did it out of habit last night instead of listening and giving him the chance to calm himself back down. Adding a fan in his room for some white noise seems to have done the trick! I'm really wishing I had done that months ago, but hindsight, like always, is 20/20!! We're still not completely there, but there is definite improvement and I feel tons better already!!!!

So there is an update on what is going on here at our house! I'd love some comment love if you happen by here!! :) C'mon, you know you wanna!!

Boy Mom Blog Hop!

I'm definitely qualified to participate in this! :) The Mob Society is sponsoring a Mom of Boys Blog Hop today where we can all share about our boys and our blogs! How cool is that?!

So where to start? First, to introduce my handsome boys!!



Here's a picture of my oldest son, Isaac, and my youngest son, Robbie. Isaac is 10 and is SO super helpful with his baby brother! He is super responsible and I'm probably guilty of expecting a lot from him for his age! He went to 4H camp last week and that was the longest I've gone without being with him or talking to him in his LIFE....boy, did I miss him, and not just cause he helps out so much! :) I was honestly elated when we went to get him. I felt like one of my appendages had been missing all week and my heart was re-filled when he was back with us! AND...he got camper of the week for his cabin! Very proud mama here....



Here is my middle son, Adam, who is 7. He was very much the baby until Robbie came along, and has had to adjust to not being the youngest. He is SO smart, and I'm not just saying that....he really is. He was reading at 4, and we didn't teach him...he picked it up on his own! He has a gift! He also is very good with his baby brother! He went to day camp where the older boys and their daddy take TaeKwonDo last week (cause we knew he'd be missing big brother so much) and they went to an activity where kids were trying to catch mini-beach balls. He said he was determined to catch one for his baby brother! He said it was hard to do with so many big kids there, but he just kept trying til he did! <3



And here is the best surprise I've ever gotten, Robbie! He will be 16 months old tomorrow! Time is flying with this lil firecracker around! He is full of life and LOVES his family! He is walking like a champ now and is so fun to be around....most of the time! LOL Now if I could get him to sleep all night without mama that would be ideal! I'm proud to say that he is still nursing, and though we've recently had a rough time with thrush and have dealt with both my primary care physician AND my gyno encouraging me to wean, I have stuck to my guns and decided that he and I will make that decision with the Lord's help! He's a joy to have and really is an easy child.

Well now that I've shared all about my pride and joy, about me?? I am a reading specialist by trade, and teach at two rural elementary schools helping students who are struggling with reading. I am active in our local church where I help with children's ministries, Vacation Bible School, sing in the choir, and give the children's moment in the 11 am service each week!

As far as my son's favorite books....you're talking to a reading specialist here, so remember it is hard to narrow 'em down! I'll go with what the big boys like the best right now. Isaac has just started reading the Harry Potter series and I've had to make him turn out his light at 11 the last few nights! Both boys love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, as well as the Big Nate series. Robbie just loves to be read to right now, he doesn't care what I'm reading! :)

So there we are! I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my blog, and will come back soon! Be sure to check out my teacher blog, Reading's The Thing!

Oops, I did it again....

get yer mind out of the gutter....LOL

I started yet another blog, this one related to my work! I'd be honored if you'd go check it out! It is called Reading's the Thing! There isn't too much exciting going on there...yet...but I'll try to link up to posts, etc. I find interesting and highlight strategies and products that I think are worth mentioning. There are TONS of great school-related blogs out there and I'm having all kinds of fun looking at them! I might get a chance to look at them quite a bit this week with my oldest son gone to 4H camp for the first time (sniff, sniff...I cried dropping him off, I'll admit it!) and my middle one going to day camp at KHK Martial Arts every day day this week! It is gonna be quiet around here with just me, Chris, and Robbie during the day! Chris and I are thinking about tackling painting the kitchen with less people in the house this week....we are going to look at paint here in a bit when we go out to lunch for our ANNIVERSARY!

Yes, 13 years ago we tied the knot! I can't think of a better spouse for me and daddy for my sons. I'm truly blessed and don't thank the Lord enough for him, but I really DO love him and think he's 'the bee's knees'!

So there is an update....hop on over and check out my blog, especially teacher friends, please?!

Have a great week!!

Life with a Toddler

ahh, this part I didn't necessarily miss...

I want down.
I want up.
I want to pull on this large picture frame hanging on the wall above our heads.
I want to pull on this light cord.
I want in my highchair.
I'm hungry.
I'm not hungry.
I want down.
I want to smash these green beans, not eat them.
I want to lay down.
I want to get up.
I want to nurse.
I want to nurse while laying on my stomach facing away from mommy.
I want juice.
No, I don't want juice! I'll throw this cup!
Uh, oh. Someone spilled some juice in here!! It wasn't me!
I want some of your poptart. Yes, I know mommy doesn't want me to have it but I WANT IT!
I don't want this piece of poptart. I'll crush it on mommy's white down comforter instead.
I want to go outside.
I want to walk around.
I don't like grass.
I want up in your arms!
I want in this chair.
This is cool! I am big!
I want down from this chair.
I want down RIGHT NOW! How do I get out of this chair??
I want to go on the porch.
Oooh, I see mommy tried to block me from this messy, dirty portion of the porch. I want to play RIGHT THERE!!
What? We're going in? We just got out here! PUT ME DOWN! What is a wasp anyway?!
I'm not hungry. I don't want to eat.
Ooh, what is that on mommy's plate? A sandwich? That looks good!
OK, I'll take some crackers.
What happens if I dump this bag on the floor?
Ooh, cool! And I can smash this in the carpet, too?
I'm sleepy. Mommy hold me! Don't want to close my eyes. DON'T WANT TO CLOSE MY EYES!
Don't wan....don't wanna.....don't.....
Ahhh, Mama.

One year ago....

I was in labor. It is so hard to believe that a year has passed since this little blessing came into the world! Though it hasn't been an easy year, it has been worth it! He has definitely completed our family. God is so good, and I am so glad that He has my life in His hands, and that His plan is perfect!!

Happy birthday, little man!! Mommy loves you sooo so so much!!

3rd child guilt!

I'm feeling guilty. I remember when we had Isaac's first birthday party, I had it totally planned, right down to decorations matching the cake matching pictures I downloaded and enlarged and colored to his outfit that matched the decorations! Now with Adam's birthday, I don't remember it as distinctly, probably cause I had two kids to keep up with! But I do remember that we had decorations! Today we are having Robbie's first birthday party, and we'll be lucky to get there on time and have guests! I feel bad for Robbie, though I know he'll never remember it or probably even care (since he's a boy!) So why am I torturing myself over it? I know I love him as much as I do Isaac, I just have a different life now than I did ten years ago (yes--my oldest turned TEN almost 2 weeks ago! Where does time go?!).

I do however, hate that we won't have as many family members there today. You see, Chris' family has numerous members who were born in March: both his grandparents, two aunts, multiple cousins, and Chris himself. And on my side of the family, my Mom celebrates her birthday on St. Patrick's Day! We always had a March birthday party in the Scott family leading up to Isaac's birthday, and then we hosted the March party for several years ourselves. The tradition seemed to die somewhat after Chris' Papaw died. His Mamaw is still living, but is not in good health and won't be able to come to the party, and I'd be willing to bet all the aunts and uncles and cousins won't either. And again, I know that they mean no harm and that it isn't that they don't love the little fella, but I just hate that this is the case. Both my sisters are out of town this weekend...again, not a problem, I'll just miss them!

I know that the important thing is that we are there to celebrate his birth and first year with him, and I'll concentrate on that! We've had somewhere we had to be (at least Chris or me) this week every night, so we're tired, too!

So here's to almost a year of living as a family of five...something I never truly expected to do, but am so happy that I am!

Observations

I was laying down with Robbie earlier today, and he was examining both his hands at the same time, kind of like he had just discovered that he could control them separately. He would bend his fingers and look back and forth from hand to hand, then clap his hands for a few seconds, then would lift his hands up and look at them both again, wiggling fingers and such. It delighted me to watch my little creation...the little being that a year ago was still inside me forming...as he learned new things about himself and his abilities. This is such a fun age, watching him discover new things each day. He is into something all the time, but his brothers are quick to jump in and help me redirect him or move him away from something he doesn't need to get into.

It made me think of how God must enjoy watching us as we grow stronger in our faith and begin trying out our abilities. How he, too, must giggle in pure delight at seeing how we try our our new skills, much like a toddler learning to walk! What a blessing it is to look at my three children and see how they are growing and changing. Though it is bittersweet to know that this is the last 1st birthday I'll celebrate with one of my own children, I am much more content about it than I was when Adam was turning one. Somehow deep down maybe I knew that my little family wasn't complete! Robbie is definitely a reason to say I love surprises...he's the best surprise present I've ever received!!

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas Picture

Wordless Wednesday: Sleepy Baby

Post-It Note Tuesday: November 2

NaBloPoMo: Can I Do It?

Can I honestly post each and every day of November?? Or in my world the question is better put: can I remember to?! I can tell ya one thing, I'm much less likely to do so if I DON'T try and commit myself to this! I'm having a hard time getting one post in a week, but this might get me back in the swing of things. I LOVE writing and love blogging, and it is one outlet that I think is important that I do. Here's one way I look at it: my children do see my love of reading and see me reading each and every day in some way, even if it is only reading emails or Facebook. But I haven't been as diligent in showing them my love of WRITING! I know that they both have the potential to become great writers, but I they haven't developed that love yet. What better way for me to show them how I value and love writing than doing it myself?! So in their honor, I'm going for it! Look out November and National Blog Posting Month, here I come!!

I'm here, I'm here!!

I'm just sooo super busy! October has turned out to be as busy as December and May! I haven't forgotten about you, those of you who keep up with my blog. I promise I'll be back!

I will let you know that I'm feeling so much better thanks to the Lexapro. We have had some upsetting circumstances over the past month, including the death of my brother-in-law's sister, who was very much a part of my family, too. Without this medication I think I would have crawled in a hole by now! But God knew when to urge me to see the doctor, and I'm so glad I did!

We've had sickness left and right around here, too..not major illnesses, but still, they wear on ya! AND we ran straight from football to basketball seasons with Isaac, so that has been hectic....added to 2 'short' cycles in Tae Kwon Do makes for lots of running! Very thankful for an easygoing baby with the running we're doing!

So just a note to say I'm here, I'm doing well, and I'll be back! :)

Happy fall, ya'll!!

Post -It Note Tuesday: Last Day of My Summer Edition

Post-It Note Tuesday: Summer is Slipping By Edition

My attempt at photo editing

This is a cinema setting, and Adam chose the coloring.




It reminds me of the plates and cards and paintings and such of babies sleeping from bygone days, what do you think?

Wordless Wednesday: Graduate

Though we have already 'walked' in our graduation ceremony, we still had to finish two classes before receiving our diplomas. I have two papers to finish and one class meeting to attend, and I will have completed my Master's Degree in Reading! I'm very proud of all I've accomplished, especially when we threw lil Robbie's growing and birth in there! Thanks be to God!

Photo credit: Jennifer Clark

Shew! Glad that's over!

I am officially on summer break! :) I went back to school for the last 7 days and 2 workdays. Mom and Dad kept Robbie while I was at work, and that went well. Work went just fine..I did lots of my homework since most of the time students were on field trips, having parties, field days, graduations, etc. I have two class sessions left and then I'm FINISHED with my Master's! Wooooooo hoooooooo!

Robbie is growing like a little weed! He loves to play on his little Infantino gym, and enjoys swinging in his swing. He also does well being carried around in the sling. He even went on a shopping/errand trip with me yesterday and did wonderfully! Isaac made advanced on all his standardized tests....actually made a perfect score on 3 of 'em, and only missed 1 on the 4th! He is now in the Honor Society at his school! Adam finished up his T-ball season and Kindergarten, and is raring to go for 1st grade! Chris is working at the day camp at our Tae Kwon Do school this summer, so the big boys will be going with him on the days he works. Though I didn't love the idea at first, I think it is gonna work out well.

So there's a little update from us! We're off to Annual Conference tomorrow at Lake Junaluska for a few days. Can't wait!

Tuesday Toot!

Its been a long time since I've had a week that I so felt like I could toot my own horn! BUT....I got on the Wii Fit yesterday for the first time since finding out Robbie was coming along. Guess what it said?!


It said that now, 6 weeks after delivering my precious baby boy, I weigh 12 pounds less than I did when I last 'signed on'! Insert happy dance here!

I'm usually bad about 'pooh poohing' people when they comment about me losing the baby weight, but you know what?! I must have done SOMETHING right in this....even if I didn't necessarily exercise and count my calories all through the pregnancy! So yeah, I did good! There! I said it! I'm not sure I could replicate the results, but guess what?! I don't want to anyway! LOL

I had already realized just by how my clothing fit that I was smaller than I was summer before last, but it looks like I'm smaller than I was last summer, too! I love it! Now I want to take this and run with it, and get back down to an even more comfortable size. It is sure to help the fibro, too!

Speaking of the fibro, I have had some minor pains here and there both during the pregnancy and afterward, but it certainly hasn't been daily pain. I'm still not on any pain meds, which I'm loving! If I can keep this weight off and maybe lose some more, maybe I will be able to control the pain that I have intermittently with OTC drugs! How wonderful would that be?!

I am still on the antidepressants, and my OB/GYN gave me clearance yesterday to re-start the anti-anxiety drug I was taking before Robbie came along. Yes, I'm nursing, but both these drugs are considered very safe. And it is more healthy for me to be HAPPY for Robbie than anything. I firmly believe that....not to mention my older two boys and my husband!

So there's an update....gotta run get little man and myself dressed and packed up to head to my next to last graduate class (not the next to last WEEK, but it is coming!)

Robbie's Birth Story

I need to get this down before I start forgetting details! I can't believe two weeks have passed already!

Saturday, March 28th was the day that we had chosen for my baby shower given by my mom, sisters, and church friends. I received lots of nice gifts and got to visit with quite a few family and church family members, and of course, got to eat some good food! Afterward, we loaded everything up and Chris started putting it all away--bless him! The boys and I got some lunch and then Adam and I laid down to take naps and Isaac was sent to be quiet so we could nap, and Chris went to the hospital to visit his Mamaw, who had been admitted the day before with pneumonia. Later on, Chris took the boys to church for the last practice for the boys' musical that was to presented the next day, and I continued to lay and snooze on the couch (Don't judge me--I was on bed rest, remember?! LOL)

My sister called sometime in the afternoon and wanted me to come up and grab a bag full of baby clothes for $5. I begged off, saying I wasn't feeling the best, and asked her to bag up some clothes for me, and told her I would pay her back for it later. I didn't feel SICK, but I remember just feeling yucky, so that was an additional reason that I just continued to lay around. I remember waking up around 6 and chastising myself for wasting the entire day and not getting anything done other than the baby shower. Chris and the boys got back from practice, and Chris made some tuna casserole for dinner.

I started having pains that were strong enough to start timing at around 6:30. I didn't eat any dinner, though Chris and the boys went ahead and ate. Around 7 or so, I decided that this might be it, so I thought I needed to make sure that my legs were shaved. (Yes, I know, the strange things that run through our heads when laboring!) When I told Chris that what I was going to do, he said,"Can't that wait til tomorrow?!" and I answered that I wasn't sure it could! So I got enough water in the tub to shave and climbed in. I also thought that sitting in the water might make me feel better. At this point, contractions were 6 to 8 minutes apart, and were getting to be more intense. I kept thinking about how the nurse had said that the rule of thumb was contractions 5 minutes apart for at least an hour. Part of me kept thinking that I needed to wait and try to just deal with the pain since it wasn't exactly 5 minutes apart for an hour, and then finally just had the thought of FORGET IT! If they send me home, they send me home, I'm in pain!

I had to holler at Chris to help me out of the tub and told him that I thought that this was it, to go ahead and call my parents to get the boys. The initial plan was for Chris' mom to take care of the boys, but she had spent the night before at the hospital with her mom, so we knew that she needed to get some rest. Isaac and Adam had been planning on watching the Kids' Choice awards, so they initially were not too happy when we told them to start getting things together to go to Mommommy's and Daddaddy's house, that is until I told them that I thought baby Robbie might be getting ready to come!

Thankfully I had gotten most of my 'stuff' to take to the hospital together and had it set on the dresser. Standing up straight and moving quickly were definitely not easy at this point. Chris got the boys' stuff together and my parents came and picked up the boys. We were ready to walk out the door when we realized that we didn't have anything packed for Chris! So he threw some stuff in a bag, we gathered my stuff and the cord blood collection kit (we left it at home when we had Adam, and had to have Chris' brother bring it to us!) and headed--slowly--to the car. Chris called his mom and brother, and I asked mom to call my sisters, and I even sent a text to some friends as we left the driveway so they'd know what was going on!

We pulled up to the hospital entrance and Chris went to get a wheelchair cause I knew walking was not the quickest option at this point. We told the lady at the reception desk that I was possibly in labor, and she told Chris just to leave the car out front until he got me upstairs. Seems that maybe Saturday night isn't the most popular time for visiting a hospital! We got upstairs, and I immediately saw that the L&D nurse that I knew, Brandi, was sitting there. I spoke to her and told her I thought we were having a baby! So I started filling out paperwork while Chris went to move the car.

We got settled in a room and hooked up to monitors. Brandi said that they'd monitor me for a while and see if I actually was progressing, and that she'd call the doctor on call. I'm thinking that she said I was dilated to 4 at this point, but that's not a definite--things are kind of fuzzy! When it was evident that I was in actual labor, she said she was going to call the doctor. She predicted that he would tell them to just keep watching me, and that he wouldn't rush over, and probably wouldn't be in a rush to let me have an epidural. Wouldn't you know--he did the exact opposite of what she thought! So he was THERE before long, and Brandi had to scramble to get ready what he thought she would have already had done (which she would have, if he had said he was coming!)

Just a funny aside, the doctor's name is Sean White, so we asked him when he came in if he was a big snowboarder! I told Chris before he came in that I'd be amazed if he came in and had bright orange hair! He didn't, but he was a nice man anyway! He offered to break my water and then let me have an epi whenever I wanted it. Of course, I agreed to that! The pain had continued to get worse, but wasn't absolutely unbearable. However, after not asking for an epi until I was past the point of being able to have it with Adam, I had learned my lesson! I wasn't gonna wait til it was too late! Brandi commented that I must have a pretty high pain tolerance since I was still smiling as we were waiting for the nurse anethesist.

She arrived and was very nice. I remember her asking me some questions and me not having the presence of mind to answer her right away, so I was having some concentration issues at this point! Oh, and at some point we had to call my sister to try to go get into the house to get the church' video camera, so someone could video the service the next day (this is usually Chris' job). We told her where the key to the house SHOULD have been hidden, but apparently Adam had been messing with it and hadn't put it back where it belonged. Finally Chris told them to come over to the hospital and he'd give them his extra key. So while I was in labor, though I couldn't tell you the time, we had 6 visitors: my sister Brenda and her husband Dale, Chris' brother Jeff, his wife Sheila, and their son Ian, and our pastor, Ken. Ian wasn't happy when his parents told him that he couldn't see baby Robbie yet!

So back to the epidural. I remember praying as she administered it and willing myself to keep still. And then when they laid me back down, I started feeling sick and light headed. Apparently my blood pressure dropped quite a bit, and they had to work on that for a few. That was a scary feeling! After that, though, I felt GREAT! At one point I did have one hot spot where I could still feel some pain, but it was definitely bearable. Chris and I got some rest while we could. It didn't seem like long at all when I felt more pressure and asked to be checked again.

Soon after, the real work began....pushing! Chris said afterward that I pushed for right at an hour, so it must have been around 2:30 when I started pushing. I remember really trying to concentrate and push in the way they instructed so that it could be over faster! I remember praying, and at one point trying to visualize a water slide or what we used to call 'the waterslide' (a rock formation in a creek) at Buffalo Mountain Camp when I was a little girl. I was trying to get that 'out and down' sensation going! At another point, I remember trying to think about other wimpy women who had made it through labor, and remind myself that if they could do it, so could I! the problem with this was that I couldn't actually come up with anyone! LOL

At one point, I remember Brandi suggesting that I wait til a little bit after I felt the contraction coming to push so that I 'hit' it at its peak. I remember them talking about the possibility that Robbie had the cord around his neck, and that scared me. Toward the end, Dr. White said that Robbie's heart rate was dropping when I contracted, so that he would use the vacuum to help out with getting him here. Though part of me was thankful for the assistance, I remembered how Isaac screamed for quite a while and had a raised spot on his head from the vacuum, so I was determined to push even harder if this were to be used again. At one point, Brandi said that I was almost done, but then said,"You don't believe me, do you?!" and I told her that I didn't...but it was good to hear! Not long before delivering him, I got sick from the anesthesia. Dr. White stuck close by, and later told us that the same muscles that are put into use when sick to the stomach are also put to use in delivery, so he had made sure that I didn't actually deliver him while I was getting sick! And before I knew it, I looked down as my beautiful baby son entered the world!! It brings tears to my eyes to remember....I was so glad that he was HERE! I remember crying then and just praising the Lord that He had helped me bring him to life! I don't know of any feeling that could compare to knowing that you have brought forth another life!!

His little face was very bruised and didn't look so good at first. Dr. White said that he had gotten hung on my pelvis, and that was what had bruised him so. The rest of him was pinking up nicely, though! His APGAR scores were 8 and 9. He cried very little as they cleaned him up. I kept looking at Chris and over at Robbie, and just feeling amazed at what we had done! Chris called his mom, brother, and my parents to let them know that we had delivered our beautiful 7 pound, 8 ounce son! Oh, and I had heard my phone signal that a text had gone through while I was pushing--I knew when I heard that sound that my sister Brenda was still up waiting! I had been right! I sent her a text to let her know what time he had arrived!

We spent some time with our beautiful little boy and started trying to nurse, though he didn't want much to do with it. Not long after, Chris' brother arrived with his mom. They visited for a bit and then Jeff convinced her to go on back home so that we could get some rest. We did sleep for a bit, but seems like each time we'd get settled down, someone would come to visit. So we didn't get GOOD rest until late Sunday night. There are even some lovely pictures of me on Facebook to commemorate how beautiful I looked! LOL Though they aren't the most becoming pictures ever, they definitely are badges of honor, to show how I'd gladly look again and again in order to bring my son into the world.

So though this wasn't anticipated and it wasn't the easiest thing I've ever done, I am so glad that God knew better than me...and saw fit to give me the opportunity to become a Mommy again! I am so blessed, and so thankful for my son!

Another exciting week!

Shew! I'm ready for some calmness, myself! LOL I went to the OB early Monday morning again, and my blood pressure had been up a bit on Sunday. So when I told him that, he said he wanted me on bedrest except for light work, and that unless it went up higher, I could work this week and then be off work starting next week. Unfortunately things didn't go quite as planned.

My BP started going above the 'danger zone' as he had explained it on Tuesday. I called the phone nurse after arriving at work on Wed., and she advised me to go on home and rest, and I had another appointment to see him on Thursday. So that's what I did. I wasn't emotionally prepared to leave work almost 3 days earlier than I thought I had, so it was a little upsetting. However, the many many prayers that friends and family have been lifting on my behalf have helped keep me strong.

So starting on Wed., I am laying around on my left side as much as humanly possible. I'll admit I got up and went to see Isaac's talent show on Thursday and went out to eat without children while they were at a birthday party on Friday. And today I'm heading to Isaac's birthday party, but I figure all of these put together are less stress than working all day, right? And I am pleading ignorance since I wasn't told STRICT rules! ;)

Dr. P was pleased that my BP is coming way down when I'm laying on my left side. I see him again on Monday. According to the ultrasound, baby Robbie weighs about 6 pounds, and I apparently have lots of amniotic fluid. The one thing that he said that was concerning to me was that because of the high level of fluid, it would be possible for my water to break. Wish he hadn't said that! But if it does, he assured me that he felt Robbie would be born perfectly healthy at this point. That particularly made me nervous knowing that my mom was going to be out of town on Thursday/Friday, but we made it through that time with no emergencies--and didn't bother telling my dad that he'd be the one on call were it to take place while she was gone! :) See, Chris works 30 minutes away, and Dr. P said for me to get to hospital ASAP were that to happen, so I wouldn't be able to wait for him to come get me. I've already told Chris that when they (he and the boys) go to TaeKwonDo this week that he better leave his phone where he can hear it, just in case! I'm praying many prayers that this won't happen, and that my sweet little boy will stay put for a few more weeks for him to be fully developed and healthy!

My sisters, mom, and some church friends are holding a shower for me on March 27. I also am praying that I can make it to that date without having him! We've joked all along that it would be cool for him to be born on April 2nd, my sister's birthday. It would be extra cool because she was born on our Aunt Bessie's birthday, so it would be repeat of that! It's a definite possibility, as is the possibility of him being born on his Daddy's birthday, March 29. Given the fact that on Monday I was already dilated 1.5 cm, I'm thinking we don't have another month plus before he makes his appearance!

So there is the big update for the week! Given that I am supposed to be laying down, I'm not on the full-fledged internet as much as I'd like to be. I'm using my beloved BlackBerry to get on Facebook, Twitter, and check email, so feel free to check on me there! If you're not sure how to find me there....leave me a message with your email and I'll let ya know!

And any prayers you could send up for us, we'd sure appreciate it!!