24 weeks

23 weeks

24 weeks. I wore this shirt when we visited Yellowstone when I was 37 weeks with Adelle. I am feeling doubtful that it is going to fit me in another 13 weeks.

Everything is fine here. Had an appointment yesterday- the little turkey is sitting breech, which is kind of uncomfortable for me. He has about another 4-6 weeks to decide to go head down. The sooner, the better. Not one smidge of concern about him looking anemic.

I am starting to feel like I am actually going to be having a baby. Perhaps due to the hardly deniable expanding abdomen and tossy-turny in my womb, it is kind of hitting me that in a few months I am going to be doing it all again- the first few sleepless weeks, the falling in love, the adjustment/adoration as the older kids get used to a new person in the house. I have bought him some clothes (even though, really, once I get all the hand-me-downs in place, he will probably be set. It is always nice to have a few new things, though), started thinking about what I will need to diaper him (again, yay for hand-me-downs!) and about his accommodations.

And still, wow. Another baby.

First Communion

Daddy took her picture before Mass

The kids in PSR and the homeschooling kids all sat together as a class.

Party at Grammie and Grandpa's. They were extremely generous in providing both a space and most of the food for our get together. I did provide cupcakes, however :) The actual cupcake was a little dense for my taste, but the cream cheese frosting was good.

Opening some beautiful gifts from party attendants.

With her godparents.

With her "godsister" and very best friend.

Mom and Dad

My nephew Richard received his First Communion a couple weeks after Issy. Joe took some pictures for him, too and we got some of them together. I can't believe they are both so big!

Baby update

I wrote this on Thursday, the 12th, but blogger was down, so here you go:

Had another MCA today and George is looking great- well out of transfusion range. We are still on the MCAs every two weeks along with growth every four (which will be next time). The doctor stopped in and chatted a few minutes. He said that as long as everything kept looking good we could do MCAs through 35 weeks and then at 36 or 37 do an amnio to test the bilirubin level and to test lung maturity. We can keep doing the MCAs after 35 weeks, they just aren't as accurate. If the baby is moving, it can make the measurement artificially high and indicate anemia where there is none (which is likely what happened with Liam, I suspect).

But he was very encouraging about waiting things out if the baby looked fine. If his bilirubin level looks fine at the 36/37 week amnio, we will probably continue to do MCAs (understanding the limitations) and wait it out for him. The doctor thought it was great that I was able to have VBACs with the last two, especially how we handled Liam's induction. He said that the best case was for me to be able to go into labor on my own.

So I suppose at this point we continue to hope that George is unaffected (uneffected? why can I never remember that one?) and that he decides to make his appearance on the slightly early side so we don't have to worry about him. I think I am growing another big boy, which should be interesting. I have no doubt I can birth a big baby (it's in my blood) but you know, August in Kansas, big baby in womb.

Overall, I am very encouraged and very pleased by my care this time. Less than halfway to go now!

Searching for simplicity...

I am beginning to realize that the more children we have, the more elusive simplicity is going to be. Joe has been crazy busy with work, and while it is *technically* possible for me to take all four children to the grocery store with me, the idea of that makes my head want to explode, so we have to plan around when he will actually be home for me to do it child-free. This is sometimes a bit of a task.

Oh, illness. I thought when we all got the stomach flu that we would be fine for a while. Alas, no. Last week, as I said, Adelle woke up with an earache. And Issy woke up Friday morning with a fever. And Isaac got a fever on Saturday. And I am wondering what I am doing wrong and when this ridiculous chain one illness on top of another is going to end. It has been something or other since January and I am tired. of. it.

Adelle being ill makes cleaning the house in peace nearly impossible. She wants to be snuggled and loved or at least demands that you not give any other activity your undivided attention. Which would be fine if Joe was here to cater to the little dictator's toddler's needs and wants while I kept the dishes and laundry up, but that just hasn't been feasible. (On a side note, thank God for him. I don't know how I would do this life without him. I hope to get him back someday soon.)

There were good times this week, too, however. Blessedly, Issy was better in time for her First Communion, which was a beautiful and special day. (Joe has the memory card with most of the pictures, but I will try to share them soon.) Grammie and Grandpa Marney hosted her party, which was such a blessing. I married into a great family :)

So suppose I am going to have to let go of the idea that anything- grocery shopping, house cleaning, heck- life, is going to be simple anymore. 7 people (including 5 people under the age of 9)≠ simple. But our life is very, very full. And it forces me to be creative :)