{daddy's little helper}

Rick took the week off to work on the basement, and hopefully get the drywall finished by the weekend or the first of next week. Because I've had to be down a little more than usual, he has also inherited more duties involving the kids. Emma is completely content to sit upstairs and watch a movie, but not Miss Kate!

She wants to be where the action is, and be a "worker gull" (in her words). She helps hand him hammers, drills, screws, or whatever else he asks for, and she eats it up. She will be down there for hours!! She sits inside the playhouse under the stairs, watches, and waits for him to call her. She even wanted to eat her lunch down there, so I packed it up and sent it down.


It doesn't end with the basement either--she loves to help in the garden, with the lawn, digging trenches, pulling weeds, and myriad of other projects that Rick has going on. Hopefully it will last...at least until she's 5!!

{30 week update}

I'm on the countdown! I am 30 weeks today, and will definitely have these babies in 7 weeks at the most. I am scheduled for a c-section on August 11th (37 weeks) if I make it that far, but more than likely I will go before that--35 or so weeks. I feel really good, and other than the major leg and feet swelling, I don't have much to complain about. I'm having twice weekly non-stress tests, along with my doctor appointments every 2 weeks. I have really wonderful doctors, and even though I feel like there is always another appointment to go to, I'm grateful for such excellent medical care.

I have been steadily working on my list, and I'm happy to say that it is whittled down enough to seem manageable. We sold our van within a week, then found another vehicle within 3 days. It was a huge blessing, and one that was sorely needed. The cribs, bedding, and clothing are ready to go, the end table painted, and the nursery will be finished being painted tomorrow. I have a few decorating items to finish, but those won't take long. My good friend Erica found really cute car seat covers for me--ones that usually retail at $85--for only $30. So, instead of getting new car seats, I can use the covers. I'm happy about that, especially because my babies have never been in their infant car seats longer than 7-8 months.

The basement? Well, progress is being made. It always seems like whenever there is a major project that needs to be completed a million things find their way in that need to be done too. We are on a timeline though, and feeling good about it.

Well, after much deliberation, and MUCH coaxing from my sister, I am actually posting a picture of myself, taken this very morning. I don't know why I am so anti-picture during pregnancy, other than I don't have that "cute pregnant girl" look. I swell all over, including my face, and it shows very early. I have friends that look good the whole time, even after labor, and I have finally come to accept that it's just not me. So, for the sake of posterity, here you go:



and for your viewing pleasure...my lovely feet and ankles (I couldn't bring myself to show the legs too!):


As you can see, my toes are in real need of a pedicure, but I have finally hit the point where I can' reach them anymore. I think Rick is in for a real treat this week, when he gets to paint my toes. :)

All in all, things are going well, and we are enjoying our summer. I have found that it is still possible to do most things, even though they take a little more time. I know I need to enjoy the time I have with my kids now, because I know that will change all too soon!

{5k run/walk/waddle?}

Saturday was our community's annual Run/Walk. We love it, and participate in it every year. Rick, Ryan and I have run the 5k the past few years, with the girls doing the "tot trot", but this year was a little different for me.

Since I can't run, I decided to do the 5k walk. No big deal, right? Yeah.
That morning was perfect running weather---a little on the cool side, but not cold. We all had matching t-shirts on (except for me...mine didn't fit), and were ready to go with our chips (I didn't wear one...I did not want proof of how slow I knew I was going to be), race bibs, and water bottles.

About 10 minutes after Rick and Ryan started their run, the girls and I were off. I started toward the beginning of the pack, but that quickly changed. Soon I was being passed by all sorts of people (and even the fact that I had technically had 4 children with me didn't make me feel better), and I was wondering if I was going to end up dead last. That didn't settle well with me. In my mind, I knew I could go much faster, and when my body wasn't cooperating, it was killing me! So, I set my sights on people in front of me that I really wanted to beat. The 80 year old man? Really. I really needed to beat him. At the mile marker, I was feeling good, and felt like I was keeping up a pretty good pace. Then it hit. I had to go to the bathroom so bad, and the pounding on the pavement didn't help.at.all. I knew I could never make it to the end, so I headed over to the nearest volunteer and race official. They didn't know of any facilities close by, and even when they radioed in they didn't have an answer. Then the woman volunteer that was there offered her house, which was incredibly generous. I was also much too desperate to turn her down. So, the girls and I veered off course to head to this woman's house. We did stop at a church a couple of blocks on the way, hoping it might be open, but it was locked up tight. Another block or so down we reached her home, and I unbuckled the girls to take them in. I have to admit I had the slightest twinge of nerves when we walked in, but at that point I couldn't have turned back if I wanted to. It was so nice of her to offer, and I was very grateful.

After Emma got her hand caught in the back door, and was treated with an ice pack, we were finally on our way back to the course. I walked fast those few blocks, but I realized I must have been gone longer than I thought. I saw that there was NO ONE left on the course, and the policemen were taking down barriers and letting traffic through. I'm sure when they saw me they were wondering what in the world I was doing, especially since I wasn't even coming from the direction I should have been! So, I walked on the sidewalk, but kept up my pace. I decided I would keep going and finish, even though I could have headed back to the community center.
After Rick finished his race, he came back to finish walking with me. By then I was getting a few contractions, and had to stop a couple of times to lean against a tree. But, I did it! It was totally worth it, and despite all the craziness, I'm glad I did it.

The girls had their "Tot Trot" next, and they loved the little obstacle course that was set up for them. We let the kids play for a little while, then headed home. We were all tired, but a good tired. We spent the rest of the day doing yard work, then had roast hot dogs and made S'mores at the firepit.

It was a great day.