How Sweet HE Is...

Robert and Matthew stayed home from church yesterday since they were sick. When Adam and I came home, I got a nice surprise. Rob had: 1. done all the dishes, and 2. said he'll do them every night since it's getter uncomfortable for me to bend down to load/unload the dishwasher. What a great surprise!! and husband!!!

Recent Pics

I finally got around to putting our recent photos onto the computer, not realizing it had been nearly two months. So, here's a quick recap of what we've been doing.

Wii had a merry christmas!

Blowing my birthday candles out. Notice Matt trying to get some frosting.

Matt's first time sledding.

Adam was loving Grandma's backyard, with all the snow.

Matt took a picture of me yesterday. He missed my head but did happen to get my belly. So, now you know how it looks at 25 weeks.

As The World Turns.....

This morning I realized I hadn't updated our blog in awhile. Part of me then thought, "what am I going to update it with? We lead boring lives--no perfect parents or children here, no fabulous vacations, no super accomplishments--just boring old us. One bit of good news is that my rash has pretty much cleared up. Yeah, it only took six weeks (note the sarcasm). The boys are back into the swing of things at school. Adam has enjoyed doing some things on his own (without Mom & Dad). He went to a friend's birthday party at Pizza Hut and attended the recent "After-school Movie". Matt is excited about preschool. Each week his teacher focuses on a letter. This week it is "P" week. One day they get to wear their pajamas and eat pancakes for snack. Another day they get to bring in their pets. When Adam was in preschool, they got to go to Pizza Hut and make their own pizzas. So, we'll see if Matt gets to do that, too. So far, so good with the pregnancy. I'm 25 weeks along. Most days I feel tired and totally ineffective as a parent. I'm ready to have some energy back. Not likely, though, is it? We've got to get a stroller, carseat, and bunkbeds before May. And paint the room. And find some type of storage for all the baby clothes, stuff, etc. And so, our little world keeps turning....over and over and over.....repeating the same stuff each week.

Two Years

Today is our niece and nephew's birthday. Happy 2nd Birthday, Evan & Greta! Two years ago we anxiously awaited their arrival. It was also the same day that we took Adam for his first visit with the child psychiatrist to begin his official treatment for OCD. He was just 5 years old, still in preschool, and uncommonly (because of his age) diagnosed with OCD. He has made a lot of progress these past two years. He diligently takes his medicine everyday and he realizes that it really does help him. Two years ago, everyday OCD and "Mr. Worry" were talked about in our house. Two years later, we rarely talk about them. Adam has worked hard to learn how to cope and manage it. He still has a couple of minor rituals. I let them slide because they don't disrupt his life and they could probably be better defined as quirks than OCD rituals. It will be interesting to see what the next two years bring--for Adam and for Evan & Greta.

Quick Update

So, my stinkin' rash didn't improve last week. I went back to the dr.'s office on Monday. Thankfully, I got to see the nurse practitioner (my doc was out of town). The nurse practitioner is so thorough. She spent 45 minutes with me and asked me tons of questions--some I seriously wondered how or why they were related to a rash. She did blood work and felt like it was
1. Pregnancy Rash (PUPP)
and
2. A Strep Infection. Who knew? She said my white count was really high and asked if I had strep recently. I said no but I did have a bad sorethroat over Thanksgiving. She said that I probably did have strep in Nov. and my body was still fighting it and it was just showing up in my skin. (Probably also why I've been so worn out lately).
Thankfully, she gave me antibiotics and a steroid lotion. I've been using them this week and the rash is beginning to clear up. I'm not nearly as itchy, although, she did say it probably won't completely go away until the baby is born.

Speaking of baby, I've started to buy a couple of things. Really nothing too outlandish--only pacifiers and baby soap (both on clearance and I used coupons). Since it's a boy, I think we're pretty good on clothes. I do need to go through the bins since it's been years since I've even looked at our baby clothes. I think the only major things we need are a new carseat and stroller. And again, I'm always looking for the clearance deals.

I'm Too Tired...

That's become my new mantra as of late. My energy level is so much lower than I'm used to. I'm not good at sitting around--I like to be up doing something. In some ways, this pregnancy is easier than the other two. With Adam I was working full-time and worked until the day he was born. With Matt I had a 2 year-old to take care of. This time I can, typically, sit down or rest when I need to. However, I think my age is definitely playing a factor in this one. I just feel much more worn out...and I still have four months to go. I don't remember feeling like this before until I was much closer to my due date. For the past two weeks or so I've had a rash. It's terribly itchy and red and just looks disgusting. And it's everywhere. My doctor saw me on Monday and told me I'm allergic to my clothes. What am I supposed to do about that? I'm following her instructions to get rid of it but it's not helping. Last night I looked through some medical books/info. Personally, I'm not sure it's an allergic reaction. I think it's eczema. The description, symptoms, and photos of it are exactly what I have experienced. Has anyone else had eczema? What did you do to clear it up? And how did you deal with the itching, especially at night?

Christmas Newsletter

It's December 22nd, three days 'til Christmas, and I'm just getting around to our family newsletter. Because of my extreme need to never be late, I'm posting it instead of putting it into the mailbox. In my mind, if it's not written, sent out and arrived by December 25th, it's late.

We've had a good year. Thankfully, we didn't have too many remodeling projects, like last year. We tiled the backsplash to complete our kitchen and added some additional landscaping. Our biggest news, and boy was it a surprise, was finding out we're expecting a baby, Boy #3, on May 17th (our anniversary). I've been feeling pretty well; my daily workout helps a lot. I can't seem, though, to eat enough tuna, pizza or grapefruit juice.

We had a great, two-week vacation to Miami this summer. Normally we go down for just a week, so we really enjoyed the extra time this year. We took full advantage of our trip and spent everyday either swimming at the beach/pool or on day-excursions. It was really nice, too, to spend time with Robert's cousin who passed away just a few days after coming home.

Robert is always busy at work--never a dull moment at the courthouse and never a lack of criminals. He's hired two new attorneys this year, so he's spent quite a bit of time training them. He's still in the Bishopric, so his evenings are spent doing church stuff, playing with the boys, or watching KU.

I'm still teaching piano lessons and volunteering at the boys' schools. I was put in the Primary presidency again this summer. I've started counting down the days 'til my "free time" ceases to exist and becomes "baby time".

Adam (7 y/o) and Matthew (4 y/o) are both in school this year. Adam is in 1st grade. He is doing very well. His need and thirst for knowledge is often insatiable. He was put in the Gifted Program (2 years early) and loves it--finally something a bit challenging. Matt attends Preschool three mornings a week. He loves all the hands-on activities his teacher does. His love for scissors has gotten out of control. Just in the past week, he has cut up Christmas decorations, important papers and his clothes. He is the tease of the family, always finding the humor in every situation.

Besides Legos and reading, Adam is hooked on the piano. I started giving him lessons last month. His obsessive nature wants a lesson everyday. I've limited it to three times a week. He'll easily practice 30-60 minutes a day.

Matt will be in Kindergarten next year, so he and I are just enjoying our time together. He soaks up all the one-on-one attention. He's my little pal--and mischief maker. He's currently hiding behind the couch eating candy. He thinks I don't know he snuck it from the cupboard.

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Thanks to all those who have sent cards. It's nice to keep in touch.

Love,
Robert, Heidi, Adam and Matthew