Jane, My Hero

 

What would I do without Jane?

She's picked up the pieces-my pieces, juggled work, and kept

me and our family alive with her nutritious meals and snacks.

Her sacrifice of taking a semester off from BYU to help

me and our business is beyond gracious.

Jane is my hero.

When Jane starts her own family one day, and if 

she gets sick like me, I'm going to be there for her like she

has been for me.  There is no better gift than being cared for by someone

when everything seems so hard.

Today, I asked Christian if he remembers me being so sick

when I was pregnant with our other Nies, because I swear

this is the worst pregnancy I've had.

Then he said, 

"...Well, you are a little older this time..."

Birth Control

 

This morning, Christian got me out of the house.

I really needed it.

Nothing gives me relief from my nausea.

On top of my medication, I wear a patch, which really

irritates my skin and causes huge welts.

Everything is uncomfortable.

And getting out helps.

So in my PJs, Christian and I drove around while he ran errands,

and I stared out the window.

When lunch came, we grabbed a taco.

Then, when dinner came around, we ordered pizza, picked it up

and ate it in the car.

When we needed gas, Christian got me a big Coke, which

sounds so yummy, but never tastes as good as I think it will.

I am the best birth control for my children.

After seeing me pregnant and moaning and groaning all day long

they will never want to have kids.

Especially my girls.

But once baby girl is born, I will have forgotten

about all these horrible HORRIBLE days.

And that's how we women keep having children.

We forget.

It's kind of a trick.

Skip To The End

 

Today I acted like a mom, got up, put real-life clothes on,

and took Lottie

to her 8th-grade back-to-school doctor's appointment.

Then, after we went to the mall for school shopping.

Online shopping is where it's at because who wants

to be at the mall weeks before the first day of school?

Not this old pregnant mom.

But we did anyway.

With the help of a Chick-fil-A milkshake, we did it.

When I got home, I looked in the mirror to find I had

sat on an orange peanut M&M at some point

during our shopping experience, which had embarrassingly

 stained my behind.

I stared at myself in the mirror and looked and felt unrecognizable.

I'm pregnant, but I don't look pregnant- just chubby,

and I hate wearing clothes because nothing fits, 

And I feel horrible all the time.

I'd like to just skip to the end.

Claire & Gigs

 This morning, Claire sent me a few photos of her adventures

with Gigs.

1. Start propagating plants for the new house.

2. Rip out cupboards and flooring.

3. Visit Claire at work in the hospital and have lunch together.

4. Visit the ASU campus.  Gigs is in love and wants to attend when

he gets home from his mission.

I mean, he was born there, technically, AZ is his state.

Congratulations to Nate & Claire on buying their first house!

I love this and all the hard work that got them here!

Even In My Pjs

 

Today, Christian and I drove Gigs to the airport, 

where he flew to Arizona to visit Claire and Nate.

He's there to help them with the new house they just bought, 

and this is his last trip before he becomes a missionary,

and the last time he'll see the newlyweds for two years.

Then Christian took me to lunch.

I love eating out and getting out.

Christian said he'd take me out every day if that

will help me feel better.

It does.

Even in my PJs.

Soooooooooooooooooooo

 I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooo sick.

This has just been the worst.

Lucky for me, Christian makes me breakfast 

and sets it out on my nightstand

before he heads to work to make sure I have food

in my tummy first thing in the morning.

It lowers the risk of my throwing up first thing.

But eating is soooooooooooooooooooooooo hard.

Everything is soooooooooooooooooo hard.

Tonight, the best thing I did was getting in the truck with

 Christian and to drive to the pastures and see the cows.

I rolled the windows down, stuck my head out, and felt

the warm air on my face, and for a minute, I felt OK.

Then I went home and back to bed.

Check!

 Today, Gigs and I got serious about his mission checklist and sat down
together and discussed everything from picking up his suits

at the tailors, to make sure he has enough socks, the right coat,

and the best shoes and boots.

Also, we scheduled his final missionary haircut.

I can't believe how close this has crept up on us.

I also can't believe that when he gets home in August of '27

he'll have a little sister who will be nearly 18 months old-

the same age Gigs was when we were in the accident.

Happy (Late) Graduation Dinner, Gigs!

I did something today that I haven't done- ever.

I cooked meat.  Today we celebrated Gigs graduating from high school- 

just a few months late, and he requested I cook something from 

Homestead Beef NC. 

So, I cooked meat.  And while pregnant, too.  

It really took me back to my childhood, watching my mom salt and pepper

our Sunday roasts.  Good memories.

My cooking meat is a big deal, and this

first attempt was about what I imagined.

Overcooked and tough.

But we had a fun time celebrating Gigs and ALL his accomplishments, 

including his pending mission!  It's all coming so fast.

I am so grateful I felt well enough to do this today.

And grateful he was a good sport to put on his cap and gown 

for this family celebration.

And grateful for all my beautiful blooms in the garden.

Claire Graduates

Jane Graduates

Ollie Graduates

Shrimp Juice

 Today I woke and felt pretty good.  

Christian knows that getting me out of the house makes me really good.

So often, he stops what he is doing and takes me to lunch.  

Just a simple lunch date can alter the day. I love going out to eat, 

and it's no secret that pregnant ladies would MUCH RATHER EAT OUT 

than in their own kitchen any day.  And that's me.  

I'd rather die than cook (enter: Jane). 

Opening the refrigerator is a HUGE challenge for me,

especially since a package

 (I can't even type this without feeling nauseated) of thawing 

shrimp juice spilled from the top shelf to all 4 subsequent shelves below. 

We can't get rid of the smell. 

 I'm not kidding, I have to tell everyone to please let me know when

 they are going to open the fridge because I have to leave.

Anyway, lunch was the best thing that happened to me today, 

AND I TOOK A BARRE CLASS!!!!!!!! 

I wanted to cry halfway through; it was part excitement,

and part frustration about being out of shape.

All in due time. 

Hello August. Let's Do This.

 I don't love the month of August.  I try and try, but I don't.  

Here's why:

I almost died in August; it goes on FOREVER, it's always too hot

with not enough rain

(when all I want is for it to be cool and fall), school begins in August,

and Gigs begins his mission on the 18th!

Oh, August.

I think this list is really skewed by my "pregnancy grumps."

Today I am 14 weeks pregnant, and feel a little better, enough

 that I'm thinking of going back to Barre to take a class.  

It's been months since I've done a class.

I'm a long way from getting the mic on to teach, but one step at a time.  

Getting out of bed is a huge challenge for me.

I feel so sick, and even thinking about something to eat

sounds horrific.

Christian usually brings me a bowl of steel-cut oats

topped with fruit.

At first, I want to die, but then slowly I get it in me, and 

baby girl is happy, and then I do feel much better.

This morning, Jane brought me a muffin she made

and placed it on my nightstand before she headed into work.

I woke up and was so grateful to have it,

Also, this morning I planned our Back to School Feast and

all the festivities that go along with that.

I've nailed down the theme, colors, and even the menu.

I mean, I REALLY MUST be feeling better to do all that.

Goodbye, July!

Claire, New Jersey, July 2005

July

by Annette Wynne

July's for Independence Day,

For flags and speeches and for play,

For hiding deep in meadow grass

And watching flying creatures pass,

For sailing boats on little seas,

Where just the smallest summer breeze

Can blow; for picking flowers any day;

July comes for flags and play. 

People.Com

Oh, you know, learning about Ozzy Osbourne's death,

 how Heidi Klum stays so skinny and hot, 

AND the huge plot twist in the life of Stephanie Nielson. 

A baby after 13 years, I mean, this is all serious news.

1.4 million views of baby girl Nielson, who looks like a peanut/acorn.

I wish Topher were alive to see this headline; he'd love it!

I'm shocked.

I love you all!

PS.  The headline was a little confusing, 

Many thought I was having my THIRTEENTH CHILD.

HA!  

Ummmmmmm, and no.

 

Go Back

(Lottie, '12.  I do make the cutest babies)

 The cat is out of the bag! 

I'm pregnant 13 weeks tomorrow!!

It's happening, it's real!!!

And it's the biggest shock of my life!!!!

I've been posting about it along the way.

You can go back and read about it. I've posted everything now. 

I hadn't published my posts until I was out of the woods

(I had a miscarriage after Lottie)

 and knew the baby's sex (GIRL!). 

So, go back and read.

Starting Here

(Also, enjoy Claire's wedding photos!)

The Big Reveal

 Today I got an e-mail notification letting me know my blood tests were back.  

Among the terrific news is that all my genetic testing proved low-risk, 

the gender was available for revealing! Yay!!

Christian was leaving in the truck, and I waved him down, trying to catch him 

before he left (which was the most exercise I've had in like 4 weeks). 

I told him that we got the news.  

THE NEWS that we've been anticipating since the blood draw 10 days ago.

He parked the car, and we sat on the front porch swing in the 104-degree

 (plus humidity) weather.

I clicked "See Results".  Guess what popped up?  

FEMALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a girl! 

I was pretty sure it was a boy.  I was very wrong.  

Christian and I decided to keep it a secret and take the 

Nies out for dinner to share the results. 

After we all ordered our food, Christian lingered and secretly 

asked if the restaurant could make pink shakes for our table 

and bring them over in about 20 minutes- after we'd gotten our food.

The cute 16-year-old boy, Garrett, who took our order, could hardly

 contain his excitement when Christian mentioned "gender reveal." 

He brought over the six pink shakes even before we had our first bite of food. 

The Nies were puzzled because no one had ordered shakes

and I said, “Well, guys, surprise, we're having a girl!

Everyone was shocked, mainly because we all expected that I would have a boy. 

Then Claire and Nate called from Arizona; they had stopped for 

shakes after work and were with us in spirit. 

It was a really special moment for all of us.

 And Garrett, who brought us the pink shakes, probably had the best 

story to share with his family when he got home!

Carry On

 This is an important post...

And the photo has nothing to do with it.

Christian and I had a lovely dinner with one of our dearest friends 

and family doctor, who casually told me that 

the patch that is placed behind my ears that I am using for my nausea 

MAKES MY EYESIGHT BLURRY.  I AM NOT AN OLD LADY.  

ONCE THE PATCH IS OFF, MY EYESIGHT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL.

And my old lady glasses can be put away until a further date,

which will probably and inevitably be in the near future.

CARRY ON.