Deal of the Day!

So it's been forever since I've posted on here! I think I am going to do a "deal of the day" post with all of my new couponing! Today's would be two things:
Walgreens total: 27.74 MY total: 2.44
Shop N Save total: 53.46 MY total: 3.91

Thankfully shop n save had a good cart AND a parking spot open right next to a cart return for me, two key things in shopping w/3 boys in tow!

Elijah

Today's my first day on my own with the boys. Boone took off the week he was born, then my Mom was here last week. I was on kinda bed rest until now, I didn't really stay on it but did take it as easy as possible. So far so good today, but I am def. missing my nap! :) I am looking forward to 7 pm though....bedtime!! :)

Still prego!

And all is well! I guess third time's a charm maybe and I'll actually have a full term child! Ultrasound on Wed. to check for growth and next appt. on Monday!

Not bad enough yet

Darnit! lol I am glad he's getting to grow longer and all of that, really, but man! I feel pretty crappy today, tired, headache, and I am SUPER cranky pants. These poor kiddos of mine, having to deal with me! My tests from yesterday came back and basically my levels are starting to go up but just not enough to take any type of action over beyond "taking it easy"--pretty much impossible when you have two young boys! I just really dislike this inbetween stage, I'd rather have it be all or nothing you know, be healthy and fine and prego for 3 more weeks, or just go ahead and have him. How bad is that?

Home!

So we are home, thankfully! I feel kinda dumb for having my Mom come for nothing, but in my defense it was the EXACT same scenario as when the older two boys were born! lol The doctor ordered blood work and I get to do yet another fun and wonderful 24 hr urine collection (just what everyone wanted to know right??), those tests can tell if something is starting to go wrong.
I'm very glad he's getting to grow more and am excited at the thought of a baby that weighs into 6 lbs, maybe even 7! :)

Kinda hanging out and waiting...

My blood pressure jumped today. I had a headache most of the day too and spent most of the day in bed. My doctor said to call when it gets to 140/90 so I did, but ironicly my old doctor was on call. She said she didn't see any reason for me to come in--despite the fact that my doctor and her whole office has been saying repeatedly to call in if it gets to those numbers! Anyways, so now we are just hanging out. If the numbers get any higher we'll just go in to the hospital. I would really prefer to have my doctor deliver me so I hope that if this is really it my bp stays the same until tomorrow. I of course want it to go down and stay down for another week at least but for now it's just a waiting game...

Yay I can finally post again!

I don't know what happened but I have been unable to post on here lately!
I will post a picture tonight, it will be worth the wait though because it will be of Liam walking withOUT his brace on!!!!! We went to see his pediatric orthopedic doctor yesterday, which we do every 6 months, and Liam is doing very very well. His right leg (the "bad" one) is now exactly as straight as his left leg, and has had a significant amount of new growth on it, which is a very good sign. His legs are pretty much the same in length, which can be an issue, and his leg continues to grow stronger overall. Liam is now free to do short amounts of walking without his brace on, like going from the bathroom to his room, which will be really great when it comes to potty training time. He can also do things this summer like climb up and down the pool steps or stand and play in a wading pool brace free, so that is great news as well! Liam doesn't have to go back for a whole year now, and will continue to be braced more for ankle support than full tibial support. When he is older, he will be able to have surgery done to try and fix the fibula fully and would at that point be brace free hopefully.
This is just utterly incredible. Most people with this condition end up having multiply surgeries and even amputation from it. Almost every case the person's leg gets weaker instead of stronger. Liam is really beating all the odds!
So last night, Boone was able to be home "early" because of some appointments cancelling. (Early meant 6:30) We were getting the boys ready for bed and he took Liam's brace off downstairs, which we sometimes do, and Liam just crawls to the steps and then goes up the stairs and either crawls down the hall or we carry him-he is excellent about knowing not to stand up and walk without his brace on. Liam started to crawl like usual and we told him that it was okay, that he could stand up and walk. I WISH I had thought to have the camera ready to take a little video, it was the sweetest moment I think I've experienced yet as a mother. Liam had the happiest, proudest smile and look on his face as he walked to the steps without his brace on. I just never have thought about his take on it at all or how he'd react to being able to walk w/out the brace on. It was pretty awesome.
Isaiah has spent the past week being several things, a monkey most of the time though. As I type he's watching Curious George in his monkey costume, and mainly says "Ohh Ohh Ahh Ahh" for things instead of words. I love how full of imagination he is right now!
This weekend my parents are coming to stay with us, Sat. is my nephew's birthday party. We are hoping my Dad will take off work a little early on Friday so Boone and I can g0 out on a date :)
That's it for now, I'll post a picture tonight of Mr. Liam strutting around!

Elijah 24 weeks

We had a fun Easter weekend with a surprise that Boone had Friday off--he didn't look ahead apparently! :) The boys enjoyed a fun egg hunt and we all enjoyed Easter dinner w/friends the Stewarts.
Elijah is growing right on track and doing great--he's a very active little boy! He's grabbing his foot here in this picture! He showed off for us quite a bit, sticking his tongue out, grabbing his feet and um other parts, and moving all over the place! :)
Sat. early morning we are heading in to the city for a race for NF (Liam's condition) that a friend from church is running for. This link is nice in explaining NF1 better, I am never very good at explaining it, the video at the bottom of the page. If it isn't raining, I hope I can talk Boone into a trip to the zoo afterwards! :)

http://www.active.com/donate/nfgostlouis2009/ALounsbery09

Unexpected road trip

I will be in the car a LOT Sunday and Monday now, my close friend just lost her mother to a battle with cancer. She was very much a mother to me during high school especially, when I lived in a dorm at a boarding high school away from my family. A few friends and I will be road tripping it to Rochester MN Sunday and then back home Monday night. Luckily my parents are awesome and will come to our house on Sunday to stay w/the boys all day/evening on Monday while Boone's at work.
While I hate the reason, I am glad to get to see my friends, I haven't seen them since I was pregnant with Liam! I hope Liam will behave while I'm gone though....little stinker that he is!

Liam's 2 yr pictures

I finally got around to taking Liam in to Portrait Innovations today and he did sooo well, it was incredibly hard to narrow it down but I finally chose these two. He looks so big!!

Big top

Isaiah had a ball at the circus, he had his first cotton candy and he even got to ride an elephant! What a fun Daddy and Izzy night out! Thankfully Boone did okay, even with his deep fear/hatred of clowns. :)

Big boy room

I think we've solved Liam's fussiness at night...we moved him out of the crib and into Isaiah's room on a twin mattress on the floor. He is now officially declared a "big boy" and loves getting to be in "the big boy room" with Isaiah. I was really hoping he'd stay in the crib awhile longer, but he's doing well and doesn't try to get up out of bed at all. That was my biggest concern because of his leg, but he is a good little boy and knows he can't walk around without his brace on so he has been staying put. Now I have plenty of time to get the room cleaned out and ready for Mr. Elijah! :) Isaiah is thrilled to be finally able to share the room with Liam, and looking forward to when he turns 5 so he can go on the top bunk and Liam can be where he sleeps on the bottom.

My Isaiah

I realized I have been writing about Liam the majority of the time---he has been challenging and also going thru a lot of new and fun phases lately I guess is why. Isaiah is such a sweetheart of a boy. He is so very kind and loving and caring, he warms my heart daily through his actions and the things he says. I know that God gave Isaiah some very special gifts in life that are very evident already as a big brother. He is my sweetie pie little man and I just love him to pieces!! I adore his red hair and beautiful brown eyes as well, I always said I wanted a little girl w/red hair and brown eyes, but God knew even better and gave me my Izzy!

Liam's party

Liam had a good time at his little party, Daddy and Isaiah went a little overboard on his favorite thing, balloons...there were 17 in all! :)

Happy Birthday Liam!

Liam's birth announcementFirst Birthday invite


Taken today!

Today's Liam's birthday, hard for me to believe he's 2 already!! Tomorrow my family and two close friends are coming over for dinner and a small party, I have a Mickey mouse cake to work on tonight and tomorrow yet, as well as the meal to make. Thankfully my parents are coming down early in the morning to help, since Boone will be gone at a Thrivent thing until the party starts!

Waiting for the crying to stop...

Liam is standing up in his crib screaming. He just wants to sleep on me. Every time I go in he calms down, cuddles w/me and is peachy until I tell him it's time to go back to bed. He is so stinking stubborn---that and his thin hair are the only things he gets from me, why does it have to be those two things?? I hate letting him cry. I wish Boone were home, he's had this schedule more or less for many years, you'd think I'd be used to it by now.
I feel a bit better now, getting that out! :)

Elijah Boone

He is still Elijah! lol And everything looks perfect with him, today was the "big" measuring ultrasound, and everything is where it's supposed to be, the right size and doing the right things! :) He's such a cutie pie don't ya think?? (I'm not biased at all...)

Back home finally!

Whew, being gone for 2 whole weeks practically is kinda crazy! We had a great trip at Disney and I'm so glad we went...but am soooo glad to be home again! :) One of the cutest things was Isaiah saying several times "This is the most magical place on earth".
For some reason it's not letting me post pictures right now, I'll have to try again when I'm more with it in the am I guess!

Boy oh boy oh boy!

And it looks like baby #3 is another boy! We are very happy, although I think it will take a little bit for Boone to adjust, he had his heart set on a "princess". Now to finalize a name...

Hugs and Kisses from Liam and Izzy

I'm a bit clothes obsessed when it comes to my kids...and a bit bargain obsessed too. I think little holiday shirts are so cute but I hate paying $15-20 for the kind I like! Since I've been busy learning applique and making all the outfits for the boys to wear on our DisneyWorld trip in 3 weeks, I got the idea to make their Valentine's shirts as well.
My brother thinks I'm crazy and loves to make fun of me about how I dress the boys. Oh well, I'm having fun at least! :)

Our Spud

I know some people think that 3D ultrasound pics are kinda freaky this early, but it's my baby so I'm biased and think that it's awesome! :)
At our appt. last week the nurse practitioner surprised us and did an ultrasound, since at first she couldn't find a heartbeat with the doppler. She did find it eventually but still did an ultrasound. We go back in two weeks to hopefully find out if this little one is our Adele or our Elias!