November Recap

I didn't realize just HOW far behind I was on blogging until just now... and suddenly felt bad for leaving the blog-world with "throw up happens" for so many weeks.  Sorry, folks!

Looking at my November re-cap of pictures, it appears I was a poor photographer for the month.  It has been a full, busy, beautiful month none-the-less!

Gram (Bobby) and my brother Josh came into town to help as my/our Mom underwent double-knee replacement.  Uncle Josh quickly was latched onto by the boys and was clobbered at every chance they got (home, hospital room, it made no difference!).  Alike my Father, who the boys have determined they can basically coerce into most anything, Uncle Josh was the go-to for whatever plan they could hatch up.  It is amazing what a 2/4 yr old can get a grown man to do:

Needless to say, although poor Mom was down and out that week, the boys had a great time visiting :)

Meanwhile, Mom's surgery went swimmingly... then her initial recovery was horrendous... and now she is on the up-and up.  Seriously, her progress each 24-hours has been amazing. Although she couldn't see her own progress for the first week or so, I think even she now sees how well she is doing compared to where she was.  She is a fighter and she had been in pain for so long, even though the surgery is really, really rough it will be awesome to have a level of life back that she hasn't had in years.  Hurrah for technology/medical advances!

Thanksgiving, which I apparently took NO pictures of (gasp!), was a sad and happy day.  That morning Matt's Grandmother (Granny), who had been declining after a long fight with Parkinson's, passed away.  It was appropriate that the day be spent with family and spent reflecting on our blessings and gratitude.  Granny was very positive and happy and I know she wouldn't have had it any other way.  We celebrated her life at her funeral on Saturday and Matt gave a beautiful Eulogy that I think really reflected her life and her legacy.   On Sunday we had our third Thanksgiving meal (I'm going to blame ALL my pregnancy weight gain on all these meals! haha) and rounded out the weekend perfectly with more time with family.  

Squished in there was some black-Thursday shopping (I braved Walmart at 8PM Thursday for some piddly stuff), lots of black-Friday online shopping (YAY for online!), and the buying and decorating of our Christmas tree!

While I'm on a roll with November, I'll include that I had my 34 week OB appointment this week and was told I was 'looking great'.  I informed them I was officially 'feeling crowded'.  :)  I preregistered with the hospital the same day before leaving (my doc office is in the hospital)... let the count down begin!

When throw up happens

...you may end up looking like this on the drive home...
very, very cute :)

(I think it's great how happy he appears after what had just transpired!)

Mason: 4 Years!

It is hard to believe Mason is 4 already!  He had a pretty awesome birthday which included cake-batter pancakes for breakfast, a trip to Burger King w/his friend to eat and play on their playground, bowling as a family, and a batman party!  Mason got a spare AND a strike in the last frame while we were bowling...!   It should also be noted that Mason managed to beat Matt by 2 points... ! hehe! (Mama and her belly opted out of bowling this time).  We had a really fun weekend and Mason is absolutely thrilled by all his new toys.  Happy Birthday sweet boy, we love you SO MUCH!

Mischief

I have long said that Lincoln's middle name is mischief.  As he has gotten older, the mischief had slowed down a bit... but we seem to be in another upward tick of activity lately. Hopefully we'll be back in a 'downward' cycle by the time the baby comes!

Here are two photo-worthy occurrences that happened with in an hour or so of each other the other day... he is SO FAST!  For your viewing pleasure: mascara and 'eating peanut butter'.

Wow.

28...29 Weeks

A week late on the update, but here I am!  I had my 28 week appointment this past week and baby boy is doing great!  We are still waffling on his name, but hopefully we are getting closer. One week we think we've got it solidified, the next we are back to the drawing board!  So it goes...

We had a quick ultrasound at this last appt and it showed he was about 2 lbs 13 oz and the tech noted he had a 'large' femur... it'll be interesting to see what size he is when he is born!  After two ultrasounds, we are pretty sure he is going to need some treatment for his right foot which appears to be turned inward.  Although it was difficult news to hear initially, after our (my :) ) emotions settled down and perspective finally stepped in, we are grateful for what our challenge may be.  If he does indeed need correction, it will certainly make for a whirlwind baby-stage, but we are grateful it is something that can be treated and something he will overcome quickly.  Time will tell if it is for certain, but come what may - we're ready as we can be.

Referring back to a previous post, I had been having pelvic pain (like I did with Lincoln), and it was gradually intensifying.  After its initial onset over 2 months ago, it finally stopped me in my tracks this week - literally- while I was attempting my 30-minute walk one morning.  A sudden, sharp, searing, stabbing, shooting, take-your-breath-away pain.  And it didnt subside quickly. Ugh. After that I finally made a call to a chiropractor, considering I had seen one webpage that encouraged that physiotherapy/chiropractor work could offer relief.  I got in the next day and.... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I feel so good!!!!!!!!!  I hadn't been to a chiropractor since I was a teenager and man, oh man, I am asking 'why did I wait?'.  Although I went in for my unstable and apparently out of symmetry pelvis (which, yes, turns out my pelvis was torqued, something was up with my sacrum, and my left hip was out of place) - but of course he also adjusted my neck and my back.  It is amazing how you don't realize what is going on sometimes until someone works on it -- I told him my back and neck were fine (but he was welcome to check it out), and yet as he went down my spine noting where he was finding issues, I could feel the sensitivity on the ones he was noting.  "Huh... didn't realize until you put your finger there...". Also, my neck rotation seemed fine... until he worked on my neck and suddenly my range of motion increased.  "Who knew I was supposed to be able to look that far?"  Meanwhile, concerning my pelvic pain... I walked, or maybe pranced, 30 mins the next day without any issues.  I can stand on one foot without pain.  My gait, particularly after sitting, is better.  It is fabulous.  I realize I probably sound like a crazy infomercial for Chiropractors, but it was a game-changing week for me.  He told me to come back on a pain-management basis (thanks to pregnancy hormones and muscle memory, it may just be a matter of time before something may slip out again).  Although I don't wish for the pain to come back, I do look forward to returning :

On another note (wow, it has been a busy week!), we finally found a VAN!  Our bank was closed by the time we made the deal - and our bank is out of state - so we will pick it up this next week sometime.  We are excited to settle into our new-to-us parent wagon :)  And you know we've hit a new stage of life when we're using the words "finally" and "excited" etc to describe purchasing a minivan!  Matt even made the comment that it was "pretty sexy" for a van.  HAHA.  Oh mercy.

So, there we have it!  We're down to 2-week appointments... eeeek, he will be here before we know it!!  The end of 2012 will be a blur!

Fam Pics 2012

The boys had been CRAZY the week we were supposed to take pictures - seriously, I was ready to lay down and die by the end of the week.  I even sent Debbie a warning text about pictures - something like "willing to proceed with caution, but doubtful of cooperation..."  Well, I think the pictures speak for themselves -- the boys ended up being so good and Debbie, as usual, worked her magic!  We love them!

Here is a smattering...

Lately...

I, apparently, have neglected my blog for a while now!  Whoops!!

Let's see... what we've been up to...

A lovely, fun, wonderful long-weekend in Pigeon Forge:
*and yes... we're all soaked in the picture (mascara allllll over my face).

Trips to the park, zoo, local festivals/parades, playdates with friends, and library story time:
*have to mention... Mason totally dunked the Principal in the tank (think it was the Principal?)!

Recovering from injuries... Mason collided with our crape myrtle, Lincoln tripped over Mason & then fell down our front porch stairs (within 20 mins)! The boys, as usual, acted like "no big deal"... but Mommy winced every time she saw their poor faces. Grateful they heal fast!




Last but not least... family pictures, but that gets its own post!