Settling In

Despite the fact that it is currently snowing and we are expecting over a foot by tomorrow night, I feel my spirits rising. I am coming out of my little slump and my energy level is not nearly as low as it has been over the last week or so. With this pregnancy I have experienced so many highs and lows. I am sure it has to do with the fact that I am so much busier than I was in the past and the time of year and what not. One of the things that has helped me tremendously is trying to maintain a better routine.

It is no secret that I hate mornings. Nothing has ever seemed to help this fact. I don't like to shower right away, never eat first thing, and I have trouble rising before the kids do. I have good intentions but I usually end up sleeping until I hear Midge babbling in her crib and then I know I have to go start breakfast and prepare for the day. This will all change next year as Chiggie will start school, but until then I will probably milk the sleeping in.

I also have difficulty going to sleep at night. No matter how tired I am, I enjoy the peace and quiet. Bed time for all 3 girls is 8:30 and from 9 on things are pretty calm. I can watch whatever I want on t.v., have an adult conversation with the King, or work on a project that I need full concentration for. I often find myself still awake way past midnight. If I could discipline myself in the evenings I am sure it would make my mornings much easier.

Slowly but surely we are finding a new routine. I am at a comfortable point in the pregnancy and the days are becoming more predictable. It's funny though, I am sure right when I feel settled in the new baby will come, Chiggie will start school, and I'll find myself starting all over again.

Brrrrr

I know enough already, but I can't help it. While I have no intentions of making this blog a way to keep people updated on our weather, I just can't resist. Beginning tomorrow evening we are on "blizzard watch" until Friday afternoon. Noooooooooooooooo! I briefly considered moving back to Florida, but then talked to a friend who said they are having temps in the 40's as well. Looks like everyone is suffering.

While I have a little bit of energy I might as well do a mini-pregnancy update as well. Things are moving along very quickly. The King can now feel movement from the outside. She is definitely more active late at night and loves to kick and roll right as I am trying to drift to sleep at night. The girls can see my belly move when she is rolling around and they get a kick out of that. I am already regretting my eating habits as I have gained too much weight and am already feeling a little uncomfortable. Oh well might as well enjoy the indulgence while I can.

Mumbling

I don't know if it's the bizarre weather or what but things have been a little weird around here lately. The alternation between summer like temperatures and snow have made planning our days a little difficult. I am having trouble establishing a good spring routine. Being that none of the girls are in school or anything yet there is really nothing that shapes our days. If I don't have a good routine then I find myself roaming the house aimlessly watching the clock for nap time.

Things will change soon as our summer is pretty well planned out. Between the pool, the library, the park, baseball, and camping trips I think we will stay pretty busy. I hope I can hold on to my sanity for another month or so!

Easter Honey

Celebration!

Easter is a very special holiday to our family. It is a celebration of new life and a promise for the future. We host a lunch at our house and we have a traditional meal of ham, potatoes, rolls, veggie tray, and all the other usuals. This year has been especially fun as the girls are getting older and are really starting to get into it.

Midge and I had the honor of doing all the shopping last night. It took around 2 1/2 hours being Wal-Mart was crowded and there was one check out open. When we got home Chiggie and Tea were waiting for us on the front porch. As soon as I got out of the car I heard Chiggie yell, "did you remember the carrots?" I chuckled to myself and nodded to reassure her that the Easter Bunny would not go without. Chiggie is also old enough to tell the Easter Story to, and she understands on a basic level.

Today we spent most of the day getting the house ready for tomorrow and making sure our Easter outfits were clean and ready. I painted 30 toes "ice cream pink" and shined 3 pair of white dress shoes. Just think next year there will be an extra pair of shoes and 10 more toes to paint! We dyed eggs this afternoon and Tea was hilarious to watch. She insisted on doing her eggs all by herself, even though no egg survived the drop from her hand into the cup. She was mortified when none of the blue dye came off, not even after a bath.

Well I am off to make sure everything is ready for the Bunny's visit and 3 little girls are asleep. Have a Happy Easter!

Break a Leg

*The weather we are having (temps in the 20's) messed up my Internet and phone connection and wasn't able to update yesterday so this may be a little long.*

My brother, sister in-law, and their little girls were in town again this week due to several business meetings he had in a nearby town. Thursday just happened to be my sister in-law's birthday so we all went over to my Mom's house for a BBQ in her honor. The night went great, the girls played with no fighting, the food was delicious, everyone was in a good mood. It was nice. Around 8pm we had to leave. My little sister had school the next day and they needed to start getting ready for bed. We loaded up our crew and all that they brought with them and headed out. As I was stepping out the front door I turned back to say something, trivial I am sure, to my Mom and I missed the front step. My right ankle rolled and I hit the ground.

I was positive that my ankle was broken. The pain was sharp and intense. My toes were burning and my lower leg felt hot. I couldn't stand back up. Chiggie was so freaked out she started crying and by this time I had a small crowd hovering over me checking my welfare. As quickly as the pain had come it started to subside. Enough so that I was able to rise and hobble to the car. I decided against a trip to the ER and we went home instead. Once home I removed my sock and investigated the injury. There was some bruising on the outside and very minor swelling. I elevated it and watched some t.v. before bed.

That night will go down in history as one of the strangest we have had in a long time. The girls fell asleep quickly, after all the running and playing that had done at my Mom's. The King and I retired at around 10:30. That's when it started. No sooner had my head hit the pillow when I heard Midge begin to fuss. I decided to let her a fuss a bit and see if she would go back to sleep. Finally at 11 I went up to check on her. No poopy diaper, room was warm enough, cool forehead, just as I thought. I gave her a little bit of Tylenol just in case she was having pain from teething and hobbled back down the stairs.

It was getting cold in the house and I jumped back into the covers. I got warm and lay there enjoying the silence. Midge had fallen back asleep, I had taken some pain killers for my ankle, and now I could sleep as well. I had just drifted off (11:45) when I heard Tea scream out. I was startled by the sound but hoped she had just yelled out in a dream. Nope 10 seconds later and it was full blown screaming. I sprinted back up the stairs as fast as my handicapped ankle would let me and grabbed her before she woke the baby or Chiggie. She was inconsolable upstairs so I decided to bring her down to my bed so we could all get some sleep. We snuggled in and I rubbed her back until she was asleep again.

Okay, I thought, enough of this I need me some sleep. I rolled over and melted into the pillow and mattress. I must've dozed off because before I new it it was 12:45 and Midge was screaming again. Really screaming this time. Uggghhh. I felt paralyzed. I didn't even get up until about 1:20 and then I went up yet again dragging the bum ankle. Still nothing was visibly wrong. I took her from the crib and rocked her in my arms until she was calm. I then laid her back down and she stayed. I hopped back down the stairs and got back into bed. Minutes later I was in slumber land.

Until I was again awoken by a blood curdling scream. Chiggie! My ankle was really sore by now so I figured forget about it and up the stairs I went. I found a disoriented, freezing, Chiggie. She had taken off her pajamas, which she often does, and had a nightmare as well. I consoled her the best I could dealing with a nightmare of my own. When she was calm I started to cover her back up and she informed me that she wasn't staying up there. I brought her down quickly remembering our bed would not hold another person. I suggested the family room couch in a moment of desperation and she accepted. I covered her and wished her well. By the time I got back to my bed Midge was screaming yet again. I'm sure it was from all the commotion. I decided she was going to have to fly solo this time.

It was hard after all the excitement, but I fell back asleep. I woke up what seemed like minutes later to Tea violently alternating between shaking my shoulder and slapping my head. "Get out, get out, it's morning." I looked up, the sun was out, and Midge was crying. Why yes it is. Strangely my ankle was feeling okay. Hmmm must have been all the physical therapy.

Coincidence?

It seems whenever Chiggie loses a tooth, Midge is coincidentally teething. Tonight Chiggie will have her 3rd visit from the tooth fairy. 3 lost teeth and she hasn't even started Kindergarten! Early bloomer?