Okay.....NOW!!!! (Baby Stats)

Had a Doctor's appointment today. Still no change! I am still 5 cm dilated and 70% effaced and technically have been in labor for the past 7 days (and counting...). I feel like I want to DIE!!! I am still getting contractions (can you say "useless"?) all day long. Every once in a while they start coming 3 minutes apart and are accompanied with back labor and will last for hours. (It lasted for 5 last night!) I've decided that I'm not going into Triage anymore, because they will somehow stop everything and send me home again. I plan being pregnant forever because my body is retarded.


Baby Stats:
Very Healthy!
Weighs 8lbs!
Already weighs 8lbs!
3 weeks before it's due date and weighs 8lbs!
Did I mention that she is HUGE and weighs 8lbs?!

Going into Labor Take 2

Yesterday we were back at the Hospital in Triage. I started getting really bad contractions again that where 5 minutes apart earlier in the morning. So we went in and they checked me and I was at 5 cm now. After an hour they checked me again, no change. The contractions started going to 3 minutes apart and I start having back labor (yay!). Two hours later they check me, STILL NO CHANGE and CONTRACTIONS ARE STILL 3 MINUTES APART!!! I get hooked up to an IV and told to wait some more. Because I am only 36 weeks, I don't get to have any medicine to help speed up labor. I ended up staying in Triage for 7 hours with back labor and contractions 3 minutes apart. After going through 2 bags of whatever I was hooked up to, the contractions finally spaced apart to about 8 minutes. Finally my Doctor said that I could stay in the hospital drugged up till I make progress (which will be never) or go home drugged up and wait it out. I decided to go home. They gave me 2 Lortabs and an Ambein.

And yes, I was completely messed up for the night...

I am in labor right now, I have been in labor for the past 5 days, but nothing is happening. I am still having contractions that are 8 minutes apart. I wish that my body would figure this whole thing out because I am miserable. I really don't want to be like this for the next 2 weeks. I will be induced by January 10th if nothing happens.

I hate this...

Almost had a baby....

I almost had our baby last night. I have been getting really hard contractions for the past two days and decided to go in last night to get checked out. Turns out I am already dilated to 4 cm and 70% effaced. But the Doctor on call was really worried at I am only 36 weeks so he decided to stop me from going in to labor. I'm so annoyed! I could of had a baby in my arms right now! They stopped the contractions by hooking me up to an IV of something and giving me a shot of Terbutaline to stop the preterm labor. As soon as I got the shot, my body started shaking uncontrollably and I started freezing. About an hour later the contractions were really spaced apart and I was sent home. I am still kinda jittery and I have started to get contractions again today. So we will see what happens. I just don't want to have to go in again and have them stop the labor again.

Santa Picture 2008

Bring home the Bacon.... Please?!

With each pregnancy I will have one craving and it will last the entire 9 months. I become fixated with it and have to have it. It really makes me go crazy!!! With Reese I had to have Nacho Cheese Chalupas from Taco Bell. With Ashlee it was DiGornio's Supreme Frozen Pizza. And with Kailyn all I wanted to eat was V8 juice and oranges. Well with this baby all I want is ...

BACON!!!!

Isn't that gross?! But I want so bad and I'm not letting myself eat it because it isn't the most healthiest thing to eat in the world. Every once and a while it's OK, but I want it everyday!! I really could just eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner EVERYDAY! And it can't be that crap Turkey Bacon either, it has to be the real stuff! Every once in awhile Brian will pick it up at the Butcher's near his work and I am in HEAVEN!!!!! It's so good!!!!

I really need to get that candle that smells like Bacon... maybe that will take care of my craving for it. Or it just might make it worse!!

Oh I want this pregnancy to be done!!! I can't handle this craziness anymore!!!!!

I am the Walrus... (Baby Update 35wks)

This is me at 35 weeks... I feel HUGE!!!


The baby has just recently dropped, which makes walking and sitting kinda painful. She is weighing in close to a whopping 7 lbs right now. Everything is still the same, nothing has really changed. Just that the baby is even bigger and my contractions are stronger and last all day long now. I am still considered High Risk because of her ENORMOUS size right now. I am really hoping that I will have her within the next two weeks. I am so done with this pregnancy!!

Santa Pictures Over the Years...

Getting a Picture with Santa has seriously become a joke in our family. Usually one kid (or more) is doing something to ruin the picture. But we still do it every year and take bets on what child is going to screw it up. This year, all I want is happy smiling children! No crying! No angry faces! I just want a nice Santa Picture!


2004

This is Reese at just about 2 years old. We waited in line FOREVER! Santa actually tried to hold her, but she had a huge fit so Brian had to sit with her. As you can tell we don't have a 2003 picture...

2005

I think that this one is my favorite! Ashlee is so happy and Reese did a very good job at keeping herself together!
Reese almost 3, Ashlee 8 mo


2006

Smile?!
Reese almost 4, Ashlee 20 mo and Kailyn 2 mo

2007

Ashlee was in the WORST freaking mood for this picture!
Reese almost 5, Ashlee 2 1/2 Kailyn 14 mo

I really do think that these pictures are really funny!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, How very HUGE you are!

We decided to get our first real Christmas Tree this year, we usually have a fake one up, but real ones are just so much better! So on Friday we took the Family to Goebel Farms to pick one out. The girls were so excited about finding the perfect Christmas Tree on the way to the farm, but quickly lost any interest in anything that had to do with a tree about 5 minutes after we got there.

So, this is what Brian and I came up with... A giant 10ft Frasier Fir. I love this Tree, it smells so nice and Christmasy! Hopefully, it doesn't die anytime soon... The only thing that bothers me with this tree, is that my tree skirt doesn't fit around the base of the tree stand, one more thing on my list to sew!

The Girls Decorating the Tree

1400 Twinkling Lights

Evansville Holiday Parade

Over the weekend we went to the Evansville Holiday Parade. It wasn't that bad, the girls had a great time and got a ton of candy. The best part of the parade is when Baby Bop attacked Reese... and of course seeing Santa!

Cheesecake Chimichangas

I've been experimenting with desserts lately and I found this! It is wonderful! But not to light on the calories....

Ingredients

10-12 flour tortillas (6 1/2 inch)
16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
6 tablespoons flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (20 ounce) apple pie filling, drained very well
1/2 cup almond toffee pieces
Cinnamon sugar
1/2 cup sugar, and
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon, mixed very well
vanilla ice cream
caramel topping

Directions

1. Beat cream cheese until fluffy; add sugar and eggs, then beat again.
2. Add vanilla extract and mix well.
3. Fold toffee bits and apple pieces into cheese mixture.
4. On tortilla, place a serving in the middle, about 2 1/2 inches from each side of shell.
5. Tuck sides in slightly and roll shell to seal the filling and hold in the cream cheese.
6. When all shells have been stuffed and rolled, place in refrigerator; chill to set filling.
7. In deep fryer heat vegetable oil.
8. When ready, place chimicheesecake in oil and fry until slightly golden, while carefully turning on each side.
9. Remove from oil.
10. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
11. Place chimicheesecake on cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes.
12. Remove from oven and liberally sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
13. Serve cheesecake slightly warm with a scoop of ice cream and carmel topping drizzled on top.

Reese's Kindergarten Picture

Tag

I absolutely HATE Tags, but I will do it just for you Heather....

TAG!!!
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Answer the six "8" items
3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment

8 Favorite TV Shows:
1. The Office
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Rescue Me
4. Days of our Lives (have to admit it, but I have no idea what it going on)
5. Anything on Food Network
6. Old Martha Stewart Living Shows, not the new talk show (don't make fun of me!)
7.
8.

8 Things I did yesterday
1. Got Reese ready for School, put her on the bus at 7:25
2. Left the house at 8:30 to take Ash to school
3. Went to the YMCA and worked out a little and lifted weights
4. Picked Ash up, went home and made lunch
5. Put Kailyn to bed, started getting really bad contractions, so I took a nap
6.Got Reese off the Bus, and did homework with her
7. Cleaned up the house and put kids in bath
8. 8:00 kids bedtime! Put them to bed. And then layed in bed for the next 4 hours having contractions and wanting to throw up.

8 Things I'm Looking Forward to:
1. Not being pregnant!
2. Kailyn to be potty trained
3. All the cooking and baking I get to do for the Holidays!
4. Christmas!
5. My house to be finished....
6. Bunko at my house! (Still plan on doing it even if I get put on bed rest!)
7.
8.

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Tokyo Japan
2. Nagasaki Inn
3. The Giant Crab place in Myrtle Beach
4. Los Bravos
5. hmmm.... having a hard time thinking about this....
6.
7.
8.

8 Things on my Wish List
1. My house to be finished
2. A giant Wolfe Stove like my moms
3. To not have a heat bill that is over $1000...
4. Go to France with Brian
5. To be a Chef for a really nice restaurant
6. To raise happy righteous children
7.
8.

8 People I Tag

Anybody who wants to do it!


Wow, I really sucked at this thing....

The cow says....MOO (baby update)

This is the Baby Belly at just about 30 wks. Yes, I know, I'm huge. (Reese took the picture, she did a good job)

So I had a Doctor's Appt this morning, I am officailly considered a "High Risk Pregnancy". (Hurray for me!) The baby is huge and I have been having lots of contractions. The baby is in the 90% right now and will most likely be WAY over 9 lbs when she is born. The doctor is concerned about her size, so now I get to have Ultrasounds with every doctors appt until I give birth. About the contractions: I am "supposed" to stay off my feet laying down for most of the day, because when I move or walk around too much the contractions start up and last for a couple hours and then I feel like I am going to into labor.

Other than that, the baby is fine and healthy, there is no problem with her. Just that she is a cow...

Brian's Pumpkin

Brian's Immaturity at it's best....

This really isn't a shocker, I really did expect this to happen. It is just another thing to add to the 'Stupid Things Brian Does List'. This was Reese's Pumpkin. Brian filled it with dead leaves and grass and poured gasoline in it and lit it on fire. Things like this happen alot in our family. Brian is kind of a pyro (You should ask his Mom about it, she's SO proud!) This type of stuff has been going on for the past 7 years, so I am used to it.

This is my favorite part, the gas in the pumpkin spilled out onto the driveway. (Yep, in the driveway about 7ft away from Brian's vehicle and our house.)

No more pumpkin

Trick or Treat!!

Last night we Trick or Treated around our neighborhood. It was so much fun! They girls were great. I didn't do to well, walking just isn't my thing right now... After about three hours of Trick or Treating (pain) we headed back to our house and had some chili with the Higgins.

4D Ultrasound

Today I had my 4D Ultrasound. Isn't it neat?! You can see her face!! The tech was worried that we wouldn't be able to get a good picture of her because she is lying sideways and facing the placenta.


Baby Stats:

Right now she weighs just about 3 lbs, add 1/2 lbs to each week until my due date. If I have her at 38 weeks (I am praying that I do) she will be around 8 lbs and some oz. At 40 weeks, she will be around 9 lbs!! So with that being said, she needs to come around 38 weeks!


With my luck, she will probably come at 38 weeks and still be 9 lbs!!

Carving Pumpkins

For Kailyn's Birthday, we carved pumpkins!




Kailyn trying to help





The Girls and their Pumpkins

Happy Birthday Linny Pinny!

Yesterday was Kailyn's 2nd Birthday. We just had a family party, nothing big.

She is definitely taking full advantage of being 2 years old! She is a completely different child now from what she was a couple of months ago (I really miss that cuddly happy baby!) Now she is a giant monster that throws tantrums, bites and screams. One thing that we noticed about her is that she is VERY dramatic!

For instance:

Brian and I will tell her No, she will then proceed to fall backwards and pretend to faint. Kinda like one of those fainting goats...

Kailyn talks up a storm! Here are some of her favorite sayings:

Oh, man!

No, Mom.

Ha! I Farted!

You funny Daddy!

New Handleset!

These are the new Handlesets that we ordered for the front door...

Personally, I think that it looks MUCH better with the new ones!

Sweet Potato Pancakes

I made these over the weekend (sorry no picture), everyone loved them!

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp pumpkin-pie spice
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 (16 ounce) can sweet potatoes or yams, drained and mashed (about 3/4 cup)

1. Combine the flour, baking powder, pumpkin-pie spice and salt in a large bowl. Combine the milk, brown sugar, veg oil, vanilla and eggs; add to flour mixture, stirring until smooth. Stir in sweet potatoes.
2. Spoon about 1/4 cup batter per pancake onto a hot griddle or skillet. Flip when covered with bubbles.

You could also add 2 Tbsp of toasted chopped pecans to the batter.

Vanilla-Maple Syrup
(Be sure to use PURE MAPLE SYRUP, NOT pancake syrup with imitation maple flavor, it won't work if you do!)

1 1/2 cups maple syrup
1 (3in) piece vanilla bean, spilt lengthwise or 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1. Pour the maple syrup into a med saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean; add seeds and bean to syrup. Bring to a simmer over med heat, and cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat; discard bean.

The School Bus Accident

This morning Reese's school bus got into a minor accident, nothing bad. This is the letter that I recieved from the Principal:

" This morning bus #37 was involved in, what I was told, a minor accident. Students were transferred to a different bus and brought to school. I greeted all the students in the office, asked them if they were ok and then sent them to class. No students reported any injuries."

This is Reese's description of the accident:

"The Bus Driver slammed on her brakes and everyone fell down out of their seat and got in the aisle. And then a bad guy in a yellow car with black stripes on the front hit the back of the bus and the glass almost came out of the back of the bus and then the yellow car was leaking and the the bad guy was bleeding from his eye and then the car blew up and the guy died. And then we had to get onto another bus for school and we were really late!"

Master Bedroom Update

This is what our Master Bedroom looks like now...


Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) has been gutted and taken down to the studs.


This is what came out of the room. That's about 80 50 gallon trash bags full of crap!

Ashlee's Pre-School Picture

Doesn't she look cute!!!

Little Girls

So now I am starting to get super excited about having another little girl. Look at all of this CUTE little girl stuff that I still get to play with!!! I love dressing my girls up when they are babies. I am so glad that we're not having a boy, boy stuff just isn't that cute...

The hospital sells these also, so as soon as she comes out she is wearing one!





I love these!

1st Day of Fall!!!

"Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity; but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance. What man can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling hills that reach to the far horizon?
- Hal Borland

I Love the Fall, it really is my favorite season. I am so excited for Halloween, pumpkin patches, cool weather, and for the leaves to start to change. To celebrate the 1st day of Fall, the little girls and I are making donuts!

Here are some pictures of Michigan in the Fall.

The UP


The UP


The UP


Ann Arbor MI

What have we done...

This is our Master Bedroom. It is one of our MANY projects that need to be done before the baby comes. Brian has been tearing out all of the plaster in the room for the past 3 days. This is a HUGE mess!! Hopefully everything will get cleaned up by next week so he can start with the electrical for the room.

Don't you just LOVE old houses?!