April Showers bring May Mayhem...

I only have 8 weeks left until little Alexis Jane is supposed to make her appearance into the world. It's been a hectic 7 months, but now that we are heading into the summer, things look like they just might be settling down. Actually, they have to settle down because as of last Thursday, I am now on bedrest. Back at my 19 week ultrasound they noticed my placenta was low so they put me on "light duty" and told me I would have to have another u/s in the coming months. Most the time as the uterus grows with the baby the placenta moves up. However, mine decided to do the opposite and is now completely blocking the birth canal. Since I have had all my other kids via c-section, that was already the same route I was choosing to go with this baby. It just stinks that I am supposed to be off my feet these last 2 months before she comes so I don't run the risk of having to be hospitalized the rest of this pregnancy. There is just so much to be done and so many things to be gotten. I'm so used to being in control of things going on and right now have no choice but to let go and relax. Boy it's hard!
As if this weren't stressful enough, Jason came home early from work 2 weeks ago and told me he had been let go from Target. My first reaction after hearing this of course including a lot of crying. Next came the worrying and millions of questions floating around in my head. My top 2 worries were, is he going to get enough unemployment to cover basic expenses, and what are we going to do about health insurance? We have 3 rowdy boys, and I am 7 months pregnant with a more complicated pregnancy that is causing me to see the doctor a little more often and have ultrasound after ultrasound. I know there are a lot of resources out there, especially right now with how the economy is, but it's all so overwhelming.
After a few days of freaking out, we got to work and started getting the ball rolling on our situation. Come to find out, Jason losing his job was maybe a blessing in disguise. A week after he was let go, I was put on bedrest. Since he had knee surgery earlier this year, he virtually had no FMLA time left which meant my mom would of had to be the one to take FMLA so I could get help with the other 3 kids. Now that he is off, we don't have to rely on anyone else. Financially, unemployment exceeded our expectations so that took A LOT of the stress off. Obviously we have to cut costs in some areas (going out to eat, movies, shopping, etc...), but we aren't destitute. The only part that still leaves me a little bothered is the health insurance situation. We've always had private insurance and unfortunately cannot afford to pay the outrageous premiums to keep it, so the kids and I had to turn to Medicaid. THANKFULLY the only major change that came along with it was changing dentist offices. Other than that, we are able to keep all our other doctors... the main one being the kids pediatrician, whom I cannot imagine giving up because we have gone there ever since Andrew was born.
We are trying to stay as optimistic as possible with the thought that "God doesn't close one door without opening another". I'm just praying that after this baby is born, we see that open door right away. Jason wasn't all that thrilled about his job at Target, but it was a good paying job with great hours and decent benefits. However, maybe now is the time he can look for his "dream" job and find a career that was meant for him. Thankfully he has 2 Associates Degrees and his Bachelors.
We are also lucky to have VERY supportive family and friends. I've appreciated all the thoughts and prayers, not to mention the offers to help. It's great to know that in your darkest time there are people you can turn to... ones that don't run the other way because you aren't at your best. Right now our main priority is to regroup, refocus and forge ahead with a new plan.

Anniversary Trip to South Haven...

 

Jason and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary over the weekend. Since it was one of the "milestone" ones, we decided to do it up right and getaway for the weekend without the kids. Luckily, my mom was able to watch all the runts for 3 nights so we could have a WHOLE weekend away. Since I am 7 months pregnant, we decided to do something simple and close, so Friday evening we set out to a bed and breakfast in South Haven. We got a luxury room with a fireplace and jacuzzi that overlooked lake Michigan. It was gorgeous!!

Peaceful view from our room...

We spent both days we were there lounging around the room in the morning and exploring the city in the afternoon/evening. We loved just sitting on the boardwalk, watching the boats come in and out of the harbor. We had perfect weather the whole time we were there which was definitely a blessing.

We also enjoyed walking the pier and strolling down the beach. The water was freezing but felt great beneath our feet as we headed down the beach. We also did a lot of walking around town checking out all the little stores and eating at a few of the restaurants including Clementines. Our last night there we went to a movie in the old theater downtown. As we were coming out, the sun was starting to go down so we walked down to the pier and got some great shots of the sunset. Someone was even nice enough to snap a photo of us together with the sunset as our backdrop.

On Monday morning, we got up, packed up and headed back home. I was excited to head back first thing since I was a little homesick for the kids. I knew they were in great hands, but I had never been away from them for that long, especially Aaron. When we got home, we got to hear all about their adventures with Papa & Nana in Grand Rapids at my sister and brother-in-laws house. They went to the the Children's Museum for a few hours one day and then spent the rest of the time playing at the park by my sisters house. All in all it was a great weekend for all of us and we were able to spend the actual holiday as a family! Thank goodness for mini vacations!!!

All Because Two People Fell in Love...

One of my Mother's Day presents this year included a portrait session with the kids and my growing belly. It was the first time I have ever had pregnancy pictures taken and I LOVE how they turned out. The boys did so well with cooperating and we were able to get an awesome family shot. I can feel the love they have for their baby sister already! Enjoy!!!

Parenting advice anyone!?

I'm just about at the end of my rope with a certain 4-year-old in my house that shall remain nameless for the time being. Everyday I wake up knowing getting him dressed and to the breakfast table is going to be my first (of many) challenge of the day. The rest of the day goes EXACTLY how the day before went. Power struggles and flat out disobeying! Most of you know I try to be reasonable yet stern (for those of you laughing, shhh!). However, with him, all reasoning goes out the door and frustration sets in. I do love the fact he is a strong willed child because I know later in life it will get him far, but as of now all it does is get him in trouble. Unfortunately, I am out of disciplinary ideas of how to deal with him these days. Time outs, grounding and even a few butt spanks seem to be getting me no where. I remember back when he was a laid back and quiet little guy. I miss those days!!! HELP!!!

Hoppy Easter...

The kids started off Easter morning bright and early by hunting down their Easter baskets.

Andrew showing off the great movies from his basket...

Austin digging through his basket...

Aaron checking out his basket...

 After they found their baskets, it was on to search for eggs. The kids were able to find the eggs pretty easily, but rumor has it that as the kids get older, the Easter bunny will start making the hunt a little harder ;)

Andrew finding the eggs with his name on them...

 Austin going in on the search...

 Austin helping Aaron out...

 Andrew and Austin trying to choose the best ones...

 Still more to seek...

 More than enough for everyone...

Aaron found a couple especially for him...

Their 'egg'citing findings...

After we got done with the morning festivities, I got the other boys dressed and we all headed over to my parents house for Easter dinner. It slipped my mind to take any more pictures of all the boys dressed up, but they really did look adorable all dressed up in their Easter outfits. It was another wonderful holiday with the family!

'Egg'stravaganza...

Spring has sprung and Easter is in the air! With Easter comes the dying of Easter eggs. I haven't been feeling the greatest with this pregnancy, so I held off doing this little task as long as possible. I finally bit the bullet today and set everything up for the kids to color their eggs. They did pretty well and made very little of a mess... my kind of project!

 Andrew writing his name on his egg...

Austin stirring his egg around...

Andrew taking his egg out of the dye...

Austin seeing if his egg is dark enough...

Andrew coloring another...

Austin loves the bright colors...

Andrew with this egg...

Austin admiring his...

 Aaron and I working on his egg...

He had fun stirring it...

Aaron's final project...

Boys Birthday Pics...

I finally took the boys to get their birthday pictures taken. I procrastinated this year because it seemed like everytime I was ready to take them, they would have a blemish on their face or a runny nose. They finally had a day where their faces looked great, but of course, I didn't think about haircuts. Oh well! Hope you all enjoy regardless!

Aaron...

Silly little guy...

Austin...

So handsome...

My big guy, Andrew...

Another Year Older, and None the Wiser...

It's hard to believe we are in the middle of March and another birthday has passed for me. Luckily I still have one more year in my 20's before turning the big 3-0, and I am relieved. I'm not ready to grow up and be a 30 year old adult. I enjoy being a 20 something-year-old, swinging on swings and playing tag (even without my kids). It's even harder to believe how much my little guys are growing up. I remember thinking last year on Andrew's birthday how this would be the last year he could hold up just one hand to signify his age. And on Aaron's thinking that his bday would be the LAST 1st bday we celebrate as a family (little did I know God had a different plan for us). Now to look at my boys at 2 years, 4 years and 6 years old, I am amazed. It once again makes me question my age and maturity. Am I really old enough to have 3 kids and one more on the way? I am thankful that I will be done having kids by the age of 30, because that was always my own personal age limit. I just never thought the number of kids would end up being 4 after we actually started a family. I will admit, even 4 1/2 months later, a HUGE part of me is still in shock over the pregnancy. As I get bigger, feel the baby move more, hear the heartbeat and glance at the pics time to time it does sink in more. When we found out about this one it was definitely a bittersweet moment. The brief thought of "this could be our girl" was quickly replaced with thoughts of a summer pregnancy, being cut open a 4th time, being up all night again for feedings, having a child constantly on my hip when Aaron had just finally gained more independence, diaper changing for another 2 years, finishing the bedrooms downstairs sooner than expected to make more room, and lastly just the added expense of another child (especially since I had just recently given ALL my baby stuff away). So many overwhelming thoughts and emotions that I had never experienced with my other pregnancies. Are we really ready for all this again? Then I look around at all the people who never get a chance to experience these thoughts, feelings and even fears. My husband has a job, we have a house, 2 cars, savings in the bank and most of all a very supportive family and group of friends. I mean, here I am 29 years old and am still acting selfish about the greatest miracle that can be given to a person which leaves me to conclude - another year older and still none the wiser...

Birthday Bash...

Since the boys' birthdays all fall within a 3 week span of each other, we usually do one joint birthday party to celebrate. And since the kids have so many friends along with a large family, I try to find a large, kid friendly place to host all of us. This year we decided to go with Jungle Joes. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, it's an indoor gymnasium with a bunch of inflatible slides and bouncers that provide hours of sliding and jumping fun! We had about 20 kids come and join in the birthday festivities. For the first hour, the kids played in the bounce area and had a blast bouncing and sliding their little hearts out.

Andrew going down the big slide...

Austin bouncing like a little kangaroo...

And of course, we had to have a pinata filled with yummy candy!

Austin pulling the first string...

Andrew giving it a try...

The mob of kids going after the goodies...

After playing in the arena part and opening the pinata, our party was escorted to a room on the side to continue the birthday festivities and sing Happy Birthday.

Blowing out the candles...

Once everyone filled up on pizza, pop, cake and ice cream, it was on to the presents. It was so nice because we were given a helper for each child to help them unwrap their gifts. All I had to do was sit back and relax while the "helpers" took care of everything... it was wonderful!

So many presents...

By the end of the day, everyone was completely exhausted and ready to go home! It was a great way to celebrate the kids birthday and I am excited to see what next year brings for them!