Happy Birthday To Me!

Ok, Ok, I'm one of those people that usually hates my birthday. And I'm definitely not one of those to even document my own birthday. But this year turned the tide on all that. I had one of my best birthday's ever!

It all started when my friends threw me a surprise birthday party about a week and a half before my birthday. It was so thoughtful and fun. No pictures of the big night, but it really was a blast. Yummy food, pretty decorations, fun games and lots of laughter.

I loved that we were not the ones traveling on Thanksgiving for a change. It was great to have family come to us.

And Bret did something so sweet and thoughtful. He normally does not like cooking/baking. He'll grill, or do breakfast food, but spending time hunched over a kitchen counter isn't his thing. So when I woke up from a nap to find him with an apron on in the kitchen busy at work I was amazed. He had found a recipe all on his own from epicurious and made me a yummy and beautiful layered cake all from scratch. It was really so thoughtful of him and really meant a lot to me

Thanksgiving Weekend

It was so wonderful to have my parents be able to spend a week with us. They were even able to be here for the last soccer Saturday of the season.

Grandpa went to Zachary's game and saw him score his very first goal!

Grandma cheered on Abby at her game...

McKenna's game was very windy...somehow my mom managed to stay warm and still watch the game...

McKenna's team won their game and her team ended up taking first place in their challenge league!

McKenna created crazy hair do's on my dad...

Grandma read lots of books to the kids...

And taught the girls a thing or too about cooking a turkey Thanksgiving morning...

The boys were happy to play the wii...

My girls had a blast making these place card holders for everyone...

It was sad to have to say goodbye come Friday, but we sure loved the time we got to have them here!

After dropping them off at the airport Friday afternoon, we headed up to D.C. with my brother Paul and his family who had come to visit from Indiana.

We walked The Mall at night and I have to say that was pretty amazing.

McKenna and Lydia

Brenden and Zachary

We got up the next morning and went to the American History Museum, the George Washington Monument, a tour of the Capital Building and the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress was definitely not Gavin's thing, so we waited outside and I entertained him by taking silly face pictures...I actually really love these!

It's an understatement to say that Zachary LOVED Brenden around. They were always holding hands or had their arms around each other. Tina and I laughed remember how we used to wonder if they would ever get along with each other when we used to live by each other in Arizona. It's nice that they've gotten past the stage of intentionally pushing each other's buttons.

McKenna gave Gavin her camera to take a picture of her...and amazingly he did pretty good.

Paul, Tina, Brooklyn, Lydia and Brenden.

Thanks for visiting us!!! We love it anytime we can get family to come our way.

Grateful...

There is so much to be grateful for...

I was especially grateful for two main things this year. First, not having gestational diabetes! That's right, my tests came back clear! We couldn't be more excited about it. Secondly, so grateful to have a house full of family to share Thanksgiving with us. My parents were able to come and spend a week with us and my brother and his family drove from Indiana and spent 3 days...it was wonderful! (more on the family visits to come)

I love our gratitude tree that takes up an entire wall during the month of November.

It starts out a little sparse...

but by Thanksgiving Day it is overflowing with all the many things we are grateful for.

T.M.I.

At the expense of an over share...I'm going there.

My body is D.O.N.E. It's had it. I feel like there has always been some sort of pain or discomfort or something wrong the entire time I've been pregnant. It's like my body has been put through the ringer and is telling me "no more." And I'm not even that old to be having a baby.

Just to chronicle the "fun" I've had the last six and a half months....

• Severe vomiting/nausea. I know, nothing new for me and was expected. Still, not fun. In fact my doctor thinks I may have damaged my esophagus due to this. Lovely.
• E. coli...don't know how I came down with this one and it grosses me out just thinking about it.
• UTI...my first one. Again, NOT FUN!
• Hemorrhoids...painful.
• Weekly injections in my rear end of progesterone...again, not fun and they make me sick.
• Sciatic Nerve problems...I've had days where I literally cannot walk.

And now, to top it all off...

I failed my one hour glucose test.

Yep.

Failed.

There is now a high probability that I have Gestational Diabetes. NOT FUN!!!!

I go back this Friday to take a three hour glucose test. Lovely. I had to fight to keep that stuff down for the one hour, and now I have to do it three?

I'm jumping the gun a little with my anxiety over this, I know. We wont know anything till next week. As Bret puts it...I anticipate and plan, and he reacts once we know what is really going on.

But come on people.

Gestational Diabetes.

I'm worried.

To be honest, I don't know a lot of details about diabetes and no doubt if I fail this test too, I'll be finding out a whole lot more then I ever wanted to know. But what I have learned so far is that I will have to watch and count every little thing I put in my mouth. No carbs...goodbye pastas, rice, bread. Goodbye sugars and sweets. (And oh yah, there are these holiday's called Thanksgiving and CHRISTMAS that are just around the corner!) Bring on the testing of my blood multiple times a day. And even possibly insulin shots.

Not to mention the fun of delivering a huge baby. My babies are big enough as it is! Because of size, I'm worried about the increase chances of c-sections.

I'm worried that this puts me at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life. But I know that I also have a lot of control over this through diet and exercise.

In my mind and in my heart I know that these "trials" of mine are in reality blessings. I can conceive at what seems like the very thought of having a baby. My arms are not empty, wanting nothing more then to hold a child. And for that I am filled with gratitude.

But that doesn't take away from the fact that this is still hard.

So for now I wait. I worry. I plan. I take another test on Friday.

And then I move forward. And if I have to, make the necessary adjustments in my life to keep myself and this baby healthy.

Dear Bret,

While you've been gone...

...I know it's only been a few days but we've missed you! Although I'm not sure who has missed you more, the kids or me? It's a pretty close call and I tell the kids I win on this one.

We've enjoyed beautiful mid 60 degree weather and I've tried to get the kids to enjoy as much outside play time as possible.

We picked 16.5 pounds of pink lady apples. They are GOOD! I think there just might be a few left when you get back. :)

I even remembered to put out the trash! But I did not remember to turn down the heat at night.

Zachary used his sleep in late pass this morning and I have to make two different runs taking the kids to school. I am very tempted just to keep him home with me today, who knows, I just may.

I do not sleep well when you're not here. I have to fall asleep with the TV on in our room (which I hate) and I wake up a lot in the night. I even sleep on your side of the bed when you're not there...did you know that?

I have no motivation to make a real meal, and yet there are still five of us who are hungry for dinner. So far we've had waffles, bagel bites and I think tonight might be German pancakes...still not sure.

McKenna had her first basketball practice...you would have loved watching her run up and down the court with that ball.

I miss talking to you 6 times throughout the day. You're busy conducting research and I miss our frequent little phone conversations.

The hardest time without you is after dinner. The kids still do their dinner chores. We still have family scripture study (although it's not nearly as good), they still get ready for bed and the girls are helpful with Gavin if he needs help. But, as you know, that time of day I feel like my energy is completely depleted and I'm running on fumes. I really am aware of how much you really do to help out. I'm not oblivious to it, at least I hope not. Somehow it's just magnified when you're gone. Do I thank you enough? Really, I feel so equally yoked with you and it's one of those things that just fills my heart with warmth. So in case I haven't mentioned it lately, I'm so grateful for all you do within the walls of our home to help and bless our family. Thank you. You're the best!

Abby pouted for 15 minutes because her cereal bowl was not filled to the brim. Of all the nerve, I wanted to save some for me. To her credit she overcame, ate her cereal, and even apologized.

I had to take the lovely pregnancy glucose test today. I threw up on the way there and had to pull over on the 250. I fought really hard to keep that gross orange drink down for the hour needed before they took my blood. And guess what...I did it!!! I did throw up 2 minutes later as I walked to the car, but I'm counting it as a huge tender mercy! Blood drawn, test complete, and now I wont have to test my blood sugar on a daily basis!

I also had my weekly injection today...now I'm sick.

Gavin has missed wrestling with you. I've missed you wrestling with Gavin!!!

I made bread today, and you would have laughed at how excited the kids were when they walked in the door and smelled it.

You haven't had to travel much and we're definitely spoiled with having you around. You bring such a fun life and energy to our family. It's just not the same without you. I'm excited that you're coming home. I like it much better when you're here and we're all under the same roof. :)

I love you.

Em

Monticello Trails

With no school, and weather in the upper 60's it was the perfect day for a picnic and hike yesterday. We met our good friends the Harris's at Monticello Trails, had a picnic and then headed our way up the trails. It couldn't have been a better day.

The kids found this perfect climbing tree...Gavin Harris was the first one up and he went way up there...as near the top as possible

My Gavin had a great time with Jonah

There was this old, hollowed out tree that used to stand next to Thomas Jefferson's house that the kids explored and played in.

The thing was massive...McKenna could stand straight up in it.

I love these trails...how can you not when you're walking on bridges surrounded by trees like this?

My girls think it's good luck to catch leaves as they fall...

It was at this point (as we were 2/3 the way to Monticello) that my Gavin got tired. The rest of the gang headed up the trails and Gavin and I went down and got the car to go meet them.

The crew: Caleb, Zachary, Jonah, Abby, Gavin, Liam and McKenna

We have such a great time with this family. Our kids are all around the same ages and they have such a great time together.

They got to Monticello and had to wait a little while before Gavin and I got there...they did the children's museum, the gift shop, and played in the fountains.

McKenna and Liam

Abby and Caleb

This has been the longest and most beautiful fall ever. Here it is almost November 10th and the colors are still a site to behold. The reds are a little muted but the golds are still vibrant. Have I mentioned I love where I live?