12 weeks (almost), sickies, my birthday, & pumpkin carving 101

I'm almost 12 weeks (tomorrow)...yay! I went to see my MD yesterday for a "was supposed to be quick heart beat check" and spent over an hour at his office. I'm not complaining...really. But they couldn't find the heart beat so then I needed an ultrasound to see little Baby V #4 jumping all around like the crazy baby s/he is. I expressed my concerns about suffering from a bit (understatement of the millennium) of insomnia and so we are going to try mild meds first before I move on to drugging myself silly to get some sleep;-) When I was leaving I asked him when to return and I was holding 4 fingers up for 4 weeks and he was like "uh, 2 weeks would be good" and my NP friend was standing there chatting with me laughing at me (and him) for his not listening to me and for his cautiousness with me...

So, today I'm sick (again). I'm sick of being sick. I was sick Saturday and even had to call off of work. Today I'm going out for my birthday after my evening Bible Study and I feel so yucky and appetite less and pathetic. Speaking of the big day (yesterday)...it was pretty good-I mean I got to see my little jumping bean on screen, I got lots of email birthday wishes and calls (thank you ALL!!!!). At work the gals all brought yummy food and my cake was pretty good;-). One gal even brought me in a card and a pretty little rose bush thingy-so sweet. My sis ran over a gift while I was at work and my hub put a gift from my best pal Kara in the van. Tim had the boys make a special card for me with their hand prints and got me a box of white fudge covered oreos (big spender;-). I got a new Vera Bradley hand bag from my dad and my mom spoiled me with lots of ginger bread themed Christmas decor. It was a nice day even though I worked and I loved being made to feel special...too bad my birth month is over soon;-)

Lastly, here's some much needed color for my picture sparse blog...Pumpkin carving 101 compliments of the Valiant boys:

1st you need a good design:

(if you are not allowed to design, you whine):




Cleaning out the innards is fun, but messy...Owen even got in on the action:


What a ham!

Finished product: Left to right-Owen's, TJ's, and Jake's masterpieces;-)

11 weeks, 33 years, and on being a brat

I'm going to post my title backwards.

On being a brat:

Who's the brat? WHO IS THE BRAT?

Me, me, me, ME.....MMMMMMMEEEEEEE! I'm the brat!

Have you ever just been a brat. Not like a typical lil sis 5 year old brat, but a full-fledged adult B-R-A-T?

I was today. Why? I dunno. I hate being a brat. I hate feeling like a brat. I hate acting like a brat. I hate other people knowing I'm being a brat.

So, why do I do it? I dunno. I hope I wake up tomorrow, not a brat.

On being 33 years-old that is. I am. Or will be-next Tuesday, the 28th of October (my fav date of the year of course). It will be my 3rd birthday in my lifetime being pregnant-the ultimate gift. Jacob just couldn't hold off til his due date to make it 4 times as it should be. I love birthdays (or at least mine;-). I love birthday cake (the kind I make). I love being made to feel special on one's birthday. I love my birthday and usually proclaim most of the month of October as "about me";-) I even planned my own carry-in at work since I have to work on my birthday. I'm bringing the cake;-) So, while I'm being a brat and being selfish, "happy birthday to me;-)".

On being 11 weeks preggo:

Here's where I gush. I'm so thankful to still be pregnant. I'm such a pregnancy freak and worry at every little cramp, etc. I've now checked for this little dude's heartbeat twice. I got to see s/he having a big ole party in my ever growing uterus-totally worthy of Cirque du Soleil moves. It's so miraculous to me. My one wonder-why do I remember being pregnant as such glorious times? I'm mean, sensitive, annoying, critical, tearful, selfish, tired, did I mention sensitive? Oh and FAT! I can't wait for 2 things 1) to find out he's a boy -uh, I mean to find out the sex, and 2) to feel him move inside me. That's what I think I relish about pregnancy. The bending over and not being able to reach the floor part-not so much.

Here's what they say about the 11th week of pregnancy: The baby is no longer a southern fruit (thanks Kristy) but instead now more like a large LIME! Grow lime baby lime! In just 3 short weeks I may be able to determine that s/he's a he! Ha! I know I joke about this and I'll let the cat outta the bag. Yes, a boy would be way easier, but it's true that I would be delighted with a girl until the first time she needs her hair done, she starts her period (OMGoodness!), she wants to wear a bikini or make-up! Ugh! The mysteries of young women. Oh and the ever -so accurate chinese birth calendar says it's a girl.

What's going on with me? Other than the previously mentioned "character flaws", my nails are growing like mad-kinda cool. I actually need to trim them. I'm supposed to feel "warmer" than usual but the opposite is true for me-I'm a cold-hearted snake! On a good news front-my b/p and bs (that is, blood sugar;-) are perfect. I've been working like a crazy lunatic mad woman at the hospital. I just worked 87 hours in 9 days-but I had had one night off (where I slept like a brick Saturday;-) I still work 24 more hours on this pay period so can you say "welcome home Wii for the Valiant boys this Christmas? Let's just say it's a strong maybe. Two of three Valiant boys have been sick this week so that's really been a challenge at home. Tim has taken some time off and I've sacrificed some much needed sleep. Oh the sickies were Owen and Jacob in that order and the ailment was fever and crankiness. Yay-a great no sleep combo. Fun for the whole family actually. Still haven't located the lost camera so we are still pictureless and it's really too bad because Owen's hair is soooo stinkin' cute. It's about 4-5 inches long and it won't lay down-it's got some crazy root volume plague and thus, stands on end all the time. He's a real hit with, well, pretty much EVERYONE who comes in contact with him. He's talking up a storm and has given up all signs for the more convenient "chatter". He even says his name is "O-wen". It's so cute-I must record it for you-well, if I had a recording device.

TJ and Owen's birthdays are nearing. TJ made the cutest list:

My birthday list,
Mars mission legos
Some more hermit crab stuff
A new football
Webkinz
Science books
A new alarm clock/radio
Sea shells
Hot wheel cars
New games
More money
Tinker toys
A phone
A net
Actaly any legos
Puzzles
Moveis
Collering books and crayons


Isn't that priceless? Well, actually, it's really expensive but you gotta admire the ambition of it all and it's definitely an improvement from last Christmas' Laptop, Wii, playstation, $300 ramp, etc.

I should be sleeping but thanks to a very messed up internal clock-here I am typing away. I must stop this madness. I have 2 whole days off to relish so I need to be awake to enjoy them. Lay-ta!

10 weeks, & a delay

I can't believe the lil guy is 10 weeks already! Really;-) He's now labeled a "fetus". And he was compared to the size of a kumquat (what's that?). I'm so amazed and thankful to have another baby growing inside of me.

I went to the doctor for my first appointment and he was surprisingly supportive and optimistic. As in, he thinks I have very good chances of having a normal healthy pregnancy and delivery (YAY!). I pray he's right. He also denounced (I think that's the right word) the myth that I can't have high blood pressure again and have a vaginal delivery. What he did say is that they rarely induce a VBAC (that is, a patient desiring to deliver vaginally after a cesarean delivery). He also said he'd monitor me closely and do some serial growth ultrasounds at 20 weeks but other than that, I'm good watching my blood sugar and blood pressure.

So, in other news, the Hospital (Clarian Arnett Health) opened today (Thursday). It was a delay of 24 hours from the anticipated opening of Wednesday morning, but the 24 hours was good for all of us to become more comfortable with all the equipment, etc. We finally have our first patient and we even have inductions on the books for tomorrow (Friday). I worked last night, tonight and I also work tomorrow night so, it's a good test of seeing how 12 hour shifts go and working lots in a row. Tonight has been harder with not much to do yet but I anticipate tomorrow night going faster since we should have at least a couple patients;-)

Oh and in really other news, the hermit crabs have been hilarious (at least to me;-) lately. The other day we noticed the bigger one changed shells again...into a really big one. Then the next day he was in a really tiny one. I finally got to looking and I realized somehow, the bigger one is back into his original shell that we bought him in and the little guy has now tried out at least 2 if not 3 homes for size. The little one is currently in the one the bigger one just left...so weird. We wish we knew how the exchanges have taken place since the bigger guy is now in the shell the lil one was in all this time (like, did he evict him?).

Anyway, that's my excitement-not too impressive, I know. I'll get back to work now and go ask around about what a kumquat is;-)

Oh and we still need names.

9 weeks with not much to share

The baby is apparently pretty boring from week 8 to 9...I think he has pretty much all his parts now, they just need to grow and develop of course. He is the size of a strawberry. I told my lil' sis Amanda that and she said "Like a chocolate covered strawberry"...I chuckled and added-yes, with lots of marshmallow fluff too!

I've lost my new camera. It's actually been gone since the day we got back from the cruise-I took Owen's picture with it and we've never seen it since (*sad*).

I have no real news (nor photos) to share...*boring*.

I saw the movie FIREPROOF today though and I HIGHLY recommend it...seriously-just go see it...with your spouse-don't delay! Take your friends (and their spouses) too!

Maybe week 10 will be more interesting...until then;-)

PS still taking name entries...no winners yet (sorry but keep them coming! PLEASE! Play along-we need yourt help or this baby could remian nameless!). FYI Owen holds the current record as the longest without name...well into my second trimester and after I was on bedrest.

8 weeks, 23 months, and 5 years!

Wow, I feel like I have so much to share...where to begin?

I'll start with the good news: I went in for an OFFICIAL early ultrasound today and VB#4 was lookin' good! S/he was 1.5 cm in size and measured PERFECTLY for 8 weeks making my official due date by BOTH LMP and EARLY ultrasound May 15th, 2009. Wow-how bout that? I feel so blessed.

Aside from being BEYOND tired (I literally fall asleep sitting up throughout the day, even with my infantile bedtime of 9pm;-), crabby, irritable, and super emotional, I'm doing great:-)

Apparently my uterus is nearing the size of a grapefruit and boy, can I tell-I'm wearing scrubs now at work, and thank goodness because my regular clothes are done! Yes, truly-apparently between increased fluid, swollen "innards", and my kidney bean sized kiddo, I'm feeling like a swollen fatty.

The pregnancy sites for 8 weeks are pretty interesting...stating you may notice some fatigue (uh, yeah!), increasing waistline (yep), and full swing nausea (thank you Jesus for sparing me this;-). The sites share the baby's nose is formed and even some of the bones are starting to harden. Many cool things for this little dude-oh and the funniest part, even these websites know I'm having a boy as they refer to the baby as "him";-) He, he.

Ok, I have a fun challenge and request for help: I know this is way premature, but hey, there's no time like the present---I would love help in naming this little bean. Seriously, I need ideas-I'm spent. I mean, it's hard to top TJ, Jacob, and Owen (TJ stands for Timothy Ryan Jr.).

Here are some guidelines: It must flow well-it can't be TJ, Jacob, Owen, and Ken-it's just doesn't have a good ring to it-IT HAS TO FLOW WELL with the other 3 boys.

Please tell me your fav boy and girl names. Also, I'm a cutesy name girl, so I need to be able to cutesify the name...for example: when TJ was a baby, he was Timmy and now that he's older he's Teej. Jacob is Jake, Jakes, Jakers, etc. Owen is Owey, and Owers. I really the the ability to have that "E" sound on the end thus Joaquin (while an AWESOME name) is OUT!

I don't want to duplicate names in the family so here are other names that are out:
Lindsey, Kathryn, Jonah, Lee, Grant, Michael, Drew, McKinnley, Gavin, Noel.

This is just for fun, but wouldn't it be cool if I picked the name you wanted???


Ok, on to other things: I have a weird PAINFUL swollen knot on my leg. The left one on the outside portion between my ankle and knee. It hurts! It's been there since last week. I thought it was cancer. No seriously, it really concerned me so I went to the MD today. She said I stumped her and sent me for an ultrasound of my leg. The tech said you can see things like fluid and infection and of course blood clots with a U/S and he saw nothing of the sort so, I have no idea except that it's not cellulitus (sorry Kristy).

So, I'm hoping it will go away and of course with that, stop hurting but who knows?

The hospital opens in less than 2 weeks! It is an exciting time! We are ready but we're not. There's just a lot of details to still perfect. We have a family open house this Sunday and then a public open house the next Sunday. Apparently, I have another photo that was chosen (strangely enough, the hospital has a tree theme but the picture that was chosen was a Manta Ray-go figure:-).




Oh, and I know I will not have time to post tomorrow so I will post now about Owen's 23 month stats. Tim had to take the boys in since I was at my own eternal appointment. Anyway, Owen weighed 19 pounds 12 ounces and was 30 3/8 inches long! Yes, he's up a few ounces and 3/8 an inch so he's growing and I am happy. He's developing and getting to be really TWOISH! Just to keep up with my comparison psychopath issues, he's roughly the weight of an average 8 month old and get this-the height of a 13 month old-YAY! He is down on the weight for length chart which just compares him to him and nothing age related-he's teetering on the 3rd percentile.


I actually cancelled his 2 year check up with the endocrinologist because I've all but decided he will not be given growth hormone, but now I'm 2nd guessing myself and think he should at least be evaluated even if I have no intention of GH. So, after Owen's 2 year check up at his regular pedi, I will probably reschedule the Owester with the pediatric endocrinologist.

Now for the Jakes: He's doin' great! He's maintained his 25th percentile growth curve even into his 5th year of life-which I find so interesting-he's my little box the same growth curve for height and weight! He struggled a bit with his hearing exam -say what? but they feel it was due to Owen's chatty/distractiveness;-). He also has large tonsils-the MD said if you put them on a 5 point scale, his are a 4 so they are large but not completely obstructive. So, it will be up to us to remove them or not-reasons to remove them are b/c he snores, awakes frequently and misbehaves/is tired even when he's gone to bed at 9pm and not woke up until 7am.

So, that's it---that's the 8 week, 23 month and 5 year update(s).