Gimme an N!

Saturday was Noodle's birthday! As usual, I'm a loser and didn't take any new pictures. Also adding to my loserness is the fact that it is now five days past her birthday and I'm just NOW posting about it!

Noodle woke up Saturday morning, saying, "Is it my birthday?" Chicken Nugget was adding to Noodle's excitement, having a greater understanding of birthdays and all. So Noodle was getting very, very excited!

Noodle was happy with her gifts - a Tinkerbell costume, new church dress, pink tights, and $4 from Grandma and Pappa; a pig Webkinz from Chicken Nugget; a Dora bigwheel from Buffalo Wings and me. She could hardly wait for Daddy to get that big wheel put together! She was out in the driveway with it before 9AM!

We didn't really get to do a birthday party for her, but it worked out ok. We knew a little girl who was having a birthday party that day, so BW took all three kids. It was great, because it was at the park and everything. The kids had cake and hot dogs, there was a pinata, and they all came home with sombreros and pinata prizes. They were also exhausted and took some good naps!

BW made Noodle a great birthday cake while she was napping. It was the cutest thing to watch her as the family sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She grinned and looked at the floor. She was so happy that all attention was on her, and she was so, so cute about it. I just wanted to squeeze her and kiss her with all her cuteness! She loved blowing out her candles and making a wish. She also loved eating the cake!

I just don't know what our family would be like without Noodle. Finding out about her pending arrival was a very big surprise very early in our marriage! But we were thrilled. Chicken Nugget had prayed for a baby sister from the day that BW and I got married. Noodle was such a good baby, just content and happy to be in the world. She loved to lay under her baby gym and talk and squeal. Noodle is now a busy and happy and bubbly little girl! She loves to laugh and to make other people laugh. Last night she was entertaining all of us with a frog puppet she had made. She took Mr. Frog to each family member and addressed them in a deep voice, "Hello, Mr. Mamma! Hello, Mr. Daddy! Hello, Mr. Banana! Hello, Mr. Chicken Nugget! I am Mr. Frog!" It was so cute and we laughed and laughed. Noodle is always entertaining us, but getting hugs and kisses from Noodle is a very, very special thing. She doesn't dole them out very freely. You know you've done something to make Noodle feel very special if she gives you some of her very special hugs and kisses.

Noodle, we love you so much!!!!! We're so glad that you are part of our family. You are a great gift from God and we don't know what we'd do without you. We're so happy that you had a wonderful fourth birthday!

That Test . . .

Remember that test I wrote about in a previous post? The one that took five hours? I must say, I fretted and fretted over that test. I was really, really worried. But . . .

I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!

Woo-hoo!!!! I just found out!

Also, about the job interview last week - I felt really good about it. I think it went great.

What's in a Name?

Buffalo Wings told me that I could go ahead and share the name that we have FINALLY chosen for Baby Boy!!!!!!!!

Here it is:

Charles Edward

Charles - meaning: Free Man; origin: German
Edward - meaning: Wealthy Guardian; origin: English

Charles is a name I had picked out long ago for Chicken Nugget, if she had been a boy. Edward is BW's middle name and was his father's name. We thought they sounded good together! We'll call him Charlie.

Home, Again . . .

I had another hospital stay last night, though it was only for an hour or so. I was contracting like crazy yesterday and had to monitor about four times. The last time I monitored, my nurse called me and told me to go straight to the hospital. I was checked at the hospital and there had been no changes (I have not dilated past a one, thankfully!), so Dr. F let me go home. I have to go to the doctor again today. The contractions have slowed WAAAAYYYY down, and I know it is because we had so many people praying for us last night. Our Sunday school class is a great little network, and word got around really fast that I was headed to the hospital again.

Now, I'll tell you where I'm going again right now . . . back to bed to try to catch up some sleep I missed due to all those contractions . . .

Home . . .

. . . from the hospital, that is! That was my best Mother's Day present. That I got to come home from the hospital!

On Friday afternoon, somewhere around 2-2:30, I started noticing that pressure way down in my lower back (and other areas, *ahem*). It was that pressure that concerned my doctor at my last appointment, the pressure that she told me not to sit around at home and feel. Instead, I should get myself to the hospital if I feel it.

I called Dr. F and she told me to get to the hospital ASAP, so as soon as Buffalo Wings got home, I went. The nurse checked me and I was dilated to a one. I hadn't been dilated before this. The pressure was getting stronger, with a little pain. Dr. F wanted me to spend the night, and she gave me lovely cocktail which included Demerol. That helped me rest and relax and slowed the contractions.

Saturday morning, Dr. F came in to see us (some great friends from church kept the kids overnight so that BW could be with me) and said she wanted me to stay the day and get some steroid shots to help develop the baby's lungs. I was disappointed, because I had really counted on being able to go home that morning. But I knew it was the best thing for the baby to hang out a little while longer, especially since my contractions had picked up again and I'd gotten another Demerol cocktail at about 4AM Saturday morning.

I was on the monitor off and on during my stay, having some mild contractions and some minor irritability of the uterus (which basically means really short contractions). Dr. F came in Sunday morning and said I could go home, but that I am now on strict bed rest. I can get up to go to the bathroom and to eat, but that's it. She said if I can make it to 34 weeks, she will let me deliver. I'm still worried about delivering at 34 weeks; I hope to make it to 36 weeks.

I'm still contracting, still with a little pain, but am really trying to hang in there. Friends are taking the little kids during the day for the next two weeks, so that I really can do bed rest. Bed rest plus a three-year-old and a two-year-old at home equals no bed rest at all. So this is really helping us out. I can't say enough about how our church family has really taken over for us.

So, I'm home and hope to stay here for awhile.

Small Update

I went to the doctor yesterday. Things are status quo. As long as I rest, rest, rest, I have lots fewer contractions. My monitoring sessions have been good. I wake up every morning saying, "Yay! I'm still pregnant!"

I was feeling lots of pressure this weekend, mainly in the middle of the night, and was in some pain. My doctor told me that if I feel those symptoms again, that I should go straight to the hospital. My home health nurse increased my terbutaline after I called her and told her I was feeling; the increase seems to have helped.

I have my job interview TODAY!!!!!!! I'm excited and nervous. I'll let you know how it goes.

More Baby Stuff

I had a dr.'s appointment yesterday. I have still not dilated - YAY!!! But the contractions are getting more frequent and more painful. They are accompanied by lots of pressure sometimes.

Dr. F said, "I want you to super rest this weekend!" She's going out of town and she doesn't want to come back with me in the hospital. She also said, "I mean, seriously, come on. What is up with you? I give you two drugs, I make you rest, what is going on? Work with me here!"

Dr. F is great!

I told her that I'm not an ornery person, and that I'm trying to work with her!

I asked her how Baby Boy would do if he were to be born within the next few weeks. She said he'd do well, since he is over two pounds by now. She said after 34 weeks, he'd do even better. He would have to be intibated and put in the NICU, but that he would do pretty well. That was comforting, but still, the thought of a preemie in the NICU . . . not something I want to think about.

My drugs: Terbutaline - relaxes the smooth muscles, makes me shaky, increases my heart rate; Procardia - relaxes the smooth muscles, makes me dizzy, decreases my blood pressure. Summary: I'm a doped-up mess, but the baby stays in the belly!

I've been doing a pretty good job at looking on the bright side. I could have given birth already to a very sick baby; I could be stuck in the hospital on an IV! There are so many things that could be going on, that aren't, from which I know God is protecting us. I know God's hand is on this situation. So many people are praying for us. In the end, He will be glorified when we are all able to say, "God has done this thing!"

Our church family has gone above and beyond caring for us. It is difficult to be parents of small children; it is even more difficult when one of the parents is unable to cook, clean, or otherwise get up off the couch! Poor Scott comes home from work and then does the work of two people in order to take care of the house and the kids. Our Sunday school class has brought food and helped with laundry and childcare. It's been amazing to see, and humbling. We are more than grateful.

I had a dream about Baby Boy last night. He was beautiful and healthy and content. Also, he didn't look like Buffalo Wings - he looked like ME!!!!

We're still having trouble picking a name for this kid! We were talking about it last night and still couldn't agree on anything! Actually, in my dream, we had him at home and were STILL trying to figure out a name for him! Isn't that sad?

Thanks for reading my blog and for praying. We love you all -

I GOT AN INTERVIEW!!!!!

I got a job interview!

It's for a ninth-grade English position!

The interview is next Thursday at 4:30! PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!!!

Baby Boy Name Delimma Solved!

Noodle came up with a fabulous name!

"I think we should name him Sunshine Rainbow. That sounds like a happy name," she said.

What do you think?

Laugh With Me!

I had another doctor's appointment yesterday. I have a fabulous babysitter, and I had conferenced with her on Monday after being ordered not to work anymore. I told her that I may be needing her from time to time as I have doctor's appointments, and that I would need her Thursday. She said she'd be expecting us.




So yesterday I got everyone ready and off to Babysitter's house. Only . . . Babysitter wasn't there! We knocked at the door . . . knocked again . . . and again . . .





Sometimes Babysitter and the other kids are in the backyard playing, so we checked. The backyard was deserted, and the house was dark. And in a moment of panic, I realized that I was now locked in the backyard. The fence latch can be only opened from the outside.





After a moment of surveying my situation, the first option is this: try the neighbor's fence. Luckily, I know Babysitter's neighbor, who is very nice. So I tried the latch. It was accessible, but I couldn't open it. Tried though I did, I couldn't open the darn thing!



Now, the thing that you have to understand is that I really am a cartoon character. These things are always happening to me in my cartoon character life. Please, read on:





The second option was this: try to climb over the chain link fence. I was trapped; I could see no other way out! I felt a little bit like some kind of tragic character. The trash pickup drove by, and for a moment I considered yelling at them to help, especially since none of the neighbors were home! But that trash pick-up is pretty speedy.





I worked out a procedure:
1)Lift bags over the fence
2)Lift children over the fence
3)Heave myself over the fence.





Mind you, I should not even be moving around, unless I'm getting up to use the bathroom! But I had to get out, right?





I lift the bags over without event. I lift the children over, praying that my water won't break. I take off my shoes and try to climb the fence. Yeah, right! I am also praying that the kids don't run away. Do you remember that riddle about the fox and the cheese and the goat and the boat, or something like that? I felt a little bit like I was in that riddle.





I spotted a red wagon and a lawn chair. I positioned the chair on the other side of the fence and the red wagon on my side. I managed to actually get my leg over the fence, but that chair was WAYYYYY down there! Noodle was clearly concerned, trying to move the chair for me, asking if she could hold my hand. Banana looked grief-stricken and fearful. I was near tears, and the fence was scratching my legs. I took my leg back down, gathered myself, and tried it again. This clearly was not going to work, since I wasn't even straddling the fence. Rather, my leg was just up in the air at some sort of strange angle.





Oooooo, what if I fell?????? This was simply NOT an option!




I decided to try the latch of the neighbor's fence one more time and to PRAY!!! The combination of trying and praying worked! I had tried that dadgum latch fifteen times before my attempt at fence-climbing. I'm sure there's a lesson to be learned in all this. Perhaps it's this: Pray BEFORE you try to climb the fence!*




I called my babysitter* last night; her mother has been very ill and I was afraid there had been some emergency. There was no emergency, and she was beside herself at having forgotten. I was laughing the whole time I was recounting the story, but she was appalled. She apologized profusely.




I said, "You have no idea who you are talking to," and explained my cartoon character life.




*by the time I was on the freeway to the doctor's office, I truly began to see the whole episode as a comedy sketch. Maybe I should send it into Saturday Night Live or MadTV.

**my babysitter is an AMAZING woman who has five children. She is so organized and on top of things. She truly amazes me and I wish I could be like her. I was relieved to find out that there was no emergency. I tried hard to make her understand how goofy I am and how I have had many, many experiences that will top any amount of her forgetfulness!

A Post Mostly About Chicken Nuggets' Birthday

Sunday was Chicken Nugget's birthday! She turned nine. I can hardly believe it. I can't believe it! I kept telling her the day before, "At this time nine years ago, you were trying to be born!"

Chicken Nugget is pretty predictable when it comes to her birthday eats. She always wants pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut. But this year, instead of a cake, she wanted brownies! Buffalo Wings was in charge of getting the brownie mix, so he got the one with all the little chocolate pieces mixed right in! They were a hit.

Chicken Nugget is totally into Webkinz, and she ended up getting three of them! She also got more cash than I can count! I imagine it will go toward some more Webkinz.

Because we have been losers lately, we didn't take any pictures of her birthday. So I've had to include all of these old pictures. There wasn't much fanfare on her birthday. We just hung around at home after church, gave her her Webkinz, and had her special birthday food. But she said it was the best birthday ever!

Chicken Nugget is still her sweet self. I told her just before she went to bed on the night of her birthday how glad I was that she was my girl. She told me how glad she was that I was her mom. She has such a sweet and generous spirit. She is always concerned about what is going on with others around her. She wants to make sure that all of us in the family are ok. If the little ones are hurt or upset, she's tries to comfort them.

Chicken Nugget is the best! I'm so glad that she came into the world nine years ago. We are so blessed to have her in our family. She is a wonderful gift from God.

I felt bad about CN's birthday, because I couldn't do as much as usual. I wanted to be more active, but I'm on doctor's orders! I have to rest more.

Yesterday I had my regular doctor's appointment. Before I went, I did my morning monitoring of my contractions. I was surprised when my home health nurse called me to say I'd had ELEVEN contractions in that one hour! I freaked out a bit. OK, I freaked out a lot. My pulse was also a little elevated, but the nurse still had me give myself a demand dose of terbutaline on my pump. When I got to the doctor, I was put on the monitor and had only mild uterine irritation. That was great news, and I felt so relieved!

However, the doctor prescribed me some procardia to go along with the terbutaline. She also told me that I can't go back to work. And that I have to be calm (in reference to my freak-out session) and rest a lot more. Poor BW is really pulling double duty these days with the house and the kids. Our wonderful Sunday school class is helping take up some of the slack by providing meals a few times a week and by sending some ladies to clean the house.

It is a new experience for me to be on almost complete bed rest. I like to be out and about. Baby Boy is the important thing right now, though. I have to stay pregnant! I want him to be big and healthy like my other sweet babies. My doctor said he's just already trying to make his way in the world by fighting for some attention! Bless his heart. I promise him I'll give him just as many hugs and sugars as his sisters and brother. I was thinking yesterday about how happy I will be to hold him for the first time and to know that he is ok.

God the Great Physician is taking care of Baby Boy and me. Please pray for us!

Sending much love to all of you -

I'm Sure I've Had a Worse Five Hours on a Saturday . . .

. . . I just don't remember them!

I took my content test today. Yes, it took me five hours. OK, it took me four hours and forty-five minutes. But who's counting?

I gotta go poke my leg with a needle now!

Pump it Up

I went to the doctor again yesterday, because I was having a few concerns. When I got there, my doctor was concerned as well - because my pump had still not arrived! And I was still contracting and having other signs of preterm labor. My doctor had ordered the pump for me on Monday, and I was supposed to have had it by Monday afternoon! I won't go into all the reasons for the delay, because it is a long story, but it has to do with insurance and contracts and yadda, yadda, yadda.

My doctor checked me again and still didn't like the position of my cervix. She sent me over to the hospital and had me admitted for observation. She came to check on me after a couple of hours and didn't like the pattern of my contractions. Though they were small, they were still noticable. The nurse gave me three shots of terbutaline.

My doctor said, "I called around and stamped my foot a little bit. I told the insurance people and the home health people, 'You can either pay for her pump or pay for her hospital stay, but I'm not going to have a 28-week baby here!'"

I LOVE my doctor!

Within the hour, the home health nurse was in my room showing me how to install and operate my pump, which will give me a constant dose of terbutaline. It looks like this:
The tube coming out of the top is connected to a syringe full of the medicine. The tube goes all the way to my leg. Like so:

The home health nurse made me stick that thing into my leg all by myself. Granted, it is a small needle, and the needle comes out, leaving only the tube. But still - still - I'm a wuss. I did fine with the poking, but then the thought of it sort of came to me.

I just stuck something in my leg. And then I left it there. And it's in my leg . . .

But it was all ok, after a few minutes of me just laying back.

The terbutaline works like a charm for me! A side-effect of the drug is shakiness and rapid heart rate. But after my three super-doses in the hospital, even though I was very, very shaky, my contractions all but stopped - immediately! I have still had a few contractions, but not as many as before.

The pump stays in a little pouch which I hook onto my pants. The kids were all fascinated by mom's new contraption. Banana kissed it, and kissed my arms where I had gotten my shots. Noodle kissed my arms, too, but she only wanted to touch my site (where the tube goes into my leg). She touched it very, very softly. Chicken Nugget said she felt sorry for me.

Buffalo Wings enjoyed going through the manual and figuring out how to change all the equipment. I have to change the syringe about every day, and the site every five days. Yep, I get to poke myself in the leg every five days. Fun, fun. But it keeps Baby Boy cooking, so I'm happy to do it for him!

I also have to monitor my contractions twice a day. I then transmit the data on this wireless contraption. BW really digs all that stuff. I'm glad he is having fun!

Please keep us all and Baby Boy in your prayers. Much love to all of you!

A Glitch in the System

So, as I mentioned in my previous post, I have been having some light contractions. I had my regular dr. appointment today and we discussed it. My doctor checked me and she said my cervix is not in the position she would like it to be in at this time (it is anterior rather than posterior). I am concerned about this because my cervix is not the best at doing what it is supposed to do when I am in labor, so to hear that it is already anterior when I am 12 weeks from my due date didn't sound like good news to me.

My doctor is going to put me on a pump that will give me a constant dosage of medicine throughout the day. The medicine will relax my uterus and should slow the contractions. Sometimes the contractions are mildly painful, but mostly they are just accompanied by pressure.

I will also be on a monitor that will alert the home health nurse and my doctor of how many contractions I have had throughout the day.

So . . . please just lift me up in prayer, and baby boy (who still doesn't have a name, poor guy!). Baby boy sounded great this morning and is moving around like a champ. We just need to keep him cooking for at least another 9 weeks.

Love to you all!

Random Ramblings

Resumes and job fairs and tests, Oh My!

I went to a job fair on Saturday and there is another one on Friday night. I never realized how intimidating this would be. I came home from the job fair lamenting:

"Why would anyone hire me? I don't interview well. I've never been a teacher. There were so many people there trying to get the same jobs I was trying to get! I was just another face in that crowd, just another piece of paper with stuff written on it."

Of course, BW was supportive and encouraging. And I know the attack of the enemy when I hear it and feel it. So I am trusting in God. I will glorify in His name when I have a job, and I will say, "God has done this thing!" Please pray for me still; it is nerve-rattling.

((((I take my big content test for English on the 19th. Please pray!!!!))))


Speaking of the enemy, he really is everywhere. One day as I was walking through the halls at school, I think my eyes were really opened to that. The enemy is attacking the students so hard. I tried to pay close attention that day: how is Satan attacking these kids? How are they responding? To what issues are the blinded or apathetic? I learned a lot that day. I know better how to pray. I'm thankful for this mission field. I love these kids.


I think of my dad when I think about the mission field of the public school system. I have always said that my dad is one of the greatest missionaries I have ever known. He was never ashamed to speak the name of Jesus to anyone at school (or anywhere else for that matter). He was never afraid of conversations of spiritual matters, even if it may have gotten him in trouble. I want to be like my dad and speak boldly about the Hope that each and every student can have. That everyone can have.


Today, as I was walking up to school, I noticed about a million caterpillars on the sidewalk. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a little. Maybe it was more like 500,000. Anyway, I wondered what they were doing on the sidewalk. Sadly, some of them were already . . . smooshed. :o( Why did they crawl onto the sidewalk and into the parking lot? Why didn't they just stay in the safe, safe grass and trees? I guess I will never know.

I think we are centering on Asher as a name for the baby. Nothing definite. But it keeps coming up a lot.

I really am trying to keep my pregnancy complaints to a minimum, but . . . I'm about to let some fly. When I got pregnant with this baby, I just made up my mind to enjoy it. I know it will be my last pregnancy. I thought that might make me a little bit sad, so I wanted to savor every little change and kick. However, it has been hard to enjoy since I've felt so nauseated, couldn't eat much for a long time, had to be on Zofran, and am plagued with heartburn and *ahem* other certain digestive dysfunctions. Not to mention the sciatica, which still bothers me daily. I feel so tired and am about to start taking an iron supplement. By tired, I don't just mean tired - I mean exhausted beyond words. I usually come home from work and go to sleep. It's more than sleepiness, it is absolutely no energy at all. The iron should help. Anyway, this pregnancy has been the hardest of all four, and has solidified for me the knowledge that I do not ever want to put my body through this again. I even had a contraction this morning - a painful one. I'm trying not to worry about it, because it was only one, but I will talk to my doctor about it on Monday when I go for my appointment.

Baby boy is doing great, however! We got some really good pictures of him two weeks ago at our 26 week ultrasound. He looks wonderful, and he is a busy little boy in my belly. I can't wait to meet him in June or July!

I have not had any consistent cravings during this pregnancy. The nausea has been too bad. At first, I was nauseated before I ate. Now, I get nauseated after I eat (and sometimes before). It's not as bad as it was in the beginning of the pregnancy. Not even close. But I did have to take a Zofran or two this week.

Some cravings:
*A-1 Steak Sauce
*potato salad (I craved this hard with Banana! Weird)
*thin-crust Canadian bacon pizza from Pizza Hut (yes, it must be that specific and it must be from Pizza Hut. This is what I am craving right now.)
*Snickers bars
*Coke

Maybe BW can think of some others, but I can't. The cravings have been so weird and sporadic. One week I'll want something and then I will not ever want it again. Strange.

That's about it from our neck of the woods. Hope things are great with all of you! Much love to you all.

The Crescent Hotel

Matt and Lisa have set the date for the wedding - July 15, 2008!
They are getting married at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
It looks beautiful, but it is haunted. Check it out.
I won't be staying in that haunted hotel. You will be able to find me at the Econo Lodge.

Pictures

Our azaleas! Aren't they nice?

Banana lining up his cars for a race.

We were so glad to have some friends of ours visiting from Iowa this weekend! They had spent their Spring Break in Port Aransus. This is Buffalo Wings with Reverend J.

Mrs. J and me. And my largeness.

The Js!!!!

The J kids and the Tasty Names kids.

The lovely MJ!

The handsome JJ!

Good friends, Chicken Nugget and MJ.

Cutie pic of Mrs. J and Noodle!

Easter weekend, coloring Easter eggs.

The finished product! The Easter Bunny was very pleased.

Love and miss you all very much!

And hey, be like the J family! Come see us! We love you and we want you to come visit!!!!!!!!!!

Buffalo Wings' Exhaustive Baby Boy Name List

Buffalo Wings gave me his list. It is WAY shorter than my list. He gave the meanings, but not the origins.

Here goes:

Daniel - God is my judge
Ethan - strong, firm
Ian - God is forgiving
Xavier - new home owner
Eric - eternal ruler
Alec - defending men
Asher - happy
Casey - brve
Alexander - warior
Jason - healer
Andrew - warrior
Kyle - narrow, straight
Devin - poet
Eli - ascend, my God
Benjamin - son of my right hand
Jesse - wealthy, gift
Immanuel - God with us

What do you think?

My Brother Matt

I love my brother Matt! He is a wonderful brother and he always has been. He and I have always been good friends. When I was a teenager, we used to go places together and just hang out. He was never embarrassed to have me hanging around with his friends. He was just the best kind of brother to have.

One time, when I was in probably junior high school, I walked into my bedroom and Matt was talking on the phone. As he talked, I played dress up with him. He talked and I adorned him with ribbons, bows, necklaces, and anything else I could find. We took pictures of it, but I think that my mom has them. Matt never told me to leave him alone. He just talked and let me play dress-up with him. It was hilarious.

All of my friends love my brother Matt. It's because he is so cool! He always talked to my friends when they came to the house. He made them laugh. Matt is very funny! My kids love Uncle Matt. He is their favorite. He plays with them and makes up songs for them and gives them nicknames. He makes up crazy stories to put them to bed by. He's nutty and crazy and fun.

It is really hard not to find Matt charming and likable. About a year and a half ago, he started dating an outstanding lady who also found him charming and likable. They both found each other so charming and likable, in fact, that they've decided to get married!

Matt and Lisa, we couldn't be happier that you two are getting married. We love you both so much. We're thrilled that Lisa will be joining our family.

Exhaustive Baby Boy Name List - Mrs. Donut's List

Yes, I've been working on this - hard!!!! It was easy to name the girls. We had a hard time choosing Banana's name. We're having a much harder time choosing Number Four's real name.

I will list name, meaning, and origin:

Paul - small (Latin)
Patrick - noble (English)
Adrienne - person from Hadria (Latin)
Amil - hopeful (Hebrew) **
Andre - manly (French)
Andrew - manly (Greek)
Asa - born at dawn (Japanese)
Asher - blessed, happy (Hebrew)
Auren - heard; laurel (American)
Aurum - glowing dawn (Latin)
Ayman - holy, righ-handed worker (Arabic)
Avery - elf-ruler (English)***
Azhar - shining, bright (Arabic)
Bennett - little blessed one (Latin)*
Charlie - free man (English)
Devan - poet (English)
Ephraim / Efrem - very fruitful (Hebrew) **
Ethan - expected (Indian - Sanskrit)
firm, strong (Hebrew)
Eli - height (Hebrew)
Elias - the Lord is my God (Hebrew)
Emery / Emory - work ruler (English) **
Emil - strive, excel, or rival (German) (same pronunciation as Amil)**
Evan - God is good (Welsh)
Hosea - salvation (Hebrew)
Ian - God is gracious (Scottish) *
Isaac - he will laugh (Hebrew)
Isaiah - God is salvation (Hebrew)
Israel - wrestled with God (Hebrew)
Jack - God is gracious (Hebrew / English)
Lane - from the lane (English) ***
Lewis - famed warrior (English)
Malachi - my messenger (Hebrew)
Nehemiah - God has comforted (Hebrew)
Oliver - elf army (English) ***
Ren - lotus (Japanese)
Reuben - behold, a son (Hebrew)
Reuel - friend of God (Hebrew)
Rhory / Rory - red king (American / Irish) **
Rian - king (Irish)
Riel - God is my strength (Spanish)
Roan - red color (English) **
Rohan - ascending (Indian, Sanskrit) **
Shae - hawk (Celtic / Gealic)
Simeon - to be heard (Greek)
Silas - man of the forest (Latin)
Wesley - from the west field (English)
William - strong-willed warrior (English)
Xavier - the new house (Spanish)***
Zachariah - God has remembered (Hebrew)

*don't love the name, but love the meaning
**can't decide which spelling
***don't love the meaning, but love the name

I feel kind of like a big nerd publishing this post! I like a lot of names. It's true. But Number Four can only have two of these at the most. And Buffalo Wings has to like the names! There are so many nice names out there. I am obviously very indecisive. I'll post BWs exhaustive list later. His is WAY shorter than mine!

Baby Boy Names

With only 100 days to go before the new little mister arrives, we really don't have much time to pick out a name for this kid! :o)
Help, please????

Buffalo Wings likes these names (this is not an exhaustive list):

Alec
Asher
Ian
Ethan
Daniel
Eli
Devin
Xavier

I'll post more of what he likes later.

I like:

Patrick
Simeon
Isaac
Isaiah
Avery
Devin
Xavier

I like the name Avery a lot, but I don't like the meaning of it: "leader of elves."

Do you like any of the above-mentioned names? Do you have anything to add to the list? Our poor kid. We may end up calling him Number Four.

Spring Break = Fun!

We are having Spring Break! RIGHT NOW!

We didn't travel anywhere. Gas is too expensive (wish we could have gone to Arkansas.). We're not doing any big projects. But we are still having FUN!

Here's how:

I can get up and make a REAL made breakfast in the mornings! Like blueberry muffins or scrambled eggs and bacon or whatever sounds breakfasty good.

We can have friends over any night of the week! One of our friends came over for supper last night, and we have another friend coming over tonight.

We can clean the house slowly. Very slowly. No, cleaning house is NOT fun, but it's more fun cleaning slowly day by day than trying to cram it all into a Saturday. Laundry included.

We don't have to get up early!

We don't have to go to bed early (even though I still have been)!

Even if the kids get up early, we don't have to get out of our p.j.s for hours!

We can hang out as a family all day - watch a movie, go play outside, go to the library, or whatever.

I can take a nap EVERY DAY!!!!

And many, many other fun and relaxing things. I heart Spring Break!

Buffalo Wings is All Abuzz

I've been neglecting to put up people's new sites, sites that they've changed, etc. I just got around to it today. Check out the new one that Buffalo Wings has - you'll see the link to it under "family" to the right. Leave him comments! He will love it.

Because I Don't Want Them to Be Like Me

I wasn't a great student in high school. I wish I'd had a better grasp of how not applying myself and not being a better student would affect me later. I could have gotten better scholarships. I could have cultivated self-discipline. To an extent, I didn't care. Another part of it was that I thought I wasn't smart. I must have driven my teachers crazy.

I hear it all the time now:
"That kid is really smart, he could really understand, if only he would apply himself."

But how do you teach that? How do make a kid want to learn? How do you make it matter to the student that education is important? How do you make the student care that he has such an advantage in the world, by being offered a free education through the age of 18?

I don't know. I don't know if you can. No one could teach me. I had to learn it much later.

I went to college. Even had some small scholarships. And I had a dear professor who recognized something when he saw me: That I was capable, but didn't know how to study. After five minutes of talking to him, and about two or three tips, I got it. I knew how to make things stick in my mind. And I made the Dean's list and the President's list. Things I'd never accomplished in high school, though all that time I could have, yet it took me till then to start. Why? Sometimes I still don't know.

I'm sure there are kids at school that are a lot like me, who start out thinking they are stupid (mine was mainly because of math, and it started in the fourth grade), and then an attitude of, "Well, things will just work out." And then you have these great kids, who could be superb students, that have their teachers pulling their hair out.

I don't want my students to be like me. So many times when I could have studied, I didn't. Even though I didn't have (what I later learned) the best study skills, I could read and understand the English language. I had teachers who were always willing to help me. I had friends who did great in school, and parents who wanted me to do well. I could have graduated with a much higher GPA. And I'm sure I could unpack it all and get down to the psychology of it all, the whys and the whats and etc., but when it comes right down to it . . . it was all my fault that I didn't do better than I did.

And every time I think that I am about to become a teacher, I feel so disappointed in myself. And I feel a little bit like a hypocrite. Maybe a lot like one.

Once in seminary, during a very hard class, I was pulling a C. Granted, it was a strong C! But it was a C. I was looking over my grades and my friend was standing nearby. She could see that I was crestfallen and asked me what was the matter. I showed her. Trying to cheer me up, she said, "Hey, just remember, C stands for Commencement!"

But I just didn't feel that way. All those years after high school . . . thinking back on high school, I just laugh at the way I feel now! I certainly didn't feel that way in high school!

And I know that high school is about becoming who you are, discovering things about yourself, turmoil, angst, etc. etc. . . . and I wasn't a bad kid or anything . . . I just . . . could have done better. And I wish I had.

And what am I going to say to my students? How am I going to make it matter to them? How am I going to encourage them? What will I do? How will I invest in them? How will I make it real, articulate to them that it is important, what they do right now? How will I reach the ones that were like me, that could just do better?

I won't be able to help caring about it. I care about it now when I see the students and watch them, and I'm only a substitute.

I'm scared, I'm unsure, I'm hopeful, I'm not going to live like I did in high school. And I'm not going to let who I was in high school make me who I am now. I've learned from it. I hope I'll remember what I've learned. I hope I can make an impact.

Poor Kids

I have lots of things running around in my head, things of social importance. I should write about some of these things here on this blog. And one day I will. But for now, I just like writing about the funny things my kids say! Sorry. I'm sure ya'll are getting bored. But this morning's funny was too funny NOT to post:

I "made" breakfast this morning. As in, I actually turned on the oven. And popped in the French toast sticks. Yep. I'm a regular gourmet chef.

Chicken Nugget sat down to her outstandingly prepared breakfast. She usually gets some very healthy and filling . . . cold cereal (ahem). She looked at the French toast sticks and said:

"Wow! We haven't had a made breakfast since Grandma was here!"

Unattended Children

I shared this with some of you via e-mail, but I just HAD to put it on the blog! I thought it was too funny. Hope you enjoy! And don't leave your children unattended. You'll be sorry! :o)

Kindergartners

I subbed in a kindergarten class today. Here are a couple of funnies:

This week, the class is learning about dinosaurs. So I read them a couple of books on dinosaurs. After I read the non-fiction dinosaur book, I was amazed by the children's stories of how they had been finding dinosaur bones in their very backyards! It was a real little class of archeologists. Most amazing was the story told by little A, who said that he'd not only found one or two dinosaur bones, but a whole set! After he dug up all the bones, he put them all back together to look like, as he said, "the real dinosaur!"
I thought for a moment, and then asked him, ever so sweetly, "Hm . . . I wonder if I asked your mom and dad about you putting that dinosaur back together, if they would tell me if that was true or not."
He promptly shook his head, never missed a beat, and said, "Nope! Big, fat lie."
Then many of the other dinosaur-bone-finders said they thought theirs had really been chicken bones.

While I was reading the non-fiction dinosaur book called My Dinosaur, we got to a part where the girl and her dinosaur get a drink from the river. Sweet little C said, "I don't think that's real because I don't think a girl would drink from water like that because it probably has a lot of germs in it."
Most of the boys agreed. I guess boys don't mind germy water.

This morning, Noodle told me:
"You look beautiful!"

Banana then told me:
"You look clean!"

Finished!!!!!!!!!!!

I have completed all of my units for Region IV!

I still have a few hours of classroom observations to do, and of course the test, but as for homework and assignments, I am FINISHED!!!!!!!!

I Am A Substitute Teacher.

I am a substitute teacher. This is me:



I've even had a book written about me:

I like being a substitute. Most of the time. When I first started, I had some shocking experiences. Such as, asking the students to please do their work, and the students cussing me out. Now, I didn't think it was anything unreasonable or even unfair to say, "Please do this work that your teacher left for you."

Obviously, however, the students found it both unreasonable and unfair.

It took me a couple of weeks to realize that students have, as I assessed it, two personalities for the classroom. One is their "regular teacher" personality. The other is their "substitute teacher" personality.

It also took me a couple of weeks to realize that it was alright for me to address their "substitute teacher personality."

I have a small speech that I give at the beginning of each class. I give the speech for grades 6 and above, and it has to do with respecting me even though I am not their regular teacher, not arguing or talking back, and it ends with me telling them that I will invite them to the principal's office if they cannot follow the rules. I feel kind of mean, but when I think about some of the things I have been up against as a sub, the speech seems like a good idea. And for the most part it works. At least, the kids know I mean business and will not tolerate certain behaviors.

I have had some great experiences subbing. I like it when I have time to interact with the kids, and we have a good time laughing and talking. Teenagers are witty. I really, really like teenagers, and I have missed working with them since my youth minister days.

And the kids that are disprespectful, I try to remember that I have no idea where those kids are coming from. For instance, at one school, I had a class that was really bad. It was really, really bad. Kids walking out of class, talking back to me, doing whatever they wanted. It was like I was invisible. There was only so much I could do, so after awhile I just walked around the room doing the best I could to get them to work. I noticed one conversation going on in which the students were discussing various murders within their families. It was like, my uncle was killed by so-and-so, and my cousin killed so-and-so, and they were talking about it like they might have been discussing the weather. So I don't know what these kids bring into class, and I'm not their teacher, so I don't know them like a regular teacher would.

But, I hope to be that regular teacher soon! I am in my last week of Region IV training!!!! MY LAST WEEK!!!!! I get to look for a job soon. I have really enjoyed my training. I've done well in the classes, and I think I might be really ready to do this teacher thing!

So, from the Teacher from the Black Lagoon, I hope you all have a wonderful day! But not too wonderful. Or else I'll have to take you back to the Black Lagoon with me. Mwahh-haa-haa-haa!

The Advantages of Having a Dirty House:

OK, there really aren't any. Which is why I have to clean my house today. Really. I'm not kidding this time. Thankfully, we have a three-day weekend, so I should have plenty of time to do it if I happen to not finish cleaning it today.

In the meantime, not cleaning house has given Chicken Nugget some time to catch up on her new favorite past-time, Webkins:

And it has given me time to catch up on some much-needed beauty treatments:

And look how happy Noodle and Banana have been in the meantime:

This is because they weren't at our dirty house. These were taken at the babysitter's house. When they came home, they cried.

What We Need

Before the baby comes, even though this is our fourth, we will be needing a few items. For instance, a basinette. The one we had was a yard-sale find and served us well through Noodle and Banana's first few weeks, but then it fell apart in storage (as we discovered while getting ready for our last yard sale).

We'll also need a new changing table and a dresser, as well as a car seat. Our previous car seat was also a hand-me-down, and it expired (those things actually do have expiration dates, as per safety codes and etc.)

So although they are semi-big-ticket items, at least that's really all that we'll need.

However, the rest of the family has some needs as well:

Noodle needs more sleep before the baby comes. She's working on it right now.

Banana needs - um, actually, Banana's good for now.

Chicken Nugget stated her need to me last night: She said very politely that if she were to get a football helmet before the big arrival, she felt she'd be all ready for the new baby.

The Ultrasound

When we went to the Dr. on Thursday, we of course had our ultrasound! Normally we chose not to find out the gender of our babies, but this time we wanted to know.

Dr. F said, "Do you want a boy or a girl or does it matter?"

I said, "Well, I'd like a boy, but if it's not a boy, we'll be fine!"

Dr. F said, "If I tell you that it's not a boy, are you going to get upset and cry and stuff?"

I looked at Buffalo Wings and we both made questioning faces and said, "No. We'll be fine!"

Dr. F said, "Because a lot of people who come in here want one thing and I tell them it's another thing and they get very upset and cry."

BW and I looked at each other again and shook our heads.

I said, "We're just so happy to be able to have babies, we really don't care. I'd like to have a little brother for our little boy, but if it is not a boy, it's still going to be OK! Besides, I'm sure it's a girl. I've been feeling so puky, I'm just sure it's a girl. If you tell me it's a boy, I'll be so surprised I won't know what to do."

By this time, Dr. F had the goo on my belly and we were looking at the baby.

"Well," she said, "You got a boy!"

I was freaking out, more from shock than anything else. I could not believe that a boy in my belly had made me feel so puky all this time! With Banana, I never felt that bad. With the girls, I threw up daily for many weeks. So I was in total shock that I could carry a boy baby and be as ill as I'd been. I kept asking her to check again and again and make sure that it wasn't the umbilical cord that was in the way, but it wasn't. The umbilical cord was way out of the way of that area, because we saw it a couple of times too.

I am still in shock that there is a boy in there! Though I'm feeling much better so far this week, I'm not getting my hopes up that the worst is over. I had a not-so-good moment at the end of the day yesterday, but it was only a small moment. But still . . . so when this kid comes out and I see all of the kid's parts, then I'll be a true believer! But Dr. F was sure and I saw what I saw . . . but still!

Anyway, the rest of the ultrasound was great. We saw the two parts of the bran, the four chambers of the heart, the lungs and kidneys. Dr. F said that looks like a beautiful baby in there! Imagine how beautiful he's gonna look when he's out here! I can't wait.

More Tasty Names Family Kid-isms

Noodle had just gotten herself dressed.
She came and aske me, "How do I look?"
I said, "You look lovely!"
Banana asked if he looked lovely, too.
I said, "Oh, yes, you look lovely too!"
Noodle said, "No, he's a boy! Boys don't look lovely!"
I said, "Banana, you look handsome!"
Noodle said, "Yeah, Banana, you look stinkin' handsome!"

I was getting Banana dressed Friday morning and I asked him if he wanted a little brother.
He said, "No, I want cereal."

Pink or Blue? Part II

BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pink or Blue?

We typically do not find out the gender of our babies while I am pregnant. However, this time it will be different!

We will be finding out!

That's because I want to have a yard sale and try to simlify my life as much as possible before this baby arrives. You see, I have saved boxes of boys' and girls' clothing. And I don't want to come home from the hospital after the baby arrives and have to go through a bunch of boxes to find something for the baby to wear. And since we know that this will be our last newborn, we can get rid of all the other clothing that we won't need for the baby.

So that's why. And it seems like a good enough reason to me.

It's Time to Celebrate!

Today is Buffalo Wings's birthday!

Happy birthday my wonderful husband and to my kids' wonderful dad! We love you so much! Hope it is a wonderful, happy day for you! We'll do our best to make sure that it is!

Happy Birthday!

Skippyjon Jones

As you can see, it is a VERY good book!

Bad Few Days

I started feeling bad again on Monday night. I missed a meeting at church. I had taken the kids to my friend's house in the very early afternoon. My friend and I did some scrapbooking while the kids played. It was a fine day until . . . just before we got ready to leave, I started feeling puky. I was trying so hard to hold it together while I packed everything up and loaded up the kids. By the time I started the van, I was dry-heaving.

I've been having lots of headaches, feeling puky, and feeling in-general just not good, and also very tired and run-down.

I had to cancel a sub job that I had already lined up for Tuesday and I rejected one that called me early this morning. I am going to try my best to make it to the job I have lined up for tomorrow.

I guess my body misses my old friend, Zofran. Buffalo Wings just got me a refill.

On the plus side, my sciatica has magically disappeared! It has not bothered me for days. I am so thankful.

On another plus side, I found the strength to vacuum the floors today. I've never been so thankful for the strength to vacuum.

I don't know why this is a difficult pregnancy. I mean, I am not having difficulties - as in, no high blood pressure, no diabetes, the baby looks great and is thriving - but I just feel pretty bad most of the time. I felt really good with my last pregnancy. I guess they really are all different, and you can't predict your next pregnancy due to your previous one.

I am praising God for the little life that is growing inside me. I am humbled every time I think about it. We are blessed, and I do not take that for granted. I do not take any of my children for granted. I do not take my husband for granted. I've been crying today because I feel so guilty for not being able to go to work, take care of the house, take care of the things that moms and wives should be taking care of . . . but BW was so comforting, as always, and told me not to worry. He took care of me. He cooked supper. He never, ever complains. He is a dear and wonderful man. I'm so glad he's my hubby and the father of our beautiful kids.

I am also praising God because I know that so many are praying for me, all over the world. Talk about humbling. What a blessing is the Family of God. I love all of you so much and am praying for you too. The blessing of my brothers and sisters in Christ, who love God and who love me, is something that absolutely moves me to tears and moves me beyond words. Thank you for praying.

Much love to all of you.

Aren't They Cute?

We sure think so!!!!!!

Helpful Little Nugget

This morning, as I was brushing Chicken Nugget's hair, she was telling me how sorry she was that I wasn't feeling well today. (I've been kind-of under the weather since last night.)

Chicken Nugget said, "I wish I didn't have to go to school and I could stay here and help you all day."

I said, "Awww . . . you're such a sweet girl. But that's not your job. Your job is to be a third grader at school. Besides, you'd be so bored here all day without your friends and stuff."

"Mmm-mmm," she shook her head, "No I wouldn't, as long as we had cable."

Hooray! Huzzah!

I'm shouting praises because I did not take even one Zofran yesterday! Yay! Halleluiah! And I was able to eat quite a full helping of lunch. I haven't felt full in quite a long time. It felt great! I know that so many have been lifting me up in prayer during this temporary trial. Thank you so much. And thank you to my wonderful hubby, who has taken double duty on taking care of the kids and the housework when I've been too puky to do so. I love you, Buffalo Wings! You rock!

Now I have a new inconvenience due to the pregnancy! I know, I know, I'm full of complaints. Sorry. But it is sciatica (I think I spelled that right), and it is very painful. I have suffered from it in minimal ways during past pregnancies, but this time it is even painful at night when I should be sleeping. This condition, unlike morning sickness (or all-day sickness!), will not decrease as the pregnancy goes further along. It will stay the same or get worse. So please pray for me as I take care of house, kids, hubby, along with work, school, church, etc. There are times when walking across the room is excruciatingly painful. And last night was the first time I've ever been kept awake from it. However, as with the nausea, this too shall pass. Poor Chicken Nugget was helping me around the house this morning, saying she wished that baby would come out so I'd feel better.

"Oh, sweetie," I told her, "Thank you. But it will all be worth it. We'll get a sweet little baby and a new member of the family!"

I'd endure it a thousand times over just for this little bundle that's coming our way.

Love you all and thank you for the prayers!

Long Overdue Post; Long, LONG Overdue Pictures

When I was in high school, my friend Boss introduced me to the idea of "having ants." It's sort of like having ants in your pants, which is one way to say that you feel anxious or distracted. But this kind of ants, as Boss explained to me, is the kind that makes you want to do anything, anything, but study. She said that having ants will even make you want to clean your room or volunteer to landscape your yard or do everyone else's household chores, so long as you don't have to sit down and study.

Well, I suppose that in a way I've been having ants. I have a ton of homework to do for my teacher training, and I have a ton of laundry to do so that my family can stop running around in their underwear. I'd really rather do the housework than the studying, I admit. So what am I doing instead? Sitting down to write a long overdue blog, of course!

When Noodle gets out of the bath at night, she likes to sit with her towel around her and unwind for awhile before tackling the arduous task of getting dressed. One night, the task just seemed so arduous, that she fell asleep just thinking about it.

Here is Chicken Nugget playing soccer. This was in October. Yeah, I'm way past due on posting pictues.

Yep, that's Halloween. The holiday before Thanksgiving. And the holiday long before Christmas. But here you have it - Banana is an Arkansas Razorbacks football player, and the girls are bats. We improvised for Noodle, who insisted on being a bat just like her sister. Chicken Nugget has a real bat costume. All I could find for Noodle was a cape and black pants and a white shirt. But with a little makeup and glitter, she was thrilled. Now she'll strip down to her underwear and wear that "bat cape" around the house all day. Halloween every day, I tell ya.

This was also in October, when my parents came for a visit. This is at the Wetlands Center in Baytown. I love going there. Noodle loves looking at this statue in the butterfly garden.

Daddy and Banana pose. Sort of. Aren't they adorable?

I almost didn't include this one, seeing as my double chins could be a third character in this photo. However, Buffalo Wings caught this cute scene one night and couldn't resist the photo op. I was reading my Bible one night when Noodle wandered into my bedroom. She ran and got her little brown Bible, jumped into bed, and started quietly reading right along with me.