August 28, 2007

Dear Mother Nature,

I'm writing to you from one mother to another. As you know, when you have a newborn, your sleep is disrupted throughout the night. Your hands are busy during the day with your older children, so those few minutes at night when your baby is actually sleeping, the pillow is heaven. Almost every night for the past couple weeks, you have been sending horrific storms to my house. That is just not nice. Because with the house shaking from 70 mph winds, the electricity out (which means no a/c), and thunder cracks that jolt my 2-year-old to a tremble and panic, this mama has been gettin' no sleep. I've been sick for going on three weeks, and I can't overcome it with a 2-year-old's nails clutched into my neck all night or having to move the entire family to the basement at 3 a.m. due to tornado warnings. Please, oh please, mother nature, could for just once, the weather in Minnesota be just a little more average.

Sincerely,

A sleep-deprived mother

P.S. I've included a couple pictures of your handiwork last night. Our beautiful sunflowers were downed, our glass picnic table and umbrella were thrown and twisted. Our Adirondack chairs that were stacked against the house, were blown across the yard. Thank you for not causing any major damage or harm to my children.

A night on the town

We ventured to downtown Minneapolis with some good friends this week to listen and dance to some Salsa music.

The concert was held in the courtyard of the Mill City Museum. The courtyard was preserved so that you can see what the old Mill looked like.

The girls danced and danced and had a great time!

Right outside of the museum is this view of the Bridge Collapse. (You'll be able to see better if you click on the pic to make it bigger). In the center of the pic, you can see some green twisted metal, and that's what's left of the bridge, the rest is in the water or has since been removed. You can see the large flood lights that the workers have been using so they can work around the clock still trying to find victims.

And, on a happier note, I thought I'd throw this cute pic in of a worn-out baby. Daddy was putting his basketball shoes away when he realized they are about the same size as Teyah!

The big 2-month-old

Teyah had her two-month check-up today, and she was 11 lbs 1 oz and 23 inches! That means in two months she's gained 3 lbs and almost 3 inches!! How do you grow 3 inches in two months! That's crazy! She was also quite proportionate being in the 50-75 percentile for weight, 75th for length, and 50-75th for head. Surprisingly, this is our first child without a 95 percentile head! Teyah is the sweetest, easiest baby. She already likes to stand (as you can see from the pic). How are we so lucky to have a beautiful, healthy, happy baby!?

Thanks for your helpful words

While walking out of Target today, I was pushing the cart with the baby in her carseat and trying to hold Ellie's hand so she wouldn't get hit by the cars. Aubrie was trying to hold Ellie's hand but she was refusing and causing a scene. We made it across the street and the lady who was stopped at the stopsign rolled down her window and yelled "You are SO busy!" I turned around with a fake half smile and somehow made it to my car without further issues.

I've been thinking about this statement all day. What exactly did she mean by that? Was she patronizing me because I had spent an hour at Target doing nothing more than shopping the red sticker sales? Was she trying to be sympathetic? I've received a billion and a quarter "you have your hands full!" Was it her way of saying the same? Perhaps she was meaning I've been busy in the bedroom?

Whatever she was trying to say, her comment truly was icing on the cake for a moment when I was feeling overwhelmed with my children. Why would she make the effort to shout out her window something that really didn't make me feel better?

Have any of you received 'helpful' comments in your adventures with your kids?

Last week on our flight home, Dave was helping our niece get on her flight so I had to go through security and board our three kids on the plane by myself. Now that was an adventure! I was juggling 3 kids (one, who of course can't walk), 2 carseats, 2 bags and a stroller! Then, to make matters worse, the gate agent handed me four tickets that were totally scattered across the plane and said "the flight's completely booked, I guess you'll have to figure it out when you board."

I decided to just sit down in a seat on the plane and ask people to take one of my random seats that I had been assigned. One of them was a first class ticket. The first lady to come saw me sitting in her seat and said "what seat are you supposed to be in?" I explained and offered her the first class ticket. (Audible sigh), "Now I have to walk all the way back to the front of the plane."

I wish I could have replied, "that's OK, I'll walk up there and sit, and you stay in this middle seat and take care of my three kids!"

2 blessings, 1 wedding, and the beach

Boy, do we know how to pack it in! We traveled (by plane, thank goodness) to Utah for my brother Spencer's wedding. The wedding was beautiful and perfect. We love our new sister Julia! Check out their wedding video here. (Also, if you click on the "Event" tab you can see excerpts of Lauren's Junior Miss Pageant). Ellie attached herself to Julia while we were there. The day of the wedding, she didn't want to leave her side. She cried when she couldn't be in every picture with Julia. She wanted to hold her train on her dress everywhere she went. Later, to keep her occupied during the reception, she was coloring and after every picture she'd run over to Julia and show her. Thanks for being a good sport Julia!

While in Utah, we blessed Teyah. My sister's baby Spencer, who's just 9 days older than Teyah, was blessed too. How cool to have so many special events all at once! Teyah's blessing was beautiful.

Then we flew to California, rented a minivan and camped at Carpinteria beach for Dave's family reunion. Well, we didn't really camp. I opted for Motel 6. I figured I earned the right since we have a nursing baby. The girls had a week of heaven in the dirt and sand. Now, I'm so grateful to be home with clean kids!

The plane ride to Utah was a nightmare, which makes me realize we did the right thing by flying instead of driving. Dave got a severe headache and threw up three times. It was a late flight and the girls didn't sleep. It was very turbulent. Ellie cried and cried because her leg hurt. They both cried because their ears hurt. (Ellie actually held her ears and said she couldn't hear out of her ears. I thought that was impressive articulation for being just 2 and 4 months). I was struggling to keep everyone functioning. Oh, the joys! We survived though.

The 3 Amigas Slide Show

The Day the Wall Came Down

Here's our new headache. We had torrential rain on Wednesday, and it made our retaining wall collapse! Grrr! Luckily, our next door neighbor owns a yard-maintanance business and is donating his machinery this weekend to help. However, the reason it collapsed is because the previous owners didn't do it right, so we basically have to completely redo the wall and add the right dirt, etc. Just the materials are a ridiculous amount of money. Dave wants to tackle it himself this weekend before we leave on our vacation. So much for the fun weekend we had planned. Wow. I'm dreading it, and I'm not the one who's going to be breaking my back. Don't you just love life sometimes? And does anyone want to buy our Honda CRV? We really need to sell it to pay for this wall! That's the other headache. We need to get down to two cars. Thanks for letting me vent!

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Family Flashback

Believe it or not, the "wall incident" comes a distant second when it comes to natural calamitites and our house. Back in Idaho a 50-ft Poplar tree fell on our house. That was a fun one to clean up too...

Babies, babies, babies...

Has anyone seen my Baby???

Baby Brain

People talk about how in pregnancy you lose your brain and don't think clearly...I've heard it nicknamed
'placenta brain.' Well, I've never really felt that when I was pregnant (although I admit I've used it as an excuse before). But, I have to say that I have definitely been experiencing a brain turnoff in the past few weeks. Let me explain...

On Friday, I called two different companies to come fix our broken garage door (another story in and of itself). I left a message with one and talked to the other. They said they would come on Monday. So, last night they called and said they'd come between 9-11. I agreed. Then this morning, the phone rang (and actually woke me up out of my best sleep in several nights). They asked if they could come fix the garage door between 9-11. I agreed and thought it was a little strange they called twice. Well, the guy came and fixed it, I paid him his $75, and he left. Then, about five minutes later, there was a knock on my door. I answered it and a different dude said, "Hi, you're having problems with your garage door?" I was so confused. I looked at him and then at his truck and finally realized it was a different company than had already fixed my door. I told him it had already been fixed, and he said, in a very irritated tone, "By a different company?" I said, "Uh, yeah. I guess so." After he left and my brain finally processed what had happened, I felt so stupid! I think rather than 'placenta brain,' it must be baby brain.

Then, later today, we met Dave at Sam's Club on his lunch break. We decided to get a big pizza, rather than a slice, so we could have it for dinner. I got home and put the kids down for a nap. It occurred to me that we left the pizza on the table at Sam's Club! I was so mad! More than anything, because now I have to cook dinner tonight! I think we'll go for cold cereal...

Have any of you other mothers experienced a brain turnoff with the total sleep deprivation that you experience with a new baby? How about tears at the thought of just about anything? Someone told me the other day that husbands just really don't understand what it feels like to be a zombie like this for weeks. Moms can relate that a four-hour stretch of sleep is something to celebrate!

The Past 3 Weeks

Wow! The past three weeks has flown by. I suppose you want some updated pics!? Well, here they are. The cute baby in the bag is the most recent of Teyah. It's amazing how much she has changed in just 3 1/2 weeks! Poor girl has reflux, like her sisters did, and the past week she's been in great pain. We started her on Zantac yesterday and have already seen some improvement.

We opted out of traveling to Wyoming for my high school reunion. We chose a closer getaway destination of Duluth, MN. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Lake Superior. Dave kept trying to convince himself it's the ocean. We decided it looks like it, but it doesn't sound or smell like it. We went to a parade on the North Shore and there was more candy at this parade than the girls knew what to do with. If you look closer in the pics, you can see it was littering the streets! Below, you can see the girls partaking in their first-ever cotton candy!

Introducing Teyah Mei (恵愛)

Teyah Mei (恵愛- "Blessing of Love"),
born June 14, 2007 at 10:02pm.
Weight - 7 pounds 15 ounces
Height - 20 1/4 inches tall

Momma battled through another VBAC pregnancy without an epidural and is doing great! The 2 big sisters are loving their new baby sister.

Happy 30th Dave!

Even though Dave was quite worried the baby would be born on his birthday, we made it through with no baby. The girls cooked and decorated a heart cake for him -- poor Dave and all the feminine things he endures. The two of us also had an awesome date the night before while my sweet sister babysat. I love having Lauren here! I don't want to ever let her leave. Anyway, no baby yet. What a week it's been. More on that later. Happy Day David!

The Japanese-Speaking Minivan

I have entered a milestone in my life! I am now a driver of a minivan and soon to be mom of three! Yikes! I can't believe it. It feels so weird. I didn't expect to feel this way, but it feels like a rite of passage that I have been wondering if I really want to enter. At this point, with my belly protruding to Wisconsin, I don't have much of a choice.

Have any of you seen those Honda Odyssey commercials talking about how the van is cool again? Probably not because I imagine those commercials are only for people who just spent their life savings on one and are trying to feel good about their purchase like me. It is a pretty cool car though. We picked out the color, a silver with just a bit of bluish green in it. The girls love the automatic doors and Dave taught them that they close and open by saying "Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo". This morning Ellie hopped in her carseat and said the magic words, and because I hadn't buckled her in yet, I didn't push the button. But then disappointed, she said, "Mom, it's not working."

Dave told Aubrie our car was made in Japan. Later when a Shakira song came on the radio, he asked Aubrie if she understood it. She said "no", and he told her it was in Spanish. She said, "No, Daddy, it's not Spanish. It's Japanese, because remember our car was made in Japan!"

It's official. I'm a member of the minivan club now!

Getting bigger!

I had another ultrasound last week (at 34 weeks). I'm a little worried because she said the baby weighed 6 lbs 3 oz already and was measuring over 36 weeks! Yikes! I know the last few weeks are mostly for the baby to be packing on the pounds, but with her already being 6 lbs, I'm a bit worried! Thankfully, the doctor said I would have another ultrasound at 38 weeks to see how big she is so we can discuss induction possibilities. Not that I want to be induced, because induction isn't that fun, but I would much rather be able to deliver a big kid than have a gigantic kid be stuck. Not to mention the fact that my older two girls have extremely large heads. Ouch!

All you single folk, I recommend asking your significant other if he has a large head before marrying him. It's not something you would normally think to consider in choosing a spouse, but it could definitely make child bearing easier.

Just kidding! I love you Dave ... and your large cranium.

The baby is sucking on her big toe in these pictures! You could see her mouth making the sucking motions on screen. And, we also watched her practice breathing. Evidently, this is something babies do in the womb.

Easter Busyness

It seems that whenever I have a lot to blog about I'm too busy to actually post it. We just returned from two weeks in Utah. Dave was travelling the world for work (New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Korea) and my family talked me into coming for a visit. We had a great time catching up with old friends and spending time with my family (including my grandparents who just moved to Utah).

Dave was able to join us for Easter weekend before we flew home. The girls had fun at a community Easter egg hunt on Saturday and then finding eggs and of course playing with the goodies in their baskets on Sunday. Grandma bought them their cute dresses. Thanks Grandma!

The weather was so beautiful there (in the 70s). The trees had blossomed and the grass was green. It made it very difficult to return to winter in Minnesota (30-degree temps and everything still brown as it could be).


Dave enjoyed returning to Tokyo -- the first time since we moved back. He visited a handful of old friends, brushed up on his Japanese, and even had time to be a tourist. He visited Tsukiji (an early-morning fish market) and watched the Sumo Wrestlers practice. Somewhere in there he worked too. He spent the most time in Tokyo. It was his first time in Australia and New Zealand but didn't have time to sight see because the only thing he was able to do other than work was shop for clothes. Delta lost his garment bag with his suits in it! What a pain!




I enjoyed getting to know my soon-to-be sister in law Julia. She and Spencer plan to be married in July. It's fun to think I am going to have another sister! I took their engagment pictures while I was there, and it reminded me why I like my nice camera so much better than our digital. I think our digital camera is junk. Maybe someday we can update our digital camera. But not this week...I'll have to blog later about our expenses for the coming week.

It's a baby!

I had a follow-up ultrasound last week to make sure my placenta had moved up. Thankfully, it had, but the other part of the ultrasound that was exciting was she spent a lot of time trying to get some good 3D pictures! It was such a different experience than when I had it done with Ellie. With Ellie, she looked so weird in the pics that I was traumatized for weeks. It looked like her intestines were on the outside of her body. I realize a few of these look the same, but it was like a 3D video that we watched where her body parts came in and out of focus. The above pic I like because it shows her perfect hand. I think in the ones on the left she looks like Ellie and the ones on the right like Dave. The one with her mouth opened isn't in focus at all, but it's fun to see her yawning. I'm so amazed by this technology and grateful the sonographer spent so much time trying to capture her. Fun! It makes me so excited for her arrival!

2 Little Monkeys

Another storm!

Amazingly, we had an even bigger storm just a couple days after the first, and now it's a total winter wonderland. Ellie, our Phoenix-born child, despises the cold, as you can see!

Faith to a 4-year-old

The other night Aubrie told me she has faith. "Mom, do you know why I have faith? Because even though there's a band-aid over my ouchy on my leg, and I can't see it, I still know it's there!"