Bug's Two & A Half!

Happy Half Birthday Bree!  What a beautiful little girl you are!

Halfway Done!

Today I am officially half way done with this pregnancy.  The nice part about have a scheduled c-section is that I know I will not go past 39 weeks.  This pregnancy is going SO much faster than the other two.  I remember with Bree it seemed to take forever to get to the halfway point.  This is little guy is going ot make his appearance before we know it!  I have been feeling lots of wiggles & kicks but Dave has yet to feel him.  I have recently noticed a huge increase in appetite!  I can't eat much at one time but I nibble often throughout the day.  I am being careful to not overdo the junk food- I haven't gained any weight yet & I am hoping it stays that was for another month (well I gained 5lbs, lost 5lbs so now I am at square one!).  The morning sickness is gone & has been replaced with heart burn which has become a frequent visitor with all three pregnancies.  My belly has finally *popped* the past few days.  It is nice to have a tummy that's beginning to look pregnant instead of a belly that looks like it has just eaten too much for lunch.  I will soon be in solely sweatpants and maternity clothes.  The rubber band that i have been using to hold my jeans together isn't going to cut it much longer!  I have started purchasing a few things here & there for the baby.  I have his special blanket that will be with me at the hospital and have starting stocking up on diapers.  Because this is our third baby we hardly need anything which is so nice!  I have my heart set on a new baby swing so if we decide to get it that will be our only larger purchase.  Baby's clothes are all washed & hanging in the closet.  We will definately be prepared come September!

As for the kids...

Our children are both sick.  Eli has had a low fever on again off again for about a week.  Last Friday his ears started draining so I attributed it to an ear infection.  Bree started complaining on Friday of a tummy ache & sore throat.  But both kids seemed fine on Sunday.  Yesterday Eli's ears started to drain again & by last night he had a temp of 103.  Bree & Dave both went in for a strep test yesterday that came back negative.  Both kids are still battling a fever of 101 yet this morning.  I hope they can kick this bug soon!  We are going to have a lazy day today, lots of cartoons & rest.

Besides being sick they have a fun few months ahead of them too!  Bree just started gymnastics & Eli has developed a love for being outside.  He hated the sun last year as an infant so it is refreshing to see him enjoying the park this year.  We went to Sibley park on Monday & they both really enjoyed seeing the animals.  So much so that we have decided to plan a trip to the zoo this weekend!  Bree has been once to a smaller zoo but we will be taking them to a larger zoo this time.  They are very excited.  In May the kids get to spend a long weekend with their grandparents!  We've been talking about that often as well.  We have lots of fun things already on the Calender for the summer as well.  In September Breena starts preschool!  Her first day is the day after my c-section is scheduled so I am hoping to talk my doctor into bumping my c-section up to the Friday before so that I can be with her on her first day.  It is a two day a week preschool- we go together the first day & the second day she goes alone.  I left the hospital left than 48 hours after Eli was born & I hope they allow me to "escape" early again.  Typically a hospital stay is three nights after a c-section but I cannot stand being in the hospital that long.  Eli will start a new ECFE class the same week as Bree.  I hate to have the kids miss out because of me so fingers crossed that I can be there! 

That's whats been going on around here lately!  We are so ready for some warmer weather.  We hope to have a picnic at the park tomorrow for lunch- Breena LOVES picnics!  Hope we get close to 70 degrees as predicted!

Gymnast Bree & Easter Pics

Breena started gymnastics this morning. She did great & had a lot of fun! I was so proud of her for listening to her teacher & participating in everything.

The Easter Bunny came!

Enjoyed looking at Easter baskets- but still confused.  Where is the Bunny?!?

My favorite Easter babies!



Easter Egg hunt at Grandma's!

Found my basket!

Eli has...

In the past ten minutes Eli has...

*crawled up on the kitchen table...TWICE
*broken the wooden coaster holder
*chewed apart the cover of a cardboard book
*pushed his new little tykes basketball hoop into the TV
*dumped the dog's water all over his pants

It is TIME FOR NAP :)

I love these kids

Today at nap I said to Eli, "It's time to rest!  Go say goodnight to Breena!"

Breena had a tummy ached so she was laying in the rocking chair.  He ran over to her & opened his mouth wide waiting for a kiss.  She smooched him and he turned to walk away.

"Wait Eli!  You didn't hug me!"  she yelled.

He turned back around and leaned against her legs while she hugged the top of his head. 

"Love you!" Bree said.

Eli then took my finger and walked with me down the hall to his crib. 

Man, I sure do love these kids.

Easter & Two Year Olds

I have been trying to read Breena a book titled "What is Easter?" the past few days.  This is how it goes...

Me: (reading from book): Is Easter about hunting eggs? I do that every year.

Bree: Where are the eggs?

 ***I point out egg picture***

Me: Is it about eating chocolate stuff? I ate my bunny's ear!

Bree: Where is the bunny's ear?

***I point out chocolate bunny***

Me: Is it about the baby chicks.  They're fuzzy and ...

Bree: Where are fuzzy chicks?

***I try to ignore her and keep reading so this book doesn't take a hour to read***

Me: they're fun!  I saw some Easter chicks for sale...

Bree:  Where is the fun?

***Still trying to ignore question***

Me:  I really wanted one.  Easter means much more than that.  It's all about God's son.  See, Got sent Jesus down to Earth to die for everyone. 

Bree: Where's the die?

Me:  He had to die upon a cross to save us from our sin.  But he was only dead three days and then he rose again.

Bree:  (frustrated)  Where's the DIE?!?

***I put the book down and turn to her***

Me:  Breena, Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sin. Do you remember where Jesus lives?

Bree: Yes. With Maggie (family dog that died in January).

Me: Yes, Jesus lives in heaven.  But he also lives in our hearts. He lives in Breena's heart, mommy's heart, daddy's heart-

***Bree lifts up shirt***

Bree: Yep.  In my belly button.

Me:  No honey, in your heart.  (lift her hand up to her heart so she can feel it beating)

***Breena grabs her stomach aggressively and tries to tug & pull at her belly button***

Bree: (yelling)  I can't get it open to see him Mommy!

Explaining Easter to a two year old is like trying to nail jello to a tree ;)

Perfect Little Heart

We had our ultrasound this morning and the baby looks fantastic.  His tiny heart looks great & all of his other measurements were right on track.  While it is still possible that there could be a small defect somewhere (possible with ALL pregnancies) there appears to be no VSD which is what Eli had.  The ultrasound took 45 minutes and I had to have a full bladder the whole time!  Talk about uncomfortable!  This little guys decided to be difficult with the sonographer & refused to give us some good shots which is why it took 40 minutes to complete.  We saw ten fingeres & toes.  And confirmed he is indeed a boy!

Stretching Baby

Side View

Face

Sharing

The best part or my day today was baking cookies with Breena.  She was walking around licking the beater and Eli was having a meltdown.  She walked over to him, took out his nuk, put a giant wad of cookie dough on her finger & stuck it in his mouth.  She said to him "there you go Eli.  I can share."

It's moments like this that I think to myself, "I must be doing something right".

Baby's Big Day

This week we are eighteen weeks along in this pregnancy.  Which means it is time to head to Mayo to take a good look at this little one's heart.  We were originally told we would need this ultrasound at 20-24 weeks but Mayo prefers to take a look at 18 weeks and so we will be going in tomorrow morning.  I'm hoping we get a fantastic report of this little guy's heart!  I am also kind of excited to see our baby in a more advanced ultrasound because he will "look" more like a baby!  They suggeseted we bring along a cd to record the images to take home.  If I get some cool shots I will share here on Wednesday.  This darn weather better not hinder our trip to Rochester, who would of thought we'd be in a winter storm advisory in mid April.  Check back on Wednesday evening for an update on BL3's heart.  (get it Baby Luiken #3?   funny? or lame? okay, lame. I won't write that again!)

Gloomy Day Fun

Is there anything better than Vanilla Yogurt with breakfast?  My kids will tell you NO WAY!

"Mmm..."

"I think I missed a spot, better lick it clean!"

"I sure do LOVE manilla ogurt!"

"Take a picture with my hands on my face!" - actual quote

 "Sure I will help dye Easter Eggs!"

"What do you mean I can't drink the dye?!?"

 "Forget the eggs. I will eat a cookie instead."

"Oohh..Blue!"

"My eggs wouldn't be complete without adding eight thousand stickers!"





Easter Dress

Thank you Grandma Luiken for my beautiful new Easter Dress!

Random Bree

Me: Bree is mommy pretty?

Bree: No. But Breena will brush your hair.

***brushes my arm hair***

Bree: Now you are pretty!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grandma to Breena: Bree, your nose is running.  Go get a kleenex.

Bree: No Grandma, I will lick it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

***I hear Breena giggling in her bed when she should be napping so I go in****

Me: Breena it is time to rest. Close your eyes.

Bree:  I want a pickle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

***I walk into bathroom to find Breena on the potty with a garbage can between her legs***

Me: Bree what ARE you doing?

Bree: I'm a sick mommy, Blech (puking noise)

Gee, Thanks Kid. ;)

My Sweet Girl

When I found out this past week that our newest little one is a boy it hit me hard that Breena will be my only little girl.  I love all of my children equally, they are all unique & special.  But only one of them will share in getting pedicures with me, let me put her hair in pigtails, and wear pink sundresses.  Dave will only have one little girl to try to shelter from teenage boys (good luck with that! she is very pretty already!).  And when the time comes I will have only one wedding dress to buy.  I grew up with a sister, I wonder how different her life will be without one.  I wonder if she will be the queen of the house & boss her little brothers around.  I wonder if they will listen when she tries!  I wonder if she will develope stronger friendships with other girls because she doesn't have a sister to fall back on .  I wonder if she will be close with her future sister-in-laws (assuming the boys get married someday!).  Words can't describe how excited I am for her life.  For all of our kids. 

We are so lucky to have (almost) three children.  And so blessed that they are very close in age & will (hopefully) grow to be the best of friends.  I was anxious to see what God's plan for our lives would be when it came to kids.  I always pictured myself with three little girls.  Instead I am going to be a mother of two little boys & one sweet little girl.  Not what i had envisioned but it couldn't be more perfect.

A few photos...

Helping Daddy rake outside

 Already in jammies so Eli had to watch

Cool dude all ready for sunny weather!

Bedtime Battles

Breena use to be our perfect little girl at nap/bedtime. She would lay in bed & fall asleep without so much as a peep.  Last fall things took a dramatic turn.  We have tried everything to avoid bedtime battles.  I keep her on a strict sleep schedule, avoid overtiredness, & monitor eating sweets before resting.  Today I just couldn't handle anymore screaming so I shut her door and ignored her.  Within 15 minutes her hysterical screams became softer and finally it was quiet.  I tried to open her door to check on her and could barely get her door open.  Here is what I found:

She had fallen asleep right next to the door.  I was able to open it wide enough to stick the camera in.  At least I know now that letting her throw a tantrum eventually ends in a quiet house :)

It's A...???

Well, apparently my husband can't keep a secret either!  He spoiled our surprise before I even had a chance to let it slip out!  Because the cat is already out of the bag, I am excited to share that Breena & I will soon be outnumbered in our house full of BOYS!

It's A...

SECRET!

Had a good ultrasound today!  Got a great shot of baby bean's bottom!  Debating if we want to share the sex of the baby now or in September!  For those of you who know me best, you know I royally stink at keeping secrets!

"Just Another Day In Paradise..."

I wonder what an outsider looking in would think of our family.  I have some weird kids.

Too sleepy to stay awake for lunch.

Butt is cold.  Warming up on heater. 





I walked into our bedroom to find her doing this.  Pants on the floor, undies around ankles, butt against wall.  Silly little girl.

Hearts

You may remember back in February I wrote THIS blog about congenital heart defects.  Part of the reason I felt so compelled to write that post was because when I went in for my first OB visit with this baby we were told that we would need to have a level 2 ultrasound to check the baby's heart.  Our ob said that because Eli was born with a defect this baby is at a slightly higher risk of developing a chd as well.  We have no reason to suspect there are any heart problems, the ultrasound is purely precautionary.  Sometime in May (between 20-24 weeks along) we will be heading to Mayo for the advanced ultrasound.  I believe that our child is healthy.  But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous to go.  I hope May brings us a peace of mind knowing that the little one is growing with a healthy & whole heart.