Fun weekend

We had a fun and tiring weekend. We went to Atlanta to hang out with Greg's fam. His brother Roger got a speedy boat and the boys spent the day riding on it. I swam to it and got on and off, but Elsi couldn't ride because we didn't have a life jacket for her, so I just enjoyed swimming and relaxing. Lyd and Gabe came down too for the afternoon, which was awesome! Greg's probably more exhausted than when we left, but he had a good time. Luke rode on the tube behind the boat. We also spent more time than usual hanging out with Greg's siblings and their families, which was really fun. Sadly, I didn't take a SINGLE picture!

Happy Mommy

Elsi smiled at me today. It was the first time that I was SURE she was smiling AT me. Naturally, I loved it =). I'd post a picture, but you know it will take an eon to get a picture of her smiling!

sports weekend

We had a lot of fun going to semi-pro games this weekend. Baseball last night and soccer tonight. Luke liked the baseball better. Why? There were fireworks at the end.

printing a retraction

Greg is "only" 34, not 35, which is good news because it means I'm only turning 33 this year, not 34.

Elsi's Growth Chart

She's gaining on them!

Loving my family

I am just so thankful for my family tonight. Ben is so cute with his hair cut and I'm so proud of him that he's swimming all over the pool in his tube and loving it. Elsi's growing -- today she was 8lb. 15 oz (10th %ile); 21.5" (25th %ile!) and head 37 cm (5th %ile); working on learning how to smile and coo. Luke is loving his friends, reading, writing letters, cutting with scissors, playing with the web cam embedded on the laptop and just generally loving life. Greg turned 35 today and has been such a wonderful husband and Dad -- I've really enjoyed his company since I got back from Lyd's wedding and I'm just so thankful!

Trying to clean

I tried to clean the boys' room today in a way they can maintain. Will they put away their toys if they have marked boxes with pictures saying what goes where? Any body wanna place any bets?

Blue Dukas Mentality

One of the things that is taking too much of my time lately is the effort of trying to save money. I HATE paying full price for things -- I feel like I'm getting duped or something. Do you think that comes from the "blue dukas" mentality?

There used to be this little souvenir market in Nairobi; I think it was near the Sarit Center. We used to love to go there to buy artsy/crafty-type souvenirs, like wood-carved animals, soaptstone coasters and candle holders, baskets, etc. The thing about the blue dukas that was different from a regular store is that you were supposed to barter for things -- if you didn't, you'd be getting duped for sure. In places like those blue dukas (and there are lots of places like that in East Africa for souvenirs), bargaining can be a majaor process, depending on how much time you're willing to spend on it.

I don't barter for things here, but I look for coupons and sales that can be used together. I don't even bother even looking at sales racks that aren't at least 50% off. There are even a few blogs and websites I look at where they tell you what's on sale and what coupons have been in the paper that can match up with those sales. Even with that information, I spend a lot of time putting all my coupons together with all the sales, but it makes me feel like I'm doing something good for my family, so I guess I'll be fitting it in now when I can. I just need to be a little more disciplined about getting to bed at a decent time!

Weighing in at 7 pounds

Elsi weighed 7 pounds today on her one month birthday. She's doing great!

Visiting Grandpa

My boys are out with my dad right now. He took them to the park and to Wal-mart. They love having him around, and so do I! I got a nap and a shower and Greg got his car registered. It was way over due. Dad got pulled over in Knoxville a couple days ago when he was driving it, but luckily, he just got a warning.

I got to dress my baby in a dress today!

I actually got to put a dress on one of my children today. It was very fun for me =).

Selling Point for our Neighbor's House

Greg's take home police car is apparently a selling point for our neighbor's house. Not working really well, however, since the house has been on the market since last summer!

Rolling over

My 2-1/2 week old child has just rolled herself over 4 times in a row. I think I've heard before that newborns can do that sometimes, but it's because of reflexes and stops after a few weeks, only to start again a few months later. Either that, or I just have a GENIUS little girl =).

Job Change

Well, apparently my boss told everyone at work on Friday, so I guess I can let the cat out of the bag now. I am changing jobs next year. I'm not particularly excited about the change because I'll be sad to leave the ladies I've been working with for three years, which includes some dear, dear friends. I trust the Lord that his plan is perfect and my job had started to get kind of stressful (who knows how much of that was the pregnancy as well).

The funny thing is that my job is changing due to the economy, but not in the way you would expect! I am being moved to a part-time teaching position, because the state is getting stimulus money and want us to expand some of our special ed. services, including assistive technology, which was my job. We're not quite ready for me to work full time, so I agreed to go back to teaching Orthopedically Impaired students. It won't be quite as flexible -- I'll actually have to work the same times every week, without being able to flex my time as long as I put in my total hours, like I was able to do before. But, as I said, the Lord knows our needs.

Cousin Fun

We've had a fun week with Tasha and Jude. Sad they have to leave. Poor Tasha isn't feeling great herself, but she was still such a big help. The main reason I need help now is that I just don't have much time between baby feedings and I'm exhausted from getting about two hours of sleep at a time.

Elsi

She's awake more now and it's precious.

Big bro

Our Newest Addition

Greg's e-mail announcing our baby girl: Elizabeth Sharon arrived Monday at 7:17pm after the doc threatened Esther with a C section.  The labor stalled at 4cm and the dr came in and said if things didn't progress in the next couple of hours, he would have to do surgery.  Esther took this to heart and so after I left to find some supper she decided to dilate fully and try to call me back early from supper.  So...10 minutes later the dr was back, about 1 hour and 20 minutes after he left the 1st time. Two more contractions and Elsie entered this world crying her head off and peeing all over the doctor, her way of punishing him for threatening her mother.  She weighed 5lbs10.7ozs and 18 in long, had a few wisps of what appears to be red hair, and a good set of lungs.  She isn't feeding well yet so we are working on that and having to supplement with some formula till she gets the hang of it.  Grandpa Wilhelm came to visit today to help daddy try and distract the big brothers.  Lydia and Kaki were here and a great help but have to leave today.  Great Auntie Ann comes in from Canada to help today.  That is where we are today.

Having a baby Monday!

When I went to the doctor today, he said my fluid was down to a 6 and
there were more calcifications on the placenta. Since I will be 36
weeks on Saturday, he said we should just go ahead and have the baby.
So I'm going to the hospital on Monday morning, 5 AM, to be induced!
Doc believes the baby will be ready to go home and not have to go the
NICU; said he thinks she'll weigh about 6 lbs. I'm excited, and a
little nervous. Lydia and Kaki are here now, both planning to leave
Tuesday, so hopefully for their sakes we'll have a baby before they
have to leave. Praise the Lord we made it so far and pray that we'll both do great.

Please pray for Luke and Ben too. They've been very clingy today and I'm not sure why, but there have been a lot of people helping us out by doing many of the things I normally do for them. Besides struggling themselves -- they're wearing out the rest of us with their whining and fighting. I'm sure Greg is tired too, but he's been wonderful to me and the boys.