Brandon is 4!!!

My big boy, Brandon, turned 4 years old on Saturday. We had a great family day together and ended the day with a family party. Some of his favorite people were there to celebrate the big day with him. We continued our celebrations today with a trip to Sea World with my parents. It was a great weekend. So hard to believe that it's been 4 short years since I became a mommy for the first time and that I've just had my 3rd child!!

Introducing.....Ethan John Norred

He's here! Ethan John Norred was born on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 11:27am. He was 8 pounds, 11 ounces and 21 inches long. He's the sweetest baby, just like his brother, Jack, was....guess that means I'm really in for it in about a year!

38 Week Appt

I had my 38 week OB appt this morning. Everything looks great. Baby's heartrate was in the 150s. I'm still about 3cms and now 60% effaced, so I've made some great progress, even if we didn't follow doctor instructions ;) The doctor said I'm perfect for an induction and we are on for WEDNESDAY MORNING!!! I overheard her trying to make an induction appt for the same day for another woman and (they were on speakerphone and my exam room was right next to her workstation) the hospital said they were already booked for Wednesday and Thursday! So I'm considering myself lucky that I got one of those spots for Wednesday. I told Jason we need to get to the hospital EARLY in case a bunch of women go in to labor on their own, I don't want to get sent home! That's it for us. We hope to enjoy our Labor Day weekend as a family of 4 for the last time. We've got it all planned out for the kids with babysitters and such. I don't know what I'd do without my mom or my sister-in-law, Natalie, they have been real life savers for me these last few weeks.

37 week appt.

Today I am 37 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I had my weekly check up this morning. Haven't gained any more weight since last week and my blood pressure was good. Dr. S asked how I was doing and I told her how miserable I've been feeling. We talked about my incident on Saturday and I told her I was concerned that I wasn't as dilated as Dr. N had said last week based on the nurses comments and about the whole "what was that if not my water breaking" thing. So she assured me that even a slight turn of the baby's head on my bladder could have done that to me so she rechecked for amniotic fluid and it came back negative again. She explained that checking the cervix for dilation is different for each person. On her scale, for example, she considers 1cm to be one fingertip can be inserted in the cervix, 2cm to be one finger with wiggle room and 3cm to be two fingertips in. So, she checked me and said she could get 2 fingers in! She never said I am 3 cm but based on what she just told me I'm guessing that's what she'd consider it to be. My cervix is still not effacing, which is necessary for delivery as well. I asked if there was anything I could to do help with that and her response was, as she looked directly at Jason, "lots and lots of sex". Yay (that's scarcasm if you can't tell). I asked about induction since she brought it up last time, just wanting to be certain in my head that we had an acutal end date cause I knew it would make me feel better. She told me again that she wouldn't induce until I was 39 weeks which falls on Labor Day week. Monday, Labor Day, is an office holiday, on Tuesday (my acutal day I'm 39 weeks) she's out at their Shertz office so she can't do an induction at my hospital that day being 20 minutes away, so the earliest will be Wednesday, Sept 9, 2009....so 09/09/09! Dr. S actually went ahead called the hospital, gave me paperwork and scheduled my induction for that day so if Mr. Ethan doesn't make an appearance before then my baby boy will be born two weeks from today! We can't wait to meet him!

Baby time? Nope, false alarm.

Saturday morning I woke up and was doing laundry. I sat in the computer chair to check my email and, of course, Facebook. I asked Brandon to get Jack out of his room and Jack came running to me and wanted to sit on my lap, he had a cup in his hand. I picked him up and put him on my knee and we had our good morning kisses. All of a sudden, I felt a warm liquid run down the length of my leg and all the way down to my foot. Quickly, I put Jack down and started feeling him to see if his diaper had leaked, nope, he was dry. I grabbed his water cup out of his hand and turned it upside down to see if it was leaking and it wasn't. So, I stood up and realized that it had come from me! Shock! Was this my water breaking?! I called for Jason and told him what happened. We decided to call the doctor and see what they thought. It had just been enough to run down my leg but nothing else was coming out yet. The doctor on call called back a few minutes later and I asked if we should just wait and see if anything else happens or go get checked and she said to go to the hospital and check it out. My mom rushed over to be with the boys and Jason and I started packing a bag, grabbing the car seat, etc, we didn't know if this was it or not!

We got to the hospital about an hour or so later. Still nothing more had happened but I was having a few BH contractions. The hospital was so quiet and empty. The nurses were sooooo nice! They decided to get me in a room and had me get in a gown and hooked me up to monitors to track Ethan's heartbeat and my contractions. They did the first swab test to check for amniotic fluid, it came back negative. They said that they would come back in about 30 minutes and check me again. About 45 minutes later they came back and checked me again and, still, the swab test came back negative! The conclusion: Apparently Ethan kicked my bladder and I peed on myself! They called the doctor on call and told her what happened and she said I should go home, no baby today. They did check me again to see if I'd dilated more, nope. Not only have I NOT dilated more, but the nurse that checked me said she wouldn't even really give me the 1cm that the doctor had so graciously given me last week! Sigh.

In addition, they said Ethan is still head down but in the posterior position, meaning his back is along my back, which is not the way we want him to come out. Also, it means for some serious pain in the meantime! I've never had pain like this before. I'm having the hardest time even rolling from one side to the other at night. They gave me a few suggestions of sleep positions to try to turn him and recommended getting an exercise ball to try to get him to come down a bit lower. We'll see what happens. All I know is that I don't want to go to the hospital again without coming home with a baby! Next appointment is Wednesday.

36 weeks pregnant!

I'm 36 weeks pregnant today!! Had my OB appt and things look good. The doctor checked my cervix and I'm 1cm dialated! Hopefully I'll have some more contractions this week and next week I'll have progressed even more. We go back on Wed, Aug 26. They are still thinking of inducing me Labor Day week, so just about 3 weeks to go...or less if he decides to come sooner!!! We are so excited!

Belly pic

Not the best quality but here is my big ole belly at 34 weeks. If you think it hurts, it does.

34 week OB appt.

I'll be 34 week pregnant tomorrow! I went today for my checkup. Baby sounded great, my doctor even laughed cause she said he's really really active and I'm in for it! GREAT! He's already head down and showed me where I already knew was his butt and where his sweet little legs are (which have the feet that love my ribs). We went ahead and scheduled my 36, 37 and 38 week appts. I'll meet the newest doctor at my next appt, today was her first day at the practice, then I'll be meeting with my regular doctor for the other appts. I asked Dr. S if she's going to be in town for the next few weeks (just to prepare myself in case she wouldn't be there for delivery) and she said she's actually scheduled to be out of town the week I'm due but thinks she'll likely induce me the week before (eeeek!) so she's not worried about me! Wow, that's only 5 weeks away! 5 weeks and I'll be a mommy to THREE BOYS!!! I'm really excited and a little nervous. I can't wait to hold him and start feeling myself again though!

New Pictures

Three best buds swimming at Auntie's house.


Three best buds sitting in a chair. Notice how Brandon has to be touching Izzie.


Brandon just before his 1st swimming lesson.


Jason and his dad, Earl, on Father's Day


Oh, this is an old but super cute pic of the boys asleep in the car. Brandon and Carter fell asleep when probably Jack was the one that needed the nap. Bliss, I keep meaning to show it to you and finally remembered!

Swim Lesson Videos

Here are a few, very short, videos from Brandon's swimming lesson yeseterday. He was not doing his best, I think cause he knew I was taping him. He has two more scheduled lessons next week but will have to miss one because I have my grandfather's funeral that day. We'd like to sign him up for another class but I think that I'll wait until after I have the baby to do that. I think he's so cute! In the third video he jumps in from the edge of the pool. He insists on holding his teacher's hand. In the last video he's grapping a diving ring off a step. The last ones are super short cause my memory card was full and I keep having to delete stuff.

Rest in Peace, Papa

On Saturday, July 11, 2009 my Papa went to heaven. It wasn't unexpected but still hurts all the same. Never in my life have I seen such a fighter. If you could fight cancer on willpower alone he would have won. His funeral won't be for another week and then I can edit this post with his obituary so you can read a small bit about his life. Here is a picture of him with my Granny (his wife of 63 amazing years!) and Jack just after we got home from the hospital (Jack was 3 days old).

Getting up to speed on us...

So this is going to be a boring post without any pictures, sorry! I can't find my camera cable so I've got lots of pictures to upload (hopefully) soon.

Ok, our updates!

BRANDON: Mr.B started swimming lessons about 3 weeks ago. He's taking them thru the San Antonio Swim Academy and they hold the lessons at the Spectrum Club at Rogers Ranch. He's not swimming like a fish yet but his teacher thinks he's made a lot of progress. He will put his head underwater for a few seconds at a time. He's jumping in the pool (and going under) but insists on holding his teacher's hand. A few times the last lesson or two he's grabbed a ring on a low step in the pool!

He's very in to his legos. He loves watching Transformers and Star Wars. Brandon is such a good big brother and asks regularly when we can get Ethan out to look at him. Brandon has also gotten really good at playing Mario Kart on the Wii! Each day he looks forward to Jason coming home so they can race against each other.

JACK: Mr. Jack. Don't know where to start with this guy. He's a handful to put it mildly. One of his most recent antics is that he finally climbed out of his crib! I can't say that either Jason or I were surprised but still a bit shocked that he actually went through with it! We had put him down for a nap over the weekend and I was watching him on the monitor and suddenly I couldn't see him anymore and I heard a knocking sound. I jumped off my bed and went for his door but Jason beat me to it and opened the door to Jack proudly walking out of his room! So, that day we rearranged his room and he has since been sleeping in his toddler bed. We had to make sure his room was safe to roam around in since there is no telling what he'll be doing when he should be sleeping.

ME AND ETHAN: I am now 30 weeks pregnant, just under 10 weeks until my due date of September 15. I had an appt around 28 weeks (I'm going to the OB every two weeks now) and took my GTT (glucose tolerance test) which I FAILED! I never failed with either of the boys and I also got my rhogam shot (for my AB- blood type, Jason is B+). This past Monday I took my 3 hour GTT and passed!! The doctor said my belly is measuring a bit big but that everything else looked and sounded great. I just love hearing his little heart beating away! I'm in pain a LOT of the time. I really am trying to keep a good attitude about everything but, man, it sucks being pregnant in South Texas in the summer!!

JASON: Jason and I have decided to join a gym. After going to the Spectrum Club we started getting interested in joining one ourselves. We ended up going with Lifetime Fitness. It's a really nice place. Jason has already gone a couple of times this week and we just joined on Saturday! He took Brandon with him on Sunday and left him in the child care center and Brandon loved it. I'm really hoping both Jason and I (me after Ethan's birth) can get more healthy so we can live long, happy lives!

Brandon on a water slide

Here is a short video of Brandon going down a water slide at Brookie's 2nd birthday party this weekend. He's in all orange on the right side. I was amazed that he had the courage to do it! It's pretty much how he spent the entire party, going down the slide.

Added ticker to blog

I just added a baby countdown ticker to the blog. As of today, June 6, 2009, we have 101 until my due date of September 15, 2009. It still sounds like a long way off but I know he'll be here before we know it!

New Pics of my Boys

Jack in his new big boy bed.


Brandon and Jack


My boys eating their crackers.


Jack in a Star Wars helmet.


My boys


Jack wearing Brandon's underwear over his jammies.


The boys playing Wii with Daddy.

I'm getting free stuff!

Yesterday I got a friend request on Facebook for Noodle Boo Bunch. I'm not sure how they found me on there, I'm almost 100% certain I've never bought their products. Anyway, I accepted the request and saw that on their status message they were looking for 10 pregnant mommies to be to try out some of their products. I thought what the heck, I'm sure they've already got their 10, but went ahead and send the woman my info. I got an email back a little bit ago that they are sending me some stuff to try!! Yay, I never get free stuff! Once I started looking on their website I thought I'd see if they had anything that might help with Jack's ezcema that I can't get rid of. I went ahead and asked on the Facebook page if they made anything for that (thinking I'd be willing to buy something since she's sending me free stuff) and she replied back that she'll send something in my freebie package for his ezcema! Yipee!! I'll let you know what I think of the stuff. If you want to be their friend on Facebook do a search for Noodle Boo Bunch. The person using that account promises more freebies and such in the future.

The Verdict is IN!

We had our 19 week baby appt yesterday morning. Mostly it was an ultrasound to check baby's development and we got a goooood long peek at the gender. The lady that did the ultrasound, Hazel, was awesome! I've had a few of these done and she was by far the BEST. She was so friendly and thorough. The moment she started the ultrasound it was quite obvious that she had hit the money shot (the shot between the legs) and there was no mistaking that baby #3 is ALL BOY! Jason and I knew it before she even said what we were looking at! Oh, I can't even explain the feelings I had when I saw those perfect little boy parts! So much LOVE and EXCITEMENT and even RELIEF to finally know that it's a boy in there and we can finally call him by name: Ethan! We are so thrilled and feel so blessed to be given this little man in our lives. We can't wait to meet him in September and see if he looks anything like either of his older brothers. We love you, Ethan!!

14wk appt for baby #3

I had my 14 week appt for baby #3 yesterday. My doctor was not in the best of moods so it was pretty quick. She is due to deliver her baby next week and looks like she's pretty tired of people asking her how she's doing, LOL. Anyway, we heard the baby's hearbeat, which sounded great, and I scheduled my next appt for 19wks which will include the BIG ultrasound! Our first hope is that we see a totally healthy baby in there, followed by a baby that wants to show us what is in between those legs of his/hers. I was a tiny bit disappointed that I'm having to wait an extra week (she originally said around 18wks), but I am guessing it's was scheduled like that because Dr. Shows is having her baby and taking a few weeks off herself. Just make sure to be thinking of us on April 23 at 9:30am and pray that we see a healthy baby!

Jack's 15 month well check

Jack had his 15 month well check today. He weighed 21 pounds 10 ounces which puts him in about the tenth percentile and was 31 inches long, making him in the 50th percentile for that. The biggest thing on him (as Dr. Wilke put it) is his head, measuring in the 60th percentile. He got two booster shots and screamed his head off. Luckily he's rebounded and was his normal self the rest of the day.

Baby #3, 10 week appt.

I had my 10 week OB appointment today. Just a little back-story here, with both Brandon and Jack I got an ultrasound (with Jack it was after she tried to find his heartbeat with the dopplar and couldn't find it that way). So, while I always want it to just be okay, I was kinda hoping for another ultrasound.

Anyway, I got there and mentioned to Dr. Shows that I was a little nervous that I wasn't having morning sickness. She asked when it stopped and I told her I haven't had it this time like I did with the other two. Instead of reassuring me and saying it was totally normal to not have it, she freaked me out a bit by saying, well, let's try to get the heartbeat...um, okay, glup. It took several minutes but she finally found that beautiful galloping sound. She never told me what the heart rate was but said she just knew she would find it by dopplar because my uterus is big...uh, thanks, but I already knew that, I'm already showing! She said the heartbeat sounded good, I have to admit it did to me, too! Then she said to come back in 4 weeks for my regular appt and then I'll have my BIG ultrasound in about 8 weeks! Wow, only about 2 more months until we know if we are having a third boy or a little girl!! So, no ultrasound today but it was still a pretty good appointment!!

The Latest

So, I haven't posted in awhile and my lovely sister, Carla, was complaining about it. I'm not sure why, we talk at least daily on the phone. Could my life be that exciting that she wants to see it on paper as well?!

Ok, the big news is that we are pregnant! Not so much of a surprise, I know, the whole world knows. Putting it here makes it official ;) I'm due in mid-September (Sept 15th..so mid-Sept exactly ;) We had our first doctor's appt last week and I got an ultrasound and the doctor said everything looks great. We saw our little peanut's heart beating away, what an amazing sight! I go back in 3 more weeks. I *think* we'll find out what we are having around the end of April, and yes, we DO find out.

We've told the boys to expect another baby. Jack, of course at 13 months, is too young to understand. Brandon keeps telling me that we already have a baby, named Jack...so, not really getting it so much. I showed Brandon the ultrasound picture and told him that it was a picture of the baby in mommy's tummy and he said, "I have a baby in my bellybutton, too!". Both boys have been unusually clingy lately so even if they don't get it, they must sense something is different.

I feel great, so great it's scary. By this point I already had morning sickness with both of the boys. Apart from a few moments of it I've really been fine. I am VERY moody and VERY VERY tired though, LOL.