Scripture Power

A friend of mine was blogging about some scripture study methods that have worked with her two small children. I posted a comment, and thought the topic is worthy enough to go down in history.

So, here it is, the Gospel Art Kit ... the one the primary gave Quinn for her birthday ... scared Quinn. She loves it like a scary movie, though, which concerns me. "Oh, mom let's find that picture with the dead guy and the really means guys!" The pictures in the Children's picture scriptures are less intense, but Quinn can not focus on the stories because she is very upset that no one is wearing sleeves. So for every single picture she asks me why that guys is not modest. It is all pretty funny and helps me not take the whole practice too seriously with a 4 and 1 year old.

But it is also an interesting thing about Quinn. As a child, if I saw something violent or scary, I ran away. Quinn soaks it up even if it really bothers her. That is how she processes things. Good to know. I have to do a lot of filtering with her because she is mostly not going to filter for herself.

So, when we do read the scriptures together ... we pull out the Family Book of Mormon, and I kind of hope the book mark is not on a page with a picture!

So much pain

Contractions, baby sitting on my bladder, annoyed with everyone. Want to throw the iPad through the window. Where did all my peace go? What in the world? 2 weeks at most.

New Holes

I just nailed 14 new holes in the walls. For those who know me ... nothing in my house ever changes, so hanging anything is a major step. Nesting ...


Baby's Room: Cute sign that says, "Sunshine: You are my Sunshine," 8 by 10 frame in anticipation for a picture that is coming in the mail, 3 super cute paper flowers.

Girls' Room: Signs that say, "Quinn's Room" and "McKenna's Room," A large pink flower decoration, a picture of me and Kenna, a picture of Tim and Kenna, A sign about being able to do anything if you are in the right shoes (for my angel who is passionate about shoes.)

Front Room: Very Cute Letter "F."

Now I need a nap, but I can hear the girls throwing lunch ... dear me

Home stretch

I have about 2 weeks left until I get induced on April 11. My due date is April 16. I am dilated to a 3, my back hurts and I am chocking on my own saliva, which I do not quite understand. I headed to the magic chiropractor yesterday to get all put together for delivery, and I have everything I need for the big day except a few picture frames and 2 ipod docs to finish decorating the girls' rooms before the big day. I figure I have to do it now because nesting ends the minute he baby pops out, and it will be another few years before I care again.

So far the end of this pregnancy has not been nearly as bad as the end of other other two. I'll have aches and pains, but they only last a day or so. With the other pregnancies, once something started to hurt, it hurt until the very end. This baby is way low, so I do not have any pain in my ribs, which is really nice. The baby moves a lot, but not too much. (I remember crying in the bath tub every night with McKenna because she would not stop moving.) So, in general, I am just really excited to have my baby. At night, I miss her, and I am already excited to wake up with her in the night and to listen to audiobooks together while I nurse.

I have slowed down on my media intake, which has happen at the end with all 3 babies. I like things to be nice and quiet before and after the baby comes and so I because very sensitive to loud or obnoxious TV and movies. I've been reading a book called, "The Anatomy of the Spirit," which I love, and listening to a lot of primary church music with the girls.

Tim and I agreed on a new budget for me the other day, and I hate it. Like I said, I only decorate my house every few years right before a baby comes. I NEED MONEY TO DECORATE! I spent $73 at Hobby Lobby yesterday and did not even get the picture frames I went there for. I bought a few decorations for the house and some bows and headbands for the baby. I could not help myself. If it was pink, I had to buy it.

I have not been super hungry for the last few days. I have whole days where I have to remind myself to eat ... which is not usually my style. I guess there is just no more room in there.

My hips do not hurts nearly as badly as they did with the other girls. I can sleep pretty well through the night. But I do get really thirsty at night sometimes, and I can not get enough water. Sometimes I lay there, and I then I am grateful to have to go to the bathroom because I can get some water on the way. I can't just sit up to drink water because I feel like a beached whale and it takes a lot of energy to bend my abs. So I am grateful for the bathroom breaks.

This baby gets in the hiccups like crazy. I don't love it. I think it makes me feel like I have air in my abdomen, and I don't like the regular pattern of the hiccups, but at least I know she is alive and well. No complaints there.

So basically I am uncomfortable from my belly button to my mid-thighs, with some heartburn to boot. But I am happy and feeling a lot of peace in my life (even though I totally yelled at my girls today for hiding from me at Wal-Mart. I still feel really badly about it.)

Come on, Baby Lizza, come join us!!!

Water Shelf

For 4 years I have needed a little shelf for my water cup right next to my rocker in the nursery. IT WENT UP TODAY! So, I guess this baby is ready to come. Those kind of changes never happen after the baby comes. So any nesting that doesn't get done this round will have to wait for #4.

It was not an easy process to get this shelf. First I had to commit to a shelf. Then I had to buy it. Then I had to commit to the exact location. But finally, all that was done and the shelf was ready for installation.

The morning started with Tim getting on my case because I wanted to buy new iPod docks for the nursery and the girls' room. Short version: "You're spending too much money ... blah, blah, blah." One hour later, I hear him yelling form the nursery while trying to put up the shelves. I enter. What seems to be the problem dear? Eye lashes batting with sweetness, of course.

"This is such a piece of crap. Why do you always settle for this cheap junk?"

Hum .... Not sure I can win.

But the shelf is up, and after some discussion I was "given permission" to use it for my water cup. I think I convinced him the house will not implode if a shelf with a water cup is a little shaky.

What the Old Navy?

I was on OldNavy.com today planning my give and get shopping adventure for tomorrow when everything will be 30% off all weekend.

I put a few things in my online basket like a cute dress for each girl and some adorable jellies in basically every size and color.

Well, it is 5 hours later, and I just went to the site to finish shopping. Suddenly, everything in my online cart costs about 30% more than it did this morning!

I think Old Navy is trying to play me. I am not having it!!

So sad that those cute Mary Jane jellies will now -- out of principle -- not be joining our family tomorrow.

Not just a drip, drip

After 5 days and 3 doctors, I finally found out what is wrong with my very painful/ puffy eye. It is not great news, but it is better than the wrong news which is what I got at "After Hours Medical" in American Fork, Utah. The doctor barely looked at my eye before telling me it is probably a sty, and I should basically get over it. A very good doctor at the IHC instacare in Highland, who I saw in the very early stages, actually mentioned this diagnoses but said it was too early to tell. At least he was paying attention, right.

So here it is! (Already on drugs and praying that it does not get worse before it gets better as the doctor said it might.)

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus (HZO)

What is HZO?

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. When the virus involves the skin around the eye and the eye itself, it is called HZO. It is not the same virus that causes herpes simplex.

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What are the symptoms of HZO?

HZO can cause a rash with small blisters to break out on the forehead and around the eye, typically on one side of your face. Sometimes you will have pain in the same area of your face a few days before the outbreak. Infection of the eye causes extreme pain, swelling of the eyelid, light sensitivity and redness.

In severe cases, the cornea can be damaged. This can affect your vision.

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Who gets HZO and why? Can I prevent it?

There is nothing you can do to prevent HZO. It is not common in children, rather it occurs more often as people get older. Men and women are equally affected. People who develop HZO have typically had chickenpox or have been exposed to the chickenpox virus in the past.

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How can my doctor tell if I have HZO?

If you have HZO, you will probably have a rash that looks like chickenpox, usually on one side of your face or forehead. Besides examining you, your doctor will not need to do any additional tests to see if you have HZO. Sometimes herpes simplex infections can resemble HZO. However, the patterns of the rashes are different and your doctor will be able to tell them apart.

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How often is the eye involved?

The eye itself is affected in 10% of patients. Your doctor will examine you to see if your eye is affected by HZO. If it is, you may need to see an ophthalmologist (a doctor who specializes in treating eyes) for further treatment.

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How is HZO treated?

If you think you might have HZO, see your doctor right away. Early treatment with antiviral medicines (usually in pill form) can reduce pain and the duration of symptoms. Your doctor may also give you a corticosteroid (in eye drop form) to relieve inflammation.

Cool compresses can help ease the pain and rash. Pain medicine that is available over the counter, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (some brands: Motrin, Advil) or acetaminophen (one brand: Tylenol) may help.

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How long will I have the infection?

The pain from HZO, should get better as the rash goes away. With uncomplicated HZO, you should recover in a few weeks, but it may take longer in older or sicker patients.

Drip, Drip

Last time we had friends over for a special Turkey dinner, the sink broke, and we almost had to cancel. We have a Turkey event planned for tonight ... and the faucet just broke. Dear me. We'll be using hot water from the bathroom tonight!

Great excuse to skip the dishes and get to sleep early, right?

Also, Kenna won't nap, and Lizza will not stop kicking me. It makes my insides feel like the organs are playing sports. Makes me want to throw up and gives me heart burn.

Also, I have an eye infection that will not go away, so I look like a freak. What else could go wrong, right? The Turkey gods frown on me. Why me?

Nesting Round 3

So, let the nesting begin. I moved the girls into their shared room last weekend, and I thought it would take weeks before the process was complete enough to start preparing for Lizza, who is due in 6 weeks. BUT, the move went great, and I am some how bit with the productive bug and eager to get the nursery back in order.

I started, like all successful redecorating projects, with a trip to Ikea. My friend Megan came with me, and we had a great time. Quinn got to play in the Playland, and Kenna was an angel in the stroller that I packed with blankets and soft things from home. I am surprised she kept her eyes open.

My goal was to find some bins or boxes to fit under the girls beds in their bedroom to increase the storage space for close and shoes and things. Success. Found cute pink bins for under Kenna's crib and an ugly, but perfect, "Under the bed" box for Quinn. I got home and within an hour I have moved every item of Kenna's clothes into Quinn's room, and everything now has a place to go.

If I were not so complete exhausted I would start go through the baby clothes and getting the nursery all ready, but it will have to wait for a few hours. Here is my before Lizza comes to "due" list:

Move the mattress up in the crib to the newborn level
Print pictures to update the walls in the nursery and the girls' room
Hang pictures
Clean out baby drawers and fill with stuff I will actually use
Dust and clean the baby furniture and under the crib
Buy a small shelf to hang right near my glider to use for my water and book and phone when I am nursing this round
Move the iPod dock to Quinn and Kenna's room and find an Ipod old enough to use with it
Get rid of a lot of baby toys that Quinn OR Kenna never used
Get rid of a lot of baby clothes that Quinn OR Kenna never used
Get the mobile out and ready
Find the changing table mobile that both girls have LOVED
Find a way to put a chair or seat in the nursery so people will hang out with me while I nurse
Decide how I feel about use sleep positioners or sound machines with this baby