Happy Birthday Nik

When my brother Nik was born, I was not a very happy little girl. I was 4 days away from being four and was very adamant that we did not have boys in our family. I did not want anything to do with a boy. Before his birth we had 3 girls. My dad was a very quick thinker and in the car on the way to meet him. told me that Nik had his own song. I actually remember thinking, "Well, he can't be that bad if he has a song." He was my bud after that. All of us adored our Nik. And probably spoiled him more than we should have as sisters. He totally changed the dynamic of our family. I am really grateful that I have a brother.

I have always felt really close to Nik. Although, "I played Pirate Ship weird." and Audrey was always better for the wild, rough and tumble games. I always felt that we had a special bond. Maybe because I chose to let him stay, in my four year old brain. I decided to take full advantage of a brother.

Nik is really one of the most multi talented people I know. From the time he was little, he excelled at almost everything he tried. He is a brilliant artist. I have two originals in my house. (Not a lot of people can say they have an original Nik Painting), And man can that boy sing. He has an amazing deep bass voice that not many can match. He can act, just like my dad. He is so very smart at computers. He has a photographic memory and can quote movies and songs like no other. He is constantly entertaining and making everyone laugh. All the nieces and nephews adore him, for they know that Nik will always play. Whether it is wrestling, lightsabers or just being silly. We all look forward to Nik.

I am really glad that Nik is my brother. And that he was always honest with me if I looked horrible for a date and that he listened to all my ramblings about boys and life growing up. People always thought that Kersten and Nik were brothers and I was the in-law. I could not ask for a more fun November birthday club member. Love ya Nik

Happy Birthday Ginny F*

(By guest blogger, Kersten)

My little sis, Ginny, was born 27 years ago. She was full of life and energy during her youth. When we were kids, we theorized that she had a nuclear power plant somewhere in her body that gave her super-human energy. Ginny enjoyed the endless energy, but it exhausted us. Her infinite energy earned her the nickname of ‘Beanie’, after a Mexican Jumping Bean.

She also had a super-human immune system. She would put things in her mouth that would kill a yak and play on as if nothing happened. Some examples include the exhaust chips from my parents VW van and spiders.

Ginny wanted to be a dancer when she was young. Her attire often consisted of a dance leotard and tights. This was fine for a girl; however, she usually wound up roughing around in the sandbox and by the end of the day, she would look like vagrant dancing child.

Liking all activities related to motion, Ginny learned how to roller-skate. She received lessons from a professional clown on the finer points of skating. Through her hard work and sheer energy, she became the best roller skater in the neighborhood and would shame any competitors who dared challenge her superiority.

Ginny is a beautiful young woman. Her nephews idolize her, and for good reason. She is amazing with children. She can get Noah to eat things that he would never touch at our house. Ginny is also tender and kind with children. She seems to know exactly what an individual child’s needs are and she will use that knowledge to help the child. Ginny is part imp, and I think that helps her connect with children.

We are all grateful for our Ginny. I admire her and love her. I think our entire family would feel empty without her.

Happy Birthday Ginny!

So close

I felt so full of wonder at my scheduled ultrasound today. Shaak-Ti is so healthy and beautiful. She is a little imp and already so full of personality. She is getting big enough now that it is hard to see all her face or anything. So we see these itemized parts of her sweet body. Her stomach, back, femur, head, beautiful heart, kidneys, brain and my favorite pic of the day was of her chin lips and nose. It almost looks like she is smirking. And she has quite the prominent chin. When Dr, Esplin came in and started looking at her, He got really excited like a boy in the toy store and asked if I wanted to see her in 3D. A new thing at the new hospital. Of course, my girl would not hold still to get a picture of her face but it was so beautiful to see her with a real skin tone and looking so much like a baby instead of the black and white images on the screen. It made me so excited to hold her little body and be closer to the end. Sorry I don't have a working scanner to post the pic of her silly chin, it is a wonder to behold.

Shaak-Ti is 4 lbs 8 oz right now and growing right on. I am now down for the count and if my conditions worsen for me in any way the Dr will just take her. He put me on some stronger meds for my blood pressure and preeclampsia problems. I go back mon and next fri for NST's and will see him Mon again so he can she how the meds worked over the weekend. We talked for a good 20 min about my birth options. I have been praying to know what will be easiest and healthiest for both of us. Today it was confirmed in my heart and with the doc that unless I go into labor on my own, we will do a scheduled C-section on January 8, 2008. Okay, now that feels really weird having a real solid date like that. I hope she waits till after the holidays. I think it would stink to have a birthday at that time.

31 weeks

Today I am 31 weeks along in my pregnancy. My, how the time flies. I know pregnancy is 40 weeks long, but my doc's won't let me go over 39. So I really have only 6 to 7 weeks left. And all those weeks have big fun happy holidays, birthdays, crazy celebrations and doctor visits and more doc visits. In other words really, really busy. This seems to be going so much faster than it ever did with Noah. I feel it is the combination of being a bit more busy and everything is not so new, dramatic and life altering. Not to say that a new baby is not life altering or a beautiful miracle every single time. I am just saying that this time I have a better idea of what is to come. Therefore, I am a bit calmer about the changes in me and my body and more aware of how it will change my everyday life once this sweet one comes.

I have talked about a lot of my irrational crazy fears and worries with this baby and I really feel that most of them are a product of raging hormones and fatique. It is much easier to worry about changing a little girl diaper than any of the big and more important things. I sometimes want to strangle doctors, diabetic educators and other people that don't have to live like I do. The reason I want to strangle them is the unsolicited facts and horror stories they pound into your head. Basically saying if you don't do everything perfect, your baby will be ruined, maimed, altered or sick for it's entire life. At the beginning of this pregnancy I had my diabetic endocrogist look at me with horror at some of my blood sugars. His voice was so demeaning and horrific as if I had caused the ultimate sin and would be sent to Hades for the rest of my existence. I was 5 weeks pregnant at the time and just found out I was in the family way. I chose after that to have some of my other very well educated and trained doctors help and do the testing needed for this pregnancy. That is also one less doctor visit every 6 weeks. So I have decided that I would rather worry about my sleep deprivation than deforming my child. All I can do is what is humanly possible for me. And so I will. I have actually been incredibly blessed with my pregnancies. I talk to other diabetic mothers and hear how their kidneys stopped working or all sorts of things and I count my blessings and thank my Heavenly Father for helping me through this and giving me the blessing of my babies.

I have decided to embrace my silly, crazy, irrational fears to replace the real ones. And fret that my bra size is now what is was when I was nursing Noah, Yes, people you read that right, when I was nursing him. So that means they will still probably get even larger. So I can fret that I will look like a freakish woman with large ample bosoms and big baggy circles under my eyes. That has a darling little boy and a little girl that has lopsided bows and just keep laughing at myself and my imperfections so that I don't go totally and completely crazy. Just stay the little bit of crazy that I already am.

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Cinderella-The King

My Dad is in a play and luckily for me it is Cinderella. If you don't know this about me, I love Cinderella. So I was really excited for it and last night I got to go see it. I went with Nik and Lena and when we got there my Grandma Sh* was there and my Aunt Mary and Cousin Karen and husband Bryce , my dad's wife Kayleen and my sister Audrey. It was a bit of a family reunion. I was going to go tonight and plans changed so I got to go with Nik, which made me happy.

The play was really darling. My dad was absolutely amazing in it. He played the King. He grew his beard and what hair he has a bit longer so you can see his curls. And surprisingly his beard is now mostly white with a bit of pepper just around his mouth. He looked very handsome. It made me proud that I was his daughter. He really is talented at acting. I am really glad that he started doing it again.

The play was a bit cheesy but hey it is Cinderella. The Stepsisters were hilarious and cast really well. I loved that when the Chancelor had to go around trying on the shoe, he went in the audience and tried it on some of the little girls. I told Nik it was a good thing they did not try it on me for the play would have been over for I am the real Cinderella. Cinderella's dress was yellow for the ball and had a tulle skirt. It was so fun. I am so glad I was able to go.

November Real Simple Interview

What are you really good at? I feel like I am a really loyal friend. Once I have made a real friend, It is really hard to get rid of me. I hold my friends and dear ones close to my heart.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving Food? My Grandma S* homemade stuffing and gravy. Oh, I still dream about it. I have the image of my Grandpa carving the turkey with her standing right next to him thickening the gravy. I really miss that.

If you could change places with anyone, living or dead, for one day, who would it be? This one is really hard for me. I am going to have to say Kersten. He says that he is really simple to figure out but sometimes I am baffled about how to help and be a better wife to him. It would be fantastic to get into his head

Would you rather be a little smarter or a little sexier? I already am really smart. I would like to be a bit more articulate with words so I could express myself better. But, right now I am totally going with sexier. I still want to turn Kersten to butter by looking at me when I am old.

The best decision I ever made was . . . Marrying my husband Kersten, He really is my perfect match although not perfect. He makes me happy, the second decision was to finish college and get my BS degree. I am eternally grateful that I stuck it out.

What are you most proud of? My son and family, I love my life as a mother. I had many people discourage and tell me I probably would never be able to have children. The fact that I have this beautiful boy and one almost here is such a miracle to me.

Something on my mind lately is . . . I have really irrational fears about this second baby. Unlike the first, where labor etc were my fears. This time it is changing a girl diaper, doing girl hair and clothes and if Noah will still like his baby sister when she is here.

Before I die, I'd like to . . .Travel to the countries of my heritage. She my children grow up and get married and have grandchildren. I just want to be vital still to enjoy it all