20 Week Doctor Appointment

Today was my 20 week doctors appointment. Yeah! That means that not only am I half way done being pregnant (I can not believe that already.) but it is sonogram day. Josie, Ogdan, and Brent all went with me today to see the baby. Josie was very much excited to see what she says is going to be a baby sister. We did not find out the sex of the baby for the 3rd time. I mean if you do, it would loose its last minute excitement. Josie says it is a girl, so we will see if she is correct or not come January. She has already given her a name. I ask her all the time what if it is a baby brother and each time she assures me it is not it is a baby sister. You will have to ask her yourself what she named the baby. It is really cute!

The baby has a heart rate of 150 beats per minute and is currently weighing in at 15 oz. I am running 3 days ahead of schedule meaning January 8th. However, they do not change your original due date because the first one is more accurate for determining due dates. So, we will have to see. The baby is already in the 80%-tile for babies its age. That is why the due date is different. Amazing how the technology now of days can tell you that information.

I myself gained 4 pounds this month making the doctor happy. I was not gaining weight for a while, so he is happy that I am now averaging a pound or so per week. My current weight at 20 weeks pregnant is....106 pounds.

Josie and Ogdan thought it was pretty cool to see the baby waving at them and to hear the heart beat. At one time the baby flexed its muscles for us to show off the guns. Now, that sounds like a boy thing to me, but we will have to see. Also the baby, had its foot to its mouth. Who knows it could have been sucking on its toes.

Take a look at baby #3.

Photo of hand and foot

Profile Photo

All stretched out to see the spine

flexing his or her muscles

Front view of face

Profile photo

Hand

New Family Member

We have a new family member! No it is not a baby, at least not for a few more months. After 6 wonderful years driving my Malibu, Brent and I thought it was officially time to trade her in for a new family member. Bye Malibu. Hello Grand Caravan.

Brent and I have been looking for months and I mean months for a minivan that we could afford. All we wanted on the new ride was less than 15,000 miles, power sliding doors, and a power liftgate. You know how hard that it to find. Nearly impossible. We had test drove a 2011 deluxe model and loved it. However it had features like a back up camera and touch radio that because it was a deluxe model and had these feature put it over our price range. We then found a 2010. It had everything that we wanted and even remote start. However, after riding in a 2011 the 2010 seats to us were horrible. Dodge upgraded the seats in 2011 due to customer complaints on the seats, so now they are a million times better.

So anyways, we had been looking for some time and I heard about a sale on the radio so we went to check it out. Lets just say they delivered a van to us and it was exactly what we wanted. Power sliders, power liftgate, dark charcoal in color and the best of all the price we were wanting to pay. So, now we drove in a new Grocery Getter!

So, now we are one of those people that park in the middle of no mans land in parking lots where no one will park next to us. You know those crazy people. Thats us now! I mean when you drive the car off the lot after buying it and it only rolls over 100 miles, you have to baby it for a while.

Goodbye Malibu we will miss you....NOT!

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Strike

In case you have been wondering what I have been up to, well it has not been teaching children how to read or write. No, it has been walking the lines of a picket line with my fellow teachers. Things in the district have been difficult overall and the teachers had to take a strong stand and went out on strike. I never imagined that at the age of 27 I would be turning in my textbooks for signs marching the line.

Parent/community members in the district are wonderful and very supportive of the teachers. Some of them have witness the things that the teachers go through and give their full support. Parents/community members put signs up in thier yards to show their support and brought up treats to us daily. I think I might have ate more food during the 8 day strike then I did all summer. We even had lunches that were better than my dinners at home. We were treated well.

In the end, the teachers were punished as one could say for going on strike for our rights. To find out more on the contract issues yours click here.

18 Month Appointment

What can I say about my little man other than he is little. Ogdan had his 18 month doctors visit and of course the doctors confirmed that he is indeed small for his age, short and thin. At first, I told them that they had to be wrong because he eats more than I do at meal times. However, they assured me that he is growing and is buring off all of those calories doing boy things like playing in the mud. I guess the nickname "Frank the Tank" will have to continue since he puts the food down like no other. His 18 months stats are as follows:

Head - 49 cm - 90%-tile
Height -31 inches - 11%-tile
Weight - 22 pounds - 21%-tile

Since his 15 month check up, his head has remained the same, he has only grew 1/4 of an inch and he lost 6 ounces in weight. So, overal he is small.

We will not have to go back to the doctors until he turns 2. Man, almost 2 already where has the time gone?!?

4 Year Doctor Appointment

Josie had her 4 year doctor appointment on August 1st and is growing like a weed. I know would we be expecting anything different then that. I took her at the beginning of August for her 4 year appointment that way if she gets into the Bright Futures program everything is lined up and ready to go. She qualified however is on a wait list until every child in the district is screened.

I had a concern, not a big one, but just one that I wanted to be addressed. She has been using the bathroom a lot lately and every time she goes, so she is not just doing it to get out of something. I mean we went to Walmart and in the 45 minute trip asked to go and went 3 times. Of course, I mentioned something to the lady at the front desk about if they would need a sample because already Josie had to go to the bathroom. She told me "no" so we went and sure enough the doctor wanted one. So Josie drank lots of water and had to pee in a cup which she thought it was pretty cool because no one has ever asked her to pee in a cup before. Everything came back ok, which I knew it would I just wanted it to be documented that way if she did get to go to school and she continues to go to the bathroom all the time I have record that I did something.

She didn't have to have shots, which she thought was awesome! However, we will have to be lead blood tested. More on that in another post.

She currently weighs 37 1/4 pounds and is 41 3/4 inches tall. Which puts her in the 68%-tile for her weight and the 75 %-tile for her height. She has only gained 5 pounds and grew 3 inches in one calendar year. Can you believe it?

Wiped Out

The zoo adventure wiped Ogdan clean out. He had such a blast that he simply could not hold back the zzz's anymore and wiped out. It was extremely hot at the zoo. Take a close look at Ogdan. He is sweating like a little pig and is drenched from head to toe. Poor little Man!

Out Like a Light

Within 5 minutes of us being in the car, both of the kids were out like lights. The fresh air, heat, and lots of walking wore them completely out. Which made it a quiet ride home for a little while.

Choo Choo

To end out family vacation 2011, we ate a picnic lunch in the zoo. None of us were really hungry due to being so hot. But now was the time to eat before heading home in the car. Once we ate lunch, we took a ride on the zoo choo choo train. Of course, the kids thought this was the best part of the entire trip. To be able to go on a ride that will take you through the zoo and see lots of the animals on a cool little ride. It was the perfect way to end our vacation before heading back home. After the train ride we hit the restrooms then in the car to take the 3 hour drive home. What a great family vacation!

Sea Lion Show

Included in our zoo pass was a Sea Lion Show. It was the perfect little rest in the shade. It was so hot outside and to get a cool spot in the shade for a little break was wonderful. Ogdan and Josie thought the show was really neat as the sea lions did tricks like jumping over things, waving, shaking their heads, ringing a bell, and sliding on their tummies. We enjoyed a snow cone to cool us down before the show. Take a look at Josie's blue mustache from the cone.