Shower, cousins and Clouds

Baby Update: For now my scheduled C-section date is January 7th. Unless I go into labor before then, the 7th will be baby Petty's Birthday.

The Shower on the 10th was lovely. Of course I forgot my Camera. Wendy took a couple of photos which I will have to get from her. But I did take a couple of pictures of the diaper cake that Camille and Korahle made. Isn't this awesome?! I unrolled it a few days later and can't believe HOW MANY diapers they had to roll, and then secure with tiny little baby hair bands! Very cool. And I'm Sure, Time consuming. One of the games we played was "mold the cutest baby" out of Play-doh. I then selected the cutest of the babies. This was fun to watch, all the ladies and their Play-doh making tiny little people. Did you know they make black Play-Doh? I didn't, until then ;o) It was a fun shower, and I received wonderful gifts. And I appreciated anyone who made an effort to come in the ZERO degree weather. Sure, that seemed warmer than a few days before, but it was still ZERO outside. SO THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!



After Church on 13th, our little Kidlets looked so cute in their Christmas outfits we took some photos for all posterity. Arranging TWO children is much harder than arranging one. This will be good to remember.

NQ faking a sneeze, because I sneezed to make Olivia smile.

Neither one really paying attention, but at least they're holding still

Olivia loved hugging, but ALWAYS with her face away from the camera.

(but aren't they so cute anyhow?)

Cutest little cousins.

I looked out our window the other day and saw waves in the sky. Just over the hills North of Lander these little curly peaks formed. I took some photos because I thought they were unique.

33 Weeks & Ultra Sound Photos - finally

I went in for my 33 week appointment today. ALL IS WELL! Heart rate: GOOD. Blood Pressure: GOOD. Weight Gain: GOOD. Everything Else: GOOD! I'm measuring at 33 weeks, which means we've caught up to when I was measuring 5 weeks too big, and this is also: GOOD! I even got to feel his head, which is down in my pelvic area...just where he should be! I had to take Ruth's word for it, I couldn't really tell what I was feeling, but she assured me it was his head.

Here are some of my 2nd Ultra sound Photos from a few months ago.

The tech was surprise at how long these baby feet were :o)

Pretty sure he's smiling in this one.

I love this photo, because he's waving at us.

Nathan has been helping me with my 'fetal kick count.' (You want 10 kicks within an hour, we're usually about 7 minutes or so) He comes and talks to the baby, and lays his head on my belly, and often exclaims: "He Kicked Me!!" Nathan talks about his baby brother and asks me if 'the baby' is sleeping, or asks if he is playing. It's very sweet that he has an awareness of what is happening inside my tummy. He's excited to be a 'big brother.' When ever Shane or I tell Nathan what a big boy his is, he says "yeah, like a big brother." I have big hopes for these boys to be great friends. I'm sure they will be.

The NOT fun Stuff.

Monday night we had a very lovely family home evening with the Barney's. We learned about animals, and played with, get this, edible peanut butter play dough. Shane had come home a little late from work and cooked and eaten some dinner with Nathan. I had been feeling a little gross during the day, so I'd eaten some cereal a little earlier in hopes to settle my stomach. During FHE, Shane mentioned he was going to have to take some meds for his head, because he had a good one coming on.

Family Home Evening ended in success. The Petty's headed upstairs to get the midget in the tub. Shane ran out to the truck to find his pills (ibuprofen.) He sat down on the bathroom floor to visit as I continued to scrub the child. He looked miserable. His eyes started watering, as they do when he has a bad headache. I suggested he call Casey (a good friend, who also sustained some major head injuries) to see if he too was feeling the pain tonight. (Shane and Casey are like twins...so I wondered if maybe there was a weather connection.) Shane had his phone out of his pocket, but before he could do more, his head went back against the wall and I could see that he was not doing well. Shane tells me he's feeling a little dizzy.

Next thing I know, his nose is GUSHING blood. Now, once in a while he'll get a little splatter of blood...but not a Gusher. Shane is still pretty with it until now. Now there's blood running down his throat and he's sort of gagging on it. He's grappling for the toilet but can't get there. He's too dizzy and sort of falling forward from his seated position to a position of being on all fours, and choking on blood. He's not really able to respond to me.

Okay, I'm officially freaked out by this point. Not sure what I should do. Do I grab Nathan (who is thankfully pretty clueless at this point) out of the tub? Do I call 911? Do I keep Shane from falling over? I decide to run down the stairs and get Travis and Amy. They run up the stairs after me. Shane, by this time, is vomiting bloody stuff.

Someone tells me to call 911, which I do, once I locate the phone. Amy helps me give Shane's condition to the dispatch lady. Travis keeps Shane conscious, as Shane is really trying to lose it at this point. Travis puts his hands on Shane's head and gives him a blessing. Amy tells me to get a washcloth for his head, and I do that too. Nathan is wondering at this point what is happening. I tell him calmly that Daddy isn't feeling very good.

A few minutes have passed from the time Shane sat down to where we are now. Shane calms down. Stops bleeding, stops throwing up. We keep him sitting. He says he's fine, and to cancel the Ambulance. I'm thinking "not on your life..." which is sort of what I'm fearing at the moment. He's doing better now, and says he can stand up, which he demonstrates...so I DO call to cancel the ambulance, and tell them we're driving over to the hospital. Amy says she'll get NQ out of the tub and will watch him. I have a terrible time trying to find my shoes. I slip on my sneakers without socks. No time for socks! I let Nathan know we're going to the Doctor, but we'll be back, and that Aunt Amy will watch him for a while.

I get Shane to the van and to the hospital. I walk him to the door, where he continues to try and convince me that he's fine and let's go home and he'll go to the Dr. in the morning. We sit outside the ER doors for longer than it took us to drive over. Finally I convince him we're going in. His head is still killing him, he's still dizzy, and I sure as heck am not going to let him go home until we just talk to someone. So we go in. And get signed in. They're not sure where to put us because they're waiting for an ambulance to come in and that it sounded really serious. I told them that that's us, we just called and canceled the ambulance...and then I describe the symptoms I described over the phone. They put us in the trauma room ASAP.

Dr. Clifford comes in to see what the matter is. We tell him. He says there's no way Shane's leaving without them getting a look at him. (Shane is NOT thrilled by this.) Shane gets his stats done, a x-ray scan, blood drawn and all that good stuff. Travis has joined me and has called the parents. They show up shortly. After an hour or so, we get some results. He's perfectly healthy. Everything looks great. Sure his Blood Pressure was a little high on the 'normal scale' when he first came in, but then, who wouldn't have high blood pressure after that? His head is good, his blood is good, his vitals are great. Shane is going through possible scenario's with the Doctor about what may have triggered the attack. Shane is frustrated that there's no apparent reason for the episode. So if I'm so healthy what made that happen?? We are all wondering the same thing.

Doc Clifford suggests going to Shane's General Practitioner and setting up some appointments at a brain clinic, where that's what they specialize in...brains!! He also tells us if another attack like that happens that there is no emergency treatment needed. Just to calm down and wait it out, and not to worry about it being an aneurysm or seizure or any other serious trauma. That, he says, is the good news. Bad news, is we just don't know what triggers it, and that's where the clinic can help. He mentions there are ways to filter extra 'noise' visually and hearing wise, as Shane does easily get over-stimulated. (Never take him to Wal-Mart when he has a headache!!!)

By now, I'm a bit tired. I let the doctor know I need to sit down, he slides the stool over to me. I sit down. I get REALLY light headed. I put my head down on the edge of Shane's bed. Then I think I might throw up. So I say so. There's a sheen of sweat taking over my head, and my ears start to ring. Kind of feels like I'm under cold water. The Doctor looks at me and says that I need my own bed, quickly. So they bring in a wheelchair and get me moved over to it. Doc tells me to breath slowly and they wheel me to my own room and get me on my own bed. Apparently I look far worse than Shane does. A nurse brings me a warm blanket. Lori comes and sits by me as I close my eyes and breath and concentrate on not passing out.

Soon I'm feeling better, they take my blood sugar, check my pulse and color. I'm there for, I don't know maybe 10 minutes. They're about to release Shane, and me, so Lori takes me home and makes sure I hydrate. I remember that I have taken Shane's shirt, so I ask Lori to take one back to him.

Back at the house the dishes are done, the counters clean and the babies in bed. Amy comes to hear the report. I let her know what happened, then I drink a bunch of water and crawl into bed. Shane is about 12 minutes behind me. He comes home, takes a shower and also comes to bed. (They gave him a shot of something, but I don't know what.)

The next day, we're worn out. But go about our day...and overdoing it. Shane still has a good headache, I feel WEARY. We close the day by eating dinner, watching a movie and going to bed early. (We skipped the primary appreciation dinner, but thought it best.) By Wednesday, however, we're feeling quite ourselves again.

Yikes...this was NOT the fun stuff.

Another Ultra Sound

I went in for my 24 week check up yesterday. And, for whatever reason, was measuring at 29 weeks. This means that in four weeks I have gained 9 cm. My weight gain isn't much, so that has nothing to do with it. I was sent in for another Ultra Sound just to make sure things were going okay. My Doc, Ruth Z. thought maybe the baby was just laying weird or perhaps I had some extra fluid going on. So I went in, and got another good look at the BOY. (Certainly no doubts about it. I also got some much cuter pictures...so that's a plus.) And of course my Ultra Sound person didn't have anything conclusive to say to me, other than the baby is 1 lb and 8oz. ( He was 11 oz. four weeks ago) and that things with him looked to be pretty good. She showed me the placenta and said it a good safe distance away from the baby. So I guess that's good too. She didn't tell me anything about excessive fluid.

Anyhow, I guess it will be a few days before the hospital report will be typed up and delivered to my Dr. office to find out if there's any cause for concern.

The funny thing is that he felt like he was high yesterday. His little feet were right up under my ribs. Now today he feels much lower, like where he should be. So I'm thinking he was just laying weird yesterday.

Anyway, I'm hoping it's nothing, and the info I'm finding on the Internet says things like: "2nd pregnancies can do that (measure larger) because you've been stretched out before." Or that "it could be related to Gestational Diabetes" or "Not to worry, every pregnancy is different" or "possible genetic abnormalities" could be cause of extra amniotic fluid. So there is a varied opinion about measuring larger than you're supposed to. They also say that Ultra Sounds can be way off on the weight of a child. That they are only estimates.

Naturally, (and obviously) I'm a little worried. I did call the Dr. Office today and they said they would call when they have the information. This, to me, reflects that nothing urgent is apparent. So that's a little bit comforting. I do have my glucose test next time I go in. Oi...the things we have to worry about when we're pregnant.

Anyway, any experience with this? Your know how would be greatly appreciated.

It's a BOY!

Yep, it's a boy! Shane and I were shocked! We asked the tech to check again, after the initial inspection. He pointed out the area and said; "Yep, see all that stuff right there, those are his parts." So after an extended view, we decided the tech must be right. YEA! We're expecting the little guy with parts about Jan 14th, a week later than we had thought previously. Unfortunately, we did not get a photo of any parts, so that you could see for yourself, but we got some of his feet, hands, and a realllly blurry one of his face.

I'm feeling much better as far a sickness goes. I hope this trend continues.

That's our exciting news!

Where do you work?

Someone asked me that last week. I said "Nowhere." Obviously this isn't true. Because today, at 11:00 o'clock in the morning, I have a cake in the oven, a loaf of bread in the bread maker, dishes done and homemade chicken noodle soup simmering on the stove. Not to mention a second load of laundry going, a grocery list started (I need NOODLES for the soup) and a husband and preschooler up, dressed, fed and started on their day. Meanwhile, I'm contemplating recipes for the two and a half gallons of choke cherries NQ and I have obtained.


Okay, I admit that I'm not ALWAYS so motivated.




Then someone asked me "What did you do in college?" I say I was a communication student. Again, they get a little glazed, so perhaps I'll start saying: Do you ever watch TV, clip a coupon, hear the radio, look at a magazine, click through a website, buy anything on sale, know about events because you read the newspaper or watched the news, have you flipped through an owners manual, did you see the Olympics?? That's what I did. And I loved it. And I will hopefully return to that sometime, when my children are older, and don't need me so much. (And when I don't need them so much...does a time like that exist? I'm sure it must. Circle of life and all that.)



Also, to go along with the "Where do you work" question: I sometimes take photo's and do pretty cakes, mostly this is for fun and for a creative outlet. Do I get ultra competitive about it, or upset if someone doesn't call me....NO! I really kind of like doing it once in a while. Once I was even writing copy for a website from home. When I had time. It was perfect, but that job is over for now.

Why do I not worry too much about my current place in creating income? Because what I love absolutely most is being at home with my little one (soon to be two.) I love to hear him sing, and watch him learn and grow and I'm so glad I can be home with my midget and share in the wonders of kidlethood with him. It's the best world to be in. Do I change a lot of stinky pants and feel some frustrations: yes. Do I get a LOT of kisses, hugs and I love yous: YES! And I know what it is that my child is exposed to during the day. I know how he is being treated, what words are being spoken to him, the kind of care he experiences, what food he is eating. I can't put a price on that kind of assurance.

Where do I work? At home.

P.S. With my scheduled c-section set tentatively for the Jan 7th, today is my 'HALF WAY done with the pregnancy' mark!!

Choke Cherries

This morning the Petty's were awakened by lightening, thunder and plenty of rain! This means it's chilly in the house so we celebrated with cups of hot chocolate for our breakfast beverage. Nathan came into the kitchen, his bare feet on the the tile. He said "Oooooh! It's cold" and then skipped over to the kitchen rug. I wish I could have recorded the surprised glee in his voice. Then he noticed the robe I was wearing and asked if I was wearing a towel.

The view off the back porch, right before it started raining some more

Last night the light sensors picked up motion, it was the deer, eating my crop of choke cherries. Only successful thing that grows here at the Petty residence. The deer and the millions of grasshoppers DESTROY all other forms of plant life. Ornery suckers.

This week Nathan and I have been picking the choke cherries, when the weather is agreeable: not too windy, not to hot, not too rainy.

With this years crop and last years (still in the freezer) I should have plenty of berries to make something with. This is a fun proposition. I like making jelly, jams, syrups and the sort.

I've also been using my bread maker again to make some delightful french bread.

Nathan had his last swim lesson of the session. I don't think this session went as well as the last. He did fine with the time, but believe the class was a little large, and filled with five year olds. This made Nathan look like the runt puppy, always trying to find a place to sit or stand or see better. The last day he ended up in tears. It was 'free day' and his instructor had failed to notice that the little guy was waiting for a toy, and never got one. Over all he did great job. But I know he'd much rather go with me when he can be IN the water the whole time.

Shane has been busy at the Autoplex, cars are high, the economy is down and Cash for Klunkers is the biggest scam of the century. Just call and ask him about it, he has all sorts of insight. Let's just say there have been several sleepless nights as of late.

The baby has been fluttering around. I don't feel it much, unless I'm lying down and concentrating on it. And, well, there hasn't seemed to be a lot of opportunity to do that right now. I am excited for our next prenatal appointment. I will be doing the ultrasound soon.

Shane just related that Nathan is playing in our bed (he often does) and that Nathan had turned the electric blanket up to 10 and was enjoying the heat and flying airplanes. Shane turned off the electric blanket left for a few minutes and returned to see it back on, but set on a lower number. Funny little kid!

more tid bits

Going to put things down before I forget them:

Went for a prenatal check up today. Heart beat was 160. I'll go in for an ultrasound next month!

Nathan climbed the ladder, walked to the edge and jumped off the low board this week, ALL by himself!! His swim teacher was in the water to catch him. Awesome!

Nathan also got in trouble in swim this week because he keeps getting into the water and doing bobs instead of sitting on the edge of the pool waiting for his next turn in the next activity.

We've had SUPER cool, rainy weather. I've loved it. Had the electric blanket going again this week. Love the thunderstorms, love the smell of rain, love not watering my flowers. Think it's a little funny that my tomato plants may have gotten too cold.

We had such a violent storm one day that the lawn was washing away down the street (no kidding) in a torrent of mud. We're hoping our house has a 'firm foundation.' The pool got so full we had to siphon out the water with a hose. Shane struggled with it until I came up with the idea to have the hose filled with running water, then unhook it and let it keep sucking out. It finally worked....Shane gave me ingenuity credit...take it when I can. The windows and downstairs all flooded too, luckily we were here to catch it all in bowls, towels and buckets!! Still need to do that wet laundry....

Shane finished washing the windows by pulling out the scaffolding...this made me much happier. It was better to see him on something solid, rather than a little wimpy aluminum ladder. He is my HERO!

I have decided that it's okay for me to publicly announce that I don't like pioneer days. While our stake was going through the "Willy's Second Rescue" some 16 years ago, and doing work for the pioneers that died in Wyoming (See any LDS publication on this event) I was being surrounded by the actual trials and death of my wonderful mother. So for the years everyone was telling pioneers stories, at meetings, at conferences, at special gatherings, at youth parties, at trek organizational meetings and talking about all of the great things going on with the church and the discoveries, I was pretty much uninterested and/or effected by it. So now when I hear about the second rescue stuff, YEAR after YEAR, all it does it bring me back to the end of my childhood, then end of my family as I knew it (for now) and a whole bunch of loss and sadness. (Yes, Yes, I know I have tremendous blessings and all that good stuff...but it doesn't change how those stories make ME feel.) There...now you know why I don't frequent Rock Creek.

I have discovered that Potty Training is much harder than I anticipated.

I have thrown up only once this whole month!! (this is really good news.)

And over all I'm feeling good, ready to have all the 2nd trimester energy put to good use!

I can't get the lap top to work, or I'd have some pictures to put up! I'll try to put some of my energy into that.

Tid-Bits at the Petty's

Here are a few tid-bits about the goings on at Petty's Place:

Nathan (like all two-year olds) is very possessive about things. Shane was playing with him the other day with his trucks and said, "Well, I think it should go over here like this. That's my opinion." And Nathan, NOT to be outdone said "NO! It's MY opinion!" This cracked me up. We're so glad he has his opinion.

Yesterday, Shane went garage sailing. He found a Christmas tree. We set it up in the living room to see how it looked. It was the happiest thing that happened all week! I LOVE Christmas and was SO glad to have a tree set up in my living room to admire.

Nathan has starting to learn about similes. For the last two weeks, when he gets chilly, he gives a shiver and says "Momma, I'm cold like milk."

The family went to a whirlwind Utah trip last week. We accomplished little, and were a bit discouraged. Mostly for Autoplex. I did however, procure a few maternity tops...I need to go back and get some cuter ones from Motherhood Maternity (I'm 16 weeks along now, not showing too much yet) I only made it to Kohls. Came home and was really sick for a few days. The highlight was seeing Harry Potter at Thanksgiving Point. No offense Lander/Riverton but digital sound, Big Screen, stadium seating and a clean theatre do make a more enjoyable viewing experience. However, the water I bought was almost as much as my ticket.

I have photo's from Utah and some photo's from rodeo days in Sheridan that I need to get up, but haven't done so yet. They are pretty darn cute, and I'm excited to get them posted. Plus the accompanying stories.

Nathan starts swimming lessons again tomorrow, I'm looking forward to this diversion. And to see how NQ does in an hour swim lesson. Especially since we went to the lake last week and he jumped off the boat, I don't know, at LEAST 30 times. He loves swimming, and didn't even mind his new life jacket. We'll have to go again when Shane can come and help round him up and return him to the boat.

Ah yes, and returning from the lake was an adventure as the truck was filled with gas, instead of diesel at the Riverton Co-Op. Impressive we made it home.

Shane has courageously been cleaning the outside windows of our Northern View. This has terrified me. But they are looking much better! So long as I don't see him swaying around on the ladder, I do fine.

I NEED some new requests for good books to read. I'm not a fan of sad/crying/disturbing types. (Example: Did NOT like the Kite Runner)

Just thought I better get some updates posted! Thanks for waiting.

Pregnancy One Vs. Pregnancy two

I am almost 12 weeks along...almost jumping into the 2nd trimester, and so far I have noticed some differences in this pregnancy as compared to my first pregnancy.

I have learned now what is meant by "they're all different, no two kids are a like, so you can't do with one what you did with the other."

I have also learned that women are NOT being sissy's during pregnancy...they really, legitimately, can BE that sick!!

Here are a FEW differences I have noticed between my two pregnancies, in order of first pregnancy (Nathan) vs. current pregnancy (undecided.) **Please use your own discretion at reading the following, it could get a little personal, vile, scary, etc.**

1. NO morning sickness...ever VS. MORNING sickness DAY and NIGHT (Overheard: "I will KILL YOU if you open that fridge and I'm inside this house." Followed by gagging)

2. NO use of 'extra fiber', no need to VS. Metamucil Daily (I told you, it gets ugly.)

3. Being able to go to work, a regular job VS. does making from one couch to the next count as work?

4. No need for extra shots VS. PLEASE give me the SHOT again!!! It seems to help a TINY bit.

5. Fairly regular need for sleep VS. 12-14 hour of sleep minimal to survive. I've never been so tired!

6. SUPER ALLERGIES and Congestion VS. no extra nasal mucus at this time. (ah, relief.)

7. A happy glow about being pregnant, I LOVE being pregnant. VS. Oh, this is why people don't like it.

8. A paranoid, over protective husband who worries about me VS A paranoid, over protective husband who worries about me. (Some things don't change, wow.)

9. a True excitement about being pregnant VS a True excitement about being pregnant. Kidlets are awesome!

Speculations are still abounding about the sex or number of the baby(ies) I may be carrying. More to unveil itself as gestation continues.

To my Darling Husband

I would like to tell my Husband "Happy Father's Day!!" And let him know what a super fantastic, marvelous Daddy he is. This weekend, NQ and I went to SLC with Brooke for a Car inspection and for a Wedding Reception. This little pregnant momma did way too much and got way too tired and sat way too long in the car. She felt way tooooo sick when she got home, the next day being fathers day. She had plans to make biscuits and gravy, she had plans to make it a special day, she had plans to dote on her darling husband. What she did was lie on the couch all day and throw up. Lots. So what did her husband do on his father's day? He made his own breakfast with Nathan. He took the little guy outside, he took him for a drive, he fed him, bathed him, changed him, loved him AND he tried taking care of his invalid wife, who was on the couch, lying there. My Sweetest husband, I'm so sorry I was sooo sick. We'll make it up, promise. Thank you for being such a wonderful Husband and Father. We Love You Much!

Here are some photos of a recent outing on the Nature Trail up in the Canyon above Lander

The fantastic view

The boys checking out the fuzzy caterpillars.

Good News!

Yes, it is true. We killed the rabbit. We are due in January. I am seven weeks along and yes, I'm sick, sick, sick the last few days! I was NEVER this sick with NQ. So I have decided this pregnancy must be twins. It's the only thing that could cause such a stir deep within! (Okay no confirmation on the twins, but there has to be a reason, right?) We're Super excited and glad to share this news!