Turkey Day-Fire and Lights

We started off the Thanksgiving Holiday by eating lunch with Keaton on his THANKFUL THURSDAY, November 19. We feasted on Turkey, Dressing, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, Rolls, Fruit, and Ice Cream Elementary Cafeteria Style. (That means Mark didn't eat) I brought Keaton some plain macaroni noodles, soy ice cream and a Gatorade since he can't drink their milk or eat their ice cream. I didn't think he would eat the dressing or sweet potatoes, therefore why I brought him the noodles. It was a great time for just Keaton to have mom and dad's full attention. Next year I may skip the cafeteria feast and bring McDonald's for lunch. Keaton would enjoy it more and we could skip the long lines. Mark and friends kicked off the fall season with a Bonfire at the Ranch. Keaton, Cort and buddy Levi spent the morning of November 21 at the ranch helping Mark, John, and Bob set up the burn pile. The young ones went home and the older boys, excuse me, men stayed for skeet shooting and 'fire walking'. The fire burned for 8 hours way into the night. Mark and John camped overnight.

The before picture

Bob as the fire begins

Bob's old couch donated to the fire
Fireman John standing guard

Boys will be Boys

The After Math

Now on to Thanksgiving week. As I mentioned before, I didn't take any pictures. So Thursday and Friday will go unrecorded in pictures. My mom and dad came in Wednesday night to spend Thanksgiving here in Houston. Thursday we joined Mark's parents and grandparents at Jane's house for Thanksgiving lunch. Friday we joined the Hamilton's at the ranch for another Thanksgiving feast after the men worked the cows, as tradition.

My mom and I did try to hit some Black Friday sales, but I am reminded of why I don't shop Black Friday. It's just not worth it to me. I left my house around 6:45 and missed all the good items at WalMart that I wanted. I did easily check out with my 2 items for a total of $11.00. I then ran by Target. Didn't find what I wanted, but even if I did, would not have bought it. The line to check out was the length of the store....not happening!! Mom, the boys and I ran to JC Penny on our way to the ranch and did find some things there. The boys were shopping with me and helped me pick out their shirts and PJ's. I am not sure if they understand mommy is going to wrap them up and put them under the Christmas tree. Maybe they will forget about them by then.

Aunt Kerrie joined us Friday evening since she had to work both Wednesday and Thursday night shifts. Keaton and Cort just love their Aunt Kerrie. Mommy is totally forgotten when she is around. They all bedded down on air mattresses and pallets upstairs and had a slumber party.

Then Saturday morning we enjoyed the traditional Sausage Balls, said good-bye to Gee and Paw Dan, packed up and headed to the creek. This was Kerrie's first trip to Sargent and the boys were thrilled she was joining us.

Keaton loved that he got to ride in the third row of the Tahoe by himself. He was listening to Aunt Kerrie's IPOD and was falling asleep on our 2 hour car ride to the creek. Kerrie snapped this picture at the same time he was scratching or stretching.

There was a lot of boat traffic as expected on any holiday weekend. The boys loved seeing this boat go buy. It was so loud you could hear it coming long before you saw it. Funny thing is, the owner of the boat is the CEO of a company Mark used to work for from 2000-2003.

And the reason for the creek trip at Thanksgiving....The Lighted Boat Parade. Mark, Keaton and Cort helped PaPa but the lights on the Pontoon boat.

Just before dark, the boats started heading out to get in position for the boat parade

Keaton, Cort, Mark, Nana, and PaPa got dressed in the Red Sweatshirts.

Here is my little Reindeer Cort

And Santa's helper Keaton

Off they go to the beginning of the parade line. They left at 5:00 with a picnic packed supper and hot wassail. Kerrie stayed behind with me. I am not participating in boating activities while pregnant for safety reasons. Too many bumpy waves....and no bathroom while on the boat for the expected 3 hours.

Dark fell and the boat parade was about to begin. Although the first boat I saw was one with no lights.....our boat had returned. Even though this year they were equipped with a generator instead of battery power, they lights blew a fuse and went out. They had no way of repairing it and decided to come home to watch the parade from our dock with us. Here is a picture of the yard decorations standing on the dock, looking back at the house.

My reindeer and I watched the parade together

Okay, let's don't forget we are in Sargent with a permanent resident population of 500. So here are some pictures of the 30 boats in the parade.

Keaton and Cort had fun one morning playing 'smoothie bar'. I am not sure where they got that from. It started with cups of soap and water from the bathroom that were topped with foam. Then everything got added to them, flowers, sticks, leaves, maybe even some bugs, who knows. Kerrie captured them in their smoothie bar behind the bush.

Keaton says, hey know pictures allowed!!!

22 week Doctor Appointment

Today I saw Dr. Imtiaz's Nurse Practitioner, Rita. Everything checked out okay. Blood pressure, urine sample, baby's heartbeat, belly measure and total weight gain now 11 lbs. No problems, no complaints.

She did have the last ultrasound report for Dr. Palmer, the high risk doctor. She said the report stated baby's growth as normal, but that I was to limit/avoid starches and sugars. WHAT?!?!? My recollection of what Dr. Palmer said while we were in the office was to avoid sugary drinks like juice. Hmmmm, cut our starches and sugars.....I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do that. I mean, I'm not dieting for once in my life....can't I enjoy the perks of being pregnant?? Don't some women drink, smoke, and do drugs while they are pregnant and I only want to eat a piece of pie if I want to.

So, I will make attempts to limit some starches, which she said includes fruit (I had a banana for breakfast) and watch my sugar intake (I only ate half of the honeybun this morning) and cut out sodas (after I finish my diet caffeine free coke). LOL, that all sounds bad, but that is what I had planned for breakfast after my doctor's appt. The banana to help offset the honeybun and I usually only have one coke in the morning since I already cut out coffee. I don't usually eat honeybuns every morning, I have been eating a lot of cereal with milk, and I don't even like cereal that much pre-pregnancy.

I will try to only drink water. I will miss my ice tea, but since I shouldn't have saccharin, sweet n low, what good is tea?? I drank tea with sweet n low during both of my previous pregnancies not knowing I wasn't supposed to have saccharin. I just recently read that this time around.

I mean I haven't even gained that much weight, and now I have to watch what I eat. Sounds like no fun!!! What is there besides starches and sugars??? I know protein and veggies, what am I on the Atkins diet?? I don't think so.

Okay, so to get to the reason they say this, Dr. Palmer said there was some back up in the baby's kidneys. She also stated this is normal if it is a boy. Rita, this morning, said some women are asked to cut back on starches and sugars if there is too much fluid around the baby. Any way, good thing I go back to see Imtiaz herself in just 2 weeks. Maybe we can get some more answers about how big of a concern it is. Since Christmas is right around the corner, I have to go back before she leaves on vacation. Glad I am not due around Christmas, do any doctor's stay around for the holidays?

SOCCER MANIA!

I know you are all expecting Thanksgiving updates and pictures, but I must confess I was lazy with the camera this holiday. So while I wait on Aunt Kerrie to send me all the great pictures she took, I will update you on the past Soccer Season.

Prepare yourself, there are A LOT of pictures that I saved to share all at once.

ENJOY!!

Ella didn't play soccer this year and Cort missed her. They did get to play together while watching their big brothers practice/play.

The kid in red with the ball is Jack. He was Cort's BFF from daycare until they moved and he started at a different daycare. Cort didn't much care about soccer this game, he just wanted to play with Jack. It was hard for him to comprehend Jack was on the other team. Jack is GOOD. The youngest of a soccer family, dad and older siblings play. Jack's team won...

Got his goalie face on

Trophy time!!! The Wildcats celebrated on the last game day with lunch at La Hacienda.

Keaton and his buddy Levi

Keaton's team, The Rascals, celebrated after the last game in the pavilion with lunch, cookies, and cupcakes.

Letters from the past

My mom was cleaning out a closet and found some old letters I had written to her when I was away at college. She gave them to me when I was home for the Yamboree and I just sat down to read them last night. It was pretty humorous. I just rambled on about college life. From reading the letters you would think all I did was study. Several of them talked about how I was up till 2:00 and 3:00 preparing for a test. Funny how I don't remember studying that much, or that late. I know we used to go to the dorm study hall, but we usually ended up just playing around and talking. I would pack up for a long day or night of studying at the library, but then end up wandering around the library and going for snacks. After an hour of studying, I was pretty much done. I guess it really doesn't matter, I passed all my classes and graduated!

The letters talked a lot about Dee Dee, my BFF from college. We seemed to do everything together and we did. I miss her now, wish she lived closer!

I am surprised that I told my parents so much about boys in these letters. Talking about a date with this guy, being set up on a blind date with a different guy, old boyfriends from high school coming up to visit. It did seem I was a little boy crazy.

Most of the letters were dated before I met Mark. There were a few that talked about him though. I was writing about our plans to visit and that they would get to meet him for the first time. I said that the weekend was not long enough for them to really get to know him, but that he was a wonderful guy. I hoped they liked him as much as I did, because I think he will be around for a little while. Here we are 15 years later...

The letters also practically begged them to write me back. I do remember wanting to get letters from home. Remember, this is before cell phone (okay I had a bag phone), text messaging, and easy access to computers. I wanted good old fashion letters from home. My roommates and I would go to the post office almost daily to see if we received any mail. We started calling it the breezeway, because the only thing in our box....was a breeze!!!

Although I did mention care packages a lot. Mom would always have something for me to take back to college with me after a trip home. Or if Becky visited home, she would send something with her on her way back. I remember I loved hot apple cider and pumpkin bread which I mentioned in the letters. Speaking of pumpkin bread, it's almost Thanksgiving, and mom is bringing me some homemade pumpkin bread!!!

Half way!

I am 20 weeks pregnant today!! I can't believe we are already half way there. Although technically I will not go another 20 weeks since I will be scheduled for a C-Section at least by 39 weeks. It seems this is when the pregnancy gets more fun, if you will. I have been able to feel the baby move for several weeks now, (I swear the baby had the hiccups at 11 weeks and I could feel it) but now I am starting to feel it more often and not just when I am laying still. They are still gentle kicks, which I guess could easily be overlooked, but I am always trying to pay attention. The baby does seem to be on some sort of schedule. After I hit the snooze button on the alarm, I lay there another 10-20 minutes in the morning and the baby is usually moving. Also when I get home for work again the baby moves a lot. I guess the baby finds accounting boring and sleeps most of the day, but I do actually feel it kicking right now. (Blogging is more fun that debits and credits!)

I also definitely have the baby bump. People can actually tell that I am pregnant and not just getting a fat stomach. I don't find myself eating much more than normal yet. I guess that is helping with the weight gain this time around. I have only gained 7-8 lbs.

We went for our second ultrasound this past Tuesday with Dr. Palmer, the high risk doctor. The purpose of this ultrasound was to check the anatomy and development of all bones and organs. Everything checked out great. Baby is right on track and is about 12 oz right now. The baby was very active during the ultrasound and was loving the attention we were giving it, dancing and stomping on my bladder. It even did a flip and went from being head down to feet down. Guess there is plenty of room in there. The only thing Dr. Palmer saw was a little back up in the baby's kidneys. She said this is very normal for boys and suggested I stay away from juices and sugary drinks like chocolate milk.

Okay, okay, that's right. They are still saying it looks like another boy and even sent us home with a picture of said 'jewels'. ALTHOUGH, I do remember being sent home from an ultrasound when I was 19 weeks pregnant with Cort that had arrows pointing to 'the area' and the words 'I'm a GIRL!' on it too. So I still refer to the baby most of the time as it, because I guess I just can't buy in yet. I can't, or maybe won't.

Our next doctor appointment with Imtiaz is Dec 3 and our next ultrasound is Dec 29. I guess it will be a final confirmation boy or girl since I will be 25 weeks. It was on our 3rd ultrasound with Cort they told us he was a boy.

So 3 boys and we are done, or 3 boys and we will see.....Never Say Never. And those are Mark's words. (I know I was in shock too, but he may have said it just to make me feel better, or hoping I wouldn't call him on it!)

Baby Update

I went to the doctor today for a regular OB check up. All checked out fine. I am not quite 19 weeks, but measuring 19 weeks, and yet have still only gained 5 lbs. In comparison to my other pregnancies, I am so amazed by this. It must be a girl, right? :)

Well, we will officially find out next Tuesday at our ultrasound with Dr. Palmer. So stayed tuned.

I also received the H1N1 vaccine shot today. Although I am back on the fence about what to do with the kids. The allergist office still does not have any shots in yet, so I don't have to make a decision now. There is a story in the news today, MSN Home page, of a 14 year old that was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome. He started developing symptoms within hours of receiving the swine flu vaccine. Stories like this make the decision hard for parents. We always want to do what is best for our children.

Mark Ed

Happy 36th birthday!!! Wow, the years go by soooo fast now. It seems like just yesterday when I was posting the Happy 35th Birthday fishing pictures. And here we are a year later. Some things have changed, but others are still the same.....Mark spent the last two days at the creek celebrating his birthday with a little R&R and attempted to fish. Wednesday night he caught a Hard Head Catfish and was trying to let it go. These are fish I have been warned not to touch because of the spines on its back. The fish impaled himself into Mark's knuckle which he removed. Within 15 minutes the pain was unbearable. Not only can these little fish poke you, but their barbels are poisonous. The pain was in his hand and moving up his arm. He said the pain was so intense he wanted to cut his arm off to make it stop. (Going forward I think the warning for the kids should be a little more urgent----STAY AWAY FROM THAT FISH)

He treated it himself foregoing a trip to the Lake Jackson ER. And as any fisherman would, went out fishing again the next day. As he returned home today, his hand is still swollen so off to the doctor he went. A tetanus shot and some antibiotics later, he should be fine. (Keaton accompanied Mark to the doctor, and I think this is great for him to see parents have to go to the doctor and get shots too)

Happy Birthday, Mark Ed!! Fifteen years ago I was celebrating your birthday for the first time. I think I stocked your apartment fridge with some adult beverages to help you ring in 21. Thanks for sharing 15 years with me, thanks for all that you do for me and as dad, thanks for keeping me sane in the chaos that we love, but most of all, thanks for being you and loving us!

Roller Skating

So as I was going through the Halloween pictures on my camera, I realized I had forgotten about our 1st roller skating adventure. Keaton and Cort were invited to Kevin's birthday party (one of Keaton's BFF from Children's Courtyard). This was the first time Keaton and Cort had been on roller skates. I was not sure how the party would go. Mark and I decided to not put on skates, but just walk beside them in our shoes. Keaton played it safe and hung onto the wall, but never gave up. (This pretty much sums up his personality)

Cort let us hold onto him for a little while, but told me to let go. He was ready to give it a go by himself (again, true to Mr. No Fear's personality). Unfortunately, it wasn't long before he landed face first. Watching him land, I feared a broken nose or tooth, but he managed to only have a bloody lip. That was enough skating for Cort. He was done. He spent the remaining time playing with his friend, and Kevin's little brother, Louis, on the sidelines.

Kevin and Keaton

Halloween 2009

Here is a run down of our Halloween festivities. Cort's Preschool party was Thursday so he actually got to dress up 3 days in a row. We didn't want him to get the new costume dirty or ripped, so we pulled out our stash of costumes. He chose to be a pirate for the party Thursday. (This is his pirate face)

Friday, he dressed up again just because. He chose Spiderman this time.

This is the window I wave to him through every morning.


We participated in the School Fall Festival and our church Fall Festival.
This was a picture taken at CCY on October 23. The kids love going to their school for the festival. Cort is so lucky! He won 3 times in the cake walk and ate all 3 cupcakes!! Keaton braved the Haunted House with dad as an escort. He said he was so scared his legs were shaking!!

Here are the boys after we went Trunk or Treating at the church Fall Festival.

Cort was Bumblebee from Transformers. (Not an insect Bumble Bee as Aunt Kerrie misunderstood)

Keaton was GI Joe

Nana and Papa had joined us all day for soccer, homemade chili and trick or treating. Aunt Kerrie even joined us before she had to go to work. Bryson, our neighbor, had a Haunted House, but Keaton didn't want to go in. I think 1 Haunted House was enough for this year. We didn't let Cort participate in any Haunted Houses this year. We were afraid it would traumatize him too much. He gets things 'stuck in his brain' and can't stop thinking about them. (Bad experience with Penn and Teller magic trick we saw on America's Got Talent)

This Halloween was also a first for Keaton. The first time we let him try MILK CHOCOLATE!! Since his allergies have improved, Mark encouraged him to try some chocolate candy. I think he was a bit reserved about it, but finally asked to have some M&M's Sunday morning. It was a small package and he ate them slower than I have ever seen anyone eat candy. They didn't cause any reaction or nausea so it was a success. Since then I think he has had 3 or 4 packages of the mini M&M's. Maybe we will let him try a candy bar next, but no hurry. Cort, on the other hand, has tried every candy bar except the ones with peanuts or peanut butter.

Hope you all had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!