The Wilhelmsen Botanical Blog

And I am home from the hospital.  I had forgotten how very little sleep you get at the hospital.  Why don’t all of those nurses, doctors, and lab people come in at the same time, which ought to be when you are up to nurse, rather then when you have just finally fallen asleep.  Anyway we will get back to all of that in a little bit.

Monday and Tuesday were, on the whole, rather uneventful.  In fact, I can’t really remember them at all except perhaps that there was the need to finish last minute preparations for Lucas to arrive.  Wednesday went pretty well but around 5:00 in the afternoon I thought that maybe I was leaking amniotic fluid.  I put on a pad and when Brandon got home from work we went up to St. Mark’s to be tested.  The results came back that there was no amniotic fluid but I was dialated to a 4, at a -1 station, and still 75% effaced.  The nurse said that she would be surprised if I made it all the way to my induction date of Saturday.

Thursday night I slept poorly, waking every 2 hours and finally at 4:30 I got up to time contractions.  From 4:40 to 6:00 they were every 5 mins. so I called L & D at St. Mark’s and made plans to go in when Aiden woke up.  Unfortunately after that they died off and because I was emotional Brandon had to  make the hard decision of leaving me to go into work.  After waking at 4:30 and then adding the disappointment of not really being in labor I just did not know how I would get through an 11 hour day without Brandon.  Thankfully my mom came over and we decided to go to the mall and see if I could get contractions started by walking around.  While we were at the mall Aiden saw the Easter Bunny (whom he actually liked and shook his hand and hugged), got some chocolate at See’s (I asked Aiden if he wanted chocolate before we got out of the car and from the time we got out until we got the chocolate he kept saying, “I need the chocolate.”), and ate lunch in the food court.  Aiden liked being out and about and while walking did nothing, being able to get out and be distracted really lifted my spirits.  We all kept praying that my water would break but it never did.  Incidentally, Thursday night was the best I had slept in a few weeks and I knew the last really awesome night of sleep I would have for awhile.

Friday I came to terms with the fact that I likely was going to be induced and we got out and ran errands and we had a good day.  I wasn’t overly cautious because I still hoped that nature would kick in on it’s own but I didn’t go and do anything crazy either.  We picked up some gardening stuff (seeds, seedling dirt, fencing, a topsy turvey for tomatoes, and the little seed starter containers), went to eat at Chili’s, picked up our family photos from Target and in the evening after we made chicken rolls we went swimming at Holiday Lions Fitness and Rec.  That was awesome because we got there at 5:00ish and because the pool was closing in a mere 60-90 mins. They let us in free (saving us $12.00).  It was a great pool.  Aiden loved the water play area and spent most of the time pulling on the levers, which in turn made the water go on and off.  It was also an emotional day because I knew that it was my last time rocking  Aiden to sleep for nap and bed and hanging out with Aiden without having to worry about another’s needs as well.  Change and the unknown has always been really hard for me.

Saturday was THE big day.  I did not sleep well at all Friday partly because I was nervous and partly because I had the Abby’s flying fairy school song from Sesame Street stuck in my head.  It is a bouncy song, not exactly conducive to relaxing and calming.  I woke up at 4:30 again and was unable to get back to sleep.  I called the hospital at 6:00 a.m. and they asked us to be there at 7:00 to check in.  My mom arrived shortly after that so that Aiden wasn’t home alone (and to deliver him to my aunt when he woke up) and away we went.  We were all settled in very quickly and then we waited, and waited.  From what I surmised there were no direct orders about how to proceed from the doc.  As such pitocin wasn’t started until 9:00.  We then waited around for the doc. to come and break my water which happened at about 10:45.  It is important to note that when I arrived at the hospital I was still 4 cm. 75% effaced and a -1 station.  Things seemed to be progressing very slowly.  I did ok handling contractions ( I was only really feeling every third one or so and could “walk it off” until I got to transition stage and then the contractions got almost immediately worse.  I asked for some fentanyl to take the edge off.  It never really did but Brandon said that perhaps the contractions got a lot more painful at that point and took off some of the extra pain.  I did not like the fentanyl.  It made me feel fuzzy/loopy and I just wanted to go to sleep.  When I hit the intense phase of labor, I knew it was too late for an epidural and despite my intense fear of a c-section I found myself very nearly asking for one.  (That ought to accurately express just how much pain I was in.)  I got to the point where I was finally at like a 9/9.5 cm. but there was just a little rim of cervix in the way.  It was at this point that I started to feel an urge to push (I thought but couldn’t really tell because of the pain) and I also just wanted to crawl out of my skin.  Pushing did seem to ease the contraction pain though so push I did, until Lucas started crowning and the nurse started yelling (I think) “Small little pushes, not so fast.” and then I lost my groove, I was in pain and I just started saying, just get him out.  The doc. mentioned that if he did an episiotomy he would come right out and I said do it then, but the nurse piped up with something about me being sure and you can do it on your own.  I don’t even think I was really pushing anymore at this point.  I said again, “Just give me the episiotomy and get him out.”  Thankfully the doc did what I asked, (He later said I would have torn at that point anyway) told me I could stop pushing (I don’t even know if I was anymore anyway) and eased Lucas out (the shoulders were a bit intense again for just a moment).  They then put Lucas on my toweled chest and roughed him up there.  I immediately asked for my cookie (LOL, inside joke from last time) and we got around to ordering some Subway for my mom to pick up for us.

Here are a few things I should also mention…my nurse and I had a personality clash, by the time I realized this I would have felt insanely bad for sending for a new one.  She had a very hands on approach and yet didn’t coach very well.  She also hovered.  When I got to where I was feeling the pain all I wanted was for everyone to clear out of the room so that I could try and and cope with my mom and hubby by my side.  In fact at one point the charge nurse came in, she gave me a few ideas with how to try and cope with the pain and also got me a wet wash cloth.  I felt that I had gotten more help from her in 5 mins. then I’d had from my nurse all day and she did it all without invading my privacy or personal space.  My nurse asked if I wanted her to rub my legs, feet, or back and I told her no but she ended up rubbing my leg once or twice anyway.  She also was just hovering and kept asking if I needed anything and I finally said, “We will let you know if we need anything.”  She left then but was back soon after just watching me while I tried to cope with my pain.  Afterwards, she asked if I wanted a shower (which I declined) and then when I went in to go to the bathroom two other nurses were hovering and I shooed them away and then she came into the room (not the bathroom) and just as I was finally relaxing enough to go she yelled, “Is everything ok in there?”  GOOD GRIEF!  I decided not to even bother trying anymore at that time and then she came in to help clean me up without even asking.  Hello, I declined my shower, when I was ready to get a bit cleaned up I would have either asked for help OR had someone tell my husband how to do it.  I was then rushed out of my labor and delivery room and upstairs to the surprise of my mom and Brandon.  I would have liked to have overseen some of the picking up of the room and even had a moment to look around myself (from the bed or wheelchair) to make sure we had gotten everything.

Ok, just a couple of things.  It was my intent to labor without pain meds.  I fully planned to spend a big chunk of my laboring in the jacuzzi tub that is in some of the rooms.  I did not know however that when you are on pitocin the baby MUST be monitored during the ENTIRETY or labor and delivery.  That would have been good to know.  Had I known I may have made a different decision.  I also should have done more research on how to cope.  I was relying solely on the lamaze I had learned as well as the positions for coping that were in my birthing book.  I should have looked for a doula or birth coach, learned some hypnobirthing techniques, and gone without the fentanyl because at that point I had to stay in the bed.

Once Lucas was born I fully felt like I had failed miserably in what I thought was going to be a quick, fairly easy to cope with the pain, kind of labor.  Despite my feeling like a failure, the nurses, my mom, and my husband all told me how wonderful I did and that I had indeed achieved my goal and was a success.  They told me that I has done amazing (to which I was thinking how is giving up and asking for the episiotomy amazing? How was wanting to crawl out of my skin amazing?).  Anyway, the whole thing was just very traumatic and I am still trying to wrap my mind around things.  It wasn’t until today when I learned that pitocin contractions are generally by far more painful then regular that I realized maybe I had done something worthy of the praise I received.  At this point I do not know what will happen next time around.  As much as I despised the ol’ catheter the first time around I was certainly much calmer and able to read the need to push more accurately and push more effectively.  I know for sure that if I ever opt to induce again then an epidural will go hand in hand with it.  I do still hope to go try going into labor on my own at some point.  I have just been too nervous too because I would get to measuring big and the possibility of c-section with each additional ounce the baby put on would grow.  We will see what I feel like when the time comes but for now, I am not even going to think about it because if I do then I would tell you we aren’t even going to start trying again until sometime in the next millenia.  ;p  I know one thing is for sure, I do intend on having the next labor and delivery be more the beautiful experience that I feel it should be (more like my first and less like my second, with as little medication as possible) and between now and that unforeseen date I plan to do a LOT of research.  Well, Aiden is awake and the baby needs to eat again soon so without further ado, my 2nd born Lucas Alexander Wilhelmsen (pictured below with various family members).  Thank you to EVERYONE who kept Aiden company and entertained while Brandon and I were “out of commission”.

Does anybody read this blog?  If so then please post a comment on this blog entry.  You can ask a question about the family that you may be curious about, tell me about your favorite blog entry from past entries, or simply write a short comment letting me know how you are doing.  You will have until April 5th to do so and then I will randomly pick a winner that can choose two free items (under $5.00) off of my online boutique http://handmadehodgepodgebyerin.blogspot.com/ Good luck!  Also if I get fewer then 10 comments then I am going to consider going private with my blog.  Let me know if you are reading!

Well, I guess that I had better warn everyone that this will likely be a long post (if I can remember all that I have had on my mind).  Last week (I can’t remember if it was Sunday or Monday) a friend that we met at the University Village brought by some hand me downs for Aiden.  As you can tell from the pictures his favorite two items were a floppy brimmed hat and some rain boots.  He wore the rain boots around most of the afternoon.

Wednesday was Brandon’s birthday.  We met up with an assortment of friends and family at Red Robin for some good eats and yummy caramel fudge brownies for dessert (Brandon’s “cake”).  It was really wonderful for everyone who was able, to come out and support Brandon as he turned 30.

On Thursday Aiden decided to play with his toy buckets and lids.  He even put a bucket on his head and then head butted me in the leg.  A little bit later I found him playing peek a boo with the lids.  Such a silly boy.  We have also taken every chance we can to go out when the weather is good so I have included a couple of pictures of Aiden outside.  I also had a visit to the Obgyn on Thursday.  I was only measuring 39 cm. still (only a half week ahead) and was dialated to a 2 and 75% effaced.  We have arranged to be induced on April 3rd.  But I have to admit I hope that he comes on his own before then.  I had Aiden at 39 weeks and so anything beyond that will be uncharted territory (not to mention increasingly uncomfortable).

On Friday I let Aiden take a hold of the camera and helped him to push down the button so that he could take a photo or two.  Here is one of his photos.  Friday was a busy day.  In the morning Brandon took the car to have the brakes adjusted and then to be re-tested for safety.  Thankfully it passed but it was also brought to our attention that the front two tires needed to be replaced because the tread on the inside of them was nearly to the second tread (or something like that) LOVELY…  After all of the car stuff Brandon came home and the two of us dropped Aiden off at my grandma’s to be tended.  We then enjoyed doing some initiatory.  I finished a good 20 mins. before Brandon and I was feeling so off and uncomfortable that I was trying not to cry.  In the evening we were going to go swimming but decided to get the groceries that we would need to get us through a week after Lucas is born instead.

Saturday morning the Easter Bunny dropped by.  We had to make special arrangements for him to come a week early since I will be in the hospital on Easter.  The Easter Bunny brought two neck ties, two pairs of flip flops, chalk, egg shaped M & M’s, Tootsie Rolls, and a tool apron for Aiden to wear when he plays with his tools.  Aiden seemed pleased with his loot, after all it isn’t hard to please a toddler and honestly, he got the most excited about the flip flops.  😉  In the evening Brandon had plans to night ski with my cousin so I made plans for Aiden and I to hang out with my dad.  Before Brandon could ski though, he had to take our car to get the tires replaced.  Oi, cars are expensive.

Aiden and I went out to pick up my dad about 4:45 and then we all went to Discovery Gateway.  Aiden wasn’t sure what to think at first because there were so many choices but he ended up having a lot of fun.  We ended up eating dinner at the food court because we were at the children’s museum for so long.  Luckily our food was yummy and Aiden ate his corn dog right up!  Thanks for keeping us company on Saturday dad!

Sunday we went to church.  It will be the last time that I get to go for awhile because I will want to try and keep Lucas away from any extra germs so it was nice to go this one last time.  (Especially since we have been sick the last two Sundays.)  My mom came to visit as usual and at one point Aiden said, “Aiden is going to sing.”  So I said, “Ok go ahead.”  but instead of singing he proceeds to walk over and start licking the arm of the futon.  Needless to say my mom, Brandon, and I were all a bit confused but burst out laughing.  Sometimes you can’t help but wonder what goes on in your child’s mind.

Ok, let’s see if I can remember the other things that I wanted to mention.  First, is employment.  I think that in the past Brandon and I haven’t explained ourselves very well and this has led to some confusion.  As you all know his current job is temporary and will end beginning of August.  We have been looking for something to replace it when it ends but as of yet have had no results.  Here is where the confusion has come in the past…we are not looking for simply a job to pass the time.  Ever since Brandon graduated we have been in search of a career for Brandon.  A career that pays well, that is in Brandon’s field of study or graphic design (we have actually been praying for one in graphic design), that has good benefits, and that will be something that Brandon can enjoy.  That is part of why it was taking so long to find a job in the first place.  We kept vascillating back and forth between finding a career and simply finding a mediocre job that would pay the bills.  We prayed continually to know what to do and that combined with the knowledge that we had at the time is how we ended up with subbing and the census job.  As for the future, if we get to August and have no career lined up then we will go back to subbing as our back up plan until the right career comes along.  Things will be tight but it will pay the bills.  During August, if Brandon is not working he plans to make big strides writing the chapters of his book and between now and then he is working on making himself known through blogging and finishing up his outline so that he can search for a publisher.  I may even try my hand at making money blogging myself (if I can think of something that others would find worth reading).

Lastly, is just a thought that I had the other day.  I have been concerned about the country and the world and its impending end.  I have worried about how bad it could get and have hoped that Brandon and I would have the means necessary to survive as things crumble around us (things such as savings, food storage, and means to kill our food (please no) if necessary).  In my mind it has always been that we would only have ourselves to rely on when the end was nigh.  Then I heard something the other day that made me realize that I was wrong.  Not only do we have each other (my little immediate family) but I also have my extended family to lean on and my religion.  The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints already has many programs in place to help deal with calamities and catastrophes.  As I am sure other religions do as well.  On top of all of that when it comes to a force for good and a force for evil I believe that I will not only have my religious family but that all religions will band together against the power of the destroyer (a.k.a. Satan).  There is strength in religion and there is safety in numbers.  So may I encourage all of you who are not currently active in a religion to search one out, the best one for you and your family, the one that you feel is the most right for you and embrace it whole heartedly by attending church and as many of the extracurricular functions as you can as well.  As a mother I just can not imagine trying to raise children in the increasingly ugly world without the church to help guide my way and providing extra support in my efforts.  If you have any questions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints you can ask me or you can go to http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/ for more information.  In your search for a religion may I ask for you to consider them all equally, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Good luck!

Brandon and I got to talking politics last night.  Something that I do not do because I have a very difficult time expressing my opinions and feelings about pretty much all things political.  The conversation went well and I was able to identify two things that I hold to be raw fact.  But before I go into those things I thought that I would copy and paste the Declaration of Independence over here into our blog so that people could have a chance to read this founding document and perhaps see while I feel the way I do.  Keep in mind that this document went though several revisions and was written and agreed upon by a diverse group of men with varying backgrounds and opinions.  It is a wonder to me that so many people were able to agree unanimously on something of such importance.  I hold divine inspiration to be responsible for that.  So without further ado, the Declaration of Independence…

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:

Column 1
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton

Column 2
North Carolina:
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton

Column 3
Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton

Column 4
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean

Column 5
New York:
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark

Column 6
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple
Massachusetts:
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire:
Matthew Thornton

Now, because of what is written in the above document, it is my belief and to me simple truth that the above men and all who came to America with them did so to get away from big government and a king who was abusing his power over his people.  They built a new government and did so in such a way that the people had the power and not the government.  My other strong opinion (and one that has supporting evidence in the Declaration of Independence) is that God was a big, and influential part of this “chosen land” coming to be.  He was there as the above men labored in a hot room for hours to get just exactly the write wording on the Declaration, they included him on our money and in our Pledge of Allegiance.  He is the one to whom they attribute or inalienable rights “that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”.  Without divine inspiration and guidance from God 56 men would never have been able to agree on the wording for the Declaration of Independence, much less unanimously.

I can tell you that when I heard that they may take God out of the Pledge and off our money I felt in my gut that it would not be  a good decision.  My thought was, “Why would God protect a country that we had taken him out of?”  God is our creator, God is the one who gives us our rights and takes them away, God is the one watching over our country.

My last thing, I mentioned over in facebook that I would like the government to put a stop on spending so that they chips could fall where they may and allow us to pick up the pieces and rebuild.  I say this knowing how poor the economy is right now and with the full knowledge that it could put us into another depression.  I say this as a mother who wants to experience the hardship of near destitute times and the difficulty of rebuilding from it so that her kids won’t have to when they are grown and have kids of their own.  I say this knowing that during the great depression era people were happy despite the difficulties and they made do or did without.  I can only hope that before we enter another depression that Brandon and I have had the means to build up our food storage so that we won’t be hit as hard with ration stamps and that he will have a job secure enough that he won’t find himself jobless when those days come.  Nevertheless, I am confident that we as a nation can survive “facing the music” while our government pays back the debtors who will come calling to collect their debt.  I will even go so far as to say that I believe it will bring us together and further unite us as a nation as we work together to solve problems that may arise.

So tonight while Brandon was changing Aiden’s diaper Aiden declared, “Daddy has hairy nose?!”  To which Brandon replied, “Thank you for noticing.”  LOL!  I love my boys.

It has been a long week.  As you know Aiden was diagnosed with type A influenza last Saturday and was put on Tamiflu to treat it.  I did not see any improvement and in fact on Wednesday Aiden woke up at 8:30 and then slept from 10:00 until 3:00 and again for a little bit in the evening.  It was the last day of the Tamiflu and we were supposed to have seen improvement by then.  He also still had a low fever (around 101 with fever reducing meds.) and had since Saturday.  Thursday he finally seemed to be more himself and had a fever of about 99 (without ibruprofin or tylenol).  He has also, once a day since Tuesday, had a coughing fit that has resulted in him spitting up.  Friday we took him to the pediatrician again to have her listen for pnuemonia and thankfully Aiden’s lungs were clear.  Unfortunately, she checked both of his ears and they are both infected.  So now we are back to meds. again only this time for his ears.  As of today aside from random bouts of coughing (which did not seem to concern the pediatrician when we mentioned it at his appt.) Aiden is back to his regular self.

As for me I started to feel sick Wednesday, sore throat, coughing, mucus, aching, feeling overall miserable.  So of course on Thursday when Aiden was starting to feel better, I was feeling worse.  Luckily I am finally starting to feel a little better today and have been trying to take it really easy while Brandon is around to run interference so that I will have some sort of level of health back for tomorrow.

Ok so this week, Brandon started working his “regular” shift at work, Monday-Thursday 8-7.  By “regular” I mean that in a month or so it will change because the center will stop taking incoming calls and start to make outgoing ones.  This will also mean that the center will open an hour later and everyone’s shift will change.  Anyway so by 10:00 on Monday I had already decided that this was not working for me at all.  We will somehow make it through this next 4 weeks and then (unless Brandon works like a 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift) we will never be working anything but 5 eight hour days a week shifts again.  Why was I done with it by 10:00 a.m. on the first day?  Because it was at that point that I realized Brandon would not be home for another 9 hours.  I had no car, Aiden was not feeling well and was, consequently ornery, he wasn’t taking his medicine (in fact he was spitting it out), I was/am exhausted being just days away from my due date, and I honestly had no idea how I was going to entertain Aiden all by myself for 9 more hours (7 if your subtract nap time).  Needless to say I have already been overwhelmed about everything that needs to be done in the next couple of weeks as well as having a new baby very soon to transition into the family and that pretty much did me in.  Thankfully Aiden and I survived it and have now enjoyed a few days of Brandon’s company.

Because of illness most of the plans for the week were canceled.  Aiden was supposed to go to the dentist this week and he and I were going to go to free day at Discovery Gateway for a mommy/son date on Wednesday but couldn’t.  We just stayed at home most of the week and watched a lot of t.v.

Thursday I had another appt. with my ob.  I don’t really have anything new to report.  The baby is healthy, he moved around a lot during the appt. and I am measuring 39 weeks.  In the evening my dad too Aiden and I to my grandpa’s 79th birthday party.  Brandon joined us after work and it ended up being fun but I was so worn out and not feeling well that I couldn’t fully enjoy it.

Friday we took Aiden to his dr. appt. (as I mentioned above) and in the evening Brandon took the car to be tested.  It passed emissions but needs windshield wipers and the break bolts loosened so that it can pass safety.  I had hoped that it would just pass so that I didn’t have to worry about anything else.  Oh well.

Saturday Brandon and I went to see Desert Star.  It was a nice date and my aunt so kindly watched Aiden for us.  In the afternoon we went and got our family pictures taken.  Holy cow Aiden would NOT cooperate and was kind of ornery.  We did manage to get some likeable ones and hopefully we will remember to pick them up before Lucas is born.  After we got our pictures taken we went to Shivers because they were having a 50th anniversary celebration and fries, burgers, and drinks were all fifty cents.  Aiden enjoyed himself because there was a train that had little tables and chairs in it and he got to eat in the train.  He kept saying, “I’m eatin’ in the train.” and was just very content.

Today we have just been taking it easy so that we did not go to church and spread germs around.  Thankfully Aiden and I are on the mend and nearly well because next Sunday will likely be the last chance for me to go before Lucas is born.  As for our veggie of the week, it was broccoli and because I wasn’t feeling and didn’t cook a whole lot, well, we only ended up having it in our pasta salad.  We will try our other broccoli recipes next week though.

Lastly just a few little sillies…apparently earlier in the week Aiden went up to Brandon and said, “Daddy’s a nostril.”  LOL.  I think I had him say that once and now he did it on his own.  We also took a moment this week to introduce Aiden to the actual song “Bad to the Bone.”  So that he would know what it sounds like singer and all.  While Brandon and I were singing it at the top of our lungs Aiden was rocking out in his chair.  Which brings me to today…I started singing, “Dun, dun dun dun, dun, dun.” (the rhythm of Bad to the Bone) and Aiden said, “Mommy’s Bad to the Bone-ing.”  It made me smile.  Then a little bit later Brandon and I were in the kitchen and Brandon may or may not have done anything to prompt this but Aiden said, “Daddy’s grumpy.”  I can assure Brandon was not grumpy.  It just made me laugh though.  Aiden is a silly, clever little boy.

Well, have a good week.  We’ll keep everyone posted if Lucas decides to make his entrance this week (doubt it) and also in case you didn’t know Brandon’s birthday is Wednesday, I repeat WEDNESDAY, so you know, call him and wish him a happy one…his wife would appreciate it.  🙂

This evening as I was rocking Aiden before bed he started rubbing my tummy and saying excitedly, “Hi Lucas” over and over and over.  Then he said, “Aiden silly Lucas.” and then I asked him if it will be good to have a brother and he told me yes.

One of my dad’s very best friends passed away last week.  I haven’t mentioned or said anything until now and I am not even really sure as to why.  I have known this man since I was Aiden’s age and maybe even younger.  I wowed him with my smarts at Aiden’s age because I could sing the entirety of the alphabet song and he thought I was a young genius.  My sister and I used to play with his kids while he and my dad hung out.  I even remember him making noodles and potstickers from scratch.  He was a man who was full of life and friendly to everyone he’d meet.  My dad said that he was the favorite teacher of many, many students over the years who I have no doubt will want to make a tribute to him as well.  Thanks Mark for being such a good friend to my dad and for spending a little time getting to know his two precocious daughters.  Enjoy Heaven and when you have a moment or two once in awhile please keep my dad out of trouble (oh and shake up his life a little sometimes too).  :p

Does anyone else wish mother nature would make up her mind?  The warm weather is nice but it seems a cruel trick to keep throwing snow days into the mix.  I am glad at least that the snow melts quickly because it is so warm.  This past week went pretty well.  We will be pretty busy from now until Lucas is born.  On Monday I heard about playgroup from our upstairs neighbor and she and I went with our kids in tow.  I tried to get to know some of the other moms a little bit but there were so many moms and so many kids that it was hard to really talk to anyone.  Aiden enjoyed running around outside and getting to know the other kids.   The other momentous thing about Monday is that Brandon started training at Vangent for the census job.

Tuesday evening I turned Aiden over to his dad for a few hours while I went to the Relief Society Birthday party.  The food was good and my friend and I reminisced a bit about our childhood.  Wednesday wasn’t too momentous.  We did take Brandon’s bike to get it fixed because he will be riding it to work twice this week so that I can use it.  One for a dentist appointment the other for a mommy and Aiden date (depending on how he feels/sounds).  It was a bit costly to repair but having a second means of transportation will be good.  Another thing I did early in the week (I don’t know what day) is that I made strawberry truffles from scratch (see photos below).  They were quite tasty, the strawberry flavor wasn’t very strong but there was a hint of strawberry and I really liked the texture of them.

Thursday was my 36 1/2 week ob appt.  Everything still looks good, we are a go for inducing on the 2nd of April (provided my cervix goes from being 1 1/2 cm. and 50% effaced (which is what it is now) to 2 1/2-3 cm. and 75-80% effaced, the doctor said he is confident that I will have no problem), and want to thank everyone ahead of time for being so willing to help us out with Aiden while I am in the hospital (and thank you to my mom for watching Aiden during my dr. visits).  Thursday evening we took Aiden swimming at a local middle school.  He is a little fish and loves the water but doesn’t understand when it is too deep for him and wants so badly to be independent in the pool.

Friday Aiden woke up with a cough.  It was wet sounding in the morning but by evening sounded dry.  Of course by evening he had a fever of 103.00 so we gave him some ibuprofin and a blessing and put him to bed.  I worried about him all night but he was fever free by morning.  He was however still coughing so I took him to After Hours medical care.  They checked the routine things and also checked for strep throat and the flu.  Aiden did really well with the strep culture, he just gagged a little bit and that was that.  The flu culture didn’t go as well though.  They had to swab his nose and it hurt a lot and Aiden got really sad and it took him a little while to calm down.  I was proud of him though.  It could have been much more difficult for the nurse to get a swab.  Turns out that Aiden does indeed have influenza type a.  The doc said it could be either regular seasonal flu or H1N1.  Thankfully we caught it with 24-48 hours of his first symptoms so the doc gave us a prescription for tamiflu which will shorten the duration of the sickness.  Needless to say we spent the weekend in and none of us really had a lot of energy so we mostly took it easy.

Aiden has had bursts of energy when his fever breaks so during one of said bursts he enjoyed hiding in this cardboard box.  On Sunday we celebrated Pi day by eating berry tartlets and I grumbled periodically through out the day about how much I dislike daylight savings time.  Our veggie of the week was asparagus, we ended up not making the risotto that we had planned for Saturday evening but we did have a ham asparagus gratin earlier in the week that was pretty good.  To me asparagus kind of tastes like green beans.

Well, I guess I will end this blog by giving you my list of things I have learned during my 2nd pregnancy.

1.  Chasing after a toddler while pregnant is hard, but doable.

2.  EVERY SINGLE PREGNANCY is different regardless of the gender of the unborn baby.

3.  Heartburn medications cause water retention while pregnant and this leads to lots of swelling.

4.  Bowel discomfort and round ligament pain is normal early on in the pregnancy as well as in the last trimester.

5.  Being 1 1/2 cm. dialated and any percent effaced at 36 weeks means absolutely nothing.

I hope that everyone has a good week.  It seems like maybe the spring weather is finally here to stay.  I guess we will see, thanks for reading!

So today I had thrown the little bear sponge that we will use to bathe Lucas into the tub.  While Aiden was using the potty he said, “That baby Lucas bed.”  I informed him that it is what we were going to use to bathe baby Lucas and that when he was tiny we used it to bathe him.  He then told me, “Get the baby Lucas all wet.”  I told him that we couldn’t because baby Lucas was still in my tummy and had a few more weeks to go.  To which Aiden replied, “Baby Lucas is still cooking.”  LOL.  It amazes me what kids pick up on.