My girl turned three!

While we were outside taking her birthday picture I lined everyone up on the swing so I'd have a recent picture of all of them to take with me to the hospital. Brenna kept thinking of things to "speak in Daddy's ear" and I don't think Levi and Jack were too interested in pictures:) It was pretty hot and they were excited about getting to church. We were on our way to the big end of VBS celebration and y'all I have to brag for a minute. I expected Levi to get up front with the rest of the kids and sing and do the motions and enjoy himself, and he did great! But I never in a million years expected Brenna to get up in front of the whole church, but she got up there and sang and danced her little heart out! Our little princess is starting to come out of her shell:)

My brain is feeling a little more energetic...

now if only my body would follow suit. Nothing appears to be especially wrong with me, except that I'm slightly anemic, and I'm, you know, pregnant. But I'm trying to take full advantage of my new mental clarity by at least figuring out what I would like to get done before Baby gets here. Hubby's time off is very limited these days so I need to be organized about the things I need his help with and our pastor's precious daughter is going to keep the kiddies for me a couple of times this summer so I'll need to know what to do with all that freetime!
One big important thing is getting the kids' rooms switched around. Right now Levi has his own room with a double bed which is also the guest room if we have company. Brenna and Jack share a room with a toddler bed and a crib. We're changing things around a bit though so that Brenna will have the double bed in her room and the baby will (eventually) have the crib in there with her. Levi and Jack will have bunk beds in Levi's room. Lifting a toddler in and out of a crib is a big no-no after you have a c-section so I really want to have all of this done before hand!
I'm also really trying to cook some double batches for the freezer. Last time I got so sick of chicken fingers and pizza! Friends from church do usually bring dinners and my mom will be here for about a week, but Casey does not cook. I'm not sure when he forgot how, when we were dating he cooked all the time. Of course when we were dating I shaved my legs everyday so.... I don't really complain:)
I'm going to be organizing and stocking the laundry room too. It's downstairs (stairs are another no-no when you have a c-section) so I'll be taking full advantage when anyone volunteers to help out with Mt Washmore. Casey is actually great with getting the laundry done. He doesn't finesse it like I do, though, so I'll be keeping Shout upstairs to treat stains when they happen. Also, I need to get the kids clothes all in order. I usually keep play clothes and jammies in a drawer and more presentable clothes hanging in the closet. I had not mentioned that arrangement to Casey last time and he brought the kids to the hospital in play clothes and pajama shirts. I know that's hardly worth mentioning, especially in light of the fact that he did an incredibly fantastic job with them. They were clean, well fed, and had so much fun that I don't think they missed me at all. And the house was spotless when I got home! But it won't hurt anything to lay out a few outfits ahead of time:)
That's the first few things I've thought of. I'm sure I'll come up with lots more over the next twelve weeks. If you have a fabulous tip that helped you survive in the hospital or during those first few weeks at home, I'd love to hear them!

So.Very.Tired.

Today started out pretty well with a trip to the library for storytime. Actually having the strength to voluntarily take all three kids anywhere by myself is kind of a rarity these days, but today I felt pretty good. Now, however, is a different story. I can not believe how this pregnancy is wiping me out. The nausea has begun to let up but the total exhaustion seems to get worse and worse. My iron is (surprisingly) fine and my thyroid medication is working so tomorrow I'll be back at the doctor's to try to figure out what's going on and what I can do about it. In the meantime, here's hoping I can make it through the teeball game this afternoon!

So much going on...

It's been busy around here for the last week or two. Just keeping up with the extremely mobile Jack has kept me on the go. My mom and sister got to come for a quick visit. My sister graduated from high school in Texas last week and I wasn't able to go (doctor's orders). I just can't tell y'all how it killed me to miss it. I am so unbelievably proud of her! But she is so sweet that she flew, on the morning after graduation no less, here to celebrate with us since we couldn't come to her. Our cousin Derek graduated the very next night so we threw them a little party that weekend. If ever two high school graduates deserved to be celebrated - they sure did.
My brother wasn't able to be there since he was deployed in the middle of May. I know he is firmly in God's hands and I'm so proud of what he's doing and just of who he is. But y'all, it's all I can do not to worry myself sick. Part of it is my hormones - pregnancy seems to activate the worst-case-scenario part of my brain. So for now I've pretty much banned myself from watching the news or reading it or joining in the "did you hear what happened" conversations. I hope I'm not the only wimpy one who does that.
I'm at week 25 already! And since I've got a c-section scheduled for the 6th of September (my bestest girlfriend's birthday!) that means I really only have about 13 weeks to go. I can not wait to meet this little guy and, honestly, this pregnancy is wiping me out. I am feeling a little better since I started taking chlorophyll and got some Rainbow Light vitamins, but I'm still extremely fatigued. The nausea does seem to be getting better though so that is a big something to be thankful for!
Only thirteen weeks left...might be time to get started on that "things to do before the baby gets here" list:) We have been doing some of our kindergarten homeschooling stuff already so I won't feel bad about taking it real easy through the fall. I'm actually feeling pretty laidback about all that for right now - I hope I don't get all stressed out about it when the other little five year olds start talking about "real school."
There's been so much more going on - Casey is teaching a new Sunday School class, I have lots of doctor's appointments coming up, there's still more teeball, and we have bedrooms to switch around. Plus there's always dinner to make...