hyper-active

So, this is baby number three for me. 

And my first two pregnancies had their fair share of complications. 

...okay, that may be understating things. Especially in Avery's case.

Oh, okay. With Carter, too.

But this pregnancy has been going really well! 

...until now.

A couple of weeks ago, I started having blurred-vision headaches and incredible swelling limbs.

Blood pressure spikes. 

My doctor officially declared me sick with Pregnancy-induced Hypertension. 

You can call it Toxemia. 

I call it The Worst.

Times three.

They sent me to the lab. And then the hospital for monitoring when my headache wasn't going away. Everything seems to be fine. But now I play the waiting game. Now I have to rest. 

"Rest" should sound really awesome! Seriously. What thirty-three-weeks-pregnant-with-two-other-little-kids-running-around-stay-at-home-mom doesn't want more rest?! 

But when "rest" means things like feeling like garbage and accepting neighbors and ward member's help with kids and meals and vacuuming (embarrassing!!!) and the like, it really stinks. 

 My very sweet Relief Society President told me this week in no uncertain terms that she understands that accepting help is hard but, "If you don't let people serve you, you're the jerk."

 At least I'm pretty sure she said jerk. 

Either way, that was the gist of the message. 

And she's not the only one who gave me that message this week.

And everyone is right, of course. I love being able to help other people! I guess everyone has to take their own turn being helped.

But I don't have to be happy about it. 

Seriously, you can't make me.

Blegh.

When "rest" means taking total advantage of my brother on his days off, well, that stinks. He's such a good guy. When my mom called him on Wednesday night and found out I was in the hospital, I got a very concerned phone call. The call the next day, too, was concerned and so sweet. And this is how it ended: "Okay, honey, you promise to take it easy, okay? And I really will come up there if you need me- just let me know. Oh, and don't let me find out that you are in the hospital from your brother again. That really pissed me off. (Dead. Serious.) haha Okay! Love you! Bye-bye!!!" 

hahahaha I love my Mama. 

Also, I have the best neighbors money can buy.

You know who you are. 

I already knew that you were the best. I think this week you were just showing off.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being awesome.

When "rest" also means spending lots of time worrying about little Butter Boots' health and safety...

 well, that's Officially The Worst.

 

And so, I will rest. And go in for weekly doctor's appointments. And leave my work to others. And take advantage of everyone I know. And try to finish my final weeks of college from a reclined position. And give my girls extra hugs and my dog-tired husband extra love and my worried mother extra reassurance. And measure my BP with a little robot wrist-cuff thing that sounds like a chainsaw while it squeezes my arm and then flashes and beeps at me and tells me what I already know:

 Things aren't looking so hot. Take it easy and you'll make it through. Only six more weeks. For Baby. For chubby baby rolls. For no NICU this time around. For coming home with baby sans oxygen machine. For you. For not having a Magnesium Sulfate (known in most countries as the DEVIL) IV this time. For less time in the hospital and tubes and monitors and visits and needles and medicines and stress.

if you don't know, now you know- Carter.

I just have to share this little letter I wrote to my little Carter today. 

I'm not entirely sure why I didn't just write it on this blog, but somehow I just had to address it directly to the girl who knows just about every lyric to Katy Perry's "Hot and Cold" - you know, except for the naughty one. And who chooses the same breakfast cereal every morning but never does anything else I can predict. Ever. And who is often thoughtful and insightful beyond her nearly-three years but still has trouble remembering that if you walk in front of a moving swing at the park you will get hit in the face and it will knock you on your butt.

us kids know

 OLD POST ALERT!
I wrote this last week. ...and then my computer freaked and I lost all of it. And I got really annoyed and decided to forget it. And all blogging. For the rest of eternity.
Then I calmed down and decided to re-write it. This is a shabby second attempt at posting about our lives from the perspective of, Oh, about two weeks ago, now.
Stupid freak-out computer.


Last week was a busy one! We kicked off the weekend with a (n evil, insane, fifteen-hour) drive to Idaho Falls. We wanted to squeeze in one last trip over before BB shows up, and we hit a wicked storm on the way! And then we dragged the storm with us for about half of our journey.
 What could possibly make a normally-twelve-hour trip with two small children and an incredibly pregnant woman more uncomfortable? Yep. Snow and rain and ice and wind.

Oh well, we made it! And it wound up being a lovely weekend. It was nice to see friends and spend time with K's family. 

But both K and I had to admit that we did not miss the snow and ice and below-zero winters. Not even a little bit. It really is lovely to live in this Portland climate!

But enough about the weather.

Here are a few pictures from our little trip.

What's up, belly? My amazing friend Stacy made me a diaper motorcycle

 with a monkey rider. Cutest present ever!

Cousin Snow Time!

30 weeks

 Otherwise we spent the week trying to have some fun! We did some shopping on Monday for a few new things to make our little town house brighter and easier to live in- we really love where we are at, but it honestly sucks rocks, too. Our house has the oldest (grossest) carpet on the block, needs new doors and paint, and it just feels really dingy in there no matter what I do! While we were out of town we ran an ozone machine all weekend again to help with carpet smells (DISGUSTING! I know). Then we spent Monday running around buying a gorgeous new rug for the living room, a couch cover for our comfy second-hand couch, and brighter lights for all of our fixtures. So far it has helped a bunch! We even got the girls wall stickers that match their new bedding- darn you Target and all of your adorable crap!

Avery was not impressed with all of the errands.

A peek at the wall decals- and the most adorable scene ever! Which one is the doll?

My mom got my brother and I a pass to OMSI that lets in us, K, the kids and a few more, all for free! It's amazing. Avery especially loves OMSI- especially when she got to bring her best friend, Drew! She was especially excited to dress up like chipmunks with Drew and play in the indoor forest area - these two love playing house and have imaginations that just won't quit!- and to show him the earthquake simulation. After she did the simulation the first time we visited OMSI, she had all sorts of questions about earthquakes. Which was followed quickly by all sorts of nightmares and teary-eyed conversations about earthquakes. But I think she's made her peace with the idea now. And at least she's prepared, right?

Duck and Cover!

Little etymologists checking out the petrified bugs.

There is a Science Playground section indoors with all sorts of cool activities for kids under six. Carter's favorites are the sand pit and the water tables. I have to bring a change of clothes (because Carter NEVER does anything half-way!) but it's so worth it to see her having so much fun. 

...that is, until she refuses to stop drinking the gross water. Seriously.

These two are besties. The end.