Random...

What a beautiful day today! It got up to 45˚!!! It's been over a month since it got above freezing so it was a big deal! Jared and Keith built a big snowman. If you look closely you can see that Mr. Snowman has an orange dot for a nose... Jared went in the house and got a baby carrot out of the fridge all by himself. It just cracked me up! Then they went for a snowmobile ride. Jared always says, "Don't go too fast, Daddy!" He gets scared... you'd never guess since he's such a daredevil with everything else!    

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After supper he was trying to fit his little beach ball under his PJ's but it wasn't working so I gave him one of my tank tops. He wanted to have a big belly like Mommy! Again... cracks me up!!! What a little goof ball! 

 

Ladies Night

I hosted our ladies night last night. All the usuals were here (Kristen LeGare, Jill Hulke, Angie Voges, and Kori Fluegge) with the exception of Kristen Drill, who was sick. Hope she feels better soon! Most of us scrapbook and KL knits but this time Ang decided to try knitting. It's definitely tougher than it looks! It'll be interesting to see which she picks next time. 

It's kinda funny that half of us are prego... KL is 32 weeks, I'm 30 weeks, and Jill is about 17 weeks (due on Ashlyn's birthday!). Kristen and I took some belly pics together. The girls thought that I was having a boy and she is having a girl because I'm low and she's high. Guess we'll have to wait and see!

4 Year Pictures

Jared had a very busy day today. He had his Preschool Screening this morning. He did really well and had fun too! Then we headed to Mankato this afternoon to Sears for his 4 year pictures. The photographer was great! Jared can be difficult to deal with if he's not in the mood to cooperate but she figured out what to do to make him laugh. Who knew a frog could be SO hilarious. Here they are...

(click on picture to make it bigger)

It's finally melting!

The temperature finally went above 30˚ today... first time this year! It felt like a Spring day! Since it was finally starting to melt, Jared and I started to chip away at the 2½ " thick layer of ice on the driveway. It was pretty comical... I broke it up into big pieces and Jared pretended he was a big pay-loader pushing it away making beep, beep, beep sounds. We had to make a big pile and take a few pictures. Then daddy came home and finished what we started and got it all cleaned up.

Pile of ice chunks

BIG drift in front of the house

Cuppycake Song

I discovered this through another blogger and had to buy it on iTunes right away. This is such a cute video! The little boy has a very interesting (and sad) story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysqh1uzqGrc

28 Week Check-Up

The check-ups are coming every two weeks now since I'm in my 3rd trimester. 81 days to go! The time is really flying by... which is good! The heartbeat sounded really good and strong at 144 bpm. Belly is measuring where it should be, blood pressure is staying nice and low and I'm at about 14 pounds gained. Not too bad! 

My back is doing much better now. Still have a few zingers now and then but at least it's not a constant pain. Just needed to learn to slow down and take it easy. The five visits to the chiropractor didn't hurt either! I've been trying to cutting back at work too. Less lifting and straining... trying to sit as much as possible (I'm usually on my feet most of the time). It's amazing what asking for a little help will do! =) 

I had to add something about the lovely weather that we've been having. We spent about 80 hours in sub-zero deep freeze starting late Monday night. At lunch my vehicle said 1˚ and I did a little happy dance... pathetic, I know, but it's been SO cold for SO long. The forecast is finally looking better... 20's and 30's... woo hoo!

Fishy Heaven

We had a floater in our little aquarium this morning. Can you tell how sad I am? (*wink*) Not so much... it was just a little goldfish that we've had for a really long time. I was just wondering, the other day, how long he was gonna last. Tonight Jared got to flush him away to "fishy heaven". He was a little confused about how Jesus was going to find him in the tank (that's where all the potty goes). It was quite the interesting (and entertaining) conversation! He gets such a serious look on his face and you can see the little wheels turning in there trying to figure it all out.

Now he's excited to go to Walmart and pick out some new fish! Not a very long grieving period... out with the old, in with the new! 

Baby Bump - 27 weeks

I had to retire the striped shirt... getting a little snug! I don't think the belly looks much bigger than two weeks ago but black is supposed to be slimming. :)

As for my back problems, they are getting better. Not 100% yet but that might not happen until the baby comes. I was at the chiropractor 4 times last week and it seems to be helping. I can get around without too many piercing pains so that's a plus. Just have to take it slow and avoid lifting anything too heavy.

Jared has been a pretty good helper since mommy has an owie. If I ask him to do me a favor he'll tell us later that he did a "favorite" for mommy. Too cute! 

27 weeks

25 weeks

22 weeks

19 weeks

Back Problems

My back has been bothering me for a little while now but has gotten progressively worse. Saturday night I was kneeling by the tub giving Jared a bath and I couldn't stand up. Keith had to come in and lift me up. Poor Jared sat there looking at me... "what's the matter, mommy?"

My pain is at the very bottom of my spine (Sciatic Nerve) and if I make a wrong move it shoots a zinger down my right leg like and electric shock. I've almost fallen several times because it hurts so bad... not fun! 

I called Dr. Fred (Chiropractor) Monday morning and was able to get in right away. He agreed that it was Sciatica and also muscle spasms. My right leg was actually shorter than my left because my muscles were so tight. I went to Dr. Fred when I was 8-9 months pregnant with Jared with the same problem so I had high hopes he could 'fix' me right away. Boy, was I wrong! I had to go back Tuesday morning again because it was much worse. I was even late for work because I could hardly bend over to wash my face and brush my teeth! Frustrating, to say the least. 

Dr. Fred was very surprised to see me because it was such an "easy fix" with Jared. He said that all of the stretching and adjusting that he did might have caused my muscles to over react to being where they were supposed to be. After a tearful visit (hormones aren't helping!) he sent me home to rest and ice. No work for at least 2 days.

I'm lying on the couch as I'm typing this and I'm praying that this does the trick... it sucks just sitting here but it seems to be helping. I just need to move slowly... and keep icing.

I'm going back this afternoon for a re-check.  

26 Week Check-Up

I went in for a routine check-up today and everything looks good! Baby's heart beat was 152. It's always right around there. And my belly measured right where it should be. So far I've gained about 13 pounds. 

Then I had to go to the lab for a glucose test (to see if I have Gestational Diabetes). By the time I got home this afternoon, there was a message on the machine that I could call for the results. Tests came back normal! Blood test (hemoglobin) was 12.6 (12-16 is normal). Glucose results were 101 (less than 140 is good). That's one more hurdle covered!