You know you're pregnant when . . .

You know you're pregnant when . . .

*8:00 pm feels like midnight.
*7:00 am feels like 5:00 am.
*You get winded walking up the stairs.
*You can't brush you teeth for more than three seconds without dry-heaving.
*Every dish washing detergent,shampoo, toothpaste, candle, etc. makes you sick.
*You have to buy a new washer because the old one makes you sick.
*You can smell a dirty diaper from a separate floor of the house.
*You eat celery and cream cheese (or other weird things) multiple times a day.
*The mac and cheese you make your kids actually looks and tastes good.
*Walking into any supermarket is a nightmare because of all the smells.
*You can't sleep well because you have crazy dreams.
*You wonder why you eat dinner since it always comes back up.
*You cry over every story or commercial that is even slightly touching.
*You watch every baby you see wondering what your's will look like

You know you are having twins when ...
All of this happens twice as often.


For those who have not heard we are expecting TWINS! Jeff and I are both excited and scared about the whole thing. We knew last summer that we were supposed to have another child, but at the time we were pretty comfortable with what we had. We finally decided that we'd only have another kid if we moved to Utah so the grandparents could help with and enjoy the the baby. Well, the Lord really wanted us to have these kids because out of the blue we got a job offer. We then found out we were expecting two weeks after moving in. We of course were very excited and knew it was the right thing for our family. It has slowed the organization process in our home since I have been pretty sick, but hopefully that will end soon. Anyway, in past pregnancies I'd always secretly wanted twins. (Yes, I'm crazy) I'd always hoped the doctor would hear two heart beats or something when I went to that first appointment. Well this time the thought didn't even cross my mind. I was just thinking, "I can do this. It's a new doctor, but it can't be too different." Well, my new doctor always does a sonogram so that was the first new thing. Then, when he asked if I liked surprises I was a little confused because I didn't think he could tell if it was a girl or boy so early. Well, he said that wasn't the surprise. The surprise was that there were two babies. I was shocked, but as I saw both little heartbeats I was already in love with both of the little blobs in the picture. Unfortunately, now I have twice as much to worry about (and I am a crazy worrier when pregnant), but I know that whatever happens is meant to be. We pray that all will go well, and that they will both be healthy and strong. Anyway, we are very excited, as are our kids. They keep wondering what we are going to have. They also keep wondering what kind of car we are going to get. :) Any suggestions?

It's in the water?!

So these last couple of weeks have been pretty rough as I've been dealing with a lot of stomach flu fun. As the last kids got it, I felt relieved only to have Ashley come down with it again, but worse. She wouldn't eat or drink hardly anything, and I kept forcing her to drink water even when she complained that her stomach hurt. Well, when Parker woke up with a croupy cough yesterday I was very mad. (not at him)I started sanitizing everything again, and using Lysol wipes on anything a kid would touch. I had lost confidence in my ability to keep my kids healthy. Well, last night an announcement came out saying that the water in our area is contaminated and is causing people to have the stomach flu symptoms. This is why half of our ward and half of the kids at school have been sick as well. Part of me was relieved to know that I'm not just a lousy housecleaner, the other part panicked because we had to throw out all of our water storage before moving here. Luckily, Jeff got the last eight gallons of distilled water at Walmart last night, and I was able to get some water bottles this morning so we at least have something. The irony of the whole thing is when we moved to Topeka, we couldn't use water because the water treatment plant had been struck by lightening. We decided it was important to have water after that, and we stored some for eight years. Now when we actually need it again, we don't have it. Oh well, I still believe we are blessed for trying, and we will get on it a little faster now. (once we can drink our water again that is). At least the stomach stuff should start to go away now, the new cold stuff is a different thing.

Can ye feel so now?

Motherhood is wonderful. Housewifehood can sometimes be the pits. I fell into one of these pits this week while dealing with kids with the stomach flu. Of all illnesses that my kids pick up, that is the hardest on me physically because there is so much additional cleaning that has to be done. Washing the bedding of the sick kids, sanitizing the bathrooms over and over, cleaning up the floors. Not fun. Other illnesses cause me more concern, while the stomach flu is just annoying. Anyway, while facing the moutains of laundry, the growing piles of dishes, the toothpaste smeared bathrooms, and the ever increasing obstacle course of toys on the floor I felt I was being pulled into the gulf of misery and endless woe. Knowing I was losing it and needed more strength than my own, I turned to the scriptures for a minute. I happen to be reading in Alma 5, where Alma has given up the position of chief judge so he can personally go preach unto his people. He reminds them of the blessings their fathers received, and the joy they have felt as well. One of my favorite parts is when he asks, "if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" At that moment I had forgotten the joy, and I realized that I needed to do better on seeking to feel this joy. I think that pride is not the only thing that can drag us away from what is truly important, but the trials of everyday life can also distract us from the way of happiness. Anyway, I'm grateful to Alma for the little kick in the pants. As I've tried to do better on keeping focused on the important things, I've found that the daily drudgery of laundry, dishes, and dirt don't seem so bad. In addition, as those things are no longer such a huge distraction, I am finding more joy in the most important part of being at home - my kids. Anyway, life is all about learning, and I hope this is a point I can remember because life is for having joy, not just doing laundry.