Her Father the Hero

Bethelle really loves her daddy.

This winter has been particularly snowy.  I have told Bethelle during the couple of times that we found ourselves driving in it that I really can't talk to her because the snow makes the roads slippery and we could end up in the bushes.  Later, she asked what would happen if the car "jumped" into the bushes.  I told her that we would be stuck, but that Daddy would come save us.

Fast forward a bit.  Bethelle wanted me to tell her a story.  I started in with Red Riding Hood, realizing that I had never told it to her before.  When I got to the end, the wolf ate Red and I skipped very quickly to the woodchopper coming to get Red and her grandma out.

The next night, Nick put her to bed.  She told him about the story where she got eaten by a wolf and then Daddy came to rescue her and grandma.  She was very excited about it.  I thought it was so cute that she saw the whole thing so personally and that Daddy was the big hero.

Recently, Nick was out of town on business.  Every night Bethelle repeated prayers before bed, but got a little hung up when I would have her saw, "Bless Daddy to be safe."  She would look up and say, "Mom, Daddy is always safe.  We don't have to say that."  I told her that it's a good idea to pray for him anyway.  Finally one night she insisted, "Mommy, he's always safe.  You know, with his sword and everything."

Her world is so beautiful.

Ode to Zofran

This is the first pregnancy that I've tried prescription drugs.  I really kinda thought I was cool to tough it out, but I am now repenting of my pride.

I love my Zofran.

As you can see, I am even posting recently after my last post.  I'm a new me.  Or, really, I'm the old me, but back.

Nick accidentally called it Prozac, and it's eerily fitting.  It's only been 36 hours, but I'm much more fun to be around than the sicko who's been living in this house the last couple of months.  She has been evicted.  Permanently, I hope.

I still feel "pregnant," whatever that means, but at least now it's hard to describe, instead of the easy description of, "you know when you just want to hurl... all day... every day... for months at a time?"

Let me just add briefly for those who are interested that Zofran runs a new low price of only $40 per pill.  Yeah.  But (now listen carefully) there is now a generic version, which is what I'm actually on, that is only $4 per pill.  My doctor didn't even know about it.  Thank goodness for good friends and good pharmacists.

In related news, Bethelle wants a little brother.  We were surprised at first, but she is consistent.  It's because she loves Rigby so much and because she thinks he's "so handsome"!  Isn't that adorable?  Oh, and she wants to name the little boy Larry.  Mmm hmm.  How do you like that, President Johns?  If it's a girl, she wants to name her Bethelle.  I kinda do too.

I'm still alive

You may think the title of this post has to do with the fact that I haven't blogged for a long time.  Au contraire.  You will soon see the double meaning.

As I've stated before, we are swamped with Nick's new work schedule and commute and with getting our house ready to sell.  We are making good progress, but still have several items on "List A" which need to be done before listing, and then we'll keep working on the details until it sells.  We are hopeful of a summer sale.

I have pretty much removed myself from helping with the house projects by becoming pregnant.  Yup.  There it is, the big announcement.  I am already 11 weeks along, but have neglected posting here because I've pretty much been either feeding my children or laying in bed.  I really did not want to make a negative post like this, but what else can I say?  Pregnancy is not my thing.  When pregnant with Bethelle, I lost 11 pounds, then gained 21, for a whoppping total of 10 pounds gained the whole pregnancy.  Yes, I've had people tell me that they are jealous, but trust me, it would be much better to healthfully go through a diet after the pregnancy than to be essentially anorexic and bulimic while growing a baby.  With Rigby, I lost 7 pounds (I was sick, but not nearly AS sick), but still managed a total of 25 gained.  So far this time, I have lost 8 pounds.  This is much more like my bad first pregnancy.  Maybe it's a girl?!  I'll let you know in a couple months.

I should also mention that for the first time, I have tried taking B6 to relieve symptoms.  It works pretty well.  It was a miracle at first, but now I'm not so sure how much it's helping.  I definitely suggest that any morning sick person should try it.

The up side is....  well, it's a baby, right?  We're pretty excited about that.  This baby and Rigby will be 22 months apart, and the due date is set for now at August 26th.  I just hope we are living a beautiful new house.  Good luck, Nick.

Catching Up

Previously, I've been pretty committed to posting here once or twice a week, but you may have noticed that I've slowed down recently.  Nick's new schedule and our heightened urgency to finish and sell the house have left us without any time.

We had a nice Thanksgiving with family, but unfortunately 

caught a cold from one side of the family and a flu from the other.  This left us pretty miserable for a while.  Just when we were starting to get out again, a snow storm set in that was the worst since 1891, or so the weatherman said.  Homebound again.  My dad picked us up for some Christmas festivities in his 4x truck (but not without difficulties) and we made it to the Rushton party too.  Along the way, we got another cold.  Rigby seems to take colds very hard and gets soooo miserable.  I have resolved to be more careful in the future.  Now that we are healthy again, Nick's truck has broken down and is out being fixed, so he takes my van and the family is again homebound.

I had some pictures taken right around Rigby's birthday in October that I never posted, so here they are.  My favorite photographer was no longer at the studio (sad), but I have tracked her down to another studio (yeah).  These pics are OK, but I'll be glad to be back in Keirsti's capable camera next time.

Christmas Card Pictures

Here are a few shots we took trying to get a Christmas card picture.

You'll have to check your mailbox to see the one chosen!

This is your last chance to send me your address if you have moved this year (Mandy, Elise, Preston) or if I haven't had your address in the past (Kris, many of Nick's cousins).  Either add a comment here or email me your current address if you have not received our cards in the past.  Uh... this is for people we know only.  Sorry.

Ready for Christmas

The True Meaning of Christmas

I set up my best nativity on the mantle, with the traditional placement of the figurines facing outward, and sent Bethelle to set up our other nativity on her own.

I've never seen it done this way.

I think she gets it.