Giving Thanks: Week 1

I know everyone else is doing this daily on Facebook, but while I feel like making the effort, I don't feel like sharing it quite so publicly.  For one, the things I'm grateful for are different this month than they would have been had I not been so close to having a baby... it's kind of hard to explain that in a little status update.

1- I'm grateful that Zach is on a service this month with a resident who doesn't want to play martyr and keep themselves and all their co-workers late every day for no reason.  Last month Zach could have come home early a couple times a week, but his chief had a complex and wanted everyone to stay until sign-out "just because."  Ridiculous.  Zach is amazing and takes it in stride.  I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut. This month he's on with an awesome guy who doesn't have anything to prove, and only requires what is necessary from the residents.  Zach got to come home early for Halloween, so the kids got to go around the Trunk-or-Treat with him and we had our trunk a little decorated.  Then he got to come home early again yesterday and today.  We were worried he'd go another two weeks with no day off, but he almost got two!

Which brings me to number 2-  I'm so grateful for Zach.  I've heard about and met so many husbands- not just from my own acquaintance, but since the beginning of the internet, wives have had ample opportunity to brag about their spouses or ridicule them with a wide audience.  It's sad that some days it takes the comparison to remind me just how extraordinary is the man I married, but I guess it's good that I realize it somehow. 

People ask what his schedule is and when I tell them about his 90+hour work weeks they just shake their heads.  One guy said "He must just come home and crash."  He doesn't.  For more than a month now I've been moving at a snail's pace, and most of my energy is being expended on the girls' schooling.  He comes home after a thirteen, fourteen hour day, and helps me finish making dinner since I can't stand very long any more.  Or when he's late he doesn't complain about whatever concoction I've pulled together. He finishes the dishes I got halfway through.  He puts the girls to bed and goes down to maintain his fish tank or the lawn or the bills.  He goes to the store, puts together Kael's new toddler bed, and drops off my library books on the way. Then he comes back up after I've gotten Kael put to bed and helps me fold laundry while we watch 20 or 30 minutes of a movie.  Then he showers and goes to bed early so he can have enough energy to do it all again the next day. 

It obviously hasn't been like this forever, and it will be a lot easier once I'm up and about again.  But the fact that he is capable of such selflessness for such a long period is just so admirable to me.  There's more about him I'm grateful for, but I'm saving that for another day.

3- I'm grateful for disposable diapers and plates. I am always behind on laundry and dishes lately, and Kael has had the runs off and on for the last two weeks. I think I know why- he thinks it is SO funny to lick things that get a rise out of his sisters. Including standing water from outside. I try and tell him his tummy will hurt if he licks yucky things, but he just smiles and repeats "Yucky... sings?" Clueless. But I don't have to wash his diapers, and I don't have to wash as many dishes for the next couple of weeks! 

4- I'm grateful for Mia. Just typing her name brings tears to my eyes. Yeah, I'm hormonal, but still. ;) This girl turned 7 less than two months ago. And she has been as big a help to her family as any teen could have been. Yeah- she's got her share of attitude and silly giggle-itis when left to her own devices. But when I'm in a bind, physically or with her siblings, she's right there suggesting ways she can help. She's answered the phone calls I couldn't get to in time, run upstairs about ten times a day on some errand, helped dress her little brother for church, made mac and cheese bowls for herself and her siblings while I lay contracting in the other room. This pregnancy has been a beast the last couple of months. My last check-up confirmed I was already dilated to a 2, and sent me into major contractions for following two days. At one point when huge ones were coming two minutes apart and I couldn't move or talk, I almost headed for the hospital. But Mia was right there to bring me my vitamins and a cup of water. The contractions went away after an hour. Instead of whining about all the things I am not doing for her lately, each day this kid asks me excitedly if she can be in charge of something new.

This morning I was worried we'd have to forgo the twins' hair-washing before church- I was in a lot of pain. I told them to get in the bath and Mia called down saying they all wanted to shower. I said I couldn't stand to wash their hair, so I needed them to do a bath. She solved that right away: "I'll just wash it! Pleeeeease can we do a shower instead??" She did a good job. I'm so grateful for such a capable, good-natured, willing little girl. She's such a good example to every one in her family.

5- I'm grateful for my church.  Today I'm actually thinking of the social rather than religious aspects.  My sweet friend has taken my kids with hers to the park, and field trips while I've watched our youngest boys. Kael gets along so well with his little buddy.  She even took them to our (stake-sponsored) soccer game last week.  Every Sunday my kids get to be with other wonderful kids and learn about the gospel from their wonderful parents.  We had a safe and fun place to trick-or-treat in our church parking lot surrounded by people we know and trust.  If it weren't for the church community we're a part of, my kids would have a really bad month-old case of cabin fever right about now.

Too soon to count down?

I've finally caved and started using the stupid/blessed electric gimp carts at the grocery store. It makes the difference between being able to put the groceries away afterward or the girls having to do it. 

We stopped having the housekeeper come for a while.  Then I had to stop taking Ibuprofin, so we started having her come for an hour every week.  I think we're going to up it a bit for the next little while.  It's amazing how helpful it is- I wish I'd figured this out with Kael.  Yeah- it's a financial trade-off, but life will be back to normal soon enough.

About five weeks to go.  I'm thinking it might be sooner... I'm contracting like crazy every two hours, sometimes every hour.  We're kind of worried again about getting to the hospital in time.  Even when I got induced with Kael (for the same reason- we were afraid of fast labor) all they did was break my water, and bam- three hours later there he was.  That was including the hour they stopped my contractions with some drug because his heart rate was going down. 

My body loves getting these kids out.  It's a huge blessing, but it's kind of freaky to plan around.  We'll see how fast I dilate this time- I'm betting I can predict pretty well.  I've been a 3 four weeks out, and a 4 and 5 two weeks out for the last three pregnancies.  The Jeopardy theme is the soundtrack to my life now.  Waiting, waiting, counting down.

4 years ago

I'm glad I don't have to write him in this time. :)

Last day of summer

The kids have been living up the last couple of days of their brief summer break.  After almost a year of hard work and lucky deals, we've finally gotten our backyard as fun as we can get it.  Las Vegas may not be very family friendly, but I've been thinking the fact that we could afford a house with a yard more than makes up for it for these guys. :)

Zach's bi-annual vacation week coincided perfectly with the kids' school break, and all of the grandparents met us in St. George to go see Aladdin at the Tuachan.  We even got to go backstage and see the sets and costumes.

Anya was the only kid who would stop and pose for me! 

Zach's brother and sister-in-law came to stay with us for a few days while they did a wedding show in town.  He's been making personalized statuettes as cake-toppers.  They're fantastic. 

Zach was determined to find a cheap Guitar Hero set on Craigslist and found one just in time for their visit.  We figured out how to dress the characters modestly and went to town.  One week later, we think Zach realized his true instrument talent wasn't the guitar.  He's played this thing for four days and is already on expert level on drums- ha.  Mia loves the drums, too- I'm thinking we might have to invest in real electric ones someday.  

 

We went to the K12 Back-to-School carnival at the JW Marriot where the girls got to meet their teachers and go on bounce houses for hours.  Even Kael got to go on some, thanks to some awesome K12 volunteers.  I didn't bring my camera, darnit.  I wasn't sure we'd see the teachers, and I was really worried that even without the extra baggage I wouldn't be able to make the long walk from the parking lot through the hotel and casino to where they set up the carnival. 

Their teachers were so sweet- we'd talked with Anya and Bree's that morning so she could assess their reading level, having no idea we'd be seeing her later that evening.  She kept hugging them and telling them she was so excited to have little smarty pants in her class.  Bree regaled her with the story of her toothfairy visit, and like usual didn't stop talking for a good five minutes straight. ;)  

 

I'll have to snap a pic at the next field trip. I'm such a wuss.  Just three months, three months....