Busy week...but Selah still looks good!

It is hard to believe that it will be the 1st of August tomorrow! It has been a busy year for us, with 2 moves, an internship and a pregnancy, and, of course, a separation from active duty! I am not sure whether to be glad it’s almost over, or sad that another year is gone. I am both I suppose. Here is a quick recap of this past week…

Noah, rolling UP the ramp at Mommy and Me...I was impressed that he could!

(I doubt that I could, even if you subtracted the belly!)

Jumping off the "towers."

Thankfully he still wants a hand to hold.

Unfortunately, he now believes that everything is a tower-like the couch, kitchen chair and the bunk bed-though he has yet to actually jump from the bunk bed. Thank GOD!

Peek a boo!



Noah wants to go to Mommy and Me everyday! Unfortunately, there are only 2 more classes (only 4 total), and then we can try to start up again after school starts, but with Selah, it may have to be Daddy and Me! Which would probably be more fun anyway!


Fun with Dad- the blur is Noah being thrown onto the couch cushions covered in a blanket. And I wonder where my children get their great ideas....
It was even scarier in person!
But he did survive.

This is Ohio Stadium, where the Buckeyes play.

Aunt Pat sent a stadium bundt pan, and it spawned into a whole day of Buckeyes fanaticism...

The blimp view, Jonah was the director here.

Although it is hard to tell, there are lights, bleachers, uprights, players and even the announcer booth!

And he's ready for bed in his Buckeyes pajamas and his new Buckeyes socks, also courtesy Aunt Pat.

Thankfully Bryan was able to convince him to take all that off to actually sleep-it is VERY warm upstairs and he's on the top bunk!

Do you like the posing?

Here is Selah, 35 weeks. No 3D pictures this time.

The top one is of her eating her hand...do you think she could be hungry?

My ultrasound was fine. Doppler was 58-60, still below the 62. So they said it was good. And my fluid was lower (16), but they only measured 3 quadrants instead of 4, so... who knows, I am not at all concerned about the fluid, so I don't really care. There was someone in school to be a tech who did the "pictures" at the end of the ultrasound while the tech went to confer with the doctor. She spent most of that time talking, and she is not a multitasker apparently. So, alas, we haven't any great shots of Selah, but she'll be here soon, and then we can get some real ones!

The boys got spoiled by Tammy (Bryan's partner's wife) while I went to my appointment... alone! I truly do not know who had more fun, the boys or Tammy. It was the first time I have ever left Noah with anyone other than Bryan and he didn't cry! (Thankfully, since Selah will be here soon! I have been a bit apprehensive about the whole situation.) They made play dough and painted posters and had a picnic-I am really slacking here!

Sweet Little Selah....and her big ol' nose

You know, she's probably going to hate me when she is about 13. I should stop before she becomes self-conscious about her nose! The tech said today that her daughter's nose looked the same way and she was worried too, but came out sweet and petite. So I should not worry. I hope that she was not lying to me!

Had another ultrasound today. Things still look good.

Got some clarification on the whole"50" thing. They are measuring the velocity of the blood flow in the main artery in her brain. They want the number to be under 62.2, at 62.2 or higher it signifies mild anemia and the higher the number the more severe the anemia. This week it was 57.7 so they said that was good.

They are only going to measure her every three weeks (I would imagine it is hard to tell the difference each week!) So nothing to report in the growth department. My fluid level was considered "high normal", but they are not worried until it hits 25, and even then it really signifies no risk to Selah unless it gets super high- like 40. The tech said normal is 10-20, 20-25 is high normal and over 25 is high. Mine was 20.6, so I would hardly even say it is high normal.

They just plan to monitor that too- which they were doing anyway!
All in all a GREAT report in my opinion, were are starting to become quite anxious to meet her, but it is also scary to think that in 6 weeks or less, she will be here....and as our friend Dave said about the impending arrival of his third child, "SLEEP is over." Can't wait....

Here are a couple of pics, not as cute as last week, but she was NOT cooperative at all today! (The tech actually had to leave and come back because she would not stop "breathing" which makes it impossible to obtain accurate Dopplers. Glad to know her lungs should be ready to work when she gets here.)

Oh so cozy in here.

Notice the shiny spot? That was after it was "photo-shopped" by the tech. I'm thinking she will probably be bald like her big brothers!

Not coming out yet! It is so much easier to just "float" along all day and stretch!

Tennis with dad

Took the boys to practice tennis today. Here are a couple of pictures.

My DAD bought me Sponge Bob balls- my MOM HATES Sponge Bob. I think that they are very cool!
Noah "riding" his tricycle. It does not appear to be going too well.
(Can you tell why we have so much trouble playing tennis? It is not unusual for someone to beamed in the head with a ball... usually Noah by Daddy. Ouch!)


Wouldn't want to get hit by that! And he wonders why I I don't really enjoy playing with him. Not so much fun for me. Though he did surprise me with a new racket. Pink and brown, VERY cute. (I was informed a while back when we played indoor soccer that I had two choices, either play well or look cute. He recommended I concentrate on the look cute option. OUCH!)

More "Tennis" playing!

Apparently it is hard work being pushed around by your little brother!

6 weeks still???

I have never felt like such an absent minded, umm-trying to be kid friendly, forgetful person. I have to make a list for everything. You might think that would make life easier. Well, it WOULD...if I could remember that I made a list. On the off chance that I remember I made a list, I forget where I put it! I have tried to be diligent about making a list for the grocery store, and I keep it in one place-can't forget where it is. But I seem to either forget to take it with me, or I forget to LOOK AT IT while at the store. I truly wonder if I will have any brain cells left once Selah gets here. And what about the next pregnancy? I really can't get much worse and still function! My poor children, and husband...I have been terrible about dinner lately. "Well, we were going to have chicken, but I forgot to take it out of the freezer, AGAIN." Even better, yesterday morning I put a pot of water on the stove to boil for sweet tea. And an hour later, wondered why it was so hot at the top of the stairs. I ran downstairs thinking one of the kids had turned on the oven. Nope. Forgot about the water- TOTALLY! Thankfully there was a lid on the pot, so it didn't ruin my pan, but i had to start over since less than half of a gallon of water was left! Then this morning, i managed to shake the coffee creamer- with the lid open! Of course the clean dishwasher was open, and I was standing next to it. Needless to say it is a little less clean than it was. Like I said, still 6+ weeks. Hopefully I will not burn the house down in that time. All I have to say, is that Selah had better be one smart little cookie!

Here are a couple of pics from the boys latest game.

Watch me as I jump over the puzzle, blanket AND MY BROTHER!

Poor Noah, thankfully Jonah cheated and therefore did not land on Noah!
I think I may need a little more protection, just in case!

Big Brother Class

We took the boys to a big brother class this morning, where they learned how to be a big brother!

The best place to stick a sticker, is on top of another sticker! Everyone knows this!
After careful consideration and deep thought...

The words read, "What's up , Selah. Love, Jonah"

Priceless.

Noah, checking out the new babies in the nursery...new baby rocks apparently.

We aren't REALLY going to take one of those things home with us, are we? It keeps crying!

Okay, maybe just a peek at the babies.

Noah holding baby Brutus very carefully.

This is a very precise science. The baby is not going to try to find food on it's own, you know.

Baby Brutus witha clean diaper and another bottle. I have to hold his arm down, he tries to get the bottle out himself. I wonder if that is because this is his 5th bottle in 3 minutes?

If you don't do it right, it WILL leak. Nobody likes a leaky diaper.

Taking care of a baby is hard work! I think I will take a little rest.

I now know how to be a big brother!

The latest on Selah

Selah is now 33 weeks along, and seems to be fattening up nicely. Today's ultrasound estimated her weight at 5.1 pounds, about a pound ahead of schedule. (I personally do not think that their estimates are at all accurate, but i am glad to see that she is not terribly small.) She measured about a half week big this time -as opposed to a week small last time (see what i mean? Unless she hit a major growth spurt....)

Top: 29 weeks

Bottom: 33 weeks

She definitely looks cuter, but that nose is STILL there! Anyone know where it came from?

Boring 2D pictures, sad to think this is all I have of the boys... and that most of us don't even have that of ourselves! you come to expect things after a while!

I refuse to move my hand- they really tried, but i was comfortable just like this! And then the tech went to get the doctor and I decided to wake up and party! (When they needed me still for the Doppler of the vessels in my brain. Ahh, I LOVE being in control!)

Mommy and Daddy's favorite picture. I look like an angel, sleeping peacefully. Just wait until I come out and want to eat ALL night long!

We have no real news from this ultrasound. (I go to a perinatologist, aka maternal-fetal specialist, high risk ob, all the same, for the ultrasounds). We thought that things were going well enough that this would be the last one. However, they instead decided to change them to weekly from monthly. (Major pain, can't take the boys without another adult, and Bryan can't take off every week to come with me... or he won't have any vacation when she gets here. So I have to find someone to watch the boys while I go...scary, I don't' know anyone here!) The doctor did not give any info on why they want them so frequently. The numbers came back at 50- I have NO idea what that means. He and the tech left to check on the numbers (kind of a red flag) and I was in the bathroom when he came back. All he told Bryan was that they were happy with the results but he wanted to see me every week now. (Bet the insurance company is REALLY going to love me!) This is in addition to my bi-weekly check-ups with my OB.

We hope that this doesn't really mean anything, there was some talk of maybe her breathing messing with her blood flow but that was between the doctor and the tech and not directed toward us. We are just going to keep praying, and be grateful that they are keeping an eye on her! I think it may have been enough motivation to get ourselves moving and get ready for her, in case she comes early! Weird thought as I have never packed my bags until they scheduled my inductions! (I hope she waits until after Noah's birthday at least, or that Elmo cake I promised him will probably turn into an ice cream snowman!) We appreciate your prayers, and we will let you know what they say next week.

Another day, another idea...

This is Noah, headed off to war. Wouldn't want to forget that pink and brown "Army bag" there now would we?

Good thing that my little brother will help me out when I've lost my leg! (I couldn't take off the leg, so I just took off the shoe.)

Let's not tell them that he needs to be supported on the other side...

Aunt Pat sent us a book of projects. Today's pick? Surging Sea Lamp... in Air Force Blue of course! (So was our soup at lunch today!)

"Are you sure that it is not going to explode?"

Too cold in July for a water park?

We took the kids to the Squirt Zone at the metro parks on Thursday.

And the weather up here is killing me. Not that I am missing the 100+ days, but when i am cold, dry and 8 months pregnant, I cannot imagine the poor kids in the freezing water! It actually was 80 degrees, but there was a cold wind (who in Augusta wouldn't kill for that!) and I was cold-with goose bumps, no joke- sitting there watching them. But they both had a blast, although Noah was completely dry when we left!

Jonah jumping over a sprinkler and Noah pacing

around the edge.

Jonah realizing just how cold it was and Noah watching him thinking just how crazy he was!

"I want to try it too.....never mind. It's too cold!"

Noah's one attempt to use the "guns" which was a quick run to Jonah and an ever quicker scurry back out!

"He may be the tall, handsome one, but I am the the one with the brains! Survival of the fittest means not freezing to death!"

This is where Noah spent most of his time. Just hanging out on the bench watching the kids. He really did think it was great!
"I'm going to get you, Daddy!"

"Hey, wait for me!"
The boys playing word tag, our own invention, while dinner cooked. (If you get tagged, the tagger gives you a word and you have to spell it and then you are it. They don't get that you don't want to be it. Might have a little trouble when they get to gym class! By the way, Noah's words are always A or I. Keeps it more fair, he spells those quite well!)

"NO! Don't eat my plate!!!"

First there were 2 seagulls, and when we ran out of bread there were over 40! Jonah and Noah thought that it was great!

"We've been hit! Man your battle stations!"

And just enough time to play at the park before bed. Noah is headed underground, with Jonah and Daddy close behind!

Indians and Ice cream

Bryan received two free tickets to watch the Tigers play the Indians. So he and Jonah went to Comerica Park and watched the game. Thankfully they left a little early and the Indians were up 6-0 when they left. (Unfortunately they ultimately lost 8-6!) They had a blast, but Bryan hates my big camera, so I have no pictures of them. You can check out a couple of pictures on the tigers website, if you are so inclined. http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?evgroupid=0&userid=dtfanfoto&gallery_id=1170229&image_id=27

Noah and I, however, made a date out of a walk, some ice cream, and a long bath with lots of toys (just for him. Mommy cleaned the WHOLE bathroom at once though!)

Wait until Jonah sees what I made!

(Little does he know, Jonah had an icee, popcorn, and cotton candy for the road home! Ever heard a 6 year old motor mouth at 10 at night?)

Finally a good report!

For the first time this whole pregnancy, I had a completely uneventful doctor appointment! In fact, I even got good news-I think. Heartbeat was good, and measurements were on target. And best of all, the doctor was able to explain the antibody thing a little better. I was quite confused last time, but she seemed to be, too. So she called the lab and spoke with the pathologist, and we both have a somewhat better understanding. Apparently there are a bunch of different possible antibodies to positive blood, and there are a dozen or so that are known to be potentially harmful to the fetus (i.e. Little Selah). However, the antibodies they found in my blood, do not match any of these. So we are going to say this is good news and that we do not expect there to be any risk to Selah (or any future Wilhelms). YEA! I have another Doppler ultrasound on Thursday to measure the blood flow in her brain again, just to be sure. (Fifth disease causes the same problems, so the u/s will basically kill two birds with one stone.)
We have finally decided to paint the nursery this weekend, a pale pink, of course- what else? We really appreciate all of your prayers... and don't stop now!

Jonah's "nap"

Do you ever feel amazed at how manipulative kids think they can be? (Or at how manipulative the ARE?) This is what happened when Jonah whined and complained about being TOO TIRED to clean up the toys, and he wanted to take a nap instead. A half hour later, he want to show me his bed. (The bed I have seen 101 times.) Suspicious, since he was just TOO TIRED to clean up, I go to see, and this is what I find. TOO TIRED? Hmm, sounds more like too lazy to me.

Just when you most need it

Do you ever find it amazing how God works? One minute you are sitting there stubbornly trying to make a budget and not get depressed in the meantime. DESPERATELY wishing that you could take a nap, but that would mean ordering pizza for dinner (Only the 12th time this month, no biggie!). And feeling overwhelmed by life in general-messy house, kids who don't listen, more errands than time or money allows...AND THEN....



You get an email from your husband with a poem he wrote (about how self-less the life of a stay at home mom can be); while you are reading that... your 6 1/2 year old (who is about to be sold to the first person who will take him) randomly decides to come give you a kiss and the baby in-utero (who is growing too big to give you room to breathe) shifts just a bit and allows a smidgen more air into your lungs, taking away the urge to hyperventilate.



All of a sudden, you are no longer a hamster in a wheel furiously running without getting anywhere. You are no longer tired, and you realize that it is a new month, so the pizza count starts over and you are at ZERO! The baby's kicks are joyful again (no more prayers for an epidural to get through the last 2 months) and the thought of your 2 year asleep upstairs is no longer a threat that he better not wake up for at least another hour for fear if death. It makes you want to stop what you are doing, read your kids a story, and maybe even break out the play dough (shudder- maybe we'll just read 2 stories)! God is Good!

A Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

It all started when.....

we brought home a box spring from Sam's Club. Unfortunately, Bryan and I are not the quickest at rigging things up, and it took us AT LEAST a half hour to strap that thing securely to the roof. (The problem was the ratcheting straps that I bought with bad directions. Okay, Okay, I must admit the directions probably weren't all that bad, but we were confusing each other with our differing interpretations.) So, we figured that was too much work for just a drive home. Jonah had no choice but to make it worth our while and spend the night on top of the van. He sure wasn't complaining. He had a great night's sleep, fish flies and all!

Noah, LOVING the clean playroom. (Not sure how much credit he can take!)

The boys are impatiently awaiting the arrival of my Aunt Pat and GG (their Great-Grandma). Who can complain when they are reading Curious George together? Hmm, I wonder if George is their role model for trouble? Maybe we need to pick a different character to love...

YEA! They made it! Here is Jonah, GG, Aunt Pat and Noah. The boys are nice and clean after much fun in the sandbox and their new swimming puddle. (I cannot accurately call it a pool, as they can hardly fit side by side in it.) They loved showing off their new house and all their stuff. It is rare that they get visitors on their turf. And their behavior showed that- they were as wild as ever!

This is Noah driving his "boat." It is a magical boat that turns into a speed boat at the push of a daddy or big brother! (He even got poor GG and Aunt Pat to push him a couple of times! I however, am a bit less of a push-over, and I refuse to bend over and push a 30 pound laundry basket through my house 7 months pregnant! Maybe after Selah gets here and I lose enough weight to move around without feeling like I'm going to die!)

A rare moment of love between the boys. They have yakked GG's ear off about this jeep, so we had to get a picture of her with it. They were hoping to give her a ride, but her feet wouldn't fit! She is about as tall and heavy as Jonah, so the boys kind of thought she could take a quick spin around the block. You win some, you lose some. (I have to say, if Jonah was the chauffeur, I would be glad to have an out if I were her. Talk about a lead foot and turning on a dime. The jeep doesn't turn on a dime, mind you, just the riders! He thinks that since his dad has learned how to drive a dignitary around and manage to avoid bullets-I forget the name of that stuff, I have placenta brain- he can do it, too!)

The boys LOVING their new toys. It is amazing how the simple toys seem to be the best so often! They played with the pumps and the balloons ALL day long! If you let the balloon go it flies around and makes an incredible amount of noise, especially in the hallway. So now Jonah tries to always let it go in the hallway, of course. Poor Selah, she is never going to get any peace around here! When they were outside with them, Jonah got a couple stuck places like trees and the roof. That, of course, is WAY cool! (Or whatever is cool to say these days! They play songs from my childhood on the oldies station, so i am really starting to feel out of touch!)

For lunch on Saturday we went to Pei Wei- our favorite restaurant ever! (It is the "fast food" version of PF Chang's! Just as good, but slightly less expensive- and even the kids love it!) Jonah ate an entire adult serving-which I could not even finish- and Noah was determined to eat his spring roll with chop sticks. The mug? His new "Brutus cup" of course. It is the kind that you put in the freezer- so cool (or something like that) for the boys- AND it is BUCKEYES! Not sure it could get any better. Noah drank 3 entire glasses of water out of it (it holds 8 oz) and Jonah drank 4 from his-in one day! If I had only known....

"Well, I decided that chop sticks are for the Asian people. Spoons are much more my style- I can get more in my mouth at a time!"

I am all about the spoon too when it comes to honey chicken!"
(Does anyone else think he looks like Uncle Mike? Not because his mouth is full, just in general!)

Daddy spent a bazillion hours remaking our train table with some added cool features! I wonder how quickly we can destroy this and convince him to give up on all the kind things he does just for us?

All tucked in for a LONG night's sleep! (Or so our Mommy thinks! Aunt Pat promised us Reddi Whip and doughnuts as a midnight snack! THAT"S why we are smiling!)
What a weekend!

(This is Noah 5 minutes after Aunt Pat and GG left!)

We had a great visit, and best of all... I have a semi clean house! Monday is not so dreaded this week, I can see the floor in EVERY room...even Selah's! (No the boxes have not been unpacked, just more artfully arranged behind doors- and you may hear me talking about those same boxes next year when we move again- but still!) You may have noticed that there was no mention of fireworks, that is because we didn't go this weekend. They had them last week for the fish fly festival, so we just pretended that fireworks had nothing to do with the fourth of July. The boys were none the wiser! More to come on the attack of the killer fish flies later....