Its been a week, at least.

Ok, so this is the longest that I have gone since starting the blog without posting. I have decided that for my sanity, the blogging will come when I have a free minute, not on a weekly basis. So maybe I can get two done in a week! HAH! yeah right. There has just been too much going on. Between the wedding, traveling, adjusting back in TX, doc appointments, CYS appointments, preschool prep, and my schoolwork, there isnt much time left in the day.

So here are our updates. Jared is still working. Surprising I know. The poor guy picked up Maddie's pink eye, and her cold. It lasted almost two weeks with the kids so hopefully he gets better fast. And, I hope he doesnt spread it to me. I have been careful, but so was he. He is finally sleeping better so hopefully he will start recovery soon. He is finishing up his last week of this class block. Only a few more months until he has his bachelors! I am trying to push him into getting his masters when we get back to UT, because seriously, how cool would it be to say, "My husband got his masters from the University of Utah"? That, and I know he is going to be super bored even if he wont admit it.

I am finally able to announce our big news. I am PREGNANT. yep. Fatty Mcfatty already too. I havent gained too much weight but it has all flopped out in front preventing me from hiding it for weeks now. Due to my history of miscarriages, we wanted to keep it a secret until we saw an ultrasound, but it was pretty hard when I had to wear maternity clothes including shirts at about 6 weeks. The growing outwards seems to have slowed some which I am grateful for. the baby measured perfect on the ultrasound putting our due date at April 4. We will be induced due to my lightning fast labor times. That and because I will be treated for Group B Strep as well. This will be our last baby so we are hoping for a boy. At this point I believe it is a boy but every once in awhile I get a twinge telling me its a girl. So we will see. Another little princess will be more than welcome as well. We know how to handle girls, and after Maddie, I feel pretty prepared for anything.

Kayla started preschool today. Her first day! I wanted to get a picture but I was in such a rush to get out of the house and to class on time that I didnt manage it. Needless to say she was super excited. She loves to learn and soaks up information like a sponge. She just doesnt like to learn from me. She gets frustrated and rolls her eyes and then just does nothing. I hope this preschool will help her out. They are going on two field trips this week, the post office and the police station. She is actually scared by this. She told me today that she doesnt like new things. Not sure where that came from.

Madison is still her crazy nutcase self, but is now embroiled in the terrible two constant tantrum. The poor kid just never seems happy anymore. I vaguely remember saying that about Kayla so I am looking forward to when this phase passes and I have my super happy kid back. She is getting difficult for me to handle when she throws a tantrum in public because she flails like a crazy person when I pick her up and runs from me if I put her down. Its hard for me now, I cant imagine how much harder it will be when I am farther along in the pregnancy. She still has her cast for another week at least. I am hoping that is it because I really miss putting her in the shower without having to tape her up! The good news to report about her is that she is learning a new word almost daily. He newest favorite is 'NACK NOW PEEEZE!" which means snack now please. At least I get a please in there! She is a very curious and active child and with all the struggles, I am so glad to have her and would never change a thing, other than skipping a phase or two.

So, all in all, there is our update. Things have slowed down a bit and we are settling into a school-time routine.  It will be good for me to actually have to get up and dressed by 8. I am hoping to get more accomplished during the day. Here are a couple pics from the end of our trip! Enjoy!

Baby Baker #3

The girls having fun at Cabelas

Maddie posing at the aviary

Showing off at Smith and Edwards

Daddy and Madds at Cabelas

Kayla refuses to smile for me now. This is the best you get

A Week? What?

Well, I know a week went by. More than a week actually. But in my defense, I spent Sunday night in the ER. Thats normally my blogging time. So you can blame it alllll on Madison. She will probably just hit you with something and glare at you, daring you to do something back. Now, I am going to try to remember what we did this week, forgive me if I miss something.

On Monday morning we headed to the Wilson's home. I met them while they were stationed in El Paso with us. They are from Jared's home unit and Liz and I became good friends and so did our kids. I got to see her lovely new house and her huge backyard. I am so excited for them to be able to have a place of their own. They have already started the updates and are moving along with the interior. The kids got to play out on a little splash pad thing Liz bought and we had sandwiches for lunch. The girls then tore apart their downstairs and Madison, of course, got hurt when she fell down the stairs and cut the back of her leg open. Sigh. It was really nice seeing them though.

On Tuesday I stayed home. Yep, thats right. I laid around the house all day, let my kids spend the whole day outside. I seem to remember leaving the house at one point, I just cant remember for what. Oh! I went and picked up a cheerleading outfit for Kayla for the game on Thursday. Sheesh. I spent an hour driving around the campus because I forgot how to get there. Embarrassing to not know my way around the campus of my favorite sports team in the world and the place I hope to one day attend. Oh well. Jared pulled up a google map and talked me through it. Got the outfit and they gave Kayla a free stapler. Yep, a STAPLER.

On Wednesday we once again stayed home. I felt zapped of energy and just not myself. So, another quiet day, until I got the brilliant idea of washing my mom's dog. I used half a bottle of shampoo and she still stunk. So I dried her off and called a pet groomer. Well, turns out she was waaaaaay behind on her shots. So I made an appointment for that. Took the dog in while my mom watched the kids. I thought I was getting the better end of the deal until I took her. What a spazoid! The vet ended up being from El Paso and still had family living there. Small freaking world huh. We spent 45 minutes talking about the changes in the city and even the changes since he had been there last. He is actually driving down the same time we are. I jokingly said that we would see him along the way. They have a caravan of 5 cars so I bet we will.

On Thursday morning I took the kids to my cousin Kristin's house to play with her kids. Ours are similar in age. She also has a 2 week old little girl and I wanted to see her at least once. She also has a new home and it is adorable. I cannot wait until I can own my own home! The kids played outside for the most part. The girls didnt know how to interact with the boys and they didnt know what to think of them. They got along well though, with the boys pushing Kayla around on a bike. Maddie got hurt again. Fell on something or other. We had sandwiches for lunch and the kids didnt care. Too busy playing. They thundered to the basement and made a mess while I held Alyse. It was nice seeing them. That night I got to play Bunco with my inlaws. We had a great time! I even won most Buncos! I usually win lowest score but that night, I got something better. Go me. It was also nice to leave the kids to my mom to put to bed. Cant complain about that!

Friday I stayed home again. Why am I staying home so much? Well, plans change! Things get cancelled, shifted, etc. I just try to fit in what I can when I can but when I have a cancellation its hard to find a last minute engagement. Its ok though. My mom was home and we got to hang out for the day. My little brother was moving to ID so he had left his kids with my mom and I got to help herd all four little monkeys. We all survived even though at the end of the night I had to separate my kids because all the kids were tired and grouchy. The girls and I just spent an hour reading and playing in their room.

Saturday was a blast. I went early to the McCumber's house to help set up for little T's birthday party. He is turning 2 tomorrow actually. My kids played in their house while we set up and then uncle Corey bought them happy meals and they ate peacefully for about 5 seconds. The party started and there was a ton of food. I ate a hamburger, and a hotdog, and a bunch of fruit, and a million veggies and dip. Dunno why, but that dip was the tastiest thing I had ever eaten. The kids finally wore completely out around 6:15. I gathered them up, and their fun little goody bags and we went home. They got squirty toys in their bags and played in the shower with them for 30 minutes straight. I had to force them out. We then cuddled on my bed and read the new book they got, Where the Wild Things Are. I know that should be underlined, I just dont care.

Sunday, I went to church but lasted only long enough to listen to my mom talk. I left Kayla with them and took Maddie home for a nap that never happened. Maybe that is why shortly before dinner Madison fell. Not sure how or what. I was inside, and they were out. Kayla brought her in and she would not stop crying. Maddie gets hurt A LOT. But she never cries for more than a minute or so. I put her in a warm bath with her squirty and she just kept gathering all the toys to her chest and hugging them while still crying. I got her to laugh once and then she started crying again. I noticed at this point she was favoring her left arm. I pulled her out of the tub, put a diaper on her and tried to make dinner. She wouldnt have anyone but me. I made her a bottle and cuddled with her while Mom made dinner. She cried every time she tried to use her left arm. At that point I was getting worried. I decided right after dinner to take her to the ER. Off we went. Luckily, they felt she was rather important. She was laughing when we walked in, but at one point she took off running and tripped in the waiting room and started screaming in pain. We got back right after that. Off for x-rays. On the way back, she tripped again (I have mentioned she is a total clutz right?) and another bout of screaming. I got her calmed down and the doc brought her some orange juice and graham crackers. He has a daughter the same age. Nice. Maddie got bored (duh) and climbed off her bed and started walking around. She tripped, AGAIN. Another bout of screaming and all the other patients in that wing (they were all there with injuries, not sick) were trying to get her to calm down. People were singing, making funny faces, etc. Finally they came in with her splint and gave me instructions to be seen elsewhere. Now I just had to worry about keeping that splint on until she got her cast. Wish me luck!

I didnt take many pics this week because it was a rather quiet week. I doubt that will last for much longer!

Looking pretty happy waiting for her turn for x-rays

checking out her hospital bracelet. She did not like this

After she got her splint. Waiting for her release

My cousin Kimberlee was in town and stopped in to say HI!