Everything grows rounder and wider and weirder, and I sit here in the middle of it all and wonder who in the world you will turn out to be. ~Carrie Fisher

Just letting everyone know that I am still pregnant.  October 8th has come and gone and Chris's prediction was not accurate.  Thankfully!!  While it will be nice to hold the baby on the outside instead of the inside, I am not ready for the baby until the beginning of November.

Isaac has been birthdaying things up all week.  Chris took him out for an early birthday dinner.  We celebrated Isaac and Sydney's birthdays on Thursday and had his party on Saturday.  I was going for the easy out this year and it probably was one of the easiest parties I have given.  It wasn't my first choice though as he wanted his party at Mac & Roonies (an arcade).  While there are games there that I like, its just a lot of loud chaos to me.  But they did all the set up, clean up and party favors.  We just needed to show up and spend our quarters.  I got Isaac a camo ice cream cake from DQ as well as dog tags and party helmets.  The kids played so well together and got prizes.  Isaac came out letting me know that it was the best party EVER!  I can handle that.

Both the kids started 4-H this year.  I didn't know that Zoey was old enough, so instead of a clover bud she will start out as a full fledge member.  We went to the first meeting on Sunday.  We had to elect new council.  I was excited to see Isaac participate.  He was nominated for positions, he nominated others.  He had to stand up and let everyone know why he wanted to run for that position.  People voted for him, but he did not get elected to a position this year.  Zoey wanted to as well, but I told her she needed another year of experience under her belt first, but we are already on a committee for fundraising and community service which settled her down some.  Right now Isaac is hoping to take shooting sports.  Zoey wants to take flowers and Twister.  I don't know that the pet show is in our future this year, but we'll see how things shake out.

Chris left for the Big Horns on Saturday and couldn't have left soon enough.  He was probably more excited about this hunting trip than Isaac was about turning 10 at Mac & Roonies.  Let's just say its been busy and happy around here!!! Chris's friends are part of his hunting party as well as his Dad and Uncle.  He is hunting where he has gotten elk before and so far has not forgotten to call me.  Its always kinda nice when they check in once in a while so I know they haven't fallen off the mountain or something.

Well I have 18 more days until the arrival of Charlie Thunder (or Lily Lightening).  I am working as much as I can to make the days go faster.  I have gotten past my jinxed week.  Now we just have to get past Isaac's birthday, wait for my husband to be home and take the kids trick or treating.  Then I will be ready (at like 5am).  And so will the baby:)

Life is tough enough without having someone kick you from the inside. ~Rita Rudner

This has been a busy fall season.  The kids have finished up soccer.  Many times playing at the same time, but at least they were playing at the same park.  Zoey loved to score.  Isaac scored also, but loved to play defense.  I am hoping for a very low key holiday season.  So since Isaac's basketball doesn't start until January, I decided Zoey can wait until January to play hockey.

My business is doing very well.  It really picked up after the school year started and everyone got back from vacation.  I am still doing all the massages for Gillette College as well as the hockey team and medical coverage for the rugby team.  All of which is in full swing right now.  We are working with a Doctor's office (Family Medical Care)  I rotate there once a week and they are keeping us full as well.  In the spring we will be moving all our offices in with them.  There is a building they purchased and are renovating now.  There will be space for others to rent as well so it will be a great one stop shop for your medical, manual and chiropractic care.  I work from 9-4 so the kids ride their bikes to and from school and I meet them at home when I get done.  The kids love the independence!  But this month is very busy.  We have gotten the baby's room done, minus a couple of things that I asked Chris to do.  At my last Dr. app she said -Well I need to start seeing you every week, but I will be out of town so schedule every two weeks like we have been and you will be fine.- I am not superstitious but it did make my head spin a bit.  I told her that was fine, but the last time a doc told me that I had a baby.  It didn't help that Chris has been betting that not only the baby will come early,but this week.  I feel a little jinxed.  So either way we are ready and can focus on other things this last month before the baby comes.

Next thing on our list of course is Isaac's birthday.  He is turning 10 already.  The time is going so fast!  We are having his party at Mac & Roonies this year so him and his friends can play arcade games for a few hours.  He is so excited.  We are even having an army/camo theme.  Which is also what he has decided to do for Halloween as well.  I had a dream the other night that he was a teenager already.  So strange.  Where did my baby boy go?

Next of course (first in Chris's mind) is hunting season.  Chris has been taking the kids hunting and had already brought back grouse, ducks and an antelope.  He still is hunting for deer and has two tags for his elk.  He has a great party for elk hunting this year and gets to hunt in the Big Horns so he is very pumped.  They will be leaving this weekend for a week.  He will be gone for Isaac's birthday, however, this year Isaac is starting 4-H and will be taking shooting sports which includes gun safety.  He cannot actually hunt himself until he is twelve, but he knows that when he is old enough, birthdays will be spent with his dad.

Once Chris gets back we will have about a week before the baby comes.  Zoey is helping me with the count down.  She says she still does not like the baby, but she is excited to find out if we are having a boy or a girl.  Me too actually.  Zoey wants a sister and Ike wants a brother.  I am not picky.  I plan to only work three days a week when the baby comes, however, I only plan to take two months for maternity leave.  I think that will be short.  Just planning to sit on the couch for two months and snuggle my baby as much as I can!! This leave should be easier than Zoey's.  I only had eight weeks with her as well, but I was also getting my master's and taking care of a toddler.  With nothing going on--I have no worries about this one!!!  Just keep it low key.

Sorry, no pics.  I tried and it is still uploading from last night.

Yes the long weekend went well.  We couldn't have a fire which was a bummer, but the kids swam, fished, rode their bikes, caught some frogs and even found a giant snapping turtle (actually some other kids found it, pulled it out of the water and we just watched in amazement--it was huge!!) We stayed two nights and came home on Sunday.  Dixie visited on her way through to Cali to visit Bill.  We went to Devil's Tower to let the kids let some energy lose on those rocks.  My kids never get tired of rocks or climbing or rock climbing.

Our new schedule is going well.  It is strange not to pick up or drop off the kids everyday, but my job is going well and we all get home about the same time.  The kids love being more independant.  We are usually just home long enough to get a snack and then head out to soccer.  Both of the kids are so excited about soccer this year and are playing totally awesome too.  Zoey made the only goal for her team at her game on Saturday.  They are both fast and even have some vision that their coaches are teaching them.  So that it turns into more of a team game rather than a one person game (cuz in the blob there is never anyone to pass to, so if you have the ball you better be fast and a good shot!).

Painted the changing table over the weekend.  The baby's room is looking good, just a few more little things here and there.  I am glad that the weather is cooling off some.  Sounds like we are going to have a few more days in the 90's this week before it hangs out in the 70's.  Still feeling good, but the baby is claiming space and letting me know he/she is there. 7 weeks and 4 days left to go to meet the newest memeber of our family!! I can't wait.  And while the Doc and I are not expecting an early arrival, it is comforting to know that we do have an up to date car seat ready to go.  So we can at least bring a baby home--UNLIKE when we had Isaac the little stinker.  We won't need to shop the day we have the baby anyway.

Vikings are not on TV today.  I would like to watch them.

Well better go, we have a birthday party to go to.

the long weekend

One last hurrah--going camping for the weekend.  The kids are in school so we have to wait for them to get out at 3:30, but then we will be on our way.  You can tell it is our last camp of the season with the kids in school and the fires raging.  The air is smokey and we don't know for sure if we can have a camp fire.  But the kids will have so much fun hanging out with their friends and playing at the lake.  Chris is having a relaxing weekend and not coming with us.  He is golfing, hunting and of course there is the fantasy football draft tonight.

Life is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch. ~E.B. White, Charlotte's Web, Chapter XXII: A Warm Wind

Once again I have put off blogging.  I wanted to put up pics from the summer and whatnot--but so much has been going on and didn't know what to blog about first.

We have had a great summer. The kids have been spoiled to the point that getting back to reality has been difficult.  So much is changing so fast and being pregnant it really can be emotional. 

When we got back to Wyoming I changed jobs and it has been great.  I am still surprised at how fast I chose to work for New Therapeutic Solutions.  But am so happy there.  We are growing in good ways and I don't have to worry about any of it!  I enjoy working at the clinic and working with the docs again.

I have to admit that I have baby brain.  We have the room pretty much ready.  Isaac still thinks its pretty cool.  He is curious about the baby and happy about it (as long as he doesn't have to share a birthday).  Zoey on the other hand still does not like the baby and tells me so.  She won't cuddle me anymore until after I have the baby.  I still don't really have any ideas or feelings as to if it is a boy or girl--which is really making me curious to have the baby and find out.  I really thought that naming this baby would be easier than naming the first two, but I was wrong.  We have tossed around a few names, but nothing has been set in stone as we can't really agree on what we want.  The baby is very healthy and still measuring big.  The date has been set for November 1st.  Zoey waited for her date and this baby will too.  So no surprises that way, even though Chris is still very nervous that the baby will want to make an early arrival.  Exactly 9 weeks and 2 days to go:)

It seems that it is good that I will have a baby to keep me busy as my other two are convinced that they are big and I am already missing how little they once were.  Today was the first day of school.  Zoey just doesn't feel like a second grader to me!!  I did not get to escort them to or from school today--not even on the first day of school to make sure everything went well.  They kept telling me they would be fine and that they could do it by themselves.  They rode their bikes and I was so happy that no one got lost or hit by a car.  My kids think I am crazy since we only live a few blocks from school.  They had a great day and were so excited to tell me about their day.  Once they got home we packed up and went to soccer.  First soccer games of the season.  They didn't play at the same time tonight which was nice (5:30 and 6:30 games).  Isaac played great! He was all over that ball and scored!  He played so hard.  Zoey also played hard and was super fun to watch.  Her team did not score, but Zoey was the only one to bring the ball up the field and shoot (she did it at least 3 times)  but she shot at the goalie each time and was blocked.  But she did great.  Good thing I put a roast in the crock pot before going to work today, cuz it was a big and long day.  Not to mention hot.  It was in the upper 90's.  Chris didn't do well in the heat and Zoey was very specific about wearing her new clothes to school today which included jeans and new tennis shoes.  The heat has really slowed me down as well.  I suppose it always has, but now I am like--stopped.

Opie, you haven't finished your milk. We can't put it back in the cow, you know. ~From The Andy Griffith Show

I almost forget to mention.... at19 weeks (minus one day) my baby was 10 ounces and in the 70th percentile for weight.  Doc says its a big baby.

Summer seems to have hit rather suddenly.  Obviously we have been spending most of our time at baseball and softball.  But we have also had friends over for fried turkey and homemade cream puffs.  We have had a couple more thunder storms which is kind of refreshing.

Last Wednesday,I had a booth at the City Health Fair.  Those are always good to go to, cuz I not only get customers, but I can network with the other health care professionals.  Another massage therapist offered me a job.  At first  I didn't really think he was serious, but the more I thought about it, his business is headed in the same direction that I want mine to--except if i work for him I won't have to pay for it.  So 2 days later, I decided to give up my fabulous office space and became an employee.  Strange, I am surprised I was convinced so quickly, but I am so exctied about it.  I am going to be out of my office by the end of June and be fully over at his office by July.

Oh yeah, and I am pregnant. I had an ultra sound on Friday.  4D even so it was pretty amazing.  Now that I am feeling way better, I am super excited.  I have been digging out all the baby stuff.  It was like Christmas cuz we still have all our stuff.  I was just planning on using it MUCH sooner, so it will probably take until the baby gets here for me to get everything cleaned up.  My original due date was November 10th, but I had an early ultra sound to confirm the date and that brought it up to November 3rd.  I would really prefer to have a November baby.  If I could get Isaac's birthday and the baby's birthday at least 2 weeks apart that would be awesome.  For now I currently have the c section scheduled for Nov.1st. I have already told this baby not to come early.  No need to be like big brother.  So that's the plan for now.  Oh --and no names picked out yet--for boy or girl which really surprises me.  I thought by now we would have some good contenders.  But my new job give me control of my schedule and I think I only need to find someone to watch the baby twice a week and I have a friend who is willing to help out. Lots of changes on the way--but they are great.