Feeling Abandoned?

Well, if you don't, then you will after this post...I'm outta here for 2 weeks! I'll be in Utah, so some of you will have the pleasure of my company, but since I will be at my mother-in-laws for a good portion of my stay, I will not have internet access. So, for those of you who will be saddened by my two-week blog hiatus, you can puruse through old posts and reminisce of old times =)

I'm currently in Cleveland at Carissa's house. I got here Sunday night, giving Jeremiah a few days of peace and quiet before his first final today. It's been fun in Cleveland, especially the part about having another adult around to converse with, but it also means constant fights between four kids (usually Hayden and Olivia). Roman has attached himself to one of Jack's binkies, which he did when we visited in February. The kids have been up at 7am every day, and I've been in bed after 11pm every night. This all rounds out to a tired Kelli throughout the day. We went to Trader Joes, a staple stop of mine while in Cleveland. And I brought the Poyfairs a Papa Murphys pizza, since they don't have one out here. It's like payment for staying at their house. We're taking the kids to the park today and to McDonalds for Happy Meals tomorrow, it's kind of like being healthy one day and filling up on calories the next. We like to keep things interesting.

My flight leaves tomorrow night. I didn't realize at booking that my flight would arrive at 11:30pm Utah time...so 1:30am Ohio time. I hope my kids fall asleep, otherwise they will be extra cranky. I'm a little nervous about the flight, but I think my nervousness is well placed right?

Princess Me and other tidbits

So you know that story Princess and the Pea? We had the Disney book growing up. Prince Mickey invited Minnie to his house, and to test her princess status, a pea was placed under like a million mattresses and if Minnie was a real princess, she would feel the pea. Hated the story, wouldn't the pea get squished? And who wrote a story where a pea determined princessness?! Anyway, I have some sympathy for poor Minnie. I'm at that uncomfortable stage in my pregnancy where if I sleep on my stomach (and I'm SO a stomach sleeper) it feels like I'm sleeping on a golf ball. Or maybe Jeremiah snuck a pea under my mattress?

I told Hayden yesterday that after church on Sunday we were going to Olivia's and Jack's house, we'd play there for a few days, and then we were going to go on an airplane to Utah. Hayden doesn't quite understand days and thinks we can pack and go today, so I told him we had to wait for our airplane tickets to come in the mail. Backfired! Now he asks me every few minutes if the mail is here and if we can start packing. He's already packed their backpacks for the flight with all the essentials...some stuffed animals, some superheroes, a few books, and some obnoxiously loud toys that other passangers will hate me for.

Speaking of leaving, I've been on a cleaning spree since Monday because Carissa and Adam will follow me back to Toledo after I fly into Cleveland and I want the place clean. I hate cleaning, so I had to add this because I feel pretty special having motivated myself.

Lastly, I had my doctor's appointment on April 10. Everything looks great, she found the heartbeat (as in only one, sorry Celeste) and apparently I am measuring about 2 weeks smaller than I should be, so she's scheduled an ultrasound on May 8, the day after I get home from Utah. I'll be 18 weeks at that point and I'm hoping they can determine gender by then, otherwise I'll just have to wait 2 more weeks. Unless a Utahn who loves me is willing to shell out $100 for one of those prenatal places in the mall? =)

Oh, real quick, Hayden tested positive for strep on Friday. That's right, I took care of two strep kids this weekend. I am amazing. Roman is just fine. Hayden is still coughing a lot and is really sensetive. Test it out- if you call me, chances are you'll catch him crying because of something like I gave him 3 chicken nuggets instead of 4, that Roman has the green sippy and that's Hayden's favorite (apparently), or I told him we could not go buy matchbox cars at Target.

Sorry...one more thing. My friend Maria had her baby last week, they named him Everett and he is c-u-t-e! He doesn't even have that squishy new baby face, just this way cute face. Makes me really excited to have this baby and hold him/her and be a new mommy again.

Quick shoutout- Jeremiah took my last Diet Dr. Pepper. Does he want to see the wrath of a pregnant woman!? That is my life line!

Roman's Long Weekend

To make a long story short, we took Roman to the doctor on Friday because of a rash on his stomach he'd had for a week, a temperature of 101 degrees, and congested coughing. The doctor blew off the illness as the common cold, and the rash as something little kids sometimes get when new viral infections are introduced in their bodies. He spent the weekend being lazy, not eating, and coughing his way through the night (and keeping us up as well!). However, by Monday, his temperature was past 103 degrees and the only thing he wanted to do was lay on me, eat suckers, lay on me, watch cartoons, and lay on me. I took him to the emergency room where he tested positive for strep throat. He's now on antibiotics and my only complaint is that he doesn't care to cuddle with me anymore. Oh wait, my other complaint would be that my primary care doctor didn't bother to test Roman for strep and instead he spent the whole weekend feeling like...well, the pictures sort of show how he was feeling. I'm just happy to report that I found a new pediatrician that hopefully I like a lot better. Let's just hope that the rest of us stay healthy, because Roman sure didn't make strep throat look like a lot of fun!

The Brag-About-Me Tag

My sister, Celeste, tagged me to do the following post, and I am really excited about it. My blog is mostly centered around my children, so this is a chance to talk about me, me, and me.


What was I doing 10 years ago?


About this time 10 years ago, I was preparing to graduate from Lakes High School. I was taking classes there and at the local community college. I was dating someone I probably shouldn't have been, and spending way too much time with him. I played in the school's jazz band as the jazz pianist, and I wasn't wonderful, but I had a great time doing it. I worked at McDonalds, and although it seems like the cliche high school job, I loved it- free food! I had also just found out I'd been accepted to Brigham Young University, which was probably good since it was the only school I'd applied to. Looking back, I wish I'd spent more time with friends and less time with boys.


5 things on my to-do list today:

• Run to the grocery store, we are making my inlaws famous couscous tomorrow and I forgot a few key ingredients (leeks, squash, and an extra box of couscous)
• Take the kids to play at the mall. It wears them out for naps.
• Have a family date night. We will probably walk around Toys R Us and go get ice cream.
• Go to bed early. I have been battling the same headache off and on for over a week now. Is it the pregnancy, is this normal?!
• Cuddle with Roman, he is a sick boy and wants me to hold him. Read a few books to Hayden, who is learning his letters.

What snacks do I enjoy?

Hello, I'm pregnant. What snacks don't I enjoy?! My favorite snack is multi-grain baguettes sliced and toasted in the oven (400 degrees for about 5-6 minutes) then buttered and topped with thick slices of havarti or gouda cheese. We used to eat this every weekend when we rented a movie. We had Carissa and Adam try it when they visited, and I was disappointed that they weren't falling off their chairs in delight. It is a heavenly snack. I also like veggies in ranch, fruit (grapes, bananas, berries), sugary cereal with lots of milk, and salad, which I know is weird, but a habit I picked up when I thought I had gestational diabetes. My salads are usually lettuce, toasted almonds, croutons, cheese, any leftover veggies, any leftover meat, bacon bits, and dressing.

What would I do if I were suddenly a billionaire?

After I recover from fainting? This is hard, that's a lot of money!!! Of course, tithing (the church would be rich overnight!). Pay off all our debts, my family's debts, and Kory's college. Make sure my mom wouldn't have to work anymore. Make sure my mother-in-law was taken care of, buy her a nice one-story house with a large yard. Take my boys to Disneyland. Send my parents to Europe. Finance a family reunion somewhere really cool, like Hawaii or something. Build the house of my dreams. Start college funds for my kids and all my nieces and nephews. Travel - East coast, Italy, France, Ireland...and everywhere in between. Get a new car. Start a scholarship at BYU. Invest a lot (I have Jeremiah as a husband, he'd make me do this!). Maybe this will really happen to me! =)

5 places I have lived:

• Lakewood, WA
• Provo, UT
• Orem, UT
• Toledo, OH
• Yet to be determined!

5 things people don't know about me:

• I am always eager for change (I get easily bored) but I'm not good at adapting to it. I am still struggling with our move to Ohio, which happened 8 months ago. Even when I give birth, it takes me a good three months or so to get used to the changes.
• I used to make fun of Carissa for all her crime drama shows she watched, but now I'm addicted to "Cold Case" and "Without a Trace".
• I've noticed this more lately, but when it comes to important things, like getting into an argument with Jeremiah or finding out someone lied to me, I don't cry. I want to, but the tears don't come. Instead, the waterworks appear during the unimportant things, such as last week's Without a Trace...is Jack going to die? Or the talk shows that do reunions between mothers and their long-lost daughters. Those just tear at my heart! What's wrong with me?
• I miss working. Don't get me wrong, I love my children and I love spending time with them, but I also loved feeling like I'd accomplished something, helped someone at the endof the day. I also loved the alone time I had, and of course, the spending money it gave me.
• I hate my hair. I love it after Destiny cuts it, and then she styles it and I look great, but whenever I do it, it is flat, lifeless, and I can't get it to do anything I want it to.

3 bad habits

• I compare myself to others. I know I shouldn't, and it's not constructive, but I am always deciding who is a better mother, wife, sister, and friend.
• Sarcarm. Is that a bad habit? It's sort of who I am... =)
• I'm not really good at finishing what I start. I have over 100 scrapbook pages that still need journaling and put into binders. I have 6 pieces of stitching I've completed but haven't framed, and I have 2 blankets I've started crocheting for each kid...but they are almost 4 and 2, obviously I never finished those!

I'm supposed to tag 5 people, but instead just assume everyone I know is tagged. If you like talking about yourself (who doesn't?!), then go for it.

Hanging With The Monkeys

I know what you're thinking...what? You're hanging out with your own kids? No no, sillies...we bought an annual family pass to the Toledo Zoo today. I partially decided to do it because they were offering a 10% discount through a mailing I received yesterday, but the benefits are great. I can use this pass at over 100 zoos throughout the country, including the Cleveland Zoo, the Hogle Zoo (Salt Lake), Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma, and Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle). So as we vacation we can make zoo trips for free. We also get coupons for free kids meals inside the park, and a free admission to the zoo's Christmas event. I told Hayden about our zoo membership, and he is really excited. He is very into animals lately, such as giraffes, elephants, and rhinos. It takes two to three weeks to get our membership in the mail, but hopefully we get it before we head to Utah so we can make a trip to the Hogle Zoo (famous purchasing place of Roman's lovey). Anyone from Utah want to join us there?

Feeling Better Today...

So I know, as Jeremiah put it, my last post was a little blunt, a little negative. That's why I titled it "It's the Pregnancy Talking." It was just one of those days. But I'm doing better and looking forward to today.

It's a Saturday but Jeremiah is at the law library studying until 6pm and I have no plans to go anywhere until after dinner. We are all hanging out in our pajamas, Hayden is playing with all his "bad guys" and Roman is watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (which I had a dream about, do you think maybe I watch it too much?).

Why am I in a good mood? As if I have to have a reason, but in this case, I actually do. First, I slept in until 8:30am today. Sleep always makes me happy. And we are going out tonight to find me a second scrapbook table. I have outgrown my first one and need a second one just to manage my workspace. My table has been so chaotic due to lots of stuff and lack of space that I haven't scrapbooked in about a month, and I'm excited to get everything in order so I can try to catch up as much as I can before baby #3 gets here.

Here's some pictures of my crazy kids this morning:

Hayden is introducing some of his toys to his newest toy, a skeleton pirate he got in his Happy Meal yesterday. All I caught was something about "This is Pirate" and "He's from Africa where you go see new animals." Then he introduced Pirate to all his toys, letting him know who the good guys and bad guys are. Apparently, Optimus Prime is a bad guy??

This is what Roman chose to wear for pajamas last night. Footless jammies and his Nemo swim trunks. They must have a charm because he slept until 8:30am. In the picture he's grabbing his knee, and I later found a splinter there. How does one get a splinter watching Mickey Mouse? This cartoon is more dangerous than I thought!

It's the pregnancy talking...

I really should be folding the laundry or washing the dishes, but I've been in the kitchen all morning making deviled eggs and lemon cookies for Hayden's preschool potluck tonight, and I would rather just sit down and watch my DVR'd Rachael Ray show. The subject? Frazzled moms. It's like it was calling out to me! Why can't that be me on the show talking about my busy life with Rachael?! I can't even hear the advice that is being given because Hayden and Roman are playing with a basketball and it's a fierce game.

I had another "sort-of" appointment yesterday. It was supposed to be my big appointment where I hear the heartbeat and have that super-fun physical, but instead they called me in and said some of the midwives had called in sick and they were running behind. I couldn't wait because I had to get Hayden at preschool, so I had to reschedule. I must have a looked a little sad, because the nurse offered to at least listen for the heartbeat. So, there are two pieces of good news that came from this: 1) I heard the heartbeat and there is only one and it sounds healthy and 2) I haven't gained any weight since my last sort-of appointment!

Why am I just finding out that my brother has a girlfriend that he classifies as "serious"?!?! Apparently they've been dating for a few months...wait, hasn't he only been off his mission for a few months? I think people don't tell me because they assume I already know (or they're my mother who thinks she told me something when really she told Carissa). From now on, if you have news, let's just assume I'm in the dark about it.

I won't be blogging about Easter. It really wasn't a huge deal. The kids got a chocolate bunny, a "Cars" car, and searched for some eggs filled with jelly beans. Dinner really just felt like any other dinner, since we normally eat ham steaks once or twice a month. Anyway, the menu consisted for ham steaks with an apricot glaze, mashed potatoes, raspberry jello, rolls, and creme brulee. I didn't even take Easter pictures because I didn't buy them anything new to wear.