A "Breech" in Plans

So little Vivvy is breech! What the crap?!? I swear she has to do EVERYTHING the exact opposite from her brothers:

Very little sickness with the boys = Felt like I had stomach flu for 25 weeks with Viv.

No varicose veins in my legs with the boys (well, actually one small one with Cohen) = My legs look like they belong to an old woman & I get to wear the oh-so-chic compression stockings with Vivvy.

Heads down & ready to go at 36 weeks with the boys = Head up & currently sitting in my right lung (quite pleasant) with Miss V.

So, since she's insisted on being the polar opposite from her brothers so far, I'm hoping this trend continues...as in:

Crazy, wild maniac boys = Sweet, calm, peaceful little girl.

I know that's a long shot, but hey, a mama can dream, right?

Okay, anyway, back to the bebes being breech...

The doctor is going to try to flip her this upcoming Thursday. They will admit me to the hospital for the day to do the procedure. He thinks the flip should go smoothly because she's still pretty high & it appears that she has plenty of fluid to swim in. I am scared to death! I have heard horror stories of how badly it hurts to turn a breech baby. I asked Dr. Rees if it hurt & his response was, "No! It's never hurt me one bit! I don't even scream or anything!" Haha...very funny! Guess I'll "get" to find out first hand!

If she DOESN'T flip, we will just schedule a C-section for a few weeks later.

If she DOES flips, they will monitor her for 4-6 hours to make sure the flip didn't put her under any stress. If there are any signs of distress, they will do an emergency C-section and just get her out. If she doesn't show any signs of distress, I can go home & continue my normal life.

Then, the following week, they will do another ultrasound to make sure she is still head down. If she is then great! That means she'll probably stay that way the remainder of the pregnancy & I can go into labor naturally whenever she feels like making her debut.

If she is breech again at that point, they will schedule an induction date for the following week. When that induction date comes, they will try to flip her one more time. If she flips, they will induce labor & I can have her "the normal way." If she doesn't flip, they do a C-section.

So, there you go. Our "breech" of plans! If any of you have had to have a baby flipped, will you please let me know what I can expect? I'm pretty freaked out just because I have never had to go through something like this before & I have no idea what I'm in for.

Here's to hoping she's a natural gymnast & flips easily! --Lindsay

p.s. I've always spelled Vivienne's nickname "Vivvy." But, the other day, my sister spelled it Vivvie & I thought that was really cute too. What spelling do you like better? Not that it really matters...it's a nickname so I could probably spell it differently everytime I write it. Just wanted to know what spelling everyone thinks is cuter.

Midweek Musings

Absolutely nothing exciting has been going on here lately. I think it's just the January funk. You know what I'm talking about...that time after the holidays when it's way too cold to do anything except cuddle up in a blanket next to the fireplace.

So, I thought I would post some of my "midweek musings". Just random little things that I've been thinking about lately. Yes, I'm basically posting this just to post SOMETHING. Okay, here we go:

1) Tomorrow is January 27th which means that I will be exactly one month away from my due date! I am horribly uncomfortable at all times, in all things & in all places. This little girl is literally killing me from the inside out! I'm so glad she's my last! I don't think my body could go through this again even if I wanted it to. I don't know if it's because she's a girl, or because I'm getting older, but this pregnancy has been HORRIBLE!

2) I think I'm in the nesting faze because I have had so much energy the past few days & used it to get so much done! This house is sparkling & I love it!

3) Vivvy's room is almost done! I just have to buy a few more little things & wait for a few things I ordered on Etsy, but all the hard work is over with...and it's looking so cute!

4) Burritos sound really good right now. Maybe I'll make them for dinner.

5) Parent-teacher conference is tonight. I love parent-teacher conference because Connor's teachers always tell me what a good kid he is. At school that is...why can't he bring some of that "goodness" home with him?

6) Why is my calendar always so blasted full? I don't think I have a completely free day until sometime in March. Somehow, I have to squeeze "push out a baby & recover from it" in there somewhere.

7) I love Taco Bell. I don't care about all the reports that say their beef isn't really beef. I'm still going to eat there...always.

8) I hate the "word verifications" you have to type out in order to leave a comment on some blogs. Sorry to those of you that have this set up on yours, but I should tell you that I think twice about leaving a comment just because I don't want to deal with typing out a made up word like "dbcgsjmd" or "wndjsa." Ugghhh...

9) I really need to get Mike to paint my toenails. I am bound and determined to have cute toes when I go into labor this time. Every other time I have been in labor, I've had to look at my feet in those stirrups & stare at toe nail polish that is halfway grown out. Every time it bugs me & I will not let it happen again! Yes, I realize this is not normal.

10) I was flipping through the channels yesterday & stumbled across "Mr. Mom." That is one of the best movies of all time! Totally hilarious! And, guess what, I CRIED in it! What in the world?!? My hormones are on a roll lately...if you couldn't tell!

Okay, so there you go! My midweek musings, which (as you can tell) are quite varied & have no rhyme or reason to them. Now I guess I can go another whole week before posting again & not have "blog neglect guilt". Hugs to all of you! --Lindsay

My Little Bobcat

Connor got his first scouting award/badge/whatever-you-call-it this week (I'm still learning the whole scouting thing, if you couldn't tell)! He earned his Bobcat! This is the first badge that a cub scout can earn. He also received a bead for completing three achievements toward his Wolf Badge. Here he is at this week's pack meeting getting all his loot from one of the scoutmasters...


One of the things he received was a Bobcat pin. I thought it was for his uniform. Why do they need a badge AND a pin, I thought. But then, one of the more experienced moms informed me that the pin was for ME. I felt that was actually pretty appropriate...since we all know that moms basically push the boys along & earn the awards right along with their sons. Then it hit me that I will have to earn not one, not two, but THREE eagles over the next 14 years or so. Tons of fun for me, eh? I know you're all super jealous!

Anyway, good job Connor on earning your first badge! We're so proud of you! Keep up the good work! --Mom

11 Step Program For Those Thinking About Becoming Parents

Nothing much has been going on around these parts lately, so I thought I would post this funny little post I found on Facebook last week. I posted a link to it on my Facebook page, so some of you may have already seen it...but it's probably worth a 2nd read, maybe even a 3rd. When I read this for the first time, I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair. It's sooooooooooo true:

11 Step Program For Those Thinking About Becoming Parents

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a preschool child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine-month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street, Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt-sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

Haha! Is that not the most true thing you have ever read in your life?!? I loved it & thought you would too! --Lindsay

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Time again for "out with the old & in with the new." We rang in the new year with several different activities. Here's a look:

On New Years Eve morning, Connor scout group (actually, 1/4th of Connor's scout group, since the others were out of town) visited the local Fire Station to learn about fire safety & to get a tour of the station...


Sorry the pics are so blurry. I forgot my normal camera so I had to use my backup (it's a new camera that my station gave all their employees for Christmas). It's really little & cute, but, apparently, you have to hold it REALLY still or it blurs anything & everything...


The kids had a blast & learned a lot (so did the parents). I was reminded that I need to buy fire ladders for each bedroom on the second floor & that we need to make a family fire plan. Goodie...homework! :)

After we were done at the fire station, I had a hair appointment. No better way to bring in the new year than with a fresh cut & color, that's what I always say. So, Mike, Dan & Kristin took the boys sledding on one of the hills in our neighborhood...


The kids had fun, but it was a little too cold for their liking...as in 6 degrees cold...so they didn't stay out long. The "big kids" had fun too, it appears...

And, when the hill got a little boring, they decided to side down the street, which is about a 10% grade & was basically an ice skating rink this day...

Later that night, we got together with my parents and Kristin & Dan and went out to dinner at Santa Monica Pizza & Pasta Co. Yummy...

Then it was back to our house for movies, games & more food! We started out the evening by watching "Despicable Me." Cute, cute, cute show! I think we all really enjoyed it, especially Cohen (as you can see by this picture)...

After the movie, we made some yummy party foods (apricot bree, mozzerella sticks, jalepeno poppers, etc.) and the adults played a game called "Word on the Street." It was a fun game, but I stunk at it big time! We played guys v. girls and I think Kristin & my mom just considered me dead weight. Haha!

At midnight, we rung in 2011 with a little "Mormon bubbly" (a.k.a. sparkling apple cider) in our fancy plastic cups. We actually got a couple different varieties this year & the grape-apple cider was my favorite...

Haha! I look exhausted! Apparently, midnight is a little too late for this preggo mama! It was a fun New Years Eve with the fam! --Lindsay

Top 10 of 2010

Another year has come and gone! Where did 2010 go? It seems like we just started it! These years are flying by faster & faster all the time. I don't like it...not one little bit! 2010 has been a GREAT year for us! We have been so blessed & are so grateful for everything that has happened to us! So, without further delay, here are our Top 10 of 2010:

#10--The Big Boys Switching Schools & Doing Great

In August, Connor & Aiden started the school year at new schools...

I was really worried about how they would do with the switch. Would they make new friends? Would they feel comfortable there? Would they do well in a new environment that wasn't familiar to them? I am happy to report that they have both handled the change so well! They have made lots of friends & are continuing to learn & grow!

#9: CHRISTMAS IN OUR NEW HOUSE

Christmas time in our new house was so much fun! I love having a "clean palette" for decorating. It was so much fun to put up our new tree & decide what decorations would make the cut & which would go into the garage sale pile...

Christmas morning was so much fun! A new tradition of "running out on the bridge to see what Santa brought" was created. Hopefully, we continue to do it for many years to come...

#8--FALL TRIP TO MOAB

In October, we made our annual trip down to Moab...

There was mountain biking, swimming, hiking, playing & lots of yummy food!

#7--LOTOJA WEEKEND

In September, we continued our tradition of tagging along with my dad during the Lotoja (Logan to Jackson Hole) bike race...

The boys always look forward to "Poppy's bike race" and we all have a great time each year!

#6--10 YEARS TOGETHER

This past month, Mike & I celebrated our 10-year-anniversary! It has been the best 10 years EVER! I seriously love this guy to pieces...

#5--MIKE'S PROMOTION

A few months ago, Mike was promoted to be the Lead over about 10 other engineers & technicians in his group! It has meant a lot more work...and that his blackberry is going off all the time...but he is loving it & is showing everyone what a great leader he is!

#4--TRIP TO BEAR LAKE

In August, we took a trip to Bear Lake with my entire family...

We all stayed together in Greg's sister's cabin & had a blast! We spent a lot of time at the lake, played Taboo until the wee hours of the morning, hiked Minnitonka Cave, watched lots of movies, ate TONS of great food & just enjoyed hanging out with each other.

#3--CONNOR'S BAPTISM

At the beginning of November, Connor was baptized & confirmed a member of the church...

I don't know if it was the hormones or just that the day was so wonderful, but I bawled like a baby the entire time! Most of our family/friends were able to be there & enjoy the day with us! It was great & we are so proud of Connor & the choices he is making!

#2--BUILDING AND MOVING INTO OUR NEW HOUSE

After 8 months of worry, stress, etc., we finally moved into our new house this past May...

We love everything about this house & neighborhood! We actually found & fell in love with this floor plan about 4 years ago, but moving just didn't seem right at the time. Then we found our neighborhood last summer & everything just felt so right & began falling into place. Building was not a fun process. There were lots of stresses, worries & ups/downs, but we knew it was right & just kept pushing forward with it. We are so glad to be in the house & look forward to all the memories that will be made in it.

#1--FINDING OUT WE WERE HAVING A GIRL!!!!

I think, by now, you all know how I feel about this! I am so happy to finally be getting a daughter! We are so excited for little Vivienne's arrival in a few months & all the new experiences that will come along with her! She was definitely the #1 blessing of 2010!

As you can see, we have had lots of great experiences & been very blessed this past year! We hope that 2010 has been good for you & your family as well! Here's to 2011 & everything that it will bring (like NEVER being pregnant again...Yahoo!) --Lindsay