Baby BOY!!!

Since I am off work until Monday night, I will write a quick blog for this week. We had a VERY exciting week with baby. On Tuesday we had a sonogram and a doctor’s appointment. The sonogram went great. We told him right off the bat that we would really like to know the sex of the baby. He scanned the baby first off and he was awake enough and moving around enough that we saw his little BOY parts right off the bat!! The tech guy in Sabetha says he never gives a 100%. He usually will go for 70% as the highest and he gave us an awesome 80%. We saw his proof as well so Dennis and I are 100%! I was pleasantly surprised! I truly thought that he was a she. So, Dennis was just beaming! As far as the little guy’s growth, he was measuring about 50% for all height and on weight. Everything was just spot on. His heart beat at the sonogram was 153 and by the time Dc. Glynn checked it, it had dropped to about 138ish. I was told to eat some sugar and drink some OJ for the sono to wake baby up… I guess I had too much! As far as the other doctor’s appointment, there really wasn’t anything new to update anyway. I have felt the baby much more this week. Also, I just had a call from the clinic and they will have an H1N1 shot for me on Wednesday and they should have one for Nikki too! That that is very good that we will have those taken care of.

Wednesday, I went to Sabetha to help Lacy paint some trim at her house. It was really great to see Stephanie and Lacy, I feel like life takes over and we don’t get to see each other very often. Dennis is done with combining and is now just trying to get done in Sabetha. As this job has taken much longer than he had anticipated, he is looking forward to not driving an hour to work soon! For this weekend, it should be great, we are leaving today as soon as I get off work to go see some friends in Western KS, It is close to Greensburg. So, we are looking to be driving a good 4 ½ hours tonight! I hope all has a great Halloween and eats LOTS of candy! I know I will!!!!

20 weeks!!

HALF WAY BABY!!! Or, baby is half baked? Either way you look at it I guess we REALLY need to start thinking about what all we are going to do room wise and furniture wise and everything else that comes with your first baby. This week the baby has been much more active, I now feel it at least once a day. This is pretty exciting for me because it becomes more real. Just in the last two days or so I have felt tightening in my belly. Nikki said that is probably Braxton hicks already.

This week sucked for farm equipment. First off, the chopper attempted to chop a rock. Turns out, that doesn’t work so well. Or does, just adds up a good six to seven thousand dollar bill… I guess that is what insurance is for! So, yes we will only have to pay the deductible but now I am even more worried that the baby’s room will not get done because this will be a winter project. Then, a few days after that happened; something went wrong with the combine. I’m not really sure what happened to it but it is still sitting in the field with corn that is not cut yet. So, hopefully that will be a fix that isn’t too hard and all the guys can get the crops up.

Sunday I got to eat Chinese food! I so wanted Chinese!! And now that a good week has passed, I want a big ol’ plate of beef and broccoli with a side of deep fat fried chicken, or cat, or rat or whatever animal that tastes so darn good. And of course you cant forget that deep fat fried dough coated in sugar! Oh how I love those! Ok, next time we go to Topeka, we ARE eating Chinese!!

The snake is caught! On Tuesday, my nerve grew enough to meander downstairs to see if one of the sticky traps was occupied. And indeed it was. This was also I am sure of it, an America’s Funniest Video winner moment. I poked the dang thing to see if it was still alive or if it was dead. Well, the only last part of it that I saw moved and tried to get further into the stairs. I carefully moved the sticky trap as far back as it would go and hoping that I would kill it, I took a big heave hoe with the shingling fork and just pissed the damn thing off! So, I called Dennis, of course, he didn’t answer so I called my mother-in-law who was determined to get someone to rescue me! (I am so thankful of this, I just new Dennis would give me crap till the day I died if I started calling anyone who would come over) So, Kyle came over and got the snake out for me! I would have stayed to help and also to verify that it was the same snake but I was called into work that day to take a crazy lady to Osawatomie State Hospital. So, I am just telling myself that it was the only lime green and yellow snake that was taking up residency at 2246 H Rd!
Like I said, I was called into work to take crazy lady to the crazy house. This I never mind, I get paid to sit in the car for 6 hours (because that is so different from sitting in front of a computer updating my blog). We got back a little before 5 and I was so excited that it was enough time to go work out at 5:30 at aerobics. So, I went home to change and somehow I got off track and looked at the clock and it was straight up 6 o’clock! I completely forgot! I guess that is the start of pregnancy brain. Hell must have froze over this week too because then on Wednesday Dennis and I went out to eat AGAIN! Loren had the great idea to eat pizza at the Axtell bar. Friday I finally got to enjoy my days off. My sisters, Mom and all the kids and I went shopping in Topeka. I can now get the rest of my Christmas shopping done in town!! You would never believe how we all fit in the van with all of our purchases. It was crazy and a bit fun to watch Mom get in the back between the kiddos. Love you Mom! Saturday, was Trenton’s birthday party. That kid is going to enjoy being a fireman way to much this year! Then on Sunday, I had a Lia Sophia party. It was a fun time and wowzers I get lots of jewelry! My party was big enough that I will get $926 of jewelry for only $120!!! Maybe more, the party doesn’t close until the first.

This week was apparently busier that I thought. This next week will not be much, work, work and more work! Oh ya, that one little thing called a SONOGRAM!!! Yep Tuesday we will get to find out what we are having!! I may be mean and not tell anyone but if Dennis decides to let it slip to every man, woman, and child then I guess I will make the facebook and blog announcement as well!

Lovely Blog Award!

I keep forgetting to say that my cousin Amber gave me the Lovely Blog Award!

The rules are that I am to award my 15 favorite blogs, well, I don't follow that many so here are the blogs that I do follow:

Of cause my cousin's Amber, Traveling Amber, she blogs about her life living in France. She has some very interesting stories of her now two years living over seas.

My sister, Nikki, The Blogging Mom, who blogs about her kiddos and all the funny things that they do. This is kinda the reason I started blogging, so that I someday can blog about all the cute things my kids do.

Miranda Young, her blog, Our Journey, who the last month and a half hasn't been a good blogger ;) But she blogs about everything from her son to the move into a new house, to her likes and dislikes.

Phoenix's Fight, This is a blog that a co-worker's wife has. She blogs about all of their kids but their youngest Phoenix has Cystic Fibrosis. She blogs about his struggles and triumphs as a little boy with such a hard life.

Lastly, I just started following Emerson Kate Strahm, This is a blog by Kelsi Strahm who is expecting a baby in January. She is married to a classmate of mine from high school.

Night owl!

I believe it is official; our 19 week old baby-to-be is a night owl! Working the night shift this week I have felt the joy of the little bugger twisting and turning all night long. It is pretty cool to notice it moving around more and more every day… or night. Down to nine more days until we get to find out if it is a girl or a boy! (This evening, anyone who thought we already had the sonogram, they asked 'So it's a girl?') There really hasn’t been much of anything else new with baby this week.

Dennis had a stressful week. He found out on Friday that someone had gone in the garage that they were building in Sabetha and stole a lot of his tools. He said that Edelman’s were great to work with and gave him a pretty good deal to replace them but even still, he is now out a lot of money missing all those tools. So, having a very upsetting end of the week, he is even more ready for this job to be done, as so is everyone else involved.

I had a great work week. I had Tuesday and Wednesday off and just spent the days pretty lazy. Katie has been a bad girl! She was so great for about three weeks and only ran off a few times. Well, the last four days she has made her way down to our neighbors and visited her buddy, Buddy. If anyone has any ideas at how to train her to stay at home, I would LOVE the suggestions! Dennis had a great idea to have Jeff shoot off a gun when she runs down there. She usually will see a gun and run straight for her kennel. So, I will have to try this trick, I will get some great use out of my 20 gage. Saturday, Kyle and Julie had a house warming party and so we spent the evening there. We will see what this next week has in store for all three of us! I am hoping for Chinese food tonight, cross your fingers!!!!

Pumpkins!

At the start of week 18, my family is finally thinking that my baby is making it known to the world that he/she is coming! It has taken a while but I guess I don’t look just fat, that maybe just maybe I am indeed helping to populate the world. This week baby has been pretty still, at least not active enough for me to notice. Baby is 5 ½ inches long and weighs in at a whopping 5 ounces! At least it isn’t enough yet for Mom-to-be to gain too much weight yet! 16 days until we find out whether we are having a little boy or a little girl growing inside of me!!!!

Dennis has been keeping busy this week between driving to Sabetha and combining. But there really hasn’t been anything to big or exciting for the week. Just the typical day in a life of Dennis Deters, work, work, work!

Besides the whole snake episode this week, I really haven’t had too much either. Yesterday I had a blast having my family come over to paint pumpkins! Amy and Latasha came over with Ella. Ella painted her pumpkin with lots of glitter, I think Latasha may have her hands full for when she gets older and can get anything that is shinny! Madelynn of course picked pink to paint her pumpkin, all different colors of pink! Trenton liked the black and blue approach, and Logan enjoyed painting himself white more so than the pumpkin that was chosen for him. With the help of others, I do think they enjoyed themselves. Madelynn helped me get the seeds out of three pumpkins to roast. She didn’t seem to interested until I did it and then she was all about helping get dirty, I mean get the seed out. Nikki made camel apples that were delicious, and a little hazardous to some people’s teeth! Dad lost a crown in the processes of enjoying this fall treat. They all left about supper time leaving Amy and I. We then decided to finish carving the last two pumpkins that were left. In all, it was a great evening that I hope all enjoyed. (Amy's is the trick or treat and my pumpkin is the monster guy)

Un-wanted visitor!

Most of the time when a person sees a snake they may jump a little, there heart skip a beat or three, or some other way that their body shows fear. When this happens, the snake is usually living in it’s own habitat and we are invading their homes. Well, yesterday I came across a snake that was invading our (Dennis and my) home.

I had decided to clean up the porch a little in hopes that this would persuade Dennis in having the baby’s room down stairs and not up. The mini refrigerator that is not hooked up did not need to be stored on the porch. So I got it cleared off and decided to take it to the basement. I am carefully taking it down as not to drop it on my feet or worse yet, drop it and make me fall all the way down the rickety, steep stairs. The basement to me has always been a use at own risk place. It is home for many spiders, mice, and other animals that I do not wish to share a dwelling with. So, I make it to about the 4th step left and start looking at the walls fully expecting to find a mouse hanging out on the brick foundation as I have so many time before. I look to my left not seeing anything in their usual hang out spot, and then I look to my right. For a full twenty seconds I am unable to move. I am not really sure what is going through my head nor am I sure if my heart was beating the entire time. Not sure if I was even awake or if it was a dream until my head was able to wrap around what I was seeing. Sure enough, not ten inches from my head was small, green head that was sticking its tonge out rapidly to see what I smelled like and to find out if I was a real predator or not. Attached to its head is a lime green body with a yellow belly that was displaying how well it can wrap itself around wires and how little of a crack it need to get into a space. Only showing about 24-30 inches of it's who knows how long body. Once I came back to reality knowing the situation that I was in, I carefully finished caring the mini-refrigerator down the remaining four steps.

As soon as this task is done without the snake dropping on my head, I managed to take a picture with my phone. I send it Dennis knowing he would do nothing about and think that I left the house for the day. Later finding out he never got the picture of this three foot snake in our house, he would have been right that I left the house for quite some time. I start calling anyone who may know how to get snakes out of a house. My first call, the vet. I know that is not what they do but maybe they would have a trick up their sleeve. Nope, next call, Schendel Pest Control. Again, I know it is not the pest they deal with but they had a solution. Sticky traps. I then left the house and procrastinated going home as long as I could. I buy six of the sticky traps as that is what they advised. I was also told to buy some snake away. As much as I do not want this monster in our home, I am still money conscious… So snake away, thirty dollars, moth balls (apparently the same thing) five dollars. So, I bought some moth balls and now our home smells bad and is the home of the most not wanted animal there is. As the snake is still not captured, I enter my house cautiously and keep a wide open eye at all times. No nightmare happened last night but if this pest does appear in the upstairs, I do believe I will move into my in-laws and work lots of overtime!

Felt baby move!

Today is the start of week 17. Last night was really cool, it was the first time I had no doubt in my mind that I felt the baby move. It was only for a short 5 seconds or so but still really neat. The doctors appointment on Thursday went well. The babies heartbeat is still in the lower 150’s. My spots that have appeared on my legs and hands stumped Dr. Glynn. She said she would have to do some research on why on my legs. Most of the time spots appear on pregnant woman’s bellies and on their face like a mustache. I just say thank God for no mustache looking spots! Our next appointment will be October 29th and that is when we will also have a sonogram the same day and find out what we are having!!

This week has been pretty laid back for us both. Dennis has chopped a few days but is now getting ready to combine his beans. I believe his beans and corn will be ready right around the same time so he will be busy around the house for a few days next week. He is still working in Sabetha, I believe wishing he could fast forward time with the work getting done too.

I found out yesterday that our cats have distemper. That would explain perfectly why we can’t keep kittens longer than 3-4 months at our house! Thanks to mom who did the research for me. So, now I have to attempt to give them antibiotics twice a day… which they do not like at all. So, our farm animals that we shouldn’t spend much money on, all seem to be on medication right now. Katie is almost done with her antibiotics, the spots are still there but I would say she is no longer contagious. I do think I will get all of our cats the distemper shot once the kittens are done with the antibiotics. That is money I wish not to spend but it is a necessity. I didn't think that it was distemper because the adult cats are fine. I guess they build up an immune to it once they have had it. Besides the animal crisis, I spent Friday baking. I made some pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie meringues. I love pumpkins!! Yea that Dennis doesn’t like the meringues. Those are some of my favorite cookies, so I think I know what I will make more of. At Christmas time, I have a recipe for candy cane and I think eggnog meringues… YUMMY!!! They are supper easy too. Also, the last two days I have been blowing my nose non-stop so let’s hope I’m not getting sick…

I know they don’t read this but HAPPY BIRTHDAY Grandma and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Grandma and Grandpa Strahm!!! Well, not today but it is right in between!