here's what's going on....

With only 10 short days to go until my due date, I'd love to report that there's something going on but....well, I just can't. I don't think this baby will be early OR on time. I think he's going to be another late arrival. My boys have ALL been late. I'd love to know any tried and true ideas for going into labor. I'm telling you...the novelty has worn off by now. I'm not particularly uncomfortable, just tired of this big, clumsy body. I'm ready to move on to the next chapter in this story....
I'm guessing he'll be here on the 10th. Anybody else want to venture a guess?
Here's what I've had SO far....
Jon- 3 days late. 10lbs 22.5"
Jake- induced 6 days early because docs thought he'd be BIGGER than Jon! 8lb10oz 21"
Tucker- 7 days late. 9lb14oz 21"
Tanner- induced 8 days late. 9lbs11oz 20.5"
Brennen- induced 7 days late. 9lbs. I have NO idea how long he was because they didn't even give me one of those little cards! BUMMER.
I sometimes think this boy will be really big because he's SO strong but then I figure if he still has so much room to be a little hellion, maybe he's on the smaller side? WHO KNOWS! I'm really looking forward to finding out.


In other news...and there's plenty of that with 5 boys...
Jon left this morning at 6am for Boy Scout advance camp. He's working on more merit badges. When he returns, he'll be home for Monday and then Tuesday morning he leaves to be a camp counselor for 5th grade outdoor ed. He took it upon himself to look into the program, apply and all. He's really excited! He's also been working really hard in school this year and I'm SO proud to announce that he currently has ALL A's and B's. I think it was 4 A's and 2 B's! He rocks. He's always been extremely intelligent and I'm so glad that he's focusing on grades instead of just girls. Don't get me wrong, he's still TOTALLY into girls but he understands that grades ARE important. Thank GOD!

Jake is doing pretty well in 8th grade this year. The school changed his schedule and he had a class he didn't like so he took it upon himself to switch it. I am so proud of him for being so independent and being an advocate for himself. He is now in drama which he LOVES! The girls really love Jake too and I am happy to say that he is NOT so into girls! Whew! I certainly don't need 2 hormone driven boys! Jake seems to have adapted very well to full time public school and he's got lots of friends. He's getting more and more independent. I'm able to have him skateboard from school to karate 2 days a week so my job is much easier. Jake's also been working for an organic farmer harvesting veggies. He really loves the work. He and Jon both work there but Jake is always the first to step up when the farmer calls last minute needing help. He's there as we speak...working his first Farmer's Market. Hopefully they give him a raise soon. (they started him lower than Jon because he was slower but he's been busting his lil butt trying to impress them) I must say, I'm very proud of him and his work ethic.

Tucker is having some independence forced on him and he's rather unwilling. He's in 5th grade now and it's a bit more serious. He's got lots of book reports and a research project to do this year. All very daunting tasks for a boy who doesn't want to take responsibility for anything. He's still somewhat immature and I do worry about him but I have to just push him to do his best and to really step up and be the responsible kid that he needs to be. I'm so grateful that we held him back years ago because if he were actually starting middle school this year, I think he'd just die. He's been doing really well with his karate and is participating in another tournament today! Last time he took first place in sparring so hopefully he'll do really well. If he can remember his form, maybe, just maybe, he'll earn a trophy this time. He really has taken to karate and I think it's been VERY good for him. It's nice for him to have something that Jake isn't involved in so he's not at all in Jake's shadow.

Tanner is having a pretty good 2nd grade year. He had to get back on his ADHD meds. I haven't been able to get him in to get more allergy treatments. I think if he were to be treated for all of his allergies, he may not need his meds. BUT, it's so expensive and all of the boys have allergies so I can't just focus on Tanner. Luckily his ADHD meds really work and his teacher is very impressed with his willingness to learn. He's had a couple run ins with some hyper boy at school but he's been very mature about it and I think the problem is solved. He just started Cub Scouts again for the year and so far, he's loving it. Jared's been taking him which I think makes a huge difference. He really needs time with his dad and I'm glad that Jared's been able to give him that time.

Brennen has been a terd. To put it bluntly. He knows that Mommy is tired and much slower and he's taking FULL ADVANTAGE of that. Won't he be surprised after the baby's born when I can really run again?! As my due date approaches, he's getting increasingly naughty. I don't think it really helps that he's been really suffering from seasonal allergies. He's just not being the good boy that he normally is. I've been working on setting up some play dates for him with his aunties once the baby is here. I think he's going to definitely need some one on one attention and I know I won't be as able to give him that right away. I'm most nervous about him. He is very much a Momma's boy. He falls asleep evey night snuggling with me and if he wakes up, he always wants me. UGH! Hopefully Jared will really step up and help out with Brennen because I just cannot do it all.

So, that's my life story.......Hopefully, very soon, I will have another person to write about at the end......

Oh Happy DAY!

I hope all you Moms out there have a happy and healthy Mother's Day. I hope your families spoil you rotten and you feel like the queen that you are.


Oh, and if you haven't put in your two cents on this baby's gender yet.....today is your last day to vote!

ULTRASOUND tomorrow. At 10 am.....THINK PINK!!!!!!

Give it your best guess.....I won't hold you accountable if you're wrong!

Let me start this by just saying how unhappy I am with my computer right now. It's acting all kinds of crazy. Now, maybe I'm delusional but I strongly belive that when I push a button on my computer, it should just go ahead and do what it's been programmed to do. Instead, it's freezing up and giving me the "not responding" message. Man, obviously my computer is a boy.....


Anyhoo, the point of this post was to ask you to take a peek at the question to your immediate right. See that little poll? Go ahead, take a wild guess. It's a 50/50 shot that you'll be right.

As for those of you who've voted already....thanks! I must say, I like where the majority of you are going with your "gut" Those of you who voted boy....shame on you! Where is the positive thinking there? With that being said, I thank you for your honesty. I cannot, after all, see who voted what.....you know who you are.

As for me. I have very mixed feelings on the subject. Many have asked if this pregnancy feels different. Well, yeah, but I'm, you know, older now..... I would love to say that I have a feeling it's a girl. I sort of do but cannot tell if that's just my desire or a real "feeling". I fully expect to see a penis on this baby as my track record seems to be chock full of them. Brennen seems to be convinced that he's having a sister so I guess for now, I'll go with that.

There are many things that may lead a superstitious person to believe it's a girl.
1. I've never had a baby born in an odd year. 2009 is definitely NOT an even number.
2. I've never given birth while I am an even age...(I am now and will be in October)
3. Tanner was *supposedly* a girl according to ALL of his numerous ultrasounds and Brennen was born with an undescended testicle. Some may say we're getting closer to NO testicles!
4. I only have a boys name picked out. With Tanner and Brennen, I could only think of girls names...hence the funny trick karma decided to play!

So, vote! Not that your votes will actually SWAY the final result. But it's sort of fun to see who was right and who was wrong. And I fully expect after my ultrasound results that you will all fess up to just how you voted.

Any guesses?

I'm officially due in 4 days....December 5th. NONE of my boys have come early. Jon was 3 days late, Tanner was 8 days late, Tucker was late but I don't remember exactly HOW late (bad, I know) and Jake was induced early. They were all pretty large babies too. 10lbs, 9lbs11oz, 9lbs14oz and 8lbs10oz (a week early) SO, anybody want to put in a guess of when the lil one will arrive and about how big he'll be? I think he'll be here on the 11th and he'll be 9lbs8oz. BUT, I must say, I'm not feeling a positive HE vibe. Could just be due to the fact that they were completely wrong with Tanner. WHO KNOWS?! So, what's your best guesses?