The itching....

Okay, so there is one major drawback to having a c-section...the itching! (I had been warned about it, but had no idea how serious of an issue this would be!) As the spinal wears off, the itching begins. It starts as a faint itch. Then turns into a constant itch. And slowly makes it's way down your body. First with your nose, then around your mouth, then your neck and chest, then all over. And nothing they can give you (Benadryl or even stronger drugs) can stop it. In many of the pictures from the hospital, you can see how I have rubbed my mouth raw from constantly itching it. (I liked to use the pink hospital blanket...as it was rough and seemed to help at the moment. But did horrible things to my face!)

Crazy!

It's crazy to think that in only a few short weeks our family will no longer look like this! My hands will be full with a two-year-old and a newborn. (So much for swinging Ryan in between us!) I am feeling "done" already, but I know that God has a perfect birthday in mind for Drew. I am anxious to meet him...and to begin the adjustment that I know will take place once he is born. Please continue to pray for Rob and I as we take on the responsibility of caring for two of God's precious children. Also, pray for Ryan...that he would adjust well to being the big brother (and having to share!). I know that he is excited. He's been playing "baby" with all of his stuffed animals. Changing their diapers, wiping their bottoms, feeding them, putting them on the potty, etc. It is so cute to watch his innocence. I know that he is going to be a great big brother. Daddy better get the "park" put together...because before too long we will have two rowdy boys to play on it!

How do you turn a breech baby?

This kart-wheel was my attempt at "turning" Drew. We had an ultrasound recently that showed that he's in the breech position. The doctor has told us that if he doesn't turn, I will have to have a c-section to deliver him. (Don't worry...as you can see, Rob is there to "spot" me in case I were to fall on my head!)

At my next doctor's appointment, she felt my tummy...and was convinced that he has turned. Maybe a kart-wheel really does work!

Or not! On Monday, we had another ultrasound. Drew has turned around again, and is back in the breech position. The doctor will continue to do an ultrasound each week to check his position. Please pray that he (eventually) cooperates and turns into the correct position!

Say "Goodbye" to Nice Things (a quote from Uncle Steve)

This morning, I left Ryan watching Shrek in the living room while I took a quick shower. I was impressed with how quietly he was sitting and watching the movie. I got out of the shower and got dressed. He was going to go play with Ghi and I was going to visit a friend. We rushed out of the house, as I was running late. When we returned home, I went to turn on the tv...and this is what I found. He WASN'T sitting quietly watching the movie...he was drawing (with a permanent marker) all over the tv screen. (Maybe he was trying to trace Shrek....but he kept on moving!) After three phone calls (one to Best Buy, one to Toshiba, and one to a TV specialist), the only advice they could give me was to use a soft, dry cloth. Tell me...is a soft, dry cloth any match for thick, black permanent marker??? I don't think so! Surprisingly enough, Rob was the calm one. (In fact, his exact words were, "Well, it's just a tv. If it's ruined, it's ruined." My response was, "It's not just A tv, it's a tv we just paid off!") Anyways...without going into a long, detailed explanation...here's the solution: As a teacher, when we would accidentally use permanent marker on the board, we would color over it with a dry erase marker and then erase it. I decided to try it...and it worked! So, for anyone who ends up in a similar situation...there's the solution that no "specialist" will tell you! (I never thought I'd be sitting and coloring on the screen of a $3,000 tv with a marker! I guess kids make you do some CRAZY things!)

**In the photo, I had already started cleaning the bottom right corner...just to make sure it worked. But I wanted his daddy to see his beautiful artwork. Papa now refers to Ryan as "Ryan van Gogh." Hee hee.**

Where's Baby Drew???

This picture says it all! Any time you ask Ryan, "Where's Baby Drew?"...this is what you'll get. He is convinced that his little brother is in his tummy, too.

I'm a Big Boy!

Tonight, as Ryan was getting into the bath, he told me that he needed to "pee-pee." He had his diaper off, and went to sit on his "big boy" potty. He pushed and pushed...until he actually went pee-pee in the potty! He was SO excited! (And, of course, Mommy had to go grab her camera!)

Ryan's version of the Christmas story

Last night, while he was supposed to be eating dinner, Ryan got all of the characters (along with some "extras") out of the manger scene. He brought them all to the table and set them up how he envisions the scene of the birth of Jesus. Obviously he realizes that Mary, Joseph and the rest of the "manger scene crew" were probably VERY hungry...as the focus of the scene is my bowl of vegetable soup (not Baby Jesus...although he's looking on, too). Isn't it cute how creative kids can be? I guess he thinks that their tummies are probably growling from the long trip to Bethlehem!