Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Nathan Update

I have to first say HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUZY!! I hate to steal her blog day but I had my apt. so it's time for the Nathan update. We are now 36 weeks but measuring 37 weeks. We originaly had planned to schedule an induction for 39 weeks but my dr. wants to wait until next week and see where we are before setting anything as she thinks it may be sooner. I have started to dialate a LITTLE bit but he has not dropped or anything so it will still be a little while. We are thinking sometime in the next 2-3weeks, certainly within 3 weeks since that's the induction time. Heartbeat was good, blood pressure looks good. We are doing well and just gearing up for this baby!!!

Happy Birthday Suzy!!!

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Monday, June 22, 2009

Happy Birthday Gavin!!

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The Nathan Update

I am enormous and so is Nathan. The end.

Just kidding! But seriously, all seems well. I go every week now and so far everything looks just fine. Four weeks until induction time! Hurray!!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Grateful

"I know my prayers are heard,
Thou has answered every word.
And I rejoice now, to know that Thou,
Would not forsake me, it's enough
To make me grateful.
I am so grateful.
Grateful even in my darkest hour,
For I feel Your power, it brightens up my life,
And makes me grateful."

-From "Liken the Scriptures: Ester and the King"

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Well, I guess it will get out sooner or later......

We put off telling anyone for a bit, mostly because we know what you are all thinking...and you're right.
Yes, we are poor as church mice right now.
Yes, we are about a month away from baby number 4.
Yes, we already have our hands full.
No, we don't need one more but....what can we say? This little one really needed a good home. He came from a rough situation and while we don't have much by way of monetary things to offer, we have all the love (and dare I say, attention) that he needs.
So it is my pleasure to introduce the newest member of the Ramsey family.
Don't worry Twilight lovers, you won't be disappointed because joining our cat, Alice, in the Ramsey pet wagon is........JASPER!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Raised in a Barn?

Sure, it's a popular cliche, but if I'm being honest, the longer that I'm a mother, the more I see the truth behind it. Raising kids is a lot like running a barn. While I have ridden and worked with horses all my life, I had the opportunity at 18 to actually manage a barn for endurance race horses. Now I have the opportunity to manage a household and the parallels are numerous!
I have noticed that horses and children compare in three major ways:
#1- Feeding time. Every horse has a different purpose or job and each horse has different dietary needs. Ergo, mealtimes at the barn consist of first, preparing each horse their own specific meal. This is much like feeding time at the Ramsey's, no one EVER wants the same thing. There also must be an order to it, you can't just feed the first horse on the line first because then his neighbor might totally flip out. So, you have to feed the most anxious horses first and THEN the more relaxed ones. Much like I have to put Suzy's plate down first so she doesn't have a panic attack. And whatever you do, don't mix up some one's food....oh alert the authorities! Whether it's horses or kids, someone will be kicking, thrashing or getting sick.
#2- Traveling time. Whenever we load horses onto a trailer we have to be careful in what order we do this. You can't put two horses next to each other who fight, you have to pick two that get along. Also you can't put a horse who refuses to back out in the very back of the trailer because then they have no room to turn around. You can't load a very nervous horse in the very front because if they panic and start kicking around they could injure another horse. And thus it is with children. I can't put Suzy and Caeden next to each other because they will fight the whole time. But I also can't put Gavin next to Suzy because Caeden likes to have a buddy and because if there are two car seats in front then the child in the back can't see the DVD player. I can't put Suzy right behind me because then she messes with the buttons on said DVD player and because then I can't reach over the middle seat to button Caeden's belt, because I can't fit into the back and reach him with my huge belly.
#3- Play time. Just like you can't load certain horses together, you can't turn certain ones out at the same time either. Some horses fight so they have to be in different areas. But then some horses get nervous if you separate them so you can't do that. This gets VERY complicated if you have a threesome, like horse A and horse B hate each other but they both LOVE horse C. In cases where you can put three together one horse will always establish dominance. With children, it's much the same, one horse becomes the bully, one horse tries to fight back but ultimately fails and one just eats grass and ignores the others. So our paddock becomes the playroom and voila! It's my house at playtime!!
So I feel very grateful for my experiences in the stables because it helps me understand the frenzy that I am living as a mother. It's messy and wild and a little smelly sometimes but hey, what can I say, I just saddle up and enjoy the ride!

Monday, June 8, 2009

The Nathan Update

Well, 6 weeks to go!! We are kinda, almost, sorta getting closer to the homestretch. :) I had my appointment today. Things are going well. We are measuring right on target, heartbeat is good. We also got some VERY good and hoped for news. For those who didn't know, I have been having some issues with my pubic bone. Basically the ligaments that hold the pubic bone together have been strained/stretched and the two sections are separating. This happens to a degree with pretty much everyone during pregnancy but mine is one of those more extreme cases that is a bit more rare. The good news is that it is not a danger to the baby at all. We also learned today that it should not effect my delivery plans at all. Chances are, it won't be any different than other deliveries other than my recovery time might be a wee bit longer since my body has a little more correcting to do. :) I may also have to have several weeks of physical therapy prior to delivery but hey, who wouldn't want to go rehabilitate their pubic bone?!?
So all of this is wonderful news. We are happy to know that it's not a dangerous situation at all. Of course, the unpleasant part is that it is ridiculously painful. Very simple things can be excruciating. I feel really blessed to have a fantastic husband who helps me out so much.
So that is our update. We are doing well and getting so excited for this baby to come! I can't wait to meet him!!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Showered with Love!

Last night I had the priviledge of attending my baby shower for little Nathan. It was so wonderful. I maintain my previous claims that I truly have the most wonderful friends EVER. I am so incredibly blessed to have a great support group of women around me. The shower was beautiful and so fun (not the mention the yummy food). Thanks guys! You all are the best!!