January 2, 2008
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Ok…let’s get this done.
I’m feeling a serious crunch as I ponder the thought that I have just over a week before induction. We have decided that we will go ahead with the amnio in hopes of inducing on the 11th. I’m hoping the 11th so I don’t have to worry about school and Serra until I am home from the hospital. I have a doc appointment tomorrow and the dates should be more set in stone after that. With the other two kids I always got to the point that I would do anything to get that baby out. I am not to that point yet…maybe because I feel like I have so much to get done and the baby is much easier to take care of now than it will be in a week. I’ve heard rumors that the transition from 2 – 3 kids is much harder and I fear that a little too, I guess.
So backing up to Christmas.
The 22nd was when we planned on leaving for Utah. A few days before Brian finally decided what he wanted to give to his clients for Christmas and I was sent to Costco to pick them up. (Some really nice Harry and David gift baskets) Of course, they were all sold out and so I was asked to “put something together”. I didn’t really have the time to do it but with a few nights of eating dinner out, the time was found. We went as a family on the 21st to deliver the “something I put together”. We caught about half of them at home and most were delighted to meet the girls that they had heard about from Brian. A few of them even had gifts for them. We also ditched Mo for the holidays with Brian’s folks who are always willing to take the beast when we leave town.
The next morning I packed up the kids and Brian and sent them on their way. They headed north to Utah while I stayed behind to catch a flight later that afternoon. It was nice to have a quiet house and get things straightened up before I left so we could come back to a clean house. Adriane and Vito picked me up and took me to the airport at around 1:30. My flight was supposed to leave at 4pm which would have been perfect. I planned on eating a late lunch there and reading until I left. My flight was delayed an hour and a half however which made the sitting time a bit long. I made it to Salt Lake by 7pm and Brian was able to pick me up. He and the girls had had enough time to stop and visit with Grandpa and Grandma Gee. We had to stop to feed the kids and Brian since they hadn’t had anything since noon and then we were on the road to Logan. I think it was around 10:30 when we pulled into Mom and Dad’s new Providence home. We got the full tour and we were impressed by not only the sheer size of the place but also at how nice everything looked. The folks haven’t moved in and had permission from the inspector to let family stay there over Christmas. So they headed back to their little nest in Preston and we headed to bed in the corner basement room (that would be the one closest to the bathroom for me).
We had to get up quite early to make it to Julie’s ward at 9am. That is like us going to church at 8am. We made it and enjoyed a nice musical program that Julie tried to participate in (Evelyn has turned into a mama’s girl and didn’t like Julie up on the stand). We were feeling very tired from the travel and the early morning and so we skipped the rest of the meetings and went back to the house and Brian and I slept for a few hours while the girls played hide and seek and had a grand time running around the vast empty house. Later that afternoon we headed to Preston for dinner with the family. Julie’s and Doug’s families and Dallas. Was Dave there? I can’t remember. He kind of floats in and out and blends into what ever is going on.
We had the house to ourselves for one more night. Monday, Christmas Eve, Brian and I left the girls with Mom and Dad and finished up our shopping and had lunch. Brian let me pick out my Christmas present at Needhams jewelry store, and we figured we would have a better shot a getting a sled there than in Vegas. We live 20 minutes from the snow in Vegas believe it or not and Serra really likes to go up and cruise the slopes on a sled. Gary’s family arrived just in time for dinner. It had started to snow in the afternoon and the roads were quite bad by evening. Everyone was glad to make it up the hill to Mom and Dad’s. We ate a nice dinner and then had a short program with some music and Christmas stories. All the little kids got to participate which my girls thoroughly enjoyed. Brian started feeling a bit yucky that night and became down right sick before the night was out.
By Christmas morning Brian was a bit of a mess and after making an appearance for gift opening headed back to bed and stayed there all day. That was a real bummer. But we enjoyed Christmas day activities all throughout the day and tried to keep track of all the loot in the chaos. The white elephant addition this year was fun and I hope we continue it. The memories were great and Doug has promised he will sent those to us via email. (That’s a hint Doug) Katrina got a kitten and that was probably the biggest hit of all with the little girls that are dominant in the grandkid pool.
Brian was feeling a bit better by Wednesday and joined us for a testing of all the new sleds. It was cold out and a bit snowy but the kids had a great time. Rosie went down twice and had fun until she face planted and then she was done. We took the little ones back and let the older kids wear themselves out. We enjoyed a lot of movies on the big screens and Joseph enjoyed 6 or more hours of xbox per day. I think a few others played once in a while too.
Thursday morning was a bit hectic as we were loading up to leave. Brian was helping Mom with a punch list of things to bring up to their contractor so Gary was helping me load the car. There were a plethora of workers about completing tasks on the house. We ended up short 2 pairs of shoes and loaded one extra bag which we didn’t discover until we were in Salt Lake. Sorry Mom. We tried to find a way to get the bag back to Mom so she didn’t have to buy new makeup but couldn’t come up with any solutions. I ended up taking the bag home to Vegas and sending it back with David the following Sunday.
Brian dropped me off at the airport and I ended up getting searched. I guess I look threatening. I’m sure they were thinking there is no possible way that is all belly. Actually, they just went through my purse with a fine tooth comb because I had a little tiny knife looking object that is really only a small nail file. Interestingly, I have flown four or five times with that in there and SLC is the only ones who deemed it a threat. I only sat 15 minutes by the time I made it to my gate. Granted it took me a while to walk there. Why am I always in the one at the very end? I flew first class on the way out and didn’t have any trouble with the seat belt. But there weren’t any FC seats available for the return flight. Much to my dismay I couldn’t buckle my seat belt. If you have seen the girth of my large pregnant belly you would understand why. I can’t even touch my hands together around the bottom of my belly at this point to buckle a belt. I had to ask for an extender. A new low point in my life.
Jeff met me at the airport and took me home were I tried to keep warm until the rest of my family made it home. We ordered in Chinese food and relaxed and went to bed early.
As much as I would have liked to get everything put away Friday morning I had to forego that task and head to the Doctor which catches us up since I already posted about that visit.
Actually, one more thing. A lot of Sundays we go to Brian’s folks for dinner and visits. This week was no exception and we had Christmas all over again. I think we are a little spoiled…especially the girls.
Now for the pictures and a long video…
Thankyou Christmas eve program planners for including my girls. Rosie was so pleased with her costume.
I had to include this one because I’m not quite sure what was up with Julie’s face.
Some kids really like being in the spotlight. I won’t mention any names.
Rosie loved Uncle Dallas’s rendition of Frosty the Snowman.
Dessert was tasty…just ask Rosie.
Too young to remember the snow last year. A whole new experience for this little one.
A little help opening this thing please!… Kitty loves rides in the stroller.
Let’s try again kitty….Serra and her Moon Boots. What was Mom thinking.
Let’s give this thing a trial run.
George thinks we are at D-land. I am not going to type the whole word in just in case.
After faceplanting in that stuff this is a much better option.
Comments (9)
What’s the deal with everyone always getting sick on Christmas?! Your holiday looks so fun and I am glad you guys were able to get up there to spend Christmas with the Arnell bunch. Sophia looks very cute as a reindeer. You are a good sport with all of these pregnancy decisions Pam and I am so excited to meet the new little Anderson. I’ll be thinking of you this next week and can’t wait to hear good news. Love you guys.
Hey! how come you didn’t upload your photos to my computer? You got some great shots! I laughed about your “new low” and the seat belt extender… this too shall pass, and very soon. Little Rosies treak across the yard made me think of the song, “Over the River and Through the Woods”. And an added bonus was that after the video, on the added clips that come up the one with the girls on the new horse came up. Y’all had one of those and love it! but it didn’t come with sounds and songs; you had to do that yourself. Thanks for helping make our Christmas wonderful!
Great narration and photos. Made me smile to go back in time a wee bit. I can’t believe you are so close!!! Countdown is on. ~L
You made me realize how few photos I took over the holidays. Your new flash is really cool. The quality of your indoor photos are really great. Rosie & the dessert is awesome!
I had always heard that 3 was a hard transition, but I thought that 2 was harder. Granted, my first 2 were 20 mos apart and then there were 3 years between the next two. I think it depends on the age difference. There are some things that are harder with 3 (think trips to Walmart!) but overall, I have liked the transition. Good luck.
I can do THREE hanging upside down! haahaha-kidding! Monson was #3, and that was a HUGE turning point…but I did have the first three in less than 3 years. I doubt you’ll find the same issues because Serra V. will be such a big girl helper. She is your ‘runner’ now—keep her workin’ and you’ll be fine! But no one can tell what wicked hormones will do to a mom! You’ll do great…Good luck with the amnio. I loved seeing all of you in the pics at Christmas. You always can tell who the photographers are—always absent from the posts…..what is this flash Julie’s talking about? An external one? –shay
No Shay, you are wrong. I (or insert Curt or any other dad) can tell what wicked hormones will do to a mom! LOL Actually what we can tell is what Moms do to us during that time! Good luck Brian!
I had heard the same about the third baby and disagree. But I think it was because my three were all still at home, I had no place I HAD to be on set schedules while working with a newborn’s timing and 2 others. I think it’s all in the ages of the three. That dessert picture of Rosie is hilarious. Looks like it was fun. We were “snowed in” with closed highways several days of our break or we would have tried to venture down to see you guys. Cabin fever at its finest. Another storm arrives today.
Most of the above converfsation was over my head. Thanks for the update. Between you, Julie, and your Dad, we have a good idea of your Christmas. Thanks for sharing. Good luck next week. Let us know how things go (on Xanga will be fine).