Updates & Happenings

Ok, so I have alot to spill, but I just haven't had the inclination to post anything.

First things first...Noah is compltley potty trained! No night time accidents, poops in the toilet, whole nine yards thing! Yay! We couldn't be more thrilled, since Baby Wap is due to make his entrance to this world soon. We are very proud of our big boy, who seems to be doing more and more big boy things. We recently have been seeing some regression, (we think) due to the baby situation and moving. He has started to carry around one of his old baby blankets, which is odd, since he hadn't had any sort of "lovey" that he was attatched to previously...except Nana of course! He also had taken to being very ugly at bedtime. We aren't just talking about not going to sleep. It was anything to do with sleep! Bath time, books, bedtime snack. It was a fiasco that I dreaded every night. Noah has always had a bedtime routine, and it was cemented even more since Matt and I had moved in together. We give him a bath, bedtime snack, brush his teeth, then three books and its lights out. Well he would start throwing a tantrum, and we would end up wrestling him, while he kicked and screamed. We had been dealing with night time terror for about a month that included but was not limited to : punching, hitting, biting, kicking, slapping, and telling us that he didn't like us and that he hated us. Being concerned about all the voilent behaviors, I took him to our family doctor, who recommend we might need to sleep train again, and that he needs plenty of fresh air to combat the night time terrors. So far, it seems to be working. We walk to the park every day for about an hour and a half of play time outside. We have become a little more pateint with night time, and we have introduced a chore chart for Noah. Really it's just a calander that, if he helps me during the day, then he gets a sticker for that day. If he earns a sticker, he earns fifty cents. It helps him realize that he has to work to get goodies, and not just be given things hand over fist, and he loves to look at his accomplishments. Im hoping to have him enrolled for preschool this fall at our church, but we are still waiting to hear back from the cordinator on that one.

Matt is really nervous, but excited for baby. He is also excited to do some fire assignment down in Little Falls, since Effie doesn't see as much as Little Falls. We go down to my mom's house tomorrow for four weeks, or until the Baby Wap arrives. We had a few scares the past few weeks. Im no longer working, and haven't been for about two weeks. This past Monday, I started to feel strong contractions. They didn't really hurt, but took my breath away. They were coming every 3-4 mintues for a few hours, despite trying diffrent things to stop them. Off to the OB floor I went! They monitored me for about an hour, and after seeing that they were still coming regularly, they gave me a dose of Terb, which did nothing for me, except make me feel really jittery, shaky, and made me feel like I was having arrhythmias like crazy. In short, in made me feel worse. They also gave me 50 mg of a drug which I cannot recall the name of that was suppose to calm me down to counteract against the effects of Terb. It didn't really help, and the contractions still came. I was checked and was told that I was closed, but 50% effaced. Matt got to the hospital, and took Noah back to the house to wait for my mom, wash up, and to pack some stuff in case my labor was progressing and we would be sent down to the cities. Before my mom and Matt got back to the hospital I was given Ambien, and I dozed off until they both got there. I was pretty out of it though, so I don't remember much. At 2:30 a.m. my mom left, and Matt went to sleep in a bed they brought in. At 5:30 a.m. I woke up and went to the bathroom, and was told that I contracted on and off through out that night. After awhile we both got up, I took my meds, and was told that my OB was going to check me that morning when she had time. After awhile I saw my OB and was checked, and nothing had changed thankfully, so I was discharged, and was told though that if I felt 6 contractions in an hour to come back. It was a long night, and we all were exhausted.

That, in a nutshell, is what has happened in the past few weeks.

In March I had my 32 week ultrasound and biophysical profile done on the baby. He still has a ton of hair, and was weighing approximatly 4 lbs 11 oz. This could potentially make baby at around 9 lbs if I go to term! Baby Wap's head is measuring big at the time, at 36 weeks, his abdomen measuring at 34, and legs at 32. He was hiccuping, and moving like crazy, and sucked his hands and played with his feet. I just love being able to see that stuff! I can't wait until we get to hold him in our arms and take him home. We have the nursery compltely set up, and ready to go. The car seat is in the car, and Matt has opened everything up, set it up, and taken it down again to "test drive" it. ( Also on a side note, on Wednesday, I was called once an hour, every hour, while Matt was at work, to "check on me". I guess he was a little nervous...he told me he had cold clammy hands, and had "nervous pee" all day.)

Easter went well. We dyed eggs here in Grand Rapids on Saturday night, then on Sunday the Easter bunny came to our house. Noah found his basket full of goodies, and ate some candy. He was very excited because the bunny brought him also a bubble gun and AstroBoy. We then drove down to Little Falls to Nana and Papa's house, and cooked them up a big Easter dinner. It was also Nana and Papa's 24th Anniversary that day, and Papa drove home from Illinios( I think, it may have been Iowa) just for the day. We held an Easter egg hunt when Papa got there for Noah, who found all his eggs with Papa's help. We ate the big dinner that we( and by we, I mean mostly Matt. I made the Frog's Eyes Salad and that was about it) made for my parents and siblings. My aunt Cindy stopped by to say hello, and I talked to my grandma (or Old Nana, as Noah calls her)on the phone.

I love how Noah calls all the grandmas Nana something. My mom is Nana, Matt's mom is Nana Mary, my grandma Janet is Nana Jan, and my grandma Marilyn is Old Nana. Then there is Papa( my dad), and Papa Steve ( Matt's Dad). Both of my grandpas have passed away, one when I was five and the other when I was 20, and Noah was four months old. Im sad that he didn't get to meet these charismatic men that hold such a dear place in my heart, but I know they look down on us from above and watch out for us. Noah unfortunatley hasn't spent enough time with Matt's grandma Joy and grandpa Jon to call them anything yet, but Im sure he will call them Nana Joy and Papa Jon. Noah calls Matt's brother's Adam and Timmy, but Timmy comes out sounds like Tinney. Then there is ZaCH(my twin), Hey( my little sister Kaitlin), E( my little brother Ethan..E is actually is nickname from growing up, and we still call him that today.) and my older sister Saw( Sarah). He calls my friend Nelly, Nenny, and calls our dog Grover, Bro. He prounces Max and Ruby( Wuby), and says Sam pretty clearly. He calls Cleaveland, Chat. ( Instead of cat). I know that his speech is improving greatly, but I love how he calls our family and pets names. He recently loves telling us, " Your a good mom( or dad), or I yub you." He sings Bunge Bob Fairpants song ( Spongebob Squarepants) to us, which is only him saying Bunge Bob Fairpants over and over again in a tune that somewhat resembles the shows theme song. He also likes to tell us he wants to so something " Allllllll day!" Over all, I feel just Noah crazy lately. Like I just can't wait to hear what he comes up with next.

I guess that all I really have to say for now....hopefully next time I post, it's about Baby Wap's arrival! Let's hope I can stay on task and actually do it right away!