Happy Birthday Annika

Tomorrow is Annika's 5th Birthday! I can hardly believe she's FIVE already!! Wow, the time has flown.

Five years ago to this minute I was playing a computer game while listening to Allan give his Mom directions to the Graduation ceremony at the University. I kept telling them "we aren't going to the grad, I am in labour" but nobody believed me LOL!!

At around midnight Allan's dad arrived (he drove in from Regina after work) and about 1:00am things really started going. We went to the hospital around 4:30am and Annika was born just after 6:00am.

She's such a joy to have in our lives - so outgoing and friendly to everyone. Happy 5th Birthday Ana Banana!

Our Trip

We spent last weekend in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Because of the flooding (and wow was there flooding!) the drive took four hours instead of two. I was so sore the entire trip from the time in the car and not getting out to stretch that it wasn't much of a fun trip. Most importantly, the girls had a blast playing in the water park.

Soccer and Baseball season have officially started, meaning May and June are extremely busy and sure to fly by. Thankfully we have beautiful weather to go with the season (22C today!) so it's not so bad to sit outside every evening and watch the girls play. Annika plays soccer Monday and Wednesday evenings. Madison plays soccer Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Allan plays ball Tuesday and Thursday evenings. TGIF!

Here are some photos from our trip.

Flooding - this is the highway just past the U.S. border, it had just been opened back up and you can see why. Water on both sides as far as you can see at some points and deep enough for waves!

DONE!!!

Allan presented his final Practicum today and he is now DONE with University. It has been a long time coming.


We're off to the States for a few days to celebrate.

And - just because, a cute picture of Madison I took the other day.

Pictures

Here are photos from our Easter as well as a belly pic taken today. (25 weeks!)

Happy Easter

I hope you're all having a wonderful Easter weekend!!

We are all going to the Hannah Montana movie this afternoon, the girls are very excited! I convinced Allan to come with because I'm not sure I can sit in a theater for that long, I get uncomfortable sitting and need to walk around.

Allan's parents are arriving sometime this evening and staying for the weekend, we haven't seen them since Christmas so it will be nice. They're also bringing a ton of baby stuff from Allan's sister and my g-diapers order from my friend Allison, so I'm excited to go through it all.

I had an extremely vivid dream of Kelsie the night before last. She was 8lbs, 6oz and had dark, dark hair. It was so vivid and real - I'm anxious to see if it comes true.

The girls have dance tomorrow, other than that no real plans. We'll have our Easter dinner on Sunday night, I still have to pick up a few things for that and will be braving Sobey's on Saturday afternoon. Crazy I know!!

I promise to post some Easter pictures after the weekend!

Doctor Appointment Update

Today was my doctor's appointment and it went great. My blood pressure was normal, Kelsie's heartbeat was in the 140's and I'm measuring right on at 23 centimeters. We also went over the results from my ultrasound and everything looked great, Kelsie measured right on at 20 weeks, 0 days and I was 20 weeks, 0 days.

Both Madison and Annika measured big at their ultrasounds and I consistantly measured 2-3 weeks larger with them. Maybe Kelsie will be a little peanut, or maybe she has a big growth spurt coming ;)

23 Weeks

Things are going well - I am really looking forward to next week when Kelsie will be "viable" which means if she were born, she'd have a chance at living. I know that sounds terrible but with all of the scares I have had this pregnancy, it's a big milestone for me.

That said, no scares lately - everything has been fine. My next appointment is Thursday where I will get my results from my AFP test and ultrasound.

Madison and Annika are doing great - it's spring break this week and Madison's really enjoying it. Annika has started having playdates with a few friends and she loves that. (Playdates without Mom joining - she's had the latter for years!)

We're finally seriously van shopping, I think we'll end up with a 2009 Dodge Caravan. Yes, a van - it's time!

Here is a 23 week belly picture!

Bought Kelsie's coming home outfit!

Yesterday after work Allan and I went to the mall for awhile, I bought myself some much needed new shoes from Aldo and then we went to Gymboree. I saw the cutest blanket and I love their blankets, so I bought it for Kelsie. Then I saw a matching outfit and decided to buy it for her coming home outfit. Then of course I saw a matching hat, and socks, and well - you know Gymboree. LOL! I am not sure which pieces she'll wear home now, we'll see!

Wonderful Update

My step-father was released from the hospital yesterday - he's home and doing very well!

Prayers Needed

As you may or may not have heard, on Friday (yes Friday the 13th!) my Step-dad Frank had a heart attack.

Thank God they were in Saskatoon at the time so the trip to the hospital was fast. He should be okay, from what I understand it was fairly mild. He's in the ICU and had surgery today but I think he'll get through this just fine.

However, any extra thoughts and prayers his way would be much appreciated. As always it's so hard to be away from family at times like this. I wish I could visit, I wish I could take care of the house and animals so Mom could spend her time at the hospital and not be driving back and forth, etc. But I can't - so here I am hoping and praying and waiting for updates.

Last Tuesday was my big anatomy ultrasound where they checked Kelsie's heart, brain, spine, etc. They had a resident in there learning so it was extra long and as far as I know, everything checked out A-ok! They don't give you the full report, my doctor will do that at my next appointment on April 2nd, but they went over the heart and it's chambers, the spine, the brain, etc. with us and everything was great.

On Thursday I was back in the hospital with more pains though :( I think I over did it again this week with work, PAC meetings and soccer registrations. I need to take it easy and it's hard for me to do that. I'm now limiting myself to work and one activity (meeting) a week. This week it's movie night at the school on the 20th.

I've chosen and ordered our diaper bag - I can't wait for it to arrive. With both Madison and Annika I bought cheapies at Toys R Us and Walmart but they broke and we always bought at least two in their infancy. This time I splurged for a Skip Hop bag, I love it and it has glowing reviews!! I really love how it attaches to the stroller handle and doesn't take up the basket.

19 weeks

A few of you have asked to see a belly pic, so here it is! I am coming down with Annika's cold so my head was chopped off ;)

I feel smaller than I was with both M and A's pregnancies but then again I haven't gained near the amount of weight as I did with them either.

I am feeling great lately pregnancy wise. No more scares and I'm off of bed rest. Back to work, and all of my activities - which makes for a busy life but hey, the time passes more quickly!

Last night I had a meeting at the Community Centre for the soccer program and tonight and Tuesday night I have to man the registration tables for outdoor Mini Soccer. Both girls will be playing again this year, which means we have soccer Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights!! Add Allan's baseball Tuesday and Thursday nights to the mix and it's going to be a busy May & June!!

Today I am volunteering to help with pizza lunch at Madison's school and then I have my 20 week doctor's appointment and then I'm going to get my hair done (all before registration tonight!)

Should be a long day ;) I'll update after my appointment if anything eventful happens but I think it will be pretty basic. My next ultrasound (the big one where they check organs, measurements, etc.) is on Tuesday so cross your fingers everything goes well for that!

Lazy Day

I have been feeling a lot better lately. While I've had some cramping I attribute it to growing and stretching pains and nothing more. I am looking forward to my doctor's appointment on Thursday to confirm everything is okay but I'm confident it is.

I found out I did have a bad infection two weeks ago, so that is why all the cramping and contractions. I don't know why the doctor's office didn't call and let me know - ugh!

I go back to work on Monday (unless I become a Millionaire for Life tonight ;)) and I'm looking forward to that. It's boring sitting at home all day alone. I couldn't keep the girls home with me because I couldn't get off the couch and do anything like make lunch for them, not to mention walking Madison back and forth to school.

Madison and Annika are both so excited for Kelsie. Madison took all of the ultrasound photos to school on Friday to share with her classmates.

Today the girls were supposed to have dance but we all slept in and just skipped it this week. It was nice to not be rushing off in the morning. Allan and Madison did go out and brave Superstore this afternoon while Annika and I stayed home.

Tomorrow M's going to her friend's house to play and I need to go out and buy some clothes, I can't squeeze into pre-pregnancy clothes anymore and I leant someone almost all of my maternity clothes awhile ago, so I'm in desperate need of a shopping spree but haven't felt up to going out. Since I need to work all week and we have a strict "no pajamas" dress code, I have no choice!

Hope you're having a great weekend!!

Kelsie McKenna Grace CLICK PIC TO ENLARGE!

Profile with her hand under her chin.

Profile

Hand by face, sucking her thumb.

Waving Hello

Face, side of body, hand.
Stretching, profile with head tilted back.

Stretching profile again.


Leg and foot.

Side of her body, arm and leg up.

Profile with arm under chin

Leg and foot and money shot.

Arm

We had a second ultrasound at Babymoon Ultrasound today as we weren't able to get good profile pictures last week. Well this time was so much fun as Kelsie was moving all over. She was moving her hands and mouth, we could actually watch her suck her thumb! She kicked around like crazy too. Hopefully Allan can figure out how to get to get the DVD online!

Introducing ...

Kelsie McKenna Grace

Kelsie is a name we love. McKenna is after my Grandpa (Kenneth) and Grace is after Allan's sister. Her name is Jennifer Ann, the meaning of Ann is God's Grace.

Yes, another girl. We grow them so well we figure why stop with a good thing? ;) Click on each photo for a larger view!