Home Visit

Last night was my Midwife Home Visit and I think she was a bit overwhelmed when she showed up to 4 other women hanging out ready to participate.    Though I am fairly certain  only half of them will actually be available for the birth, it was still fun to hear all their questions and let them be a part of this adventure.

I have all my supplies purchased, my helpers assigned their jobs, and most everything else that is truly necessary taken care of.    So long as baby stays in until November 6th, all shall proceed as planned.   Though, as I've been asked what my expectations are, I have realized that I don't have many.   Having attended 8 births - the one thing I have learned is that it never goes the way you think it is going to and I don't want to be disappointed.  So.....all that being said - I'm hoping for a quick, no back labor, no cord wrapped around the neck, healthy baby to be born, delivery.   But I shall just embrace this new experience as best I can and relax.

Conferences

Well yesterday we had Andrew's conferences.   Though I don't love his regular classroom teacher, we really love his Sp Ed teacher.    Everyone loves Andrew at school and we found out he is in the top math group of his typical classroom.    We are so proud of him and though he struggles like crazy with reading comprehension - he is maintaining pace with his peers.  YAY!   

Memories....

 Well Friday I will be 32 Weeks and 6 Days.   That was the amount of time Andrew spent in the womb.   I remember that day being so petrifiying and so exciting at the same time.   We were soooo excited for our first child, but I was totally unprepared for such an early arrival.  

Our birthing classes were the next day, I had to take an ambulance to another hospital, and I wasn't even sure if what I felt was my water breaking or not.    In some ways it feels like it was just a couple years ago.....but almost 10 years have gone by.   He is such a special kid.   Sometimes its tempting to wish for no Autism, who am I kidding, I've cried for no Autism on multiple occasions.   But there are times that I am grateful and I know there will continue to be times of both difficulty and joy related to this disability.

I have a feeling with this new baby many tucked away memories will return.....some I will be grateful for and some I'm sure I would rather not remember.    Courtney's infant/toddler years were an especially difficult time for me.   Andrew was at a really hard stage - the things we went through those two years have mostly been tucked away hopefully never to be thought of again, but I feel like I tucked away her infantcy and toddler years along with all the pain.   Only God knows why his plan was for us to have another child, but I look forward to meeting him/her and I look forward to being more emotionally available this time around.   Who knew being a parent was so difficult.....our parents I suppose.   Though even they forget the hard parts and think we were wonderful by the time we have kids!

Midwife Visit

Had another nice visit with the midwife today.   I always look forward to seeing the midwife so I can hear the heartbeat and see how our little one is growing.    I was told today that baby is "well grown" which I take to mean on the large side!    Everything looked good - baby is head down and the heartbeat is strong.   Crazy to think that I will be giving birth again in the near future.   My goal is to make it to at least 36 weeks (6 1/2 weeks from now) so if you think about it you can add that to your prayer list.   We are planning on doing things a bit different this time - so always a new adventure in the Skillestad home. 

I have started making lists of things I need to yet aquire - which is most everything.    However, being its the 3rd time, my list includes a much smaller amount of items.   I guess I just realize there are so many things that are out there that you just don't NEED.   Well it is also a bit of a problem that we don't know what the gender is.....guess I will get to go shopping after the baby comes!   Anyway - been a while since I updated  anything relating to baby so I thought I would share.   You can be sure that I will have some amazing posts welcoming our new little one to the world when that blessed day arrives.

Quiet

Wow....I forgot what it was like to have so much alone time!   Yesterday I kept wondering where the kids were and why it was so quiet.   I did accomplish alot of work - but kinda missed them at the same time.   I figure I better enjoy these last couple months of quiet cause it will 5 more years before it happens again.

So I have been getting caught up in filing and doing some cleaning around the house.   Shopping for all the birth supplies I will need and generally just starting to think about what we are going to need for babysize.   I don't think I fully comprehend the life changes we are about to encounter.   Back to diapers, wipes and bibs - I know it will all be worth it and after it comes I wouldnt change a thing.....but I am a bit afraid of losing all this freedom and at the same time doing my best not to be afraid of all the unknowns that come with our children.

God knows all about him/her and I guess I just have to trust that.   Off to nap - I have to say I am excited to get this pregnancy over with and be able to have a little bundle of reason why I'm not sleeping.  

I have....

So today we started our morning with some errands.   I went to the office for an hour, Andrew had violin lessons, and then we headed to Walmart to get picnic stuff for a picnic at the beach with my sis and her kids.   In the car the kids were having their usual "discussion" about something or another and Andrew responded to Courtney in a peculiar manner.   Courtney stopped and asked Andrew why he would say that.   I interupted the conversation and said "Andrew sometimes says things differently because his brain works differently."   Then Andrew said in  quiet voice, "Yeah, I have Autism."

This is the first time I have ever heard Andrew say anything about his Autism or even acknowledge why he may do something different than others.    Just another reason why my little boy is no longer so little.   He's growing into a young man and I am so proud of him and all the hard work he has put into helping himself succeed.   10 - the big birthday into double digets this year.  Crazy how time flies.

Summer 2010

Since I usually really dislike school photos of the kids....I decided last year to start taking them myself in the fall.   Here is this years best.   The only bummer is not one of the like 75 I took of the both of them turned out nice......try try again I guess.