Hot Air Balloons!

Well the Plano Balloon Festival came again. We didn't go as it is kind of expensive. We usually go to the Balloon breakfast at the Black's, but Tom had to work and the kids were completely exhausted. There was no way I was dragging them to breakfast at 6:30 in the morning.

We did have some balloons go directly over our house this year though. The kids were walking the dogs when they saw them. Dunkan caught a few pictures... and good ones too, I thought! Way to go Dunk!

The roof of our house...
My Fav pic...

Ben's First Bath

Well, I wanted to wait at least a week to bathe him for the first time. Instead, we waited two! He was finally needing one, so he got his first bath at two weeks old. He did great and seemed to enjoy it. The pics are a bit blurry since the two littles were trying to get in and see him too. He was quite the popular bather!

More sweet baby!

Just some cute pictures of the babe! I especially love the one of Tom sleeping with him. THey were so cute!

We went to Family Camp!

Well, we went to Family Camp this last week for the 3rd year. We went back to Lake Bistineau in Louisiana. It was alot of fun, although we were disappointed to get there and see they had taken out the playground and tree swing. That was a bummer. The lake had also been lowered, so no boating. We still had fun though.

We crocheted, played games, ate food, went on walks, fished, played baseball, ate, crocheted, slept, had a campfire, went snipe hunting, ate, slept. Well, you get the idea! My kids were disgustingly filthy at the end of every day. They were exceptionally tired. But overall, I think they had a blast.

I ended up getting a bad case of mastitis on Wednesday and spent the whole day dying in bed. A call to our homeopath, a long day of nursing, some pumping, some pain meds, a blessing and lots of sleep all did the trick and I was up again on Thursday, sore, but doing better. Man that stuff kicks you in the pants!

I have a TON of pics but don't have the energy to edit them all right now, so they will come soon. I promise!

Oh and Ben did better than expected. He was great for the car ride, was happy to be held by a million people and overall a cheerful baby! YEAH! Now to wait another year to go again.

Tom won a trip to the NHRA Fall Nationals!

Tom buys all of his gas for his work truck at Tetco. They have a rewards programs and he will win things from time to time. A carton of milk, a bag of chips, etc. Well, last week he got a call saying he had won a four day pass to the NHRA which is drag racing. He went on Wednesday afternoon with a friend to actually drive a dragster ont he track. They were fully catered to and got to see the "insides" of everything. Unfortunetely, the track had some issues and he didn't get to drive, so instead he got a third ticket to go on a different day. Here are some of Tom on the track...

On Sunday (I know... they were Sabbath breakers!) Tom took Dunkan and Zach down to watch the races. What we didn't know though is how loud the regular drag cars were. They shook your whole body, set off car alarms, and were VERY loud. Here is a picture of Zach very scared. They ended up not staying for long because he was so scared.

The boys standing in the crowd. They had pit passes which meant they were right in the action. They got autographs and cool samples of stuff. That part was fun!


The flags flying on a gorgeous Texas day...

Izzy's Fall

I was watching a friends little girl the other day and she was being so helpful watching Izzy. Well, Izzy got up onto the kitchen counter. She does this all the time and she will either climb down or wait for us to find her and get her down.

Well, the little girl visiting thought she would help and told Izzy to jump down and she would catch her! I don't think she realized how big Izzy really was and her 6 yr old frame couldn't catch her.

Izzy's face hit the tile floor. It wasn't pretty. It was a very loud thud followed but her crying. It was 15 seconds before I got to her and the bump was already the size of a golf ball and bruising. Poor baby. Here is a picture about 10 minutes after it happened. The bump is covered in arnica cream.

While at camp this last week, we noticed that her eyes were black and blue as well. Turns out she must have hit her whole face. Both eyes and the sides of her temples had brusing. She is one tough cookie! Here is the best pic I could get. She didn't want to hold still.

If only it taught her to stay off the counters. Sigh.

My gift

These are the beautiful roses that Tom got me when Benjamin was born. Unfortunetely, I didn't get a pic of them right away, so they are starting to go quickly. Thought I would share how beautiful they were though!

My Birth Photography by Chantel Hayes

My photos are done! My absolutely wonderful girlfriend who did my maternity photos also photographed my birth. She has done birth photography before and was taking a sabatical... I brought her back! This was the first time we had a professional do the birth and I am SO thrilled with how they turned out. You can find Chantel Hayes at cnhblog.blogspot.com.

Amazingly, I loved them in color. The lighting was perfect and there were so many bright and beautiful colors that I almost left them in color. But alas, I didn't. I may still go back and post some in color so you can see, but the slideshow is in black and white.

So I had chosen my music forever ago and have been working on everyone else's slideshows waiting anxiously to do mine. It is done! So for those not faint of heart, enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: There aren't any "yucky" shots. There is however bare belly, shoulders, some nursing shots, and, ofcourse, my double chin. If this makes you uncomfortable... don't watch it! I tried to edit as best I could, but that chin was pretty stubborn. LOL!

If you are good with all that, enjoy the miracle of birth.

REMEMBER TO PAUSE THE BLOG MUSIC BELOW (it is in the right column)

More!

I can't help myself... I love having my very own model to practice on at home! I am sure you will get sick of them as I build my portfolio! LOL!

I even caught a smile... at 4 days old!

Sadly, he did not get my feet. So far Zach is the only one blessed with them. All the other kiddos get these monsterously long and skinny things...

A few more pictures!

I took just a handful of newborn photos today. I only had a few minutes before he was very unhappy with me, but I promise, more are coming! So here are two that I got while he was happy... Isn't he beautiful!

Ben has made his arrival!!!!!!!

I want to start off by saying this is Thomas. I have never posted on Elizabeth's blog so some of you may not know me. Lets just say I am the husband of the embodiment of love, beauty and strength. I am going to be brief but I want to put my spin on the birth of our 4th child Benjamin Warren Boyce on Sept 2nd, 2008 at 6:55pm. He was born at home surronded by people who loved him even before they meet him. I am going to borrow a phrase from a very special person- " Born at home, never touched by a stranger".

The same special person, who goes by the name of Kristine, wrote an amazing letter to Elizabeth and I am going to share part of it, the letter touched me more deeply then she will ever know.

"I kept flashing back to Jennifer Block stating something along the lines of birth being backbreaking, humble work and this is not medicine, this is BIRTH. I thought this over and over as Elizabeth was leaning into Pam who was supported by Tom with Vonette on one side and me on the other breaking her back from the pressure she needed and sweet little Dinah on the floor, on her back with her hand pushing back the cervix…perilously close to being drowned by amniotic fluid at any moment. What doctor would have done this for Elizabeth? What hospital would have allowed this primal scene to take place as it unfolded with the perfectness that this birth needed it to be?"

I am including some pics for the world to see, Elizabeth will come on and add more when she is feeling up to it. One last thing- to everyone who has been a part of this from helping with the other kids, to those who have brought meals, and just called to say congrats, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Yep... it is September and I am still pregnant.

Just in case you are like one of the many who thinks I had a baby and didn't tell you! LOL! I am still pregnant!

I have actually had pretty strong contraction this weekend. They are still irregular though. I am hoping this means he will make his appearance soon!

We are doing great health wise. No issues. He is moving a ton and really active and I feel great. Just tired. Even my swelling has gone away! Yeah for that!

If I haven't had him by tomorrow then I call my midwife to schedule another sono for either tomorrow or for wednedsay. We are just checking to make sure he is still doing great! I may also consider going to see the acupuncturist this week to try and get labor going. I have done massage, chiropractic, a few herbs, homeopathy, belly dancing, mexican food, and some "other" things (wink, wink) with no real results. I hate to push the kid out if he isn't ready, so I am trying to just be patient.

So, I promise, when I have him, there will be a big post here that says he has arrived. When in doubt, check here. I will probably send out a mass email too, just to cover my basis.

On an ironic note, enrichment night at church is tomorrow night. I went when I was overdue with Isabel and it drove everyone nuts. I think it is hilarious that I will most likely be there tomorrow night, once again, overdue! LOL! Oh and everyone I know who was due AFTER me, has already had their baby. I guess I have to be next. There is no one else to have a baby!

Ok, off to bed.

No baby yet... Looking to September!

We had our Sono today and our little man looks great! I am almost 42 weeks according to our guesses, but he was only measuring 39wks. He is just a slow cooker!

But oh boy is he cute! We could see his face and hands and feet and what a doll he is. He was sucking on his big ol'e toe!

So his fluid levels, movement, breathing, heart rate, etc were all just perfect! So now we wait. I would be surprised if he comes before September. Everyone can stop panicking everytime I call!

I will try and get the sono pictures posted in a bit... when the kiddos who are out stop whining.

Pregnancy Photos!

I did two sessions. One with the Family (Thanks Bianca!) and one with just me (Thanks Chantel!). I will admit the one by myself was a lot more relaxing, but I do love having Tom and the kids in the other photos.

So without further ado, here are some samples!

With the family...

By myself...

(This one is my FAV!)

Bleh.

For all of you who were excitedly thinking I had a baby... no luck. Instead I am sick. Blah. Yep, those last few days of not feeling well, were me actually not feeling well. It is like the flu, only I haven't thrown up, thank goodness. However, I am dehydrated from the "other" symptom and seem to be causing some great contractions! Let me tell you contractions and an upset stomach do NOT go well together.

So, I will keep everyone posted, but I doubt this kid is coming anytime soon.

Maybe?

Well, I kept telling everyone all week long that I wanted to make it to Sunday and have this baby then. I had three due dates. The first was based on LMP and my sonos and was last Tuesday, August 12th. The next was the one my midwife gave me, August 16th. Then I had figured my own early on and it was August 17th. So depending on how you look at, I am right around 40 weeks.

So you all read my previous post. This weekend has made up for it. Tom and I went away last night. It was so nice! We went to the Hyatt and stayed in a beautiful room and I soaked in a bathtub half the night and we slept til 10am this morning. Ahhhh. The kids did fantastically and even slept through the night at Dee's house. Dunk stayed at Aarons. THANKS EVERYONE!

Then this evening we went and did Maternity photos. I kept putting it off and putting it off. Not sure why, but a lovely mama from one of my local boards offered to do them for me. I obviously don't have any yet, but will share when I do!

So, I think everything is ready! I am finished working, have all my stuff, had my night out, did my maternity photos, etc! Let's have a baby.

Interestingly enough, I started feeling pretty miserable yesterday. Huge, sore, stomach off. I am hoping it is a precurser to labor. Tonight is yucky too. I haven't had any appetite and have visited the throne many times. About an hour ago my contractions started picking up a little and we REALLY painful when this little man would move during one. That wasn't fun.

So I am off to make some peanut butter balls. They sound yummy. I would laugh if this kid actually came when I told him too! Say a prayer!

Yesterday stunk.

I had a crappy, emotional, bad day yesterday. Why, you ask? So many reasons!

First off, I obviously never posted about my car accident. 18 days ago, I was driving in Dallas with the two little ones. I was lost and trying to figure out where I was going. I was behind this huge semi truck and couldn't see anything, so after crossing thru an intersection, I went to change lanes. Well, there was a small car in my blind spot and I ended up hitting her. Thankfully we were only going about 20 miles per hour and it didn't seem to do much damage. It was my fault though.

So our ins. has been awesome! They have just been great about everything. Our rate will go up a little (about $15) but they have been quick and effecient. For the most part we were happy with Service King in the repair... until yesterday! We finally got the call saying our car was done (about $5000 in damage-yuck) and we went over to pick it up. Now my advice is to never leave fast food in a car for 17 days in triple digit heat. Had I known I would get into an accident, I would have cleaned it out first!

Anyway, we get the car and start driving home. It quickly becomes apparent that it is NOT fixed. The alignment is HORRIFIC. If you let go of the steering wheel for even a second the car swerves dangerously to the left. I was so not happy. Tom took it back in this morning and we now have a rental again. NOT HAPPY.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Tom and I were supposed to have a night away yesterday night. We had a girlfriend coming to sleep at the house with the kiddos and we were going to a hotel and going to sleep ALL. NIGHT. Then yesterday morning Zach woke up throwing up. Yep. I felt bad for the poor kiddo, cause he didn't feel well, but I was seriously annoyed that we weren't going to get to go. At least I never paid for the hotel room. Now I have to wait another week to have this baby so we have a chance to go next weekend. Sigh.

Tom paid a bill he wasn't supposed to. He was trying to be helpful, bless him, but he didn't consult the budget sheet like he was supposed to first. His doctor told him he would probably need surgery on his back again. His new prescription was $300 (GAG! We're not filling it.) I had to pay for extra gas for the stinkin car rental. Tom didn't end up getting any work yesterday which means will be short for paying bills. My best friend is in Mexico and I couldn't even call her to cry about it all.

The list goes on. I was so emotional and cried the whole afternoon. I hate days like that. I know none of it is really life shattering. It just felt like a lot of disappointment in one day for one very hot and pregnant mama.

So pray that this baby waits so I get another shot at a night out with my hubby. I need it.

No baby yet and MAN is it hot.

I think the title says it all! I am now 38 wks and feeling very large and uncomfortable. Sleeping fine, but having a ton of contractions that make me very cranky. I am so cranky, even I don't want to be around me! I think everyone will be glad with Benjamin makes his appearance.

I think we are almost ready! I have all my supplies, the pool, etc ready for the birth. We have our doula and birth photographers on stand by and my homeopath is also planning on coming. It will make for a full house, I am sure! We have pretty much worked out the details and are excited for it to arrive! I still want to have maternity photos taken and need to make my frozen meals, but otherwise, most of my stuff is taken care of! I have some work left to do still and am trying to take care of those loose ends, but I am making great progress!

It has been terribly hot. We have had triple digits for most of the month and it is getting old. I would love for it to cool down, but alas, we do live in Texas.

Baby B seems fine. He is head down and ofcourse posterior (facing the wrong way) which is how Zach and Isabel were born. It will probably make for a longer, harder labor, but at least I know I can birth them that way! I am not too swollen, in fact it has gone down alot in the last week. My blood pressure is a little high 124/90 but not terrible considering I am pretty stressed out and not really resting. Slap on my hand, I know.

So since the last time I took a belly shot, I was 11 wks along, I figured it was probably time! This is me at 38 wks exactly. I took it in a mirror, so sorry for the quality! Amazing what a little photoshop can do! I honestly don't think I look that big, but Tom and Dunk both swear this is my biggest belly ever. I am measuring pretty small (only 33.5 cm instead of 38cm) but I am carrying him completely out front, which probably makes it worse.

So enjoy! I will post maternity photos as soon as I get them!

Cloth!!!!

WOOHOO!!! I recently ordered some things from an awesome work at home mom. Since I have this little baby coming soon and needed some more mama cloth. I was searching on diaperswappers for some and came accross a mom that not only made those, but cloth cleaning supplies as well.

I was so excited! Tom finally talked me into getting a swiffer sweeper which he LOVES. However, they are so expensive and wasteful to keep using. It was killing me! So I found this lovely mama who makes reusable cloth pads for swiffer sweepers. I was thrilled.


So I placed my order... I ordered 4 mama pads, a little zipper bag to keep them in my purse, two sweeper cloths, and one mopper cloth. The mom making them had a death in the family, so it took a little longer to get here, but as a thank you for waiting, she included an extra liner pad and some peppermint bath soak! Woot!

So, I know you are all dying to see pics. I am just so impressed with her workmanship and quality. I am soooo picky about what I want and these are better than I expected! I love them! Kuddos to Kim Lingerfeldt of All Things Cloth. You can purchase her stuff at www.allthingscloth.com and I highly recommend that you do!

The Mama Pads:

My wet bag for my purse:
A sweeper in action:
The other sweeper and my mopper pretty side up:
The grabby side up:

Zach's 4th Birthday Party

We had another BBQ at our house and this time we celebrated Zach's 4th birthday. He was so cute! I think this was the first year that he actually could anticipate a party, gifts, etc. He had a great time and could hardly sleep that night because he was so excited about everything he got to do.

As always, so pics of the event. BTW, spiderman cakes are exceptionally difficult to make, so no comments about my plastic stand-in!