Zoo With Grandma

We've been trying to go to the zoo with Grandma for several weeks. The first week, Grandpa had a heart attack, the second week, Grandpa was having his second procedure. We finally got to go last week. It was a lot of fun. A long day, but a lot of fun.

Happy Birthday Bekah!!

Our beautiful girl turned 4 years old today!! The time has flown. It was actually about 4 years and 1 hour ago that she came into this world at 5 pounds 14 ounces. What a crazy day that was!!
Happy Birthday Bekah!!

Pictures to come later.

Brutally Honest

I am going to be brutally honest in this post. I want comments and responses, but before you lash out at me, I would like you to put yourself in my shoes and think about how you would respond if you were me.

I am now 7 weeks pregnant and still very angry and scared. We were taking all the right steps to not become pregnant, and yet, I am. As of right now, I still don't want to have another baby. I know that these things will change, and in a year and a half, I won't be able to imagine life without this baby, but right now, I am down-right scared.

There are several reasons for this:

1) When we moved in with my parents in July, it was so I could stay home with our girls while watching my nephews and Bobby could finish his masters while only working part-time. (After 6 years of MS, I was a bit burned out) We couldn't even afford rent on what Bobby makes, let alone eat. We were supposed to be with them a year. Now we are going to have to move out earlier because we cannot bring an infant into that house. This means Bobby going after a full-time job at UPS and putting any ministry things on hold until we are financially stable. Right now, with the economy the way it is, we don't have the money for a downpayment, and I don't even know if we would be able to GET a mortgage.

2) When we moved, we got rid of EVERY baby item, and about 2 weeks before I found out we were excepting, I got ride of all my nursing bras. We have nothing!! We don't even have a crib or car seat anymore. I am scared about where these things are going to come from.

3) When Sarah gave me such a horrible time with nursing, making me bleed, etc, I was so excited when I was done weaning and would never have to wear another nursing bra to bed or nursing pads constantly cause I always leaked. With the plan for me to stay home for a few more years and finances being extremely tight, I will have to nurse or pump for the first year. We will not be able to afford formula. Pumping for Sarah was so hard because Bobby wouldn't be home in the evenings and Sarah would be crying, etc while I tried to pump. It broke my heart. I couldn't do it. My goal had been to not even get out the pump until July (cause I would be going back to work in August) but Sarah ended up being completely on formula by the end of July.

4) There was a time before I got pregnant with Sarah that I would see babies and want another one. Sometimes it would even happen after she was born. Over the last 6 months, that desire has vanished. I see newborn babies and don't want them. I don't want the sleepless nights, the nursing, etc. Still now, when I see babies, I don't want them.

All-in-all, a lot is going to have to change over the next few months for me to be ready for this baby. A lot is going to have to change in my heart. I would greatly appreciate prayer in this situation. I am not worried about the extra work load, I know that I can handle the three children, it's that my heart is not going to be in this baby. I need to stop being angry about it.

Thank you for listening. Please pray for me.

Everything!

I have a lot to write about, but no time! We had our 3rd tumbling class today despite the broken arm, so I always have less ME time on these days.

-Today is my sister's 26th b-day! Happy Birthday Melissa!! We love you!

-You've probably guessed from the pregnancy ticker on the right that, yes, we are pregnant. Very unexpected, and I am still struggling with it. We were never planning on having a #3. We don't have any baby items left, let alone maternity clothes. (My friend Amy did send me a couple shirts that I am very, very thankful for!) I will write more about this later.

-Bobby is back on his normal hours at work this week, so he will be at home for dinner. Very excited!!

-We are preparing to head to IWU for a quick trip for homecoming and a Wind Ensemble reunion this coming weekend. We don't know exactly who will be there, but we are excited!

More later when I have more time, I promise!!

Could it get any worse?

After swim lessons tonight, Bekah was playing on the indoor playground and fell 8 feet onto her right arm. She is now if a full cast up to her shoulder. We had just finished our 2nd week of swim lessons after having to cancel the others because of the broken leg, and we are 2 weeks into her tumbling class. I am hoping the lady will let her continue despite her not being able to swing on the bar and a few other things.
Please say a prayer for me. I was just starting to not have to help her use the bathroom, and now I probably will have to again because she won't be able to pull her pants down. My emotions are very raw.
Paula

My dad again

Everything went great. They were done in under an hour. Keep praying that he recovers well and can come home tomorrow.

My dad, continued

My dad is having 2 more stents put in RIGHT NOW. We would appreciate your prayers.

My Dad

My dad had a mild heart attack early this morning and is in a hospital in Indianapolis. (they were there for my mom to attend a laboratory conference for a couple days) This morning, after the diagnosis, he had a procedure done to check for blockage and ended up having an angioplasty in one artery. My sister and I were able to talk to him by 10:30 am this morning. We are not sure whether they will be coming home tomorrow or Saturday. We would appreciate your prayers. My sister, Melissa, takes things like this hard, so I would appreciate prayers for her too, and my mom too.

Blessed

Our friend Amy, mine first because she was a new teacher at my "old" school two years ago, came to visit for 24 hours. She, her hubby, and their almost 9-month-old daughter live in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN. A very long drive!! We drove it last October from Kentucky. 18 hours!!

Amy is originally from Pittsburgh, and she and baby Grace flew in last week for a wedding and to spend time with her family that she only sees a few times a year. Amy drove in yesterday to spend some time with Bobby and I and the girls. It was so great to see them!! The last time we saw Amy, she was almost 7 months pregnant with Grace, and now Grace is crawling, and pulling up on things, etc.

To me, Amy is what my friend Deven would call a "kindred spirit." (from Anne of Green Gables, in case you didn't know.) We were only in the same state for a year, and have now seen her twice since she and her family moved to Minnesota a year ago this past July, but she is such an amazing friend. She and her husband are such amazing, Godly people, and we are blessed to call them friends. Only 6 months after meeting them, while I was 5 months pregnant with Sarah, Bobby and I drove up to Pittsburgh for their wedding. I am so glad that we did! It was an amazing experience!

I selfishly hope that they move closer so that we can spend more time with them!! Love you Amy! Thanks for coming and spending time with us, even though it was sooo short!!

Tumbling Class, week 1

Today I took Bekah and Ethan to their first Tumbling Tykes class. It is a 6 week class. At first, Bekah was a bit upset because they were running and skipping and she couldn't keep up, but I walked with her a bit, and then they started to do different things and she stepped right up to the challenge. I was very proud of her!! Ethan did a great job too!

Camp out, in the backyard, last weekend

Last weekend, my sister and her hubby were attending a Jewish wedding. (Only said to show that it was on Sunday afternoon/evening not a Saturday) Because of this (Rich was actually in the wedding), we offered to watch the boys. They came over right after lunch. We grilled out, roasted marshmallows, and set up a tent in the backyard. (Dylan and Ethan's other grandpa's)

Bobby, along with the boys and Bekah, spent the whole night in the tent. They told stories and basically just had fun. It did solidify in Bobby's mind that he would not be having 4 children though. :) (or three)

Scroll down to read my post about Bekah.

Bekah.....need some advice

For about a year now, I have been buying the gummy bear vitamins for Bekah. One day last week, Bekah really wanted to have more than the 2 vitamins she can have per day. To convince her that she shouldn't have more than 2, my mom and I told her that her belly would get sick if she ate too many vitamins. Since then, she won't eat any!! She says her belly's going to hurt, if she eats any. Help??!!!?? Any suggestions? We've tried to hide them in a pack of fruit snacks or pretend they're gummy bears, but she's not believing us.

Bekah's leg

Here are a couple pictures of Bekah's leg without the cast. She is walking more, but still holding her leg out to the side and putting a lot of weight on her right leg. I keep reminding her to pull her leg and knee in, but she isn't doing it much. She is still not bending her left leg much. I hope she starts to put more weight on it soon. It is still harder to get around with the 2 of them by myself than before.

First day of school/preschool

Dylan's first day of 2nd grade was Wednesday, so it was also the first day of preschool. Here are a couple pictures of Dylan before heading off to school, and a couple of Ethan and Bekah sitting at the table that Bobby made. (cut out, designed, painted, etc)

Things are going well, but I have decided that I am going to do 30 minutes of sit down lesson time every day instead of 1 hour every other day because the kiddos can't handle more than that. We always do a craft and have organized games, trips to the park, library, etc, but they just can't sit down and "work" for more than 30 minutes.

Mom and Dad Helwig's b-days

My parents birthdays are only 9 days apart, but instead of having a combined party, we celebrated 2 weeks in a row.

We went out for dinner to Red Lobster on my mom's b-day, the 21st, and then back to my sister's place for the dessert: coconut cream pie and cookies for the non-coconut people.

We celebrated my dad's last night instead of today because my brother-in-law Rich is in a wedding this weekend and the rehearsal dinner is tonight. (it's a Jewish wedding) We went out to an Italian place called Rotelli's and then back to Mom and Dad's for Cherry Pie (dad's favorite) and chocolate cake for the non-cherry people. (kids, Bobby, and Melissa)

The Day has come.....

Tomorrow, at 4 pm, I take Bekah to get her cast off. Yeah!!!! I am so excited!!!! I have been really looking forward to this day for a while. Say a prayer for us tomorrow that, after 6 weeks, her leg is all better and doesn't have a lot of discomfort.

Babysitting Day 1, Preschool starts Wednesday

The top 2 are Ethan's, the bottom 2 are Bekah's

Bekah and Ethan modeling their masks

Dylan with his lion mask

Dylan with his recycle item, a guitar

Lots of fun today. I will definitely not have a problem filling time once we start doing preschool things. I will also be taking them to a tumbling class on Mondays starting in September, so that will fill time also. More updates later!!

We're going to having another nephew or our first niece

Recently, Bobby's sister Faithe, and her husband Nathan found out that they are going to have their first baby. Estimated due date is mid-April. Congrats!! We love you guys, and you're going to be great parents.

Not much to Post about

I am 3 week days away from starting to watch my nephews full-time. I will have Dylan for 2 days next week until he starts 2nd grade on Wednesday. On Wednesday I will just have the 3 kids from 7:30-3:30. I am excited, but nervous about getting all the preschool stuff done, etc.

Bobby started a new position at UPS last Thursday. He is now in charge of the scanners. Repairing, troubleshooting, running checks to see if packages indeed went where they're supposed to, etc. He is having fun, but has started to eat less because he doesn't move around as much during the day. We like his new hours better. He leaves earlier, which doesn't allow for much family time in the mornings, but he has been home no later than 4:30 pm, some times earlier.
Bekah is 1 week away (tomorrow) from getting her cast off. She has started to hobble around on her leg, which has been helpful, but I am still very excited get it off. I'm ready to not have to take a stroller into every store, no matter what. She has started to allow me to put barrettes in her hair and she looks beautiful!!

Sarah is growing, growing, growing!! She is starting to say more words and make herself known. We definitely know that she is strong-willed. She screams out when something doesn't go her way. She has been tormented her sister whenever she can, so when Bekah gets her cast off, Sarah better watch out!!

The girls have been playing so well together lately, it's been wonderful being home with them!!!

Sarah swinging like a big girl, and Bekah taking a little nap yesterday

Sarah has been watching Bekah and swing and really wanted to swing like a big girl. We have been letting her a little bit, but the other day, we let her try it longer than usual. She does it so well!! Bekah couldn't even hold on like this when she was 2.5, and Sarah isn't even 1.5 years old.


The girls got up yesterday before 7 am (after going to bed after 10 pm). Sarah went down for a nap before 10:45 am, and Bekah couldn't make it till going to bed. She fell asleep on the floor in front of the TV at 3:45 pm and slept until after 6, despite efforts to wake her up. Here is Sarah trying to wake her up. (FYI- Bekah hasn't taken a nap since she was 2.5. Occasionally she will fall asleep in the car on a long trip, but she never falls asleep during a regular day) She must have been exhausted!!

Swing set update- almost done

Stairs and front enclosure, still need enclosure next to slide and the side next tot he blue swing

Bekah wearing Uncle Rich's soccer sock so she doesn't scratch the floors with her cast

Images from Bekah's camera

Bekah took these 2 pictures of her sister as we sat on the swing the other when we came back from a walk. On the walk, she took over 200 pictures with her camera. :) So cute!

I took the next three pictures with Bekah's camera. Sarah wanted to sit behind Bekah and then she was leaning forward give her sister hugs. :) So adorable. So glad I'm staying home to see them love on each other.

Computer

Yeah!! We are finally wireless!! We can use our own computer!!!!

Bekah FYI

For almost a week now, Bekah has been successfully wearing panties to bed. Yeah Bekah!!

New swing set so far

Bobby spent a couple hours Saturday night and most of the afternoon Sunday working on the new playset. My dad was able to help some also, as well as myself. :)

People we'll miss from Kentucky

Kelly, Paul, and Elijah (2.5 weeks younger than Sarah, but actually due 10 days before)

Jean and Tim

Bekah's silly hair

One day, Bekah decided to put on the Ariel hair from her build-a-bear costume. She looked so silly.

Trip to the Ohio State Fair (August 2nd)

Where we are Living (a video tour)

A Visit to Indiana (July 25-27)

Bekah's new cast (that she got last week)

Bekah's new cast doesn't have nearly as many signatures as the last one. In fact, I think it only has smiley faces on it.

The doctor here in Ohio said that the doctor in Kentucky may have mislead us a bit. He said that if an adult had this type of break, it would be a 16 week healing process.

Cast now scheduled to be taken off August 27th, 4 pm. Dylan's first day of school.

Thankfulness

I am so thankful that my family has allowed us to invade their lives to help with my sanity. This is because if we were in Kentucky right now, I would start all day school activities THIS COMING WEDNESDAY!! There is nooooooo way I would be able to handle this. I feel like the summer has just begun. I have 3 more weeks before my brother-in-law and nephew go back to school. I still have time to get organized and have some fun!! Yeah!!! (a big thank you to Bobby also for being willing to uproot our family for me, love you honey)