Perception!!

Last year on my birthday I watched this movie. This year on my birthday ( and today) I read the book.

I call this post perception because I think this story brings to light that our PERCEPTION of other people or some circumstances may not be what they really are. I think it is natural as people to not be able to fully understand each other, but I don't think that is an excuse for the way we treat each other sometimes!!!

At the end of the novel the author writes a bit of an explanation for his reasons in writing the book. I want to quote the last paragraph, I hope it makes you think like it made me think!

"Fences such as the one in the heart of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas still exist; it is unlikely that they will ever fully disappear. But whatever reaction you have to this story, I hope that the voices of Bruno and Shmuel will continue to resonate with you as they have with me. The lost voices must continue to be heard; their untold stories must continue to be recounted. For they represent the ones who didn't live to tell their stories themselves."

Baby Update...

So I had my 37 week appt today. I asked the doctor to check my cervix due to all these painful contractions I have been having.

Well... I am dilated 1 1/2 cent. Which is good because I didn't dilate with Kyla until the day I had her.

He had me book an appt for next week but said he doesn't think I will need that appt. So, with my fingers crossed... I wait out this pain!!!

For my day!

This is always a day that I feel like I can do what I want and not feel bad about it! Though since I was up till 4 because I was so uncomfortable and having mildly painful contractions every 10 min or so... I will be adding a nice long nap to the list! But first...

I am going to take my list of "want to reads" and head off to Fairs Fair to indulge myself!


Than it is my favorite... a vietnamese sub for me! It has been a while since I had one :)



After my nice long nap I think I will take the kids to McDonalds to play while I read one of my new books. I may even get them an Ice Cream Cone if they are lucky :)

Of course I will have to make a stop at Crave and maybe get a few for my family too!



Than... this is what's for dinner.

Chicken Coconut Curry
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch chunks or strips

1 teaspoon salt and pepper, or to taste

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2-3 Tbsp. curry powder

1-2 tsp. cayenne (optional, depending on how spicy you like it. We like it HOT, so we did about 2 tsp.)

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

4 golden potatoes, cut into chunks

1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk

1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed, diced tomatoes

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

3 tablespoons sugar

Jasmine rice (cooked)

Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat oil, curry powder, and cayenne in a large skillet over medium-high heat for five minutes. Stir in onions and garlic, and cook 10 minutes more or until onions are very clear. Add chicken, tossing lightly to coat with curry oil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in center and juices run clear. Add potatoes, then add coconut milk, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and sugar into the pan, and stir to combine. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 30-40 minutes or until sauce thickens (if you like your curry thicker, just add some cornstarch dissolved in a little bit of water). Serve with Jasmine rice and garnish with cilantro. If you like curry, this is a must try!

Sweet words to my brother...

Mark...

I apologize for taking mom away from you on your third birthday. I know you would have rather had a party and a new toy truck or something, rather than a baby sister! But, I will have you know... that I am glad you are my brother!!! While growing up I always thought I wanted to marry someone who was as nice and respectful to women as you are! Here are a list of words that describe you...

Hard Working - I remember you stayed home from many family trips to work :)

A deep thinker - You always have something muling through that mind!

A debater - After you have thought things through... you LOVE a good debate!

Simple to please - Your simply happy with the small things in life.

Handsome - It all began when I was in Jr. High and all my friends thought your were SO CUTE!!

Fun - I remember that time we went to Park City for the Sundance Film Festival... it was fun!

Sweet - I love to see you with your girls, they obviously adore you too!

Funny - You have a unique sense of humor, and I love it!

Caring - I remember the story you told me last summer of you helping the teenage boy out who had just seen his brother hit by a car and killed. Not just anyone would have done what you did!

I love you and think about you ALL the time!

Happy 32 Birthday!!!

My poor mother!!!

As I sit and reflect on the end of this pregnancy, I cant help but feel bad for my poor mother. Her first four pregnancies were fine - the deliveries a little more crazy!

* With one of my older siblings, she walked all the way to the hospital in labor because she didn't have a car, then they told her to go back home (it wasn't time yet). So she walked back home (probably feeling devastated!). When she was to return again, I believe she got a ride from someone in the relief society. I bet she wishes she would have thought of that in the first place! :) My dad must have been at work!

* With one of them, she didn't get an epidural and at some point she completely blacked out and missed the whole delivery! Very sad!

* After my brother mark was born, he wasn't brought to my mom. She saw other moms with their babies and as my mom used to do... she sat in silence about it for quite a while. Finally she asked about where he was and someone had accidentally put him on the adoption list. He was in the nursery. It was quickly sorted out and he was brought to his mommy!

* My mom was due to have me on Dec 25Th. Well, most of you know that my birthday is Jan 27Th. So my poor mom had to wait a long time for me!

After having 4 kids, my mom went through a few pregnancy ordeals! She had 3 hydatidiform moles (otherwise known as molar pregnancies).

Molar pregnancy is an abnormal form of pregnancy, wherein a non-viable, fertilized egg implants in the uterus, and thereby converting normal pregnancy processes into pathological ones. It's characterized by the presence of a hydatidiform mole (or hydatid mole, mola hytadidosa). [1] Molar pregnancies are categorized into partial and complete moles; complete moles have no identifiable embryonic or fetal tissues and arise when an empty egg with no nucleus is fertilized by a normal sperm; in contrast, a partial mole occurs when a normal egg is fertilized by two spermatozoa. [2] Hydatidiform moles may develop into choriocarcinoma, a form of cancer.

You have to wait a whole year after these pregnancies to try again. One of the times, there was a baby and a mole in my mother. Evidentally the tumor took everything from the baby and he had to be removed otherwise my mother could have died. This is the only time in history that I remember ever seeing my dad cry! I also remember her telling me about how they removed the dead baby and lied it right on the table next to her without even thinking how that would effect her. She named that little boy Skylar - for the sky (hoping she would one day get to raise him in heaven!)

I really wanted to name Kyla... Skylar - but Barry wasn't fond of that name. At least she ended up with the middle part of the name :)

So as I sit here at 37 weeks pregnant. Feeling pretty good. Knowing that I have not had any horrible pregnancies or deliveries... I cant help but be thankful!!! And it helps me be more patient :) Thanks Mom for your sacrifices... LOVE YOU!

This is a picture taken in Oct 2008 of my mom and dad.

They were married in this temple a LONG TIME AGO :) hahaha JK mom!

It's Official!

Our home is for sale!
Here is the link http://www.bradylayton.com/list_properties_office.php
Ours is the third one on the list (Auburn Bay 2 storey).

Many have been asking what our plans are. For now it is this;

A few years back Barry built a some custom homes. He would like to do that again. So we will be renting a home for a few years while we build custom homes and sell them. We are currently working on getting a lot out in Elbow Valley to build on. For the time being, we are hoping to stay in Auburn Bay. We LOVE it here, have GREAT friends and LOVE our ward!

house

Scrubbing the mudroom floor on my hands and knees is hard work with a belly this big! Wowzers!

Too bad the cleaning ladies can't come till monday and we are listing it tomorrow!

I'll add pics of the finished product later!

36 Weeks and the Cowboys!

I can't believe I still have 4 more weeks!
It seems like it's time already (I am pretty sure I am not the only prego lady due around the same time that feels this way!)

I will get through this, or at least that is what I tell myself! It does look like the baby has dropped a bit right? At least the nerves in my groin think so :)

I at least now have something else to think about.

We are selling our house.

We are hoping to have it listed this week and if we get get it into a contract before the baby comes, that would be really great!

So, while I want this baby out, I need it to stay in... for a little while!

On another note,

Barry got back from Dallas where he went to another Cowboys game. This time he used our season tickets. They are 7th row on about the 10 yard line Dallas side. Barry came home saying it was the 3rd best experience of his life (after our wedding and Kyla's birth of course!) So I went through the camera and had to laugh at some of the pictures he took!

I have been teasing him relentlessly about it ever since...

He did also get some good shots of players.

Tony Romo

and my favorite (if I had to pick one) Marion Barber

Stress...

1. Importance or significance attached to a thing; emphasis: to lay stress upon good manners.
2. Phonetics. emphasis in the form of prominent relative loudness of a syllable or a word as a result of special effort in utterance.
3. Prosody. accent or emphasis on syllables in a metrical pattern; beat.
4. Emphasis in melody, rhythm, etc.; beat.
5. The physical pressure, pull, or other force exerted on one thing by another; strain.

Number 5 hits the nail right on the head for me today :(

Had an ultrasound today...

Not the fun baby kind.

It was of my Left Breast.

I thought I felt a lump back in September.

But, everything looks fine and clear, so I can breath a little sigh of relief!

35 Weeks!

Sorry no pictures... Barry has the camera! So here are some of my other two angels!

Tommy

As you can see he has always been a good sleeper!

1 year!

Kyla

How am I feeling?

- It's tough to get to sleep and stay asleep right now! Why do I have to be a stomach sleeper? - I'm still getting some heartburn every so often... it makes me cough! Strange I know, but I feel the burning high in my esophagus!

- Still in the bathroom ALOT with both outcomes :) Sorry TMI!

- Forgetful! This morning I got the dog out of her kennel and took her downstairs to let her out to pee. Well, I forgot about the alarm being set and when I walked in front of the sensor, it started ringing. Well, that woke to whole house up!!! Ooops!

- Anxious and excited. I keep seeing all these newborns on TV and it's making me so excited for a little wrinkly, soft baby with milk breath! I LOVE MILK BREATH! I am sure I have said this before... but I just love to put my nose up to my babies mouth!

- I am feeling really happy! I feel so blessed to be so close to having another baby! I am also starting to feel happy about being on maternity.

What I need to do?

- The only things I have bought are a nursing cover and a pack of baby boy swaddle blankets. If it's a girl I already have plenty!

- We aren't doing a nursery for this baby right now. So I need to get either a basinet or a play pen for the first few months. Than we will decide which one of our kids gets to share a room with baby. We do have a bed for Kyla, not yet built. So this baby with get the crib eventually!

- I would like to go buy one outfit in each sex for when we leave the hospital.

- I should also plan for who I am going to call when things start happening. Who will watch the kids, who can drive me if Barry is at work etc... I know it's still early, but for some reason, I feel like I need to be ready!

- Maybe I should start planning what I want to have packed, I know that it will just stress Barry out if I make him search the house for my things :)

- I haven't decided yet if I should pull out Tommy's newborn clothes and stick the box in Kyla's closet. That way I have either if I need it. Maybe I could get Barry to carry in upstairs for me :)

I have another appt on Thursday. He is going to check for group B strep. Maybe I will get lucky and find out my body is getting more ready!!!

Baby stats...

Your baby is getting plump. The fat deposits are now beginning to offer form and fullness to your baby's legs and arms. Your baby is taking up most of the room in your uterus, so there is a lot less room to move around. Also, your baby's lungs are now completely developed and producing what is called surfactant, a substance that helps in the exchange of oxygen in the lungs. Your baby is now approximately 18 inches long and weighs about five pounds. If you were to have your premature baby now, you'd be happy to know that there is a 99 percent chance of the baby surviving.

A Reality Check...

I have had some time tonight to think...

When I was pregnant with Tommy, I wasn't a nurse. There was a lot I didn't know about medicine. I read every pregnancy book I could find. I watched every "baby" show on TV. I worried about every possible complication you can think of! I was extremely careful about what I ate. You know, first time mom stuff. Good stuff! When I was told I had to have a c-section, I cried. I was scared, I wanted to be able to hold him right away (okay, and I was a little worried about my abdominal muscles). After he was born, he choked a lot on his phlegm, which is normal for a c-section baby. But, at the time... I was a freak! I kept ringing the nurse and getting really upset! I also worried about the smallest thing happening to him after I got him home!

Wow, what a little education has done for me!!!

When I was pregnant with Kyla... I had gone through nursing school. I don't think I opened a single pregnancy book or watched any shows about baby births. I didn't really worry too much about complications. I was going to try for a Vag birth (which has a 50% success rate after c-section). But, still... I knew the medical world is advanced these days and didn't worry too much about anything major going wrong. Barry was the first timer this time and HE was freaking out!We were successful in our vag birth and she was healthy from the start. I roomed with a new mom who was up all night, calling the nurse and worrying about a lot. At first she was REALLY annoying! But than I remembered that was me at one point. I finally pulled the curtain back and asked her if she wanted any help. I told her I was a nurse and I could help her get the baby to latch, sleep, or I could answer some of her questions. Pretty much she just needed someone there to tell her it was okay!

Well, tonight, while watching "A baby story" of all things :) I got to thinking. No matter how good medicine is these days, and no matter how much I know about the human body etc... NOTHING is ever "for sure." And I want "for sure!" I want to be able to take my baby home right away (usually after 36 weeks), I want to be able to breastfeed (so long term stays in the NICU wouldn't help that!), I want this little one to be healthy, pink and with plenty of meat on it's thighs! I am already forced to have an epidural due to my previous c-section... and I don't need any more complications than that! I am glad I had some time tonight to Clear My Head! 5 weeks... even 7 weeks isn't THAT long! At least not long enough to compromise this precious gift from Heavenly Father!

So, I think "Crazy Pregnant Lady" has gone away... for now. She may come back on Feb 15Th if baby isn't here. But, at that point... "for sure" is at it's peak!!! :)

Thanks for hearing me out!

WATCH OUT!!! Crazy Pregnant Lady!

I always get crazy near the end. This time I said I wouldn't. This time I didn't think I would. I already have a really busy almost 2 year old. But, yet again... I am feeling it! *This time I will not get to the point of drinking castor oil!*

But, here are some of my CRAZY thoughts :)

* We were supposed to take a family trip this month to California, where we always go in January. (Barry was going to work and us Play.) Barry and I decided that maybe he should just go alone and me and the kids stay in Calgary and then we could go for a weekend, maybe to West Edmonton mall, with baby in Feb or March. (It's a sign :))

* Barry was supposed to go out of town for almost 3 weeks for work. But last week, he said he felt like he shouldn't be gone that long so instead he is only going for 5 days. Huh, maybe baby is coming soon :)

* Barry has a free westjet ticket that expires in June, we can go anywhere they fly. He can't go in April because it is getting too close to golf season. So he wants to go in March on a little getaway, with just me and baby. I am thinking I want to be 6 weeks after delivery... HINT HINT!! So having this baby in Feb will not work out with those plans!



* I finally got my 2010 Calendar and January image is of Mary holding Baby Jesus. But... I like to think that it is a little hint of what is to come for me in January! haha.
For all of you patient pregnant mothers... I hand it to ya! It is a gift I was not given :)

Everyday Food

I have become a fan of this show! The recipes are pretty easy, including things that most people have on hand.

I made this for lunch yesterday, it is REALLY yummy! And the kids enjoyed the leftovers for dinner.

Honey-Ginger Chicken

1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
1/4 cup minced peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 red, orange, or yellow bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), thinly sliced
Cooked rice, for serving
Fresh cilantro leaves, for serving

Directions
In a small bowl, stir together honey, vinegar, and soy sauce. Heat a large skillet or wok over high until hot. Add 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat skillet. Add chicken and stir until opaque but not cooked through, about 3 minutes; transfer to a plate.
Add 1 tablespoon oil, ginger, and garlic to skillet and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add peppers and stir 2 minutes. Add soy mixture and bring to a boil. Return chicken to skillet and toss until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Serve over rice, topped with cilantro.

Here are a few I want to try...

So, I am kind of a sucker for runny egg yolk. I just love it! I saw on the show the other day that she sometimes puts a fried egg on top of a bowl of rice. The yolk ends up wixing with the rice... Yum! So I thought, why not make it like a hawaiian haystack. Add all your diced veggies to your rice, then throw a buttery fried egg on top. I like the idea!

Tonight I am going to make this

Sloppy Joes

1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
½ green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pound ground beef
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
¼ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 hamburger buns, split and toasted


In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes.
Stir tomato sauce, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce into beef mixture in skillet. Simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes.
Season the mixture with more salt and pepper, as desired. Spoon onto buns, and serve immediately.

Remember Eden?

If you look back a few posts, I blogged about this little angel born at 22 weeks. She was just over 1 lb. She passed away tonight and it is so sad to me!
Her parents were there by her side. She fought for 10 days... what a trooper.
I don't even know her but it breaks my heart!

Good news- Bad news

I went for a prenatal appt today.

Good news- After feeling my belly and deciding the baby was heading south, along with my frequent urinatin and bowel habits... He wants to see me again in 1 week instead of 2 weeks! He also said he doesn't think I will be going past my due date this time. YIPEE!!!

Bad news- Now that I know this, the closer I get to that due date without getting results is going to turn me into a crazy, obnoxious pregnant lady... I am afraid!

Okay, lets be real for a minute...

I am desperately feeling the need to feel

#1 "sexy" in the bedroom
#2 "cute" around town
#3 "small" enough to bend over and pick up toys
#4 "skinny" enough to care about what I eat
#5 The desire to break a sweat!

PLEASE DON'T LAUGH!! I am serious!

I don't know how anyone lives with a body like this all the time. I now feel for you more than I ever did before. I feel so big and therefore don't think doing my hair, makeup or getting dressed is going to help. I also am CRAVING a workout like you wouldn't believe! My gym pass is on hold till April 1st. I am sure my husband is ready for the belly to be gone too!

Please don't get me wrong, pregnancy is a beautiful amazing thing. It is a miracle that our bodies can do what they do. I love feeling the baby kick. I love seeing the ultrasounds and hearing the heartbeat. But, I love even more holding a sweet little babe and feeling like a normal woman!

Thanks for letting me rant, I hope no on e is offended!

34 Weeks

Coming to the end... finally on maternity leave! I am actually a little sad about this... I really do love my job. I will miss feeling so productive and feel like I am contributing to our bank account! I am such a "people person" as my mother would say. I love to help people and feel like I am making a difference when I am at the hospital. I know I am doing that at home, but the results aren't as immediate! I also LOVE the feeling of staying active and on my feet, which I don't do as much at home. Though, I know once this baby is here, I will be needing the extra time at home! I also know that my kids are excited that I won't be too tired to play with them :)

So... people have been telling me that the baby has dropped. Must be so, because I no longer have heartburn, I am peeing about once per hour, and there is a lot more pressure down below! I read online that your baby usually drops 2-4 weeks before delivery. So, maybe this baby will decide to make an early appearance. I really have to try and not get my hopes up though, because I get anxious as it is! I must, I must, I must wait this one out without going crazy and taking castor oil or having my membrains stripped 50 times :) Also, Barry is going to California for business soon and though I am okay having the baby alone, he really doesn't want to miss it! He loves babies and is very excited to have a little one that will lay in his arms and hold still :)

A few of my other symptoms -

*Nesting (BIG TIME) - that could be just due to the fact that bleach and other cleaning supplies smell so good to me right now!

*I am also having trouble falling asleep, it's hard to get comfy when you are a stomach sleeper!

*Eating Ice - barry hates when I do this, but I seriously CRAVE it! I would rather have ice right now than anything else. When we went to the movie the other night, it was SO SO SO hard to sit through it without eating ice!

General Baby Stats

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long.

Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder.

Her skin is also smoother than ever.

Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well.

If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine.

They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

This is AMAZING!!!

A friend that I grew up with just posted about her sister-in-law who just had her baby girl at 22 weeks gestation!

It is absolutely amazing to me what medicine is doing these days.

I am going to follow their story and see if this little angel makes it.

For now, I believe she is 5-6 days old.

http://www.babyedenswenson.blogspot.com/

This was her at 2 hours old!!!

Here is a portion of her latest post!

"To be quite honest, I am an emotional wreck and Jeremy is the one that from the moment she was born he has been her biggest cheerleader. Just after she was born the NICU nurses/doctors were having to bag her to help inflate her lungs. Jeremy stood next to the nurse doing the bagging and cheered/encouraged her to not stop. He told her if she made it to 70, he would give her a high five. He even at one point massaged her shoulders to keep her going." - Rachel Swenson

Thanks to Christy...

After a hard day, this is what I needed! I would be nothing without this reassurance!! Thanks for posting on your blog Christy!

5 Reasons!

Here are 5 reasons why 2010 is going to be a GREAT year!

1. I get to enjoy it on Maternity leave! and I get to celebrate my 29th birthday this month!

2. I get to have baby # 3! So excited :)

3. Tommy gets Baptised this year :) and Kyla turns 2 (now at least it's official - she already gets into EVERYTHING)

4. I will celebrate my 4th wedding anniversary with Barry!

5. My mom and dad will be coming up in the summer to go to our cabin (I hope!)

My Goals-

- Be nicer to my husband and more involved with my kids!
- Pray more and read my scriptures daily!
- Get into better shape than I was after Kyla!
- Have more fun, smile more and stress less (thanks for the idea Christy - it is what I need!)