We are here!

We are here. Louisiana is just how I remembered. Very hot and humid. But air conditioning helps. Justin did a great job of picking out a house. It is quite large and nice. I will post pics once I get a battery for my camera. The kids are in school. Hilton is in all-day preschool and it is very nice for me. Neither of them like school very much at all, but I like having the days without a big kid to worry about. It is hard enough with just the baby. I know, I am a wimp. Shana has like 27 kids and they are all home at some point, but i am just not that talented. I have to be able to take a nap sometimes. Lorelai does not like me to put her down much so it is going to be difficult to blog. But I will do my best. Right now she and Hilton and Justin all have colds. It is pretty miserable. I really did not want her to get sick! But what can you do. I am sure I need to get used to it. It was a disasterous move. I will not go into details, but there were some pretty devastating casualties of the move. We had to leave behind a lot of stuff and that was a pain. And some things were broken in the move as well. But we all made it here... The trip across country with the 3 kids was actually just fine. Thank goodness for DVD players and Grandpa's movies. The baby slept most of the way. She woke up to eat and she slept well at night too. So that was great! It was just when we got here and saw our stuff that was the hard part. Oh, she is getting restless! Sorry! I have got to get her. But I will try to post again soon! Just wanted you to know I am alive and in Louisiana! We already have callings! We are the Young Single Adult leaders, which means Justin is the Institute teacher. I'll let you know how that goes! Ok, I really gotta go now!

Sorry, no pics!

We leave in 2 weeks. Lots of packing to do. Justin just went back to find a house. But rentals are very expensive out there. But he found one in a good school district and that is what is important. I am sorry about the pics. Our battery died in the camera and I can't access the pictures. But the announcements are going out soon so you can see that picture soon. I probably won't blog again until we get to Louisiana, so see ya!

Back to LA

FYI We are going back to Louisiana! Justin got a full-time job back at UL in Lafayette so we will be going back in about 3 weeks. Talk about coming down to the wire! But he has a job! Yea!!! Also, I am doing well. I now officially weigh less than when I got pregnant which makes me very happy! So now I just need to keep losing!

Lorelai Wavy

Well, Lorelai Wavy Bates has arrived. She came Thrs morning at 9:04am, June 21. She was a tiny little peanut of 5 lbs 6 oz and 17 1/2 inches. She is a great baby!!! She sleeps well at night and hardly ever cries. I went to the doc on Wed the 20th and on the way home went into labor. We called a sitter and went to the hospital. The on-call doc did not want to come in the middle of the night and so I was in labor the entire night before he delivered her by c-section. I had only dilated to a 1 after 16 hours of labor. But I had 2 previous c-sections, so I knew I would have another. It has been a little over 2 weeks and I am feeling a lot better. I am so glad to have her out of me!!! She is a doll! I will post pictures as soon as I can. Thanks for all of the support!

My helpful husband...

I went to the doctor yesterday an I have to wait 2 more weeks. She says we need to keep her in there for as long as possible. I understand, I am just not happy about it. But I will take it in stride. I can do 2 more weeks. I have lasted this long! So after the doctor's appt I threw caution to the wind and went shopping. I had sold some of Hilton's baby clothes at a consignment shop so I had a few bucks and I went to Target and bought some cute little purple onesies and a matching purple recieving blanket. hey are adorable. I also bought some binkies. Yes, I am a big spender. Let me tell you about the onesies. I told Justin we needed onsies for the baby. We have some 3-6 month that my mother-in-law got us, but no 0-3. Seeing that I usually have small babies, I knew we would need some. So I sent him to Walmart to pick someup. He found some on clearance and was so proud of himself! He got 2 packages. They were all boys onsies. Blue... and they had boy sayings and pictures of cars and airplanes on them. I was like, WHAT are you THINKING??? I swear he still thinks this baby is a boy. He says he wants a girl, but he doesn't want to get his hopes up. Anyway, he said, OH! I didn't even think about it! But she can wear these, right? They will just be under her clothes. He seemed so apologetic, he kept randomly apologizing all day long. So I told him that I found some more onsies, (I did, actually going through the baby clothes sat) and we could just take them back. He was cool with that. Anyway, I have a couple of onsies and we will just have to wash them a lot because I am not sending him back to the store to buy anything for this baby. I also asked him to buy some diapers and he bought the wrong size, and I just said, we can use them, eventually... He is trying very hard. But I will just let him do the stuff he really knows how to do, like empty the dihwasher. I never thought I would say this, but I cannot wait to be able to do the shopping and cleaning again!!!

Finishing touches

I am going to the doctor this week. I am hoping she will say that I can have the baby. Something tells me it might happen. Justin and I cleaned out the garage on Saturday. We went through all of the kids clothes and got rid of all the boy stuff and some of the girl stuff. Lorelai will not need us to buy her anything! Except onesies. Caroline had way too many clothes as a toddler. Anyway, that is very helpful. We also got all the necessary tools for baby out. I washed all the baby clothes. Now I just have to wash the bouncy seat and swing and boppy. Then Justin needs to do the pack 'n play and we will be ready for this kid. Everything is out though and ready to go. So I am a happy girl. I had a very bad, painful night on Sat so Justin refused to let me go to church on Sun. I was so worried that they (The Primary Presidency) would screw everything up. I do feel like I am holding everything together. But I am sure everything went fine. And they need to get used to me not being there. The pain is getting really bad now. I can hardly walk at all. So , like I said, if the doc clears me to have this baby this week, or even next week, I will be OVERJOYED!!!!

Dropping out

Well, school has been out all week and Caroline has done nothig but complain about how bored she is. We still have not gotten stuff ready for the baby. I have to wash all the clothes, wash all the stuff like the pack 'n play the bouncy seat the swing. I did get the stroller put together. But Justin needs to bring everything else up from the basement or in from the garage. I felt a lot better but I still have bad days. I think the baby has dropped because I feel like she could fall out at any minute! Seriously! Everytime I stand up I am just worried that she will fall out and I will have to say to Justin, "Can you pick that up for me?" Anyway, 3 weeks from today is the date of the c-section. I am sure I will make it until then. No early babies this time. She needs to cook for as long as possible! So, I will keep all posted!

Here comes summer

Just 2 1/2 days of school left for Caroline. Today she is going to the Carousel for a class trip and she is pretty pumped about that. The Carousel closes as soon as school starts and doesn't open again until school is out, so it has been a long time since she has ridden and she is pretty excited. She is also excited for school to be out. THat will last about 2 days. I am so boring because I can't go anywhere or do anything. Justin takes them places when he can, but he is so busy... I am worried about the next 4 weeks for the kids. They are going to go crazy, and take me with them! Hilton has a class trip on Friday. They are going to Bear World! It is a place right off HWY 20 that "Brings Yellowstone to you!" I have heard it is kind of lame, but there are animals everywhere and supposed to be bears! I know he will get a kick out of that. Today or tomorrow I have to get a birthday gift for Justin, no clue what to get. His b-day is tomorrow! And I have to get gifts for Caroline's teachers... This is too much. Being a parent is hard work... and I don't even do anything!!! I have been feeling better lately. I think the prospect of actually having this baby is great. I wish I had set a date sooner! I do know that she is going to be out of my body in just a matter of weeks, and that is a very good feeling. She is still very active, and she is growing but not astronomically so. I am sure we will have another petite baby. I have book group tonight, so I will get to see my friends. THey have been great about calling me and bringing food and stuff. But I still don't see them as often as I would like. Unfortunately, they have lives, that do not revolve around me... I hope I can make it tonight. The evening is when i have usually had it and when the contractions start and I have to get right in bed and stay there. And book group doesn't start until 8pm. But 2pm I have to call it a day. But I will do my best to really take it easy today so I can make it. I will definitely not be at the next one! I am really excited for summer. I would be more excited if I could go to the lake and the water park and do all kinds of summery things. But for now, I just have to be the living microwave for the child in my tummy. I am grateful for this blessing, but I am very grateful that this will be the last one for me!

Latest report

Well, I had a doctor visit on Monday and everything looked really good. Even though I am having painful, horrible, body-wracking contractions, my cervix is staying strong. So no baby anytime soon. Which is great news, exceptt for the painful, horrible, body-wracking contractions. I wish pregnancy were as beautiful as it looks on tv. Anyway, my doctor is very impressed with how well I have kept my diabetes in check. I have NO sign of gestational diabetes. She had told me at my first appt that there was a 100% chance that I was going to have that complication and have to go on insulin for at least part of my pregnancy, but that is not the case. The baby is normal size, so I will not have gigantore baby... which is a miracle due to my pre-existing diabetic condition. I have only gained 9 lbs so far in this pregnancy, so everything else is really going fantastic. Besides the painful, horrible, body-wracking contractions. I have been watching the Jazz in the Western Conference finals and that may be a contributing factor to the contractions. My father-in-law is sure that if I continue to watch the basketball games, I will have this baby right on the couch, because I get so worked up! Justin's Arkansas interview went well yesterday. They said they would let him know if they want to meet with him further. But since he hasn't heard by now, (it has not even been 24 hrs) he thinks that it is a no-go. He really was hoping this would work out. But I say we need to give it a little more time before we give up. We should hear from Georgia by the end of the month. Justin's play opened last night. He will be very happy when it is over. It has been difficult for him. He is constantly on the go, and it will be nice when he is home in the evenings again. The kids need a bath desperately. Caroline can do it herself, but Hilton still needs help and it is really painful for me to be crouched over the bathtub. So I will be glad when Justin can do that every night. My friend, Erin came over last evening with her kids. She brought pizza and limeade and the kids played and I held her adorable 4 month old son. It was so nice to have someone over to talk to that I nearly cried when she left. It gets very lonely when you have nowhere to go. And people don't want to "bother" you when you are on bedrest. Tina, my sister, came to visit me when I was in Ogden last week and that was WONDERFUL!!! It was so nice to be able to talk to someone! I have had some friends call occasionally, but it is not the same as a visit. Once the weather warms up and summer starts and school is out, maybe some schedules will slow down and more people will have time to hang out. Speaking of warming up! It snowed yesterday! We got about an inch on the ground that did not melt until afternoon! It is very chilly out there. It is supposed to gradually warm up again, but last week it was in the 80's! That is Rexburg for ya!

My boring life...

Well, I am paying bills online today so I am out of bed. I know I should not be, but I am really getting cabin fever. I know I will be paying for it tonight when I am having contractions again... We went to Utah so Justin could go to his interview in Georgia. Did I tell you he had a job interview in Georgia? Anyway the interview went really great, but Justin does not want to go there. The school boasts 219 students, that is the entire college! And is really run down. Not to mention the nearest livable town is 45 minutes away. If he gets an offer, we will pray about it, but it is unlikely he will take it. But more good news! He has a phone interview on Tues with Southern Arkansas University! I have done some research about the school and the town of Magnolia and they seem pretty great. So I am really going to pray that this job is a better opportunity for him and that he will get an interview and an offer from them. I have been having very vivid dreams about having this baby. The other night I dreamt that I had the baby, it was a boy, and he came out as a one or two yearold. The kid had braces on his teeth! Last night I dreamt that I had a doctor that only spoke Spanish and she was going to do my C-Section with a huge knife in my run-down apartment, that I aparently lived in. And there were all kinds of people there to watch and noone was wearing scrubs! And Justin kept touching the knife and I kept saying, "You are going to make it unsterile!!!" Pretty freaky. Anyway... My life is very boring. I go from the bed, to the couch, to the bed. That is my exciting life. The kids are frustrated because I can't take them to the park. I am too! I hate having to lay down all the time. But even sitting up for more than an hour causes pesky contractions. So I always have to be horizonal. Hmm, is there a way (besides the obvious) that I could make money having to lie down all time! Anyways, if anyone gets bored, call me! I spend a lot of time on the phone...