tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14795202537673057412023-11-16T06:07:14.607-08:00Hercules FamilyHercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-78063437856940170802013-03-30T07:37:00.002-07:002013-03-30T07:37:48.986-07:00Our New HouseGoing back to January 1, 2013, buying a house was nowhere on the goal list for this year. Honestly, we didn't even think it would be an option for at least 5 more years. We had no down payment saved, and honestly we were happy renters. If something went wrong, it was great to just call the landlord. We knew there were some benefits to owning, like the tax write-offs and things, but again, we really just didn't think we could afford it. With four kids and a teacher's income, it just wasn't going to happen. Back to the point, we just didn't think it would be in the cards for us anytime soon, and I was fine with it.<br />
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We are currently renting a 3 bedroom house and it has worked great, except Kevin (5 months) is still sleeping in our room. He still doesn't sleep through the night so we have not wanted to put him in a room with any of the other kids. We knew our contract was ending the end of April, so we thought at that time we would look for a 4 bedroom house to rent. Well, in Plano the cheapest 4 bedroom we found was $1800/month and my initial thought was, I'm sure you could buy a house and have a mortgage cheaper then that! So that is why I even had the first thought of buying.<br />
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Our good friends were going through the house buying process and they stopped by to drop some toys off for our kiddos (they were downsizing, so thanks for the free stuff:)) I was just talking to them for a few minutes to see what it was like and who their realtor was. I knew there were some programs out there for first time home owners and I knew there were some classes to take and things so maybe I would just call to see if the process would take a year or more then maybe we could get started....<br />
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So I called Paul, who is an amazing realtor, and told him we would just like some information. He gave me the name of a loan officer and said it basically starts there. I then called Armando, the loan officer, to get some information. Turns out his company is actually in association with Plano School District and there were some things we didn't need to pay for like fees and things, because Kyle was a teacher in the district. Well that was great news! So I filled out the application. I talked to Armando's assistant, Carmen and told her all about these student loans we have in deferment. Basically we are part of the IBR program. With this program, they calculate the amount of people in your family and your annual income to determine how much you pay on your student loans monthly. Once you qualify for IBR for 25 years, your loans are forgiven. I tell Carmen this info, that we have student loans in deferment, didn't seem to be a problem. I also tell her that Kyle tutors on the side. He makes pretty good money doing it, but he didn't do it very long last year, so we didn't have to claim it on our taxes. Again, this didn't seem to be a problem. So we filled everything out and low and behold we pre-qualified!!!! That was news to us. Like I already mentioned, and I'm sure I will keep mentioning, I just didn't think we would have the money to even pre-qualify. <br />
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Well with that letter, we decided to start looking at houses. <br />
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Our first requirement was the house be in Plano school district. We love the special ed programs here, they have really helped Josh and we didn't want to take him out of that. We also wanted at least 2 living areas. As a stay at home mom, the living areas are where we are all day. The kids don't just play in their bedrooms, so I didn't care if those were tiny, I just want great family living space. So we looked at house after house after house. All 4 bedrooms with 2 living areas and all built in the 70s or earlier and you could TELL! For example the ovens back then were 24" and the ones now are 30" so a big difference and we would have to do some major remodel/updating to even just put a new oven in. Kyle and I talked about, when we get a house we want it to be for the long haul. A house that we can raise our family in and not grow out of in 2 years. All the houses in Plano we felt we would grow out of soon. And they are just really low on inventory right now. If a house was on the market for more then a week that was a long time to be on the market. If we even kind of liked a house it would be under contract latter that day, so you had to make a decision fast. So if you don't get your off in right away, you won't get the house. After seeing houses go so fast I started getting nervous that we just wouldn't find one that we liked, in our budget, and in time (we had to let our landlords know if we would be staying or not). I created a pro/con list of buying/renting. Yes, I am a major list maker... and after that list I had decided we just need to rent for a while longer, we just aren't ready to buy yet. I distinctly remember being so super tired one day with a new baby. I had decided to talk to Kyle that night about renting for a while longer. Hannah was taking a nap, the boys were watching a movie and I was holding Kevin, reclining in a chair hoping to just catch a few minutes of a nap. My eyes were sinking shut when I just had this overwhelming feeling that we needed to buy, that Heavenly Father had a house for us, and it is what we need to do now. I instantly was wide awake and had energy the rest of the day. It was such and overwhelming feeling that I knew it was what we needed to do, and honestly that instance is what has helped me get through this whole process. <br />
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After not finding anything in Plano, we decided to expand our property search to McKinney. You can get a lot more house for your money. And as much as we love being 7 minutes away from Grandma and Grandpa Hercules, we needed to find a house we could raise our family and that fit our budget. We were looking at tons of houses in McKinney (I think we saw a total of 30 houses) and there was one that I really liked. It was a foreclosure and had been on the market for 4 1/2 months, which was a super long time. We wanted to put an offer on it. So that night we wrote up the offer and as we were going through it we found out we needed the Earnest Money to "hold it." Yep, we didn't have it, so we couldn't submit the offer. We had to wait for our tax return to get in. That meant waiting a month and looking again then. I was hoping the house would still be available at that time and we could put the offer in then. So everyday that month I checked and it was still available. I didn't want to get my hopes up to high, but I was thinking, its been here this long, so maybe...<br />
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A month goes by and we get our tax return! Yeah, we are ready to put an offer on the house!! But guess what, the house went OFF the market the exact night before we wanted to put the offer on it. WHAT?!?!?!?!? I couldn't believe it. It seemed like this was supposed to be our house, it had waited for us to get they money. So, back to the drawing board. We started looking again, and found another house we liked. Space wise it wasn't my favorite compared to the first one, but it had new carpet/paint and was compelelty move-in ready. Kyle loved it, so we wanted to put an offer on this one. It had just gone on the marked that day (a Thursday) and we saw it at like 1pm, so we were pretty confident and were ready to make an offer. Our realtor called saying he just talked to the listing agent and there were already 4 other offers. So we offered $5000 more then listing price, but there was a cash offer on the table that they picked, so we didn't get that house, obviously.<br />
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We were just thinking we didn't want to settle for a house so maybe we would just stay in our rental one more year and look again next year. Then our Realtor called us saying the original house we wanted was back on the market. It already had multiple offers but they weren't very strong. So right away we offered the asking price, but asked for closing and the home warranty and a few other things. This was on Friday, and being a foreclosure, the bank wouldn't look at offers until the next Tuesday (Monday was a holiday). So we waited, and found out on Tuesday they accepted our offer over 14 others!!!!! We were so excited they picked ours, but at the same time we knew it was still the beginning of the process, so not too excited. <br />
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So now we were officially under contract and all the timelines began. We had 7 days to get the HOA documents-$300. Then 10 days for the inspection- $325 house inspection, $95 termite inspection. And 21 days to secure financing.<br />
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Here's where it became the biggest, most stressful pain in my neck! I never want to go through financing again. I compile the whole list of everything they asked us to get and turned it in. Then it's print sign and fax back in packet after packet. Yep, if you buy a house, buy a fax machine first:) Thanks to grandma for having one and helping us. I'm a very private person financially and so this was really hard for me having somebody comb through every single penny we earned or spent. The first issue that came up was Kyle's paychecks did not match up with how much we originally said he made. Right, because tutoring isn't on a paycheck. But then the issue was we couldn't count that because it wasn't on the tax return. Right because he didn't make enough money doing it for us to claim it. Well apparently that through our debt to income ratio off and we didn't qualify anymore. WHAT?!?!<br />
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And we had to many student loans. But if they were in deferment for over a year we didn't have to count them. Well, they were good until March 2014, so I thought they were good, and I still don't understand why, but apparently that's not a year...so now we are having issues here too. We change house insurance companies in order to bring the cost down some so that will help the ratio and we send in all the information proving the loans are in deferment. Then we had to do a three way call with the student loan lenders and the loan officer to for them to say it was in deferment. But then the issue is the processor says, yes they are fine now, but what is going to happen when these loans come due. So he wanted to know how long we would qualify. It goes year by year and we couldn't guaruntee how long we would qualify, and neither could the student loan companies because there are so many factors. They referred us to a website they use to determine if we qualify. So we get on the website with the loan officer and processor to show them how long we would qualify. Here is the really sad part: based on how many kids we have, and with a teacher's salary, even including a yearly raise, which at the most is $400/yr, Kyle would have to teach for 75 more YEARS for us to not qualify anymore! HAHAHA so we basically proved that we will qualify for the duration of the house loan:) Oh man, that's so sad it's funny. <br />
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We get all this information, and spend all this time doing it, and then they call saying that they aren't due until March 2014, so they don't have to count them. WHAT? That's what I said in the first place! Well, at least that isn't an issue anymore. We have to turn in our bank statements for the past year and they see deposits every month from checks. They as what they are, that's the tutoring money. Well, since it is continuous and on the statements they can count the tutoring money. What? That's what I said in the first place! Unnecessary stress. I think it was hard too because they had to call me for everything, since obviously Kyle can't answer the phone while he is teaching. So it was just really hard on me trying to do it all and turn it all in quickly.<br />
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While this is all going down our 21 days to secure financing is coming to a close. So I'm freaking out about that. It finally goes to the underwritter and it is there for a day when our 21 days is ending. It's 4:30pm and we still haven't heard anything. I think we only have 30 minutes to get this done and it just isn't going to happen. I cried for like the 100th time over this house thinking we aren't going to get it because financing isn't going through on time, and at this point we will just be out $3000. Kyle kept telling me, it's just money. Which is totally true, but it's still hard. I tried calling everyone and nobody was answering. Kyle gets home around 5 to me crying that we aren't getting this house. Luckily he got a hold of the loan officer and he was told it is more like a "soft close." They like it to be financed by then, but you really have to closing. Phew, but really what's the point of the deadline then? Just to freak me out I guess.<br />
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Remember I said we had no money for this house other then our tax return, and with the earnest money, HOA stuff, and inspections that money is gone, so how are you going to put a down payment down? Here is where being a teacher is AMAZING! They have a Teacher's Bond that covers the down payment! It's like a big pot and there is only so much, so you have to request the money and see how much you get. Luckily with buying at the beginning of the year, there is still money in there. First we were told the money couldn't be requested until we were under contract. We were under contract for a month and we still didn't have it. Then they tell us we couldn't request it until we had final loan approval. But we couldn't get final loan approval until we could prove we had money to close, which included down payment. Ok, something doesn't make sense there.... you can't get one without the other, but you can't get that one without the other one.... I brought that up to them and then we get the form to request the bond money. And we have to apply for another program through Texas, MCC, which apparently means we get 35% of the interest on the house per year up to $2000. So that's great, but we have to pay another 1% of the house at closing. Yeah, more money to pay....I just felt like I was in the dark with everything. I've never done this before some I know nothing about the process and all this stuff kept coming up and nobody told me, I had to go look up what everything was. It's just hard to feel like a dummy.<br />
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We are now in the week we are supposed to close and still don't have final loan approval, we don't know if we got the bond money, and we don't know how much money we need to close, so we don't even know if we can afford to close. We were set to close on Friday and on Thursday we finally get the call that we have final loan approval, the bond money came through, and we just owe $320 total to close!!!!!!!! I can't put enough explanation marks after that. I couldn't believe it! The day before we are supposed to close and finally everything comes together. But you have to have a little drama that day right. So we were going to sign everything and close on Friday, however the financing probably wouldn't go through until Monday, so that is when we would get the keys. Well, Monday is April and the loan had to be funded in March, so they were trying to get us to close on Thursday so it could fund on Friday. I'm trying to get a hold of Kyle to see if he could get his classes covered and come home to sign the forms. So he is scrambling to do that, but the title company couldn't do it, so we had to wait until Friday and they would just have to rush the payment. <br />
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The bank that owned the house is in Kentucky, so they had a mobile notary come do the signing with us. We just asked her to come to our home, so that was easy:) Grandma Hercules took the kiddos to McDonalds to play. We sat at our table to sign or initial what seemed to be a whole book! And you can't just sign Sarah Hercules, you have to do your middle name too. Which was harder for Kyle with a middle name of Eugene, having to spell everything out legibly took a while. It took about an hour. About 2 hours after that the house was funded and we have keys!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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Wow, can see how we are supposed to be in this house? So many things happened and I know this has not just worked out by chance. Heavenly Father prepared this entire journey for us, and I know it is only because of Him that we got this house!<br />
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So, we now have our very own house! It has some work to be done, but we can't even say how excited we are for this next chapter in our lives!<br />
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<br />Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-56215697992665539622013-03-04T07:51:00.001-08:002013-03-04T07:51:46.516-08:00Mirena MadnessI have had many people ask me lately if I have a blog, or tell me I need to write a blog and I could make a ton of money. Honestly I have no idea how people make money writing a blog, and even have time to do on continually. But, I have a bunch of ideas of things to blog about, and I really think that my story could help other people, so maybe I should write more... I say that now:) But with everything I could be writing about like having 4 kids the oldest is 5 and one has Autism, or our process of buying a house (which we should be closing on at the end of this month!!) today I want to write about the Mirena (hints the name of this post)<br />
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FYI- This post may be a little TMI for some, dealing with "girly things" so stop reading now if you don't want to know the details:)<br />
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I have tried birth control pills, and even if I didn't go crazy on them, I still can't take them because I have a history of blood clots, which they believe was from the pill. After my oldest son was born I had the Mirena put in and it was the most painful process ever!! And even after that painful experience I could feel it (like I didn't put a tampon in far enough) and they didn't cut the strings so every time I wiped I felt like I was going to pull it out. Anyway, so after a month of that I had it taken out. I was living in Idaho when I had this experience. So, basically I can't have anything with estrogen and the only other option was a depo shot or the little metal thing that goes in your arm (I can't think of what that is called now...). My cousin introduced me to a method called Fertility Awareness Method (just get the book, it's great). That is what I did after I had blood clots and after I had my third child. It really works for me. Basically you track your temp, cervical fluid, and cervix (I only did the first two) to know when you are ovulating. Our bodies truly are amazing things that can tell us these kind of thing. However, in order for it to be affective you have to track consistently. Luckily there are many Apps now that can help, I like the Period Tracker (it has a picture of a flower as the face). Well, after my fourth child I really didn't want to have any more kids right away and I thought maybe it would be easier to not have to track every single day. Of course the doctor is going to push some kind of birth control. So after talking to my doctor, I decided to try the Mirena again.<br />
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This doctor (now in Texas) numbed my cervix, which I have never had done before, so that felt kind of weird... but at least it didn't hurt to be put in this time. And he cut the strings so I can't feel anything at all. That is about all that has been positive about the experience. I was losing weight consistently from eating right and exercising, but as soon as I had the M put in, I have not been able to loose a pound. They say that weight gain is not a side effect, however after really digging on the Mirena's official website apparently there was weight gain in under 5% of users, so maybe I'm in that 5% and I'm just not gaining weight because I am striving to take care of my body. That's just a bummer to be doing all the work and not seeing any results. If that was all, it wouldn't be so bad, not great, but not awful.<br />
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I had the M inserted over 3 months ago and I am still bleeding every single day. Yep, you read that right. Including the bleeding after having my fourth baby, I have been bleeding every single day for 4 1/2 months! I describe it as, more then a panty liner could hold, but I'm not soaking through pads or anything. Well after bleeding for 6 weeks I called the doctor. They said in a perfect world, you would only spot a couple of days and then you would have little to no periods for the next 5 years (the length of the M). But that it could take up to 3 months for the bleeding to stop. So I just though, well I guess I will give it the full 3 months. I did, and still bleeding every day. I call the doctor back (just talking to a nurse) and she was like, that is not normal to bleed every day. Maybe continued spotting for up to 3 months, but not bleeding every day. So the options? First is to take a pill to regulate my body, but oh, I have a history of blood clots, so I can't do that, not that I would want to, I don't like the idea of all those hormones in my body. Second to take a progesterone shot, which would force me to have a period and then hopefully regulate my body. However, the issue with that is there is a 50/50 chance it would work, or it could cause my body to bleed a ton more and not stop, which obviously is not good, so they don't really want to do that. Third, have it removed. The downside to that? They want $250 just to pull it out! Um, we are in the process of buying a house right now and we just don't have $250 to spend on that. Honestly I have tried taking it out myself, I can feel the strings, but I just can't get a grip on them. So what do I do? Still I'm not sure. <br />
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There are other things too, like how tired I am ALL the time, and I cry at everything! If I didn't have an IUD, I might think I was pregnant:) I guess the concern now too with all the bleeding is that I am anemic. <br />
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I was talking to Kyle about it and I asked, "Why does my body not like birth control?" He responded, "Because a woman as beautiful as you should never stop having babies!" yep, he is the best husband ever!!!<br />
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Lesson learned is that I just need to track, it works for me, and it is natural and healthy. I don't need or want extra things in my body that cause me to not "be me." Another lesson is to not let somebody talk me into something (I was really hesitant to get the M because of my first experience, and ulitmatly the decision was mine, but I did feel a lot of pressure from the doctor). I am so grateful to be able to have children and I love all of mine dearly, but I just don't want to have 20 kids:) Even though they would all be super cute!! <br />
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Well hopefully we can get something worked out this week, where I will stop bleeding and I can have my body back. But if you are thinking of getting the Mirena, in my experiences, Don't Do It!!!Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-17237324369514413712013-01-17T04:18:00.000-08:002013-01-17T04:18:03.442-08:00Half Way through JanuaryThe half way point is always exciting, it means you have made it to the top of the hill and now you are on your way down. They say that it takes 21 days to create a habit so I'm nearly there and overall I am pretty proud of the changes I have made. We have read our scriptures every day as a family and had real FHEs each week. I have personally read my scriptures every day, as well as read ahead of time the scriptures/lessons for Sunday School and RS. I have been really good at praying every night, but I'm still working on getting a moment to myself in the morning. I write 5 things I am grateful for everyday in my gratitude journal. I have cut out all sugar and pop from my diet. I am typically in bed by 9:30 or 10 and up at 5:30 or 7 (depending on if I'm running that day). Which brings me to my next point, things I haven't been, or I feel I haven't been ABLE to do. I have made it through the first 2 weeks of the couch to 5k program and even though I don't consider myself a runner I always feel better after I go. What I mean by not being able is the fact that my 3 month old still doesn't sleep through the night... I know I have written about that before, and maybe it's because all my other kids were sleeping through the night by this point. But for example last night I was in bed by 9:30, up with Kevin from 1-3, finally back to bed, Kyle gets up with him at 4:30, my alarm goes off at 5:30 to run, but I have Kyle go back to bed since he didn't get to sleep till after 11. So I'm sitting here writing this blog and holding Kevin instead of running getting in some time to myself....And the other area I have been wanting to improve in is piano. I love getting to play and I love having a piano! The hard thing is whenever I get a moment to sit down and play ALL 3 older kids suddenly have an interest and want to play too. It makes it very hard playing the notes I want to with 8 hands on the keys:) We have a little 3 bedroom house all one story so it's not like I can play at night when they go to bed. So I'm still trying to figure things out there.<br />
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So overall like I said I feel like I'm doing the really important stuff better, but it is the things that I would really like to do but involves no children (exercise and piano) that have not been happening as often as I would like. Maybe at this point I need to just be ok with that and realize that is just where my life is right now and one day I won't have any babies to keep me from running and I will wish I had that excuse:) I really like checking off what I did for the day and seeing where I am. I do feel better overall and I feel like I'm a better mom. <br />
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Well I finally got Kevin back to sleep at 6, but here comes Conner strolling out of his room so it looks like whether I'm ready, well rested or not, it's time to start the day!Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-10197480063877424762012-12-31T19:47:00.003-08:002012-12-31T19:47:57.555-08:002012I remember being a kid and thinking I was to young to be the oldest child. I always wanted to be 10, then 12, then 14, 16, 18... see a pattern? Time seemed to take forever and I just wanted to be an adult. Now that I am an adult I LOVE it! Of course there are things that aren't so fun...bills... but I would much rather take that on then be a kid again. And like they say, time flies when you are having fun. It seems like time just goes faster and faster the older you get, and I think I have narrowed it down to when I got married time has gone faster. We just celebrated our 6 year anniversary on Dec 30. I can't believe it has been 6 years already, yet I can't believe it has only been 6 years.... Like many people you can't help but reflect on the last day of the year what the year has brought and 2012 did not disappoint. Some of the highlights of what happened:<br />
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*Kyle and I took our first vacation alone (we didn't even have a honeymoon so this was a big deal)! We went to San Diego for Lynda's (Kyle's sister) wedding. My sister Melanie came and watched our kids. We got to go to Universal, Sea World, horse back riding on the beach, walking in downtown LA, and tons more super fun things, just the two of us</div>
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*Found out I was pregnant</div>
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*Moved from a townhouse to a house</div>
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*Found out Joshua has Autism</div>
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*Conner and Joshua started preschool (YEAH!!!)</div>
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*Had baby Kevin:)</div>
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*Saw my whole side of my family (except my brother who is on a mission in Singapore)</div>
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*Ben (Kyle's brother) came home from his mission to Mexico</div>
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*of course all the holidays: Halloween (everybody were superheros, Thanksgiving, Christmas) </div>
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*6th Anniversary (Kyle planned the entire event. He took me to a great Mexican place we have never tried, saw Les Mes, went to TGIF for brownie obsessions, and surprised me by taking me to a hotel so we could actually sleep through the night among other things...:))</div>
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Yep, a very busy year, and like I mentioned, time has FLOWN by. </div>
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I have never been one to do resolutions. Like most it would last for like a month and then I would stop, so I just never would do them. However I really felt this year there are some things I really need to be better about doing. But I don't want to do yearly, but I'm going to focus on Daily. Then those dailies will add up to monthlies and then that will add up a the year. But if you look at just the year it is way to much to handle, so again, I'm focusing on what I need to be doing daily for myself for me to be a better person, woman, wife, and mother. Some things I am doing are: personal daily prayers twice a day (Kyle and I are really good at couple prayers, but not single), daily personal scripture readying for at least 15 min a day, I really want to run a 5K, I have never done it before...I'm not a runner, but this is something I really want to do in the year 2013, so I will! also, practicing the piano 30 min a day, and writing in my gratitude journal 5 things I'm grateful for every night. I found a really great journal on Amazon that has every day listed with 5 lines to write things you are grateful for. It's called "the Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude" if you want to look it up. I also found on the Sugar Doodle website a calendar check list thing that happened to have all the goals I want to do, so the entire calendar fits on half sheet of paper and you mark it different ways to show what you did that day. I really like stuff like that so I want to do it faithfully for the entire month and January and see how I feel, if I have noticed a difference in who I am for the better (I'm sure I will). So, I will do my best to be better at blogging so the 3 people who read this will know if it is working:) </div>
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As a family we chose our theme for 2013 to be "I can chose to be happy today" We figured it was simple enough for the kids to understand and it is something we can all work on, to have a positive attitude no matter what happens. Our family scripture for the year comes from Psalms 118:24 I can't quote it yet exactly but it is the verse that says, "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." So again, being grateful and happy in each day that the Lord has blessed us with. </div>
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All in all, a great 2012 and I'm so excited for what 2013 will be bringing the Hercules Family:)</div>
Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-9781255998511763682012-12-26T03:40:00.001-08:002012-12-26T03:40:23.876-08:00Christmas Eve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Christmas this year has been so much fun! It's the first year that I think the kids have actually understood Santa and that just makes it magical. We started the month doing some advents. And now that I am a Pinterest addict, I had so many great ideas to choose from. Both the turkey and Santa in the picture are ideas from Pinterest, so if you can go to my board "Holiday Ideas" sorry I'm not putting a link with the word "here" but I just don't know how:) The Santa had no beard so everyday we put a cotton ball on to fill it up. The kids really enjoyed it. Conner is wearing an apron because we were making cookies for Santa after church.</div>
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I just think Conner looks so funny in this picture, you really see his personality. He is such the oldest child....bossy! And I can say that because I'm an oldest child too:)<br />
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Christmas Eve was a full and fun day. We were able to clean up the house to be ready for Santa, then after lunch the kiddos all went to Grandma and Grandpa Hercules so mommy and daddy could go on a "date." Said date included coming back home and putting together a trampoline! We also had the pjs on the fireplace with Texas the Elf sitting on them. He wrote a note saying how much he loved being our elf and how proud he was to always tell Santa about the good choices we made. After setting up the trampoline, Kyle and I braved Walmart....it was crazy busy, so happy we didn't have the kids with us! By this time it was dark so we went to get the kids (we were counting on the darkness to help hide the trampoline. The kids had a great time with some of their favorite people. I love living 10 min away from them!! We picked up the munchkins and headed over to some of our friends from church home, the Johnson family. They always do like a Christmas Eve open house. Shannan us an amazing chef and she had so much food, mostly tasty cookies and treats, there was no way you could have left hungry. Their daughter Savannah us our go to babysitter. The kids just LOVE her and were so excited to go to "Savannah's house." She is only 12, but she is wonderful! Love her!! We were there for about an hour, but Kevin was hungry and somehow the formula was left at grandmas....so we took the long way home, again to avoid the trampoline and stopped in front of the house. I had the boys help me check the mail since I "forgot" just so we could go in the front door. They were so excited to get their pjs and look like Texas. It may be the only year I could get them all exactly matching and I think they look so stinking cute!<br />
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We set out cookies and milk and did our normal bedtime routine and sent the kiddos off to sleep....<br />
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Well I started this post about a quarter to 5am while feeding Kevin and he is now back asleep so I'm going to go try and lay him down, and maybe I will get to write about Christmas day soon. Till then,,,,<br />
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<br />Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-218558469326879362012-12-24T06:22:00.002-08:002012-12-24T06:22:49.345-08:00Walking ZombiesWalking Zombies make good parents right? Well I sure hope so because that is how I feel 99% of the time. Kevin is still waking up every 2-2 1/2 hours ALL day and night. He is about 10 weeks old now, and I really feel like my other kids were at least sleeping 5-6 hours at a time by now. He is even on formula (I wasn't making hardly any milk) and aren't formula feed babies supposed to sleep better? And we swaddle him in the "swaddle me" which he seems to really like being a baby burrito. And he sleeps on his belly (sleeping on his back didn't even last 5 min.) I think partly the problem is the fact that he has a stuffy nose and has for the past 5 weeks.... but really? I was trying to think back to the other kids and I don't really remember when they started sleeping through the night, but I know it wasn't still eating every two hours at 10 weeks old. I think Heavenly Father blesses us to forget these types of things. PS. if this post isn't really making sense that would be because I was up at 4:30 this morning with Kevin, I finally got him back to sleep just in time for the other kids to wake up. That is probably another thing. With him being number 4 it's not like you can just "sleep when the baby sleeps" not going to lie, that ends after the first one:) And with having a 3 bedroom house the older boys sleep in one room, Hannah is in the other, and because of how poor a sleeper Kevin is he sleeps in a crib in our room, so every snort, grunt, or movement he makes I wake up to. So the few hours of sleep I get aren't consistant. So any mama's out there who have any advice on getting baby to sleep better feel free to let me know. You would think I would be a pro with having 4 kids in 5 years, but every child is SO SO SO SO SO different it is like becoming a first time mom again each time. I must say make-up is a gift from God! So at least when I'm out in public I don't look like a walking zombie, and it makes me feel so much better to get ready even on limited sleep. When done right every woman looks better with make-up, it's true, don't argue:) and my shameless plug, Mary Kay is the best make-up/skin care around, check out my website to see for yourself www.marykay.com/sarahhercules<br />
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Anyway, even though it sounds like I'm having a hard time because of a lack of sleep, I love having 4 kiddos. It is so fun to see how they play and interact with each other. We are 99.999999% Kevin is our last one and at first I was a little sad and wanting to enjoy every moment. I still want to enjoy the moments, but I'm no longer sad. Conner, Joshua, and Hannah are so much fun! I love getting to hear what they are thinking, games they like to play, stories they like to read, etc. It is also getting easier in some ways doing things with them, like we went on a walk through the woods and didn't have to worry about them running off and not being able to find them. This is the best age for Christmas too!! They are so excited for Santa to come tonight. They have loved doing the advents, especially adding cotton balls to Santa's beard. They love Texas the Elf and listening to Christmas music. <br />
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There are a few more things I have been wanting to blog about, but I'm out of time for now. Till next time.Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-18761395142751587872012-10-20T19:03:00.000-07:002012-10-20T19:03:19.384-07:00Baby KevinI know I seem to only write on my blog for birthdays and babies.... so since another baby has been born, I guess that means it is time to write again:) Plus, I always enjoy reading the birth stories of other kids so I'm sure somebody would enjoy reading mine!<br />
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Baby number 4 has been different in many different ways. First off the cravings during pregnancy were very different with this one. I wanted fresh and non-cooked food. Like fruits and sandwiches. I think it is for that reason that I only gained a total of 19 pounds for the entire pregnancy. Also, I didn't show very much for a long time. I thought with it being number 4 I would show very quickly, but it took till I was 32 weeks for people to really know I was pregnant. If you knew me before hand you might be able to tell before then, but it wasn't really noticeable till 32 weeks. And the biggest difference would be the position of the baby. I never had any concerns before with any of my other kiddos, but this one was sideways at the 20 week ultrasound and growing right under my bellybutton so it was hard to see with the shadow. Then for every ultrasound after that the baby was breech. At first I wasn't worried. The doctor said that 19 out of 20 babies would figure it out and turn. So I walked a lot and did different exercises that are supposed to help encourage the baby to turn. I tried every day to figure out what was a head or butt, if it was hiccuping where could I feel them the most? Over and over I would try to guess and I was just so tired of it. I would convince myself that the head was for sure low this time, but then I would go for an appointment and again baby would still be sitting up and I would be disappointed and feel like I had no idea what was going on. <br />
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Also, as a side point, we wanted to have this baby be a surprise on the sex. The pregnancy was very similar to Hannah's and I really thought it was a girl. One time though I went in for my appointment and my normal nurse was on vacation. He replacement for the week came in and said, "Congrats on a boy." "Thanks" I replied, "but it was supposed to be a surprise." ooppss...she felt so bad. I knew Kyle wanted to keep it a secret and I didn't want to ruin it for him, so that was no small feat keeping it a secret from him. Anyone who asked what it was I said it was a surprise because I didn't want it to get back to Kyle in any way. And it was just easier to pretend I didn't know then to explain...so that's what I did. Anyway, back to baby being breech.<br />
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So I was 37 weeks and baby still had not turned. I was on blood thinners again this time (a daily shot since I have had blood clots before, I did it as a precaution) so I was scheduled to be induced around 38/39 weeks. I knew I wanted the epidural and any other meds I could so I would have to plan when I would have the baby because if I took the blood thinner and went into labor on my own I couldn't have any meds including the epidural for 24 hours after I took the blood thinner which I was not about to risk:) So I'm 37 weeks, scheduled to have the baby the following week and the baby is still breech. Not what I wanted to hear. So we had a c-section scheduled for the following Wed, but I did have an appointment on Tues just to check one more time.<br />
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The following Monday Kyle and I were praying together and Kyle was asking the Lord to please help the baby turn. He asked according to our faith that if would happen and that he knew the Lord could turn the baby. Wow! I was a little floored by how intense he was. I was to the point of just praying for a healthy baby and quick recovery for me. I knew SO MANY people were praying and fasting for me and the baby, but I also thought that babies can come into this world in more then one way. So I went to my appointment on Tues afternoon without any expectation that the baby had turned and was just ready to get instructions on what to do to prepare for the operation in the morning.<br />
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The doctor started feeling the outside of my belly, and then proceeded to check my cervix. He felt for a bit and then said, "I may be crazy but that feels like a head." That really caught my attention! So he had me go over and do an ultrasound real fast just to double check. The lady said, yep that's a head and I gave a little "YEAH!!!" she probably thought I was crazy, but I was just so excited!!!! The doctor wanted me to go home and pack up my stuff and go to the hospital 2 hours later and they were going to soften my cervix through the night and have the baby in the morning.<br />
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I got everything ready and sent Kyle a message to call me and headed to the hospital. Nothing real exciting was supposed to happen through the night so Kyle was going to stay home and come first thing in the morning. I'm not sure what it is called how they softened my cervix, but they pretty much put this bendable rod thing through the opening in my cervix, then on the uterus side was filled a balloon with a fluid and on the vaginal side another balloon with more fluid. So the two balloons were putting pressure on my cervix to thin and dilate it. I'm getting contractions about every 3-5 min at this point and I felt cramping, but nothing to serious. I was able to get a pain killer in my IV and a sleeping pill to help me get one more good night of sleep. So, I'm really out of it obviously and they keep coming in to change the position of the monitors to read baby's heart rate. At one point it was taking a really really long time to find the heart rate, and they had to put it up by my ribs to finally get it. Well, that is not a good sign, so they had the on call doctor come in and wouldn't you know that little turkey turned back to breech! <br />
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The sent for the epidural and then the doctor was going to attempt turning the baby back to head down from the outside, I think it is called inversion. I really have no clue what is going on right now though because I was so out of it. The doctor needed to talk to Kyle to get the ok to do everything since I wasn't coherent enough I guess. Even now it is all such a fog I'm not sure how it all went down. I know they talked to Kyle and told him I sounded like I just had my 5th margarita. I remember being really wobbly and not being able to sit up on my own for them to do the epidural. And I remember the doctor attempting to turn the baby. She was able to turn him sideways but then he moved right back. Then the 2nd time she tried he turned all the way down and stayed down. But again, most of this I just vaguely remember, it's more I know that it happened more then I remember it happening.<br />
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The next morning Kyle came by and I was dilated to a 7/8 but the baby was still really high. The doctor showed up around 10am and broke my water. By 10:45 I was ready to push but had to wait for the doctor. He showed up and suited up and I was ready to push. I had a mirror in the room because I really wanted to see the baby come out. But I needed an extra set of eyes. With only one push the baby was out, but I was trying to look in the mirror and also look at the baby in person and also look at Kyle to see his reaction to having a boy since he didn't know..... phew just typing it all is making me crazy:) Anyway, the baby was a perfect little boy! 7 lbs 13 oz and 19 in long. Our smallest baby! We decided to name him after our dads. Kevin Larry. Thankfully Kyle was never serious about naming him Dirk, it was just a mean joke.....<br />
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The other kids love him! They want to hold him all the time! It just feels like our family is complete with him here.<br />
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On a side note, the hospital does not give you enough food to eat!!! I told them I needed a guest tray for every meal and made it sound like Kyle would eat it, but it was really so I would get enough to eat! haha... But other then that the hospital staff was great! I think it is funny how with your first you want the baby with you as much as possible, but now I'm like, I will be waking up with him plenty, the nursery can do it now and just bring him to me to eat... haha<br />
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Anyway, I'm so grateful Kevin is here and that the Lord answered our prayers!Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-55174760935940681032012-06-21T19:16:00.001-07:002012-06-21T19:16:55.853-07:00Birthday GirlYeah I'm finally able to rent a car without paying the extra youngsters fee:) I'm 25!!! I don't know any other 25 year old who is pregnant with their 4th kid, so I'm a little weird I guess, at least that's what I tell people when they can't believe I'm only 25. But I can have reached a quarter of a century!!! <br />
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My birthday went really well. Kyle had to teach summer school, which is only from 7:30am-2pm, and the kids were well behaved while he was working. I told them I was only going to change one diaper each that day, so they better make sure it was the one they wanted changed before asking me...haha:) I did make them lunch, but I didn't clean up any toys or do dishes or anything. I didn't even get out of my pj's till well after Kyle was home. My mother-in-law called to see if she could take me out for some girl time and Larry (dad-in-law) would watch the game with Kyle. I figured that was the real reason Sherry wanted to take me out was because Larry wanted to watch the game and they don't have cable, but they didn't want to be rude on my birthday so Sherry was going to take me out. I didn't think anything of it, and I knew I didn't have any other plans so of course I said yes.<br />
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Kyle came home and I took a nap, and finally got dressed and ready. I got Panda Express for dinner. I know it is fake Asian food, but for some reason I just LOVE their fried rice and broccoli beef, so that's what I got. Plus Mug Root beer which I never drink so that was wonderful too. Sherry came and picked me up and we went to the mall so Sherry could get me a birthday gift. I looked at a few different things, but for some reason I just really wanted some pj's. I found 2 pair that are SO comfortable I want to wear them all the time! I just love pj's. If we could wear them all day every day I totally would. I LOVE cheesecake but Kyle HATES it so we never get it. There is a cheesecake factory at the mall, so I stopped by and got a slice of Resses' Peanut Butter and a Red Velvet slice to take home and enjoy. Why choose between the two when you can just get both, it's my birthday right?!?!?<br />
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After that we had to run back to Sherry's house to pick up some cake and cupcakes. The two sisters she visit teaches have birthdays in June, so for this month they were going to take them out, and I tagged along. When we stopped by they house there was a small moving truck outside in the cul-de-sac and I was like "I wonder why there is a truck there" Sherry said it was probably the neighbors who travel a lot over the summer. I didn't think anymore of it and we got the cake. <br />
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We went to an Italian ice cream place to meet with the other sisters. It was my first time having jillato or however you spell it. I'm not even going to attempt to write the name of the Italian place because I know I will butcher that:) It was good to spend some adult girl time and then it was time to go home. We had been gone about 2 hours when we got back to my house. I walked in and Kyle came to meet us. He grabbed the bags out of my hand and covered my eyes. I had no idea what was going on and I knew that we didn't have a lot of extra money, especially with the recent move. Anyway he walks me into the family room, turns me around and has me open my eyes...<br />
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Right there was a beautiful piano! I couldn't believe it. How in the world did he get that, and arrange everything to get it into our house without me even having any suspicion?!?!? He is just too good. It's a cute little upright that is gently used, but in great condition. I hugged Kyle and I started crying. Of course I hugged my in-laws to as they helped so much and are so wonderful. I don't think I have ever cried over a gift before. I LOVE playing the piano and it was so hard not having one to play whenever I wanted. I still can't believe I have my own piano to use whenever I want. And they kids have all said they want me to teach them how to play:) I think Hannah is really going to be good. Anytime she walks by it she plays a couple keys and loves to sit by me and "dance" as I play. She even has a few favorite songs. Anyway, I was and still am very excited to have a piano in my home!!!<br />
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Needless to say it was a very memorable and wonderful 25th birthday!!! I can't wait for many more to come, that could be a lot of pianos:)Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-1846996305374063162012-06-12T18:31:00.002-07:002012-06-12T18:31:57.692-07:00The Sweetest Little ManOk, I think I'm about ready to talk about Joshua now. For anyone who doesn't know, about a month ago Josh was evaluated and they "suspected autism." Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones, but I just felt really overloaded with 3 kids and the oldest is 4 plus having another on the way, and then adding in a child with special needs, um I don't remember signing up for that. Anytime I thought about my special little man having autism, I would cry and think that there is no way I could handle that. People would offer to help and give me websites and things to look at, but anytime I tried I would cry... every time I would think I was ready to talk about it, I wasn't and I would cry...needless to say there have been a lot of tears over the past month, but at least today, I am ready to share what has been going on.<br />
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I have always known that Josh is a special little guy. He was born 3 weeks early with the cord wrapped around his neck. His nose was upturned and I was really worried that he would always look like a pig! haha (luckily he is super cute now) He was considered lacktoseintolerant (sp?) so he was on the "I'm allergic to everything" formula. At 6 weeks he was admitted to the hospital with RSV. He is super clumsy and always has bumps and bruises everywhere. He is the only child that still loves to snuggle with me and gives tons of hugs and kisses. He has always loved cars and trucks and is never seen without them in his hands. I thought I noticed some differences with him but maybe because I'm with him all the time I didn't see how major they were, or I just chose to ignore it. Over the past 5 months I have had probably about 5 different people ask me if Josh has any special needs or developmental needs. At the time I would say, no, not that we know of. But when that many people ask you over that short of a time you start to notice things....<br />
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The two main things that I noticed were that 1)he would never play with other kids. He would rather take is cars and sit in a corner and play by himself. 2)he doesn't make eye contact. With people he knows well he may look at them for up to 4 seconds tops and if he doesn't know you, you are lucky to get a 1 second look. For some reason, his pediatrician never noticed anything, but I decided to go in and have him evaluated. <br />
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About a month ago we went in to the initial or "mini" evaluation. Basically they let Joshie play with toys in a room while they asked me questions. It took about an hour and a half and Josh never interrupted once. I asked if that was normal and the said "no way." Even children with disabilities would check in with their parents or not feel comfortable playing by themselves in a new environment like that. So after answering all their questions and seeing how Josh wouldn't interact, that is when the suspicion first came up and we set up a time for a full evaluation with 5 people there to evaluate and rate Joshie.<br />
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That evaluation happened today. The first part of it was a sensory test. He did really well with that. The biggest thing that happened was he had to wash his hands after he touched anything. He does this at home all the time. If he eats anything or plays anything he has to wash his hands or he has a meltdown. Then they moved into the room that I was in and just played with him to see how he would react and engage. So they played with different toys/puzzles/games with him. One of the things he would do is slowly move in between the toy and the evaluator so his back was to her and he could play with the toy by himself. He also would do the same thing over and over and not be willing to try playing with the toy any differently. He would also repeat the same words over and over. If he felt he had to share he would eventually surrender the toy but then move on to something else. If he picked a toy he would play with it for a while but if the evaluator introduced something he wouldn't even pay attention. He wouldn't look at any of them even if he was talking. He would ignore most of them altogether even if they wanted to play with them or if they were in the way of a toy he wanted he would turn his back to them and find something else. When coloring he would hold the marker with his fist and wouldn't copy lines/circles/etc... he knows color names but doesn't understand what colors are what. If somebody would ask him a question he would answer but more often then not he responds with something having nothing to do with the question. Ex. while saying hi to Grandma Conners on the phone the conversation went something like this:<br />
G-ma: "Hi Josh"<br />
Josh: "Hi"<br />
G-ma: "How are you"<br />
Josh: "blah blah blah (jargen, no idea what he said...) mac and cheese<br />
G-ma: "Are you having fun?"<br />
Josh: "blah blah blah... cars"<br />
G-ma: "I love you"<br />
Josh: "Love you too, bye"<br />
<br />
So he is really good with greetings but I have no idea where the mac and cheese and cars come from. The evaluators said his articulation is very good, but most of the time you have no idea what he is talking about because his mind is in a different place talking of something else. <br />
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Overall, this is typically how he acts, he is in "Joshie World" most of the time. It is really hard to take all 3 kids out because you just never know when Josh will go into his world, and if he does it is really really hard to deal with him. And I'm one of those moms at the grocery store who when people are looking at me and judging me because my child is throwing a fit, I just want to say "You have no right to judge because you have no idea what it is like to have a child with special needs."<br />
<br />
Anyway, the evaluation took about 2 1/2 hours today and I left with Josh while they deliberated about and came up with his scores. I went back about an hour later to go over the results. The use 2 different scores I guess (kind of like how you have 3 different credit scores) and the first one Josh was for sure on the Autism Spectrum Disorder side on the other he was barely on the autism side. So with the 2 scores being on the Autism side and with what they evaluated they believe Josh does have minor autism. He will be starting at a special school in August and working with a speech pathologist. Basically Josh is about the level of a 2 1/2 yr old and he is 3 1/2 so he is a year behind developmentally so they will really be working with him on that. I feel so blessed that we moved to Plano because they have one of the top special need programs in the country! Basically, while Josh is in school we will never leave Plano so he can have these great resources and support. We (the evaluators and I) are very hopeful because he is so young that the intervention now will help him be able to get over and handle his symptoms. <br />
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Next week I will have a meeting with all the people that will be involved in helping him like his teacher, principal, and speech pathologist. I will also get information from Autism Speaks and from the Autism Support Group in Plano. I'm excited for that because I feel very overwhelmed right now not knowing anything about raising a child with Autism. But even more then the support for me I know that God knows everything that Joshua needs and he will help us through this time in our lives. How grateful I am to know that I'm not alone in this and that I have the love and support of a loving Father in Heaven who will help me every second of every day.<br />
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Josh may not understand everything we say or do, but he knows the words "I love you" and he knows how much Kyle and I love him, as well as everyone else that is involved with his development. Just like I said in the beginning of this post, I know Joshua is a special little boy and I know Heavenly Father has great things in store for him and he will be able to accomplish it all. I love you Joshua Kyle Hercules!Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-52558551118018241142012-02-03T14:38:00.000-08:002012-02-03T14:47:18.443-08:00Joshua Kyle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEKD3akB7V7C74K4yJU1c-AKerDVtq1ZA9YYe8B0weUr0wvz1SrZdZCaZcZc8IMvnlwcfc4QlflUSrfsN4yH6HXxzG_k2wptPD7eIintMhiahyBzHx8YGWUGW3UUQFB-kkNAiiK-WUdGe/s1600/IMG_1664.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEKD3akB7V7C74K4yJU1c-AKerDVtq1ZA9YYe8B0weUr0wvz1SrZdZCaZcZc8IMvnlwcfc4QlflUSrfsN4yH6HXxzG_k2wptPD7eIintMhiahyBzHx8YGWUGW3UUQFB-kkNAiiK-WUdGe/s200/IMG_1664.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705044677440864258" /></a><br />Oh the poor middle child... yes Joshua's birthday was December 15 and I am just now getting around to writting a little blog about him, and it is Feb... <div><br /></div><div>Joshua is such a great little guy! I always smile when I see him. He lights up a room with the cutest smile. He is so loving and laid back. He loves to cuddle with his mommy, but he is also just fine taking his cars and playing by himself. We tease that he always has cars in his hands. When he wakes up he comes downstairs with cars in his hands, and when he goes back up to bed there are still cars in his hands. He just loves to carry as many as he can, which obviously means he can't play with them all, he just likes to hold them. It's so funny.</div><div><br /></div><div>We is almost 100% potty trained! We are still working on #2 every day, but he is really doing his best and he always tells us he needs to go potty, which is great! It is amazing not having to buy dieapers all the time!</div><div><br /></div><div>He is probably our least picky eater, and in some ways, our least needy kid. He really does just go with the flow. Very opposite of how he was as a baby. He loves playing with Conner. They are best friends and worst enemies. Josh is the best sleeper even telling us when it is time for bed:) and he loves baths! </div><div><br /></div><div>Joshie still kind of looks like a "Who" with his upper lip being bigger, but he makes it look so cute (I admit I was a little worried when he was born b/c he was funny looking... but now he is so cute!) The nursery leaders even said he was their favorite, of course being the only boy may have had a hand in that....I love this little man so much and I can't wait to see what a great man he will turn into. </div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-75713503023624151282011-10-23T12:51:00.000-07:002011-10-23T13:10:33.325-07:00Hannah Banana<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxlaAQhwNyQuFifTofH3f1VTNJPHOjkUiTfDVOb6wGmHKTaGKqJKIfcS_-TME-EohgQppQ76GNsR83CAdyqGDeK-CpNoaRcrAJJ1F-GJUvaDj9LIwRymw1uY003NpTIkaUsXWJZgoMqy0/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxlaAQhwNyQuFifTofH3f1VTNJPHOjkUiTfDVOb6wGmHKTaGKqJKIfcS_-TME-EohgQppQ76GNsR83CAdyqGDeK-CpNoaRcrAJJ1F-GJUvaDj9LIwRymw1uY003NpTIkaUsXWJZgoMqy0/s200/IMG_1666.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666782464293858898" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qxjd1qTtXYF4_gcJqLCbon2exQWiAOOGrhXeEV_PuxISzR8i8WoJ66YnQFUNAfQ3vM7EiFDvCyHhh6TqBgFKrh2-kWJtinVFVLEWldZR8pfRJRCC_-crXalVddce-f7e4XFJoRIk2Okp/s1600/IMG_1675.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qxjd1qTtXYF4_gcJqLCbon2exQWiAOOGrhXeEV_PuxISzR8i8WoJ66YnQFUNAfQ3vM7EiFDvCyHhh6TqBgFKrh2-kWJtinVFVLEWldZR8pfRJRCC_-crXalVddce-f7e4XFJoRIk2Okp/s200/IMG_1675.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666782460300009714" /></a><br />It is a little past Hannah's birthday, and by a little I mean 2 weeks little.... I almost just waited till exactly 1 month, but I can do it now:) So here is my little post just for Hannah!<div><br /></div><div>I have decided that birthdays should not be about the kid. Because, what is it the mom thinks about when it is birthday time? It looks like this, "wow, 1 year ago, (or 2, 3, 4,...) I was in labour. I endured ________, I went through ___________, and I felt like ___________ to bring you into the world. I can't believe it has been a whole year since I did that!" Don't lie! You know you have this same conversation for every birthday! It may only be in your head, but it is still there. So, birthdays should be about the mother who went through...heck...to get the child here. It makes sense, the more kids you have, the more celebration you deserve! ok, ok, I'm only mostly joking here.... back to Hannah.</div><div><br /></div><div>Truely I can't believe Hannah is a year old already! She is so stinking cute!!! She brings so much into our family. For any twihards out there, if you remember the special power Jasper has of influencing people, that is Hannah. Yes, if Hannah were a vampire, she would control your feelings :) She is very compelling. Everyone that meets her instantly falls in love with her. It's like they just can't help it. She is best friends with EVERYBODY. No problems going to strangers for this little social butterfly. Even today at church, she walks to the pew in front of us and smiles at the couple like she belongs with them. They pick her up and play with her till sacrament was over. Then Kyle had her in priesthood and the husband of that couple took her again and played with her for 40min. Really? What dad in priesthood would take a child that wasn't theirs? Maybe in Relief Society yes, but priesthood? There is just something about her that people are drawn to.</div><div><br /></div><div>She really is a social butterfly. She has to be with somebody all the time! She loves playing and just being involved with what is going on. And if she doesn't like something, she will let you know. She is not afraid to get in there and hit, kick, bite anything. I guess with 2 big brothers she has to hold her own! </div><div><br /></div><div>She is super close to walking all the time. She can take about 6-8 steps by herself before she thinks she needs to grab on to something. She is ALWAYS in PINK! I love having a little girl to dress up. Now, if only she would grow some hair! I have seriously considered shaving her baby hair off so that the other hair will grow in, but I just can't get myself to get rid of the little hair she does have....</div><div><br /></div><div>Hannah loves to sleep in. If we let her, she will sleep till 10 or 11 in the morning and wake up talking and chatting. But we usually wake her up to take daddy to work about 7:30 and even then she gets up all smiles. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hannah is such a sweet little girl. And I'm so excited to continue to get to know her!</div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-56801855125175927432011-10-03T19:21:00.001-07:002011-10-03T19:39:07.734-07:00Conner-isms<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqABD_SmAVfdDgLKhP6bllMe8Dxa0OX-vXeypdBExr_X4tZ4ob3_THcK2f5k4E25iL9DgFuoix_l4G-iRglxKhyphenhyphen29AW2Ht1Xm7jRx6rPWJjeTs1z05V23g72rHjv4QUJH_b_CDKLVb5HI/s1600/IMG_0474.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqABD_SmAVfdDgLKhP6bllMe8Dxa0OX-vXeypdBExr_X4tZ4ob3_THcK2f5k4E25iL9DgFuoix_l4G-iRglxKhyphenhyphen29AW2Ht1Xm7jRx6rPWJjeTs1z05V23g72rHjv4QUJH_b_CDKLVb5HI/s200/IMG_0474.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659460963112818898" /></a><br />With today being Conner's birthday and seeing as how I haven't blogged since April... I thought I would do a quick blog on my big 4 yr old.<div><br /></div><div>shake a tower</div><div><br /></div><div>So yesterday between sessions I was going to go take a shower, but to be silly I told Conner I was going to shake a tower. He started laughing and said, "MOM! You can't shake a tower! Towers don't shake!" </div><div><br /></div><div>pad flying</div><div><br /></div><div>This happened about 2-3 months ago, but so funny it is worth blogging about. We were in sacrament meeting and Josh was having an off day, so Kyle had to take him out in the hall. I'm in the pew with Hannah and Conner, feeding Hannah a bottle. Conner is looking through the diaper bag and finds a wrapped pad in a pocket that apparently isn't as hidden as I thought. He opens it and as quietly as possible I'm trying to grab it from him. yes, this is all going on while the prayers are being said to pass the sacrament.... I am about to grab it and put it away when Conner decides if he can't have it I can't either so it throws it and it flies a few pews behind us!!! I am mortified and send Conner after it. He army crawls under the pews to retrieve it and of course little snickers are happening. So when he gets back to our pew a reach for it again and what does the little stinker do? He throws it forward this time! It lands a few pews in front of us... thank goodness it didn't land in somebody's hair and get stuck or something! But yes, our side of sacrament got to witness a flying pad that Sunday...</div><div><br /></div><div>gotta dance</div><div><br /></div><div>Conner loves to dance. There are quiet a few times when I ask him to do something and he says, "hang on mama, I just gotta dance first" it is super cute. He loves the song with the words "tonight's going to be a good night" he sings that all the time.</div><div><br /></div><div>see big butt</div><div><br /></div><div>I probably shouldn't but, when going up the stairs I tell Conner, "I see your little butt" and give him a little tap, and when I talk to all the kids I saw something like, "Come on little butts, lets go." Well, Conner has started to call me "Big Butt" he says, "mama, I see your big butt!" and taps my bumm... haha, probably need to break that habit before he goes to school...</div><div><br /></div><div>he has gas</div><div><br /></div><div>This happened a bit ago too. We were at Walmart....enough said :) And there was a sweet old man in one of those scooter things. Both boys were in the basket and as we were passing this man, the man started to talk to the kids. Asking their names and whatnot. Well, in the middle of the conversation his scooter made a funny noise and Conner loudly exclaims, "mom! he has gas!!" Yep, we walked quickly away after that.</div><div><br /></div><div>clothes don't like me</div><div><br /></div><div>I take lots of pictures of the kiddos, but the thing that is seen the most in Conner's pictures is that he is not wearing any clothes... Underwear is his preferred method of clothing and that is all. And that is probably because I make him at least wear undies. It never fails, as soon as he gets in the door he starts stripping. The one item he leaves on other then his undies are his black Lightning McQueen tennis shoes that light up when he walks. It is really funny to see him in his undies and tennis shoes, but anyway. He always has some excuse to take off his clothes, he spilled water on them, Joshie bit him, Hannah drooled on him, etc... but my favorite is when he just says, "mom, my clothes just don't like me" haha...he is so creative!</div><div><br /></div><div>Those are the only stories I can remember right now to celebrate his first four years. He really is a funny, smart, wonderful kid and I'm excited for the next 40 years!</div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-588583188113710002011-04-07T06:57:00.000-07:002011-04-07T07:23:30.021-07:00A blogging dayI think Conner must secretly read our blog and if doesn't say enough about him he has to do something big enough to get me to write about it....so, Conner if you are reading this, here is your blog about you.....<div><br /></div><div>I will start with a few funny things he said over the past few days. I think the last time I wrote I wrote about the Dr. Suess Green eggs and applesauce story. Well the following Sunday we were getting ready for church and Conner said he didn't want to go. So I asked where he did want to go and he thinks then yells, "Neverland!" haha, little boys!!! Too cute!</div><div><br /></div><div>Then the other day Conner was looking at my hair using a lego as a "telescope" when he turned and said, lets look at daddy's hair. I pointed out that daddy didn't have any hair. Conner replied, "well we need to go to the store and buy him some more hair." Why didn't I think of that!!!! Man he makes me laugh.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then yesterday happened. Kyle and I affectionatley call days that had a lot of stuff happen, blogging days, because it is always the best stuff to post on a blog. And yesterday was deffenintly a blogging day!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still not sure when, but at some point Conner found one of my Mary Kay lipsticks somewhere and he put it in his lunch box. After I buckled him in his carseat he asked to hold his lunchbox. Thinking it was empty I just gave it to him. Well by the time we got to the store I turned around and that lipstick he was hiding was used to color his window. So now the back window in the van has some beautiful artwork for all to see. There wasn't much I could do about it going into the store, and it is still there....</div><div><br /></div><div>Later on in the day I was noticing it was a little quite. Any mother knows that either means their kid feel asleep somewhere, or TROUBLE! I go upstairs and find Conner buck naked sitting on the bathroom sink with his toothpaste EVERYWHERE! Covering him, the counter, the mirror, the sink, everywhere. And maybe it is just me, but toothpaste is hard to clean up. So, all the kids just got a bath....</div><div><br /></div><div>A little later, once again quite and by now we are on a roll so I know something is up. I go upstairs and find Conner has found all the diaper ointment stash and he must of thought Hannah's floor needed some because it is all over her carpet. Great, thanks son.</div><div><br /></div><div> And then I'm feeding Hannah and out of the kitchen walks Conner with a cup overflowing with milk. So I quickly get up to sip the top for him not thinking that if it was overflowing where I was that probably meant it was overflowing where he poured the milk. I follow the milk trail to the kitchen and covering the floor is milk. But the best part is Conner had grabbed a washcloth and put it in the middle of the spill to "clean it up." I just started laughing, I wish I had taken a picture as that poor little washcloth had no chance against the quart of milk all over the floor. </div><div><br /></div><div>Needless to say Conner spent a lot of time in time-out yesterday. But we had a great "blogging day." I am very grateful for the patience I was blessed with yesterday because I really handled it well, of course I still have the lipstick in the car, the desatin on Hannah's floor and the oven....oh the oven. </div><div><br /></div><div>This wasn't Conner but on Fri I used the oven to cook some garlic bread, well there must have been something in there because it catches on fire. The whole inside is full of flames and the smoke alarm is going off. So Hannah wakes up. My babysitter was over because I was supposed to be leaving for a Mary Kay conference. I wasn't sure what to do so I grab the baking soda or powder whichever one you keep in the fridge and opened the stove door and just poured that stuff everywhere. It worked great putting out the flames but now the inside of the oven is, well it needs some attention, so we haven't been able to use it.</div><div><br /></div><div>With all of this I will probably be paying my cleaning lady a little extra this week....</div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-84344494148994628052011-03-26T05:26:00.000-07:002011-03-26T05:48:25.991-07:00pics and funny sayings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzWlGjXl6ZvlM3zQmujjj5QjIpGz6vWP6kNwIxSrO_afgJkg92dqTXaO7-Ukchh7R5mMLTW7KcSEyfUFpLHxDSEq5kbCSUtT_fEeyP76ZKqGJhEZN7x3wyvDZfumMPpd-b1TJwQ1ZLOKq/s1600/IMG_0151.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzWlGjXl6ZvlM3zQmujjj5QjIpGz6vWP6kNwIxSrO_afgJkg92dqTXaO7-Ukchh7R5mMLTW7KcSEyfUFpLHxDSEq5kbCSUtT_fEeyP76ZKqGJhEZN7x3wyvDZfumMPpd-b1TJwQ1ZLOKq/s200/IMG_0151.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588368781907847922" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzWlGjXl6ZvlM3zQmujjj5QjIpGz6vWP6kNwIxSrO_afgJkg92dqTXaO7-Ukchh7R5mMLTW7KcSEyfUFpLHxDSEq5kbCSUtT_fEeyP76ZKqGJhEZN7x3wyvDZfumMPpd-b1TJwQ1ZLOKq/s1600/IMG_0151.JPG"></a>These pics of Hannah were taken by the babysitter. She changed them with an app on her iphone and I thought they were super cute so I wanted to share.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrpZCGJZHDtWIKG-wvCnLuKsOqbGCtNmtmxn3OwvebcAMiLazEbNkidj0N7owBbdAFTxYKb2FS3OG0gPAs7_P1aQPgzY8zfO_wxloj5H6qOQk_-Bk4owluo3ovAjTzHcqYKnyFoadVtp8/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrpZCGJZHDtWIKG-wvCnLuKsOqbGCtNmtmxn3OwvebcAMiLazEbNkidj0N7owBbdAFTxYKb2FS3OG0gPAs7_P1aQPgzY8zfO_wxloj5H6qOQk_-Bk4owluo3ovAjTzHcqYKnyFoadVtp8/s200/IMG_0150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588368778624476770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkl4CWFrkdtq2LZgCW0TAqp6daSRbqI-o1VvHTNFvEyHDw8Mdggjl1tra14vp0RRnXkm9YsCLKVevgHNmzOEZz7is-DquchVd34rxMp2qnC1HWgqMWCC6NKYUbS0aSiHIn4ZRX47z_E23/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkl4CWFrkdtq2LZgCW0TAqp6daSRbqI-o1VvHTNFvEyHDw8Mdggjl1tra14vp0RRnXkm9YsCLKVevgHNmzOEZz7is-DquchVd34rxMp2qnC1HWgqMWCC6NKYUbS0aSiHIn4ZRX47z_E23/s200/IMG_0149.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588368773722933010" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkl4CWFrkdtq2LZgCW0TAqp6daSRbqI-o1VvHTNFvEyHDw8Mdggjl1tra14vp0RRnXkm9YsCLKVevgHNmzOEZz7is-DquchVd34rxMp2qnC1HWgqMWCC6NKYUbS0aSiHIn4ZRX47z_E23/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG"></a>It has been in the 80s here and Hannah is ready! She is such a diva already!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE5McThaNlsQlv_1WATCe9XIM-AZPxvxqKNGSCZPwSq-8IyR1GRwp7Q77E12ntHeIW4Gm92z7Dr4M40snGRNTZfDPW7-0cbaI0mDt99A6zDV5cYPeEuOA-E_AWueAH0uw_F-JYlkJsCzU/s1600/IMG_0148.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE5McThaNlsQlv_1WATCe9XIM-AZPxvxqKNGSCZPwSq-8IyR1GRwp7Q77E12ntHeIW4Gm92z7Dr4M40snGRNTZfDPW7-0cbaI0mDt99A6zDV5cYPeEuOA-E_AWueAH0uw_F-JYlkJsCzU/s200/IMG_0148.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588368567629091410" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE5McThaNlsQlv_1WATCe9XIM-AZPxvxqKNGSCZPwSq-8IyR1GRwp7Q77E12ntHeIW4Gm92z7Dr4M40snGRNTZfDPW7-0cbaI0mDt99A6zDV5cYPeEuOA-E_AWueAH0uw_F-JYlkJsCzU/s1600/IMG_0148.jpg"></a>I thought this was so funny! Josh is just like Kyle!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEj8vGVfLr0QVygwnVcJcTuS1-CccwQwKGdPBpuRNHAdK-36UE6Gv-rQhMYFEY3fmTDrsauhiqwjaPrNDRoUaFbISFKLUOOAOWaNScq3b0oea6dSu69QgknMgxsMST4hlK03j4LgJW-BE/s1600/IMG_0147.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEj8vGVfLr0QVygwnVcJcTuS1-CccwQwKGdPBpuRNHAdK-36UE6Gv-rQhMYFEY3fmTDrsauhiqwjaPrNDRoUaFbISFKLUOOAOWaNScq3b0oea6dSu69QgknMgxsMST4hlK03j4LgJW-BE/s200/IMG_0147.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588368562155462786" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEj8vGVfLr0QVygwnVcJcTuS1-CccwQwKGdPBpuRNHAdK-36UE6Gv-rQhMYFEY3fmTDrsauhiqwjaPrNDRoUaFbISFKLUOOAOWaNScq3b0oea6dSu69QgknMgxsMST4hlK03j4LgJW-BE/s1600/IMG_0147.jpg"></a>This is Conner's forced smile. He is so cute!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mDEd9K1VPAtH19mEnGjbz-sssChq-SSo1TV1AyIDtmqQCkpg7TUcWXgMg5ZBWHhnVKcXFDCRTpVg4eo_riTANgzabCnentIx2PrKP_8Sy3TF_qM1sv_RW_CSevoRCkSZSIZqRMSe9vDB/s1600/IMG_0145.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mDEd9K1VPAtH19mEnGjbz-sssChq-SSo1TV1AyIDtmqQCkpg7TUcWXgMg5ZBWHhnVKcXFDCRTpVg4eo_riTANgzabCnentIx2PrKP_8Sy3TF_qM1sv_RW_CSevoRCkSZSIZqRMSe9vDB/s200/IMG_0145.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588368557933264114" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mDEd9K1VPAtH19mEnGjbz-sssChq-SSo1TV1AyIDtmqQCkpg7TUcWXgMg5ZBWHhnVKcXFDCRTpVg4eo_riTANgzabCnentIx2PrKP_8Sy3TF_qM1sv_RW_CSevoRCkSZSIZqRMSe9vDB/s1600/IMG_0145.jpg"></a>Hannah loves her bouncer! She jumps up and down like crazy and spins around to play with all of the toys. It is great to get a little break and let he play. We bought this toy when Conner was a baby and I'm happy we have gotten so much use out of it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Conner is definitely MY son. I know I have said before how much he copies what I say. He is always saying, Gee Wiz! and That's strange. It is funny but the other night he said something that really made me laugh...<div><br /></div><div>As part of his dinner he had applesauce on his plate. He loves applesauce! But for some reason he wasn't eating it. I said, "Conner will you eat your applesauce?" He looks me straight in the face and without missing a beat says, "Mama, if you will let me be, I will try them you will see." Then he takes a big bite and exclaims, "Hey I like applesauce, green eggs, and ham, I do!!!" hahahaha, it was so funny! He loves the book Green Eggs and Ham and for Christmas from Grandma/pa Conners he got the movie which he loves watching. It was just so funny coming from him without any prompting at all. I love hearing what that little mind is thinking.</div><div><br /></div><div>Josh is the greatest little helper. He loves unloading the dishwasher, and by that he just throws all the silverware in the drawer so you know Josh has helped if the forks are where the spoons go and whatnot. He also loves helping with laundry. He does know how to throw a mean tantrum and you don't want any appendage near his mouth if he is mad as he will bite it off. But he is really a sweet little guy with the best smile. He thinks it is so funny to pretend to eat something and he loves feeding mommy and daddy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hannah is getting so big! She can roll over now and is really a happy baby. She is growing so fast and is in all 6 month clothes and some 9 months. She is only 5 months old!!!! But she is so beautiful! Everyone always comments on her big bright beautiful eyes. She is sleeping mostly through the night. About 6pm-6am and wakes up sometimes once to eat. She loves her rice cereal especially when made with juice. And she is a daddy's girl through and through! She loves her daddy and just lights up with huge smiles when she sees him. It is so cute!</div><div><br /></div><div>Well now I have bragged on all my kids, but I'm sure there will be more funny instances coming soon...</div></div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-88466026142257912512011-03-10T20:02:00.000-08:002011-03-10T20:06:22.684-08:00Which is which?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpE6y0p_CFs1OTGvOoIGgdvD2FDRMKgqV2_X8IdzQ8P5plDeWn3XxGHZLO_LlxCWeHXMsPu6kLcE5zlCDu2BPw9zvkUGyFSXtoNwC4by6mj-YtcqRV0i1sGDSGYyZ4RRJRbjK9rA5kubn/s1600/IMG_0070.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpE6y0p_CFs1OTGvOoIGgdvD2FDRMKgqV2_X8IdzQ8P5plDeWn3XxGHZLO_LlxCWeHXMsPu6kLcE5zlCDu2BPw9zvkUGyFSXtoNwC4by6mj-YtcqRV0i1sGDSGYyZ4RRJRbjK9rA5kubn/s200/IMG_0070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582668451017665378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKTZX_rhKBDw2L9a0pnNb_0IXr7d8lW7KL0QrTNaZlXlgHd6WYhFRrf-QGWT_BsGrWdZvmqUMrL-qCgFdbCyZ1nfvzdkREaqtS1XKbi4kvg7WBgvEJnGEZwIO0akGPgnDzafvFK1YmACj/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKTZX_rhKBDw2L9a0pnNb_0IXr7d8lW7KL0QrTNaZlXlgHd6WYhFRrf-QGWT_BsGrWdZvmqUMrL-qCgFdbCyZ1nfvzdkREaqtS1XKbi4kvg7WBgvEJnGEZwIO0akGPgnDzafvFK1YmACj/s200/IMG_0096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582668446923784962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAvgd0XVD4LDvVExDUNzbaqXNknSrZYdVtYg-F7XH4VGY1pSxVsNlEcgv4ZBIfxmDD7TD2N5Dwkk3smHO8kv8w-pLZg8HvdV-sVemNlm97BGKAtsaFA73mGFwwIcSXV_wnSGTd0BaZvtI/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAvgd0XVD4LDvVExDUNzbaqXNknSrZYdVtYg-F7XH4VGY1pSxVsNlEcgv4ZBIfxmDD7TD2N5Dwkk3smHO8kv8w-pLZg8HvdV-sVemNlm97BGKAtsaFA73mGFwwIcSXV_wnSGTd0BaZvtI/s200/IMG_0068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582668442372602482" /></a><br /><div><ol><li>I just think it is so cute to look at them when there were all first born to look at similarities and whatnot. Can you tell which is which? Hint...they are not in order</li></ol></div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-14362537542943206652011-03-10T19:38:00.000-08:002011-03-10T19:56:10.651-08:00Kiddos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WmsT1rThXXEJqUpy7CFdKwNpRitdesjuMLCfoMViG0DdmFXcsMYimFLiaYPDJaBYamgJgu5ZQrUbPS2Ex2Zrv5qLnFX4O9wALdgtRH9AYyTQZkk-PgPrTErhHxYnBQAnpZ0rsxroZ1Xx/s1600/IMG_0110.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WmsT1rThXXEJqUpy7CFdKwNpRitdesjuMLCfoMViG0DdmFXcsMYimFLiaYPDJaBYamgJgu5ZQrUbPS2Ex2Zrv5qLnFX4O9wALdgtRH9AYyTQZkk-PgPrTErhHxYnBQAnpZ0rsxroZ1Xx/s200/IMG_0110.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582663362049202082" /></a>"Wow mom! Hannah is a princess!" This was Conner's reaction when I first put Hannah in this dress. Obviously it took some getting used to, but Hannah sure had fun playing with it and she look so so so cute!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJEptCJFznTPR_WwQaKyWHiWz-71iawrZ_vNQ7Lb2gHXTPN4Ij4SEtLoHKAK2mJAmgp_X7KrkypDwueEfdm0fHIthGF-M9lqUJRfZgSg44-lCklK8MWvccjJlVu1fAhAgJ9Qc-dTZmJBc/s1600/IMG_0113.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJEptCJFznTPR_WwQaKyWHiWz-71iawrZ_vNQ7Lb2gHXTPN4Ij4SEtLoHKAK2mJAmgp_X7KrkypDwueEfdm0fHIthGF-M9lqUJRfZgSg44-lCklK8MWvccjJlVu1fAhAgJ9Qc-dTZmJBc/s200/IMG_0113.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582663352446493570" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJEptCJFznTPR_WwQaKyWHiWz-71iawrZ_vNQ7Lb2gHXTPN4Ij4SEtLoHKAK2mJAmgp_X7KrkypDwueEfdm0fHIthGF-M9lqUJRfZgSg44-lCklK8MWvccjJlVu1fAhAgJ9Qc-dTZmJBc/s1600/IMG_0113.jpg"></a>We did have her little ears pierced. They are pink, but it is actually her birthstone so that worked out nicely! She was so good when they did it. She only cried for like 20 seconds and by the time I was paying for it, she had stopped crying. She is already 5 months and getting so big so fast! She goes to bed at 6pm and wakes up around 6am. She is our morning baby. Both boys would rather stay up and sleep in, well now they go to bed by 8 and get up around 7:30ish. I can't complain.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoJH45A4HQRW6vdwMCxj0dk4u2RAIk98T65wjB0tACNYHzzy4dISgvr24nid4KET9-PrNGcDpxVz1aSt0bAxC_Z0N-1kbumTRTpqfVGAXCvRQivIzQLXK7vMJrmD7-OexiSJNMo_1ACU_/s1600/IMG_0119.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoJH45A4HQRW6vdwMCxj0dk4u2RAIk98T65wjB0tACNYHzzy4dISgvr24nid4KET9-PrNGcDpxVz1aSt0bAxC_Z0N-1kbumTRTpqfVGAXCvRQivIzQLXK7vMJrmD7-OexiSJNMo_1ACU_/s200/IMG_0119.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582663350114389314" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoJH45A4HQRW6vdwMCxj0dk4u2RAIk98T65wjB0tACNYHzzy4dISgvr24nid4KET9-PrNGcDpxVz1aSt0bAxC_Z0N-1kbumTRTpqfVGAXCvRQivIzQLXK7vMJrmD7-OexiSJNMo_1ACU_/s1600/IMG_0119.jpg"></a>Conner is getting to the age of always wanting to play games. This is him hiding for hide and seek. It was so funny, the other day it was my turn to hide. We were just in my room and Conner was standing in front of the door, so I go into the bathroom and stand in the shower. Conner is looking everywhere and I say his name so he steps into the bathroom and can see me in the mirror. I smile and wave. He takes a step forward but then he can't see me so he stepped back so he could see me in the mirror again. He did this back and forth about 10 times before I peaked my head out of the curtain and he yelled "I found you!" hahaha.... he couldn't understand how he could see me in the mirror and then not see where I was! </div><div><br /></div><div>He also repeats EVERYTHING I say. Luckily it's nothing bad. He says "that's strange" and I didn't know he knew that word until I caught myself saying it a couple of times. While driving them to school one morning we were sitting at a red light and Conner asked, "Mom, what does red mean?" "Red means stop." "Oh mama, you are so smart!" haha, yes I am, thank you very much son! I tell him all the time how smart he is and now he does it to others! I love passing on that positive thinking because there is not enough of that in this world. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSunZmuhxx_UIPcDXQ0BvcuMXI5B7LnmSa1MlLWBKj6O9pe-Q0_-fkNx3onr0hddqz0Gr0QnxmxqPzIt38Vuvh_1vFyZrZoyv8TP1Xe0L8_3aIBSXsOTtqjqn8GDgabrpY8KeplBJj_x9x/s1600/IMG_0122.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSunZmuhxx_UIPcDXQ0BvcuMXI5B7LnmSa1MlLWBKj6O9pe-Q0_-fkNx3onr0hddqz0Gr0QnxmxqPzIt38Vuvh_1vFyZrZoyv8TP1Xe0L8_3aIBSXsOTtqjqn8GDgabrpY8KeplBJj_x9x/s200/IMG_0122.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582663347869784898" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSunZmuhxx_UIPcDXQ0BvcuMXI5B7LnmSa1MlLWBKj6O9pe-Q0_-fkNx3onr0hddqz0Gr0QnxmxqPzIt38Vuvh_1vFyZrZoyv8TP1Xe0L8_3aIBSXsOTtqjqn8GDgabrpY8KeplBJj_x9x/s1600/IMG_0122.jpg"></a>Hannah can roll over now onto her belly. She also loves grabbing her toes. Sometimes it is hard getting a clean diaper on because she won't let go. And then when she lets go of her toes she grabs your arm. She is such a cuddle bug and love being around people. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULoHnDaPcww_2lhXcAFsBYQIyq5tUAxsQ65hMka7ITEr6r8gpr8-ZUmT8Snq_8s34BuhqEDLfWgMpEn0F5vUQvilxHmHBE7BlC-EQ74keF698gQcimyHvZ-8di8PnibSFxGe7kZfONY9B/s1600/IMG_0128.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULoHnDaPcww_2lhXcAFsBYQIyq5tUAxsQ65hMka7ITEr6r8gpr8-ZUmT8Snq_8s34BuhqEDLfWgMpEn0F5vUQvilxHmHBE7BlC-EQ74keF698gQcimyHvZ-8di8PnibSFxGe7kZfONY9B/s200/IMG_0128.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582663342219990514" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULoHnDaPcww_2lhXcAFsBYQIyq5tUAxsQ65hMka7ITEr6r8gpr8-ZUmT8Snq_8s34BuhqEDLfWgMpEn0F5vUQvilxHmHBE7BlC-EQ74keF698gQcimyHvZ-8di8PnibSFxGe7kZfONY9B/s1600/IMG_0128.jpg"></a>She is great to put to sleep though. She doesn't want to be rocked or anything. Just lay her in her crib and put on the mobile and she is asleep before the music is off, it is heavenly!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrySJfPQ9noO4EhR7qb6SO8NQwXPA8Aos3IkOyxycTr6onVzgvWUF-fVw9Ayg1LRef4d7UYTGi5BRvd-f4Q3syz7cioY2og9tVRW-kF9IQl9dHQvlBvU4Iebnbsiv0LY-Tqz0MBfGWIF9/s1600/IMG_0133.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrySJfPQ9noO4EhR7qb6SO8NQwXPA8Aos3IkOyxycTr6onVzgvWUF-fVw9Ayg1LRef4d7UYTGi5BRvd-f4Q3syz7cioY2og9tVRW-kF9IQl9dHQvlBvU4Iebnbsiv0LY-Tqz0MBfGWIF9/s200/IMG_0133.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582662029510851970" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrySJfPQ9noO4EhR7qb6SO8NQwXPA8Aos3IkOyxycTr6onVzgvWUF-fVw9Ayg1LRef4d7UYTGi5BRvd-f4Q3syz7cioY2og9tVRW-kF9IQl9dHQvlBvU4Iebnbsiv0LY-Tqz0MBfGWIF9/s1600/IMG_0133.jpg"></a>Trying to get all three kids looking in the same direction can be very difficult! But at least it shows their personalities.....Conner is never wearing any clothes, we are lucky if he has undies on! and he is ALWAYS hungry! Josh cries for his pants to be put back on even when changing a diaper and he is always thirsty and Hannah just kind of hangs out...she loves her brothers so much. They can get her to smile and laugh so easily it almost makes me jealous!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNjO2BMd5xN7NTyTP8lBBCbJCTLASvAj7kiLPd2Fp3fqHvXsKTPICv64uJwYGuehyphenhyphen-oXZkyuEPeCc3xXzY4UIAf0JtJTSA5xXexxdp8fJ8fhKtKMZ8hKgmhiFP0yHGzWJbgnHKlgbncR-/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNjO2BMd5xN7NTyTP8lBBCbJCTLASvAj7kiLPd2Fp3fqHvXsKTPICv64uJwYGuehyphenhyphen-oXZkyuEPeCc3xXzY4UIAf0JtJTSA5xXexxdp8fJ8fhKtKMZ8hKgmhiFP0yHGzWJbgnHKlgbncR-/s200/IMG_0134.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582662023901431746" /></a><br /></div><div>Conner and Josh get along GREAT! The are such good buddies. It is so hard if one of them is sleeping because the other wants to go wake him up to have somebody to play with it. It is cute but at them same time it would be better if they both took naps together!!! yeah!!!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Kids are a ton of work and hard work, but they are so much fun!!!! I love my three crazy kids, I don't know what I would do without them!</div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-62090089250300779402011-01-24T11:02:00.000-08:002011-01-24T11:26:26.691-08:00What a day!<div>Friday morning started off at 3:30am when Hannah woke up. I fed her and got her back to sleep by 4 and everything was fine. Kyle's alarm went off about 6:30 and he got up. He opened our bedroom door and was like "uh, Sarah" so I get up and low and behold a pipe under our sink burst and our ENTIRE first floor of our town home was completely flooded! 2in from the kitchen all the way to the front door and it was seeping into our room and our bathroom was covered...joy! I call <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">maintenance</span>, Kyle gets a sub and we start trying to save anything we can. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">maintenance</span> came and started water vacuuming everything. I took the kids to Kyle's parents to keep them out of the way. I am very grateful we have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">laminate</span> floors and luckily we didn't have any electronics or anything on the floor. Really the only thing is the rug, I still don't know if the smell will leave it enough to keep using it. So, our place still smells like a basement...and the really annoying thing was they just thew all of our stuff in the garage. So when I got back I had that to deal with. But at least with all of this happening our couches were moved and cleaned under them and our carpet in the bedroom was cleaned! We are going to try a humidifier thing to get ride of the smell and my cleaning lady is coming Wed. so that should help too.</div><div><br /></div>This morning went well. We go to MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) and it is a tone of fun! We left to be there by 9 and I was totally ready and doing well. I get the kids in their coats and run to my closet to grab my shoes. I wanted to wear my black shoes to match so I slip one on and then the other and take off. I was at the MOPS meeting for over an hour and I had my legs crossed. I looked down and saw I had on my blue flat shoe that had little decorative holes in it. "That's funny" I thought, "I thought I wore my black flats with the big flower on the toe to match." So I looked at my other foot and saw my black flat. Yes, that is right I wore 2 different shoes! I have never done that before!!! And it wasn't like they were similar, no, one was blue with holes and the other was black with a big flower!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">hahaha</span>!!! Really?!?!? I start laughing and of course had to tell the other moms I was sitting with. That's when you know you have 3 kids ages 3 and under when you wear 2 different shoes and I wasn't even in a hurry to get ready!!! Anyway, pretty funny stuff! You have to love being a mom!!Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-42392386737185816892011-01-20T08:38:00.001-08:002011-01-20T09:15:22.604-08:00Mavs Game<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YKaUJE7Cgq_ec0ufIq1r8r78yhpGlref-hn3fSK6W_ilclyfXhAQs6UTzY1W01Vg1mnrjO_hK7PBBgR4WsY8rC8OSdBWQBXBlfKzOOOZbRekSW9Em0QvOeIHTOOi2IdYFxohRuVfWSDQ/s1600/IMG_1640.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YKaUJE7Cgq_ec0ufIq1r8r78yhpGlref-hn3fSK6W_ilclyfXhAQs6UTzY1W01Vg1mnrjO_hK7PBBgR4WsY8rC8OSdBWQBXBlfKzOOOZbRekSW9Em0QvOeIHTOOi2IdYFxohRuVfWSDQ/s320/IMG_1640.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564317547708360370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlVIsZrnpr9mVIpa-FQkF8xL0tHm27Hz_JHysMMIcnxzDxBwg3sQavqseKtea0lWM9BkvPCeYkhyVz_jezfz6MNhN9-0QW8QNHnq5sbCTejwCszOnlMk5csC0o8XssgPp4E_26Quod5mc/s1600/IMG_1639.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlVIsZrnpr9mVIpa-FQkF8xL0tHm27Hz_JHysMMIcnxzDxBwg3sQavqseKtea0lWM9BkvPCeYkhyVz_jezfz6MNhN9-0QW8QNHnq5sbCTejwCszOnlMk5csC0o8XssgPp4E_26Quod5mc/s320/IMG_1639.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564317550894182258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1rseXJvjE8Jbn9wyyLQfEm-yhB_spmXXK_5k49JtQD1ScIdSjXaC_EIIOVYc1E6QnAzta29L1Ub-J-UbPS-Ocdr3Td6YEZD7ho4mhX37H0orpDZmqbwvFW0UifE1Lw_cSGjSCDFdJ2vz/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1rseXJvjE8Jbn9wyyLQfEm-yhB_spmXXK_5k49JtQD1ScIdSjXaC_EIIOVYc1E6QnAzta29L1Ub-J-UbPS-Ocdr3Td6YEZD7ho4mhX37H0orpDZmqbwvFW0UifE1Lw_cSGjSCDFdJ2vz/s320/IMG_1638.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564317543253216498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_aF5XUGuZVcnWbtGYx_grwQ-AhsaeYV-v0GQQCb2a7lO3AW8WcCi4vPOXAn-8hSqgYKN-YK_IraREOm-WvvTe-hhoiWNR4C_eiEG3ornLW-a-hmDVV56tG9q6Q5PH7TX1n5IZlNT4oiB/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_aF5XUGuZVcnWbtGYx_grwQ-AhsaeYV-v0GQQCb2a7lO3AW8WcCi4vPOXAn-8hSqgYKN-YK_IraREOm-WvvTe-hhoiWNR4C_eiEG3ornLW-a-hmDVV56tG9q6Q5PH7TX1n5IZlNT4oiB/s320/IMG_1637.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564317539418477682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxu8Ax4hyphenhyphenf8-5ojGcm98qkv4Hs0UUlGaxNWu-ybrBG0juyu8jKq8LnPrBvhqxgA1eiAdcsaC8p0eH6y-re7fLYUsqFhySmpQk4aNYdJxP9e_7AeHHscZA2YQsk2tp49mc8gFgcmd9emt2/s1600/mavs+logo.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 187px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxu8Ax4hyphenhyphenf8-5ojGcm98qkv4Hs0UUlGaxNWu-ybrBG0juyu8jKq8LnPrBvhqxgA1eiAdcsaC8p0eH6y-re7fLYUsqFhySmpQk4aNYdJxP9e_7AeHHscZA2YQsk2tp49mc8gFgcmd9emt2/s320/mavs+logo.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564316789883616754" /></a><br />For Christmas I got Kyle tickets to see the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mavs</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lakers</span> play. Last night was the big event. As soon as Kyle got home we changed into our "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mavs</span> gear" and dropped the kids of at Grandma and Grandpas. If anyone reading this doesn't have kids, you have no idea the feeling of joy it is to just leave the kids and have a night out. Not that I don't love them, I do terribly, but holy cow a night off is heavenly. Anyway, we went to a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">restaurant</span> called the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Cotten</span> Patch. I love it because it has unlimited rolls which are divine (but I had to work super hard this morning in my workout to work those babies off!) We actually had a coupon for a free dinner for 2 which made the food taste even better! <div><br /></div><div>After our fabulous dinner we drove downtown. We found parking for $15 bucks! And that was even farther away. Man those people have to make a killing charging each car 15-20 just for a few hours. Anyway we speed walked to the American Airlines Center and found our seats. We were probably about 15 rows from the top but we could still see everything. The worst part though was we were surrounded by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lakers</span> fans! But they were all really nice even with that shortcoming. </div><div><br /></div><div>The game was a lot of fun. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mavs</span> had the lead for like the first min then the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lakers</span> took the lead for the rest of the first half. Half time was fun. They had these Flipper Guys from Memphis. It was amazing everything they could do. There were 4 of them and 3 were what you would expect. Very toned and muscular then the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">th</span> guy was a big guy. No joke, like a gut and everything, but holy cow!he was so good!!! He was flipping across the whole court with the rest of them. It was impressive. They also had a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Mavs</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Drum line</span> that played throughout the game.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">nd</span> half was really exciting. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Mavs</span> made a comeback and took the lead. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Cobe</span> Bryant was really good hitting some amazing shots, but nothing really crazy. The game ended 109-101 or something like that. Great job <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Mavs</span>!!! </div><div><br /></div><div>I think the worst part about going to games and stuff is leaving with all the drunk crazies. And of course they were all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Lakers</span> fans, because <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Mavs</span> fans would never act like that.....</div><div><br /></div><div>We took the stairs down and once we hit the bottom level we could hear the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">drum line</span>. I thought they were on the court again or something doing another show, but low and behold they were like right there with a crowd of people dancing. So of course Kyle and I joined in with dancing and yelling "Let's go <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Mavs</span>!!" It was funny because there was this big black lady who was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Lakers</span> fan in the middle dancing with the drummers. Then the guys that only wear underwear and paint themselves blue with white lettering on their chests (you know what I'm talking about, somehow the always seem to be at every sporting event) so, there were probably 5 of them and the all make a tight circle around her and start dancing. It was so funny!!! She was a good sport about it and they all even hugged afterward. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then we came home to all of our kids asleep, what a perfect world!!! I forgot my camera though so we took some pictures at the house just to document the event. Again, it was a ton of fun and I'm excited for the next game!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-8963644528950172212011-01-17T15:26:00.000-08:002011-01-17T15:36:42.301-08:00family pics<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9hu0WFKqT5_8VeVsflrc7Ucay_52MStg2w6mYMpYz49B1N83okaYqeyhrEXBVzFS2WXmDZ8nR-l6wzI8sdND7ji9yWaq0epovIceyTX1fESYYgsv1GuEO_eeLgKwp4t0t8DZjaVOsrx7/s1600/family+2010+%252319.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9hu0WFKqT5_8VeVsflrc7Ucay_52MStg2w6mYMpYz49B1N83okaYqeyhrEXBVzFS2WXmDZ8nR-l6wzI8sdND7ji9yWaq0epovIceyTX1fESYYgsv1GuEO_eeLgKwp4t0t8DZjaVOsrx7/s320/family+2010+%252319.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563302611306274178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNbuSN6cLgLnCPbcXYh2ziPVIxFarR2nuWH6uC7DSs2NA6Ps9c2PyigmLFCP_apXmtPZ52wgpx9P3nJhlEik44WtXQ3z3rhaEB822zAwg9rQtxxXY_pOZ_7434HQbHr27SLoNGSgSPVRE/s1600/family+2010+%252314.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNbuSN6cLgLnCPbcXYh2ziPVIxFarR2nuWH6uC7DSs2NA6Ps9c2PyigmLFCP_apXmtPZ52wgpx9P3nJhlEik44WtXQ3z3rhaEB822zAwg9rQtxxXY_pOZ_7434HQbHr27SLoNGSgSPVRE/s320/family+2010+%252314.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563302234219189218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivksnBX7JK7sN17nch9hf0j7qwsE6DsUojei7rpFTOnPxtnyq24QDDOh1n3aQ4ElAFS5sDhNth2F9px-FJRoi9ac-tI9dmslBiyn4SxFFQ4Ug3f5Otfk4LI5uwH8plozaKoVOFFh22OqgI/s1600/family+2010+%252313.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivksnBX7JK7sN17nch9hf0j7qwsE6DsUojei7rpFTOnPxtnyq24QDDOh1n3aQ4ElAFS5sDhNth2F9px-FJRoi9ac-tI9dmslBiyn4SxFFQ4Ug3f5Otfk4LI5uwH8plozaKoVOFFh22OqgI/s320/family+2010+%252313.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563302232686019010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aVxBVRTiv3jlcdtJu3S-nflVjrJqFJEVjSS5rH7lnRgx7M4qpH4Ub2AdOm5nUKoWoRXZv8t3OOJzDuBhfpXZFDjY3ApXDelPaSjylOMVHDkPg5kmCLzS66FX2JEb2dgnzPMGipMSbKLg/s1600/family+2010+%252311.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aVxBVRTiv3jlcdtJu3S-nflVjrJqFJEVjSS5rH7lnRgx7M4qpH4Ub2AdOm5nUKoWoRXZv8t3OOJzDuBhfpXZFDjY3ApXDelPaSjylOMVHDkPg5kmCLzS66FX2JEb2dgnzPMGipMSbKLg/s320/family+2010+%252311.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563302226435293554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-9NgdyqHre0KdDemsrelLvpnWfTfRMWxC0jFp5ACg_hRGgOJmvPdQS4butNUq0dNCnjIhp5Q9IhqZA0Dvy5JtYRXpHUO-4fIEFUBQxW18g2MMSXGPF1YiOueLvaDy7L_5dHcpv4MzIwG/s1600/family+2010+%252310.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-9NgdyqHre0KdDemsrelLvpnWfTfRMWxC0jFp5ACg_hRGgOJmvPdQS4butNUq0dNCnjIhp5Q9IhqZA0Dvy5JtYRXpHUO-4fIEFUBQxW18g2MMSXGPF1YiOueLvaDy7L_5dHcpv4MzIwG/s320/family+2010+%252310.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563302229337693074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_z8MUTNs9YMN_7LTRCymjtuzK3N_-upRXJxrJaR0CSaued9KfFsJoYffCjObDVRo_Q8hEgvhaGlh1Pi_y2tzt9vKoKU5GKGtQbwtUpvrQxHHag7wubRb6x90sFC_Pvg-wU-uTnoYjzWa/s1600/family+2010+%25239.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_z8MUTNs9YMN_7LTRCymjtuzK3N_-upRXJxrJaR0CSaued9KfFsJoYffCjObDVRo_Q8hEgvhaGlh1Pi_y2tzt9vKoKU5GKGtQbwtUpvrQxHHag7wubRb6x90sFC_Pvg-wU-uTnoYjzWa/s320/family+2010+%25239.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563302223178420946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX88YmvYkct9DfBkm-asMveQ-DHi0ujGe9Sbjneht2UniVV_sDrsYCKjpzIUb8ymgt2Bx7PV93E6wqa565-gdEdOToSzbTz0ZRqdOuzbr-OtSzEFdUdfwH-uR20oOc3kWf962RBBujrDW/s1600/family+2010+%25238.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX88YmvYkct9DfBkm-asMveQ-DHi0ujGe9Sbjneht2UniVV_sDrsYCKjpzIUb8ymgt2Bx7PV93E6wqa565-gdEdOToSzbTz0ZRqdOuzbr-OtSzEFdUdfwH-uR20oOc3kWf962RBBujrDW/s320/family+2010+%25238.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563301508791198914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncxJTgyr-XCQIz8H2EAzn1Hg-S8V7YzMHQxT-b9MudGK03tYh-ddpjNYj8TSkdMHs56UlsU1NiIqvgp2yVIbvgCgzzBG5DKADp6E9bEjQEdcMogpOcmyHax3u8NAxvwqjQRGrg7n3unhM/s1600/family+2010+%25237.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncxJTgyr-XCQIz8H2EAzn1Hg-S8V7YzMHQxT-b9MudGK03tYh-ddpjNYj8TSkdMHs56UlsU1NiIqvgp2yVIbvgCgzzBG5DKADp6E9bEjQEdcMogpOcmyHax3u8NAxvwqjQRGrg7n3unhM/s320/family+2010+%25237.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563301504434397506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMng6ZGZoyMH8bmiaVkMIzivZSGUSMHFnx_0v9MFFwacxao82M-8Olqt7hNNhSjSHXu5owmX1tXTYdD_Zknw2RXScaVYojnEPDkDcdcKdvAjl9J32n2LwU_UZHHIX__OO8CcQZ1IrPRVT/s1600/family+2010+%25234.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMng6ZGZoyMH8bmiaVkMIzivZSGUSMHFnx_0v9MFFwacxao82M-8Olqt7hNNhSjSHXu5owmX1tXTYdD_Zknw2RXScaVYojnEPDkDcdcKdvAjl9J32n2LwU_UZHHIX__OO8CcQZ1IrPRVT/s320/family+2010+%25234.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563301507267457970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YfRkkzFrX5HDmaFzGK7ufJBvhyOWTJl1pzPRmV-1-Nu4kWH00ZnL3hciclk2Vzv0carI3DGclo546baBykq-P04IeJWOXQVxvJJV_RoJ5_ZGLmllybMw10WCWPIngkRuU_G7vtwomwaN/s1600/family+2010+%25236.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YfRkkzFrX5HDmaFzGK7ufJBvhyOWTJl1pzPRmV-1-Nu4kWH00ZnL3hciclk2Vzv0carI3DGclo546baBykq-P04IeJWOXQVxvJJV_RoJ5_ZGLmllybMw10WCWPIngkRuU_G7vtwomwaN/s320/family+2010+%25236.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563301503528687490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDwb63zos2DkeOp-QW-PzOAj4OKVadVPU9050iYkVoYVHCZsqV8smPSHDkWlRFqikHbKhrPdlG7NzR5VHJU1toR2MSpIalUXUUwqwRjeD4gWxrWk3ohzLWI9FSy_1V5gW1k1umM2bBgQ1/s1600/family+2010.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDwb63zos2DkeOp-QW-PzOAj4OKVadVPU9050iYkVoYVHCZsqV8smPSHDkWlRFqikHbKhrPdlG7NzR5VHJU1toR2MSpIalUXUUwqwRjeD4gWxrWk3ohzLWI9FSy_1V5gW1k1umM2bBgQ1/s320/family+2010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563301497047531746" /></a><br />It has been a long time since I have posted. So much has happened, and I honestly don't really feel like writing it all...haha...but over the Christmas holiday we had family pictures done in Ohio with my whole family so I did want to post some pictures. It was very interesting trying to work with a 3 and 2 year old who didn't really want to take pictures, but it is funny seeing the sequence of them so here some of them are....<div><br /></div><div>ok, well i obviously need to work on my blogging. I wrote the first part, then put the pics up and they showed up before the words...whatever, it's all there somewhere....</div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-17530697999113820002010-12-09T12:20:00.000-08:002010-12-09T12:25:39.418-08:00Roll OverHannah had her 2 month doctors visit today. I can't believe my little baby is already 2 months old! Man time just flies. Anyway, she is 11 lbs 15 oz, so nearly 12 lbs already! She is growing strong and healthy, like a Hercules! The best part though was the doc told me I need to give her lots of tummy time. I replied that I try but she just rolls over. The doc said, no, she is too young for that, just put her on her belly. No, really, she rolls over....So the doc put her on her belly and just like a good little girl she kicked her legs a few times and rolled right over. Wow, sad the doc, she is really young to be doing that. Does she do that every time? Yep! So, tummy time is like non-existent. And I wasn't lying. Thanks Hannah for doing it right on que!Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-31896858084655013692010-12-06T14:30:00.001-08:002010-12-06T14:36:53.654-08:00Everyone needs a cleaning lady...Ok, so I don't have a cleaning lady persay, but a cleaning couple. And they are great! I found them on Craigslist. They are both in their 40s and this is what they do for a living...clean houses. It is so nice to look around my home and see how nice and clean it is, and the best part it, I didn't have to do it!!!! I did help out in putting things away and showing where things went, but now they know and I won't have to do that again. The house looks just great, I can't wait for Kyle to get home to see it. What a load off my shoulders! As women, we do so so so much and it just gets stressful, and not everything gets done, so delegate! I would much rather be playing with my kids or doing a Mary Kay class and earning money then on my knees scrubbing the floor, yuck! My kids loved having them over and thought they were there to play with them...haha. plus, I got to share some of the gospel with them as they are "church shopping" I see no negatives here! They will be coming every other week. And I am only paying 120 a month! Ok, well I just wanted to share since I'm so happy to have a clean house! Now on to find an assistant....Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-7893778553364265322010-11-09T14:52:00.000-08:002010-11-09T15:03:22.966-08:00boys vs. girlsSince I'm a master at little boys, haha, it is very different and lots of fun having a girl. However I have already noticed a major difference other then the obvious.<div><br /></div><div>Eating Time</div><div><br /></div><div>I am pretty much done nursing. Maybe it is just that fact that I only nursed Josh for 3 weeks. So, being "tied down" to nursing can be hard. I think it is great that moms do it and I know it is so healthy for mom and baby, maybe it is just my personality, but I really like having the help of other people being able to take care of baby and I don't have to do everything. Aka, I like being able to have Kyle get up and feed her at night so I can get a few more winkies....So, we are now bottle feeding Hannah. What is the difference between boys and girls then?</div><div><br /></div><div>The boys didn't care how they got their food. As long as they got it. Hannah on the other hand, is PICKY! We tried so many different bottles. All had my pumped milk even but she wanted nothing to do with any of them. When we registered at Babies R Us they gave us a bag with different samples and coupons and stuff. We got a bottle from a company called "Born Free" I figured, why not try this one. And low and behold, she loved it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, we can't use just 1 bottle all the time so I went to Walmart to get some more. Walmart didn't have them, so I tried Target. Good news: they had the bottle! Bad news: they are 10 bucks a pop!!! I only bought 3 and it was just over 30$ for the small bottles!!!! Are you kidding me! That is 2times as much as like all the other bottles. Of course she likes those! haha... </div><div><br /></div><div>So, my little girl already has expensive taste, let's just hope she doesn't keep that with everything!!</div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-91185586101408761702010-10-31T14:30:00.001-07:002010-10-31T14:57:46.541-07:00Baby HannahWell, sense it has been over 3 weeks I suppose I should write about Hannah's birth. I wrote briefly about it in my journal, so I figure this one should be a little more detailed...<div><br /></div><div>First off, we knew we were going in Friday morning to have the baby, so I asked Kyle if he would give me my blessing Thurs. night. It was a great blessing! I was told so many things I didn't even know about myself like being an inspiration to others and always putting others before myself. I am so grateful for the priesthood and the blessings it brings. I felt much more comfortable with the day ahead. I had been nervous in not knowing if Hannah had moved from a transverse position. Anyway...</div><div><br /></div><div>Grandma Hercules got to our house to stay with the boys around 5:45am and we took off for the hospital. We got there around 6:30am. They had me get into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">buttless</span> dress and into the bed. The nurse I had was GREAT! I loved her!!! She was so helpful and you could tell she loved what she did. I did tell her they always try to put the IV into the side of my wrist whatever vein that is, and it never works, they always have to go through my hand. She looked around and found the vein so I let her try once. It didn't go in....<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hhmm</span>... just like I said.... she said it didn't roll it just clamped up. So, like I said originally she had to do it in my hand. They started the IV and put the monitors on me to feel for contractions and Hannah's heartbeat. My contractions were already coming every 5 min but not very strong. She thought I was already in early labor on my own, but I don't think so as I knew they were coming regularly for a couple days, but I also knew they weren't near strong enough. Then, they had me lay in one side and I said, baby doesn't like this side. Well a few min. later the nurse came back in saying her heart rate dropped....like I said, she doesn't like this side. So, I turned over, and low and behold her heart rate came back up. </div><div><br /></div><div>We waited for the doc to come in. I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">dilated</span> to a 3. He tried to break my water, but Hannah's head was in the way and he couldn't really get a good shot at it. So, he said he would try again around lunch time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Kyle told the nurse that once I get <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">dilated</span> to a 5 I usually go pretty fast after that. I didn't remember that, so I'm glad he did. It's just getting to the 5. So we were hoping for a fast delivery since I was already at 3. They started the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">pitocin</span> and we waited. I warned the nurse that for some reason my body seems to get used to the medicine really fast and I need more (it's a good thing I have never been a druggie...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">haha</span>) She asked what my natural hair color was and I told her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">blond</span>. She said that the anesthesiologist once told her that fair skinned, fair haired people tend to need more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">meds</span>....interesting.... apparently it is a fact.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, the pit isn't really working....I feel the contractions, but nothing crazy, maybe hurting a level 2 on a scale up to 10. They keep turning up the pit. This is going on four hours. Then with one contraction I feel a little fluid seep out. That continues with the oncoming contractions. I told the nurse, she checked me and I was still at a 3 and she couldn't tell that my water had broken. Anyway, lunch time rolls around, the doc comes back, I'm still at a 3, but my cervix was thinned. He moved Hannah's head and more water came out. He was like, Oh, your water must have broken. It was strange though because it was just little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">seepages</span>, with the boys it was gushes. </div><div><br /></div><div>They kept turning up the pit and it was starting to look like another long delivery. But around 3pm I started to feel the contractions more. So we called for the epidural so I wouldn't have to be in pain even if it was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">manageable</span>. Apparently the nurse told the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">epi</span> guy about my needing lots of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">meds</span> because he gave me tons! He said I shouldn't need to push the button for more with the amount he was giving me. And he wasn't kidding! I literally could not move my left side. If they needed me to move Kyle had to move me. Weird feeling, but not painful! Love that! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Epis</span> don't even really hurt, I mean the worse part is when they give you the shot to numb you and that isn't even bad, maybe after giving myself a shot everyday for 9 months curred me of the fear of them, but still, worth a little pinch to be pain free the rest of the time. It was good we called the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">epi</span> guy when we did too because he was about to go in for a c-section and wouldn't have been available for a while. </div><div><br /></div><div>So we are around 3pm, I just had my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">epi</span> and feeling good. I tried to get some sleep, but sleeping in a hospital is just about pointless with all the people coming in to check this or look at that. The contractions were putting pressure on Hannah, obviously, so they had me put oxygen on and she really like that. I said I felt more pressure and the nurse checked me and I was at a 6, about 20 min later I had her check again and I was at an 8. They called the doc and he was finishing up with his last 2 patients and would be over. Well I really felt the need to push not even 10 min after that and when I was checked I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">completely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">dilated</span>. Kyle could actually see the head with each contraction. I told them I needed to push and the doc came in, got suited up, told me to push and with just 1 contraction and 2.5 pushes she was out!!!! </div><div><br /></div><div>Born Oct 8, 2010 at 5:41pm. 8lbs 3 oz, 20.5in. She has been my biggest baby yet! But she is beautiful and healthy. She is a great nurser and sleeps through the night, just waking up every 3-4 hours to eat. I love her so much and I am so happy she is part of our family. Welcome Hannah Mae Hercules!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-62868394117053033022010-10-30T11:31:00.000-07:002010-10-30T11:36:57.143-07:00Conner MilkThis post is dedicated to my sister Melanie, since she keeps asking me to post something....<div><br /></div><div>I have yet to write all the details of Hannah's birth, but I will soon, I just wanted to get this little blop down first as I thought it so so funny!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm nursing Hannah and we have a boppy pillow. Conner always asks what Hannah is doing and I tell him she is drinking Mama milk. So, now he knows whenever Hannah is lying on that pillow she is eating. Conner loves Hannah so much and always asks to hold her. Yesterday Conner sat down and wanted to hold her. I was about to hand her to him but then he said WAIT! He jumped up and grabbed the boppy pillow and sat down. I put Hannah in his lap (he wasn't wearing a shirt at this time) Then he kind of tilts Hannah and leans toward her and says, "OK Hannah time to drink Conner Milk." hahahaha!!! I was laughing so hard and said, "Conner you don't have milk. It's only Mommies milk she drinks." He just said, Oh.... It was to funny. Hannah's 3 year old brother trying to nurse her...</div>Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479520253767305741.post-18231077881037716462010-09-15T09:49:00.000-07:002010-09-15T09:51:58.702-07:00what's that?Conner: "Here mama." Holding out his hand for me.<br /><br />Me: "Thanks Conner." It takes a few tries but finally he puts something in my hand. I look at it and turn it over and just can't figure out what the little white sticky thing is and where it came from.<br /><br />Me: "What is it?"<br /><br />Conner: "My buger!"<br /><br />haha... ewww..... Kyle started cracking up which made me laugh, which made both boys start laughing like they were all in on the whole thing! Oh man, what is next?Hercules Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01361101645944510666noreply@blogger.com0