March Madness

Spring is right around the corner, right? It must be because kids get sick when the seasons change. For the last two weeks, we've been dealing with... sickness. Luckily, all of us were previously immunized. Otherwise, I know the sickness would be worse. But I've also noticed animals out and about--squirrels scurrying, geese flying and honking overhead, and even rabbits leaving droppings in our front yard. I'm looking forward to warmer temps and sunny days and healthy children playing more often outside. Another thing to look forward to...we found some renters for our house! Yea! We've started boxing things up. Even the kids are helping.

First Snow!

That's right! Today we got our first snowflakes of the season...not enough to stick to the ground, but enough to see "snowflakes falling all around!"

"It's 4:30; time for milking."

Some of you may know this movie quote...(any takers?)

And yes, it's 4:30 in the morning, and I've been up with my baby since 3. He's actually quite pleasant (and wide awake) now that he's been fed and burped and diaper, changed twice. I, however, was starving and thought I better replenish the milk wagon. Some of you have been asking for more recent photos of Tyler...I guess that will have to wait until I upload them from the camera. He is as big as ever, continuing to grow. Another mommy I know has a 3-month-old son, and wanting to compare our boys' sizes, took a photo of them together . They're basically the same size! I'm not surprised, really, since I just put away his 0-3 month sized clothing (they typically go up to 12 lbs.). I don't know what Tyler currently weighs (he was 11 lbs. 4 oz. at his 2-wk check-up and he's about a month old now!), but he seems to be long in the torso. So even though the clothes were long enough to his toes, they often weren't long enough to his bum. What good does a onesie do if you can't snap it over the diaper? Well, Tyler is fussing now...better go help him...and see if I can get more sleep!

Change of plans! Welcome Tyler Knight!

Mags and I went to see a good movie "Letters to Juliet" last night (thanks Mom and Dad Mac for watching the kids!), and Maggie's contractions were picking up. We weren't getting our hopes up too much though (we've never yet had a baby without being induced).

At home for 3 hours, Maggie couldn't sleep for the contractions getting worse, and we knew at 2AM that we needed to get to the hospital. We rushed to Saint Mary's like crazy people, got a room quite quickly, and then we monopolized our nurse for the next 1.5 hours, because Maggie had to hold back from pushing and just having the baby (so the hospital could have some chance of getting a doctor there)!

At 3:10AM the waters burst, and fortunately an OB GYN got there right then; Tyler Knight Ripplinger was born 10 minutes later, nice and healthy.

He weighed 10 lbs 15 oz, and 24 inches long (that's not a typo). There was no time for an epidural or anything, but it went so smoothly it wasn't a problem. He may have been 1.5 weeks overdue (by ultrasound, anyway), so that could explain the spontaneous labor!

Anyway, we're so excited and grateful for things going well. We had his name pretty much picked out a week ago; it just felt right and continued to feel right after we met him. His siblings are excited to meet him in a few hours! Thanks to everyone out there for your love and support!

Post date

What happens when your pregnancy has expired? You wait longer! And you take non-stress tests. My due date has come and gone and no new addition yet. At 40 weeks and 2 days, my belly measures 41 cm, cervix dilated to 2 or 3cm but no effacing. Everything is fine and dandy, apparently. So I'll see my regular doc on Tuesday for sure and schedule an induction, if the baby has not made his arrival by then.

Summertime activities

Last night he attended the graduation dinner for the residents who have completed their residency. He'll be done next year! This year is going to fly!

Matt not only works all day, but also all night, too! He recently painted the downstairs! Yea for paint and determined husbands ;) I don't know if he took any photos of it.

Adam still enjoys his grandma-made cape :)

After playing at the park, the kids crashed...Kaitlyn eventually made it to the couch!

Adam enjoyed playing with his food and created a pretzel alien during lunchtime.

During our slumber party, we let the kids stay up to watch a movie. About halfway through, we glanced over at Raquel to find her asleep with her shirt on her head! It made us laugh.

A couple of years ago, we tried our hands at tie-dye with t-shirts. And we decided this time we'd experiment with different staining foods like berries. The kids had a blast and loved tasting the edible paint! We also used some food coloring. We'll see if it stains or not. I've put them in the dryer, but haven't washed or rinsed yet.

Slumber party!

Wrestling with Daddy or doing the "Superman!"

Reading library books and sleeping.

We've been told that rhubarb helps move pregnancies along, so I made a pie. It was yummy!

The end of school...the kids picked roses to give to their teachers, and Kaitlyn even made a book to say "Thank You."

This has been our best strawberry year thus far. We've picked two good batches of them from our little patch next to our house and made yummy milk shakes, and also cobbler. Kaitlyn probably did the most picking :)

As you might have noticed, I've got baby on the brain...Here's what the rest of us have been up to...

At the Memorial Day picnic, Sierra's posing on the left, prior to the water-balloon fight.

39 weeks and 2 days

I am frustrated with my doctor. I suppose I shouldn't be, but I am. She basically said there's no way I will be induced with this pregnancy. (She's a fam. doc. and would have to get approval from an OB for an induction, which she says she knows the answer would be "no!"). Because they know I can push out a 10 lb. baby, there is no reason to induce. (Even though I have been induced for all of my pregnancies, and because they were getting too big!) I have never gone into labor on my own without pitocin. This may be a first. But she also said I'm at the lowest risk for a c-section. My blood pressure is great. And urine. Baby's heart beat is fine. My belly is measuring 41 cm (I measured 42 right before Sierra came.), and luckily, my cervix has begun to dilate...currently at 1cm. The doc did try to "strip my membranes," but I doubt that will have much if any affect on speeding up the process. She did that 3 times with my previous one, and it did diddley-squat. I guess each pregnancy is different, so I can still hope. According to the ultrasound done back in Feb., my baby was due two days ago. So he has my permission to come anytime now. My parents will be arriving on Monday, yea! It'll be great to have them here. And we have others who have offered to watch kids when the time comes, so we should be set. I finally packed my hospital bag...we have a few names in mind for the boy...we'll see! And if he hasn't arrived by next Thursday, I'll get to see a different doctor because mine will be out of town!

38 weeks and 2 days

40 cm...walking the halls of the mall...no action yet

37 weeks and 2 days

39.5 cm...everything's fine

I'm impatient!

Still 38cm

OB check-up yesterday...still measuring 38cm at 36 weeks. So the baby must have had a growth spurt and has since slowed down. Everything seems just fine and on schedule. Due date remains June 22nd.

More House Painting; Mother's Day

After painting is done...Matt moved things back in. The color is a subtle pink. We figured going with a lighter color would be wise in a northern (one-window) room of the house.

Paint-sprayer gun sped up the process.

We painted another room in our house a couple weeks ago...and when I say "we" I mean Matt! He's such a stud! He does everything.

Kaitlyn took this photo for us after a couple of tries. The breeze was pretty chilly ;) , but it was a beautiful day. At church all the mothers received corsages. Matt had to work that day, but luckily, we got to see him shortly after getting home from church, and he made dinner :).

Ten years ;)

And I made a yummy yet messy German Chocolate cake. [Silly me, I tried to make it in two layers, instead of three. It kind of over flowed and had to bake longer, but it still turned out! Yea! And then I didn't stack them quite right. oh well.]

Matt brought me these roses :)

For part of our 10th wedding anniversary last month, we went out to eat at a yummy Mexican restaurant and to a movie. We're still celebrating!!!

38 cm

Either this baby boy is going to be huge or my due date is way off. Last week when I went to a regular OB check-up, I was measuring 38 cm at 34 weeks! What is up with that?! It makes me nervous, but what can you do? I guess only time will tell.

Goin' Solo

Goin' solo is not fun. For those of you who have experienced being away from your spouse for an extended period of time know what it can be like. Matt is attending required training out of town for four weeks, while I'm tending to our four children at home. It hasn't been as bad as I thought it might, but still, it's very tiring being the only adult in the house. Talking on the phone and using the webcam help. Tonight we even had Family Home Evening using Skype. It was hard to get everyone comfortable in front of the computer screen, but I think it was a success. We've made it through the first week! Woohoo! And we are so excited to have Matt come home for the weekend and be here for General Conference and Easter! Yea!

Boy or Girl?

Today's the day we find out the gender of our baby due June 22nd! I think all of us are hoping for a boy, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high :) Even Kaitlyn said, "I think Adam needs a brother." So my ultrasound is this evening when Matt and all the kids can be there. We did the same thing when we were expecting Sierra, and it was very cool. We're excited! We'll keep you posted! (punny, huh?) :) [I know, I should do the cake test before we go and see if it's accurate. Pink or blue?]