The last stretch

This past weekend was very long, very dramatic, and very exhausting. Franklin has always been a late teether. His first 2 teeth caused a lot of trouble with playing peek a boo and teasing us. His canines, all 4 of them at once, are giving him (and us for that matter) more trouble than the rest of his teeth. He ran fevers all weekend. He'd been waking up in the middle of the night since last Wednesday. Finally, Friday night, poor Stephen is at his wits end. My pains had picked up with a vengeance Thursday night so between Franklin and myself, Stephen is worn out. I told him that the first time Franklin wakes up, just bring him in bed with us.

Friday night was still very long. Franklin would get upset when I had to get up to visit Mrs. Murphy (my Grandma Reed's name for the toilet, always would make me laugh, she has hilarious names for all sorts of things). Saturday wasn't much better. He was burning very hot. Because he had no other flu symptoms I didn't take his temperature. Sunday was hard for both of us. My pains have been making me writhe in pain that the only thing stopping me from going to the hospital was the fact that Franklin hasn't been sleeping well, and he was already in bed. So Monday I spoke with my sister about my dilemma. Franklin slept better with us on Monday night, and he had fewer fevers at that point. We're still struggling to get him to eat solids, but most of you know how hefty he is so we're not too concerned.

So yesterday Stephen and I headed over to our hospital in the afternoon with Franklin in tow. We had packed a bag for him, and a bag for me, just in case and Greta was on stand by to come get him in case we were going to be there a while. It was so wonderful to be listened to, and be taken seriously. They did some tests, and an exam. I am at 34 weeks, and dilated to 3 cm (don't worry, it doesn't mean I'm going to have this baby anytime soon) and I have a bladder infection. Other than the pain from the infection there isn't anything they can do about the rest of my pains, obviously.

Last night was better; less pain, and even though Franklin woke up 3 times, he would put himself back to sleep within minutes. He stayed in his own bed all night, that made us both happy. We are determined to make it at least 2 more weeks for me, and then I'm ending my bed rest. I see my doctor next week for my regular check up, and we'll keep you posted on any changes for me. Franklin hasn't had a fever yet today, and Stephen is able to catch up on sleep again as well.

The update, finally

Taking the bed rest seriously has been helping. However I will admit that its not been easy to sit aside and not do anything. Everytime that I try to do something I definitely pay for it later. I've been spending a lot of time reading books, and being entertained by Franklin and the cats. Stephen continues to be amazing and incredibly patient.

Franklin has been cutting his canines for several weeks now, and finally some of them are actually visable. He continues his own chatter, and has a lot to say all the time. He climbs all over everything, and the only time he gets in trouble is when he crawls on me. He is definitely his mothers' son. He tries to roll, sit on, and jump on Rizzo, and his mommy. He also loves to poke at my belly. He'll move my clothes so he can see my tummy, and very softly rubs, pats, or pokes my belly. I try not to react when he rubs over my scar (I have no feeling over it, so it is a weird sensation, and sometimes gives me the willies).

Stephen has been working long days with the weather getting better. Last week we actually had some snow. Thankfully it didn't stick due to all the rain we were getting. Now the sun is heating things up nicely here. It won't be long till it's as hot as Sierra Vista, AZ here. Yes, it gets very hot here; our elevation is the same as where my parents live in Arizona, so close to Mexico. Stephen is very much looking forward to the heat; it means better pay, so why wouldn't he be excited!

We recently decided that we can't move till after the baby is born. We haven't been too thrilled about that decision, but have no choice because I can't help pack, or clean the place when we are moved out. I'm not about to make Stephen do all that work himself, its just not fair. However, some good news came our way yesterday. Our landlady told us that her roommates (the very noisey tenants that live above us) have moved out, and this week they will officially be gone. Stephen thought it was the best birthday news ever! We can also tell that our landlady is very relieved, and happy about that news herself. Things have been far more stressful for everyone under this roof. And yes, Stephen's birthday is tomorrow, the 4th. Its amazing how fast the time goes! This is his 5th birthday the two of us have spent together!! Happy Birthday to the most amazing man I know!!

From Stephen's perspective

So its time to let you all in on how things are going with us on a more serious note. Lisl has been having Braxton Hicks (false labor/contractions) for the last two months. When they began it didn't happen often, and was never an actual problem. On the drive back from Arizona is when things started to get worse. Even more recently, on Friday, she began to have pains that have made simple things impossible. She has been on bed rest, and we hope these contractions and pains will ease up, so she can make it at least as long as she did with Franklin, 38 weeks. Lisl is only 30 weeks pregnant (10 weeks to go till full term).

Now, as a result of Lisl having to take it easy, I the fantastic and absolutely wonderful husband that I am have taken over the household responsabilities. In the past few weeks I have taken over cooking, cleaning, laundry, and anything that involves lifting. I haven't minded it of course but I have to say to all of you wives including my own; You are amazing! This has given me quite the insight into what it takes to keep up a household and I applaud your ability to keep up with everything. I will have to let Lisl keep you informed as to whether I am doing a comparable job or not.

Outside of that though we had a good easter weekend. Franklin enjoyed hunting for eggs. He decided that daddy had to hold the basket though. Which worked out well because I was able to keep removing eggs from his basket and re-depositing them for him to find. This helped increase the time it took for him to find them all. In the evening we enjoyed an Easter dinner with two of our friends (Mitch and Megan). They ended up being fully entertained by our quirky cat Rizzo. He was lunging off tables and just generally being a nut, so it made the evening pretty eventful.

Lisl had asked me if I wanted to give blogging a try, so thanks for tuning in, and reading what I had to say. We'll have some photos and videos of our Easter in an upcoming blog. Hope you all had a good Easter!

(Lisl's shout out to Stephen: He is amazing, and has been the best father and husband. I'm very greatful to be married to such a wonderful, and caring man!)

Springtime for Franklin

So lots has been going on, and yet sometimes it feels like nothing new happens to us. For over a week now Franklin has been sleeping in a toddler bed, and loving it. We're not sure who's happier, Franklin or us. Since he started sleeping in his bed (no longer the converted crib, an actual toddler bed and we didn't ease him into either, we just took away the crib all at once) he's been sleeping a full 12 hours through the night, and 3 hours for his nap. Its been a real miracle for us since we haven't had those numbers since the disturbance moved in upstairs. That's since October. For any of you with toddlers still in cribs don't listen to statistics; Franklin LOVES his toddler bed and was more than ready to just switch.

We canceled our house phone, and even though it hardly rang, the silence has been great. 90% of all incoming calls have been telemarketers. There's been one company that I loath!! They would call sometimes 3 times a day, and I finally lost it with them. 2 calls in a row was the same operator, and when I asked for a manager, he first told me there are none, then later that he was the manager. By the end of our conversation he was laughing at me. Stephen wasn't home, so I called him up and said that this particular operator was in some serious trouble with me, and if I hear his voice again, I'm going to let him have it. Our resolve was just get rid of an expence we don't need, and then there won't be a way for that awful company to contact me anymore. Franklin's been happy to play with the disconnected phones.

The weather seriously can't make up its mind on what it wants to do. Right now its perfect, no sweater needed, nice and warm, but we're supposed to get a thunder storm tomorrow. We've also had a few days its snowed, and been super windy (have I ever mentioned there is no weather I hate more than wind?). We've been trying to figure out things that we can do indoors, and near by. We wanted to go to Gardener Village one weekend, but it was windy, and had just snowed. So instead we stopped at the mall in Draper. They had a play ground meant exactly for Franklin's age group, and we couldn't be happier.

Stephen's also been home a lot because even though its been cold the majority of people will just simply wait till next winter to get furnace work done, and no one has needed their a/c running. So on April Fool's day we went to Gardener Village anyway, with snow; but no more wind. I'm super happy, we found the exact baby quilt we've been looking for the upcoming nursery. When I have more of it together so you can get idea of what I'm trying to create, then I'll let you in on it, for now I'll say its yellow, black and white.

So when we got back from Arizona Stephen and I agreed that I needed to just take it easy and rest as much as possible. The drive home was harder on me than I will discuss and we thought just a few days would help. I've been in to see my doctor, and had some good and not so nice news. This whole pregnancy I've been right on track for the amount of weight I'm supposed to gain, not a pound more. I was super worried because my stomach rounded out very quickly even though the scale didn't budge a whole lot. However I'm still on bed rest and this time ordered by the professional, and not myself.

Its helped big time to have Stephen home a little more often, and he's been doing more housework. He's a great sport, and support. Franklin has loved having his daddy home as well. Make sure you check out the new video below to see just how much fun its been for Franklin. Stephen and I do feel better when there is work for Stephen, especially since things have been so slow. It also helps that Franklin is very helpful and obedient. He helps pick up his toys, and sometimes helps me in the kitchen. He isn't very helpful when its time to do laundry, unless I want it all over the floor, which I never do. He has a lot more personality, and has been a lot of fun.