The Good the Bad and the Ugly

So, the good news is that almost a year after being laid off RUSS HAS A JOB!!!! 

Yes, we all feel very blessed right now.  I’m so very grateful for Russ.  He’s such a wonderful Husband, Father, Friend, Priesthood holder and Companion. 

 

The bad news…after getting my hopes up that this pregnancy would stick…it’s not.  I had blood work last week that did not look promising.  My follow-up blood work showed a decrease in my hCG levels.  Meaning? An eminent miscarriage, again. 

I’m so frustrated.  So, as I write I am losing yet another baby.  This one has been harder for me, but I’m doing alright.  I can’t help but feel so overwhelmingly grateful for my four beautiful kids and the blessings in our lives right now.

 

The ugly?  Well, these are some UGLY shoes…

Ode to School…At Home…

Some of you have wondered how homeschool is going in the Woolcott home. Thought I'd share a few pics from a day in the life of... duh, duh, duhhhh... the Woolcott chillins!

This is Connor When…

  It’s time to start school in the morning!!!

Aidan STRETCHING….. time to get to work!

 

What are you wearing Coby????  (Isn’t he cute?!)

 (Yes, his shirt says “My imaginary friend just beat up your imaginary friend”.  We just roll like that!)

When I asked Rylie if she would like to go to Fox Hollow or do homeschool with the boys, she said “I want to do ballerina school”… Oh the dreams of a little girl!!!

 

This is Coby, such the procrastinator, when he is mentally DONE for the day…

“Cobyyy, are you awake????”

“I HATE this!!!!”……. “It’s BORING!!…”

“Weeeoooeeeoo, I’m goofy!!”

(Me) “Coby, you will sit here all day if that’s what it takes…”

“FINE!!!”  (slams hand down")

 

FINISHED!!!!

Connor's request

Connor wants a baby sister...that's what he told me today. I don't know why, because he fights all the time with the baby sister he currently has...

Aidan wants a baby brother...
that's what he said...

he doesn't get along with ANY of his siblings.

Rylie wants TWO baby sisters...
I think she feels outnumbered.

Believe me Rylie, so do I.

Coby didn't seem so hot on the idea of any new baby brothers or sisters...but he kept quiet.

What does Russ think?You'll have to ask him... ;)

As for me, I'd like a little one around again. Crazy you may say? Why yes, of course I am!! Anyone who KNOWS me knows that!


We were pregnant a couple of weeks ago, but it ended a few days later...
Yes, I'm sad and no the kids didn't even know, which is why it was strange that the kids started asking for a baby today...

Maybe they know more than we do, yep, I'm pretty sure that's right.

I'm doing okay, it hasn't been the hardest thing we've gone through in our lives by any means...

Who knows...???

I think I'll leave the rest up to Him.

It's Alive!!!!

And by "it" I mean ME! Yes, I know. It's been WAY too long for a blog post. But, put your minds at ease...I'm here and I'm alive!

So, as I thought of what to blog about several things came to mind...


I just can't remember any of them. So, I'll just give you an update on my life.

I'm alive...

First Born Survey

Here you go mommies - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born! Just copy and paste it in a new note for yourself!

Let's see how much you remember!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST EVER PREGNANCY PLANNED? Uh, NO!

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes, for 3 WHOLE WEEKS!

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? I was excited, Russ...a little shocked.

4. HOW DID YOU PICK A NAME? We bought a baby name book and took it on a trip to Washington. We both liked Aidan for a first name...and since he was to be born in 1999 and Russ' grandfather was born in 1899 we gave Aidan his grandfathers name as a middle name, Emory.5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 24

6. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? my family then Russ'

7. HOW DID YOU TELL YOUR SPOUSE? While trying to contain my excitement (knowing Russ would not be as excited) I said, "Russ, I have good or bad news..." Needless to say he immediately thought it was a joke.

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Absolutely!

9. DUE DATE? August 5th, 1999

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? I was sick 24 hours a day for the first 4 months.

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Mostly nothing (I was so nauseous) but one night all I wanted was a Burger King cheese burger

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? SMELLS! Ugh! and not being able to roll over in one place. Russ was on an air mattress the last month because I had to actually ROLL from side to side...there was no room for him on our Full size bed. We have a King now.

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? a boy

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
Nope! I love having boys!

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 50

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes.

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew.

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? Yes. He was HUGE! I PUSHED for over 2 hours. They finally pulled him out with forecepts. We knew he was measuring large and planned to have a c-section. The doc thought he was smaller than he was and thought I could deliver him.
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Renaissance Birthing Center in Edmond, OK

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 8

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? My hubby

22.WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Well WHO DIDN'T? LOL Russ, my dad, and the plethora of nurses in the room. Heck, I'm not quite sure cause there were so many people in and out and "checking" my progress...

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Heck, yeah! I'm no dummy!

27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 9 lbs 4 oz

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? July 26, 1999 (10 days early)30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Aidan Emory Woolcott

31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 9 (*sniff* he's not a baby anymore)Now he's a GREAT big brother!
We Love You Aidan!!

Back in the Day

So I recently reconnected on Facebook with a friend from my post-college/pre-Navy days. During this time of my life I have very few pictures, I mean, what do you expect... I was like 19-20ish. So she drummed up some photos that really brought back a flood of memories. I thought I would share them with you here, and give you some of my (and my children's) thoughts on the subject. Here I am with my friend Stephanie. This photo reminded me that even though I was a legal adult, I looked younger and was thus treated like a little sister! Here Stephanie is saying, "look how cute she is!" (well, I guess I kinda was...hee hee)
This was the first singles branch I ever attended. Surprisingly I can remember 6 people's names out of the other 9 with me! My memory isn't as bad as I thought, yea! If you can't pick me out, I'm in the striped dress behind Pres. Canann, our Branch Pres. at the time.
This was at a branch activity. While my friend Lisa (with the guy) is focused on her priorities, I'm focusing on mine...the cake! Just a side note, while it may be sad that I remember how delicious the cake is, it's even sadder that Lisa doesn't remember the guy sitting on her lap! Okay, I don't really remember the cake, but the rest of the previous statement is true! But here is the MOST disturbing thing about this picture. When Connor saw it he said, "MOM, YOU WERE HOT!" Yes, I felt good about the compliment, and VERY disturbed that it came from my son.
Little Aubrey went off to join the Navy and chopped her hair but didn't forget her friends. This was one of the times I came back to visit, probably about two years after joining the Navy, say about 1997. So, I just thought I would share since I've been feeling so nostalgic this week. Hope you enjoy!

Cut it Out!!!

So, my dear sweet hubby asked me to post a little something. For your info, he's got skills! Bow staff skills, nunchuck skills, you name it! One particular skill he has is knife sharpening. He not only has the know-how, but the equipment to do the job right. So whatever your knife cutting needs may be...

just ask Russ. $3 a kitchen knife. (Sorry my blog sounds like an infomercial lately, just trying to creatively make money while Russ is trying to find a job)