My deal at Wags Sat. 29th

If you have not signed up for www.vocalpoint.com, you are missing out on great freebies and coupons. I was able to use my Rice Crispies coupons yesterday at Walgreens and they gave me $$ for taking 2 boxes. I just wish I was on top of things and had done this earlier in the week! Oh well!
2 boxes rice crispies on sale 2/$5
MQ free rice crispies ($2.50)
MQ ($1.00)
Total: $1.50
RR $2.00 {used on next transaction of some laundry detergent and toilet paper}
= $.50 overage!!!!!

If you know of other places to use my other $1 off rice crispies coupons, let me know!! I also just received vocalpoint's latest promo--Kashi Honey Cereal--haven't seen it in stores yet, so if you see a decent deal, let me know!

Ultrasound Pictures 8/26 and pregnancy update

Had a long afternoon yesterday with ultrasound and OB appt. I was so thankful to have the company of my dh though--it was nice to be out alone with him--almost like a date ~LOL~ a cheap date~ and knowing the kids were having so much fun playing with cousins and not napping :)
The ultrasound tech is also expecting and we've had many a good talks with her. Very neat to have real conversations with real people and since we see her every month or so, it is more than just a service she is providing.....

She was able to capture a good 3D image of Elizabeth with her leg in front of her face. See her cushy face and round nose? Looks like she has plenty of fat deposits already :)

She measured about 4 lbs 6 oz and very active still.

I just love baby feet--and we were able to get several good pics of their feet...together and apart. This one isn't the best, but it's both of them--kicking me down low :) YES--they are both breech right now. I was proud of myself because I knew this before going in. If it lasts more than a couple days, I'm probably gonna be panicking, but they are still so active that they could be 5 different positions before they settle down to come out in another month or so (crossing fingers). Just one of them turning is like a huge volcano bubbling. There is no real description with words--it's such a huge discomfort and UGHH....and then the 2nd one usually follows soon after.....

I tried to upload a video of baby B "Elizabeth" holding her toes momentarily and then letting go. It was adorable to see. but you'll have to settle for just her little foot--you can barely trace out her fingers below the toes. Apparently she's gonna be one that needs her toesies free to play with :)

We did get some cute pics of Abigail {Baby A} also, but she was more crunched up it seemed and not as easy to see and measure. She measured about 4 lbs even. You can see the front of her scrunched up face in this pic.

Here is Abigail's profile--see her little round nose also? SOO sweet to see my baby girls!! It is helping me to bond way before I ever did with any others. It's like they are just a foreign presence making me uncomfortable until i get to hold them, feed them, touch them, etc. Of course, this unexpected bonding also brings more worry--the what-ifs tend to creep in occasionnally and I just have to pray...

The OB appt. went well. We were ahead of schedule everywhere we went, starting with dropping the kids off :) A sure sign that dh was in charge and not me!! I was about 32 weeks 5 days and measured about 36 weeks. Strong heartbeats--ultrasound measured 139 and OB measured 140s. My bp is still looking great. I weighed in at 178lbs. I got a lot of questions answered and need to go ahead and make a call to our pediatrician to give him a heads up and discuss his take on when they need NICU, etc. Neither our OB nor our ped {he's actually our family doc} goes to the neighboring hospital with a NICU, so we're REALLY hoping it is avoided--although I enjoyed a nice tour of the NICU and was pleasantly surprised at how homey and inviting the atmosphere was. Our hospital choice--the one without a NICU--the birthing center at St. Johns lets the babies room in with you and you do not have to change rooms for labor, delivery, recovery, etc. They are also bigger rooms, making plenty of room for the older kids to come see us and visit. Siblings are able to come in and I believe other children must be 12+. It is a secured area and no one gets in the doors without clearance. Our other 4 kids were delivered here (although our oldest came before it was a birthing center and we DID have to change rooms, etc.).

Pregnancy Update

I know--I'm a bit behind on an update. I had an OB visit Wed. 12th and there aren't a lot of things to report. I had only gained 2 pounds in 2 weeks. I am 31 gestational weeks, still only measuring about 35. Both girls were active that day but heartbeats were in the 140-150s. My bp was perfectly normal and swelling really only occurs in the heat. The nurse asked if dh was helping out folding laundry, cooking, etc. and I tried REALLY hard not to laugh. Yes--he sometime grills on the weekend. And I have friends coming every once in a while to help with other household stuff. She encouraged me to get more help *smile*. I've been having more of the braxton hicks contractions but unless anything happens, I'll go back in 2 weeks for ultrasound AND the OB appt. After that--every week.......
The OB was more concerned about nutrition. She gave me a prescription for folic acid, said to take a stool softener if needed and make sure to take my vitamins and get in as much nutrients as possible....hmmm....I'm hungry all the time--sure--but not for what is in my fridge and cabinets......or for anything that has to be FIXED ~LOL~ The free chicken club I had from Arby's Wed. has been on my mind A LOT. So has a 1/3lb cheeseburger from Braum's.......and lemon chicken from Bamboo Garden........and.....well, I better quit now before I think I'm starving!!

Also, I opened a registry at www.babiesrus.com and hope to add more to it. I may open a Target one also. They both offer 10% off anything left on the registry at the due date, so that was a major motivator!!

Need a laugh?

Sketch Tuesday: Bathroom Cabinet Finds

Last week's assignment for Sketch Tuesday was something you find in your bathroom cabinet.

Daniel Lapbook--part 1

We have started our fall history---quarter 3 of volume 1 Mystery of History. Thus, the start of a new history lapbook about not just Daniel, but the Babylonian captivity and rulers and the food pyramid and general health information. Homeschool Helper has a Daniel lapbook and most of these links will be from there, denoted by an *. Since we are going in chronological order thru our history book, I'm trying to put it together chronologically also.

Book of Daniel accordian fold*
The Captivity of Babylon -- this is a group of notebooking pages that I got and I cannot find the site anymore. I will only be using page one and turning it into a booklet. If you want this pdf file, just ask!
The Ishtar Gate -- I made this book on word doc. and can email it to you if you are interested!! Information and picture gathered from bible-history.com.
We will be focusing on what happened with Nebuchednessar II, Daniel, and the food pyramid this next week, taking a "detour" to study Aesop and his fables the next week and continuing on with our MOH lessons--all those during Daniel's lifetime could add little activities to this Daniel lapbook, but the majority will be completed this week.
Food folder game This will be the second folder or a flap (for my preschooler). She may also have a Medley Match-Up game. The older ones will probably also need an extra flap or 2 in this folder for their coloring pages and activities I have found on the food pyramid.
GuestHallow.com has a free health unit based on the book "Food and Nutrition for every Kid". We will be using several of her mini books from her Nutrition lapbook--especially for my oldest:
Vitamin Storage Petal Book
Fats Chart
Fat Accordian
Nutrition Facts Book
Protein fan book
Protein Wheel
Vitamin ABCs long booklet
Saccaride Dbl Flapbook
Examples of saccharides dbl flapbook
What a way to incorporate Science into our school day!!
Change of names tab fold* I may save this for lesson 62 "Shadrach, Meshac and Abed-nego" along with The Fiery Furnace.
Lion's Den* -- a small unit on lions could be given with a classification of lions and what they eat, etc. This will probably be saved for lesson 67, "Darius I"
I will try to add more......but this will get our week started at least ;)

OB appt. 7/30

I had another OB appt. on Thursday. It went well. My bp is great and so is my urine :) so the painful swelling in my feet the other night is just me being up on them too long. Also, when I sit wrong or too long (i.e. when i'm driving and lean toward the right apparently), I get extremely uncomfortable and pain down my right leg which I guess is a nerve being pressed on with all this extra weight. The solution for not being on my feet OR my bum too long? Lying down. Not ordered to bedrest, but she encouraged me to find out what works best to NOT get the swollen feet or the pinched nerve. A nap each afternoon is just about necessary at this point....which REALLY slows any progress on the house!

Babies heartrates were in the 140s---they have been very active. I could even feel and see a definite foot, elbow, knee, or hand last night (Abigail)!!! Elizabeth has been getting the hiccups frequently also. I think it was helping me figure out where her head was last night--first, breech, then vertex later!!

Anyway--back to my stats--I weighed in with another 5 lbs added [in 2 weeks], making the total so far 30lbs. and although I'm 29 weeks, my belly is measuring 34 weeks. Yet, that is just length-wise and she noticed that I am definitely widening also---they may have been transverse again when she was measuring me, otherwise, I would have measured bigger.

As for the Braxton Hicks contractions that had started--they are less frequent and less harsh now. I have been drinking 64 oz of liquid (mostly water) every day this week......and I was even THIRSTY for more last night!! Of course, this makes me have to get up to go to the bathroom urgently, but this is helping with waking up 6yo ds to make him go to the bathroom also. [He has decided that he does not need any more GoodNights, so there has been a lot of morning baths and washing sheets lately.]

That's just me....and my pregnancy update!!