An-dew

Hello Dear Friends!

We are busy enjoying life slowed down a bit here, due to the arrival of  a sweet little boy!  Andrew David was born Sept 9th.  His arrival in this big, beautiful world was rather fast...if you ask the nurse, labor and delivery was under 2 minutes... but your definition of labor may adjust that time a bit.  He's a cutie to be sure.  He was 7 lbs 4oz. Currently he is packing the weight on at an average of 2oz per day (i kid you not!) 

Everyone is doing well.  I 'magically' lost the gestational diabetes but have managed to acquire high blood pressure!   ugh!  That is actually what sent us in on the 9th.  It had been creeping up throughout the pregnancy and the specialist was concerned.  I had no other symptoms or problems but he really felt i needed to be induced.  Needless to say, i was not happy to be there and so not my usual friendly face throughout much of the evening. It didn't help that we had interns instead of doctors there that  all looked to be about 15 yrs old!  So glad my nurse had a good 15 or so years under her belt!  It was quite an evening.

Soooo, pre-eclamsia, world's unofficial fastest labor and delivery, second kid in a row with no one to catch them....oh my! : )

Andrew is doing well, putting faces to all the voices he had been hearing for so long.  And though they say they don't smile until ... there are a couple of us who can almost always get a real smile out of him (from as early as 1 week old)  His sleep schedule is still a little off but he is sleeping enough at night that i only fall asleep usually once sometime during the day while rocking him. ; )

Anyway, An-dew, as he is loving called by his 'big' sister (when we call him that she says "no, its An-dewww!" hahaha ...she is still working on blending some letters...) An-dew is doing well, learning all about this great big world and keeping us entertained.

Here are a few pictures to keep everyone happy...

38 weeks and counting

Good morning!
Just popping in to say hello.  We are still here, still waiting, still looking forward to meeting this little blessing. 

The family has been busy as usual.  The children have begun FIRST Lego League (well i have too as i am coach for our 4th year running!)  We have been blessed with dear families in our homeschool group who have become friends seemingly overnight.  Seeing friendly, familiar faces at Mass has been a joy after several years of knowing no one as other than familiar faces, with no names. Co-ops are starting up in our homeschool group and life is getting to be in full swing again.
We will begin our new school year after baby is born.  Cat has periodically asked for schoolwork (B is working on stuff daily so it not unusual for her to see him working and ask for her own)  I have managed to throw together a few trays of practical life activities and math work for her.... that seems to be all she needs for now. (Phew!) 
We have been busy as a family preparing for the arrive of our newest little one. We have been through clothes, and washed the bassinet and car seat.  The crib is last to be put together and all should be good!

We have been busy finishing up the unpacking, putting away, and getting rid of, that always seems to elude us at the end of a move.  This time we are actually doing it.  My goal is no boxes!

Nina (my mom) came to visit and helped out for a week.  We also had Uncle Joe, Aunt Jennifer and V. here- Hurricane Irene was kind enough to send them to our door step!

I have been resting, totally unlike me, and it has helped immensely.  One would think i would learn a little something from that...but alas, no.  Feeling better  = up and running in my book.  I do rest throughout the day still, but having spent a full week mainly laying down, my brain is tired of it.

Well, i better run as kids are waking up!
Hopefully my next post will be news of the wee one! 

Mmm-Mmm Better Brownies (but we consider them the best!)

Here is the promised brownie recipe ...and only 5 days later! :  )

It comes from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1/2 c vegetable oil

1 c white sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 c flour

1/3 c cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350
• Grease 9x9 baking pan
• In medium bowl mix oil, sugar, and vanilla
• Beat in eggs
• Combine in seperate  bowl, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt
• Gradually stir into egg mixture until well blended
• Spread batter evenly into prepared pan
• Bake 20 - 25 minutes, or until brownie begins to pull away from edge of pan
• Let cool before cutting (if you can wait that long!!!!)

We love these Brownies!  We needed the recipe because we had another that did not work out and we then had the cocoa powder to use.  What a great find!
We hope you enjoy them as much as our family does!

My next post will be the brownie recipe! ~a

Still here...still pregnant......

Dear Friends,

Sorry that I haven't written a post in a while, but....

• trying to get ready for the upcoming school year
• in my 9th month of pregnancy
• with gestational diabetes
• with carpal tunnel issues
• with swelling in my feet and hands
• with weekly appointments (soon to be twice a week)
• with doctors who don't listen
• with people who think that anyone who is pregnant is obviously on their first child (regardless of how many of my 5 kids are with me at the time)
• in NC during the hottest part of the summer
• with no regular sleep 
• and none expected for the next eighteen years or so 
• and, oh, so much more......
• trying to get boxes unpacked before it is time to move again (whenever that may be)
• my aunt and uncle stopped by for a visit
• starting up another year of lego league with not 1, not 2, but 4 teams that I am coaching/mentoring (two FLL and two Jr FLL teams) and currently, all are meeting weekly at our house
• hosting a Pampered Chef Party
• now currently involved in local homeschool group
• welcome committee
• website committee
• curriculum fair/info event
• used book sale
• co-op
• trying to maintain a well run home 
• a husband who tries to help but often misses
• trying to keep the kids from killing each other (or themselves) by
• jumping down the stairs (4 or more at a time...stairs, not children)
• playing hockey/football/baseball/ basketball/soccer in the house
• swordplaying
• throwing each other at someone else
• flying projectiles.....or something like that
• whipping their siblings with clothing
• making mom upset by not listening
• did I mention pregnant?
• money
• or lack thereof...
• keeping my sanity
• or lack thereof....
• worrying about family and friends, and which hospital they are calling from
•  and normal everyday life

Going forward I will try to post more often (maybe). I hope that you are doing well. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Your Friend,

Allison (ghostwritten by her loving husband while waiting for the brownies to finish cooking)