Nicholas Sparks & a Book Club

Saturday has left me all kinds of motivated! I was blessed to be given the opportunity to go to Chicago and promote a new classroom tool that uses the most popular classroom books by Nicholas Sparks  to prepare students for standardized testing, but most importantly it helps the teacher by already being aligned with the Common Core Standards. It truly will be a great tool for any high school teacher to have, and I was honored to be able to share it with many, many teachers at the NCTE convention. You can check it out at www.novellearningseries.com  

An added bonus was that Nicholas Sparks showed up for a signing. I had the pleasure of getting to meet him, and he gave me two signed books for volunteering. =) (The Notebook and The Best of Me)

I must say that him and his brother are very excited for this new project... and oddly, I find myself very excited about it too.

I'm back in the book club gang. Well...I'm in a new book club. The library in City was just too much of a hassle, there were never enough copies of the book, I hate driving through the tiny downtown streets, and there were just too many people wanting to hear themselves talk - so I stopped trying. Well, now the events on Saturday has me motivated to get back to it...Out of sheer luck, the County Library book club just so happens to be meeting NEXT Tuesday and did have a copy of the book available, plus the book club is meeting at the location that is less than 3 minutes from my house.. boo-yeah. I had to go to Laporte last night to get the book after Chris got home from work, but now I'm ready to read and discuss! I'm excited to meet the people in this book club next week.

I also realized on Saturday how much I miss volunteering at events such as this. If I could make a living doing canvassing work I would do it in a heartbeat. I love it. I'm comfortable with it (once I get familiar with the product) and there is just no better work to do. So.... to try to find more canvassing opportunities I went back to my roots. I contacted Rock the Vote in hopes of being able to slide into some events in the Chicago Region. I have a conference call on THANKSGIVING night to discuss details. I am hoping that something fun can be worked out. =D

Mmm... Cheap and Delish

Chicken and Broccoli Rolls:

 This is a great dinner that turns the leftovers into a quick and simple snack without doing anything else to it! It takes minutes to prepare and even less time to cook. (Also, youcan slap the extra mixture on bread for lunch the next day!)

Ingredients:

1 Cup Shredded Chicken

½ Cup Broccoli (finely chopped)

½ Cup Carrots (finely chopped)

½ Cup Mayonnaise

1 tsp Garlic

½ tsp Dill Weed

1 pkg Crescent Rolls   

Directions:

1      Preheat Oven to 375*.

2     Cut Broccoli and Carrots. (I use organic shredded carrots and then just chop into pieces.)

3     Mix Chicken, Broccoli, Carrots, Mayo, Garlic, and Dill Weed in bowl.

4     Unroll Crescent Rolls onto cookie sheet and spoon mixture on pieces then roll.

5     Bake for 12-14 Minutes or till golden brown.

 

Katelyn Cheering On Her Colts

Maybe we're crazy for taking our 5 week old baby to a professional football game, but as you can see... she loves the Indianapolis Colts. She cheered them on when the cheering was bleak from the rest of the crowd.


FYI: If you are nursing a baby - Lucas oil Stadium is not very accommodating. The "Family Restroom" is literally just a little larger than a handicapped stall. Maybe I was expecting too much when I expected a family restroom to have a little chair like most every other one I've been in has. Thankfully the handicap section chairs are just folding and Chris was able to carry it in there so I didn't have to spend 20 minutes or better sitting on a open toilet seat! ha-ha!

Visiting Danville

Oh man! I've said it time and time again... If I have to be old, please let me be old and healthy like my grandma! Here Katelyn is with cousin Ashley and Great-Grandma Knowles.... does anyone believe me when I say she is 93 years old?? (and that's her REAL hair, no wigs going on...no botox... just absolute youth.)




Here Katelyn and I are with Ashley and Rachel. The girls loved seeing Baby K, and they wouldn't put her down for anything. In fact, poor little Miss Ashley started crying when her mommy finally stole Katelyn from her baby loving arms. I'm so proud of the amazing Preteen and teenager these two are growing to be. You'll notice I'm representing Sweden in my big yellow sweatshirt. =)

Aunt Marianne and Uncle Andy stopped by to meet Katelyn and she just adored them. I think Katelyn could feel the 'baby vibes' coming from them both as TODAY is the day that their Daughter-In-Law gets induced to deliver thier SECOND granddaughter, going to be named Reese. They pick such cute names. Their oldest daughter is Blaike...it took awhile - but it has truly grown on me as a girl name and now I think it's totally cute and it fits Blaike perfectly.

I have some videos that I will poste later today since I am on a husband-ordered BedRest because my incision refuses to heal....he thinks I am moving around too much. =P

Katelyn at the Doctors

Katelyn had her 1 month appointment with the Doctor. This is actually an appointment that we wouldn't have needed, but since the doctor was out of the office both times we went and we had the NP both times, he wanted to be sure that he got a chance to see her soon... so today it was.

Cathy went with us to the appointment, and it was as fun as a doctors can be. She has gained more weight coming in at 8.7 pounds. They did not do her length this time... I think because the exam rooms were full when they did the weight and temperature the nurse may have forgot once we actually got into the room.

Now, her belly button was bleeding and oozing after the cord fell off - and I thought that this was more than the the "little bit" we were told would occur. It stopped for a couple days, but then began to bleed again. I called the DR's office at that time and the girl told me not to worry it's fine... which it may have been in a sense... but now it is still out/open and inflamed and the DR said there is nothing he can do now we just have to let it heal on its own, where as before, if I would have been taken seriously, he would have been able to put some silver nitrate on it and help close it up, but now that will only hurt her. I don't think it is causing her serious pain, but sometimes she lets out this cry and I think it may be how her diaper rubs the belly button... Any thoughts??

We did get a huge pat on the back for using cloth diapers, so I was happy about that since it is more work and I was hoping that it really was a health benfit to her as well as a green benefit for the environment. Apparently, he thinks it is a big health benefit to keep the plastic away... but we do use the occasional disposable at certain times. =/

Everything else was in good shape as far as he/we can tell. =) Hooray!

Happy Halloween

Katelyn helped Daddy ... she is a great accessory.

Katelyn Pictures

Chris Plays Lacrosse

Bet you didn't know that Chris is an athlete now? He has been playing Lacrosse at the park with a lot of other people ranging from 12 years and up. He really enjoys it, and I must admit that it is exciting to watch him out there playing hard, knocking other people around. lol.

Katelyn Update

Katelyn has had 2 wellness check ups so far. Her next one is not till the 4th.

At birth she was 7lbs 7 oz - 19 inches long.
When we left the hospital she was 7lbs 1 oz.
At one Week she was 7lbs 8oz - 20 inches long.
At two weeks she was 7lbs 11oz - 20.5 inches long.

She falls in the "rapid growth" category for newborns, and it should have started to slow down already.

Ready for Recovery

Ok, I am having such a DIFFICULT time getting back to healthy. I know some of you may not want to know - but my breast have been engorged (now only 1 is all the time), my stomach is in like this weird almost-kinda of, sort of - numb feeling state --- except is just the fainest tiny bit painful to the touch at the same time (does the make sense?) - My body aches if I don't stay on top of the Motrin (perhaps the narcotics would have been helpful!) Sometimes I still can't stand up without pain near my incision, and I have to take a few steps before I can stand up right (it comes and goes) - NOW - I'm pretty sure I have Mastitis, and need to call the doctor. ANnnnD then this morning (my first day alone without Chris) - I rip my incision open at the end and it begins to bleed.

Everything with Katelyn is wonderful! She is not too much of a handful at the moment. Waking up every 3 hours like clock work for feeding, starting to smile (and not because of gas), and loves to chat with you. In fact, it's adorable because when I ask her if she wants mommy to read a story to her she'll smile most of the time. Chris usually plays with her and I go to sleep around 8:30, then I'm all rested up for that 11:30 feeding. Chris changes her for the 2:30 feeding and wakes me up once he gets her good and awake for a quick nursing session.

I'm exhausted, but hanging in there. Mom is ready to come help me this week if I don't get back up to speed and need some help. So, as you can tell - the recovery is not going as smoothly as I thought that it would. Everyone said 6-8 Weeks, but you know me...I can't just sit still and let myself heal. Here's to another week and hopefully - no more bumps in the recovery road. =)

Can-Can

Mom came up to lend us a helping hand because originally Chris had to go into work for some meetings, but that night actually - I went to wash my hands and found that there was no water. Mom was already on her way here by the time we called to tell her that the well-pump went out and Chris wasn't going in to work. So..she just finished the drive here since she was half-way. She ended up staying several days - and we all went to the Orchard (where Katelyn got her first pumpkin) and mom and Chris bought 14 pounds of apples for Apple Butter.

The Apple Butter was soooo good - and Chris had the ITCH so bad that he ended up going back to the Orchard with mom to buy 50.. YES!! FIFTY pounds of Apples - We have a ton of Apple Butter, and a lot of Apple Sauce.

Chris also canned Pickles, and is going to stretch his horizons by caning Green Beans... I think he may have trouble going back to work next week! He has taken full advantage of being home all-day, everyday.

Two Weeks Old

Whew! Life is so exhausting.

One Week Old

Grandma Hall bought me my very first pumpkin for Fall.

Introducing...

 Katelyn Rene' West

Born: October 6

7 lbs, 7 oz

19 inches

Blog Updates

So, I just removed the cooking and other blogs from the list. I will put them back up later, I need my cereal now. =) You will see that I added my friend Amber's Blog "With All Things Considered...." It is just her site to share her opinion on different parenting topics. While I feel different about some things she talks about (although I've never had the actual parenting part to deal with yet), she is by far one of the most knowledgeable mommies I know. She doesn't just deal with issues.... she researches them and always puts her children first. I think she's amazing, and I'm glad she's sharing her thoughts.

Last weeks DR Appt

Last week was a pretty easy DR appointment. After the ultra sound, he mentioned no concerns over fluid or size - but still breech. We went ahead and scheduled her delivery around the due date time just in case she does not turn (or decide to come) by then. He said it appears "we have a healthy mom and a healthy full-term baby". He also said we could schedule delivery whenever we wanted from this point on since she is full-term - but as I said, we kept it near the due date (6th)- hoping she'll turn by the time she comes.

Next Appt. is Tuesday.

Another Doctor Update

BP = good. Weight gain = good. Heart rate= 160, good. Fundal Measurement = short.

 He couldn't tell by touch if she has flipped around or not, so I know we're checking that at the ultra sound - If she is still breech, then we will be discussing options at the next appointment. As long as she's healthy I don't care how she gets here. =)  He also said that it seems she has dropped, which explains the incredible pain rocketing through my hips and interrupting my sleep, also another reason why the measurements were short. Each good signs in the right direction either way. =D

Party Time

We also enjoyed a lovely bash for Makenna's 5th Birthday in Champaign. We just love her to pieces, she's so stinking cute! Amanda tickled all of our tummies with a delicious POT ROAST lunch - and (with Rachel in tow) we hit up the water park where I FINALLY got to enjoy a lazy river this year after Indiana Beach's FAIL.

You May Have Heard....

Chris got a NEW truck!

He has been wanting a truck for years...and now he has it. It's a 2011 Chevy Silverado in "Steel Green". He drove it off the lot with a whole 65 miles on it. We owe a huge THANK YOU to both Shane (Discount) and Adam (Salesman)  for making this happen at the payment we wanted (OK, $7 and some change more a month, but who can argue with that?) - and comparable to the payment we were going to have on a used truck... I guess the Toyota being all funky paid off, because it hadn't needed to go into the shop Chris would have bought the used one before the weekend...BUT... since it did have to go to the shop I (mean wife, I know) told him he has to wait until we see how much we owe on fixing the Toyota...(Thankfully, ZILCH!)... he got this one! 

Don't tell him...but I kind of like it too... 

Baby Room ALERT!

Momma West was here for basically two weeks working hard on the baby's room. You can see from the pictures what a wonderful job she done! Chris and I are both so excited and happy with the end result. I told her that it is was a blessing she came to do the room, because if it were up to me (I like to start a project, but not finish if it takes more than an hour or two) - it would have been a coat of paint, maybe a shelf and that's it. She creatively pulled items from the baby shower into the room decor, it's really neat. You'll see below that we they painted one of the first dressers that belonged to her and Darrell. Just a few tiny things left to do and the room will be 90% complete ... just need to add the baby and it's all finished!

Thanks Cathy!!! It's beautiful!

Oh, Baby Shower...

Had a fun baby shower put on by my momma and my Aunt Marianne last weekend. It was just an amazing blast from the past with old friends and their parents that had such a huge part in my life, and great family! When I was asked where I wanted to have the baby shower I knew I wanted it with all the people I love so much, but because of life I don't get to see as often as I'd like.

Chris got the funniest gift...a diaper changing kit - complete with goggles, surgical mask, apron, and tongs.

 One game included everyone trying to size my belly. Chris guessed a little large, but my friend Amanda guessed it right on the nose! It was so much fun. Now we just have to wait for the little girl to get here.

Yay!

Good News from the Doc yesterday. Measurements show that the baby's growth is very good. A tad small, but nothing to be concerned about. =) No other concerns from him at the moment. Baby is breech, so Chris came up with a way to fix that if she doesn't flip again on her own....I stand on my head until she gets tired of being upside down again and flips the right way. LOL! We told the DR, he said I don't have to stand on my head yet, still plenty of time for her to get ready for the big debut. =)

The Run-A-Round

Only ONE month and TWO weeks until the official due date for the little one bumbling around inside my tummy. I'm getting so stinking excited and scared all at the same time, but can hardly wait for her arrival. Momma West is arriving tonight to start decorating the nursery.....little does she know exactly how much work there is to do in that room before her fun can begin. (Perhaps I can Chris in there when he gets home from work before she gets here?)

Her closet of clothes is growing, and the diaper stash is coming along quite nicely in the range of size smalls! I need to pick up the ball on the Newborn sizes, but they seem to be in high demand for purchasing AND a bit pricey. I have sewn three of them, but need to order more fabric...plus I'm not sure how well I actually made them and if they will be useful in containing messes at all! They look good, but it's a lot of work to put them things together. our plan is to use a mix of cloth and disposable diapers. I'm sure cloth diapering will only end up being nothing more than "good intentions", but I at least want to give it a hearty try. (hence, the reason for not wanting to spend hundreds of dollars to start a cloth diaper stash.)

I picked up a stroller to keep in the back of Christopher's car at a yard sale for $10, and little pink princess rocking horse at another for $3. Casi and Shane loaned us their crib they used for the boys, and she gave us a cute tiny baby weight scale! Mom also sent us home with my old playpen...it needs cleaned up a bit...I think that is all we really got at the moment though. There is a nice  garage sale page for the county on FB, so I should be able to find any other items fairly quickly if needed. There are several baby swings, pack-n-plays, changing tables, high chairs....everything....on the site now. I'm not anticipating too many larger items from the shower,  but I am still going to wait to try to collect some of these things till after the shower, so I can make the least amount of trips out as possible. =)

Had the Ultrasound yesterday to check the baby's size - We'll get the full report tomorrow at the scheduled DR. appointment, so updates to come - but according to the technician (who told us A LOT more than the last one did - in fact the last one scared me because she just kept saying, "I don't know, I'm not a doctor." yeah, I know, I know...still sucks though.) Anyway, According to the technician the baby is measuring at 32 weeks and 4 days and we are 33 Weeks and 4 days today! So, hopefully one week difference is not too big of an issue for the doc, we shall see.

Off to the grocery for dinner yummies! Have a great day.

Boooooo, Hissssssss

Everything was great at the appointment last week until the doc measured, and the total came up about a CM short. Everything I have read online says that there is usually not much of a concern on the doctors end if the measurement is within 2CM, but I think because he has expressed signs of concern over the visual size of the bump he has scheduled another ultra sound to check the baby's growth and be sure she is growing as she should.

Week 30 Photo.

=) Still Growing.

Anniversary Flowers

 I was so excited to come home and have a flower notice on the door (haha), but the amazing flowers themselves were delivered shortly after.  Almost hard to believe that Chris and I have been married for 7 years.

Other things to blame besides the teachers.

So there really are things we can blame besides the teachers. I have never agreed with the notion of,

“If my child excels in school it will be because of her and the way she was raised. If my child fails it will be because of her teachers.”

If citizens and politicians won't listen to teachers, perhaps they will listen to a celebrity like Matt Damon... Who gave a speech talking about all the things he loves about himself, that he prides himself on, and that public school teachers provided him with - "These qualities that make me who I am can not be tested"

The reporter also gives very sensible reasons why the teachers should not be the first to be blamed. Are there closet teachers out there? Sure. Are there passionate teachers who care and want to help each individual student in the best way possible, but can't because they are being micromanaged to the point of exhaustion? You bet.

Enjoy the clip, and feel free to laugh when the reporter compares the incentives for being a teacher to those of an actor. =D I did.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Work around the house Update.

Guess I really am bored now. Went to the movies twice by myself in a weeks time.

First I watched Bad Teacher - wowza, she really is a bad teacher, but I enjoyed the movie...Not to say that Justin Timberlake was bad in it, but the character he played was more than just a tad creepy.

I also watched ZooKeeper. It had it's moments, but nothing about it was really spectacular.

Other movies on my hit list: The Smurfs, Friends w/ Benefits, and soon coming- The Change Up.
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I've also spent time wondering about plans for NOLA this year and if accommodations are being made as a group, or on our own?? Yes, I'd like an answer and I think only one person who reads this (Amanda, no pressure) can attempt to answer.    =)
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I have also finally ran out of Melaluca dish soap. I bought some Dawn, and I must admit that I'm rather surprised at how much is already gone! The same size bottle of Melaluca lasted me forever, and this one is so liquidy I may be using more than I need to b/c of that, but it's like almost gone already. So if my MIL ever happens to stumble across this blog again maybe she'll pick up on that and get me some more! (hehe, I think she forgot blogs exist - if you notice it's been a loooooooong time since she's updates hers!)
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I have been doing a few scrapbook pages this week. I got the first baby bump page done, just waiting on the weeks to past to glue pictures to the second one, and then will use the last baby bump picture taken on it's own page which is mustly designed and cut out, just needs things pasted.

I also finished the page for trading in the Celica for the Rav4, and filled in the notes for months 6 & 7 so far. I have the doctor's review page designed, but still need to cut the images, print the report (basically what I blogged with a little revision for a scrapbook mode), and glue it all together.

I have gotten compliments for my MIL on the amazing shower cards that she made for me! (Truly a crafty genius now!) I'll get a picture posted soon as I get one because my mom and Aunt have been handling all the arrangements, so I have only seen the text picture, but they looked great.
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I've also been busy sewing. Yes, more nursing pads - but also diapers and matching bibs. The bibs are mostly because there is not enough fabric to make another diaper with, so this way I don't feel like I'm wasting as much money.

I made a fleece covered diaper (my first) which I don't think I put a long enough elastic strip in for it to actually be beneficial with holding everything in there, so it may not get used ever except by the teddy bear wearing it now. I'm not a big fan of the fleece diapers anyway, so I've moved on to bigger and better things...

By using PUL and flannel. I made a couple AIO (All In One's) where the soaker pad is sewn into the diaper, and a couple Pocket Diapers (layer soaker pads, and remove to wash.) I've heard pros and cons of both. AIO's take longer to dry, and pocket diapers require stuffing. Either way I'm having a blast making them, and I ordered a couple Bum Genius brands to compare with what I have made, and other than theirs being AIO and OS (One size, to grow with the baby) I really can't tell a difference between my handy work and theirs - and we all know that no one is more critical of me than I am. So, we'll see how they compare after a few go rounds in the wash today.