17 weeks | Baby #4

1.29.17 | 17w1d

I'm bringing back the weekly template, folks! Deja vu!
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Photo thoughts: I feel pretty freaking huge at times (evenings) and other times I think I barely look pregnant. It also depends on what I'm wearing, but I think the above picture makes the bump look small. This was how it looked on Friday evening:

16w6d


Size of baby: My phone app tells us baby is the size of a pomegranate now, and old blog posts talk about an onion or turnip. Pretty legit baby in there! Five inches seems like less of a jelly bean and more of a real, growing baby.

Cravings/Aversions: Obsessed with any and all food. Why is this even a topic? I noted I was loving diet soda in past pregnancies, and am totally digging it now, too! Except we don't even keep it in the house, so it's a special treat if I eat out and is very rare. But Diet Dr. Pepper, I love you. Also anything salty...or sweet. Cereal at night is the bomb, I'm still not loving my morning cup of coffee but I refuse to give it up, and I think I'm eating healthier overall compared to past pregnancies but who really knows? I made baked salmon, roasted brussel sprouts, and cubed sweet potatoes the other night and it was insanely good. Also needed a cereal snack before bed because, duh.

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What I'm loving: Feeling the baby kick every single day, and many times I can feel it from the outside. I haven't had Nate or the kids give it a feel just yet, kind of ant to keep this special time all to myself. 


In a non-pregnancy topic, I'm loving my new job and just completed my first full week at the office as Rehab Supervisor. It didn't feel all that different to work four, five hour days but I was certainly exhausted by Friday night. I'm learning the ropes and think this job has potential to be whatever I want it to be, which is an excellent thought.

Pre-work selfies, office job edition!
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What I'm anticipating the most: Anatomy scan in less than three weeks! Finding out the sex. Currently stalking Pinterest ideas for a reveal, seems everything has been done a million times before. Also, the day of my ultrasound, I might have to go back in to work for a meeting afterwards so plans for a photoshoot that same day are probably derailed. Also can't decide if we should tell the kids right away and then tell the internet separately, or what. I do think we just want the tech to tell Nate and I during the ultrasound though, we did that for Truman and it was fun to watch the whole US and not turn our heads every five seconds.

Miss anything?  Kind of miss the idea of running and being in shape, but not that much. ;) I didn't even walk on the treadmill this week and I'm not mad about it. Missing red wine this week as Nate pours himself a fat glass in the evenings (jerk). 

Worries: This is not a healthy category for me, because I could go on and on with too many worries to verbalize. But I will just say that getting the call from the nurse, who said my Quad Screen was clear of any concerns was THE BEST. I didn't realize how much I was worried about that test until I could breathe again. Thank you, God!


Differences between pregnancies: I actually read back over Porter's 17 week post before writing this one (hence the template), and am shocked by the similarities. I didn't remember that I thought he was a girl, too. The kids have been adorable and excited, just like last time, and Truman still takes the cake for the most excited sibling ever. think I look the biggest right now, but am feeling basically the same as the last two times (the sweet spot of pregnancy, when I'm in love with being pregnant!). It should be noted that because my due date is the EXACT SAME as it was for Porter, I am loving Timehop these days---what an easy way to compare pregnancies.

How I'm feeling: Really good. Embarrassingly so, because I'm sleeping like a rock (when Porter or Cecelia decide to sleep through the night, that is), and I have great energy through the day until bedtime. I think I'm still riding the 'new job high' with adrenaline and have been thinking a lot about work even when I'm not there, but the week just flew by and I'm excited to take this next step in my career. I'm mostly just feeling ridiculously blessed with so many awesome happenings in 2017. At the risk of coming across as 'hashtag blessed', I'll just say that sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Because I truly have everything I could have pictured in life at this time, and I know nothing is a guarantee. Therefore, celebrating the little (and big) moments are a must! 

Movement: Yes, I love it so much, and feeling this baby kick is probably my most favorite thing in life right now. I'll forget that I'm pregnant and will be totally focused on a million other things, then I'll feel a kick. It's like the baby is saying, 'Hey, mom. Remember me? I'm growing in here and I'm going to come out to meet you soon.' Call me a hormonal mess, but it's just the greatest.


Boy or Girl: I think it's a girl, but apparently I said that with Porter, too! Really, it doesn't matter to us either way and we will be finding out crazy-soon.

The Bump: Possibly the biggest yet, and still freaking hilarious to look back at my first time bump. Strangers are definitely not noticing though. Still getting lots of shocked 'small' comments (i.e., you don't even look pregnant). Those comments don't bother me anymore, after four pregnancies you get used to saying, 'I'm tall, so that helps!'


Milestones: Kicks from the outside. Starting my new job. 

Best moment of the week: Hearing about the negative quad screen, for sure. 


Quotes from the kids: One night I was reading to Truman and Cecelia before bed, and CC told me the baby is getting bigger as she kissed my belly. She then said that she's really worried about when the baby comes out of me, and we started talking about labor for a bit. Truman asked if the baby comes out of my butt (!) and I said, 'No, the other private.'

C: "Oh yeah, your Fa-gina."

T: "That sounds like it hurts."

C: "How does something that big come out of a hole that small?" (EXACTLY, CHILD, YOU NAILED IT!!!)

T: "Well, I guess it's a good thing boys don't have babies. It would be coming out of a hole even smaller, then!" (ALSO, PAIN TOLERANCE IN MEN, BUT I DIGRESS). 

Freaking hilarious, right? I think the age gaps between this baby and the other three kids will be pretty awesome. Seven years for Truman, five for Cecelia, and three for Porter---I'll have two great helpers and one kid that is NOT a baby anymore, even though he likes to call himself 'your baby'. Porter has been requesting that I hold him and says he isn't a big boy, but he's a baby. Obviously we are obliging all of the hugs and reassuring him that he's still our special buddy, but he IS getting big! 

We brought out the froggy potty and he sat on it a few times, then quickly got over the concept. Sigh. It's probably time to just freaking potty train the guy but I'm tired. Also, we should really think about moving him to a big kid bed, but since we'll be doing the addition soon, it seems like something that can wait. I realized that this will be our first baby who won't have a fancy, decorated nursery ready for him/her after birth. I'm not going to touch Porter's room, which might turn into the baby's room, until we are certain how we will lay out all of our bedrooms. What on earth will I do with all of my creative-pregnant energy if I can't spend hours on Pinterest, looking at nursery ideas?

I'll just hunt for gender reveal ideas instead. And baby names. And maybe I'll sleep more and chase three kids around the house. Then we can tackle decorating a room or several after the addition is finished, what a concept!

First pregnancy, Second pregnancy, Third pregnancy all at 17 weeks. 

These Are the Days of Our Lives | Winter 2017

Two dozen lovely ladies participated in this quarterly Day in the Life. Grab some popcorn or wine, or whatever treat suits you currently, and enjoy!


1. Non Sequitur Chica | Illinois
Katie S

2. Rachel and John | Alberta, Canada
rjsrachel

3. Life of Lacey | North Carolina
laceyloo

4. The Culinary Couple | New Jersey
emilyjwiley

5. A Graceful Disaster | Minnesota
IMG_7831

6. Chasin' Mason | California
lizbir

7. Life As I Know It | Minnesota
jolizie

8. Bring 'Er to England | United Kingdom
leannb

9. Affirmaison | Indiana
affirmaison

10. Dinosaurs and Bunnies | Minnesota
dinosbunnies

11. Live Inside My Bubble | Minnesota
liveinmybubble

12. Life With Little Ones | Colorado
lifewithlittleones

13. Peanut Butter Sandwich | Wisconsin
ditl collage

14. Shafferland | Indiana
shafferland2012

15. Three By Two | Ohio
melissanne519

16. Ellie and Addie | Missouri
ditl_ellieandaddie-5

17. A Messy Motherhood | Florida
vanessa

18. History In The [Baby] Making | Texas
kateC

19. Sinking Into Motherhood...One Step at a Time |  Minnesota
erleca

20. Piece of Our Life | Georgia
jnclong

21. A Gurley Gurl | Texas
aggieallena

22. My Married Life | Pennsylvania
pam

23. Old Lady and No Baby | Oregon
amberlmclean

24. Elefantitas Alegres | Texas
cheesefiend

{Will see everyone in April!}

16 weeks | Baby #4

1.22.17 | 16w1d

Sixteen weeks!
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I feel like my bump is larger at night and smaller in the morning, but always fairly noticeable. Someone asked for a comparison picture from all of my pregnancies and I can't help but smile at the first time around compared to the fourth. Holy. Moly. Seven years later, this uterus knows what to do, I suppose!
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Biggest happening of the week:

I officially accepted the job offer to become Rehab Supervisor at my office. It was a long(ish) road to get to this point, to make sure the job will suit both me and our department, but I'm so excited to start this next chapter in my career!

This means that I will stay part-time at 20 hours per week, but will change my hours to work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday for five hours each. I'll most likely work 9-2pm, which is pretty ideal, since I can still do school drop off and pick up. I could also push it back to be later in the day if I want, and perhaps in the summer I could get to the office earlier than 9am.

We had a powwow with Tony and Lois after I got the offer, but before I accepted, because we needed to know if they are on board for watching the kids four days a week instead of the usual three days (or really, two-and-a-half days). We had a really great talk and they are down to each take two days a week, since Lois is now also retired, and the days will remain short and won't go past school pick up. We can always reconvene and hire out childcare if it gets to be too much, especially after baby is born. Who knows what life will look like then, but for now this should work just fine.

I will not be seeing patients anymore, except rarely and usually when I'm supervising another therapist for their yearly review. I'll be in the office for basically all of my hours which is a gigantic change for me, as a treating PT for twelve years. Moving into the office and into management, while remaining part time is pretty amazing and something I cannot pass up right now. I'll get to eat a hot lunch at an actual desk, without driving around and shoveling food in my mouth between patients. I won't have to do as much paperwork at home. I will have a new set of challenges supervising our whole rehab department of about 60 therapists, instead of managing a caseload of patients. My boss is excited to have me join the team at the office and I'm excited to bridge the gap between the field therapists treating patients and the office staff. I'll get to use a skill set that doesn't always translate into patient care, with my organizational skills and my love for helping new therapists get started in our company. It's going to be a great move for me!

I also need a 'real' work wardrobe now. And a work bag that isn't a diaper bag, or a 1990s backpack that I've always used to haul around my laptop and papers into patients' homes. I have the wardrobe nailed as I found many great pieces at Motherhood Maternity and Pea in the Pod. Still looking for the perfect work bag, though.

Winners!
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Didn't get the top but should have.
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Didn't get the top, too flimsy. Yes to the black pants, I figure you can't have too many of those working in an office.
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Yes to black top, yes to gray pants. Also will look better without my obnoxious socks as the centerpiece.
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Yes to the tops, obviously the jeans won't be for work but I still bought them. They were half off and long enough and made me feel like a hip pregnant mom. Not an easy task, my friends!
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So that is the big news around here! I start this new adventure tomorrow and appreciate all of the kind words on Instagram already. I knew 2017 would be a big year for us, but add this to the list of things that makes it CRAZY big!

The other big thing I wanted to mention here is that I felt the baby kick me from the outside this week. I hadn't felt a ton of movement at all before this, but now the baby is going crazy every evening and pretty much anytime I sit down. It's noticeable now, and one night before bed I laid my hand on my belly and felt baby kick right up into my hand. Milestones like these are still just as magical as the first time around. There's a real person in there, just growing up a storm, waiting to come out and complete our family. Seriously mind-blowing when you stop and think about it.

I'm definitely in the sweet spot of pregnancy when I have good energy, no pain, am sleeping great, and can eat anything and everything in sight. And I have been, trust me! Baby must have had a growth spurt or else I'm just pigging out because all food sounds delicious and my appetite is getting to be out of control. This week sweets became my favorite again and I randomly bought mini Heath bars, Swedish Fish, and sour watermelons at Target one day....just because baby wanted them. I also suggested we get custard after dinner one night as a family, which is not usually my thing but it was amazing and just what I needed.

I'll get the quad screen blood test this week and then the ultrasound is just over three weeks away. I feel like the rest of the second trimester is going to fly by with my new job, and I'm not complaining but I want to make sure I'm enjoying this as much as possible, too!

Cecelia randomly told me that she is super excited for the baby to be born, and she told me my belly is sure getting bigger. Porter will say that he wants to help with the baby by getting me a diaper, which only makes me think about potty training him in the next few weeks/months to see what it's like to have only a newborn in diapers. I've always potty trained the other kids while on maternity leave with a new baby, would be nice to avoid that again since Porter will be older than T and C were. Truman remains the most excited and seemingly the most helpful big brother ever. He has decided that if he is wrong, and this baby isn't a girl (and isn't named Rose), he wants the baby boy to be Percy. Cecelia says Oreo, Julie, or Yoda are her favorite picks right now for names.

In reality, I'm making a list of my own for both boy and girl names. I don't traditionally share these with Nate until after we know if it's a boy or a girl, and this time I'm even more nervous to share them with him because he tends to shoot down my ultimate faves. And I have a few repeat favorites that he's always disliked, but I'm hoping he's had a change of heart. We will see. I probably won't share the top picks here but maybe some of the runners up?

In house renovation news, our architect came over to measure the house for his sketches, which will become blueprints. It's really happening!! Between the renovation, my job, this baby, and Nate's job we are feeling very happy/blessed/excited with all that is to come in the next several months. It's crazy-awesome and also just plain old crazy. ;)

That's pretty much it for this week. Baby and I will be rocking it in the office tomorrow, can hardly wait!


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Oatmeal Breakfast Bake | Recipe

I've had several requests to post the oatmeal recipe I raved about in my Day in the Life.  This is one that Nate got from a co-worker, and we modified it slightly. It's so filling and delicious, I highly recommend if you want to stay full until lunch time and not stalk the clock like I sometimes do for my next meal. The kids will even eat it (without raisins, also they don't love the giant walnuts). Plus, my mom and also my sister-in-law are gluten free, and we made a huge batch for them over the holidays. A huge hit!! We probably could have made more for them and both took the recipe home, too.

YUM.
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How do we like to eat it? We prefer to take a square of the oatmeal, put it in a bowl, and pop it in the microwave for 1:30. Then we add a ton of grass-fed butter and maple syrup on top. I also like to add a half of a banana or blueberries to the dish, or sometimes I'll smash it up and add milk to it like a true baked oatmeal cereal.

I am obviously a food blogger with professional pictures.
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I have no idea if you can print this off or not, give it a shot I guess?

Oatmeal Breakfast Bake
This recipe makes 12 squares in a 9x13 pan.

Read through entire recipe as you will need to soak oats and groats overnight, or at least 6-8 hours.

Ingredients:
5 c lb rolled oats ( NOT quick cooking oats)
1/4 c buckwheat groats (help make oats more digestible)*
1 T plain full fat yogurt (or coconut kefir if dairy free)
2 cups full fat milk (or coconut milk for dairy free) 

6 large eggs (preferably pastured and organic)
2 T Pumpkin Pie seasoning
2-3 T maple syrup

3 T chia seeds
1 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
2 T ground flax seed
1 t sea salt
1/3 c coconut oil or butter, melted
1 c pecans or walnut
1/2 c raisins, cranberries or currants


Place oats, buckwheat groats(recipe will work without these if you can’t find), and yogurt in a large glass bowl and cover with warm water. Let stand on counter for at least 6 hours. We do this overnight if we can remember to plan ahead.

After oats are soaked, preheat oven to 350 degrees convection (or not, we just like it better), place in colander and drain, but do not rinse.

Add milk, eggs and the rest of ingredients except nuts and fruit back into large bowl and mix thoroughly. Add oats back into bowl along with nuts.



Add fruit and stir to combine. Pour into a greased 9 X13 baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until it is browned and fluffy.

Cool and cut into 12 squares and refrigerate or freeze for future. ENJOY!


*Buckwheat groats help to reduce the phytic acid on the oats as they soak overnight, which makes the grains more digestible. They are available at most health food stores or online, we found them at Outpost and also our local grocery store. Also, they are gluten free and make us feel super healthy. 

15 weeks | Baby #4

January 15, 2017 | 15w1d

Baby is the size of a navel orange now, and I'm pretty sure he or she had a major growth spurt this week. Either that, or my uterus suddenly gave in and I've popped. For those that scoff at my bump, just refer back to my four week picture to understand why this seems LEGIT to me. I forgot about how most people are always 'you are so small' to me when pregnant. I don't feel 'small' but I guess it's all relative!

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I'm feeling really good overall. I'm hungry and can eat pretty much whatever. I have decent energy and have been walking on the treadmill a little bit. I'm wearing maternity pants for pure comfort but regular pants are 'fine', too. For now. I'll feel the baby kick here and there, nothing consistent yet. Especially in the evening hours, it's 'for sure, not just gas' taps!

My first OB appointment at 14w3d needs recapping here.

Doppler showed the baby's heart rate 152, and I didn't have the guts to tell her I have my own doppler at home. I've been checking maybe once a week lately, but still! She always does an ultrasound in her clinic, and went for it this time, too. It showed a 'big baby' about four inches long, I saw one big movement and the baby's hands were up at his/her face. Beautiful heartbeat. Beautiful baby, so much bigger than last time at 8 weeks! No mention of the bleed, but if baby is 4 inches, the bleed was about 2 cm last time so I'm guessing it would be hard to see even if there. 
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I'm up two pounds, shocking it's not more. BP was a good 120/63. 

We talked about being AMA, and I was preparing myself for her to be a little 'strict' about it, just knowing her personality. She did raise her eyebrow slightly and say, 'you are 35 now?' I am going to get the quad screen at 16-18 weeks, just as I've always done for each pregnancy. I will have my 20 week US with a perinatologist at the hospital instead of going to the clinic with an ultrasound tech like I've done before. This will be pretty cool, I think, because we will get to see a lot and will hear the doctor tell us basically everything right then and there. Also a growth scan at 32 weeks will happen, which again sounds great. When she heard that I was bleeding again before 6 weeks her already slightly concerned face about my age got a little more intense. 'This is when I go into my talk about AMA.' 

The baby could be sending us signals that something is not right (because of the early bleed) and any of these things could happen: birth defects, premature birth, or still birth. Great. Fun talk. 

I realize she has to say these 'worst case' scenarios to me. And sure, the risk goes up slightly at age 35 for some birth defects. And it's not great that I bled at 6 weeks. But a birth defect is not THAT much more likely now than it was with Porter two years ago. I looked it up and Down Syndrome is a 1/600 chance at age 33 and 1/350 chance at age 35. 

And you know what? It's out of my control. This is happening and worrying about all that can happen will get nothing accomplished. Not one thing. I know I will still have my moments when I worry about this baby, but I feel like making a conscious effort to assume the best right now. We will cross each and every bridge that comes along. The first being the Quad Screen in another two weeks. Then the big ultrasound. 

Today I am pregnant and I love my (healthy) baby. I've been worried about each and every one of my babies before this, even without being AMA. This is really nothing different for me, mentally. 

Lots of women have healthy babies at and beyond age 35, and I guess I was just hoping my OB would be very 'meh' about my age. I still get to be 'meh' about it if I want to be, though. And I am not going to stress.

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She was also super excited for me and I don't want to discount her positivity. She has four kids of her own and said that four is a GREAT number and she just loves my kids, and loves that we are having another. She wanted to see a picture of them and said I should bring them in for a few visits, then marveled at how huge Truman is and at Cecelia's hair. I got a few big hugs, and it's great to be back with her. She knows I had to switch back to my own medical insurance in order to see her and knows that this baby wasn't planned. We talked about our house addition, about the kids, and life. All of my initial blood tests looked good, and I'm all scheduled for going back every four weeks until 26 weeks. It was quite surreal being back in her office again, and even her nurse said, 'You're back! Welcome!'

I mentioned it in my Day in the Life but I'm all scheduled for my 20 week ultrasound on February 16th. That's so soon, it's nuts! Cannot wait. Still thinking girl and kind of just want to enjoy the ultrasound and let the tech tell us the sex while we are in there, so we don't have to turn our heads half of the time. Then the 'reveal' can be more for the kids later in the day or something.

Surreal.
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What else? I don't know. Am I supposed to look up my old 15 week posts to compare or something? Haven't done that yet, probably should! I did see this in my Timehop the other day....was exactly 14 weeks along this year, too (since my due date is identical to Porter's).

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Bottom line: things are feeling more real, things are feeling positive, baby is tapping occasionally, and I have a feeling the next six months will fly at warp speeds.

Day in the Life | Winter 2017

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Nate and Julia are 35 years old
Truman is 6.5 years old
Cecelia is 4.5 years old
Porter is 2.5 years old (today!)
I am 14w4d pregnant with baby #4
Henry dog is 11.5
This is a lot of people and a lot of ages to list!


6:15 am | My alarm goes off, I snooze that sucker immediately. Nate is in the shower so I might as well wait to get up anyway. Decide to record today as my DiTL. Mentally prepare.

6:20 am | Get up. I'm freaking tired but I need to get moving. Shower, without getting my hair wet, to save time. Check the weather. Get dressed and see Truman come into the bathroom as I'm headed downstairs. He tells me his thumb tape stayed on last night and it feels alright. He sprained it yesterday after school, I saw him fall when playing football on the blacktop and it was a pretty bad. His first sports-related injury, and Nate taped him up with fancy Kinesiotape, which Truman finds fascinating. His sprained thumb is a big part of this day. 

Cold, but not disgustingly so. Dreary. Dark. Bleh.
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6:40 am | Go downstairs for breakfast prep, lunch making, food eating. I have this part of the morning down to a science these days but it is still always a production. Get three plates, and put three vitamins on them, pour 3 cups of milk. Pop a frozen waffle in the toaster for Truman, get out two leftover pancakes for CC and Porter. Add peanut butter to Truman's waffle, add honey, then heat up the pancakes and start on Truman's lunch. I also need to make my lunch today since it's a workday. 

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Nate comes in from walking Henry and we talk about the yoga he did this morning downstairs, the overachiever. We discuss a podcast I need to listen to today about healthy fat, Truman's thumb , my OB appointment yesterday, and our plans for this evening. We also talk about my interview at work today. This will be my third meeting with the bosses and I'm feeling very ready to make a final decision, either way. 

Back to lunches. Truman's is the same thing as always, and probably the same meal that's been in my DiTLs for the past year: PBJ sandwich, a Cliff bar, apple sauce, some pretzels, a special dessert treat, whole milk, and note for me. I also make myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, some chips, an apple, and a granola bar. I also take two giant jugs of water with me on the road. As I'm making our lunches, I'm talking to Nate about his work opportunities right now including getting some yoga classes at his clinic, working with a CrossFit gym, working with a golf pro, and a country club. His options are limitless it seems, and it's an exciting time for him (and us!). 

Mine and his:
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I am including this picture of Nate because it's the ONLY one I took of the poor guy all day, and he does exist!
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7:00 am | I'm done making both lunches so I start my coffee and my baked oatmeal. Um, this is an amazing recipe that I should share with you some time. It's very healthy and it keeps me full until noon, unlike eggs or anything else I've tried. Now that I say that I won't be full until noon today. Add bananas, butter, maple syrup to it. Oh, and my black coffee now has butter and coconut oil mixed in which is wild for me. Something like 'bulletproof' coffee and another way to add some healthy fats into my diet, which keeps me full longer and gives me energy. We hear the kids start to come downstairs and hope for the best because morning times of been very hit or miss in our house lately. Opposite extremes are how we roll in the mornings, for sure.
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7:10 am | Truman comes down first, hides from us. He immediately reports that his thumb hurts but isn't worse. Nate inspects the tape. T says Cecelia is pouting about him coming downstairs first. I get CC at the top of the stairs, she is indeed pouting. Has her giant dinosaur, giant strawberry, two containers of Shopkins, and two loveys. Says she can't drink milk because her throat hurts. She alternates from whining to playing Shopkins as T and I sit with her and we all eat. They both play a bit and I check my email and type some of this(dictate it). Sweetest comment on my blog, new test result from my urine yesterday, Memaw email---all fun things on email this morning.
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7:25 am | Porter is up and Nate is brushing his teeth, so I hope he grabs him for me. T is done eating and is now getting himself dressed and his teeth brushed. Easiest kid alert. Porter and Nate come down! Porter is telling Nate, 'Mommy is afraid of Porter.' Not currently, but sometimes, kid!
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Only shot of all three kids today, what?!?
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7:30 am | I get Porter to sit at the table for breakfast. CC still struggling, but I start my curling iron and run the dish washer. Make Cecelia some  warm water with honey for her throat, she loves it. We are all fighting off colds, I think. Nate leaves for work and Truman heads to the basement, since he is fully ready,  and now he gets to watch TV. This is a new set up, separating him and Cecelia as she continues to get ready for school. If Truman starts his show upstairs, Cecelia cannot focus and won't eat much and can't get herself dressed.  Cecelia and Porter are currently playing with the train table and eating here and there, I'm doing my hair and makeup in bathroom. 

Fancy new makeup from Brittany, my sister-in-law!
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7:45 am |  I encourage CC to keep eating but she's slowing down so then I tell her to get dressed. And she does!! We somehow start discussing Bing Bong from Inside Out and how he cries candy. Cecelia wishes she cried candy, too. She brushes her teeth while I take a break from my make up routine.

7:50 am | I help Cecelia find Barbie on TV and I'm trying to get her proficient with the use of Netflix and various remotes, just like her big brother. GOALS. She did a pretty good job on her breakfast, but not the greatest, and I realize I've done absolutely nothing for Porter this morning. He must be pooping in the other room because he's incredibly content to 'play' alone. Start laying out all of the snow clothes for the kids while I walk around the house putting on mascara at the same time. Dangerous!

Favorite pic of CC:
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Oh, hey!
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8:00 am | I'm done getting myself ready, so I get Truman to get dressed in snow clothes and I help Cecelia. Porter did poop but no time to change him! Lois arrives, sorry about the stench! Porter's classic response when I ask if he's pooped is, 'Not.Yet.' He means he doesn't want to be changed yet, because he is a dirty bird and potty training him is going to BLOW.
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8:05 am | T, C, and I leave the house to walk to school. It's super slick on the sidewalk today. We arrive to school before the bell rings, so we wait outside with the other kids. The bell rings, I give several more hugs and kisses, and walk home chatting with a mom friend for a bit. 
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8:20 am | Back at home, I chat with Lois about my OB appointment yesterday, my upcoming interview at work, and the House Addition. Yes, capitalized. We also talk about their insulation that they just got done on their house and how messy it is. Lois usually has a pristine house, she is the cleaning master, so I know the mess is bugging her big time. I change Porter's diaper and get him dressed. We have literally two diapers left in the house for the day and I hope they last. Oops, sorry again, Lois!

8:45 am | I gather up my work stuff and head out the door, after giving Porter lots of kisses. I forget that my gas tank is on empty and I don't know if I have time to stop to get gas. Reflect that it's been a wild but good morning and now I'm in work mode. Start listening to that podcast episode about healthy fats that Nate recommended. 

9:00 am | I stop and get gas even though I know I'll be a few minutes late to my first patient. But I don't like seeing that I only have 6 miles until empty and she should be okay with it. It's real cold out right now. I think pumping gas in a Wisconsin winter has to be one of my least favorite activities in life. Seriously.

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9:05 am | See patient number one: a hip surgery patient who's doing really well. She had a lot of questions answered since the last time I came because she talked to the doctors office. Love when patients take initiative for their own care!

9:47 am | Done seeing her, so I do a quick note in my car in her driveway before heading to patient number two. 

10:00 am | See patient number two,  last day with this 92-year-old. Doing pretty well, but I had to help her get dressed for the day. I think she's going to be OK moving forward without me. She says she will miss me though, and I wish her the best. 

10:45 am | I'm back in the van and call this patient's son to give him an update as I drive to patient number three. I'll have extra paperwork to do for her visit later. 

Oh, the businesses in Milwaukee...

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Podcast, a good one:
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11:00 am | See patient number three: a brand-new patient, only 62 years old with a lot of medical issues happening.  Fill out all the paperwork with him go through basic evaluation, scheduled to come back tomorrow. 

12:13 pm | I finish with him, get in my van,  check my phone and see I missed a call from the doctor's office and a text from my mom. Start driving to my fourth patients apartment and decide to check the voicemail first as I drive. 

Note the muddy, nasty snow and gray day:
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Call the ultrasound place back ("maternal fetal medicine") and at first she wants me to schedule a genetics counseling appointment before the ultrasound since I'm 35. Sigh. Why would I do this BEFORE the ultrasound? To hear another hour of worst case scenarios of what we might find? I decline because the ultrasound is what really matters to me at this point, and my OB never recommended the counseling to me anyway. Got scheduled for Thursday, February 16 at 12:45 when I will be 19 weeks and five days pregnant. YES! Had to weasel in those extra couple days since she wanted to do it the next week, but really Thursday afternoon is the only time that Nate can come with me, so she was all for that. 

12:25 pm | I'm parked at my fourth patient's apartment complex, texting Nate about the appointment time. I decide to plow through as much paperwork as I can while parked in this car. Realize I am actually a little hungry and it's lunchtime so I'll eat. I definitely have to pee but that's going to have to wait. Take a selfie and realize that I completely forgot to pencil my eyebrows today and now it's bugging me. 
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1:00 pm | Head inside for fourth patient, I did get some decent paperwork done first. Have to pee real bad. My patient tells me to use her bathroom instead of the public one down the hall, which I don't love doing but also don't want to be rude and refuse her bathroom. It's a good session, she is 96 and adorable, doing great.

1:48 pm | I'm done with her visit, go to the van for paperwork time.

2:08 pm | Drive home and I'm literally a half a block away, I can basically see my house from this apartment which is awesome. It just started to rain, and I'm going to get Truman today from school. Wednesdays are 'early release' and they get out at 2:20, so I don't usually pick him up (Tony or Lois will, depending on Porter's nap). Today I will drop him off and then head up to the office for my big interview. 

Home! Such little snow to show for a winter DiTL. We had a lot more but it's melted, somehow.
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2:10 pm | I go inside and get a water refill. Lois is upstairs with Porter in his room, and it looks like he is sleeping. CC is on her Kindle on the couch. I go out and get Truman from school and we walk home together. He tells me about his day briefly and that his thumb was all right except his teacher felt really bad for him, so she didn't make him do a complete writing test today. What a teacher's pet! We go back home, Truman checks the mail and we get inside. Lois is sitting down with CC at the table and says Porter is fighting his nap. Apparently he has been for over an hour!

Sure enough, I hear him screaming upstairs. I go up to get him and he's jumping up-and-down in his crib, telling me to turn his light to yellow. Cecelia does this for him, and then he wants to go down and play trains. I ask him why he's not taking a nap and he has no good answers. He tells Lois that he slept "for three minutes."

Truman and CC both want snacks, and I approve since I want them to be non-whiny for Lois the rest of the afternoon. I gather up Cecelia's dance outfit for later and help them get some peanut butter graham cracker sandwiches. Cecelia asked me why I have to go to so many places today. It is a very busy day! Porter is already back to the basement, bossing Lois around and wants her to build a giant track for his trains. I wish them luck and head out for my interview. 

2:35 pm | I'm driving up to the interview, it's very gloomy and kind of raining now. I guess I should mentally prepare for this interview but it is the third time going into meet with my boss and her boss and at this point I just want to decide between all of us if this job is a fit for me or not. Listen to more of the podcast about fats as I drive. 

2:50 pm| Arrive at office. Text Brittany about her first Stitch Fix. Here goes nothing!

3:35 pm | Well, done with the interview and it went pretty well. I probably won't go into much detail more than this:) Head back home and it's already getting dark out, think about the job the entire way home, and try to remember everything we talked about. 

4:00 pm | I'm home. Porter is still awake and looks very tired. The other two kids are doing OK but CC seems ultra-whiny. Talk to Lois a lot about the interview, as I help Cecelia to get on her dance costume. I give all three kids a snack of more graham crackers because they were starving apparently. CC is really kind of a hot mess. Says she is cold and that she didn't get good sleep last night. I don't think she is getting really sick or anything but I am sure she doesn't feel 100%. She still wants to go to dance class and I try to pump her up to have a great evening. 

CRAZY EYES.
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My daughter I walk across the street to her dance class at school and when we arrive, her friends all yell, 'HI CECE!!!!' It's adorable, she is a loved little girl. They all run up and down the hall together to 'warm up'. She seems to be pulling through. The teacher takes them inside right after 4:30 and I hustle back home to the boys, as Lois just pulls away to go home for the night. Thanks, Lois!

Disgusting ground.
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My girl.
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Love.
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4:35 on | I need to change out of my work clothes! Boys are fine and vegging out on couch with screens, this is how we usually handle my dinner prep time lately. I change into yoga pants and a comfy hoodie and I eye the two laundry baskets full of clean clothes that are folded. I should really put them away sometime tonight. Suddenly feeling very tired.  Close the blinds downstairs, it's dark out already. Winter.

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Unamused.
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4:45 pm| I need to start dinner, I have 30 minutes until Cecelia is finished with class. Yawn. Get stuff out to start 'soup and sandwiches', a gourmet dinner meal, indeed.

4:48 pm | Porter melts down because he wants a granola bar and I offered an applesauce instead. I quickly remember the skipped nap but hold tight to my decision on a healthier snack right before dinner. After a fit, he ends up eating the applesauce and asked for another. Fine. Whatever. Says, "thank you, mama." Poor guy. 
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5:00 pm | He's back in the kitchen again asking for a third applesauce and I don't give it to him. But he finds his yogurt in a bowl that I just made for part of his dinner and I let him carry it into the other room so I can continue making dinner. This is quickly becoming the least favorite time of night and admittedly Wednesdays are the craziest because of Cecelia's dance class. 

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5:13 pm | Time to get Cecelia, arrive to school at 5:16, the ballerinas are coming out, I get mine dressed in her snow clothes. Cecelia declares, 'I hate putting all of this stuff on.' I HEAR YOU!!! Preach it. We walk home, I almost fall twice on ice as we admire our face-down Santa blow up. 

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5:21 | Back home, CC cries because T has the headphones she wants. I cannot deal with this emotional outburst, because when I check the headphones they are fine. I finish making gourmet dinner for all, get really into my salad and make WAY too much food for myself. I made another salad for Nate and popped it in the fridge. 

5:30 pm | Turn off the screens, it's time for dinner! Cecelia: "You gave me too much food. This chip is too salty." Sigh. We decide to play I Spy with colors, which is always a favorite dinner time game. Truman talks about his thumb a lot, and mentioned that even his music teacher noticed his tape job. Cececlia is the first to  finish all of her food! Next comes Truman, they must have been hungry.
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Beloved salad with beets, cucumbers, blue cheese, avocados, tomatoes, red peppers, sunflower seeds, and spinach.
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Way too much food, but I can't help it.
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Hi, mom. My thumb!
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Clean plate!
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Looking at a book Truman brought home.
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6:07 pm | Porter is downstairs playing trains. I clean up dinner and the bigs get dessert. 

6:15 pm | I yell for everyone to head upstairs for baths and shower and homework! "I miss YaYa, is she here?" says Porter. "I don't always listen to you. But now I will," says Cecelia.

Sorry, not sorry.
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Stinker. So long and lean, right?
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6:25 pm | I get wild man Porter in the tub first, since I found new bath toys that excite him. Cecelia gets in with him and I put away the laundry. Truman is reading and timing it for his homework. I set out some clothes for all kids tomorrow, to bring downstairs for tomorrow morning. I find library books due tomorrow. Nate puts away his own clean clothes since he doesn't like how I fold. Wonder how long this will sit here?

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Homework guy:
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6:37 pm | I go supervise bath time  "We are playing the poop game!" Great, this sound sanitary. Comb Cecelia's hair which she hates absolutely hates, even with her wet brush. Porter gets pulled out first because he's splashing too much. I see this on Instagram the next day and chuckle, SO TRUE.

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His head is bigger than hers here.
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6:45 pm | I get him out and dressed. "Porter looks like Ken!" says Cecelia. Truman turns on music for Porter in the nursery. I get Cecelia out. Truman takes off his beloved thumb tape. 

Ken:
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6:50 pm | I get CC dressed. She's cold and tired, so I tell her to lean on the radiator for added warmth. Nothing better than putting on warmed pajamas that have been sitting on the radiator. Old home bonus!

6:55 pm | I get Truman to come in to bathe, adding some fresh water to existing. He's good to do the rest on his own! Braid Cecelia's bangs, which is our go-to for controlling the hair around her face. She's busy playing Shopkins when all of a sudden, Jessicakes's arm falls off. Tears! Promises of super glue! So sad. Porter then wrecks her magnatile creation. I get mad at P, cannot believe he hasn't passed out yet. It scares me that this child doesn't require a nap on days like this. Remember how he told Nate I was scared of his this morning? Right now I am. 

BROKEN ARM!!!!!!!!
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Masterpiece braid:
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7:10 pm | Nate texts that he is coming home. Hallelujah. Brush Porter's teeth and tell Truman to get out of the bath in two minutes.

7:15 pm | I read a book to Porter. Help Truman with his socks because his bum thumb is really posing a challenge. He then brushes his teeth.

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New smile:
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Could her hair GET any longer??
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I throw this away because I hate it to death. Some kind of 'foam' silly putty thing that Porter spreads over the whole house.
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7:25 pm | Woot, woot, Nate is home! He takes Truman down to re-tape the thumb. Cecelia demands to with them, so she can show daddy that Jessicakes broke her arm. I read Porter another book, then yell for Nate to come up and say 'goodnight' to his youngest. 
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Fancy!
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7:35 pm | Goodnight, Porter!! I go downstairs and need to call a patient for tomorrow. Once I call her I find out tomorrow isn't going to work for her, so I might have added paperwork time in the morning after all. 

Go.To.BED.
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7:45 pm | I head back upstairs to say goodnight to all kids, since Porter is crying for me and the bigs are waiting for their stories. Once that is done, I go down to talk to Nate over some hot tea at our island. This is my favorite part of the night, as we've been trying to have real conversations without computers or TV in the evenings. We discuss so much: my interview, the ultrasound, his work, house addition, etc. It's nice to reconnect and feel like we are a part of a team, one that communicates and isn't just nodding at each other in passing before crashing for the night. 

8:40 pm |  He says he's going to bed, but I need to do some paper work. Start my paperwork and also text Brittany about her fix. She wants all 5! I gave her a gift card for Christmas and now I might have gotten her hooked. Oops, but she looks dang good in all of the choices. I get a chunk of paperwork done, will have to do more tomorrow. Check IG and email, kind of zone out for a bit.

9:26 pm | Woah, its late! We have been trying to get into bed by 8:45 to read, asleep by 9. Not tonight! Instagram a video of Porter quickly, didn't mention that it's a DiTL. Also don't think I took many pics and I know I got none of us as a family or even all 3 kids together. Wow!

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9:40 pm | Upstairs to brush teeth, wash face, then read for a little bit. I'm reading a book about fixed versus growth mindsets and it's really good! 

File this nasty toothpaste blob under 'things that drive me crazy.' How did Cecelia even brush her teeth if all of the paste came out like that?!?
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Good book. Must learn to accept challenges and not be afraid of failure.
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Goodnight, angels.
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10:00 pm | Kiss Nate goodnight and promptly pass out. Sleep soundly until 6:15 when my alarm goes off, must have slept through Nate's at 5:15. YES. 

Number of baby bump selfies: 0 (horror!)
Number of family selfies: 0
Number of photos with all 3 kids in it together: 0 (maybe 1, actually)
Meltdowns: 2 or so
Laughter: countless
Mentions of Truman's thumb: at least 20
Curses towards the weather: 3
Naps for all five of us: 0

But it was a great day! 

There's still plenty of time to record your own Day in the Life, just get it to me by Sunday, January 22. 

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