Update on Baby

We had a doctor appointment yesterday. It went really well for the most part. We finally heard the heartbeat. It took a while, again, to find it. Our doctor thinks it's a boy because it's so difficult to find the heartbeat. She is putting her money on a boy she said. Randy liked her theory! We recorded the heartbeat on our cell phones. I tried uploading it on here, but for some reason I am having issues will try again later.

I am already showing, which is hard to believe. They say you show sooner with your second/third pregnancies. I am short so I only have one way to go and that is out word. I don't have a long torso, so my belly is poochin' out already. I do have protein in my urine, and my doctor is a little concerned. I had to come back with a full bladder yesterday afternoon to have another urine analysis done. I absolutely hate to pee in a cup! I would rather have blood work done any day then to have to pee in a cup. I think it is so gross!! Anyway, that is probably more information then any of you wanted to know.

New updates on Karenza is that we bought her an aquarium for her room. We just got her a 10 gallon tank, and she got to choose the decorations that went inside and the gravel on the bottom of the tank. She choose a ship with treasures on it, and blue and white gravel. I will post pictures once I upload them to the computer. She got two durable goldfish. They have round little bellies with long fins. Not sure of their technical names. Anyway, one is orange, black, and white and the other is orange and white. The names she chose for them are Troy and Gabriela (from High School Musical)! We told her the responsibilities of owning a pet, and how she has to remember to feed them. She reminds us, and we do the feeding! She is doing really well. If she wants a puppy some day she has to show us responsibility of owning some fish. That is my way of letting her know that someday she can have a puppy. I however, am not ready for that responsibility just yet. I am hoping to wait until she is just a little bit older.

This upcoming weekend is Cassidy's birthday party. She is having a pool party at a hotel here in Bismarck. We also reserved pool side rooms because Karenza would be heart broken if we had to come home and she couldn't stay over night. So this Saturday we will be packing up to stay in a hotel about a mile down the road. :-) Should be fun though. Will try and update with pictures next time. I am just one tired Mama!

Easter, and Well, More Flooding

We decided to have Easter dinner on Saturday at Holly and Jer's. We weren't able to leave until Randy got off work on Saturday. He keeps the club open from 8-12pm on Saturday and well since it is getting so nice outside people have been coming in and using the batting cage so much that he didn't get home until 1:30! So we didn't get to Holly's until 2:15 (yes I was speeding the whole way...whoops!). But the way we went was perfect except the last couple miles to their place. They live 6 miles off of the highway, and there were only a couple parts where I had to put it in 4 wheel drive to get through. We had to leave by 6:45pm because water was going over the road the way we came to their house so we had to find another road to get home. There are 5 different ways to get to the highway from their house. Jer and his Dad were in one vehicle, and my Mom, Dad and Grandma followed to see which way we could get out. They called and thought there was one way we could still drive through, but the water was going across the road. Of course I didn't even think to snap any pictures of it. Jer's Dad had water shoes up to his knees on and walked through it a couple times to see if we could get through. Dad went first with his 4 wheel drive Chevy truck. It looked like he had a hard time getting through. He called after he made it across and said that it wasn't as bad as it looked. But, with Randy being from the city (sorry Babe nothing against you!) I felt more comfortable with Jer's Dad driving our 4 wheel drive Ford Expedition across, and then he could walk back through the water to his and Jer's vehicle they were in. So he put it in 4-high and gave it all he had. It tried pulling us to the left and it is just like quick sand in there. We probably really shouldn't have even tried to drive through it, but we did because we knew it was only going to get worse and we didn't have Randy's night time insulin so we needed to get home some how that night. We made it. However, Holly and Jer weren't able to go to work today because all 5 ways are totally flooded and there is no way they can drive through any of them now. I just can't believe how fast the water moves! We were there for a little over 4 hours and the roads were all flooded in that matter of time.

Yesterday, Mom, Dad, Randy, Karenza, and I went for a drive to look at the Heart River, and Apple Creek. A couple of the roads were flooded, and we knew it was going to get worse we just didn't think it would be this fast. Mom called me this afternoon and told me I had to come out to their house to see the water that I just wouldn't believe it. The same roads we drove on yesterday afternoon were now flooded!! The road I take to my parents' is now flooded. I usually take Apple Creek Road, and take a left on Barston Lane. They live on the corner of Barston Lane and Viking Drive. Well, Barston Lane is now flooding (because of Apple Creek) and below are the pictures of the road I would normally take to Mom and Dad's place. So below are pictures of our weekend, the flooded roads, and a video of the water. I had to do a video of the water just so you can hear it gushing across the road.

Karenza dying Easter Eggs at Mom and Dad's

Wiping the spoon before checking the eggs in each cup

Karenza's Easter basket from the Easter Bunny at Holly and Jer's (From Mom and Dad)

Before the Easter Egg Hunt

Uncle Randy and Addison

Karenza found all her eggs

After Easter dinner (See Karenza's side pony tail, that is what she requested!)

Karenza going with Uncle Jer to see the baby calf

Karenza's Easter Basket. I set it right at the end of the island so that when she walks down the hall way when she woke up this would be the first thing she saw. She loved everything!!Checking out her Easter Basket

Karenza helping Bob, Mom and Dad's neighbor today

Walking down the hill on Barston Lane from Mom and Dad's house.

Barston Lane, and Apple Creek Road. Last summer there was no water here at all!

There is suppose to be a highway (Apple Creek Rd.) go through all that water

Look at all that water. It is so powerful it is just gushing across the road!You can see the road just getting washed away. Just crazy!!

Walking back up to Mom and Dad's house

Video of the water going across Barston Lane

Dr. Appointment

I had a doctor appointment on Tuesday at 10:00am. Randy had a follow up appointment on his shoulder at 11:30am, and then a physical therapy appointment at 11:50am. We were running around going to doctor appointments all morning. At my appointment we were excited because we knew this would be the first time we would be able to hear the heart beat. She was having difficulty trying to locate the heartbeat. She used two different Doppler machines to try and locate the heartbeat. She had an intern following her, and she tried and couldn't either. Needless to say we were pretty scared/nervous at this point. Although my doctor (Dr. Quisno) assured me that this is normal. She went and got an ultrasound machine, and as she was wheeling it in the room she said "Don't be alarmed this ultrasound machine is from 1980!" I had to laugh it was old, but it showed me my baby!! It showed fetal heart movement, and it showed it floating/spinning around. We could see the baby's head, and even a little hand. It is just crazy that I am not showing yet, and yet there is that little human being inside me. Amazing. Since they new where the baby was at on my stomach they put the Doppler machine on that same exact spot to see if we could hear the heartbeat. We only heard it for a split second. She told me I could come back in two weeks, as two weeks would make a world of difference. She told me that if she was me she wouldn't want to wait another 4 weeks to have to hear a strong heart beat. So with that I am going back in two weeks to hear the heartbeat!! They took a urine sample (like they do every time you go) and I have +1 protein in my urine already. She said that diet has nothing to do with having protein in your diet. It how my kidney's function. So she said I can still have protein in my diet as it is important to the baby. Since I had severe preeclampsia with Karenza they are keeping a close eye on the protein and blood pressure. First time I went to the doctor (about a month ago) my blood pressure was high, but on Tuesday it was perfect! So hopefully that can stay the same. I can't wait for my next appointment to see/hear my baby again. Only 9 more weeks and we will be able to find out what we are having; another girl to the family, or the family's first boy!! As long as it's healthy we will be happy with what ever it is. Below is the size of the baby this week. Crazy huh?

Jabber Box? What's new!

Below are a couple videos of Karenza talking, and talking, and talking about nothing really. Not like any of you are surprised that she talks so much - not sure where she gets that from! Lately, though, she has just been talking like this about stuff, and if you aren't listening or she thinks you aren't listening she will start over from the beginning. It's not like I am not listening, but I don't have time to sit and look at her and pay attention. She follows me around the house while I am trying to get things done and just talks about stuff. To the car, in the car, into the house from the car, in the house, in the bathtub, in the kitchen...you get the point. Anyway, I didn't have much memory left on my video camera so the two videos below cut her off. After the first video I deleted some things off of my camera and had her start over again, but it still wasn't enough memory.

She started talking in sentences when she was 9-10 months old. She has always been told that she talks so well for her age. They always think she is older then she is because she speaks so well. I thought it was cute when she was a little baby. But, now some days not so much. I mean I love her to pieces, and I am so happy she has the ability to talk. Don't get me wrong. But some nights when her eyes go shut and the house is quiet it's kinda nice! So below are the videos. This is just a little taste of what we have in our house when her feet hit the floor in the morning. Well, actually when her eyes open in the morning because she is talking before her feet hit the floor. Enjoy!

A little description of the first video (which actually I filmed second): First she is talking about the dream she had the night before. She has been obsessed with monsters lately, and has been having dreams about them. Then she talks about a Dora movie (again, as this is what she was talking about in the first video I took of her) that she watches all the time that she has memorized as you can tell. She gets easily side tracked as the T.V. was on in the background (lesson learned for next time to shut it off). Also when she is describing a part in the Dora movie she calls it tea-tap-toeing. What she really means is tip-toeing. It's really cute and I get her to say it a couple times. :-) By the way, I love watching her facial expressions she makes. She is just so darn adorable. She has a little cold, which makes her voice even more adorable I think.

A little description of the second video (I actually filmed this one first): She is talking about the Dora movie. She burps half way through (another excuse to start ALL over) I tell her no, and to continue of with her story.

As an update on the pregnancy front. I have been feeling miserable! People have said maybe that is a sign of me having a boy. Who knows but, I have been nauseated all day and night. I never had this with Karenza ever. They say it is the sign of a healthy baby. But part of me wonders if they just say that so that the mother feels better about having it. "Hey at least I have a healthy baby I'll deal with the nausea!" Yeah right! Karenza turned out healthy as can be, and I never had nausea with her at all! I feel like I have to snack every 2 hours. When it comes to meal time I am not very hungry and just eat as much as I would through snack time. Another thing I have learned to do is to eat as soon as I get up in the morning. The other day I took a shower and got ready before eating and I just couldn't get back to feeling normal again. I was miserable and crabby all day. I have a doctor appointment on Tuesday and we get to hear the heartbeat for the first time. We are super excited! Sometimes when I sit a certain way I think I can feel the little flutters. I now know what I am waiting to feel, and I feel it. Amazing again! If only I felt better. Only two more weeks and I'll be out of this first trimester. Hopefully I won't be one of those pregnant ladies that have to deal with nausea throughout their pregnancy. Cross your fingers, pray to who ever God you choose (which for me lately has been the porcelain one) that that won't happen to me throughout this pregnancy!

Talk soon again! I haven't been good about posting, and hopefully that will get better. Probably depends on how I feel. ~Miranda

ND on MSNBC

Here is a link to ND on MSNBC.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29873706

President Obama has declared our state a disaster. It is voluntary evacuation in our area, and will probably be manditory eventually. We left this morning at about 7:15am to come to Mom and Dad's. We only had one way to get out, and the water was already to the bumper. Cars were getting stuck in the water. There was ice and water and it was so hard to even get through our Expedition. I don't know how bad this is going to get, but they said the Mall could flood. I think we are in for a huge mess here!!

Below is the Bismarck tribune that has pictures of the flooded areas and videos of the flood in our area. http://www.bismarcktribune.com/

Our Anniversary, and Randy's Surgery

Today is our 2nd anniversary. It was blizzarding outside today. Two years ago it was 75 degrees on our wedding. Today was no such thing, ND weather! It first started raining yesterday afternoon at about 4:00, and then turned to snow at about 1:00am. What a mess! The Missouri river is flooding, and people are being evacuated. We should be safe, for now. Holly and her family have been enduring a lot. There are 4 ways out of their farm to get to the highway, and every gravel road has been washed out. There house is safe as it sits on top of a hill. There power has been out, and so they are enduring so much right now. Summer can not come soon enough. There are so many families that have been evacuated from their homes. My thoughts have are with those families. I remember back in 1997 when there was major flooding, and this will be worse then that. We have a major mess coming that's for sure!!

Randy had shoulder surgery on Monday. It was successful. We had to be at the hospital at 8:30am. We had dropped Karenza off at daycare, and went to check in. My Mom was sick with the flu, so my Dad came to sit with me during his surgery. Which, I am so glad he did because it would have made for an even longer day and I probably would have just sat there and not eaten anything. Not good when you are pregnant!! His surgery didn't start until 11:24pm (to be exact). When we checked in they gave me his patient number, and their was a monitor screen in the waiting area that told me when his surgery started, when it ended, and when he was in post anesthia care. Amazing. They said his surgery could take up to an hour and a half to two hours. So when he went into surgery we went to go get something to eat at the hospital cafeteria. We were gone a 1/2 hour and when we got back he was out of surgery. Which was at 12:14pm. They finally came and got me at 2:00pm to go and and see him. He was so tired. Dad stayed for about another hour and then when and got Karenza. She has been with them ever since. Our house sure has been quiet, but it's also been so nice so that Randy can rest. She will be coming home tomorrow which will be nice because she is so worried about her Daddy. But, she is also having fun with her Papa and Grandma too.

Randy starts physical therapy tomorrow already. I have been making sure he takes his pain medication every 4 hours on the 4th hour. He never complains about anything, so I have to make sure he takes care of his self. Since it was blizzarding outside today, and Randy is hurting we didn't leave the house today. At least we spent the day together for our anniversary. I cooked chicken and rice for our anniversary. It was the same thing we had for our wedding reception dinner as well was stuffed chicken.

Since Karenza hasn't been home I don't have any new pictures of her, and since a post really isn't a post without a picture I'll put a picture of my husband and me. :-)

Gymnastics

Well, we have tried gymnastics once again. A few weeks ago I asked Karenza if she wanted to be in a dance class or in a gymnastics class. She told me she already knew all the moves to dancing, and that she would like to be in gymnastics again. We did this when she was 2. She wasn't potty trained, and I had to guide her through each session. It was a disaster, because all she wanted to do was run and jump on everything. Two years later, she is potty trained, I don't have to guide her, and she is a very good listener. I told her there were 3 rules in gymnastics:

1) Listen to your teacher
2) Do not interupt your teacher when she's speaking
3) Wait your turn.

She did me very proud! Her teacher even commented that she had so much fun with her, and that she is such a great listener. Below are pictures of her first day. She will be going every Friday from 10:30-11:30 until May 15th.

Waiting for class to start

Stretching

Learning to stradel

Swinging on the high bar

Push off the low bar to swing

Jumping on the trampoline

Doing the stradel jump

Balancing on soft blocks

Learning the frontwards tumble

Tucking her chin to her chest

Head stand

All be herself. Tada!!