enough already.

Ok, I guess I've hid out long enough...Time to get back on the bandwagon. :)

Life has been so exciting/busy/crazy the last few months, and especially the last couple of weeks. But I really hate getting behind on my journal, so it's time to make it a priority again.

First of all, Summer has started and school is out. I'm so happy to have a little break. The boys did great this year but I'm not going to lie- having them home almost full time and trying to get all their work done can be a lot to handle. But the trade-off of having them around has been so worth it. Milo is a READER now, and Liam is officially going into the third grade...I'm still wondering how that is possible. They absolutely loved their school this year, and all their teachers were so terrific.  We are already signed up for all of our classes for the '09-'10 school year, and all the paperwork is done...hopefully that will take a big burden off of me this fall when I'll be busy prepping for the baby.

The last few weeks have been really terrific- after having Elijah gone 24-7 since early April working hard on a huge project, he was able to move his office home so he could be around us a little more. Even though he still sat in front of the computer most of the day and night it was still so great to have him in the house. We escaped a few times during the day to the pool, and he was able to eat dinner with us and help me tuck everyone into bed at night. Thankfully things have slowed down for him considerably, so he's back at the office but keeping more regular hours. He even had off this weekend...and it was SO GREAT!!!! He worked so hard all day yesterday in the yard, catching up on all the things that needed to be taken care of. He's the best. REALLY. I appreciate so much all the time he puts in at the office, only to come home and work so hard here. I've been feeling a lot slower and less capable lately, and he's picking up the slack for me which I am so thankful for. :)

We've spent almost every day at the pool the last few weeks. Everyone keeps asking me how that can be relaxing, but my kids are at the perfect stages for daily pool trips. The big boys are strong swimmers and will swim for hours non-stop, and Jude isn't real fond of the water so he's pleased as punch to sit by me in a lounge chair, play with a car, or eat snacks. Emphasis on the eating snacks. ;) We have lots of friends that go to the pool so there's always someone to talk to and someone to play with. I'm skipping swim lessons this year because I can't handle having to PAY to be on such a tight time schedule for two weeks straight! I'm trying to SIMPLIFY my life right now, and so maybe we'll pick that back up next year. 

Liam went to his first Cub Scout camp this past week and loved every second of it. I am in denial that I have an eight year old! Elijah was able to go with him on Friday and they had quite a party apparently. I somehow managed to get out of going, and Jude and I went to a wedding reception of a friend's son instead...lucky me.

Things with the baby are good. He's pretty quiet in there for the most part but is easily startled when there's a big noise. He's also terribly picky about what side I lay on, and pretty much refuses to settle at night if I'm laying on my left side. As soon as I turn on my right...voila. Instantly still again. :) My appointments have stretched to every two weeks since things have been going well, and tomorrow I go back in for another ultrasound and visit with my Dr. I was having some terrible pain in my back last month and was sent in for an MRI. The results came back that I have two herniated discs...so that should make the next few months carrying this baby super fun! I still have no clue how I could have messed up my back so badly. Next week I'm seeing a specialist about it, and hopefully they can have some suggestions on how to deal with the pain I'm having, and maybe I can start seeing a physical therapist soon to help things get a little better. There's not a whole lot that can be done as long as I'm pregnant, so my expectations are pretty low. One thing for sure though...I'm glad I listened to my Dr and had the MRI, because I'd been going to the chiropractor every few days and he would crack me so hard and I'd feel awful. I've been feeling much better lately just icing it and leaving it ALONE...no cracking or touching it. :) 

My camera has sat on the top of the piano getting dusty the last few weeks...I'm going to download the card contents and see what exciting things I have to share a little later today, and I'll upload some. In the meantime, I'm going to go get some housework done while the house is still quiet.... ;) LATER!