Our Diamond Ring is now a Gummy Bear...

I have never been really good at keeping secrets. I'm even worse at keeping secrets when it's something fun and exciting to share.

Especially when I didn't know when or if I'd be able to share this secret.

After the removal of 8 fibroids from my uterus last November, I was told all was clear with going forward to having kids. I was so excited, but didn't want to get my hopes up. February came and we had the official "go-ahead" from my doctor. A few months went by and I started getting skeptical about the possibility of having a baby. Then one night before I went to bed, I decided to take a test. I had seen "not" so many times, I couldn't believe that it finally just said "Pregnant." Rob didn't believe me either. He had to come up to look at it and make sure it wasn't defective. So I took another test the next morning. Still "Pregnant."

I spoke with one of my doctors in the next 2 weeks. He told me that because of my surgeries, there was a possibility of it not growing in the right place AKA my uterus and he recommended going into the office for an early ultrasound. At 6 weeks, I didn't expect to see anything exciting. Little did I know I would see the heartbeat for the first time! At that appointment, the ultrasound tech told me we had a little diamond ring. The yolk sac is the circle, and the baby is the diamond. No offense, honey, but it was the prettiest diamond ring I ever saw!


At 8 weeks, Rob and I went into the clinic for our first "official" OB visit. We had another ultrasound. Our little diamond ring had grown into a "Gummy Bear". One of the doctors even said it looked like it was waving at us. I don't think it's possible for an arm bud to wave, but being the ecstatic new pregnant lady, I latched onto that little comment. I loved it!


We told our family shortly after the "diamond ring" ultrasound, but were waiting to tell our co-workers and extended family until 10-12 weeks.

I can't keep my mouth shut.

It started with me telling one of my co-workers/friends who is due the same week as me.

Then I got caught eating saltines at work and taking a morning break when I usually don't. One of my co-workers told me I looked green.

And some of my friends must have some weird 6th sense. A little ESP. They just flat out told me I must be pregnant.

Ever heard of the snow-ball effect? Yup. That's me. Once I tell a few people I can't stop!

So I ok'd it with Rob and here we are.

It's on facebook.

It's on the blog.

Nine weeks down. Only 30 more weeks to go!

July Birthdays

Today we headed out to my mom and dad's for a day of celebrating birthdays. My Mom's was the 20th and my sister, Jo's, is on the 28th.

With all the new members our family has accumulated over the last 5 years, it's become necessary to combine celebrations. Not that we don't love to celebrate, but it can get hard to do so much celebrating, especially during the summer.

We had good intentions of having lunch and going outside to play some lawn games. Well after lunch everyone was so full, the lawn games were put on hold and we all sat down to watch a movie instead. It was still a good time and we were able to hang out and chat.

Today was also wonderful because I got to see and hold all of the babies. Yup, there are 3 of them. Wyatt (7 months) and Jayde and Brooklyn (4 months)...plus 2-year-old Ava. They are growing up so fast. I like to try to see them at least every 2 weeks, and usually think I do a pretty good job...until I see them. They change so much in just 2 weeks! Seeing as how the majority of my "followers" are moms, I'm basically preaching to the choir, I know. But it still amazes me!

And wouldn't ya know...I didn't pull out my camera once. The last picture I have of all of them was shortly after Jayde and Brooklyn were born. (No they're not twins. They were born 3 days apart to 2 different sisters.) The babies have officially grown out of their cute matching outfits and Ava isn't quite as willing to take pictures lately. But it's still cute, so I'm still posting it.




You gotta love familes. I know I sure love mine!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful, beautiful and over-worked Mom! I know she had the day off and do you think I could actually speak with her today? Nope! Facebook and blogging will have to do for now. Hopefully she was out doing something fabulous with her day off!

Love ya, Mom!

Bar-B-Q Days

In my hometown, there is a festival every year in July called Bar-B-Q Days.

When I was little, it was all about the parade on Saturday followed by some rides. If we were really lucky, Mom and Dad would also let us watch fireworks on Sunday night from our car in the field next to our house. We lived out in the country and it just didn't make sense to my parents, who had 4 young daughters, to drive the 7 miles into town at 9:00 at night just to watch fireworks.

When I was in high school, it became less about the parade and more about the socialization. Wandering around the park, riding the rides, and trying to get in the beer garden with our friends parents just because we could. It wasn't about trying to drink at that point. It was, again, all for the socializing.

Then came the magical age of 21! We could now get in the beer garden legally, enjoy some adult beverages, and act a little stupid, because that was all anyone expected of a drunk 21-year-old. It was also a bonus that I had a best friend whose parents lived within walking distance of the park...didn't need a sober cab!

It's now 12 years later and I've reverted back to the child in me. It's all about the parade and fireworks. I had to work this weekend, so I missed the parade, but even after working 36 hours in 3 days, I was not missing the beautiful fireworks display. It's quite a long display and they are all put to music...fun, upbeat, dancing kind of music. They also try to throw in something new every year. This year it was BBQ in lights at the end of the show.

I am now seeing these things through the eyes of my 2-year-old niece. She's beautiful, energetic, and enjoys the wonder of the little things. Who knew a corn dog and a root beer float would actually lure her to sit down for 5 minutes?!?! I should have. Heck, it's ice cream and she does have Pieper blood in her!
Ava and Auntie Jen
Miss Ava and her glow necklaces
Jodene, Ava and Andy
Checking out the fireworks!


Bar-B-Q Days...Can't wait for next year!

F-A-R-M

For those of you who know Harley, there are certain words that cannot be said around our house without him getting super excited; running from the kitchen to the living room, and letting out his high-pitched, "I'm excited" bark.

F-A-R-M is one of them. After 5 years, I've gotten smart. I have now learned to get everything packed, in the car and ready to go before I even mention the word.

My family does not believe me. They think I make it up. Until I am the cruel "mom" and say f-a-r-m to Harley and watch him run around, just to tell him nope, sorry, just kiddin'. But...I'll take you for a walk instead.

Oops...another four-letter word that can't be said in front of certain doggy ears. It makes him happy.

We made such a trip to the f-a-r-m today. As his usual, he jumps out of the car, runs for 5 seconds and proceeds to poop twice in the next 5 minutes. My Dad jokes that I should charge him for fertilizer.

Someday, Harley. Someday, we might be lucky enough to live in a large enough area where our backyard could be the f-a-r-m. If I can convince Rob... Ha!

Someday...

The First One

Well, I'm going to give this a whirl. I've been thinking about starting a blog for a while now. But everytime I get urge, I would think "What is so special about my life that everyone would want to know about it?" I don't have kids (unless you count Harley) and I lead a relatively boring life. Nothing really happens that facebook can't take care of. That's when I remembered that I don't have to have something fascinating to write about. This is my way of remembering things that happen in my life...in our lives!

I know Rob really won't be thrilled with this. He already thinks I spend too much time on the computer. That's when I remind him that this is a type of diary for me. When we went on our trip to South Dakota last September, I would sit down every night and type out what we did that day. There were days we did so much stuff! I didn't want to forget a minute! What he does not remember was his helping me with our daily memories...making sure I didn't forget something.

So that's where I am today. I'm starting my own little on-line diary, open for almost all to see! It won't be the most interesting thing for the random reader, but it'll be important to us to look back on someday and remember all of the trials and tribulations, joys and celebrations of our lives.

I'm glad you're taking the ride with me.


Harley and Snake