Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Annual year in review! 2013

2013 A year in review

9th annual year in review.

What did you do in 2013 that you've never done before?
Bought a House! Hallelujah! Very scary step of faith we took, but we did it and I am thankful everyday I wake up in our new house. I get goose bumps every time the kids go and play in their big yard. It was on my wish list and we accomplish it. That's a great feeling. I also was able to get paneled on many insurances. 

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
My only resolution was not to have any, and I kept that. I am going to stick with that one. Same as last year... and the year before... and the year before that... and the year before that. Gosh, I am good, I have kept this every year! Feels good not to fail.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Several friends had babies, including Steven's cousin. I am actually surprised I haven't yet. This little one is stubborn. But now it makes 2014 even more exciting to look towards. 

Did anyone close to you die?
No one very close. There were several acquaintances. 

What countries did you visit?
None. Pregnancy makes international travel very difficult!

What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I still would like to finish my Play Therapy Certification as it had to put on hold due to pregnancy. I only need a few hours more of training and would like to travel to Missouri to get them, but we shall see how that goes. But more importantly I would like to meet this new little one very soon in the new year. 

What date from 2013 will remain etched in your memory and why?
April 28th. Day we found out we were expecting #5.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The house, my insurances panels, and of course making it through most of this pregnancy thus far unscathed!

What was your biggest failure?
I hate the word failure! Not everything is meant to happen on my timeline, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't meant to be. Or if even if it wasn't in God's plan to occur, does that make it a failure? I may end up changing this question, but for now I will leave it. Next year will be 10 years of doing this. Sad to change it now. As for anything left undone... I don't feel it's failing to not have that baby in my arms. But gosh I was sure anticipating in sooner. 

Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a miscarriage right before getting pregnant with this child. Various small viruses. 

What was the best thing you bought?
My house!

Where did most of your money go?
Midwife. We pay out of pocket for her. Still paying on Heston's hospital stay/ surgery from previous year. And obviously money into the new house.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
New Baby and house!

What scripture is a theme of 2013?
I am going with a different one this year. Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Compared to this time last year are you:
a. Happier or sadder? Probably happier. 
b. Thinner or fatter? Ha, fatter, but at least there is a reason.
c. Richer or poorer? Richer, although with me about to take time off from my business there will definitely be a struggle for awhile. The one downside to working for yourself. 

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Always spend more time with my family. Same every year, but I will say, we spent a good amount of time together. And due to bad weather sometimes felt more than needed. 

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Internet in general. 

How did you spend Christmas?
At home. Didn't travel due to impending birth. My family came week before to celebrate and Steven's parents came on Christmas day. It was nice and low key like I love it to be. 

Did you fall in love in 2013?
This life inside me. Still waiting to meet her.

What was your favorite TV show?
I guess still Supernatural, although I just caught up on that one season that got put on Netflix and it took only a couple of weeks to watch. I watch some Investigation Discovery shows every now and then. 

What was the best book you read?
Stephen King's new one, Doctor Sleep. It was the sequel to The Shining. That was about a month ago during the snow storm.

What was your greatest musical discovery of 2013?
I hate the music of today. We have gone way down in talent. God help us!

What did you want and get?
House. Thriving business. Baby on it's way.

What did you want and not get?
Play therapy certification, although I still am doing exactly what I would be doing if I had it. I want this baby now as well!

What was your favorite film this year?
Haven't got to see very many. Still need to go out and watch the new Hunger Games.

What did you do on your birthday?
The usual. Not much. Steven got me a cute cake though. 


What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If this baby had been born already!

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Ha, at this point. Anything comfortable! I hate anything confining on a normal basis but even more so when pregnant. I have tried to include non mumu like clothes. Lots of BoHo, which is my usual hippie style. 

What kept you sane?
Still the same. Alone time, family time, sleep, massages, church, and working out. Same every year. I will also add drive. I realized this year that I work best with some type of goal in mind. However small, I always need to have something.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None. Most annoyed me. 

What political issue stirred you the most?
Probably the issue with the Affordable Care Act. It caused our insurance rates to soar. But at the same time I liked that it could benefit a great deal of my DCFS clients, but when I would suggest them looking into it and even hand out info. most of what I got is the 'dear in the headlights' look. It's such a mess.

Who did you miss?
My best friend from Oklahoma, Charlette. Seems I barely see her anymore. 

Who was the best new person you met?
My real estate agent. I would say this baby, but I haven't officially met her yet.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
Patience, while it increases yearly with having the kids, I still have a ways to go to be more Zen like. Waiting for a baby to be born I swear is the ultimate test. 

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Going to keep the same from last year.
Peace Train by Cat Stevens
Now I've been happy lately, thinking about good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
Oh I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come

Monday, December 30, 2013

Still nothing!

Little one is being stubborn. Already made it past what I did with Ryker and Heston. Every night I go to bed thinking, "this could be it" and every night nothing. Now granted I am having contractions all day long. This is why I go so fast. They are real contractions and very sporadic. It gets annoying but I keep telling myself they are worth it. I have a massage scheduled tomorrow with my office neighbor. Hoping it will get things moving. We are so ready. Steven officially got the last of what we needed today.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Monday, December 23, 2013

Jones family Christmas



Yesterday was my side of the family's Christmas here at the house. I am not doing any traveling this year due to  being due. My sister and her husband came up the night before to help with the cooking. Everything went off without any problems. There was a ice storm in Oklahoma the night before that threatened to derail plans, but luckily none of the places where everyone lived got hit too hard. We just got rain. 

I did go in and see some clients today, but I am taking off tomorrow and Christmas, obviously. Still wondering if I will be getting a baby for Christmas. Steven's parents are coming on Christmas day. I've said it before but due to less traveling this year, I feel way less stress this year. It's nice.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

37 week appt.

I am 2 cm dilated, 1 cm inside, soft, and funneling. She was laying posterior or sunny side up when midwife was palpating. Normally she is on her side. I want her on her side, not posterior. Sunny side up during labor is back labor. Mine is painful enough as fast as it is. I don't need back labor on top of it. I have been contracting for the past week off and on. I realize this is why mine go so fast. I am literally in labor for weeks and then... BAM... transition! I am sleeping pretty good with the help of my ambien. I am trying to stay busy and distracted. I am actually working 6 days this week. Sunday my parents and siblings are coming for Christmas here. My sister and I have been coordinating the menu and such. Steven's parents are coming on Christmas day. One plus side of expecting around Christmas is not having to travel. I will take it as traveling with 4 kids is not easy. Steven has completed about 98% of our Christmas shopping done. I still need a couple of things. But nothing to stress over. Strangely enough, this is so far the least stressful Christmas yet!

I'll take it!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Now I can relax a bit...

Risk assessment is complete. GBS is negative. Everything is good to go if baby decides to come. While my intuition still feels it will be a couple of weeks, I didn't want to tempt Murphy's Law more that I should.

There is supposedly some more bad weather coming this weekend. Hoping it's not a big deal. We have our Sunday School Christmas Party on Saturday and then our church Family Christmas dinner and auction on Sunday. Kieran is also in the Bentonville parade on Saturday morning with her choir class. It's a pretty busy weekend.

Monday, December 09, 2013

Day 5! First venture out!

It's definitely the longest I have ever been cooped up. I had to go out today though. My 36 week risk assessment was today. If I didn't have this and went into labor I would have to go to the hospital. The main roads weren't too bad, but the side roads and the hilly roads of Fayetteville were still pretty bad. But we made it. Schools are still closed tomorrow but I gave my clients the option to meet. 4 out of 5 confirmed initially, until one got stranded in a small town. So I have 3 scheduled. I think most are also feeling cooped up. I also think a lot has to do with I won't be seeing them much in the coming weeks and they want to get as much therapy as they can before baby. Most are court ordered. Steven drove me today, while Gage watched the younger ones. Tomorrow I will have to drive myself. I am not looking forward to it. Luckily, I am not going at my normal busy traffic time.

I am so ready for this to be over with. I have this fear that it will be weather like this which this baby will be born in.

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Day 4!

I have already crocheted 3 head scarves and baked more than I should have (brownies are currently in the over). I have Stephen King's new book ready to read on my tablet. I start that tonight. School is already out tomorrow. I did confirm my 36 week assessment with my APN tomorrow. I told her I would try everything I could to get there. The roads are still bad. Not sure why they won't put sand down or why they aren't even trying to plow them. It's frustrating. I think this is officially the longest I have ever went without leaving the house. Kids got to go out a bit today but it was still very cold. I again didn't last long.






Saturday, December 07, 2013

Day 3 and maternity pic!

Steven ventured out today to get some supplies (lots of tissues and toilet paper for me). He witnessed a wreck in front of him. I swear the roads here are still awful!

I got a hair brained idea to take some maternity pics outside due to the snow. Yeah, it didn't last long. According to the weather it feels like 6 degrees. The wind is awful

Almost 36 weeks and this is all I could muster!


Friday, December 06, 2013

Exactly 1 month!

Today marks a month away from my due date! While she will most likely come earlier this has me excited and worried all in one. Monday I am SUPPOSED to have my 36 week risk assessment with Paula, my APN that works with my midwife. I am worried with all this snow I won't be able to. This is the assessment to determine that I am good to go for homebirth. After that she can come at anytime and I am good. Although, most likely for another week or two at least.

Day 2!




It's actually quite lovely and peaceful! But I am running low on toilet paper. This has me extremely worried. 

Other good news is I now have somewhere to sit in Heston and Ryker's room.



Thursday, December 05, 2013

And so the snow days begin...

Well, I guess thus far. Snow is to come tonight. Schools were canceled in advance. I cancel clients based on school closings so that means I am home as well. Probably for the best considering I started a wicked cold yesterday and it's at its most annoying stage. Scratchy throat and constant need of tissues. I am Zincking it up, lots of vitamin C, salt water cleansing's, etc. I hate colds. Tonight I will utilize my time home and finish my monthly contract reports and any other paperwork I need caught up.

Kids seem to be enjoying themselves. Lots of TV, video games, pretending, reading, and overall playing in their rooms. Steven seems a bit stir crazy already. Hasn't really sat down for very long at all. Even ventured outside a bit to get some lunch before it got too bad. Funny he is more laid back when he doesn't have as much time to relax. Looks like tomorrow is already looking to be about the same. I already canceled clients. More resting time for me.

Tuesday, December 03, 2013

Kieran is 10!

Hard to believe it's been 10 years of being a mom to a girl!

We celebrated pretty low key as usual. I went and ate lunch with her at school today. She got Applebee's cheese sticks for dinner. She chooses this every year as her birthday dinner. I made Chocolate Eclair Cake her favorite. My midwife came by tonight for my home visit. Kieran had one of birthday books read by the end of the night. It wasn't a small book.







Friday, November 22, 2013

Speeding right through!

Hard to believe we are in the home stretch with Lil' Miss about to make her entrance. I admit I am not sure if I am all that ready, and then at times I want her out now! This week at my midwife appointment I realized the next appointment will be the home visit. I had to immediately go and purchase my home birth kit. I also need to schedule to have my final risk assessment with my APN. I am not concerned I won't pass, everything has been going fairly smoothly (knock on wood). Next Monday I will be 34 weeks. Most of the kiddos have come in the 38th week, although Kieran (the only girl) was only 1 day early. So with this one being a girl as well it's hard to gauge when she will come. Could be this year or next. No really, either end of December or early January.

We still have a few things to do to get ready, including setting up play pen (mostly for changing table purposes as she will sleep with me), and wash all the cloth diapers. We really haven't purchased much at all this one. We need to go through all of Kieran's old clothes as well as the boys and get the gender neutral stuff out to wash. Most of the stuff required to do would only take a few days, but we have put it off. I have been semi horrible at belly pics this go. But I do manage an occasional selfie.

At 30 weeks!



Off the pregnancy front and another reason I have been distracted. The girls party is next Saturday and I still have some loose ends to tie up, like ordering the cake.

Kieran and Zoe's birthday invite I made this year! We are doing an owl/cherry blossom theme!



 Steven has been awesome and has done about 98% of the Christmas shopping already, so that is one huge thing I do not have to worry about. He is currently out grocery shopping so I don't have to get out in the cold wetness that I abhor. His reward is getting to go see Catching Fire later. 

Work continues to go well. I actually had to put a pause on accepting new referrals as I was actually starting to get overwhelmed with having several in a few days time. My fear is I would start them and not be able to see them for awhile once the baby was born. So I just put a pause on accepting new ones until after she is here. I am still seeing all of my others. I added them up the other day and I have a total of 26! That's craziness. It's about an equal mix of privates and contracts right now, which is a nice mix. 

Generally, despite it being the crazy holiday season and a baby is right around the corner, things have been going fairly well and smoothly. Knock on wood again! Prayers are still always welcome!

Thursday, November 21, 2013