This morning, it was time for the semi-annual spraying of the house. I was very glad, since we had been seeing some roaches in the last month. So we had to vacate the house for a few hours. Britt and I dropped off Gary for his census training, and packed up his diaper bag and set off on an adventure. First, we stopped at MacDonald's to split a biscuit, a hash brown, and some good ol' Dr. Pepper. After eating breakfast and watching Britt flirt with all the ladies as they came in and out, we headed over to Walden Lake Park. With all of the cool playground equipment what was the most entertaining part for the boy? That would be the mulch. He did like looking at the ducks, and running back and forth across the little bridge, but for most of 45 minutes he sat and dug in the mulch. After a bit he would get up and relocate to fresh mulch, and dig some more. I have no idea how much much they have in that little park, but it must be pretty deep cause he never made it to the bottom.
We have been incubating some eggs. We saw it as a potential to get a few more hens, learn a little more about raising chickens, and maybe in the future make a little money on the side. We were able to get an incubator for a steal at Tractor Supply, and some free buff orphington hatching eggs to try out.
Everything that could go wrong with a first hatch went wrong. We had a little trouble keeping the tempature regulated at first, since we had to move the incubator a few times. Then on the day they were to hatch we lost power for nearly 1o hours. We had 7 that after doing a little egg breaking we think probably would have hatched if it hadn't been for the power outage. One more pipped but died before completely hatching. We had only one little survivor.
I couldn't put him in that big cage with no buddies to help keep him warm, so we fixed him up a little brooder out of an old box, that I thought would keep him warmer. We were a little worried about him at first. It took him a while to perk up and for the first day he wouldn't stand up right, but he walked on his hocks.
He's looking much better now, all happy and chipper. Let's just hope he is a she, cause we don't need another rooster. Maybe we will have better luck with the next batch of Marans eggs.
11:35 AM
No random thoughts
10:48 AM
No random thoughts
We are now on week 22, yikes! Ruth is about the size of a squash - at 11 inches long and 1 lb. If you could see her she looks just about like a newborn now, except she needs to put on that cute baby fat. Her taste buds have also formed this past week, she can now taste the amniotic fluid that is flavored by what I eat. Maybe she'll finally get enough salt and stop telling my brain that we want nothing but salt. I've never gone through so many sour cream and onion chips so fast. Our Ruth's little ears are fully formed now and she can hear my voice along with anyone nearby now. For the last week when Gary talks to her I can feel her roll over to him hanging off of every nonsense word that her daddy utters.
Speaking of nonsense, last night he tried to convince her that she wanted to have blond hair and blue eyes, that it would be far less troublesome than having red-hair. Not that dreams are any indicator of anything, but when I dream of her she's a brunette with green eyes. Green eyes would be nice, as I am not so secretly hoping that this one looks way more like me, since apparently Britt didn't get any genes from his momma.
Morning sickness is still going strong at 2 to 3 days a week, so I've just resigned myself to the fact that with this one I'm going to have it all the time. According to the midwife, sometimes women have worse sickness with girls because of the double dose of feminine hormones. If that's the case, I think one girl is enough for me, we can have the rest be boys. haha. She's getting a little more active, but it's mostly in the evenings. Makes me wonder if she's going to be a night owl. She's far more active at 11 pm than any other time of day, and I never feel her before about 3 in the afternoon.
I can ask Britt where the baby is and he knows and comes and points to my belly. About a month ago I started rubbing my stomach alot when I sat down, have I mentioned that this kid sits really, really low? So Britt would come up and I would ask him if he wanted to rub the baby, and he did. I was really surprised and when he got done, I would say "awww" and he would lean over without me asking and kiss the baby. This is getting to be his little thing. I ask him if he wants to rub the baby, and give Ruth kisses and most of the time he seems to. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that Momma then loves on him.
Speaking of nonsense, last night he tried to convince her that she wanted to have blond hair and blue eyes, that it would be far less troublesome than having red-hair. Not that dreams are any indicator of anything, but when I dream of her she's a brunette with green eyes. Green eyes would be nice, as I am not so secretly hoping that this one looks way more like me, since apparently Britt didn't get any genes from his momma.
Morning sickness is still going strong at 2 to 3 days a week, so I've just resigned myself to the fact that with this one I'm going to have it all the time. According to the midwife, sometimes women have worse sickness with girls because of the double dose of feminine hormones. If that's the case, I think one girl is enough for me, we can have the rest be boys. haha. She's getting a little more active, but it's mostly in the evenings. Makes me wonder if she's going to be a night owl. She's far more active at 11 pm than any other time of day, and I never feel her before about 3 in the afternoon.
I can ask Britt where the baby is and he knows and comes and points to my belly. About a month ago I started rubbing my stomach alot when I sat down, have I mentioned that this kid sits really, really low? So Britt would come up and I would ask him if he wanted to rub the baby, and he did. I was really surprised and when he got done, I would say "awww" and he would lean over without me asking and kiss the baby. This is getting to be his little thing. I ask him if he wants to rub the baby, and give Ruth kisses and most of the time he seems to. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that Momma then loves on him.
2:08 PM
2
random thoughts
So I've been complaining to Momma really regularly that all the other kids get to feed themselves, why can't I. She has been answering just as regularly that she really wasn't looking forward to one more enormous mess to clean up when she doesn't feel well. This morning though I batted my pretty blue eyes and grinned really big, and so she let me give it a whirl with my oatmeal mixed with applesauce. We did it together a few bites, and then she let me do it by myself. It was going good and Momma was surprised at how little mess there was... until she walked off to answer the phone... and that's when I discovered that oatmeal/applesauce makes EXCELLENT finger paint, and that my spoon is far more entertaining as a catapult and a drum stick. Breakfast ended with about half in me, and half all over the place, and Momma muttering about why she thought such a sticky concoction was a good idea in the first place. 
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I win!
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I win!
11:38 AM
1 random thoughts
While Britt and I were having a ball in the sand and the surf Gary and Granddaddy Garland have been working on the beach house. They have spent about three weeks ripping out the old Masonite board that was rotten and wore out, and replacing it with new Hardy siding. They have just about completely finished the house, they just lack a little plus the cabana. However this past week they worked on the deck. They tore up all the old board, and replaced it with a rubber board that is suppose to last 30 years. It's really nice looking. They will be cleaning up tomorrow and then not be there for a few weeks at least. Gary will be working for the Census Bureau and Granddaddy Garland will be working on his acre garden.
4:59 PM
No random thoughts
While Mother and Daddy were down on their Spring Break we tried to do something just for them. Daddy had always wanted to go over to the Kennedy Space Center so we did that. Mother just wanted to go and sit on the beach at some point while they were down. So on Thursday afternoon, after a pretty lazy morning (other than washing alot of dishes), we headed down to Anna Marie Island. Gary likes it there, it's not a big tourist spot, and it faces due West so there is a perfect view of the sunset. It's where we go when we go to the beach, or when someone wants to go to the beach. Since the last storm came through, it dumped alot of sand down from Uncle Hank's beach house and it's simply beautiful and now you can walk the beach. We sat a little ways down the beach and really enjoyed all the open sand.
Daddy brought some of his kites down. He really enjoys flying kites, and over the years we've picked him out several cool ones as Father's Day gifts. He had the box kite out and the rainbow dragon kite, and had them up a little while. There was good wind, but it wasn't steady it was gusty, so they wouldn't stay up.
One of the things that Daddy wanted to do while he was here was get a picture of him and Britt flying his kite at the ocean. Each Monday at work they send an email to their boss with a little status update on how projects at work are going, and what they plan to do the following week. For Daddy's status report this week he wanted to send that picture, so we took several of him.
Gary and I walked out to the sandbar and found several really neat things. So we came back and a little later Mother walked out there with us. We saw hundred of sand dollars, picked up some hermit crabs, examined some sea snails, and found several neat shells. Gary walked and walked and walked and never reached the far side of the sand bar, so the last storm must have added a bunch of sand to it too. It was something. I hope I can go out again sometime next week.
The sky was beautiful at sunset. It might have been the prettiest I've seen in a while, even though we could actually what it set all the way down for the clouds. The clouds were so many vibrant colors. It was just beautiful.
Finally, we went out somewhere special for supper. We tried the Beach House, which is the sister restaurant to the Sandbar. It was right out on the beach, and we sat outside and ate and even though with the breeze it was a little cool it was a nice place. We had a great time at Daddy's expense. First he order Salmon and when the guy asked him how he wanted it cooked he told him medium well. Well, we laughed and laughed. In his defense he assumed it was grilled. Then while he was eating supper he lost half of a very good scallop to the floor, and Mother accused him of throwing the good food she shared with him in the floor. Then to top it off, we decided we might share some desert, and after the waiter described this massive castle of brownie, ice cream, and whipped cream. Daddy said lets get two and the guy said just one was enough for 4 to 6 people. Oh we had alot of fun at Daddy's expense.
9:00 AM
No random thoughts
On Wednesday after we got done checking out my new sister, Momma and Daddy had to go and visit the midwife, so I got some time ALL ALONE with Ahna and Grumps. It was lots and lots of fun. We played for an hour and a half in this really cool park. It had tons and tons and tons of bushes with leaves and even more bark. First, I had to walk around and inspect everything. Then, I had to test out the plants to see which were good and which ones I needed to "prune back", ok so I shredded a few. Finally, I arrogated the soil by digging in and stirring up the bark.
9:00 AM
No random thoughts
According to our little email that tells us what's going on in there Ruth is about 10 inches long and weighs somewhere around 12 oz... of course that's what she weighed last week, so maybe a little more than that. She is about the size of a good carrot now. She is now covered in vernix and that will protect her skin until right about the time she arrives. Her bone marrow is beginning to take over producing her red blood cells from her liver. For the most part she is fully formed, however she is mostly skin, bones, and organs right now. For the next 19 weeks she will be working those little muscles to strengthen them and putting on fat. It also tells me that I should have gained 10 lbs by now and should put on one a week until the baby gets here. (I'm hoping they are wrong on that.) I will however really like it when I get past the you-just-look-fat stage, and into the you-look-pregnant stage.
She is starting to kick a little more, but for the most part she's still gentle. I kinda wonder if she's heard me tell Britt so often to be gentle that she thinks I'm talking to here. :D I NEVER feel her move before about 10 am, so maybe she's like me and would prefer to sleep in. haha.
I am so excited to be having a girl this time around. So thrilled to be able to finally call her by name when I talk to her during the day. So happy to think about pretty churchy clothes (you know those things I've been complaining that I can't find for Britt). Most of all I wonder who she'll be and what she'll like and what she'll think. I had a dream about Britt before he was born, and in alot of ways he's like that dream was. I've dreamed about this one a time or two and have often wondered if she'll be anything like the dreams.
There are lots of worries like any normal parent... "where are we going to find room for all this baby junk?" "will I have any time for me/Gary/Britt?" "Umm dude, we seriously need to come up with some more money around here?" "I'm I going crazy?" "Did I brush my teeth today?" You know, all the usual stuff. For the most part I'm so excited, and I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is moving, I mean we are half way, at the end of summer this baby will be here. Goodness!
She is starting to kick a little more, but for the most part she's still gentle. I kinda wonder if she's heard me tell Britt so often to be gentle that she thinks I'm talking to here. :D I NEVER feel her move before about 10 am, so maybe she's like me and would prefer to sleep in. haha.
I am so excited to be having a girl this time around. So thrilled to be able to finally call her by name when I talk to her during the day. So happy to think about pretty churchy clothes (you know those things I've been complaining that I can't find for Britt). Most of all I wonder who she'll be and what she'll like and what she'll think. I had a dream about Britt before he was born, and in alot of ways he's like that dream was. I've dreamed about this one a time or two and have often wondered if she'll be anything like the dreams.
There are lots of worries like any normal parent... "where are we going to find room for all this baby junk?" "will I have any time for me/Gary/Britt?" "Umm dude, we seriously need to come up with some more money around here?" "I'm I going crazy?" "Did I brush my teeth today?" You know, all the usual stuff. For the most part I'm so excited, and I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is moving, I mean we are half way, at the end of summer this baby will be here. Goodness!
9:00 AM
1 random thoughts
After we left the Kennedy Space Center last Tuesday we headed over to see the Atlantic Ocean. It was kinda spur of the moment, but Mother had never seen the ocean, and since we were so close we decided to swing by. The water was absolutely frigid, the wind was up, and the waves were HUGE but that didn't stop Britt from laughing, carrying on, and getting everyone else very, very sandy.
9:00 AM
1 random thoughts
Last Tuesday, we took Mother and Daddy over to the Kennedy Space Center on Merrit Island on the East Coast. Daddy had always wanted to go and see a Shuttle blast off live, and while we did have the luck for the last one to be delayed a week, we did have a fun time there.
First, we went into an explorers exhibit. They had alot of information on the Constellation project in there, and were "recruiting" tomorrows astronauts, astrophysicists, engineers, and "adventurers" of every kind.
We were able to watch an imax show on the Hubble Space Telescope. I did a little project on it for science class way back in 6th grade, and remember being so proud that my daddy had done some kind of programing work to go with it. I am continually amazed to see the kinds of pictures that Hubble captures from the far distant reaches of space. The most beautiful to me are the nebulae, the place where new stars are born. They had several neat models around of Hubble and the images it has sent back.
Next we ate lunch where Britt learned to finally drink from a straw. The only problem, now he wants something out of everyone's cup all the time. Let's just say that the boy got more caffeine and sugar this week with Ahna and Grumps here than he will get for the next month.
After lunch we headed over to catch one of the buses that tours the grounds. On the way over there we ran into an astronaut. Britt was mostly interested in his reflection, but he did shake the man's hand. The first stop on the tour was to drive by the Vehicle Assembly Building. This was originally built to house and assemble the Saturn V rockets. It's now used for the shuttles. The building could fit 4 of the Empire State buildings inside, and is the fourth largest building in the world. The doors are the biggest doors in the world, and on top of the building there is room for Yankee Stadium plus an acre and a half to park the fans. The flag is massive: each star is 6 ft across, the blue star field is the size of an MBA basketball court, and the stripes are 8 feet wide, and a bus could drive down them no problem. We passed by on our way out to the viewing platform from which we could see the launch pads. One they had already begun converting over for the Constellation project, and even though we couldn't get really close to those it was a sight!
After we left there, the next stop on the tour was the Saturn V rocket center. Here they had on display a Saturn V rocket and a really neat video about the Apollo Missions. They even had some of the original computers set up in a room, along with the Moon Rover, the Lunar Lander, and lots of other gear. One thing I didn't expect to see was a 1969 Chevy Corvette. It belonged to Buzz Aldrin, who bought it from a friend who owned a dealership in Melbourne. He liked it so well that the dealer went to NASA and set up a lease to allow all the astronauts at the time to get one. After that he ran an ad saying that the Corvette was an astronauts second fastest ride, and in one week sold 100.
The finally really cool thing that we were able to do, was to not only see, but to touch a moon rock. It was so smooth almost like glass. After that, Britt was pretty wore out so we headed back to the car. It was a really great place, and I'm glad we got the chance to visit.
After we left there, the next stop on the tour was the Saturn V rocket center. Here they had on display a Saturn V rocket and a really neat video about the Apollo Missions. They even had some of the original computers set up in a room, along with the Moon Rover, the Lunar Lander, and lots of other gear. One thing I didn't expect to see was a 1969 Chevy Corvette. It belonged to Buzz Aldrin, who bought it from a friend who owned a dealership in Melbourne. He liked it so well that the dealer went to NASA and set up a lease to allow all the astronauts at the time to get one. After that he ran an ad saying that the Corvette was an astronauts second fastest ride, and in one week sold 100.The finally really cool thing that we were able to do, was to not only see, but to touch a moon rock. It was so smooth almost like glass. After that, Britt was pretty wore out so we headed back to the car. It was a really great place, and I'm glad we got the chance to visit.
9:00 AM
No random thoughts
It's been a little while since I've updated, but I thought I would take the time to do so today.
Brother Charles Carlton has had a couple of surgeries since I last wrote. They were to clear up the staff and close up the hole from his trach. He has done really well and they think that they were about to get all of the infection out. It will just take some time for him to heal up and some additional time that they are going to have him on some medications as a precation. I talked with Aunt Patricia this morning, and he was released from the hospital on Wednesday and is recovering back at home again.
Sister Gayle Smith had an emergency removal of her gallbladder last Saturday while she was in Georgia visiting family. She is doing much better and can't wait to get back home. She's been released from the hospital but is staying with her son, until the doctor feels like they can travel back home.
Both Brother Jim and Gary are continuing to seek employeement. Both are doing lots of odd jobs, house repair, and yard work to make ends meet in the mean time. If anyone needs any projects taken care of I'm sure they both would be happy to help out.
Nate Ferrel had a wonderful visit to the Mito Clinic in Houston, TX last week. The test results will be coming in over the next month or so, but it appears that he is doing very well and that they have the disease under control at this time. They just really need to get the weight up for the little man.
Sister Sarah, Sister Kerry, Meagan, and I are still expecting babies anytime between now and Sept. We all would love for you to continue to remember us in prayer.
In other news, Gary and I will be back at the beach house some this next week so that he can help replace the deck. (It's in pretty rough shape.) I'm going to set up a few blogs to post the highlights from the last week, but we may not check in around here till we get back. Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
Brother Charles Carlton has had a couple of surgeries since I last wrote. They were to clear up the staff and close up the hole from his trach. He has done really well and they think that they were about to get all of the infection out. It will just take some time for him to heal up and some additional time that they are going to have him on some medications as a precation. I talked with Aunt Patricia this morning, and he was released from the hospital on Wednesday and is recovering back at home again.
Sister Gayle Smith had an emergency removal of her gallbladder last Saturday while she was in Georgia visiting family. She is doing much better and can't wait to get back home. She's been released from the hospital but is staying with her son, until the doctor feels like they can travel back home.
Both Brother Jim and Gary are continuing to seek employeement. Both are doing lots of odd jobs, house repair, and yard work to make ends meet in the mean time. If anyone needs any projects taken care of I'm sure they both would be happy to help out.
Nate Ferrel had a wonderful visit to the Mito Clinic in Houston, TX last week. The test results will be coming in over the next month or so, but it appears that he is doing very well and that they have the disease under control at this time. They just really need to get the weight up for the little man.
Sister Sarah, Sister Kerry, Meagan, and I are still expecting babies anytime between now and Sept. We all would love for you to continue to remember us in prayer.
In other news, Gary and I will be back at the beach house some this next week so that he can help replace the deck. (It's in pretty rough shape.) I'm going to set up a few blogs to post the highlights from the last week, but we may not check in around here till we get back. Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
3:46 PM
No random thoughts
So over the last week we have gotten 11 eggs from two of our chickens. One Easter Egger is laying beautiful olive colored eggs, and one of our Rhode Island Reds is laying nice brown eggs. Dragon and Beauty are Gary's new favorites, haha. So yesterday morning and this morning we had enough eggs that I decided to use some to cook with and they tasted great in breakfast casserole. They might taste gamey if I just cooked them, but we will have to see. 
Since Rachel has been posting all of these totally yummy recipes and making people hungry I thought I might post one of my own. This is Mother's breakfast casserole (which I think she got from Grandmother). We always use to have it for breakfast when we had company over, along with these wonderful crunchy bakery style muffins that Mother use to make. She's having a harder time finding the muffins now, but the breakfast casserole is great no matter what.
Ingrediants:
4-6 pieces of bread (enough to line the bottom of a 9x13 pan)
1 lb of sausage cooked and drained
1 cup of grated cheese
6 eggs
2 cups of milk
1 teaspoon of mustard
salt and pepper to taste
First you spray your 9x13 pan with Pam and preheat the oven to 350 F. Then use the pieces of bread to place along the bottom of the pan. After you cook and drain a lb of sausage spread it across the top of the bread, then do the same with the cheese. I don't actually measure the cheese, I just take a handful and sprinkle it till it looks good to me. Finally combine the rest of the ingrediants in a bowl, mix and pour across the top. Cook for 35 to 45 mins on 350. It can be mixed up the night before and sit in the fridge until you put it in the next morning. It can also be cooked and frozen ahead of time, and taste just fine.
11:33 AM
2
random thoughts
Maybe Brother Randy really is a prophet. He is two for two... yes, ladies and gentlemen this baby is a GIRL! She weighed in at 12 oz, in the normal range for 20 weeks. They still think she will be here within a few days of Sept 1 (either direction). 
I was thinking a girl, but I was last time too. So I thought about Britt having a little brother to room with and share clothes and toys, and two dirty, dirty little men coming in from out in the yard. While I would have been perfectly happy with another little boy, I'm tickled to have a girl. I was hoping for one this time.
Gary is happy, but a little less excited than me. He knows what to expect out of a little boy, someone to rough house and wrestle with, but with a girl all he can envision is putting bars on the windows, extra locks on the doors, and stocking up on shotgun shells to keep teenage boys away. I think he secretly knows that she's going to have him wrapped around his finger in no time. With the way he's become a ball of mush with Britt, I can't wait to see what a little girl does to him. haha.
These are the pictures from our ultrasound today. There is a full body profile, a foot, an upper profile closer in on her face and belly, proof she's a girl, and finally a 3-D picture they took. You can't tell much from the last picture because she had her face up next to the placenta and all the pushing, shoving, moving in the world couldn't convince her to move.
10:36 PM
2
random thoughts