A Pity Party

I am sick. I hate being sick. I especially hate being sick when I am pregnant! Of course, I don't really enjoy being sick when I am not pregnant either. However, there is at least a light at the end of that tunnel...Nyquil. There is no light at the end of my current tunnel. I get to spend the day on the couch with the chills while trying to break up fights between my children, respond to numerous questions, make and prepare umpteen snacks and change smelly diapers. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered, huh?

The best part is that when I finally manage to start feeling better, I will end up with four sick kids. Of course, I won't be totally back to my normal self before I am stuck wiping snotty noses, dragging kids to the doctor's office and spending a small fortune on medicine that may or may not make them feel better. Oh, the joy.

I remember the days before kids when a sick day meant snuggling up on the couch with a warm blanket, a cup of tea and a great DVD. I can still snuggle up on the couch but I end up with children crawling on me and putting their cold feet on me. I can still have a cup of tea but it usually ends up with a matchbox car tossed in it or slurped at an alarming rate so that it won't be spilled by little hands. I can still watch a DVD, however, I don't consider anything with Dora, Bob the Builder or Barbie a "great" movie. Yes, the times have changed.

Did I miss winter?

The temps have been rather spring like the last few days and the forcast is calling for more of the same. Did I somehow miss winter and the entire holiday season? I suppose I shouldn't complain. It is nice to send the kids outside to burn off excess energy. Annie told me a few days ago that she is so tired of being cooped up inside! Poor dear! I explained to her that we were only getting started in the cooped up inside season. It's nice to be wrong though. As I sit and type this, I am listening to my three girls tromp through the crunchy leaves in our woods and giggle about their discoveries. It's all rather nice.

I took all three girls to the dentist this morning. I made the appointment for 8am? Who does that? What sane mother does something so foolish? In order to get all four kids and myself ready and out the door, we were up at 6am. That's early for this homeschooling family! We usually start tumbling out of bed closer to 8am. I was a bit stressed getting everyone out the door and into the van but I managed. I had been concerened about Lily's teeth. She has several cavities on her bottom molars that have perplexed me. She has the same eating habits as her sisters as well as the same brushing habits....they have never had cavities. The good news is that the dentist said they were very shallow and had basically stopped decaying, so we don't even need to fill them! Yeah! For now, we will keep an eye on them. Once again, Annie and Meg are cavity free! Noah will get his first dental check up this spring when the girls go back for their next cleaning.

Carlos is taking a four day weekend starting tomorrow! I am so excited! We have several little projects to do around the house, so I am hoping we can check a few of those off. I also suggested he go ahead and hang the Christmas lights. I figure it's better to do it now than wait two weeks and do it when it's 32 degrees outside. Makes sense, right? He didn't seem to see it that way. I imagine I will have to do a bit of nagging to get it accomplished. Poor man.

I have my first OB appointments set up! I am seeing the nurse for my health history and lab work right after Thanksgiving and I will see my OB a few days after Christmas! I should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat at that appointment...I can't wait! I had to drag out the maternity clothes yesterday. I suppose that's what happens when you get to pregnancy number five. I am only about six weeks along and I am already wearing maternity jeans! Good grief!

...and then there were seven!

Noah has some big news to share! He is going to be a big brother in July 2011!

Yes, you read that correctly, the Herrera family is expecting another baby! Baby #5 is slated to arrive in early July. We are very excited about our newest addition!

I'm excited to have a baby in the summer! Annie was born in May, which was warm, but the other three were born in the winter. There was the threat of snow/ice, there were the concerns about cold/flu season and it was a pain to bundle the baby up every time we stepped out of the house. So, it will be nice to deliver a baby during a warm month. We won't be as housebound!

I plan to hit the books hard with the girls. I want to be finished up with our school year well before the baby arrives. Currently, we homeschool year round so we will step it up to make sure we are done. I am planning on several months of doing nothing once baby arrives.

So, that's the big news of the week. I will try to post Halloween photos soon.