Dealing with the Distance

**** UPDATE FROM MIL @ 4:34pm: She's at a ten!

*** UPDATE FROM MIL @ 1:53pm: At a five.

Nothing has gotten done today.

I'm running around like a chicken with its head cut off and can't seem to focus on anything.

I spontaneously check my phone to see if I have any messages, even though I haven't heard it ring.

I randomly start crying and can't seem to stop very quickly.

It's not that I'm going crazy, it's just that I'm up in Minnesota, almost 1,000 miles away from my sister-in-law, Karlie who is in Oklahoma having her first baby.

I would give anything to be there with them and the family today and it's taking everything I have in me not to jump in my car and cruise down there as fast as I can.

You better believe that if I wasn't 36 weeks pregnant, I'd be there.

I'm just thankful for my mother-in-law who has been texting me all morning with updates, making the distance a little easier to deal with (thank you, Nana!!!).

Please pray for a safe delivery and a healthy baby.

We know that she's having a GIRL and her name is KINLEY ANN, but I can't wait to hear how big she is!!!

Future Plumber?

(Side note: We really aren't bad parents... we really do change his diaper when it's wet or poopy. Even though the pictures would suggest otherwise, he did not have a super-full diaper. We really have no idea how it started sagging or why, but we let him run around with his crack showing for a while to laugh and take pictures!)

Backyard Fun

This video was taken the next day, after it had only rained for about 30 minutes. Yes, our yard flooded. Yes, our basement flooded. And yes, my brand new flowerbed washed down the driveway. Such a bummer! But at least Erik enjoyed it a little bit...

On My Mind...

35 weeks

I am officially 35 weeks pregnant. Saying that there are five weeks left of this pregnancy is bitter-sweet. I love having life inside of me, but at the same time I'm getting to the point in the pregnancy where I am just. so. tired. Getting up in the morning is hard. Staying awake all day is hard. But, ironically, sleeping all night is hard, too. Wishing the baby was here isn't so easy, either, as I'm really not sure that I'm ready for a third one, yet. There is so much that I need to get done first!! I'm hoping that the baby doesn't wait until 40 weeks to come, though, because I'm already growing out of my maternity clothes and have absolutely nothing to wear - except for Erik's scrubs, which make me look like a blimp. Luckily amidst the mixed emotions that I have been having as the end approaches, I have peace about whatever will happen because I am trusting that God has it totally under control and will bring our baby when He knows is best for us.

medical school

In wanting to remember exactly how life has been while going through medical school with Erik, I have tried to write about our trials and triumphs throughout the past three years. I want to be able to look back and remember exactly how it was - the good times and the bad times. As I have tried to accurately document, most of the the past year has been hard... Obstetrics and Gynecology, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics - these were the hard times. However, ever since May, we've been given the easier (at least easier on ME) rotations... Ultrasound in the ED, Emergency Medicine, and Research have been great! It is so nice to have Erik around more and have him help around the house and with the kids. I definitely think that God had a hand in guiding Erik as he planned out his rotation schedule last year because this break has come at the perfect time. Next up on the rotation schedule is Advanced Emergency Medicine and I'm really hoping this rotation will be as nice as the past three, at least nice enough to allow Erik to make it to the birth of our newest addition!

"Oh my God!"

Spending a weekend with people who use this phrase as often and as much as they'd like, my little three-year-old has picked it up. Yesterday I caught her saying it numerous times. I, unlike most people, just can not stand it when someone says this. I tried not to freak out when I heard Maida saying it, but instead tried to explain to her why we shouldn't say it and gave her ideas of things she could say instead. Apparently nothing I said helped because on the way home from church last night, she exclaimed from the back of the car, "Oh my God, Mommy! My shoes are a size seven!" Anyone have any advice on how to kill this phrase before my one-year-old starts saying it, too?

my computer

Last weekend, Skogen sat on my computer screen and broke it. If I go MIA from the blog for a while, that's why! Apparently I have a warranty that will cover the screen, so hopefully my computer will be fixed shortly and I will be able to post more pictures and fun times then.

Some Pictures from the Weekend

Darin, Erika, Brittany, and Kim on mom and dad's new pontoon boat

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Maida and Grandma on the swing

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Maida swinging by the campfire
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the family at Brittany's softball game

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Maida slept through Brittany's softball game!

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sitting with Bumpa
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Sadie displaying Jake's monster s'more

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Skogen snuggling with Sarena around the campfire

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getting ready to go for a pontoon boat ride with Aunt Nancy

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me and my neice, Brittany

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Sarena and Maida swinging
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roasting s'mores
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helping Bumpa mow the lawn
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a happy girl

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swimming in the river

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Wedding "Up North"

We've been "up north" for almost a week, spending some good quality time with family. There were many campfires, boating excursions, s'mores, lots of fishing, food, and games, but the highlight of the weekend was being there for my nephew, Darin's, wedding on Saturday evening. It was such a beautiful ceremony, on the same beach where Erik and I got married! I really enjoyed catching up with family and watching our kids play with all of their cousins!

me and the groom at rehersal dinner (at the same place where Erik and I had our rehersal dinner)

me and MY groom :)

Maida eating dessert

our whole family with the bride and groom

us with our little stinkers (who really were stinkers during the wedding!)


my mom and dad

daddy and his little buddy


Natalie, Skogen, Jaylen, and Kellen

Skogen and Jaylen


me with the bride



Jaylen and Maida



Skogen and Bumpa

swinging with daddy

the wedding card Maida made for Darin and Erika

More pictures from the week to come...