Last Week of School stuff, A False Alarm, and Baby Update

SCHOOL IS OUT!

WAHOO!

I am soooo ready for school to be over, as I'm sure everyone and their dog is, too.  I love having my kids around.  And I LOVE not having to rush off anywhere, but just stay at home with them.  The older I get the more of a homebody I am, too.

Of course, this morning they were up, dressed, and being loud and 6 something.  That seems to be the way that it always happens, though, doesn't it?

Bike line up at the bike rodeo on field day at school.

They had field day, a kickball game, scooter races, a potluck lunch, and a bike rodeo.  The recreation district came out and showed them how to fix a flat tire, gave everyone who didn't have a helmet a brand new one, and taught them bike safety.  It was fun.  

Did you notice little Jiles in the line with all of the big kids?  He positioned himself there.  Ezra is in there, too, at the far right.  He could totally hang with the best of them in weaving in and out of cones and stopping on command.

From 8:20 AM until 2:30 PM we were at school and I was on my feet, chasing Jiles a bunch, and taking pictures, and whatever else.  When we finally got home around 3 and took care of the chicks and chickens and pigs and whatnot, I was exhausted.  I had everyone come inside to watch a movie while I laid down to rest and to feel the baby move.  I was having really strong Braxton Hicks contractions.  I started timing them and they were like 8-10 minutes apart.  I even had a couple that were 6 minutes apart.  I didn't feel the baby move. This went on the whole movie.  I put on another movie.  Still contracting, still no baby movement.  Movie ended, Weston came home and made dinner.  3 1/2 hours had gone by with the same thing.  The Maternal-Fetal Medicine doctor had told me to call if I didn't feel movement when I know I should, so I called my midwife and told her what was going on and she told me to come in and that she would call the labor and delivery to tell them I was coming in.  Weston and I dropped the kids off at Grandma and Grandpa's house and left around 7:45 PM.  

Rancher made a cameo on his unicycle as he was passing by the school to head up the mountain to fix fence (yes, I am aware that "fix fence" is not grammatically correct, but that is just the way that people say it around here).  He was fun to watch.

Pretty soon into the drive I felt the first kick.   We kept driving and she kicked more and rolled over and pushed against my ribs.  Totally active.  We stopped at our church parking lot and called the midwife and she told us to go back home.  I felt sort of stupid, this being the first false alarm and all and still 5 weeks to go, but if it were something serious and I did nothing, and it turned bad, I would regret it forever.

While at the church, Weston ran in to fill up the water bottle and when he came back out he said, "There are a ton of people in the gym.  I asked Harry what was going on and Harry said, 'Are you serious?! [He is from New England, so you have to say it with a doesn't-say-the-r's accent.] This is my 50th birthday surprise party!  Didn't you know that?!'"  We were invited, but I forgot to tell Weston and I forgot about it.  We got a kick out of the fact that of all the people there he asked the birthday guy what was up.

Yesterday, the last day of school, they had a Memorial Program at the community church by the cemetery.  I was 15 minutes late because I answered a phone call just before walking out of the door.  I shouldn't have answered it. It was the OB office trying to set up 2 appointments, which took way too long.  I walked into the church on the very last note of the very last song.  My heart sank.  I felt sooo bad that I missed it, especially Spencer and Kate's trio number they sang with one other boy.  I feel like I am a day late and a dollar short on everything these days.

I also noticed Kate's pajama pants underneath her dress that she was supposed to take off before the program (it was cool and rainy yesterday, so I let her wear them to school - she sooo did NOT want to wear a dress, so it was sort of a compromise).  Her teachers forgot to have her take them off until it was too late.  They said that since they were camouflage, and since it is the time we remember veterans who fought in wars, they totally work.  We all laughed about that.

My appointment Thursday morning at the Maternal-Fetal place went well.  My amniotic fluid is now measuring 10 cm, up from 7, which is looking good.   The cord flow looks better, too, but still not where they'd like to see it.  She wants to see me in a week now instead of half of a week.  Hooray again.  Thank you all for your prayers!  They didn't measure her (they say they only do that every 2 weeks), but I'm sure she is gaining because I know that I am.  I can feel my tummy stretching.