Boating on the Mississippi

Yesterday we went boating with our good friends, Ross and Jen Franke, at Lake City on the Mississippi River. The weather was perfect, the water was great, and the kids had a great time! Liam was nervous at first, but quickly got over it...as you can see the the pictures.

The kids and their "silly faces."

Liam...

The Daddys and their boys.


Cade couldn't get enough tubing.

Somehow Liam fell asleep on the boat. Too much sun and too much excitement!

We stopped at a sandbar for lunch and play.

I was thrilled to see that Liam warmed right up to the water and had a blast playing in it.


Cade tried to ski...here he is with Jen, but he didn't make it but a few feet and he totally wiped out. That was plenty for him!

What a great day we all had! And, did we EVER sleep good last night after all that sun! Thanks, Ross and Jen!!

So tired, yet so awake

I just finished a two night stretch of working. This isn't a big deal on a normal day, but being 37 weeks pregnant and up all night two nights in a row is not normal...for me anyway. I feel so weird now. Last night I felt ill...literally, sick to my stomach, but didn't sleep that well today. When Mark got home, he said, "Wow, I am glad to see you. So glad that you are home now." I half-smiled, then said, "I'm going to bed. So much for seeing me." Then I cried myself to sleep because I felt so sick. That was at 5:30 pm. I slept until 7:30 pm, ate a bit, made cookies (I have NO idea why), visited with Mark and the boys, did some laundry, gave the boys a bath, rocked Liam to sleep, said good-night to Mark, then realized...there is no way I am going to be able to go back to sleep.

That's the way it is these days. I am so tired, yet so very much awake. Baby girl gets her groove on at night. I don't really blame her considering that day is night and night is day in our world. Won't THAT pattern be fun to break when she joins our world in the flesh?

I am feeling more a more like I am going to have a baby soon. More pressure, more cramping, and Braxton Hicks contractions are my constant companion...mostly at night. There is 18 days left until my due date...not that I am keeping count. Why is it that 18 days seems like nothing to some, and an eternity to others? Actually, I shouldn't say that. I really do feel pretty good minus all the night shift stuff.

So here I sit, by myself at 11:44pm. I want to sleep but know that I won't be able to...until the sun comes up.

Sibling Class

Sibling class was a very nice time for the boys. Like we thought, Cade got much more out of it than Liam. We went on a tour of the OB unit which was great for both of them. The nurse held up a baby girl just born today at the window and the kids loved it. All the kids sang "Happy Birthday" to her. It was really sweet. Seeing that adorable newborn baby girl made me ache to hold mine...

Here we are "practicing" to diaper and hold a baby...

It's been 6 whole MONTHS!!

I just had to share that it's been 6 months since Liam has had a seizure!! It truly is amazing to me and I am praising God! I could have never imagined that he would be doing so well right now back in January when he was so ill. We are so very thankful.

The weather is BEAUTIFUL right now. It feels like fall but isn't cold. The sun is shining and there is a cool breeze. The sky is perfectly blue. I love it.

Anyway, just had to share. :)

Gaining ground

Well, I have to give Cade a huge thumb's up since my last post concerning school. He has been doing very well. I have done a lot of thinking and even some research and came to the conclusion I was just pushing a bit too hard in an area that isn't really neccesary right now. Also, I have deviated a bit from the curriculum and added some other things that seem to capture his attention a bit better. The last week has been much better. Actually, it has been great. I have found myself not dreading school either. He sees to get more out of it and has really enjoyed our practice.

It just goes to show me that one of the great benefits of having him home for school is that he is getting a tailored education to suit his needs and strengths. Today he read an on-line book to Liam. It was very interactive and had many pictures that served as hints for the words. He eeked his way though and I sure Liam has heard more captivating stories in his life, but he did it and did a great job of it. I know it helped his confidence...he asked to read another but we decided to pace ourselves. Also, I am not sure his brother could have sat through another one. :)

The Johnson house has been very busy. I have been working quite a bit...not more, it's just that my days have been clustered. I work again all weekend, then two more nights again next week. Monday I have an appointment with my midwife and I am hoping to hear that baby is preparing for her journey into the world. Also, Liam has blood work. The boys are signed up for a "sibling class" on Tuesday evening that I think they will both enjoy. Mark isn't going, mostly because he thinks it's silly. But, I think Cade will get a lot out of it. Liam could probably care less. They will give the kids a tour of the OB unit, showing them where mom will be staying and where the nursery is for the baby. I think it sounds like fun!

Did you REALLY say that!?!

I'm not sure why strangers in the general public think it neccessary to make comments to a pregnant woman. Don't get me wrong...I don't mind talking to people while I am out and about, but get this:

While grocery shopping with Mark and the boys last weekend, I happened upon the apples in the produce section and they looked really good to me. When I went over to pick one up, a man says to me, "Haven't you eaten enough of those lately?" I am pretty sure he was referring to the seeds in apples...his wife laughed and I could of stood there dumbfounded. I laughed and said something funny back. But...still...

Then again yesterday, I was in a parking lot, just getting out of my car at the same time the person next to me was getting out of hers. She says to me, "You swallowed a watermelon!"

The other funny thing is that when I am without the kids either at work or when I stop to get some shopping done when Mark's home, people always assume it's my first pregnancy. They say, "So is this your first?" When I tell them that it's my third the response is always, "Oh." Almost like I have met my quota for children already and by having a third I am pushing well over my limit.

People...if you can't say something nice...leave the pregnant woman alone. I love to talk with my loved ones about my prenancy...not strangers!

Busy week!

It's funny how I feel some weeks like I don't even have a job, then the next week I feel like I am working overtime. This week is nuts. For some reason I thought it might be a good idea to link my night shifts together at the last part of my pregnancy. It's so hard to manage to find good sleep during the day before work...this way, I thought, I could sleep all day after working all night while the kids are at back up day care, then work again night. Well, I am only on night one and I'm not so sure that was a good idea. :)

So, I am working Monday night, Tuesday night, sleeping Wednesday, babysitting Thursday and Friday, then working 12 hour day shift Saturday and Sunday...working again next Tuesday and Wednesday night! Am I nuts?!?

We did start school last Monday with Cade. I have to admit that it would have been easier to take him to the dentist and have every single one of his teeth pulled than it was to get him to commit and concentrate. I think he was just feeling a bit overwhelmed. If it doesn't come easy for Cade, then he would rather not even mess with it at all. We have a little book on science experiments...he wanted to do every last one of them, but reading, and especially writing turned out to be a total battle. Yesterday, though, was a great school day. He was awesome. I have read online reviews about how intense Abeka's writing curriculum is and I have to agree. It's way more than Cade can tolerate. To accomplish what they require would take a student that enjoys writing...Cade is overwhelmed completely. I think I might have to explore other alternatives. I think his writing is totally on track with his development...and frankly, while I think it's important, I am not sure why the emphasis is so strong.

Anyway, my friends...more later! Love to all!

Our Small, Sad, City Garden

Looks like I might have a bit of a green thumb...they didn't look like this when I bought them...




Our hanging tomatos plants...when you don't have room for tomatos plants, you hang them from the swing set. They are doing well, except that it hasn't been hot enough to turn them red yet. Not sure they are going to taste too good this year. I sure miss Missouri tomatos.



A baby pumpkin!


Cucumbers so that we can make my mom's famous pickles...this year I will remember to add more sugar! :)

The pumpkin plants that were grown from my dad's HUGE pumpkins from 5 years ago. Mark saved a few seeds and planted them this year in our yard. I have a feeling they are going to take over the deck. I would LOVE to take a 50 pound pumpkin back to my dad this October!

Not much, just signing in...

I am thrilled to know that people are reading my blog! :) Thanks for all the input, my friends. I do admit...it's a fun way to keep everyone up to date...esp, when we are isolated up here in Minnesota. I just thought the other day...except for Liam's illness at the beginning of my pregnancy, I have gone an entire pregnancy without even seeing my loved ones. Isn't that sad? To think that I could have endured an entire pregnancy and had a baby and no would would have even known if we haven't shared our news.

That's the way it is though. Sometimes Mark and I get really down and feel really alone, but we are thankful for our friends...and Liam's doctor.

All is well. Monday was our first day of school. Cade acted as if I were sending him off to boarding school...moaning and groaning about how he didn't want to participate. He loathes having to practice blends and reading words, but loves the work sheets. I was quite suprised at how much he has remembered...thrilled actually. Liam enjoyed the time too...he is learning sounds...and has a memory like no other.

I will try to post some pictures of our "garden" tomorrow. We have a down day...Praise God! I hope to enjoy getting some chores done, then relaxing.

Just a couple of silly things

Last week Cade and Teagan went to Vacation Bible School together at Christ Community Church down the street. They had a blast...more than anything, I think they enjoyed the time together. Anyway, they had bandannas to signify what group they were in. They were told to write their names on them, then draw a picture...whatever they want. Teagan drew a picture of her family with a cross and other pretty girl things. I posted a picture of Cade's bandanna below: if you are wondering, like I was, what in the world he drew...I will tell you...batteries--one AAA battery and one AA battery. We were all confused as to why he chose this...he just said that is what he felt like drawing. Isn't that funny!?! Not sure where he got his inspiration. :)



One more thing...today I can officially say...I am due NEXT MONTH! YEAH!!