Are We There Yet?

Do you know what I love about the last week of pregnancy? The constant assumption you are in labor.

I was in the parking lot coming back from my car with a load of groceries and a neighbor yelled out "anything happening yet?"

The neighbors who park next to us laughed because they said they were thinking the same thing.

Emails from the RS president asking if I have any action going on.

Every morning I wake up and someone wants to know if I had any contractions through the night.

When I was pregnant with Casey people would drive by our apartment and if the car was gone they would call and say "oooh are you in the hospital yet?"

The best part is that I was up all night and was way too exhausted and in pain (not contractions peeps) to go to church so I am sure that there will be speculation and all. I almost went just so no one would feel excited just to be let down.

People love birth. I just hate disappointing everyone that even though I am not due until Wednesday, I have not had this baby yet.

Several Items

1. Sarah Palin
2. T-5 days!
3. Excellent Veggie Recipe complete from my pal at work. You have GOT to try this. Looks weird but is extremely tasty and healthy. Tiff I know you won't but it is gooood.

Shepherd’s Pie


From Mollie Katzen’s Enchanted Broccoli Forest
Modified by Kevin


Cheesy Bible pic from the Internet:




2 large potatoes
butter/milk/sour cream/chives

1 ½ T butter
1 ½ C chopped onion
1 or 2 large cloves garlic, minced or crushed
2 carrots, small dice
1 t salt
black pepper
1 stalk finely minced celery
8 to 12 oz. diced mushrooms
1 lb zucchini, small dice
1 red bell pepper, small dice
½ t each: basil, oregano, thyme
1 C raw (fresh or frozen) peas
½ to 1 C frozen corn
½ C (packed) grated Cheddar. Sharp is best
3 T wheat germ (I usually just use whole wheat flour, not having wheat germ)
1 T either cider or balsamic vinegar (I like balsamic)


1) Cook the potatoes and then mash to your favorite kind of mashed potatoes. I often add roasted garlic, but sometimes that overwhelms the lovely subtle veggie medley below.
2) In a large, heavy skillet, sauté the onions and garlic in 1 ½ T of butter, with salt and pepper, for a couple of minutes. Add the carrots, and continue to sauté until the onions are soft.
3) Add the celery, mushrooms, and zucchini. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally. When the zucchini is cooked through, and red pepper, herbs, peas, and corn. Continue cooking about 5 more minutes
4) Remove from heat. Toss with chese, wheat germ (or flour), and vinegar. Spread this mixture into your buttered deep-dish casserole. Spread the mashed potatoes on top, as a crust. Sprinkle top with some paprika and a little extra cheese to make it look pretty if you wish.

Bake, uncovered, 35 minutes at 350°

New Neighbors

In the Family Student Housing around here we constantly have people coming and going- most families stay 4-5 years but since it is staggered, there is always someone moving in and out. We just so happened to have recently lost the neighbors next door and the apartment above them this summer and have been anticipating getting new "childless" peeps (which is fine you just don't ever get to know them so it is not as fun)... however we were extremely lucky to get some new kids in the place directly next door to us which I have really enjoyed. Also, as a person fairly critical of my own government (I like to refer to it as my critical thinking skills) I don't always have the opportunity to express my appreciation for being an American. My new neighbors have really said some things to make me think twice about what a gift it is, even under current political circumstances, to have been born into such abundance. Here are the reasons why:

1. The neighbors, whom I absolutely adore, have moved here from South Africa- specifically Pretoria, which is one of the nation's three capitol cities. In case you care about such things, she is half Afrikaaner and her husband is mainly British.

2. They moved here from a house surrounding with wiring and it is unheard of to send your children outside to play without watching them like a hawk for unexpected (or expected rather) violence.

3. When her husband was running late from returning home last night (he was down at IKEA buying up their entire household worth of furniture and had yet to load it in the truck by himself) the neighbor said that if she were in South Africa she would be afraid he had been the victim of a violent crime.

4. Their son had a rather unfortunate day at school--his first day in American school as a first grader and no one told him the bell meant to come inside so he wandered around lost trying to figure out what was going on :( The mom was shocked to find out that she could go with him and stay to help him, that she was not legally required to enroll her kids in the school, and that it was okay to talk to the teacher about what was going on

5. When watching the olympics with my aunt last night (we are still catching up from the last three days prior to the closing ceremonies) we were really excited to see Michael Phelps 8th gold medal when the neighbor came knocking on the door. I told her we were watching the olympics and she said "oh it must be fun to watch when your country actually wins medals" She said that South Africa had received one silver medal for the games and had 18 athletes (which I of course verified online).

Summary of the little gifts of being an American:

- We live in a safe country and I know that the biggest risk my kids take in going outside is getting into a neighborhood tiff or falling off of their bikes

- When my husband is running late I assume it is because he got lost or in an accident in a vehicle- not whether or not someone has attacked him

- If my kids have a crap day at school I feel comfortable going to the school and talking to anyone I want including the principal and teacher and know that it is their legal responsibility to provide a free and appropriate education

- Michael Phelps. Yeaaah.

Scandinavia

My husband is floating around somewhere in Scandinavia. He sent me an email saying he arrived and he was just trying to figure out how to use the pay toilets.

Hopefully he finds his way onto the ferry to Finland and makes it to his conference okay.

His parents called this morning to say that the hardest part would be to avoid muggers in Stockholm- the perfect thing to say to a 38-week pregnant wife whose husband is traveling through Stockholm.

Fortunately it turns out that Stockholm has a lower crime rate than Sacramento so if he didn't get mugged over the three years we lived there he will be okay.

6 Apppointments

I vowed when I got pregnant that I would only go to the doctor the minimum amount. I am 38 weeks and I have only gone to the doctor 6 times total. I was starting to feel kind of guilty about that, like I was being neglectful but I went yesterday after a 10 week break from my doc this summer (went someplace else in Albuquerque for a quick measurement and heartbeat check to appease my dr. who asked me to get at least one checkup in the interim).

I no longer feel guilty about my lack of appointments. This is how it went:

Me: Wait in front room for 45 minutes
Me: Give pee sample in cup. When I put it in the cubby there are two other samples sitting there. Ew.
Me: Wait in exam room sans pants for 25 minutes. Almost finished book.
Doc: Hi how are you? Okay so we are testing you for Herpes today.
Me: Um, Strep B?
Doc: (Laughing) whoops! That was the last patient. Right, Strep B!
Doc: Listens to heartbeat. Sounds good!
Me: Wondering why no exam to check progress otherwise.
Doc: See you next week!

So basically I got no new info. I am very clear on the fact that this baby's heart is beating since she moves constantly, mainly poking my ribs. I knew I didn't have Herpes and I don't care about Strep B because I get a penicillin line while in labor since I tested positive for it with my first child and they always do it as a precaution. Also because I opt for the epidural you have a line anyway.


Me: So should I skip my 39 week appointment next week too?

Loss of Loved Ones

This is a sad, sad post.

This weekend one of the new principals at one of our new schools, really nice man... his wife went into premature labor- 18 weeks early- and died in childbirth. The baby is in intensive care and I have no idea what the status is. They have a two year-old and he just started his new school last week.

As a pregnant woman I of course cried when I heard this story this morning- the thought of my husband raising my new little baby without a wife breaks my heart. The thought of dying also scares me though I do not anticipate my time will come during childbirth.

I hope he has support for the pain he must be enduring and I am thankful that up until now I have escaped this type of tragedy.

My heart is still broken for my friend from my mission and his wife who lost their toddler son this summer and I hope that all of my friends and family experiencing such tragedies will feel peace in thoughts of the afterlife and being reunited with those we love.

Summer Conferences

Not super awesome quality but here is a 3 minute video of the conference we just ran three weeks ago- it was an amazing experience and it gives me the chills to think about what we are doing as an organization.

But then again I don't need to tell you I love my job.

So here is the video. Enjoy!

Rise and Shout

People can say what they want about BYU but how can you not be proud of these numbers (minus the most conservative students. And who could possible be 1-7?)

Infobox: BYU rankings in the Princeton Review:

BYU Rankings

• No. 1 - Future Rotarians and Daughters of the American Revolution
• No. 1 - Got Milk?
• No. 1 - Scotch and Soda, hold the Scotch
• No. 1 - Stone-cold Sober Schools
• No. 1 - Most Religious Students
• No. 3 - Don't Inhale
• No. 8 - Most Conservative Students
• No. 10 - Town-gown relations are Great
• No. 16 - Best Quality of Life
• No. 16 - Happiest Students
• No. 17 - School Runs like Butter
• No. 18 - Everyone Plays Intramural Sports

My funny kids

So I have been having fun with my kids over summer time--don't get me wrong, I am looking forward to school starting so I don't have to feel guilty about the low quality entertainment my very large pregnant body is providing for them, but they are great people.

I am trying to figure out how to make a cheap Kodak work as well as a cheap Canon but it isn't happening too well. Believe me, if you are going to cheap out on a camera, go with the Canon... anyway here is a pic of Gillian in her happy state of life:


She has been climbing this tree outside for the last couple of days and she just loves it. Here is another happy face of hers:


Now my other two kids are hard to capture on film lately because they have disappeared into the folds of the neighborhood. They are so happy to be back with their friends, in spite of a very fun and entertaining crowd of kids this summer. Yesterday Casey and Bridget were taught how to make clothes for their webkinz with socks. They have had this pile of "unmatched" socks for the last two years and asked if they could make use of them. I hesitated, but in the end it was so worth the hours of entertainment not to mention the hilarious outcome. This isn't the best pic but here is one of the kids with their clothed pets. Casey made all of these clothes, btw:



A close-up of just the kinz:



Good times.

PS Watched Men's relay last night (delayed I know!) and it was incredible!

Another Recipe

So I have used this recipe since the beginning of summer when we had the kids b-day party and it has been useful on a number of occasions.

I actually stole it from a website for "copycat costco moussecake filling" and then modified it to meet my own personal needs. It is very versatile and I have used it as filling, frosting, frosting AND filling, and plain mousse (excellent layered with whipped cream). Made it again last night with even fewer of the ingredients and once again a hit. According to me of course.


8 ounces chocolate (recipe calls for white but we all know that isn't real chocolate and it works with milk, semi, and dark chocolate as well)
16 ounces well-chilled heavy (whipping) cream
1 (4 serving size) package vanilla instant pudding mix (works well with chocolate too)
2 cups cold whole milk
1 (8 ounce) container whipped cream cheese (I use regular and I skipped the cream cheese last night)
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt

::EDIT for TIFF::

In a small bowl, melt chocolate in microwave (I use the double boiler so I don't burn it but I am lazy)

In a medium bowl beat heavy cream until it holds soft peaks.

In a medium bowl, beat pudding into milk for 2 minutes. (I do this in a large measuring cup so that you don't have to wash four different bowls)

In a large bowl beat together cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until creamy smooth. (This can also be done in a measuring cup or small bowl that fits in your dishwasher with the other recipients)

Stir the pudding into the cream cheese mixture. Stir in 1/3 of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to lighten. Then fold in another 1/3 of the whipped cream and then fold in the remaining 1/3.


I am going to keep whipping cream on hand from now on if you ever need to borrow some stop on by. I wonder if I will keep it around post-partum...

My Native Environment

Whirlwind summer. Do not travel this much when you are mucho pregnanto btw.

After Utah, Michigan, Colorado, and New Mexico (with a day in Phoenix!) I have discovered that while I love to see my friends and family, there is no place like 72 degrees, the exact temperature here in SB when the plane landed.

My mission to the Canary Islands matched with living in Santa Barbara has spoiled me to all extreme weather patterns.

However, my TRUE native environment is at work. Here are a few pictures of what I do for a living:

















It was invigorating and inspiring but tiring. Here I am with a friend of mine from Sac who has moved to Austin and is teaching at one of our schools down there- you can see how tired I was by the end of the week. I didn't take a pic of the swelling ankles but I think you can see it all in my face. Gotta love third trimester.