I got to go see Dirty Dancing...and you guys didn't!!!

Okay, sorry for looking all crappy and disheveled in this pic but,, I had to prove that I was there! It was so freaking cool! For my sister-in-law, Trisha's, 21st birthday she wanted to go see Dirty Dancing Live in Chicago. What a freakin awesome idea you say??? That's what I thought! So we left on the train and caught the matinee and were back the same night! It was so much fun! there was a crazy usher lady during the intermission that I have since nicknamed the bathroom ghastappo (I'll check spelling on that later, but, u get the idea).


Debbie and Trisha getting our manicures right before the show.
We had lunch at Petterino's and the waiter knew it was Trisha's birthday without us telling him and brought this yummy dessert out to her! I suspect he overheard us talking about her birthday or something...but, it was really good and it is now my goal to make this dessert at home!

Anyway, I highly recommend the show. The music was great. The actors were great! The girl who played Penny was an amazing dancer and she was flippin hot! And the guy who played Johnny looked as though his body was chiseled from stone...oh my goodness!:)

The Great Nauvoo Pumpkin Walk

Every year in Nauvoo we have a Pumpkin Walk. Hundreds of pumpkins are carved and put on display up and down the sidewalks and there are different concessions, musical entertainment, photo opps, costumes, etc. There's also a pretty cool haunted house that the line is forever long to get into. It's a ton of fun and through the years has grown quite huge! It's not just the locals anymore...it's everyone!!! As I tried to display in this blurry pic I took of part of the street.




This is Tristan (a.k.a. Obi Wan Kenobi) sitting with two of the carved pumpkins in front of the school.
For some reason my camera starts to go all kinda blurry when the battery gets low.
This is a sample of just how cool the pumpkins are. Anybody can help carve too! they do it down at NRI for a few nights beforehand.
How cool is that????

Old News

This is our "crew" waiting for the Grape Festival parade to begin. We passed out coupons, business cards, and candy! It was stinkin hot but a lot of fun! We had these shirts made up for our business, woot-pc! why the heck is all of that underlined???

Zach, Matt, Nick, and Tristan
Matt and Todd
Susan And Nikki
Me and Jeremy... I'm so pregnant! I made it almost the entire parade before I hopped into the cab of the truck....ok, so I didn't hop.

The Time of Tristan's Life!

I have so much to post about...there will a cluster of posts here in the next couple of days, once I get the pictures loaded onto the computer. Here are some of Tristan at his weekly horseback riding lesson. Right now he is taking lessons from Kaylee Menn in Carthage at the Hancock County Saddle Club. He is learning the basics on the western saddle and I think in a year or so, we wil introduce the English saddle as well. I would also like to get back in the saddle...maybe he and I can do it together! After I snapped these pics he was able to go on a trail ride down by the lake and when he came back, you couldn't wipe the smile off his face! He has a blast at his lessons and I am so grateful that we can do this for him! Anyway, here's Tristan!
Stay tuned...

Busy, busy, Busy!

I haven't posted as of late because i have been busy, busy, busy. It has taken me what seems like years to do the seasonal clothes switch for the kids and try to find what baby clothes I had stored. Then of course I have to find new ways of storing everything and rearrange everyones closets and dresser drawers! In between all that, still keep up on all this stinkin(literally) laundry. Whew.
Last weekend, I got to see some of my greatest friends, and some of the funniest friends, in the whole world...the Sever clan! minus Liz but, we'll catch up to her at some point whether she likes it or not! It was good to see you guys and my kids had tons of fun too! I am still laughing...
This weekend I have been in a strange mood and nothing is quite settling right. Yesterday after church, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch with the rest of the Kelley family. I didn't get to go in the corn maze which was apparently pretty hard. I had to feed the baby. This place has outrageously priced pumpkins though which made me think I should go into the pumpkin business! Here's a quote from a halloween mag:
"According to the University of Illinois extension , in colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling. The total U.S. pumpkin production in 2006 was valued at $101.3 million, 90% of them are grown within a 90-mile radius of Peoria, IL"
HA! I'm in the prime location! Anyway, I'm going to put pumpkin in my crusts from now on in some way...because I hate pumpkin pie. Once I took a bite to please someone who had served it to me and I threw up in my mouth! No joke! I literally gagged on the stuff. Then I had to swallow everything so that I didn't appear rude by puking when tasting someones food! Now that is disgusting!
So, I got off track. we went to the pumplin patch then carved some pumpkins. Fun was had by all. I'll post some pics tonight when Jeremy gets home.
Jeremy has been really sick. Yep.
Cullen is a growing boy and I'll put some more pics of him on here soon too. He's just too cute. Most people aren't getting his name right but, what can you do?

Oh for some extra fun around the house try this:

This morning (11am actually) I was doing 14,000 things. Then the baby started to cry because he was a hungry munchkin, but he was leaking poo. so I had got him all undressed and changed when he puked all over for like the second time in his life, and I had to undress him again. All the while I keep hearing this banging from downstairs. The baby is naked and Tristan runs upstairs saying that Asher had locked himself in Jeremy's office and couldn't get out! Great! So I took the half naked, screaming baby downstairs, got a screw driver and went to jeremy's office. Asher was screaming his poor little heart out...it was really sad. I had to lay the baby down and he screamed and screamed...Asher screamed and screamed too...I couldn't open the door. Then I got a bigger screwdriver and tried totake the doorknob off but, it wouldn't come off because the other side was locked! Curse it. Then I remember that Liam was going to be getting off the bus at 11:20 and they won't leave him if they don't see someone. So I told Tristan to go outside and wait for Liam. the bus driver wouldn't accept just Tristan though and I had to tell Tristan to run back out and tell him that I was feeding the baby.
Finally after saying a prayer and banging my head on the wall a few times...the door just fell open. I don't even know how it happened. Asher came out and was dripping in sweat! And finally the poor little Cullen got to eat. wow. It was exciting.

What the???

I don't understand the good majority of people I encounter on a daily basis. So, I will continue to shut my mouth and smile...then rant to my husband later!

Do you ever wonder how people are reading your written words in their own head? With what sort of tone and emotion? I think there needs to be more punctuation marks. Just to make everything that much more complicated!

I can't wait to see my friends from afar this weekend!

And the show goes on...

So having five kids is a trip! And, yep, I bet it will be long and strange! I have to rethink every move I make. sheesh! I knew we would have some adjustments...my old bishop told me that 5 kids in a row is the epitome of chaos and every kid after that is a breeze! To my credit, I haven't freaked out to bad yet. Cullen is actually a really good little baby. I think Heavenly Father knew that I needed an easy baby this time!
So does everyone know where we got his name from? I will fill in for those that don't know. I wanted to name him after my dad. but, my dad's name was Clifford Michael Trapp (he went by Mike.) anyway, I just couldn't name my baby Clifford and Michael didn't really go well with the rest of our names in the fam. So, as I was devouring Breaking Dawn, it occured to me that Cullen would be a great name (after the Vampire family named Cullen) and then the initials would still be CM! YAY! This was the only time we have ever had our child named when he was born! Usually they we are just getting the birth certificate signed as we are leaving the hospital.

I have five kids!!! That's crazy! I keep looking around and counting...I always feel like someone is missing...

He's Here!

He's here and just perfect! Labor and delivery was awesome! I had the best nurses ever and I fully intend to write the hospital and tell them just how great I think they were. I will have more pics to come soon. He has a full head of hair and a cute little nose. All the boys really enjoy him...even Asher, whom I thought would be very jealous. We are just so blessed to have little Cullen in our family.

Introducing Cullen Michael Kelley!!!

Cullen Michael Kelley
September 25, 2008
6:01pm
8lbs. 13 oz.
20 inches

Our Day Yesterday

So yesterday we went to St. John's in Springfield for the level 2 ultrasound. By the way, not a 3D ultrasound but still pretty cool. So we had the ultrasound tech do one then a doctor came in and did another. Both said that they see absolutely nothing wrong with this little guy!!! YAY! He looked absolutely perfect and passed all the tests with flying colors. Oh such good news! Then the doctor went on to tell me that he thought I maybe had chronic hypertension (high blood pressure) and should buy a blood pressure machine to keep at home and monitor it daily so that I don't have a stroke! What??!!>? Okay, said I. He thought it wasn't probably pregnancy induced. Anywho, I still have too much fluid they said as well. Okay. So, that doctor's verdict was that the baby needed to be evicted furniture and all! He called my doctor in Quincy and they chatted. Then Jeremy and I drove to Quincy and chatted with my doc. He moved my inducement date up to Thursday and then stripped my membranes to try to get me started naturally. Well that was fun.
Anyway, now it is the next morning and I've got many signs of labor that I won't go into detail about for the men on the blog:) Hopefully, I go soon. He'll be here Thursday anyway. I still need to pack a hospital bag and such.
So, the moral of the story is that prayer works. The baby is just great! I can't wait to see him!

More on the Baby

k, so this weekend, I had these headaches that wouldn't go away, my hands and feet were swelling like crazy, and I felt like puking constantly. Jeremy called my doctor this morning and he wanted me to come in and get checked out. Turns out, my blood pressure is high and that I'm in the beginning stages of pre-ecclampsia and the only thing to cure that is to deliver. Well, I also find out that they have been trying to get a hold of me this weekend anyway because the official results of last weeks ultrasound came back and they looked worse than we thought. He said that I'm considered term now and could deliver but he wanted a second opinion first about what he would be dealing with when the baby gets here. The baby has a persistant mass enlargement on his brain. I sked if it was more than just fluid on his brain and he said he didn't know. So, I have to go to Springfield and get a level 2 ultrasound done before my doctor wants to deliver. Now, I'm just totally freaked out. I've got all kinds of complications. Too much amniotic fluid, borderline pre-eclampsia, a baby with something in his brain...I wonder if they will have me deliver in Springfield. hmmmm...so much to consider. I probably won't get in for my ultrasound until tomorrow or the next day and then mynext appt. with my doc is next monday unless he calls me in sooner....or I go into labor. I'll try to keep everyone posted. But, I'm about to lose my mind! Hopefully, this all ends up working out and will be good in the end. Anyway, keep this little baby in your prayers!

I Have the Best Friends in the Whole World!

Okay, I seriously do! Everyday, I am amazed at the women that I surround myself with! So, here is the story. I had signed up to go to the Time Out for Women Conference in St. Louis with about 25 other women. It was going to be two days of relaxation, fun, and come home spiritually edified! We were getting hotel rooms at the Embassy Suites and all sharing the cost of that and the gas money to st. Louis. Well, obviously my concerns with myself and the baby have taken priority over my trip to St. Louis. also, while in St. Louie, I was going to be able to see one of my old COJ friends, Johnny, and his wife, Liz. (Sorry guys! I don't get to come)
Anyway, since I don't get to go to the conference with the girls, they all decided to set up a stay for me at one of the Nauvoo Log Cabins (in the homesteader's suite) on Saturday night! They are ordering me a LARGE pizza to be delivered and giving me a night to pamper myself! They showed up this morning before leaving for the conference with a bag of goodies (chocolate, foot cream, nail polish, bubble bath,) to use on my night off! I'm so excited! What wonderful friends I have! I LOVE you guys!

Another baby update

Today, I had my follow-up ultrasound and my doctor's appointment. I still have more amniotic fluid that is over the amount that is in the normal range. The baby still has some fluid in the left ventricle of his brain and his is still measuring big for dates. So, Dr. Kim asked me if I wanted to set a date to have a baby!!! Heck yes, I do! We set it up for the morning of Sept. 29th. He said to do it in the morning because lots of people will be on hand that could assist if there are complications, that may or may not arise from too much amniotic fluid. We will figure out what the baby needs when he is born. He also checked me and I am dilated to 2, he said I have a good chance of going into labor before the induction date as well. Well goody.
We are mostly prepared for this kid. Since I got rid of everything after Asher, I do need to get a few new things, like a car seat to bring him home in. I started going through clothes and realized I sold all of my really cute stuff at my yard sale after Asher! Poop. Oh well. Wow, I'm kinda getting excited...it could be any day now!!!

Bambi

The neighbor's have bought this baby deer from a deer farm. I didn't even know that deer farms existed but, apparently they do. When they first got it it was very small, and they kept it in a cage.




You can see now that it is getting bigger and is a very nice little deer. It comes up to the kids and eats out of their hands! Our cat, Luke, does not like the deer. It's fun to see them fight. The deer does tend to eat things out of my garden and eat our flowers and such. Right now I don't care but, next year I might. (I actually plan on putting a good effort into landscaping and gardening next year.)
Weird little deer.

The Party and Random Thoughts

Tristan and Cedric
Taylor, Madison, and Jordan
Asher at his post at the food tables
Okay, so this picture tuned out a little creepy because my camera was running out of batteries. But this is my brother Mark with Tristan.


So after Tristan's baptism we had a big reception to celebrate Sue and Todd getting sealed and Tristan getting baptized. Susan got a sound and light show and we had refreshments and stuff. It turned out really nice and everyone had fun dancing the night away. I will try to get some video up of Cedric dancing up a storm! Asher seriously stood by the food tables almost the whole night stealing food and shoveling it in his face. It was hilarious! He was like the cookie monster for real!

change of subject:

So tonight I found out that my Uncle Jerry died. It was very unexpected. That means my mom is the last person left in her family. Weird. We don't even know how he died. My mom talked to him last night and he was fine. Today the landlord found him dead in his bed. So, now I guess I will be taking a trip to Ohio for the funeral. Uncle Jerry was a good guy. I'm going to miss him. It's odd to me that these things happen so fast and so out of the blue. I mean one second you are here and the next you're not. It's kind of hard to fathom. Like the size of the universe. hmmmm.....

My Tristan was Baptized!!!!!

Let me tell you something. I don't know if I've ever been so darn proud. Of both Tristan and my wonderful husband, Jeremy. Tristan was so excited to get baptized...and so proud of himself too! We had an excellent turnout too. We filled up almost the whole relief society room! As I said we had family in town for my Susan and Todd's sealing in the temple, so it made it even more special! Tristan had to be "dunked" (as he put it) three times! And I forgot the towels!!! Thanks again to Pam, who ran to here house and saved the day! I love Pam!
We got Tristan his first "real" set of scriptures. He loved them! We got him the blue leather with silver trim...very nice. So now every night he wants to read the scriptures with us out of his own set! I love it! He's going to be a great little missionary someday!
Also, Tristan is the king of the cheesy grin! It never fails!

Liam's First Day of Pre-K

Liam started school on August 25th. He was really excited...I was really nervous! But, he did awesome! He loves it and his teacher Mrs. Massey that he likes to call Missy Massey. He only goes half days this year. I kinda wish he had gotten into the full day pre-k program because now I have to go up to the school at 8:15, 11:00, and 3:00. Loading everyone(and soon a baby too) everytime gets old.

The Fabled Curls of Liam

Here are some pictures of Liam's curls. We kept his hair long for a good long time. We were all ready for a change (except maybe Jeremy)! We took the plunge on August 19th. I had my talented sister, Susan, do the deed.


Oh look how different he looks!!! I love it!

Me and the Baby

On Tuesday I went to my regular doctor appointment. He measured me and declared: "Colista, you are measuring huge!" Two weeks earlier I had measured normal and then on Tuesday he said I measured like someone ready to give birth that day! He told me I would have to come in for an ultrasound.
So today I had to be in Quincy at the hospital at 7:00AM!!! with a full bladder of course. The baby looked so darn cute on the ultrasound. I saw him opening and closing his mouth and trying to wiggle all around! He face was all chubby and cute.
I got done there about 7:30. I had to be at my doctor's office at 10:00. So I took myself out to breakfast at Village Inn and had some Carribean Crepes...mmmmm...so good. I hate going into sit down restaurants along though...oh well. Then I sat in the mall parking lot and tried to read a book for a while. finally it was 10.
The doc told me that I have high levels of amniotic fluid, a condition called poly-something-or-other. Here is a link for info about that.
http://www.i-am-pregnant.com/encyclopedia/Pregnancy/Amniotic-Fluid/Polyhydramnios
Apparently, it can be dangerous or not. I had borderline levels with Asher and he is okay although he came a wee bit early.
Also, he said that the baby is measuring too big for age, but he's not as concerned about that.
Then he said that the left ventricle of the baby's brain is enlarged. We don't know why this happens or what it means. Great. Here i a link I found about that.
http://www.i-am-pregnant.com/encyclopedia/Pregnancy/Ventriculomegaly
I have to have another ultrasound in two weeks to check my progress. Hmmm...
i think everything is going to be fine. Jeremy is going to give me a blessing tonight.

Okay and I found out today that there is a correlation to heartburn during pregnancy and the amount of hair that the baby has! Who knew? The ultrasound lady asked if I'd had bad heartburn and I said, ya,like the worst ever! She said, you baby has lots of hair all over and then showed me the little wispies. Cute!

Shredded Pork Vomit

I keep puking up shredded pork! It's disgusting. So are maggots.