Catching up

Okey dokey, I have a little free time this morning so I'll play catch up for a minute... Shall we start with Halloween? With it falling on Sunday we didn't actually go trick or treating but we (and by 'we' I mean Dan and the 4 older kids) had fun going to the 'trunk-or-treat' and chili cook off at churchthe Friday before. Tyler decided he was a bit too old for playing dress up so he just handed out candy. That was nice because it freed up Dan to take Aaron around. We L.O.V.E. Phineas and Ferb around here so the kids decided to go with that theme, it was so fun. Katherine was Candace and enjoyed carrying a cell phone for the night..."Mom, Phineas and Ferb are going trick-or-treating". Kyle wanted to be Phineas but since he couldn't figure out how to get his head to be a triangle shape he went with Dr. Doofenshmirtz instead...that was better because he was able to 'collect all the candy in the tri-state area'. Aaron was ecstatic about being Perry the Platypus and a big thank you to Grandma for whipping up a green platypus suit before she left town. Elizabeth didn't really participate in Halloween but she got a tutu, etc. as a gift when she was born. We decided to put it on her for Halloween. She hated it--but we thought she was cute.

Most of November was pretty uneventful...Dan took a week off so I could rest and he also had a full week off for Thanksgiving. It was fabulous! We really didn't do anything. Just a lot of hanging out, taking naps, playing with the kids...we saw a movie at the dollar theater. Thanksgiving day was pretty normal, we had a nice dinner but we didn't overdo it, it was more like a nice Sunday dinner than a Thanksgiving feast but I don't think anyone noticed.

December has FLOWN by...in fact I forgot to pay a bill because I didn't realize what week it

was, but that's another story for another day. We have been busy, but in a good way. Tyler has been working on a really fun science fair project, I think I will blog that when he's totally done but it involves corking a bat so the boys have really enjoyed it. Homerun derby at the Hoppie's house! Tyler also spent a large part of the fall making duct tape wallets. Why? He was involved with a class entitled "Kids mean business" which essentially taught the basics of starting and running your own small business. The culminating event was a trade show where the children actually got to sell a product. We wanted him to get the full experience so we made him purchase his own materials, etc. He learned a hard lesson when he really wanted to buy a new bat and didn't have enough money for both the bat and the business supplies...he wanted to borrow money from us and Dan told him that was fine but we would charge him interest...and it was a really high rate! Tyler decided to buy his business supplies and wait to buy the bat. It was really hard for him but I'm so glad he is learning patience and getting control of his money at a young age. The trade show was 2 weeks ago and he did really well. He turned a pretty nice profit and he is really glad he took this class. He was a bit disappointed to not sell out his whole inventory but he did sell more than half. If anyone wants a duct tape wallet for Christmas let me know, HA!

Of note for our Miss K is that she now has "real braces". According to my bank account she has had "real braces" for a long time now but now she has them where the whole world can see them. This is a very big deal in the 3rd grade, she is the first one in her class to get them and she's pretty excited about it. We started this journey before we left on vacation...so we're glad to see some progress. She has been a trooper with all the surgeries and appliances leading up to the ultra cool real braces you see here. The journey is far from over so we are glad she loves them.

I guess that's really it for now. There is probably more to post but I really want to take a bath and don't think I should take the computer with me. We have been having fun with all the Christmas preparation and have a few birthdays coming up...more fun pictures on their way ;-) Have a happy day...just a few more days of school...

For Jen

Miss Elizabeth Ann...so sweet!

Matching sisters...Katherine has been waiting almost 9 years for this day!

Kyle is a proud brother and Elizabeth is so calm when he is around...which is weird because HE is not calm...at all...

We LOVE tubby time!

Big fat cheeks just ready to be kissed.

I was chastised on Thanksgiving by my wonderful sister-in-law for not sharing more photos of our beautiful new babe so, Jen, this is for you ;-) I really thought I was more on top of things but looking back on my blog I realize that it's true...my last post with photos was on Oct. 20...she was born on Oct. 19...ummmm, yeah. I also thought I was being on top of things by responding to Jen's request quickly...and then I realized that Thanksgiving was 2 weeks ago. Seriously, time is flying by at lightning speed! We're still trying to figure out a routine that meets the needs of all 5 kiddos and allows Dan and I some time for the things we need/want to do. I'll let you know if we ever get there.

I'm just going to satisfy Jen's desire to see Elizabeth in this post and put up a few pics of our sweet girl. I, of course, have tons of pics over the last 7 weeks including Halloween which need to be blogged before Aaron's birthday and Christmas so expect multiple posts from me in rapid succession...but don't really expect them because I might decide to shower instead...

Elizabeth is such a sweet baby, we can't get enough of her, it's only been 7 weeks but it's hard to remember life before we had her. She sleeps really well, usually giving us 6 or 7 hours at night, I am so blessed with good sleepers!!! She has had a cold recently and those were rough nights...she could only breathe when she was upright...good thing we have a really great recliner in our bedroom! Lots of steamy showers and snuggles and she's doing fine now, nothing serious. Generally speaking she is super strong and healthy, at 6 weeks she weighed a hearty 12 pounds and now holds her head up well enough to spend a few minutes in the Bumbo every day. Side note: I love the Bumbo, I wish I had had one for my first 3 kids. We are getting a few smiles out of her and she is starting to show a real personality. She prefers Kyle over all her other siblings (and her Dad) and will smile whenever he talks. If she happens to be fussy (rare) and he starts talking to her she just stops fussing. I don't know what his secret is but I always make him do his reading homework while I fix dinner so she will sit quietly. Weird. With some older siblings actually big enough to help she is very spoiled and privileged enough to be held most of the time...maybe that's why she sleeps so well, she needs her alone time too! Here's a few pics of our princess...Jen, if you really want to get a good look just come on down...Houston has nice mild winters ;-)

He was right...

So on Saturday Dan and I were out and about and happened to see, on sale, one of those battery charger things that don't actually require another car to jump start your car. Dan said we should get one and that he would feel better knowing I had it in the van. Admittedly they are kind of cool but with my birthday/anniversary/Christmas just around the corner I didn't want to 'waste' valuable gift funds on something boring like an emergency way to start my car. Geez. I thought nothing more of it.

Today I ventured out on my own with Elizabeth and Aaron. We had a few things to get from Wal-Mart. Elizabeth must hate that store because she screamed most of the time in the store. I decided to change her diaper and feed her in the car before we left so she could fall asleep on the way home. I guess shutting the door all the way would have been a good option...I didn't notice it was slightly ajar and that there was a light on in the car. After 20 minutes of nursing my baby the battery was not strong enough to start the van. All of the parking spots surrounding my car were full so I had to wait for someone to come out of the store in order to ask for a jump. The first person ignored me...rude...but at least they opened up a spot for a potential jump car. I found a good samaritan and he pulled his car into the spot. I went to the back to get my cables. Somehow one of the alligator clips on the cables was gone. Not loose, gone. I couldn't even find it in the car. How did I lose part of my jumper cables? I never use them and they are in a bag. Weird. So my new found friend who is willing to help me does not have cables, I do not have cables, hmmmmm. We found another person with cables also willing to help. We hook it up and voila! Nothing. Argh! There was some corrosion on my battery and the connection was bad. Luckily I had just purchased some vinegar and gauze pads...I had not intended to use them toghether but a little vinegar on a gauze pad is a nice easy way to clean the corrosion off your battery. I got the car jumped and finally got home.

I'm trying to stay positive about the experience so instead of listing all the bad things that happened (like how Elizabeth had a blow out while we were waiting for the jump and I had erronously only brought one diaper with me...it was not pretty. My cell phone battery was almost dead allowing me to make only one phone call...like I was in jail or something, etc.) I'm going to list the good things that were in place that made this a minor inconvenience instead of a disaster.

I'm so thankful...

1. That I did not purchase frozen food.

2. That I watched Mr. Wizard as a child, thus gaining the vinegar/corrosion knowledge.

3. That I purchased vinegar.

4. And gauze pads.

5. That I had bananas, bologna, and marshmallows in my purchases...which makes a great lunch for Aaron.

6. That there are nice people in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

7. The forcast for rain was incorrect and it was, instead, a beautiful day. Perfect for hanging out in a parking lot with a screaming baby and a bologna eating toddler.

Okay, so Dan was right. I really could have used the battery charger thingy. It would have made my adventure so much easier. I guess I WAS at Wal-Mart so I could have gone in and purchased a new battery, borrowed a phone, bought diapers, etc. but it all worked out. I'm glad I made it home and I have resolved to not leave the house for the rest of the week...

Have a happy day!

Elizabeth Ann

Click here to view these pictures larger

Elizabeth Ann

She is here! Elizabeth Ann Hoppie 9lb 15oz 21 in. 10-19-10 1:56 pm. The big day finally came...okay, so we forced the big day, but she's here! We are just so excited to have another member in our family and are thankful for all the support and prayers that have helped us through this journey.

Alright, so here are some details...just in case you want the whole story;-) I really hesitated to be induced because I just really feel that things go better for everyone when the body does its own thing...but in the same breath Aaron was 41 weeks, 10 lb 12 oz with only 90 minutes of labor...a smaller kiddo and a more controlled delivery were sounding good. I decided to go ahead and be induced. Would I do it again? I'm not sure...but I AM sure that 39 weeks was a good idea...holy cow, she would have been HUGE if we let her grow for 2 more weeks!!!

We got to the hospital at 7 a.m.--I was only 3 cm and 60% effaced...grrr. The doctor broke my water around 8:30 and I moved to a 4...woohoo. We started the pitocin and 2 hours later...I was still a 4, dang! This continued for quite some time...lots of contractions but not a lot of action...my body really wasn't ready to give birth and baby girl seemed content to stay in as long as possible. We had a few rough moments where baby's heart rate dropped but a little oxygen and repositioning for me and she was okay. They tried to back off the pitocin to let baby rest but every time they did that the contractions stopped. Not slowed down or weakened, stopped. So we would restart the pit nice and slow and when the contractions got good and strong she would struggle, we would stop the pit and the contractions would stop...this vicious cycle continued on until about 1:30. At this time I was at a 7 and 80%...not too bad. Baby had an episode and we turned off the pit...but the contractions continued! Woohoo!!! Baby was in trouble a bit so Dr. checked again and holy moly it was baby time...once my body kicked into gear it was good to go! Baby girl was struggling so they decided the best thing for me to do was to just get her out...a few good pushes and welcome to the world Elizabeth!!! So how long was labor? I don't know...if you start from the induction time it was about 5 hours...if you start from the time my body kicked into gear it was about 1/2 hour...crazy!

She is here and she is wonderful. I just love how soft and snuggly they are when they are new! She does have a broken collar bone from delivery...ouch! Babies heal so quickly that by next week you won't be able to tell it was ever broken so we're just being a bit gentle with that arm and giving her extra kisses. She also has a heart murmur...but is not showing any symptoms of distress...we're not doing much for that either right now, just watching her a little more closely and hoping she'll grow out of it soon...most newborns do. We can't wait for everyone to meet her and thanks again for all the support and well wishes! Have a great day!!!

The Great Debate, please chime in...

So Aaron is pretty solidly potty trained. He hardly had any accidents anyway and it has been weeks since that occured. Even at night he seems to do well. I keep him in diapers at night because I just don't have the energy to change a bed if he happens to not make it but basically I throw away a dry diaper every single morning. I mentioned this to a friend and she seemed shocked that I would actually throw it away instead of reuse it. I can see the logic in reusing, diapers are expensive and it is hard to toss it when you know the absorbancy is still intact. On the other hand it is underwear...don't we all wake up dry every day and still change our underwear? If we only changed when we had an accident we could wear the same pair for years, decades even (I hope). My kids are hard sleepers...I'll check on them and they are all sweaty and passed out...you have to assume that if they are sweaty on one set of cheeks they are sweaty on both...

Anyway, what is your opinion on the great 'used but not really used' diaper debate?

At least I'm not an elephant

Okay, so yesterday I took Katherine, Kyle, and Aaron to the zoo...for the record Dan was opposed to the adventure...but I went anyway. Apparently there was a new elephant born last Sunday here at the Houston zoo, baby girl Tupelo. We didn't get to see her because she was still too new...the good news is that there was also a baby born 5 months ago and he was out and about so we still got to see a baby elephant, whew. Let me tell you that even though some days I feel like an elephant and may believe that I look like one, I am really, really glad that I am not ACTUALLY one. Baby Tupelo was born full term...at 22 months gestation...weighing 273 pounds. I think my attitude just improved.