So last Wednesday, Grandma Bishop flew into town. The weather was nice the whole visit with the exception of a few minutes of spitting rain on Monday, and the snow falling on Tuesday the day she flew home. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the visit, and as always Caleb was very sad and almost tearful when I told him it was the last day. They did enjoy playing on her iphone all the games that she could find, playing games on the computer, having "movie nights", visiting for the first time the hispanic food/bakery store on main street in Monroe, the St. Vincent store where books were gathered for the reading times (as well as clothing for Nathan), going to the park where California Warm Grandma braved the brisk day and sunshine, and the Children's Musuem on their family free night. The boys did not have school Friday or Monday, so there was plenty of time together and we all wore each other out having fun.

Baby Update: 23 weeks as of 2/25. He is now about 11 1/4 inches and about 1 lb in weight. Kicking alot, but really he's turning into a night owl or late afternoon active guy. Caleb and Josh are just starting to be able to feel the kicking, but their trouble is a lack of patience... they don't hold still long enough to feel the difference between my breathing and heartbeat and the actual kicks because the kicks aren't strong enough to be undeniable (or later, visually seen). It's like waiting for lighting to strike and having your hand in the right place at the right time and waiting for it... they don't wait. I haven't been out walking with the weather and Grandma Bishop in town, but it's time to start getting back into the habit no matter how much or where it hurts. I'm tired alot, but if I walk in the mornings after dropping off the boys at school, I'm positively falling asleep in the middle of things by the afternoon. The boys keep asking when it is time, how much longer. And of course, the famous.... "is the baby naked inside?" I'm still only barely showing, most people I come in contact with don't know until I tell them, but being obviously pregnant is just around the corner I'm sure. Maybe then the new tube toppped pregnancy jeans won't just slide off my hips with an actual belly to keep them up. Next Doctor's appointment is 3/9.

This week, Josh only attended school on Wednesday. With the school delays 2 hours late for Thursday and Friday, Friday school was cancelled for Jockey. Caleb and Josh were sure that Wednesday would be a snow day, so they "camped" with blankets and sleeping bags on the floor at the end of our bed. But that was a normal day of school. Thursday, we slept in and still got Caleb to school. Friday, it was beautiful sunny and brilliant blue skies and DRY roads in the Fryelands... so we were a bit stunned to find that school was 2 hours late when we went to drop off Caleb at the normal time... it delayed out day a bit, but still a good day. (The boys were excited that that meant time to pick up "megamind" at Redbox, not so much the other errands I had to run with them.) Awana was also cancelled this week because of the expect snow fall Wednesday night. Honestly, when it was all said and done, I think the Fryelands (where our house is located) got the least of it like the eye of a storm... everyone else had 4-6 inches and we had a sparse covering that just melted off by 10Am. Oh well, too many snow days will delay Caleb's last day of school, which affects baby delivery/school drop off/pick up logistics.

Mike will be having knee surgery about 11:15ish (drop off/check in time) on Tuesday 3/1. They are presuming an orthoscopic surgery, but are prepared for a full incision if it look like they have to resculpt or dimple the bone or possible pin placement if the "micro facture" is bad enough. He is expecting to spend 48 hours off of it completely except the restroom runs, and then begin working on moving and strengthening it; they told him he'd be ready for "Strenuous" activity by 6 weeks out. This injury however, has pulled him out of the Fire Academy because of their physical requirements. However, we've landed on a back up plan, an EMT class begins March 23 and goes through June 29th. It will be WAY less strenuous (especially for the first couple "book work" weeks) and something he can work up to for the ride-alongs and ER service hours he'll have to put in. He will graduate having taking the State exam certifying him as an EMT, just a great skill and program to have completed and have in his bag of knowledge/tricks.

This weekend and coming week:
I expect to blessedly use a 40% off coupon at Ben Franklin on a coveted resin for projects I want to do, church, new coupon cycles, normal school days for the boys, two days of work for me, getting into the walking habit again, Mike's surgery and 48 hours of laying around, MOPS Friday, a trip to the huge consignment sale at the Fairgrounds next weekend, and maybe I'd pick up some treat for myself for my March 5th day.

That's all for now folks.

Caleb and Jockey are just crusing along in school, pre-k, Awana, and life. They've made it to the park on nice days, and even met friends on occassion. For the Super Bowl, we all went over to our friend's house where they played the entire duration of the football game! Caleb went to Anacortes last weekend with Grammy and Papa Dahl, inspite of the weather. They even hit a few garage sales, places to eat, and did some homework reading. Jockey has been going to Grammy and Papa's house Thursday afternoons for tennis lessons and a stay overnight and being returned in time for School on Friday. It's a treasured time (and limited time, with him in 5-day Kindergarten next year). He comes home and "practices" his tennis by playing the Wii. He's silly, and surprisingly good... on the Wii. While he is gone, Caleb and I get time together. Today, we both did "homework"; Caleb read and I did my Bible study. Caleb's reading has now earned him minutes on the Wii... a new system of earn and reward to balance responsibility (homework) and play (Wii/TV/Friends/Park). I'm hoping to be consistent with him, at least long enough to get the point across and the lesson learned. Work before play, healthy food before dessert and the rest of those adages.

The "Big" day for us was Tuesday.... We had our 20 week ultrasound (techincally I was 20w+4). Healthy. GOOD sized at the 86th percentile, which per my doctor, means I'm on my way to having another 8 pounder. My response: good thing it's coming out the front then. The ultrasoundist looked for 2 hemispheres in the brain with both ventricles, 4 chamber heart, nose bones, the absence of a cleft palate, measured femurs and other arm bones, the insertion point for the umbilical cord, by turning on the "color" she could see the blood flow, looked at the spine checking for any gaps, 2 kidneys were found, and a bladder. The heart was beating at a healthy, normal 146 bpm. And it was a HE.....the long awaited, much prayed for, God foretold BOY. And thus the name Nathan Kai (Meaning gift of and messenger of God respectively). So being told ahead of time, and confirmed with "wait for the glory of God to be revealed" actually did reveal our intended and desired gender. And if you know about ultrasounds... parts are present= boy or the absence of parts =girl. We have a picture of parts. Again, like Caleb... sitting on the camera! We even came away with a DVD as the technician went through the exam. Little Nathan was ACTIVE, she was having a hard time catching him, and he kept facing my spine which made getting a traditional "profile" ultrasound shot impossible. But healthy. Weighed in at 14 ounces, and is approximately 7 3/4" long. He is kicking up a storm just about all the time, but I notice it went I finally hold still... or it's my bladder he's kicking. Last Friday, 3 people actually asked me if I had lost weight, a dozen other's (mostly pregnant themselves) complained that I wasn't or barely showing... all of which bely the 5lb gain(still below their curve of expected gains)... but I'm chalking that up to the 14 oz baby, fluid, placenta, and the doubling of my blood volume. And I have gone for 2 walks this week inspite of the below freezing temperatures! I'm going to kick and claw my way against gaining the quantities I did with the other two boys!

So that's the baby update. In other news, next Wednesday, Grandma Bishop flies into town for about a week. The boys have next Friday and the following Monday off of school which means they will be around for the majority of her visit. Jockey has a birthday party to attend on Saturday the 19th. Grandpa Bill's birthday is also coming up pretty darn quick, and GG Dahl too.
Mike goes in tomorrow for his MRI to confirm the actual condition of his knee and then the doctor will make a decision on a course of action. For the praying to God folks, all prayers are needed and appreciated for healing, miracles, best-case scenarios, quick scheduling in, quick recovery, and mercy/grace in the Fire Academy administrators that he isn't dismissed from the program... whatever you feel lead to pray, we thank you because it is only in our God's hands and power now!