Oh, how time flies when you're having fun...

My goodness!  What a busy 11 months I've had since welcoming sweet, fun-loving Nicolette.  No, this picture is not my 11 month old crawling/walking, perma-grin baby.  This is my new(ish) (I know, I'm WAY behind in updating) niece, Kate.  2012 has been filled with fun and I've been trying to relish every minute.  Well, if you're interested in a catch-up, I'll give some quick info...

GREG
* (work-a-holic by choice or the "perks" of the job?) is busier than ever as a partner at his law firm.  He actually likes what he does but we say he is gone to much.  We are currently in Park City and have kidnapped him. 
*teaches sunday school class at church-he was born to teach!
*loves his Utah Utes
*bought himself some new golf clubs after being teased on the course using his "Tech Edge".  For those of you that know Greg well, he is a frugal. 

LONDON (well, me)
*working a bunch lately in same-day surgery to try and keep my nursing license (not going to happen) so I've resorted to cramming continuing education...
*field-tripping it with my babies everywhere! And traveling!
*running, well, evening out my brownie consumption
*teaching relief society at church.  I feel like all I do is study.  Study baby's schedules and food recommendations.  Study church material.  Study exercise magazines.  Study fashion, okay well at least trying to get some style. 
*Shopping.  It's an addiction.  I'm terrible.  I did recently enjoy buying a new GOWN, yes gown, for a gala last month. 

GLADE
*turned 4 at a spiderman carnival
*2nd year of preschool and 1 more to go.  Yes, seriously.  He missed the kindergarten deadline by 15 days! boo.
*can swim independently in the water.  No lifejacket.  No mom.  Yes 360s off diving board.  Yes diving. 
*broke his arm doing the monkey bars (as a parent, I feel like I've completed a rite of passage)

NICOLETTE
*has traveled to Hawaii and Florida and lots of little trips this year
*has 4 beautiful chompers she loves to use-on everything!
*brings joy to the family
*can say two words "dada" and "baba"...dad paid her in ice cream.  That's all I have to say about that.

Well, there's a bit of an update on our life.  It's been lovely.  We are truly happy. 

Our new arrival!

Welcome to the world: Nicolette London Moesinger, 8lb 11oz, 19 1/2 in, November 16th 9:30 am

Halloween

The first picture below is of a fun fieldtrip we did last weekend. G LOVES trains so we rode the large frontrunner from Ogden to SLC and the trax train to dad's work downtown. We went to an arcade the next day, played in the snow and got hot chocolate, & have even visited McDonald's. We let Glade choose a few fun activities to do while we still can...

Happy Halloween! We had a great Halloween at our house this year. Lots of trick or treating to family & friends. Glade got to attend a preschool party too. His gaucho costume (Mexican cowboy) was a hit! We are very cultural at our house--last year we were old custom Japanese people. Glade's costume included an authentic Mexican poncho & LARGE sombrero hat. See pic below. His furry mustache lasted 10 seconds, so we compromised with waterproof eyeliner & mom's limited artistic abilities. Glade enjoyed his costume & really got the hang of trick or treating this year. He also enjoyed sharing candy bars with the kids that came to our house. Dad was dressed as Russian: large fur hat, trench coat, and of course Stalin mustache...(yes, Glade's mustache reject). I was a very pregnant Minnie Mouse. We dressed up for a church party. Somehow, even though Greg was in charge of the party, we were the only ones that got the memo to dress up. But, we love Halloween at our house, so we didn't really mind. :)

I have been feeling lots better since my kidney stent was removed a couple of weeks ago. Phew. Still some pain in my back where my kidney is, but it should resolve once baby girl is out. We have all been busy preparing for the arrival of baby THIS Wednesday!!! Why do we know when she is coming? Unfortunately, she is face up and therefore will not descend into my pelvis. So, another c section it is. Let's just hope she is not 9lbs 11 oz like her brother. But then again, big babies sleep and eat well (or so I hear)...The nursery is 100% ready, her closet is OVERSTOCKED, the diaper bag is packed, Glade's room is now equiped with toys and entertainment for him, babysitters are arranged, Greg moved his court hearing (thank goodness!), the bassinett is out, the bottles are cleaned, & I am so mentally ready to get her here.

Nesting is a fun phenomenon full of OCD habits. Organizing, cleaning, throwing away. My poor husband tells me I'm being bossy when I tell him to put his shoes in the appropriate spot, etc. I can't help it. Its innate, right? We are 99% sure of her first name, but are still deciding on no middle name or 1 of 3 names. I have enjoyed my middle name so I see no harm in giving her one.

Greg has been sleeping at work or leaving before the sun and getting home well after bedtime. He has had many court hearings, a large trial, & depositions all in the last 2 weeks. But, he is SUPER helpful to his bossy wife in rearranging and organizing. We debated about setting up Christmas ahead of time, but I just couldn't do it yet. I love fall too much and it has seemed so short.

Glade has made a paper chain to get ready for baby sister. He is a very visual counter. He is excicted to tell you baby sister is coming in 3 days. 3 days. aah! Well, our next post will hopefully be an announcement of our baby girl. Fingers crossed for a smooth delivery.

A clean bill of health

Wow! What a busy 2 weeks--to catch you up we will start happiest to craziest:





Glade: We took Glade up to Park City last week for a fun condo stay. Greg took Glade swimming, hiking, on the alpine coaster, to the park, & many other fun things while I was a bit out of comission (details to come). G has also been enjoying preschool and is looking forward to his Halloween party this coming week. He will be a gaucho-which is a Mexican cowboy. G has spent alot of time with different family members and friends the last couple of weeks and has enjoyed the change of scenery-I hope!





Greg: He is super-swamped at work, but managed to squeeze out a few hours to care for Glade and me. He had a hearing, mediation, and deposition this week alone. He is running a million miles an hour but is still managing to care for the house plants, do the shopping, & arrange help with Glade. I got lucky.





London: Okay, where to start? Last week in Park City, I woke up feeling like I had the flu. Stomach symptoms, bloated pain, etc. It got gradually worse until I was dying in pain. I made Greg take me to the hospital in Park City where I spent a couple of days on pain medication and with a catheter trying to pass what they guessed was a kidney stone. This was unlike any stone I have ever felt before. And I've had more than my fair share. An ultrasound showed my kidney was extremely inflamed. They sent me home when my pain was under control with some more pain medicine to hopefully pass the stone and feel better. I slept the week away only waking to eat with pills, and pee blood. It was miserable. Finally, this past week, I went into my OB to find an answer. He had me consult with a urologist who immediately scheduled surgery that day.

I was put under general anesthesia (they monitored the baby, phew!) and they removed a MOTHER stone, which was 1 cm large. It was blocking my ureter/bladder opening and was the cause of my kidney filling with fluid and my bladder pains. The doc had to blast the stone for him to even get it out. There was no way it was coming out on its own. He put in a stent to help my kidney drain and a catheter and I spent a couple more days at my local hospital. The good news is that baby girl should be able to stay in another 1-3 weeks until she is due. I am 36 weeks now. The bad news is I have another procedure tomorrow to remove the stent (which is uncomfortable). Hopefully the docs will give me a CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH afterward so I can relax a bit before baby comes.

Family and friends have been so helpful these past 2 weeks with babysitting, checking in, gifts, flowers, and much more. I only had a teeny taste of the pain others go through and it was rough. I feel really blessed.

Halloween

Halloween is a favorite holiday in our house, so to get us in the mood...

bring on the spiders! As long as I have Glade nearby...

Baby Girl's Nursery

Due to many requests, I have posted what is done so far on the baby girl's nursery. Her closet is absolutely packed, seeing as I've worked on that for months. :) Her crib is new-it is a pottery barn crib (from Greg's mom, Suzanne), and it is a dark brown. The bedding is vintage pottery barn and has an array of colors including orange stitching and turquoise patches. The crib picture shows her room colors: orange and cream. (previously painted)

The mini chair is vintage and is about 20 years old. The dresser I redid and added the changing area and accessories. Besides the clock, I plan to hang some frames or fun pictures on the wall as I find them. I am searching for things I love, not just things to fill the space.

Glade's 3rd surgery

After his annual pediatric exam, it was determined that one of G's ear tubes has fallen out. Normally it is okay for kids to lose them, especially around age 3. Unfortunately, Glade still gets several ear infections a year, even with the tubes. They are usually severe and require severe high powered antibiotic shots to get him better. Not to mention the sleepless nights they bring. So, shortly after his 3rd bday, we put in his 3rd set of tubes. Fingers crossed they stay in and do their job at least through the winter. We have had a healthy summer (knock on wood) and are hoping for the same this winter...especially with a new little girl joining the pack. The above picture is of Glade, brave as can be, hand in hand with the anesthiologist at my work, walking into the OR. He didn't cry, but turned and said, "Mom, you wait right there for me." He also explained to the staff how his bear also needed straws in his ears. My smart boy! He cuddled for 5 minutes when he woke up and was his regular self for the rest of the day. I call that a success.

Brief cuddle moment from my active boy--captured on film. :)