Our weekend

We had a very full and busy weekend around here. Duane was off work on Friday so he was able to go with me to my doctor appointment. Afterwards we ran some errands together. He has worked his last couple of Fridays that are his normal day off so we really enjoyed just hanging out together Friday. Four of the kids had their monthly science explorer class so we even had a relatively quiet afternoon. Friday night Shyloh and Jeff had a surprise party for Shyloh's longtime friend Annie's brother. When they came home we all hung out and watched a movie together.

Saturday was our church's chilli cook off. We love this event. The children had a blast! There were bounce houses, pony rides, cotton candy, games, popcorn, snowcones, face painting and lots of friends to play with. My kiddos had enough cotton candy to last until next years Chilli Cook Off! The little girls had no nap that day so couple that with all that sugar and all I can say is, "Oh, my!" It ended up being really, really, really hot that day. Okay, maybe it just felt like that to me since my internal thermostat is a bit off these days! After the wonderful tri tip dinner (tri tip just happens to be one of my cravings lately so I was very happy!) was served they had square dancing. Duane and I didn't dance but hung out with the little ones, but it was still so fun to watch everyone. After we got home we got everyone bathed and to bed. The kiddos were so tired it was a very easy bedtime with everyone crashing right away.

We decided last minute on Friday to sneak in a trip to the ocean on Sunday. We never go on trips on Sundays but Duane was thinking that it would be nice to get in another trip before the baby is born. We got up and headed out Sunday morning to New Brighton State beach. We stopped half way at Casa de Fruta to get out, use the bathrooms, and let the little ones stretch their legs. We always love this pit stop on the way to the ocean! They already had all their pumpkins set out and it had such a great fall feel to it. After playing a bit and snapping some pictures we loaded back up and headed to the beach. The weather forecast had said it would be about 80 but it ended up being much cooler. Duane, Jeff, and Shyloh ended up tracking down some firewood so we could make a fire. This beach has fire pits so we ended up hanging out around the fire most of the day. It was a very relaxing day for us. Jeff joined us on this trip, it was his first "family outing" with the Neys. He passed with flying colors! We all enjoyed having him with us. The boys really enjoy having a big guy around and he is such a great example for them. Poppet and Lolly adore him and Duane really enjoyed having someone around who actually knew how to play football. Of course after Jeff's team beat Duane's he may have been reconsidering bringing him! Duane woke up today feeling verrrry sore! I think he felt a bit better when Jeff told him tonight that he was sore too! Misery loves company!

Everyone is tired today after the busyness of our weekend. I actually skipped science today and opted for a much needed nap instead! I think everyone will be calling it a early night tonight! Tomorrow I will be 38 weeks! We are still counting down and getting oh, so close! For those wondering...I did find the cradle (well, I guess I should say my wonderful husband found it for me in a place I never would have even thought about looking in), I got a little spot ready for the baby's clothes to go, and washed up a couple of things, but we still need a name. That is pretty important to do so hopefully we come up with something really soon.

19 days and counting...

We are counting down days until we meet our newest little blessing. It just dawned on me Tuesday night that I actually need to start preparing for this little one. We haven't gone through any baby clothes, pulled out any receiving blankets, set the cradle up, or even picked out names! We are also planning on a homebirth (Lord willing!) so I need to make sure I have things ready for that too. I made my list of to do's Tuesday night and started working on those yesterday. I went through my box of baby girl and baby boy clothes and pulled out a couple receiving blankets, and couple of onesies. I didn't realize that I actually need some clothes for this little one because my last fall baby was Shyloh, 17 years ago! This really has just snuck up on me!

Today the boys helped me move a little dresser in my room so we could make room for the cradle. Now I just need to find that cradle! I have had the same cradle with the same sweet white eyelet lace bedding for all my babies. The last two have not used it quite as much because they have actually ended up just sleeping with me, but there are so many sentimental memories wrapped up in this cradle.

Duane and I are going to have a little date night tonight and then meet up with Jeff and Shyloh after their College and Career bible study for a little Starbucks. I think Duane and I will try to actually pick out some names tonight! I am thinking that needs to be somewhere at the top of our to do list!!

What to do when you wake up scared?

So what do you do if you wake up in the middle of the night scared from a bad dream?

You quietly sneak into your big brothers bed! Another wonderful reason to share a bedroom!

A recap of our week

Now that we are busy with the daily routine of school it has been harder to find time to blog. I figured why I had a quiet house right now I would try to catch up a bit.

Shelbie wore the Holter monitor for 24 hours this week. We haven't heard any results yet so we are thinking that is a good thing. They explained the process of reading the tape and having it transcribed and then the results being entered into the computer system. It takes about 4 days. They have someone who quickly reads through the tape to look for any red flags, if they see anything urgent they will call within 24 hours otherwise they go through the regular process and then we are called. We should hear final results tomorrow.

We had a new tutor come this week. Since we are under a charter school we have to have a "highly qualified tutor". I was really bugged by this as it isn't something I felt we even need, but since we have a high schooler we don't have a choice unless we went independent, which is something I don't want to do at this point. I love our charter school and the benefits I feel we get from it so I decided that if they scratch my back then I guess I could scratch theirs. Reluctantly I said okay and then my wonderful E.S. (educational specialist...aka our "school counselor" of sorts) started trying to find someone who would blend well with our family. We found a sweet gal named Sally, who we found out goes to the same church as us. She was wonderful! All the kids said they really liked her. I think this is going to end up being a blessing for us. She is so flexible and is willing to do whatever I need her to do... grade schoolwork, work independently with the kids, or even do group activities. The Lord was so gracious to send us our old tutor to kick off the school year and now that I am in the homestretch of this pregnancy He faithfully sent me someone to help me out again. I started off against this but now I am realizing that the Lord is using this to be a blessing to us.

I was able to get some more sewing in this week. Our church is having its annual Chilli cookoff at the end of the month. It is such a fun event to kick off the fall season with. They have pony rides, bounce houses, face painting, cotton candy, and even square dancing. I decided that it would be fun to make Poppet and Lolly each a little skirt to wear. I found some really cute material that looks like red handkerchief. I made them little tiered skirts. They are the cutest little things ever! I am so enjoying having two little girls to dress alike again after having three little boys. I also have a baby shower this Saturday so I am making a little hooded towel set for that.


I will be 36 weeks on Tuesday! Wow! I really am amazed that we are that close to meeting this sweet little one. I have been getting parallel care with two midwifes. One is a home birth midwife named Jaque. I absolutely LOVE her! She has been delivering babies for 35 years. She has the most soothing, sweet personality. Since I am a vbac (vaginal birth after cesarean) patient she asked me to get some parallel care from someone else just in case I need to transfer for some reason, that way I will have prenatal records and be familiar with someone else. I am seeing another midwife named Blanca who is under a local OB doctor in Modesto. Blanca wanted me to have a sonogram to check out the size of the baby. I have said from the beginning that I didn't want one so I was pretty upset with this. After talking with Duane and Jaque and much, much prayer we decided that I would have one. Really the only reason Jaque thought it would be good was just to check out where the placenta was, she isn't worried about the size of the baby at all. We also felt like ruling out possible twins would be helpful. I have to admit I really didn't enjoy this sonogram like I have with other pregnancies just because I was so against having one in the first place. The Lord is so good though because he gave me the sweetest little pictures of my baby. I saw this little ones sweet little cheeks, nose and lips and all of a sudden felt so overwhelmed once again with God's grace of giving me another little life to love and nurture. To see a glimpse of God's perfect handiwork, this little life being knit together in the secret place was just so precious. I love Psalm 139, but it is even more wonderful when I am pregnant. He is fashioning another little life and I am privileged to be able to be a part of His awesome plan!
The top picture shows the face with the babies little hand up by its face. You have to focus to see the little eyes, nose, mouth, and even the sweet little cheeks. The bottom picture shows the little nose and lips. Check out those lips! They are so kissable!

A lazy Saturday

After the busy week we've had today ended up being a very laid back, relaxing day. Usually Saturday is our big chore day at the Ney house. Since Shyloh was having company for dinner last night and Duane was off yesterday we ended up doing all our yard work and house cleaning yesterday. So today we had everything already done and were able to just hang out. Well, I guess I should say "I" was able to as Duane and the boys have been spending the day putting in a sprinkler system in my flower bed.
How did I spend my day? Hours of sewing!! Shannen had asked for more "sleep shorts" for his birthday last Sunday and I hadn't gotten around to making those for him yet, so today I made him 3 pairs. I also found some left over material from when I made Duane and the boys sleep shorts in July so I made two small pairs for Poppet and Lolly. They were so excited! I also made a baby sling. The material is so cute, but definitely for a girl. Since we don't know what we are having I am not sure if it will be for me or if I will put it away until I know someone who is having a girl.
I haven't had a day were I was able to just hang and do nothing but sewing for a very long time. It really was wonderful! I did neglect a couple of loads of laundry that need folding, but since Duane and the kids want to hang out and watch a movie tonight I will get to that then.

Shannen's boxers...ur umm, "sleep shorts". He likes High School Musical so I made him one pair out of H.S.M fabric.

The "girlie" baby sling! It is so sweet! Almost makes me want a little girl!

Poppet and Lolly were soooo excited over their new pajama bottoms. Never mind the fact that it's boy material. They boys were just as excited to see their little sisters with matching jammies!

My little sweeties!

The cardiologist

We saw the cardiologist today and they did a sonogram of Shelbie's heart and also another E.K.G. Both came back good. Monday we go back and she'll get the halter monitor and wear it for 24 hours. They want to see what her heart does if she has any dizzy spells. She's had two today. I still am leaning towards this being a growing issue, at least that is my prayer. Thanks again for all the prayers!

Update on Shelbie

For those who are wondering how Shelbie is doing today I figured I would do a quick update, for those who have no clue what I am talking about you can hop over to Shyloh's blog for the details. I am honestly to tired to rewrite what she basically covered.
Okay...the update. Shelbie is doing wonderful. By the time the ambulance got us into the E.R. she had color to her face and looked so much better. She did look like she really wanted to just cry though! All the tests they ran in the E.R. came back great, but because she has been having the bouts of dizziness and blurred vision for the last month or so and this being the second time she has passed out in less than a week they want to pursue this just a bit more. We saw our doctor today and he has us scheduled to see a cardiologist tomorrow. Depending how that goes or if she continues to have episodes then we may move to discussing an MRI.
I am totally at peace over this and feel like we may never actually know the cause and maybe it is just part of a young girl growing. She has definitely gotten alot taller this year and our doctor even said that alot of young girls go through a time where they may pass out for no reason and are perfectly healthy. Yesterdays episode took longer for her to "come out of" and the fact that her heart rate was so low is why they are a bit more concerned.
Shelbie is a daughter of the King and I know that He has this completely covered and is holding her in His hands. It is such a comforting thought! Thank you so much to those who helped us yesterday with Shelbie, those who helped with my other little ones, (that was strange just leaving all my others) and all the prayers! Roseann, thank you so much for bringing pizza over last night. It was such a blessing to come home and not have to try to figure out what to feed a family of 10! You really can't just wing with that many, it doesn't work well! Thank you also to our sweet Silva family who brought us dinner tonight! We honestly were fine but never the less it was a blessing and a wonderful treat! We love you all so very much!