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From Renee Garcia

Amie is about to grow!

Amie had 8 Peanut Butter crackers between 2 and 4 am... and she has had 6 more between 8 and 830 this am.

6 of these crackers = 200 calories... what does this translate for a 28 pound human?

Eating habits of the northern California child.

Why did the 4 year old and the 20 month old ask for food at 9 am, 920, 1010, 1030, 11, 1130 and then finally when fed their request at 12, they didn't eat it? (Bagel w/cream cheese and cut up apple - a favorite!)

Now it is almost 1 and they are asking for peanut butter crackers.

"UH, NO! Your lunch is still on the table! Go eat that! Don't just lick the cream cheese off! Eat the whole bagel! Stop punching holes in the apple with that pencil! Give me that pencil!"

I need a nap!

Stitch this on a pillow!

Ours is not to be successful, ours is to be faithful. ~ Mother Teresa

Still conflicted about home ownership.

So the home we were interested in - is still on the market. Do we invest in this troubled market?

Do we rent until the insurance runs out? Dare I move and fall in love with another house, only to lose it in 2 years?

Recipe

The yummiest meal we eat is Black Beans and Rice. It costs under $5 for the whole meal.

Ingredients:
1 box Rice a Roni (chicken flavor-blue box) or generic equivalent - $1
1 can Black beans or 1/2 lb of reconstituted... but canned is easier - $.50
1/2 c. salsa - $.50
1 bunch cilantro - $1
Garlic Salt to taste
Serve with tortilla chips and/or tortillas $2

Cook Rice according to box directions, reducing water by 1/4 c and adding salsa. Finely chop cilantro and drain black beans then add them to the very hot rice. Salt to taste. Serve with Tortilla chips/tortillas...

Estimated time to prepare 30 mins.

Some day I will post a picture.

Lonely

The girls have been taking turns at being sick... So going outside of the home has been limited. It is snowing again... so going outside of the home is limited. It is going to snow for 3 more days... so going outside of the home is going to be limited.

Last week my wonderful mother in law, Jann, came and washed all my dishes, folded all my clothes, and kept the girls from killing each other while I slept... for a whole week!

I miss the company... and the nap!

Ole Blue Eyes

Here is the first picture of his eyes open... and his typical scowl. He really is a happy and content baby... but the scowl remains.

Who is who?

Back in July 2006, I posted this picture:Now compare "little John" to these:OK, yes... it looks like he could EAT the other babies... But who does he look like 1,2 or 3?

Finally, a birth story.

The following story contains information that may be inappropriate for some readers.
Reader discretion is advised.

I knew I was 42 weeks... My family Dr. recommended that I get checked out at the local hospital. We had planned on a home birth. Thursday 2/7 we went to the hospital. The hospital determined (through a sonogram) that I was only 38 weeks... But if you measured the outside of the uterus, it measured 43 cm... or 43 weeks. The sonogram also estimated the baby's weight at 7 lbs 8oz. We also were told it's a boy! The hospital kept me overnight for observation... and discharged me at 10 am, Friday 2/8, informing me I was not in labor.

My wonderful husband and oldest daughter picked me up and we went to Walmart to buy boy stuff. We then went to the local Chinese food restaurant, ate chow mein and purchased fried calimari for our dedicated childcare, Becky. (She has watched 1-3 children on and off through this whole ordeal.) We then went home and all 5 of us slept until 3:30 when I sat up with a contraction. I stood up and noticed a difference. Soon I was asking my wonderful husband to remove the shower doors. (I may have asked for the bathroom doors to be removed) He was getting his tools out... when I clarified that the shower doors being removed would assist in getting me and a baby out of the tub.

I spent the next hour listening to loud music and trying to avoid "fighting" the contractions. My wonderful husband checked on me regularly... soon it was apparent that the children needed to leave. I was quickly loosing my mind and wanting to run around crazy. (A sure sigh that I am close) Jason, my wonderful husband, called everyone and managed to wrangle a crazy swap where a teenager would watch Becky's kids and Becky would run her errands with my kids.

With the children gone, I was no longer putting on a brave face. I wanted the hospital and drugs and was actually on the phone with the hospital when the baby started crowning. I threw the phone to my WONDERFUL husband.

(NOTE: This next part is gross) I was sitting on my new recliner with only minimal protection over it. I was huffing and puffing and trying so hard to get off the recliner. (Note: there was a blanket on the floor that I was aiming for.) My body gave me about 30 seconds of rest to move and then I pushed out his head. I had another 30 seconds of rest. I didn't think my water broke, so I was feeling the top of his soft head. We were also feeling for a cord around his neck. The next push and out came a baby into his papas eager hands. I couldn't see my WONDERFUL husband, but his voice was giddy. This was the first time a baby was properly positioned and came out the normal textbook way! (Maggie - chin to her chest, Abbie - posterior, Amie - posterior and face first.) I must admit it was easier to push than the other 3!

The hospital called back and asked if everything was ok... my WONDERFUL husband informed them we were fine and not coming in. Calls to family were made, and there was much rejoicing. Becky and her husband, returned our children and all basked in the new baby glow.

Jonathan Gregory was born on his great-grandma's birthday 2/8/08 and on Monday 2/11/08 he weighed 9 lbs 15.5 oz and measured 21 inches long.

Introducing!!!

Little John!

So far, Amie likes him!
Abbie is HYSTERICAL! "He's SO CUTE!"
Maggie is not feeling well...
but still excited about having a boy to play video games with.

Because I needed to smile

If an asp in the grass, is a snake; Why is a grasp in the ass, a goose?

Didn't really want to get up this morning!

So Abbie bursts into my room this morning and informs me that my aunt "Titi" is dead. These are the first words I hear at 7 am from my 4 year old. She runs off when I crumple and cry. Then bursts back in and says, "Aunt Becky isn't dead!" (Thank you for trying to comfort me baby)

I better call Becky!