Oh Baby...

Well, the final results are in. After a genetic ultrasound yesterday it was revealed that this little baby is 1) definitely a girl and 2) stubborn and silly. Everything measured and looked good, normal and on schedule. But every time the tech tried to get a good pic of her profile she covered up her face. In some of the images you could see a little smile as she did that. That's our girl!




We now have 4 months to go, and so much to do! I will refrain from posting a picture of my baby bump right now since I still really don't have much to show. I tend to get yelled at when I do that. I can tell you that she might not be popping outward yet, but she sure likes to kick for more room. Her first toy will be a soccer ball!


-Love Jenni

...and Stuff

I'm not sure if I should continue writing about stuff other than the impending arrival of our little one. I really don't know if anyone cares about anything else that I am thinking. I guess you can just peruse it for valuable info.


After a fun and relaxing 5 days of camping with my boys and my dad and step-mom, home and reality is back. More people I know have lost their jobs. I think the govt is trying to spin that things are improving in the economy, but it really isn't. Ok, so only 156,000 net jobs were lost in June 09. Well, those jobs have faces, families, homes. I am a very empathetic person, so seeing and knowing a few of these people makes it very personal to me. Let's hope Congress realizes that finding ways to spend millions (billions?) on health care will not improve the economy, and they need to get back to the business of representing the people and the REAL needs of this country.

Then there is the heat. Yes, we are breaking down and looking into getting AC installed. We have fans in almost every room, but when it's 90 outside, it's at least 82 inside. I think we also need to look at adding insulation or an attic fan, but whatever we do, we need to do it fast before we melt. And Benji has to wait another week for a fur cut, so he is one fuzzy hot dog right now.
Speaking of Benji, he is doing excellent. After much contemplation, we all 3 decided against the radiation. The night after Benji had his staples out, he refused to get into the car with me to pick up Jon from the airport. He LOVES car rides. He had fear, and that is something I'd prefer to protect him from. The radiation would require 18 trips to the vet at WSU. They would also knock him out for each treatment. I feel like he wouldn't be the same dog after all of the fear, radiation and knock out drugs, so we have chosen course #2, wait, operate again if it recurs. Meanwhile, Benji isn't missing a step in his love of life.

Summer Daze

The nursery received an important addition today- carpet!! Here is a pic of the empty room awaiting, well, everything.
We are planning to purchase the dresser with some of the money we received from our shower in Ohio. We've also picked out the crib and the changing table. My step-mom is making much of the bedding and curtains. My sis-in-law Tera is planning to add animals to the walls, which mystifies me since I am the opposite of an artist. That task would be impossible for me to even fathom. She did a great hula girl on our niece Angie's wall. I admire her skill. Anyway, my friend Molly will use her artistic talents to make letters. We've agreed that I'll purchase the letters and there will be a few more than necessary in order to not reveal the baby's name. She'll probably figure it out, but I think she'll be nice and pretend she has no idea!

As for the rest of those things that I intended to get done in my hiatus between working and being a mommy, I haven't accomplished much. Jon said I should pace myself, but I really only have 4 months and then my entire world will be turned on it's side, and pacing myself at that point will be much more of a challenge. I still intend to sew, I even bought fabric. I have lots of work to do outside, but the 90+ temps have made that more difficult. And then there is cleaning. I actually spend less time cleaning now than when I was working full time because I always figure I can get it done later....tomorrow....next week... I will hopefully hit the reset button on this soon and maybe make lists of things I want to accomplish. As long as I see some progress I will avoid becoming too upset with myself!

Benji's staples and stitches come out tomorrow. He definitely has his puppy back. He's playing, demanding walks, and generally being Benji. We are very thankful for that!
-Jenni

Benji, Benji, Benji

The vet says Benji's cancer is called hemangiopericytoma, blood vessel cancer. It's actually a better type of cancer to have, as cancers go, than what we thought it was before. It will recur, but in 20 years as a vet our wonderful vet has never seen it spread to organs. We have a few options for treatment- radiation, waiting and operating again, amputation, etc. Right now, we are just thanking our lucky stars that Benji is a hyper crazy doggy with lots of love to give us, even though we won't let him lick his stitches. His cast is off, and his poor little bald arm is bugging him a bit. A few good naps and he'll be doing much better.

I've been doing tons of research about dogs and cancers, and I've found supplement after supplement that promises to cure him, or at least give him more time. We asked Dr. Streeter about that, and he said yes, anything with antioxodant and omega 3 properties are good, like olive oil. Funny how the sites that sell things like mushrooms and flax seed and fish oils don't mention that olive oil will work just fine. He now has some olive oil mixed in with his cottage cheese and tuna feast. Again, one happy spoiled dog.

Benji has requested that no photos be taken of him with the cone around his neck, so I'll comply with his request.
-Jenni

Benji and his cast

It doesn't seem to be slowing him down. The cast comes off on Saturday!

Wow so much has happened in the past month. We get to go to Ohio to visit my family in the first time in 4 years. Plus, it was for fun and not a funeral or someone in the hospital. My parents hosted a wonderful baby shower for us and I really liked seeing all my friends and family support us. Then we find out that our dog who is an equal member of the family has cancer cells in his right front leg. All I can say is WOW...really I am speachless. I am scared and I want everything to be OK and for this cancer to be gone. Tomorrow he is having surgery and I won't be able to do anything.

The day after the news of cancer we find out we are having a supposed girl. They weren't 100%. For as exciting as that is it is hard to get ramped up because of Benji. Soooooo many mixed emotions. Having a baby is exciting, scary, happy, scary, wonderful, and did I mention scary. I know Jenni and I will be OK but what a change to the lifestyle. I have been reading the expectant father book and it is pretty true what we are thinking. Money, education, support, am I going to be a failure? all of those things. How can you not think those things when you go onto any new adventure in life. Jenni and I have always been each others' rock and we make a great team. So, I know God will lead us in the right direction to raise a healthy family.

As I have said these are exciting and scary times. Thank you to all of our family and friends who support us every day. ~ Jon

We're halfway there...

Week 20 in this adventure called pregnancy is today. I only have 20 weeks left! Apparently the baby is about 10 ounces and 10 inches long right now. I am feeling more 'fluttering' which I am told is the baby moving. It is exciting, and still freaky, like something from an Alien movie. Jon read to my belly yesterday, and Benji barked and barked at me, right in that region. This kid should realize now they are coming into a lot of love, and loudness.

Benji is doing well. I am going to Portland until Sunday, but Jon has promised to spoil Benji rotten while I am gone. Since I've been home, Benji and I have spent a lot of time together, and he's kind of ignoring Jon. A few days away will let them have some man time. I also bought lots of foods for Jon that aren't the healthiest, but they will both enjoy them.

Benji's surgery will be Monday. I am hoping and praying that he is back to his normal hyper crazy self within a few days of the surgery. There is too much spirit in this little boy for this small tumor to knock him down. Say a prayer for him! -Jenni