a long post

 

It's been a month since I posted so I guess it is time for a Swigert family update.  First of all, let me just say how happy I am that I am only 11 days away from my due date!! 

 

 

 Here is a look at the Johnson County dump.  I know you were all wondering what dumps in Iowa look like.  Ryan and the kids did fall pruning about a month ago and here is the proof.

Ryan's car was stuffed with branches.  I followed behind in the van so that the kids could go unload it.

 

 

When this big machine pulled up to stir around the yard waste, Jace was pretty excited.

On September 24th, I took the kids to a Sibling Education class at the hospital and it was fantastic.  They loved it. I mostly signed up for Gracie's benefit, but Jace really ended up liking it as well.  It was great because they brought examples of all the small toys that babies can choke on--like legos.  Our house is full of them.  I mostly worry about Gracie picking up the baby or covering it's face with a blanket--no big deal really!!! These stuffed lions were their souvenirs from the class.  They also got books about being a big brother or sister. 

 I love this dreamy look that Christopher Robin gets in his eyes sometimes.

 

Gracie would only be silly for her picture. 

 

 Behold the Swigert family vehicle sale! Jace orchestrated this event.  He was trying to sell his old broken trucks so he could buy new ones.  But he didn't have any luck.

 

 

 

 Gracie thought the whole idea was grand and took a few of her toys out to sell as well.  She wants to buy a pink cash register from Target so she is hoping to come by some money as well.

 After the kids had been out on our deserted street for about 45 minutes, I took them out some banana pops for a treat.

 This picture of Gracie is classic.

 

 She gave up after a short while, but I was so glad she stayed outside with Jace so he wasn't out there alone.

 

 

Here is a glimpse of us on General Conference weekend. We basically stayed in our pajamas - or underwear-in Gracie's case, and Ryan built a neat model airplane with Jace during the sessions.

 While they were building, Gracie went about her daily activities.  She bathes one of her "pets" each day.  On this day, it was turtle's turn.

 

 

He turned out mighty clean--just nice and stinky the next day--but no problem.  She just bathed him again!

 

Here's the plane.  Very cool!  Dads' are  great! 

 

  I heard banging in the kitchen last week and went to investigate and found Gracie hard at work.  She had hauled up scraps of wood from the garage and was painting them.  She informed me she was building a bird house!

 

 Luckily Ryan was around for the nails and hammering part.  

 And the spray bottle.  You can't make a bird house without some water.

 

It was quite the creation! 

 

The Dr finally got a chance to power wash our house- I think last Saturday.

As you can see our house was very green.  It actually looks brown--but it was moss he cleaned off the siding.

 

I think this is my favorite picture in this whole post.  Here you see a criminal in handcuffs! They were playing "police officers" and this criminal got caught and put right in jail!!  She looks pretty innocent if you ask me!

In case you were wondering, we are officially ready for Halloween.  Well, as ready as we are going to be this year. 

 

 

 My cute crew got our traditional cobweb hung in our entry way.

 It looks awesome!

 

 

Saturday, Ryan took the kids to the pumpkin patch for pumpkins.

It was cold, and I stayed home to rest, but I heard all about their adventure when they got home. 

 

 

 This is the barrel tractor ride.

 

 There's my two munchkins riding along!

 

 

Corn box!  Jace had one of these the first month we moved to Iowa.  I bought a swimming pool at Kmart and went to a local farmer and bought a 50 lb. bag of feed corn and filled it full for the then three and a half year old Christopher Robin.  He loved it, but we had corn all over the apartment we were staying in at the time while we were waiting to get into our home here.

 

 It's weird to think that Gracie is now three and a half.  She thought the corn was just as fantastic as Jace did at the time.

  

 

 Tractor!

 

She is almost big enough to take it for a spin. 

 

 I love these pictures Ryan took of the kids just sitting on a pumpkin. 

 

 This was the most important part of the whole outing--securing us some pumpkins for the big holiday next week.

 They got 4 in all.  One for each of us.  Jace's is the white one.  He calls it his "ghost" pumpkin. They look great on our front porch by the way.  I have been informed that the reason we have so many is because when Halloween is over they can make pumpkin cookies and pumpkin bread and pumpkin pies and even pumpkin cereal. I'm going to be a little busy then, so maybe Grammy Jill and Ryan will take on those projects!!

 

 

Jace turned the big 7 years old on Sunday the 20th of October!!

 We rushed out the door to church that morning, but when we got home we had lunch and celebrated.

 

He loved his gifts this year.  He got this cool Back to the Future Lego car from his Grammy Jill and Poppy!!

Cool huh!

Here's the cake!  He wanted Transformers.  We added the Hotwheel cars with Megatron and Optimus Prime throwing them at each other.

 Gracie will confirm that the frosting was very good!

 

 From us he got an EZ collection Transformers Devastator.  He really wants the big one--but I mentioned before that we have to win one off ebay and we have had no luck winning one in our price range. But he told us this one is perfect--and he will just ask Santa to bring him the big one---a  GREAT idea!!  Why didn't we think of that?? 

 

 Just another picture of Gracie eating more frosting and Jace admiring his devastator.

 

Here's proof that the Dr was around for the celebration.  He looks handsome in his suit with his fall colored tie!

 

 Here's  a close look at the Devastator!

 

 It transforms into these little construction vehicles.  Gracie gave herself the job of licking the frosting off Optimus Prime and Megatron.  She was very thorough!

Devastator Love!

 And Jenny Ramsey, these pictures are for you.

This is me at 38 weeks and 2 days pregnant!

 

I'm feeling done, but Jill doesn't get to Iowa until the 31st, so I have to hang in there a few more days.  But we are excited around here!!  I can't complain. This pregnancy has gone beautifully.  I have kept my weight gain in check this time.  With Gracie it spiraled out of control with me gaining over 50 lbs.  It was so hard on my body. I vowed I could never do that again.  I have no swelling in my extremities and my blood pressure is really low.  Last they checked it was 96/59.  I am slightly anemic as usual. I do ache a lot more this time around.  I have a heating pad on my back daily and take several doses of Tylenol each day, but other then that I am fine.

Because of my "advanced maternal age"  I have had two appointments a week since I hit the 36 week mark. I have a Non- stress test every Monday and Thursday. That is getting old.  But I am down to 3 left now.  So far baby is doing well.  I am at an increased risk of having a still born baby in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy.  I guess my placenta can give out and baby won't get enough oxygen or nutrition. This frankly worries me.  So I go in religiously and baby has passed with flying colors so far but my doctors are pretty determined that they won't let me go much over my due date--November 1st, so I am scheduled for an induction on Monday, November 4th if this baby hasn't made it's appearance by then.  So now I just wait and see how this will all go down.  They wanted to induce me at 39 weeks to be safe, but I believe in natural birth if possible, and I think my body will do what is has done before.  Jace was born on his official due date and Gracie was just two days late.   My only request baby is that you don't come on Halloween!!!

I am packing my laptop to take to the hospital--I will be there 2 days--I am strep B positive this time--and I will post pictures of baby if I can get Wi-Fi access. So stay tuned!!

Take care everyone.  And of course have a very Happy Halloween!!