psychic or psycho?

A couple of weeks ago I went to the local grocery store to pick up a few items. As I was putting my things on the express lane, a funny (looking) older woman with white-blonde hair and pink eyeliner talked to my three boys.. She asked them their names and ages and made a bit of small talk. As she rang up the items, she told me that I was lucky to have such fantastic boys. I agreed and proceeded to pay for the items and be on my way. But before she handed me the receipt, she said, "No. I really believe they are wonderful children." Again, I said that I was going to hang onto them and thanked her for her kindness. She looked me straight in the eyes and gave a half smile as she said, "Three beautiful boys and a girl on the way." I was totally speechless and said something like, "Excuse me?"

She replied, "You are expecting, aren't you?" I said that I was. She then said matter-of-factly, "You must know it's a girl." I laughed as I said, "Nope. We don't know that." I never have a problem talking to strange strangers, but this was awkward for me because my groceries were bagged and in my cart and there were impatient customers behind me (particularly a man purchasing fresh flowers) and I hated to keep them waiting. I said something short like, "I will keep my fingers crossed" and turned around. She then raised her voice so she could continue the conversation and said, "Oh, you KNOW it's a girl. Deep down, you know it." I could not help but laugh out loud as I walked away. Again, she said even louder, "Please come back when you find out that it is." I smiled as I pushed the cart out to my car... not because I was excited to finally be having a girl, but because I had just had a conversation with a crazy lady. I called Aaron on my way home and he told me not to get my hopes up. I shrugged it off and thought it amusing.

Today I just happened to be back in the same grocery store. I only had Luke with me this time and made sure to get in her lane even though I had to wait. As I approached she recognized me right away and said, "Where are your other two boys?" I explained that they were playing at a friends house and I was spending a little bit of one-on-one time with my 6 year old. (There's nothing like mommy & me trip to the dentist :) I could hardly wait to tell her that we had an ultrasound of our baby and it was indeed another BOY. Her reaction was priceless. She didn't bat an eyelash as she said, "Oh no, honey. Your doctor is wrong." I told her that I was very familiar with what boy parts look like and that I was sure. As serious as possible, she laid down my receipt and said, "You must have seen swollen girl parts, sweetie."

I walked away smiling and told her only time will tell.. On the drive home, half of me was convinced that I should go back to the doctor and make him give me another ultrasound. But I know what I saw and it's pretty hard to mistake two little balls and a stick for something else. If those are picture of my little girl, she's gotta be mighty swollen. Honestly, I am just at a loss for words. There is not an ounce of me that is disappointed in the ultrasound results, but what if we were mistaken? Then again, if this crazy lady is so sure of herself, why is she working in a grocery check out lane instead of stealing people's money doing psychic readings?

When I was just a few weeks pregnant with Luke, my dear Korean friend told me I was having another boy. I didn't even know I was expecting and when I missed that first period, I seriously KNEW it was another son. I didn't even need an ultrasound because I believed my friend. Sometimes people just know. I also have a sis-in-law who was told she was having a baby girl by a Vegas' gas station attendant. Sure enough, a few months later, a baby girl joined their family. I believe some people have special gifts and may be able to read auras. But how do you separate the crazies from the truly inspired? I don't know... but I will find out soon enough. If it does happen to be a girl with swollen parts, I am definitely going back to take a picture with my psychic and ask for her autograph. If she isn't right, I will make sure to take baby boy #4 grocery shopping with me and pull down his diaper to finally convince her that she's wrong and needs a new hobby.

After assessing my ultrasound pictures, don't you think it's obviously a manly baby? Have you ever had pregnancy predictions or psychic readings? Part of me wants to believe her, but common sense tells me that anyone who wears pink eyeliner everyday isn't playing with a full deck of cards........

this is what I get for having all boys...

Throwing a ward Mexican Fiesta, taking care of a crippled husband (he sprained his ankle again), trying to stay cool in this triple-digit weather, keeping the house clean, homeschooling, dealing with 24-hour morning sickness and keeping three boys happy and healthy makes the time FLY BY! Another week has come and gone.. and I don't have any pictures to show for it.

Priorities are priorities and the only thing that NEEDS to be documented are the priceless conversations we had with our kids...

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Zack has been talking about being a big brother NON-STOP. Over dinner he was listing all the things he's going to teach his new little apprentice. He said (and I quote) "I will teach him to WALK, and to LAUGH, and to PLAY WITH TOYS and to STAB THINGS!"

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Ben can't stand any food on his plate touching another item. He usually likes all of the ingredients, but wants to eat them separately. Luke on the other hand, is the king of mixing his entire plate into one gooey mess before he takes a bite. Last night, Luke decided that he wanted to mix drinks... He already had a glass of Kool-aid but thought it would be tasty to scoop a spoonful of chocolate milk powder in it. The thought alone made me sick, but I thought he would learn his lesson after he tasted his new creation. He mixed it up and took a big swig. Then he said, "Hmmm. That is so good. Zack do you want to have my yummy drink?" Aaron and I both knew Luke wasn't a fan, but Zack willingly agreed to take it from him and he swallowed a mouthful. You could tell by the look on Zack's face that he was surprised by what he tasted. But he smiled big and screamed, "It tastes like a TOOSTIE POP!" I loved his enthusiasm that wondered if it just might be the new thing.... ?

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While deciding who should say evening prayers, Ben pleaded, "Don't choose me!" I found that interesting because he is always the one who wants to say the prayer... (side note-- he says the LONGEST prayers and I usually find myself cutting him off in the middle and telling him to just end it. I am so unrighteous. Aaron often kicks me under the table and gives me the EYE that says, "act like a grown up and be patient.") Anyway, after I questioned Ben about his sudden dislike in saying the prayer, he explained that he hoped by saying, "Don't choose me" someone would pick him thinking it would make him mad, when really that's what he wanted in the first place. This led to a long discussion on reverse psychology. As I was explaining the concept (they already knew it, I was just giving it a title) I looked over at Luke and saw a light bulb turn on in that big head of his.. He then said, "I get it! If you hate your mom and you don't want to do what she says, then you act like you love her and she won't make you do anything." Aaron and I could not stop laughing. I am hoping he was just giving an example of WHAT IF, but you never know.. It was such a shock to hear those words come out of my #1 sweet child. Maybe he has been playing me all these years...

Minutes later, as if he wanted to put salt in the wound, Ben made everyone chose ONE person in the family to live on a desert island with.. (this was inspired by the finale of Survivor, BTW) All three of my boys chose DADDY. I am glad they like their dad and all.... but doesn't anybody think I am of value? Do they know that mac and cheese is not a meal option on a desert island? I think Ben felt a little bad after everyone left me hanging and he said, "Sorry mom.. But I would need Dad just in case I got lost and.... his stories at night are much better than yours." So glad he clarified..

BOYS are what we do best.

It's pretty early to give an official medical opinion,
but I know BOY PARTS when I see them...

The best part about the ultrasound (besides Zack squealing every time he saw movement) was watching the baby chow his thumb. At one point he coughed and both hands went up in the air and AS SOON as he was finished, that thumb scrambled back to his mouth.


Our boys LOVED being there and could not stop giggling. Every time he moved, Zack would stand up on his chair and say, "He kicked! I saw him kick!" I think Ben was a bit disappointed that it wasn't a girl, but each time I asked him if he was sad, he defensively said, "NO.. but how sure are they?" Luke and Zack seem to be stoked about having another brother.

And let's be honest here...what little girl wants to join three older brothers who are obsessed with Transformers/Star Wars/Superheros? The thought of having to do pigtails or bows freaks me out. I don't know how to deal with my own hormones, let alone someone else's. But mostly, I keep thinking about this new little baby and how lucky he is to be joining the crew of boys. I feel truly grateful and I am counting each and every blessing. This little guy really is a miracle! Blessing #746- I don't need to buy ANYTHING for the new baby. We're all stocked up!

when your stomach really hurts, and you know that it's the squirts........

must write down before I forget..

Ben is the MEMORY king. It's not exactly photographic-- it's more verbal. When he hears something, he seriously files it away in his brain and it never leaves. This makes homeschooling pretty easy... but parenting him can sometimes be annoying because he pulls random facts out of nowhere.. and always holds me to my word (he will bring up things I said FOUR years ago during some unusual circumstance and I hate having to explain why things are now different... just let me bet the parent and do what I say!)

These past few months, our homeschooling group of friends have been doing rotating classes for the older kids. Today is the ice cream party for those who have passed off ALL 50 State capitals in their social studies group. Ben has known his capitals for at least a year--- he learned them completely on his own, with no coaching from me. (I believe we had a United States place mat a while back and Ben took it upon himself to memorize them.) Luke knows most of them, but that's only because Ben really wants him to go to the party and has been quizzing him the past couple of weeks. I swear to you, ten minutes after waking up this morning, Ben was already giving Luke a pop quiz. I was laying next to them in bed when this conversation took place.

Ben: I know you know Mississippi.
Luke: groan.
Ben: Luke, just think of ME... more like my middle name.
Luke: Oh duh. Jackson.
Ben: Good. Now South Dakota. You always have a hard time remembering this.
Luke: Give me a hint.
Ben: hmm. when you have to go to the bathroom really bad.

Luke takes a long pause and then his eyebrows raise as if he's finally figured out the answer. Then his cute morning voice says:

DIARRHEA....?

It took several minutes for us to stop laughing... Zack particularly thought it was funny and kept repeating "The capital of South Dakota is DIARRHEA. Ha!" Ben finally calmed down and informed us all that no state capital would be that gross.

The capital of SD is, in fact, PEE-AIR.

discombobulated.

so much is going on, but I just don't have the strength or energy to talk about it. I don't think I've taken a picture with my camera in a few weeks. and that's too bad because my boys are cute and they are growing up so fast.

to answer a few of your baby questions:

Due date is Nov 15th. that makes me 14-ish weeks.

I have been sick for 13.5 of those 14 weeks. I throw up 5-6 times a week.. sometimes if I am lucky, I throw up 5-6 times a day.

My sleeping habits have been completely screwed.. this is my main complaint. I usually wake up around 2 am and can't fall back asleep until 6 am or so.. which makes my life so insane!

I sleep in as long as I possibly can in the mornings. My kids are SO good to me. I often wake up to Ben telling the other two "SHHH! You know mom doesn't feel good!" I seriously love them all and I feel so blessed to have another.

Thank you for sending all your girl vibes my way. After wanting a baby for so long and having a few miscarriages, I can officially say that I would be THRILLED with another boy... absolutely tickled pink. I would even be patient enough to wait until it's born to find out the sex of the baby, but my kids are pretty anxious... they ask EVERYDAY how much longer before we know what it is.

Ben and Luke want a GIRL.
Zack demands it's a BOY.
the heart rate indicates it's a GIRL.
the Chinese calendar says it's a BOY.
Aaron thinks it is a GIRL.
I am pretty sure it's a BOY. (that's all I know, really.)
Some psychic (psycho) check-out lady at the grocery store is determined it's a GIRL.

Tomorrow morning, the kids and I will go in for an ultrasound. 14 weeks is pretty early to find out-- but we saw Luke's boy parts at 12 weeks, so you never know. I am just happy to be pregnant- even after all this morning/afternoon/evening sickness. I am taking it easy, not stressing about anything except putting food on the table and keeping my kids happy.

Life is good.. but apparently not good enough to keep a daily record :)