An Elisa-ism

Yesterday, I went downstairs to wake Mike up about 11...a.m., not p.m. He had come home from work around 7:30 that morning and wanted me to get him up so we could go to lunch together. He sleeps in Caleb's room when he works at night, since Caleb sleeps in the basement and has no windows.

Elisa heard me come downstairs and ran into the room when she saw Mike was awake. First, I have to say that Elisa knows how to light up a room and make you feel loved. It could be five minutes, five hours, five days since she has last seen you and she lights up with a big smile and big dimples. She just makes you feel so loved. So, she runs in to see Mike and I, and soon after in comes Bekah.

Mike says, "I have my three princesses here with me. No, make that one queen and one princess."

Elisa says, " Yes, Daddy, Mommy is the queen, Bekah and I are the princesses, and Caleb is the servant!."

Of all the stupid things....

The day started out good enough...I didn't have to get up in the middle of the night to pee, that is a plus for me right now, and I got to sleep until 8:30. Today was the first day of a new class Caleb gets to take over five days at a local Montessori School. I got up and did all that I do and decided since I am less than 10 minutes away, and am really lazy in the mornings, I would just put a jacket on over my jammies, which are sweats, and run Caleb to the school and get back home to the girls (Mike had just gotten home from work) No bra, no makeup...just in and out.

Did I say it was pouring rain? Oh, well, it was POURING. I took the van because his seat is already in there, and off we went. When I got there I decided to park close to the building and run in. I chatted with some friends and got back in my car. My friend, Tammy was parked next to me, and waved me to go...and I tried, but my wheels just started spinning. Tammy's too. See...with all the gravel around us, Tammy and I were "smart enough" to pull forward just enough to get stuck in the mud. Zach ,the teacher at the school was so nice about it...the lady helping him...she wasn't so thrilled with us...

So, for the next hour, the kids, and teachers at the school shoveled, wheelbarrowed,and pitch forked mulch under out tires and cars to help push us out. It worked for Tammy's little civic...not so much for my big ol' van. And so, Tammy took me home so I could call a tow truck...we are wet, cold...and did I mention I didn't put on a bra this morning...and we headed back.

Five minutes and $50 later, the tow truck got me out...and two hours after I dropped Caleb off, I went home.

This was supposed to be my snuggle and read to the girls days. It ended up with me reading one chapter out of a book, get them lunch and grab a nap before I needed to shower, get back to Caleb,and head to work.

Just another Donna trick for our car. I am pretty good at them by now...and luckily I have a great, understanding husband who laughs at me and says "these things happen."

Why oh why?...

Why must my sense of smell be so affected by this little person growing inside of me?

When I was pregnant with Bekah, we had just moved to TN, and had bought our first house. A friend of mine back in WA had these Glade plug ins that I loved, so I bought them after we moved and put them everywhere in our new house....that is until the smell made me sick really quick. I still can't have those, or really any kind of plug in in my house.

A few weeks back, I bought some eucalyptus for my dining room. I have always loved this smell, and it looks so pretty on my dining room table. Now, every night...the smell comes into my living room as I lay on the couch and ugh...will I ever lie this again? And what about noodle with Parmesan cheese? This is a staple in my family. It is what I lived on when I was pregnant with Caleb....but even to smell noodles cooking...and don't even think about leaving the Parmesan cheese out....makes me run to the bathroom.

I can't open my refrigerator without holding my breath...I never know which smell, and I'm not talking rotten food, will come out at me...and poor Mike, he has become the sole dishwasher around here...please don't let anything lay around the sink...and don't put water in it to soak it...



It amazes me the changes you can go through in such a short time...from foods I used to love...I won't get started on this...but will say it will be a long time before salad ever enters my mouth again... to smells that make me sick....and I wonder what parts of me will be the same when I finally meet this little baby?

Snow in East Tennessee...

It doesn't happen often...it doesn't stay around long...but, once in a while...we get snow!

Our first winter here, in 2001 we had a grand snow over the weekend. We lived on a big hill and I remember parking at the top of the hill the night before because we would never get out of our driveway. And I remember Caleb, then our only child, loving being out in the snow, but hate the snow on his shoes, so he would continually brush them off.

The next winter we had Bekah. And we had our friends the Waters over for sledding...and the next year Elisa and more sledding...and I couldn't wait for the next year because my kids could really get to sled....

And it never really came...we never got a lot again after that...but living on a big hill we didn't need a lot of snow to go sledding...just a sled...

January 2004

Caleb is 3, Bekah is 1...Elisa was asleep inside and I had the baby monitor in my pocket!

January 2005

Bekah was 3, Elisa was 1..Caleb must have been at preschool...not a big snow, but it was Elisa's first time out in it...

This summer when we moved to our new house...on a lovely flat lot I told Mike, "you know we will get snow this year." And we did....but the kids still figured out how to sled and ha a great time...here's a glimpse of our fun...

This is when the snow first started...we never know how long it will snow, so at the first sign we are out ready to play!

Here's Bekah...catching snowflakes on her tongue!

Duncan got to come over and play after our Monday Fun class...he and Caleb played outside the whole time and made this wonderful snowman...complete with walking stick!

Mike came out to have a snowball fight with Elisa...Bekah was over at a friends house playing...

Elisa and I made a snowman together...my cold blooded body doesn't let me stay outside too long...but this was really fun!

Elisa and Mike with his and her snowmen!

Like I said, we don't have much of a hill...but they make it work anyway! All the way into the road!

The only thing missing was some good snow cones from the other Party of Five ;)

Why I should never go to bed early....

After not sleeping the night before, and then tackling Pigeon Forge shopping on the coldest day of the year with my mom, I crashed on the couch at 9:30. By the way, I always crash on the couch when Mike is working nights...I just can't fall asleep in bed with out him...

So, now it is almost 5 a.m., and after email and facebook, I figured, why not catch up on some blogging I have been avoiding? So here goes....

Here is a week at the Williams:
I posted that I had a surprise on my birthday, which isn't a surprise to most of you but....
As of right now...I am 11...nearing 12 weeks of pregnancy! I was excited to write this a little earlier,but then had some spotting, and after miscarrying last year, I decided to wait until my appointment this week to know my little bit was ok.
The doctor wasn't able to find a heartbeat, so we went in for an ultrasound...and there the little person was, doing a dance or something...with a strong heartbeat. I don't know if I will ever be able to explain my emotions over this little person and my excitement....but I am thrilled to get to be a new momma one more time. (Mike has let me know, yes...this is the last time...)
And I will say, since I am about 6 years older than I was with my last pregnancy, I am happy to say, ok!

While I am thankful for every part of this pregnancy, it has been my hardest, and I am reminded at the doctor of my "old age" for pregnancy...and really, I would love to be able to brush my teeth in the morning without having to head straight to the toilet afterwards...

So, my birthday, as I so discreetly pointed out, was last Tuesday. And, it was a great day of doing nothing...which is pretty much all I do lately anyway. Mike cleaned the kitchen for me (which he does all the time now anyway since I am a bit queasy) and bought me lunch at Chick Fil A...my appetite is starting to return, and I am happy to be able to eat a little more now...
We also went out to dinner with my parents and had a nice evening with them...though my mom did get a little loud about some things and I had a bit of a teenage moment...

On Wednesday night, three of my dear friends took me out after church. These three have been a big part of my life since I have moved here, but more so since I had Elisa, and they were pregnant too. Lydia had Garner in Feb. after I had E, then Joy had Halle in June, and Tamara had Eli in Aug. We have been a good support for each other over the last five years...and though our lives have taken some different directions, we still get together to celebrate each other's birthday's.

We started out at Target. While this may not seem exciting, know that I (who loves to shop) had not been out shopping since before Christmas. This is because 1. I have felt that yucky, and 2. we did have rain after rain after rain....
So, my choice was to re-introduce myself to the lovely red store, and then eat, of course!
We hit the dollar spot, and then ran into another great friend, Elisabeth, and talked with her until they closed and booted us out...
On to Ruby Tuesdays for some coffee and a blondie...dessert...
It was good to reconnect with these ladies...we each catch up one on one, but being together is really special...and I got some pretty awesome gifts out of the night as well!

Today mom and I went to Pigeon Forge for a little shopping...umm, not little, you can't go there for little shopping. Anyway, she had mentioned yesterday that she wanted to hit a certain store, and I love getting over there for good children's clearance..so off we went, on the coldest day of the year...we started the day at 5 degrees here...
Oh, I have to mention that I picked her up at a funeral and am still wondering if that is weird? She told me to get there around 11:45...the funeral ended at 12:30 (thank you chick fil a for being close by) and I watched this sweet little 94 year old widow get into her children's car to go to the burial...while I was waiting for my mom so I could go shopping...
So, off we went, and hit many lovely sales, and was given some extra coupons at my first stop, which saved me $20 more dollars....which I spent most of on pretzels so we could all have a bit more energy for the last few stores...and to keep the kids quiet for a little longer....and now my kids have many new clothes for next year...

So, that is it...I think...my update on this week...tomorrow brings another week of basketball and cheerleading....and two more nights of Mike working nights...and hopefully, sleep for me....

Happy Birthday to me!

I may have been reluctant to want to celebrate my birthday this year...what with me turning 35 and all...but here it is today! And I am thrilled because I love birthday's!!

I have no idea what is planned, though I am sure it will be low key after having a little scare yesterday with a little surprise I have yet to blog about...more on that Thursday after the doctor...

But, today is my birthday!! Happy Birthday to me!!
And to celebrate, my friend Kim, from high school so lovingly gave birth to her second son!!!