The Little and Big of Sisterhood

Jesselyn posed for a picture with her lil' sissy before she left. She thinks that Kenda looks like she did when she was a baby. Maybe some, but Jesselyn's eyes were way bigger when she was little. It would just have to be the face shape. I will scan in a photo of Jesselyn at about 6 months and I guess we can all decide. They love each other, it is so awsome to see them interact together.

Daddy's Little Farmer Girl

Little Miss Pretty in Pink even looks great in her over alls from Grandpa Ed. Looks like she is ready for the field! Yes that is just a little bow in her hair. We can get it to stay there long enuf for a quick picture. She just really does not have much hair, so it is tuff to get one to stay in there. I love the look on her face in this photo. She looks like this about 85% of the time. The other time she is making silly faces while she is trying to talk, or sleeping. She really does not fuss much each day on a regular basis. She does fuss some, just not a bunch thank goodness. I would say that the most of her fussin' might take place at night when she loses that pacifier and can not seem to understand that it is the object sticking her right in the neck! Takes a quick second to to replace it where it should be, but that quick second it after waking, taking myself to another room and finding it in the dim light! Ha.

Little Miss Pretty in Pink

Hello, it is Sunday evening, and seems that it was short weekend as usual. Were does the time go when you are at home with family? It crawled just the other day at work, I thought that Friday @ 5 would never ever arrive.  I think that I love this photo. My darling little baby just looks so precious in pink. We went to Sioux City yesterday on a quest for craft/scrapbook materials and a cute dress for Easter and some pictures coming up at the first of March. Jesselyn was here so we went to. At the end of our quest we discovered the bargain of the day! This beautiful sweater set for Kenda. A Steal of a Deal at $9 after starting out close to $40! She looks wonderful in it. So, we made sure we wore it to church this moring. She was  good girl in church as usual. She sat most of the time with Pandora Phipps. She sang a couple times and made some coos, but never anything loud and frightful. She loves to look around and smile at all the people.  So, here is little Miss Pretty in Pink.

Just a quick up date from our house tonight. I added real quick a picture of Kenda's new diggs. I bought a crib last weekend, and I do believe I got a great deal for this second hand crib. It is very nice and then of course I needed some fun stuff for the inside...and it ended up Pooh bear of course. She likes it  a lot as you can see. She covers almost every square inch of it each night!

Now, for the not so fun news. Sunday night we took Kenda to the ER. She was coughing and sleeping more than usual and was crying yet lathargic at the same time. It was very scary. So, they did do the test on her for RSV since it is going around a lot here and she did test positive. I think that we caught it very early. They gave us a nebulizer to use at home four times a day. Other than that it has to run it's own course. She is not drinking as well as she should. They want her to take in fluids. So, if she wont drink much tomorrow like today, she will have to go back. Not sure what they will do. There are several other babies and toddlers in the hospital right now for RSV here in Cherokee. I stayed home today, and daddy will be staying here with her the rest of the week. She has good moments and bad ones. The bad ones really stink. I feel so helpless for her. I feel so sad about it. Cross your fingers and please give a little prayer for her if you will. I want to be able to heal her up and keep her here at home!

This is just a hoot. It is in early January, so not so long ago- she really has not done this since.

Up Too Late Update!

I have been playing around as you can see. I am gettin somewhat better, but hey it is 1:45 am, what can I say! I wanted to post at least this video from the beginning of the month. TShe is having her first taste of rice baby cereal. She did quite well really. She has her cereal each night around 8pm before bed, so she can sleep all night. Or suppose to any how. She has her moments. She is a night owl. She started today at Vera's having cereal too. She must not be a morning eater yet, Vera said she would not take it in the morning, it had to be later after lunch time. Ha, I could not get her to take it in the morning over the weekend either. She is so cute. She just turned 5 months old on January 24th, can you believe it. I certainly am having a hard time. She went to doc just the other day with a rash- turns out she has Eczema. We went to get some spendy cream and it healed up great and her dry skin patches are healing too. She is sleeping better also, I think she was really itchy before since she wiggled so much. She has slowed down on the wiggles too, so finally some peace at night. I make sure she has the cream twice a day all over and then hit the patches of dry at diaper changes. We also discovered why mommy's back hurts alot...I am luggin' around a 16 pound little chunk! I could hardly believe it myself. She certainly grows in spurts. She has the chubbiest legs, her little tiny feet sorta look funny at the end of the chunky legs. She has been sitting on her own just a little now. She can balance for a couple of minutes if she does not look around too much, that throws her off balance. She is still messin' around trying to wiggle into a crawl. She pulls her legs up under her more and more each day. She has mastered the roll over Great now, and can go from tummy to back and back to tummy or just roll over twice. She is gettin that down very well. It is so wonderful to just watch her. I have another video or two to post, but I need to get to bed, so I will try that tomorrow night or so. I have tons of pics also, from the holidays- but I will just post the cutest ones! Promise!

Testing the Blog

I am testing out this whole new concept, to see if I can get my new videos on here. Looks like I can, but can I really?? WE will see wont we. I want to post more...been trying to get more done, but heck with working and all...and now I am starting to go to the wellness center to walk before I come home...long days and really really short nights. Ok, sooooo as you might tell, it is almost midnight now. I was messing with the videos, so I want to see if this will work.
Holy crud, I think it worked! Ya'll let me know if you see it , can play it and how well. I feel soooo techy!!! LOL ( really it must be the lack of sleep!)

Well, Here we are, mid October on a cold and snowing morning. YUK, I guess we just got to take what we get. Kenda is an unofficial 12# now...and from the looks of it, it has almost all gone to her CHEEKS!! I think they are getting bigger. What do ya'll think? As you can see, she is now smiling. She has been for a couple weeks. Big gummy grins. She loves to grin in the mornings after her morning milk the most.

She is doing better with the rash on her face. Doc VandeLune said it was nothing to worry about and we are applying some really great cream. It is better than it was.

Don't ya just love this shirt???!! If you can't read it very well, it says I love my Mummy...ha. Pandora found it for the shower. It is just so cute. She has a couple more so she is ready for the Halloween season. No costume just yet, but we will.

She is holding her head up more and more, even though she did a good job of it when she was born. She still likes sleeping on her side the most, but will manage to sleep well on her back. She will take a bottle of breast milk from others, and even daddy if we are not home. She is sharp, she knows when we are not here and when we are. So, I hope that she will be a good girl for Vera her sitter. She was a good girl for grandma Carolyn on Friday. I had my appt at the doctors office and she stayed with Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Jerry for that time. She drank her bottle. It was ok to leave her there, it did not bother me so much as I thought, but it was family. That makes a big difference. I already started crying again last night because she goes to the sitter for the first time tomorrow afternoon. We are going to visit Vera this afternoon and meet her and take her diapers and wipes. I hate the thought of tomorrow and taking her to the sitter. It is gonna kill me. I wish her daddy had more sympathy for me....even if he wont change things, a little compassion would sure help. He has no clue, not one about how this is tearing me up inside.

I wish the poor little thing had more of a schedule or routine but she does not. She is sleeping for longer periods of time at night. And she did hit the hay a little earlier the past two nights. I spend a lot of time making sure she is not sleeping all day to be up all night. I have to be sure the sitter understands that too. And, I get to train daddy into taking his turn now that momma is heading back to work. I have to say this is much much much tougher at 43 than it was at 23. I get so tired I could just vomit. Hopefully as time goes on and she sleeps longer at night we will all be better. I think if I could get her to take a nice big warm bottle at night she would do way better, but like I said she does not like that at home, so it will be a big struggle at the point where we make that happen.

Well, I best go and wake up sleeping beauty. We need to get ready to go to town. Post office and to see Vera after that. Suppose to be warm up to a balmy 40 degrees this afternoon. Whoot! I think we are waiting for that to happen. I don't have to go out before then, so we won't. Tomorrow is a different story altogether. I will make it up again later for adding pictures from the baby shower we had in Cherokee. It was super and we have some great pictures.

Good Morning...I guess. Kenda gave me a fright this morning...she did not get up on her regular 2 hour schedule in the night. I jumped from the bed when Kent's alarm went off and I realized it was morning. Wow. She was fine, sleeping like a little angel. Her normal routine as been down at 12 or 1 am, and then up about every 2 hours or so and doing that until noon. So, momma is tired, cuz no, I dont sleep when baby does, who has time for that! My laundry is behind, my house is a wreck. my mail is a wreck. Seems when she is up, she does not like just being still in her bouncy seat or lying on the floor...she wants some company. Who does not love holding and comforting a baby???Duh.....that is why we have her isn't it.

Gotta run, someone just woke up and is screaming her head off!! Later!

We had our first big event on the 12th- Matt and Liz's
Wedding. Kenda got a new dress to wear from Grandma Carolyn
and she looked fabulous. She posed with Bachy and Lisa and after
Sleeping thru the whole wedding and most of the reception, she

woke up for the party time. So,

Patty got to see her with her eyes open. Big sis

Jesse was here, so we posed real quick for a snap shot.

Once she was awake, she stayed that way for a long time, and did not seem to mind the very loud music. I did
so we told daddy it was time to go...little missy stayed up until 1:30 that night.....mom was one dead head the next day. Sunday was spent lying on
the couch!

Well, can you believe that tomorrow will mark Kenda's 4th week!!!! Oh how time flies. You have to forgive me for not posting so far....it is not my fault. My lovely little daughter has built in radar for two things....me eating....and me on the computer. I have started two or three different times...and just then.....wwwaaaaaaa from down stairs and I just cancel out and go tend to her. She does not understand that I am trying to share her pics...only that she is hungry. Geezzzz.

So, here it is after 11 pm and I am cutting my sleeping time way down, but I just wanted to share some pics......she sleeps about 2 hrs at a time thus far....and sometimes that does not start until midnight...depends on how the day went.

In the pictures above, she is with Dr Harrison, on her first check up. She had gained 2 pounds and had grew 1/2 an inch...! Wow, I never would have seen that coming. She slept through the entire appt, even being undressed, weighed and poked. Ha...it is the truck ride to town that does it. Knocks her out for a long time. Many ppl still think she never opens her eyes. The other pic is daddy giving her the first bottle. She did well, as did daddy. She did not so well with another bottle a few days later....but we are working on it. The other pics are just some shots....I love her little feet. Daddy says they are monkey feet, cuz if you touch them, she grips her little itty bitty toes on to you- and of course like babies are, she is very flexible....so she can "fold" them in tight to her body....she likes them rubbed, just like her daddy likes his feet rubbed.....

Well, that is going to be it for now....at this moment I better just stay up...cuz momma's little milk mug should be thinking she is starving in about 30 minutes, give or take a few. So, I will try again tomorrow for updates and more pics...she had her first visit to the clay county fair on friday, which was also the first stroller use.....that went well also. She has the cadillac of strollers from Grandpa Jerry and Grandma Carolyn....it was great. Thank you Jerry and Carolyn....the stroller was perfect.

Taa Daa- Kenda Renae Smith

Hello- we made it home. I got pics. This will be short, I am swelling in the legs and ankles really bad from the boat load of Pitocin....my ankles resemble my knees now and the knees- well, hips I guess. Everyone wants to know what Daddy thinks....I think the picture says it all. He loves her to death. He even has changed TWO diapers, and he was up with her this morning at 5, and held her til he had to leave at 6. The picture with the polk a dot blanket is from going home day. She was 7 pounds 15 oz and 21 inches long!

I will spare the long drawn out version of my week for you- long long story made short: I went for doc appt Friday and I never made it home until last night! Her fluid in the sac was almost half what it should be, pumping IV's into me did not make it better, so they induced slowly on Saturday all day, nothing, then induced really hard on Sunday- started to think we would have baby....but suddenly I quit....so since she was low on fluid and I was swelling in cervix- at 4 am on Sunday night doc said I have to have C Section on Monday at 6:30 am, which was only in a few hours. C Section went fine....Kenda was stuck in the canal.....that is what stopped my labor....so she had to be tugged and pushed out. Just my luck! She is a trooper- she is fine. All is well. She has a mommy & me visit from some nurse today- so stupid the day after we get home.

I will post more pics later...she is now awake again. Her first night home was not a magical scene at all like I imagined. She was up every hour all night....and me too. So, gotta run , stuff to do and feet to put up.

Thanks for all the well wishes. Love to all...Rhonda

Countin' Down Week # 39

SOMEONE posted these pics just outside my cubicle at work! Hhmmm....Paula, could you tell me who did this?? One was from the wedding shower for Matt and Liz and the other is from over the weekend when Kent & I were at Jake and Megan Nolls wedding reception. I was trying to see what was happenin' on the dance floor, and well, fell SHORT, so i climbed up on a chair to see- using Kent to stabilize me in the front! We even danced, but could not coax BUG out! (I do believe I have Aunt Ruby to thank for the pics....)

This week I still have some trouble with that tooth. Called the dentist on Tues for some advise and help- besides being told I should have had the root canal- they gave me antibiotics. This morning when I woke up- it was bleeding and oozing. YUK! But, it stopped quickly and I made it to work. Dentist said to keep up the meds and let them know if not better today....and it did get better - the meds kicked in. The swelling is going down and the pressure & pain have lessened. So, I see doctor Harrison tomorrow bright and early at 8- I can fill her in then. She was not around today. Other than that--- still in the holding pattern.

Ya'll have to help me out tho- what shall I say when I see someone and they say to my face- "Still have not had that baby yet?" UG! Seriously- just look at me, does it look like I had the baby???? I need a quick funny come back!

Jesse is turning 20 tomorrow! Oh, my baby is 20....man that went fast. She bought some Winnie Pooh blankets yesterday for BUG- she soooooo wants to know what this baby is, and ready to steal the sealed envelope and go for it! She washed up the few clothes we have here at the house today, so that we can have something packed for the hospital and coming home. It looks so little compared to all of our stuff......... she is really gettin' excited too....I think she wants it to be here so she can spend some time before she is off to college......it is so sweet to hear.

Off I go, I need to make sure we have all the addresses listed in my black book of life so that we can update ya'll from the hospital.....don't worry we will. Rhonda & Bug

Progress Report

Well....no I have not had that baby yet. I went to the doctor last Friday- and well, at first my blood pressure was high, but we took it again later and it had went down. It might have been due to the fact that my appt was at 1:00- doc was in the ER and the OB dept with someone in labor- so I finally went in after 3, saw her after4 and was out the door on the was to 5. Never made it back to work from that appt either! So, I gained back the pound I lost and baby was growing but measured about the same. It moves around, so hard to get an accurate measurement. I was not dilated any longer...clammed back up as doc likes to describe it. Lovely- guess I will really see that due date or beyond. She asked me if I wanted an order to cut my work hours...but I can do that with out a note...half of my co workers are trying to shove me out the door now. What is with that? I can work as long as I can....once I am gone, so is the income for that moment. People seem to think I am crazy still working. Some ppl seem to think I should be home in bed- what the hell- that would just make me lazy and weak for delivery. I still walk when I can. It makes my back hurt like heck and tighten up - but it is suppose to be good for me.

My stupid tooth that needs pulled or repaired (dentist says root canal, I say shove that idea!!)- well it just HAD to flare up in the past few days. I called and got an antibiotic today- could not take it anymore and well, figured it would not get better with out some help. Had to hear AGAIN how it would not have been a big deal, just a like a filling, to get that root canal done and would not bother my pregnancy. Yeah right- ever heard of Murphy's law people??? I probably wont ever have that root canal done anyhow- just pull it and replace with a lovely partial plate...no need to rotor rooter my tooth then cap it- when there is only about a quarter of it left anyhow. So, Iam hoping to at least rid myself of that pain before my labor pains begin!

John and Jesse have finally both got the financial aide info right on the FAFSA info, and turned into school and gettin ready for that. Some how this year, BOTH of them had errors on their reports....what a nightmare! But both the have fixed the problems mostly themselves....Jesse starts on the first, and will head out for campus on the 30th, that Sunday before. John I think starts sometime next week. He is all wigged out that I will have the baby his first week of school and will make it hard for him to visit. When ever he gets here will be fine. He ran down all his plans for study, law test, this class and that....and of course lost me in the process....good thing he is the smart one! Just proud that he is thinking ahead, planning and doing so well....he is just a wonderful young man...

Well, all for tonight, I really am tired as usual. I need to hit the hay- even tho I have cleaning that needs done, cookies to bake and laundry to do....it will be there tomorrow. I will leave work early to get a jump start on the evening!

Good night all......best wishes to you all! More to come later!

Liz & Matt's Shower (Aug 8th)

The traditional Smith wedding shower for

Matt and Liz was Saturday the 8th. It was a hot one that day, with heat indexes near 100 degrees. I made it...it was over @ Lowell and Paula's house in the garage....very humid. Since I work w/ Paula, most everyone knew that I had been in the hosp the day before. So, here was a photo op for the blog and journal. (Liz is the beautiful tan, thin blond one, I am the round, plump sweaty brunette- just incase you were confused!! wink wink) Even got Kent to pose for a second...and forced to smile for a Prego Pic.

Mother Nature Rules

Friday 7th was a regular routine doc visit- or so I thought. I went to appt before work at 8. I had lost a pound, and my blood pressure was up for me to 130 over 80- which is not high by standards, just higher than I had been. The baby was moving a lot and doctor had little trouble getting a heart rate...and what she could get was a tad high, obviously from the moving around. Suddenly she decides that I need the ultra sound and non stress test done and made the appts, that day, starting at 9:30, it was 8:45 when that happened. I ran to the bank and tried to call Kent on the cell......no answer! I left him a msg that I had test to do. Ultra sound first... everything seemed fine there and Mary said that ultra sound says that baby weighed in at 7 pounds 5 oz....good size....smaller than the last kid, that is good!!! So, then off to the non stress test in the OB dept of the hospital. I was feeling fine and told the nurse about having the test with Jesselyn, and that I could not feel the contractions she was so big....blah blah blah.....while she hooked me up to the lovely little monitors. So, I am there about 10 minutes, Darla, the nurse/supervisor pulls up the test tape and says to me.......your story is about to repeat itself! I said what? Yeah, you are having contracts at about 3 minutes apart- did you not know that again? I just laughed, til she showed me the test tape and sure enuf, there was the proof that I am still an idiot at 43! I told her that I had these "feelings" for some time now and thought it was just the BUG settling in a ball on the right side....not a contraction for crying out loud. So, there I sat for hours hooked up to that machine - all the while contracting.....awaiting response for the doctor. Darla did an exam and said I was dilated between a 1 and a 2. Finally the doc showed up around lunch time and did exam...I was doing some bleeding from the exams....little concerned she seems, but I was much more concerned. I swear there was an elbow in there at one point! Doc decided that I should have an IV bag of fluids, that this will sometimes make the contractions go away if they are not productive, gonna have a baby contractions.....ok, Whatever. So, that takes like 2.5 hrs.....so there I lay, try to snooze....not working that well for me...watch TV, wow day time TV sucks! Yes, I have talked to Kent by then to let him know all the details.....he is still working over at Hinton. I told him I was fine and in no pain, so don't rush over. He likes that idea. The contractions never seem to go away w/ the fluids.....still waiting on the doc. Finally I got to walk around a bit and see all the rooms I could choose from...there are 3, and they are very nice! I walked for a while, IV in tow. Then that battery when out, so back to my room to sit. Doc calls over & says give me more fluid, monitor couple more hours , feed me and send me home. UG! I missed a whole day of work....not that that kills me mind you.....just was not in my plan....if I am gonna miss work or play hooky- it needs to be for more that sittin in a hosp room alone all day for what seems like nothin! So, I got out of the hosp at 6, ran to drug store and then home.....Jesse was working and Kent was hauling gravel to the house. I was feeling fine, so just hung out here, and Kent brought me pizza. I continued to have contractions all weekend and even today....just not 3 minutes apart. Just when ever......and they are getting lower on the abdomen........so we will just have to see what goes. Oh- by the way....I had Mary the gal who did the ultra sound write the sex of the baby down, and seal in an envelope- I did not what to find out w/out Kent......brought it home.....it is still sealed....Kent won't decide what to do with it.....driving me and Jesse crazy....and he is enjoying that too....the poop. I guess we waited this long we could wait a little more.....but I wanted to start the sign for the yard.....and do a baby registry on line.....oh well..........

Weekly Update Week #37

OK, I did not think I looked that bad until I saw this photo. Geeeezzzzz! I am huge and big! I was at the fax machine at work today and Donna thought it was cute and took my pic. They all seem to giggle when I am at the fax or the file cabinet and can not get really close. Oh well, they are right, it is funny to look at.

Doc visit went well, blood pressure at 120 over 70, only gained one pound (can not believe that after all the sweet corn I have eaten lately!!) baby measures in at 37 cm and the it's heart rate was 144. Little higher than before, but good. My bood test (hemoglobin) was fine and they did some other test- will know later on that one. For some infection that can hurt the baby....but is only treated during labor. Seems weird. Still swelling, but it does go down at night. Here is the kicker I did not want to hear at all: Doc says my cervix is closed up tight like a clam, soft, but shut! Serious. So, I say- what does that mean? Yeah, don't think you will go any sooner than those last 3 remaining weeks, and maybe even 4. You might be looking at induced labor if you don't get rolling soon. Walk more...and well, another suggestion I won't share- but some of you may know what she said. Walk more....ug. I see her this coming Friday again...so we'll just see what I can come up with by then.

Carolyn (mother n law) has completed the painting on the garage...I did get to help some this Saturday...what I could reach....it looks so much better now. Now she is on a roll to finish up the landscaping that she and I started last summer and that Kent added to this summer. She got Kent to move dirt Sunday and so the process begins. I think she will be here diggin' in the dirt tomorrow while I am at work. Wish I could help more, but I just can not.

Funny story- here I was this morning, working on the computer to get John's FAFSA completed that was held up due to my pin #- anyway- here I am trying to work on this, my senior in college, the night before was helping Jesse get books on line for her second year- all the while counting down weeks to my baby.....good God what was I thinking!!!???? I had to laugh. The lady on the other end of the live chat was nice, and I told her that doing this was not on my To- DO list this week, since I was having a baby in three weeks....she sorta disappeared.....think I shocked her or something?

I got to go, it is too hot up here and the feet are swelling in this sitting position after standing in the kitchen doing dishes for supper....ug. Will post any fun stuff or pics....and will keep you informed on the doc visit. Take care ya'll!

36th week- 4 more to go (July 28th)

This is too funny. I asked Kent to take my picture outside tonight for the pregnancy journal and blog. I guess Bullet was feeling a little left out and wondering what we were doing.....Kent did not notice that last picture there where Bullet was making sure I was not hiding anymore sweet corn under my shirt!

That silly dog loves sweet corn as much as I do. Got to watch him while you shuck it or he will be gone in a flash with it. Oh, this is so funny, I am still laughing. I think that last picture has to go into the pregnancy journal.

Great UnExpected Visit

Suddenly last Wednesday I got a text from Laura, they were coming up for an equipment sale in Aurelia- and were going to stay in Cherokee for the night...could I suggest a place and would I be around for a visit. YEAH! So, I booked them a room....and we went in for supper to hang out with her and Craig. She finally got to meet Kent and he and Craig talked about farming all night long. It was super. Except for that issue at the hotel! (wink wink to Laura) Kent was running the camera.....he needs more practise...this was the only pic that we were both looking at him and not talking.

Lovely Ladies

Here is the gal that keeps me in check while pregnant and not, Jane Schmellon, my hair care professional! She is a blast. I tell her that I can not be walkin around with white hair running wild all over when I am about to have a baby for cryin out loud....she takes care of it as you can see. She is fun. She has even flown out and done hair for people on the Amerian Idol show...... wow- next time I better just tell her to give me the "Idol Treatment"!

At the end of June I traveled back south for a Bain side family reunion. It was fun. I got to see lots of family...not as much as I wanted, but it was great. It was even a cool weekend. I did not however see Lisa's kids....they were up here in Sioux City while I was down there...that stunk. I got to see my friend Steph too, that was fun...I even made it to see fireworks in Riverton, something I have not done before- even in those 40 years of livin' in southwest Iowa. Ha! You can see me and my sisters in the pic, and I met little Hunter Jones for the first time. He is so little and I thought he looked like his grandpa Jon. I can tell you tho, he is going places with those big eyes. He is my cousin Trudy's daughter's baby. Trudy, God rest your soul, I know you are smiling huge up there when you look down upon this handsome little one. My baby started kicking when Hunter was sittin there on the 'baby shelf"- that was funny. I also got to hang out some with Natalie and Nicole as you can see in the other pic. Those twins are just still growing- and busy! They wore me out just telling me all the things they had going for the summer. Holy cow. I hope that Shannon is gearing up for when the boys come knocking at his door- at double the pace! Ha Ha.....I best go back and find that picture of Denise's grandson...oh he is a cutie pie too....I will find that and add it in. Big huge brown eyes....heartbreaker in the makin'. I hear we are going to plan this reunion for every other year! Good. I am glad, it is good to see family.