Up and running...for now anyway!

We haven't been able to use the computer because the internet here is very touch and go, so I will try to upload pictures at another time.

Kyler has two ear infections right now so he is a bit of an unhappy boy...until the motrin kicks in. Once the motrin kicks in he is dancing all over the place. He is loving having such a BIG KID bed. He has to climb onto his Winnie the Pooh Blocks box to get in and out of his bed, but he loves it. He has been our little champ at going to bed every night and if he gets up at night, he puts himself back to bed and covers himself up. He can't wait for the babies to come and compares our tummies all the time. He is asking me every 10 minutes if I am sick and if the babies are sick. We have had to go out and buy a lock for the fridge to keep him out of the food. The only other place he can get food is one lower cupboard that has cereal...unless he gets a chair and climbs on the cupboard which has happened a few times! That kid LOVES his food!!!

Walker has been having a great time with Rikk being home every day. He wants to go exploring at the hospital EVERY day. He tells Rikk, "Dad, we are going to drop mom off, get a water and a snack and then go exploring." Yesterday the babies were having a party in my tummy and moving like crazy and all the boys were feeling my tummy and laughing. Walker went up to Rikk and said, "Dad, the babies are punching mom and it doesn't even hurt her." You see, Walker sometimes punches one of his brothers and makes them cry, so he just couldn't believe that I was getting punched and it didn't hurt...and that the babies weren't getting a time out! Walker is trying to stop sucking his thumb. He told us he wants to stop, but that it is really hard. We suggested that we make a chart and then he came up with all kinds of ideas. He wanted the chart made out of his hand that was traced with the thumb crossed out. Then he had us make signs to put in the living room, his bedroom and in the truck so that he would remember to not suck his thumb. Since we moved out of the house we sold, he has been sucking it almost all the time and now we only catch him about twice a day. We are VERY proud of him.

Hunter is in ALL day kindergarten and starting to like it. He has a little girlfriend named Kaitlyn that we like to tease him about. He is above everyone in his class and Rikk has to go and talk to the teacher to challenge him more. If she asks the kids to do A,B and C, Hunter does all three with time left over and the other kids do A, maybe B. Also, they only get one book to take home a week to practice reading and then take back. In NP Hunter was reading about 3 books a week, 10 pages or so long with 1-2 sentences on a page. Here the books are four pages with about 5 words on a page..."Jan and Stan sat." He wants to do more reading! He also got his first bow and has enjoyed going and shooting it with Rikk. Rikk says he is a natural at it and is very proud of Hunter.

Rikk has become quite the "Mr. Mom" around here. I really do feel bad for him because he does miss work quite a bit...but he knows he is doing what is best for us. He has enjoyed being with the kids and also getting a babysitter! He also goes and shoots his bow for a little bit after the kids go to bed some nights. He has realized that being a stay at home "mom" is no joke and has days where he is just exhausted at the end of the day. I feel bad that he wasn't able to test for MSgt today because we are down here and now he has to test out of cycle, which means he won't find out when he makes it until later then those tested around this time. Oh, Rikk even took ALL three boys to the new Monsters vs. Aliens movie all by himself and they had a great time.

I am hanging in there. For my birthday we actually had some friends down here from NP for a temple trip, so it was great to see them. Rikk took the kids to the Bouncin' Bears with the Barneys and they had a blast. Then they came here and had cake and ice cream. I have been on bed rest for almost 11 weeks now and it is not all it's cracked up to be. I have to go in EVERY day to be monitored now...my doctor knows how much I want to be with Rikk and the kids, so I won't have to stay in the hospital unless I end up having to be monitored multiple times a day. I hate going to this appointments because I just NEVER know how things are going to go. I get a little anxious and nervous every day wondering if it's going to be the day that I get admitted until the babies are born, or if the babies will have to be born that day. But as mom said, TODAY was an AMAZING appointment. The babies are doing wonderful and my Dr. was thrilled. She would love for me to make it to 32 weeks and anything after that would be "gravy" as she says. She even said that at 32 weeks we would be surprised how well the smaller baby would do. The babies were "weighed" last week and Phineas weighs 1lb 12oz and Fern weighs 2lbs 4oz. They are hanging in there though and we feel really, really blessed.

Kyler had a birthday!

So this is a little late to wish Kyler a Happy Birthday. I have tried getting some pictures posted, but they load about half way and then my internet quits working. I will keep trying though.

Kyler turned the BIG 3 on the 11th! He was so excited that it was his birthday. He LOVED being sang "Happy Birthday" and would just smile the biggest smile and then clap when the song was over. A fireman's wife that we know down here was kind enough to make Kyler a cake and all three boys got to decorate their own donuts which were a hit. They had a lot of fun. Kyler opened up a couple gifts on his birthday and then this Saturday Rikk is taking the boys to Chuck E. Cheese to have a little celebration.

Kyler is the happiest, silliest, funniest, most cuddly and caring little guy. There is definitely NEVER a dull moment with him around. Kyler constantly makes us laugh whether it is from silly faces, his "awesome" dance moves or just the things he says. He also gets very concerned when others sad or hurt and tries to make them feel better.

We love you Kyler and definitely couldn't imagine our family without you. We can't wait to see what this next year brings with you.

"Walker, where'd you get that?"

While I was at one of my doctor appointments this week, Rikk took the boys to Sportsman's Warehouse while they waited. Rikk noticed Walker was eating something and this is their conversation about it.

Rikk: Walker, what are you eating?
Walker: Some popcorn.
Rikk: (looking very confused asks) Where in the world did you get popcorn from?

And this is the answer...

Walker: From my underwear! I put it there before we left in case I wanted a snack!

Come to find out, he put the popcorn in his underwear 2 hours before this when we were leaving the house. How uncomfortable and how gross to actually eat it!

On the road again...

Well, I am not on the road, but Rikk and the boys are on their way to Anchorage as I am typing this. We are officially going to be there until the babies are born and can come home. We will be staying in a ranch 3 bedroom house on Elmondorf AFB that is fully furnished, kitchen, bathroom, etc. Hopefully we will have some sense of "normalcy" with being in a house vs. being in a hotel room.

I had another appointment in Anchorage this last Thursday and Ferb is doing the same. His Doppler got measured three different times and got a 1.o, 1.3, and 1.5 and they have to go with the highest one. Phinneas' heart beat slowed down a couple times during the appointment, but she said he was doing fine. I have to go in three times a week to be monitored for an hour each to make sure they are doing okay and I am not contracting, and I also have my regular/ultra sound appts as well. I went to L&D yesterday to just be on the safe side because I hadn't felt the babies move as much as they usually do, but they checked out fine. I love when they ask, "Have you been able to feel them both move?" WHAT...who the heck knows which one is moving when, they are all over the place.

But we will keep you all updated on how things go. Wish we could have stayed at home and just delivered here, but this is what is bests for these two little guys.

Places to go, Things to do, Babies to name

With us going to Anchorage for more than likely at least 4 months, we were wondering what we (Rikk) was going to do with the boys to keep them entertained. We know of a couple things to do and places to go, but we also need some input.

Sooooo, anyone who knows of ANYTHING that would be fun, entertaining or educational for the boys in Anchorage please let us know.

Also, we are still willing to hear ANY and ALL suggestions of boys' names ending in "er" so that hopefully we can come up with some actual names for these two kiddos...or I just may be really stuck with Phinneaus and Ferb!!!