*Disclaimer* This is going to a mushy mom-brag post because I am so dang proud of my child. Read on only if you you don’t have diabetes, this is likely to be sugar-filled.
Yesterday afternoon around 3:30 I got a phone call from Austin’s school saying he would be getting an award at an assembly the next day at 1 and said they would love for me to attend. I asked Bobby to take a long lunch so he could come with me, but he opted to work a half day instead. So we get to the gym today at 1 and the very first name called is Austin, for an award for best in his class for fine arts. Nifty. They then proceed to call out names of other students broken down in 4 categories for each subject…. “Outstanding Student Award - Boys”, “Outstanding Student Award - Girls”, “Most improved - Boys”, and finally “Most improved - Girls”. They did all the subjects for 6th grade, and then 7th grade.
At the end of the ceremony, the Dean of Students said he had a surprise for the students. He went on to say that he got some extra grant money and decided that he wanted to award one student from each grade for overall excellence. Someone who maintained great grades, attitude, attendance, and went above and beyond as a citizen of the school.
He then went on to say that the first student awarded has demonstrated excellence in many ways, not only by being a friend to all in his grade, but by being cheerful and courteous at all times. He is the student who at the dances stands in the middle of the gym and rocks out the his air guitar all by himself without a care in the world. The student who demonstrates honesty by returning the snacks to the Dean when the machine accidentally gives him two because he “only paid for one”, the student who is always asking if there is something he can do to help his teachers, his peers, and the Dean.
Bobby and I looked at each other because that kid sounded a LOT like our goofy, care-free, honest little guy, but at the same time there are a LOT of great 6th graders at his school. The Dean went on to say that he could not imagine a more deserving student than Austin to receive the award!
You should have seen my little guy, he was SO proud of himself and his classmates were all so excited! His teacher and I were bawling our eyes out and Bobby stood up to grant his permission for Austin to receive the iPod (since the school will not give a student big ticket items without the parents permission). Since it was so close to the end of the day, the teacher told us to go ahead and take him home with us, and on the way to the car Austin says “You know, my iPod I just bought with my birthday money has a 30 day return policy!” LOL So we went home to get the reciept and took him Best Buy to exchange his iPod for something else. He picked up Guitar Hero III (a game where you play songs on the XBox on a life-sized wireless guitar), he then also got two games for the Wii, Super Smash Brother’s Brawl, and Sonic vs. Mario Olympics, as well as an iTunes gift card.
Right now the three little boys are playing the Smash Brother’s game, even though Matthew has NO clue what he is doing, his brothers keep praising him for doing well.
In other news, Austin and I went back to the Humane Society, and still no Sabin. On the way home we picked up some neon paper to print out some missing signs to hang around the neighborhood. Hope fully we find him soon.
Tomorrow I will be 38 weeks pregnant. Wow. I have 15 more days until my due date, which means I *should* have my baby in my arms within the next 29 days. Hopefully sooner than later, come on out little lady, mama wants to meet you! I am so crampy.
Sabin is still missing, we are now on day 5. I have filed a report with the humane society (and looked at all the kitties to see if he was there), contacted the company he is microchipped through. Talked to neighbors, call for him daily, Bobby walks the block with a flashlight each night after sunset. I set out some smelly food, but a neighbor kitty ate it all up. Now we just wait, and hope, that he finds his way home soon.
I had my home visit with my midwife on Tuesday, all is well and she seemed to get along well with Bobby. She told me that they way I was coughing, she could tell I did not read the manual that states I am not allowed to get sick at the end of pregnancy. LOL I am feeling a little better today, so hopefully I am not coughing when I am pushing.
The older boys only have a week left of school before summer vacation, I am really looking forward to having them home to help. Usually I dread it because they get *so bored*, but they are older and more mature and are SO helpful around the house.
My mom is coming to visit in 2 1/2 weeks, I am so excited to see her, it has been 3 years since her last visit at my house. Normally we all drive up to visit her since all my family is up north and I can visit everyone.
Bobby’s boss is coming next week to visit him from Texas. I told him I will try to wait until after his boss leaves and after the kids are out of school to have this little one, which is May 23rd, but realistically, this will probably be a June baby. I am just hoping she decides to come sooner than later so Grandma can meet her.
Yesterday, when painting, we had the windows open to let in the cool air, and I guess one of the screens was damaged, because my Maine Coon mix kitty, Sabin, snuck out and he has not been seen. I hope his tummy gets hungry and he comes home soon, we all miss him so much!
…or as my kids know it… “Mandatory Slavery Day”.
So today DH painted the wall around our fireplace and finished painting the kitchen so now 100% of my two main floors are finished.
Austin and Christopher scrubbed doors, counters, and trim.
I vacuumed, shampooed carpets, shampooed my dining room chairs and living-room furniture, fixed a hole in the back of a sofa cushion and puttied a hole in my window from where Isis ripped down the blinds.
When DH was done painting he made a super yummy dinner for Austin’s birthday of BBQ steak, pasta salad, corn on the cob and mashed potatoes. I also made him the cake he picked out. OH YUM!
We got SO much done, I am exhausted and we are going to go lay in bed and watch movies, if we can stay awake.
Happy Mother’s day to all the mothers!
Oh yay, as if I don’t have enough to complain about… I am sick! 
The hacking cough that DH and the kids had last month finally made its way to me. So now I have this fun cough that sends me into tears each time because every time I hack up a lung it rockets a baby onto my cervix. OUCH!
I.AM.SO.DONE!
….every child expresses his or her creativity by modifying their personal appearance. Depending on the child, depends on the medium they use. Some use markers, some use makeup, and some use scissors.
Or, like my children, they use all of the above at one time or another. Last night, Matthew used them all, except when I was scraping aftershave out of my heating vents and scrubbing lipstick off his cheek I did not notice his new hairstyle.
This morning it became a little more apparent
So after Austin’s trip to Best Buy to spend his money he has been saving since Christmas, I dropped off Bobby and the kids and took Matthew to get his hair cut for the second time this week. The after looks almost as bad as the first because there is only so much you can do to fix someone else’s mistake.
As soon as he was finished with his haircut he ran behind the counter and said “I need a lollypop” and he had it in his mouth before I could even say no. Ugh.
Ok, so it’s been a while since I did a belly pic, so I figured I would go ahead and update and share the ginormous belly.
So, I had my 36 week appointment on Tuesday, all is well, I am measuring right on schedule. Sophia is head down in my pelvis with a good strong heartbeat and a stronger stubborn streak. Blood pressure was 112/68, so perfect. I still weigh less than pre-pregnancy by 5 lbs, which is right where my midwife is guessing Sophie’s weight… around 5 1/2 lbs. Next Tuesday I have my home visit, which I am really looking forward to.
However, today’s milestone of 37 weeks is exciting, because by all medical textbooks, today I am considered “term”, meaning if I have the baby today, she would not be considered premature… do I see her coming today, tomorrow, or even next week?? No, but hopefully soon, and definately in the next 6 weeks! 
My baby boy is 12 years old today, I cannot believe I will have a teenager next year! This birthday was pretty low-key, we had a nice dinner of lasagna, spinach salad and french bread. The “party” will happen this weekend when we have cake and ice cream and Austin wanted to have a BBQ, so we will let him pick his own steak and decide what sides he wants.
Austin decided back at Christmas time he wanted to save his Christmas money to buy himself a nicer camera, well this week we talked and he decided he would probably use an iPod more than he would a camera, so tomorrow we are heading to Best Buy to let him pick his Nano. That just shows his dedication to saving… he has managed to save over $200! Way to go kiddo!
*Update*
Here is a picture of Austin, age 12, holding his brand new iPod! Way to go kiddo!
What an odd day.
Yesterday it was 80 degrees, freaking ROASTING hot and beautiful. I noticed our trees all had little blossoms on them and the kids were having a blast playing outside.
Today, DH brings Matthew to our bed at 6am, he is feverish and sick. On his way to work he tells me “make sure you bundle up Mr. Sick when you go outside, it is snowing” It is WHAT!?!?! It is May and it is snowing? WTH!
***
Mr. Sick laid in bed with me cuddling until 2:30, poor little guy is leaking snot and has a low grade fever. Around 5 he comes running around the corner saying “I am a pirate!” And then runs screaming into the other room, and then comes running back again…. his fever has finally broke.
***
On the way home from getting Austin from school, I decided to drive to Starbucks and get a Mommy’s Little Helper AKA a Venti Chai Tea Latte and I get up to the window with my $4 and the girl hands me my tea. The second lady says “Oh crap” and the first girl says “Oh wait, I think we need to trade” and the second lady says “no, we made an extra” so the first girl goes “want a free tea? We will just dump it so you can have it!” Hell yeah! I empty out my change container from my van into the tip jar and drive off.
***
Bobby is getting ready to go to the premiere of Iron Man with a friend…. what a dork! 
After picking up Austin from school, I took the boys to the post office so they can mail off their hair to Locks of Love and while we are there we got several cute comments from strangers.
Lady #1
Matthew was whining because he was tired and not knowing he wanted a nap. She commented “Isn’t it funny how when we are little we cry because we don’t want a nap, but then when we grow up be cry because all we want is a nap??”
Lady #2
We will call her “The Mystic” (TM)
TM: (Looking at Austin and Chris) Are they twins?
Chris: Nope, we are 16 months apart.
TM: You must hear that a lot, are you older?
Chris: Nope, he is older, and he’s adopted.
Me: Christopher, you are oversharing! (Feeling mortified for poor Austin)
TM: Amazing how much alike they look!
Me: They are biologically half brothers, but legally full brothers, they look like their daddy. (Still reeling from Christopher’s oversharing, poor Austin looks like he is stuck between bored to tears and annoyed at the conversation).
TM: And when is the little girl due?
Me: (Realizing I never mentioned I am having a girl) Next month
TM: That is wonderful! Little girls….. (I start tuning it out, I have heard it all before)
Me: Yup, we are excited, we were not trying for a specific gender because we knew we would love either one equally.
TM: What hospital are you delivering at?
Me: Oh, I am having her at home (waiting for the look of mortification I hear everyone gets in my family when they tell people I am having a home birth)
TM: Oh! That is wonderful! I had my son at home, we lived in Japan where my husband was stationed at it was the most wonderful experience!
Me: That is great, I read that 70% of women in Japan have their babies at home and they have better outcomes than here in the US.
TM: So you found a good midwife?
Me: Yes, she’s very experienced.
TM: That is wonderful, I wish all women would have their babies at home.
Lady #1 (L1): I had three of mine at home, I agree, all women should have their babies at home. In fact my friend has 6 kids and she had all hers at home too, but the last three she delivered without an attendant!
TM: Hospitals are for the sick and high risk. I hope you have a wonderful delivery.
L1: I agree, blessed birth to you!
As I leave about 3 other ladies and a man in line are all smiling some tell me congratulations, some tell me I have a beautiful family, some tell me good luck.
It’s amazing how one little old lady who just assumed I was having a little girl was able to start a conversation that transfixed an entire line for the post office.
