My new favorite hobby...

...couponing.

Its true. I too have joined the ranks of the crazy couponers. Those who get a little thrill of having 30 blocks/bags of cheese in the fridge. (because they were $.17 each) those who open the cupboard just to admire the shelves stocked with free to nearly free canned food. Those who check the receipt as soon as they leave the register to bask in the glory of saving more than they spent. The list of joys goes on and on.

As a side note, I have to say that I call this my hobby because it does take time. Though, all the real research work is done for me because I have the great website bargainstobounty.com which is based in Detroit and applies to most of Michigan.

Its kind of rediculous, but right now my shopping list for tomorrow looks like this:

2 Pillsbury crescent rolls

2 Pillsbury Grands biscuits

2 Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls

4 Nivea Chapsticks

1 French's mustard

4 Ziplock Bags 50 ct.

1 Franks Red Hot Sauce

If all goes as planned, I will walk out of the store having spent $4. 09 and holding $5.00 in coupon credit to be used on my next trip to Meijer. And I will say to myself... "Wait, did I just get paid to go shopping?" Yep.

Aaron's First Day of Preschool

Aaron is now going to preschool at St. Martha School on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We are familiar with the school and teacher because Alex went there 2 years ago and had a great experience.

Sweet Aaron, the first thing he said to me this morning was "Mom, I don't want to get dropped." Alex then translated and said "He doesn't want to get dropped off at school." We talked about it a bit then he happily ran to get his shoes on and he was thrilled to get his hair combed. He put on his backpack and was ready for his picture on the front step.

As Chris was taking the picture, Aaron looked excited and happy. Then Chris told Aaron "Say 'I'm going to school today!'" and Aaron repeated the words. Then Chris took this next picture. As Aaron said those words he choked up and almost cried. It was almost like he was thinking to himself "what I am I getting in to?"
Aaron is such a good kid. Even though he was nervous, Chris took him to his class and he went happily. I am so excited to pick him up and ask him how everything went.

Alex's First Day of First Grade

Alex woke up this morning ready to go to school. He took a shower. Put on his clothes we laid out last night. Ate breakfast. Brushed his teeth. Got his backpack. And then best of all...got on his bike. Chris and Alex rode their bikes the 1.5 miles to school and then Chris rode on to work. (Alex's school is right on the way)

Its amazing, every year we take these "first day of school" pictures, the kids all of the sudden look older. Its got to be the new clothes and the combed hair.

Could he get any cuter?

Aaron loves baby Jacob more than anything. I am not exaggerating. He is so much more affectionate since Jacob was born and being around the baby makes him so happy.

Alex was playing a game with Chris last night where Alex would think of an object and give Chris one hint as to what it was. Chris would then guess what the object was. Alex's hint one time was "this is my favorite thing" after lots of guesses Chris said "Jacob?" and with a big smile Alex said "yes".

August Events

Jacob turned four weeks old yesterday. Here is a picture from each week. Some memorable events that happened in the month of August:

• Jacob was a little jaundice and had to see the doctor a lot
• 9th - We went blueberry picking as a family
• 13th - Went to the Impression 5 Carnival
• 23rd- Chris started his fall semester classes at Boise State
• 23rd - Aaron had his preschool orientation
• 26-28 - Chris went to Woodbadge
• The boys built the biggest fort ever and slept in overnight
• 27 - The boys and I went to the awesome Techsmith BBQ
• 28 - I did the Crim 10 mile race with a time of 1:08

The huge fort we built

Thats me in the blue shirt in the bottom right corner

Jacob's 2 week video

Jacob was doing is usual cute, wide eyed thing last night so I got some video of him.

Video Jacob 2 weeks

Here it is to view and download on my screencast.com page. I have never linked it to my blog before, so we will see if this works.

Jacob's Arrival was a Miracle

Baby Jacob has come to our home at last. We love him so much and we feel totally blessed and protected as we look back on how he came into this world.

Last Friday, the 3oth I talked to my doctor on the phone and he and I decided that between his scheduled vacation on Monday and the fact that Labor and Delivery was understaffed on Sunday, he coudn't be my delivery doctor for my 38 week induction. After I hung up the phone, with the name of my new doctor and an amniocentisis scheduled for Monday night I felt a little unsettled. There were so many more variables now. My doctor was so good. He had experience and knew more about paraplegics than any doctor I've ever worked with. Plus, my other deliveries were assissted with forcepts and he was the only one in the practice who was good at them.

So Friday evening we packed up the kids and went to a concert in the park, had a great time, everything was normal and when I got home I smelt some weird smelling fluid leaking out of me. Aha! My water must have broken! There was no other way to explain the weird fluid so I drove down to the hosptial at 10 pm and got admitted to Triage. They tested the fluid and the tests came up inconclusive, but I was dilated to a 3-4 and after watching my contractions for a couple hours, the on call doctor said that I was in labor.

I labored all night and at 6:00 am I got the best news ever. The on-call doctor said that she called my doctor and told him that I was there. He arrived in the next 30 minutes, Chris got there in the next 30 minutes and by 7 am, the show was on the road. He broke my water, they monitored me for a couple hours. They put me on Pitocin at 9 and by 11, I was dilated to a 10 and ready to push.

The amazing thing about this part was that even though I was having contractions from 7-11 am, they weren't making me dilate anywhere beyond a 6 or 7. Then at 11 two huge contractions happened, my legs went really spastic, Jacobs heart rate fell really low, and then I was to a 10 and ready to push. I pushed 5 or 6 times and within 5 minutes the baby was out.

Afterwards, the doctor said that the delivery couldn't have been done vaginally with a vacuum assisst. Things would have gotten very scary if we had gone through the same process, but with a doctor who didn't feel comfortable on forcepts.

Jacob is super healthy and has no sign of immature lungs now. He is tiny though. He weighed 6 lb. 6 oz and measured 19.5 inches long. He is so sweet, and expressive, and when he is awake - he looks every one right in the eyes.

This morning the boys took Jacob's 20 minutes of awake time and filled it with showing him how to use their favorite toys, playing him songs on their instruments, and whispering little messages in his ear. They love him so much and we can feel his love for us already.

After they broke my water

While they were weighing Jacob

Jacob getting ready to eat (this is my favorite picture of him)

Alex meeting Jacob for the first time

Aaron meeting Jacob for the first time

Jacob looking like the little angel he is

Ready for the drive home

Can you feel the excitment?

Ah, we are home