On Thursday the 19th I reached 30 weeks. If it follows the pattern of my other kids that means only 10-11 weeks to go!
Also on that day I was informed that some of the immediate stability we have enjoyed would be decreased.
As a preface let me explain that although Troy and I haven't been rich we have never felt any sort of financial distress or uncertainty in our 10 years of marriage. We still haven't felt financial distress, but that is a possibility as we face an uncertain financial future.
Troy has worked as an engineer for about 6 years. In that time he has spend 5 years with a great company that was very heavy on analysis and although he didn't thrive in that setting he still did ok. He started looking for another job when that employer kept doing lay-offs. He was able to find a job that was practically a dream job. It had perks, and an amazing work environment. His one complaint was that there weren't a ton of veteran mechanical engineers he could kick ideas around with.
On Thursday he was informed that the company was having some cash flow issues and as a result they were going to need to do some cuts. Troy happened to be a main engineer on a project that was easy to cut so he was laid-off.
We live well below our means and don't buy things on credit so we should be fine even if his unemployment status isn't changed for a few months. We are hoping he finds something within the next few months and hopefully by the time the baby comes he at least have a job offer.
We were given 0 warning about the lay off so it practically blindsided us, but even in that I have felt things that let me know God is aware of us and our situation and he loves and cares for us. The morning of the lay off I actually started having feeling of what would it be like if Troy was laid off. I didn't really think much of it because his job was what we thought stable, but thinking back I know that was God preparing my mind for something that we wouldn't have control over. Both Troy and I have been able to feel the comfort that the Holy Ghost can bring.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Friday, March 6, 2015
Co$t of Rai$ing Kid$
I often think those estimates on how much a kid costs while your are raising him/her is over exaggerated. And then I thought of all the things you have to replace because they ruin them.
For the last 5 years we had been watching TV on a 32" rear projection TV that had a broken power button and no remote. We would turn the TV on by getting a K'Nex piece and shoving it into the little hole where the power button used to be to activate the little button inside the TV.
We were really excited to recycle that TV when we got a new 42" LCD TV for Christmas. At about 20 weeks pregnant I even helped carry it up the stairs and put it into our van to get that thing out of our house. The TV made it possible for us to also set up a Blue Ray player and a sound system that we also bought.
After just a few weeks of using it Parker learned that if he dragged a toy along the screen it would make fun colors. However it also left scratches in the screen. The scratches although annoying to look at when the TV was off didn't effect the picture quality of the TV. I threatened Parker if he ever did that again that we wouldn't have the money to get a swing set. That was enough for him to not try it again.
Last night I heard Parker say from downstairs, "Mom, come down here Max just did something really bad." On my way down I was trying to figure out what in the world Max could have done and just figured it would be a small thing, and I would have a sit down with Parker about not tattling or something. Upon walking into our main room I looked over at the TV, which was on, to see the picture totally messed up, and upon closer inspection a crack at the top near the middle of the screen. and a toy cup laying close to the front of the TV that had apparently been thrown at the TV. I took a deep breath and then called Troy down advising him to also take a deep breath before coming into the room.
In the end the TV is a lost, and the other TV is gone. We do have a 20" rear projection TV with a working power button and a remote, but we are planning on waiting for a month or so before setting it up. We won't be able to set up the Blue Ray player and the sound system to that TV, but o-well for now. For the most part the kids are the ones who usually use the TV so I'm hoping that this is hard on them. Maybe after a month we won't want to set the other TV up, but with a new baby on the way and general conference coming up in about a month I'm guessing we will set it up. And maybe next Christmas we can try again for another nice TV.
I've seen couches, beds, walls, cabinets, doors, computers and more ruined by kids. Is the replacement value of these items factored into the cost of kids?
There are worse things that could have broken. About 8 or so years ago there was a family that lived by us that had just brought their newborn daughter home. Their oldest daughter was holding the new baby and somehow dropped her. The baby ended up with a cracked skull and bleeding on the brain. The baby ended up with significant brain damage and was never the same. A TV IS NOTHING.
For the last 5 years we had been watching TV on a 32" rear projection TV that had a broken power button and no remote. We would turn the TV on by getting a K'Nex piece and shoving it into the little hole where the power button used to be to activate the little button inside the TV.
We were really excited to recycle that TV when we got a new 42" LCD TV for Christmas. At about 20 weeks pregnant I even helped carry it up the stairs and put it into our van to get that thing out of our house. The TV made it possible for us to also set up a Blue Ray player and a sound system that we also bought.
After just a few weeks of using it Parker learned that if he dragged a toy along the screen it would make fun colors. However it also left scratches in the screen. The scratches although annoying to look at when the TV was off didn't effect the picture quality of the TV. I threatened Parker if he ever did that again that we wouldn't have the money to get a swing set. That was enough for him to not try it again.
Last night I heard Parker say from downstairs, "Mom, come down here Max just did something really bad." On my way down I was trying to figure out what in the world Max could have done and just figured it would be a small thing, and I would have a sit down with Parker about not tattling or something. Upon walking into our main room I looked over at the TV, which was on, to see the picture totally messed up, and upon closer inspection a crack at the top near the middle of the screen. and a toy cup laying close to the front of the TV that had apparently been thrown at the TV. I took a deep breath and then called Troy down advising him to also take a deep breath before coming into the room.
In the end the TV is a lost, and the other TV is gone. We do have a 20" rear projection TV with a working power button and a remote, but we are planning on waiting for a month or so before setting it up. We won't be able to set up the Blue Ray player and the sound system to that TV, but o-well for now. For the most part the kids are the ones who usually use the TV so I'm hoping that this is hard on them. Maybe after a month we won't want to set the other TV up, but with a new baby on the way and general conference coming up in about a month I'm guessing we will set it up. And maybe next Christmas we can try again for another nice TV.
I've seen couches, beds, walls, cabinets, doors, computers and more ruined by kids. Is the replacement value of these items factored into the cost of kids?
There are worse things that could have broken. About 8 or so years ago there was a family that lived by us that had just brought their newborn daughter home. Their oldest daughter was holding the new baby and somehow dropped her. The baby ended up with a cracked skull and bleeding on the brain. The baby ended up with significant brain damage and was never the same. A TV IS NOTHING.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Facebook Status Updates (1/2/15 - 2/7/15)
2/7/15 - We were out to eat at a Chinese resturant tonight as a family. After Parker took a sip of his ice water he said, "Chinese water is SO cold."
2/4/15 - Parker let us pull his second loose tooth out tonight. If the tooth fairy had come last night it would be two night in a row she would be stopping by, but she was sick or something last night so she has double duty tonight.
2/3/15 - And Parker braved up and let Troy pull his tooth.
2/3/15 - We've decided on a name for our baby Abacus Tesla Rueckert. The names just screams . . . "Yes, my parents are an engineer and a scientist, and they think they are funny."
2/3/15 - Today for breakfast Parker ate: two bowls of oatmeal, 1 bowl of cereal, 1/2 grapefruit, some dried apples and a bowl of apple sauce. I'm not looking forward to that aspect of having 4 teenage boys. We have 10 or so years to save up.
2/3/15 - I remember when my first tooth fell out (It was probably during the summer before I started Kindergarten) I was eating some of my Grandma Cranes Christmas caramel, and there was a harder than normal piece in it. I pulled it out and there was my tooth. Parker needs some of that caramel. He has two teeth are are so loose they are ready to fall out the next time he sneezes.
2/2/15 - Tonight Parker wanted me to read Hop on Pop to him. I refused because I told him it is a book he could read himself and that I would rather read a book he couldn't read himself (I'm sure I'm the meanest mom ever). In the end I read a story about a haunted television that was way more entertaining.
1/30/15 - I think I'm going crazy. Out of the blue I decided to give Isaac a bath. And now I'm making spaghetti for dinner. He'll at least be clean for 1 hr or so.
1/19/15 - When Troy and I were expecting our first we easily came up with a girl name. We've kept that name in mind with each child, but so far haven't been able to use it. Coming up with boy names has been really hard for us. For the most part our kids have just gotten the best name we could agree on come their birth. We are now in the same boat we've been in 3 times previously. I couldn't be more excited to struggle to find another great boy name if it means I get to raise my 4th boy.
1/14/15 - On Sunday Parker's primary class was coming into the classroom that I had just finished teaching in. He told his class that we were going to have another baby. Then came and rubbed my baby bump. One of the kids said, "That is CRAZY, you're going to have two kids in diapers." Who knew that was a concern of an almost 6 year old.
1/9/15 - Isaac has learned how to give kisses. They are the best.
1/2/15 - Before bed we told Max to go potty.
Troy said, "Just go sit and see if anything comes out."
Max said, "I just stand.
T: "OK, then go stand."
M (very defiantly): "OK"
M (a few moments later while in front of the toilet, very excitedly): "The pee is coming out."
Amazing how that works!!!
2/4/15 - Parker let us pull his second loose tooth out tonight. If the tooth fairy had come last night it would be two night in a row she would be stopping by, but she was sick or something last night so she has double duty tonight.
2/3/15 - And Parker braved up and let Troy pull his tooth.
2/3/15 - We've decided on a name for our baby Abacus Tesla Rueckert. The names just screams . . . "Yes, my parents are an engineer and a scientist, and they think they are funny."
2/3/15 - Today for breakfast Parker ate: two bowls of oatmeal, 1 bowl of cereal, 1/2 grapefruit, some dried apples and a bowl of apple sauce. I'm not looking forward to that aspect of having 4 teenage boys. We have 10 or so years to save up.
2/3/15 - I remember when my first tooth fell out (It was probably during the summer before I started Kindergarten) I was eating some of my Grandma Cranes Christmas caramel, and there was a harder than normal piece in it. I pulled it out and there was my tooth. Parker needs some of that caramel. He has two teeth are are so loose they are ready to fall out the next time he sneezes.
2/2/15 - Tonight Parker wanted me to read Hop on Pop to him. I refused because I told him it is a book he could read himself and that I would rather read a book he couldn't read himself (I'm sure I'm the meanest mom ever). In the end I read a story about a haunted television that was way more entertaining.
1/30/15 - I think I'm going crazy. Out of the blue I decided to give Isaac a bath. And now I'm making spaghetti for dinner. He'll at least be clean for 1 hr or so.
1/19/15 - When Troy and I were expecting our first we easily came up with a girl name. We've kept that name in mind with each child, but so far haven't been able to use it. Coming up with boy names has been really hard for us. For the most part our kids have just gotten the best name we could agree on come their birth. We are now in the same boat we've been in 3 times previously. I couldn't be more excited to struggle to find another great boy name if it means I get to raise my 4th boy.
1/14/15 - On Sunday Parker's primary class was coming into the classroom that I had just finished teaching in. He told his class that we were going to have another baby. Then came and rubbed my baby bump. One of the kids said, "That is CRAZY, you're going to have two kids in diapers." Who knew that was a concern of an almost 6 year old.
1/9/15 - Isaac has learned how to give kisses. They are the best.
1/2/15 - Before bed we told Max to go potty.
Troy said, "Just go sit and see if anything comes out."
Max said, "I just stand.
T: "OK, then go stand."
M (very defiantly): "OK"
M (a few moments later while in front of the toilet, very excitedly): "The pee is coming out."
Amazing how that works!!!
Friday, February 6, 2015
Helping in the Classroom
I had the opportunity to help in Parker's kindergarten class yesterday. I was nervous about it at first, and was afraid the kids would totally intimidate me. Or that I'd be asked to do something I wasn't comfortable doing. I think I thought of every worse case scenario imaginable (maybe this is why people don't volunteer in the first place).
Parker's class has about 25 kids and 15 moms who want to help so I only have to go in every 3 weeks, and I wasn't quick enough about telling the teacher I was willing and could be available so this is the first time I have helped. The time she needs the help is just for 1 hour. So I had a neighbor watch my kids and headed over.
When I first got there I got to grade some math worksheets. After that I just helped during "center time". For center time the class is divided into different groups and then each group goes to a different table/station to do an activity. The activities ranged from drawing the right animal in a animal book that was in Spanish, to walking around the room and writing valentine words that were hidden around the room, there was even a station for the kids to do some math games on a computer. Every ten minutes they would change stations. I believe there were 6 stations and each group went to 3 stations.My job was to help the kids get logged-on the computes and then just make sure everyone was on task.
An hour isn't a long time but it still seemed like it was over way before it should have been. I can't wait to go back in about 3 weeks to help again.
Parker's class has about 25 kids and 15 moms who want to help so I only have to go in every 3 weeks, and I wasn't quick enough about telling the teacher I was willing and could be available so this is the first time I have helped. The time she needs the help is just for 1 hour. So I had a neighbor watch my kids and headed over.
When I first got there I got to grade some math worksheets. After that I just helped during "center time". For center time the class is divided into different groups and then each group goes to a different table/station to do an activity. The activities ranged from drawing the right animal in a animal book that was in Spanish, to walking around the room and writing valentine words that were hidden around the room, there was even a station for the kids to do some math games on a computer. Every ten minutes they would change stations. I believe there were 6 stations and each group went to 3 stations.My job was to help the kids get logged-on the computes and then just make sure everyone was on task.
An hour isn't a long time but it still seemed like it was over way before it should have been. I can't wait to go back in about 3 weeks to help again.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Boy Oh Boy
Around the end of September I found out I was pregnant with our 4th child. I know there was a possibility of it happening and was one day late getting my period. I normally would have waited another week so as not to waste a pregnancy test on a negative test, but I was scheduled to give blood that morning so I drove to Walgreens bought the test and came back and did the test. It came back positive. I was SO EXCITED which surprised me. My youngest was not even a year yet and by all accounts I could be considered crazy under some circumstances.
Usually when I find out I'm pregnant I start to think back to having to wake up during the night, dirty diapers, and nursing. I guess because it hadn't been that long since I had done some of those things and I was still in the thick of dirty diapers, and nursing those things didn't seem like that big of a deal.
My early pregnancy was easier than any of my other ones, but that doesn't really explain it. I have really easy pregnancies and at the worse I have a lose of appetite, am tired, and have to get up to go potty at night. This pregnancy I only experienced the last symptom during the first little bit. I wasn't sure if it being so easy was because I was having a girl, but was really hoping it was a boy.
You would think after 3 boys I would have been hoping for a girl, but I'm the type of person that orders the dish I know will taste good from a restaurant rather than venture off and order something that might be just as good, and who know might even be better. I've really enjoyed raising my boys. I also have limited knowledge/desire to do a girls hair, figure out dance classes, or play with barbies/dolls.
One great thing about girls is their clothes are SO CUTE making them really fun to dress. I will miss out on that for now, but I can always buy cute things for others. I'm sure the expectant moms won't mind me getting my girly shopping done on their behalf.
At almost 21 weeks I had the ultrasound and although we had considered not finding out what we were going to have we decided on the way to the ultrasound to find out. As they went to the area to look for the gender we knew without them telling us that we were going to be having a boy. I was so ECSTATIC. Don't get me wrong I would have been happy for a girl, but a boy was in my eyes PERFECT!!!
One drawback to having boys is they are known to eat a ton when they become teenagers. When this one is 12 we will also have a 13, 16 and 18 year old. We figure we should start saving now to feed these growing boys. I guess I can use all the money I'm saving by not buying a ton of girl clothes to start a fund to pay to feed these boys in a few years.
We are looking forward to having our 4th boy around the 1st of June. Ideally it would wait until the 5th when Parker will be done with school, but I'm not banking on that since that would be a little over a week over my due date.
Usually when I find out I'm pregnant I start to think back to having to wake up during the night, dirty diapers, and nursing. I guess because it hadn't been that long since I had done some of those things and I was still in the thick of dirty diapers, and nursing those things didn't seem like that big of a deal.
My early pregnancy was easier than any of my other ones, but that doesn't really explain it. I have really easy pregnancies and at the worse I have a lose of appetite, am tired, and have to get up to go potty at night. This pregnancy I only experienced the last symptom during the first little bit. I wasn't sure if it being so easy was because I was having a girl, but was really hoping it was a boy.
You would think after 3 boys I would have been hoping for a girl, but I'm the type of person that orders the dish I know will taste good from a restaurant rather than venture off and order something that might be just as good, and who know might even be better. I've really enjoyed raising my boys. I also have limited knowledge/desire to do a girls hair, figure out dance classes, or play with barbies/dolls.
One great thing about girls is their clothes are SO CUTE making them really fun to dress. I will miss out on that for now, but I can always buy cute things for others. I'm sure the expectant moms won't mind me getting my girly shopping done on their behalf.
At almost 21 weeks I had the ultrasound and although we had considered not finding out what we were going to have we decided on the way to the ultrasound to find out. As they went to the area to look for the gender we knew without them telling us that we were going to be having a boy. I was so ECSTATIC. Don't get me wrong I would have been happy for a girl, but a boy was in my eyes PERFECT!!!
One drawback to having boys is they are known to eat a ton when they become teenagers. When this one is 12 we will also have a 13, 16 and 18 year old. We figure we should start saving now to feed these growing boys. I guess I can use all the money I'm saving by not buying a ton of girl clothes to start a fund to pay to feed these boys in a few years.
We are looking forward to having our 4th boy around the 1st of June. Ideally it would wait until the 5th when Parker will be done with school, but I'm not banking on that since that would be a little over a week over my due date.
Parker's Looses His First Tooth.
For the last several months Parker has had a loose tooth. His adult teeth were even coming in behind the teeth. After several months of it being loose and him refusing to try anything to get it to come out. I finally talked him into having Troy pull it out. He pulled it out and then Parker put the tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy. In the morning the tooth fairy hadn't come, and Parker demanded answers. The answer came that night when we pulled his next tooth. I told him the tooth fairy must have know he was going to loose the other one so she just waited. This morning Parker woke up and the tooth fairy had transformed his teeth into dollar bills. Pretty cool. I'm kinda wishing I could put teeth under my pillow and have money magically appear.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Specialists make better products
If you want a top of the line product you are going to get it from a company that specializes in that product.
On May 20th we found out we are continuing to specialize in boys. We found out our 3rd child is going to be a boy.
Going into this I was about 70% they were going to tell us we were having a girl. This pregnancy has been a little different than my others so I assumed that was a sign that this one was going to be a girl. Also Parker kept telling me it was a girl. His reasoning was that I was a girl. I did however have a dream that it was a boy. I actually bought a few CUTE outfits for girls. I figured if it ended up being a boy I'd have them for shower gifts so ether way I could make use of them.
During the ultrasound they came to the point where they find out the gender. The technician showed us and with out her telling us what we were seeing, both Troy and I could tell we were going to be having another boy. I'll admit when we saw that it was a boy I was a little disappointed, but that only lasted for about 30 seconds or so when my disappointment turned to extreme excitement. Another boy is perfect for our family
This pregnancy has continued to be different than the other two, but maybe that is because I'm pregnant at different time of year. In a few ways it has been easier, and in other ways it has been harder.
The worst part of having another boy is deciding on a name. I think we can figure out a name for this one, but honestly if we have another boy after this we might have to name him: Boy, Kid, Dude or Male.
Max doesn't seem to care/understand what will be happening in a few months. Parker on the other hand will ask me questions about it. He'll say, "Mom, is your boy baby laughing." He tells me that the baby is going to kick really hard and then he'll come out. I think Parker will do OK once the baby comes. Max on the other hand is going to struggle.
There is still about 16 weeks or about 4 months until the due date.
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