Diary of a Mad (as in crazy) Pregnant Woman

So I am 29 weeks along in this pregnancy. Only 11 more to go. It's about this time that I am so very thankful that I am not an elephant (although at times I may feel or even look like one). Elephants are pregnant for 2 years. No way Jose!

My midwife told me that she has found that most third and subsequent pregnancies are harder because your body has been stretched out to there and back and it doesn't really go back. I would agree. I was thinking I was just a bigger wienie (which still may be true) but it was nice to know that my body has just been pulled to the max twice before so there's no support to hold this kid. Plus I am also chasing around the products of those first two pregnancies.

I think pregnancy is like a Discovery Chanel Documentary, comedy, and sci-fi film all rolled into one. It's like a documentary because you are learning about the amazing things your body can do and the miracle that God has allowed you to participate in. It's a comedy kind of for the same reasons. It's quite amusing what your body does and how it moves throughout this time. And it's a sci-fi film because you have this alien inside you that literally takes over your whole body and there's nothing you can do about it.

I was watching TV the other day and saw commercials for various prescription drugs. There's ones for blood pressure, osteoporosis, ED, arthritis etc. I felt that they were missing one for pregnancy. I picture it something like this.

There's a happy couple dreaming about having a baby. The narrator is describing this beautiful life with the baby and there's happy baby music playing in the background. Then the narrator's voice gets faster (almost like the Micro-machine guy from the 80's) as he announces the following.

"Pregnancy is not for everyone. Please consult your Dr. before becoming pregnant. Pregnancy is not for women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. Side affects include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, swollen hands, feet and face, back pain, numbness in various places, headaches, leg cramps, stuffy nose, brown splotches anywhere on face or neck, stretch marks that may look like a road map of downtown LA, enlarged chest, difficulty breathing and sleeping, heart burn, stomach aches, aversion to certain foods and extreme cravings for others, inside-out belly button, weight gain, gas that will rock your world and the worlds of those around you, extreme moodiness, fatigue and exhaustion and many other possible side effects too private to mention with fathers, fathers-in-law, and various other males who may be reading this. (BTW, I do not experience all these symptoms, thank the Lord, but these are many of the possible side effects!)

Back to happy couple in a nursery holding their beautiful baby with lullaby in background again describing how wonderful it will be to hold that gorgeous new creation....

Sounds pretty good huh? I think it would be hilarious to see that. Just a warning to others. And just like the commercials, you don't care really about all the possible side effects, you are thrilled to pieces when you hold that beautiful little alien in your arms.

Lemon Reservoir

Monday night Mark suggested that we take the kids up to Lemon Reservoir or Vallecito Lake on Tuesday and cook hot dogs and s'mores over a campfire. Sadly for me this is a difficult thing. I'm so used to my routine and puting my kids to bed on time etc. that the concept of changing things up can be hard. Pathetic I know. But I'm really trying hard to let go and have fun and make memories so I'm thrilled that my husband can continue to push me to do stuff like this. Ya see, he thinks 'It would be so awesome to go up to the lake and throw rocks and build big fire and cook yummy food! The kids would love it!' I think, 'What time can we reasonably get up there and have the fire started and eat? Will the kids make it or will we be facing meltdowns? Will we even find a place to make a fire - we haven't been up there in years so we don't really remember what's there? Will we be eaten alive by bugs? Am I going to have a horrible day tomorrow because the kids will be overtired after being amped up on s'mores so late at night? Who's getting the food? ' See my problem? I think way too much!!! Just have fun! That's why Mark told me about it the day before. He knew there was no chance if he came home Tuesday night and wanted to go. My head would spin off!!

So we're driving up there and I'm praying that God will open up the perfect camp spot and that we can find just what we need and get things going quickly and have a blast. And that's exactly what He did. We drove down to a campground that was right by the lake and it was beautiful. Right next to the really high water but it was so gorgeous. The kids could throw rocks and only be an arm's length away, the fire was started right away thanks to my hubby, and the kids loved cooking hot dogs and especially marsh-a-mellows (as they called them). We had a blast and it was really a great memory to make. I'm so thankful that we went.

Good night Sweetheart!

So a few days ago, Grandpa Doug (Mark's dad) emailed me a request to share with you all a portion of our nightly ritual. After several days of dealing with internet issues we are finally able to upload this video and share with you the Durango Palmer quartet. Enjoy!

another funny conversation

My kids have been sick for the last few days. I guess we were overdue since we hadn't really been too sick in a month or so. So we made up for it by having fevers and rashes and crankiness. And of course this all takes place this week when Mark is at sports camp at church (he partnered with other children's pastors from other churches to put on a five night camp involving 4 different sports - their first night they had over 100 kids - very awesome). So anyway, he's not able to be home at night and believe me the kids are sick of me by night time.

So Kate was a bit cranky this afternoon and refusing to be touched but wanted to be held. Don't know how that happens but it does. So here's the short conversation.

Me: You are very argumentative today (I know, big word to say to a 2 year old...)

Kate: I'm not mentative!!!

So I'm thinking to myself, my point exactly *smile*

The best Father's Day

I have been blessed to have an amazing father. Of course I didn't fully realize this until I grew up and left home. I always knew he was great but didn't know how great. He's compassionate, loving, protective, gracious, answerer of all weird questions (good and bad), he helps guide me in decision making but doesn't control my decisions, he's always lovingly led me to be the person God wants me to be. He was a hands-on dad. He changed diapers, made dinners (breakfast dinners are what I remember the most), coached softball and attended all other games as well, came to every band nerd concert and marching band competition I was in, cared about where I was and how late I was out, cared about my grades and about me doing the best I could, he challenged me to be committed and respectful, independent and intelligent. He made me do "boy chores" (mowing the lawn - I always thought he just wanted a boy so I was going to be that till he had one...) and he made me drive this giant red and white club wagon van to school after I got my driver's license (he knew I needed some humbling). He loved me unconditionally and I always knew that if I screwed up (which I did a lot) that I was always welcome back home to a loving dad who would help pick me up and put me back on the right track. I remember being caught smoking in high school (not something I'm real proud of). I never got in trouble, never got grounded or lectured, but what I did find out was how disappointed my dad was and that was far worse then any punishment I could've received. I was devastated to think that my dad was anything less then proud of me. So I never had another cigarette again. It meant the world to me to know that I was making my dad proud. He was, and is, all around superior to every other dad I've ever know.

This made it very difficult to find a husband who was worthy. I wanted someone like my dad. Funny, helpful, respectful, involved, committed, etc.... Doesn't seem to be many of those just floating around. I searched and searched. I tried to settle for a few that were far less then my expectations only to realize that there was no way I could survive with someone less than. Then I found Mark. He had all of the best qualities that I was looking for and then some. God not only answered my prayers for someone who could be the kind of dad and husband that my dad was/is, but he also had the qualities I wanted/needed and didn't even know I needed in a husband. He is loving and patient, helpful, respectful, fun, kind, creative and he does diapers! I have no doubt that he adores our kids and would do everything in his power to protect them, raise them to be respectful people, encourage them to do their best and love them unconditionally. He also, is the world's greatest dad. I could never, on my own, found someone so wonderful. Thank you Jesus for bringing two amazing men into my life.

And it is because of these two men that I can see my God as the ultimate Father. I have had such great examples in my life that seeing God as that great and even better hasn't been hard at all. I know people who've had lousy fathers, fathers who have abandoned them, beat them, criticized them, loved them conditionally and dad's that have said horrible things that they've never forgotten. Because of this they see God the same way. They see a God who will only love them if they do things right, who will leave them when things get tough. I am so beyond words thankful that I can see God for who He really is because of the amazing examples in my life. I am so thrilled that my children will also be able to see God the same way because of their dad and grandpas. Strong, committed family men who love hugely and unashamedly. Thank you Lord for those gifts.

And so I dedicate this silly, sweet video to two dads who have absolutely demonstrated this kind of patient, unconditional love.

Are you happy?

So I was reading the newest Reader's Digest last night before bed and I came across this article called "Why We Are Happy". I thought there were some interesting thoughts in here so I wanted to share some of them. Especially because some have to do with politics and what we, as Americans, value.

"Not all types of freedom are the same in terms of happiness, however. Researchers have shown that economic freedom brings happiness, as does political and religious freedom. On the other hand, moral freedom-a lack of constraints on behavior-does not. People who feel they have unlimited moral choices in their lives when it comes to matters of sex or drugs, for example, tend to be unhappier than those who do not feel they have so many choices in life....When pollsters asked voters in the 2004 Presidential election what the most important issue facing America was, the issue voters chose above all others was "moral values". This beat out the economy, terrorism, the Iraq war, education, and health care as people's primary concern....

...The data tell us that what matters most for happiness is not having a lot of things but having healthy values. Without these values, our jobs and our economy will bring us soulless toil and joyless riches. Our education will teach us nothing. There will be no reason to fight-or make peace, for that matter-to protect our way of life. Our health-care system will keep us healthier, but what's the point of good health without a happy life to enjoy?...

.....We must hold our leaders accountable for the facts on happiness and refuse to take it lightly when politicians abridge the values of faith, work, family, charity and freedom...."

This is all interesting to me because when you watch the news or read the paper or news on the internet, we are bombarded with the media telling us "what we value". I think that there are issues that are important for politicians to address for sure, but overall, our happiness is what Americans value most, according to this article. It makes sense to me. I see politicians all the time promising one thing or another. Better health care, better economy, the key to improving education, how to protect our country from terrorists, the Iraq war etc... But when it comes down to it, all of those things may or may not work. Improving health care isn't going to make America a better place. What will is that it's citizens love being here and are happy. Then they in turn will work hard to improve what is wrong. I really don't see any politician solving all of our problems. They think they can but I don't see it happening until we happily make changes ourselves. You see they are trying to please everyone and by doing so are not pleasing anyone.

Why can't we have a set of morals and values? As was stated in the article, making everything okay doesn't make people happy. So why do we keep trying? Why not stand up for what is morally right and live that way instead of making morality relative? It doesn't work and it doesn't make people happy. Just look at society now. With all the "advances" in our society you would think we would be more happy and thankful for what we have. Instead it seems to be the opposite. We can't get enough and we expect the government to fix all our problems and make us happy. Well they can't.

I am not a pessimist when it comes to government I promise. I am just a realist who is looking at government and what they can actually do for this country and not at all the empty campaign promises. I'm sick of hearing about quick fixes. It took decades to get us into the mess we're in as a nation. It took several different presidents of both parties. It isn't going to be fixed by one particular candidate (either party) in one term. Let's be real.

Okay this blog is long enough and God knows I have more opinions then I have time or space for :)

Conversations with the Palmer children.....

So I've had a few good laughs in the last couple weeks during conversations with my children. They say the darndest things :) I read the forwards about kids and Bible stories and I've seen the show and still thought "naw, kids don't really say that do they?" Well, mine do. Here's a few examples.


A conversation with Kate and I at the ball park last night. She was really tired and bored with watching Mark play softball so she got her pacifier out of my purse and sat on my lap.

me: Are you tired Kate?

Kate: Yeah

me: Me to. I'm pretty tired myself.

Kate: Do you need a pacifier?


A conversation with Kale. This one happens a lot but last night's was the best. I call him Curious George now because he's the man with a million questions.

Kale: Where are we going?

me: ballpark

Kale: Why?

me: to watch daddy play softball

Kale: Who's that guy? (pointing to another player in the parking lot)

me: I don't know.

Kale: What's his name?

me: I don't know.

Kale: Why?

me: Kale, please stopping asking questions. My brain is tired.

Kale: Why?


I'm not kidding. This kid will ask questions about everything. Why the guys name is his name, why is he wearing that shirt, where is he going, what is he doing etc.... I have found myself saying more than a thousand times I don't know! That or I make stuff up to try and throw him off. I've tried asking him questions back but he just gets frustrated. Welcome to my world I say.

The other day the kids and I were driving home from church. Kale likes to have his window rolled down but I told him that he couldn't have it down on the highway since it was too loud. Well we turned off the highway to the county road on the way to our house. A much slower road. So Kale asks me if we were on the low-way. I had to ask him a dozen times what he was talking about before it finally made sense. He couldn't have his window down on the highway but how about the low-way.

We've had such a busy last couple of weeks that I haven't had a moment to sit down and type a thing. So here's my quick overview of our time.

Kid's and mom drove to Denver, played in swimming pool in birthday suits (since mom forgot the real ones...), saw old friends, ate lots of food, bachelorette party for Aunt/sister Meghan, baked food for bridal shower till 1:30am, put on bridal shower, Kale went on a go-kart for the first time and other rides at Heritage Square - Kate talked a big talk then chickened out, drove home with in-laws, Kale tried on Mark's basketball head, planted trees and flowers, cleaned rooms, painted rooms and collapsed from being so exhausted...(not really collapsed but could have). Honestly, I just need to now sit on my chubbies and do nothing for a week and a half! Yeah right! But I can dream.

Really though it feels good to have things done and looking great. The kids' rooms look amazing and I think they are excited to have Transformer red and Princess purple on their walls. I know I'm thrilled with the outcome.

Finally, I just wanted to share a quote that was mentioned during the sermon yesterday at church that I thought was really great and something to think about...

"Man is not at peace with his fellow man because he is not at peace with himself and he is not at peace with himself because he is not at peace with God."
-Thomas Merton