First Baby Appointment

This morning Louis and I went in for our first baby appointment! Everything went real well and we got to hear the babies HEARTBEAT! Everything seems more "real" now. Initially, I seemed to have gained a bit of weight, but I have leveled off. I think my body just got excited about being pregnant again and just remembered from 8 and 10 years ago what it is suppose to do. I've probably gained about 4-6 pounds and I am 11 weeks along. Dr. Lines says that my uterus is the perfect size for how far along I am, which made me feel better. I was a little concerned at how quickly I started to show that maybe I was carring twins, but it doesn't seem to be the case. *Phew* As we were listening to the heartbeat, the baby was moving around, too! It was so cool! I can't physically feel the baby move yet, so it was neat to hear it move around. I will be going in for an ultrasound the end of November to check the babies heart as our families have histories of heart problems. I am sure that Louis will ask to know what the babies sex is at that time. I am still unsure that I want to know ahead of time. I kind of like the suprise! Although, it would be cool to see if I am right about my hunch that it is a boy, along with one of Louis' co-workers who is right about these things 90% of the time. We are both soooo excited!

Just a few more Pictures

Zach with Grandma Lynne showing in the "Get of Sire" Class (I think. Could be "Get of Dam")
Caisha showing "Angel" with her brother, the yearling bull, in the "Get of Dam" class (I think that is the right class) Anyway, the calf and the bull are sister and brother.

More Fair Pictures

Out for the Herd Class
Jack setting up the Yearling Bull for pictures. Isn't he nice! Just needs horns.
Caisha showing with Great Uncle Tom, Grandpa & Uncle Tom. This is definately a family affair! I believe it all started with Caisha's Great Great Grandpa E.O. Johnson
Winning Premier Exhibitor and Premier Breeder Awards. Would you believe some of these animals family lines date all the way back to the late 1800's!

Clay County Fair Pictures

Caisha with her calf "Angel"
Zach entering the showring all by himself. I was so proud of him!
Zach and his calf are getting better acquainted.

Zach's keeping his eye on the judge.

Clay County Fair

This weekend was so great! It was show weekend at the Clay County Fair for the Johnson Hereford Farm and we had a blast! Both Caisha and Zach showed a heifer calf and were 2,3 in the line-up(respectively)! Caisha was so pleased because she had picked out that calf herself. She is looking forward to next year already and is planning on showing that calf as a yearling. This calf will be considerably bigger, not to mention stronger, by next year so we will have to see how things turn out. She also wants to show another calf, so she will be showing 2 animals next year. Grandpa and Grandma even mentioned that maybe she can show this heifer at the Iowa State Fair next year. Maybe I can get her in to show at the Boone County Fair, also. That's if they even have a class for Hereford's in Boone! I think I need to get the kids signed up for 4-H now that we are planning to stay put for awhile. I think Caisha and Zach would enjoy the different projects they can do. I was in 4-H for 11 years and loved it! It was hard work at times, but well worth it. If Grandpa is willing to haul a few animals down this direction for the kids to show that would be great!
Zach did real well showing on Saturday. He started out leading his calf all by himself, without any adult walking near him. I was so proud of him!! His calf did start to get a little pushy later so Grandma hopped in to help him. It's been a great experience for both the kids. Caisha is really showing a propesity for picking the winners. Grandpa says she will have to help pick out the calves for next years show! She picked such a winner this year that Grandpa almost ended up selling her to a buyer! Caisha told Grandpa emphamatically "NO, You can't!!" I think he is going to hang onto this heifer.
My mom was able to make it down for the fair, also. It was nice to have her be a part of the showing process. She pitched right in and was washing and brushing animals on show day. I know Jack and Lynne both really appreciated her help! We also found out that my mom, who is really a Dairy person, knows how to pick the Herefords, too! It was fun to spend time with her. I hope that next year she can convince my dad to come down with her. The Clay County Fair is known for its agriculture and farm machinery, which is something that my dad loves and the MN State Fair no longer really offers. I know we would loose him all day as he wandered through all the machinery! Zach would love to hang out with Grandpa Diers on that day!
On Sunday the kids and I walked around and looked through all the other projects and buildings at the Fair. Both kids got new belts with their names engraved on the back.....just like Grandma Lynne (and their dad had when he was little)!They both wore them to school today. I think it is the first time I have seen Caisha tuck in her shirts!
It did rain both Saturday and Sunday night. Saturday they had to sandbag in front of the barn because the water was creating a river down the center of the barn! I was driving in that downpour and could barely see a thing! It was a good thing I knew the road as well as I did!
I hope to never miss a Clay County Fair as long as I am able to get there! It's always a great time and the kids really learn a lot from their Grandparents that weekend about showmanship and sportsmanship. All the exhibitors that showed Herefords this weekend got together and provided potluck lunches and suppers so we didn't have to spend a fortune on fair food. It was a great idea and I hope they make it a tradition. It just shows the kids that even though we are competitors we are also friends and neighbors!
Look for pictures in the near future!
Oh, by the way....I felt GREAT all weekend! I really didn't have morning sickness at all. It was awesome. I know that being outside and being active really makes a difference. It just makes it even harder to go to work, though. But I will take the sick-free days where ever I can get them!

Morning Sickness

Well, morning sickness has settled in and it just got a little worse this morning! For the past 3 weeks I have been just naseaus and as long as I was munching on something all day, I could make it through the day. I usually started to feel better around 2pm. This morning, on the other hand, I got to work and I didn't even have time to turn on my computer before I had to run to the bathroom! Yesterday morning I almost didn't make it to work and had to stop at the park next to the kids schools just in case I did throw-up. I never did, but I had the "taste" in my mouth for a little bit and then that passed. There was no door-to-door service for the kids yesterday. I thought I was doing ok this morning, but it snuck up on me real quick! I thought I would do the same as yesterday and the feeling would pass, but no such luck today! I had called my doctor and her nurse told me to try taking Vitamin B6 three times a day at 10mg a dose. I couldn't find anyplace that sells B6 in 10mg doses. You can get it in 50mg, 100mg, and 200mg. I looked online and the dieticians sites say not to exceed 100mg a day. In Europe they only recommend up to 25mg a day! I guess I need to do a litttle research on where I can get 10mg dosage pills. I'd really hate to have to miss work because of morning sickness, especially since I just started back full-time the 1st of August! I also really need the paycheck! If any one has any suggestions on how to combat morning sickness I would appreciate your input!