Whiny and Pissy

I've really enjoyed my shorter work days. Its been nice to have energy to go home and get some things done. Unfortunately, I think I was too motivated and had too much time. Between having my kiddo home more and just being home, my days have been much more physical work. And carrying my 30+ pound kid around and carrying laundry from the 2nd story to the basement did me in. I think I pulled a muscle in my abdomen! Friday night I felt like I'd already had another c-section. It hurt to move, breathe, cough, etc. I was okay with it at first as it was a great reminder to what I will be feeling in a few weeks. But when things were still hurting on Sunday, I called urgent care. They suggested I go see my doctor which I wasn't willing to do. Instead, I opted to lay low all weekend. And that would be okay except I have 5 million things to do:
- Birthday/Graduation cards to make and gifts to wrap
- Laundry
- Finish cleaning up in the baby room
- Clean house for company that's coming over Memorial Weekend
- Fresh sheets on all the beds
- Water the garden
- Replant the garden that had to be moved
- Play with son who's dying to be outside ALL the time
- Oh, and let's not forget work
I'm sure there's more to do. My anniversary is on Thursday. I've already told my husband that we'll have to play it by ear as I don't know where my energy/comfort level will be. Dinner and a movie would be fun but sitting through a movie in a theatre just won't work at this point. Sadly, I need Thursday to finish cleaning before K arrives.

Otherwise a good weekend. Some friends came over and hung out. And it wasn't a rush over, eat a meal, visit quick and head home kind of deal. They came, the boys worked on putting together the jungle gym thing while us wives played with the kiddos, sat in lawn chairs outside, bathed the filthy kids, etc. It was nice and also nice for Ryan to have help with the project he's working on. He said he's on step 44 of 100+ steps. Its a slow process.

During that though, I was asked exactly where I wanted the thing to go. At this point, I had to share with my husband that I wanted it moved. And unless I justified my reasoning, it wasn't going to happen. So, I had to let him know that I was scheming on something. He's sure I'm having a patio poured for him but I'm not giving up any of the details. The thing got moved to the opposite side of the house. The new location is where our septic system got put in last fall, where hubby just finished dragging it last week and where I had planted the garden last Wednesday. So, not only did the thing get moved, but J dug up all my garden plants that had to be moved for the set. Then hubby re-planted the garden for me yesterday and cut up some rhubarb after he missed church for an emergency call and got back home before I did.

So, lots going on that I don't have the energy for. I'm eager for #2 to arrive!!!

Lots of Little Things

OB visit yesterday:
- I'm still pregnant
- Waited over an hour to see the doc (she had an emergency at the hospital)
- I actually had my kid & mom with me yesterday so they had to endure the wait too.
- Doc limited me to 5 hour work days - WOO HOO!

Scheming
I have a great husband so I'm working up something for him but can't mention any of the details here just in case he peeks in here.

Little Man is Organized
He's a riot, where do I even begin with him. Funny story from yesterday. He went to put his shoes away but the other shoes on the rug weren't lined up just right. I stood there and watched him for at least two minutes while he straightened out shoes, got them lined up perfectly and made room for all the shoes to fit. Finally I told him to just toss them on the rug and leave them there. The kid isn't even 2 yet and already he's portraying some habits of being neat and organized. I can only hope that continues to be a character trait that he develops. Oh and one more quick story... he loves to be outside ALL the time. But lately, his outside means running in and out of the dog kennel and shutting and opening the kennel gate. I know he likes to open/close doors but this obsession has been taken to a whole new level. I'm sure the dog wonders why in the world the kid would voluntarily go in there! Even the mention of "kennel" gets him all excited!

Little Man, is he Sick?
He had a "sick" weekend. I thought it was just allergies since he was outside for a few hours Friday night and a few hours again Saturday morning. On our way to Iowa City, the sickness was starting to rear its ugly head and I was realizing it was more than allergies. Not sure if it was croup or strep throat (he's had both at least 4 times each), I tried to limit the contact with his 10 month old and 90 year old family members. That's hard to do when its Mother's Day and you want him to socialize with family he rarely sees. He got Pediacare for the next few days straight. On Tuesday morning he woke up like a champ. No runny nose, no coughing, etc. But he had a sty on his eyelid. Yesterday while at the doctor's office, he rubbed his eye, breaking open the sty, it bled/oozed a little and looks much better now.

Thank you Mom & Papa
They usually keep Scott on Thursday night which allows us to socialize late with our bible study group. But tonight he's going with us to socialize so mom kept him last night. It was so nice to have a "free" night at home with a few less things to do. I was able to grill burgers & potatoes with sauteed onions for supper without having to feed Scott, bathe him, etc. And prior to that, I planted some of my garden without having to keep an eye on the wild man. No doubt, I love my child but it was nice to have a night off last night.

Alright I know I'm forgetting something... it will have to wait till later I guess.

Feeling Old

One of the girls turns 30 today. Wow, what a milestone, or is it? I remember the "younger" years when milestones were:
15 (permit to drive)
16 (driver's license),
18 (supposed adult, gamble, buy cigarettes)
21 (drinking)
But honestly, none of those were huge milestones for me. Granted, I was able to get my license when I turned 16 (mom's rule was you had to have straight A's) but it wasn't like I had my own car. And what did it matter, I lived right behind the high school anyway. At 18 and 21, I wasn't interested in the things the law now legally allowed me to do so they were no big deal either. But 30, I'm thinking that might be a milestone for me.

As it is, I feel old. Not that I think I'm wrinkly, old and dying or anything. But feeling like I need to be a responsible adult ALL the time. Sometimes though, I forget and let my hair down. One of those times, more recently, my husband pointed it out to me. We were leaving and I had to run back in the house for something. On my way up the walk, I very sarcastically dropped the back of my pants and mooned my husband. His response was something along the lines of "one of these days your child is going to be very embarrassed when he sees his mom do that". And then it hit me... not only am I an adult, I'm a mom and wife and need to act appropriately. Although, I couldn't help but think two things in that instant. My child will either think his mom is still humorous and fun or he'll be embarrassed - it might depend on if his friends are nearby to see it too.

So, once again I'm feeling like an adult. No more up all night conversations with the girls, no more midnight tanning sessions, no more random trips to the lake with the guys, no more college life. I'm married. I have two children (one of which is still kicking at my from the inside). I have a career. What did I do, what did I give up and Why? Honestly, I love it. I have a husband who loves me and tries to do things to express that love to me. I have a son who has the biggest and best smile that melts my heart constantly. I have a life that although crazy at times, is exactly perfect for me. Sure, I miss my friends back home but life here is wonderful and I'm glad to be home here!

Belly Size

I got an email from a buddy last week who measured her belly at 38" and she's due 2 weeks after me. Well, the competitive side of me (since that's how the two of us were all growing up) had to also measure. I measured multiple times when I was due with Scott but had not done so with #2. This weekend, while staying with Ryan's cousin, we got out the tape measure to check. My belly was 40+ inches around. Comparing to this time with Scott, it's about the same. Only this time I think I was a little bigger around the center to start with. I still hadn't quite lost all my belly size from pregnancy #1 and although I may never lose it, I sure would like to think that I will.

Story of the Day

After a long day at the office, followed by a "town meeting" with a child who didn't have an afternoon nap, it was more than time to get my kiddo home, bathed and in bed. We left the meeting a bit early but the fun-loving mom I am, I was sure that my kid needed some "play" time. So, a quick trip to the "pond" and we found grammy&papa out fishing. Each caught fish while there and Scott had some fun reactions. The first bass mom caught flipped its tail up splashing Scott in the face. His expression was priceless. The second bass she caught, he would NOT touch. And he cried as I tried to stretch his hand out to help him touch the fish. Instead, he asked grammy to put the fish in the water and then sat there and called fish: "here fishy, fishy, fishy".

But, that's not the story of the day... we left the pond and headed home where we did go right up stairs to the bath. The kid loves the bath and was playing with a few toys while I sat and watched from my seat on the toilet while making a quick phone call. It was during the call that I looked down to see that Scott had pooped in the tub. Yes, he pooped in the tub - 2 big brown things. Okay, the last 4 days have been diarrhea and this could have been really nasty! Fortunately, it wasn't a diarrhea tub. I drained the water, grabbed some TP and picked out the chunks all the while trying to keep Scott from playing with it. It was a fun experience.

In other news

Kid updates... well my husband has this cute video and pictures of Scott driving the "tractor" of his grandpas. Yes, my son truly is adorable!!! Here are a few things:
1. When asked his name, he'll say the whole thing: first, middle and last (6 syllables)
2. His favorite word is "no" and he has complete attitude when saying it even though I don't think he realizes what/how he's saying. We're working on disciplining that.
3. He's a food thief. If your plate is within reach, he does help himself to what he wants.
4. He likes fruit salad with "yogurt" which isn't actually yogurt but instead a concoction of cream cheese, marshmallow cream, milk, etc. His favorite fruit right now is grapes and otherwise strawberries.
5. He still has a fetish with shoes, vehicles and tractors.

Baby clothes... what drama. Because we don't know what we're having, I dug out Scott's clothes this weekend. What I found was that you truly can NOT store clothes in airtight bags or they discolor. yes, the look like someone pee'd on them. Its gross! So, I spent several hours sorting the gobs of clothes into stained v. not stained. And then sorted them in gender neutral v. boy clothes. I began washing them yesterday. And last night when my husband saw the massive piles of clothes, I think he was a bit disgusted. Our son has TONS of clothes! Wow, I can't even begin to imagine the money we spent on clothes. I so need hand-me-downs this next go round!

Tax return... more drama. We're buying a swing set for SCott. And of course, nothing simple or cheap if we want it to last. Because we have a somewhat frugal budget, we're using our tax return to pay for it. Fortunately there should be some cash left over. Hubby thinks it needs to go to bills. I told him I had other plans for it and wasn't giving any other details. I'm sure that went over well. Hopefully he's smart enough to realize I'm doing something for him and doesn't ask any more about it.

Obsessive Whiner

I feel like all I did this weekend was whine about aches and pains. When I think about the big picture, I feel pretty decent. But when I break down all the little things, there's a ton of pregnancy irritations:
- major back pain - like as soon as I wake up and then all day long yesterday.
- Tight muscles - last evening I had a massive headache and my jaw hurt. There was no reason for my jaw to hurt so I knew it was related to tight muscles in my neck.
- Heart burn - this royally sucks. I ate fruit last night and had such bad heart burn that I thought I was going to puke
- Achy muscles - yes, my whole body aches. I hate getting up in the morning knowing that my feet ache before they hit the floor.
Yes, I've whined and whined about it. I feel bad for my husband. He has to listen (or at least hear) me complain. He gets zero attention for his aches, long days at work, etc. And the mini-martha stage is gone as I've not made one meal lately unless you count honey bran muffins (from a mix) and chocolate milk as a meal. And then my poor child gets to have a lazy mom who isn't eager to take him upstairs to bathe him, outside to play or even get down in the floor to play. I just tell him that mommy is getting too old and fat at this point.

Oh Lord, please make these next few weeks go by incredibly fast and somewhat comfortably. Help me hold my whining to a minimum as it does no good to anyone. Amen!

Time flies...

...when you're having fun, not sleeping enough and uncomfortable!
I can't believe how quickly my days have passed this week. My week has been great as I started each day off on the right foot. Several of us are getting together for what we're calling "extreme week". We started on Sunday after church with a brief meeting. And now we're meeting from 615-7am each morning this week to focus a little more on prayer and listening. Wow, it has been an interesting few days with a variety of challenges and experiences.

We spent 10 minutes on Monday just listening. Have you ever sat in silence for 10 minutes? I know that I don't do that often and it was so hard to sit quietly and not let my "to do" list and other thoughts take over. What a good day. In that time, I really thought about loving and respecting my husband. Now, of course I love him and respect him for the most part. but, I could be doing so much better. And I need to do those two things in ways that he will comprehend and appreciate!

Tuesday was very interesting and encouraging. We challenged each other and ourselves to pray at the times of the day that Muslims pray. Making myself available to set aside the things I was doing for six different prayer times during the day was interesting and challenging. I had to manipulate some of the scheduled times because of prior commitments and interruptions. But, it was awesome to try to understand the effort and commitment of a Muslim person who does the scheduled prayers every day! It also brought up some very interesting conversation with a guy who was sitting at my desk and looked at my palm pilot when the "prayer time" reminder popped up on the screen.

And this morning, I was just glad to be up and meeting at 615 as I was super sore and tired this morning. I was in the field yesterday walking on uneven ground, up and down hills while flagging waterways for a guy. Let me just say that I was whipped!!! I even stopped twice and sat in the field for a few minutes while gaining my energy back and talking myself into finishing the job. I think I was asleep on the couch sometime around 730pm! I did wake back up to eat some fruit and dip before I headed upstairs, put the kiddo in bed, journaled a little and went to sleep. My legs are still tired and achy this morning and I think I'm done with the field work for the season unless its a small job in a flat field!!!

My Back Hurts...

and its only Monday. It wasn't even 11am this morning and I was thinking that my back was really bothering me. This is not good. I have too much time left to already be having this much back pain.

.... Just got interrupted and had almost an hour conversation with a guy on some interesting things not at all related to work... Must go home now

Belly Update

After being asked a million times yesterday when my due date is and hearing their responses, I was definitely feeling like I have a protruding belly:

By the way, I'm due July 1st and hoping for a c-section during the last week of June. And everything I eat lately, and I mean EVERYTHING, gives me heartburn and makes my tummy uncomfortable. Diet, Caffeine Free Coke has been my companion lately! It's not fun. Otherwise, I feel pretty good so long as I don't spend too much time on my feet.

Toilet Paper

Last week at work, another "boss" in the building mentioned to me while I was washing my hands in the bathroom about the paper towels. They were your typical brown, rough-as-sandpaper paper towels. I'd gotten used to them just fine in the last few years. Anyway, this lady requested to the building owner that he purchase us "nicer" paper towels. Now, I didn't realize that there was a quality to crappy paper towels. But apparently there is and now we have white paper towels that must be softer. I haven't really noticed that big of a difference.

Anyway, today I was taking my potty break #4 of the morning (gotta love being pregnant) and got irritated with the whole situation. I honestly care less about the paper towels. And since the change, we've also had a change in toilet paper. The stuff wasn't nice to begin with but now its worthless thin white stuff. You honestly have to roll out over 12 inches of paper just to get anything decently thick. Okay, I'm not a TP snob and I don't have to have Charmin or whatever other brand, but seriously, this new stuff is Crap!

Okay, enough griping for the day...

Mini-Martha

Preface: I am NOT the old-style "barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen" house wife. I don't wait on my husband all the time. I don't prepare all the meals. When I do prepare meals, they're generally pretty basic. I also no longer work out 3 days a week or get enough exercise. I spend my days at the office and my evenings chasing a little one. With that said, this is an interesting read:

I totally felt like a little housewife last night. After work, I went for a 30-minute walk with the little guy and then home to make supper. Ryan was outside shoveling dirt and when I had supper ready I yelled at him to come in. I somehow even managed to make two meals last night without burning anything, melting anything or any other major catastrophes! Anyway, after I yelled at Ryan out the door, Scott proceeded to stand in the doorway and yell at Ryan to come in for supper just like his mommy had done. It was too cute. Ryan came in for a quick meal where we actually sat at the table together to eat. It was unusual. Then the phone rang and the two Ryans chatted. I felt no obligation to stay at the table so I got up and cleaned up from supper. Okay, let me just say that I'm not so good at keeping up with dishes sometimes but I've been on a role lately. My kitchen has been clean for over a week now. My laundry has been kept up and the living areas aren't too bad either. By time I was done in the kitchen, I headed upstairs with a load of laundry which my husband even helped to put away. Finally, I headed to bed - swollen legs and all. I couldn't believe I'd been on my feet from 5-9 last night. I was dying by time I crawled in bed! And this morning, my legs still ache and my knee (the one I had surgery on in college) is in pain. Oh, this was supposed to be a fun day at work, one where I could spend a good amount of time out of the office and in the field but now I'm not so sure. I guess my pregnant and lazy body just can't go-go-go like I used to when I was 20!

Poor Keller

It's finally "warm" here. Its warm enough that I'm not looking at airline tickets anymore! Anyway, with the warm weather comes the annual haircut for Keller, my mini Aussie. Last year was quite the event so this year we were a little more prepared. Being married to a veterinarian, he had the wise idea to sedate the wild and hyper dog first. Last year it took two of us - one to hold and one to shave all the while hoping the kiddo would stay napping in his bedroom. This year was significantly better. Here's how my Sunday afternoon entertainment played out:

The doc sedated him and initially he ran around like wild - the opposite affect! Within minutes, Keller went to lay down near the edge of the porch after chasing a cat and fell right off the porch. It was a sad sight but definitely funny too. I was afraid he was going to start a seizure (my kiddo isn't the only one I've seen have a seizure, the dog did it when we first got him and he fell off the couch). Anyway, I picked up the seemingly drunk dog and carried him onto the lawn where he fell asleep. Okay, let me just say that Australian shepherds have LOTS of THICK hair. Getting started was no easy task. [Imagine this extremely pale person begging for a tan wearing shorts and a sports bra with a massive belly protruding out trying to shave a dog.] So, I got things started and was moving along slowly at first when I found a tick. And then another one. So, I ran into the house and interrupted the vet watching his Cardinals baseball game to have him get me some rubbing alcohol in a cup and tweezers. As I continued shaving, I made it a point to let the clippers cool every little bit while I picked off a few ticks. And then I got to his back hip and found a grouping of ticks. As if that's not nasty enough, it looked like there was something else on him - maybe a pussy substance but it actually looked like a piece of plastic and was the size of my pinkie fingernail (think 0.5 by 0.25 inches). I took a closer look to realize it was a FAT tick and I had nicked him with the clippers. Of course, I had to run in the house and get Ryan to come look at my huge find. It was so big I couldn't use the tweezers to pull it off and wasn't about to touch it. By now, it had lost some size in the blood that dripped out. I managed to get the tick off with a few sticks and into the alcohol.

For the next hour or so, I would shave a little and pick off a few ticks. [Yes, I'm married to a vet but don't manage to care enough about my outside dog to keep up with his flea/tick preventative stuff]. I had just flipped the dog to his other side when he seemed to start waking up. So for the next little bit, I hurried with the clippers, threw ticks in alcohol, lots my tweezers a few times in the grass, cut out the cockleburs that were matted in near his ears, wiped the slobber away and continued shaving. By time I was clipping up near his head, he was awake but still in the very groggy and seemingly drunk stage. When finished, Keller was nodding his head around trying to wake up. He looked like a whole new dog. No more ticks, no cockleburs matted in and his hind end was shaven clean with no matted yucky/stinky stuff. I picked Keller up and took him to his kennel where he woke up the rest of the way and proceeded to bark for the next half hour.

Of course, as soon as I was done, I headed in the house to take a shower stopping only briefly to check the score of the baseball game. Of course, just then I saw a tick crawling on my arm. I HATE TICKS and can't stand to see them near me let alone on me. I destroyed the tick and went straight to the shower. The job was done. And now, I will make sure that Ryan will be bringing home his flea/tick preventative medicine. Ryan kept my tick collection to use as a visual when he asks people if they're using the flea/tick stuff. He counted them up... 60 ticks!!! Poor neglected dog. By the way, he was so easy to clip while sedated that I think I'll do it once more this summer :)

Tips of the Day

I was just reading my Iowa Outdoors magazine and found some interesting tidbits to share:
1. Keep your minnows breathing easy with a little H2O2. Add a capful of hydrogen peroxide to your bait bucket.
2. Dutch oven liner. Line the dutch oven with a disposable aluminum foil cake pan for easy clea-up. When done, throw the liner in the trash. Check out Byron's website for lots of handy information and recipes for your dutch oven.
3. For those of who love fish, that bluegill your husband fried up last night that looked like it'd had pepper shaken on it was actually grubs in the fish. DOn't worry, its harmless. The grubs are common and won't hurt you but make sure you freeze it first or cooking it properly (to 145 degrees internal temp) kills the parasites. Okay, I've totally experienced this one and NEVER got sick from it!!!

And then from my same reading experience, a few myths busted:
1. Lightning can strike the same place twice. For those of us who love to watch Sweet Home Alabama, we know the little kids in the movie lead us to believe that it can't strike the same place twice. This is not true.
2. Toads can't cause warts. Warts are caused by HPV (a human virus). So, kiss them all you want girls but you must know that so far research suggests that kissing toads won't turn them into princes either.

Have a happy Friday!

Prego

10 more weeks and counting.
I suppose we should start talking a little more seriously about names.

A few names I like for a boy are:
Derek, Jake, Justice... haven't put much thought into boy names. Hubby would like for John to be a middle name since it runs in both families but that makes the name picking more difficult. I don't really like the sound of "Jake John" or even "Jacob John"

A few names I like for a girl are:
Kate, Danni, Sue... haven't put much thought into girl names either.

I really need to start considering baby names!

Rockstar Husband

It's amazing how Ryan doing things for me makes me want to return the favor. I love doing for my husband but sometimes my attitude really sucks about it. It's horrible and I know that I'm not supposed to keep score but sometimes I don't want to do for him because he hasn't ... (fill in the blank). I don't want to be selfish but sometimes I just can't force myself to do for him simply because there's 2 weeks worth of trash that hasn't been taken to town yet. But that's me and I'm still learning!
Regardless of how selfish I can be, Ryan continues to serve me by cooking meals, etc. Sunday night was really sweet though. I mentioned that I wanted dessert. He said that he got the hint and asked what I wanted. I assured him that I wasn't "hinting" this time and that I didn't want him to get me anything. He went into the kitchen anyway and was in there for quite some time. I heard the blender going, cabinets opening, etc and continued to lay my fat and tired butt on the couch. When he came back in the living room, he told me that it would be a bit before it was ready. My husband had made me a cheesecake!!! What a rockstar! I truly didn't expect anything and would have even been happy with popcorn but I got cheesecake.
His thoughtfulness made me want to be thoughtful to him in return. The next night when I came home late after hanging out at my mom's, he was finishing up the dishes. I'm not sure what had gotten into him but I was appreciating it. Ryan is a wonderful husband but certainly is not a maid and does not clean. It was such a sweet gesture. I really need to think of something fun to do for him in return.

Thank You McD's

On my way to D-town for an OB appointment, I stopped at the "golden arches" for my favorite: an egg mcmuffin without the egg, topped with a hashbrown. In a total hurry, I pulled through the drivethrough and handed the cashier my credit card to pay. She had a surprised look and turned back around to tell me that their machine wasn't work. She walked away and I knew I was about to be late to my appointment and embarrassed at McD's. The only way I had to pay was my credit card so I waited for the lady to come back so I could explain that I didn't have cash and would have to cancel my order. But it didn't work quite that way... another lady came back to the window and handed me my credit card. She then grabbed a small bag and handed it to me. I interrupted with a "but I haven't paid". She explained that my meal was on them because their machine didn't work. I rushed off, thankful for a truly "FREE" meal.

Airline tickets

I'm not appreciating this winter weather in April...

Airline ticket to go "back where I come from" is $1084. Aint happening!
Airline ticket to go visit Cori in beautiful San Diego $980. Aint happening!
Airline ticket to go see my in-laws in Northern Arizona $594. Aint happening!
Flight + 4 nights hotel to Waikiki starting at $584. Still aint happening!

What's wrong with this picture? Why is it cheaper to spend 4 nights in Hawaii?

I'm tired of being inside. I want to plant a garden, get a tan, lay in the hammock and enjoy spring flowers. But no, that's not what's going on here. Instead we got ~5" of snow, I cranked the heater up to 69 and snuggled up under a blanket. I've had a pair of shorts in my car for several weeks now hoping to go walking at night. It hasn't been warm enough for that yet. I've seen others out walking with their hooded sweatshirts covering their head. Meantime, the temperature is 83 back where I come from.

My Little Cowboy

As I was cleaning Saturday, I dusted off my old cowboy hat which has become part of the decor in our living room the past few years. I put the hat on my head and the little guy was quite entertained. We, of course, had to put it on his head too and look in the mirror. Yesterday, we showed off my little cowboy to his grammy who was able to sneak a few decent pictures of him. Here's my favorite - dirty shirt and all!

Another seizure...

Saturday was a good day. Hubby was gone to work and I had the little one in front of the TV. (Let me just say that I hate having the TV as a "babysitter" but this day was necessary.) I would check on him every several minutes. The past few days he'd been a little warm off and on and a little whiny so I assume he's teething again. I had just checked on him and he was warm but my warm-bodied kid was in sweats with a fleece blanket over him at the temp at set at 68. I knew that he likely needed Tylenol but I decided that I'd finish the dishes quick and then give him a bath before going to meds.

I walk in to check on him just as he's getting off the couch. He slides off the couch and then stands still for one second and begins shaking. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. I immediately ran over and grabbed him up in my arms shouting his name. Meanwhile, I'm wondering how I'm going to deal with a seizing child and manage to get his medicine out of my car all at the same time. It wasn't more than 5-10 seconds and the shaking stopped. He never screamed, got rigid, really hot or any other "seizure signs". As I sat on the couch (about to have a heart attack and definitely sweating now) clutching my child, I watched him closely.

The kid was glued to the Vegie Tales movie (being repeated for the 3rd time which he didn't mind). And on the movie, there was an outer-space vegie that was coming down. As I watched, I was sure that the kid wasn't seizing - he was just scared of the stupid vegie!!! Of course, my awareness of seizures in relationship to fevers was the scary part. Thankfully, it was not a medical issue! The remainder of the weekend, I watched him closely and got a little nervous each time he'd stand quietly in one spot in a "different" sort of way.

Yummy Food

We live in the "sticks" which means that most places to eat serve very boring tasting food. But, in our small town of ~500, there's a new guy in town. He's a big time cuisine chef (I can't remember the official terminology) that opened up his own place here. I've been in the restaraunt several times: once when he allowed us to use the building for our Vday supper, once for supper with my cousin and then last night.

The guys has wonderful meals on his menu. Unfortunately, they're such "nice" meals that I don't even understand what the heck they are. In fact, when we had supper with my cousin, I ordered dutch pancakes with fresh fruit on top because I didn't understand or didn't have an interest in the fancier foods. Our small group met for supper there last night. I asked Thomas to translate the menu for me and ended up ordering a Tarragon Corn Meal .... Walleye. It was huge and tasted very good. It came with flavorful mashed potatoes (that weren't beaten to death) and grilled asparagus. It was quite delicious. Thanks Thomas!

Glucose Test Update

I passed with flying colors yesterday. The tech (a lady I also attend church with) was the lucky one who got to deal with me. I had only failed the original glucose challenge by one point which I consider to be good after all the sweets I ate that day.

I was a bit nervous Wednesday morning realizing that I'd not eaten much or anything healthy the night before because of a work meeting. At 6pm I had a milk shake and fries on the way to a meeting. At 9pm I had an apple on the way home. I was afraid that I would be starving. And I was when I woke up but I got up right away and got moving around and forgot all about it. Thanks to a piece of sugar-free gum, I was entertained all morning. Of course, right after the glucose drink, I felt an emptiness in my tummy but it went away with the gum. In fact, when I was done, I didn't go straight to food. I wasn't even hungry until I had some water and then it was like my body realized my tummy was empty. I even stopped at the vet clinic to see my hubby for a few minutes before I stopped at moms to eat. And even then, I played with my kiddo for a bit before I grabbed a slice of pizza and a handful of grapes.

Thankfully, my tests were normal and I can continue to eat whatever - except I might consider having one maple bar instead of two! Just another little bump in this pregnancy road that God quickly ironed out before it became a pothole!

Dr. Dentist

Just got finished with the dentist. Not fun! I used to love the dentist. The guy I had growing up and through college was wonderful, down to earth and very gentle. Then I moved to Iowa and married a guy who's father is a dentist. Same experiences with him. Wonderful, down to earth, gentle. And better yet - FREE! So, it wasn't until they moved to Arizona and I didn't get there often enough that I had to find a local dentist. This guy is nice and his hygentist is nice too. But, it's not the same. She's not gentle, she's not funny and she has different methods than what I'm used to. MY TEETH ARE SORE! Apparently I have a spot to watch and make sure I floss good. Next cleaning they'll do an x-ray to check that spot. And if I have a cavity there, I'll be very tempted to fly to Arizona to get it fixed instead. Hmm, maybe that will encourage another visit to Ryan's folks which I'm sure they'd appreciate!

I want my old dentist (either one of them) back.

Couple of Thoughts for the Day

Last night I had a dream about having a foreign exchange student - thanks Merritt!
I also had a dream where I really questioned if Ryan loved me or someone else - thanks to name discussions with Ryan and my co-worker.

My kid is hilarious. Honestly, I didn't know it would be such a joy! In the few short hours we were home last night, several things he did made me laugh out loud:
- He yelled at the dog and told him to come and eat (after I'd done so several times).
- He was at the table playing with his magnetic drawing toy (brain fart... what is that toy called?). I look over and not only does he have the little magnet animal shapes on the screen, but also several slices of potatoes that I was making homemade chips with.
- Next time I look over, he's eating a raw slice. Only, he's not eating it, he's taking a bite, turning his head and spitting it out over his shoulder. I watched him do this 4 times. And after laughing, I scolded him and he responded with "DJ, eat". Not sure if he was still nagging the dog to eat or trying to give him another food option.
- He loves this old farm book that was his dad's as a child. It's falling apart and each time he insists we read it, something else tears out, falls out, etc. Last night, he pried the chicken off but continued to lift the flap and say "chicken" and then "egg" when he could see the egg.
- Bath time was hilarious. Let me preface this by sharing that he likes to throw his arms in the air and say "where did it go" any time something gets out of site. He was playing along with a shallow little bowl. And sitting in the tub, he looked down, said "peepee", covered himself with the bowl and said "where did peepee go". He did this multiple times and I died laughing!

So, my kid was fun last night. His dad stopped at the house for a quick minute to drop off the dog and grab a to-go bite before heading to his next call. His dad got home just as we finished in the bath and were getting ready for bed. So, Ryan snuggled the kiddo for a few minutes in his "big bed" while I went downstairs to fry us some pork fritters for a late supper. I came back up and the kiddo was still awake but definitely tired. Ryan got up and small fry just stayed there. He asked to go to "mommy's bed" and when I said no and asked if he wanted to go to his crib, he said "no". So, I asked if he wanted to stay in his "big bed" and he said yes. We grabbed his bed time pals (music toy, elmo and pacifier) and lifted up the rail and headed to bed. I was sure that it would be an all night issue to get him to sleep. But, he was fine. He slept right through the roaring thunder, hail, winds, etc. What a champ! My kid slept in his big bed on the first try (although he napped in there with Ryan on Sunday). It was awesome. Of course, we got up 3 different times to cover him back up and check on him like worried parents but he was fine!!!!

Weekend Up North

I left work 45 minutes early on Friday to start the weekend. I was hoping to leave at noon but because I was swamped at work, I considered 45 minutes being lucky. Rushed right home and didn't even stop at my mom's to see my kiddo. I got home in time to question why in the world did I hurry... hubby was standing in front of the TV playing xbox!
Now, I hadn't communicated that I wanted to leave at any certain time but I did mention that I would plan to get home early. I was dissapointed that hubby was still in work clothes (not that he ever cares to change), had yet to pack (or do anything else around the house on his half day off) and was playing video games. Now, let me state that I struggle so much with keeping up with the household chores while working full time. And that's before I added a child to the house and am pregnant with #2. I was so frustrated that hubby had provided NO help to me that afternoon! Okay, now that I vented about my frustration, I'll share about our weekend.

I was ready for a quiet and cozy weekend without the phone, TV or friends. We got close! Friday on our way up to the house, we stopped in at wallyworld. Before we even parked, we saw a friend (and past co-worker) of Ryan's. After visiting for 15 minutes, we parked and headed inside for a quick shopping trip. After gathering some needed items for home (might as well when you're actually near a place to shop) and some food for the weekend, we headed out.

No big plans, just some quality time together... we had frito boats for supper, I ate some "fresh" (so they say) strawberries and we watched the Pursuit of Happyness (which I did not like). After a long week of work, I was more than ready for bed when the movie finished. Saturday we headed to town for brunch. I took Ryan to Ruby's - a local place with a good chicken fried steak. Afterwards, we walked around town, poked our head in the different shops, spent too much money (I bought an old egg basket, a old bat for kiddo's room while hubby found an old thing that had DX logos on it). We made a quick stop at the local coffee house but when I didn't know what anything on the menu was (I'm limited to experiencing a caramel frapp at Starbucks), we ordered a hot chocolate and sat and played Battleship for a while. It was a well needed break for my tired feet and body. We managed to avoid the short rain showers all except once and even then stayed fairly dry. Of course, we couldn't go home without another trip to Walmart, another DVD purchase (with 500 other things) and a stop at Culvers for lunch (as if I was hungry).

I tried my best to be content. But honestly, I didn't know what to do with myself having "free time". It was crazy and I was bored! In between movies and games, I swept up a few asian beetles, wandered around outside, etc. I never have that kind of time at home. There's always laundry to do, a kid to chase, plants to water, etc. Not only was I bored but I missed my son!

Saturday night we had some wild thunderstorms with lots of rain and wind and tornado warnings. I slept wonderfully (thank you Tylenol PM) that night. Sunday morning I lounged around and finished a book while Ryan ran to town once more. I showered and wasn't quite finished packing when Ryan came back. We were at mom's picking up our son by noon. It was a nice weekend and good to spend time with just my hubby. But it was also good to be back home!

Thanks for a slow weekend...here comes another whirlwind week of events!

me = grumpy pregnant lady

Got a call from the doc. I failed my 1-hour blood sugar challenge thinger-ma-bob. Now, I have to do a fasting, 3 hour test. My first thoughts were of sitting at the doctor's office for 3 hours. Grr. But, it gets worse. I have to fast for 12 hours (I got them to agree to 6 since that's what the nurse originally said). Then I really have to sit there for 3 hours. Here's the schedule:

2am - while up for potty break #2, EAT something.
815am, they take a "fasting" blood sample
Drink the orange crap (10 oz of liquid similar to orange soda but it has 50 grams of sugar and a bad after taste).
915am - take hour #1 sample
1015am - take hour #2 sample
1115am - take hour #3 sample

Okay, so maybe that doesn't sound so bad to you, but let's think about this. I'm PREGNANT and like to eat OFTEN. Usually by 11am, I've had a slim fast, a nutri-grain bar and a bagel with cream cheese. Even then, I usually have lunch by 1230. And they think I won't be hungry. Let's add to my grumpy attitude by having to sit at the doctor's office for 3 hours. I don't sit still well at all (I would have flunked that class and been called ADHD). They said to bring a good book. Who cares about the book, I just don't want to SIT anywhere for 3 hours. I don't even sit for the 3 hour drive to DesMoines right now - I make a pit stop half way at Target. And in not-comfy chairs... sitting... for 3 hours. Do they not understand that my back already hurts and I don't like this idea at all. Grr. I can tell that I'm getting more emotional than usual (which is bad because I already cry easy) . I wanted to cry when I got off the phone with them. I'm so frustrated. Grr!

High/Low

Every week at bible study, we start with our "high" of the week and our "low". I always forget by time I get there and listen to everyone else so I thought I'd share it here:

High
So I walked into the local bakery the other day (which BTW has no comparison to the little mexican bakery back home) to buy a few things for the office. I asked for a half dozen "long johns" (aka maple bars) from the lady but was completely eyeing the muffins. She mentioned that she had a special for a dozen long johns and answered my question about the muffins. Smart-alek me popped back at her "oh, you're only telling me to buy more because you know I'm big and pregnant and want to eat everything in sight". Her response was to die for. She made my day, and possibly my week by saying "oh honey, but you are a beautiful pregnant!"
Okay, that lady rocks! Sure, my hubby thinks to tell me on occassion that I'm beautiful but isn't he supposed to? Duh, he married me, I hope he doesn't think he married some dog-faced nasty person! It was quite refreshing to hear some complete stranger tell me I'm beautiful!

Low
The next morning after rushing out of the house without a shower (okay I wasn't at all dirty or sweaty or anything but I feel like I HAVE to have a morning shower to freshen up), I was working at my desk. At one of my many potty breaks during the morning (the baby has shifted and is using my bladder as a pillow), I looked in the bathroom mirror. My only thought was: "yeah, today I'm definitely NOT a beautiful pregnant woman!!!" Today was much the same only I had my shower. The not beautiful part: letting my naturally nasty hair air dry, no make-up, nothing!

drama of the week

Okay, its actually a daily drama... my kiddo hates to have his teeth brushed. Its cool when he does it himself and he mocks me standing at the sink but when I go to finish up for him, its an all out war! I have to hold the child down and constantly ask him to open his mouth as he wiggles, bites the toothbrush, holds his mouth closed and gets swatted. I hate it! This usually happens right before bed time and it makes me so irritated because I'm already beyond the tired stage.

As if that's not enough, his dad has been gone a TON lately. He's either been running calls or working on taxes at the office the past 5 nights. I missed my hubby so yesterday I called and left a voice mail saying that I missed him, love him and want to run away with him! He so needs a break and so we are going to take a short but relaxing and inexpensive weekend get-away.

Picture Update

(if you're blind or have tired eyes like me, click on the picture for a larger image)


The kid loves to play the piano (November 2006). I wish I could download the video of my little mozart playing the piano with his great grandma last week.





The kiddo sledding with his dad. It was definitely not a normal experience for the little guy, especially when his dad let him sled down the hill by himself and he crashed. (January 2007). Another moment with some cute video.


I tried to push him back up the hill instead of carrying him but I think I kicked more snow on the kid than it was worth!

It was first thing in the morning for both of them (February 2007). This kid loves "dj dog" but its not a love returned by the dog. The dog could really care less - unless he can sneak a lick off the kids pizza covered hands.

He definitely knows that there is a baby in his mom's belly. He likes to show us too and give it hugs (which means he puts his face against something like you see in the picture on the right). Picture taken February 27th - when I was ~22 weeks.



The kid is an absolute ham! These are two of his favorite toys right now. The cow and the horse from when his dad was a kid. He knows they go behind the fence and he pushes their heads down so they can eat.


Yes, my child always has red eyes. Here he is having a blast playing piano with his great grandma last week (post seizure).



We took this after the EEG. It looks like we jacked up his hair on purpose but it was from the things being glued to his head. What you can't see is the gobs of glue and the red marks that were drawn everywhere a probe thingy went. It looked like someone did a bad job highlighting his hair and then put way too much product in it.



Happy St. Patrick's Day! This kid is a teency bit Irish so we had to celebrate with a new tshirt of course. This time we jacked up his hair on purpose. Yup, he's a doll

Okay, that's it for now.

update

1. still no prego pics. I've got them on my palm pilot but not on my flash drive (hopefully hubby accomplishes that today for me)
2. Happy Birthday Hubby. You are getting "old"
3. No MRI appt as of yet. Hopefully we'll know more tomorrow. Our home docs think that he may not need an MRI and suggested he might see the pediatric neurologist up here (almost a 2 hour drive)
4. I'm not motivated to work today. I am motivated to eat :)
5. I'm making hubby almond crusted salmon, garlic mashed potatoes and vegies for his bday supper. If only I could add to that a quiet, romantic candle lit evening and some virgin daqueries. Instead, we'll have juice or pop and entertainment from our wild child :)

New things for Small Fry

A few new things about the small fry (besides the seizure):
- He likes to say LOTS of things. A few favorites are "come in grandpa" in the sweetest little voice ever; "where fill in the blank go" with arms spread wide open.
- He loves stairs and thinks he needs to go down them too often now (thanks to LC who's been watching him and teaching him to do the steps outside).
- He didn't want to nap the other day so I tried to snuggle with him. Instead of sleeping, he spent at least 20 minutes "playing" with my hair. He'd move it out of my face and back, etc. Yes, he's my son and doesn't take after his father on that one!
- He likes his potty chair but only because its a chair his height, not because he associates it with pottying.
- He still has a fettish with shoes and phones (another sign that he takes after me). The kid thinks that mornings and toast are related some how.

We visisted an older couple from our church last night. By time we left, he was calling Gladys "grandma". I wonder if any older person will now be grandma or grandpa. He's an absolute blast to be around but has a definite strong will to him. It's frustrating but funny when he gets mad and throws this very short but obvious fit. The kid loves cookies, counts to 3 or from 6-10 and knows some ABC's. He's growing so fast. His vocabulary is amazing which makes me wonder if he'll be slow in another area such as potty training.

Small-fry had a Seizure

I could write you a long drawn out email with all the details of the last few days but will hold off on that. My small-fry had a seizure Sunday night at 130am. Praise God that I heard the "scream" and went to him right away. He was having what we commonly know as a "grand mal"
seizure. He was shaking, gagging, frothing and not alert at all. Thanks to the 911 operator, I was able to do the right things, get him breathing again and the seizure stopped. It was a very scary experience, especially when I realized that I was holding my child who wasn't breathing. I was comforted by the EMT's who arrived. They took us by ambulance to Blanks Children's Hospital in Des Moines. Hubby's grandparents (who I was staying with for a few days while I worked near Des Moines) followed us there. Things checked out great at the emergency room - his temperature was back to normal, he was alert and doing his typical things albeit very tired. By 630am, we were safely back at the Grandparents! I spent Monday on the phone with nurses, hospital staff, etc trying to figure out the next steps, learning what to do in case of another seizure, etc.

We were able to get an appointment with a pediatric neurologist on Tuesday following the EEG appointment. And when the nurse called to tell me the details, she said "this is nothing short of a miracle, but you have an appointment..." (it usually takes two weeks to get into to see a pediatric neurologist). Praise God for having His hand on the situation. Hubby drove down Monday after work and arrived in time to go to bed. The three of us spent most the day Tuesday at Blanks Childrens. The EEG was clear, and they still don't know the cause of the seizure. So, we'll continue to hope and pray that it was a "fluke" thing and be thankful that God intervened in numerous ways.

We still have an MRI to schedule (which I hope to do today) and a follow up with our doctor here. Small-fry is his normal active self and is thrilled to see people and as energetic as ever. There is a 50/50 chance that this could happen again so we'll have to keep that in the back of our mind as well as carry around the medication that will stop another seizure should he have one.

Meanwhile, we are trying to get back to the swing of things here at home, catch up on some sleep and enjoy the "normal" life!

Welcome Sage

I have a new nephew! Sage was born to my brother and his wife yesterday afternoon. I'm eager to see him but they are 2200 miles from here so I'll keep enjoying the pictures that others send me.





Weighing in at 5lbs, 5 oz and 19" long, here's Sage:

His mom and dad look pretty proud in the pictures I've seen, as does his grammy who was able to travel the 2200 miles to see him!

Kid Update - 2 stories

So, I get this email from Amy yesterday while she's watching my son. And she just wants to compliment me on how good he is and how much she misses that in her two children. Let me tell you what, it so made my day yesterday. And he is a good kid. But last night, I'm not sure what his deal was. His typical communication skills were a bit off-balanced. He was whiny and wanted me to read to him while I was trying to take 10 minutes to myself to read. He was also throwing these mini-fits. Not sure if he experienced those at Amy's or if he was just experiencing a new attitude that he found in the back of his little brain. He wanted in his high chair, then wouldn't drink his juice, wanted down and then back up - all within a minute. I had a major back ache and wasn't wanting to be very patient. So I fed him the apple sauce that he dug out of his diaper bag. Instead of his usual "all gone", he kept saying "apple sauce" as if he wanted more. Okay, 90 minutes before this he'd eaten roast and carrots at Amy's. I made the fair assumption that he had two straight days of playing with others all days and was just over tired. The kid proceeds with his attitude but keeps saying "meat, mommy". So, I get some ham out of the fridge, put it in a bowl in front of him and he goes to town. After that, he drank his juice right up and was the perfect little boy that I love having around! By now, Ryan and I had finished our healthy meal of home-made potato chips and taquitos (which the little one also had to share). We headed to the living room where I asked hubby to put his new notebook toy away and spend some time playing with his son. It was fun, I was tired and shortly after, we headed to bed where I took some Tylenol PM and was out.

So, then this morning, is day #2 of non-Grammy daycare. Take the little guy to the C's for the day. He loves it there. And LC has something going on right away so she bags up some dried cereal, pack his to-go fruit, fill his cup with juice and head back out the door. Leo shows up a few minutes later to pick them up as planned. Only, it didn't go as planned. LC made sure that he knew to bring the van since she had my kiddo and would need room for his carseat. He walks in and says "I brought my truck. You'll just have to hold him in your lap from here to town". Knowing that Leo is always saying something to get-my-goat, I blow it off with a reply in which I said "Right, Leo. You know you can't do that. He has to be in a carseat." Okay, up to this point, I was sure Leo was just kidding but I quickly found out that he was serious. I was floored and didn't know what to say or do next. LC told Leo that she'd have to take her van to town and we headed out to the garage to install the carseat into her van. I still can't believe that the man wanted her to hold him in his lap from her house to town. Let's think about this a little... LC lives out in the country. The closest route to town is down the gravel. Now, I was just on 1/4 mile of that gravel and it was still snow covered and a bit icy. The remainder of the way to town is twisty and curvy, etc. We've had bad roads with cold weather which means the snow and ice hasn't had a chance to melt. And he wanted to take my kid without a carseat??? I know he's 60+ years old and his kids didn't use carseats BUT today is different. There are laws that say we are required to use carseats. And we have the safety equipment available today so why not use it??? All because the man didn't drive his van out.

I was so irritated. And 6 hours later, I'm still ticked about it. I considered writing him a note that said something along the lines of "I love you guys and would trust my child in your care at any time. However, I do not appreciate your plan to have him sitting in LC's lap this morning and will not allow such behavior in the future". I wonder what his reasoning was for not bringing the van.

Yes, I finally remembered my stinkin' password and am able to post.

Real quick (as if that is possible with me):
1. Took belly pictures but still haven't downloaded them (sorry Cori).
2. SIL is getting induced tomorrow AM so we hope to welcome my brother's first baby tomorrow or the next day.
3. Mom went to CA to help brother and SIL out which means the kiddo is in the hands of others for the next 3 weeks.
4. Kiddo likes to eat A LOT!
5. I've had girl scout cookies on my desk all day and haven't touched them - AMAZING!
6. We have 4' drifts on our driveway.
7. Hubby and I were both snowed in from work on Friday. He was too tired to do anything around the house after shoveling for 90 minutes to dig his truck out.
8. I got a 1.7% cost of living raise in January. Thank you taxpayers!
9. I'm loving my Keens and want to get another pair for my black clothes.
10. I need to be a good aunt and go home to see this new baby in the next few months but don't think it will happen based on ticket prices and pregnancy!
11. I'm liking Jody's new toy and think that I'll have to send her some of my scrapping stuff to cut for me :)
12. Baby 2 B is a mover and a shaker. I'm loving feeling good!
13. I sledded down the hill twice yesterday with some young friends and small fry. I'm old, pregnant and out of shape!

FINALLY

After not being able to access blogger for a week, here I am!!!!!!!!!!!

Some of you have already heard the news, but for the rest of you....we have the results of our ultrasound. It was a great Valentine's present at 7:30am!!!

What are we having?
A thumb-sucker
A yawner
One with cute feet
A bashful baby

Yup, that's it. That's all the news we got too. Because the baby is in breech position, the tech couldn't determine the sex. He tried, he really did. But, no news on the sex of the baby.

I was kinda heart-broken at first. I even told the tech "dude, this is Valentine's Day, you're killing me!" The baby must not realize how much I'd like to plan and prepare for his/her special arrival. Seriously, I wanna buy clothes and other fun baby stuff but can't (as the baby is kicking and seemingly throwing a fit this very moment). Now, a week later, I'm getting used to not knowing. I had my monthly check up today and Dr. Ryan said that we'll just have to wait and be surprised. So, in the mean time, I have to start thinking about baby names - one for a boy and one for a girl. Any ideas?

In other news, my small fry is quite the hyper child. He's wired ALL the time. I had Monday off and was able to do a little shopping with my mom. And since I couldn't buy for my baby, I bought lots of clothes for my nephew who will arrive in the next few weeks. Yesterday was my 27th birthday. I opted to have supper at my folks and celebrate with my mom (her birthday is tomorrow). Mom made an awesome meal at my request. I got a new pair of Keen shoes from hubby as well as a very cute card. Mom made me a very cute wall hanging which she'll frame for me and made me cookies. I had several fun messages on my answering machine when I got home: my Nanny who sang "happy birthday" on my answering machine, Mike (long lost friend #2) and my father-in-law who left a lovely message. It was a great day!

My belly is growing rapidly. I have yet to take pictures and hope to do that soon!

24 More Hours

Within 24 hours, we should know if we're having a boy or a girl!!!! Let's hope this baby cooperates and lets the tech take a peak :)

I was in Wallyworld on Sunday doing some shopping and it was killing me to not be able to buy baby stuff. I so wanted to buy girl clothes even though I have no clue if I'm having a girl or not. I think I just wanted to BUY and know that I don't need any boy stuff at this point!

Diapers, Cold Temps and Late for Work

This has been an interesting week. February 6th marked 11 years since my dear friend, Scott, died after a woodshop injury when we were sophomores in high school. The first part of February is usually busy but my heart is typically quieted around this time.
This year I was home with my sick kid who has croup. I was so busy caring for and chasing after him that I never even realized the date until it had past. It was the second day I stayed home with the kiddo and although I greatly needed my own rest, I knew that I also needed to get things done since I was actually home. Thanks to mom who came over again to help out. She was great and helped deep clean the kitchen counters, stove, etc. It was fantastic!

Mid-Night
I was up at 1am with small fry last night. He was coughing constantly so I got up to put some Vix on his chest and snuggle him back under the covers. Only, the wise mom that I am, I also decided to change his diaper since he was awake. Little did I know that as soon as I pulled the diaper away, he started to pee. I tried to cover him back up but he managed to get a few drops on his onesie. I was tempted to be a bad mom (who isn't at 1am) and finish the diaper change and put him back in bed since it was just a few drops. Instead, I removed his pj's and changed his onesie. The whole time he's whining "night-night, mommy, night-night". Poor kid.

Fresh morning
After only being awake once during the night and not having any coughing episodes myself, I was quite refreshed this morning. The kiddo was awake at 620am (eventually he'll realize that sleeping in is a good thing, right?). I showered quick and headed outside to feed the animals in the frigid morning air. Poor William Edward Goat was shaking and cold. I felt bad for him and through an extra flake of hay in his Goat-house.

Late for Work
As usual, I was going to be about 15 minutes late to work (they might as well change my work schedule). But this morning I was glad to be late. At 8am my cell phone rang. I assumed it was mom and was quite surprised to hear Nick's voice. Nick is a long lost but precious friend of mine from "back home". I graduated college and moved to Iowa at the same time he was assigned to his first duty location as a police officer for the US Navy. We remained friends after going our seperate ways but it had been 2 years (so we estimate) since we've talked. We had a short conversation which allowed us to catch up on each others lives which was great. He's been back from Iraq (thank you for volunteering so a guy with a family could stay home) for 4 months and still stationed in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor (must be rough). It was a great chat and was definitely worth being late for work!

How I knew He was "the one" for me

A few weeks back, on the morning show that I listen to while driving to work, they were asking people when they knew their spouse was the right person (of course I’m sure they worded it better than I am right now but I’m tired and can’t remember exactly what they said). Anyway, for several days they took callers and each day I thought that it would be fun to call. One morning my husband must have caught part of the show and mentioned it to me. He thought he had a great story to share too. So, today, I’m sharing his version and my own and maybe this will prompt you to think of why you chose your mate.

His Story (as shared with me that morning)
Ryan wanted to call in to share with the listeners exactly when he knew I was “the one” for him. It was the first night we met. There were numerous people our age at the gathering. And several hours into the evening, Ryan got an emergency veterinary call. Being the farm kid that I learned to be, I was sure he’d be pulling a calf and I nudged B to ask him if we could ride along. Little did I know until after I got out of my seat, that it wasn’t a cow having problems birthing but rather a dog with maggots. (I’m not sure if I knew exactly that maggots were involved, I can’t remember today). Anyway, I figured I was already up and ready to go, I should just go. And although this was the first night we met, Ryan knew I was “the one” after the events that followed:
We get to the vet clinic and it was this medium length haired dog with maggots, yes maggots. She was being cared for by a family member and they noticed the problem and called the veterinary clinic. This dog had maggots crawling out of its rectal and vaginal areas! So, the self-proclaimed farm kid that I am, I offered my assistance while B waited in the hall. After washing and shaving the area to remove the external maggots, they kept coming. As I stood across the table from Ryan, I held the speculum (which is the tool that holds specific orifices open) while the doc picked out maggots out that were crawling out the insides of this dog. And it was at this moment that Ryan knew I was perfect for him!

I must say that we both have fairly interesting stories and I should have emailed the morning show so he could read both.

My Story
Now that we were beyond formal introductions, maggot experiences and several meals later, Ryan and I continued to enjoy each other’s company. It had been fun getting to know each other and pursuing a relationship even though I had lots of insecurities brought on by a previous relationship. Ryan, though, was great at bringing up important issues and really getting to know each other outside of meals and fun outings. We took the time to communicate via phone, snail mail, etc about various issues that were important to each of us. And the story that follows is how I knew Ryan was the gentlest, understanding, loving and perfect mate for me:
I was at home reading at the kitchen table and remember being surprised that I had yet to hear from Ryan. A few minutes later there was a knock at the door and there stood Ryan with a bag of groceries. He’d brought over all the items needed to cook a meal. Not only had he made the 30 minute drive to surprise me but he also planned a meal and purchased the items necessary to prepare it. I could almost stop here with the story – I greatly appreciate my husbands wonderful cooking talents. But, there’s more…
We proceed to make supper together. After a few minutes, I went into the living room to turn the radio on for some background noise (no, it wasn’t anything romantic). And as I walked back into the kitchen, I noticed a bright bouquet of roses. While I was in the living room, he grabbed them from outside where he left them when he knocked at the door. Wow, I was surprised. But keep reading, there’s still more…
We finish the meal and eat together at the table before relaxing to the living room. Ryan was sitting on the couch when I walked in the room to see him pulling a letter out of his pocket. He kindly mentioned that he’d like to discuss the questions I had in the letter I had written him earlier. I was flattered that he wanted to specifically address those questions. And then all of a sudden, it hit me. I was mortified as I watched him flip through the multiple pages of the letter. I could see through the last page to the, oh my gosh, I forgot to delete the last page. I had started what is commonly referred to now as “the list”. It was a list of positives and negatives about Ryan. And let me just say that the list of negatives had received more attention than the other column. I was picking him apart with “the list”. I had shared the list with a friend who let me know that I was being ridiculous and if I was looking for an excuse to not pursue a relationship than I could keep picking at him but if I was serious about him, she wanted me to know how ridiculous I was being.

It was at this moment that I knew that I knew that he was perfect for me. That God made him with enough understanding and love to deal with me, my insecurities and my many needs. I later mentioned to Ryan that I was surprised to get the roses after he got “the list”. And his response was that he’d already purchased the roses and had no one else to give them too. And by the way, the roses were perfect. Not your typical red roses. They were multi-colored and had a letter that compared the roses to his view of me. It was so thoughtful and awesome. Several years later, my husband is obviously not perfect but still perfect for me!

Cold and Cute

Brr, it's cold out this morning. I left the house and it was zero outside which wouldn't be too bad except the wind was blowing. With the windchill it was between 15 and 20 below. And crazy me, I had to stop and get gas. My hands were FREEZING!

Here's a picture of my cute kid. More to come later, I'm sure:

Sunday Fun Day

Sunday started out not so fun at our house. We should have been up by 730am and at 8am when the phone rang, we were still in bed. Mom was way too chipper in her message about the big snow flakes falling and enjoying the day. That phone call was followed by 4 more - none of which left messages. I assumed it was mom and was annoyed. After finally rolling out of bed and calling mom back, I learned that it was M calling to say that church was cancelled because of snow covered roads, etc. The weather indicated the Highway was 100% covered and it was advised not to drive on the highway. So, we enjoyed a slow and mostly quiet morning at home.

Mid morning, hubby and I ventured outside while T (one of the junior high kids who stayed at our house the night before) watched small fry. The neighbor was out plowing our shared driveway so I started in on the sidewalk. Hubby took the truck out to see what the driveway/hill and roads were like. Hubby then headed to the vet clinic to play with the snow blower while I rushed for a quick shower.

We had an awesome lunch at mom's. Fresh blue-gill that my cousin caught ice fishing - mom breaded and fried it. Plus, mom made mashed potatoes, green beans and corn bread. It was awesome. Afterwards we played skip-bo while a few of the guys watched the Bears game and when the clock was still running but the game was OVER, we headed outside to sled.

I had a blast. It was a short hill that provided just enough fun without a huge walk back up. Small fry didn't know what to think about it. He went down with each of us before I sent him laying down on the disk by himself. He didn't think much of it until everyone cheared. Then hubby sent him down by himself sitting up. Of course, he ate it half way down and cried. Then he tried to wipe the snow out of his face and made it worse and cried more. It was cute and fun. He was ready to go home after that. He made a quick snow angel in his grammy's lawn before we wiped him off and jumped in the car.

It was a good and fun day. We also stopped by Sharon's "snowboard park" to watch the guys for a bit before going home to finish watching the end of the Colts game. It was a fun and relaxing day for us.

Winter Is Here
Yes, it's the middle of January and winter finally made its way to our area. It has been cold the last few weeks but now it's truly cold, in my opinion. Sunday night it snowed about 6 inches of light fluffy stuff. And this morning when I left, it was -6 and we expected a high in the low teens. It's great until the wind blows and then its FREEZING!

Church Nursery Update
I didn't talk to the lady I had the issue with. It was a crazy Sunday at our church with lots going on. However, I was in the nursery for Sunday School waiting like a heathen who doesn't go to Sunday School but has to wait for other activities. One of the ladies brought problem-girl in. I offerred to keep her since I was planning on being there anyway. The lady stayed. I was glad. Problem-girl through a mini-fit every time my kid tried to play with her and she was trying to do something else.

Buddha Belly and Excercise
Have I mentioned that my belly is sticking out? I've been wearing loose fitted shirts to hide the fact. But Sunday I wore a fitted shirt and my mom really noticed my belly. Problem is that it's not the baby sticking out, just the extra padding over the baby. I have yet to gain any weight which was the same with baby #1. But, I have my appetite back and know the pounds are coming. With baby #1, I said I was going to exercise and gained 45 lbs while sitting on my butt. So, this time, I thought to put it to practice. I got on the treadmill for 40 minutes on Saturday. It was a good, fast walk. The next day the sides of my calves were sore. And my feet still are sore. My poor body, I haven't worked out for several months.

Read Through the Bible
In 2005, I started to read through the bible and did well for the first 6 months and miserably failed after that. I thought I might try again. And knowing that I'll be overwhelmed with baby #2, I'm trying to get a head start. So, while on the treadmill, I listened to the first 14 chapters of Genesis. Then later, I sat down and read in Matthew. I figure if I mix the Old and New Testament readings, I'll maybe be able to get more accomplished. Happy reading.

Big Fat Headache
I've had a big fat headache for days now. I hate taking medicine. And now that I'm pregnant, I have some excuse! I think part of it is lack of sleep and part of it is a need to visit the chiropractor! All I know is that I desperately need my kiddo to sleep through the night again and not wake every 1-2 hours scared (or whatever his deal is).

Church Nursery

I think I just earned "worst nusery worker of the year award". It was sunday school time and I had one little girl left in nursery. She doesn't listen, doesn't behave and I don't enjoy keeping her. But, that's life and I deal with it. But, it couldn't be that simple:
Here we sit in nursery while girl's mother stands outside the nursery door chit-chatting. I didn't even notice, really. But then, I opened the door to air out the room after changing my own child's stinky diaper. And the door got shut. I opened it again to see girl's mother. Hmm. I was a bit irritated at this point for several reasons:
1. I'm watching bad girl while mom chit-chats.
2. I wanna chit-chat with my own friends standing right down the hall.
3. She asks me to give girl her milk cup and says she doesn't want girl to see her. SHE'S HIDING FROM HER OWN CHILD.
4. She closes the door to hide from her child when I'm trying to air out the room a little.

So, nice and wonderful person that I am... I take the milk cup but don't let it stop there. I totally interrupt and start asking the mom questions. I asked if she was going to sunday school. She asked if there were new classes. Hold on now, like she really cared about the classes she was chatting, I could hear the conversation. So, I kindly told her that if she was just going to chit-chat that I would let her take her own daughter so I could go home and get lunch. She offerred to take her daughter. I tried to be nice and keep the daughter IF she was going to sunday school.

As hubby says it, I kicked the kid out of sunday school! I felt bad but don't think it's my responsibility to watch someone's kid while they socialize. And maybe I think that because I make sure that someone goes to get my kid as soon as church is done so that others don't have to wait. Hubby disagrees. He thinks I should keep the kid while socializing happens. This girl and her mom are "newer" in church and I really hope that I didn't make them mad or scare them away with my evil selfishness. I hope to talk to her Sunday about it.

Daycare

When your daycare is not available, who do you call on? I'd call grandparents. Unfortunately, the only grandparents nearby are also the daycare providers. Mom called yesterday at noon-ish to ask if I could find someone to keep Scott so they could go out of town. I figured it would be no problem. Yeah, well, it was. At 6pm, I had someone who'd keep him from lunch till I got off work. But I needed someone in the morning desperately because I had appointments at work. Fortunately, one of the girls from bible study offerred to add him to her list of kids to watch that morning (she was already watching her niece and nephew). So, I get all that settled around 9:45 when I return mom's phone call. She had called earlier to say that they weren't going out of town because of the weather and she could keep SCott.

Scott so needs more grandparents nearby on days like this!

Best Husband Ever

So last night I got home at 6pm, about 1.5 hours later than planned. Bible study was starting at our house at 6:30 and I still hadn't cleaned a thing. I'd spent the previous two nights snuggled up on the couch feeling crappy. I walk in the door after a busy and more-than-hectic afternoon at the office to find my house clean. Well, clean enough. Hubby had picked up the living room, put stuff away and did ALL the dishes that had piled up. I was so ecstatic that he had done so much that I no longer cared about the Christmas decorations that are still up. I quickly swept the floors and vacuumed, finishing just as our first guests arrived.

Unfortunately I didn't eat supper before hand. So, it was night #3 of feeling crappy. If I don't eat enough food often enough, I feel very faint and puky. Grr. But, who cares, my house was clean. When the night was over and I had dealt with a few other hectic issues, including a last minute babysitter, I toasted a bagel and headed to bed.

excert from email

The following is an excerpt from an email that I sent to my good friend over at Obsessive Compulsive Bride:

You made my day today. A day when I've done nothing all day but work on maps for a guy's contract, I needed a little something fun to read. I know you updated yesterday but I just had to check today, just in case. And I died laughing. I read the title and laughed. Then the first few lines... And before scrolling down to the next paragraph, I thought "wait, do I wanna pray for someone humping her computer???" And then voila, right there in the next paragraph you asked if it negated any prayer. Cracked me up! That's why we're friends and that's what I miss so much about seeing you more often!!!!

Things here are well. I'm feeling good again for the most part. My stomach hurt last night but it was just gassy, I think. I couldn't help but eat supper at mom's last night: fried potatoes, boiled pinto beans and cornbread. So plain but so perfect. I think the beans did it :)

I'm so glad to be off next Monday. I have so much to do around the house. I haven't even put away Christmas décor yet. I must do that tonight since we have bible study at our house on Thursday. So next Monday while I should be deep cleaning, I plan to take small fry for his 18 month pictures and then hopefully head to Waterloo for some maternity clothes shopping.

My belly is starting to stick out just enough that fitted shirts are no longer appealing to me. But not enough that I dare take out the maternity clothes. It's drama. On the upside, Saturday was a good day. For the first time in a long time, I took a long shower and then took time to do my hair and a little make up. It's amazing how different my "naturally nasty" hair looks if I put some effort into it. However, it also made me realize that I look like poop every other day that I come to work with my crappy hair, no make up, etc.

Tomorrow is my sister's birthday. Happy Birthday JJ!

Ah, I can almost breathe again

Okay, things have been a bit crazy around here lately. We had a whirlwind Christmas and New Year's Holiday Season. We did the B family Christmas down South, came home for the Christmas Cantata at church for hubby's part as the narrator, spent Christmas Eve with my mom and family. Christmas Day we had everyone to our house including both families. It went well until 5pm in which we skipped "seasons". We went straight from the holidays to "sick" season. Small fry was puking in the car that night which made for lots of fun, especially for me as I'm a nauseaus pregnant person anyway. That continued for a week. At the same time, the B's got sick, my dad, sister and her kids arrived in time to also get sick, neice spent a night in the hospital and there was lots of family time at the toilet for multiple issues.
New Year's was quiet for the most part. No big party with the sick folks! We did get together with some friends who all thought something was wrong. Nothing except being sick and tired of being sick and tired. My kid is totally out of his schedule and a pain in the butt about sleeping. I did manage to stay up to bring in the New Year without a nap! We also got our 2nd measurable snow of the year - not that it was much but at least we got snow.
The next day we had 12 hours of football on TV. Yeah, way too much for me but I entertained myself with little family members. My sisters kids are quite difficult and I would so discipline them differently!!!
Today was a back to work day after 5 days of being off. It sure made working difficult today. My in-laws are back today and gone tomorrow, I think. My dad, sister and family also leave tomorrow. So, we should be getting back to normal. Now, if only I can get my kid to go to bed without crying "mommy, mommy" for 45 minutes before I put him in bed with me to get him to sleep!

I've missed my world of posts and am eager to get back to normal and stop at the grocery store. Thanks to President Ford, I was able to stay home and watch his funeral on TV. It was quite the history lesson!

Heartbeat and Cramps

We heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time last night. It was exciting but also scary to know that there were concerns. Now that I'm into my 2nd trimester and they have a heartbeat, I think the concerns are limited if not gone. I do have these cramps though that are killer. Sharp pains on both sides, right where my ovaries would be. Based on my two previous ultrasounds, the doc thinks the sharp pains are caused by the cysts that are developing on my ovaries. Sounds bad but its really not. They kinda grow and dissapear and then grow again. Its fairly common. Last night's appointment was fun and as always, it was good to see the clinic staff again and watch them "ooh and awe" over small fy who is quite the little flirt!

We leave today for the B family Christmas. It will be fun and I'm glad to see the in-laws again but I'm not looking forward to a 3.5 hour drive. Thankfully, I'm not one of those stuck in an airport right now!

I'm tired today. Yesterday was a good time hanging out with some of the college kids who are home. Last night hubby had guy time. They ended up at our house playing xbox in the basement and yelling their heads off. A few of the college girls also came over and I tried to stay awake while we watched a movie and they were there until after midnight. I was feeling crappy on the couch from not eating enough supper. No fun. It was good to visit with the girls although I didn't get my dishes finished, my laundry finished or any packing done. Oops :)

Wishing you a Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our savior!

Never Boring at our House

The weekend started out okay. I had a good week at work and felt good most the week too. Friday night, I worked late until our work Christmas gathering. It was the first time we’d done so and it was good to get together. We all met for a meal and it was fun to talk to spouses, etc but I wish we’d had it at someone’s home so we could more comfortably sit around and chat. My fish was super salty and hubby’s steak was gross. That was the normal part of our weekend.

Saturday morning, I took small fry for a hair cut and then we rushed to get the kitchen clean after ignoring the dishes all week. K was coming over after lunch to bake with hubby. Shortly after noon, I called K to see what time she was coming. She wasn’t. Good reasoning though. K had a friend show up on her door step from many miles away and she was now busy. I was glad that K could see Danny but bummed because I knew that hubby was looking forward to the baking. That, and he doesn’t do well when plans change last minute. Of course, hubby was disappointed. He kinda moped around a little bit and I was irritated with him. I tried to be understanding and supportive. Then mom called and invited us to supper. Hubby didn’t want to go. Now, normally I would be okay with that and just stay home with him. This time, I wanted to go for supper and so I planned to do so. I called mom back and told papa that hubby was staying home but that small fry and I would be there. I failed to mention those details to hubby. Our trip to Walmart got set aside and he eventually went upstairs and napped and I kinda sat around in a daze – not wanting to put up with a prune for a hubby. Hubby awoke and after discussions of schedules and the need to go to wally world, he decided he wanted to go – at 330. By now, I really needed to tell hubby of MY dinner plans. I took a quick shower and by 4pm, we were on the road. A quick call to mom and I understood that she wouldn’t wait on me for supper. So, we did the run to Aldi’s and wallyworld. My scheming at this point was to have hubby drop me off at mom’s and she could later take me back home. He still didn’t want to eat supper there. When I asked about the situation, he was going to go home and bake. I asked him not to do so without me and he agreed to wait, which then led in agreement to go to mom’s with me. We got there at 7pm, chatted a while, ate wonderful chicken enchiladas and started to play cards. We hardly finished the first hand when hubby said “we need to go home now”. Not much down the road, I was pulled over on the side and he was puking.

That was the start of our fun. Shortly after midnight, hubby said he needed to go to the emergency room. I jumped up grabbed some stuff for the diaper bag, woke up the kiddo and we headed out the door. In a short period of time, things had gotten worse. I’ll spare the details – he was sick. And his blood pressure was something like 80 over 50. I think that was as he passed out! They of course admitted him some time later and I headed home with the kiddo. By 3am I was back in bed, after starting a load of puky laundry! Sunday was a hectic day. I was lacking sleep, small fry needed a nap, we had a meeting at church and hubby was lying in a crappy hospital bed! I made several trips to the hospital that day. I did go home for a break. The nap never happened but I did chat with Ben and Preston who were there playing xbox. And because I couldn’t get my headache to be any worse, I decided to go out and shoot clay pigeons. Yes, me. I had never even shot a shotgun before. I quickly learned how to load it, aim and shoot. I did good too! After that I sent the boys home, ate a quick bite, went to pick up the kiddo from his grammy’s and headed back to the hospital. It was a long day. The next morning my plans were to be at the hospital by 630. At 620, hubby called and woke me. I hit snooze on the alarm so many times that it quit going off! Later that morning hubby was released from the hospital. I picked him up, dropped him off at home and headed to work.

I was at my desk by 1045am – a wee bit late! Headed to a luncheon and was gone from that early not feeling well. Snuck over to the chiropractor for a quick adjustment and was home and asleep on the couch by 3pm! Yeah, long day at the office. All of this to say that I’m tired and in need of sleep yet I have so much to do. Add to all that that I’m 11 weeks pregnant and tired anyway and puky anyway and these past few days have been loads of fun! Yes, I said it. I’m pregnant. Baby #2 is due July 1st.

This was happy baby before he got within arms reach of Santa

Small fry was scared of Ben, I mean, Santa. Ben had just held and played with the kiddo during church nursery earlier that morning. He didn't care if the voice was familiar so Dad sat on Santa's knee and gave his own Christmas wish.

Myspace

Received an email today from a kinda-sorta co-worker out in DC. We work for the same agency which is all over the nation. His email said "do you have a myspace?" What? Why, does he want to know if I have a myspace? Weird.

Blaze Orange

It’s that time of year around here. Nope, I’m not talking about Christmas. It’s shotgun season for deer hunting around here. And because where I live is so rural, beautiful and full of wildlife, it also becomes hunter’s heaven this time of year. Deer hunting has been happening for quite some time with a bow and arrow but Saturday was the start of shotgun season. On the 6 mile drive from my house to town, there were vehicles parked in every farm-field driveway. Everywhere you looked there were groups of guys wearing their camoflauge with their blaze orange vests. It becomes slightly uncomfortable when everywhere you drive you seen guys carrying shotguns, walking through fields aiming guns or dressing deer. I was glad to be safe and WARM inside my car as we traveled down the roads this weekend.

Not everyone is so fortunate though. My coworker, Dwight, and his wife, Kristie, had a very close call. They live on a farm several miles out of town. Kristie was just about to the house when she saw a group “driving” the deer. She got in the house and debated on moving their horses to the barn when her phone rang. She stood in the door looking out for the hunters while talking to her sister. Just as she stepped away, a deer slug came flying into that exact door! It hit at the top where it protruded through ¾” of steel. Had the shot been 6 inches lower, it could have been deadly as that was exactly where Kristie was standing. It’s against the law to be shooting towards the highway, which the hunters did, and to be within 200 yards, which may have also happened. When the sheriff and DNR guys arrived to question the hunters, they denied everything. Of course, Dwight has a door with a massive dent and a deer slug to prove otherwise. Fortunately nobody was hurt.

Its interesting how some people, not everyone, can be so careless with a gun just for the sake of shooting a stupid deer. I’m debating on putting an orange vest on my goat for the next two weeks!