From Mommy's Little Pumpkin:
From my brood:
From my girlie little dinosaur:
From my Incredible kid:
And from my Heisman winner:
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
The big announcement- SHE'S HERE!!
Well, baby girl is here! All my bemoaning about still being pregnant is now a thing of the past.
Most of you who know us personally already know there was some drama associated with her birth. Many of you are asking for all the details....so I thought I'd blog about it, and if I remember any other details, I can come back and update as memory serves (which I'm not holding as likely). But this way, you're all in the know....if you want to be.
Wednesday night I actually had come contractions. Around 7pm, they came on fast- 11 minutes apart. All in front. I'd been a back-labor girl up until this point in my life, so I was actually wondering if it was the real thing. Anyway, I started walking around the house, squatting here and there to move her down a bit. Then, at 9pm....they just stopped. Nada. So, I went to bed at 10...but couldn't sleep.
Again, at 2am they started again. This time 13 minutes apart. This continued until 4am...and again- stopped. Like I could sleep after that.
Thursday went along like any other day- I fit in a 45 minute nap since I didn't sleep a wink the night before. I was exhausted.
I was supposed to call the Dr. on Thursday to set up induction on Saturday morning. When I called, I asked the nurse if I could be in early labor, and if I needed to even worry about induction. Once going through my list of symptoms, she decided I needed to be seen (of course). So, I went in, he checked me...Wednesday's antics pushed me from a 3 to a 3.5. He tried to strip more of my membranes, but since she was still so high, he didn't get far. He set up an induction plan for Saturday morning and wished me luck.
We ate dinner- I had left over eggplant Parmesan. It was soooo good. Shortly after that, cramps started up again. My MOPS consignment sale pre-shop was literally up the road, so I went for a walk. By the time I walked up the hill home, I know that my cramps were turning "productive." So, I gave Dave the "head's up" and started making sure everything was set for the next day- boys lunches packed, my bag packed, etc.
By 10:30, we called Matt to come over and stay with the boys. I finished packing. We were at the hospital by 11:15, admitted at 5cm by 11:30.
It was a BUSY night. I got the last triage curtain, and I got the last L&D room- and that was only because my nurse ROCKED and rushed me through admitting so I could get it before the next incoming laborer. (Who was waiting in the hallway!)
Knowing it was busy, I requested an epidural right away. I didn't want anything standing between me and the land of relaxation. I was tired already from not sleeping the night before....I was REALLY looking forward to that nap.
By 12:30, I was 6cm, my blood work had been completed, and the epidural ordered.
1am, Dr. H. came in to do my epidural. I was so happy to see him. Once I felt that catheter go in, I started counting down the contractions until my nap: 4.........3..........2.............1.......
He gave me an original bolus to get everything going, and then hooked up the pump. He hung around for 5 minutes, until I smiled at him and thanked him profusely....and he went on his way.
The resident came in and broke my water. Baby girl was still sitting so high, now that I was comfortable, they wanted to get this show on the road. I did too! My baby girl was coming!
Then....about 20 minutes later, my whole world changed.
Cramping at first.....then I felt pain shooting down my left femur. I tried self-medicating with the "happy button." I could feel it enter my back (dang, that stuff is COLD), but never received any pain relief. I alerted my nurse who jumped on paging Dr. H. He comes in 15 minutes (15 LONG minutes) later and tried another bolus directly into the catheter.
As a matter of fact, the pain is now unbearable, I am shaking up a storm, and starting to cry.
He tried yet another bolus.
And now I can feel everything.
But now, instead of just the front labor cramping, I now felt her head land directly on my pelvic bone, and the back labor started.
Seriously....begging.
Dr. H came back in, and I literally said yelled, "Dr. H- HELP ME!!!! PLEASE!!!!!"
The resident said, "Chances are by the time we get you another epidural, you will have had the baby 5 minutes ago...."
Isaid yelled, "I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS WITHOUT DRUGS! I'M TOO TIRED! IT HURTS TOO MUCH! I HATE THIS! I WANT DRUGS!"
So, being the people pleaser I am....I started to try to push. My body took over, really....there was no way I wasn't going to be able to push.
But at that moment in time, the eggplant Parmesan I ate for dinner was wrecking havoc on my heartburn levels, and I started dry heaving. I never stopped dry heaving.
This is the point where many things go hazy for me. My brain checked out. A few of my friends said I went into shock....I believe that. I was out. I do have a few memories, but Dave has really had to piece together the rest. Here's what I do remember:
The Dr. came in to deliver, and the birthing lights went on. I BEGGED him for help. My nurse told him that I hit "exhaustion level" about an hour prior. She informed him that the baby was posterior, but they couldn't figure out where the fontanel was to turn her the correct way. They all said I had strong pushes, but she wasn't descending. (darn pelvic bone!)
I started to hyper ventilate between dry heaving and pushing against my will...I cried, "I CAN'T BREATHE!"
My Dr. calmly said, "If you're talking, your breathing....let's push."
I started to say "I CAN'T DO THIS!"
My Dr. calmly said, "Now, that's not a very positive attitude."
Most of you would probably call him a big jerk for those comments - but God seriously knew the kind of Dr. I needed. If he had coddled me, I would have totally gone from wreck to overboard.
This way, I knew I had to suck it up....
At some point, another 5 people entered the room, and they were all talking to me. I don't remember them entering, and I didn't hear a word they said. I was dry heaving and pushing...and kind of breathing....and dealing with horrible heartburn. And a shit-load of pain.
At one point, I stopped, and BEGGED the Dr. to help me get her out.
She wasn't descending. I was spent.
He asked, "Do you want me to use forceps?"
My response:
Forceps went in, and she was turned.
I grabbed both side rails- my body was shaking so hard that I was afraid I was going to shake off the bed.
I felt Dave wrap his strong calloused hand around mine and squeeze hard. He actually squeezed so hard, it hurt me. But this was the only way he could connect with me...so I let him squeeze.
It was that moment that could actually FEEL that my husband was praying for me. I felt his prayer. If I wasn't in so much pain (and dry heaving), I would have dissolved into a pile of tears.
At that point, the Dr. grabbed my attention with a stern voice and told me that I had to push to deliver her with the next contraction- no matter what. He said, "Push HARD."
Yeah...you know that "ring of fire?" I totally thought homeboy had a blowtorch down there.
That's all I remember of that moment. The blow torch.
Dave said they put her on my belly. I don't remember that.
They quickly gave him the scissors to cut the cord.
"Why isn't she crying?" I asked.
"She needs some help, they're working on here now." My Dr. calmly said.
Dave left my side, and stood in the background watching them work on her trying to give me reassuring smiles and nods.
They bagged her, suctioned her....I'm not sure what else.
Her first apgar score was 3.
It was about 5-8 minutes before I heard my daughter cry.
It was a tired, weak cry...but it was a cry.
I said a prayer of Thanksgiving.
They kept suctioning her for a while and took some vitals- I kept dry heaving.
I told my Dr. I felt like I was about to loose consciousness, and needed some anti-nausea meds.
They were concerned because of the level of blood I was loosing- it was uncontrolled.
And by this time, my heartburn had become the most hideous air-trapped gas pain in my upper abdomen- trapped right under my rib cage. It was so distended that I looked like I was about to give birth to twins. Anyone touching my stomach made me gasp, shake and SCREAM. There was so much pain.
The baby started to pink up- her second apgar score went up to 8. But she was still having issues regulating her body temperature. So, no bath for her yet. They bundled her up and told Dave to hold her close. I was so weak, I was afraid to hold her. I thought I was going to drop her.
Dave asked me if I wanted to call our parents, and I declined. I was exhausted, and wasn't able to hold a conversation. I could barely understand what he was saying. So, he called the parents....and I dry heaved.
My hemorrhaging continued for the next 2 1/2 hours. Their prodding on my stomach continued too. Oh, the pain! At that point, the resident came in and decided to stick her hand "up there" and scrape for clots herself. I cannot describe how badly I wanted to kick her in the face. (Those of you that know me know I am not a violent person....but it did hurt THAT bad).
My skin tone had turned gray, and the Dr. was legitimately worried about me at that point. I was given phenergen for the nausea - and probably to shut me up too....cause it did allow me to rest a tad. But the gas pains were so strong, I couldn't fully relax.
It wasn't until after I got into my postpartum room that a new resident came in and diagnosed me with bad gas and put me on a GI cocktail that I actually had hope of healing fully. The pain was so great, it broke through Motrin 800, 2 vicodins, and partially broke through IV Dilaudid. Who knew gas could be THAT painful?!?!!?
Once in the postpartum room, they took the baby to the nursery to warm. She still wasn't holding her body temp, and her original blood counts were off. They wanted to check those again as well. So, they drugged me up, took her away, and Dave went home to shower and change. My pain levels and subsequent accelerated heart rate and high blood pressure earned me a one-on-one nurse for the afternoon. Awesome.
Thanks to the IV dilaudid, I was able to get up out of bed late Friday night and walk some laps. That was marginally helping the gas...so I just kept moving as much as I could.
Baby Girl got a hold of her body temp and regulated it like a champ by the late afternoon. Her blood sugars held steady, and her ph must have returned to normal, because we didn't hear anything about it since delivery. She does have a heart murmur - from a hole which normally closes at birth when babies take their first breath, but since there wasn't a first breath, it didn't close. So, now we watch it and see if it will close on its own - which it should in time.
I sent the baby to the nursery for the night and asked for a good night of sleep. The nurse promised to only wake me for pain management....which they were keeping a strict regiment of to keep me moving. I slept so hard that night.
The next day was amazingly better- so much so that I got up, took a full shower, blew my hair dry, and applied make-up. My day nurse had to double check that I was the same post-partum mom she saw the day before. She said that the difference was amazing. The Dr. came in to do rounds, and offered me early release.
So, Saturday night, D and I took baby L. home!
So...here she is!
She's here!
Most of you who know us personally already know there was some drama associated with her birth. Many of you are asking for all the details....so I thought I'd blog about it, and if I remember any other details, I can come back and update as memory serves (which I'm not holding as likely). But this way, you're all in the know....if you want to be.
Wednesday night I actually had come contractions. Around 7pm, they came on fast- 11 minutes apart. All in front. I'd been a back-labor girl up until this point in my life, so I was actually wondering if it was the real thing. Anyway, I started walking around the house, squatting here and there to move her down a bit. Then, at 9pm....they just stopped. Nada. So, I went to bed at 10...but couldn't sleep.
Again, at 2am they started again. This time 13 minutes apart. This continued until 4am...and again- stopped. Like I could sleep after that.
Thursday went along like any other day- I fit in a 45 minute nap since I didn't sleep a wink the night before. I was exhausted.
I was supposed to call the Dr. on Thursday to set up induction on Saturday morning. When I called, I asked the nurse if I could be in early labor, and if I needed to even worry about induction. Once going through my list of symptoms, she decided I needed to be seen (of course). So, I went in, he checked me...Wednesday's antics pushed me from a 3 to a 3.5. He tried to strip more of my membranes, but since she was still so high, he didn't get far. He set up an induction plan for Saturday morning and wished me luck.
We ate dinner- I had left over eggplant Parmesan. It was soooo good. Shortly after that, cramps started up again. My MOPS consignment sale pre-shop was literally up the road, so I went for a walk. By the time I walked up the hill home, I know that my cramps were turning "productive." So, I gave Dave the "head's up" and started making sure everything was set for the next day- boys lunches packed, my bag packed, etc.
By 10:30, we called Matt to come over and stay with the boys. I finished packing. We were at the hospital by 11:15, admitted at 5cm by 11:30.
It was a BUSY night. I got the last triage curtain, and I got the last L&D room- and that was only because my nurse ROCKED and rushed me through admitting so I could get it before the next incoming laborer. (Who was waiting in the hallway!)
Knowing it was busy, I requested an epidural right away. I didn't want anything standing between me and the land of relaxation. I was tired already from not sleeping the night before....I was REALLY looking forward to that nap.
By 12:30, I was 6cm, my blood work had been completed, and the epidural ordered.
1am, Dr. H. came in to do my epidural. I was so happy to see him. Once I felt that catheter go in, I started counting down the contractions until my nap: 4.........3..........2.............1.......
He gave me an original bolus to get everything going, and then hooked up the pump. He hung around for 5 minutes, until I smiled at him and thanked him profusely....and he went on his way.
The resident came in and broke my water. Baby girl was still sitting so high, now that I was comfortable, they wanted to get this show on the road. I did too! My baby girl was coming!
Then....about 20 minutes later, my whole world changed.
I started feeling pain.
Cramping at first.....then I felt pain shooting down my left femur. I tried self-medicating with the "happy button." I could feel it enter my back (dang, that stuff is COLD), but never received any pain relief. I alerted my nurse who jumped on paging Dr. H. He comes in 15 minutes (15 LONG minutes) later and tried another bolus directly into the catheter.
Nothing.
As a matter of fact, the pain is now unbearable, I am shaking up a storm, and starting to cry.
He tried yet another bolus.
Nothing.
And now I can feel everything.
EVERYTHING.
Oh, the pain!
But now, instead of just the front labor cramping, I now felt her head land directly on my pelvic bone, and the back labor started.
So, labor was front AND back.
And was shooting down both legs.
I was begging for help.
Seriously....begging.
Dr. H came back in, and I literally
The nurse decided to check me....
I was complete.
My body was ready to push.
My pain threshold was not.
The resident said, "Chances are by the time we get you another epidural, you will have had the baby 5 minutes ago...."
I
So, being the people pleaser I am....I started to try to push. My body took over, really....there was no way I wasn't going to be able to push.
But at that moment in time, the eggplant Parmesan I ate for dinner was wrecking havoc on my heartburn levels, and I started dry heaving. I never stopped dry heaving.
This is the point where many things go hazy for me. My brain checked out. A few of my friends said I went into shock....I believe that. I was out. I do have a few memories, but Dave has really had to piece together the rest. Here's what I do remember:
The Dr. came in to deliver, and the birthing lights went on. I BEGGED him for help. My nurse told him that I hit "exhaustion level" about an hour prior. She informed him that the baby was posterior, but they couldn't figure out where the fontanel was to turn her the correct way. They all said I had strong pushes, but she wasn't descending. (darn pelvic bone!)
I started to hyper ventilate between dry heaving and pushing against my will...I cried, "I CAN'T BREATHE!"
My Dr. calmly said, "If you're talking, your breathing....let's push."
I started to say "I CAN'T DO THIS!"
My Dr. calmly said, "Now, that's not a very positive attitude."
Most of you would probably call him a big jerk for those comments - but God seriously knew the kind of Dr. I needed. If he had coddled me, I would have totally gone from wreck to overboard.
This way, I knew I had to suck it up....
At some point, another 5 people entered the room, and they were all talking to me. I don't remember them entering, and I didn't hear a word they said. I was dry heaving and pushing...and kind of breathing....and dealing with horrible heartburn. And a shit-load of pain.
At one point, I stopped, and BEGGED the Dr. to help me get her out.
She wasn't descending. I was spent.
He asked, "Do you want me to use forceps?"
My response:
"GET HER OUT!!!!!"
Forceps went in, and she was turned.
I grabbed both side rails- my body was shaking so hard that I was afraid I was going to shake off the bed.
I felt Dave wrap his strong calloused hand around mine and squeeze hard. He actually squeezed so hard, it hurt me. But this was the only way he could connect with me...so I let him squeeze.
It was that moment that could actually FEEL that my husband was praying for me. I felt his prayer. If I wasn't in so much pain (and dry heaving), I would have dissolved into a pile of tears.
At that point, the Dr. grabbed my attention with a stern voice and told me that I had to push to deliver her with the next contraction- no matter what. He said, "Push HARD."
Yeah...you know that "ring of fire?" I totally thought homeboy had a blowtorch down there.
That's all I remember of that moment. The blow torch.
At 3:58 am, Baby L. was born.
Dave said they put her on my belly. I don't remember that.
They quickly gave him the scissors to cut the cord.
She was purple.
She wasn't moving.
She wasn't breathing.
They whisked her over to the isolette where they started working on her.
The room was quiet.
It took me a minute to realize that there was an absence of cry in the room.
"Why isn't she crying?" I asked.
"She needs some help, they're working on here now." My Dr. calmly said.
Dave left my side, and stood in the background watching them work on her trying to give me reassuring smiles and nods.
They bagged her, suctioned her....I'm not sure what else.
Her first apgar score was 3.
It was about 5-8 minutes before I heard my daughter cry.
It was a tired, weak cry...but it was a cry.
I said a prayer of Thanksgiving.
They kept suctioning her for a while and took some vitals- I kept dry heaving.
I told my Dr. I felt like I was about to loose consciousness, and needed some anti-nausea meds.
They were concerned because of the level of blood I was loosing- it was uncontrolled.
And by this time, my heartburn had become the most hideous air-trapped gas pain in my upper abdomen- trapped right under my rib cage. It was so distended that I looked like I was about to give birth to twins. Anyone touching my stomach made me gasp, shake and SCREAM. There was so much pain.
The baby started to pink up- her second apgar score went up to 8. But she was still having issues regulating her body temperature. So, no bath for her yet. They bundled her up and told Dave to hold her close. I was so weak, I was afraid to hold her. I thought I was going to drop her.
Dave asked me if I wanted to call our parents, and I declined. I was exhausted, and wasn't able to hold a conversation. I could barely understand what he was saying. So, he called the parents....and I dry heaved.
My hemorrhaging continued for the next 2 1/2 hours. Their prodding on my stomach continued too. Oh, the pain! At that point, the resident came in and decided to stick her hand "up there" and scrape for clots herself. I cannot describe how badly I wanted to kick her in the face. (Those of you that know me know I am not a violent person....but it did hurt THAT bad).
My skin tone had turned gray, and the Dr. was legitimately worried about me at that point. I was given phenergen for the nausea - and probably to shut me up too....cause it did allow me to rest a tad. But the gas pains were so strong, I couldn't fully relax.
It wasn't until after I got into my postpartum room that a new resident came in and diagnosed me with bad gas and put me on a GI cocktail that I actually had hope of healing fully. The pain was so great, it broke through Motrin 800, 2 vicodins, and partially broke through IV Dilaudid. Who knew gas could be THAT painful?!?!!?
Once in the postpartum room, they took the baby to the nursery to warm. She still wasn't holding her body temp, and her original blood counts were off. They wanted to check those again as well. So, they drugged me up, took her away, and Dave went home to shower and change. My pain levels and subsequent accelerated heart rate and high blood pressure earned me a one-on-one nurse for the afternoon. Awesome.
Thanks to the IV dilaudid, I was able to get up out of bed late Friday night and walk some laps. That was marginally helping the gas...so I just kept moving as much as I could.
Baby Girl got a hold of her body temp and regulated it like a champ by the late afternoon. Her blood sugars held steady, and her ph must have returned to normal, because we didn't hear anything about it since delivery. She does have a heart murmur - from a hole which normally closes at birth when babies take their first breath, but since there wasn't a first breath, it didn't close. So, now we watch it and see if it will close on its own - which it should in time.
I sent the baby to the nursery for the night and asked for a good night of sleep. The nurse promised to only wake me for pain management....which they were keeping a strict regiment of to keep me moving. I slept so hard that night.
The next day was amazingly better- so much so that I got up, took a full shower, blew my hair dry, and applied make-up. My day nurse had to double check that I was the same post-partum mom she saw the day before. She said that the difference was amazing. The Dr. came in to do rounds, and offered me early release.
Get that! From dealing with a potential extended stay less than 24 hours later- to early release? YES! Prayer works and God is so good!
So, Saturday night, D and I took baby L. home!
So...here she is!
Baby L.
6 lb. 11 oz.
18 inches long.
Both of us are home, recovering.
Hearts are full of love.
God is soo good.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Tuesday Update
- No, I haven't had this baby yet. She's very happy and content to be in there. This pisses me off. I have been cramping for the last week, and trying everything short of castor oil to induce labor....and yet, I show no signs of progressing toward labor. I do have some dilation and effacing....so there's that....but it's been the same for the past 3 weeks.
- On the plus side, my blood pressure is back down to 108/62. Happy.
- And on an even nicer side, I have had zero weight gain for the past 3 weeks- even though my swelling is up considerably in my legs - still the scale remains unchanged. This is my glimmer of happiness at my Dr. visits.
- I have had a sinus headache for the past ohhhhh 34 weeks. The only thing that relieves the pain is ibuprofen. I cannot take it right now because it will shut the baby's kidneys down. I really hate these headaches - and they make me a bit stabby. One more reason to look forward to baby girl coming out.
- I posted this as my Facebook status yesterday: "Trust me....when there's something to tell/ announce, we'll let ya know. I promise." Which solicited snarky comments from my brother and sister-in-law. Funny....I was the most amused by their comments. Then my brother called last night to rub more salt in the wound - but I just ended up laughing the entire conversation...and ended it with an " I love you." He's good for something. :)
- I hate feeling like I'm being watched all the time. I know that there are people waiting for baby updates. While I'm sooo grateful for their care, love, and willingness to help, I can't help but feel like I'm holding everybody up. I hate that. It's making me ornery. I know that copious amounts of pain are in my near future, and I am not a fan of pain. It's almost like having a root canal on the calendar. You know that whole day is going to suck...and you're going to be in a LOT of pain...but afterward there will be much celebration and no more pain. Again....I'm not a fan of pain. I just want to get that part over and done with. I want to meet my daughter, and get on with living regular life!!!
- I'm struggling today. I'm not normally an overly-emotional person, and totally accept responsibility for being crazy-whack hormonal..... If you could keep me in your prayers, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Counting Blessings 121-135
Sunday rolls around again....time for me to get rich.
By counting my blessings.
Instead of sitting here lamenting that I'm still pregnant...and not carrying around a sweet baby....
I'm going to be grateful for:
121. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN victory over MSU yesterday! Woohhoo! Go Blue!
122. My Tigers making it to the world series. :)
123. Carpeting....new carpeting.
124. Our new bedroom- with new bedding- that gives everything a fresh "new" feeling.
125. A great night of sleep. (i.e. only waking twice to use the bathroom)
126. A husband who understands that his wife is just a wee bit too snarky at this stage of pregnancy to be appropriate in church when people ask "No baby yet?" and encourages her to stay home.
127. Having all my tags printed, pinned and taped for our upcoming MOPS Consignment Sale. (Although I have no clue how I'll get my items there if I'm in the hospital! Jump off that bridge when I come to it, right?)
128. For having the baby's room ready for her. When she FINALLY decides to arrive. (well, except for wall hangings...but those will come soon enough).
129. For a pretty fall day- which will hopefully encourage me to get out and walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.
130. For a fun birthday celebration with my in-laws last night - with great conversation about politics...and a great view of the football game. :)
131. For the ability to sew and be crafty. Which has saved us hundreds in dollars on window treatments.
132. For gluten free pumpkin donuts. It's the small things in life, really.
133. For a husband who remembers to change the laundry from the washer to the dryer when I forget.
134. For a nice neighbor boy who plays relatively well with both my boys.
135. For decaf pumpkin spice coffee. Again....small things. :)
By counting my blessings.
Instead of sitting here lamenting that I'm still pregnant...and not carrying around a sweet baby....
I'm going to be grateful for:
121. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN victory over MSU yesterday! Woohhoo! Go Blue!
122. My Tigers making it to the world series. :)
123. Carpeting....new carpeting.
124. Our new bedroom- with new bedding- that gives everything a fresh "new" feeling.
125. A great night of sleep. (i.e. only waking twice to use the bathroom)
126. A husband who understands that his wife is just a wee bit too snarky at this stage of pregnancy to be appropriate in church when people ask "No baby yet?" and encourages her to stay home.
127. Having all my tags printed, pinned and taped for our upcoming MOPS Consignment Sale. (Although I have no clue how I'll get my items there if I'm in the hospital! Jump off that bridge when I come to it, right?)
128. For having the baby's room ready for her. When she FINALLY decides to arrive. (well, except for wall hangings...but those will come soon enough).
129. For a pretty fall day- which will hopefully encourage me to get out and walk, walk, walk, walk, walk.
130. For a fun birthday celebration with my in-laws last night - with great conversation about politics...and a great view of the football game. :)
131. For the ability to sew and be crafty. Which has saved us hundreds in dollars on window treatments.
132. For gluten free pumpkin donuts. It's the small things in life, really.
133. For a husband who remembers to change the laundry from the washer to the dryer when I forget.
134. For a nice neighbor boy who plays relatively well with both my boys.
135. For decaf pumpkin spice coffee. Again....small things. :)
Friday, October 19, 2012
5QF- 40 weeks today edition
Baby Girl has until the stroke of midnight tonight to be considered "on time."
I have nothing more to say about this.
Let's answer some questions, shall we?
1. Where do you hide junk when people come over?
I usually pile it somewhere. I'm a pile-er. Mostly papers, some folders, sometimes other things...but I pile them up, and put them somewhere out of range. It's usually on the mud-room counter or something.
2. Do political ads help you decide who you are going to vote for?
As far as people to vote for, absolutely not. I research my candidates, and I stay firm to my morals - no 90 second ad full of fancy talk and empty promises is going to change that.
Now- if you're talking about proposals....while the ads don't influence my vote (I am a BIG researcher and cause/effect thinker), it does get me thinking about each side of the issue, the reason the proposal is on the ballot in the first place, and what would happen if it passed/ failed. Which, in turn, just makes me research all the more.
3. What's your favorite holiday party to host?
We really haven't hosted many holiday parties. When we first moved into the Love Shack, a friend of mine (at the time) was really belittling of our house. She made many comments about the way it smelled (musty) and how claustrophobic she felt in our house....which made me very self-conscious of having anybody over. So, we just never hosted. Anything. Last year, with the addition in livable condition, we hosted our small group Christmas party- and that was a lot of fun. Anything Christmas related is a good time. I guess it's time to get back in the hostessing game, eh?
4. You go to an island with your husband and can only take one personal item. What is it?
My pillow. I loooooooove my pillow.
5. If you found out your spouse was a Dexter style serial killer (only kills people to save others) would you rat?
I don't really know what a Dexter-style serial killer is....so I really don't feel qualified to answer this question.
Maybe?
How's that for a political answer.
Happy Weekend, everybody!
GO TIGERS!
I have nothing more to say about this.
Let's answer some questions, shall we?
1. Where do you hide junk when people come over?
I usually pile it somewhere. I'm a pile-er. Mostly papers, some folders, sometimes other things...but I pile them up, and put them somewhere out of range. It's usually on the mud-room counter or something.
2. Do political ads help you decide who you are going to vote for?
As far as people to vote for, absolutely not. I research my candidates, and I stay firm to my morals - no 90 second ad full of fancy talk and empty promises is going to change that.
Now- if you're talking about proposals....while the ads don't influence my vote (I am a BIG researcher and cause/effect thinker), it does get me thinking about each side of the issue, the reason the proposal is on the ballot in the first place, and what would happen if it passed/ failed. Which, in turn, just makes me research all the more.
3. What's your favorite holiday party to host?
We really haven't hosted many holiday parties. When we first moved into the Love Shack, a friend of mine (at the time) was really belittling of our house. She made many comments about the way it smelled (musty) and how claustrophobic she felt in our house....which made me very self-conscious of having anybody over. So, we just never hosted. Anything. Last year, with the addition in livable condition, we hosted our small group Christmas party- and that was a lot of fun. Anything Christmas related is a good time. I guess it's time to get back in the hostessing game, eh?
4. You go to an island with your husband and can only take one personal item. What is it?
My pillow. I loooooooove my pillow.
5. If you found out your spouse was a Dexter style serial killer (only kills people to save others) would you rat?
I don't really know what a Dexter-style serial killer is....so I really don't feel qualified to answer this question.
Maybe?
How's that for a political answer.
Happy Weekend, everybody!
GO TIGERS!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Ten on Tuesday
1. My boys, the Tigers, play tonight. My main main, Justin Verlander, is scheduled to be on the mound. Here's hoping for a victory!
2. I'm officially 3 days away from my due date. If this were the boys' pregnancies, I would have delivered both by now. This is the longest I've ever carried a baby. I'm ready to be done. However, my Dr. appointment today showed no signs of progress from the past 2 weeks. And slightly elevated blood pressure....which could have been attributed to the nasty headache I've been unable to shake all day....but they'll keep an eye on it.
3. They told me to make an appointment for next Monday. Fairly confident they'd see me again. I almost cried.
4. And I still have a headache.
5. You know you're old when: your body reacts to incoming high/low pressure systems entering your geographic area.
6. I can't wait to be able to take ibuprofen again!!! It seems like the only thing that eases headache pain for me.
7. The painter is officially done in our house- for now. He came back yesterday to re-hang all the bedroom and closet doors. On Friday, we'll see carpeting! Then, we can officially start moving into our two new bedrooms.
8. In the meantime, I've got a few crafts to work on (home decor crafts) and cleaning up my work audit inventory. I'd like to go into labor without overdue audits.
9. We're at the point when we call people that they're expecting a baby announcement. Last night, I called my in-laws and they BOTH picked up the phone at the same time. As soon as I told them it wasn't related to baby at all, my mother-in-law promptly hung up. I found this humorous. :)
10. Today is Boss' Day! I got to talk to my boss today- which isn't something I normally get to do- since we are both busy with work, and most of the time (at least, with her) no news is good news. We just chit-chatted and talked about my work plans for after baby and plans for cleaning up my existing inventory. She's a really nice lady- and I'm happy to be working for a company with some integrity in the management!
2. I'm officially 3 days away from my due date. If this were the boys' pregnancies, I would have delivered both by now. This is the longest I've ever carried a baby. I'm ready to be done. However, my Dr. appointment today showed no signs of progress from the past 2 weeks. And slightly elevated blood pressure....which could have been attributed to the nasty headache I've been unable to shake all day....but they'll keep an eye on it.
3. They told me to make an appointment for next Monday. Fairly confident they'd see me again. I almost cried.
4. And I still have a headache.
5. You know you're old when: your body reacts to incoming high/low pressure systems entering your geographic area.
6. I can't wait to be able to take ibuprofen again!!! It seems like the only thing that eases headache pain for me.
7. The painter is officially done in our house- for now. He came back yesterday to re-hang all the bedroom and closet doors. On Friday, we'll see carpeting! Then, we can officially start moving into our two new bedrooms.
8. In the meantime, I've got a few crafts to work on (home decor crafts) and cleaning up my work audit inventory. I'd like to go into labor without overdue audits.
9. We're at the point when we call people that they're expecting a baby announcement. Last night, I called my in-laws and they BOTH picked up the phone at the same time. As soon as I told them it wasn't related to baby at all, my mother-in-law promptly hung up. I found this humorous. :)
10. Today is Boss' Day! I got to talk to my boss today- which isn't something I normally get to do- since we are both busy with work, and most of the time (at least, with her) no news is good news. We just chit-chatted and talked about my work plans for after baby and plans for cleaning up my existing inventory. She's a really nice lady- and I'm happy to be working for a company with some integrity in the management!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Just some pregnancy observations
- The superhuman nesting power only lasts so long. And then you're left with a super clean house, and no baby. And then, 12 seconds later, your kids walk in the door and mess it all up. So, now you have a semi-clean house, no baby, and no energy.
- When you're close to your due date, and you go to church on a Sunday morning, you will have approximately no less than 26 conversations about your upcoming delivery. (Yeah....I was kinda counting....) These will include, "How are you doing? Feel like crying yet?" "Wow....you're OUT there." "Hey....try this......(insert tactic to ensue delivery)." "Man...you look miserable." "What, no baby yet?" And my personal favorite, "Whoa! I didn't recognize you from behind! Your butt is still the same, but that belly is crazy huge!"
- I realized that if this was A's pregnancy, I'd be in labor right now.
- If it were C's pregnancy, we would have been home for 4 days already. Sigh.
- It doesn't matter how many things you try to naturally induce childbirth....if that baby isn't ready, she's just not ready. And I've tried *almost* everything.
- A good night of sleep is sometimes better than going into labor during the night. Waking up refreshed is such a blessing.
- I'm expecting our van to break down on the way to the hospital. Yep....I am.
- I am aware that I will probably be wearing some maternity clothes for the first few weeks of baby girl's life....but I'm sooo happy to be packing some of it away!
- I cannot get organized enough.
- I'm excited to get carpet installed on Friday so we can start moving things into baby girl's and our room. This is getting me so giddy!!!
- I still have Thank you notes to write.
- It's amazing some of the "suggestions" that people are giving me for baby girl's name. My response is always, "wow...that's close!" It doesn't matter if their suggestion is Suzy or Eunice....my response is always the same.....and their response to my response makes me laugh out loud. :)
- Dave has been invited to no less than 4 "fun" functions last weekend and this week. He's declined because we just don't know when I'll go into labor. I told him to go....because as soon as he goes, I'll start contracting. But he declines....and here I sit- still pregnant! (I blame him, really- hehe)
- With that logic in my head, I'm starting to make social plans of my own. Babysitter for my boys so I can go to MOPS, coffee dates, birthday celebrations....because as soon as that calendar is full....I'll go, right?
- I can't be pregnant forever, right? RIGHT?!?!?!?!?
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Counting Blessings 101-120
101. The TIGERS WON LAST NIGHT!!!!
102. I'm also thankful that I didn't stroke out when Valverde was pitching.
103. Yummy orange juice (without pulp).
104. I'm thankful that I can say "go find some church clothes, please." and both boys know how to find appropriate attire and dress accordingly. Without my having to help- at all.
105. Cheap family film festival movies. The boys and I went to see Madagascar 3 yesterday for a grand total of $3.99.
106. Carpeting - that gets delivered on Friday. (yes, my actual due date).
107. Sweet and sour chicken. Best homemade Chinese dinner recipe ever. Yes, I made it (again) last night. Soooooo good.
108. For organization - and my ability to channel Stephenie. :)
109. For a good night's sleep. And waking up refreshed.
110. For gazelle intensity focus yesterday helping me get through the audit report goal I set for myself. Hoping that continues through today.
111. For our small group - that kicks off this afternoon.
112. For a sweet smelling, shiny, and soft clean dog (nesting at it's best).
113. For an organized and clean mud room. (nesting at it's best).
114. For a husband who will scrub the shower because I can't breathe in those nasty fumes from the hard water cleaner (nesting at it's best).
115. For completed ironing. (nesting at it's best).
116. For my shark floor steamer and our Bona hard wood floor cleaner - and the fact that they saved my back from mayhem. (nesting at it's best).
117. For the possibility of a nap on this rainy fall day.
118. For back rubs.
119. Belly laughs....and the happy feeling you get long after a good long laugh.
120. For every bump and hiccup from baby girl. Even though I'm SO READY to be done being pregnant - I'm in the final days of my pregnancy career. This is a feeling I will never feel again, so I want to enjoy every last one.
102. I'm also thankful that I didn't stroke out when Valverde was pitching.
103. Yummy orange juice (without pulp).
104. I'm thankful that I can say "go find some church clothes, please." and both boys know how to find appropriate attire and dress accordingly. Without my having to help- at all.
105. Cheap family film festival movies. The boys and I went to see Madagascar 3 yesterday for a grand total of $3.99.
106. Carpeting - that gets delivered on Friday. (yes, my actual due date).
107. Sweet and sour chicken. Best homemade Chinese dinner recipe ever. Yes, I made it (again) last night. Soooooo good.
108. For organization - and my ability to channel Stephenie. :)
109. For a good night's sleep. And waking up refreshed.
110. For gazelle intensity focus yesterday helping me get through the audit report goal I set for myself. Hoping that continues through today.
111. For our small group - that kicks off this afternoon.
112. For a sweet smelling, shiny, and soft clean dog (nesting at it's best).
113. For an organized and clean mud room. (nesting at it's best).
114. For a husband who will scrub the shower because I can't breathe in those nasty fumes from the hard water cleaner (nesting at it's best).
115. For completed ironing. (nesting at it's best).
116. For my shark floor steamer and our Bona hard wood floor cleaner - and the fact that they saved my back from mayhem. (nesting at it's best).
117. For the possibility of a nap on this rainy fall day.
118. For back rubs.
119. Belly laughs....and the happy feeling you get long after a good long laugh.
120. For every bump and hiccup from baby girl. Even though I'm SO READY to be done being pregnant - I'm in the final days of my pregnancy career. This is a feeling I will never feel again, so I want to enjoy every last one.
Friday, October 12, 2012
5QF- 39 week edition
GAH! One week left before my actual due date. However, if it were my pregnancy with C, I would be coming home from the hospital today....so it's hard not to think of baby girl as being "late."
On a totally unrelated note....the commute this morning to and from school made me a bit....stabby. Seriously, I think it was "idiot driver day." I cannot tell you how many almost accidents I saw- angels in Heaven were working overtime to keep people from dying, I'm tellin' ya! I will admit I had about 40 swear words (or combination there of) running through my head...but I didn't utter a single one. For someone who looses her (already loose grip on) the verbal filter during pregnancy...well, it was a modern-day miracle.
In case you were one of the crazies out there on the road, I'd like to provide you a refresher...or a tutorial for not killing me and mine on the road in the morning:
1. Turn lanes are there for a reason. Turning. If you are indeed turning, coming to a full and complete stop in the driving lane (and THEN turning into the turn lane) is ill-advised.
2. 20-30 feet is NOT enough room to turn in front of an oncoming car. ESPECIALLY if you are driving a semi-truck. Yes, that happened.
3. If you do not have the right of way, please don't keep backing into oncoming traffic thinking everyone will stop for you. You DO NOT have the right of way!!! People are turning into the gas station, and you are 2 inches from my bumper...and I have a semi behind me. I cannot back up. Stop moving.
4. If you are in the far right lane, please don't make a left hand turn. There are FIVE lanes here, people.
5. Get off your phone. Stop reading your ipad. I thought you were drunk. Yes, your driving was that bad.
6. Driving with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake is just plain dumb. And a great way to end up with my rusted front end up your arse. You do NOT need to tap your brake every 5 seconds.... forward motion in the driving lane- that's the name of the game.
7. If you choose to drive 10 mph below the speed limit, I'd advise you to move into the far right lane.
Ok...thank you for listening....I'm feeling less.....stabby. :) You're such a great friend to let me air out my grievances. :)
Shall we answer some questions?
1. Did you have any homecoming traditions?
Yep. Avoid homecoming. :)
I really don't get into going back to college or high school for that jazz. It's fine for some people, and for those that were all "up in the scene" back then, it may be neat to revisit their glory days...but I'm just not that person.
Meh....to each their own.
2. Do you ask your spouse before spending money?
If it fits into the envelopes, nope. That's precisely WHY we have envelopes!
If it's a large expenditure that's not budgeted, yep...we have conversations about it.
For example: my DSLR camera, his larger tools, cars, computers, furniture, etc.
3. If you could be famous for something what would it be?
Ha- my quick tongue. Blunt honesty. That's already what I'm known for...so, why not be famous for it?
4. Have you ever seriously thought you were going crazy?
Yep, most days! Ha!
Kinda like, "have me committed" crazy? No, not really. If I ever feel like my emotions are getting out of control, a nice long prayer is always good to refresh the issue.
I will say, though....that I was on quite a downward spiral a while ago. It was in our second year of marriage. I had recently had a miscarriage, and was totally jacked up on fertility meds. There was management change over at work, and they were messing around with my territory. I was horribly insecure, emotional, and just totally jacked up on hormones. To top that off, 4 of my friends announced pregnancies within 2 weeks of my original due date- and then one of them (my best friend- at the time) couldn't understand why I wasn't GUSHING all over her and her big news. I think that's the closest I've ever come to really "going crazy."
5. How do you eat your steak? Burger? (as in, well done, medium, still moo-ing...)
Mmmmmmm, steak. I like Ribeye Delmonico or and nice T-bone. Medium. Still pink in the middle.
And if it's done just right, I will pick up the bone and eat meat off of it. Sexy, I know....but that meat is so tender right off the bone. Oh my yum!
On a totally unrelated note....the commute this morning to and from school made me a bit....stabby. Seriously, I think it was "idiot driver day." I cannot tell you how many almost accidents I saw- angels in Heaven were working overtime to keep people from dying, I'm tellin' ya! I will admit I had about 40 swear words (or combination there of) running through my head...but I didn't utter a single one. For someone who looses her (already loose grip on) the verbal filter during pregnancy...well, it was a modern-day miracle.
In case you were one of the crazies out there on the road, I'd like to provide you a refresher...or a tutorial for not killing me and mine on the road in the morning:
1. Turn lanes are there for a reason. Turning. If you are indeed turning, coming to a full and complete stop in the driving lane (and THEN turning into the turn lane) is ill-advised.
2. 20-30 feet is NOT enough room to turn in front of an oncoming car. ESPECIALLY if you are driving a semi-truck. Yes, that happened.
3. If you do not have the right of way, please don't keep backing into oncoming traffic thinking everyone will stop for you. You DO NOT have the right of way!!! People are turning into the gas station, and you are 2 inches from my bumper...and I have a semi behind me. I cannot back up. Stop moving.
4. If you are in the far right lane, please don't make a left hand turn. There are FIVE lanes here, people.
5. Get off your phone. Stop reading your ipad. I thought you were drunk. Yes, your driving was that bad.
6. Driving with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake is just plain dumb. And a great way to end up with my rusted front end up your arse. You do NOT need to tap your brake every 5 seconds.... forward motion in the driving lane- that's the name of the game.
7. If you choose to drive 10 mph below the speed limit, I'd advise you to move into the far right lane.
Ok...thank you for listening....I'm feeling less.....stabby. :) You're such a great friend to let me air out my grievances. :)
Shall we answer some questions?
1. Did you have any homecoming traditions?
Yep. Avoid homecoming. :)
I really don't get into going back to college or high school for that jazz. It's fine for some people, and for those that were all "up in the scene" back then, it may be neat to revisit their glory days...but I'm just not that person.
Meh....to each their own.
2. Do you ask your spouse before spending money?
If it fits into the envelopes, nope. That's precisely WHY we have envelopes!
If it's a large expenditure that's not budgeted, yep...we have conversations about it.
For example: my DSLR camera, his larger tools, cars, computers, furniture, etc.
3. If you could be famous for something what would it be?
Ha- my quick tongue. Blunt honesty. That's already what I'm known for...so, why not be famous for it?
4. Have you ever seriously thought you were going crazy?
Yep, most days! Ha!
Kinda like, "have me committed" crazy? No, not really. If I ever feel like my emotions are getting out of control, a nice long prayer is always good to refresh the issue.
I will say, though....that I was on quite a downward spiral a while ago. It was in our second year of marriage. I had recently had a miscarriage, and was totally jacked up on fertility meds. There was management change over at work, and they were messing around with my territory. I was horribly insecure, emotional, and just totally jacked up on hormones. To top that off, 4 of my friends announced pregnancies within 2 weeks of my original due date- and then one of them (my best friend- at the time) couldn't understand why I wasn't GUSHING all over her and her big news. I think that's the closest I've ever come to really "going crazy."
5. How do you eat your steak? Burger? (as in, well done, medium, still moo-ing...)
Mmmmmmm, steak. I like Ribeye Delmonico or and nice T-bone. Medium. Still pink in the middle.
And if it's done just right, I will pick up the bone and eat meat off of it. Sexy, I know....but that meat is so tender right off the bone. Oh my yum!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
I'm still here....but I'm next in line.
I'm still here.
I'm still pregnant.
I'm ok with that....for now. :)
I've got a few people a little curious by not showing up for things, or not posting on Facebook, or on the blog...and they call - wondering how I am.
For those curious peeps: I'm doing well.
I'm not in labor....
I'm still pregnant.
My Dr. appt yesterday - while it showed a little weight loss (yay!), it also showed a little more dilation than 3 weeks ago...but still let my Dr. know I wasn't quite ready for labor.
"But that can all change on a dime." She said.
Yep, it can....but I think that this daughter of mine is cozy in there.
I think she's going to be stubborn.
(Aside: I have NO idea where she would get that from....really no idea *snicker, snicker*)
Actually, if you want to know the truth of it all, I do believe that the boys and I are fighting off a cold virus....we're all tired, cranky, and a little sniffly. I'd like us to be totally healthy when baby girl comes!
And I'm starting to freak out a tad about labor. I'm not a fan of pain....at all. I know once it starts, I take with a grain of salt, and breathe through them one at a time.... But then again....I'm a BIG fan of the epidural....so, I just have to make it through to that point. Granolas, judge accordingly....I'm ok with that.
I still have work to get done, and a house to put together (and clean!), but all in all...I'm ready. Bags packed, nurse's treats made and done, camera battery charged....
All the (6) ladies that were due before me have now all delivered. So, it's my turn next. I'm first in line now.
I have no idea how long it will take before I get to jump off the diving board, but I'm ok with that.
This entire pregnancy, God has reminded me that I'm not the one in control here....and this is just another testimony of that. I'm just along for the ride.
And I'm ok with that.
I'm still pregnant.
I'm ok with that....for now. :)
I've got a few people a little curious by not showing up for things, or not posting on Facebook, or on the blog...and they call - wondering how I am.
For those curious peeps: I'm doing well.
I'm not in labor....
I'm still pregnant.
My Dr. appt yesterday - while it showed a little weight loss (yay!), it also showed a little more dilation than 3 weeks ago...but still let my Dr. know I wasn't quite ready for labor.
"But that can all change on a dime." She said.
Yep, it can....but I think that this daughter of mine is cozy in there.
I think she's going to be stubborn.
(Aside: I have NO idea where she would get that from....really no idea *snicker, snicker*)
Actually, if you want to know the truth of it all, I do believe that the boys and I are fighting off a cold virus....we're all tired, cranky, and a little sniffly. I'd like us to be totally healthy when baby girl comes!
And I'm starting to freak out a tad about labor. I'm not a fan of pain....at all. I know once it starts, I take with a grain of salt, and breathe through them one at a time.... But then again....I'm a BIG fan of the epidural....so, I just have to make it through to that point. Granolas, judge accordingly....I'm ok with that.
I still have work to get done, and a house to put together (and clean!), but all in all...I'm ready. Bags packed, nurse's treats made and done, camera battery charged....
All the (6) ladies that were due before me have now all delivered. So, it's my turn next. I'm first in line now.
I have no idea how long it will take before I get to jump off the diving board, but I'm ok with that.
This entire pregnancy, God has reminded me that I'm not the one in control here....and this is just another testimony of that. I'm just along for the ride.
And I'm ok with that.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
36 years old, 38.5 weeks pregnant, and nesting.
I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted a picture of myself.
Until C. reminded me just how long it had been since I allowed him to take a picture of me. :)
So, here I am....EARLY yesterday morning.
I look high. And tired.
Well...I'm 36. It's early in the morning....and I am tired. :)
Side shot!
So, yeah...that's me. 36 Years old.
38.5 weeks pregnant.
In addition,
I've been nesting.
While I still can't do much in her room...I'm feeling the need to organize everything.
Which REALLY is unlike me.
The first item on my organizational list was our mud room.
It seems to end up a LARGE dumping ground for ....well, everything.
Which irks me...
...and if it irks me, it REALLY irks my OCD husband.
And it's the first thing we all see when we enter the house.
So, I took over.
With hooks.
And labels.
And clip boards.
Book bags get hung up right away when they get home, and all papers that pertain to the boy's school work or extra curricular activities goes on those clip boards (instead of on weak magnetic clips on my fridge).
So far, it's worked out great! My fridge is freed up, and the book bags
(and folders, books, and everything else)
aren't all over the mud room floor.
Then- I went through all the coats.
I packed up everything that was out of season,
too small,
or if I was just plain sick of looking at it.
I printed out some initial labels on my Cricut,
And wah-lah....
We each have our own hook!
(Yes, I have one printed for baby girl!!! But it's hidden until she gets home, :)
We have been doing what we can do in the baby's room.
We're (im)patiently waiting for the carpet to come in so we can schedule installation.
In the meantime, we can install light fixtures and window treatments!
My parents gave us baby's light fixture as a baby/ new house warming present.
A mini-chandelier!
It came with cloth gloves for installation.
Apparently, they think that only women are installing these mini-chandeliers- because the gloves did NOT fit Dave. We had a good laugh. :)
So...here's the mini-chandelier installed.
And the start of her window treatments.
Look closely: this will be the ONLY time you see mini-blinds in my house!
(They are the start of the tutorial I was following on Pintrest).
Sorry about the quality of the next two pics- they were phone pics so I could send them to my friend, Gina.
But, here's the finished product!
Roman Shades!
Closed:
And open:
Custom roman shades for two windows for UNDER $50 total?!?!?
Yep, I'll take it!
Hmmmm....what can I organize next?!?!?!?
Saturday, October 6, 2012
36 Years= 36 Blessings I LOVE.
I've done posts like this before on my birthday.
Things I'm thankful for...blessings I'm thankful for....in accordance with the years I am old.
I always think it's a good idea to be thankful....and show gratitude.
So, here's some of my favorites:
1. Dave. Who is fixing the water pump in my van as I type. (His birthday present to me. Romantic, I know...but I'm VERY happy about this!) He's a very handy guy to have around. And we're praying that this will take care of the incessant squeaking my van has been making for the last 6 months!!! Seriously, though....I love this man more and more every day.
18. For work. And being able to do it from home. Sometimes in my pajamas. Without having to put my kids in daycare. And choosing my own schedule.
Things I'm thankful for...blessings I'm thankful for....in accordance with the years I am old.
I always think it's a good idea to be thankful....and show gratitude.
So, here's some of my favorites:
1. Dave. Who is fixing the water pump in my van as I type. (His birthday present to me. Romantic, I know...but I'm VERY happy about this!) He's a very handy guy to have around. And we're praying that this will take care of the incessant squeaking my van has been making for the last 6 months!!! Seriously, though....I love this man more and more every day.
2. This kid right here. And his sensitive little heart. His new thing: he makes "specialty toast." This means butter and jelly. But, apparently, he's good at it. :)
3. This little guy too! And the fact that he's on the mend. And that he sleeps in. And has a real heart for God. And loves to cuddle. And loves animals. And loves to sing and learn. And have lots of fun.
4. This little baby girl. And the hope that she'll be here sooner than later. But knowing that she'll be here in (no longer than) 4 weeks. YAY!
5. For friends. I have great ones. The ones I choose to spend time with are high quality, awesomely loyal ones. And I'm SO grateful God has put them in my life right now. Seriously, it doesn't get much better than this!!!
6. For parents- who are willing to come my way when I can't go theirs. And everything else they do in between. :)
7. For in-laws. Who still believe birthdays are to be celebrated. I love that.
8. For being debt free. It's a blessing. A big one.
9. Being gluten free. Yes, it's a pain in the arse sometimes....but it beats feeling like I'm dying everyday. And being malnourished...and being chained to the bathroom. Inflammation is down, my bones don't hurt, and I haven't had a migraine in over 3 years. TAKE THAT, WHEAT!!!
10. For this puppy. And the fact that she LOVES to cuddle. And has adorable markings. And a cute little slack-jaw. :)
11. For pumpkin flavored everything. I love fall. And pumpkin.
12. Colors of fall. I sometimes think that God uses fall foliage to either show off- or prove- beyond a reasonable doubt - that He's still around. Seriously - those colors on the trees soothe my soul.
13. For the hope of change this fall. Praying America wakes up.
14. For this blog. And the freedom of speech guaranteed to me by our Constitution. And the fact that you're reading it right now....my brainless dribble. And my hope for your laughter somewhere along the way. :)
15. For birthday/ baby pedicures. Yep, I bit the budget bullet and went to get a pedi yesterday. Totally worth every cent of that $30. Totally. Soft feet, glowing feet, exfoliated skin, and pretty nails. I'm ready.
16. Texting. Eliminates the need for small talk. Something I don't always have the luxury of with little kids underfoot. And I can text while on the phone for work- when the people I'm auditing don't have their numbers ready. It makes me feel like I'm a multi-tasking super star.
17. Ecards. Man, they crack me up.
18. For work. And being able to do it from home. Sometimes in my pajamas. Without having to put my kids in daycare. And choosing my own schedule.
19. The Melting Pot. And their wait-staff that totally understand what gluten free means....and can give you great substitution ideas.
20. For our school. And our principal- who says the kindest words that can recharge my mommy-batteries in 2 minutes. God certainly knows what he's doing when he puts people in your lives sometimes.
21. TUMS. My best friend lately. I'm grateful for them now...but am really looking forward to not needing them anymore- in about 2 weeks.
22. A clean house. I really wouldn't know what that is at the moment....but it's a blessing when I do know what it is. :)
23. Cute earrings. And jewelry in general. Accessorizing with the prefect earrings and necklace really has a way of making me feel polished and put together. Doesn't happen often, but when it does- it's a fun day.
24. Honey crisp apples. Doesn't get much better than this!
25. Coffee dates with friends. And having 3 hours go by before you even think to look at the clock.
26. MOPS. And all the wonderful women it's brought into my life.
27. For Pintrest. It makes life prettier, tastier, and just more fun.
28. For purple rooms :)
29. For people who are always willing to help. With kids, with house stuff, with a place to stay, with PTL stuff, with just about everything. Helpful people make the world a better place to be.
30. For craft dates. And getting projects done. And spending time with a friend. :)
31. For my NEW blue room! And the new bedding set that inspired this blue...and the new lamps I'm planning on putting in this room (although I need to bling them out first). But I'm SUPER excited!!!
32. For dinners that don't require a fight at the table. These include: meatloaf, breakfast dinner, rib eye Delmonico steak night, and tacos. Apparently, my kids are carnivores!
33. For our MOPS consignment sale- coming up at the end of this month. And the opportunity for me to start packing all my maternity clothes up for sale! Adios, maternity!!!
34. For my wellness Dr. And the fact that they teach me what's wrong with my body, so I feel completely educated to make my own health care decisions- and make lifestyle and medication changes accordingly. And the fact that they are available to me- whenever I need them.
35. For Facebook. They really know how to do birthdays. :)
36. For you. For reading all 36 points. Thanks.
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