Friday, February 29, 2008

Busy, Busy, Busy

I'm going to be very busy this weekend doing nothing. Seriously. I have the pleasure of a ton of alone time and I'm going to fill that time with flicks of the chick variety, books and computer. Coffee will be flowing freely and I may even throw in some Vermonty Python ice cream for good measure. I'm not going to go totally crazy with the eating, though.

I'm picking the kids up from school and taking them directly to church where they will get on a big bus and head to Harrisburg for PCTC - Pennsylvania Christian Teen Convention. They went last year and it was an awesome experience for all the teens.

My only glitch in the whole Weekend-To-Myself plan is another stinkin' cold. It's not a terrible cold. Mostly a full head - scratchy throat, plugged up ears, postnasal congestion. That sort of thing. But it made me miss Home Team this morning and I'm not happy about that! I drove the kids to the bus stop because it was about 12 degrees outside with a decent windchill and when I went upstairs around 7:20 to start getting ready I decided to lay down for a few minutes since I had plenty of time. The next thing I knew it was 9:10. Home Team starts at 9:00. Then I rolled over with the intention of getting up and making it for at least half of bible study and the next thing I knew it was 10:00. So I gave up. But I feel the loss of connecting with my Homies.

Oh wait. There may be another glitch. We're supposed to get some snow and possibly ice tonight which means I'll have to shovel the drive way tomorrow since my snow blowers will be in other parts of the country. That will cut into my indulgent plans and I'm not thrilled about that. But oh well.

But I am looking forward to having the remote control all to myself. I'm looking forward to catching up with all my blog buddies without hearing someone say "You spend more time with people you don't even know than you do with us." (I've never actually heard anyone say that, but there's always the risk.) I don't have to prepare any meals, do any laundry, be nice to anyone... I'm excited.

Both the kids asked me if I was really happy they were going away. Geesh. They make it sound so horrible when they put it that way. I told them I was thoroughly looking forward to some time alone, but that by Sunday I would be so happy to have them back. Hopefully I didn't damage them any more than I already have. Driving Taylor to the bus stop in my pink robe and then cuffing him upside the head for messing with the buttons in the car in front of some of the neighborhood girls did enough of that.

And trying to pretend our life is a musical after watching Dream Girls and singing our conversation with a little dance move thrown in here and there seems to really bother him. Not Katie, though. She just plays along. OH! That reminds me of when she was very young - probably around four or five, maybe a little older. I would tell her to go clean her room and then spy on her from around the corner. She would walk around the room very dramatically, singing, "My mother told me to clean my room, but I don't want to-o-o-o-o-o-o. Why must I do these things she asks of me-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e?" It was hysterical! I so wish I would have gotten that on tape. She was starring in her own little version of Katierella or something. So funny!

Back to all of my family being gone. I suppose I could have lied to them and tell them how sad I was going to be, how miserable my lonely weekend would be, how I would probably spend most of the time crying, blah, blah, blah. But they would have caught on pretty quickly and lying is just wrong.

Lucky Todd gets to see his new niece and nephew - The Pretty Princess and Tank. Or Olivia and Nicholas. I'm very jealous. VERY JEALOUS! They are so cute! We're going to California for Christmas (in Palm Springs) and I'll get to see them then. But this very weekend -- nay, this very day he'll get to hold them and squeeze them and munch on them... Jealous I am. (I talk like that because I'm part hobbit. Remember?) My mother-in-law cracks me up because she's so worried my children will think she doesn't love them any more now that she has two new grandchildren. How wrong she is, but I can't figure out how to convince her of that.

Ooo! Look at the time!! It's almost time to pick up the kids!!

Ciao!!

Labels: babies, family, fun, homies, joy, kids, movies, nostalgia, reading, sick, TV, weather

Mused by Jenster :: 1:10 PM :: 17 People musing:

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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Halloween Peas

My sister-in-law, Rachele, sent us this picture of the twins. Apparently a trip to the pumpkin patch is very exhausting when you're twin peas a little more than three months old.



Aren't they the cutest?? Nicholas and Olivia, aka Tank and the Pretty Princess.

We really need to get out to California so I can munch on them.

Labels: babies, family

Mused by Jenster :: 9:49 PM :: 14 People musing:

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Thursday, July 19, 2007

Percocet Post aka Ooops, I'm Pregnant

I haven't had any need for the Percocet for a while now, but I did "compose" this post one night after my medication had relaxed me significantly. The funny and/or sad thing is it reads pretty much like my sober posts. Which means we can infer I am the same whether under the influence or not. And yes. Given enough M&Ms I will dance on the table.

I don't know why I even thought of this. Katie's birthday isn't until October. Maybe it was because I just had a hysterectomy and this was the last time my uterus did its job. But for whatever reason, here it is:

Sometime during the first two weeks of 1994 I found myself with a few suspicious symptoms. I ran to the bathroom every 30 minutes or so, certain smells made me queasy, my breasts were sensitive – I was very nearly sure I was pregnant. The problem was that I hadn’t convinced Todd we needed another child yet. Taylor was about 20 months old and Todd worried he’d never be able to love another child as much as he loved his firstborn.

I’d only skipped a couple days of my birth control pills in December because I’d forgotten to get my refill before the pharmacy was closed for Christmas and I started them up again as soon as I was able. My ob/gyn nurse told me to stop taking the pills in case I was truly pregnant and if I started my period to go another month without the pills to give my body a break from the confusion. “Don’t forget alternative protection,” she warned.

So I did what she said and a couple days later I started my period. The same day as my supervisor’s wedding – January 15th. I was so used to keeping track of my cycle by my birth control pills that I didn’t bother to write it down on the calendar. Between two hectic, exhausting jobs and a demanding toddler there wasn’t a huge need for “alternative protection”, but we had our supplies just in case.

A week later I went on a business trip to Mobile, Alabama for several days, returning home on January 27th. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it also makes for two impatient individuals who, in the heat of passion may have forgotten the nurse’s warning. Just once.

Another couple of weeks and Todd started questioning me about when I’d start my period. I’d completely forgotten the fact my last period had started the day of Angel’s wedding and I told him I wasn’t sure, but it would probably be in the next week or so.

The following Friday I was at work and something was said about Angel’s wedding. My memory was triggered and I grabbed a calendar to count. I came up with 35 days which meant I’d counted wrong. So I counted again and I still came up with 35 days. The third time I used a pen to mark each day so I’d know I didn’t count a week twice and when it said 35 days I knew I had a serious problem.

A defective calendar.

Because I was a legal assistant and responsible for keeping track of hearings, trials and deadlines I had several calendars. They all said the same thing. Which I figured meant they all came from the same defective lot. There was a faint screaming going on somewhere in the recesses of my mind, but I shut that door and ignored it.

Everyone else was out of the office so I went into a co-worker’s office and counted on her calendars. Same thing – 35 days. Next was my secretary’s calendar. I thought maybe the secretaries used a different lot, but apparently I was wrong. I couldn’t believe that the law firm had ended up with an entire batch of erroneous calendars.

I walked back to my office in a daze and finished out the rest of the day with a minimum of conscious thought. It seemed a bit ironic that when I’d felt pregnant I wasn’t. And when I wasn’t paying any attention it looked like I might be.

It was obvious a pregnancy test was going to be needed since the calendars were of no help. As I pulled up to the pharmacy on the way home I realized I didn’t have any jewelry on, including a wedding ring. Yes, I know it was 1994 and a woman didn’t have to be married to have a baby. But I’m old school so I blabbered on to the pharmacist how I really was married – had been nearly six years – but I just forgot to put on my wedding band that morning. Without any emotion he looked at me and said, “Lady, this is Southwest Little Rock. I could care less.”

Taylor was in day care part time and my parents watched him the rest of the time. They were at my house with him and when I walked in Todd was visiting with them. “I told Gab and Candy that if we were to have a girl, which we’re not going to have any more children so it’s a moot point, but we like the name Katie,” I heard him say.

There was no time for pleasantries. Clenching my paper bag with white knuckles, I rushed in, said, “Todd, I need to see you in the bedroom. Now!” and ran on down the hall. My distress was obvious and he quickly followed me in.

I turned around to face him and pulled the kit out of my bag. It took a minute for the implications to register, but I knew the instant he realized what I was about. I explained the calendar situation to him and reminded him about the night I got home from Alabama.

I took care of business and Todd set the timer on his watch for five minutes. I sat on the bed while he paced back and forth, mumbling about how he knew he’d get used to the idea of another child, but this wasn’t part of the plan, but he would be happy about it, but this was really not part of the plan, but another baby would be a blessing, but this absolutely was not part of the plan.

When the watch started beeping we looked at each other, took a deep breath and walked into the bathroom. Staring us full in the face, as plain as day, was a big, pink plus sign. Part of the plan or not, neither one of us could keep the huge grins from our faces.

He hugged me and kissed me, then grabbed the stick (with the lid back on, of course) and left me in the room to show my parents. He handed the stick to my mom and at first she had no idea what it was. It didn’t take long to dawn on her, though, and the first thing she said was, “OH! If it’s pink does that mean it’s a girl?” At that time my parents had eight grandchildren, all of them boys. We got a great chuckle out of that.

Todd called his parents in California next. His mother was a little distraught because she wanted a granddaughter as well and had heard about a procedure in Switzerland where they spin the sperm and it separates the females from the males. “But you didn’t get your sperm spun,” she said. Todd told her, “Don’t worry, Mom. I just held on to the ceiling fan and spun around a few times before getting started.”

After that was a call to Gab and Candy. You know, the couple Todd had been visiting before he came home. The couple he told we wouldn’t be having another baby. Talk about eating your words while they’re still hot!

Neither child is more special than the other. They’re both loved with the same depth and intensity. Taylor was a planned blessing. Katie, on the other hand, was just a blessing. And she is DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL!

Labels: babies, blog, joy, love, nostalgia

Mused by Jenster :: 9:24 AM :: 28 People musing:

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Monday, July 16, 2007

Weekend Recap

FRIDAY

Friday night I was figuring out just how many of my bonus Weight Watchers points I had to use after a delicious dinner of grilled steak, baked potato, salad and a glass of wine, the phone rang. We have caller ID and the name and number pops up on the television. To say I was surprised is putting it mildly.

“Hello?” I said cautiously.

“Hi, Jen! Do you know who this is?”

“Manic?” I asked slowly.

*giggle*

“Yeah! Guess who’s here with me?”

I made the logical guess. “Swishy?”

*giggle, giggle*

“Yeah!!”

How fun was that? It was a great way to start the weekend and I’ve giggled to myself several times since then. Those girls are crizazy fun!

SATURDAY

Todd’s parents flew in from California Tuesday night. They have a timeshare and were able to get a week in New York City. The plan was they would take the kids to NYC Saturday, bring them home on Tuesday, return to the city on Wednesday and come back the following Saturday.

About 1:00 in the morning their other son, Tim, called to say that Rachele wasn’t doing well. She was uncomfortable and a little bit panicked, but that she was sleeping at the moment. Susan told him if she was still anxious and uncomfortable in the morning he needed to take her to the emergency room if for no other reason than to check the babies and ease her mind.

The next call was at 10:30. They were at the hospital and Rachele was in labor. A c-section had been planned for August 1st, but apparently the kiddos had other plans. Tim called while they were prepping her for surgery and then called again to fill us all in on the new additions.

Once it was established Rachele and the babies – and Tim, too – were all okay the Grandparents and our kids left for New York City. Katie is turning into a native.

Not only were Nicholas and Olivia born on Bastille Day, but July 14th is Susan’s birthday, too. So Todd and I sent flowers and three balloons to Tim and Rachele. A blue “baby boy” balloon, a pink “baby girl” balloon, and a “Thank You” balloon; along with a note that read something along the lines of, “Thank you for having the babies on Grandma’s birthday so she’d forget we didn’t get her a gift.”

***

Later in the afternoon Todd and I went to see Live Free or Die Hard. Where do I even begin to describe the sheer awesomeness of this movie? I don’t remember the last movie that entertained me quite so much. Of course, movies are darned expensive and we don’t go very often so that may have something to do with it. But this was easily my favorite of the Die Hard movies.

Here’s the movie synopsis from IMDB:

When a criminal plot is in place to take down the entire computer and technological structure that supports the economy of the United States (and the world), it's up to a decidedly "old school" hero, police detective John McClane, to take down the conspiracy, aided by a young hacker.

This is a particularly interesting storyline to Todd because not only does he work in the electricity sector (one of the terrorist targets in the movie), but he works with FBI and Homeland Security developing standards and procedures so this type of thing doesn’t happen. With the exception of an “I don’t think so” here and there from Todd, he enjoyed it just as much.

Witty humor, incredible stunts and special effects, explosions, explosions and more explosions. How much more entertaining can two hours be??

SUNDAY

My big event yesterday was going to church. I always feel like I’m missing something when I don’t get to go and, understandably, I’d missed the last couple of weeks. But there’s such a feeling of rightness when you walk up to the building and friends see you and hug on you and tell you they missed you and how are you and all that. And for me there’s just something special about singing the songs – worshiping with others and hearing all the voices lifted in praise. Now that Todd is a mature man he carries a hanky with him. All I have to do is tap him on the arm and he hands me his handkerchief because I can never make it through the singing without tearing up.

By the time church was over I was exhausted and I came home and sat for the rest of the day. Todd had to go back at 3:30 for youth group so I just watched TV, read, surfed the net. Yeah – none of that is exciting and not worthy of posting, but I did anyway.

RANDOM

On another note, so far I’ve lost 13.5 pounds. While I’m thrilled with another 3.5 pounds lost this past week, Weight Watchers is not. Now I’m losing weight too fast. BAH! I think the fat may be tired of hearing me complain about it and it just wants gone. I’m good with that.

Today marks two weeks since the hysterectomy and I’m feeling very good. I’m even sleeping on my sides, now, which is very exciting. My biggest problem is that I am a stretcher and stretching is a bit uncomfortable. But I can’t help it. It’s like some alien takes over my body for a minute and my legs and arms unfold and lengthen, all the while I’m trying not to. But even that’s getting better.

Tomorrow I see the dermatology specialist about my funky rashes and blisters that are pretty much gone. But at least I’ll then be established with him so I won’t have to wait three or four months the next time I’m afflicted.

In closing I have this silly little story for you that actually happened since I wrote the last paragraph. Todd has a circular sore on the top of his right foot and I asked him what it was from. He said he didn't know and I said, "Oh! Maybe it's a stigmatism!" Which totally cracked us up because for one thing it's "astigmatism" and more importantly because I meant "stigmata".

Okay. That wasn't such a great story, either, but I had to write it down before he had a chance to.

Labels: babies, blog, family, food, friends, fun, God, humor, kids, medical, random, weight management

Mused by Jenster :: 5:18 PM :: 15 People musing:

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Sunday, July 15, 2007

BREAKING NEWS

I may be a day late and several dollars short, but Tim and Rachele's babies were born yesterday morning. I had conflicting sources (Grandma and Grandpa) so I may be off an ounce or two, but the beautiful, HEALTHY girl weighed 6 pounds and has dark hair, while the handsome HEALTHY boy weighed in at 5 pounds, 1 ounce and is topped with blond hair.

There is, as there always is, much more to the story and I will get to it tomorrow. In fact, I have a lot to tell about the weekend, but this couldn't wait.

Labels: babies, birthdays, joy, love

Mused by Jenster :: 10:17 AM :: 14 People musing:

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