I'm just sayin'

Here's a little pointer out there for any of you who may or may not know this: If you are exposed to a violent stomach bug... but don't have any symptoms of it... IT IS STILL NOT SAFE TO VISIT US. ( or anyone else) I'm not going to talk about who or what. I'm just making a general statement. Thanks to the people who said they weren't sick, so it was okay to visit... ( eventhough I was hesitant)Holden got it Wednesday, and Millie threw up from 1:30 this morning- 5:30 this morning.. .one time, all over me after I just finished drying her hair after a bath. ( @ 2am) One time was ALMOST in our bed but I screamed that after the "big belch"~ hurl will explode out of the child!Get her to the toilet! ( I learned that the hard way the time before) I know that the people who brought this virus to our home didn't mean any harm, clearly.. it's just that now: We will all get this. It's down to Parker and me. We cannot hang out w/ Suze and Danny on New Year's Eve. We cannot attend the Party @ my Aunt's house tomorrow. SO now our New Year's plans are screwed. YAYYYYY! Hopefully I don't get it.. because I'm already having contractions for some reason. ( they started last night @ about 6pm... and my stomach is still tightening every so often and it feels like the baby is pushing down. It happens when I stand or lie down... regardless of how much water I have had... or what position I am in) I can see it now: I get this stomach bug... I get dehydrated... go into labor... and low and behold... Parker starts hurling too... which means that when I'm in the hospital... he can't be there for Tiny's delivery. All this is obviously anxiety talkin' here...I don't know what's worse, the anticipation that we'll get it... or just getting it and getting it over with. Seriously: next time... I'm telling these unmentioned people " YOU CANNOT COME HERE." I had to sleep in a chair last night because Millie wanted me in the room with her and I am a bad mommy and couldn't bring myself to sleep next to her. My back is KILLING me! SO Thank you unmentioned people. Thank you for screwing up our holidays. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

disclaimer: this is my blog... I can say whatever the heck I want. So don't go there.

Today's BPP

Since we were exposed to some sort of rotovirus thing this past week... I was unable to find a sitter for MS & HIP... so Daddy stepped up to the plate :) We all drove to Georgetown this morning together, which was pretty funny. Well, except for the part where Parker lectured me on how to drive... that part pissed me off. Obviously since I drive to Georgetown 4 times a week, I have no idea how to drive, love. Don't even start with the , " I was just trying to help" crap. Nope... not gonna listen to that. We arrived at the hospital in time. I packed the portable DVD player ( on loan from my parents) and Parker and the kids watched " the adventures of Scooby Doo ( Holden's fave) while Tiny seemingly took a nap. The whole point of the bpp is to monitor Tiny's movements and amniotic fluid levels. Typically this test takes about a half an hour. Today it took 45 minutes just to wake Tiny up. My amniotic fluid levels are still within normal. ( sometimes women who have diabetes and are pregnant have issues in the 3rd trimester due to the placenta "aging" quickly.) On Tuesday my amniotic fluid level was 14 cm. Today it was 11 cm. Normal range is between 8 and 24 cm. Parker was a little freaked...but I assured him that all was fine and these levels can change periodically. Now he has me a little worried, so I put in a call to Meredith ( Dr. Landy's nurse) to see if this is all within the norm. I'm still waiting for her call... but I'm sure everything is A-ok. ( or the bpp nurse would have said something.) I get another non-stress test/bpp on Tuesday... so we'll see if everything is still going smoothly.
Tiny can't seem to find a place to put his/her foot these days. It seems that my bottom ribs are a good anchor for him/her. Not that I don't love this pregnancy thing... I'm just wishing I could take a DEEP breath and not have a foot push into my lung. Alright it seems that there is something hitting the wall in the other room... and now MS is yelling, " OWWW HELLLPPPPPP!" ( but laughing hysterically...) I can only imagine.

Doctor's appointments: week 33

Dr. Doroshow: ( pediatric cardiologist) ( & I quote) " Get out of here, you bore me." Tiny's tricuspid regurgitation is growing in a consistent manner with his/her heart. The bigger the heart, the bigger the leak... not: bigger heart... much bigger leak. The aorta is not stretching... and the heartbeat is steady. Good. No early delivery. Biophysical profile/ fetal non stress test : The baby needed to move 2 times in 20 minutes with a rise in heartbeat each time it moved. Tiny cooperated. .. and passed the first of many non- stress tests. The biophysical profile or BPP ( in sonogram lingo) showed that there is enough amniotic fluid and the movements are consistent with a happy baby. Dr. Ratner was happy with my numbers... and moved my alternate ( night time ) basal up a 1/10 of a unit. He said " I'd love to see you go to mid January... putting you @ 34/35 weeks... which is just perfect in my book." He added, " wouldn't it be funny if you went 37 weeks?" I told him to shut up. I will be so annoyed that after 7 months of hearing that I'm gonna go early, I go full term? UG . So that's pretty much it... nothing major/dramatic to report . I go in for another fetal non- stress test/BPP in the morning . I assume that all will be just fine. Now, for my non-stress test: let's see if I can get my 2 four year olds into bed without losing my cookies.. when does school start again?

Christmas. I love it. I love the idea of a fat white man entering our home while we sleep... leaving more material stuff for our kids than we could have ever dreamed of... Naaaa I really do love it. I love the sounds and the smells. I love the kids excitement. I love giving gifts. I also love that Parker tracked soot through our house and knocked over the fireplace screen to make it look like Santa actually DID show up... just like my dad used to when Suze and I were little kids. Millie and Holden were totally into Christmas this year. We read " t'was the night before Christmas" at bed time... and Millie even slept without her noonie! ( with the promise that Santa would bring her a "Barbie doll" ( hey, if I'm not the one actually giving her a barbie. I'm down with that. + the Barbie I found was the " Barbie For President!" doll. I actually think this doll would do a better job than our current Pres... but that's a whole 'nother story, isn't it? ) Holden loved all the opening of gifts ( we limited each kid to 7) and had a blast on his new firetruck( that was promised to him if he gave up his noonie) Millie seemed a little grumpy and overwhelmed.. but got over it when we showed up at Meem's house.. which was packed to the gills with little screaming children playing with this year's installment of new toys. After a long day ... the day continued on ... and off we went to Beanie and PopPop's and opened what seemed like a never ending stream of new toys,clothes, and candy. I put a limit on my mom this year, but she obviously ignored me.. since a lot of the gifts that were given to the kids.. .are still at Beanie and Pop Pop's house. ( we couldn't fit them in the car!) The day was summed up by Holden as he was sitting in his bed. He said to my mom, " thanks for making Christmas come Beanie." OH MAN! There goes next year's limit! I think my mom teared up there a little. She said " ohh Holden , you are welcome, I'm so glad you had a great day." All I could do was think to myself.. " where in the H-E- double hockey sticks are going to put all of this stuff when we get home??? I'm trying to simplify and nest over here! You're not helping!" BUT I obviously appreciate my parents' generosity.Millie and Holden are going to put a box of " old toys" from their playroom together so we can make a donation to kids who don't have a Beanie. I would feel better knowing that Millie and Holden understand that not everyone is as lucky as they are, and that by giving up things that they used to play with, will help them learn about giving back to their community. Okay, I better get moving and bring in today's installment of toys that haven't made it in from the car. SOOOO many toys, so little time.

Kick finder technology

Thanks to my friend (& director of the kids' school) Amanda... finding those kicks aren't so hard anymore. She( who is due to have her little baby today) gave me these hilarious tattoos to help people find those hard to find kicks without fully molesting me. Thanks to the new " kick finder technology!" This weeks belly shot shows you exactly where Tiny kicks me 99% of the time
So here's the gut @ 32 weeks

Painting nude

Because of my many doctors appointments... and the fact that Millie and Holden's winter break is this week and next... our babysitter ( Brittany) has been literally camped out at our house pretty much all week. The other day I was rushing around and Brit asked me if painting would be okay, if she used smocks etc.. I said " Honestly Brit, I trust that whatever you do will be fine."
In an effort to save the new PJs she took HIP's off... only to find that he was sans underwear. Still, HIP thought that since he was painting, it would be best to still play it safe and wear a smock. Funny how paint still got on his little butt.

Any pointers?

Okay all you bedresters out there... does anyone know how to get the feeling back in your left side? I am numb from laying on my left side all darn day and night. +I had a little cobedder join me on my body pillow last night.( so I was squooshed ) He told me something about a fire... and needing a firetruck to put out the fire, which freaked me out for a minute there.. but it was obvious that he was sleepwalking and talking in his sleep. Funny how he can still pick his nose and eat the boogers even in his sleep.
Anyways...(on that note)

PLEASE let me know how I can get rest without feeling like I'm going to paralyzed after a week.

Red Christmas

Perhaps its that the holidays are always stressful. Perhaps its that I'm freaked out that very shortly the somewhat responsible adults in our house will be outnumbered by people whose sole purpose is to see if they can injure themselves in front of my very eyes. Perhaps its that Amy's highly educated doctors cannot agree on anything. Perhaps its that we have no coherent plan for switching from "man to man" to "zone" defense. Perhaps its the end of the year pressure at work. Perhaps its that the evening news is damn depressing. Whatever the reason, I can't sleep. So its 2:56 AM and I'm hijacking my wife's blog to share with you my nocturnal musings. My apologies in advance to her conservative pals.


RED CHRISTMAS
(A holiday tale from a Liberal Insomniac)

The clear blue skies are turning gray, the bay’s not doing well.
The wildlife is dwindling. It should be scared as hell.
“There’s oil in that refuge, so drill straight down”, they said.
Sometimes I think that they won’t rest ‘til all the trees are dead.

“No trigger locks, no safety switch, my rights won’t be eroded!”
Just tell that to the little girl, who thought it wasn’t loaded.
Perhaps the hunting leaves no time to go get educated,
But read your holy “2nd”, please, it says: “well regulated”.

“Small government”, they preach, “is the ideal situation”.
Except to try to rule the bodies of half the population.
The end of Sandra Day O’Connor is quickly drawing nigh.
So pack its bags and start its car, then kiss your Choice goodbye.

“The homosexuals”, they scream, “are poisoning our youth!”
As if volume will outweigh their lack of scientific proof.
“And now they want to marry and steal our holy institution!”
As soon as his divorce is done, he’ll work on a solution.

“Tax and spend!” they jump and shout, then point across the aisle.
Now, quiet please, he’s got to stack his money in a pile.
“Cut and spend” is a better way to keep the poor folks slumming.
Dust off your Marx and Engels, boys, the revolution’s coming.

They say the Lord is guiding them. It made me want to look,
So I sat down, and now I’m sure they’ve never read the Book.
Or if they did, they skipped the parts ‘bout turn the other cheek;
Plus bombs and guns and armored tanks don’t qualify as meek.

“For God says life is holy, we must protect it everywhere.”
Now follow him and he will show you our new electric chair.
Don’t worry about his low IQ or the highly biased jury.
“Now go put on your Sunday best and off to church we’ll hurry!”

And now they’re in the lab room screaming, “God will make you pay!”
Remind me again, just which disease did prayer make go away?
And isn’t it quite possible, with each secret they unlock,
That God is with the Doctors as they work to cure His flock?

Well, Elvis sang of Blue ones, as if that would be so bad,
And whether White or Green, Christmas always made me glad.
But this year I see no sugar plumbs, as I lay in my bed,
And when at last I fall asleep, my Christmas dreams are red.

Merry Christmas 2005
Parker

get back to bed

Okay so, I guess gaining 4 pounds in one week is bad? Dr. Ratner was pleased with everything but the fact that I am retaining a ton of fluid in my legs and feet. He put me back on modified bedrest w/ strict rules," you lay on your left side all day and all night for a week ( he gave me Christmas off) and if the swelling is down... all should be okay.. .if you ignore me and run all around and go crazy... I guarantee you'll be in the hospital next weekend. " Okay, okay I'll listen! Other than that everything is just fine . I am however at that point where the pregnancy is starting to feel like work. I don't really sleep at all. I typically wake up every 1/2 hour all out of breath. I have a touch of the sciatica.. ( not all the time.. but I have my moments) and I seriously have a yoga prodigy growing in my uterus. I mean how many times a day do you think Tiny needs to do " warrior 2?" As far as I can tell.. it's at least 24 times a day. Find your chakra already~ jeesh Tiny!! The braxton hicks are getting lower and painful. I was informed today by Dr. R's receptionist that I have " dropped." Well that can't be good.. since I have 8 weeks to go. I'm not complaining about the pregnancy... don't get me wrong, I still feel like being pregnant is a true gift... I'm just stating : I sure would love to be able to sleep... 'cause I KNOW what's in store for me for the next 6 months. ( or longer) Alright, I better get those address labels printed up so we can send out Christmakah cards this year. I'm off to bed!

Dr R follow up... and a little catch up

As some of you might remember from about a week ago.. there was some question about how well my kidneys are working these days. ( due to a low volume 24 hour urine) I spoke with Dr. Ratner on Friday afternoon, and he reported that I am not in kidney failure. ( whew!) He said that I have the ability to get rid of waste products... and possibly I just didn't take in as much fluid on the day of the 24 hour collection as I typically do on any given day. Okay ~ so we watch and wait. No early deliveries this week. YAY.

Parker and I made a belly cast this weekend. It was fun. I remember casting Suze's belly and it was actually very cool. I am so glad I have the cast of her belly. Millie and Holden LOVE to talk about how they grew in Aunt Suze's belly, and they use the belly cast as a reference tool. They like to point to where they actually grew. I'd post the pics of my belly casting in process... but... I'm not bold enough to put those pics online.:) I had no idea my boobs were SO BIG! and the belly cast doesn't hide that fact at all. I don't think I need my friends to carry around that visual... Whoa.

I had my 3rd biophysical profile today. Tiny looks good...moving all around .. doin' that baby tai chi I was suspecting. There is plenty of amniotic fluid... and all looks great. Another Whew!

Now.. onto the part where I freak a little. As I was leaving the sonogram office, I was informed that I would be seeing a different doctor today because Dr. Landy had emergency gall bladder surgery. Okay.. fine. I was calm. I sat waiting for awhile and a man walked in the room with my chart. He said " Amy Parker?" I was still calm. The part where I got a little edgy was when he asked me if my diabetes was pregestational, and who and where my endocrinologist was. I told this random Dr. that Dr. R's clinic was in Eastern Market. He said , " oh, over by G.W.? I said.. "noooo on the hill.. "he said "where?" I said, " behind the Library of Congress? The Capitol? The Senate offices? He quickly changed the subject and asked why I needed to see a perinatologist ( Dr. Landy)... how many weeks I am... and if I thought it was time to see Dr. Landy weekly and get bi-weekly biophysical profiles. In response to his question about how often I should see my perinatologist... or how many biophysical profiles I should get a week I responded, " um.. you're the Dr... you tell me. " After the appointment was over I went to schedule my biophyical profiles and the like.. and the scheduling receptionist informed me that Dr. Landy would be in Seattle from January 6th- January 27th. Here's where I get a little panicked. I knew that Dr. L was going to be out of town... but it dawned on me that my full term is 37 weeks. That's almost the end of January. SO this guy.. who doesn't know a thing about me.. MIGHT have to deliver Tiny.. and not only that.. .if there's a problem... this doctor who I don't know... will be performing a possible c-section( if Tiny has growth spurt?)??? AHHHGAAA! Does he know how to hold a scalpel, or will he ask me that too? I said to Parker.. I ALMOST wish that I would just go into labor in the next week and a half... so Dr. Landy will be around, 'cause frankly I am TERRIFIED of this other Dr. delivering.
I will be having a very stern discussion with Dr. Ratner about all of this. It will not be the end of the world if this random Dr. delivers... but my fragile nerves need consistency! I see Dr. R on Wednesday.. I'm sure he'll tell me that I'm gonna deliver next week anyways.. .so maybe there is no need to worry. Listen to me... I'm more worried about the random OB... not delivering a 32 weeker... ha.. you know you're the mom of preemies when......

before and after.

I did it. I hate it... but I did it. Holden was excited about it until he saw me crying... so now he's upstairs upset that he got a haircut. I'm no better than those stupid girls at that party last night. He looks cute... I guess. I just think he looked cooler w/ long hair. Now he just looks like one of those kids with a " home haircut."I think I just need to get used to it.

Vent

Okay so, Parker and I have had an ongoing argument going on for months now: Holden's hair. People, I LOVE his hair in all of it's glorious long-ness. I feel that his long hair suits him in all of his craziness. Parker thinks he looks like a girl. Parker says that "Holden looks like a little girl we don't bathe. He looks dirty and unkempt." Parker also says that I do whatever I want with no regard to his feelings. Now, certainly, ( that is not true) I don't want to hurt Parker. He obviously feels very strongly about Holden's hairstyle, so much so that when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas this year, he said " I want you to cut Holden's hair." Every time I think about taking scissors to HIP's hair, I get a little weepy. My mom harasses me endlessly " let's just TRIM IT!"... "The boy needs a haircut... he looks like a girl Amy." I am kinda tired of people telling me what's right. I am tired of knowing what is fashion forward, and people ( who have had the same hairstyle for 20 years) telling me " you are not paying attention to fashion." Okay. I KNOW fashion. I pay attention to current trends. I love forward thinking fashion so much that I am living vicariously through my son's hair. I don't really care what people think of my fashion or my kids' fashion. I don't care for snide remarks, and when people tell me that HIP looks like a girl~ I tell them they are obviously not up on current fashion...and what they are saying is not good for Holden to hear. Until: last night. We attended a Christmas party in the neighborhood and 8 middle school aged girls were calling HIP a girl, ( to his face) braiding his hair, and putting makeup on him. HIP didn't mind until one little s*#thead said ( while wearing acid wash jeans,black patten leather platform maryjanes, a ponytail that was too tight... and a short sleeved raglan american eagle shirt w/ sequens on it... (not to stoop. but if you're gonna rip on MY son's style.. you BEST bust out of 1998) )" you must be a girl.. your hair is so long!HAHAHAHA!" Holden stood there stone cold and said " I AM A BOY, stop laughing." I wanted to take this ( @ least 13 year old) girl and have her look @ me in the eyes and tell me that she wouldn't be upset if someone 10 years older than her were making fun of her to her face...and oh yeah.. . I wanted to say, "I MUST be a man since I have shorter hair than my husband." I didn't feel it necessary to stoop to this child's level... I just know that her parents are obviously judgmental and have passed on this amazing judgment /stereotyping to their daughter. Poor thing. It's gonna suck for her living in this limited world she obviously lives in. I am thrilled to say that my children do not notice people's differences.My children do not stare @ people in wheelchairs or people w/ green hair. My kids do not laugh when they see a bald woman, or someone who is obese. My children don't see differences in skin color, or if someone has 2 moms or they see 2 guys holding hands in the mall. I am thrilled to say that my children accept people as people... not anomalies to their world. I am so happy that I think I have officially achieved the acceptance of diversity... which was one of my main goals in my ideal parenthood. Back to the point: Holden's hair. AS much as it KILLS me to do this: I think I am going to cut HIP's hair. I can't say I'm gonna go short... but I am looking into a little hipster kinda cut that will say " I am HIP.. watch out." So Parker when you read this, please know that this is for you. I love you that much. :) Merry Christmas Pal. I'll be in the bathroom bawling.

th' weekly

I saw Dr. Ratner yesterday. I was a little late.. but my blood sugar dove to 30 before I left for my appointment... so driving was kind of out of the question until I got the bloodsugar up. Dr Ratner patted me on the back and told me that I "did the right thing." The visit was short and sweet, as usual. Every 4 weeks I have to hand in a 24 hour urine. You know how I LOVE this test.( notice the sarcasm) Typically I fill 1 1/2 jugs ( each totalling 2000 CCs) Welllll yesterday I handed in half of one jug. ( so.. I handed in 1000 CCs-vs- 3000) Not because I forgot about catching my pee... it's just that I didn't pee a lot the day before. Dr. Ratner was a little concerned. He looked over his reading glasses at me with his very Jim Henson-ish face while wearing his John and Yoko tie... and said " Amy~ ( he likes to start his sentances with my name when he's serious) .. " Amy~ I will be THRILLED if you make it to 2006 with your pregnancy. It's stuff like this 24 hour urine that tells me that your body is just getting tired of this arrangement." He said that everything could be fine and he would get the test results back on Friday ( tomorrow) and he'd let me know if any "decisions" needed to be made. So...my fingers are crossed that all is well...and I don't need to be induced @ 31 weeks. I have SO MUCH to do before this kid is born. Speaking of which.. I better get back to cleaning out the guest room closet... my mom is gonna be moving in with us for a while. I better clear some space for all of her stuff. :)

30 weeks

We obviously got one of those 4-D sonograms today. TOTALLY freaky, don't you think? I mean, you can actually SEE what Tiny looks like. Parker is completely freaked by this picture... I totally understand why.. but I still think it's neat-o. Clearly Tiny was pausing for a moment to think... but then went back to kicking me in the ribs after the picture was taken. ( Not so) Tiny is measuring inthe 93rd percentile... which weighs him/her in @ 4 lbs... and 15" long. S/he is doing just fine in every way. The sonogram tech said " you've got a chubby one in there!" Funny. I kept looking at this picture expecting Tiny to look like either Millie or Holden... but nope.. I don't see the resemblance in any way. Anyways.. very cool day.

AS most of you who read this know ( since you attended) Suze and my mom threw me a very nice "un-shower" yesterday.( Poor Aunt Suze couldn't attend due to a very sudden ilness... but is doing better today) I was thrilled to see friends from all aspects of my life. It looked like everyone seemed to enjoy thier time together, and I enjoyed not being the center of attention.. and I could control where and when I moved around. I get so nervous @ showers! This was so nice... just laid back.. no fuss. I hafta say I thought it was funny that Holden won the toilet paper/belly game. I guess he would know... since he hugs me all the time.:) I got a real kick out of that. He got a kick out of winning a mug filled w/ hershey's kisses.:)

All in all this week was just great. I am so lucky to have the support of my friends and family with me as I go on this adventure... and I am also lucky to know that Tiny is doing just fine in this body of mine.

My executive decision.

Diapering:

Back before we had kids, I always loved the notion of using cloth diapers. Eventhough I was not the laundry master I am today, I still thought cloth diapering seemed to be a " nice" way to diaper. After loads of research, and a few conversations with Parker, I decided that with twins... to ensure my sanity, I would use disposable... and try to protect the Earth in other ways. As time has gone on, I still find cloth diapering to be " nice." As we all know, Tiny is ONE baby. ( something I'm not sure I'll know how to handle) I spoke of using cloth for Tiny with Parker a few times. There was some mumbling of being a dirty hippie... and questions about why I would WANT to wash poop out of a cloth diaper? " Don't you have enough on your plate?" Still, I have been fantasizing about using cloth... and following through on something... and all that jazz. With some help from my friends Cathy, Cara, @ http://www.mamac-ta.com, and Jenny ( sorry Jenny I lost your blog link) I think I have established a good support system. I do need a "cloth diapering 101" workshop... but I think I'll be able to swing it. I mean, after my mom stopped wrinkling her nose about it... even SHE said that she did it and it wasn't bad. I know the "energy/detergent debate" with cloth. I use biodegradable detergent...and I intend on line drying. Now, I'm not gonna be a nazi about it. The babysitter and Parker can use the OTHER diaper I decided we would use. These diapers are called : gdiapers. (http://www.gdiapers.com) G diapers ( as seen on the webpage) are flushable/biodegradable. One can even use gdiapers in their mulch pile ( Meems would be so proud) if they don't want to worry about clogging the septic.( which g diapers promises won't happen due to the dissolving technology.) I received my shipment of gdiapers/liners last week, and for some reason I am all excited about it. I can tell you one thing, and hopefully all you cloth diaperers ( is that a word?) have some helpful hints for me when it comes to this: I am SICK of people questioning why I would use cloth... and why I care so much about what kind of diapers I use. It makes me feel like I am 16 years old and the world knows what is best for me. I HATE this feeling more than anything. When I got pregnant, I finally felt like a "grown up." Comments such as " who cares what kind of diaper you use... your diapers aren't going to make any difference in our landfills" & my personal fave : "EW," make me so angry. Listen, I have stuffed 20,000 disposable diapers into our landfills over the last 4 years. ( yes, I calculated it) I would assume that putting some effort into making sure our planet feels somewhat protected... would mean SOMETHING to someone out there. I'm just trying here... so if you have an opinion about me using cloth/flushables... please keep it to yourself. I wouldn't think to tell you what you are doing wrong with your life.

My big boy

I don't like to single out my kids. I know that they are different people and that they are living different lives... but for some reason I like to always have equal amounts of updating per kid... as to not leave anyone out. This particular example was earned.. so I'm gonna let my equality scale slide a little bit.
Our big boy Holden... our little man who I was convinced would take his " noonie" ( pacifier) to college... has given up his noonie. It has been 5 days now and there hasn't been one request for his noonie at bedtime.
Our babysitter , Brittany came over last Saturday night for a few hours while we attended a Holiday party in our neighborhood. Apparently Miss Brit couldn't find the noonie...but all was well, Hipster fell asleep on one condition: "Santa will bring me a new firetruck." Okay then.. Santa.. if you are listening: we have an order for 1 riding firetruck, please. Our big boy earned it.
Millie told me " I don't want any new toys, I just want my noonie. hmmpff!( exaggerated crossed arms and a big frownie face.)" Ha... that's my girl.

29 weeks

I had my weekly check up with Dr Ratner today and all is well. I actually lost 2 pounds.. .which was a good thing since last week I gained 3 lbs.( 2 lbs of the gain was in water) Dr. Ratner was his usual self with his : " I will be thrilled if this baby is still in you in 3 weeks" stuff. I laughed at him and knew that he is just preparing me if anything DOES happen between now and then. Millie accompanied me since she was home from School today. School policy frowns upon parents who send their kids to school with fevers of 104 w/ raging coughs. Poor little thing was a coughing fool pretty much all night and all day. After our visit to Dr. Ratner's together, Millie and I went and purchased her a pair of snow boots, picked up some lunch,and rode a train through White Flint Mall. She BEGGED to ride this train ( a little train that drives all around the first floor of the mall.. pretty cute I gotta say... & totally cool if you're 3' tall and 4 years old.) Millie thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I thoroughly enjoyed knowing that she was happy. I was not however, thrilled about stuffing my pregnant body into a caboose... but we all survived.
Millie and I picked up Holden from school @ 3... and took a trip to good ol' Dr. Gober's ( pediatrician) so Dr. G could " take a listen" to Millie's chest. It was decided that Millicent has bronchitis, and he was quick to put her on some antibiotics. Dr. G isn' the " prescribing" type of Doctor, so I figure, this must be a serious case, or he'd just tell me to " watch her and give her some popsicles." Holden was happy to join us... just for the lollipop @ the end of the visit. :) After seeing Dr. G, we headed to the grocery store to fill the prescription, and pick up some odds and ends to get us through the night and breakfast in the AM. When we returned home the braxton hicks started up big time. I've had braxton hicks before , but this was something to actually make me call my sister and see what labor felt like. My back was kinda hurting, I really felt like I had to go " to the bathroom" ( wink) and my stomach tightened every 6-10 minutes for over an hour. I drank a ton of water, got the kids into bed, and rested on my left side for about an hour. Things seem better now. I am still getting tight every couple of minutes, but the intensity of the "contraction" isn't as bad and the tightening isn't lasting nearly as long. All night I kept thinking, " oh man.. I just sent 2 new pairs of pants to the taylor to get hemmed! & if I deliver this baby tonight, I won't ever get to wear them!" What a waste! I also scurried around straightening up in fear that I was going to have to go to the hospital,and return to the mass chaos that is my home at this point. I quickly folded some laundry and put it away. I cleaned the kitchen, and took out some recycling. I made sure that everything was out and obvious, just in case my mom was going to come down and pick up where I left off while I sat in the NICU with Tiny. Luckily, I think all the fuss was for nothing, and proved to me that the house needs to stay somewhat organized for the next couple of months... so when it's "time" I won't have to worry about the condition of the house while I'm gone. Okay I need to go wake up Parker ( he's sound asleep upstairs) so he can take out the trash. It's been over a week... things could get very ugly if we put this off any more. Okay... off to bed for me. Tomorrow, I think I'll try and take it easy so I don't throw myself into a labor inducing tizzy. I think I just over did it today.

Tiz the season

Ya know... I try. I try so hard I almost outdo how hard I am trying to begin with. Things have been going relatively well since the kids were enrolled in an all day jr. kindergarten. Yep they are in school from 9am-3pm. They are stimulated, entertained,nurtured, and fed. I felt a lot of guilt about enrolling them in this program since they are only 4 years old.. but I have so many doctor's appointments, it only makes sense to set the peeps up with some consistency. SO Jr K it is! They have been loving the program. So I feel like we made a good decision ... especially with the possible early delivery of Tiny right around the corner. ( 3 weeks from now) I am currently trying my hardest to remember that feeling of " I want my babies around me at all times"... that " I don't want my babies to grow up"... stuff we all feel when they are small. After tonight's display.. I am researching nursery schools w/ a boarding school option. After days of begging from the kids to decorate for Christmas... I started pulling out the holiday decor. Whilst wrapping STUPID TANGLED lights around a small tree... MY children.... the children I always thought were somewhat well behaved... decided that it would be a good idea to run around the first floor of our home w/snowman salt and pepper shakers ( snowman salt and pepper shakers I don't even like ( a little too hallmark country kitchen)... but were a gift... so I have to use them)and pour salt and pepper all over the place. People I'm telling you... sounds came out of my mouth that didn't even sound human. I have never in all of my days screamed the way I screamed at that moment in time. Millie looked at me and said in a very serious voice" YOU'RE NOT NICE." I responded w/ a very clear, teeth clenched... " I am the nicest thing that has ever happened to you.. and you 2 just poured salt and pepper all over the floor... you wanna tell me what's nice about that? Now, not only do I have to clean up.. I have to pee my pants every 3 seconds from sneezing while I fix this mess. If I were you I'd stop telling me that I'm not nice... and I get to your room." The kids ran into their rooms laughing. I seriously debated in my very groggy head just walking out the front door... but decided that I would be uncomfortable since 1) I'm in nothing but a kinda tight , braless maternity shirt and some granny panties. & 2) it's cold. + A few of my neighbors already think I'm weird... I think a sight like that would pretty much clinch it for them. I know poor Tiny is wondering , "uh... what the?" I am so tired of this 4 year old crap I could spit. But hey, happy holidays everyone... oh and one more thing... if you have kids.. hide the ol' salt and pepper shakers and save yourself the trouble.