Week 35 Doc Update

Another afternoon appointment…wasn’t happy about it but I treated myself to an ice cream afterwards…and it was totally worth it. Reporting everything is good. I gained a pound, which I’m supposed to be doing, I’m up to 189. Heartbeat was excellent and strong and I’m one fingertip dilated. The doc seemed surprised I was already dilating did the same last time and ended up with a C-section last time, she murmered to herself…”I’m not quick to section, do you remember why?” I thought to myself…um…aren’t you the doctor? Then I mentioned that I thought the cord was wrapped or something like that because every time I had a contraction the boy’s heartbeat would dip. Oh and I WAS THE ONE IN LABOR…like I know.

She looked back and after almost four years I found out the REAL story, I wouldn’t/couldn’t progress and the most likely culprit was my pelvis is too small and he was too big…evidently 7.7 pounds is too big for my pelvis. Ok.

I’ve been cramping the last couple of days and she told me to drink more water that I was prolly dehydrated from the weekend and it turns out she was right. I feel much better today in that regard. I so wanted to ask her to let me go on half day work days but I felt like a pansy. There are women out there that are truly having a rough go at this and I’m just being selfish so I talked myself out of it. We will see which voice wins next time.

I have my final ultrasound next week. I’m excited; it means I get to see the monkey one last time before I actually see him. I don’t recall them doing this last time but it may be new or something to do with my age…everything seems to do with age nowadays.

Last night I slept pretty good for about four hours, after I put my earplugs in then I woke up starting at 4a what seemed like every ten minutes looking at the clock thinking I wouldn’t hear it and oversleep. Normally it wouldn’t matter but I have to work like 26 hours every day this week to make up for the holiday plus get in my forty. It is a tall older especially since I’m FREAKIN TIRED and I don’t have much work on my plate so basically I sit and try to look busy and watch the minutes pass. I hate being bored.

Ok…done bitchin for now. Cruise on over to they boy’s blog. Oh man…he was a trip last night.

Everybody’s Free to Wear Suncreen

The boy and I made the first of many pilgrimages this summer to the neighborhood pool this past weekend. We went early and it was a beautiful day. There were only two other families there and it was nice and peaceful, because the boy is able to go off on his own with the help of my watchful eye I had a lot of time to reflect on ‘the boy’. I sat on the the edge of the pool and watched my boy and his lean body play on the slide, squirt water at some unsuspecting passerby and pretty much splash around in the water without a care in the world talking to himself. So young and innocent and mine.

A bit later we went in the ‘big pool’ and I had to hold him because he doesn’t know yet how to swim (which we are rectifying in July). He clutched on to me for dear life and I had to practically pry him off of me. I was trying to get him to lie on his back and float but he would have none of that. He kept telling me “don’t let go mommy.” And I would reply “I’ll never let you go son.” Of course me being the hormonal, emotional train wreck I am these days I almost broke down right then and there.

There is something so powerful in those words for whatever reason my thoughts turned to the sadness in that statement…that yes son…one day I will have to let you go and you will have to make your way in this big bad world of ours and I only hope and pray your dad and I have given you the tools you need to be happy and successful in life. Then he splashed me in the face and the impending tears turned to exchanges of laughter and joy that I placed in that proverbial bottle with the memories I want to last forever.

Here is something to for all to reflect on…a blast from the past... Will post Baz Luhrmann – Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) later tonight.

Memorial Weekend 2008

It is officially non-official start of summer. Friday I got a jump on my ‘chores’, that was nice and made a big difference on getting things done during the weekend. Saturday we went to Sam’s and the boy and I had an ok nap. He was figity and didn’t sleep long. I was soooo tired. Also, we have started having this popping noise from our a/c vent over the week and it is freakin loud. It has woken the hubby and I both out of a dead sleep. Well…I wouldn’t consider any sleeping I do of the dead kind. Perhaps a mild coma. Ya know…the kind where you can still hear everything but your eyes are shut. Yep…that’s me.

So anyway…Saturday the hubby grilled some BIG OL STEAKS and corn on the cob. We did our part to contribute to the statistic that Memorial Day is the biggest MEAT eating weekend in the U.S.

Sunday the hubby pressure washed the driveway and back patio while the boy and I went to the pool. We went early and it was nice. Hardly anyone there and the water wasn’t too cool. Needless to say we both spent a bit too much time out in the sun. Poor bug got a sunburn and Mom and one to match. After the pool we headed home for lunch and the boy was so tired he practically went upstairs to take a nap by himself.

The hubby and I watched “Before the Devil Knows Your Dead”. It was ok, I fell asleep. This one didn’t hold my attention. It was one of those where it told and retold the story from each character’s point of view. Normally I wouldn’t mind but I think I just didn’t have the capacity for a long drawn out movie. I like Philip Seymour Hoffman, but with clothes on. Marisa Tomei, I gotta give the girl credit…she looks good for her age, even without clothes which she was missing most of the movie. Ethan Hawke, he was just a pansy and I didn’t have the patience for him. Those are pretty much your highlights.

We went to visit Granny and Papa Boley Sunday night for dinner. It is always an adventure…especially when the hubby joins us; which he can only muster about twice a year. After some visiting I take the hubby and the boy with me to get dinner mostly to give hubby a break and we make our way to KFC, which I later discover no one likes but for whatever reason we ALWAYS go there when I visit. Nice. We place our $30 order at KFC, get to the window and wait about 5 minutes then the guy comes to the window and proceeds to explain the following:

KFC guy: “we have no wing, no breast and no tie”.

Me: “Excuse me, can you repeat that?”

KFC guy: “we have no wing, no breast and no tie”.

Me: “You have no what? Tie?”

KFC guy: “TIE” (because yelling at me is going to make me understand your broken English).

Me: “Oh…you mean Thigh. Um…ok…what do you have?”

KFC guy closes the window and talks to someone in the back for probably two additional minutes. Comes back to the window. “Nothing else”

Me: “You have nothing else? Do you know you are a KFC and you sell chicken?” (He just looks at me and tells me it will be 15 minutes)

Yeah…we’re about frustrated at this time. If they would have put the freakin chicken in when we ordered it and the time they took to explain and for me to understand they didn’t have any ‘tie’s’ the damn chicken would have been done. Good grief…I proceed to tell them to cancel the order and we go to Kroger and get better and cheaper fried chicken, no wings but we got plenty of tie’s. I mean seriously…this town that I grew up in is po dunk!

We make our way back home to eat our chicken and help Granny and Papa with their computer…they are almost 80…how awesome is that. No, they don’t know much but at least they are trying. The hubby is also greatful he won’t have to do this again until December. It will take him that long to recoup and be prepared for this years’ upcoming RenFest pix.

Monday was low key. Since we pretty much wore the boy out on Sunday we stayed around the house and watched movies most of the day and rested up for the week ahead. We finished the monkey’s room. Yes…I have pix!!

Everyone Poops...

I walk in the bathroom at work and I am just about overwhelmed by the toxic cloud lingering in the smallish area. Hey people that is what the downstairs bathroom is for…much larger space to disperse toxic clouds. I stuck my head in the anteroom and went in for a quick number 1 when the thought occurred to me if someone walks in they are going to thing I am the one responsible for the stank. Oh the horra…and just as I’m finishing up low and behold someone else walks in. That’s just great. I’m washing my heads and I hear the room spray being used AND see her spraying it in the stall I was just in. NOW it is confirmed she thinks I did it…not that she knows who I am. One of my fears was just realized. Not to mention someone came in right after that and she did see me.

Now I’m not so naïve as to think that no one poops…everyone poops…there was even a book written about it. But I am a responsible ‘pooper’ and I 1. go downstairs to the larger bathroom, away from everyone and 2. courteousy flush as to keep the smell from forming a toxic cloud over the bathroom stall. That’s just the kind of considerate girl I am and I am coming to believe I expect way too much from others in the expectation they be just as considerate. Oh well…yet another label I must deal with.

I just found out it was my friend that ‘sprayed me’ and she did think it was me stanking up the place. SEE…I didn’t perceive the situation incorrectly because I would have done the same thing. I’m carrying a sign in next time with the saying ‘it wasn’t me’.

Oh man…I’m still laughing.

Week 34 Doctor Update

So I drove 1 hour and 10 minutes to the doctor to spend all of 10 minutes actually in the doctor’s office then drove 45 minutes back to my house. Yeah…she is that good and well worth the drive I’m just pissed that I can’t get morning appointments for the duration so I’m going to bitch about it a little bit more.

No, the nurses did not morph into scary crotchety old women after noon and the doc, well she was still her ‘lovely’ self.

The weight, whooo hooo…I only gained 1 pound in three weeks, up to 188. The boy is measuring well and heartbeat was 161. I verified that was a good heartbeat and not too fast and the doctor said it sounded very healthy and the fact that it is able to fluctuate is a good sign of a healthy boy. YAY!

What’s on tap for the next three weeks? Next Tuesday I have my group B strep screening, even though I’m not planning delivering via the vi ja ja it is a ‘just in case’ I go into labor early. On the 3rd I have an ultrasound to check everything out and see how much the monkey weighs, the 10th I don’t remember what she said but I think it is just a prenatal visit but I did remember it was going to be with one of her partners since she will be out of town. The 17th I will get my orders to report to the hospital for blood work and on the 18th…we get to meet the new man in my life. So…I guess I’m really doing this. Ok…yeah…starting to get a little freaked out.

Oh…and the chocolate empire…BIG…BIG…BIG…BIG, bigger than big. I’m so proud of the hubby.

Week 34 (28 days to go)

I have a doctor’s appmt this afternoon. It totally freaks me out that I have to go in the afternoon. I’ve NEVER in the six years I’ve been going to my OB never gone for an appmt in the afternoon. I don’t know why it matters…but I think in the back of my mind everything changes after noon. The lights dim and the cranky and tired nurses and doctors come out. EEEEEEKkk…Don’t they know it is me…and I SHOULD GET SPECIAL TREATMENT. Actually I caught myself trying to justify why I needed my appmt in the morning, like they even care. Just make the freakin appmt lady. I reckon I’m fixin to start my weekly visits and I’m settling in for afternoon appmts for the duration. Oh well…three more visits…three more visits.

That’s all I got for today. Stay tuned…I’ll report on the doc visit tomorrow, y’all come back now…ya here!

Girl's Day and Making up for lost time

This weekend was again another productive weekend and not just with chores.

I had the day off on Saturday and it was wonderful. I headed out to Clear Lake in the AM leaving the hubby and the boy to their own devices. We rounded up the troops and went to a co-workers house warming. I was very proud of the 3 Daises for making an effort. This is a huge rung to climb on the social ladder. I would like to think a lot of peeps were pleasantly surprised we all took the time to ‘bless them’ with our presence. Seriously…

More than the social conquest was THE FOOD!! I have never in my life eaten at someone else’s house and felt like my family cooked all the food. It is hard to explain but for me you go to a cookout and there is always that one or two foods that someone prepares that you don’t care for or perhaps the food is cooked with or without some jack upped spices. Not here…everything was YUMOLICIOUS!! The brisket melted in your mouth, the chicken wasn’t dry. The ‘cup’ of potato salad had just the right seasoning without all the onions and celery mucking it up. The beans were barbaquey and sugary and don’t get me started on the punch bowl cake. I literally didn’t want to stop eating and ended up being miserable for it…and I would do it all again and twice on Sunday.

After our two hour appearance the other 2 Daisies ran errands with me, primarily because I was picking up a bookcase for the Monkey’s room and I couldn’t lift it. Then we headed back to Jodie’s house for a nap. Well…Nic and I anyway. Poor Jod had to keep Lan occupied. She was prolly the one pressing the horn on his car thingy and pushing around the popper. (You didn’t think I saw you but I did).

Originally the ‘girls night’ was to make more jewelry but we got side tracked and decided to go to dinner and visit with each other instead, it was nice. Dinner was good and dessert was better and the company and conversation were priceless. I came home and my boys were in bed. They themselves had a fun filled day doing ‘boy stuff’. I really enjoy my time to myself but I found myself most content when I’m in bed, with a sleeping boy upstairs and my hubby by my side, all is right in the world.

Sunday the hubby brought in bagels and I started planning the day, making up for taking a vacation day on Saturday. I started the laundry and then commenced cooking for the next four hours. In an effort to provide myself and my boys with a healthy meal for dinner and healthy lunches as well I decided to do all the cooking on Sunday. I’ve proven time and time again it just doesn’t work with our schedule to make meals that don’t come frozen during the week. Not enough hours in the day. So…I cooked and laundered and managed to squeeze in a nap with the boy…it was lovely.

After naps we preceded to the Monkey’s room for more organizing and making way for the book case the hubby was putting together. The boy kept saying…”hey…these are my toys.” I had to explain they were his baby toys and now the Monkey will need them to grow up to be a smart as he is. He decided he was ok with that explanation. I finished up the room and it looks SOOOOO good. It is not picture worthy yet because I have to hang the curtains I went ahead and purchased and hang a couple of ‘projects’ I’m working on that are expected to be finished this weekend. I’m so anticipating it all finally being done. I started the Monkey’s hospital bag and my bag is halfway packed. I won’t put them in the car until the first week in June, just in case. I work an hour away from my hospital and these are the things I must think about…again…just in case. Oh…and I guess we need to install the car seat. Good grief the list just keeps growing.

And finally…I know these long diatribes are often tedious but things are way more interesting on the weekend of late than during the week. So…I catch up. I haven’t reported on the Boy’s behavior of late and why do you ask…because he has been AWESOME. NOTHING like before, he is enjoying school, getting good reports and at home he has turned the corner as well. His Dad and I are soooo happy and relieved, we had one minor setback last week but honestly I’m not concerned because of the positive change in his behavior overall has been outstanding. The next month will see more changes for him…let’s hope for the best.

Labeled...

Before I begin I was working on posting yesterday but got busy so you get it today and kick it.

The three daisies had a very productive meeting with a person I will call ‘In The Know’ (INK). We had an opportunity to voice our concerns and get genuine feedback with a side of constructive criticism. It was just what I needed. I did find out that I did indeed have a label around the office and I immediately prepared to defend my actions. I could feel the heat rising as I sat there and listened but then I quickly simmered down when I realized it was true. My label, ‘tough’, that’s what they call me, whoever they is. So I ask…is that a bad thing? My answer I was given…yes and no. It is the yes part that I need to work on. Without going into too much detail I did receive clear perspective and I agreed I could be seen as tough and intolerant.

In an effort to be cognizant of my intolerance one of the daisies made this label for us three…something we can look to and remind ourselves that label could lead to ‘doesn’t work well with others’ and that is just dead wrong and unacceptable.

Week 33

Tired…tired and more tired. Other than that everything seems to still be movin along…at a snails pace if you ask me. I’ll talk more about the monkey’s room and mom’s day in my weekend recap.

My 4th annual Mom’s Day and another productive weekend

Sunday was great. I had all my boys with me and although everyday is mother’s day at my house, aren’t you jealous, it was nice to receive the hugs and kisses and be told I’m appreciated.

Sunday morning the boy ended up in our bed due to the storm that came through, truthfully when it storms like that I love when the boy is in bed with us, I feel safe and secure. The other good thing is Sunday’s are my day to get up with the boy so the hubby can have some time for himself in the morning. Thankfully ‘getting up’ means turning over and flipping the TV on for some cartoons while mom get’s another hour of shut eye. This Sunday, the boy’s internal alarm clock went off and at 7a he asked me to turn on the TV. Since he was in our room he had no idea the sun was up and I told him it was still early and he rolled over and went back to sleep for another hour. I love me some sleep.

Around 8 I turned on the cartoons and while I was dozing I felt the boy lean over and give me a kiss on the cheek and whisper “I love you mom”. I just wanted to take that moment, bottle it and stick it in my pocket with all the other memories I want to hold to and remember forever. It was the sweetest gesture and being mom’s day made it that much more symbolic.

The hubby came in a little while later and announced he would be making his famous French toast. My mouth is watering now thinking about it. It has to be the best French toast ever made and I’ve tried a lot. If he was going to make a signature dish for Gordon Ramsey this would be a good second to the chicken marsala. YUMOlishes.
After breakfast the presents were opened and the boys did AMAZING…as always. The monkey got a couple of outfits that had MONKEYS on them. They are SOOO cute. I received a subscription to Oxygen magazine. I’ve never heard of the mag before but it looks great. Not like Fitness Mag, which I love, a bit more hard core. This is perfect because I’m making plans to go hardcore after this pregnancy. I’ve made a commitment to myself to really push myself to see what my body is capable of doing. I’ve never done that…ever. I ran and finished a ½ marathon and I never thought I would remotely do that. So…I’m going for it. That leads to the cookbook the hubby got me from Hungrygirl.com. I didn’t know it existed until then and I flipped through the book. WHA…real like non gourmet recipes one can actually make without going to a specialty herb and veggie store!!

I’ve made my menu for next week and I’m going to the store tomorrow to prepare everything on Sunday. I figured what the heck…no need to wait until after the pregnancy to start eating ‘right’ again. I’ve kinda took the last 8 months off from that enjoying what my heart desired. Well…I no longer desire the junk I’ve been eating. I think that is contributing to the tiredness that I’m feeling more than just the pregnancy.

The rest of the day was pretty low key. I did make it to Babies R Us to purchase my bedding that I finally convinced myself I did indeed HAVE TO HAVE. I had it on my registry and noticed it wasn’t available online anymore and I was panicking all the way to the store thinking that it was discontinued. I do believe they are discontinuing it but I got it and it is PERFECT.



I let the boy pick out a bear for the Monkey. There is history behind this event. I picked out the boy’s bear and unbeknownst to me at the time that bear is his security bear, the one he can’t sleep without. So I wanted to give meaning to the Monkey’s bear. Hopefully it will be just as much a part of him as the boy’s bear has been for him.

Also, I ordered this diaper bag from L.L. Bean. I was VERY proud of myself for deliberating about the purchase for so long, about four months. I finally decided it was the right move when I pulled out the diaper bags we used for the boy. One was WAY too big and the other was more suitable for toddler use meaning containing ‘extras’ for those just in case times. So I pulled the trigger.

Saturday was a most productive day EVER; we started out at Taekwondo and did stuff around the house. After more than two years we put the finishing touches on our bedroom, hung some stuff we didn’t really know where to put until that day. The hubby hung some shelves in his office and during the boy’s nap the hubby and I began our art project for the boy’s room, ten months after we were going to actually start it. We finished it on Sunday but oh my gosh…it is so awesome. Here is the pic...



Jose, our lawn guy installed three more French drains in our lake…backyard. We’ve had issues ever since we moved in. We finally decided it would be nice to actually USE the backyard instead of watching the ducks wade through it after a significant rainstorm. They also tidied up all of our plants and made ready for the additional plants coming on Monday. I finally got my azaleas. Perhaps now we can get the boy a swing set for his birthday.

That evening we attended a graduation party at our neighbor’s house. They rented a moon jumper and it was a hit, although VERY warm. We stayed until about 9 and we were ready to leave. It’s funny, she had a lot of family and other friends over but it is not the same as our flamingo parties, even when the flamingo gang is there. We flock together and just talk, which isn’t a bad thing either. I was bummed I had to miss out on the jello shots though.

Friday the hubby took off work to work on his ‘to do’ list. The Monkey got his name and pictures of us as kids hung in his room. I am working on finishing up the curtains and hopefully we will get a book shelf this weekend and with one more ‘art’ project we should be good to go. I’m not stressing about it but I need to finish up my office before my mom in law…tick…tick…tick. Only four weekends left!

TGIF

It is Friday...whoo hoo! Here comes the weekend. What is on tap? A graduation party and I am sure what will be a delightful Mother's Day and SLEEP. Dang I am pooped.

Work is off...not sure what is going on or how to handle the vibes I and a few others are getting. Hopefully I will know more by the end of the week next week. BUT...I so don't want to think about next week when it is Friday. FRIDAY!! The best part of the weekend because it is the longest time before the start of a new week. Lovely. We did get some good news but I'm not at liberty to post it here...yet. ALOT of relief is on the way.

I was pretty productive today, I thought it would be slow but actually stacked up to be nice and busy. I wrote my first newsletter to my monkey. That was fun and put a smile on my face.

Nothing interstesting so I'll sign off now. Happy Mother's Day to all.

Be Safe!

I am in Leadership and Management training today. So far it is bareable...mostly because I'm sharing the pain with a couple of peeps I know. So far nothing I didn't learn in college but since that was...holy cow...10 years ago it is a good refresher.

Over the course of this week I've received several compliments that I don't look like I'm fixin to give birth in a little under six weeks and that I'm 'glowing' (whatever that means)perhaps the glare from the oil slick across my forward and cheeks is blinding their judgement.

Not much else exciting is going on. Trying to get through the day. Oh...the boy, you know the almost four year old boy that I make reference to almost everyday that I write on this blog...he woke up this morning and told me he could not go to school because he has a cold. (Really it was just a scratchy throat that was easily remedied with a glass of water) Seriously...YOU ARE FOUR! Who gave them their book of tricks? Did he find mine? This is so a glimpse of the future. Must...get...prepared.

Back to training...peace!

Week 32

I went to the doc today. Everything is movin along. Baby is measuring perfect and the heartbeat was 154. A LOT faster than last time but I attribute that to the Chi Vanilla Latte I pounded before my appointment. It was a rough morning and if I could have started it with a shot of tequila I so would have.

The doc made a comment about fast heartbeats and boys and she said her boy showed the same characteristics as the monkey and ended up being over 9lbs and two weeks early. This would concern most people but since I’m having a C section I’m like bring it on! Then she proceeded to say bigger babies sleep better. I’m like…seriously!! She responded casually…no…I made it up. I just look at her in disbelief...so you’re lying to me…now!! The pregnant one that has gained 32 pounds to date, that is having horrible back pain, the one sitting up here on the table that just had her feet in stirrups and your hand up her ho ha! She gave me a hug and said I just wanted to you to feel better. Uhm…thanks?

The boy had THREE meltdowns this morning THREE. I guess we were due but boy…when are you going to figure out mom does NOT do mornings. First we got dressed then it was time to turn the TV off, heaven forbid I turn the TV off in the middle of cartoons. I should be locked up due to the lack of consideration. So that was ten minutes I will never get back. Then…it was show and tell day honoring the letter G. Really, does G really need recognition? How about B, I have B stuff out the wazoo, today it HAD to be G. Is there NOTHING in our house that fits in a cubby that starts with a letter G? Ten more minutes of my life I will never get back and a wailing four year old driving to preschool and why am I not a stay at home mom? As I’m driving like a bat to get the boy to school so I can go to my doctor that is 45 minutes away (40 on a good day) I calm down and explain to my dear boy that ten minutes of a temper tantrum plus ten minutes trying to look for a G toy make for an upset mommy that becomes late for her doc appointment and he should try to be more considerate in the future. As a show of good faith and understanding he proceeds to have a meltdown outside of this classroom and doesn’t want me to leave. YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! We just had the talk; you said you understood; we agreed; give me something.

Then and there I take a deep breath and kneel down to my son, wipe away his tears and give him a big hug. I tell him mommy is irritable this morning and it has been a tough morning for all of us and how about we start over. I say to him…”good morning” and he gives me this look like “WTF…I’m at school, we are dressed I’ve had three meltdowns…good morning??? Are you off your meds?” But I digress, I take him to get some breakfast in the café and he is rewarded with a pop tart. Back in his classroom I pull out his chair, give him another hug and kiss and all is right in the world, after the three shots of tequila I keep stashed under my seats for mornings such as this.

Breathe Deeply

Oh yeah my back was in spasms all day yesterday. I went to the chiropractor…the BEST chiropractor in the whole wide world and he attempted to fix me. I only visit when I need fixin, that’s part of my problem. He adjusted me but unfortunately this time I didn’t get the quick fix I so enjoyed last time. I was pretty much down for the count when I got home. Every time I tried to walk my left side would grab. You could find me at any given area in the house by the sound of air being sucked through my teeth from the pain. Evidently the boy was having chronic back pains too; mom couldn’t have ALL the attention, selfish.

American Chocolate Gangsta

This weekend was a good weekend. Busy, as I am sure they will be from here on out but productive. The hubby and I tag teamed projects and it really worked well. When we are on…we are on.

Saturday morning the hubby took the boy to taekwondo and allowed me a bit of time to work on the Monkey’s room. I took some stuff out of his closet to make room in my closet for when the hubby’s mom comes to stay. I covered stuff we won’t need for a while to be stored in the garage…utilizing our new state of the art storage facility. I proceeded to start the laundry, made breakfast when they returned home, cleaned the kitchen and had the boy help me paint letters for the monkey’s room while the hubby went to the grocery store. During the boy’s nap I started hemming the curtains for the monkey’s room then got ready for the two birthday parties we were scheduled to attend that afternoon and evening. I know detailing every minute of every day makes for boring reading I wanted to document awesome we are at getting stuff done.

Birthday party number one was for one of the boy’s old classmates at his previous pre-school. We didn’t tell the boy we were going because we wanted to surprise him. The hubby and I made a discovery this weekend…the boy doesn’t like surprises. No, I wouldn’t say he doesn’t like them he just doesn’t react the way you would think someone would act when presented with a super duper fun experience with a super duper fun friend you haven’t seen in almost a year. Yeah…you can thank me for that one. Two words…engagement and Russia.

We showed up at the birthday party and the adults were happier to see each other than the kids were. There was a light at the end of the tunnel, it took all of 15 minutes and it was like they were never separated. I did notice the boy didn’t necessarily know how to handle the ‘new friends’ portion of the show. It wasn’t all about him like back in the day. He still managed to have fun and boy howdy does he hate to watch another kid open presents.

Birthday party number two was for our neighbor; her 10 year old son organized a surprise party for her. It wasn’t a flamingo party but all the ‘flamingo’ neighbors were there. It was awesome to have other kids there and the boy just ran around with them the entire time. Oh…there was the cue ball incident but everyone was ok and the ball was returned safely.

Sunday was much more relaxed, as planned. The hubby and I ended up watching ‘Ame.rican Gang.ters’, well, to be honest we watched the first half and slept through the middle and we’ll finish it up at a date to be named later. The hubby’s business partner’s wife’s aunt’s grandmother’s sister’s daughter made a comment that the she and my hubby were the American Chocolate Gangster’s; instead of drugs they sell chocolate. All kidding aside, they are successful for a reason! But seriously there were a lot of similarities. My advice, if one of them comes at you with an empty sugar jar…I suggest handing over the 20% and walking the other way…carefully and slowly with your hands in plain sight.

On Reflection...

Happy birthday to me yesterday! I will be writing some of this as if it were yesterday because I wrote it on paper while I was sitting in the doctor’s office for FOUR HOURS. Yes…pen and paper, it is a bit antiquated but hey it works when you don’t yet have a laptop.

Today I am 36 years old and I have plenty of time to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the potential of next year. Many do this in January but I think my birthday is unique to me and I choose to reflect on this date.

Out of character to me I find myself becoming more and more cynical and I don’t like it one bit. Society loves to pigeonhole individuals with labels. If you aren’t cynical in this day in age you are a Pollyanna. I would like to find a happy medium. Hmmm…I’ll have to think about how to find that happy medium.

Today gas is nearing $4 a gallon; you can find $3.47 on a good day. They (I really want to meet they) are predicting it will be $4 by the end of May…good times. With oil and gas companies reporting record breaking profits I can’t help but ask WTF? The companies explain it away as money for future exploration, research and development. Question…isn’t profit…uhm…profit. I would think a company would have an allocation for future R&D taken out of the cost of doing business. I guess I’m wondering why no one is asking THE RIGHT questions. They did a dog and pony show in front of Congress and I just think that was for the American people to ‘act’ like something was being done about it. My cynical side says of course gov.t isn’t doing anything; they have their dirty little fingers in that profit pot, allegedly.

The United States is at war with Iraq and Afghanistan for just over five years now. The media is reporting that we are making progress. I can only go on what they report. Honestly I am not really sure how things are going. I only hope and pray our men and women fighting over there are doing so for a good cause and the end is sooner rather later.

2008 is an election year. The Republican nominee is John McCain and the Democrats Barrack Obama and Hilary Clinton are duking it out for the democratic nomination. It is so not pretty. A couple of obvious observations Barrack is a black man and Hilary is a woman. Neither race nor gender has before been a viable candidate for President. My take, I don’t think the world is ready for either a black man or a woman as President of the US. The race card is already being thrown down and ‘whitey’ still keeping the black man down. Hilary is promoting a socialist economy and let us just ask Canada and France how that is going for them. This country is starving for a new direction. Obama is attempting to capitalize on that platform but he is not really telling us HOW he is willing to change direction and it sounds like he says and does he needs to do to get elected. I vote we CLEAN house. Everyone out…and start over. That’s laughable I know but with special interest groups, PACS and the overall corrupt crooks that are sitting in most of the offices now I don’t see anyone stepping up and representing me; thus leading to my cynicism. I may work on a letter to my congressman. Oh…he’s prolly working on becoming client number 10. Can I vote for none of the above in November?

I wrote much more yesterday about stuff going on at work but since then I’ve decided to sit back and sees how it plays out. I had way too much time to think yesterday and my thought process turned personal when it hasn’t really got there yet. The good thing is that I’m prepared if it does. Here’s hoping the next couple of weeks find clarity and balance.

I mentioned earlier I’m sitting in my doctor’s office for my four hour glucose test. That’s a fun way to spend your birthday but necessary. The nurses are very nice and they are sympathetic when they notice it is my birthday. Honestly the time has passed rather quickly. I’ve been reading the new David Baldacci book “The Whole Truth”. It’s interesting but several women brought their kids and I’m having a difficult time concentrating.

I’ll be a new mom for the second time in ~7 weeks. I’m excited and full of anticipation of doing and enjoying the experience this time around, especially since it will be my last. No, I’m not a sadist and looking forward to being up at all hours for feedings but I know, from experience, that it won’t last forever and one day he will be sleeping in a big boy bed, potty trained and eating normal food and asking me how I slept every morning.

My first born is almost four and it is hard to believe I was having much different feelings this time four years ago. I cannot describe how much love I have for this person. It is so much different than the love I feel for my husband and my friends and family. Being a parent has its challenges but the good days and the days we ‘live’ as a family are priceless and I can’t imagine not knowing how that feels. He wished me happy birthday this morning, second thing; only after he asked where Daddy was. That’s ok…you can be a Daddy’s boy, I get dibs on your brother. Last night he and his dad sang me happy birthday and the boy sat on my lap and helped me blow out my candles. He signed his name to my birthday card…it was the best birthday ever…with my boys.

The hubby ran all over town looking for a yellow cake with chocolate icing. Awe…he found a white cake with whipped chocolate icing. VERY YUM-O!! He bought me my book that I have been wanting from Heather Armstrong, we know her as dooce. I already put the book in the mail to her for her to sign. He also bought me a book about raising boys, something for the both of us. One has been challenging and any additional insight I can receive to help with the responsibility of raising a well rounded, productive man in today’s world I will gladly read it, and twice on Sunday.

Inside one of the books I noticed a bookmark, the hubby makes fun of me because I use toilet paper to mark my places in my books, yes I have book marks but toilet paper is so much more convienent and practical. If it’s a tear jerker I don’t have to use my sleeve or pillow case. If I have a runny nose…I’m good to go. I challenge anyone to find a fancy smansy book mark that will provide that service. Anyway, I’m like…look…a book mark thinking how thoughtful and I look at it closer and it is a ticket to the Neil Diamond show coming to Houston in October. Well…it’s a fake ticket since they haven’t gone on sale yet but nonetheless we’re going. HOW FUN!! We both love Neil Diamond, it was a staple in my family growing up and seeing him on American Idol this past week just reminded the hubby and I of all the songs we truly know and love. I’m looking forward to it…I just hope the blue hairs don’t start beating us with their walkers and snickering at us like the kiddies did at our last concert outing. Oh fun…Neil D. just started playing on my iPOD.

My big boy, this year has been mostly good, REALLY bumpy at the end of the year but he makes me so happy. We constantly bring up to each other how we almost weren’t and always ask the each other why we didn’t walk away when we had every reason and opportunity to do so. Because you are my lobster…and it is totally true. We are challenging to each other. Some times are way more challenging than others but we make a point to continuously learn about ourselves and we work at it. Working at our relationship is a lesson we both learned from our first marriages. We keep it interesting and that’s the way it should be.

There hasn’t been any huge development with me over the last year. As I look down at the belly sticking out into my lap I am reminded…yes, another addition to the Wayne family is on its way, that’s pretty significant. Workwise, I had a personal accomplishment with coordinating the ‘perfect flight’ in October with 10A. I really had an opportunity to test my skillz and they proved to be very affective. Now I find myself asking what next, still mulling that one over. The hubby and I continued our quest to learn and cultivate the necessary tools for discussing issues with each other, I learned a little bit more about myself as well. We got a taste of our first family vacation and although challenging it has left me wanting more.

The shows I am watching as of today:
The Bachelor – London Calling
American Idol – 7 season
Hell’s Kitchen
The Office
Grey’s Anatomy
30 Rock
Real World – Hollywood

Yes, I love me some reality shows and yes, I admit my guilty please is the RW. I’ve seen every season since the beginning and yes they are becoming more ridiculous and immature but for whatever reasons it validates that I am so in a good place in my life right now and I wouldn’t trade places for all the money in the world.

I’m blessed and I know it. I have a phenomenal husband and a loving son and looking forward to adding another loving boy to the mix. I love my boys.

Living…it is what I plan on doing more of this upcoming year.

Excerpt from Enya’s “Anywhere Is”

I took the turn and turned to
begin a new beginning
still looking for the answer
I cannot find the finish
It's either this or that way
it's one way or the other
it should be one direction
it could be on reflection
the turn I have just taken
the turn that I was making
I might be just beginning
I might be near the end.

Rock On!