So when our newsroom intern and I were sent out on assignment yesterday to cover an incident at a government center about a half-hour away, we had no idea it was a hostage situation at a county board meeting until we were already on the road.
Fabulous.
I'm 5 months pregnant and heading towards a potentially dangerous situation. With an 18-year-old girl. I'm pretty sure Dr. Spock wouldn't recommend that for the baby OR our intern. Fortunately, we found out a short time later that the hostage siege was over and the man had been killed by law enforcement.
We still got ourselves shooed out of two different areas surrounding the building by men armed with AK-47s until we found the designated media sidewalk. We waited for a couple of hours, along with three other co-workers, until I could no longer remain standing in the 85-degree sunshine with a full bladder, so the intern and I took off in search of cold refreshments for the crew and a bathroom stall for me. After another couple hours on the sidewalk, with news helicopters circling overhead, we decided to split up and our intern and I interviewed some random people in the town and headed to the McDonald's in search of food for our now starving crew.
Then my car wouldn't start in the parking lot. Hard to cover breaking news with a broken down Camry. But after several attempts at starting my car it finally gave in and decided to start (fortunately) on the 15th or so try and third trip to the car. We headed back to the office having missed the second news conference because we were stuck at the McDonald's. Bummer.
When I got home my face was badly sunburned and the baby kept doing somersaults inside me, my stomach became tense almost like I was having contractions. I got a little worried — maybe the baby had too much excitement and stress for one day — but she calmed down after a half-hour.
And things have been going well so far since then.
I have started reading aloud to her before bed and she wiggles around a lot to the sound of my voice. I've heard I can grow a smart kid that way, so hey, it can't hurt. I'll hold off reading her today's story about the man shot by police after holding 10 people hostage — that's old news to my lil' bambino — and stick with Dr. Seuss.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Happy Birthday, Grandpa!
Today marked my Grandpa Les' 84th birthday had he made it this far...And ironically where did we celebrate his birthday? At another "Grandpa Les'" funeral.
Small world.
My aunt lost her father, Les, on Friday and the funeral was today. So Nels, Erika and I went to show our support. Les also spent his last few years at the same nursing home as my grandpa Les and both my aunts would go pick them up to bring them to family gatherings.
So three of my cousins have lost both their Grandpa Les' within six months.
I saw my grandpa's twin brother, Lut, (shown on the right with my grandpa playing their trumpets together) at the funeral but it didn't even dawn on me until a cousin mentioned it later that it was his birthday too. Duh. It must have been so strange for him to celebrate a birthday by himself. Sad, too, I'm sure.
On my way home from work tonight I stopped by my grandpa's grave and wished him a "Happy Birthday."
It just didn't seem right not to.
Monday, June 16, 2008
To dye or not to dye ...
I had my second doctor's appointment today. Everything is looking great, the baby's heartbeat is fine, my blood pressure is fine, etc. We went over the ultrasound results and everything is right on track and the baby is healthy, no abnormalities, etc.
While the ultrasound indicated my due date is more like Oct. 22 (our third wedding anniversary!!) my doctor decided to stick with Oct. 31 as a due date but said it's likely the baby will be arriving before that anyway.
I asked if I could FINALLY color my hair and he said it would be fine...but since Nels has big issues with this ("Why take the chance?" - He always tells me when I complain about my spreading gray hair) I asked if there was even the SMALLEST chance it would affect the baby... and my doctor said only if I drink the hair dye ... and I don't plan on it.
My next appointment is the end of July, after we return from Canada. I asked my OB/GYN if I could spend a week in the wilds of Canada and he said only if we bring him with fishing. I said sure.
Nels would probably enjoy fishing more with our doctor than his whiny 6-month-pregnant wife who'll have to take many pit stops to pee.
While the ultrasound indicated my due date is more like Oct. 22 (our third wedding anniversary!!) my doctor decided to stick with Oct. 31 as a due date but said it's likely the baby will be arriving before that anyway.
I asked if I could FINALLY color my hair and he said it would be fine...but since Nels has big issues with this ("Why take the chance?" - He always tells me when I complain about my spreading gray hair) I asked if there was even the SMALLEST chance it would affect the baby... and my doctor said only if I drink the hair dye ... and I don't plan on it.
My next appointment is the end of July, after we return from Canada. I asked my OB/GYN if I could spend a week in the wilds of Canada and he said only if we bring him with fishing. I said sure.
Nels would probably enjoy fishing more with our doctor than his whiny 6-month-pregnant wife who'll have to take many pit stops to pee.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Warning: Spoiler Ahead!!
We had our ultrasound today. It became even more exciting when at 8:50 a.m. I looked at the informational sheet from the doctor's office and realized my appointment was at 9 a.m., not 9:30 a.m. like I thought. I panicked, called the radiology dept and told them I'd be late. They said I could only be as late as 9:15 a.m. (I live about 20 minutes away.) so Nels hopped in the shower and I sprinted to my car, carrying a large glass of water to drink along the way so my bladder was adequately full.
I got about 2 blocks when I knocked the water over, spilling it all down my pant leg. Fabulous. Raced to town and got to the Radiology Dept. about 9:17 a.m. or so, which turned out fine. Nels even got there before I was called in from the waiting room.
The baby was very active, jumping all over the place. So far everything looks great. We have one long-legged kid, a future track star.
And while the technician said she can't say with 100 percent certainty, there was definitely no man business shown on the ultrasound. Meaning, we're having a little GIRL. :) You can see her performing some ballerina moves in the ultrasound above. Erika was so excited and Nels said he's happy about having a girl. He told me that girls can go fishing, too. He's going to be a great dad and Erika's going to be a protective big sister.
Life is good...at least until this little one reaches her teen years. I've experienced that teenage girl drama (twice, really) and it's frightening every time.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
What, it's not all about me??
I hung out for a while Sunday afternoon at my husband's family cabin, which is owned by him and his two brothers (this also includes me by default as his wife). The cabin has been in his family for 3 generations.
My other two sisters-in-law were there today so it was fun to sit on the dock and chat with them. One of my sisters-in-law, who is trying to conceive, was telling me how she was talking with our mother-in-law yesterday and a neighbor (who is my husband's dad's cousin, or something like that) and they were saying how much fun it'll be with a new member of the family joining us. It was exciting, she said.
That's when I realized that this baby isn't just mine, or Nels'... he/she already has TWO families who can't wait for him/her to join them. I'm not just giving birth to a child on my side of the family, but to a grandchild, a niece/nephew, a cousin, etc., for my husband's family, too.
It was a little strange wrapping my brain around that one. I guess it's not all about me.
My 9-year-old nephew, Luke, was crossing his fingers, toes and legs today, saying that he's just hoping for a boy cousin. So we'll see at Monday's ultrasound. I'm so excited for that. My brother and dad both said they think it's a boy. We will see.
On a related note, my husband told me Saturday that I have to stop reading stuff to him out of the pregnancy books I have because he's having nightmares. The night before we'd been talking about the delivery and birth, etc., and talking about some things I've learned recently about natural births. I'm working on a story on home births. I interviewed two sisters-in-law last week who gave birth in birthing tubs in their living rooms, three weeks apart. One of the women gave birth so quickly that the midwife wasn't even there yet. She got there 20 minutes after the baby was born. The woman, her husband and sister-in-law basically delivered the baby themselves. (It's true, I watched the tape.)
One of the moms loaned me a book about gentle birth options to read. It also has a DVD with six birth experiences to watch. (And yes, I forced Nels to watch them all with me.) Well, I think I believe in many of the theories behind a gentle birth but when it's time for me to give birth, I want to be in a hospital. I'm going to aim for a more natural birth, forgo an epidural, etc. (I didn't have one when I had Erika.) but that doesn't mean I won't refuse other medications or medical interventions if need be.
So the book says that it's important that the mother nurses the baby right away after the baby is delivered and criticizes how nurses take away the baby in hospitals to get it cleaned up, etc...The gentle birth way is to have the baby nurse within moments after he/she is born. Nels and I talked about this and I told him that that's what I want to do, to make sure the baby nurses right away.
That night Nels dreamt that the baby was taken away by the hospital nurses for an HOUR and he was running around telling them that they had to bring the baby back, that the baby needed to latch on RIGHT AWAY. He woke up freaked out. Too funny.
On a lighter note, the baby seemed to enjoy watching Sex In The City on Saturday. Either that or he/she liked the popcorn and milk duds I was eating because he/she was moving all over the place.
My other two sisters-in-law were there today so it was fun to sit on the dock and chat with them. One of my sisters-in-law, who is trying to conceive, was telling me how she was talking with our mother-in-law yesterday and a neighbor (who is my husband's dad's cousin, or something like that) and they were saying how much fun it'll be with a new member of the family joining us. It was exciting, she said.
That's when I realized that this baby isn't just mine, or Nels'... he/she already has TWO families who can't wait for him/her to join them. I'm not just giving birth to a child on my side of the family, but to a grandchild, a niece/nephew, a cousin, etc., for my husband's family, too.
It was a little strange wrapping my brain around that one. I guess it's not all about me.
My 9-year-old nephew, Luke, was crossing his fingers, toes and legs today, saying that he's just hoping for a boy cousin. So we'll see at Monday's ultrasound. I'm so excited for that. My brother and dad both said they think it's a boy. We will see.
On a related note, my husband told me Saturday that I have to stop reading stuff to him out of the pregnancy books I have because he's having nightmares. The night before we'd been talking about the delivery and birth, etc., and talking about some things I've learned recently about natural births. I'm working on a story on home births. I interviewed two sisters-in-law last week who gave birth in birthing tubs in their living rooms, three weeks apart. One of the women gave birth so quickly that the midwife wasn't even there yet. She got there 20 minutes after the baby was born. The woman, her husband and sister-in-law basically delivered the baby themselves. (It's true, I watched the tape.)
One of the moms loaned me a book about gentle birth options to read. It also has a DVD with six birth experiences to watch. (And yes, I forced Nels to watch them all with me.) Well, I think I believe in many of the theories behind a gentle birth but when it's time for me to give birth, I want to be in a hospital. I'm going to aim for a more natural birth, forgo an epidural, etc. (I didn't have one when I had Erika.) but that doesn't mean I won't refuse other medications or medical interventions if need be.
So the book says that it's important that the mother nurses the baby right away after the baby is delivered and criticizes how nurses take away the baby in hospitals to get it cleaned up, etc...The gentle birth way is to have the baby nurse within moments after he/she is born. Nels and I talked about this and I told him that that's what I want to do, to make sure the baby nurses right away.
That night Nels dreamt that the baby was taken away by the hospital nurses for an HOUR and he was running around telling them that they had to bring the baby back, that the baby needed to latch on RIGHT AWAY. He woke up freaked out. Too funny.
On a lighter note, the baby seemed to enjoy watching Sex In The City on Saturday. Either that or he/she liked the popcorn and milk duds I was eating because he/she was moving all over the place.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Swim little fishie ...
I was sitting at my desk, vigorously tapping both my feet, like I have a nervous tick or something, and the baby just WHACKED me.
It felt like a walleye had hit the front side of my uterus (as if I'd have a walleye swimming in my uterus, but you get the idea) and then it turned against the side of the "tank." I think the baby was doing a somersault and vaulted off the side ... pretty funny feeling but made me stop tapping my feet like a nervous freak.
Apparently the baby was trying to get my attention. Or maybe he/she had to puke.
I have my ultrasound on Monday, which will be our 20th week of pregnancy, the halfway point. I can't wait to find out the results. Erika wants a sister and Nels wants a son. Unfortunately, one of them isn't going to get what they wish for. So we'll see...
Stay tuned...I'll post the results here.
It felt like a walleye had hit the front side of my uterus (as if I'd have a walleye swimming in my uterus, but you get the idea) and then it turned against the side of the "tank." I think the baby was doing a somersault and vaulted off the side ... pretty funny feeling but made me stop tapping my feet like a nervous freak.
Apparently the baby was trying to get my attention. Or maybe he/she had to puke.
I have my ultrasound on Monday, which will be our 20th week of pregnancy, the halfway point. I can't wait to find out the results. Erika wants a sister and Nels wants a son. Unfortunately, one of them isn't going to get what they wish for. So we'll see...
Stay tuned...I'll post the results here.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Here you go, Sweet Mary Sunshine!
My friend and fellow blogger, Sweet Mary Sunshine, tagged me, forcing me to finally post something, so here it goes:
1. What was I doing ten years ago?
Hmmm...The sucky answer is that I was doing the same thing I am now. So depressing! It was 1998 and I had been working at the newspaper for over a year. Back then two other reporters, who no longer work here, had attended Bemidji State with me and we all had worked on the campus newspaper, finally graduating to the "big leagues." Erika was four, and I do miss those days. She didn't text constantly on her phone back then and actually seemed to enjoy being in my presence. Oh, the good ol' days!
2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
- Wrap a present for my friend in Norway, a month past her birthday. Whoops.
- Start marking things in our scary cluttered basement for our neighbor's garage sale.
- Somehow sneak out of the house without Erika knowing and go watch "Sex In the City" movie, which is rated R. I'm trying to figure out how I can do this AND get ready for the garage sale at the same time.
- Finish a lame story I'm working on.
- Take our dog Daisy on a walk.
3. Snacks I enjoy:
Anything cheesy or fresh fruit. Since I've been pregnant I've alternated between craving Mexican food (not TOO spicy) and fruit. Course I did this before I was pregnant so I can't really blame the baby on this one.
4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
I would quit my job and be a stay-at-home mom who also travels to exotic locales, in addition to volunteering at my children's school. I've always wanted to volunteer at Romanian orphanages too, rocking and playing with orphaned babies. There are two programs that offer these types of trips. (Just like Sweet Mary Sunshine, only I was thinking Romanian orphans, not Fargo ones.) I'd also spend my summers on the lake, floating on a floatie all day, reading books.
5. Places I have lived:
-Pequot Lakes, MN
-Moorhead, MN
-Fargo, ND
-Murfreesboro, TN
-Nashville, TN
-Bemidji, MN
-Burnsville, MN
(That pretty much sums up my life!)
6. People I want to know more about: Hmmmm. All you faithful blog readers, feel free to do the same by leaving it in the comment section. I'd love to see if anyone actually reads the crap I write. :)
1. What was I doing ten years ago?
Hmmm...The sucky answer is that I was doing the same thing I am now. So depressing! It was 1998 and I had been working at the newspaper for over a year. Back then two other reporters, who no longer work here, had attended Bemidji State with me and we all had worked on the campus newspaper, finally graduating to the "big leagues." Erika was four, and I do miss those days. She didn't text constantly on her phone back then and actually seemed to enjoy being in my presence. Oh, the good ol' days!
2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
- Wrap a present for my friend in Norway, a month past her birthday. Whoops.
- Start marking things in our scary cluttered basement for our neighbor's garage sale.
- Somehow sneak out of the house without Erika knowing and go watch "Sex In the City" movie, which is rated R. I'm trying to figure out how I can do this AND get ready for the garage sale at the same time.
- Finish a lame story I'm working on.
- Take our dog Daisy on a walk.
3. Snacks I enjoy:
Anything cheesy or fresh fruit. Since I've been pregnant I've alternated between craving Mexican food (not TOO spicy) and fruit. Course I did this before I was pregnant so I can't really blame the baby on this one.
4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
I would quit my job and be a stay-at-home mom who also travels to exotic locales, in addition to volunteering at my children's school. I've always wanted to volunteer at Romanian orphanages too, rocking and playing with orphaned babies. There are two programs that offer these types of trips. (Just like Sweet Mary Sunshine, only I was thinking Romanian orphans, not Fargo ones.) I'd also spend my summers on the lake, floating on a floatie all day, reading books.
5. Places I have lived:
-Pequot Lakes, MN
-Moorhead, MN
-Fargo, ND
-Murfreesboro, TN
-Nashville, TN
-Bemidji, MN
-Burnsville, MN
(That pretty much sums up my life!)
6. People I want to know more about: Hmmmm. All you faithful blog readers, feel free to do the same by leaving it in the comment section. I'd love to see if anyone actually reads the crap I write. :)
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Where's Waldo??
So I snatched away Erika's yearbook a couple of nights ago so I could check out her and her classmates and even several of my own former classmates' children. At least one is (gasp!) graduating from high school this spring.
Imagine my surprise when I saw Erika in the group photo for the Mock Trial team...she also was featured in a Mock Trial photo on that page. The cutline said something about her doing some research. Well, Erika only went to Mock Trial once. She thought it was boring (she thought the case would be more like Law & Order SVU or something exciting) so she quit the team after just going to the first practice.
Then I find my daughter sitting with some friends on the Art Club page. Yep, she's not a member of the Art Club either. She later told me she was just visiting her friends during the club meeting after school one day and they snapped a photo of her.
Oh, and she was featured in a photo on the Spanish Club page, too, and while she takes a Spanish class, she says she's not in the Spanish Club. She also was on the choir page, which makes sense since she's a member of the choir.
I found all this quite hilarious. I told her this has to be her goal each year during high school — trying to sneak into every group photo so as to take up as much real estate in the yearbook as possible.
That's my girl.
On a baby note, everything is going just fine. I'm feeling a lot better than the first trimester and I'm starting to feel the baby move more and more each day. He/she loved watching American Idol this week. I'm hoping this means he/she will be a musical kid.
Imagine my surprise when I saw Erika in the group photo for the Mock Trial team...she also was featured in a Mock Trial photo on that page. The cutline said something about her doing some research. Well, Erika only went to Mock Trial once. She thought it was boring (she thought the case would be more like Law & Order SVU or something exciting) so she quit the team after just going to the first practice.
Then I find my daughter sitting with some friends on the Art Club page. Yep, she's not a member of the Art Club either. She later told me she was just visiting her friends during the club meeting after school one day and they snapped a photo of her.
Oh, and she was featured in a photo on the Spanish Club page, too, and while she takes a Spanish class, she says she's not in the Spanish Club. She also was on the choir page, which makes sense since she's a member of the choir.
I found all this quite hilarious. I told her this has to be her goal each year during high school — trying to sneak into every group photo so as to take up as much real estate in the yearbook as possible.
That's my girl.
On a baby note, everything is going just fine. I'm feeling a lot better than the first trimester and I'm starting to feel the baby move more and more each day. He/she loved watching American Idol this week. I'm hoping this means he/she will be a musical kid.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Babies on the brain
Ever since my friend Heidi's baby shower in January, I've had these four plastic babies on my desk as a type of good luck charms.
Apparently they worked pretty well, my quadruplets.
Months ago there were times when I'd forget I was pregnant, but it's hard to forget now. I feel like I've got a bun in the oven, even if it's not noticeable yet and I'm still wearing my regular clothes. I'm nearly 17 weeks pregnant..the baby is the size of a turnip.
I picked up some baby board and soft books at a garage sale today. I'm trying to prepare myself to read to the baby as soon as he/she can hear, which from what I've read that's at about 22-24 weeks pregnant. We'll see if I can talk Nels into reading to my belly. :)
A school board member told me Monday about a conversation she had with the district's literacy collaborative coordinator. The woman told her by observing adults she can pick out which adults hadn't been read to as a child....and she accurately pegged this board member as one who hadn't been read to as a child. She was one of eight children and her parents didn't have time to read to her... freaky. I wouldn't have guessed that. She seems pretty articulate to me.
So I plan to do some reading on early childhood and literacy and make sure our little guy/girl has a little library before birth, to give the baby a jump start on life. We just have to remember to take the time to read the darn books...something I didn't do as well with Erika.
But then, Erika's a straight-A student...apparently my inattentiveness as a parent wasn't too crippling in her life.
BTW, Nels is off buying my birthday present as I type this. As always, not a surprise. I'm getting a video camera. My birthday is Sunday and I'll be a whooping 37 years old.
Scary.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
I feel the earth move ...
While I was sitting in church Sunday during Erika's confirmation I began to feel the fluttering movements of our baby for the first time. I've felt it a few times since then but I never seem to be sitting still and quiet enough for very long.
It was a little surreal. I'm watching my child, who is 14, getting confirmed before the church while my baby was wiggling inside. While it was Erika's big day, her little brother/sister was making his/her presence known. Maybe that's a sign of things to come. I have another little drama queen on the way. Yikes.
I'm now at 15 weeks pregnant. The baby is the size of an apple. Speaking of babies, my coworker and his wife found out they're having one baby for sure - they got to see the heartbeat at their appointment on Monday - but there was another sack there that may or may not contain another baby. Doctor said it's probably a single baby but they'll know for sure at their next appointment in a couple of weeks. They are due Dec. 23 so I'm sure our maternity/paternity leaves will overlap.
Babies everywhere!
It was a little surreal. I'm watching my child, who is 14, getting confirmed before the church while my baby was wiggling inside. While it was Erika's big day, her little brother/sister was making his/her presence known. Maybe that's a sign of things to come. I have another little drama queen on the way. Yikes.
I'm now at 15 weeks pregnant. The baby is the size of an apple. Speaking of babies, my coworker and his wife found out they're having one baby for sure - they got to see the heartbeat at their appointment on Monday - but there was another sack there that may or may not contain another baby. Doctor said it's probably a single baby but they'll know for sure at their next appointment in a couple of weeks. They are due Dec. 23 so I'm sure our maternity/paternity leaves will overlap.
Babies everywhere!
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Something in the water cooler ...
I just found out today that my co-worker's wife is pregnant! I'm so excited for them. They've been trying for quite some time and used in vitro fertilization...first time was a charm for them. They'll find out Monday how many babies they're having. The baby (or babies) are due at the end of December.
So he sits to the left of me and some coworkers are already speculating that there will be a third pregnancy in the newsroom. Hard for me to think who that could be (except there's one person I hope it will be!) but hey, the more the merrier if they'd like to go to garage sales together on our lunch breaks!
Speaking of garage sales...I went to a great one today on my way to work. I got a Winnie the Pooh bassinet that plays music, a baby jumperoo-thingy and a baby swing...all at a great low price. I was so excited. My car was packed. I loaned the jumperoo-thingy to my coworker Heidi so her little guy can test drive it for us. I hope he puts some great bouncing miles on it.
Our baby is only the size of a lemon right now, but he/she is already getting some fun things to play with/on. We just have to wait about six more months.
So he sits to the left of me and some coworkers are already speculating that there will be a third pregnancy in the newsroom. Hard for me to think who that could be (except there's one person I hope it will be!) but hey, the more the merrier if they'd like to go to garage sales together on our lunch breaks!
Speaking of garage sales...I went to a great one today on my way to work. I got a Winnie the Pooh bassinet that plays music, a baby jumperoo-thingy and a baby swing...all at a great low price. I was so excited. My car was packed. I loaned the jumperoo-thingy to my coworker Heidi so her little guy can test drive it for us. I hope he puts some great bouncing miles on it.
Our baby is only the size of a lemon right now, but he/she is already getting some fun things to play with/on. We just have to wait about six more months.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Rain + Kids = Strep
I spent last Friday running in and out of the cold rain during a school district tour with the four superintendent finalists. It was miserable and Saturday wasn't much better except I was digging my car out of several inches of snow so I could attend the candidate interviews at 8 a.m.
Needless to say, I think it was the visits to the two elementary schools (germ factories?) where I ended up getting strep throat. I stayed home from work Monday and Tuesday until I determined there was no way this was just a cold or flu so I made Urgent Care appointments for both me and Erika, who ended up coming home sick Tuesday. Our tests found that she had a cold while I had strep throat. They gave me antibiotics that are apparently safe for the baby and so far I think I'm starting to feel better. I returned to work Wednesday afternoon, anyway, whether I'm cured or not.
I don't know if it's because I'm pregnant or not, but this illness really hit me hard. I've had strep before (usually thanks to Erika) but nothing like this. At times I felt like I couldn't breathe when I was trying to sleep, my throat felt like it was closing shut. The last three nights I've found myself awake and getting a drink of water about 5 times a night.
You'd think the baby was already here!
Needless to say, I think it was the visits to the two elementary schools (germ factories?) where I ended up getting strep throat. I stayed home from work Monday and Tuesday until I determined there was no way this was just a cold or flu so I made Urgent Care appointments for both me and Erika, who ended up coming home sick Tuesday. Our tests found that she had a cold while I had strep throat. They gave me antibiotics that are apparently safe for the baby and so far I think I'm starting to feel better. I returned to work Wednesday afternoon, anyway, whether I'm cured or not.
I don't know if it's because I'm pregnant or not, but this illness really hit me hard. I've had strep before (usually thanks to Erika) but nothing like this. At times I felt like I couldn't breathe when I was trying to sleep, my throat felt like it was closing shut. The last three nights I've found myself awake and getting a drink of water about 5 times a night.
You'd think the baby was already here!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
A funny thing happened on my way ....
So I'm on my way back to work from a school board meeting this afternoon and I find myself behind an SUV with "No Clu" written on its bumper sticker. I didn't start laughing until I noticed that this "Clueless" driver had a George Bush for President sticker leftover from the 2004 election stuck on nearby. Too funny.
Then I get to work and one of our wacky regular callers (clearly off his meds) had called several times because he said his scrambled eggs look like it has a face on it. He thinks it's one of the three kings or maybe Jesus and wants a photographer to take a photo of it.
Is there a full moon? At least it's not fall yet. That's when we get the calls from people who have strangely shaped or incredibly large vegetables.
Never a dull moment.
On a brighter note, I'm happy to report I've now entered into my second trimester. Yay! One down, two more to go.
Then I get to work and one of our wacky regular callers (clearly off his meds) had called several times because he said his scrambled eggs look like it has a face on it. He thinks it's one of the three kings or maybe Jesus and wants a photographer to take a photo of it.
Is there a full moon? At least it's not fall yet. That's when we get the calls from people who have strangely shaped or incredibly large vegetables.
Never a dull moment.
On a brighter note, I'm happy to report I've now entered into my second trimester. Yay! One down, two more to go.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Teens and babies
While Erika is excited about having a new brother/sister, she's also a regular teen who is pretty absorbed in her own teen dramas...and doesn't really care much about seeing an ultrasound or (gasp!) watching her mother in labor. (I offered at least!)
I've had a few people tell me that it'll be so crazy having a baby now since the last time I went through this situation was a whooping FIFTEEN years ago...but I think it might make things easier. I know what I'm in for and hopefully can correct some of the mistakes I made when I was a single, young working mother.
For example, I didn't read enough to Erika, nor did I focus on getting her ready for kindergarten. She watched too much TV and God forbid, I'm sure I fed her way too many foods laden with high fructose corn syrup.
No she isn't developmentally delayed - she's a straight-A student - so fortunately I didn't cause too much damage from my parental neglect. But I had hoped to instill a love of reading in her and that clearly didn't happen. She only reads Seventeen and Sweet 16 magazines. I don't know the last time she actually picked up a book to read for fun. And from the endless amount of time she spends texting and chatting on the phone, I think she's on track socially, too.
But sometimes I think even though you have the best of intentions — my husband plans to make and grind our own baby food for this new little one — it's really a genetic luck of the draw.
I just hope this next child is as brilliant as I'm hoping he/she will be. And I hope to God he/she doesn't inherit my poor math skills.
I've had a few people tell me that it'll be so crazy having a baby now since the last time I went through this situation was a whooping FIFTEEN years ago...but I think it might make things easier. I know what I'm in for and hopefully can correct some of the mistakes I made when I was a single, young working mother.
For example, I didn't read enough to Erika, nor did I focus on getting her ready for kindergarten. She watched too much TV and God forbid, I'm sure I fed her way too many foods laden with high fructose corn syrup.
No she isn't developmentally delayed - she's a straight-A student - so fortunately I didn't cause too much damage from my parental neglect. But I had hoped to instill a love of reading in her and that clearly didn't happen. She only reads Seventeen and Sweet 16 magazines. I don't know the last time she actually picked up a book to read for fun. And from the endless amount of time she spends texting and chatting on the phone, I think she's on track socially, too.
But sometimes I think even though you have the best of intentions — my husband plans to make and grind our own baby food for this new little one — it's really a genetic luck of the draw.
I just hope this next child is as brilliant as I'm hoping he/she will be. And I hope to God he/she doesn't inherit my poor math skills.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
I'm addicted
I have to share this new blog I found, courtesy of the Star Tribune's Cribsheet blog.
Matt Logelin and his wife, Liz, who are from Minnesota but live in Los Angeles, brought their beautiful baby girl, Madeline, into this world on March 24, 2008. Sadly, Liz died suddenly the next day of a pulmonary embolism, leaving Matt to carry on as a single dad of a preemie little girl.
While his blog will definitely at times leave you in tears, it also demonstrates the beauty of the human spirit to carry on in spite of deep personal tragedy. His story is truly humbling.
Matt Logelin and his wife, Liz, who are from Minnesota but live in Los Angeles, brought their beautiful baby girl, Madeline, into this world on March 24, 2008. Sadly, Liz died suddenly the next day of a pulmonary embolism, leaving Matt to carry on as a single dad of a preemie little girl.
While his blog will definitely at times leave you in tears, it also demonstrates the beauty of the human spirit to carry on in spite of deep personal tragedy. His story is truly humbling.
(Garage) sailing into summer
It was so beautiful today that there was no way my co-worker, Heidi, and I could stay at work. She got off early and I took a long lunch break and we went to three garage sales, along with her 3-month-old son, Jonah.
While the garage sale season isn't quite into full swing yet, it has picked up this week. I found some great things and only spent about $7. I got two baby sleepers, a huge pack of baby toys and rattles, a baby water floatie thing (Heidi and I got matching ones, for Jonah and my baby!) and my best bargain was an entire four-piece crib bedding set (Classic Winnie the Pooh) for $5. What a bargain. It's so cute and I have been thinking about decorating the baby's room in Classic Pooh anyway. (Erika's nursery was all Winnie the Pooh stuff too but not Classic Pooh.)
Heidi and I are going to take a long lunch break tomorrow and hit a couple more baby-related garage sales. It's fun when you can find great deals on cute stuff and even more fun when you're finding them with a friend!
While the garage sale season isn't quite into full swing yet, it has picked up this week. I found some great things and only spent about $7. I got two baby sleepers, a huge pack of baby toys and rattles, a baby water floatie thing (Heidi and I got matching ones, for Jonah and my baby!) and my best bargain was an entire four-piece crib bedding set (Classic Winnie the Pooh) for $5. What a bargain. It's so cute and I have been thinking about decorating the baby's room in Classic Pooh anyway. (Erika's nursery was all Winnie the Pooh stuff too but not Classic Pooh.)
Heidi and I are going to take a long lunch break tomorrow and hit a couple more baby-related garage sales. It's fun when you can find great deals on cute stuff and even more fun when you're finding them with a friend!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Getting ready for baby
Nels said he didn't need an ultrasound to know that this baby is real and will arrive soon enough, but it seems he's now in a full-on nesting mode.
We've wanted to replace our living room/dining room carpet for awhile but he decided yesterday that THIS is the week we're getting hardwood floors. Our carpet is way too light for the number of pets and children we've had running through there...and after 10 years, the carpet is coming up at the seam between the dining room and kitchen (thanks mostly to Callie, our cat), exposing the little nails. A baby can't be learning to crawl over that.
His wedding season starts at the end of April so now is really the time to get the job finished if we're going to do it. Otherwise, we'd have to wait until next winter and the baby will be here and he'd be sawing wood in the house...it just wouldn't be a fun time to do that. He'll be laying it himself, with help either from a friend and/or my dad. He figures it'll take about two days. He and his friend Biff, another wedding photographer, installed the flooring at their shared photography studio at Franklin Arts Center a couple of years ago. It's nice to be married to someone who is handy!
So I'm meeting him later today to check out flooring. We're going to keep the linoleum in the kitchen for now and then later replace that with tile.
After this project, the next step will be painting the baby's room and getting it ready for baby, which means Erika's computer and TV needs to make its way across the hallway into her room. I also have to get ready for a garage sale, clearing out the spare room in the basement that is a mess, and dig out what baby equipment I still have, which is really only a bassinet and a highchair.
The work is on, I guess, and it'll be exciting once it's finished.
We've wanted to replace our living room/dining room carpet for awhile but he decided yesterday that THIS is the week we're getting hardwood floors. Our carpet is way too light for the number of pets and children we've had running through there...and after 10 years, the carpet is coming up at the seam between the dining room and kitchen (thanks mostly to Callie, our cat), exposing the little nails. A baby can't be learning to crawl over that.
His wedding season starts at the end of April so now is really the time to get the job finished if we're going to do it. Otherwise, we'd have to wait until next winter and the baby will be here and he'd be sawing wood in the house...it just wouldn't be a fun time to do that. He'll be laying it himself, with help either from a friend and/or my dad. He figures it'll take about two days. He and his friend Biff, another wedding photographer, installed the flooring at their shared photography studio at Franklin Arts Center a couple of years ago. It's nice to be married to someone who is handy!
So I'm meeting him later today to check out flooring. We're going to keep the linoleum in the kitchen for now and then later replace that with tile.
After this project, the next step will be painting the baby's room and getting it ready for baby, which means Erika's computer and TV needs to make its way across the hallway into her room. I also have to get ready for a garage sale, clearing out the spare room in the basement that is a mess, and dig out what baby equipment I still have, which is really only a bassinet and a highchair.
The work is on, I guess, and it'll be exciting once it's finished.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Baby's first photo
It's really official now...We're having a baby!To the left is the first of many photos of our little baby. We had my first doctor's appointment today and were happy to find out we were getting an ultrasound. Even Nels was pretty happy to see the baby swimming away. It was definitely reassuring for me. I told Dr. Leland that I know I've missed two periods, "flunked" two pregnancy tests and have had definite bouts of morning sickness but still I wondered...am I really pregnant?
Well, the answer is in black-and-white. :) We'll find out in June what the gender is but for now it's nice to know there's a baby inside, even if he/she looks like a hamster!
Monday, March 24, 2008
What's New in Our Zoo, Part II
Sorry for the long hiatus. The topic I most wanted to blog about I couldn't — until now.
Erika's hamster isn't the only addition to our family this year: I'm pregnant.
It was an unexpected surprise but we're very excited. We told our families over the Easter weekend and they were thrilled. Erika is very happy, too, even though she'll be losing one of her TWO bedrooms. Yes, she's had a rough 14-1/2-years of not having to share anything with anyone.
Our lil pumpkin is due Oct. 31 — Halloween.
I'm just hoping my morning sickness ends sometime soon. (I'm at 9 weeks right now.) I got so violently ill Saturday night that the next morning I woke up to discover I had broken capillaries in my forehead and cheeks. I look like I have a rash on my face! Fortunately, make-up does a good job of covering it up. I never got sick at all with Erika so this isn't much fun right now. I've also been extremely exhausted. I've been going to bed early, as early as 9-9:30 p.m. a few times, which is unusual for me.
But I guess I better get all the sleep that I can.
Erika's hamster isn't the only addition to our family this year: I'm pregnant.
It was an unexpected surprise but we're very excited. We told our families over the Easter weekend and they were thrilled. Erika is very happy, too, even though she'll be losing one of her TWO bedrooms. Yes, she's had a rough 14-1/2-years of not having to share anything with anyone.
Our lil pumpkin is due Oct. 31 — Halloween.
I'm just hoping my morning sickness ends sometime soon. (I'm at 9 weeks right now.) I got so violently ill Saturday night that the next morning I woke up to discover I had broken capillaries in my forehead and cheeks. I look like I have a rash on my face! Fortunately, make-up does a good job of covering it up. I never got sick at all with Erika so this isn't much fun right now. I've also been extremely exhausted. I've been going to bed early, as early as 9-9:30 p.m. a few times, which is unusual for me.
But I guess I better get all the sleep that I can.
Monday, January 21, 2008
What's new at our zoo
On Christmas Eve, my sister-in-law pulled me aside to tell me that Santa was bringing a hamster for one of my twin nephews, Jack. She asked if we could hamster sit for the two weeks that they'll all be in Florida. I said, sure, why not? We've got two fish, two cats and a dog ... we've got more than enough room at our zoo.
Well, last week I asked Jack how his hamster, whom he named Clarice, is. I guess Santa had a trick up his sleeve when he brought Clarice down the chimney at their home on Christmas. Clarice was pregnant, they soon learned, and delivered four babies! Yikes! My sister-in-law was livid and called the pet store, which graciously said they would take back any hamster babies they didn't want. Erika was there when we were talking about the hamster babies and she instantly wanted one...and I'm a softie so I told her it was OK.
Well, I got a call from Jack's twin brother, Luke, today at work and he told me that his mom said it was OK if he adopted one of Clarice's babies and asked if we could hamster sit for two weeks for him, too. I said, sure, why not? The more the merrier.
My sister-in-law told me that she would be going back to the pet store to sex the furry babies and they would be taking a female one for Luke. No more reproduction lessons for her third-graders. Then they'd leave one of the babies there and bring the three hamsters, including Erika's baby hamster, to our house for 2 weeks. (The fourth hamster baby, the runt of the litter, apparently died. Or was eaten by its mother, my sister-in-law said. Ewwww. Such is life, I guess, for furry rodents.)
I'm hosting our annual Christmas gathering for my high school friends at my house a week later so it'll be pretty interesting to have 3 hamster cages lined up in a row in our guest bedroom.
Maybe we could charge admission for our little zoo.
Well, last week I asked Jack how his hamster, whom he named Clarice, is. I guess Santa had a trick up his sleeve when he brought Clarice down the chimney at their home on Christmas. Clarice was pregnant, they soon learned, and delivered four babies! Yikes! My sister-in-law was livid and called the pet store, which graciously said they would take back any hamster babies they didn't want. Erika was there when we were talking about the hamster babies and she instantly wanted one...and I'm a softie so I told her it was OK.
Well, I got a call from Jack's twin brother, Luke, today at work and he told me that his mom said it was OK if he adopted one of Clarice's babies and asked if we could hamster sit for two weeks for him, too. I said, sure, why not? The more the merrier.
My sister-in-law told me that she would be going back to the pet store to sex the furry babies and they would be taking a female one for Luke. No more reproduction lessons for her third-graders. Then they'd leave one of the babies there and bring the three hamsters, including Erika's baby hamster, to our house for 2 weeks. (The fourth hamster baby, the runt of the litter, apparently died. Or was eaten by its mother, my sister-in-law said. Ewwww. Such is life, I guess, for furry rodents.)
I'm hosting our annual Christmas gathering for my high school friends at my house a week later so it'll be pretty interesting to have 3 hamster cages lined up in a row in our guest bedroom.
Maybe we could charge admission for our little zoo.
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