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Bo is 10 days old today!!
1. You need about a million waterproof pads. When we came home from the hospital I only had 3. Needless to say I've already ordered 6 more!
2. You will do at least one load of laundry every day in the beginning. No matter how many outfits you have... Everyone told me that I had way too many clothes. He has worn every button-down outfit that fits multiple times already. (Granted, we seem to be going through 3 to 4 outfits a day because of diaper leaks or milk leaks or something...) Little pants and body suits -- don't even bother -- way too much work unless you are going somewhere special when they are this little!
3. You do need a changing location on each level of your house. You do not need a changing table -- just a waterproof pad will do. I thought I would just go upstairs and change him when he needed it -- yeah, not so much.
4. If you have a little boy you will be peed on. We are using washcloths to cover him with each diaper change. I wish I had stock in diapers.
5. If you are breastfeeding you will need several sleep bras. A bra needs to be worn 24/7 and you most likely will need breast pads to control the leakage. Using a breast pump will make you feel like a cow.
6. Also, if you are breastfeeding you will NEED a Boppy and at least one extra slipcover. I wish I had three -- one to keep on each level of our house!
7. The Itzbeen was recommended to me by a fellow blogger. I thought it looked neat but also not necessary so I found a used one on eBay to buy. I am so glad I did. It has been so helpful. It tells how long since the last diaper change, feeding and how long he has been asleep and has an extra button for anything else you need to remember. I love that you can set an alarm on it. I set an alarm for 4 hours after his last feeding of the night so I can wake him up during the night to eat again. It is so nice not to have to reset the bedside alarm every time!!
8. I am more hungry now than I was when I was pregnant. I have also, at this point, lost over 30 pounds. Go figure.
9. Do not buy blankets during your pregnancy. Even though I did not have a shower I have received a TON of gifts. At least half of these gifts have included at least one blanket of some type. Do not buy them -- people love to give blankets!!
10. Having children, no matter how much they are wanted, is a lot of work! Mike, during one moment of despair (I think he was being peed on at the time...) jokingly said "We couldn't have been satisfied with cats, could we?" No, we weren't. This is going to be so much more rewarding... but there will be a lot of long hours involved.
I definitely feel like I love him more each day and I already can't really remember what life was like without him here. It is so hard to believe I have only been able to see him for 10 days but his face and his features have already been burned into my memory for a lifetime. What is it about becoming a mom that also turns you into such a sap? :)
Friday, November 30, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Busy Days
I'm not exactly sure where the days are going right now. :( Everything just seems so crazy!! I need some calm! haha! It isn't going to be calm for a long time, is it?
Yesterday we finally put our house back together and cleaned and put a lot of things away. The piles of gifts and random stuff were really starting to get to me. We also put up our Christmas decor so it looks all festive now. I'm working on getting new stockings -- I ordered Bo a really cute one from Pottery Barn that I am excited about. In the afternoon we let Bo stay with Mom for a little bit and we went to eat Mexican and went to Wal-Mart and Hallmark. We were only gone about an hour and a half but Mom seemed thrilled to have some one on one time with him.
Last night was a lot better. We started our bedtime "routine" earlier and Bo went to sleep about 10ish. I got up at 2 and fed and changed him and then he went back down. About 4ish he woke up and Mike held him for a little bit and he went back to sleep until about 7ish when I fed him again. So overall a pretty good night.
We had a busy day today too. I had to go to school to sign some papers so we took Bo with us. We visited the yearbook girls and they were all thrilled. :) They all wanted to hold him and he ended up peeing through his diaper on Aimee. Changing his diaper in a room with 18 girls was pretty funny!! The girls all used Purell and Rachel thought she had a cold so she didn't get too close. I know we aren't suppose to take such little babies out but I just couldn't stay away from my yearbook girls any longer. :)
The baby nurse came this afternoon and Bo does have jaundice, as we expected. She called the doctor and since he is eating and going to the bathroom they aren't too concerned at this point. If he becomes lethargic or stops eating we will have to go to the doctor sooner than next Tuesday, obviously. Otherwise he needs to eat a lot and we are to put him in the sun -- exactly what we were doing. She said that it is fine to let him go 5 hours at night though but probably I should feed him every 2 hours instead of every 3 during the day for awhile.
Everything looks fine with me too -- my body is doing what it is suppose to do, for once. Yeah for that!
Grandpa isn't doing too well today. He hasn't slept in over 48 hours and Mom actually came to our house to see Bo today. She didn't think we should see Grandpa... I found that to be pretty strange but it is okay. I really don't like seeing him when he is having his crazy spells. That isn't the Grandpa I know...
I need to get started on Thank You's. I can't believe all of the gifts we have received. I thought I would escape a lot of that by not having a shower -- apparently not. :) A lot of it is really cute though so I guess I can't complain. :)
Also, I want to send a shout out to one of my blog friends, Michelle. I received a wonderful package of boys clothing from her today. She is sending me one set of some of the clothes her twin boys have outgrown (the other set she is saving for her sister) so we received a HUGE box of clothes from her today. They are all brand name and hardly look used! They are so adorable and so appreciated! I put Bo in one of the little yellow doggie outfits immediately! Too cute!!
Yesterday we finally put our house back together and cleaned and put a lot of things away. The piles of gifts and random stuff were really starting to get to me. We also put up our Christmas decor so it looks all festive now. I'm working on getting new stockings -- I ordered Bo a really cute one from Pottery Barn that I am excited about. In the afternoon we let Bo stay with Mom for a little bit and we went to eat Mexican and went to Wal-Mart and Hallmark. We were only gone about an hour and a half but Mom seemed thrilled to have some one on one time with him.
Last night was a lot better. We started our bedtime "routine" earlier and Bo went to sleep about 10ish. I got up at 2 and fed and changed him and then he went back down. About 4ish he woke up and Mike held him for a little bit and he went back to sleep until about 7ish when I fed him again. So overall a pretty good night.
We had a busy day today too. I had to go to school to sign some papers so we took Bo with us. We visited the yearbook girls and they were all thrilled. :) They all wanted to hold him and he ended up peeing through his diaper on Aimee. Changing his diaper in a room with 18 girls was pretty funny!! The girls all used Purell and Rachel thought she had a cold so she didn't get too close. I know we aren't suppose to take such little babies out but I just couldn't stay away from my yearbook girls any longer. :)
The baby nurse came this afternoon and Bo does have jaundice, as we expected. She called the doctor and since he is eating and going to the bathroom they aren't too concerned at this point. If he becomes lethargic or stops eating we will have to go to the doctor sooner than next Tuesday, obviously. Otherwise he needs to eat a lot and we are to put him in the sun -- exactly what we were doing. She said that it is fine to let him go 5 hours at night though but probably I should feed him every 2 hours instead of every 3 during the day for awhile.
Everything looks fine with me too -- my body is doing what it is suppose to do, for once. Yeah for that!
Grandpa isn't doing too well today. He hasn't slept in over 48 hours and Mom actually came to our house to see Bo today. She didn't think we should see Grandpa... I found that to be pretty strange but it is okay. I really don't like seeing him when he is having his crazy spells. That isn't the Grandpa I know...
I need to get started on Thank You's. I can't believe all of the gifts we have received. I thought I would escape a lot of that by not having a shower -- apparently not. :) A lot of it is really cute though so I guess I can't complain. :)
Also, I want to send a shout out to one of my blog friends, Michelle. I received a wonderful package of boys clothing from her today. She is sending me one set of some of the clothes her twin boys have outgrown (the other set she is saving for her sister) so we received a HUGE box of clothes from her today. They are all brand name and hardly look used! They are so adorable and so appreciated! I put Bo in one of the little yellow doggie outfits immediately! Too cute!!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Our first few days...
Our hospital stay was interesting. They ended up being over full and my bed sheets did not get changed the entire time I was there. In some ways it was nice not to be bothered a lot but you could tell they were greatly understaffed for the amount of patients they had.
Mike went to the hotel about 2 am after Bo was born. I didn't sleep much at all that night -- maybe about an hour or two max. I was way too keyed up. He came back the next morning and I had already taken a shower and talked to both my doctor and Bo's. We spent the day admiring Bo. :) I did take a nap that afternoon. I had asked everyone I know not to come visit us in the hospital (yes, I'm strange like that) but Mandy came that evening. I have to admit I was glad to see her. :)
I didn't sleep much that night either. Mike went back to the hotel about 8:30 and I slept from 9:30 until 11 when it was time to feed Bo. I took him to the nursery about 12:30 and went back to sleep. I had some HORRIBLE nightmares that night and woke up about 2ish very upset. I almost called Mike but I talked myself out of it. I finally got back to sleep expecting them to bring Bo for a feeding anytime and when I woke up it was 6:30. He went most of the night without eating (or seeing me) and I was pissed. So I marched back down to the nursery to get him. I know they were busy and packed but they were suppose to bring him to me every 3 hours for a feeding!!
The next day was Thanksgiving and Mike's parents came down. We had take-out for lunch with them at the hospital and they spent the afternoon with us. I was ready to go home that morning and had the all-clear but Bo had to wait the full 48 hours. We were finally able to come home at 10:15 Thanksgiving night. Needless to say we didn't get home and settled into bed until nearly 12:30.
I did not take any pain medication after the birth and I am doing pretty well. Going to the bathroom is quite the production right now and I will be glad when all of that is back to normal but overall, physically, I can't complain. My feet are still swollen but they are better than they were. I have been up and moving since the morning following labor and to me that is amazing. With my ectopic I had a full c-section cut and I felt pretty awful. Vaginal labor is difficult but the recovery is much faster and easier. I was really afraid for a long time and thought I wanted a c-section just because I knew what to expect but I have to admit that vaginal is FAR better. Having been through both now I don't know why ANYONE would have an elective c-section.
On Friday I took Bo over to meet my mom and grandpa. It was bittersweet. The picture of us just is not how I pictured that first meeting... Grandpa is doing somewhat better. The whole situation with home care has been very stressful for Mom but they seem to be adjusting and Grandpa does seem to do better being at home. Grandpa and Mom were both excited to meet Bo and thrilled with him. Grandpa's first comment was that he is going to need a haircut soon!
Jim and Sherri made a huge Thanksgiving dinner which we ate at my parents. It wasn't the best Thanksgiving ever -- and it didn't really feel like Thanksgiving, but we were at least all together. I think by this point I was just so tired... We finally came home and I ended up going to bed about 5:30. I still got up every 3 hours to feed Bo but at least going to bed that early I actually had a fair number of hours under my belt by morning.
Everyone commented on Saturday that I looked much better. I have to admit the numerous days with very little sleep caught up with me pretty quickly. I wish I had spent more time resting in the hospital but I was so keyed up and worked up that I just didn't. Definitely something I will change next time if I am ever blessed enough to go through all of this again.
Saturday we started having visitors at home. One of my yearbook girls brought a full meal over -- manicotti, bread, salad, cheesecake for us to heat and eat. I thought that was incredibly nice!! We also went to my parents to visit. (That is going to be a daily occurrence that I have mixed feelings about.) Jim and Sherri can't sit still so they had about a million projects they were tackling. They are ridiculously helpful but sometimes I wish they would just sit down!!
Today Jim and Sherri went home about 12ish and we went to visit my parents. We have been home since early afternoon and I was able to take a nap this afternoon! We also had some more visitors but everyone has been very polite and hasn't stayed forever which is nice at this point.
Caring for Bo is going well too. Breastfeeding seems to be going well and my milk is in. He is going to the bathroom often so it seems like he is actually eating what he needs at this point. He has looked a bit yellow so I have been careful to feed him every 3 hours to help push things through so he does not get extremely jaundiced. Overall he seems very healthy and advanced -- especially since he isn't even due until this coming Thursday.
He held his head up on his own the day after he was born and today during "tummy time" he held his head up and switched sides on his own twice. He already flips his leg over too like he wants to roll over. I'm not ready for him to be able to flip over on his own yet!!
Bo only really cries when he is hungry, getting his diaper changed, or naked. He doesn't like not having clothes on AT ALL!! We did the first sponge bath tonight and he didn't like that a whole lot either... Overall though he is a really good baby and we can't complain.
The past few days have been a blur but I wanted to write down some of the highlights to look back on later...
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The rest of labor...
After Mike returned from lunch things seemed to go south in a hurry. Suddenly I was really feeling the contractions. For the most part it just felt like I really had to go to the bathroom so I kept trying to go.
Finally they gave me some nubain (no idea if that is spelled correctly) and that helped a little. I was in and out of it for most of the afternoon. I felt truly awful at that point. The entire afternoon is a big blur of contractions. Mike held my hand through almost all of it and talked to me even though most of the afternoon I really didn't talk back. I dozed a few times when the contractions were spaced farther apart but for the most part it was just an afternoon of torture.
Dr. W came in about 5ish to check on me. I had just been told I was only dilated to a 2 by one of the nurses and I was practically beside myself. How could I only be a 2 when this had been going on for so long and I felt so horrible. I was really starting to get worried.
Dr. W asked if I previously had any surgery on my cervix. I had forgotten about my cervical cancer scare in March of 2004 and told him I had a cryo at that point. He said that made perfect sense as there was some scar tissue that was making it very difficult for me to dilate. He checked me and was able to "pop" that scar tissue. I suddenly moved to a 6 and was offered an epidural.
I waivered a bit on the epidural. I was very unsure going in if I really wanted an one... Dr. W left and I asked Mike what he thought. He told me it was totally up to me. After about another half hour of pain I finally called the nurse. I was ready to take the risk and do the epidural.
It took forever for the anesthesiologist to get there. The hospital had many surgeries going on and the OB ward was literally packed today. They only had one room empty at this point. When he got there my nurse had me all prepared. He asked Mike to leave so I told him to go have some dinner. The worst part about the epidural was the numbing stick -- I jerked away from it. I was shaking the whole time but they managed to get it in and even the catheter didn't hurt. (And strangely enough -- when they emptied my bladder with the catheter Bo moved down a great deal.)
Within 20 minutes of receiving the epidural I felt like a new person. I kept shifting around because of all of the horror stories I have heard about problems with the epidural only taking on one side. I felt soooo much better and more sane it was unreal. I even took the time to brush my teeth which made me feel even better.
My contractions sped up at this point and just a few minutes after 8 I was completely dilated and ready to push. At first we thought labor would progress fairly rapidly because he moved so well the first few pushes. But then my pelvic bone decided to get in the way...
It literally took two hours to push him through my pelvic bone. Poor Bo is quite cone headed because of it and it took a lot of strength and effort on my part. Thank God for a working epidural!! I really kept it together and managed to make a lot of small talk with my FABULOUS nurse and Dr. W. (Seriously, I'm sending my nurse a gift basket -- she was wonderful....)
Around 9:30, after a very vigorous push, I calmly said, "I think I am going to throw up" and managed to throw up everywhere. The nurse grabbed a basin but it was not enough. I must have thrown up at least a gallon of water. And I had it everywhere... all over me, all over the floor, in a few different basins. It was awful. Needless to say we let a few contractions go by without pushing so I could get halfway cleaned up. It was pretty yuckie.
Finally, around 10, after pushing for what seemed like forever he started to slip his head around the pelvic bone. I think everyone was very relieved when this happened as we were all starting to be afraid that after all of this he was not going to come out the natural way.
Finally, his head slipped out, but the worst part for me were his shoulders. I really felt Dr. W straining to pull him through at that point.
And then, suddenly, there he was -- and he is much cuter than I anticipated!! :)
I have breast fed twice so far. Once not long after he was born and again about 2 am. They are suppose to bring him back to me around 6 for another round. He seems to be doing well with it so far and has not had any trouble latching on.
I do have a second degree episitomy but it is now almost 5 am and I am able to get up and go to the bathroom on my own and overall I don't feel too bad...
I am still curious when all of this is going to feel real.
Official birth announcement video will be coming in just a few minutes!
Holy cow! I'm a mom!!!
Finally they gave me some nubain (no idea if that is spelled correctly) and that helped a little. I was in and out of it for most of the afternoon. I felt truly awful at that point. The entire afternoon is a big blur of contractions. Mike held my hand through almost all of it and talked to me even though most of the afternoon I really didn't talk back. I dozed a few times when the contractions were spaced farther apart but for the most part it was just an afternoon of torture.
Dr. W came in about 5ish to check on me. I had just been told I was only dilated to a 2 by one of the nurses and I was practically beside myself. How could I only be a 2 when this had been going on for so long and I felt so horrible. I was really starting to get worried.
Dr. W asked if I previously had any surgery on my cervix. I had forgotten about my cervical cancer scare in March of 2004 and told him I had a cryo at that point. He said that made perfect sense as there was some scar tissue that was making it very difficult for me to dilate. He checked me and was able to "pop" that scar tissue. I suddenly moved to a 6 and was offered an epidural.
I waivered a bit on the epidural. I was very unsure going in if I really wanted an one... Dr. W left and I asked Mike what he thought. He told me it was totally up to me. After about another half hour of pain I finally called the nurse. I was ready to take the risk and do the epidural.
It took forever for the anesthesiologist to get there. The hospital had many surgeries going on and the OB ward was literally packed today. They only had one room empty at this point. When he got there my nurse had me all prepared. He asked Mike to leave so I told him to go have some dinner. The worst part about the epidural was the numbing stick -- I jerked away from it. I was shaking the whole time but they managed to get it in and even the catheter didn't hurt. (And strangely enough -- when they emptied my bladder with the catheter Bo moved down a great deal.)
Within 20 minutes of receiving the epidural I felt like a new person. I kept shifting around because of all of the horror stories I have heard about problems with the epidural only taking on one side. I felt soooo much better and more sane it was unreal. I even took the time to brush my teeth which made me feel even better.
My contractions sped up at this point and just a few minutes after 8 I was completely dilated and ready to push. At first we thought labor would progress fairly rapidly because he moved so well the first few pushes. But then my pelvic bone decided to get in the way...
It literally took two hours to push him through my pelvic bone. Poor Bo is quite cone headed because of it and it took a lot of strength and effort on my part. Thank God for a working epidural!! I really kept it together and managed to make a lot of small talk with my FABULOUS nurse and Dr. W. (Seriously, I'm sending my nurse a gift basket -- she was wonderful....)
Around 9:30, after a very vigorous push, I calmly said, "I think I am going to throw up" and managed to throw up everywhere. The nurse grabbed a basin but it was not enough. I must have thrown up at least a gallon of water. And I had it everywhere... all over me, all over the floor, in a few different basins. It was awful. Needless to say we let a few contractions go by without pushing so I could get halfway cleaned up. It was pretty yuckie.
Finally, around 10, after pushing for what seemed like forever he started to slip his head around the pelvic bone. I think everyone was very relieved when this happened as we were all starting to be afraid that after all of this he was not going to come out the natural way.
Finally, his head slipped out, but the worst part for me were his shoulders. I really felt Dr. W straining to pull him through at that point.
And then, suddenly, there he was -- and he is much cuter than I anticipated!! :)
I have breast fed twice so far. Once not long after he was born and again about 2 am. They are suppose to bring him back to me around 6 for another round. He seems to be doing well with it so far and has not had any trouble latching on.
I do have a second degree episitomy but it is now almost 5 am and I am able to get up and go to the bathroom on my own and overall I don't feel too bad...
I am still curious when all of this is going to feel real.
Official birth announcement video will be coming in just a few minutes!
Holy cow! I'm a mom!!!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Water has been broken... *updated* #2
Nothing like updates from the labor suite...
I have to admit having wi-fi here is wonderful...
Dr.W broke my water (it was bloody... anyone know anything about that?) at about 7:30 and they are increasing the picotin every 15 minutes to get things going. When he checked me this morning I was between a 1 and a 2. Things are definitely starting....
I'll try to keep you guys updated as I can. Right now my contractions are ranging around 40 to 50 on the monitor and I'm not feeling anything.
I still haven't fully made up my mind about the epidural. I guess I better get on that...
*Updated* 11:15 am
They have forced me to lay on my side because Bo's heartrate was being wonky when I was sitting straight up using the computer. I am peaking on the contraction monitor and apparently they are really long contractions but I am not feeling anything. It definitely would have taken me a long time to realize I was in labor from home. Most of them are hitting about 80% peak with a few hitting 100%. The peaks between contractions are about 2 to 3 minutes apart at this point. I guess I'm lucky I'm not feeling anything.
So far my biggest complaints are the IV, the blood pressure cuff cutting off my arm, and boredom. I'm ready to get this show on the road so I can meet my son!
Updated at 1:10 pm
I am starting to feel some crampiness with the contractions. Nothing too serious -- just uncomfortable at this point. They haven't checked me again yet so I am not sure how far I am dilated to.
I was starving so they brought me a clear liquid lunch -- ice tea, jello, cherry popsicle, beef broth and apple juice. Yumm-o. I was hungry though so I ate (drank) it anyway.
Mike went for a "break" and went to Quiznos. I'm sure his lunch was much better than mine. We are back to just sitting and waiting again.
I was starving so they brought me a clear liquid lunch -- ice tea, jello, cherry popsicle, beef broth and apple juice. Yumm-o. I was hungry though so I ate (drank) it anyway.
Mike went for a "break" and went to Quiznos. I'm sure his lunch was much better than mine. We are back to just sitting and waiting again.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Two days to go...
The past several days have continued to be a blur. Hospital, hospital and more hospital. But Mom and I made the decision yesterday afternoon to hire 24 hour care and have Grandpa brought home. He was transferred via ambulance around 1:30 this afternoon and is now at home in a hospital bed. He spent last night in the long-term care unit. It was obvious from the moment we brought him up there that was no going to work out. We may go broke but at least he is home.
We have two women who are working 12 hour shifts to help Mom care for him. But at least this way she won't be sleeping at the hospital. I feel much more comfortable leaving to go have Bo knowing that they are home.
It is important to note, before you read these next few sentences, that I have odd religious beliefs. I was raised Catholic but I am no longer practicing. I believe in God and in reincarnation. Part of me does not think Grandpa will make it until Bo is born because he is meant to transfer his spirit into Bo. The other part of me thinks that Grandpa is just holding on so he can meet Bo. I can't decide which feeling is stronger at this point...
No matter what, I do not think Grandpa is long for this world. It seems so strange because I knew all along that Bo was going to trigger these events but it has still snuck up on me and happened so quickly. Just a little over a week ago Grandpa was still walking and going out drinking. I guess in many ways that is a good thing. I do not want him to suffer.
I plan to go over to see him again tomorrow before we head an hour north to have Bo. My mom is beside herself because she can't be with Grandpa and with me at the same time, but I have thought all along that she needs to be here with Grandpa.
It is amazing how all of this has shifted my focus... While Bo has still been at the forefront of my mind many of my concerns and worries about labor and the first few days with him seem trivial at the moment. There are so many other things going on that it is hard to really even think about the fact that I will be a mom in just a few days -- hopefully less than 48 hours -- as scary as that sounds!
I know that now I really need to shift my focus back to Bo. I need to work on relaxing and resting so I have the energy to bring Bo into this world. I need to shift from death to birth -- and probably back again shortly there after. But for now, I need to put all of this with Grandpa aside and focus on Bo -- at least until I can get him here safely.
It is so hard to balance all of the feelings and emotions I am having right now. It is going to be a crazy few weeks...
We have two women who are working 12 hour shifts to help Mom care for him. But at least this way she won't be sleeping at the hospital. I feel much more comfortable leaving to go have Bo knowing that they are home.
It is important to note, before you read these next few sentences, that I have odd religious beliefs. I was raised Catholic but I am no longer practicing. I believe in God and in reincarnation. Part of me does not think Grandpa will make it until Bo is born because he is meant to transfer his spirit into Bo. The other part of me thinks that Grandpa is just holding on so he can meet Bo. I can't decide which feeling is stronger at this point...
No matter what, I do not think Grandpa is long for this world. It seems so strange because I knew all along that Bo was going to trigger these events but it has still snuck up on me and happened so quickly. Just a little over a week ago Grandpa was still walking and going out drinking. I guess in many ways that is a good thing. I do not want him to suffer.
I plan to go over to see him again tomorrow before we head an hour north to have Bo. My mom is beside herself because she can't be with Grandpa and with me at the same time, but I have thought all along that she needs to be here with Grandpa.
It is amazing how all of this has shifted my focus... While Bo has still been at the forefront of my mind many of my concerns and worries about labor and the first few days with him seem trivial at the moment. There are so many other things going on that it is hard to really even think about the fact that I will be a mom in just a few days -- hopefully less than 48 hours -- as scary as that sounds!
I know that now I really need to shift my focus back to Bo. I need to work on relaxing and resting so I have the energy to bring Bo into this world. I need to shift from death to birth -- and probably back again shortly there after. But for now, I need to put all of this with Grandpa aside and focus on Bo -- at least until I can get him here safely.
It is so hard to balance all of the feelings and emotions I am having right now. It is going to be a crazy few weeks...
Friday, November 16, 2007
Epic Days
I'm finally home for the day... and what a long day it has been.
I spent all of the day in some type of medical facility. I was with Grandpa at the hospital until I had to leave for my doctor's appointment and then back at the hospital when I finished.
Honestly, each day this week has seemed to be epic. That probably isn't going to get any better for awhile...
Grandpa is still not doing very well. He was a bit better today than he was yesterday but it is still not looking promising and he is still very confused most of the time. Sometimes he is very coherent though and I like those moments when he is the "old" Grandpa who actually seems to know what is going on. He will be moving up to the long-term care unit of the hospital once he is done in ICU -- at least for a little while. Mom really wants to try to take care of him at home but it is more than one person can handle. She is really having a hard time with that but I am trying to make her be logical about the whole situation.
My doctor's appointment today was interesting too. I am still not dilated at all but the nurse practitioner that I saw today (Dr. W is on vacation until Monday) took one look at my feet and decided we need to do blood work and a non-stress test.
The non-stress test was actually kinda neat. Turns out I am having contractions -- contractions that spike all the way to the top -- but I am not feeling them at all. Interesting! Baby Bo is doing exactly what he needs to do though and all of the blood work came back fine. I'm just one of those that retains water apparently... After knowing so many of you who have gone through pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome I felt a lot better having it checked out and having the lab work done. We have come so far and I would just kill myself if something bad happened to Bo at this point.
We are on track for induction on Tuesday. I will arrive at the hospital at midnight on Monday night. Until then I am suppose to be on bedrest but I have a feeling that most of that will be spent in a recliner next to Grandpa's hospital bed.
Shh... don't tell my mom about the bedrest -- she doesn't need anything else to freak out about at this point...
Mike is officially off work now too so that is good. My goal for the next few days is to help Mom as much as I can before I have to leave for the hospital. I wish I could be in the same hospital as Grandpa but my insurance will not cover a birth here. I know my mom is going to be a total mess with me in the hospital an hour away and Grandpa in it here. I have tried to make it clear that I know she needs to stay here so hopefully she will listen.
I hope Mike will have some time this weekend to clean up our house. The in-laws will be here on Thursday and I am sure we are going to have lots of people in and out of the house soon...
I spent all of the day in some type of medical facility. I was with Grandpa at the hospital until I had to leave for my doctor's appointment and then back at the hospital when I finished.
Honestly, each day this week has seemed to be epic. That probably isn't going to get any better for awhile...
Grandpa is still not doing very well. He was a bit better today than he was yesterday but it is still not looking promising and he is still very confused most of the time. Sometimes he is very coherent though and I like those moments when he is the "old" Grandpa who actually seems to know what is going on. He will be moving up to the long-term care unit of the hospital once he is done in ICU -- at least for a little while. Mom really wants to try to take care of him at home but it is more than one person can handle. She is really having a hard time with that but I am trying to make her be logical about the whole situation.
My doctor's appointment today was interesting too. I am still not dilated at all but the nurse practitioner that I saw today (Dr. W is on vacation until Monday) took one look at my feet and decided we need to do blood work and a non-stress test.
The non-stress test was actually kinda neat. Turns out I am having contractions -- contractions that spike all the way to the top -- but I am not feeling them at all. Interesting! Baby Bo is doing exactly what he needs to do though and all of the blood work came back fine. I'm just one of those that retains water apparently... After knowing so many of you who have gone through pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome I felt a lot better having it checked out and having the lab work done. We have come so far and I would just kill myself if something bad happened to Bo at this point.
We are on track for induction on Tuesday. I will arrive at the hospital at midnight on Monday night. Until then I am suppose to be on bedrest but I have a feeling that most of that will be spent in a recliner next to Grandpa's hospital bed.
Shh... don't tell my mom about the bedrest -- she doesn't need anything else to freak out about at this point...
Mike is officially off work now too so that is good. My goal for the next few days is to help Mom as much as I can before I have to leave for the hospital. I wish I could be in the same hospital as Grandpa but my insurance will not cover a birth here. I know my mom is going to be a total mess with me in the hospital an hour away and Grandpa in it here. I have tried to make it clear that I know she needs to stay here so hopefully she will listen.
I hope Mike will have some time this weekend to clean up our house. The in-laws will be here on Thursday and I am sure we are going to have lots of people in and out of the house soon...
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Still going, somehow...
My last two days have been a blur... I was still at school, just not paid. I went in earlier, stayed later and took hospital "breaks" during the day. I had so much to do to get ready for my leave and I needed the flexibility to be able to go to the hospital to relieve Mom. She refuses to leave him in the room by himself. Wednesday I worked 6-9, 9-11 hospital, 11-2 work, 2-4 hospital, 4-6 work, 6-8 hospital and Thursday was pretty the same.
I wrapped up things at school yesterday and now I just have to let it go. The sub they hired has a masters in English but has never taught before. Needless to say she is going to be eaten alive by my kids... I have to let it go but it is hard to pass the reigns mid-stream. Not to mention today was midterm which complicated everything significantly. It's done... I've got to just not think about it anymore...
Grandpa seemed to be doing better on Wednesday but he was not doing well at all yesterday. When I first arrived there in the morning he did not even know me. Apparently he didn't sleep at all last night and he is barely eating. He is going to the bathroom now, which is a good sign, but it is bloody from the tumor they burned off his bladder two weeks ago -- it should not be bloody anymore. He has bronchitis and he can't walk because of his fall.
Yesterday he seemed to be experiencing some type of psychosis. He thought he had $60 in his bed. He told me to throw out his cigarettes. He wanted to know where the gear shifter was. He told me there was a picture on the wall with a lady with two knives in her back. He wanted his shoes so he could go have a drink. Weird stuff. And no matter how many times I told him he couldn't seem to understand that he is in the hospital. We went over that about a million times. Every now and again he would come out of it and be normal for a few minutes and then go back into whatever this is. We aren't sure if it is the medication he is on, lack of sleep, or what. Definitely scary and no fun though. The good thing is that each time I would ask him who I am he knew my name and when I pointed at my belly he knows Bo's name.
In good news, the teachers at school did a "diaper delivery" for me today. Mandy knew that a shower was not something I could handle so when she was approached about doing something by a fellow teacher they came up with this idea. They had students drop off diapers, wipes etc. to my room throughout the day from the other teachers. Much more my style and it was something that actually made me smile today. I probably received 2500 diapers and a ton of wipes. I'll be able to try all the brands to figure out what we really like in each size! Some teachers were really creative -- personalized burp cloths and neat stuff like that. Definitely nice to feel like I belong a bit at school -- definitely more so than I did when I started!!
Here is all of the diapers and stuff on the kitchen counter after I brought them in. What a mess! This is as close to a "shower" picture as I am going to get... :)
Tomorrow I'll be at the hospital most of the day but I have my last prenatal appointment at 1. Fun times. I am nervous because I have to go by myself -- and drive myself -- because Mom obviously has her hands full with Grandpa and Mike has to work today since he is taking time off when Bo comes.
I am a bit nervous that they are going to take one look at my elephant feet and declare that today is the day... My feet are so swollen and sore and they do not seem to get better no matter what I do. I can't believe how big my feet are -- is it even possible that just a few short years ago I was a "beauty" queen? One would never know it now. That is for darn sure.
These are my feet. I sat down on the kitchen floor to take this picture. It took me forever to get back up. They hurt. And they are at least twice their normal size.
It is going to be a long, stressful weekend. So much for the restful weekend I hoped to spend at home preparing for Bo's arrival...
I wrapped up things at school yesterday and now I just have to let it go. The sub they hired has a masters in English but has never taught before. Needless to say she is going to be eaten alive by my kids... I have to let it go but it is hard to pass the reigns mid-stream. Not to mention today was midterm which complicated everything significantly. It's done... I've got to just not think about it anymore...
Grandpa seemed to be doing better on Wednesday but he was not doing well at all yesterday. When I first arrived there in the morning he did not even know me. Apparently he didn't sleep at all last night and he is barely eating. He is going to the bathroom now, which is a good sign, but it is bloody from the tumor they burned off his bladder two weeks ago -- it should not be bloody anymore. He has bronchitis and he can't walk because of his fall.
Yesterday he seemed to be experiencing some type of psychosis. He thought he had $60 in his bed. He told me to throw out his cigarettes. He wanted to know where the gear shifter was. He told me there was a picture on the wall with a lady with two knives in her back. He wanted his shoes so he could go have a drink. Weird stuff. And no matter how many times I told him he couldn't seem to understand that he is in the hospital. We went over that about a million times. Every now and again he would come out of it and be normal for a few minutes and then go back into whatever this is. We aren't sure if it is the medication he is on, lack of sleep, or what. Definitely scary and no fun though. The good thing is that each time I would ask him who I am he knew my name and when I pointed at my belly he knows Bo's name.
In good news, the teachers at school did a "diaper delivery" for me today. Mandy knew that a shower was not something I could handle so when she was approached about doing something by a fellow teacher they came up with this idea. They had students drop off diapers, wipes etc. to my room throughout the day from the other teachers. Much more my style and it was something that actually made me smile today. I probably received 2500 diapers and a ton of wipes. I'll be able to try all the brands to figure out what we really like in each size! Some teachers were really creative -- personalized burp cloths and neat stuff like that. Definitely nice to feel like I belong a bit at school -- definitely more so than I did when I started!!
Here is all of the diapers and stuff on the kitchen counter after I brought them in. What a mess! This is as close to a "shower" picture as I am going to get... :)Tomorrow I'll be at the hospital most of the day but I have my last prenatal appointment at 1. Fun times. I am nervous because I have to go by myself -- and drive myself -- because Mom obviously has her hands full with Grandpa and Mike has to work today since he is taking time off when Bo comes.
I am a bit nervous that they are going to take one look at my elephant feet and declare that today is the day... My feet are so swollen and sore and they do not seem to get better no matter what I do. I can't believe how big my feet are -- is it even possible that just a few short years ago I was a "beauty" queen? One would never know it now. That is for darn sure.
These are my feet. I sat down on the kitchen floor to take this picture. It took me forever to get back up. They hurt. And they are at least twice their normal size.It is going to be a long, stressful weekend. So much for the restful weekend I hoped to spend at home preparing for Bo's arrival...
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Breaking Point *Updated*
Remember the internalized stress I discussed in my last post? Well today it decided it needed to be external...
The day was moving along okay and then right at the beginning of 3rd block Mom decides to call. She is trying to get Grandpa in to see the doctor as his hips seem to be hurting more and more and it is becoming progressively more difficult for him to manage. She said it took them over an hour to get down 3 stairs this morning with her helping him.
I have a classroom full of yearbook girls and I'm trying to be logical with Mom. She is having issues with the doctors and I am trying to listen and help her as best as I can from school. I do not know what she wants me to do. I can't help her physically move him at this point - I have too much extra weight on my own body. Towards the end of the conversation she starts crying and says "I'm doing the best I can. I can't do it all on my own." This in turn upsets me and makes me start crying. I just do not know what I can do...
So now I am bawling and I have a class to teach. I try to sit down for a few minutes and calm down but that does not really help. I am suddenly just beside myself (and I still haven't regained control as tears are running down my face yet again.)
I walk into the other room and just tell the girls I am not up for it today. I give them a copy of the yearbook critique we were going to discuss and send them into the other room to work on designs.
Today was a day that I will be forever grateful to Mandy for. She sat down with me and talked through the whole situation and helped me to try to figure out a solution. I ended up crying through the entire block and I realized that I was not going to make it through 4th block without bawling so Mandy went and found someone to cover for me. Thank God, as there is no way I could have made it through the class...
Of course our principal comes in while I'm upset. Poor guy -- he only sees me when I am in tears. And the fact that I was having someone cover my 4th block started a ripple through the school...
The fact is, I just can't handle it. And it kills me to admit that. I've been crying pretty much nonstop since 12. Everything that I have been trying so hard to hold in has just broken loose. I am tried of trying to be strong and handle it all. Obviously, I can't do it. I've reached the breaking point.
I'm 9 months pregnant. My grandpa (who raised me -- so he is more like my dad) is dying. My mom does not have anyone else to talk to or rely on for anything except me. I am an only child. I am trying to work and make sure that everything is setup to run smoothly for my students while I am gone. I am trying to make sure that Mandy has enough support that she can handle the yearbook while I am gone. Physically I feel like crap. Add all of these factors together (plus a few I can't even think of right now since I'm such a basket case) and it is no wonder I'm in the process of erupting.
But I hate it. I want to be strong. I am the strong one. But I am tried of being strong...
******
Tuesday evening we admitted Grandpa to the ICU. He has bronchitis along with the bruised hips and bladder issues.
I decided I could not handle teaching all day but I am still trying to be superwoman. I went to school from 6 until 9 this morning and I am just checking my email briefly before relieving Mom at the hospital. I have to be back at school at 11 for yearbook. Our publisher is coming today so I will probably get out of there about 2. Needless to say I am working all but 3 hours of a normal school day (and I put in 2 of those before the day started!) at school and not getting paid for it because they had to hire an all day sub... I guess money is really the least of my worries right now.
Physically, it is time for this baby to come out. My ankles/feet/calves are so swollen I am surprised I can walk. Absolutely no shoes fit so I am wearing flip-flops. Seriously, I have elephant feet...
Time for the elephant to head to the hospital...
The day was moving along okay and then right at the beginning of 3rd block Mom decides to call. She is trying to get Grandpa in to see the doctor as his hips seem to be hurting more and more and it is becoming progressively more difficult for him to manage. She said it took them over an hour to get down 3 stairs this morning with her helping him.
I have a classroom full of yearbook girls and I'm trying to be logical with Mom. She is having issues with the doctors and I am trying to listen and help her as best as I can from school. I do not know what she wants me to do. I can't help her physically move him at this point - I have too much extra weight on my own body. Towards the end of the conversation she starts crying and says "I'm doing the best I can. I can't do it all on my own." This in turn upsets me and makes me start crying. I just do not know what I can do...
So now I am bawling and I have a class to teach. I try to sit down for a few minutes and calm down but that does not really help. I am suddenly just beside myself (and I still haven't regained control as tears are running down my face yet again.)
I walk into the other room and just tell the girls I am not up for it today. I give them a copy of the yearbook critique we were going to discuss and send them into the other room to work on designs.
Today was a day that I will be forever grateful to Mandy for. She sat down with me and talked through the whole situation and helped me to try to figure out a solution. I ended up crying through the entire block and I realized that I was not going to make it through 4th block without bawling so Mandy went and found someone to cover for me. Thank God, as there is no way I could have made it through the class...
Of course our principal comes in while I'm upset. Poor guy -- he only sees me when I am in tears. And the fact that I was having someone cover my 4th block started a ripple through the school...
The fact is, I just can't handle it. And it kills me to admit that. I've been crying pretty much nonstop since 12. Everything that I have been trying so hard to hold in has just broken loose. I am tried of trying to be strong and handle it all. Obviously, I can't do it. I've reached the breaking point.
I'm 9 months pregnant. My grandpa (who raised me -- so he is more like my dad) is dying. My mom does not have anyone else to talk to or rely on for anything except me. I am an only child. I am trying to work and make sure that everything is setup to run smoothly for my students while I am gone. I am trying to make sure that Mandy has enough support that she can handle the yearbook while I am gone. Physically I feel like crap. Add all of these factors together (plus a few I can't even think of right now since I'm such a basket case) and it is no wonder I'm in the process of erupting.
But I hate it. I want to be strong. I am the strong one. But I am tried of being strong...
******
Tuesday evening we admitted Grandpa to the ICU. He has bronchitis along with the bruised hips and bladder issues.
I decided I could not handle teaching all day but I am still trying to be superwoman. I went to school from 6 until 9 this morning and I am just checking my email briefly before relieving Mom at the hospital. I have to be back at school at 11 for yearbook. Our publisher is coming today so I will probably get out of there about 2. Needless to say I am working all but 3 hours of a normal school day (and I put in 2 of those before the day started!) at school and not getting paid for it because they had to hire an all day sub... I guess money is really the least of my worries right now.
Physically, it is time for this baby to come out. My ankles/feet/calves are so swollen I am surprised I can walk. Absolutely no shoes fit so I am wearing flip-flops. Seriously, I have elephant feet...
Time for the elephant to head to the hospital...
Monday, November 12, 2007
Still Working
If one more person at school looks at me and says "you're still here" I may just walk out...
I'll admit it -- over the last two weeks the temptation to stop working has been strong. My feet are so swollen I can't even begin to wear normal shoes and most days I slog through the day.
I have definitely been in survival mode. The kids are still working and learning but this is definitely not the peak of my teaching career. Not to mention the fact that the kids know that Thursday is my last day -- and therefore feel the need to start shutting down completely. My sub is really going to have her hands full. She is going to have to establish early and often that she is the new boss in town... I'm glad I'm not in her shoes!
A big part of me thinks that if I stop working early people will think less of me. It isn't that I need to be working but Dr. W hasn't told me that I can't so I keep on keepin' on. (If there was an actual medical reason for me not to work or if Bo was in some danger this would be a whole different issue...) I am not a quitter and I have a commitment to be there. Yes, some days I come home and I feel like I've been run over by a tractor and just walking down the long hallway to the bathroom makes my feet ache but I said I would work and I feel like I should.
I've always been a worker. I don't know what to do with myself when I don't work. And I have very little respect for people who do not do some type of work outside the home. That is not to say that I don't think SAHM's have their work cut out for them -- I totally get that -- but I don't understand why anyone without children would choose to stay home.
So, I'm still there. And each day I am asked multiple times why I am still there and given that look like "aren't you about to explode". Yes, I am. But I'm also a committed, determined, individual who internalizes stress like no other. While I would much rather be at home with my feet up worrying about my Grandpa and Bo's pending arrival it just isn't who I am. I'm the type that pushes myself to my absolute limit. Now I just have to hope I don't hit that limit before Thursday.
3 days to go....
I'll admit it -- over the last two weeks the temptation to stop working has been strong. My feet are so swollen I can't even begin to wear normal shoes and most days I slog through the day.
I have definitely been in survival mode. The kids are still working and learning but this is definitely not the peak of my teaching career. Not to mention the fact that the kids know that Thursday is my last day -- and therefore feel the need to start shutting down completely. My sub is really going to have her hands full. She is going to have to establish early and often that she is the new boss in town... I'm glad I'm not in her shoes!
A big part of me thinks that if I stop working early people will think less of me. It isn't that I need to be working but Dr. W hasn't told me that I can't so I keep on keepin' on. (If there was an actual medical reason for me not to work or if Bo was in some danger this would be a whole different issue...) I am not a quitter and I have a commitment to be there. Yes, some days I come home and I feel like I've been run over by a tractor and just walking down the long hallway to the bathroom makes my feet ache but I said I would work and I feel like I should.
I've always been a worker. I don't know what to do with myself when I don't work. And I have very little respect for people who do not do some type of work outside the home. That is not to say that I don't think SAHM's have their work cut out for them -- I totally get that -- but I don't understand why anyone without children would choose to stay home.
So, I'm still there. And each day I am asked multiple times why I am still there and given that look like "aren't you about to explode". Yes, I am. But I'm also a committed, determined, individual who internalizes stress like no other. While I would much rather be at home with my feet up worrying about my Grandpa and Bo's pending arrival it just isn't who I am. I'm the type that pushes myself to my absolute limit. Now I just have to hope I don't hit that limit before Thursday.
3 days to go....
Saturday, November 10, 2007
I only thought yesterday was long...
Last night when I posted about 5:30 I thought that the day had been long. Little did I know it was about to become significantly longer. My idea of camping out on the couch -- yeah, that didn't even come close to happening. I ended up being awake for about 23 hours yesterday...
While I was in the shower my mom called. Grandpa had fallen and she couldn't get him up. Mike went over there while I finished my shower and dressed. He returned home and they decided to give Grandpa about an hour to see if he could walk or not.
In the meantime, one of our fur babies, Wilson, decided to chew on some of the decorative sticks that I have sitting by the fireplace. The kitties do this a lot and while it is annoying it is just one of those things we are use to and use to cleaning up. This time he must have crunched down on the stick just right... He walked around the house smacking his lips and trying to get his paw in his mouth. It was obvious something was not right and a stick was stuck either in his throat or in his mouth somehow.
We made the emergency vet call and he told us to bring him in. While Mike is trying to catch Wilson (he is our wild-child) my mom calls. We decide we need to take Grandpa to the ER to have an x-ray. He can not put any weight on his left leg. So Mike takes the cat and I head to my parents. Mom has to call the ambulance service because we do not think we can get Grandpa in the car (and they live 2 blocks from the hospital).
So I have a fur baby and my Grandpa both in the ER last night. Turns out Wilson had a piece of stick wedged between his teeth in the roof of his mouth. They had to give him gas sedation to pry it out. (Needless to say, after the lovely vet bill the sticks have now been disposed off. I have an empty vase sitting by my fireplace...)
Grandpa has a bruised hip so they just gave him some pain medication and sent him home. Bringing him home is where the real fun begins.
He literally can't walk. And the living room in their house has about 4 steps up into the rest of the house, bathrooms, etc. Between Mike and my mom they managed to get him in the car and it took about an hour to get him from the back door of the house to the bedroom. We had to give him strict orders not to get up during the night and a cup to pee in while sitting on the side of the bed before we went home. Mike and I set the alarm this morning and headed back over to get him out of bed and down to the living room. He is going to have to get better fast because I just don't see how this is going to work out long term...
I feel like I am Cinderella and I am waiting for my pumpkin to explode. This should be one of the happiest times in my life... I am expecting my first, much-wanted, child in a matter of days. I have a husband who is a saint. I have so many good things going on. But then there is Grandpa and the inevitable is drawing near. I'm going to pop out a baby and my whole world is going to change. Then my Grandpa is going to die and my whole world is going to explode. I wonder when the clock is going to strike midnight....
While I was in the shower my mom called. Grandpa had fallen and she couldn't get him up. Mike went over there while I finished my shower and dressed. He returned home and they decided to give Grandpa about an hour to see if he could walk or not.
In the meantime, one of our fur babies, Wilson, decided to chew on some of the decorative sticks that I have sitting by the fireplace. The kitties do this a lot and while it is annoying it is just one of those things we are use to and use to cleaning up. This time he must have crunched down on the stick just right... He walked around the house smacking his lips and trying to get his paw in his mouth. It was obvious something was not right and a stick was stuck either in his throat or in his mouth somehow.
We made the emergency vet call and he told us to bring him in. While Mike is trying to catch Wilson (he is our wild-child) my mom calls. We decide we need to take Grandpa to the ER to have an x-ray. He can not put any weight on his left leg. So Mike takes the cat and I head to my parents. Mom has to call the ambulance service because we do not think we can get Grandpa in the car (and they live 2 blocks from the hospital).
So I have a fur baby and my Grandpa both in the ER last night. Turns out Wilson had a piece of stick wedged between his teeth in the roof of his mouth. They had to give him gas sedation to pry it out. (Needless to say, after the lovely vet bill the sticks have now been disposed off. I have an empty vase sitting by my fireplace...)
Grandpa has a bruised hip so they just gave him some pain medication and sent him home. Bringing him home is where the real fun begins.
He literally can't walk. And the living room in their house has about 4 steps up into the rest of the house, bathrooms, etc. Between Mike and my mom they managed to get him in the car and it took about an hour to get him from the back door of the house to the bedroom. We had to give him strict orders not to get up during the night and a cup to pee in while sitting on the side of the bed before we went home. Mike and I set the alarm this morning and headed back over to get him out of bed and down to the living room. He is going to have to get better fast because I just don't see how this is going to work out long term...
I feel like I am Cinderella and I am waiting for my pumpkin to explode. This should be one of the happiest times in my life... I am expecting my first, much-wanted, child in a matter of days. I have a husband who is a saint. I have so many good things going on. But then there is Grandpa and the inevitable is drawing near. I'm going to pop out a baby and my whole world is going to change. Then my Grandpa is going to die and my whole world is going to explode. I wonder when the clock is going to strike midnight....
Friday, November 9, 2007
Mint, it does a baby good!
Today has turned into a long day. I woke up about 2 am and couldn't go back to sleep. I got up and read blogs for awhile, ate a few peppermint patties, and finally managed to take a nap from about 6 to 8. Thank God I had the day off because of my doctor's appointment!
Our doctor's appointment was at 11 but we ended up arriving up there early so we checked in a little after 10:30. We were able to go back for the ultrasound early and everything looked great! Bo is measuring about a week ahead and his approximate weight is 7 lbs. 6 oz. which puts him in the 82 percentile. Dr. W thought this was good but definitely thinks that he made the right choice last week about scheduling the induction for the 20th. We are dealing with a big baby and a mom who is naturally pretty petite (even though I feel FAR from petite right now!).
Then we waited, and waited, and waited....
Finally about 12:30 we were called back. Dr. W had a crazy morning apparently and Mike and were beyond hungry at this point! My normal lunch starts at 11:20!! He checked me and said that my cervix is still completely closed but that he isn't surprised by that since this is my first "real" pregnancy.
We asked a few questions about what happens when the baby is born -- such as if our family doctor will be contacted to come check on him and do the circumcision (he will be). Also, I have had a weird rash on my hands for the last week so they checked that out. At first they were afraid it might be scabies from the kids at school but luckily it looks like just an atopic rash. Cortizone cream and Benadryl were recommended. It is a yuckie looking rash -- I hope it goes away after Bo comes!
The placenta is exactly 2 cm away from the cervix and anterior but he is going to let me try to labor naturally... Hopefully that turns out to be a good thing.
So we finally made it out of the doctor's office at nearly 1 pm. We were starving so we went out for lunch but by that point we were beyond hungry so nothing really sounded or tasted all that good. We just needed food!! After we ate we did some Christmas shopping and Mike stopped by work to get some paperwork done.
We finally arrived home about 4:30 and we had two messages on our machine. My principal has FINALLY found someone to cover my leave! Woohoo! He called and so did the woman who will be covering. She is going to come in to talk to me next week. Wow... I can't believe I only have 4 more days of full-time work this school year!
Now, I'm exhausted. I am planning a minty shower (and some toothpaste...yum...) and camp out on the couch. Hopefully the rest of the weekend will be a bit more restful...
*** Today has been a big mint day. Two mini-peppermint patties at 4 am. A peppermint patty bath using hot chocolate and peppermint bubble bath this morning as I ate another patty.... While we were Christmas shopping Mike decided I had to have this mint lip balm and mint bath set. And then I discovered these After Eight mints when I went to buy my Cortizone cream.... I wonder if it is all this mint that is making Bo so big!! :)
Our doctor's appointment was at 11 but we ended up arriving up there early so we checked in a little after 10:30. We were able to go back for the ultrasound early and everything looked great! Bo is measuring about a week ahead and his approximate weight is 7 lbs. 6 oz. which puts him in the 82 percentile. Dr. W thought this was good but definitely thinks that he made the right choice last week about scheduling the induction for the 20th. We are dealing with a big baby and a mom who is naturally pretty petite (even though I feel FAR from petite right now!).
Then we waited, and waited, and waited....
Finally about 12:30 we were called back. Dr. W had a crazy morning apparently and Mike and were beyond hungry at this point! My normal lunch starts at 11:20!! He checked me and said that my cervix is still completely closed but that he isn't surprised by that since this is my first "real" pregnancy.
We asked a few questions about what happens when the baby is born -- such as if our family doctor will be contacted to come check on him and do the circumcision (he will be). Also, I have had a weird rash on my hands for the last week so they checked that out. At first they were afraid it might be scabies from the kids at school but luckily it looks like just an atopic rash. Cortizone cream and Benadryl were recommended. It is a yuckie looking rash -- I hope it goes away after Bo comes!
The placenta is exactly 2 cm away from the cervix and anterior but he is going to let me try to labor naturally... Hopefully that turns out to be a good thing.
So we finally made it out of the doctor's office at nearly 1 pm. We were starving so we went out for lunch but by that point we were beyond hungry so nothing really sounded or tasted all that good. We just needed food!! After we ate we did some Christmas shopping and Mike stopped by work to get some paperwork done.
We finally arrived home about 4:30 and we had two messages on our machine. My principal has FINALLY found someone to cover my leave! Woohoo! He called and so did the woman who will be covering. She is going to come in to talk to me next week. Wow... I can't believe I only have 4 more days of full-time work this school year!
Now, I'm exhausted. I am planning a minty shower (and some toothpaste...yum...) and camp out on the couch. Hopefully the rest of the weekend will be a bit more restful...
*** Today has been a big mint day. Two mini-peppermint patties at 4 am. A peppermint patty bath using hot chocolate and peppermint bubble bath this morning as I ate another patty.... While we were Christmas shopping Mike decided I had to have this mint lip balm and mint bath set. And then I discovered these After Eight mints when I went to buy my Cortizone cream.... I wonder if it is all this mint that is making Bo so big!! :)
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The Nursery is Finished!
Our nursery is officially finished! With only 2 weeks (or less) to go before Baby Bo arrives!
I tried to take the pictures below going around the room clockwise, starting in the doorway. Hopefully that gives a little more perspective on how the room is set up.
The nursery has been painted blue and the border has been up since we remodeled the house when we first moved in during the fall of 2003. I always knew I wanted a Cubs baseball nursery -- boy or girl -- it was going to be Cubs baseball! I actually thought I had probably jinxed myself to have a girl by painting the room blue -- but apparently that was not the case!
I want the room to have a Cubs/Wrigley Field feel to it. My MIL painted the bricks and ivy behind the glider and the 353 is actually at Wrigley in one of the corners for the distance of a home run.
The stuffed animal area is suppose to be like the green wire that is around the outside of Wrigley to catch balls. I thought that would be a neat touch and the fans are the stuffed animals in the bleacher seats. My FIL designed this aspect of the room.
Both of the drawings you see are original artwork depicting the Cubs or Wrigley.
The other "oddity" about the room is the screen door. We tried a crib tent but it was just awful. So our solution for keeping our four fur babies out of the room -- a screen door. It may look a bit silly but I have a feeling it is going to be very handy.
Overall I am thrilled with the look of our nursery. It is just what I wanted. Something different and unique with lots of fun elements. I can't wait until Bo is here and I am able to spend time in there with him.
Aren't all of his little clothes cute too?
I tried to take the pictures below going around the room clockwise, starting in the doorway. Hopefully that gives a little more perspective on how the room is set up.
The nursery has been painted blue and the border has been up since we remodeled the house when we first moved in during the fall of 2003. I always knew I wanted a Cubs baseball nursery -- boy or girl -- it was going to be Cubs baseball! I actually thought I had probably jinxed myself to have a girl by painting the room blue -- but apparently that was not the case!
I want the room to have a Cubs/Wrigley Field feel to it. My MIL painted the bricks and ivy behind the glider and the 353 is actually at Wrigley in one of the corners for the distance of a home run.
The stuffed animal area is suppose to be like the green wire that is around the outside of Wrigley to catch balls. I thought that would be a neat touch and the fans are the stuffed animals in the bleacher seats. My FIL designed this aspect of the room.
Both of the drawings you see are original artwork depicting the Cubs or Wrigley.
The other "oddity" about the room is the screen door. We tried a crib tent but it was just awful. So our solution for keeping our four fur babies out of the room -- a screen door. It may look a bit silly but I have a feeling it is going to be very handy.
Overall I am thrilled with the look of our nursery. It is just what I wanted. Something different and unique with lots of fun elements. I can't wait until Bo is here and I am able to spend time in there with him.
Aren't all of his little clothes cute too?
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Induction Date Set!!
Yesterday I had my 36 week doctor's appointment.
I tested positive for Group B Strep -- just another one of those things. I can't seem to do anything without extra help and medication. At least it really isn't a big deal...
The most exciting news though is we set an induction date! Dr. W is going to induce me on November 20 if Bo does not decide to arrive on his own before then. That is only 17 days from today!! Wowza!!
I am so excited to have an end date. And inducing on that day means that I will most likely come home on Thanksgiving and Mike's parents will be able to be down that whole weekend! It really would work out well.
This also means only 8 more actual work days!
Time to kick the nesting instinct into high gear. Yesterday I came home and cleaned and we finished up this morning. It will need a thorough cleaning again before he comes but at least I am managing to keep up with the house. I have spent most of the rest of the day ordering Christmas presents and wrapping Christmas presents. I want all of the Christmas stuff to be as done as possible when Bo gets here so there is nothing to distract me from him!
The nursery is ready to go! Pictures coming soon!
Holy crap! I'm going to be a mom in 17 days or less!!
I tested positive for Group B Strep -- just another one of those things. I can't seem to do anything without extra help and medication. At least it really isn't a big deal...
The most exciting news though is we set an induction date! Dr. W is going to induce me on November 20 if Bo does not decide to arrive on his own before then. That is only 17 days from today!! Wowza!!
I am so excited to have an end date. And inducing on that day means that I will most likely come home on Thanksgiving and Mike's parents will be able to be down that whole weekend! It really would work out well.
This also means only 8 more actual work days!
Time to kick the nesting instinct into high gear. Yesterday I came home and cleaned and we finished up this morning. It will need a thorough cleaning again before he comes but at least I am managing to keep up with the house. I have spent most of the rest of the day ordering Christmas presents and wrapping Christmas presents. I want all of the Christmas stuff to be as done as possible when Bo gets here so there is nothing to distract me from him!
The nursery is ready to go! Pictures coming soon!
Holy crap! I'm going to be a mom in 17 days or less!!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
A day in the life...
This post is inspired by a post Spanglish did last spring. I've wanted to do this since then and this morning when I was in the shower I decided there was no time like the present. My life will be changing a lot soon -- I'd like to be able to remember what a normal day is like when I look back at my life in a year or so!
My day -- pregnant teacher style....
5:30 Alarm goes off. Mike gets up and hops in the shower. I get to stay in bed an extra half hour – ahh…..
5:50 I decide I’m wake and get up. I hop in the shower. Mike comes in to say goodbye before he leaves for work.
6:10 I’m out of the shower. I make my way downstairs and check my email and bloglines while I let my hair air dry a bit. Usually I eat breakfast too but I wasn’t in the mood for anything we had this morning...
Have you ever seen anyone look quite so bloated this early in the morning?? Ugh! I miss my pre-pregnancy body!
6:30 I go back upstairs to finish getting ready. I dry my hair, put my clothes on and do my makeup.
6:55 I head out the door. I’m running a little behind but not too bad. I like to be at school by 7 usually but today I will be a few minutes late.
Not the best picture in the world -- but that is what I get when I try to take self-portraits!
7:00 McDonald’s. I decide I deserve a treat today. I run through the McDonald’s drive through and buy a large decaf and an order of hotcakes. Yum! I only do this about once a month so I don't feel too bad about it. Usually I eat cereal or instant oatmeal.
7:05 I’m at school. My breakfast is waiting for me on my desk. I eat quickly while I check my school email. Then I start in on the days tasks. I have papers to grade, grades to put into gradequick, and I need to find another worksheet to go with my lesson on double negatives today.
My "office" is the Journalism room. This is where we make the yearbook and my "homebase" this year since I do not have my own classroom.
7:35 A few yearbook girls show up to label pictures. I have a boy come in to make up a test from when he was gone on Friday. Things are suddenly hopping and very busy in my little office. Lots of people in and out – lots of action. That is why I always like to get to school early. It gives me a few minutes of peace before the chaos begins.
8:00 We have our new “state mandated” moment of silence, say the pledge, and listen to a few words of wisdom for the day. First block has started. I have prep first block but I have a girl for yearbook independent study and another for an office aide. I find tasks to keep them busy and continue with my work. I print grade reports for my students and make a couple of bathroom runs.
9:00 Our yearbook representative shows up to discuss our contract for next year. I put the book out for bids and I am nervous about what type of price he is going to come back with. It is a good price and I end up signing with our current company for 3 more years.
9:25 First block is over and activity period starts. 5 students show up to take make up vocabulary tests but I am still talking with our rep. I have my yearbook girl give them the test. The Journalism room is full of people and completely chaotic.
9:45 Activity Period is over. The rep leaves as the bell rings and I head to teach American Literature and Composition III in a nearby classroom with my lovely “portable classroom”. This year I do not have an actual room except for the Journalism room. I like being in the Journalism room but there are definitely times when I miss having my own classroom and not having to push the portable classroom all over the place!
My "Portable" Classroom. I wheel this cart with me everywhere so that I have what I need. It is a pain and seems to be getting heavier each day -- but there really isn't any other way.
9:55 Second block begins. My students work on journals and vocabulary first and then we go over a test that they had to correct from last Friday. It is a test over parts of speech and they did not do very well. I used the document camera and projected all of the answers on the board and tried to explain each answer. Then we started a new grammar unit. The lesson focused on double negatives – “I don’t want none.” We definitely have issues with double negatives in Southern Illinois. We discussed the section as a class and then they worked in small groups on exercises. For homework they had a worksheet that is due at the beginning of class tomorrow. We managed to stay busy and on task from bell to bell.
A picture of some of the students in my second block class working in groups. Also, the board in this classroom where I list out what we have going on this week. Exciting stuff!
11:18 The bell rings for lunch. The halls are flooded with students in a hurry to vacate the school. I walk across the hall to Mandy’s room and we walk down to the cafeteria together. It’s one of our favorite lunch days – baked potato day! It is hard to mess up a baked potato!!
11:24 We have a “lunch group” that meets in the Journalism room for lunch each day - 4 English teachers and the band teacher. We are quite the crew and it seems like we always have something to discuss and/or complain about. We are all very different so lunchtime conversation is always dynamic. Today is no exception. We talk about students, parents, miscarriage, doctor’s appointments, basketball practice, TV, and tonight’s trick or treating.
My lunch tray! Baked potato, sloppy joe/bbq stuff, a piece of wheat bread, Texas sheet cake, water and milk. I have no idea why we have an obesity problem in this country!! :)
11:56 The bell rings allowing students back onto the second floor. Soon the room is filled with yearbook girls. I finish my water and arrange my stuff to go next door to start yearbook class.
12:04 Third block begins. My best block of the day – yearbook. I currently have 15 young women that I love to death. We work hard, we fight tough, and we produce a phenomenal book. We have a class discussion about what is going on in the school, what we need to be covering, what we are doing in class today, and the fact that they owe me $15 for their staff t-shirts. We also discuss a “missing” camera that has turned up. I’m just glad to see it – that’s $700 I don’t have to worry about. The first years meet with some of the advanced students in a conference type setting about fall sports stories and then take a quiz on alternative coverage. My other advanced students go back to the Journalism room to work on pages.
While they are working Mandy and I sit down to discuss things she needs to be aware of while I am gone. This isn’t a typical day for us but we are preparing for my maternity leave and now seems like as good of a time as any to show her the ropes. She is my co-adviser but most of the time she is just a warm body so we discuss quite a few things. And she knows she can call me anytime while I am gone.
Isn't Mandy cute?? Can't you tell she is working hard? :)
I conference with my school life editors about their designs while Mandy runs to the office. Several businesses have paid for their page sponsorships so I enter them into our Excel spreadsheet as paid. I talk with a few of the editors about deadlines. The block flies by.
A group of yearbook girls crowd around a computer to help two of the younger students with their design.
1:35 The bell rings. Third block is over. I head to yet another classroom to teach fourth block. It is a repeat of second block.
1:42 Fourth block begins. We do all of the same things that we did in second block. I like teaching the same class twice and I feel like I always do a better job the second time around. Everything flows smoothly.
My fourth block students work independently for a few minutes at the beginning of the block on journals and vocabulary. While they work I work at the desk in this classroom. I have to use every possible minute I can to avoid taking work home in the evening.
3:00 School is over! Hurray! Kids run like crazy to get out of the school. I walk back across the hall to Mandy’s room to discuss a few things I forgot to talk to her about third block. She is getting ready for play rehearsal. I talk to another teacher who is in Mandy’s room about her daughter who I was friends with in high school. She is also pregnant and due in January.
3:15 Back to my desk. I check my email one last time and decide that I am not going to stay late today. Trick or Treat is tonight and I want to come home and make goodie bags and do a few things around the house. I close up shop for the day and head home.
3:30 I’m home. I feed the cats and sit down to have a mid-afternoon snack. Two mini peppermint patties and a glass of decaf tea hit the spot while I check my email and bloglines.
My fur baby presidents (Reagan, Lincoln, Madison and Wilson) are always hungry and dying to be fed as soon as I walk in the door.
My afternoon snack!
4:00 I straightened some things up around the house. We had some Christmas presents on the main floor that needed to be taken to the basement to be wrapped. I prepared a few books to be mailed for paperbackswap.com (awesome site, fyi). I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher and made Halloween goodie bags. Typical afternoon chores – a little of this and a little of that to keep the house in order so I don’t go completely crazy!
The cute goodie bags I made!
4:45 Mike calls. He is on his way home from work.
5:08 Mike calls again. He wants to know what we are doing for dinner since Trick or Treat is suppose to start at 6. We decide to just order a pizza. I hang up and call to order it.
5:45 Mike arrives home. He brings in the mail and sweeps the porch. He decides to set up chairs on the porch so we can just sit out there instead of running back and forth to the door all evening.
5:48 The pizza arrives. The delivery boy is one of my former students. I tip well and give him a bag of candy. Even big kids appreciate candy.
5:55 We set up camp on the front porch. Pizza, drinks, and candy. Our neighborhood is always busy and full of trick or treaters. Parents bring them in vans and trucks and just drop them off in our neighborhood since we are in the “good” part of town. It’s okay – we are prepared with plenty of candy.
Mike poses with the bowl of candy
6:00 We start to see our first trick or treaters. But it isn’t as crazy as it was last year. More young kids and less teenagers – which doesn’t really hurt my feelings - I see enough teenagers everyday! Several animals are dressed up as well.
6:30 Mandy shows up to help us pass out candy. Several “special” trick or treaters come by and I give out my treat bags. Each bag has assorted candy, chocolate candy, peeps, and a beanie baby. Pretty exciting stuff!
Bo and I sit with the candy on the front porch waiting for cute trick or treaters!
6:48 Mandy’s little sisters come by. As I am handing them their bags another little boy comes up on the porch. I give him some candy and he asks if he can have a bag. “I’m sorry, those are only for special people. People we know. I’m so sorry.” I just told a little boy he isn’t special. I’m totally going to hell. And that really wasn’t what I meant at all…
The kitties were enjoyed by many of the young trick or treaters that came by. We were told countless times how cute they are and a co-workers little girl was truly fascinated by them.
8:00 Trick or Treat is officially over for the year. We have a big bag of chocolate candies left. I guess I know what my students will be eating tomorrow! I’m stuffed to the brim with pizza and my own choice pieces of candy. Ugh!
8:05 We start picking everything up and moving back inside. I pack the candy up to take to school tomorrow while Mike puts away the chairs. We head upstairs to put on our pjs. I take off my makeup and brush my teeth. Ahh…. It feels good to be in more comfy clothes!
8:17 It’s time to relax. Back in my chair with the computer on my lap. Time to check email and blogs one last time.
8:24 A timer I set earlier in the afternoon when I was online goes off. I have an eBay auction ending in just a few minutes that I really want to win. I think Bo will look so cute in these moose clothes!!
8:50 The auction ends. I’m the winner! Yeah! Bo has a few cute outfits to wear! Now if he would just hurry up and come so he can wear them!
9:07 Email has been checked. Blogs have been read. I decide to start writing this post and uploading my pictures from the day. It takes forever! Blogger needs a way to upload multiple photos at once!
A goofy self-portrait for the last picture of the day. Agh! It's been a long one!
10:09 Bedtime. I can't keep my eyes open any longer -- I'll finish this post tomorrow!
My day -- pregnant teacher style....
5:30 Alarm goes off. Mike gets up and hops in the shower. I get to stay in bed an extra half hour – ahh…..
5:50 I decide I’m wake and get up. I hop in the shower. Mike comes in to say goodbye before he leaves for work.
6:10 I’m out of the shower. I make my way downstairs and check my email and bloglines while I let my hair air dry a bit. Usually I eat breakfast too but I wasn’t in the mood for anything we had this morning...
Have you ever seen anyone look quite so bloated this early in the morning?? Ugh! I miss my pre-pregnancy body!
6:30 I go back upstairs to finish getting ready. I dry my hair, put my clothes on and do my makeup.
6:55 I head out the door. I’m running a little behind but not too bad. I like to be at school by 7 usually but today I will be a few minutes late.
Not the best picture in the world -- but that is what I get when I try to take self-portraits!7:00 McDonald’s. I decide I deserve a treat today. I run through the McDonald’s drive through and buy a large decaf and an order of hotcakes. Yum! I only do this about once a month so I don't feel too bad about it. Usually I eat cereal or instant oatmeal.
7:05 I’m at school. My breakfast is waiting for me on my desk. I eat quickly while I check my school email. Then I start in on the days tasks. I have papers to grade, grades to put into gradequick, and I need to find another worksheet to go with my lesson on double negatives today.
My "office" is the Journalism room. This is where we make the yearbook and my "homebase" this year since I do not have my own classroom.
7:35 A few yearbook girls show up to label pictures. I have a boy come in to make up a test from when he was gone on Friday. Things are suddenly hopping and very busy in my little office. Lots of people in and out – lots of action. That is why I always like to get to school early. It gives me a few minutes of peace before the chaos begins.
8:00 We have our new “state mandated” moment of silence, say the pledge, and listen to a few words of wisdom for the day. First block has started. I have prep first block but I have a girl for yearbook independent study and another for an office aide. I find tasks to keep them busy and continue with my work. I print grade reports for my students and make a couple of bathroom runs.
9:00 Our yearbook representative shows up to discuss our contract for next year. I put the book out for bids and I am nervous about what type of price he is going to come back with. It is a good price and I end up signing with our current company for 3 more years.
9:25 First block is over and activity period starts. 5 students show up to take make up vocabulary tests but I am still talking with our rep. I have my yearbook girl give them the test. The Journalism room is full of people and completely chaotic.
9:45 Activity Period is over. The rep leaves as the bell rings and I head to teach American Literature and Composition III in a nearby classroom with my lovely “portable classroom”. This year I do not have an actual room except for the Journalism room. I like being in the Journalism room but there are definitely times when I miss having my own classroom and not having to push the portable classroom all over the place!
My "Portable" Classroom. I wheel this cart with me everywhere so that I have what I need. It is a pain and seems to be getting heavier each day -- but there really isn't any other way.9:55 Second block begins. My students work on journals and vocabulary first and then we go over a test that they had to correct from last Friday. It is a test over parts of speech and they did not do very well. I used the document camera and projected all of the answers on the board and tried to explain each answer. Then we started a new grammar unit. The lesson focused on double negatives – “I don’t want none.” We definitely have issues with double negatives in Southern Illinois. We discussed the section as a class and then they worked in small groups on exercises. For homework they had a worksheet that is due at the beginning of class tomorrow. We managed to stay busy and on task from bell to bell.
A picture of some of the students in my second block class working in groups. Also, the board in this classroom where I list out what we have going on this week. Exciting stuff!11:18 The bell rings for lunch. The halls are flooded with students in a hurry to vacate the school. I walk across the hall to Mandy’s room and we walk down to the cafeteria together. It’s one of our favorite lunch days – baked potato day! It is hard to mess up a baked potato!!
11:24 We have a “lunch group” that meets in the Journalism room for lunch each day - 4 English teachers and the band teacher. We are quite the crew and it seems like we always have something to discuss and/or complain about. We are all very different so lunchtime conversation is always dynamic. Today is no exception. We talk about students, parents, miscarriage, doctor’s appointments, basketball practice, TV, and tonight’s trick or treating.
My lunch tray! Baked potato, sloppy joe/bbq stuff, a piece of wheat bread, Texas sheet cake, water and milk. I have no idea why we have an obesity problem in this country!! :)11:56 The bell rings allowing students back onto the second floor. Soon the room is filled with yearbook girls. I finish my water and arrange my stuff to go next door to start yearbook class.
12:04 Third block begins. My best block of the day – yearbook. I currently have 15 young women that I love to death. We work hard, we fight tough, and we produce a phenomenal book. We have a class discussion about what is going on in the school, what we need to be covering, what we are doing in class today, and the fact that they owe me $15 for their staff t-shirts. We also discuss a “missing” camera that has turned up. I’m just glad to see it – that’s $700 I don’t have to worry about. The first years meet with some of the advanced students in a conference type setting about fall sports stories and then take a quiz on alternative coverage. My other advanced students go back to the Journalism room to work on pages.
While they are working Mandy and I sit down to discuss things she needs to be aware of while I am gone. This isn’t a typical day for us but we are preparing for my maternity leave and now seems like as good of a time as any to show her the ropes. She is my co-adviser but most of the time she is just a warm body so we discuss quite a few things. And she knows she can call me anytime while I am gone.
Isn't Mandy cute?? Can't you tell she is working hard? :)I conference with my school life editors about their designs while Mandy runs to the office. Several businesses have paid for their page sponsorships so I enter them into our Excel spreadsheet as paid. I talk with a few of the editors about deadlines. The block flies by.
A group of yearbook girls crowd around a computer to help two of the younger students with their design. 1:35 The bell rings. Third block is over. I head to yet another classroom to teach fourth block. It is a repeat of second block.
1:42 Fourth block begins. We do all of the same things that we did in second block. I like teaching the same class twice and I feel like I always do a better job the second time around. Everything flows smoothly.
My fourth block students work independently for a few minutes at the beginning of the block on journals and vocabulary. While they work I work at the desk in this classroom. I have to use every possible minute I can to avoid taking work home in the evening.3:00 School is over! Hurray! Kids run like crazy to get out of the school. I walk back across the hall to Mandy’s room to discuss a few things I forgot to talk to her about third block. She is getting ready for play rehearsal. I talk to another teacher who is in Mandy’s room about her daughter who I was friends with in high school. She is also pregnant and due in January.
3:15 Back to my desk. I check my email one last time and decide that I am not going to stay late today. Trick or Treat is tonight and I want to come home and make goodie bags and do a few things around the house. I close up shop for the day and head home.
3:30 I’m home. I feed the cats and sit down to have a mid-afternoon snack. Two mini peppermint patties and a glass of decaf tea hit the spot while I check my email and bloglines.
My fur baby presidents (Reagan, Lincoln, Madison and Wilson) are always hungry and dying to be fed as soon as I walk in the door.
My afternoon snack!4:00 I straightened some things up around the house. We had some Christmas presents on the main floor that needed to be taken to the basement to be wrapped. I prepared a few books to be mailed for paperbackswap.com (awesome site, fyi). I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher and made Halloween goodie bags. Typical afternoon chores – a little of this and a little of that to keep the house in order so I don’t go completely crazy!
The cute goodie bags I made!4:45 Mike calls. He is on his way home from work.
5:08 Mike calls again. He wants to know what we are doing for dinner since Trick or Treat is suppose to start at 6. We decide to just order a pizza. I hang up and call to order it.
5:45 Mike arrives home. He brings in the mail and sweeps the porch. He decides to set up chairs on the porch so we can just sit out there instead of running back and forth to the door all evening.
5:48 The pizza arrives. The delivery boy is one of my former students. I tip well and give him a bag of candy. Even big kids appreciate candy.
5:55 We set up camp on the front porch. Pizza, drinks, and candy. Our neighborhood is always busy and full of trick or treaters. Parents bring them in vans and trucks and just drop them off in our neighborhood since we are in the “good” part of town. It’s okay – we are prepared with plenty of candy.
Mike poses with the bowl of candy6:00 We start to see our first trick or treaters. But it isn’t as crazy as it was last year. More young kids and less teenagers – which doesn’t really hurt my feelings - I see enough teenagers everyday! Several animals are dressed up as well.
6:30 Mandy shows up to help us pass out candy. Several “special” trick or treaters come by and I give out my treat bags. Each bag has assorted candy, chocolate candy, peeps, and a beanie baby. Pretty exciting stuff!
Bo and I sit with the candy on the front porch waiting for cute trick or treaters!6:48 Mandy’s little sisters come by. As I am handing them their bags another little boy comes up on the porch. I give him some candy and he asks if he can have a bag. “I’m sorry, those are only for special people. People we know. I’m so sorry.” I just told a little boy he isn’t special. I’m totally going to hell. And that really wasn’t what I meant at all…
The kitties were enjoyed by many of the young trick or treaters that came by. We were told countless times how cute they are and a co-workers little girl was truly fascinated by them.8:00 Trick or Treat is officially over for the year. We have a big bag of chocolate candies left. I guess I know what my students will be eating tomorrow! I’m stuffed to the brim with pizza and my own choice pieces of candy. Ugh!
8:05 We start picking everything up and moving back inside. I pack the candy up to take to school tomorrow while Mike puts away the chairs. We head upstairs to put on our pjs. I take off my makeup and brush my teeth. Ahh…. It feels good to be in more comfy clothes!
8:17 It’s time to relax. Back in my chair with the computer on my lap. Time to check email and blogs one last time.
8:24 A timer I set earlier in the afternoon when I was online goes off. I have an eBay auction ending in just a few minutes that I really want to win. I think Bo will look so cute in these moose clothes!!
8:50 The auction ends. I’m the winner! Yeah! Bo has a few cute outfits to wear! Now if he would just hurry up and come so he can wear them!
9:07 Email has been checked. Blogs have been read. I decide to start writing this post and uploading my pictures from the day. It takes forever! Blogger needs a way to upload multiple photos at once!
A goofy self-portrait for the last picture of the day. Agh! It's been a long one!10:09 Bedtime. I can't keep my eyes open any longer -- I'll finish this post tomorrow!
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