Can you believe I am actually positive for another genetic mutation?
I was told about the MTFHR Gene while pregnant and how that causes blood clots and problems in pregnancy.
I am BCRA2 positive.
Now? I find out that I am one of 10% of the population that is missing a liver enzyme that breaks down some medications. One of those medications if Tamoxifen which is the drug I am supposed to be on to suppress my hormones.
OK so let me explain. So, my cancer was Progesterone and Estrogen positive. And because I am BRCA2 positive, I most certainly need a full hysterectomy. However, even with a hysterectomy, I will still have estrogen in my endocrine system. So for 10 years I have to be on a hormone supressent even though I will no longer have girl parts. The most prescribed one is Tamoxifen. Which now I cannot take.
Whew. So that's it in a bottle (no pun).
I am one big heaping pile of steaming genetic mutations.
So to get myself "in the mood" to take these dumb meds and feel like crap again I go to http://www.breastcancer.org/. I either look at the Metastatic Board or the Pallative Board. It gets me into a different state of mind. Those ladies make me feel lucky I am where I am. I could be where they are and they would trade places with me in a second if they could. They would take whatever crappy med they would have to just to spend more time with their families. So whenever I get "poor me" and I do, I go there and it is a big slap in the face. I need to wake up and realize how lucky I really am!
I am currently waiting for Kristen to call me from Dr. Rebecca's office. I have developed a large problem on my abdominal scar. I can't even explain it. I won't take a photo of it because it is really nasty looking. I am pretty sure it is not MRSA again. I thought it would go away but it is actually getting uglier (as if that were possible). It is a large dollar sized blister. I am not sure what is going on. But I am anxious for Kristen to call me back. So I am sitting here next to the phone. Of course it never rings while the boy's are sleeping. It is always when they are awake and bugging me that someone wants to talk.
I just hate that. I miss being able to talk to anyone on the phone. It is nearly impossible now. Both the boy's need something every 10 minutes. I wish I was kidding but I am not. I feel so bad when people call because I want to call back but I can't because I can't talk.
On to other things. I am super excited about Fall. I love Fall. I don't know, nor do I really care, if it is too early to decorate with Fall stuff. I did my dining room table. I bought a beautiful tablecloth and napkins. I need to take a photo. I put out my pumpkin plate and leaves. It looks so nice! OK no, it lookED nice. The boys got into today. It lasted a whole 3 days. I do believe that is a record. Today they ripped down part of the tablecloth. I am surprised my pumpkin plate and leaves are still there.
I am looking forward to the day that I can have nice things. This last week Chelsea and I put a lot of decor. It is pointless to have anything out at all. The boys just tear it apart. Last week they broke a glass picture frame. Today Jake took out marble fruit that I thought was safe. So I think everything is going to have to go. I have a Metronome that I used to play with when I was little. It was given to my Pop by Mr. Jennings. Mrs. Jennings used to play piano at Radio City Music Hall and that Metronome was hers. It was old she got it, so you can imagine how old it is. Well, I thought I had it safely on the dining table. But nope. The boys got into it and took the front off. The front dows come off, they did not break it (miracle). So that has to now be put away. I mean, we are at a point where even the bare minimums are not safe, like lamps. I have to have them otherwise there is no light. But what to do? These children are absolutely the most destructive children I have ever seen. I know they are boys but this is crazy.
Yesterday, I caught Josh hanging on the knife drawer. I mean, for God's sakes. He scares me. They both do. I am always yelling at them just to get them to stop what they are doing until I can waddle my big butt over there and save whatever they have gotten into.
I think, no, I know I need a break.
Last night I was excited because a bunch of movies came in. Well, we chose I Am Legend to watch. Ya. Not exactly Pippy Longstocking. So I needed a Xanax in the middle of it, then I did not sleep well. Tonight, Charlie Wilsons War and I hope it is better!
While Charlie was gond on vacay, I rented Atonement, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Becoming Jane. Atonement I was not crazy about. It was too sad and too weird. Becoming Jane was very hard to understand and boring the first half but I liked the second half. Memoirs I liked a lot. Very interesting.
OK sounds like Thing 1 and Thing 2 are up.Hope everyone has a good weekend!
One last thing.....speaking of things.......I found my old blog from when I was pregnant with Josh. It's long, sorry.
Today...
August 06, 2005
We picked Chelsea up from camp this morning. Watch the new video, we announce to Chelsea after 12 long years of being an only child, she is going to be a big sis. To see all the videos go here: http://www.viperinteractive.com/baby.htm
Another week goes by
August 05, 2005
Today I am 7 weeks pregnant. Time is going by so fast, I can't believe it. So in celebration we went out for Sushi, my biggest craving. Don't worry, I'm not eating raw fish. I am craving California Rolls and Miso Soup and that is what I eat. Thanks Mom for taking us, it was great, again :)
Finally got an Obstetrician
August 04, 2005
His name is Dr. John E. Kaplan. Here is his website: http://www.crownmedicalgroup.com I have my first appointment with Dr. Kaplan on August 25. I just uploaded a photo from yesterdays appointment under the Baby from the Beginning section.
New Video
August 03, 2005
Today I am 6 weeks 5 days pregnant. The new video is up. It is hard to see the heartbeat but the doctor points to it. So look at it over and over again and you will see it eventually. My next appointment is on Wednesday August 17. We will take another video and I will upload it. The baby really grows in the next two weeks, so the video should be a little bit better on the next appointment.
Today...
August 14, 2005
I am 2 months and 2 days. Weird. It is going by so fast. I am really looking forward to Wednesday. I can't wait to see the baby again.
Today...
August 12, 2005
Well, the watermelon was about gone last night by the time I went to bed. When I want something, it is never on a small scale. I have a little bit left and I am hesitating to let much more time go by before I go back to the store and get more. I don't want to end up like I did the other night with no watermelon. I did nothing today. Seriously. Partly because I was up most of the night. Babar has a hurt leg so he has been sleeping with us. He likes to chase rabbits in his sleep and last night his claws were chasing rabbits on my legs. Charlie was snoring last night , I was hot and then I was cold, and then I have to get up every 1-2 hours to use the powder room. So needless say, I got no sleep last night and today I am too tired to do anything. Hey, it's Friday though and Charlie and I get to spend two whole days together. So sleep or no sleep, it is Friday and I am happy :)
Today...
August 11, 2005
Nothing much going on. I've been studying like crazy. I have finals on the 26th. I feel great about everything except Contracts. Ugh. The word just gives me shivers up my spine. I've been craving fruit a lot lately. I had a few grapes and an orange last night but I was really upset that I didn't have watermelon or anything else. So first thing this morning I went to the store and got some cantalope and watermelon, which I think I am about to break open any minute . Then went over to Juice it Up and got a large fruit smoothie with two Calcium and Iron boosters and I could go for another one right about now. Mom has gotten me some really cute maternity clothes. Gosh, things have come a long way since I've had Chelsea. I didn't make it far enough with Chelsea to need anything expect cotton leggings. No laughing, it was 12 years ago and they were in style, so stop it! I took Mom to her Oncologist yesterday and then stopped by to feed my Ostrich friend. He was really hungry and I felt bad that I didn't have more food for him. But I will be back on Wednesday because that is my next Prenatal appointment :) I can't wait to see the little guy again (the Ostrich and the baby).
Today....
August 09, 2005
Mom, Chelsea & I went to High Tea in Fallbrook. It was great! The teas, the scones, the salad, the tea sandwiches, and the dessert. It is all wonderful and served on the most beautiful Royal Doulton china. I love the sandwiches the most but I am not much for the dessert. For whatever reason, I just don't like sweets this pregnancy. Last night I wanted a mustard hamburger with cheese and no bun or Sushi, suprise. Then we went over and fed the Ostrich that is off the freeway in Fallbrook. It was wonderful and I especially liked the part when Mom got pecked by an Ostrich. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time and as I write this, I am still laughing. It is a first in my book of memories. I now know someone who actually got pecked by an Ostrich. Had a little nausea this morning because Chelsea put perfume on and I just couldn't handle it. So Mom had to go in and wash it off of her so I wouldn't be sick all day. I'm just so fun to be around these days! I forgot to tell everyone that I was elected by our neighborhood a few months ago to serve on our Landscape Maintenance Board of Directors (a Homeowner's Association is disguise). I am the Director at Large (no kidding, large is the keyword there). So tonight I am off to the meeting to discuss our neighborhood and address issues.
Today....
August 07, 2005
I added some photos of my sister on her horse Winston under Family Photos 2. Chelsea & Mom are going baby shopping today. Chelsea stayed up late and played with the baby clothes and the bassinet. I think it finally has sunken in. Again, I feel great. I won't say "it" for fear of hexing myself, but no, I am not getting any of "that" in the AM hours. Some at night, but it is bearable and I just try to go to sleep to ignore "it".
The countdown begins
August 23, 2005
We are going where on Thursday?
Geesh Babar!
August 21, 2005
So we took Babar to the specialist which was 5X more expensive than we expected just for the diagnosis. They did X-Rays on both legs, a tap of the fluid of the knee and the Cytologist is reading the results today, and of course because he is so uncooperative they had to give him some dog dope to knock him out. So here is the story. His right back leg definately needs to be repaired. He had what is termed, a cruciate ligament injury which is the same exact thing as what football players get. It is when your foot stays in place but your leg goes the other direction. In order to fix it, they have to break the bone and realign it with two metal plates. He will be down and out for some time. We will need to help him to the doogie powder room by using a sling and two people to carry his caboose. This would be a good time to have a crane laying around the house but sadly we just don't have one handy. Sadly, the left leg is showing signs of the same injury. The Vet said if it goes bad, it will go bad in the next year or so. On a good note, his hips are fabulous. The cost...... the amount of a brand new compact car. No, I am not kidding. What are the alternatives? To let him be in pain? To put him down at 2 years old? No way. So thanks to Mom my puppy will walk again. He made some great friends at the Vets office. They didn't have a kennel big enough for him so they put him on a long lead and he got to walk around all day in the office. The Vet Techs would sit on the floor with him and pet him. He ate it up I am sure. He loves the ladies. Through the whole conversation with the Vet all I heard was "well, because he is so big", "you know because he such a large dog", " he is such a special dog that..." I just don't get it, he doesn't look that big to me ,he is just my little boy. Charlie and I feel really bad for him. He is our baby and we don't want to see him in pain but in the end, it will be worth it. I am 9 weeks 2 days pregnant today and I feel great. I can't wait to see the Dr. on Thursday. I have a ton of questions for him. I think we picked the colors out for the babies room, Beige, Ivory, Cream, and White. Mom bought the changing table for us today. She was also the one that found the ensemble for the babies room that we all love so much. Thanks again Mom! Gosh, everything is so cute maybe I should think about having another one :)
Gosh!
August 18, 2005
OK So Babar has been kind of limping for a few weeks. I took him to the Vet about 3 days after he started limping. The Vet couldn't do an exam on him because he was being uncooperative. So the Vet put him on some anti-imflammatories hoping that it would work and we wouldn't need to take it any further. Well, he was still limping as of Monday so I made an appointment for today. Bad news. He has a ruptured ligament and is going to need major surgery. The Vet said he can't do it because Babar is too big so I have to go to an Orthopedic Specialist. Cha-Ching $$. Again, Mom to the rescue, thanks Mom! Thankfully, we have pet insurance that will cover about $1200 but that will probably be a drop in the bucket. Sigh. We all feel so bad for the little guy! I'm on my way now to pick him up. He has an appointment tomorrow with the Orthopedic Surgeon. On a happier note, I uploaded the sonogram photo from yesterday under "Baby from the Beginning". My next appointment is next Thursday, the day before my Law School finals. What was I thinking??
Yea!
August 17, 2005
The baby is great! Don't forget to look at the videos. The baby can be seen really well and the heartbeat looks wonderful. The baby also moves around a lot in these videos. Here is my Ostrich friend.
Remember!
August 16, 2005
We will be taking more video tomorrow so don't forget to check the video section of this site. I will also put the video on the mirror site I have set up to house all the videos. http://www.viperinteractive.com/baby.htm (Copy & Paste the URL into your browser) I have officially had to move into maternity clothes. Thankfully, Mom has been doing a lot of shopping on my behalf or I wouldn't have a thing to wear. My Mom seems to come through a lot for us. Thanks Mom! Something happened between yesterday and the day before and I just sort of popped. Last night I was layng there watching TV and realized that my tummy was in the way of the TV. I said to Charlie "Honey, I'm pregnant and I can't see the TV" So I had to prop up my pillows. With Chelsea, I never really got too big and pretty much wore regular clothes until she was born. But Mom keeps reminding me that on the second baby you pop faster and bigger. Oh great! Sounds like Jiffy Pop on the stove. I still feel great. I slept really well yesterday afternoon and last night. Despite that Charlie made me watch something on Locusts before we went to bed. I usually dream about the last thing I saw and I had this dread that I was going to have those darned night terrors all night, but I didn't. I stop my Progesterone today. Yea! Another milestone. I am finally off every medication except Prenatal Vitamins, of course. I have to remind myself to go to the bread store today and get Ostrich bread because I get to see him tomorrow. He really loves white bread or hot dog buns so that is what I am going to try to get today. I also hope to remember to take a picture of the Ostrich so I can post it on the website.
No fun
August 31, 2005
Well, I am supposed to be getting to a point where I feel really good. The opposite is happening. I am feeling a lot worse. I don't even want to go anywhere. I am completely exhausted and dizzy. My blood pressure has been consistent 122/91. I know, I know, not great. I see the Dr. in 3 weeks so hopefully we will come up with a solution at that time. Babar is doing well. He is still 3-leggin' it. When they shaved him for his surgery, they shaved him too close. So he has this area on his caboose that is bleeding. Well, I knew I needed to put some antibiotic cream on it but it needed to be covered. So I put on a Curad pad that has antibiotic cream on it. I thought it was a good idea. Today though, it is falling off a bit. So I decided just to take the darned thing off. He was sort walking away and so I thought I would just take off the bit that was still hanging on. As I did, he cried :( I felt terrible!! So needless to say, he has this large bandaid hanging off of his rear end. I don't dare try to take it off again. So a few days ago, Mom, Chelsea and I decided to go to breakfast at a local restaurant named Ruby's. Chelsea was sitting there reading the menu and at the top was their slogan "For Over 20 Years......." So Chelsea says, "Well I guess I can't order from this menu." I said "Why?" She said, "Mom it says for over 20 years and I am only 12." I thought that was so funny. She thought we were laughing at her so we aren't allowed to mention it anymore. Chelsea has this bad habit of saying "Nana watch" "Daddy watch" "Mommy watch". I mean we have to watch everything she does or sees on the TV. It kind of gets annoying after a few hours. So tonight Mom says "Chelsea for tonight please just don't say watch" So Mom says a few minutes go by and Chelsea says "Nana, view Nana, view". Little smarty pants that one is. Charlie started his Calculus class on Monday. Bless his heart. He is taking Psychology and Calculus this semester. I would rather be in Law School than take one single math class. Ugh! No thanks!
Lazy day.
August 29, 2005
Today I didn't get much done. I had a really bad headache. The only thing I did was to take Mom down her doctors office in San Diego. Once you go to San Diego, it is sort of the end of the day. It takes forever to go there and get back. I was even feeling so bad that I asked Mom to drive from Escondido back. I didn't even stop to see my Ostrich friend. One thing I sort of failed to mention on my last appointment was that my blood pressure looked a little high. Ugh. Here we go again. I didn't think it was too bad but the Dr. wanted to put me on meds nonetheless. I am not taking anything until I see my new normal doctor. My blood pressure was 140/82. Not terrible for me but I am still concerned. So I called to make an appointment today with my new doctor and they can't see me until September 23rd! Gosh! That is forever not to see the baby. I took the appointment and told them about my blood pressure. They said to just keep an eye on myself. They said if things don't feel right go down to Mary Birch Hospital for Women's triage department for evaluation. Well, that just wasn't good enough for me or Mom. We went and bought a blood pressure cuff. I took my blood pressure and it was higher than I like to see. I couldn't get the darned thing to work so I am not sure how accurate that really was. I will take it before before when I am sitting correctly. Am I just in denial or is my blood pressure already an issue? The thought of being on strict bedrest and having another 2lb. baby does not thrill me. I am not sure what I can do different. I eat healthy, I rest a lot, I am attempting to keep my stress down, and not watching upsetting TV programs (like the news). This is so frustrating. Now my blood pressure is probably high because I am ticked that I am getting ripped off again. I always said, if I were 16, on Prom Night, and my Mom would kill me, I would be pregnant and have a normal pregnancy. But, nope, not me. So an-y-way, the photo is our new baby room. I think I mentioned before that my colors were white, beiges, ivories, etc. I wanted something not boy and not girl since I am insisting on not finding out. Speaking of which. Charlie is the only one insisting on knowing what it is. My Mom is allowing me the choice, though she wouldn't mind knowing, she understands my choice. All my friends are saying not to find out. Charlie, wants to know. Anyone that knows my dear sweet husband knows he doesn't hide things well. I just know he will accidently say he or she. Is it a tragedy to know? No. I know it even makes sense for shopping purposes. However, not knowing sure hasn't stopped my Mom. I am torn. I want to make Charlie happy and I don't want to know. I know the Dr. can hand him a card with the boy or girl written on and only he will know. But like I said, he will accidently say he or she. How can you not?
This Sucks!
August 28, 2005
Babar was in so much pain last night. He cried all night. So I called the Vet. Fortunately, his Vet is an emergency Vet so they are open 24 hours. She said to keep our eye on him and if he continued to cry to bring him in. So this morning we brought him in. They looked at his leg and they said it all looked normal. They gave him some pain meds so he was able to sleep all day. We were all relieved to see he was at least pain free for a little bit. What you see in the photo is how Babar gets around. He is on strict bedrest. So when he gets up his rear has to be carried in a sling. When I called and spoke with the Vet tech asking how I am supposed to manage this sling. She said "Well it is easy but that sure is a lot of dog". Nooooo. Really? If I hear one more time..."you can put a saddle on that one har har har".......ugh! So my Law School finals are all done. Oh my gosh what a relief! So there was no UCC essay in Contracts. I couldn't have been happier about that. Though the Uniformed Commerical Code is not particulary difficult, I don't know it as well as I should. Criminal Law was a little thin on the issues. Solicitation, conspiracy, burglary but no dead body. Odd. Torts was the big essay. They touched on almost every issue including Strict Products Liability. SPL is new for me because we just learned it torwards the end of the year. I love it though. I really do love Torts most of all and would do them over again if I could. I guess that means I will be a great ambulance chaser. Next year I am taking Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Real Property, and Constitutional Law. Whew! Lots of big classes. Real Property? Ugh, no thanks! The baby is doing great and I feel good too. I am 10 weeks 2 days along. Time is flying isn't it? I make my appointment tomorrow with my new doctor. I am very excited. I will probably have an urge to hug her and thank her for being normal and nice.
You know you love your dog when...
August 27, 2005
BAD DAY!
August 25, 2005
So I took Babar to the Vet. I cried all morning. I felt so bad, I know he going to be in so much pain. He was shaking like a leaf and they had to force him to go into the back. I am sure he sensed my tension and that wasn't helping. I just got a call from Charlie at around 1:30 that said the Vet called and said he is out of surgery and they were wrapping his leg. The Vet said his tendon was almost completely blown but the other leg is holding up thus far. Babar is resting comfortably on Morphine and Fentanyl patch. I will get to pick him up tomorrow after my finals. It sure is going to be a long lonely night. He sleeps with us in our bed every night. I know I'm going to miss having him there. So I went to my first OB appointment. Yet, another nightmare. The Dr. was a complete jerk. We were going over my history and I told him about my L-5 S-1 back disk hernation. He then proceeds to say "well, you could end up a paraplegic, it is rare but it does happen". Gosh, nice thing to say. So then we go to do the Ultrasound and I said "Oh, can I hear the baby's heartbeat?" He said "If your baby is alive you will" WHAT?!? I couldn't believe what he just said to me. I was instantly convinced there was something wrong. I couldn't even enjoy the Ultrasound because I was mortified. When I got home I called my insurance immediately and changed Dr.'s. Anyway, there is a new video up. I also put a new photo up under Baby from the Beginning. Remember you can click any photo on this site to make it bigger.
Sunday :(
September 11, 2005
The weekend is over and the house is a mess from Chelsea being home all weekend. I hate Sundays. I'm obviously at that overly emotional part in my pregnancy. I've been crying all weekend. I've had reasons but I've noticed that they aren't as bad as I think they are. I think I am just stressed. My business is a mess and I am so behind in school. I just have no desire to study right now. I think I feel like, "what for?" I know that even I know everything there is to know about the Law, my test anxiety will wipe my mind clean moments before the exam. It is sort of pointless to study. I will study though because I know I should but I really don't want to. I guess maybe just not right now.
I realize today is September 11th and I probably should address it, but I'm not going to. It is too tragic and I hate talking about it. So the people who were effected are in my thoughts and I will leave it at that.
We have a birthday party to go to at 3pm today. So that should get my mind of my woes, at least for a bit.
Babar is doing okay. He is having a hard time understanding why he can't get on the bed and sleep with us. He gets very upset when we tell him no and he will walk off and pout. So then you have to go and console him and he is just the biggest baby. He also has this notion he can run and play. It is so hard for him sometimes and he just doesn't understand. Poor guy!
So it looks like we are going to Albuquerque for Christmas. I couldn't be happier. If it weren't for Babar being here, I would never come back. I do plan on looking at homes while we are there. I can't wait to get out of here. I wanted to move after my Bar Exam but Charlie wants me to be here so he can be at all the baby appointments. I understand that. So I am staying at least until the baby is born. After that, I am hoping to move to Albuquerque and start getting settled there. Chelsea HAS to get to a new school district and I refuse to raise my baby here. I want Charlie with me but he has to stay with his company. He is a very loyal employee. So we will just commute. Or, I should say, he will commute on the weekends. I pretty much only see him on the weekends anyway. It will suck to be apart, but in this economy, there is no other way. Chelsea is suffering in school and we are drowning here. His commute on Friday is 2-3 hours. It is awful. So things need to change. Plus I would like to know for once in my life what it is like to have family around. I've never lived near any family members, ever. So this would be a nice change. Even if I never see them and I probably won't because they have busy lives, I would just like to know that there is someone around to say hello to. Here, there is no one. No family. A few friends that are spread all over the place and are busy with their own lives. Then Bernadette left and that was that.
My next Dr. appointment is Friday the 23rd! Yea! I can't wait to see the baby. She/He has been causing me grief the last few days. He/She doesn't like when I sit staright up or move wrong. I get these terrible cramps. So I have to move without smushing him/her or he/she gets an attitude. So should I find out the sex or not?
Home
September 09, 2005
I feel so much better today. Sadly, Chelsea is not ,so she stayed home from school. I am 3 months today. Oh my gosh. I am sliding right into my second trimester already. Time is flying right on by. I feel good. I'm only getting up about 1-2 times a night. So that is certainly a great thing. Today seems a little calmer than most days. Maybe because I am feeling better and it is Friday. I love Fridays. I get to see my husband for a whole 2 days in a row. It is so great. Yea for Fridays! Chelsea is still having problems with that same girl from last year. She is constantly harrassing her and just never lets up. I again called the transportation services and told them the story. I had spoken with that same womn 3+ times last year. So she is well-versed in my situation. Not so strangely, nothing has been done about this other girl. My dear sweet friend Bernadette called today and I told her everything that was going on. She had some really good ideas that I think I will implement here soon. Bernadette used to work for the school district so she has an inside view on what I should be doing. Now only if she were here! She was smart enough to move out of this place. Although I would never want her to come back and suffer by living here, I miss her everyday.
My grandfather moved yesterday from Texas to New Mexico. My Mom and Uncle drove his two cars and the things that couldn't go into the moving truck up to Albuquerque. I'm jealous! I wish I could be there too. I keep thinking, someday, someday, someday I will finally go home where I belong. Have you ever felt like you don't fit in? I feel like a fish out of water here. I belong somewhere else. I have always felt it was Albuquerque. Maybe it's not, but I know it isn't here. I've never hated a place like I hate it here.
OK before I forget...I know everyone is asking for donations for the hurricane but everyone is failing to mention the animals. We are not giving a dime to the people and giving purely to the animals. They have no voice and need the help. They also didn't shoot their rescuers and rape babies. Please donate to www.noahswish.org Here is a letter I got from them. It made me feel good that I could do something to help the little guys:
Dear Friend, I want to thank you for the part you are playing to ensure that animals were not the forgotten victims during Hurricane Katrina. Your financial support will help in so many different ways and you should be proud of what you have helped to make possible. I wish you could be with us to see the joy and relief on the faces of the people whose animals needed our help and be the recipient of some of the juicy kisses we receive from the dogs and heard the contented purring on the cats that we cuddle in our arms. It is a constant reminder why we keep doing what we do.
Happy Friday to eveyone!
Didn't I say my life was never boring?
September 07, 2005
Well, last night Babar was really favoring his leg. So Charlie called the Vet. Like I said before, they are 24 hours so we can call anytime. Kind of nice. But boy did we pay for that little service. So we told them how Babar how gone to jump on the bed and fell backwards onto his leg full force. We told them how he yelped a bit and then the next day he fell off the bed and got his leg caught in a box. So they moved his appointment to take his staples out from Thursday to today. Charlie made the decision not to give him any doggie dope so that I could load him into the car. See, the Vet only takes regular non-emergency appointments from 10am-5pm. Well, Charlie has work and school so I am on my own. Well, last night Babar could not get comfortable. He was up all night standing and spinning in our bed. He woke me up several times. Charlie ended up staying up with him most of the night and then eventually sleeping on the floor with him. Charlie finally gave Babar some drugs and made the decision to stay home from work so he could help load Babar into my truck. Charlie planned on staying here half day and then going to work and then school. Well, that didn't happen. We took Babar to the Vet. The Vet did sort of a prelimiary check and they decided to keep him and do X-Rays. At 1:30 I called to see if we could come pick him up. After being on the hold for a few the Vet came on the phone. I knew right then something was wrong. Boy, I was right. Babar broke his Tibia. Sigh. So. Not so good news. When he fell he broken off the top of his tibia. He is in a faux cast. It is just tightly bound bandages that have to be changed weekly. This poor dog. The good news is that we did put on both stabilizer plates. If we had not, this injury could have been fatal. So whew, some good news. He won't be the same for quite some time and his long term prognosis is not so great. So Charlie helped me get home and then left for school. Babar has been crying. I gave him some pain meds and put him in the closet. I know that sounds weird, but he likes it in there.
So as I am sitting there watching Jeopardy, I hear this dumb annoying helicopter. You know when you hear something but sort of ignore it. Then after about 30 minutes it starts to get annoying and then you really feel its prescence? Well, that is what happened. So I walked out into the backyard in my pj's and he is circling the end of our street. I thought maybe they were taking aerial photos of the new area. So Chelsea comes out and says "Mom that's the Police". She was right. So I put some clothes on and went into the front yard. There were several people outside. Neighbors, people walking, people looking around. These women that were going for a walk stopped and spoke to a man and told him what was going on. I couldn't hear so when they got to my house I asked. They said that there was some guy in a truck that had a shotgun and was running from the police in the hills behind our housing development. Then my neighbor proceeds to tell me that the police were down there with guns drawn earlier. What a lovely place I live in!
Did you all hear what Barbara Bush said about the hurricane victims? Did any of those Bush's (no pun here) go to school?
Nothing is ever easy
September 06, 2005
Have you ever just had one of "those" weeks? Well, my life is never boring but my goodness. At this point I think I would like it to be somewhat mundane at least for a few weeks. I won't go into everything because it is boring. I am behind in school, the dog reinjured his leg, my business is all screwy right now, Chelsea is a teenager, my Mom is gone helping my grandfather move, and I am sicker than I thought I would be with this stupid cold. It's little things like, today my printer blew up on me while I was trying to get orders out that were 1 week late. The phone is acting up and I can't get a hold of my Mom. My car died on Saturday and needed a new battery. Our new internet connection is spacey and comes on and off all the time. I didn't sleep all weekend because I was so sick. Babar fell backwards onto his leg and hurt it while trying to get onto the bed. Then yesterday we gave him some pain meds and he fell off the bed while Charlie was gone. His leg was all cock-eyed on a box. He didn't feel anything because he was on so much doggie dope. Chelsea.....ugh....a teen...do I need to say more? Then I need to ask for special accomodations for my Bar Exam because I am pregnant. All I want to do is bring a pillow to sit on and have some juice and crackers. I have to go through all this hoopla to get just those. I need to fill out a 4-page application explaining who, why, when, where, and my Mother's blood type. Then I have to get a Doctor to fill out another 4 pages explaining the same thing. But here is the problem. I called and told that other Dr. I was moving to a new Dr. My new Dr. won't sign it for me because she doesn't see me until the 23rd and this HAS to be turned in by the 15th. My fertilty doctor won't sign it because I have been released. My regular GP I haven't seen in 3 years so he won't sign it. So here I sit. I can't have juice and a snack during the test. The test is 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon. I have to eat every 2 hours or I get dizzy and sick. UGH! My gosh! I think I need a vacation! And I really shouldn't complain, I know.
The photo says it all
September 03, 2005
Leave it to me to get a cold when I am pregnant. This is the 3rd one and I am only 11 weeks 1 day pregnant. The other two only lasted a day but this one has some umph behind it. I guess I shouldn't complain. I'm alive, my family is safe, and we are all fed and housed. Gosh, those poor people in the SouthEast. What a tragedy. I see a lot of lawsuits stemming from this. Wrongful death suits, negligence, etc. Oh man. I hope we all learned what not to do in case of an emergency. Gee, don't shoot at your rescuers? I don't know, just a thought. I know, I know, I wasn't supposed to watch the news. I wasn't for a long time but I felt compelled to at the least know what is going on. Plus I TiVO Nancy Grace and she has been talking about it. Oh, Nancy Grace, what I wouldn't do to work for her in any capacity. I love her! One tough ex-prosecuter who pulls no punches. I love it! So...I'm 11 weeks. Next Friday I hit my second trimester. That is supposed to be the feel good trimester. I can't wait! I want some energy back. We have so much stuff for the baby room and it is just sitting in the Living Room. I need to get motivated and start putting it all together. My Mom has bought about everything and things I didn't even think about and Charlie's Mom bought everything else and the crib. So now it looks like it is all complete. I really have to get my rear in gear now. Thanks to both new Granny's. Oh, was that a mean word? Well, if that didn't make anyone feel old this should do the trick. I am at a moment in my life where I too can become a grandmother AND a mother at the same time. But that isn't going to happen or someone won't see their 13th birthday. Yea! A 3-Day weekend with my husband! Yesterday was so exciting for me. I was too sick to actually enjoy it but I was so happy. He actually came home early. It was so great and he slept in this morning. So he probably feels good too.
All creatures great, small, and slimy
September 19, 2005
Animals are so attracted to Charlie. He just has one of the magnetic personalities or something. So all creatures come right up to him. It is kind of neat to see. I only wish he would put out the vibe to cute, fuzzy, friendly animals. Early on Friday I was sitting out in front waiting for Charlie to come home. I had Babar with me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something move. I looked over and it was a cute little frog on the wall next to me. Frogs frequently go in our pool and hang out in the front of our house. I think it because we live next to a ravine. I don't mind them too much. I mean they are ugly and I would rather have kittens ay my door but whatever.So Charlie gets home and we decide to go sit outside. Babar was so depressed that day we decided to give him a little outdoor time. Well as we were walking out Chelsea said "What's that?" At that very moment she stopped in front of me and I was already in a forward motion. So I grabbed her shoulders and pushed her. I was more hanging on to her so I wouldn't fall or hit my head against hers. She stopped so short I didn't have time to stop myself. I looked over, said something unlady like, and told Chelsea to go to the corner. Charlie and Babar were behind me and we pushed Babar back in the house. I'm yelling at Charlie to do something because there is a 2.5 foot snake on our front porch. He doesn't know what to do. So I tell Chelsea to go get our neighbor Jolyn and see if they want a pet or have something to catch this snake with. Ever so resourceful, Jolyn brings a claw thing. So the other neighbor now comes over and takes the claw thing. We tell Chelsea to go get a box. Charlie is stepping on the snake and it is biting him. Chelsea took forever so I got a plastic bag. As the neighbor and Charlie and trying to round this thing up the neighbor lets it go and it crawls into a hole below my house stucco. I could have lived without his help thank you very much. But that is another subject for another day. I just stood there in shock. There is a snake between the walls of my house. So after doing much research we found out it is a King Snake native to Riverside County and it is not posionous. I have a snake in the walls of my house!
The weekend was nice. We picked Mom up on Saturday and I just feel relieved. It is nice to have someone else here with me. I feel safer or something. I don't know. She leaves again on the 5th to see my grandfather. She will be back right before my stupid Bar Exam.
Yesterday we went to Babies R Us. I really do hate their name. It makes it sound so juvenile. Anyway, we walked in to a sea of pregnant women. It was neat. Charlies Mom bought us the crib so we went to pick it up. I really love it! I can't wait to see it all together. I still feel really disconnected. I mean when I see someone pregnant I think, I'm pregnant too but there is no end to that. I don't think I have dealt with "I'm going to have a baby". I think maybe I am scared to or something. I think when the baby room gets set up, I may start feeling like there is an end to the pregnancy. I just know I am pregnant and that is all I feel. It's weird but I'm glad I'm living in the moment. I'm glad that I am not thinking about the end so much that I can't enjoy being pregnant for the last time in my life. So in a sense, there is a good thing to how I feel. But I don't think about how he/she will look or what they will be, or how the labor will go. Maybe its fear. Who knows.
So today I met with 2 other March Moms. It was really neat to compare notes and bellies. Everyone is dizzy so that made me feel better. I keep thinking its just me. I mean it gets to the point that I feel drunk. I guess I am just a cheap date. Feed me a glass of milk and I'm a blood alcohol of 0.0 but can't drive. Woo hoo. There are two other March Moms that join this lunch group but one works during the week and the other was out of town. I really enjoyed being with the girls today and pregnant ones at that.
Did you watch Bush address the nation? All I heard was Charlie Browns teacher "waa waan - waaaa- wann" Gee Bush you are about 2 weeks late making that fabulously, not written by you, pre-written, BS, speech. How did a C Average student get into Yale? And to think that I am a registered Republican. Kick me.
I have a snake in the walls of my house.
Happy Friday!
September 16, 2005
YEA! It's Friday again! I get to see my husband for 2 days and I am 13 weeks pregnant.
We watched Survivor last night. It was as good as ever. I can't believe how weak those men were. I told Charlie it was the reason that men don't have a babies. They can't handle an 11 mile hike and having a baby is equal to a 50 mile hike with a big painful bosom to boot.Speaking of TV. Has anyone seen that show Breaking Bonaduce on VH1? Oh man. If you want to feel good about yourself, watch it. It is tha guy Danny Bonaduce from the Partridge Family. He is such a mess. His poor children. His wife is a jerk for staying and allowing his children to be treated that way. Anyway, if you are bored one night, watch for about 10 minutes and you will get what I am saying.
We have no plans this weekend thus far. I pick Mom up Saturday from Albuqerque. I'm so glad she is coming home but I know my Grandfather would like her there too. She needs to splice herself 3-fold. One for me, one for Chelsea, and one for Pop.
OK so I've been so jealous because everyone that I know that is pregnant rented a doppler to listen to their babies. I didn't. I'm not sure why I didn't, I just never got around to it I guess. So I read today that use of the dopplers on a frequent basis can hurt the babys hearing. Well, all I can say is, I'm glad I didn't get one. I am being so extra cautious with this baby, I would be so upset if I did anything to hurt Him/Her.
Alright, so we are at that point. My ultrasound is on Friday and it will be my 14th week. We could find out the sex of the baby. Charlie is still insisting on finding out. So today he told me that when they hand him the card not to look at his face for reaction. Well, okay. Sure. So I guess we will be finding out. Ugh. I'm so caught. See, I want to know too in a sense. But then you can never go back. I mean, once you know, you know and that's it. It's so final. I think it would be so fun to guess by looking at the ultrasound. I dunno. I think there will be a lot of conversation this week on the subject.
Babar is doing okay. I think he is getting depressed. I think I mentioned his stench the day I picked him up. Well, I baby-wiped him down and it was still there. So yesterday morning the smell woke me up. He just smells. I can't put my finger on the smell. The night before, we washed his bedding and that didn't help. So yesterday I decided to give him a shower. I wrapped his cast in a trash bag and he just stood there. He didn't mind at all. I turned the shower on and he couldn't wait to get in there. He can't even stand his own smell. Poor guy! He just stood there and when we were done, he really didn't want to get out. So I dried him off and he still smelled. So I smelled his cast and that is where the smell is coming from. So I sprayed him down with his cologne "Dog Stud". That's what I call it. It really isn't called that. Still, no avail. So last night Charlie and I wrapped his cast in Bounce. It seems to do the trick. We also put little oil sent things in our room. I don't smell him as much anymore. Poor guy! I don't think he will ever be the same again.
Happy Friday everyone!!
Oh the humanity!
September 14, 2005
Just another exciting day in the McCracken home. Charlie and I took Babar to the Vet this morning at 7am for a bandage change. At about 1pm I called and they said to come pick him up. Sadly, they know me and my dog by first name. I don't have to give them any info as we walk in. So they tell me that they put a really cute cast on him and I would love it.MY POOR DOG! I wanted to die. I haven't quite told Charlie the full story on Babar's new cast. It was sweet of them though. The whole motif was hand done by the Vet Techs. But, not only do I hate the circus because they abuse animals and I think clowns are creepy but the bloody cast is Pink! OK so I guess I should tell a little background on why the pink cast is going to give my puppy a complex. See whenever we go out people always think he is a girl. I think it is because he is pretty but that isn't the only reason. See, because these dogs grow so fast and so big, they sort have to be neutered early. With dogs you can neuter at 4 months. Well, Vets use certain safer and cheaper anethesia with dogs under 50lbs and because he was about that at 4 months, we had to get him fixed. We were part of this puppy plan and it was covered as long as the dog wasn't over 50lbs. So you see, we had to do it. Well, as a result he sort of is stunted in that area and he is frequently mistaken for a girl. It is humiliating. Mostly for him. He is immasculated every time we go out. So Charlie and I always tell him he is free to go out and hunt and gather to compose his manhood. It is sad. If only we could put a blue hat on him so people would know he is a boy. So you see, the pink cast, he will never be the same again. His dog friends in the neighborhood are going to laugh at him. My poor baby! So when I picked him up they told me that he had a fever of 104.5 and I needed to get him settled and take his temp in a few hours. As they broght him out, there was wet stuff on his paws and he smelled. The smell was a combo of alcohol and I don't know what. So I asked and they told me that they put alcohol on his paws to bring the fever down. They said they do it for all the animals that have heat stroke. Interesting, I though. So he was totally stressed out. Bless him though, he got right into the truck for me. I figured out what the other smell was, but I won't go into that. I sat on the floor with him, a wash cloth, ice, and water. I tried to get him cooled down. I finally got some ice packs and put them around him and shut the door. I came back about 15 minutes later and he was wagging his tail. I took his temp and it was 101.5 which is perfect. Ugh, this dog. So we have another appointment next week at 9am. I wonder what motif he will get this time. I think I will request no pink.
I feel good today. I had such a bad headache yesterday. I was really worried. It was a migrane and I couldn't do a darn thing about it. Bless Chalrie's heart, he came home and rubbed my shoulders and poof, my headache was gone. He has this way to make my migranes go away. I don't know what I would do without him.
Oh, all the good shows are starting in the next few weeks. Amazing Race, Survivor, Desperate Housewives. YEA! Oh my gosh I've missed them all so much!
I had my Homeowners Meeting last night. It went well. I like hearing about the neighborhood. I feel like I am making a difference by doing my part.
2 days till Friday! I can't wait. 2 days with my husband!! YEA!
10 More days
September 13, 2005
10 more days until my next ultrasound. I know I shouldn't be so selfish. My Mom keeps reminding me how lucky I am that I have gotten to see the baby so often. I realize that, but it sure has been fun to this point! Who can say they saw their baby at the egg stage?
Have you heard about how mistreated the police officers are in New Orleans? What a tragedy. Really. I logged on the FOP site and they said that they don't need any help. I wonder if the police officers down there feel the same way.
And what was up with that power outage in LA? How weird was that?
Before I forget. Go to www.google.com and type in the search word "failure"
In case no one looked up what Mrs. Bush said I have it in all its glory right here. The nerve of some people.
As reported by John Nicols, The Nation "Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this, this is working very well for them," Mrs. Bush told American Public Media's "Marketplace" program, before returning to her multi-million dollar Houston home.
We have a ham on our hands!
September 12, 2005
I guess the baby didn't like the idea of having to wait all the way until the 23rd to be seen by everyone. Oh noooo! So yesterday I spotted right before I left for the party. I called the Doctor and she told me to call the office and come in today for an ultrasound. I was worried all day yesterday. So I thought, well, I will put my mind at ease by doing a little research. Wrong! Everything I read on bleeding was bad. So when the Doctor called, she made me feel better saying it was common in the first trimester. So I called this morning and got in at 10:30. We finally got in at 12 noon. Everything is perfect. He/she is measure 2.48 inches and the heart rate is 142. All perfect! I am about to upload the picture. It is not to great because he/she had his/her back torwards us. It was hard to see anything. But he/she does have her Dad's ears. You can them very clearly. There is a new video too.By the way, I love my new doctor. Oh my gosh. I felt like I was back in civilization and not a Third World Country like Temecula/Murrieta/Wildomar.
My grandfather had surgery on his foot today and all is good there.
I need to call on my friend Bernadette. She had a procedure done today too. Everyone is in medical limbo lately. I am sure everyone will be fine though because they don't live here. If they lived here, I would worry about their care. This place, ugh, this place. Have I mentioned how much I hate it here?
The birthday party yesterday was fun. It was nice to just hang out and not have to think. I didn't do a darned thing but sit on my rear the whole time. I felt guilty and still do. I forgot to ask if I could help clean up. I was so scatterbrained yesterday. I just walked out without a thought except bed. I'm the worst guest!
*Ding Ding* We made it to 4 months!
October 07, 2005
The picture I posted is of a 4 month old baby. I just wanted everyone to see what stage the baby is in.
I'm 4 months pregnant. I can't believe it! I look 8 months pregnant and I feel great. Knock on wood. I see the baby again on Thursday. I can feel that little booger moving around in there. I think he/she is doing Pilates or something in there.
So did you heard that Katie Holmes is pregnant? Please. Make me sick. I wonder if she knew before she got pregnant that in the Scientology religion she cannot make a sound during the birth. Though it is her first, I am sure she expects that she will be the one mother in World that doesn't scream when that baby is coming out. So I guess you have to remain completely quiet during the birth and for 7 days after. I have this feeling a man made up this rule. I hate Tom Cruise. As for Katie, well she is just a stupid 22 year old wrapped up in a 40 something mans creepy obession over her.
So anyway, Happy Friday!
Me, forget? Never!
October 06, 2005
The week started out so well. I mean I knew it would be busy. I guess I should just expect the unexpected. I mean, you all reading this get a brief glimpse into the weekly happenings, so you have a general idea that my life can be a little nuts at times.
Tuesday- I wake up as normal. I know I have a study group that night. My plan is to do the essay for my study group that night and thenwork on Contracts the rest of the time. Well, not all goes as planned. I wake up and Kiwi is screaming. Yes, she is always screaming. But this was different. So I sit in my room for a bit and see her go in and out of the catbox about 7-8 times. She is screaming while in there and screaming on the way out. So I just figure she ate something that is stopping things for her. I go out to the living room and she is laying on her side with one foot up and trying to go to the bathroom while she is laying down. Okay, now I know something is wrong. I ask Mom if she has been screaming like that all morning and apparently she has been. So I message Charlie and he informs me that cats her age frequently get blockages and it will kill them. So, ugh, BACK to the Vet! I cannot believe it! This time I go to our regular Vet and I tell them I am bringing Kiwi. They were disappointed not to see the boy. I told them that Kiwi is way funner because she is way crabbier. Their statement back to me "oh, that's impossible". Ha! They had no idea! So, I ask Mom if she wants to go with me and she tells me she has her Oncologist appointment. No surprise, I forgot. I usually do remember her appointments but lately I cannot remember ANYTHING! So she says, I will go with you to drop the cat off and you can go to San Diego with me. That is code for "will you drive me to San Diego?" Ha, gotcha Mom! So we drop the cat off . I walk in and I hear "oh, no horse today?" Har-Har-Har. I said no and told them what happened to him. They are genuinely sad for Babar which made me feel good. I even hear the Vet tech telling the Vet and the Vet saying "oh gosh, poor guy!" So sweet! So anyway, Mom and I go to San Diego. We made in there in an astonishing time. I think it was like 1 hour and that was from Canyon Lake which is about 20 minutes from and inland with traffic. So not too bad. It is easy when you are driving a hot new Audi A-6.Moms appointment takes about an hour and unfortunately her medication is not working as planned. So on to Plan B for her. They also put her on some iron to help keep her awake. There goes my comic relief on my drives back from San Diego.So we go to lunch and Mom says, don't forget your cell phone in case they call about the cat. I said "okay mom but don't let me forget it because you know I will, I can't remember anything these days." We eat at Chevy's Mexican which used to be great. They even had sopapillas. Well, something changed. It was nasty and they didn't have sopapillas anymore. So we asked them if they still made them. The waitress said that is depended on who was working in back. She comes back and said they would make them. Sadly, all they did was fry up some flour tortillas and throw honey and ice cream on them. I was desperate so I ate them but I was disappointed beyond belief. I can't get sopapillas anywhere but Vegas or New Mexico. Gee, what shall I do? ;)So we leave the restaurant and go home. I get home and Mom asks me if I forgot my cell phone. I said "yup sure did". So I call Charlie and ask him to go by and pick it up. I call the restaurant and they say they haven't seen it. I really know I brough it in and I know for sure I did not pick it up. I said, "okay I will call it, can you answer it when I call please?" The manager was kind of jerky but said he would. So I call it and there is no answer. Dummy! So I wonder if some small miracle occured and I either forgot to bring it into the restaurant or if I actually remembered to bring it into the car with me. So I called it again. Yes, I hear the ring. It was in the car. I remembered to pick it up at the restaurant but forgot that I remembered. How is that for a little pregnancy induced Alzheimer's?So after the cell phone embarrassment, I call the Vet and I laughingly say "Hi, this is Andrea I wanted to see if Kiwi was dying". The Vet tech got all serious and then I panicked. I panicked so much I missed what she said in the beginning. When I was able to tune in again I heard "We gave her an emema and she is fine." Of course she is! The big faker! Needless to say, she has been very quiet since then. But she promptly came home and used the restroom on the carpet NEXT to the catbox. Hope it was good for her. That was a $71 enema she had, all so she could go to the bathroom on our carpet. So I go and pick her up. I rush home and log into my study group. Well, I thought it started at 5:30 so I thought I had 30 minutes to whip out an essay. All of a sudden I hear *ding*. It's an invite to a chat room. The chat was at 5 pm. So needless to say, I was totally unprepared and felt stupid!Right when the chat is over, Charlie comes home and it is dinner time. Whew! What a day!
Wednesday- Today is Babar's big day! I'm convinced he is getting his cast off. Apparently I am the only one whose glass is half full. No one else thinks he is going to be so lucky today. So I drop him off at 9:30. They are happy to see him and I told them how excited I was that his cast may be coming off. I was met with a sraight face and no comment. I guess they didn't want to dash my hopes. So they come to get Babar and he sits on me and pins me onto the couch. I had to squeeze out from under him and lead him to the door to the back. He was much better this time. No growling and not much oppostition. I was proud of my boy. After I am done dropping him off, I go home check emails, and then I need to take Mom up to Ontario to the airport. She is going back to New Mexico. Leaving me here, in this awful place. So we leave. She needs to pick up her medications so we go to the Pharmacy and then to get gas and we are off. We get up there at a good time and we have time to eat. So we drove around the Ontario Mills Mall and find this place called the Market Grill. Oh my gosh. I was in heaven. It was SO good!! I miss real food like that so much. Sourdough bread, fresh fish, salads, soups. I can't wait to go back. After we were done eating, I drove her to the airport and dropped her off. On the way home, I use my new found cell phone to call the Vet to ask about Babar. They said he is ready and has NO cast!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was SO happy! I couldn't wait to get home and get the truck. I rushed home, got the truck and went to the Vet. The tech brought me in and showed me his X-Rays. It was the first time I had seen them. They were bad. He must have about 10 screws in this leg. The break was at the top of the Tibia at the largest part and it was broken through and through. My baby! My poor baby! They showed me his XRays as of today and what a difference. They said he healed much faster than they expected but he still has to stay quiet for the next 6 weeks. His leg is very weak and he has a moisture infection in his toes. My be some type of doggy athlete's foot or something. Not that he has been real athletic lately but sure stinks like a stinky athlete. The tech was really honest with me and told me that ...here we go ..."because he is such a big dog there is a lot of weight on these legs and I have to be careful with him" She said they love doing this surgery but ..here we go again...."not on big dogs". It is a hard surgery....here we go again..."on such large dogs because they are cutting the bone and because......'here we go'....he is such a large dog they had to double plate him". Yea, yea, yea....I get the picture. So the alternative is a shakey, bugged-eyed, Chihuahua? Not for me!I bring the boy home and it is time for me to so my study group. So I site for two hours and do that. In the meantime, my next door neighbor was getting some cement done. He had informed us the day before that he was finally doing something with his backyard. Charlie and I gave him our word we would keep Kiwi in. In the spirit of my latest tradition, I forgot to tell Chelsea to keep Kiwi in the house. So she lets her out. Yup, you guessed it. Kiwi had to make her mark and walked across his freshly done cement. Thankfully, the guys were still there to repair it but I felt bad. Not really bad because it was funny but a little bad for the workers because they had to redo it. Of course the brat wouldn't come to us so my neighbor had to catch her and bring her to the door. Darned cat!
Last night, I was having a hard time sleeping. It was hot, I was uncomfortable, you name it, it was wrong. So I got up to use the restroom. When I came out Charlie was standing at the closet door. He scared me to death! I said, "Oh you scared me" He said "Oh sorry, where are your suitcases?" I responded with "What? Where am I going?" I think at that point he woke up and said "Nowhere, I am just being stupid"So, should I be offended that he thinks I should have some suitcases packed? It was so funny! I can only hope I am going to New Mexico.
Sunday is Charlie's 31st Birthday. He was supposed to go out with the boys for the weekend but one of them got sick. So they are going away next weekend to Mexico.
Tomrrow is Friday!
Poor Mom
October 02, 2005
This picture was taken last night. But it could be a picture from any night. My poor Mom. She went from living a very quiet life to moving in with a chatty child who hangs on her day and night and a dog who also likes her. Not just any dog, a Great Dane who likes to be everywhere a human is. He just loves his people. He doesn't like many and he takes a LONG time to warm up. He will growl and be a little sacry but once he gets to know you, he will drive you crazy. He loves to sit on laps or hang out with you wherever you may be. I think I did that to him. I used to carry him around the house with me. Well, until he got too big, which didn't take very long. So now he is all about his people.Speaking of my boy. We went to Dairy Queen last night and got him a doggies treat. We usually take him out every weekend. Since he has hurt his leg, he really hasn't goen anywhere. It is really sad. He has this internal clock. At 7:30 every night he is ready to "get dressed" (which means put your collar on), and go for a ride. So he starts walking around and nudging people to let them know what time it is. Well, lately we have had to ignore his pleas. So last night we broke down and took him out. He loved it! As I went in to get Mom and Chelseas food, I looked out and Charlie and Babar were surrounded by women. No suprise. That dog is a chick magnet and Charlie doesn't mind that at all! I can't turn my back before there are women crawling all over those boys. It makes me laugh. I told Charlie that it would be so fun to go down to Pacific Beach with Babar, I will hold a video camera and walk behind them, just to see what happens. It would be great!I don't think I have ever mentioned how much Babar loves to chase rabbits. Not that his lumpy butt could ever catch one, but he likes the thrill of the chase. These dogs used to hunt boars, so anything running on the ground is fun for them. So this morning, Charlie takes Babar out for a powder room break. Babar does his thing and then runs over to where our rafts are. Charlie couldn't figure out why. There was the cutest little cottontail sitting there. He was not moving. So Babar got to sniff him for a really long time. He finally ran off but now Babar is convinced that there is a rabbit behind those rafts every time he goes back there. Bless his heart. He so rarely gets to act like a dog. He is so busy sleeping and eating, he never gets to go out and get dirty.
I am now 15 weeks, 2 days pregnant. I still feel good. I didn't sleep Friday so I was having a rough day but overall, everything is good. I feel the baby moving. Sadly he/she loves to wake up around 11pm. I can feel this slow pushing and not as much kicking, yet. This is Charlies baby, so I know it will start kicking me soon hahaha! I have my aminocentesis scheduled for October 18. And once again the subject of wanting to know the sex came up. Ugh. This again? She asked on the phone if I wanted to know. I told her that had I known she was going to ask that question, I would have consulted my family once again. It's funny, I know what everyone wants but yet, I keep asking. I guess I am hoping to sway them to my side. Not happenin'. These people are holding strong this time. My wicked ways aren't working for once and I just don't know what to do with myself hahaha. No, I still haven't decided. But Charlie is standing strong so I guess my decision is made. Darn it! My next prenatal is October 13th. I can't wait! I will get the blood results back and get to see the little one once again. I told Mom that this time our little once will probably give us the finger. He/she is so tired of being looked at! I just can't help myself though. So, I think it has finally dawned on me that I have to push this baby out. I was thinking about it yesterday and I got a panic attack. So that is a pretty good indicator that reality is setting in. Then I dreamt that I gave birth at Fallbrook Hospital instead of Mary Birch Hospital for Women. Fallbrook is in between where I live and Mary Birch. My Mom said she had me in two hours and my sister in six hours. Yikes! So I think I am now very nervous that I am not going to make it.
Don't forget, Desperate Housewives tonight! I hate Sundays, thanksfully there is DH to watch!!!!
Another day another no dollar
September 27, 2005
Yesterday, don't faint, I actually studied Contracts. I hated it as much as I hated it last time. I understand everything and then go to take a test and forget everything. I think I am frustrated beyond belief. I am frustrated with myself and the fact that I have to take this stupid test. I love learning and I especially love Law School but I HATE that I am being forced to prove what I know. See, I can't prove what I know because I can't take tests well. So it is pointless. If someone asks me a question, I can answer it but takings tests, forget it!
I took Chelsea to the Dr. today. I have to take her to the Pediatric Neurologist and she is starting counseling and seeing a Psychiatrist. The fun never ends. She seems to be experiencing some neurological problems. The counseling and psychiatrist are to help her deal with school and being a teen in Special Ed. I hope they can help her cope a bit.
Tomorrow Babar goes to the Vet for another bandage change. It is always a big ta-doo because when he comes off of the ansethesia he is completely stressed out. I have to cool him down, feed him ice water, take him out several times because he gets diarrhea. Then clean up what he has done throughout the house. It is always a big event for about 48 hours. Last time he went all over himself and then wagged his tail. Hitting me (in a white shirt), the walls, the carpet. well, you get the picture. He is sick for at least 2 days every time. Ugh.
After Babar I have a study group that I am not ready for. I may just go and sit and listen. I don't have anything to add. They all got A' and B's so I am of no use to them.
After my study group, I am meeting my friend Vilma for coffee around 8pm or so. I think she should be in Law School for me and I will finish her Ph.D. for her. Though I never even took Economics as an undergrad. I find that so odd, considering that I think I took about everything else. I think I graduated with enough credits to have at least a Master's. I think I had something like 236 or some crazy number. I just love school. I could go forever.
OK so Mom asked me if I won the lottery what I would do. It's been bothering me so much. The first thing I would do is get my whole family to New Mexico. Buy my sister a horse farm. Get my Mom a house next to mine. Charlie is easy, he wants everything. But really, all I want is my family in New Mexico. I want to get the heck out of here. In a blink, I would be GONE! So GONE! Home, home, home! I think I would adopt some children maybe. Give tons to animal charities. Gosh, how simple and basic is that?
McSlackin'
September 24, 2005
Sorry I haven't updated the site. Call it laziness, being tired, busy, whatever my excuse is, sorry.
On Tuesday my SUV died again. I was sure it was the alternator because we had just bought a new battery and it was dead already. So I called and made an appointment to bring it in. When I went to start the thing, it wouldn't start. So then I had to call a tow truck. Turns out it was nothing more than a dirty connector and I paid more for the tow than the fix. Ugh.
My friend Vilma came over Wednesday. It was so nice to see her again. I don't think I've seen her much since she was in my wedding. We went for coffee and then she came over to my messy house. She is very busy getting her Ph.D in Economics and working as a Professor at a college. So I rarely see her. But it is always nice when I do. She told me she would stop by more often and I will be holding her to that :)
I got my finals back. Put it this way, I passed and I am eligible to sit for the Bar. Darn it. I had a dream last night I was going to UNM Law School. I really wish I was. I have no desire to practice in California. I feel it is pointless for me to take the Bar here and then have to take the Bar in NM too. Stupid. But I have to play by the rules.
Took Babar into the Vet Thursday. They weren't going to out a new cast on him but the cast they put on him the week before smelled. So I asked them to please change it out. When he came out they had it wrapped in a plastic bag so I didn't get to see the new design. It is cuter than the old one and not pink.
I'm 14 weeks 1 day pregnant today!Went to the doctor yesterday. It went really well. Did all my pregnancy stuff. Blood work, exam, and ultrasound. There is a movie up but it isn't very good. They did a different type of ultrasound on me this time and it wasn't as clear :( But it was really cute. This little guy moves A LOT! He was in there wiggling his butt. I don't think we caught it on video but I know we will eventually. We also didn't get any photos. Sorry! Gosh we just slacked on this appointment. But I did call to make my appointment for my aminocentsis/genetic counseling. I am waiting for them to call me back with a day and time. I hope it is soon.
Bern, I meant to call you yesterday but didn't get home until late, then went to eat, and went right to bed at 8pm. Sorry! Hope everything is good and if you ever extra room for 4 and a Great Dane......
I think we are going to tea and an ostrich visit today. Or that is my plan :) No one knows about it yet. I guess since it is 11am, I should inform the family of their plans today hahaha :)
Andi VanWinkle
October 27, 2005
Sleep, sleep, sleep. That is all I want to do. I am in bed by 10, asleep by 10:30 and wake up at 9am. What fun I am! I am finally starting to feel myself de-stress. Yesterday I had this horrible middle back pain from stress and leaning over a bloody table for 3 days. It was hard to lay down and rest because the pain was bad. I don't even feel it today. So I am starting to come down. I feel a slight cold coming on and my other body functions are out of wack. So a few days and I should be me all over again.
The doctor appointment went fine. I think there was a mix up at the doctors office because this appointment was for Fetal Anatomy. It was sort of the same as the one at UCSD. But that is fine because I got another opinion and the boy is fine. Blood flow is good, his spine is great, head is perfectly shaped and sized, and he is measuing exactly to my due date. So I am thrilled. He was sort of being a pill yesterday. He kept moving around and they were having a hard time getting his heart rate. But they finally got it and it was 140. Perfect boys heart rate. See there is this wives tale out there that says girl heart beats are over 140. Well, the last time we got a heart rate it was 160 so I sort of thought it may be a girl. I guess it was just one of those days because his heart rate is in the boy range. Well, if that theory is really true. I uploaded a new picture of him. I think my next appointment is like November 11 or something. As if I can remember anything these days.
So the test.......where to start. I leave on Thursday at about noon. I had to pick Chelsea up early because the school has yet to provide her with a form of safe transportation. I dropped her off and Charlie came home early. I hopped in my car and I was off. I arrived to the hotel about an hour and half later which is not bad considering it was LA. I checked in and studied. It was nice and quiet and I loved it. Until about 4 hours later when I started feeling lonely. I then had to go down and check in so I was able to see all my classmates and we sat around and talked for awhile. My study group decided to go to dinner and though I wasn't hungry I went to sit and chat with them for awhile. About 15 minutes into it, Charlie calls and I can hear the panic in his voice. If you read my previous entry, you know that Babar dislocated his knee. 7.5 hours is all it took before I was gone and a distaster HAD to occur. So I promptly left the dinner because I was terribly upset and wanted to talk to the Vet. Thankfully, that disaster turned out OK.
Friday Day 2. I get up early, eat breakfast and go down the ballroom where about 200 people were to do a Pre-Bar Exam. It was stressful and terribly uncomfortable. I got through it okay and was glad to retreat back to my hotel room. I miss my family though and I hate that I am away from them.
Saturday Day 3. I am really hating it. I want to be home. I miss my family. I hate being without Charlie and I don't really know anyone too well. I miss my friends and I find out that Vilma calls to have coffee. That really bums me out because I would do anything to be around people I know and like. I feel disconnected from everyone here. The lunch was terrible. The study sessions are going fine. We cover the essays on this day and I did well. I was really happy with myself because I nailed all the issues and I actually liked what I wrote. Professor Bracci lets out early so he can watch his beloved Bruins play that day. I forgot to mention to Mom all the USC cracks he made over the weekend. (USC is where my Mom got her Ph.D.).
Sunday Day 4. Charlie is driving in tonight and so I feel good about the day. I wake up and I am happy. I go down and we cover the multiple choice. While I was taking the Multiple Choice (known as MCQ's) I was terribly dizzy and so uncomfortable I had to stand up and finish the last half on my feet. Needless to say, my MCQ's didn't shine the way my essays did. I guess maybe I should explain them a bit. The essays are you knowledge of the law and your ability to apply it to a case. This is my strong point. I know the law inside and out and rather love it. The MCQ's are meant to make you think and reason with logic. Ha! I will take the knowledge any day. The MCQ's are there to confuse you and they make every effort to make sure that you don't get them correct. With a 21% Pass Rate for this Exam, I see how successful they were in their efforts in making the MCQ's as hard as possible. I love Professor Bracci. In fact, I have really loved all of them. Porfessor Levine makes me laugh, Professor Guzman is interesting and obviously brillant, and Professor Moye is kind and easy to understand. Professor Bracci makde the sessions entertaining and very easy to sit and listen to for 6 hours a day. I could easily do it again.
Monday Day 4. We switch hotels to move closer to the testing site. It was a nice drive. Paige and Paula went with me. There was no traffic but ugh, LA is disgusting. Charlie followed behind us so at least I knew I wouldn't get lost because he was there. The hotel is nice. We walked around a bit and they had a convience store downstairs that was really nice and a lot of people milling around. I later found out there was a large convention of Judges there that weekend. It was certainly a lawerly weekend. No accidents or negligence occured on the part of the Hilton I am sure LOL! I studied all day. Though we were all told not to, I couldn't help myself. Charlie, bless his heart, went over several hours of questions with me. I nailed 95% of them. Now if I could only repeat that. Everything on the homefront seemed fine. Babar was properly bothering my Mom and Kiwi was furring all her dark clothes. Chelsea was hanging all over her. So all things were status quo.Paide, Paula, Cyndi, and Susan came down and gave me the most beautiful baby gifts. Oh my gosh, everything I need and the softest blanket ever! They even gave me a giraffe toy. I love giraffes! Pop (my grandfather) used to take me ALL the time to the Albuqeruque zoo and they used to have this enclosure where you could feed the giraffes. I loved how peaceful they were. You can't feed them anymore. Sign of the times I suppose. People are so cruel. I miss feeding the giraffes with my grandfather.I slept ok. I went to sleep at 10 and then woke up at 11. I finally rested my mind around 1am and I was up at 5:30.
Tuesday Day 5. Oh $#&^! Breakfast is late being delivered and the delievered the wrong items. They gave it to us for free. Aren't I the best little Jewish girl? Charlie drives me over to the test site and there are people everywhere. The Bar Exam is being held downstairs and our First Year Bar is upstairs. Up a lot of stairs. Small, steep, old stairs damn it. I have to large pills, a heavy laptop, a bag of things to take in, and a baby and bosom to carry up them all. No fun! They were late letting us in. So I carried in what I could and then turned to get the rest. As I did, I hear "You have 3 minutes". WHAT?!?!? Every cuss word went through my head because I am never late and I hate being rushed. It has been 2 hours since I woke up and now it is twice that I am being rushed. I am NOT happy. So I set up in the nick of time but ticked as hell. We finally start, late of course, and I have to use the restroom already. I am thristy and my butt already hurts. Okay, I still have 4 hours of this to go so I need to just get focused. I satrt reading the first case, 'Oh my gosh, I see a legal issue! Yea!' So I settle in and start typing. The tables are very old and the chairs are like those old kitchen chairs from the 70's with the bars on both sides and scracked plastic in that Marigold color. You get the picture. Nasty. It even smells old. The tables are all old wood. So old that they need to be sanded and I got several splinters in my hands as I was typing.Professor Bracci told us that he thought that there would be two Torts Essays. He was wrong there was two Contracts. Oh man! One Common Law and one UCC. Oh #$%^! I hope I got them ok. So we are let out for lunch. Late of course. In fact so late we had 30 minutes and that was it! We were supposed to have at least and hour or more. Nope. See, the proctors are volunteers from the old folks home behind the testing center. Bless them for doing it but why can't the Bar Examiners pay someone to do it? I mean they make more money than God for pete's sake. So needless to say, they are little slow out of the gate. Poor Charlie tried to go back to sleep at the hotel but got up to come and pick me up. He was there from 11:55 to 1:05 when I was let out. Poor guy. I felt bad. We rushed back and I ate the sandwich I had bought from the store downstairs the day before. I laid down for 10 minutes to rrest my back and try to keep any dizzy spells from happening. We rush back and I am on to the MCQ's. Who knows how I did. Like I said, they are trying to trick you into getting a wrong answer. Chances are I did. So whatever. I am ready to go back in June and do it again. I know these subjects so well but I just don't know how to master the trickery of the MCQ's yet. I hope I learn over the next year.All done! The last 5 were SO hard. My hands hurt, my eyes were burning, my back...oh gosh.......ouch! I walked home with a fellow student. He was really nice and I am glad he walked me back because I had no idea where I was going. I got up there and Charlie had packed a large amount away already. We were out of there in minutes.I checked out and off we went. It took 2 hours and I was SO happy to be home. I am relieved and still tired. My back just now recovered and the baby is kicking away. I need at least 3 more days to get back to normal.
I found a new manufacturer for my company and so I am ready to go.
The attorney sent a letter to Chelseas school so that should be settled soon
A big huge thanks to Jolyn for rescuing my dog while I was gone!
Hi to Bernadette! Lots of well wishes to your Mum & your poor sick boys. I will talk (or move in with) to you soon.
I hope all is well with all.
Things are starting to look up again. Yea!
That's my story and I am sticking to it ;)
No place like home, no place like home, no place like home
October 26, 2005
I clicked my heels three times and here I am! Oh my gosh. That was the longest week of my life. But it is over and I am done for now. I am not going to think about Law School until December. Well, I do need to buy my 2nd Year books. Fun! But other than that, fuggeet about it!There is so much to tell but I have a doctor's appointment today so I can't type too much. Not to mention that my hands hurt from 4 hours of straight typing yesterday.
Anyway, Babar update. He is fine. He dislocated his knee and they put him back on drugs again. He is happy and healthy. More on that later too.
The baby was a good BOY while I was in LA. I can't believe I am almost 5 months pregnant! He kicked me but with good reason. Mommy was stressed.
OK I am going to go. I've been sleeping that las 11 hours and I look like I've been sleeping for a year. So I need to go make myself human again so that I don't scare any small children.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HOME!!!!!!!!!!!! (Yes, I still hate it here though)
Well of course!
October 20, 2005
I am in LA right now and I hate being here. I am away from the family, away from home, away from my boy, away from everything.I have been gone exactly 7.5 hours and of course, disaster strikes. Babar was running and Charlie yelled at him to stop. As he did that, Babar slipped and there was a loud pop that came from his leg. So thankfully Jolyn our neighbor has a truck and a kind heart. She came over and helped Charlie load Babar into the truck and they took him to emergency. They gave Babar some pain medication and they are keeping him overnight. They want the surgical team to look at him before we make any plans.
My grandfather went to the doctor yesterday and they found cancer cells. So in the next few weeks they are going to try to find out where they are coming from and go from there. Mom is leaving again on the 8th to take care of him.
I sit here and feel helpless. I am here and want to be there. I want to be in Albuquerque. I feel so selfish. This is the last thing I should be doing with all that is going on with everyone. It is taking everything I have not to pack up and go.
Where do you start and where does it end?
October 18, 2005
Chelsea is having major problems at school. That girl that has been teasing her at school has stepped up her efforts and is making Chelsea's life hell. The Vice Principals response is "because we have never seen anything there is nothing we can do" and the best one "Well, whatever happened last year was last year, this is a new year". We have contacted an attorney. It is a mess.
So had an appointment today. We know what we are having.....look at the photo I posted with this entry and see if you can tell ;)
I am so tired so I am going to sign off early.
I am leaving Thursday for LA to take my Bar Exam. I have been doing extremely well on all the pre-testing. Wish me luck! I am going to need it!
I posted a new photo under Baby from the Beginning. It is the profile of the baby. So cute!
Hope all is well. I promise to write more later but I am just so tired tonight.
Pitbulls, motorcycles, hell
October 12, 2005
We saw The Aviator the other night. I had to feel bad for the guy. Mental illness was so unaccepted back then. Gosh, I only have panic attacks. I can't imagine what he went through. Poor man. I did some research on him after the movie. He pretty much became reclusive. When he was older and needed some medical attention, he went to the hospital but had already died by the time he got there. He was so different they had to do fingerprints on him to verify it was him. When they did his autopsy they found broken off hypodermic needles in his arms. Sad. So sad.
So on to a happier note. Everyone is fine.I feel great! Knock on wood. Charlie is grand. Chelsea is hanging in there. My Mom is embarking on a whole new adventure. Kiwi is her usual pissy self. Babar is happy to have all four on the floor.
I am waiting for my friend Bernadette to get back from England. She went to visit her family. I am hoping she made the flight okay. She hates to fly like I do. So she has been on my mind a lot lately. I am hoping she emails or calls when she gets back because I can't remember (big surprise) when she comes home. So Bern, if you are reading this, give a call/email!
So Sunday night we were sitting outside. Attempting to hear each other conversate over the stupid low-lifes that like to scream their motorcycles, ATV's, go-carts, and other various motorized vehicles up and down or residential streets. (Note: GET ME OUT OF HERE)As we are sitting there Kiwi goes over to our Master bedroom screen door. I said, "Oh Charlie Chelsea said there was a dead Lizard in the track of the door and I think Kiwi sees it" So he says "Oh it is a frog, don't worry about it" He then proceeds to start obsessing over our gophers in our backyard. I look over and Kiwi is EATING the Lizard. Yes, it was a Lizard. Flat, dry, like Lizard-Jerky. Nasty cat! No wonder she can't use the litter box! She is all plugged up with reptilian jerky. Ewww.
Last night I had my Homeowner's meeting. It went well. It seemed quick. We had very few issues to address and it was all pretty straight forward.
Yesterday my neighbor Jolyn called. She said there was a Pitbull standing outside her truck. I looked out the window and sure enough, there was a pitbull. She had her son with her so no way was she getting out. Well, the dog heard me talking and so it came troting over to me. It seemed friendly but I have read enough cases about Pitbulls to know never to trust them. So as he came over, she ran into her house. Well, I called Animal Control and told them there was a loose Pitbull. They said they would get there when they could. Typical Riverside County response to what I think it an emergency. So I call the school district Bus Services and tell them not to let any kids off the bus until the Pitbull is picked up. Literally, with no concern whatsoever, she told me I needed to call the Sheriff. UGHHHHHH! So I see a bus go by and I panic. I call the police and tell them there is a loose Pitbull and the buses full of kids are coming. 30 minutes goes by and no one comes. I call Chelsea on her cell and tell her NOT to get off that bus until she gets the okay from me. She then tells the busdriver not to let any kids off the bus because there is a loose Pitbull. Thankfully, the busdriver had some damned sense and he agreed. 45 minutes has now gone by, no police, no animal control. Now I am just plain ticked. It took almost an hour for Animal Control to come get this dog. Not just any dog, a PITBULL. Hello! I then called Chelsea and gave her the all clear. The police never showed up.
Anyone want a free house? (this is offer is made in jest, not to be taken seriously, yet)
The Cold War
November 09, 2005
So. Good news/Bad News. They found a large tumor at the base of Pops ureter and his bladder. I am glad they found something so that there won't be anymore digging around necessary. They got as much as they could. So they are going to wait until the pathology comes back and go from there. The plan as of now, is to do the chemotherapy washes in his bladder and try to keep the cancer from spreading. He really wants to live to 100 and with his will, I think he may get there. Charlie says "Pop is a stud, if anyone can make it to 100, he can" He is right. He was still flirting with the nurses and being himself. So things are good.
Ya know.........if I get one more cold......I am going to go and sneeze on everyone so they can feel what I feel. Except see, I can't take anything like you lucky bastards. I have to sit and suffer. If I suffer, everyone is going to suffer.Yup, you guessed it. I am sick once again. Charlie gave me his cold. I barely slept last night and I have this awful sore throat and stuffed nose. BTW, the photo on the left is the common cold under a microscope. In case you haven't heard of them, there are these little stuffed toys called Giant Microbes. They are kind of cute and take away the scariness of viruses. And they even have one for you because we all know how attached you are to your cute little Syphilius and Clap. Ha! So anyway, here is the link, if you are curious: http://www.giantmicrobes.com/
So you know how I mentioned that Chelsea has this high pain tolerence. Well, she just informed everyone that she had a bike accident a few weeks back. She apparently lost control, ran into a car, and hurt her finger. No big deal right? Ya well. It seems that she broke her finger and now it is crooked. She never told anyone. So now it has healed improperly. Oh this child o' mine. What to do?
I had my HOA meeting last night. It went well. 3 other neighbors showed up to voice some concerns. But they were concerns that were more just misunderstandings. So they were cleared up pretty fast. One of the gentlemen that showed up I already knew from the MAC (Wildomar Municipal Advisory Council) meetings. He is against cityhood ( like me) and a very nice man. The other two I had not met but the woman who showed up was very nice!! I liked her a lot. She lives on the street behind me. I hope to see her again. I am sure we have a lot to talk about where the neighborhood is concerned.
So there is a woman named Lisa that went to the same Dr. I did. She lives relatively close. She gave birth the other day. She was 38 weeks. I thought, how nice for her. She is so in love and now she has her baby. Then it hit me. 38 weeks. That is only 17 weeks from where I am now. Holy &^%$! Gosh, I am not ready yet. Seriously. Really. No joke.
Seriously.
There is a first time for everything
November 07, 2005
Reminder: You can click any and all photos on this site to make them larger
Well, damn it! I got my very first speeding ticket ever today. I made it 23 years and never had one ticket. I wasn't even really paying attention and the officer didn't even give me a chance to explain or say I'm sorry. So I took my poison with a smile and then got laughed at by my husband. So NOT funny!
I spent the weekend cleaning drawers and cabinets out. I am ready to move and the faster the better. Plus I bought Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy on Friday and was finished with it by Saturday. She reminded me that come 6th month, I will be rendered useless. So her advice was to get as much done as possible with you in your second trimester. So that is what I am doing. Cleaning, painting, packing, etc. I want to get as much done as I can. I am not sure how many people know this.....but pregnant women have this nesting instinct. Right before you give birth you have this insatiable desire to clean, organize, etc. I am hoping that I getting prepared and not really nesting. Now, aren't I just a plethora of knowledge?
So here is my big news! We are such proud parents.....Babar has been chosen as Pet of the Day at PetSmart! Here is the letter I received this morning:
"Dear Charlie and Andrea,I have some exciting news. Babar has been selected as PetSmart.com's Smart Pet of the Day for November 11, 2005! You will be able to view the photo on our site (http://www.petsmart.com) that day. Make sure to tell your friends and family so they won't miss your pet's day in the spotlight!Thank you for your interest in PetSmart.com!All the best,Vanessa Michelle MosherPetSmart, Inc.19601 North 27th AvenuePhoenix, AZ 85027Phone: 623.587.2747Fax: 623.580.6544vmosher@ssg.petsmart.comhttp://www.petsmart.comhttp://www.statelinetack.com"Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet." - Colette"We are so proud of him!!
Oh, before I forget. I was reading through other letters in the newspaper the other day. I came across this one after mine was published:
*10/29/05*> *District wants to get rid of special ed kids> > *Lake Elsinore Unified School District is no friend of the special > education child. It costs more money to educate them and these students > bring down the schools' test scores. With LEUSD's schools being > penalized for not making improvement regarding testing, it's far easier > to get rid of the kids who bring down the school's scores the most. This > way they can artificially increase the school's percentage without doing > a thing to modify how they educate.> > After talking with other parents, I have found that it is standard for > LEUSD to repeatedly make decisions that are against the best interest of > special ed students. I have witnessed LEUSD mislead parents regarding > laws, "set aside" Individualized Education Programs, disregard parents > in IEP meetings, and "Manifestation Determination" hearings, and invent > "behavioral incidents" (like when my ninth-grader was on the receiving > end of a wedgie, his discipline record cites him for a physical injury > to another student). This is useful when they get ready to expel the > student for whatever they can misinterpret into an offense.> > They are so arrogant as they violate the civil rights of special > education students. The county Board of Education is no help either. > They always support the districts, as long as they follow procedure when > they violate your child's civil rights. Parents should get together and > stop them from harming our kids. Maybe class action will wake them up.> > ELMA EATON> > Lake ElsinoreYIKES! Lake Elsinore looks like thet are in the verge of a big ole' lawsuit! I've spoken with other parents that are sick and tired of LEUSD's constant violation of Special Ed rights. I see this is going to get very ugly. If I had the time and were planning to stay, I am quite sure I would be one to either start a class-action suit or join one. But as luck would have it for LEUSD, I am getting the hay out of here!
I got a really nice email from Bern the other day. I hope her Mom is doing better. Being in pain is the most exhausting, depressing, hopeless situation. It feels like it will never end. Unless someone has ever been in a constant state of pain for more than 2 weeks, people just don't get it. It is awful on your body and mind. I hope she starts feeling better soon. She has been on my mind a lot.
Pop goes in for surgery tomorrow. So I hope Mom calls as soon as he is out. I am not sure when any results will come but I hope that they at least say something at the end of the day. You sort of want them to find something and sort of not. If they don't find anything, that means more invasive procedures but it would always be nice to hear that the initial test was wrong and there were no cancer cells. On the flip side, if they do find something you hope it is a quick painless cure. Isn't cancer just awful? I registered for next years classes. Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, and Real Estate. See you in a year.
A better photo
November 04, 2005
I decided to put up a better photo. Chelsea says the photo I put up looks like an old man.Now keep in mind, I did edit this photo. We all know what parts exist, no need to point them out. So I erased the anatomy lesson.
Had a pretty good day today. I am still tired but it is getting a little better.I actually didn't have to go anywhere and of course, it IS Friday you know. My husband is home for 2 whole days!!! Yea!! I love Fridays!
I've been playing Mozart to my tummy. I am thinking that the baby doesn't like my choice much. He sure kicks me a lot when I play it!
Mom leaves for New Mexico tomorrow to take care of my grandfather. He goes in for surgery on Tuesday to find out where the cancer cells are coming from. She will be back next Saturday. I am hoping that we will get some of the office cleared out to make room for all the baby stuff. Though I promised Mom I would not put any furniture in until she got back. I think we could at least start getting some things out of here. Even she said if we did put things in, she would only want to move them around. No sense in putting them then.
I made an appointment for the puppy to go in and have his teeth cleaned. Of course when I called, I said "Hi, this is Andrea, I need to amke an appointment for Babar and get a rough estimate for his teeth. Her response was "Well, for a horse his size....." Har-Har-Har. I haven't ever hear that before. Then I ask her if he needs to be put to sleep and she said "Yes, and we will hire a crane to get him on the table" Alrighty now, yes, he is a wee large, but I KNOW there are other big dogs out there somewhere. I guess since I see him everyday, he just doesn't seem all that big to me. He is such a baby and love to sit in my lap and sleep with us. He is just a normal dog to me.
Speaking of appointments, I am writing this in here because I know I will forget. My next appointment is Nov. 10 at 11:30 am.
We have been getting the cutest clothes and shoes in! Oh my gosh, my Mom is so funny. She finds the cutest stuff. He got these shoes from England and they are just precious! They have little windows at the bottom so you can see how the fit it. How genius is that? So needless to say, I would say we will get a lot more packages from England.
Oh yea, I will be changing to a regular website soon. I will post the link but keep it in mind.
In case no one is sure, I am 20 weeks. A total pregnancy is 40 weeks. So I am halfway. And if you are saying "wow", then you know I am a nervous wreck. Breath, just breath!
5 Months and 4 months to go!
November 03, 2005
The picture is not a Oompa Loompa. It is a 5 month old fetus and it is showing the waxy stuff that covers their skin to protect it form the amnio fluid.
Yup, 5 months is here as of tomorrow. I am more tired than I have been in the past. However, I think I have been coming down with something or I had a bit of food poisoning. Who knows. Nonetheless, I have felt pretty bad the last few days. Nauseated, headaches, backaches, tired etc. It could have been either the flu, food poisoning or just plain being pregnant. I feel a bit better today, just still tired.
So the IEP went well. I never thought those words would pass through my lips but to my shock and amazement, I actually was pleasantly surprised. Chelsea is now getting a small bus to a from the house and someone is watching her during lunch. I've seen a change in her already. She is happy, doing her homework, and being very pleasant to be around. As opposed to coming home and locking herself in her room for hours and being oppositional with every little thing I said. I am proud of her and glad things are looking good for her finally. I was glad Mr. Cleave was in there. Bless his heart, he must hate me but he is very patient and I think he understands my concerns. I am sure he dreads our meetings because I am such a pest but I am glad he is understanding.
Yesterday Chelsea had a doctors appointment. That also went well. They usually do. I love that place. Everyone is competent and nice. They want her to restart physical therapy because she ankles are very tight from her Cerebral Palsy. So they want to try to release some of the tension. Her Dr. asked if she ran. I told her that she does run and about 1 out of 10 times she falls. So we keep plenty of band-aids around for her. When she was small, I bought her knee pads but she hated them. So when she broke her foot, I spoke with her Orthopedic Surgeon and he told me to let her be as active as she wanted. So I do. The side effect of that is that poor Chelsea has pretty scarred up legs and knees. The good side is that she has the second highest pain tolerance I have ever seen next to my grandfather. And the flip side to having such a pain tolerance is that she walks around on severely fractured feet and a full lung pneumonia without complaint. She is certainly a child you MUST listen to if she says something hurts. Chances are it is something that would put a grown adult in the hospital. She is an amazing child that is for sure.
So I know you all can relate to this next thing I am about to talk about. So I get this notice "Final Notice" or you go to collections. I open it and I know we are never late on anything so this is crazy. It is a Radiology bill from 2004 that I had never heard or seen. I had the procedure but never even got a bill. I was shocked. I couldn't wait to wake up and find out what was going on. So I call and I tell them that I had never even heard of this bill. There was no response and they just asked me for my account number. So they proceed to tell me the bill hasn't been paid. "Noooooo, you are kidding". Stupid. I figured it hasn't been paind and that is why they are sending me a final notice. So I call to my insurance and these stupid Radiology people didn't put the claim in within the contracted 180 day time frame. So I call back over to the Radiology people and they say that they had one claim that they wrote off because they didn't put it in on time but that this one was put in on time. So I call my insurance company back and they take it from there. They called the stupid Radiology people and told them they were smoking x-ray contrast or something. So it is getting all straightened out but according to my insurance chances are that the Radiology people will have to write this one off too because it took them a Year to file a claim! Ok that is two large expensives procedures that they didn't get paid for because they were too stupid to file. So in the end who pays? Yup, everyone else. And it was not for a lack of insurance but because the stupid biling department was retarded. How ridiculous!
Tuesday we vote on the initiatives that Arnold has put forth. We are all voting Yes on all 4 and I can only hope they all pass. He is trying so hard to make a difference in this hell hole California. I can only people see the changes he is trying to make. The unions have been doing these bash campaigns against him because for the first time ever, they aren't getting financial kickbacks from the governor and they are angry. So what do they do? Spend millions of Union money on air time to run bash commercials. Oh yea, that is smart! Spend everyones pension and retirement on mudslinging. Brilliant!Speaking of politics. Has anyone go to Congress.org? It is a wonderful site but I am mentioning it with a purpose. See there is this horrible thing happening here and across the World. Though I learned about this monstrosity via Dateline, there is actually something being done to aid in stoppig the U.S. from participating. And though I usually try to so things that affect the U.S. I think this problem is out of control. So go here: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=8194811&content_dir=ua_congressorgYou can write emails to our representatives to stop Child Trafficking. 25% of child sex tourism are U.S. citizens. In fact, there was full blown child brotel being held in Oceanside. They were getting the children (when I say children I mean 5-13 year olds) from Tijuana and they had set up this make shift brothel in the tall grassy swamp area of Oceanside. 30-40 men per child and there were like 20-30 children a day being raped a sodomized by men. So I hope you join me in writing letters to out a stop to this disgusting practice.
Speaking of letters. When I took Chelsea to the Dr., I walked in and the Dr. asked if I had written to the paper about Chelsea and the lack of help I was getting where the harrassement was concerned. Well, I had indeed written a letter and did not know it had been published. So I looked it up in the paper archives and there it was. Here is the link:http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2005/10/22/opinion/letters/10_21_0521_35_01.txtAs you can see, I was a wee angry when I wrote it. Nice to know that someone is paying attention though.
So Charlie made our hotel reservations for Flagstaff during Christmas. Flagstaff is healf way to Albuquerque. I am SO SO SO excited! I can't wait to see my grandfather and hang out where the air is fresh and smells good. Luminarias, snow, the smell of fire, clear skies, ...I could go on and on. I am so happy just to go there and do nothing. Thankfully our neighbor Jolyn is going to check on Kiwi while we are gone. That dumb cat got her self stuck in the wires upstiars about a month ago. She didn't even realize it and was trying to walk but she wasn't going anywhere. I wouldn't normally ask anyone to watch her. But she is getting old and weird. So I asked if Jolyn could just check on her once while we are gone and she said yes, bless her heart.
Speaking of Jolyn. Halloween. Chelsea wanted to go Trick-or-Treating. Charlie was going to take her but she is suddenly embarrassed by her very uncool parents. She really wanted to go with Jolyn. Every year we have laid Chelsea on Jolyn. Poor thing. Chelsea is not easy. I always feel bad. We tried to make plans to have Chelsea to go wtiha friend that we would pick up but that didn't work out. Since it was a school night, it was realy feasible anyway. So Jolyn took her once again. I feel so bad. Hopefully, we won't be here next year so Jolyn won't get stuck with Chelsea again. One year Chelsea tried to go with some "friends" but they told her she needed to empty her bucket and then ditched her. It hurt her feelings pretty badly. I try to save her from that kind of stuff so I always try to come up with an excuse not to have a party or something. It is somewhat worked to this point. But on Halloween she tried to go find some friends to go with because I told her that she couldn't go with Jolyn and they were already gone with other friends. Ugh.
Can you believe it is November already?
High Holy Day
October 30, 2005
I put Chelsea's halloween picture up under Family Photos 2. She was a devil, appropriately. This photo was taken for her Friday night dance at school. We picked her up at school at 11:35, ate lunch, took her to the hairdressers (which took 2 hours), ran home and got ready until 5:15. Yes, it took that long to get her ready. Did she appreciate it? Nope. Typical teen. Ugh.
Yesterday, we went and got a pumpkin, did some grocery shopping and took Babar to our favorite hamburger joint. They are dog friendly, so they let us bring him in. Though the place is small and it was crowded so he didn't stay too long. But they are very nice to him there and he gets a lot of attention from all the ladies and like I said, Babar loves the chicks. I wonder where he gets that from.
Today we are going to Temecula to see the Pet Parade and Costume Contest. We are bringing Babar with us. Though we aren't going to dress him up Charlie said we will tell people he is a Chihuahua dressed up like a Great Dane.
Tomorrow is Halloween! We spent yesterday decorating and setting up. We are going somewhat simple this year. Just the basics, fog machine, black lights, a coffin, skeleton, etc. Charlie is going to miss school for Halloween. Like the title says, it is a High Holy Day. No time for school or anything else...it's Halloween and time to celebrate. He is also going into work early so he can come home early.Monday I also have Chelsea's IEP. An IEP is a meeting where you have a meeting about your child's education. Pretty appropriate that it is on Halloween considering how scary it is that they don't follow legal protocols.
As you can see, Babar is feeling much better and is sleeping with us once again. Though I must admit, I am paranoid. I am constantly checking to make sure he doesn't fall off the bed. He is loving it and so happy to be back with his pack in the feather bed.
Hope all is well with everyone.
Houston...we have weather!
November 28, 2005
Though it has been too bright to sleep in and as dry as a chalkboard...it is actually a wee chilly. I couldn't be happier. It is about time! At least it is something and I will take it. When it fell below 85 I was rejoicing and now it is actually like 60. Can you believe it?I spoke with Bern today and it is down to 32 at night in Vegas. Brrrrr! Lucky her!!
So I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I cooked and (don’t faint), it turned out pretty good. My only complaint was my dressing. I love plain ole’ cornbread dressing with nothing in it and especially not out of the turkey’s rear end. Well, I thought I would try to crisp up the top a little. I ended up drying it all out. See, my Mom likes her dressing with sausage and stuff. So she had hers and I had mine. Which meant there needed to be two pans. So I bought these shallow aluminum pans to cook both dressings in. Usually I have a big casserole dish to cook it in. With that dish there is no chance it can burn because it is so deep. So my bad. I won’t do that again. The turkey turned out well. I hated how the sweet potatoes turned out. Charlie is the only one that eats them. He said they were good but I think he was just being nice (as usual). So I need to get my sisters recipe again and do a better job next year. He loves my sister’s yams. Well, doesn’t matter how I say that, it will always look bad. Maybe I should have said “he likes my sister’s sweet potatoes”. Nope, that is still bad. Well, get your minds out of the gutter, you know what I mean. The turkey turned out perfect, the peas were great, the potatoes were yummy, and the rolls turned okay. I made two pumpkin pies and one pecan. The pecan pie is my great grandmother’s recipe. It is always a big hit. So I make sure I make it every year I cook. I am so glad the holidays are here. It is all I have thought about. I have my pumpkin candles lit, we put lights up even though we aren’t going to be here, and I don’t even mind going shopping.
Sadly, all the things I have the desire to do, I can’t. I am getting very limited in my mobility. My hips are killing me and I can barely move anymore. I spent most of today in bed today just to give my back and hips a break. It has made a huge difference. So I think being on my feet as much I have this week just did me in. I need to be a little more careful.
Charlie is on his way home now from Calculus class. Whenever he takes a test he text messages me his grade. That little brainy boy made 105 out of 100 of his Calculus exam and 100 on his Calculus written assignment. I am so proud of him!! He is so smart. When he graduated from High School he was in the top 10% of his graduating class. As a result, he was accepted to Clemson University but didn’t have the money to go. But that’s okay because if he had done that we would have never met. I can’t imagine my life without him. Sometimes I am sad that we didn’t meet earlier. I mean I am thankful for the time we do have together but I wish we were one of those couples that met in really early on. I guess I should feel lucky though. Some people never find the relationship we have.
And since I am on the subject, I ran into a friend of mine tonight online. Her name is Brenda and she was around when Charlie and I met. So she knows the whole story. I haven’t talked to her in forever. Again, my fault for not following up on things. But I am going to call her tomorrow and catch up. Anyway, she said something that kind of made me think. She said “He has always loved you so much”. It’s true, I think we have always loved each other an immense amount and that never changed. I mean, I know relationships are supposed to change and evolve but really never have. We still talk via the Net, text messaging, or the phone at least a few times an hour. Being apart is terribly difficult for both of us and always has been so we do all we can never to be apart. We just like to be around each other and that has never changed. I am not sure any of that will ever change. We are 12 years together now and things have been exactly as they always have been. What can I say? We have a once in a lifetime relationship.
I hope everyone is watching Desperate Housewives. Oh my!! I won’t say anything for your Tivoers who haven’t watched this week’s episode. And if you haven’t…..do you live under a rock or what??
Tonight is the Barbara Walters Special- Top 10 Most Fascinating People. I plan on watching it but why the hell did she put that loser Tom Cruise on there? In no way is he fascinating. What about someone like the Doctor who spent weeks in New Orleans just to help? What about a hero from ? How about a teacher that is making a difference? I am so sick and tired of these uneducated, none philanthropical, loud mouth, movie “stars” getting any more press. I am sick to death. They all praise each other, award each other, get everything for free, and do nothing for philanthropy reasons unless a camera is on them. It is sickening. Someone needs to give these people a real good reality check. Like maybe a summer in Las Vegas a tar roofer, or a vacation in with orphans, or how about a Christmas with the homeless? Charlie and I used to go to the homeless shelters in San Diego and give clothes and toys to the people that lived there. It is quite eye-opening. Not everyone is so lucky. And 99% of us don’t get paid 1 mil just to appear on a photo. Ugh, I go on and on forever! I guess maybe it wouldn’t bother me so much if they would all keep their big traps shut about things they have no real knowledge about. Which is about everything except themselves and where to get a good facial. SO sit down, shut up, and do what you do best. Act and be fake.
I am writing my
next Dr.
appointment in here because I can’t remember anything. Wed. December 14 at 10:40.
Kisses to all
Tour of Duty
November 21, 2005
If you’ve noticed, I put up 2 albums of my grandfather, “Pop”. I talk about him so much but I really never had many photos of him up. These photos were scanned in by my Aunt Polly. So if she is reading this, thank you Aunt Polly!
Pop is a great man as you can see. I didn’t upload all of his letters of commendation because I wanted to make sure his photos got in there too. He was awarded everything from the Silver Star to winning the Golden Gloves for boxing. So when Charlie says “Pop is a stud”, he isn’t joking. He did great things with his life. Of course the best thing he did was to marry my Granny.
Funny though, a lot of photos taken of Pop are with other women before he met my Granny. Now think of this, he married Granny when he was 30 and she was 25. Back then, that was older to get married. I think Pop was just having way too much fun being single or he just finally met the right woman. And boy was she was the right woman. He was lucky to have her!Pop just loves Charlie! I know Charlie really looks up to Pop and thinks very highly of him....it is funny when they are together. I have this great picture of Pop in Charlie's Jeep, gosh, about 9 years ago or so. If I find it, I will upload it. Jerry and Pop came to stay for a visit and they stayed at Charlie's apartment before we were married. Poor guys, it was them and the ferrets ha! When Charlie and I went to visit him once, he asked Charlie to have a drink with him. Pop has a drink every night before dinner, it is tradition. Well, he about killed Charlie. It was all Vodka and a "splash" of tonic haha! Charlie is worried that Pop is going to want him to have another drink with him while we are there for Christmas haha! Charlie doesn't want to get pickled in front of the family, with good reason. Charlie is not a pretty drunk. More on that some other time. Pop and Charlie have a lot in common. So I know Pop looks forward to seeing Charlie and vice-versa. One last thing and this is pretty funny. If you go onto Ebay and do a search on either "Hayden Gregory" or "Buck Gregory" you will see auctions selling Pops autograph. About 3 years ago, I was doing a search on Pop's name on Ebay to see if anything came up. There has been a consistent flow of buying and selling of Pop's autographed pictures and 3x5 cards. He said people are always asking for his autograph or to take pictures with him. He thinks it is amusing.
The weekend wasn’t as busy as I had expected it to be. Things just sort of went smoothly. Chelsea had her makeup pictures done on Saturday and that went well. It was quick. Naturally the people at Lifetouch were rude and clueless. It seems that at least Mom and I have been running into a lot of rude people lately. I am not sure if it is the holidays or what but gosh, how annoying!
I bought most of my Thanksgiving stuff. I have a few minor things to buy but I can do it tomorrow. I am excited to have a nice dinner and hang out and do nothing. I think my biggest complaint is the lack of weather. That probably doesn’t make much sense because there is always some type of weather. But when you have the same weather for months and months, it is like having no weather at all. It’s like the Moon here, no atmosphere whatsoever. It is still in the 90’s, terribly dry, with not a cloud in the sky. We have a sprinkle about 2 weeks ago one day but other than that, it has been 90’s, dry, and boring. I am, for the first time in a long time, wishing we were somewhere where there was light snow or something. I am tired of this desert living. It is nice to an extent but it is boring. I was listening to a comedian on the radio a few weeks ago. He was saying that he grew up in and during winter they would barbeque because it was hot down there. He said that as a child it was confusing for him because all of the U.S. Christmas cartoons were based on Frosty, snow, Jack Frost, and Santa. Well, I have to say, I sympathize with him. Especially at this very moment because it is like here, hot, dry, and just like Summer. I think we will be one of the very few places that will be utilizing our pools for Thanksgiving and maybe even Christmas. But, in case you didn’t know, I won’t be here for Christmas!!! YEA!!! I am getting out of hell!!
http://www.sharp.com/hospital/index.cfm?id=918
Last night we went on our hospital tour. Mom was the only one smiling from ear to ear. You could tell she was a proud new Grandma. All the mothers and fathers had eyes like dinner plates. It put it all into reality for me. I am now 100% terrified. I know that is normal but gosh, really, I was hoping to handle things a little bit better. I am really not totally happy with the way things will work at the hospital. The triage only allows one person at a time. But I will only be there for at the most, 2 hours. So no big deal. The birthing room is large but only has one big comfy chair. The other two chairs looked hard and uncomfortable. They aren’t limiting the amount of people allowed in the room so that Is great! Charlie and Mom will be there with me and Chelsea is going to stay in a hotel close by. She is all excited because she can order room service. Gee, is she her grandmother’s granddaughter or what? The recovery room really stinks. There is chance that I will end up in a semi-private room. That means there are two rooms that share a bathroom separated by a curtain. NO THANKS! And when I say that, I am NOT kidding. I refuse to share a bathroom with someone I don’t know. It is disgusting. I will throw a fit if I have to share a room with another bloody, snoring, woman with her screaming baby in the room too. That is the other thing, they room the babies with you from the first moment. So I told Charlie that he better plan on staying up that night with the baby. I remember how extraordinarily tired I was with Chelsea . I frankly think it is cruel to do that to a woman who has labored for 24 hours and pushed a baby out. So as you can see, I am already unhappy with the hospital. I can only hope that it all changes when I go into labor. I was excited at first to go to a modern hospital but as they were talking, I kept thinking, gosh, what century are you in? They had no bathtubs, no internet, and the rooms are super tiny. I am pretty disappointed. I mean, bathtubs are known to help women in labor when they don’t have epidurals. Don’t worry, I am getting an epidural. But how stupid is that, no bathtubs? No Internet? Come on. I was happy that at least Charlie could surf the Net while we wait for the special delivery but nope. No internet. Ughhhh! Poor guy! So I guess we will have to rent movies or something and watch them on the VCR they have in the room.
And most of all, I am going to miss my puppy L I have to be away from him for at least 3 days L Boo.
Hope all is well with everyone!
Friends
November 18, 2005
I'm 5 and a half months today. According to all the books and websites, I am in my 6th month. To me, 6 months is 24 weeks. Time is flying right by. The baby is kicking the heck out of me everyday. Though I try to wake him up with music at 9-10 am he insists on waking up at 10pm every night. So in a sense, it is good, he is on a schedule already. He is just on the wrong one. So it looks like we, or I, better plan on being up all night long.
I have a very busy weekend. Tomorrow Chelsea is getting makeup pictures done. Apparently her school pictures didn't turn out so, without telling me, they retook her picture when she was dressed in a sweatshirt and didn't have her hair done. So I called the company and told them I wanted the pictures redone, they agreed. The problem is that the new picture will not be in the yearbook, just the old one. Ugh! Oh well, she will look like everyone else at that school I guess.
Sunday is our hospital tour and then we are going for fondue after. It isn't my favorite fondue place, but I am still just as excited. I love fondue!!! I love the chocolate fondue so much! My favorite fondue place is called The Melting Pot. There is one in Orlando and one in Las Vegas . The one in Vegas is really far from the strip, but worth the drive and cost of the taxi!
I have other things going on too but they are Christmas related, so I can't talk about them yet.
Chelsea is off school today and until the Monday after next. She always has these really long vacations. Of all people, she needs it desperately. She sure sleeps a lot and she is in a really good mood when she off of school. With good reason, she is finally relieved of the teasing. I haven't asked her about any of her teasing this week. She was terribly quiet when she got home so it must have been bad. I know one incident that happened. She said she was told to go into a classroom and eat lunch. I guess the aide that watches over her at lunch witnessed some non-Special Ed students telling Chelsea that a boy liked her. They pulled her away from her lunch to take her to him. I asked her what he did. She said he just walked away. It took me a few minutes to really understand the meaning behind all of it. Then Mom made it clear. They were teasing the boy with the Special Ed girl. Real nice. She didn't seem to think anything of it. Chelsea has a way of letting things roll off her back or ignoring them. Or so we think. She internalizes a lot. When things are bad, she is quiet at home and then lashes out a few hours later. It is a pattern every time. Pertaining to this incident, she didn’t say much else about it. She has been interested in doing better in school though. That is a huge change. She also said she never wants to take any other bus than the small bus again. She loves her bus driver and she smiles when she gets off the bus. So I am glad at least there is some relief where that is concerned. I so worry about this child. I am not sure what will happen to her when I am gone. I can only hope Charlie is around or her little brother to take care of her. She will never be able to take care of herself.
Babar, Babar, Babar. What am I going to do with this puppy of mine? Looks like his other eyelid is now folded in. Ugh! So we will obviously have to take him in for surgery to get it folded back out. He had his other one done awhile ago because he had this really leaky eye. The eye that is now bad was questionable at the time. It didn’t look nearly as bad as the first eye so I told the Vet we could wait and see if that one went bad. Well, looks like it has. It isn’t terrible yet but I was told it is very painful. I hate think of my baby in pain. So we will have to get it done soon. I want to make sure that the Vet uses a different anesthesia this time though. He did not recover well from getting his choppers done the other day. It took 24 hours for him to be back to normal. It was pitiful. He wouldn’t eat or drink and he just sat and stared. My baby! My poor baby!
Talked to Vilma the other night when she was on her way home from school. She sounds like she is doing a lot better. Life changing events are never easy to get used to. She will be done with her Ph.D. next December so she can move on to bigger and better things at that point. I hope she meets a nice man and gets married. She really wants kids. But she is still very young so she has some time. Lucky her!
Talked to Bern the other day too. I miss her so much! I am so glad she is not here and sold her house when she did but on the selfish side, I wish she was here. At least she is in a place I know I will visit so I do get to see her. And I am so thankful for phones! At least I know I can call her and talk to her. But I still miss her.
I haven’t talked to Teresa in a while. Though she sends me really sweet “Dear Friend” poem emails. She is a newlywed so I am sure she is busy ;)
I need to keep in touch with my friends better. I am really bad at it. Charlie is really good at it. He just went to lunch with Enrique the other day and talks to his others friends via email or messenger. I just get so wrapped up in things at home and I keep putting calls off. Because of that, I lost touch with my dear friend Sara. She and I went to college together and she came to my wedding. I just love her. She is a great person and had one of the most tragic-triumphal lives I have ever heard. It is pretty personal so I think it would be inappropriate to talk about in a public forum but needless to say, most people would not have survived her horrific teen years. She did, graduated college, and became a fantastic person despite her tragedy. I miss her too but it is my fault and I do intend on trying to find her again.
My other big letdown to myself is Jani. Jani and I grew up together. She and I were both born in Albuquerque and I since I saw my Granny & Pop every Summer and Winter, I also saw her. She was 6 months younger than me and her Mom and my Mom were friends. We used to share a crib together when the Moms would get together. Sadly, Jani lost her Mom to Leukemia at 6 years old. She never really recovered and neither did her Dad. When we were younger, she wouldn’t let me go home after we were done playing Barbie’s. She had this really bad separation anxiety. I never thought of it as anything more than sad. Even as young as I was, I felt bad for her. She was the first one and only one who I cut all my hair off with. We both had this really long hair and (I will never forget it) she had a record player. She had the song “One Eyed, One Horned, Flying Purple People Eater” She put it on her record player and we danced around and cut our hair off. I remember my Mom and Granny were over at Mrs. Speechley’s house. I went over there any my Mom laughed after a big gasp that was heard from everyone else. I guess it is a rite of passage. I do miss her but according to everyone, she was mean to me. I never really saw it that way. But our parting ways was because she kept blowing me off to get together. She was one of those girls that as soon as she had a boyfriend, no one else existed. I had come in from Northern Arizona University where I was going to college at the time. I was staying with Mrs. Totoro and I had told Jani and I was coming. So we made plans. But her boyfriend this and boyfriend that and we never got together. The last day, I finally told her how pissed I was at her for doing that. That was 16 years ago and I have not spoken with her since. Though I would love to in hopes that she has changed because I do miss her. Being a Navy brat, it is almost impossible to make lifelong friends. She was a constant in my life so I feel this bond with her in that sense. It may never happen, but I hope that someday I will see her again. I did look her up in my Westlaw Directory and got all her info. I even wrote her a letter but never sent it. I don’t know why. Someday I suppose.
Happy Friday everyone! I am on my way to go get my Thanksgiving groceries. I can’t wait to eat baby peas and homemade potatoes!
Angels in my life
November 16, 2005
Everything has been pretty quiet around here. And now that I’ve said that……Murphy’s Law.
I am looking forward to Christmas. I like Christmas but I usually feel all this pressure to buy the right gifts. Then I always feel like I haven’t bought the right ones. Then I am sure that no one liked them. So Christmas for me is very performance anxiety ridden. This year, we did not buy any gifts and though I hate that we didn’t, I feel less pressure than usual. We are doing the family gift exchange which is the funniest thing I have ever done. I laugh so hard and I am so excited we are doing it again this year. I literally live for that night. Needless to say, I am obsessed with Christmas this year. It is all I am thinking about and all that I want to do. I want to see my family and Mr. & Mrs. Totoro. Mr. & Mrs. Totoro were my grandparents next door neighbor for, gosh, 20 something years. I have the most wonderful memories of them. They always had dogs so I loved to next door and play with their dogs. Then they got a pool and basically my best friend since I was born, Jani, my sister and I, lived in that pool. I look back now at how kind that was of them. They never said no and our noise probably drove them crazy. They never told us to leave or yelled at us for being pain-in-the-butt’s. There was this concrete retaining wall between the homes and I am not sure who built it, it was probably either Pop or Mr. T, but one time I remember heading over to Mr. & Mrs T’s and there was a set of steps in matching concrete blocks. I remember how neat it was that I could get over the wall with ease. I also remember on the left side on the way to Mr. & Mrs. T’s there was mint growing. So we would pick mint and eat it as we went over to swim. I also remember after we would get done swimming, my Granny would have the most delicious lunches waiting for us. Something about swimming, to this day, makes me hungry. Heck, what doesn’t? I love seeing Mr. & Mrs. T but I must admit it is very difficult. Whenever I see her, I see my Granny too. See, every morning I would wake up to the smell of coffee and usually the best breakfast in the World. When I would get my rear out of bed my Granny and Mrs. T would be having coffee. I was always greeted with a warm good morning from the both of them as some game show played in the background on the TV in the living room. So whenever I see her, I have to hold back the tears. Though I have wanted to talk to her and see her so much more, it is so hard because I just fall apart. After all these years, I still have yet to get over the death of my Granny. I dream about her and even as I write this, tears are rolling down my face. When Chelsea was an infant, I wanted to show her to Mr. & Mrs. T and Mrs. T has some of my Granny’s ashes. I had to leave the house because it was so hard for me, I just broke out into tears. I still can’t talk about my Granny. I have never been to her gravesite. I figure if I don’t go, it doesn’t exist and she is still with me. Her absence is still completely devastating to me, it always will be.
OK time to wipe my face and talk about something else. Babar went to the Vet today. He had his teeth done, his shots, his glands, and his nails cut. He is not happy with me. They gave him that anesthesia that he is allergic to. So I have been babying him today. Well, not as much as usual. He doesn’t want to drink or anything. So he really is not happy about today. The good thing about going to the Vet today was that one of the Vet Techs said she would come over and check on Kiwi while we are gone. So I won’t have to rely on our neighbor. I just love that Vet’s office. I am going to really miss them when I move.
Has anyone been watching Apprentice? OK I need to ask…under what rock did they find these people? I mean, who the heck is ever late to a meeting with major corporate people? Or who would make gay and Anti-Jewish remarks in front of a group in New York ? Are these people brain dead or what?? We have all taken a vote on who we think is going to win. Since day one, I say it is Randal, without question. He is brilliant, calm, nice, and the perfect employee. Well, so far. I hope that doesn’t change or I am going to owe something to someone.
Sunday we have our hospital tour. I am so excited and I think Mom is too. I can’t wait to see other parts of that hospital. I saw enough of the ICU for Moms and NICU. I would like to see the normal areas too. Especially since that is where I plan to have this little guy.
OK Charlie is coming home soon. Yea! Too bad it isn’t Friday L I will get to see him for a whole 3 hours tonight. Sigh.
That's MY boy!
November 11, 2005
Happy Veteran's Day and thanks to all the Veteran's for their sacrafices!!!!Happy Friday! Yea....it's Friday! I am 21 weeks pregnant today.
I took a screen shot of Babar of Pet Smarts website in case anyone missed it. Too cute!
I am feeling a bit better today. Well, as far as the cold is concerned. Sadly, I have a bit of morning sickness. Smells are driving me crazy. I only want to eat potatoes, bread, Cream of Wheat, pretzels, anything bland. Poor Babar. He has been laying bed with me. The guy probably really doesn't smell but to me, he was like a Porta Potty on a hot day. So I sprayed him down with some dog cologne. Then when Charlie came home he gave him a Buddy Wash. I am not sure if I ever explained what a Buddy Wash is. We went to this health food store and they had this shampoo called Buddy Wash. It is a lavendar scent and it is good for humans and puppies. So in other words, you shower with your buddy. Babar hates the cold water so he showers with one of us. Usually Charlie and especially these days with my ever expanding middle.Poor Charlie. He tries to sit in the room with me and eat his dinner and I just can't stand it. So he eats alone in the computer room or out in the kitchen I feel so bad!
Chelsea is off school today for Veteran's Day. It is 10:46 and she is still sleeping. She must have stayed up late last night watching movies or something.
Mom and Jerry are going to look at the house I want today. I am anxiously awaiting their call because I want to hear all about it.
Pops cancer was not contained and it invaded the muscle. But there are lots of options for treatment so that is great news! Though they weren't able to get it all, with chemo, it should kill what they weren't able to get in surgery.
I had a prenatal appointment yesterday. It went well. It was quick. All my tests came back fine and my blood pressure was 128/80 so that was perfect. I am healthier pregnant than not pregnant. So the only area of concern was that in my Level II Ultrasound I have a low-lying placenta and they saw a narrowing of the babys kidney. The low lying placenta occurs in about 20-30% of pregnancies and will hopefully migrate up. We will be checking that again at 32 weeks. If it doesn't migrate, I will have what is called Placenta Previa. With Placenta Previa, it is an automatic C-Section and then medications to help slow down bleeding. If the bleeding doesn't slow down, they insert balloons into the arteries in the legs. Worst case scenario, a full hysterectomy is the placent attaches itself to other organs. So hoping and praying for migration!!As for the kidney thing. It seems that is common with boys. According to the report, the narrowing was so small that it couldn't even be measured and it was only seen on the lateral view of the ultrasound. We will be checking that again at 32 weeks. I have not done any research as to what all that means. But I will do it today. Though, I hate to wrry myself for nothing. I will decide late if I feel compelled.
OK I am starving. I am going to go attempt to find something that isn't going to make me sick for the next 6 hours. It is Friday afterall and I have things to do and a husband to spend time with!!!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
The real meaning of family?
December 12, 2005
So it looks like we are not going to New Mexico for Christmas. I was so looking forward to it. It has really gotten me through some dark days in this place. The thought of vacationing in a place that I find so peaceful and seeing my Pop, and my Aunts and Uncles. But all is not as it seems I guess. There is "Oh my gosh we can't wait to see you" (which I never really got anyway from any of them) and then there is what goes on behind the scenes. Two different scenarios altogether. Mom will probably go and stay there or I guess she is going to rent an apartment somewhere. Who knows what she is doing. She is breaking Chelsea's heart but I suppose that is a consequence Chelsea will have to accept. As always, I am here to pick up the pieces of Chelsea's broken heart and try to make it better in whatever way I can. Poor kid, it is always someone hurting her.
So I am staying here with my own family and my Babar. I am happy that I am not leaving my boy behind. I feel good about that. So now we need to go get a tree. I am so excited to smell that smell in our house. I love the smell of Christmas Trees. We also need to go get Chelsea some gifts since I assume Mom is not giving her anything and I asked my Uncles to return Chelsea's gifts and that we would buy some for her instead. So we are not buying my school books this month and we are going to go get her some presents. She has a huge list of things she wants so it should be easy. And I am sure Santa knows what to get her too. I didn't realize that I had saved this entry when I got a call and I guess Charlie's Mom read the little bit I had put in. Bless Charlie's Mom's heart, she offered to get Chelsea some gifts so she wouldn't have an empty Christmas. I told Charlie to tell her to save her money to come out and see the baby. It was really sweet of her! She is getting her Chelsea something she will really like anyway. I think we will manage to make Chelsea happy. She seems to want so many things this year. It's nice because it makes it easy on us and on Santa's helpers.
I just talked to my friend Paige and to Bernadette. Now only if I could get them to live closer to me! But thank God for phones! I talked both their ears off. Gosh, where would people be without friends? Bern offered to have me come up and stay for a bit. I am so tempted but I need to get things done here.
So Phoenix.....wow. Lots of jobs.....lots of nice homes. Almost too nice and unaffordable. But it looks really good. I've heard some bad things so I need to do more research before I committ. It is sad, there are just no jobs in Albuquerque. So, whatever, time to move on to somewhere else. I would love to be close to Bern but there aren't many jobs there either. Part of my reason to want to be in Albuquerque was to be close to family. But I guess that family was all just a fantasy in my head anyway. So I will make my own happy family with lots of wonderful, supportive, complimentary, friends that I can love as much as a family. Heck, I have a son coming! What better way to put the final touch on an already loving family that is mine? I have wonderful friends and I have my health. So much to be thankful for. I am lucky! Lots of people don't have "blood family" but family can have so many different meanings. Right? Oh and yes, I do have the puppy of my dreams! Who could forget the Babarian?
So I am sure you can tell that I am stressed. I had some contractions last night as a result. But I just put on Funniest Home Videos and it washed my troubles away. I cannot let pettiness get in the way of this pregnancy. I refuse to have any baby short of 38 weeks! And I will not let anyone ruin this pregnancy for me. It was really tough with Chelsea. Actually, it was pretty similar. I had no family support at all. But I made it through alone. Well, I was married but it didn't count. My ex was useless to say the least ha! At least I have Charlie, Chelsea and my friends for this pregnancy. It is a lot more support than I had last time. I was really hoping that I would get some sort of emotional support through this one but again, that is asking entirely too much. Sigh. That's okay. I made it through with Chelsea and that was really hard because she was so early and I was sick and I was alone. Pregnancy is a very emotional time so I know how hard it is to be supportive of any pregnant woman but I have to say, my friends have been wonderful to me. Even if I am edgey some days, they always take the good with the bad. Maybe that is definition of a family. Someone who accepts you at your lowest point. Not someone who berates you, tells you that you are a bad parent, puts you down in public, makes you feel bad about yourself, demands things of you, pushes you when you don't want to be pushed, they forgive you, love you no matter what, and support you. My friends honestly lift me up and give me strength to go on when I am not feeling so strong. Not once has any of my friends ever said they don't want to talk to me or see me. In fact, they open their doors and ask me to come stay with them whenever I need to and with open arms. I think that is a family! And if so, I am so damned lucky! So friends reading this, I love you and thank you!
Pop's Front Page Article that came out today
December 09, 2005
WWII hellcat pilot Buck Gregory remembers the good, bad and leviathan
By Ollie Reed Jr.Tribune ReporterDecember 9, 2005
World War II film footage flickered on the TV screen in Hayden "Buck" Gregory's Northeast Heights home earlier this week.
Gregory, 90, was seated in a comfortable chair, his right hand holding his cane, his left arm around Doby, the little Chihuahua mix resting in his lap. He gazed at the TV with alert, gray eyes, watching images of planes attacking ships, planes tumbling into the ocean.
Picture Here
Buck Gregory, 90, a Navy ace fighter pilot during World War II, reminisces in his Albuquerque home as he sits against a backdrop of mementos from his combat pilot years. He is one of 11 American aces - combat pilots who shot down five or more enemy aircraft - who are 90 or older. (Michael J. Gallegos/Tribune)
"It's Pearl Harbor Day," he said. "That's what this is about. I almost forgot it was today."
Gregory was a Navy fighter pilot in World War II and is one of 11 American fighter aces - pilots who have shot down five or more enemy aircraft - who are 90 or older.
He'll never forget the first Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7, 1941. Back then, he was a Navy aviation cadet at the naval air base at Corpus Christi, Texas.
"They had a bar there in the Nueces Hotel that we liked to go to - and that the girls liked to go to," he said. "I was in there holding a beer in one hand and holding .. . . Well, we don't have to talk about that.
"But that's when they announced Pearl Harbor. They announced it all over Corpus Christi. They told all military personnel to turn in their civilian clothes and to report back immediately."
Gregory smiled at the recollection.
"I had just bought a new suit," he said. "I gave it to one of my brothers. He didn't get called up because of his heart. So he wore it throughout the war."
Buck Gregory wore a flight suit throughout the war.
By the time it was over, he had five confirmed enemy kills to his credit, plus a Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Gold Stars, the Air Medal with four Gold Stars and the Army Commendation Medal.
Not to mention enough memories - good and bad - to fill up a long life.
Buck Gregory was born to farming and ranching parents in Haskell, Texas, about midway between Lubbock and Fort Worth.
"Most of my life, until I went to college, was the farm and ranch life," he said. "But I always wanted to be a fighter pilot. When I was young, there was an airplane that would come across our place, flying low, and the pilot would wave at us kids who would be punching cattle or hoeing cotton.
"I said, `You know that looks like a pretty good life.' And if you're going to be a pilot, you had to be a fighter pilot. If you're a fighter pilot, you're free. The whole sky belongs to you."
When America entered World War II, Gregory was still months away from finishing his pilot training. By the time he had, in July 1942, he was 27, considered too old to be a fighter pilot.
"They wanted these young ducks - about 19 or 20," he said.
He was assigned instead to fly an OS2U Kingfisher, an armed observation plane, on anti-submarine patrol in the Caribbean between Key West and Cuba.
"I never saw a submarine," Gregory said. "But I did bomb a whale one time."
He explained that a whale's shadow beneath the surface could resemble the shape of a submarine.
"We were losing a lot of ships back then. So if you had anything that looked like a sub, you just went ahead and attacked."
He dropped a 325-pound depth charge on the whale.
"I got him," Gregory said. "Blood flowed."
After he had been on anti-sub patrol for about a year and a half, the submarine menace was much reduced and so, apparently, was the pool of young ducks needed to fill fighter pilot slots. Much to his delight - and presumably the relief of snoozing whales - Buck Gregory all of a sudden didn't seem too old to be a fighter pilot.
"Well, we had a lot of flying experience by then," he said. "We'd put in up to 100 hours a month, flying day or night, when we were hunting subs."
After some additional training in Atlantic City, he found himself assigned to the newly commissioned aircraft carrier USS Bennington, part of Fighter Squadron 82 and a pilot of the Grumman F6F Hellcat, one of the Navy's hottest combat planes.
Buck Gregory was a fighter pilot.
Picture here
Buck Gregory sits in the cockpit of an F6F Hellcat fighter plane during World War II. "It was very, very good plane, a rugged plane," he said of the Hellcat. "A lot of our boys wouldn't have come back if it wasn't for that plane." (Courtesy Buck Gregory)
On New Year's Day 1945, the Bennington started into the Pacific, and by Feb. 16 the carrier's planes were taking part in raids on Tokyo.
Gregory shot down two Japanese fighter planes that day, badly damaged several more and was almost killed himself.
"The Japanese had pulled all their fighter planes into the Tokyo area because they had no islands left," he said. "Our idea was to get those fighter planes up in the air and get rid of them. We had quite a scrap."
Gregory saw 16 Japanese fighters pounce on four planes in his squadron, and he immediately flew to the American pilots' aid.
He said he can't remember what he was feeling during the frenzied flying and fighting that followed.
"I don't know. You're there. A guy is shooting at you, and you're trying to shoot him. You have no feelings. All my feelings came afterward. `That was pretty nasty,' I'd think. `I could have got hurt.' But when it's going on, it's just pure survival."
The outnumbered Americans in Gregory's group gave back better than they took that day, but, even so, his four comrades were shot down and killed, and Gregory's Hellcat took such a beating it lost its tail and part of one wing.
He made it back to the Bennington only because another American pilot flew escort, protecting his limping plane from enemy attack.
"When I got out of that plane, they just pushed it overboard," he said. "It wasn't repairable."
There were a lot of Japanese and American fighter pilots killed that day. The Americans regrouped and were back in the air that afternoon, but the Japanese had decided that kind of aerial combat was too costly.
"Thereafter, we very seldom saw a Japanese fighter plane," he said. "You might see one a mile away, scouting. But he wasn't looking for a fight."
That's the way it was until April 1945 and the invasion of Okinawa. Suddenly the sky was filled with Japanese planes, kamikazes so determined to slam their aircraft into American ships that they paid no attention to the American fighter planes trying to shoot them down.
"There were hundreds of them, and you had just one pass at them because after that they were into the ships' guns and you would be, too, if you followed," Gregory said.
On April 6, 1945, Gregory shot down three kamikaze planes.
"But that wasn't fighting," he said. "That was shooting fish in a barrel."
He won't forget that day, however, because it was the one time he got close enough to see death caused by him.
"Unlike the soldier on the ground, an aviator almost never saw the damage he did, and I guess that was good because of all the bombs and napalm we dropped," he said.
"But on this day I hit one (a kamikaze pilot). I hit him in the cockpit. I flew along side and I could see his head was hanging out of the cockpit and his (helmet's) earflaps were hanging out. He was dead."
He watched as one of the plane's wings dipped into the water and the aircraft cartwheeled into the ocean. It's not one of his favorite memories.
After the battle for Okinawa, Gregory's action was limited mostly to attacks on enemy ships and ground installations, which could sometimes be as perilous as dogfights with Japanese Zeros.
He was presented the Silver Star, the third-highest military award for heroism in battle, for his persistent and effective attack on an enemy aircraft carrier despite intense anti-aircraft fire.
"I never had any thoughts about whether I would come back," he said of his wartime missions. "I know some of the boys did, but not me. I just did it."
The war ended for Gregory in July 1945, when he returned to the states.
But that wasn't the end of his Navy or his flying career.
Gregory decided to stay in the Navy after World War II and did some test pilot work while in the service.
In 1968, he retired from the Navy with the rank of commander after serving several years as a recruiting officer in Albuquerque.
Twice a widower, he is the father of two sons, Bob and Jerry, both of Albuquerque, and a daughter, Nancy Lockwood of California.
He lived in his native Texas for some years after retiring, but he likes it in Albuquerque. His sons are here, and his daughter visits often.
Memories of his wartime years are all around him in the forms of models of the aircraft he flew, scrapbooks filled with clippings and photos and books about flying aces.
He gets emotional when he thinks of the boys who didn't get back but gets a kick out of telling stories about good times with the ones who did. One of his fellow pilots on the Bennington was Ashby Harper, the late Albuquerque Academy headmaster and long-distance swimmer.
All Buck Gregory ever wanted to be was a fighter pilot, and he got to be one of the best, one of that rare breed that can call themselves an ace.
He hasn't flown a plane in more than 40 years, hasn't cared to. But he's still got a fighter pilot's heart. It shines through his eyes when he talks about his Hellcat days.
Even now, when early damage done by roaring aircraft engines has left him hard of hearing and he needs a cane to navigate his way across a room, he remembers what it was like to be free, to own the whole sky.
Are you dim?
December 08, 2005
25 weeks and counting down!
Wow time flies when you are as big as a house and waddle everywhere you go.
Have I mentioned how excited I am about Christmas? I am so excited to see my family and be in New Mexico , away from this place. I am counting down the days and if the maids weren’t coming next week, I would start packing. But I am showing great restraint in just doing little things here and there. If it were up to me, I would pack my stuff now, pack up my gorgeous puppy and get the hay out of this hell hole!
OK so here is my “session”. This really has me going. OK so I belong to this board of real dimwits. Sadly I paid for it too. Duh! It was a great source of info when I was going through IVF but as soon as I became pregnant I felt terribly uncomfortable posting on the side of non-pregnant women. I felt guilty that I was a success and some weren’t yet. I miss them terribly though. It was a group of probably 20 something women all around my age, late 30’s and up. So there was a lot of intelligence, education, life experience, and we were all going through IVF so there was a sense of financial stability too.
Anyway, I felt I had to go to the pregnant side if I had questions. So I was on this board and there was a post about drinking wine and most, no joke, most women admitted to drinking while pregnant. H-E-L-L-O! So I posted part of an article I had just read by an M.D. stating that you should never drink while you are pregnant. He went on to say that you never know at what point your baby’s development is and thus, what you could be affecting by drinking. He also stated that all the studies have shown that no matter how much or how little you drink, you just never know. You child may have had an IQ of 120 and because you drank, it is now 115. And you won’t believe it, the responses, they were all a bunch of alcoholics that can’t give up their alcohol for their child. Here I am with a disabled child because of something I had no control over and they are making a conscious choice to possibly retard their children. Even to take the risk is ludicrous to me. But they are. I was the minority. Okay, call me silly, but is there not TONS of research and warnings all over about drinking while pregnant? And it wasn’t just wine. It was beer and hard alcohol too. Can you believe it? So needless to say, I will not go back. I am sickened that these people are such sickos that they are choosing to endanger their children’s lives. I knew some were still smoking and I kept my mouth shut, though that sickens me as much as drinking. The drinking thing really bothered me and I said something. It is down right criminal and actually I would like to look up some cases to see if there have been charges filed on a mother who voluntarily drank while pregnant. I would hope so because it is exactly the same as taking drugs while pregnant with similar effects on the fetus. I really hope that at some point these mothers will realize what they have done because they couldn’t say no. I am sorry for the children who can’t say no for themselves. I wonder if they will blame themselves once their children start having problems.
I am going to put it out of mind. I am still so sorry for those babies. But nothing I can do. Their mothers are sick.
So anyway, on to better things. The picture you see is my sexy beast. We had professional pictures of him done. Isn’t he the cutest? Gotta love that little guy!
One last thing. One of the board members stepped down. So the President nominated me to be Secretary. The Board Members approved it so I guess I've been promoted. Whatever that means ha!
Not that I am counting or anything but about 6 months until I move (providing the house sells).
YEA!
Happy Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blessed to be blessed..especially there
December 05, 2005
Monday L The weekend is over and my husband is at school tonight. Sigh. I miss him. But he is doing what he needs to do. So I put beef stew in the slow cooker so he can have a hot meal when he comes home.
Not that I am complaining, but brrr, it’s chilly. I am super happy about the “weather” we have. I mean it is still bright, sunny, no clouds, no rain, but we get down to 70 during the day and 50’s at night. I am so excited that it is Christmas but still, no real weather. So I have Christmas in my mind. It snows in there a lot and probably more than it should. So if I have forgotten to call you back, it because it is snowing in my brain.
The one thing I like in the winter is decaf Vanilla Latte’s from Starbucks. OK so here is my question. How much do you tip or should you tip? I am troubled by this tipping thing. I was always under the assumption that tipping was for people who actually serve you and tend to your needs. Is making coffee that hard? I mean is it bad not to tip at all? Or is it even worse just to throw your change in there? Frankly, I’ve become attached to my change lately. It really adds up. I used to put it in the square plastic thing but I like it myself now and don’t want to give it up. But I always feel bad. I mean I guess of all places that I would like to tip, it would be Starbucks. They are very pleasant there and more pleasant than 75% of the people that do serve food or do hair or whatever. Lately, we’ve had this string of bad food servers. So is it expected that you tip no matter what? Even if it bad service? I think the tip represents the quality of service. We over-tip when the service is wonderful and either give 5% or nothing for horrible service. Mom told me this one time, that she and her company went out. The service was awful. Whomever was in charge of paying the bill that day left a penny as a tip. Well, the server came out after the group and threw the penny at them. That just shocks me. I feel that you get what you deserve. On the flip side, if the servers make minimum wage are they then counting on tips to survive on? Well, if that were the case, then they should do their best to serve their customers. Right? I only ask that they come back every so often to see if we need anything. So I don’t expect a lot. Simple service I guess. Okay, so this begs to be asked. If you get a bad hair cut, do you then tip them? Do you walk out and don’t say anything? To date, I have yet to once express my unhappiness with my hair. I think I am too embarrassed. And I tip them as well. Partially because they stand there and sort of expect it. Then there is valet parking. Do you tip when you drop off and when you pick up too? Or just when you pick up? But then will your car be as well taken care of if you don’t tip when you drop off? I hate when they open my door for me because then I am committed to giving a tip. And how much? I mean sometimes, like in Vegas, it is over 100 degrees and these guys are literally running to get your car. I think that is worthy of more than a buck. As you can see, I am perplexed by this tipping situation. Mom’s story didn’t help. Not that I am afraid of confrontation but no one likes it.
Okay, I hope this doesn’t make anyone uncomfortable but I think it needs to be talked about. So we have decided to call a Mohel to perform our son’s circumscion. I am not sure why I didn’t think of it before but Mom’s friend Fred brought it up. Makes so much sense. Mohel’s are ultra trained. The baby is anesthetized, not tied down, and only one cut is made instead of two. It is completely humane. Well, Mom spoke with the Mohel today. Because we are Jewish and therefore the baby will be Jewish too, there has to be a Bris performed. Which means I have to give him his Jewish name. No big deal. But most Bris’ are huge celebrations because it means that you are giving your word to God that the Jewish faith will be carried on. Hence, the part of the body that will ensure that future generations will go on. Well, sadly, we really don’t practice the faith and so we are clueless. But the Mohel seemed pretty confident that everything will be okay. He will come to our house on the 8th day to perform the Bris. We already have his Jewish name picked or we did. I am thinking about changing it to reflect my Grandmother. It is something I need to think about. Charlie is sort of weirded out by this thing. But I made the point that his son’s privates will be blessed and wouldn’t we all like to claim that? I am all for it, I just need to check with the rest of the family. Mom has to hold him while it is being done. Charlie and I are supposed to be there but I know it is going to be hard for both of us. I can’t even watch Babar get shots. I hate to see my loved ones in pain.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
6 Months Pregnant-EEK!
December 02, 2005
Happy Friday!
I am officially 6 months pregnant today. It is unbelievable isn’t it? I am heading into my third trimester already. Gee, I think I better start getting ready to have this baby. The room is slowly coming along thanks to Mom and Chelsea. I am not sure where the baby would sleep if they hadn’t been putting the room together. I am just too tired to face it. Putting all of that together and making some type of organization is just too much to face for me. The photo is of a 6 month old baby.
Pop. He went to the oncologist yesterday. The cancer is a high-grade and kidneys are functioning at 20%. He wrote us an email saying he wanted quality and not quantity of life. I think he can fight it 100% and he will get quantity and quality of life. This is NOT over by any means!! Bladder cancer is curable…I mean of all cancers to have….this is so easy to fight and he has a lot of fight in him. So I am not accepting that this cancer will win. Period.
My business should be up and running again in about a month. I am so excited! I miss it so much and I have customers writing me all the time asking when I am coming back. Makes me feel good that I made an impression on people and they are willing to wait for me to come back. What kudos!
Are people particularly moody this Christmas or is it me? Maybe I was expecting too much. I think I was overzealous in my desire for a wonderful Christmas and I am finding great disappointment that others don’t feel the same. I am seeing more rudeness than ever and I am not sure what it is. Is it because we have a bonehead President? Is it the War? Is it money? What is going on? Can’t people just be nice to each other for the holidays? I think people should be kinder to each other. That includes while driving. Gosh. So many rude people on the roads.
I am so sick of this politically correct crap! We are wiping out very old traditions because we are so afraid of offending someone. Up to this point, have people really been offended by a CHRISTMAS tree Vs. a Holiday tree? I’m Jewish and though yes, I have a Christmas tree and I exchange gifts, in no way was I ever offended by a Christmas tree or the way any other culture celebrates. Seriously. This is getting out of hand. We have to rename trees now? What’s next? The Holiday Rabbit? Clover Day? Trading Hearts Day? When does it stop?
I was thinking about my favorite movies the other day. The list is long and weird. I mean people usually like one genre of movie. I am all over the place and all for different reasons. Let’s see. Star Wars….gosh who doesn’t? The last one was excellent and I felt a sense of sadness that the saga was complete. It is an end of an era that began for me, as a girl, and holds many fond memories. All of the Halloween movies, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm St., Hellraiser (only the first one), April Fools Day (one of my favorites by far). I can appreciate The Exorcist and Amityville but they really freak me out. Alien, The Abyss, The Fifth Element, Close Encounters. Any John Hughes or Amy Heckerling. It is the immature, 80’s, teen humor in me that has never gone away. All of the Fletch movies, all the Vacation movies, Bootie Call, All the Porky’s Movies, American Pie (first one), Private School, Thornbirds, Private Benjamin, Goodfellas, Schindlers List, Gone with the Wind, The Heiress (1934 Olivia De Havilland), Dracula (1979 with Frank Langella, yummy), Romeo and Juliet (1968), Uncle Buck, Ever After, Spiderman, Say Anything, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, When Harry Met Sally, Baby Boom, Wuthering Heights, Cold Mountain, Monster, Shawshank Redemption, all of the Harry Potters, and all of the Lord of the Rings (MY FAVE by far), Scarface, The Pianist (very inspirational), Boys Don’t Cry, Amadeus (did a fab job at representing my fave composer), Braveheart, Forrest Gump, All the Terminators, Shrek, Lion King, Monsters Inc., Bugs Life, Grease, Cool World, Dances with Wolves, Driving Miss Daisy, Footloose, Flash Gordon, American Gigolo.Looks like my list could go forever and I will be sorry I ended it because I will think of something else later on. I think I will just come in and add it later.
So now that I am on the movie thing, it sort of makes me think of High School. I always wonder what High School was like for everyone else. I had the best time during High School. Charlie claims he didn’t but I know otherwise. His friends from High School paint a whole other picture of their time in High School and it sounds like they had as much fun as I did. Someone once said to me before I left High School that there will never be another time in your life where you will get to see all your friends everyday and when it is over, you will miss it. It is true, I do miss it. The parties, the football games, the dating, and the fun. I have to admit, I was in the popular crowd so I think that made a difference. There was a wall called “Senior Wall” at my High School. That is where the cheerleaders, football players, and the younger popular crowd hung out. I was lucky enough to be able to hang out there. I was really good friends with a girl named Cheryl who was very pretty and she hung out there. So when I moved to that school, I was automatically put into that crowd. I then starting dating the running back of the football team, Sean, and that pretty much sealed my place in the school. I think about my son and I can only hope he has the same great time I did in High School. I hope he makes the most of it academically and socially because it will never happen again.
Babar, that little studly guy, is on a new site. Don’t forget to vote for him! http://www.dogshowusa.com/dog_gallery/default.sps?detail=8633&search=8633
Ohhh it’s Friday! YEA! I get to see my gorgeous husband for two whole days!
Countdown to the Puppy!
December 26, 2005
OK two more days to see my baby boy! I am going to miss my grandfather and oh my gosh are we going to miss the food, but, I am missing the man so much!!
So we are going to breakfast with my Uncle Jerry tomorrow morning then on to my Pops house to pack up the car and say goodbye. We are driving to Flagstaff which I thought was halfway. What a dope I am. It is only 5 hours of the total 12 hour trip. So last night I told Charlie to book the hotel because I was so sure it was half way. Duh! So sadly we are going to have to haul butt to get home because we are picking up the puppy at 5pm. Though I am sure I can be a bit late, she doesn't like late people and we don't like being late. So we will need to leave exactly at 8am to make it to the boy by 5pm.
I am having trouble typing on this computer so I won't write all about Christmas until I get home but I will when I get back to that hell hole called home.
I hope all is well with everyone and I will write again in about 3 days or so.
Merry Christmas
December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas to all my friends! I miss you and hope that you are having a wonderful Christmas. Have a HUGE egg nog or some other type of alcoholic beverage on my behalf.
I only have a minute. Chelsea is waiting on us so she can open gifts. Though I suspect she was up all night waiting to hear Santa. She had been checking Norads site to see where he was most of the day and when we left, she was excited to have her window cracked so she could listen for him. We will see how that turned out. She does have the ability to stya up all night and does it often. Though, she is sick and I am sure she was and is very tired.
I wish I was a bit more chipper this Christmas and I certainly hope that I don't ruin anyones Christmas. I am glad to see my Pop. He looks wonderful and is his funny self as usual. That makes me happy. It is beautiful here too. I miss my puppy and I miss my friends. More on all of it later.
I need to go. I am hoping ot cheer up a bit by the time we get to Pops house.
Love to all and Merry Christmas!
I'm herrrrreee
December 22, 2005
I only have a second but I wanted to let everyone know that we made it to Albuquerque. It was a great uneventful drive. And yes, I had to stop, literally, every hour on the nose to use the powder room. No joke. Charlie is a very patient pregnant husband. He never harrassed me about having to stop every hour.We are staying in the most magnificent hotel! I was shocked that Mom booked us to stay here! I have a photo on my phone but I can't upload it right now. I will be putting lots of pics up when I get home. Oh, BTW, we will be home Wednesday. Anyway, our view is of my Sandia Mountains and a beautiful golf course with lots of rivers and ponds in it. It is magical here. Truely. Now only if I had my puppy.I called about my puppy yesterday and they said he was fine and that he was being a good boy. I asked if he cried and they said no. But when I left he was moping. He gets this really mopey face when he is sad. He was clearly sad. It has been bothering me since I left. What a great Mom I am. He loves me and I dump into a cage. OK I am on my way over to see Pop and eat some breakfast. I already ate a ton of sopapillas, my favorite! Hope all is well with everyone. Love ya and miss ya! Thanks for everything Jolyn!!!
Where am I? What is today? Who am I?
December 19, 2005
OK this is just nuts! I have WAY too much going on. But this is my break and then I am going to go lay down. If something doesn't get done, so be it. Someone else can do it. Ha! Yea right!
I had to pack Chelsea, pack me, get Chelsea's meds, get her hair stuff together, I had to get new clothes and underwear for her, do everyones laundry, clean the house, get the animals ready, last minute shop, and then do my normal chores in between. I am STRESSED! I have the majority done already but I am making lists as I go along. Then I forget where I put the lists. I need lists to remember where my lists are. Ha!
Saturday night Charlie spent the night at Best Buy to buy the new 360. His plan was to drive-by about every hour to see if a line had formed. Well, he set his alarm, took a shower and headed out the door around 9:45am. About 10am I get a call that there was already a line and he was staying. He didn't bring one thing with him. Nor did he pack the truck the night before. So I got all his bedding, 3 jackets, a sleeping bag, 2 DVD players, movies, magazines, food and drinks, a flashlight, his PSP, his computer, the Power thing that hooks up to the car, and a few chairs. I put them all in the truck and then dropped the truck off to him. I took his car home. I went back at about 3pm after I spent the day shopping to take him lunch. Then at 5pm Jolyn took Chow some Hot Chocolate and I went with her. Got home at 6pm, took Mom to eat dinner, dropped by to see how they were doing, got Chelsea some dinner, went by Starbucks, and went home. I then put Babar in the back of the Eclipse and took him to see his Daddy. He had a blast! We stayed for about an hour and half, maybe a bit more. I took him home. Picked up Chelsea and went and got dinner for Charlie. He had some pain in his legs so I went down to the 7-11 down the street and got him some Tylenol. Got to bed around 1am. Didn't sleep all night. I had a horrible Migrane and my husband wasn't there. So I got maybe 4 hours of sleep. Charlie called my cell at 6:30 with a photo of the piled up 360's in the window. I called him and he got about much sleep as I did. Expect he decided to sleep on the concrete. He was afraid he would lose his place. Though while I was there one time, the manager came out and got peoples names and told them that they had to be there at 7:30 with ID in hand. I guess Charlie was still paranoid. He got home at 8:30 with a 360 in hand, compliments of my Mom, and a few games. Yesterday we had to get up and do a bunch of running around. We got up at 11am because I felt awful and he was tired. We had to get gifts, dog food, etc. etc.etc. Then Charlie had his normal chores to do, pick up dog doo, etc. and then he was on his game by 5pm. I continued to do laundry, cook dinner, pick up, pack etc. Which I am continuing into today.
Sadly, our neighborhood has been hit with a lot of crime the last month. We do have cameras set up around our house so we are hoping to catch whomever it is causing the problems.
Charlie's Mom sent all of Charlie's baby stuff yesterday. Christening gown, baptismal candle, blankets she and others had made, and the outfit he came home in. I just loved them all so much! I was terribly nervous to handle them because they are so precious. So I told Charlie to put them in a safe spot. His outfit, our baby will wear home too, so I had him put that in the baby's room so I can pack it. The funniet thing was his baby photo. He still looks exactly the same and I had to admit, his son is exactly like him already!!! I will scan the photo on when I get back. I already put in a frame and put it up above the fireplace. I love the photo that much!
But I wanted to let everyone know that I am leaving tomorrow night. So the only email I may be able to get is andrealawstudent@gmail.com or you can call me on my cell (providing it works).
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!!!!!! Love to all and be safe, please!!!!!!So vacation is what now?
Where does the time go?
December 15, 2005
Busy, busy, busy! I knew I would have a busy week and I have had one and it is only going to get busier. Tuesday I had my HOA meeting. It was a great meeting. I have decided to put myself in charge of the new newsletter. I think it is so important to get information out the people here and try to get this place straightened up.
Yesterday I had my doctor’s appointment. Everything is fine. We found his heartbeat right away. She measured and felt my tummy. I had a list of questions for her. One being, why didn’t I get the triple screen? She seemed very flustered that I didn’t get one. So hopefully everything will be ok. I told her I was traveling and she wanted me to be sure to stop often and move my feet and legs as we go along. She also wanted me to have a copy of my medical records to take with me. Naturally, I forgot them. Duh! I also wanted to know if they were believers in letting you have your epidural early. She said as soon as they see cervical change, I am free to get one. Those were magical words to me! So they aren’t believers in having to wait to 5cm. to get an epidural. Yea! The little man is kicking away and very active so everything seems just fine, knock on wood.
Today, I am taking Chelsea to her first physical therapy appointment in a long time. The doctors want her to start working on her Cerebral Palsy issues. So I am leaving in about 15 minutes for the doctor.
I am going to Albuquerque after all. Waiting until April is out of the question right now. However, Pop had great news yesterday. The cancer has not spread outside the bladder! I couldn’t have heard better news and I was absolutely thrilled that he will get to know his great-grandson!!! But I need to get my rear out there and spend Christmas with him nonetheless. Which means leaving my boy behind L I am broken-hearted. So I am taking his pictures with me and loading my cell phone with his photos too so when I miss him, I can just look at my phone.
Charlie…..bless that little genuis’ heart, passed Calculus! I am so proud of him! Now he can help our son with his homework, ha! Because Mommy is useless in the Math department!
Chelsea made honor roll again this semester. I looked through her work last night and she is a bright little booger! I am so proud of her!!
OK I am running late.
I have more to say but gotta go!
Love to all!!
Countdown to the Puppy!
December 26, 2005
OK two more days to see my baby boy! I am going to miss my grandfather and oh my gosh are we going to miss the food, but, I am missing the man so much!!
So we are going to breakfast with my Uncle Jerry tomorrow morning then on to my Pops house to pack up the car and say goodbye. We are driving to Flagstaff which I thought was halfway. What a dope I am. It is only 5 hours of the total 12 hour trip. So last night I told Charlie to book the hotel because I was so sure it was half way. Duh! So sadly we are going to have to haul butt to get home because we are picking up the puppy at 5pm. Though I am sure I can be a bit late, she doesn't like late people and we don't like being late. So we will need to leave exactly at 8am to make it to the boy by 5pm.
I am having trouble typing on this computer so I won't write all about Christmas until I get home but I will when I get back to that hell hole called home.
I hope all is well with everyone and I will write again in about 3 days or so.
Merry Christmas
December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas to all my friends! I miss you and hope that you are having a wonderful Christmas. Have a HUGE egg nog or some other type of alcoholic beverage on my behalf.
I only have a minute. Chelsea is waiting on us so she can open gifts. Though I suspect she was up all night waiting to hear Santa. She had been checking Norads site to see where he was most of the day and when we left, she was excited to have her window cracked so she could listen for him. We will see how that turned out. She does have the ability to stya up all night and does it often. Though, she is sick and I am sure she was and is very tired.
I wish I was a bit more chipper this Christmas and I certainly hope that I don't ruin anyones Christmas. I am glad to see my Pop. He looks wonderful and is his funny self as usual. That makes me happy. It is beautiful here too. I miss my puppy and I miss my friends. More on all of it later.
I need to go. I am hoping ot cheer up a bit by the time we get to Pops house.
Love to all and Merry Christmas!
I'm herrrrreee
December 22, 2005
I only have a second but I wanted to let everyone know that we made it to Albuquerque. It was a great uneventful drive. And yes, I had to stop, literally, every hour on the nose to use the powder room. No joke. Charlie is a very patient pregnant husband. He never harrassed me about having to stop every hour.We are staying in the most magnificent hotel! I was shocked that Mom booked us to stay here! I have a photo on my phone but I can't upload it right now. I will be putting lots of pics up when I get home. Oh, BTW, we will be home Wednesday. Anyway, our view is of my Sandia Mountains and a beautiful golf course with lots of rivers and ponds in it. It is magical here. Truely. Now only if I had my puppy.I called about my puppy yesterday and they said he was fine and that he was being a good boy. I asked if he cried and they said no. But when I left he was moping. He gets this really mopey face when he is sad. He was clearly sad. It has been bothering me since I left. What a great Mom I am. He loves me and I dump into a cage. OK I am on my way over to see Pop and eat some breakfast. I already ate a ton of sopapillas, my favorite! Hope all is well with everyone. Love ya and miss ya! Thanks for everything Jolyn!!!
Where am I? What is today? Who am I?
December 19, 2005
OK this is just nuts! I have WAY too much going on. But this is my break and then I am going to go lay down. If something doesn't get done, so be it. Someone else can do it. Ha! Yea right!
I had to pack Chelsea, pack me, get Chelsea's meds, get her hair stuff together, I had to get new clothes and underwear for her, do everyones laundry, clean the house, get the animals ready, last minute shop, and then do my normal chores in between. I am STRESSED! I have the majority done already but I am making lists as I go along. Then I forget where I put the lists. I need lists to remember where my lists are. Ha!
Saturday night Charlie spent the night at Best Buy to buy the new 360. His plan was to drive-by about every hour to see if a line had formed. Well, he set his alarm, took a shower and headed out the door around 9:45am. About 10am I get a call that there was already a line and he was staying. He didn't bring one thing with him. Nor did he pack the truck the night before. So I got all his bedding, 3 jackets, a sleeping bag, 2 DVD players, movies, magazines, food and drinks, a flashlight, his PSP, his computer, the Power thing that hooks up to the car, and a few chairs. I put them all in the truck and then dropped the truck off to him. I took his car home. I went back at about 3pm after I spent the day shopping to take him lunch. Then at 5pm Jolyn took Chow some Hot Chocolate and I went with her. Got home at 6pm, took Mom to eat dinner, dropped by to see how they were doing, got Chelsea some dinner, went by Starbucks, and went home. I then put Babar in the back of the Eclipse and took him to see his Daddy. He had a blast! We stayed for about an hour and half, maybe a bit more. I took him home. Picked up Chelsea and went and got dinner for Charlie. He had some pain in his legs so I went down to the 7-11 down the street and got him some Tylenol. Got to bed around 1am. Didn't sleep all night. I had a horrible Migrane and my husband wasn't there. So I got maybe 4 hours of sleep. Charlie called my cell at 6:30 with a photo of the piled up 360's in the window. I called him and he got about much sleep as I did. Expect he decided to sleep on the concrete. He was afraid he would lose his place. Though while I was there one time, the manager came out and got peoples names and told them that they had to be there at 7:30 with ID in hand. I guess Charlie was still paranoid. He got home at 8:30 with a 360 in hand, compliments of my Mom, and a few games. Yesterday we had to get up and do a bunch of running around. We got up at 11am because I felt awful and he was tired. We had to get gifts, dog food, etc. etc.etc. Then Charlie had his normal chores to do, pick up dog doo, etc. and then he was on his game by 5pm. I continued to do laundry, cook dinner, pick up, pack etc. Which I am continuing into today.
Sadly, our neighborhood has been hit with a lot of crime the last month. We do have cameras set up around our house so we are hoping to catch whomever it is causing the problems.
Charlie's Mom sent all of Charlie's baby stuff yesterday. Christening gown, baptismal candle, blankets she and others had made, and the outfit he came home in. I just loved them all so much! I was terribly nervous to handle them because they are so precious. So I told Charlie to put them in a safe spot. His outfit, our baby will wear home too, so I had him put that in the baby's room so I can pack it. The funniet thing was his baby photo. He still looks exactly the same and I had to admit, his son is exactly like him already!!! I will scan the photo on when I get back. I already put in a frame and put it up above the fireplace. I love the photo that much!
But I wanted to let everyone know that I am leaving tomorrow night. So the only email I may be able to get is andrealawstudent@gmail.com or you can call me on my cell (providing it works).
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!!!!!! Love to all and be safe, please!!!!!!So vacation is what now?
Where does the time go?
December 15, 2005
Busy, busy, busy! I knew I would have a busy week and I have had one and it is only going to get busier. Tuesday I had my HOA meeting. It was a great meeting. I have decided to put myself in charge of the new newsletter. I think it is so important to get information out the people here and try to get this place straightened up.
Yesterday I had my doctor’s appointment. Everything is fine. We found his heartbeat right away. She measured and felt my tummy. I had a list of questions for her. One being, why didn’t I get the triple screen? She seemed very flustered that I didn’t get one. So hopefully everything will be ok. I told her I was traveling and she wanted me to be sure to stop often and move my feet and legs as we go along. She also wanted me to have a copy of my medical records to take with me. Naturally, I forgot them. Duh! I also wanted to know if they were believers in letting you have your epidural early. She said as soon as they see cervical change, I am free to get one. Those were magical words to me! So they aren’t believers in having to wait to 5cm. to get an epidural. Yea! The little man is kicking away and very active so everything seems just fine, knock on wood.
Today, I am taking Chelsea to her first physical therapy appointment in a long time. The doctors want her to start working on her Cerebral Palsy issues. So I am leaving in about 15 minutes for the doctor.
I am going to Albuquerque after all. Waiting until April is out of the question right now. However, Pop had great news yesterday. The cancer has not spread outside the bladder! I couldn’t have heard better news and I was absolutely thrilled that he will get to know his great-grandson!!! But I need to get my rear out there and spend Christmas with him nonetheless. Which means leaving my boy behind L I am broken-hearted. So I am taking his pictures with me and loading my cell phone with his photos too so when I miss him, I can just look at my phone.
Charlie…..bless that little genuis’ heart, passed Calculus! I am so proud of him! Now he can help our son with his homework, ha! Because Mommy is useless in the Math department!
Chelsea made honor roll again this semester. I looked through her work last night and she is a bright little booger! I am so proud of her!!
OK I am running late.
I have more to say but gotta go!
Love to all!!
Does Friday the 13th ever come to an end?
January 19, 2006
So I went to the Dr. today. I saw Dr. Saffer. If you ever watch Birthday Live on Discovery Health Learning Channel then you've probably seen him. Nice guy. Let me start with about a week ago. I noticed that my feet were really swollen. But by morning they went back down to normal. This has been going on for about a week. Last night, I actually felt the swelling in my slipper. So I had Charlie look at them and sure enough, they were swollen. Usually all I have to do is lay down and it goes away. Well, I woke up this morning and they were still swollen. It's sort of weird to walk on swollen feet. It is like you are standing on water balloons in wet grass because not only do they sort of hurt because the skin is stretching but they itch too. So today, my blood pressure was 140/90. Fabulous. Here we go again is all I thought. I couldn't wait to see the Dr. to see if I was also spilling protein. So he proceeds to ask me "Are you getting headaches or blurred vision?". I knew exactly what that meant. I told him that I've always had headaches so that is nothing new. I forgot to mention that my vision is blurry on and off but that is also nothing new. Hence, the reason I don't drive at night and need glasses when my vision goes a little funky. I said, "Am I getting pre-eclampsia again?" He said "I don't know" So now they want to see my every week because they want to watch me "Very Carefully". He also wants to me to start taking my blood pressure at home. I was not spilling protein yet. Which is a great thing! Now, I just need to hang on for at least 4 more weeks!! I will take 3 but would prefer 4. He took my blood pressure again before I left and it was 120/90. So that was better. But not as good as it has been in the past. So that sort of bums me out. The other thing is that even with Chelsea, I had a blood pressure that was out of this world and I still felt okay. So I will never know when this thing creeps up on me. I think the only way we will tell is the protein. Gawd, my kidneys are already such a mess too. I need to start chanting "4 weeks, 4 weeks, 4weeks". I need 4 really good healthy weeks now. No abruptions, no protein, good blood pressure, and good sugars.
On a good note. Charlie's friend Robert is such a doll! He makes homemade pickles. He sent 2 jars today! The mail lady just dropped them off. I opened the door and she said "OH I will get those for you" I appreciated the help but KEEP YOUR MITS OFF MY PICKLES! I've already downed 4 of them. They are sitting right here next to me at my desk. I'm trying to ration them. Ha! Charlie said that I can have one jar. But I have my little secret hiding places. He only needs one jar. I am pregnant after all and that gives me full license to all the pickles I want! Ha!
OK I am going to try to finish the baby room while I can. I see bedrest in my future sooner rather than later. My poor family will have to cook, clean and do their own laundry. What will they do?
If ever you need to laugh...
January 18, 2006
I slept last night! I slept 3 whole hours all in a row! I feel like I just won the lottery or something! 3 hours....yes....you read that right...3 whole hours....seriously!
The baby's room is almost done. I have laundered his bizillion clothes, blankets, and sheets. I am launderied out!Now we just need to organize and make it look presentable. Then I will take some pics.
Tomorrow is a doctor appointment. Just a normal check up. I am going every 2 weeks now. I also have an appointment on the 23rd to see the nutirionist and then the 25th to see the RN. So I will be in San Diego quite a bit from here on out. I think at 32 weeks I start seeing the Dr. every week. Oh why did gas prices have to go up now???
Pop is scheduled for surgery on Feb. 14th. Some Valentine's Day it will be. We will all be on pins and needles.
Talked to Bern today. Poor Genie. I can say this, she didn't suffer. She has a very loving and logical family. They did the right thing. She will be missed by everyone.
So Bern...this link is for you to put a smile on your face for at least a moment. http://www.glumbert.com/media/dancewhiteboy.html
Well.....it WAS Friday the 13th afterall
January 16, 2006
In the midst of my celebrating my 30 week mark, I had forgotten it was Friday the 13th! And boy was it. Sigh. I have Gestational Diabetes.
So what does that mean? It could mean a lot of things but no one knows for sure. So here are some of the things that I have to do now. I can't have any sugar, wow, no duh. I really wasn't having any anyway. I never did really crave it. I was craving Coke though and I had forgotten until about 3 weeks ago that there is caffeine-free Coke. So I treated myself every night with one at dinner time. Well, I'm glad I got a few in because that's over. The rest of it, I am a little confused. I looked up some on the internet and honestly, I am not eating that differently than I was before. I am eating wheat bread instead of Wonder, I was drinking 1% Milk the whole time and so that won't change, but I wasn drinking Calcium fortified Orange Juice and I guess I can't do that anymore. The downfalls to having this, well, a bigger baby than I would normally have. So with my luck, I will have had a 2.8 lb baby and then a 10 lb'er, nope, I can't do anything in the middle. Another thing is that they may induce me if the baby is getting too large. That's not such a bad thing because we can plan things ahead of time. The baby can be affected by this if I don't take of myself but I will most certainly take care of myself. This baby means the world to us and there no way that I will jeopardize this child's life in any way, shape, or form! So what causes this? Age, weight, and history. So I have two out of the three. Chances were I was going to get it because I can't ever have a normal pregnancy. Now I get to poke my finger 4 times a day and see a nutritionalist. Blah. Anyway.
It was a good weekend. Don't faint.....Charlie cooked dinner Sunday and he even did his own laundry. Bless his heart. He weeded the backyard, fixed the Malibu lights, and then went shopping with me for groceries. He was a very busy bee this weekend. He rubbed my head, my feet, scratched my back and I was a lounge lizard.
Is Desperate Housewives juicy or what? I'm such a Bree at heart (minus the alcohol, I don't drink....it grosses me out).
I put our Christmas family photo up under family photos 2. I am 6 months pregnant in the photo.
On a sad note, one of Bern's dogs passed away. I feel terrible! I haven't called yet. I am sure it is still really raw. They had the dog for a really long time. She was a really sweet dog and she lead a very happy long life. I am sure she will be dearly missed!! I know that house will be a little emptier without her. She was so soft and cute. Her tail was adorable. Always wagging. She was a real doll! I am sorry to Bern and her family!
Mr. Sandman...Please give me a grain!
January 13, 2006
I'm 30 weeks today! I know that may not mean much to many people but 12 years ago, Chelsea was born on this day. 30 weeks, 2.8lbs, 15 inches. I've officially broken my pregnancy record today! From here on out it is nothing but good stuff. Developing brain and lungs and moving right along. I'm so excited!! Now if I could just get some sleep. What's up with that? I mean I am up using the powder room every hour and I keep having contractions that wake me up, but before this week I was able to go right back to sleep. Now I am wide awake. I can't get comfortable and I can't put my finger on what it is that is bothering me. I think it is my pillows because I've been waking up with a headache everyday. I sleep on a feather bed so my back and legs are fine. My poor family though. I have all the windows on and I am stopping myself from turning the fan on too. It's gotta be around 40 degrees in our room at night and sometimes I am still sweating. Babar and Charlie curl up together at night to keep warm. It's cute but I feel bad. But honestly, if it isn't that cold, I simply do NOT sleep at all! And we all know a happy wife is a happy life Ha!
Last night, I didn't have to cook and I got a foot rub last night! Can you believe it? Not only that, but he sat and watched a really long instructional movie called Pregnancy for Dummies! I was wondering where my real husband was all night. Because after that, he rubbed my head. I felt spolied! I think it is to gear me up for a weekend of listening to him beating people over the head with pipes and argue with 9 year olds over game playing skills, or lack thereof. Nothing like buttering me up a little to have a weekend of doing what you want.
So since my Pop moved he has not been able to break his old habits. One being leaving his car open with the keys in it. After many warnings from my Uncles and the neighbors, he has yet to listen. Well, yup, you guessed it, he was robbed. The car was wiped out and the guy gained access to the house. So while Pop was sleeping, the burglar entered the house. Dobie, Pops little dog started barking and chased the guys off. Ha! That little weenie dog actually scared someone away. That's so funny! So Pop had to call a locksmith to redo all the locks in his house and he had to take his car in to get rekeyed. What a mess! But maybe he learned that the world isn't such a kind place. He was used to living in Texas where people didn't do that sort of thing. Welcome to a large city. My question is, how do people sleep at night knowing they just stole from someone else? I mean, I could never lay my head down at night knowing I just ruined someones day and sometimes someones whole life by taking their worldy goods. Ugh.
Happy Friday!
I did it!
January 11, 2006
I can't believe it! I made it through my stupid Glucose Tolerence Test. Ewww! I couldn't eat after 9pm last and I had an appointment this morning at 9am. So that is 12 hours without eating. Eek! I have such bad Hypoglycemia at this point, I was afraid that there was no way I would even make to this morning. So I got my rear up and went to the Lab. They took my blood and then gave me that lovely drink to drink in a 5 minute time limit. It's so incredibly sweet it makes you want to puke. Well, I got nauseated immediately and had a really hard time keeping it down. So there I got to sit for 3 hours. I brought a lot to read but every time I looked down I got nauseated again. So I would read or do a crossword puzzle and then after about 15 minutes have to look up for about 30 minutes to get rid of the nausea. I guess it worked out okay because there were plenty of tattoos to read on all kinds of interesting body parts. So I guess I never really stopped reading. I made sure I sat in the cubby part of the office which houses two chairs. I figured no one would sit there and I could spread out and be comfortable. Naturally someone sat next to me and of course, he was a smoker. So he smelled really bad! I kept looking the other way and fanning myself with my magazine. It took a lot for me not to honk all over him. Though I felt it would have been warranted to do so, I didn't for selfish reasons. I didn't want to start the test again. So he got called in after about 30 minutes and I was so relieved. Then he had to come back and put the magazines back. I thought, gee, why don't you shove them where the sun doesn't shine instead of ambushing me with your stench again? I held my breath but he left behind a beautiful boquet of cigarette exhaust that lasted a good 5 minutes. 12:15 couldn't have come any faster! Get me away from these Wildomarians and fast, please! I start to get dizzy right at 12:05 so it was great timing. I ran down to the local taco shop and got a bean burrito and some hot carrots. I felt better immediately. Then I took a small nap with my puppy of course.
On the puppy front. Awww my baby! Over the weekend his right ear got really red and it was reallybothering him. He would walk with his head tilted and it was itchy, not to mention, smelly. So I called Monday to get him and his Vet was really full. But I told them he was hurting. So bless their hearts, Bree called at like 3 and asked if I could get there in 30 minutes. So I rushed him over there and they squeezed Babar in between surgeries and already established appointments. Dr. Robertson looked at his ear and remarked at how red it was. So he gave him some stuff to immediately rid the pain and then gave him a shot to take down the swelling and irritation. It is the same exact thing he has several times before. So it will be something we will be chasing unless I take him to an allergist and I don't think I will be doing that. I will just give him more cookies :)
Mom made it to New York just fine. She interviewed yesterday to be Publisher for Scholastic Publishing. She is not sure how she feels about it yet. She liked the people but she would have to live in Connecticut. We didn't have such a great experience out there. It is so different from here so I think there is a sense of feeling like a fish out of water. Anyway, she got her facial at Elizabeth Arden. I won't even mention how much she spent....it was shocking!!! I'm still laughing about it though. Only my Mom. She is so funny.
Last night I had my HOA meeting. It went really well. We are really getting organized. They want me to put together another newsletter for immediate release. So tomorrow I am going to work on that. We are trying to get our neighborhood watch together and fix some of the issues in the neighborhood. The fact that we are getting a lot of police support has helped out quite a bit. So that should cut down on at least a few of the issues we are having.
So this morning I got an email that said that Murrieta Councilman Enochs was arrested on suspicion of 14 felonies, including extortion and criminal conspiracy. Ha! There is a big surprise. That guy is such a slim and I have been saying all along. I damn well know that the WIN (Wildomar Incorporate Now) and/or Resuce Murrieta bailed his slimy behind out of jail too. When the deseated Jack van Haaster, Murrieta made the biggest mistake they could have ever made for their city. It is a real shame, he is a good man with wonderful intentions. Leave it to Enochs to be behind all of that mess which cost Murrieta a lot of money! I hope Murrieta is learning a big lesson now and I hope Mayor (he will always be the Mayor to me) van Haaster is smiling large tonight! Now if we could only get that other slim Bob Buster out on his ass! I am quite sure that he is not an angel either and I would not be a bit surprised if we see something about him being arrested in the future too.
OK..I'm going to go eat...because I can! HA!
P.S. There is a new video up of my Charlie and the pup.
Like...totally gross me out...gag with me with a spoon
February 07, 2006
It seems that I am just not going to escape all this early labor business. Hoping for another week here!I've been to Triage 3 times now. I feel like I live there. It is terribly boring! You just sit there and do nothing. There is nothing to read, no TV, the room is this tiny little room covered by just a curtain. You can hear everyone elses problems. I thought there was this new thing calle HIPPA. What happened to that? Everyone hears all my issues too and that makes me very uncomfortable. Anyway, at my last appointment my blood pressure was 150/90 again so they sent me to triage. Everything was fine except that I was contracting every 10 minutes. I had the most wonderful RN while I was there. She really tended to me and was there by my side almost the whole time. Last night my Dr. called. I had done a 24 hour test for protein and they called. Naturally I had protein in my test so they sent me to triage again. Mom stayed with Chelsea and I drove myself down there. Charlie was already down there and I told him to go ahead and go to school. If you don't go to the first class, they drop you. So he had to go. This time though, I brought my own pillows, food, magazines, and games. When I got there I checked in. Dr. Saffer had called ahead so they were expecting me. Ahead of me was a couple from Mexico. The women thought she had broken her water. So the RN told her to go in to the bathroom and you are supposed to leave a sample and fill out this paper about domestic violence. So she goes and in and her husband goes in with her. It is a Women's only restroom. So I sat and waited outside because I had to do the same thing. As soon as they came out I went in. I put my stuff down and I went to grab a cup. As I did, I noticed the toliet seat up and urine all over the toliet and floor. I was SO SO SO grossed out!!! I went out to the RN's station and I told them that I absolutely refused to use that restroom becuse the husband of that woman had peed all over the place. The RN went in and remarked how disgusting that was and called for housekeeping. HELLO- WOMEN ONLY stupid! So I ended up having to go to the one in the hallway. So I walk in there and it is disgusting. Pee in the toliet, paper towels all over the floor, and what I can only describe as a water fight bewteen monkeys all over the floors and counters. It was nasty. So I did what I was supposed to do. The RN who ended taking me was a nasty bitch. Could have cared less about me. She never even finished my charting and never came back to see how I was. After Charlie was done with school he came in. It was a relief to see him. At least I had someone to talk to and help me move around. The beds there are terribly uncomfortable and they kill my back. So he helps me move around. Right before he came in, that same guy that peed all over went back into that restroom. I couldn't believe it! When Charlie came in, he said he needed to use the restroom, I told him to go to the hallway and he said he was going to anyway. When he got back I told him what had happened with that nasty guy. So then I decide I need to use the restroom. I hear another couple come in from Mexico and as the RN was talking to her, they inform her that she is TB positive! They asked the husband is he knew and they said yes. Oh my gosh! TB positive????? They instructed her to go into the restroom to leave a sample and fill out the same paper. And I am supposed to now use the restroom that has pee all over it and now has been exposed to TB too? NO! NO! NO! I have enough issues right now and I DON'T want TB too! So I held my breath as I walked by them and walk to the hallway to use the restroom. I then held my breath all the way back. As I get settled back in they put the TB girl next to me and I could smell his or hers B.O. It was so nasty! I wanted to puke and I really wanted to just go home. I am not happy with the hospital and I am not thrilled about being exposed so casually to such a deadly disease. I am not happy that they allowed that husband to go in the restroom with his wife. I mean, what if she was a victim of domestic violence? She could never fill out that paper with him standing right there. Not that the RN's gave a rat's behind what was going on. My RN was too busy talking about her last vacation and how awesome it was. I so wish that I could have a home birth. But I want an epidural and I have far too many issues to have anything but a hospital birth. I guess maybe I should have looked into Scripps a bit more. But Scipps is not connected to Children's Hospital and I thought it would be best for the baby to have direct access to specialized care. And gee, now that we've been exposed to TB and God knows what else, we may just need that hospital. I'm such an idiot. I should have figured that because Mary Birch takes all the serious cases, that they take ALL the cases. Insured, Medi-Cal, diseased etc. I mean none of that bothers me really, what bothers me is that there is no isolation for patients with communicable diseases. So now all of us Moms who have suffered to even get pregnant, to stay pregnant, and try to be as healthy as possible are being exposed to all kinds of airborne diseases. It pisses me off like no other. I will be talking to my Dr. about it tomorrow because I will not do that to myself or my baby again. It is ludacrious! I have been boiling about it since last night. My feet look horrible. They are huge. I feel like a giant rocking horse because they are so swollen they are rounded. My shoes hurt, it hurts to walk, and my skin ...ouch!Then there is the pupp which is that stupid pregnancy rash. I ITCH! I bitch and itch all day long. I itch day and night. I look awful. It never stops. Wearing clothes is really challenging. Give me a mu-mu please! Bras are the worst because of the elastic. I'm still not sleeping well. My hips hurt, my back hurts, and I just can't get comfortable. Not to mention that it has been mid-80's everyday so I am hot too. I just want to boo-hoo to whomever will listen and understand my plight. But not many people get it. I want to be massaged day and night, I want a cook and someone to do the laundry and for pete's sake, I want a chaffeur! However miserable I am or may become, I cannot give up on this pregnancy yet. At 35 weeks there is little chance of needing medical intervention. So I need to hang on. I would rather be miserable now (and I am) then have a child who is miserable the rest of his life because he has preemie issues. So on I go itching, bitching, whining, swelling, not sleeping, being dizzy, crazy, forgetful, clumsy, hot, moody, and being uncomfortable because my baby is worth it.
Really quick
February 01, 2006
Because I am not sure what the day will ever bring, I am posting a little earlier than normal.
I went to the Dr. today. I am starting to have protein and the blood pressure is up again. I am also contracting but no cervical changes yet. The baby's kidney has some dilation on the tube that links the bladder and the kidney.My sugars were out of control and I was put on meds yesterday. They worked!I have to go for non-stress testing of the baby twice a week, the doctor wants to see me about every other day, and I have to do to the Diabetic Center every other week. Basically, I will be in San Diego at least 3 times a week if not more.
So......if I get two more weeks out of this pregnancy, it will be a blessing. Wish the news was better but wish us luck!
Mother of the Year
January 31, 2006
Yesterday went okay. I mean, medically it went well, but I didn't get what I wanted. The Ultrasound Tech was really rude! I've had her before and I groaned when I saw her call my name. For the first 15 minutes of the u/s I didn't get to see anything. Mom and Charlie did but I guess the baby is so big you really can't see much anyway. They saw his face, his heart, his spine etc. My placenta is where it is supposed to be so no Placenta Previa. Ya! One thing I actually don't have. What a miracle. She wouldn't tell me anything else, not even his weight. As if I am going to sue her if she is a 1lb. off. Whatever! Anyway, the pictures we got weren't that great but I will scan one in anyway when Charlie brings them home from the office. The good news is that he is still a he. So we don't have to worry about returning all those cute clothes!
Today Chelsea called Charlie to let him know she was low on money in her account. He told her that she should be okay and to go ahead and eat. Then she called me at lunch and I told her the same thing. I told her to go through the line and get something because they have always let us before. Well, I got a call a few minutes later and they indeed had denied her a lunch. Nice. So I asked her if she was okay and she said yes. Well, that ate me up. There was no way I could let her go hungry. She is pretty strong and most of the time she will tell you she is fine, when in fact she is not fine. Happens all the time. Broken feet, concussions, middle lobe pnuemonia, broken toes, high fevers, relentless teasing, this child is a tough cookie. So I knew she really wasn't okay. I got ready and went and picked her up from school. We saw her teacher in the halls and he told her to come to him if she needed money for lunch if it happens again. She said "Well, I'm not that hungry anyway". So we are walking away and she says "Mom, you told me not to take money from teachers". Ha! She's right, I did tell her that. So I felt like a heel. So we get in the car and I said "Is McDonalds okay?" She said "Yes, I'm hungry". I KNEW IT! So again, I get Mother of the Year Award. Gosh! Charlie feels bad too and he told me to tell her he was sorry for telling she would be okay. Ugh.
Bern got a new puppy! I was wondering how long it would take her. The little girl is a Golden Retirever named Lily. Too cute! I can't wait to see her. So a huge congrats to Bern's new addition :)
The picture is of Chelsea and my Ostrich friend. Can you tell she is nervous? This picture cracks me up!
32 Weeks~ That's 8 months!
January 27, 2006
Because I learned my lesson last time, I will knock on wood before I talk about my celebration of 8 months. *Knock* Knock*. Okay, now we can move on. I'm 8 months today! I'm so glad I made it to this point but boy do I feel icky! No sleep, contractions that wake me up at night, headaches, backaches, etc. Everyone knows the 3rd trimester blues so no need to repeat them I suppose.As for the rest of it, the baby is ok. He hasn't been moving much the last couple of days. That always worries me. A guarnteed way to tick him off though is to play Mozart. So he has his little "headphones" on and he is listening to Mozart and kicking away. 2 nights ago, I was laying on my side and Charlie got to see the baby move in my stomach. I think he was surprised. I'm always commenting on how the baby is kicking me and he just sort of says "oh". I don't think he really got that I'm a real life punching bag. So I'm glad he got to see what I go through all day and night. Ha! As for the blood pressure, eh, it's okay. I mean I am still here so I guess it isn't too bad. I went to the Dr. on Wed. and it was 140/90 which is borderline for problems. The Dr. looked at me and told me to take it easy. Whatever that means. I didn't have protein so this is a great thing! Though he was not happy with my morning sugar levels. So he said I need to do something about that. I called the RN today and she just said to try to cut my night snack in half. OK, I have a very small apple and some peanut butter every night. I'm supposed to cut what out exactly? My sugars otherwise are great. Well, last night after dinner was way too low, I obviously am not eating enough at dinner but I can fix that. Or at least try to. Maybe I will eat my apple at dinner and just eat something else for my night snack. Oh, who knows. This is all confusing to me.
I put myself on bedrest yesterday. Partly because I am supposed to and partly because I'm not sleeping at night. It's hard though. I got up to make Charlie's lunch, then I made dinner and cleaned up a bit. It's hard to be lay in bed when you have a family that relies on your do cook, clean, and do laundry. I don't know what they are going to do when bedrest becomes an absolute necessity. I'm lucking out right now because I'm only being told to take it easy. No strict bedrest yet but I know its coming and coming soon. Charlie's Mom offered to come and cook & clean for us which is incredibly nice of her. I would take her up on it but I don't think we would ever let her go home! Ha!
I am uploading a new funny video under videos. I hope it gives you a giggle like it did me.
Happy Friday!
Just 4 more weeks PLEASE!
January 24, 2006
Gosh, this just gets funner (yes, I know that is not a real word) by the moment!Yesterday I went in for my Gestational Diabetes training. I had an appointment at 11am. Well, I didn't sleep at all the night before so I felt really crappy. I got my butt up and out of bed, showered, ate, etc. Went all the way down there (1 hour 15 minute drive) and they said they didn't have my appointment. Oh boy. I was so mad! I said "Look, I don't feel well and it takes me over an hour to get here, can someone see me?" So the manager said she would see me. Part of this training is my blood pressure. Ha! Great. Well, she took it and it was 152/100. NOT GOOD! She said she would take it again in 15 minutes. She did and it was a fabulous 150/100. So she got my doctor's number and had me call him. Of course, they wanted me to go to triage. So I did. I laid on my left side and they took my pressue again. It was fine. I'm still not spilling protein so all is fine. I was there for about an hour and a half or so. Charlie came over. Poor guy. The baby was moving so much he had to hold the little monitor on my tummy to get a good tracing of the baby. He looks fine. His heart rate is about 145 or so. I even had a little contraction while I was there and it showed on the tracing. It was so cute and little. Though it felt much larger than the little blip on the paper . I know that is nothing compared to what I am about to face.So I have another appointment tomorrow to check my BP and proteins. I get this feeling this may be my last day out of bed for a long time. So I am trying to pack and all that stuff because my days are numbered here. I've also been taking my blood sugar levels and they are all over the place. I am trying really hard to stay unmedicated. All I've taken through this whole pregnancy is my Prenatal Vitamins and my Omega-3 (algae based of course so that I don't expose the baby to mercury levels found in fish). Oh well and Mylanta too, ha! Me and my Godzilla breath. I swear I could start a fire some days with this heartburn, ha! I have so many appointments coming up that I keep getting them all confused.So I will write them here to keep them straight:Tomorrow: 11am BP and proteinSaturday: P/U Mom from AirportMonday 1/30: 1pm Ultrasound to check for Placenta Previa & KidneysThursday 2/2: 10:30 Dr. to go over results of UltrasoundMonday 2/6: 10am Dr. for Chelsea Wednesday 2/8: 11am Judi Dietitcian and 11:30 RN
The picture is of Babar asking to come up on the bed. So this is what I get to look forward to when I am on bedrest. Ha! Isn't he the cutest? In the background on the TV is Dirty Jobs on Discovery. If you haven't seen it, try to. It is a funny show and the host is really funny (and cute too). I also have to spread the word about a new game show Charlie and I discovered. It's called Distraction on the Comedy Channel, Tuesdays at 10pm. It is GREAT! So funny! Last week people had to wear the electric dog collars. So when they went to answer a question they would press the buzzer and get shocked. I was laughing so hard. Is it sick to laugh at other people's pain? Oh who cares, they signed up for it. The week before the contestants had to play leapfrog with nudists. Ha! At the end the host says to one of the male players "If you were wondering what that was on your head...." the contestant said "I KNOW I KNOW DON'T TELL ME!". Ha! I will let you use your imagination. So if you can catch that show, try to. I guarntee you will laugh.
I'm going to go lay down down..but I may come back and update a little later.
OK the maids were here so I had to move anyway. I laid down all of 30 minutes before Chelsea came home. We had to have one of "those" talks. But it was more my fault than hers. Yes, ladies and gents, Andi had a moment of maturity. Not exactly one of my finer moments. Chelsea had a friend in school that used to come to the house. Well, we had to make the decision not to have her return for several reasons. Anyway, since then, she and Chelsea have been fighting at school. Chelsea comes home everyday and talks about her. And in my shining moment of maturity I said something about her that I shouldn't have. Well, Chelsea used that little piece of ammo against her. Needless to say, it was repeated and overheard and I got a phone call home today. Redfaced as I was, I had to admit it was my fault. It is terribly difficult to admit that you sunk to a 7th graders level and called someone a name. But I had to 'fess up. I couldn't have Chelsea take the blame for her mother's inappropriate comments. Ugh. One of the incidents this girl asked Chelsea how I got pregnant and Chelsea responded with "I'm not telling you that bleep". What is funny is that I thought maybe she should tell her. It was so terribly romantic. Petrie dishes, test tubes, needles in the stomach & hips 4-6 times a day for 6 weeks, hospital trips, several surgical procedures, blood drawing every day, weight gain, moodiness, nasuea, sleeplessness, and hot flashes. Oh and there is always the part where my Mom was there for the conception as well as about 6 other people who were in the room! Ha! I bet all those little factoids would change any girls mind about getting pregnant. Half those things have yet to go away.
OK now I am really going to go lay down with my puppers. Hope all is well with everyone :)
End of days
February 14, 2006
Well, we can officially change my due date again. Dr. Saffer is giving me until next Friday and then inducing me. That's Friday Feb 24. He wants to try to eek out one more week. My protein was at the maximum level but then I drank a bunch of water and it came down or I would be back in the hospital this very minute. Blood pressure was great and they did labs which all came back perfect.
So here is what will happen.....we will be uploading video (not of the business end of things) and photos on this site about every 30 minutes as things progress. Hopefully, we will be able to upload the videos onto the video site too. So as soon as the word comes on this site, keep checking back. And don't expect a pretty site. I am so broken out with that dumb PUPP rash and I am puffy. I'm also a very unhappy pregnant woman so don't expect me to be nice on camera....hahaha!
On the Pop front....he had surgery today. They could not get the bladder out. It has adhered to too many organs. Therefore, the cancer will be running its course unless something else comes along first. Not such great news. So I am going to try to spend as much time as possible out there.
The nicest thing came yesterday! Charlie's Mom sent me sugar-free strawberries. I PIGGED out! They were absolutely delicious!!!! I can't wait to have more tonight!! Oh my gosh..heaven in a strawberry!
OK I need to go to bed now.
I'm home- for now
February 11, 2006
OK the Dr. let me come home for a short period of time. I was absoutely desperate. My grandfather is having surgery on Tuesday and my Mom left today. So Chelsea would have been home alone all week. Charlie is back in school on Monday and Wednesdays so she would have been here until at least 10 pm by herself. She can handle it okay, I just think we all feel bad. So my Dr. was kind enough to let me go home with very strict instructions. I have to come back Monday for fetal testing and blood tests at the hospital. Wednesday to her office for blood pressure and a looking over. Friday back to the hospital. She said "if you don't stay in bed, I will put your butt right back in here". That is the first time I have ever heard a Dr. say something like that. It made me laugh. So she is serious and here I sit in bed like a good girl. I'm completely exhausted but so thrilled to be home I want to jump out of my skin. My puppy is here with me and I am in my own little bed. Life is grand.My new due date is March 3rd. They aren't letting me go past that date. It's a good date. It's just hard to believe that I only have 3 more weeks until I have a baby here with me. Well, that's 3 weeks providing all goes well. She said "ONE single tiny little change and we are delivering you. Since you have the steroids on board we are not going to let you progress like you did with your daughter. If I see any changes on anything, that is it, we are going to induce you". So 3 weeks is the max. I hope I am better prepared next time I am put back into the hospital. I sure have been miserable. No sleep, uncomfortable, hot, cold, crappy food....well....I guess all I should say is....I was in a hospital.....and everyone gets the picture. 90% of the nurses we wonderful though. So no complaints there. I will write later about the private room thing. Needless to say, I had to fight to get one and it wasn't pretty.Hope all is well with everyone!
Changing my original title from ""Maybe Sprung to "No Way Your Hung"
February 10, 2006
Charlie borught me the computer yesterday. By some small miracle we are picking up the hospital next doors net access. So I thought I would write a quick note before they come in to bug me again.
First, thank you for your calls! You all have kept me from getting bored and for that I am forever indebited to you all. I just love my friends!
Things seem to be okay so far. I haven't hear my blood tests from this morning yet but I am sure they are fine. I am back down to trace protein. I have a slight issue with my blood pressure last night. It was running about 200/100 or thereabouts. Thankfully.....
Nope, I'm not going anywhere. They came in to monitor me and as they did I had a contraction. No big normally but the baby's heart rate dropped a bit with the contraction. So the Dr. came in and did a very long ultrasound. All is good but she is not letting me go. I have moved into Pre-Eclampsia. I was only in Pregnancy Induced Hypertension which is just something to monitor. Pre-eclampia is the ugly stuff. HELLP is the worst you can get. Since I had HELLP with Chelsea, they are being extra cautiuous because I'm so unpredictable. Ugh. I had such high hopes to get out of here and be able to get all the things I really need and be so much more comfortable here. Now I have to bug people to get me this and that so that I can survive in this place. I hate doing that.Anyway, word from the Dr. is that I will not go past 37 weeks. I am 34 today (THANK GAWD) but they aren't going to let me progress past the 37th week point. Ha, provided I do make it that far. Ao I guess my new due date is March 3rd. I like that date. I hope the baby feels the same way about. Ha!
I sure miss my bed and my gosh I miss my puppy. It is really hard to sleep alone. No claws or spine in my back at night. Not to mention that I am up all night being poked and prodded. I mean at least with the puppy I can push him onto Charlie if I need to. I can't very well tell the lab tech to go away at 4am.
I have to get this out real quick. I am sitting here watching CNN and I am watching Muslims beating up a Danish dummy and burning it. Why is it that these people get so angry? And for that matter, every time they show them protesting (or whatever you want to call it) there are at least 100 of them there? Don't they work or go to school during the day? Maybe they are angry over little things (or to me it is little) because they are just bored. Maybe someone should just build some universities and/or malls or something tooccupy them. Maybe it would make them a happier people.
Well, I was going to write more...but I have to do my blood pressure and blood sugar, insuling shot, etc. So I will sign off for now. I will try to update again later or at least soon. It's not like I have anything else to do, ha!
Love to all......hey we made it to 34 weeks!
Phone Number Update
February 09, 2006
858.541.3400 rm 496
Andi gets admitted
February 08, 2006
Charlie here, you know the donor. The doctor has decided that she doesn't look like she will make it past 34 weeks. We were hoping for at least 35 weeks, but if he wants to come out, then he is going to come out. Anyway, she is in the hospital now where they have poked and prodded her in many locations. One of those “poking’s” involved her receiving some steroids to help the baby’s lungs mature quicker. Hopefully she will go home tomorrow and be ordered to be on bed rest. In the meantime, she is bored so if you would like to give her a call, here is her number: 858.939.3400 RM: 321 I haven't called yet, but they will probably ask for her name, it would be Andrea McCracken.
here comes the pain :(
February 16, 2006
ok...well they are giving her her epidural right now...as the pain is getting bad...gotta go..brb : 18:21
phone number update
February 16, 2006
858.541.3400 room 311. sorry about that...
Baby Vids/Pics/media
February 16, 2006
I'll be updating here;http://www.viperinteractive.com/baby.htmvideo's and pictures of things that happen. oh and at 16:16, her contractions are around 2-5 minutes apart and she is 50% effaced and 1 cm dialated
OOOooo... It begins!
February 16, 2006
Well today, as Andi went to the Dr. for her check up, her blood pressure was really high. High as in 170/110. So they basically said "we will be inducing you today" as the doctor checked her cervix of which he then said "umm, you are dialated". So we are now sitting here in the delivery room with her arms full of tubes and the Magnesium Sulfate pumping in to keep her blood pressure down. So, I will attempt to update everything between passing out as her "area" is filled with visions of baby head. 858.541.3400 room 311. However they are asking that you ask for her by name first which is of course Andrea McCracken.Oh, and I'll be working on updating the site with videos and pictures and what not so you get to see things.
Still hanging on
February 15, 2006
What a weird day. I figured since tomorrow may be my last day at home I better get my driving school done. Remember that ticket I got back a few months ago? Yea, well, I had to do driving school to avoid any points on my license. Since I know my days are very numbered and usually whenever I go to the Dr. they either threaten me or actually send me to the hospital, I figured I better get the dumb school over with. I just haven't felt right today though. We were finally able to get a blood pressure machine at home at my blood pressure has been about 150-160/90-100. I'm not sure how accurate this machine it though. I honestly almost went to the hospital myself though because I was having terrible visual distrubances. But I was determined to get that school over with. So I did it, passed, and it is over. I starting feeling a little better after the school thing but I still just don't feel right. So.....as soon as I admit that tomorrow...it's curtains for me. I think what I am dreading most is that stupid Magnesium drip. It makes me terribly sick and so exhausted. I just want to try to avoid it altogether if I can. They sent me home yesterday with test strips and so I've been testing my protein. It is still trace so that is a great sign. My kidneys are behaving still.
I have an appointment tomorrow with the Nurse Practioner but when I saw Dr. Saffer yesterday he said to have them come find him. He wants to see me. Poor guy though, he is so sick. He really should be resting too. He looked so tired yesterday. He is going to check my cervix for changes tomorrow. I am contracting so I think he wants to see if I am spontanousely doing things on my own. It is weird though. I told Charlie this last night. Dr. Saffer is really cute. He has this great accent which I just adore and a really cute smile. But to date, he has only measured my tummy and looked at my labs. We haven't progressed beyond that, if you know what I mean. Charlie says "He has seen millions of them". I do realize that but he hasn't seen mine and frankly I feel weird about it. I feel like we are still just dating hahaha! I purposely picked this office because it has 5 female Dr.'s and one male. Who do I get as my primary? Yup, the male. And of course he is adorable. I take it he is the one who takes the tough cases such as mine. But hell, who knew? Had I known I am not sure I would still be at this office because I was deadset on having a female OB. But I have to say, I love Dr. Saffer. He has been fantastic to me and the care has been second to none. In fact, you can go to the is site and see a video of him in action from Birth Day Live on Discovery Channel: http://www.277west.com/video.html#He is truly a sweet man and I couldn't be happier that he took over my care. It must have been fate or something.
Pop sounds great. He is in a room on a morphine drip. He is really alert and asking a lot of questions. I heard Uncle Jerry in there telling him about his truck and what the mechanic said. Pop was asking questions and the like. So things look good for him as far as recovery is concerned.
If I get admitted again, I will have Charlie post the room number. If I am on a Magnesium drip, don't expect much from me as far as conversation or if I answer at all. I am usually honking my brains out from the stuff.
Love to all
pitocin started
February 17, 2006
01:21 - they have started andi on pitocin. they feel she is at that point where she needs to get things moving on. so every 30 minutes they up the dosage. I'm thinking sometime in the late morning things will happen. Andi's mom thinks 5am. guess we will see who is right.
mom arrives
February 16, 2006
23:03 - Andi's mom arrived. So there is an extra arm for moral support here. Plus someone who can relate to what andi is going through as I have no clue... Will keep you updated.
migraines...
February 16, 2006
well it is 22:30 and andi has a severe migraine. How nice of that to come around. Unfortuntely she is at the point to where it is making her want to throw up along with her having the shakes. What is even more cruddy is the fact that all they can give her is a tylenol. Last time she was at this point, she was getting a shot of demeral(sp). They have started her on pitocin as they are like, let's just get things moving. I'll of course keep you informed.
you know what is a pain
February 16, 2006
20:53 - watching a catheter put in. man..nothing like watching that happen...ick. anyway. she is in rest mode right now.
boy was that hard to watch
February 16, 2006
17:25 - I know the epidural is supposed to be a good thing, and I understand there is a "pinch" when they put everything in, but when the doctor came in he was all business and was just hurried. So I knew that it wasn't going to be fun for Andi. Well considering she had her back problems when chelsea decided to do a face plant a few years back on the curb, epidurals tend to be harder for Andi. This was probably one of tha hardest things to watch as he missed it once, got mad and "had" to do it again. i know it hurt her a lot to get it done, but it is done now so her blood pressure, pain, and headaches are much better now. I'll update more as things happen.
"digging for gold"
February 17, 2006
08:57 - "digging for gold" thats how andi describes the feeling of them checking her cervix. Shes at 4cm now so things are progressing now.
contractions
February 17, 2006
07:53 - You know, it really is amazing to see what happens when the contractions start to actually kick into gear. You can see the attached picture how they are starting to top out on the graph now.
water broke
February 17, 2006
07:22 - her water broke, however it was done by the doctor as she just isn't progressing enough. It really is hard to watch all this happen because she is in a lot of pain and there really isn't anything I can do :( I'll still keep you informed of course.
if she needs it, they put her on it
February 17, 2006
03:40 - they just slapped an oxygen mask on her to help "perk the little guy up". Not sure what else they can put on her considering she has a catheter in {shiver} , magnesium sulfate, insulin, pitocin, and some other liquid that is supposed to be good. Oh yeah, cant forget the fentynol for the epidural. Don't forget I am updating the baby video site as well:http://www.viperinteractive.com/baby.htm
cervix check anyone?
February 17, 2006
02:12 - cervix is a little more open now, about 2cm dialated. but the baby is still pretty high so it is still wait time...
The harder you work, the cuter they are... Continued
February 24, 2006
Back to the epidural....or lack there of. I hit 4cm and still no relief. And then the headache was still there too. Needless to say, I was in pain. Throwing up, migrane, and out of it from the magnesium. I kept thinking "I never want to do this again". I can now look back on my thought processes and figure that I was thinking that because at 4cm I knew I had 6 more to go and I already felt awful. I kept asking myself how I was going to manage pushing while throwing up too. So they gave me some Phenergan. I love Phenergan. It always makes me stop throwing up and puts me to sleep too. So they gave it to me and I stopped feeling sick......for a whole hour! Geez. It was obvious I wasn't going to get a break here. I never did sleep. I just felt even more out of it. From this point on, I really don't remember much. All I know is that the next day they called it quits. C-Section. I wasn't dilating anymore than 4cm and I was still so sick. So they wheel me in. It all happened so fast. I do remember not being at all happy that this was happening. I really wanted to do this the "normal" way. But it was for the best for the baby so I knew I had to do it. I get into the Operating Room. They scrub me down and BAM a huge panic attack hits me. HUGE. The poor Anethesologist was on the receiving end of my panic. He tried to settle me down but I wasn't having it. Then I think I passed out or something. I remember hearing myself snoring. As they tested the epidural, I felt them pinching me. I said "ow". They were shocked that I could feel it. So they decided to redo my epiducral. Or so I thought. They sat me up and my epidural had never been in!!! I did it au-natural for up to 4 cm and 24 hours!!!! So they decided to do a spinal block on me. They had to try 3 times because I was so swollen, dehydrated, and well...fat. Ha! It was actually the best thing that coud have happened because Donna my labor nurse was there and she calmed me down enought o get through it. They the spinal done and it worked immediately. They tested with the pinch test again. I felt it but no pain. He was born 15 minutes later. They sewed me up and the next thing I can remember was being in a recovery room of some type. I have no idea how I got there. Charlie arrived at some point and then the recovery room nurse came in to tell me Joshua was looking really good and that his Apgars were 8's and 9's. Then they brought him to me. I remember seeing him but I can't remember if I said anything. I have no idea how long I was there. I do remember being overly concerned about getting a private room. Ha! Some things just cannot pentrate even the strongest drugs and my privacy is one of them. Ha!
I know I got to a room and it was private. I was told I would be on the Magnesium another 24 hours. I wanted to cry. I know people called me and came to visit but I have no idea what I said or whom I spoke with. So if I talked to you, I apologize for not remembering and for dumb things I may have said.
At 2pm I rang my nurse. I wanted that IV OUT! Within 3 hours I felt completely different. By the next day, I was "normal". Not that I am ever normal, ha. But as you look through our photos, laugh as you might, but it was the longest 48 hours and every minute shows on our faces. We were exhausted.
And I would do it all again.
The harder you work, the cuter they are
February 21, 2006
Well.....here we are......end of the road....or I guess I could say ...the start of an all new road.
I am hoping I remember at least some of what happened. Charlie did a pretty good job at keeping everyone up to date on what was going on. I was so proud of him! He was able to update the site, support me, and stay up for days on end too. What a guy!
So....Thursday I had an appointment to just check things. I was prepared this time for another hospital stay. I had the car packed with all my necessaries i.e. pillows, nighties, shampoo etc. Well. I wasn't quite prepared for "We are going to induce you today". I panicked! I called Charlie and he answers the phone with a sheepish "hello". I said "Hi, I love you". He knew they were going to send me but as soon as I said "they are inducing me today", he panicked too. I then called Mom and asked her to take the next flight home. I called her at about 12:30pm and she was on the 4:30pm flight out of Albuquerque. I then called Chelsea at school to tell her that her little brother was coming and that I would not be home but that Nana would be there by that evening to pick her up and take her to a hotel near the hospital.
Charlie made it the hospital before I did and I was right around the corner. I won't even ask how fast he went. I got there and parked next to him. We got all of our goodies gathered and went and registered. They sent me to Labor and Delivery where I was greeted by the sweetest nurse, Donna. I tried profusely to talk them out of putting me on maganesium but my blood pressure at the doctors office was 170/110. When Dr. Henao came in my blood pressure was really good because I was laying down. I begged her! Seriously. She is really sweet and all of 30, if that, so I feel like she is someone I could beg with some success. But nope. As soon as she looked at my chart from the office she said "Ummm, you sort of forgot to mention your blood pressure in the office. Sorry, there is no way to get out not being on Magnesium". So there was no way I was getting out of it but let me tell you, I tried like hell. I warned everyone several times that Magnesium makes me really sick. So they started the bloody Mag. I actually didn't get sick! But oh man I started feeling awful after awhile. Because of that, the pain, and then the migrane that started my blood pressure started going up once again. They wanted me to wait until I was 3 centimeters before getting an epidural. They kept trying to get me to take other pain meds but I refused. I just don't like take pain meds. So they called Dr. Henao and she allowed me to get the epidural early. I was really relieved because the contractions were getting a little intense. Fast forward to the epidural. What an asshole! This punk comes in and attempts my epidural. It is terribly painful. Not the injections but the medication going into the nerve that is effected by my disk herniation. It hurt like hell. It took him twice to get the bastard in there. I actually cried it hurt so bad. Not to mention he was mean. But relief was around the corner so what did I care. As the night went on, the contractions got more intense and though I was pressing the button like I was suppose to, no relief ever happened. It took me a long time to actually want to push that button for extra pain relief and I guess I thought when I did, I would feel this great wave of pain relief. It never came on.
To be continued...
Looking for more?
February 18, 2006
If you are looking for all of the first minutes of being in the world pictures and videos, you can go to this URL right here:http://www.viperinteractive.com/birth/birth.htmAlso, Andi is now staying in her permanent room; with the baby. Lots of fun!!858.939.3400 ROOM: 576
Welcome Joshua Gregory McCracken!
February 17, 2006
At exactly 14:30, Joshua Gregory McCracken was born at 35 weeks with a weight of 4 lbs 13.7ounces. I will be updating the website in a little bit with more videos and pictures so please stay tuned as I have some business to attend to.Birth Video (nothing you haven' t seen before so it's safe to watch) 21Mb MPEG video
"the most revered man in the hospital"
February 17, 2006
09:27 - At least in the eyes of Andi when she said that when the anesthesiologist applied some extra pain relief.
Children's Hospital
March 05, 2006
Josh was admitted yesterday to Children's Hospital.
He had another choking episode on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
I will check in as soon as I can. We are staying in a hotel in San Diego right now so as things settle down I will write more.
Thank you Jolyn for everything!
Pretty much the worst night of my life
March 03, 2006
As Charlie and I lightly slept we heard this horrible scream come from Josh. I picked him up and he was barely breathing. He just could not catch a breath. So I told Charlie to grab the bulb suction and I tried desperately to clear his airway. I put my finger in his mouth thinking he was choking on a bug or something. There was nothing. He was trying desperately to get a breath and had all this thick saliva. It was so thick the bulb suction couldn't even grab it. At this point Charlie called 911 but then quickly decided that a car ride to the hospital would be faster. He was right. I got dressed and we jumped in the car. No carseat or anything. By the time we got to the hospital Josh was not breathing and was blue. They took him back immediately, cut his clothes off and started working him. In the meantime, I was throwing up in the sink in the triage office and trying to get my own breath. They started suctioning him immediately with the wall suction. He was still gasping for breath but the wall suction was exactly what he needed. They started two IV's on his little arms. One in each arm. There were 2 respiratory therapists with him, the lab tech, the xray tech, the Dr. and 4 nurses around him. They were all trying to get him to breath. After about 45 minutes he pinked back up. They had him on oxygen and fluids. 7 hours later the decision was made by the Pediatrician at Children's Hospital, the two Physician's from Josh's office, and the ER Dr. not to admit him. They did not want to expose him to even more stuff. They are saying that he choked on his food and that the regurgitation in babies is common. They suspect that it is the cause of 90% of SIDS cases. I guess we were lucky.So we ended up at Josh's Pediatrican at 10am. He had a list of things for us to do. One of them is that Josh needs to be on Zantac and I requested an Apnea Monitor. So the Respiratory Therapist came tonight at about 6pm to show us what it does and how it works. At least I will feel a little better if he does stop breathing he won't have to alert us. We will know in 20 seconds if it happen and we can get to the hospital faster.
We were up about 30 hours by the time we got home. There is nothing worse than seeing your husband cry over something he can do nothing about. I've never felt so sick to my stomach from stress before. I was shaking and Charlie was a wreck. It was the most horrendous experience of my life and I'm sure it was his too. I've never seen him like that but I knew exactly how he felt. Desperate, helpless, and sick.
We will not be taking phone calls for a few days. We need to recouperate for awhile. So thank you for your thoughts but we are completely drained emotionally and physically. We just need a few days. Please keep us in your thoughts.
hospital today
March 03, 2006
this morning at about 03:00, Josh decided to wake us all up with a huge scream and labored breathing. We tried suctioning him and that didn't seem to help so we took off to the hospital. At this time (04:59), he is "grunting" which is just another way of him getting oxygen in better and isn't at labored anymore. As such, because he was a little blue when we got him to the hospital, they will be admitting him to some hospital today. Mary Birch was just so full of babies, I don't think we will be ending up there again. Anyway I'll keep people posted as soon as things get squared away.
Feb 28th and all's well
February 28, 2006
Since Chelsea was only 30 weeks, 2lbs. 8oz. when she was born she spent the first 2 months of her life in the NICU. So needless to say, having Joshua is an all new experience for me. Did anyone ever tell you that newborns are a lot of work?He eats every 2-3 hours and needs a changing. In between that Charlie does laundry, empties the diaper pal, cleans, makes bottles, or is running errands. I am pumping, feeding, changing his clothes (about 2 times a day) or sleeping. If I am lucky I grab a shower or bathroom break. And as Charlie has experienced, though you may change him chances are he has another back up diaper full waiting in the wings. Usually this back up is released upon the closure of the fresh diaper. Today, he spit up on me and then peed all over everything when Charlie was changing him. As soon as Charlie changed him and washed the changing pad, clothes, and blankets, he peed on Charlie. Ha! That seems to happen to Charlie a lot. By far the cutest thing I have ever seen, is a shirt full of spit up on Charlie while Joshua was sleeping on his chest. There is nothing more endearing to a Mom than seeing the Dad immeresed in baby goo. Gosh we love this little guy though. His facial expressions are adorable. He is so much fun already. Ugh, I want another one :(
He has an appointment on Friday to check his weight. We weighed him tonight and Charlie said he is 5lbs 4oz. So he is moving right along. Maybe he will finally grow into his feet. Even the Dr. looked at his feet and commented on how large they are. He is very tall, thin, with big feet. His clothes all fit him in the feet and length but they fall off because he is so thin.
OK time to eat. Hope all is well with everyone!
Was it really that bad?
February 25, 2006
After my C-Section they kept offering me Vicodin, Percodan, Motrin etc. I didn't feel the need for any of it. Well, I did take a Percodan the day after he was born and then I tried one the next day but it gave me a headache. So I took the prescription home with me because people keep telling me about this awful pain I'm going to have. So here sits the full bottle of Percodan. I declined the Vicodin prescription. I have been taking Motrin in the morning. I just don't feel right about taking medications when I am giving Josh my milk. I watched what I ate through the whole pregnancy and took Tylenol maybe 4 times during the pregnancy. He eats what I eat and I don't want to drug him out. I'm sure he will take of that on his own when he is about 16, ha!I'm just sitting here waiting for this supposed terrible pain. Maybe the pain of feeling all my contractions is masking this supposed pain from the C-Section. Or maybe it's coming still. So here I sit and wait. In the meantime, I have tons of things to do. Thankfully, Charlie has done 100% of everything that needs to be done around the house. I'm so sad that he is going back to work. I really love having him here.
I got the sweetest card from my Dr. and nurses yesterday. I guess maybe it was a bad labor because Donna my day time RN said:
" Andi and Charlie, What a labor! You have earned a beautiful baby boy. Enjoy him and tell him the story if he misbehaves later in life. I really enjoyed being your nurse twice. Sincerely, Donna RN. "
My Night RN wrote:
"Congratulations on the birth of your son! You were such a trooper. Sincerely, Charla"
Dr. Saffer signed it too.
As I was reading it I said to Charlie "It wasn't that bad was it?" He looked at me and said "Uhh yes it was".
And I would still do it all again!I never thought I could be so in love. I just sit there are look at him. I can't seem to let him go. Charlie says that I am hogging him. It's true, I know it, but I can't help it. Even the dreams have started. I woke up crying this morning because I was dreaming that someone was trying to take him from me. Well, that woke me up and I couldn't go back to sleep. He was sleeping right there in my arms but I still was paranoid.
So I guess I should talk about his little kidney. Though I would like to pretend that nothing is wrong. Sigh. OK So we went to the Peditrician. He agreed to just start out doing a simple Renal ultrasound. If it is clear, we are free. If it is not.....
OK I'm being paged .....and I'm happy to go! Love this little guy SO much!
Quick check-in
March 23, 2006
I'm typing with a baby on my arms.
Really quick though. Went to the Dr. yesterday and he looks good. Yes, the doctor and Josh too. Ha! The Dr. was able to look up the results of Josh's VCUG and his kidneys are perfect! He still wants me to go and see the Urologist next week but the Dr. wanted to prepare me in case it was bad news. It wasn't. It was the best news possible. It wasn't even mild, it was NEGATIVE! My little Josh is perfect! Ha! I see so many great things for this little guy.
We are working on his site. Charlie is all exicited because he found this new program. So he is working on it.
Josh is weighing in at 7lbs. 5 oz. What a boy! He eats every 2 hours on the nose. He still has yet to grow into his feet. Charlie calls them his paddle feet or his flippers. He is also very tall. I have yet to go to a Dr. appointment or hospital where I don't hear the following every time; "Wow he is cute", "Wow he has big feet", and "Wow he is tall". It is consistent everywhere we go that I hear those things.
So things are good. I am tired. Charlie still wakes up and rubs my back as I feed Josh. It is so sweet. He is trying to do something and I appreciate it so much!
OK thats it for now. I need to go do some laundry.
Hope all is well with everyone. Love to all!
Times fun when you're having flies
March 16, 2006
It's official, having a baby is a lot of work. I have now deemed it so.
My gosh! Josh. Wow. He LOVES to be held and no, that's not such a bad thing. Well, until you need to use the powder room, brush your teeth, take a shower, get dressed, talk on the phone, do laundry, cook, or do anything requiring balance, ears, or two hands. This little guy is a cuddle bug and just wants to be held all the time. I love it but my house duties are so badly neglected! I haven't done laundry in weeks, I haven't cooked or cleaned in who knows how long. For heaven's sake, I haven't used to powder room without little Josh attached to me since he has come home unless someone else takes him for a few minutes for me. We've kind of gotten onto a schedule. Midnight, 3am, 6am, and 9am he eats. I get Friday nights to sleep and Charlie takes the baby for me all night so I get one night a week of sleep. It is REALLY nice! When I wake up the rest of the week, he does wake up and rubs my back while I feed, burp, and let him sit up for his required hour. It really helps get me through that hour.
Josh had his horrid test on Tuesday. I couldn't be in the room while they did it. It was really awful. He screamed and I just wanted to go in and tear him from that table. But Charlie said he didn't cry when they put the catheter in only when they held him down. So that made me feel a little better I guess. It's over and that's all I care about.
Sunday is the Bris. this poor little guy! He's had such a week. But this should be the end of the bad stuff.
He has his urologist appointment on the 28th to get the results of the VCUG. I just know it will all be fine! This little guy has a whole future of things to do and we just can't let two bum kidneys get in the way of that!
I just wanted to check in really quick while I could and tell everyone we are doing okay. Tired, still all sick, but getting better every day.
The photo is of Josh wearing his Uncle Randy's college alma mater shirt. VMI- Virginia Military Institute.
Ya OK
March 09, 2006
Chelsea is home sick.
I'm still sick.
Josh keeps crying and won't settle down so I'm thinking he is getting it too.
OK that is enough...thank you very much!
March 08, 2006
I'm sick with a cold and Charlie has Pink Eye. I was up all night sick. Sick to my stomach, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing and coughing.
Josh is doing fine so far. I'm afraid he is going to get one of our illnesses. We did go to Dr. yesterday and she said there isn't much we can do. We were all exposed to different germs at that bloody hospital.
Anyway, there is a new video up. I don't know how to work the picture/video site and Charlie hasn't had a chance to upload anything so the new video is on this site.
Back to bed for me.
I never asked for lemonade
March 07, 2006
I know when life throws you lemons you are supposed to make lemonade. Well, I never asked for lemonade and frankly I don't like it.
We are home and though it is nice to be home, it is not a comfortable situation. Josh had 4 major incidents of choking yesterday while in the hospital. You would think that there was a sense of comfort being surrounded by medical professionals but the truth is that it was scary. I called the nurses button and no one answered. Chelsea and Charlie ran around trying to find a nurse and there wasn't anyone around. Here I am trying to get the guy to breath and there is a big ole wall suction sitting in front of me that I can't reach. Ugh. It was awful! Finally a nurse came in and then his nurse came in a bit later. Apparently Josh and another child had some sort of ESP going on and decided to both have incidents at the same time. So all the nurses were in his room. Made me never want to leave Josh's side. In fact, we didn't eat until we were told to leave and go get something at about 2:30. It was hard to go but she said she would prop the door open and sit there at his door. So with that, Chelsea and I went to the cafeteria to have a quick bite.
The Dr. was really frank with me and told me that it WILL happen again and again and the only thing I can do is learn CPR, learn how to suction him with saline, and be able to get to the ER as fast as possible if necessary. Great. Thanks. I asked if they could keep him until he was 18. The Dr. said yes, but it would get expensive. Anyway, I wish that were the only news...but ever since I was 30 weeks pregnant, remember, Friday the 13th, things have gone from bad to worse. Since we were already at the hospital the Dr. was kind enough to recognize that we live in the middle of nowehere (AKA Hell) so she ordered his kidney ultrasound. Well, he has Bilateral Hydonephrosis. Menaing both kidneys are enlarged. So what does that mean? There is a grading scale and they grade the severity of the disorder. In order to do that they have to do that horrible test, the VCUG. The VCUG is where they put a catheter in and shoot dye into the kidneys to see where and how much dialation there is. See, there is a flap between our uretuers and bladder. A trap door if you will, like the one in our stomach that keeps food and acids down. When the stomach one doesn't work, you get acid reflux. When the bladder one doesn't work, you get a back up of urine into the kidneys that then dialates them. So what does all this mean? Well, a few things. He could grow out of it, which I am hoping for. Or he could have surgery to repair the flap. The most immediate danger is kidney infections which can be very serious in little guys. So as a precaution he is on antibiotics to try to prevent it from happening. He is also on Prilosec to tryo to help keep his food down.
So thats where we are today. His VCUG is on March 14th at 8:30am back at Children's Hospital.
So here is my other issue. Now that we are going to be seeing his Nephrologist and probably at Children's Hospital a lot, we need to move closer to a Children's Hospital. We are so far away and it is just not convenient for anyone. Chances are, we will spending a lot of time there and this hotel thing is just not going to work. More on the hotel room disaster later. I have a baby in my lap right now. So I am hoping that we get moving on this soon because Josh needs to be closer to a place that can handle his problems!
Things are still crazy around here. So I am not answering the phone. Sorry. I have to feed this guy every 2-3 hours and then sit him up for an hour so he doesn't choke. He eats for 15-35 minutes and then has to sit up for an hour and then eats again 2 hours later. Do the math. No one is sleeping or getting anything done. We also have to walk around with his suction and saline and at night he is on an apnea monitor that goes off when his heart rate is too high or too low or is his breathing stops. Well, the thing is not fool proof. It keeps detecting a low heart rate and goes off. But I would not sleep without it!
I will try to get back later and update. We are home for now....please keep our son in your thoughts, prayers, or whatever you do. He needs all the help he can get at this point!
Love to all.
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