Thursday, October 1, 2009
You're HOW OLD?!?!?!
I hear all the comments in your heads "She thinks 30 is old-wait till she hits __" Well, hey-this is my first time being in my 30's, and just like you felt, the thought running through my head is "Wow. 30." Not that I feel exceptionally old. I'm not having nostalgia for my early 20's, nor am I hiding myself under a rock. I am, however, feeling a bit of shell shock, if I may be honest. No more 20 something. Now it's 30 something.
Quite honestly though, I've felt essentially ageless for the last decade, so it's more hearing myself say my age than actually living it that resonates throughout. I wasn't out there, living up my early 20's. I spent my 21st year being pregnant with my beautiful Hannah. I've been raising 2 (and now my wonderful 3rd) child at the age most people are still figuring out what their favorite mixed drink is. I've been through the warm ups of empty nest syndrome-seeing Hannah off to preschool was such mixed emotions. I've now seen them get even bigger. So really, while everyone else is just now starting to "buckle down" and start their families, here I am, raising kids well beyond the age of my peers, and having Thomas is like having my "bonus baby" I honestly, truly, am so thankful for little toes & baby sneezes, and those grins that leave me grinning as I write this just to think of them.
The differences in the world from my 20th birthday to my 30th is huge, also. Pagers were what people carried-cell phones were for yuppies & their very pompous children. CD's were still trying to find their way past the mixed tapes. We were excited when the channel 99 appeared, making the TV Guide essentially obsolete. HBO and Showtime had 1 channel, and shows like Sex & The City were so risque it was required to be on HBO late night-not as a mid afternoon show during the weekend. AOL was still passing out cd's like mad. Hearing that dial tone as you launched into the internet was the norm. Now, when I click on my internet, I get agitated when it takes longer than the usual 2 second delay to open the browser! What was once "killer graphics" are now sooooo not cool.
We didn't have to take our shoes off for the airport security. We felt safe. We knew that, although bad existed, our nation was going to take care of it. Our big worry was whether or not Clinton really did inhale. We didn't question it. It just was. We were-IT. Big, bad U-S-of-A. Now we even question our loyalties. I can honestly say that the last few times we've had fireworks, I've had to question my own patriotism. (Hey, I'm giving honesty here).
So yes, 30 is big. 30 is huge. What will this next decade hold for me? I don't necessarily feel "wiser" from 10 years ago, but I feel more at peace with myself. "I yam what I yam and that's all I yam." (Thank you, Popeye)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Hmmph! This Stinks!
Of course, my first instinct is to swoop in, my motherly laser beam eyes glowing, superhero cape swirling about behind me. This woman took my perfect little baby and threw him into a totally unfair situation. She's pegging him as a bad kid for whatever sick twisted reason she has. Maybe he didn't smile huge that first day, or raise his hand enough when she asked for answers. Maybe he neglected to have some papers signed the first day, so she's deciding that his excuses are always just that--excuses.
He certainly didn't ask for my help. He simply told me in passing that he had a lunch detention. I felt my blood boil. I heard the steam escaping. I saw red.
There's plenty of manuals out there now. What To Expect The First year. Preschoolers For Dummy's. Who knows. Barnes & Nobles can point you to a large section of their store designated to every single question you might have-answer tucked neatly away with a picture of some comic to make you smile while you learn the ins and outs of mental breakdowns at all the most inopportune times. But where's the manual for how to confront a teacher who gives you perfectly scripted answers. Yes. I know she's making her case look better. Yup, she's gonna now peg me as one of "those" moms. Lord knows, she's probably going to be tougher on him now because he "must've tattled to mommy"
It's hard, watching them flounder out there. You wanna jump in there and bring them back to shore. You want to make theirs a better experience. You want to just do something. Anything.
Yet where would I be if every little problem person in my life was "taken care of" for me. Would I have learned how to stand up for myself? To know when to hold 'em...or when to fold 'em? What about just dealing with certain people. Learning the art of keeping quiet and keeping busy? Doing the work extremely well so that there's no way they can say I didn't? Hard work ethics, devotion to self preservation, and a memory to tell your kids about your miseries of Middle School. I had some teachers like that. I haven't liked every person I've met.
Not that Andrew (and Hannah...and Thomas) don't deserve the very best in life. They are truly great great kids. They're hard working, devoted, loving, empathetic kids who live life to it's very fullest. But, they're only as strong as the adversities they overcome. This school year is but a blip on the rest of Andrew's life. She won't make him hate school-he'll do that on his own! Heck, he's already started!
Really, I guess what I can do is sit here, twisting and pulling and punching and poking a stress ball (Ok, need to go out and get one now). Obviously, if things get out of control I will be the first one with a torch lit. For now, I'll just wait. Not my strongest trait, for sure!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Our Boring Little Lives :)
Not much has changed lately, except we've all gotten a little older! Andrew started up with Winter Ball for baseball, and is on the Major Orioles. He started middle school, at my old school. That is definitely strange. To see so many of my memories as I walked through the campus, and to know that he will have many of his own. Now, with Facebook so popular, a lot of people we'd have never seen again we "see" on a daily basis. Class reunions almost seem silly now! Anywho, he's adjusting really well. He was extremely nervous in the beginning (Of course!) but after just a day or 2 he fell right into the routine. I definitely miss my sleeping in until 9 but I can deal with it I guess!
Hannah's in the 3rd grade, and her teacher's name is Ms. Love. How cool of a name is that? Hannah says she's a really nice teacher. I get to meet her tomorrow night at the open house. Hannah also has her first day back to Girl Scouts. It's almost nut sale time! So if you're interested in any, let me know. A good portion of the money goes back into the troop.
Also, from all the cookie sales the girls made last season they're getting to do a lot of cool stuff. They did a Build A Bear trip, and the money also paid for all of the girl's membership fees for the year. Also, if I recall correctly, it's going to pay for their weekend camping trip this September!
Thomas is growing like a weed. His Budha belly is starting to stick out. Last night he had his hand spread over his belly, and we were laughing so hard because he looked like a little fat man who passes out on the couch after too much beer and football! He still coos a lot and likes to tell me stories. His feeding & sleep schedule have taken on an actual semi-predictable routine, which makes it a lot easier for me to get through my day.
Steve is still struggling with what to do w/the business. Should he stay? Should he go? Nobody is really clear on what's going to happen with the property he's currently in, but he doesn't trust the owner so he feels very uneasy staying there. He wants to be able to build up the business, but really can't because he doesn't know if he'll be there much longer. It's annoying too, because this is one of those opportunities that, with very minimal startup, could do extremely well, even in this economy.
I am just doing my thing...It's almost canning season! I already have my Strawberry jam done, but now I'm getting amped up for Peach Plum Jam, yummy grape jelly, and of course, pear butter..yum! Well, if I see a good price on pears that is! I always swore I would only can it if it was cheaper than buying it in the stores.
I'm also considering going back to homemade food for Thomas. I saw the price of baby food now and was absolutely SHOCKED! So I'm going to go invest in some ice cube trays and start cooking it now, so that when he's ready for it, I'm stock piled with food that was at peak season when I made it! I won't be canning those though! Just freezer!
Well, it's time to feed Thomas then pack up for school pickup. I rather enjoy the quiet, but I guess I gotta get 'em at some point, huh?
Looking at Hannah
Call me ;)
All wrapped up after a bath
First day of school blues..
Forced smile or what?!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Nameless Blog
Well, we're looking at some properties. A few look fairly promising. However, we have to weigh all the factors: If we pay more for rent, we have a spot right on the main road through Valley Center (there are only essentially 2 entrances used to get through VC & he's right there next to the main artery of the town. If we pay less, he's on a main road to one of the main casinos, still easy to access and with a large flow of traffic, but not quite as much, but it's way cheaper & has an enclosed building.
So now the mulling begins. Who knows, we may get everything set up and then decide to not to go through with it for whatever reason. In this economy, Steve's a little skittish towards making solid decisions-and I really don't blame him! Luckily our debt hole is looking smaller & smaller as we realize just how little he has to invest-considering he already has the business-he just didn't sell the parts & trailers himself, or need to man the phones, internet, etc.
On to other subjects:
The kids are in denial about school starting up again (ok, ok, I am too!) Plus, guess what Andrew has coming up.........................(drumroll please)............................................................BASEBALL! haha. "Winterball" starts in about 2 weeks. (yay?) This is much much more mellow (so I've heard) Supposedly it's 1 practice during the week & 1 game during the weekend. I've already told him if it's more than that he is outta there! lol.. No, but I don't think we can handle more than that!
I'm sure Hannah's a little less worried about going to school. Her social network far exceeds her worries about schoolwork. I think she's in for a culture shock when she gets to 3rd grade and finds out it is a totally different world than 2nd grade!
Thomas had his doctor's appointment yesterday. Poor guy was sitting there just quietly minding his own business when his evil mother let him get stabbed by 3 different needles! :( He did alright though. I gave him Tylenol before the shots so I think it helped, instead of waiting until afterwards. He's now 10 pounds 4 ounces and has grown 1/2 inch. We thought he'd be much heavier, but he's still no lightweight! He's doing really well otherwise. Holding his head up more, starting to coo, smiling HUGE smiles at everyone and just generally being adorable.
What the kids do with my camera when I'm not paying attention!
Hannah sets herself up in the living room & falls asleep while..........
.....Roxy lays in Hannah's bed with every blanket we own!
So now the mulling begins. Who knows, we may get everything set up and then decide to not to go through with it for whatever reason. In this economy, Steve's a little skittish towards making solid decisions-and I really don't blame him! Luckily our debt hole is looking smaller & smaller as we realize just how little he has to invest-considering he already has the business-he just didn't sell the parts & trailers himself, or need to man the phones, internet, etc.
On to other subjects:
The kids are in denial about school starting up again (ok, ok, I am too!) Plus, guess what Andrew has coming up.........................(drumroll please)............................................................BASEBALL! haha. "Winterball" starts in about 2 weeks. (yay?) This is much much more mellow (so I've heard) Supposedly it's 1 practice during the week & 1 game during the weekend. I've already told him if it's more than that he is outta there! lol.. No, but I don't think we can handle more than that!
I'm sure Hannah's a little less worried about going to school. Her social network far exceeds her worries about schoolwork. I think she's in for a culture shock when she gets to 3rd grade and finds out it is a totally different world than 2nd grade!
Thomas had his doctor's appointment yesterday. Poor guy was sitting there just quietly minding his own business when his evil mother let him get stabbed by 3 different needles! :( He did alright though. I gave him Tylenol before the shots so I think it helped, instead of waiting until afterwards. He's now 10 pounds 4 ounces and has grown 1/2 inch. We thought he'd be much heavier, but he's still no lightweight! He's doing really well otherwise. Holding his head up more, starting to coo, smiling HUGE smiles at everyone and just generally being adorable.
The object of Thomas' affection
No matter what his mood, this always makes him stare & smile!
What the kids do with my camera when I'm not paying attention!
Hannah sets herself up in the living room & falls asleep while..........
.....Roxy lays in Hannah's bed with every blanket we own!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Limbo Limbo Limbo. Just not the fun kind!
We're stuck in Limbo right now. As Steve was getting prepared to sign all of the lease papers, the guy decided he was going to essentially raise the rent about $2000/month. Even though Steve was going to split the rent, that's still an INSANE amount of money for the type of rental it is. There is no way we're going to put ourselves into that kind of debt. Needless to say, Steve is now out of work.
Funny thing is, he's got customers coming at him from everywhere telling him about properties that he should check out. Unfortunately, the properties aren't designed well for his needs. He needs a lot of space to pull very large trailers in & out of, as well as storing them in an area he can feel comfortable leaving them overnight or over the weekends.
To add fuel to the frustration fire, he's getting more work these past 2 weeks than he's had in months (if that was even possible) By Wednesday of last week he was already booked through this week, and now he's even got some appointments he's trying to fit in next week. The guy who he worked "under" closed all of his accounts, so Steve's having difficulty getting what he needs. (Parts, payment w/credit card etc) Also, the guy is gone now. Steve has another month he can stay, but there's no security in it.
I know that there's something out there for him. As long as we're not stealing chunks of our neighbors grass, I think we're gonna be ok!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Again, Mostly Pictures :)
Well, nothing really NEW with us. I've been able to spend a lot of time with my mom on the computer, playing games. Since I had to hold him so much, it gave me lots of time to sit down & play with her. I just couldn't use both hands half the time! :)
Today is Thomas' first "birthday" 1 month today! He finally let me get some time to do my own thing today. He's been so demanding about holding him lately!
Look at him holding his head all by himself!
Watching me take pictures. He's so much more alert now! Ignore the socks-I know they don't match! I'm a tired mom, what can I say? Oh, and look how big he's getting!!
Today is Thomas' first "birthday" 1 month today! He finally let me get some time to do my own thing today. He's been so demanding about holding him lately!
Looking grumpy, but just falling asleep.
Watching Gilmore Girls with me. Andrew thought this was great & had to grab the camera
Look at him holding his head all by himself!
The first time he'd "allow" me to put him in the swing. Also, the way I finally was able to take my first official break during the day!
Tummy Time
Big brother Andrew. My two boys!
Footsies!
Watching me take pictures. He's so much more alert now! Ignore the socks-I know they don't match! I'm a tired mom, what can I say? Oh, and look how big he's getting!!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
A quick update
Not much has changed since the last time I wrote. We're still scrambling to get everything together. It's been really hot here, and since Steve's been working non stop in the heat it's taking it's toll on him. I can't wait for it to officially be his place, because this Limbo we're stuck in is frustrating!
Not much has changed in the kid's week. Summertime laziness is awesome. Andrew's starting to develop the habits teenagers are so well known for..even if he's only 11! He stays up late, would be glued to the video games if I didn't pry him away, sleeps till noon unless something wakes him up, and eats horrific amounts of food all day long. Unless he's playing video games, at which point, he forgets to eat! haha. I NEVER thought I'd be so close to raising a teenager.
Hannah has been sweet as sugar lately. I'm not sure what she wants..haha. Just wish she'd clean her room once in a while! I guess by picking my battles with the kids, the room thing just isn't top priority currently. Sooooo, her room just sits...and sits...and sits. In fact, the best way to get her to go play in her room is to tell her to go clean it. She ends up playing for hours!
Well, I'm now 1 handed so I will post more later!
Just like every other handyman I know... snoozin' on the job! So much for being Daddy's helper, I guess!
Not much has changed in the kid's week. Summertime laziness is awesome. Andrew's starting to develop the habits teenagers are so well known for..even if he's only 11! He stays up late, would be glued to the video games if I didn't pry him away, sleeps till noon unless something wakes him up, and eats horrific amounts of food all day long. Unless he's playing video games, at which point, he forgets to eat! haha. I NEVER thought I'd be so close to raising a teenager.
Hannah has been sweet as sugar lately. I'm not sure what she wants..haha. Just wish she'd clean her room once in a while! I guess by picking my battles with the kids, the room thing just isn't top priority currently. Sooooo, her room just sits...and sits...and sits. In fact, the best way to get her to go play in her room is to tell her to go clean it. She ends up playing for hours!
Well, I'm now 1 handed so I will post more later!
This was from a few weeks back but I never got a picture of it until later. This is how I told Andrew he'd made All Stars. I drove to pick him up at school and he was greeted by the sign. It's hard to read but it says "Congratulations Birdy for being an ALL STAR!!" (Birdy was the nickname the team gave him..(Baird...Birdy...)
I can't believe how unbelievably small he looks in this bed, and how gigantic Hannah now looks in it! What a trip!
This isn't the best picture, but look at his little lips! He makes this little "ohhhhh" shape that I can't get enough. I hope this one sticks for a while!
He's getting hungry.....
Just like every other handyman I know... snoozin' on the job! So much for being Daddy's helper, I guess!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Life
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.." -Charles Dickens
These past few weeks have been the biggest emotional roller coaster I think I have ever ridden. Hands down.
On one side of the coin, our family has been triple blessed. Thomas is a blessing, and every little sigh and squeek he makes leaves my heart fluttering. Andrew is such an amazing kid. Every time he and I talk, I watch the blooming of a man emerging-and as much as it scares me to see him grow up so fast-I'm wholy confident that he has every quality we've prayed for him to have as he grew up. Hannah brings light to every situation, as dark or bleak as it may seem at the time. The way her eyes dance when she's telling a story leaves a huge smile on my face even after she's skipped off to her next project. We are truly, truly blessed.
On the flip side, our life is leaving us up at night wondering how we are ever going to make it right now. Let me preface by explaining Steve's work situation. Steve is a self employed "mechanic" (though the term mechanic is the furthest thing from what he really is.) Anyhoo.. He works in a bay that is on a lot with a guy named Randy who sells trailers & parts. Randy rents the place, and Steve pays Randy a bay fee to work out of the spot. Randy's business has been suffering for some time now. Steve, however, has been doing phenomenal at work. Sometimes he has to book clients weeks in advance because he literally does not have enough time in the day for them all.
After Thomas was born, Steve took some time off to be with us. However, because he has people relying on him (and everyone who knows Steve knows he's going to do everything in his power to help someone out when they need it) there were occasional times when he had to run up to work to finish projects as parts came in for the jobs he'd promised to fix. Well, one of those days was last week. He's happily working when all of a sudden, Randy comes up and tells him he's going to be closing shop. At the end of July. THREE weeks away. He tells him he's really sorry, since he's got a baby and a family to worry about. Ummm.
So not only does Steve no longer have a job-he now has to figure out what to do with all of his work equipment, tools, parts for jobs, metal, EVERYTHING. We have a garage, but there is NO WAY his stuff will fit. 10 years of work stuff pushed into a 3 bedroom house with 3 kids, 2 adults, 2 dogs and 2 birds? I really truly doubt it's gonna be pulled off.
So after many tense days of stress, sleep deprivation, and LIFE we mulled over the possibilities. Steve finally decided on taking over the lot. He won't be selling trailers until later on, but he will continue to do what he already does, along with being able to sell parts (Randy currently sells the parts and makes the profit). He has a customer turned good friend that will rent out half of the lot (Steve doesn't need the office, just the work bay) so he won't have to pay the entire thing.
So. This could be the best thing that ever happened, or could put us in the hole quite quickly. I have every confidence in Steve. He is amazing at his job, and customers love him. He has people coming from as far as Orange County to have him work on their things. My worry is this economy. One thing I learned from watching my Grandpa's vaccuum cleaner shop was that when the economy goes bad people fix things. So right now, people are fixing up their trailers and tractors as opposed to buying new and Steve is profiting quite well from it. When the economy picks up, he can sell new trailers and still fix the old, and maybe, just maybe, this will work.
For now, I'm just going to squeeze my eyes shut and pray really, really hard.
These past few weeks have been the biggest emotional roller coaster I think I have ever ridden. Hands down.
On one side of the coin, our family has been triple blessed. Thomas is a blessing, and every little sigh and squeek he makes leaves my heart fluttering. Andrew is such an amazing kid. Every time he and I talk, I watch the blooming of a man emerging-and as much as it scares me to see him grow up so fast-I'm wholy confident that he has every quality we've prayed for him to have as he grew up. Hannah brings light to every situation, as dark or bleak as it may seem at the time. The way her eyes dance when she's telling a story leaves a huge smile on my face even after she's skipped off to her next project. We are truly, truly blessed.
On the flip side, our life is leaving us up at night wondering how we are ever going to make it right now. Let me preface by explaining Steve's work situation. Steve is a self employed "mechanic" (though the term mechanic is the furthest thing from what he really is.) Anyhoo.. He works in a bay that is on a lot with a guy named Randy who sells trailers & parts. Randy rents the place, and Steve pays Randy a bay fee to work out of the spot. Randy's business has been suffering for some time now. Steve, however, has been doing phenomenal at work. Sometimes he has to book clients weeks in advance because he literally does not have enough time in the day for them all.
After Thomas was born, Steve took some time off to be with us. However, because he has people relying on him (and everyone who knows Steve knows he's going to do everything in his power to help someone out when they need it) there were occasional times when he had to run up to work to finish projects as parts came in for the jobs he'd promised to fix. Well, one of those days was last week. He's happily working when all of a sudden, Randy comes up and tells him he's going to be closing shop. At the end of July. THREE weeks away. He tells him he's really sorry, since he's got a baby and a family to worry about. Ummm.
So not only does Steve no longer have a job-he now has to figure out what to do with all of his work equipment, tools, parts for jobs, metal, EVERYTHING. We have a garage, but there is NO WAY his stuff will fit. 10 years of work stuff pushed into a 3 bedroom house with 3 kids, 2 adults, 2 dogs and 2 birds? I really truly doubt it's gonna be pulled off.
So after many tense days of stress, sleep deprivation, and LIFE we mulled over the possibilities. Steve finally decided on taking over the lot. He won't be selling trailers until later on, but he will continue to do what he already does, along with being able to sell parts (Randy currently sells the parts and makes the profit). He has a customer turned good friend that will rent out half of the lot (Steve doesn't need the office, just the work bay) so he won't have to pay the entire thing.
So. This could be the best thing that ever happened, or could put us in the hole quite quickly. I have every confidence in Steve. He is amazing at his job, and customers love him. He has people coming from as far as Orange County to have him work on their things. My worry is this economy. One thing I learned from watching my Grandpa's vaccuum cleaner shop was that when the economy goes bad people fix things. So right now, people are fixing up their trailers and tractors as opposed to buying new and Steve is profiting quite well from it. When the economy picks up, he can sell new trailers and still fix the old, and maybe, just maybe, this will work.
For now, I'm just going to squeeze my eyes shut and pray really, really hard.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Some Pictures
I don't have much time so I won't be able to write a blog, but at least I can post a couple of pictures. Thomas keeps me pretty busy-he likes to eat a LOT. I'm curious to see what he weighs in his next checkup. The kids are enjoying their summer. Swimming, spending time with friends, and just relaxing mostly. I'll be sad when school starts! Well, I hear Little Mister Crabby Patty crying for dinner, so I'd better go. Hope everyone is doing well out there!
He was finally awake for a picture! :)
Thomas' first "real" bath. Thank goodness the sponge bath days are over now!
He was finally awake for a picture! :)
Trying to figure out what all those flashing lights are!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Update..
Given the high energy, run around type of lifestyle it feels like we live in this family, this week has been pretty "boring" in comparison. Yet it's not really boring at all. Grandma Vickie's visiting this week! She's been spending lots of time with all 3 kids, and took Andrew & Hannah out for some well needed "big kid" time. It's been great having her here, and we're really going to miss when she has to go back home.
Had another check up with Thomas yesterday. Things are going along swimmingly. He had dropped to 7 lbs 14 oz last week and was back up to 8 lb 2 oz yesterday-right on track. They measured him at 20 1/2 inches and said that's what he was at birth-that they don't always take good measurements when they're rushing after the birth. Poor Hannah-has to share her length with her brother!
We finally got to see his "real" pediatrician. Before we saw Kaiser doctors, since I have Kaiser coverage. Now Thomas is seeing the same doctor that Hannah sees, which is in the same practice as the doctor Andrew sees. I chose the pediatricians based on their bedside manner, and it seems like Andrew's doctor is a better fit for him, while Hannah & Thomas' doctor fit better for them..
As far as the kids go, things are really relaxed right now. Andrew's All Star's team didn't do so well on Sunday. Unfortunately I think tomorrow's game will go about the same. I'm glad that baseball is coming to a close (finally!) but I'm really sad Andrew's team didn't do better.
For the 4th of July Steve's mom watched Thomas so that we could go on the roof and watch the fireworks from home. No boat trip this year :( Well, the kids & Steve went on the roof-I chickened out at the last second. I don't know why I've started having this huge fear of heights. I think mostly it's because I just don't trust people around me. A very long time ago I had someone pretend they were going to push me, then do that quick pull back thing..well, he pretty much almost dropped me. Ever since then, my fear has only grown stronger since people think it's funny to see me get scared. So even when I know they won't do anything, I'm afraid they will.
Well, I'm going to post a few random pictures I've taken. I've been keeping the flash off, which I'm finding out is making for REALLY bad pictures...so I promise next round will be better! :)
I love the little fist, always by his face!
Can't get enough pictures of big yawns!
Andrew & Hannah HATED being swaddled. Thomas needs it for bedtime. I LOVE this thing! It makes it so much easier & he actually stays in it all night! Except for a little hand, which will sort of creep it's way up to his face again over the night-but I leave it a little loose up top on purpose for him :)
Riding on our way to the baseball game. Again, another great invention-a head "holder" that actually works right! Plus we can use it in our Jeep Stroller that I'm dying to get to use!
Don't know why the picture warped like this, but he has his eyes opened, so I HAD to add this picture!
Hannah-always peeking in on him during the ride.
On the way to All Stars game.
Had another check up with Thomas yesterday. Things are going along swimmingly. He had dropped to 7 lbs 14 oz last week and was back up to 8 lb 2 oz yesterday-right on track. They measured him at 20 1/2 inches and said that's what he was at birth-that they don't always take good measurements when they're rushing after the birth. Poor Hannah-has to share her length with her brother!
We finally got to see his "real" pediatrician. Before we saw Kaiser doctors, since I have Kaiser coverage. Now Thomas is seeing the same doctor that Hannah sees, which is in the same practice as the doctor Andrew sees. I chose the pediatricians based on their bedside manner, and it seems like Andrew's doctor is a better fit for him, while Hannah & Thomas' doctor fit better for them..
As far as the kids go, things are really relaxed right now. Andrew's All Star's team didn't do so well on Sunday. Unfortunately I think tomorrow's game will go about the same. I'm glad that baseball is coming to a close (finally!) but I'm really sad Andrew's team didn't do better.
For the 4th of July Steve's mom watched Thomas so that we could go on the roof and watch the fireworks from home. No boat trip this year :( Well, the kids & Steve went on the roof-I chickened out at the last second. I don't know why I've started having this huge fear of heights. I think mostly it's because I just don't trust people around me. A very long time ago I had someone pretend they were going to push me, then do that quick pull back thing..well, he pretty much almost dropped me. Ever since then, my fear has only grown stronger since people think it's funny to see me get scared. So even when I know they won't do anything, I'm afraid they will.
Well, I'm going to post a few random pictures I've taken. I've been keeping the flash off, which I'm finding out is making for REALLY bad pictures...so I promise next round will be better! :)
Ok, so this is like, the millionth picture taken in this bouncer thing..it's just easy to take pictures in it! :)~
I love the little fist, always by his face!
Can't get enough pictures of big yawns!
Andrew & Hannah HATED being swaddled. Thomas needs it for bedtime. I LOVE this thing! It makes it so much easier & he actually stays in it all night! Except for a little hand, which will sort of creep it's way up to his face again over the night-but I leave it a little loose up top on purpose for him :)
Riding on our way to the baseball game. Again, another great invention-a head "holder" that actually works right! Plus we can use it in our Jeep Stroller that I'm dying to get to use!
Don't know why the picture warped like this, but he has his eyes opened, so I HAD to add this picture!
Hannah-always peeking in on him during the ride.
On the way to All Stars game.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thomas' Birth Day Story
Let's hope that little Mr. Sleeping Beauty decides to keep on sleeping right now, so that I can finally get some time to post our story.
It started on Tuesday morning around 6:00 in the morning. I had some really strong contractions for about 45 minutes, and then....NOTHING. Absolutely NOTHING. So, I decided to stay up & just do whatever. Enjoyed a cup of coffee, went on my usual email/website/twitter/news update run. Then at 8:41 I had one of those iffy contractions. Feels exactly like the real thing, just really weak. I started having those every 7-10 minutes without any regularity for about 2 hours. They only went over a 10 minute period once-and that was 11 minutes apart. Steve was getting up to go to work, and I asked him what he wanted to do. We decided to call the labor & delivery nurse to get her advice. I was completely honest with her. I told her they were regular, felt exactly like a "real" contraction, but that I could talk through them. In fact, I had a contraction on the phone and said "see, this is what I sound like with these contractions." She told me that I was more than welcome to come in to be checked, but that chances were to not get my hopes up. So we took our time. We packed up the last of our bags. I did the dishes, cleaned up a little bit, got the kids finished packing for their "activities bag" to keep them busy during the wait at the hospital. We left and did a couple of errands. Steve had to stop at the bank for cash for the vending machines & stuff at the hospital. I realized I hadn't eaten anything yet, so we stopped and got some food. We had planned everything well, but didn't have any tape for the video camera (gotta love procrastination!) so we went into Rite-Aid and got the tapes. Steve was wandering towards the aisles to start perusing the cool stuff, and I was getting irritated because I was afraid my contractions would stop before we got to the hospital and then I'd lose my chance of being admitted. I started having less regular & more sporadic contractions at that point, and each one wasn't really all that painful. I was able to stand without help & whisper, I just couldn't carry on conversation too easily.
So finally we make it over to the hospital around 1:45 or so. She hooks me up to the monitor, and...NOTHING. Not a single darn contraction. She checked my cervix and told me I was about 3 centimeters with 50% effacement. That was good, because at my appointment Friday I had been 2 1/2 with 30%. Just as she was about to unhook the monitor, I had a doozy of a contraction (thank goodness!) so she told us she was going to ask the doctor what he wanted us to do. Doctor's advice was to go ahead and walk around the halls for an hour & see what would happen. So we walked. And walked. And walked. The good thing was, I started getting regular contractions, all 5 minutes apart. They started getting a little stronger. I could tell because my irritation meter started shooting up whenever one would hit!
So, after about an hour of walking with regular contractions the nurse hooks me up to the monitor again. Guess what. NOTHING. NADA. ZIP. ZILCH! No more stinkin' contractions! I asked her if she would check me again, because I knew I wasn't imagining things. So she checks me and says I'm up to 3 1/2 maybe 4. She's about to send me home when a series of contractions start up. Irregular but definitely there. So the doctor comes in, checks me and says "Nope..she's at 5" Looks at me and says "Congratulations Mama..you're gonna have a baby today" My mouth dropped....whuuuuuu?? Oh. My. Gosh. This is real now.
Ok, so here's the point in the story where I stop everything and tell you the side note about the nurse. She was definitely not the nicest nurse you've ever met in your life. The whole time we were being checked, she was being extremely rude to us. Her bedside manner was very abrupt, she didn't talk, smile, make eye contact-NOTHING. She started having a coughing fit and didn't cover her mouth. She coughed on me, Steve, the linens closet as she was looking for something, and while she was examining me. At one point she actually burped OUT LOUD without so much as an "oops..excuse me." When I said I was glad that I was at almost a 4 and at least that's getting towards the halfway point to Steve, she rudely interrupted me and said "Um, no, actually it's more like a 2 1/2 to 3" extremely sarcastic. When the doctor came in and said I as a 5 she acted like she was surprised, as though she didn't actually know how to check centimeters at all or something.
Also, one of the stipulations of my being able to deliver at the hospital so close to home was that I was to get the same Liver Function tests that I had been receiving ever since my hospital stay. It was made extremely clear to me what I was to inform the nurses & doctors about, and that it was vital that I follow the orders, because they still didn't know what had ever happened to me. She said very rudely "Honey-I don't know what you need those tests for, so I don't know what tests to perform" I told her for the umpteenth time that I had the paper in the car & Steve could go down and get it for her so that she would know exactly what to test for. So Steve leaves as I'm being rushed a bag of I.V. fluids to be allowed to start the epidural soon. All of a sudden I had the worst urge to pee EVER. Only thing was-the nurse was gone and she hadn't left me the call button. So there I am-having to go so bad that I was seriously considering just wetting the bed because it was so painful and no one around to help me. I called Steve on the bedside phone (luckily I knew how to use it from my previous hospital stint) to tell him to please figure out how to send a nurse to me because I was totally stuck there. So he's rushing back to the room-the nurse pops in for 2 seconds with this Styrofoam wedge thing and literally PLOPS it on my legs. Just as I'm about to say "oh thank goodness, I really have to use the restroom" she gets a call on her cell phone (at this point I have no idea it's the way the nurses communicate-I think it's just a cell phone) I'm opening my mouth to speak and she starts walking out of the room. UMMMM. So Steve makes it back, unhooks me from everything (again, only because of our previous hospital stay) I use the restroom & start getting back into the bed while Steve's going to hook me up again. She walks in the room, stands there blankly looking directly at Steve hooking me back up-all the while she's blocking him from getting through. At this point she takes the wedge & shoves it under my right side, leaving me totally off balance w/my back muscles trying to compensate for being elevated in such a weird position. I tell her it's really uncomfortable, is there any way I can get a pillow or something to place on the other side to sort of balance me out. She sort of sighs or huffs or whatever and leaves for my pillow. Steve and I are getting angrier by the minute. We hadn't realized that we'd be stuck with her for so long. I had talked to Kathy, who is a nurse at the same hospital, and she told me her shift would be over at 7 (2 1/2 hours away at this point) so I should consider asking for a new nurse if this was how it was going to be. So anyway, the nurse comes back and gets another call on her cell phone so she drops the pillow on my foot and walks over to my chart and starts whining "I know..I know, but she keeps insisting on these tests..no really, I understand, but if she keeps demanding them, I don't know what else we should do!"
Oh. No. She. Didn't.
So I interrupt her little phone call with "Um, excuse me, NO." She looks up startled as I say "You know what, just discharge me-I'm going to go to Kaiser in San Diego right now" So she tells whoever is on the phone "Let me call you back, I need to talk to the patient" I let loose exactly how I felt about her. Everything. How dare she drop things on my feet, leave a patient without any communication in a room all by herself delivering a BABY, treat me as though I'm a lesion because I am telling them I need some tests, force me, the patient, to even COMMUNICATE those tests back and forth (isn't that THEIR job?) and then say in front of ME, the PATIENT that I am insisting and being demanding. Isn't that a conversation you take OUTSIDE????" So that witch of a doctor comes over to my side, starts stroking my ARM and saying "I know hon, I know..I'm on YOUR side. It was the mean old doctor telling me he wouldn't do it and I was DEFENDING you" She then proceeds to tell me to basically "shush" because she knows how tired I am, and that I've been struggling with a frustrating labor so far and I need to just relax" So that was the point that Steve starting ripping into her. "Um, NO, it's not being tired-it's YOU. We were in the hospital for FIVE DAYS and if a doctor tells us to get some damn blood work done, we're gonna get that blood work done. If that means leaving the hospital and going to Kaiser, then FINE, that's what we're going to do, but he damn sure weren't going to sit here and watch his wife get treated this way for advice given to her from her doctor" The lady just about looked like she was going to cry. Good. So she whimpers "Do you want a new nurse?" Without pause or hesitation I said "ABSOLUTELY. Thank you."
So now we resume our labor story, which, by the way, is completely boring at this point. Don't feel guilty if your eyes glaze over :)~
So then things start to really warm up. Our nurse comes in, the most beautiful angel in the world, apologizes for her colleagues behavior and stunned because she was surprised that we were unsatisfied with her service. We let her know that it would impossible to tell w/out a patient complaining, because she was sweet as sugar to us whenever someone else was there.
Anyway, the nurse gets me all set up for the epidural to be started. He comes in, performs the procedure, and the nurse sat there with her forehead against mine the entire time, talking quietly, telling me exactly what was going to happen next-telling me when to breath and when to hold my breath. She whispered encouragement the entire time, and before I knew it, I was doped up!
My body decided to go into hyper drive once my epidural was in. I was feeling some pain, but we attributed it to the catheter or just the pressure that happens even though the epidural was in place. I went to7 centimeters within a matter of an hour or so. Then, all of a sudden, I started feeling really bad pain. The epidural was only working on my stomach and back, but I could literally feel myself moving up in centimeters. So as we waited for the anesthesiologist Steve got to go through the holding of the hand, wiping of the brow contractions that every man should have to help through in order to get a child. Finally the anesthesiologist comes in and gives me 2 shots of something or other which put my legs into an oatmeal mush-the kind you get when you get work done on your teeth, and you can feel how mushy your mouth is, but it feels like there's nothing there at the same time. I couldn't even assist in moving me at all-they had to heave me up whenever I started slipping. I felt like that TLC show "The Half Ton Man" as they were counting to three and shoving me up by the pads underneath me :) Anyway, at least there wasn't any more pain. Then, at around 9 1/2 centimeters I got really nauseous. They offered me an anti-nausea medicine and I said it would probably be a good idea, since we were getting so close to pushing and everything. So she put the stuff in my I.V. and oh my gosh. I turned into a total nutcase. I was freaking out-worried about pushing because I felt so weird. I was sweating, still feeling nauseated, I don't even know what else. I couldn't move my legs, I was afraid of how I was going to keep them up to push. I don't know-just went plum crazy I guess. So everyone did their best to calm me down. At that point Hannah expressed how much she wanted to be in the room also, so the nurse said she would allow an extra person (we were only allowed 4 total, so Hannah made 5) Anyway, I started feeling the pressure of needing to push-something I don't remember feeling so strongly with Andrew or Hannah. I told the nurse, so she checked me and was surprised I was at 10 (we were anticipating another 2 to 3 hours before we got to 10) So she told me to give those first tentative pushes to see if she needed to call the doctor. 2 pushes in and she was saying "don't push don't push!" So the doctor comes in, tells me to give a push, then says "OK, now give me a minute" I don't know the exact amount of pushes, but they tell me from that 1st push with the nurse to the last push it was 13 minutes. Poor Steve & Michelle got stuck holding my legs the whole time, so they didn't get to go over to the table and see him for the first 10 minutes or so. Kathy was video taping the whole time so at least we got to see afterwards everything we missed while the doctor was finishing up.
At 12:13 a.m. Thomas Nash Amaral was born weighing 8 pounds 4 ounces and 19 inches long. Hannah was extremely pleased to be the largest over her 2 brothers (8 pounds 13 ounces 20.5 inches long). Unfortunately, after the initial belly minute with Thomas on me, I wasn't able to hold him for a few hours. I was really shaky and couldn't move well. I was still nauseous and was completely afraid I would drop Thomas. The kids got to hold him. Hannah sang little songs to him, and Andrew was so overcome with emotion he started crying when he held him (remember my story earlier about Andrew's graduation-pretty much exactly like that).
Steve looked like the proudest Papa to ever walk the planet. I have never in my life seen him the way I do now with Thomas. It is the most beautiful thing ever.
No matter what happens in this life, I hope that Thomas always knows he is loved more than any one of us can express.
It started on Tuesday morning around 6:00 in the morning. I had some really strong contractions for about 45 minutes, and then....NOTHING. Absolutely NOTHING. So, I decided to stay up & just do whatever. Enjoyed a cup of coffee, went on my usual email/website/twitter/news update run. Then at 8:41 I had one of those iffy contractions. Feels exactly like the real thing, just really weak. I started having those every 7-10 minutes without any regularity for about 2 hours. They only went over a 10 minute period once-and that was 11 minutes apart. Steve was getting up to go to work, and I asked him what he wanted to do. We decided to call the labor & delivery nurse to get her advice. I was completely honest with her. I told her they were regular, felt exactly like a "real" contraction, but that I could talk through them. In fact, I had a contraction on the phone and said "see, this is what I sound like with these contractions." She told me that I was more than welcome to come in to be checked, but that chances were to not get my hopes up. So we took our time. We packed up the last of our bags. I did the dishes, cleaned up a little bit, got the kids finished packing for their "activities bag" to keep them busy during the wait at the hospital. We left and did a couple of errands. Steve had to stop at the bank for cash for the vending machines & stuff at the hospital. I realized I hadn't eaten anything yet, so we stopped and got some food. We had planned everything well, but didn't have any tape for the video camera (gotta love procrastination!) so we went into Rite-Aid and got the tapes. Steve was wandering towards the aisles to start perusing the cool stuff, and I was getting irritated because I was afraid my contractions would stop before we got to the hospital and then I'd lose my chance of being admitted. I started having less regular & more sporadic contractions at that point, and each one wasn't really all that painful. I was able to stand without help & whisper, I just couldn't carry on conversation too easily.
So finally we make it over to the hospital around 1:45 or so. She hooks me up to the monitor, and...NOTHING. Not a single darn contraction. She checked my cervix and told me I was about 3 centimeters with 50% effacement. That was good, because at my appointment Friday I had been 2 1/2 with 30%. Just as she was about to unhook the monitor, I had a doozy of a contraction (thank goodness!) so she told us she was going to ask the doctor what he wanted us to do. Doctor's advice was to go ahead and walk around the halls for an hour & see what would happen. So we walked. And walked. And walked. The good thing was, I started getting regular contractions, all 5 minutes apart. They started getting a little stronger. I could tell because my irritation meter started shooting up whenever one would hit!
So, after about an hour of walking with regular contractions the nurse hooks me up to the monitor again. Guess what. NOTHING. NADA. ZIP. ZILCH! No more stinkin' contractions! I asked her if she would check me again, because I knew I wasn't imagining things. So she checks me and says I'm up to 3 1/2 maybe 4. She's about to send me home when a series of contractions start up. Irregular but definitely there. So the doctor comes in, checks me and says "Nope..she's at 5" Looks at me and says "Congratulations Mama..you're gonna have a baby today" My mouth dropped....whuuuuuu?? Oh. My. Gosh. This is real now.
Ok, so here's the point in the story where I stop everything and tell you the side note about the nurse. She was definitely not the nicest nurse you've ever met in your life. The whole time we were being checked, she was being extremely rude to us. Her bedside manner was very abrupt, she didn't talk, smile, make eye contact-NOTHING. She started having a coughing fit and didn't cover her mouth. She coughed on me, Steve, the linens closet as she was looking for something, and while she was examining me. At one point she actually burped OUT LOUD without so much as an "oops..excuse me." When I said I was glad that I was at almost a 4 and at least that's getting towards the halfway point to Steve, she rudely interrupted me and said "Um, no, actually it's more like a 2 1/2 to 3" extremely sarcastic. When the doctor came in and said I as a 5 she acted like she was surprised, as though she didn't actually know how to check centimeters at all or something.
Also, one of the stipulations of my being able to deliver at the hospital so close to home was that I was to get the same Liver Function tests that I had been receiving ever since my hospital stay. It was made extremely clear to me what I was to inform the nurses & doctors about, and that it was vital that I follow the orders, because they still didn't know what had ever happened to me. She said very rudely "Honey-I don't know what you need those tests for, so I don't know what tests to perform" I told her for the umpteenth time that I had the paper in the car & Steve could go down and get it for her so that she would know exactly what to test for. So Steve leaves as I'm being rushed a bag of I.V. fluids to be allowed to start the epidural soon. All of a sudden I had the worst urge to pee EVER. Only thing was-the nurse was gone and she hadn't left me the call button. So there I am-having to go so bad that I was seriously considering just wetting the bed because it was so painful and no one around to help me. I called Steve on the bedside phone (luckily I knew how to use it from my previous hospital stint) to tell him to please figure out how to send a nurse to me because I was totally stuck there. So he's rushing back to the room-the nurse pops in for 2 seconds with this Styrofoam wedge thing and literally PLOPS it on my legs. Just as I'm about to say "oh thank goodness, I really have to use the restroom" she gets a call on her cell phone (at this point I have no idea it's the way the nurses communicate-I think it's just a cell phone) I'm opening my mouth to speak and she starts walking out of the room. UMMMM. So Steve makes it back, unhooks me from everything (again, only because of our previous hospital stay) I use the restroom & start getting back into the bed while Steve's going to hook me up again. She walks in the room, stands there blankly looking directly at Steve hooking me back up-all the while she's blocking him from getting through. At this point she takes the wedge & shoves it under my right side, leaving me totally off balance w/my back muscles trying to compensate for being elevated in such a weird position. I tell her it's really uncomfortable, is there any way I can get a pillow or something to place on the other side to sort of balance me out. She sort of sighs or huffs or whatever and leaves for my pillow. Steve and I are getting angrier by the minute. We hadn't realized that we'd be stuck with her for so long. I had talked to Kathy, who is a nurse at the same hospital, and she told me her shift would be over at 7 (2 1/2 hours away at this point) so I should consider asking for a new nurse if this was how it was going to be. So anyway, the nurse comes back and gets another call on her cell phone so she drops the pillow on my foot and walks over to my chart and starts whining "I know..I know, but she keeps insisting on these tests..no really, I understand, but if she keeps demanding them, I don't know what else we should do!"
Oh. No. She. Didn't.
So I interrupt her little phone call with "Um, excuse me, NO." She looks up startled as I say "You know what, just discharge me-I'm going to go to Kaiser in San Diego right now" So she tells whoever is on the phone "Let me call you back, I need to talk to the patient" I let loose exactly how I felt about her. Everything. How dare she drop things on my feet, leave a patient without any communication in a room all by herself delivering a BABY, treat me as though I'm a lesion because I am telling them I need some tests, force me, the patient, to even COMMUNICATE those tests back and forth (isn't that THEIR job?) and then say in front of ME, the PATIENT that I am insisting and being demanding. Isn't that a conversation you take OUTSIDE????" So that witch of a doctor comes over to my side, starts stroking my ARM and saying "I know hon, I know..I'm on YOUR side. It was the mean old doctor telling me he wouldn't do it and I was DEFENDING you" She then proceeds to tell me to basically "shush" because she knows how tired I am, and that I've been struggling with a frustrating labor so far and I need to just relax" So that was the point that Steve starting ripping into her. "Um, NO, it's not being tired-it's YOU. We were in the hospital for FIVE DAYS and if a doctor tells us to get some damn blood work done, we're gonna get that blood work done. If that means leaving the hospital and going to Kaiser, then FINE, that's what we're going to do, but he damn sure weren't going to sit here and watch his wife get treated this way for advice given to her from her doctor" The lady just about looked like she was going to cry. Good. So she whimpers "Do you want a new nurse?" Without pause or hesitation I said "ABSOLUTELY. Thank you."
So now we resume our labor story, which, by the way, is completely boring at this point. Don't feel guilty if your eyes glaze over :)~
So then things start to really warm up. Our nurse comes in, the most beautiful angel in the world, apologizes for her colleagues behavior and stunned because she was surprised that we were unsatisfied with her service. We let her know that it would impossible to tell w/out a patient complaining, because she was sweet as sugar to us whenever someone else was there.
Anyway, the nurse gets me all set up for the epidural to be started. He comes in, performs the procedure, and the nurse sat there with her forehead against mine the entire time, talking quietly, telling me exactly what was going to happen next-telling me when to breath and when to hold my breath. She whispered encouragement the entire time, and before I knew it, I was doped up!
My body decided to go into hyper drive once my epidural was in. I was feeling some pain, but we attributed it to the catheter or just the pressure that happens even though the epidural was in place. I went to7 centimeters within a matter of an hour or so. Then, all of a sudden, I started feeling really bad pain. The epidural was only working on my stomach and back, but I could literally feel myself moving up in centimeters. So as we waited for the anesthesiologist Steve got to go through the holding of the hand, wiping of the brow contractions that every man should have to help through in order to get a child. Finally the anesthesiologist comes in and gives me 2 shots of something or other which put my legs into an oatmeal mush-the kind you get when you get work done on your teeth, and you can feel how mushy your mouth is, but it feels like there's nothing there at the same time. I couldn't even assist in moving me at all-they had to heave me up whenever I started slipping. I felt like that TLC show "The Half Ton Man" as they were counting to three and shoving me up by the pads underneath me :) Anyway, at least there wasn't any more pain. Then, at around 9 1/2 centimeters I got really nauseous. They offered me an anti-nausea medicine and I said it would probably be a good idea, since we were getting so close to pushing and everything. So she put the stuff in my I.V. and oh my gosh. I turned into a total nutcase. I was freaking out-worried about pushing because I felt so weird. I was sweating, still feeling nauseated, I don't even know what else. I couldn't move my legs, I was afraid of how I was going to keep them up to push. I don't know-just went plum crazy I guess. So everyone did their best to calm me down. At that point Hannah expressed how much she wanted to be in the room also, so the nurse said she would allow an extra person (we were only allowed 4 total, so Hannah made 5) Anyway, I started feeling the pressure of needing to push-something I don't remember feeling so strongly with Andrew or Hannah. I told the nurse, so she checked me and was surprised I was at 10 (we were anticipating another 2 to 3 hours before we got to 10) So she told me to give those first tentative pushes to see if she needed to call the doctor. 2 pushes in and she was saying "don't push don't push!" So the doctor comes in, tells me to give a push, then says "OK, now give me a minute" I don't know the exact amount of pushes, but they tell me from that 1st push with the nurse to the last push it was 13 minutes. Poor Steve & Michelle got stuck holding my legs the whole time, so they didn't get to go over to the table and see him for the first 10 minutes or so. Kathy was video taping the whole time so at least we got to see afterwards everything we missed while the doctor was finishing up.
At 12:13 a.m. Thomas Nash Amaral was born weighing 8 pounds 4 ounces and 19 inches long. Hannah was extremely pleased to be the largest over her 2 brothers (8 pounds 13 ounces 20.5 inches long). Unfortunately, after the initial belly minute with Thomas on me, I wasn't able to hold him for a few hours. I was really shaky and couldn't move well. I was still nauseous and was completely afraid I would drop Thomas. The kids got to hold him. Hannah sang little songs to him, and Andrew was so overcome with emotion he started crying when he held him (remember my story earlier about Andrew's graduation-pretty much exactly like that).
Steve looked like the proudest Papa to ever walk the planet. I have never in my life seen him the way I do now with Thomas. It is the most beautiful thing ever.
No matter what happens in this life, I hope that Thomas always knows he is loved more than any one of us can express.
Friday, June 19, 2009
"The Raging Hormone"
Oh my, Andrew's graduation on Wednesday was interesting. At least I made the entire class of 2009 5th graders laugh at me! (Ok, mostly just Andrew's friends, but STILL).
Ok, so it was a cute theme-Hawaiian. The mood was light, the music sweet but not sappy. THEN, of course, they start singing this song about growing up and how they love us as their role models and blabbity blabbity blabbity. THANKS GUYS! I started bawling like a big fat baby. Which, of course, sent Thomas into contraction mode. Which made Andrew's friends start poking him and whispering "Hey man-isn't that your MOM?" which made him start doing that "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh" look along with a few of his own eye rolling, snickering laughs. Which THEN, in turn, makes Kathy start busting up laughing, shooting pictures of me looking like a big blathering idiot, which of course, makes ME start busting up laughing. So there I am, laughing, crying, and contracting, all the while, the kids are singing this sweet song dedicated to their parents. I find out later, Mr. Brian told the kids "I'm picking this song, because it's guaranteed to make them cry" OH... MY.... GOSH!! Let me remember to be on the committee when YOUR kid graduates! :)
The funny thing is, it's just 5th grade. I mean, 6th is a big leap from 5th, but not REALLY. There's much bigger milestones that Andrew's leapt through that I didn't cry like he was leaving us forever!
ahhhhh, hormones.
Yes, that would be Andrew singing the song-told you he was snickering at me! Stinkin' kid!
I am ONLY adding this picture because if I'm going to talk about how horrible I was, I guess I should show it.
An official Middle Schooler now!
Andrew and his partner in crime, Sean
Andrew's teacher, Mr. Korporaal. I cannot say enough good things about Mr. K. He will always be a huge part of why Andrew is the Andrew we see now. Plus, he made reading cool, and anyone who can do that just plain rocks in my eyes!
Drumroll please.......................The infamous Mr. Brian!!!
Ok, so it was a cute theme-Hawaiian. The mood was light, the music sweet but not sappy. THEN, of course, they start singing this song about growing up and how they love us as their role models and blabbity blabbity blabbity. THANKS GUYS! I started bawling like a big fat baby. Which, of course, sent Thomas into contraction mode. Which made Andrew's friends start poking him and whispering "Hey man-isn't that your MOM?" which made him start doing that "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh" look along with a few of his own eye rolling, snickering laughs. Which THEN, in turn, makes Kathy start busting up laughing, shooting pictures of me looking like a big blathering idiot, which of course, makes ME start busting up laughing. So there I am, laughing, crying, and contracting, all the while, the kids are singing this sweet song dedicated to their parents. I find out later, Mr. Brian told the kids "I'm picking this song, because it's guaranteed to make them cry" OH... MY.... GOSH!! Let me remember to be on the committee when YOUR kid graduates! :)
The funny thing is, it's just 5th grade. I mean, 6th is a big leap from 5th, but not REALLY. There's much bigger milestones that Andrew's leapt through that I didn't cry like he was leaving us forever!
ahhhhh, hormones.
Yes, that would be Andrew singing the song-told you he was snickering at me! Stinkin' kid!
I am ONLY adding this picture because if I'm going to talk about how horrible I was, I guess I should show it. 
An official Middle Schooler now!
Awesome kid!
Andrew and his partner in crime, Sean
Andrew's teacher, Mr. Korporaal. I cannot say enough good things about Mr. K. He will always be a huge part of why Andrew is the Andrew we see now. Plus, he made reading cool, and anyone who can do that just plain rocks in my eyes!
Drumroll please.......................The infamous Mr. Brian!!!
Part of the group of boys that ruled T.H.E. A rascally bunch, but all very good, kind, sweet kids. You couldn't hand pick a better bunch of boys!
I told them to "show me what you guys were REALLY like all these years" They didn't fail me!
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