Welcome, Cole Alexander....

January 4, 2007
6:15pm
6lb 1 oz, 19-1/2 inches

Darling baby boy, I am so glad you are here!!

Labor was induced at 2:05pm, he was born 4 hours later.

I'm a lucky, lucky, lucky girl.

Waiting and waiting

39 weeks and counting...Evan came at 39 weeks - but isn't your second kid supposed to come earlier or did someone tell me that just to make me feel better? They are talking about inducing on Friday b/c they think he is small and something about the placenta not functioning to capacity... hoping he'll decide to move out in the next few days b/c don't want to be induced. Would rather let him come out on his own, but apparently he doesn't feel the need! Wondering how small or not he'll be - doesn't feel small as I carry him around at all. Evan was only 6lb2oz, pretty small, and he was healthy. Well, guess even if he decides not to go on his own, I know by the end of the week I'll have a new baby boy!

Irritability

This is the only word to describe me right now. Last week the dr. told me that she thought the baby was measuring small , so of course I got all freaked out, and had to go for an ultrasound, and he was almost 5lbs. I don't think that seems all that small, since Evan was only 6lbs2oz, but I am not a dr. Then they did that glorious thing called an 'internal' and found me to be dialating already. So, i was ordered to go home and do nothing for a week or so, until my next appointment, b/c it was a little too soon for him to come out yet. It is now 6 days later, and my appointment isn't until FRIDAY. I am SICK of being home, not being able to CLEAN, or go to work, or do anything. Yes, it is sickness, probably. Everyone I have spoken to said I am crazy, b/c if their dr. told them to go home and do nothing but lay around and eat, they would be happy. But, they do not realize that if I am not doing it, it is not getting done, OR, it is getting done, but not to my specifications - not to get all OCD on everyone, but there are certain ways to clean, and certain ways NOT to clean. And there are things that apparently males do not see that need to be done, which women seem to have overly sensitive powers to notice. And so that is where I am at. And if I can just wait until next week when I'll be considered full term, I can scrub and wash and fold and organize to my hearts content.

Letter

Dear Son who presently resides in my uterus,
It has been quite a long time since I lived in a uterus, and in fact I cannot remember what it was like. I can assume that it must be a bit cramped in there. However, at this time I would respectfully request that you quit taking your foot, elbow, hand, knee and any other limb and jamming them into my side so that I feel like you are going to poke right out of my skin. I am sure you are anxious to get out so that you can stretch unlimitedly, but we have about a 5-6 week window to work with here so don't get too excited just yet. Thanks in advance. Love, Mommy

I hate the mall

First of all, I realize Thanksgiving is coming up soon here, but really, it's not Christmas yet! I went to the mall twice this week because somehow I really actually needed to go two times for various things. Early in the week I was astounded to see Santa and the Choo Choo and the decor already up. I mean, it's November. I don't remember crap being up this early ever, maybe I am wrong. Or crabby. Or wrong, crabby and pregnant. Today the mall was hell on earth. I forgot how much I hate holiday shopping. Crowded & hot, with rude people pushing their way around you. It does nothing for the cause when you are trying to manuever you big belly through the chaos along with a 3 year old . Then we stop to eat, and some kid behind us not only pukes all over, there is not a mall employee in sight to clean it up. Nor another table open anywhere, so we are forced to sit there trying to eat while smelling puke. Not a fun place to be. I don't care if they are having a 10 for 1 sale on anything at the mall...I'm doing the rest of my shopping online.

It doesn't look as big as it feels...

I feel like a big house, and then I look at this picture and it just doesn't make sense.

Lazy

I have been in a rut lately. A big pregnancy rut. Oh sure, I work, I grocery shop, I clean, I take care of Evan. But any free time? Well, that is consumed by mostly laying around and eating. I have no idea if this is true for most people who have been pregnant more than once, but I have an awful achey sensation in my loins (I never realized where my loins were until now) that almost prohibits me from lifting my legs even 1 cm by the end of the day. The doctor said it's due to ligament stretching. Well, it sucks. I am not one to whine, but it has put a big damper on my plans to run right through this pregnancy and not really slow down my pace. And it seems to be the worst at about 3 am when i'm waking up to trudge down the hall for the middle of the night bathroom visit. Anyway, 9 weeks to go if he decides to come on time...

Duh!

For like 3 weeks I have not been able to log on to my Blogger account and type anything, b/c every time I put in my username it would bring up a different blog. This was quite frustrating, until today, when i realized that I was entering the wrong user name. Huh. I have been quite stupid the last few days. I blame it on the expansion of my stomach, coupled with the enormous amounts of food I've been consuming for the last 2 weeks or so. Evan has been going to preschool now for a month and a half and loves it - too cute.

Too much

Life is well, life is fucking confusing. I am at a very unsettling time in my life right now, namely - 6 mos pregnant and recently separated. Without getting into assorted details of my marriage, it boils down to: staying out and drinking with working buddies vs. coming home on time (frequently) AND purchase of a Harley Davidson motorcycle wilst wife is 5 mos pregnant, mentioned that if said bike was purchased, you were "as good as single", in middle of trying to purchase a house. Rode home on motorcycle the next day. Following day after that..wife gets up in morning, packs up her and son's belongings and trucks her growing belly to her Mom's to figure out what the fuck. Finally I have gotten my own place and am now in the hell called "figuring it all out". Family hatred of me aside, I think this is the right decision. I think he needs to figure out if he wants to live life as a bachelor or as a married man, with a wife who actually expects him to act like a husband and father, not a happy go lucky, free for all bachelor who does whatever he pleases. In the same frame, nobody seems to understand that this isn't "IT" as in the "final" decision. Things can change, and I pray to God they will change. There is nothing more that I did NOT want then to have to do this to my son, or my new son on the way. But sometimes you gotta stand up for what you think is right and call what you think is bullshit. On top of that there are big changes going on at work that really have me wondering if I will retain my job or not...and I think I'm supposed to keep my wits about me during this time, but you know what, sometimes that is really fucking hard.. Especially with pregnancy hormones.

It's another boy!

Well, all this time, figuring that I was so sick , which was different from my pregnancy with Evan, I for SURE thought I was having a girl. My mom thought I was having a girl, my sister, Justin, pretty much everyone except for maybe two people thought girl. As soon as I started feeling movement, and it wasn't little flutters, it was pretty strong right from the beginning, I just figured it was a very feisty girl. Boy, were we all wrong! There is no doubt about it, as he was even grabbing himself during the ultrasound. Which is SUCH a boy thing...and it starts even earlier than I had realized. It's always so reassuring to see the movement and little hands and feet, only this time I had the 3D which was new to me. Wow, that is an amazing thing. And the technician said he's about 9 oz now, which is also quite amazing, seeing everything has developed - eyes, nose, mouth, ears, feet, toes, hands, heart, kidneys.. and only 9 oz. Other than that news, everything has been a little busy here.. I am in crazy pregnancy "I want everything done, NOW" and have picked out paint for 3 rooms,still have to pick a kitchen color and then I think I'll leave the rest the color they are now.. 1 is done, carpet has been ripped up, in the process of refinishing wood floor in Evan's room, which will be the baby's room after I move Evan upstairs with his big brother. I'm not ready for this move yet, I hope I will be before January. I am not sure if he is ready for it yet either. Evan got the chicken pox this week from a girl at his sitters, he's not too bad because he had the vaccine but he's still miserable. He starts preschool in a week in a half - the stepkids start next week. Soon it will be fall and before you know it, winter and I'll be ready to pop.

Curse you, all day sickness..

I am trying to post just something, anything, so that I can remember this time about three years from now, when I most likely will say, "oh, I don't remember being that sick with either pregnancy". I throw up daily. It is not fun. I did not throw up when I was pregnant with Evan , save for 2 - yes, only 2 times. And, that was only once during early pregnancy, the later being from the flu in my 8th month. This is not fun, to be sure. I can be fine one minute, like the other night whilst laying in bed talking to Justin, and then then next minute, before he even knows what is going on, I am sprinting out of bed running for the bathroom. So far though, I haven't had any publicly embarassing urps... like at the grocery store, or at a red light. I was fighting it last week on the way home from work, but I did make it home. However, sweet relief should be right around the corner, 2 weeks away from that glorious 4th month. With any luck, the next two pukey weeks should fly right by.

Exhaustion...

You know, I think God has this neat little trick.. It goes something like - he clears out your memories of all the crappy things about pregnancy like nausea, extreme fatigue, anxiety, pain, etc... He has to do this, or you will never procreate after that 1st one. I am so tired, I could, at most any time of the day, lay my head down on anything.. desk, table, brick, and fall fast asleep. However, I can't do that because I have to work when I'm at work, and when I'm at home, I have a rambunctious 3 year old that doesn't understand the words "relax" "take a break" "mommy just needs two minutes to lay here". I am complaining, yes, but of course I am excited still. And even more excited for the 2nd trimester, when, if memory serves me correctly (which it probably does not) I will again feel like my normal, spastic self with energy to clean the floors and wash the 10 sinkfuls of dishes every stinking day.

Happy Mothers Day!

Well, interesting news over here. Just in time for Mothers Day. Last Friday for Cinco de Mayo, I went to a party at my sister's friends house, who is also the person who watches Evan two days a week for me. In the middle of the party she turns to me and says, "someone in this house tonight is pregnant, and I think it's you". I laugh it off, and tell her, yeah I have the sore boobs but it's only because my period is on it's way. So, Sunday morning my sister calls and tells me, "kathy is obsessing about you being pregnant. " I tell her, well, I really don't think so... but, if it'll make you both happy, I'll take a test, just to put this all to rest. Ok. So, she tells me that she is going to call Kathy and tell her (as a joke) that I was really sick and thought I had food poisoning and that I went to the hospital and they told me that : 1.) i was pregnant and 2.) that i was having twins, b/c the pregnancy hormone was so high that I must be having twins. Ha ha ha. So, soon as I get off the phone with her I take the test. Before I can even look at it the phone rings and it's kathy congratulating me on my 'twins'. No sooner does she speak that I look at the stick and low and behold there are TWO LINES. I tell her quickly, wait, wait kathy it was a joke but now i am really not joking and I am looking at the stick and i AM! So we decide to 3 way call my sister and of course she doesn't believe us and thinks we are playing a joke on her now. I had to take a picture of the stick and send it to her for proof. Well, I was pretty surprised and as a matter of fact still surprised, and since I am such a worrier I am worrying like crazy now, but hopefully everything will be ok and I will soon be on my way to gaining the 50+ lbs that I did with Evan. Course if I am calculating it right: My stepson's birthday is in November, mine and my stepdaughters birthdays are in December, the new baby will be in January and then Evan's is in February. Parties 4 months in a row....for the rest of my life!

All kinds of assorted crap

After the puke fest of Evan, I had my own. ONLY, mine started the night before EASTER and proceeded to persist the whole darn day. Easter was mostly ruined, and it was all my fault. Well, all the stomach virus that engulfed me and made me violently ill all day's fault. I had shopped, I had cleaned, I had cooked, I had baked and for what? To have a shitty, puke filled day of blah. I couldn't even get excited for the Easter egg hunt that I had purchased 60+ eggs for. I couldn't hide the eggs, I barely stumbled on the back steps to watch it, as I sat there hugging my knees to my chest because my stomach felt like it was turning inside out. What the hell. Come monday, back to work and I swear it took me all week before I even felt like eating anything other than noodles and broth. So, that was that. I remember getting sick on Christmas, every Christmas, for years when I was little. Driving home on Christmas Eve from grandma's house, trying to sleep after I wretched my guts out at her house, while everyone was hoping I would get better so I could enjoy the things they bought me, or at least be minimally excited by the festivities. I remember walking downstairs in my house the year my mom got me a new bike, looking at it, and going back upstairs to lay down. I do not think it was a coincidence. I think I got overly excited and made myself sick, not on purpose, but because I didn't know any better. I now know better, and still, evil stomach bug - you come creeping around and there I was again.

A messy day

I am just in a funk this week. Well, really, for a couple of weeks. I keep thinking its the weather, and then it gets nicer out and I still have no energy. Saturday my stepdaughter got a 103 degree fever, and was sick all day sunday as well. I stayed home with her Monday, and by the end of the day she was feeling a little better, and at least, her fever had come down. Monday night I was awoken by my son at 2:30am, who was standing at the end of my bed saying "Mommy? Mommy" when I sat up in bed, I smelled him. There is no doubt when you smell puke that you are smelling puke. I was hoping against hope that is NOT what I was smelling, but alas, after I turned on the light, there was puke, on him, his pj's, etc. Put him into the tub, cleaned him up and put him on the couch with a lot of towels - just in case. Proceeded to clean up the puke filled bed, blankets, etc. Was asked by my husband why I was doing laundry in the middle of the night. Explained the situation. Approx. 10 minutes later was asked again by husband what I was doing and why I wasn't in bed. Again explained situation. Stayed up all night with poor little guy who threw up God only knows how many more times from 2:30 til 7:15 when he finally dozed off. At 5:30 said husband woke up for work and wanted to know why I had not made him coffee since I was up anyway. Aghrrrrr. So, baby falls asleep at 7:15 and had to wake him at 7:45 to take the stepkids to school. Packed with towels, we are on our way. Thought everything was fine until on the way back when I had to pull over the car b/c the poor kid was throwing up again. Finally after I went through all the towels in the linen closet and the ones that I had washed the night before, he fell asleep and when he awoke, thankfully, it was gone. And he wanted chocolate milk. And husband, upon getting home from work and looking at me, asked me two things: why do you look so tired? AND what's for dinner? Pfffft!

Go visit Miss Jay...

At my house, even when it is cold outside, my husband has no problems hanging out his balls for all to see (see post from March 27th). Not all are so freely able to let their junk out.. to help out Miss Jay, please visit www.saintvodkaofthemartini.blogspot.com/2006/04/international-ball-dropping-day.html

When you have a husband like mine...

Justin called me today at work to tell me he was in the newspaper. If you have read this blog at all, you can appreciate that I was nervous as to why he was in the paper. Did he moon someone else? Cut up another couch with a circular saw? Go drinking with his buddies and ??? But no, thankfully it was just that the newspaper apparently took some pictures of him on the job. He was very excited because he has a very demanding, difficult and frequently dangerous job, and was glad he got a little recognition. And, of course, I am proud of him and thought I'd post the pic on here. I should really get my ass in gear and post some pictures of some other jobs he's been on that are really cool. But, you know, I have enough problems finding time to post at all, let alone search through pictures, scan them in, and post them and a story.. sheesh! what a lot of work THAT would be. Plus, this is MY blog for my assorted stories. Maybe he should start up his own blog- {that didn't sound too selfish, did it?}

There's my man! 

Front porch episode...

Well, went out with my friend Jo on Friday night. Girls night out... whoo hoo!! We had a blast, it helped, I think, that she had 4 martinis prior to meeting me. A good friend of hers that I had never met, came to the bar to meet us a little while into the night. An hour or so after she got there, and after Jo's 3 more martinis, we decided to go somewhere else. Now, we decided to take only one car, and so we dropped off one at my house. This is where it gets interesting. We pull into the driveway, this girl that I had only met a few hours ago parks her car in my driveway. At that point, my husband comes out to ? "greet" us. Not seeing that there was a complete stranger in our driveway, he decides to moon us- and I don't mean a funny little, top of ass crack moon, I mean, a full on, pants at least down to his knees if not further, bending over as if for a rectal exam - FULL moon. This is not something a guy, under any circumstances, should do. If only I had a picture. The poor girl probably wanted to run back into her car and drive far, far away. Of course, he thought this was just about the funniest thing he had ever done. Quickly, we left. There was quite a bit of silence in the car, until Jo said, "what the FUCK was that?" I had no explanation. I mean, really, what could I say? It was rather funny the next day though, when I asked him if he remembered the girl in the driveway - which of course, he didn't. Turns out he went to high school with her. Now, that's pretty funny stuff. I also asked him when the next time he is going out, and bringing all his buddies to our house. Somehow, I don't think my bending butt ass naked over the porch railing will be quite as funny to him. But, fair is fair, right??

B.S.

I can't believe it's been 10 days since my last post - where the hell did that 10 days go? Busy as usual - today was a good day, went to court to watch a guy get sentenced for stealing a house. Don't know if anyone saw this story on the news - a guy lives in New York city, his parents live here in Shaker Heights. The parents are in ill health, the son comes in and moves them into assisted living. The father passes away, and the mother gets dementia. They move her to the Alzhemier's section of the home, and then she passes away. The son flies in from NYC with his family to bury his mother, drives by his parents home - and catches a full blown Christmas Party going on there - with people living in his parent's house that he doesn't know! It took years to unravel this all - and when it was all said and done, the house had been trashed, the guy who took over the house had an ESTATE sale and sold all of the parents belongings right out from underneath their son. It was a lot of work, a lot of research, and at least some small bit of satisfaction for me today watching the guy in court, and the judge sentencing him to a prison term of 4years 11 mos. Course, doesn't bring back the son's memories of his childhood years being destroyed or stolen. The jackass guy stands up in court today and says he had a drug problem and that's why he did it - I am so sick over people playing the drug card as an excuse - i mean, just like that Joseph Smith that killed that little girl in Florida - he said, oh I was high and I didn't know what I was doing, and I was depressed because my wife said she was leaving me - So, you go and kill a little girl? I mean, come on! What the fuck is that? Same with this guy - he said, oh my judgment was clouded b/c of the drugs - so clouded he managed to forge all kind of documents, transfer a $300,000 house into his name, put a renter in there, collect HUD money from the gov't, take out a mortgage on the place, hide money, etc. etc. - if that's how smart he is on drugs, I'd hate to see what he could do without them. &#@@*&#$)(@#*!!!!!