Crap-o-rama

Moving day

2006-10-04T15:33:00.000-04:00

After much surfing & procrastinating...

I've moved.

Why don't you come by and see the new diggs.

Life is good!

2006-10-04T10:52:00.000-04:00

Now that you have learned 43 things about me, I think it's time for more pictures.

A bug with a Bug. Hunter wait patiently while Mom talks to the guy at the camera shop.

Taking a break from the U of M game to pose for a picture. Okay so Dad needs a shave, but it's a great picture anyway.

Talking away.

Gotta love that smile.

Can't forget the furry kids - Jake-o-Rama.

Probably the last Mr. Lincoln rose of the season. These are my favorite roses. Aside from being beautiful, they smell incredible.

October 2, 1963 2006

2006-10-02T08:57:00.000-04:00

On this date every year I always accidentally type 1963 as the year at least once. I'm so used to writing it that way. Yep, you guessed it; it's my birthday. 43 fucking years old - holy crap the time is flying by. But lucky me, I live in an era where 40 is the new 30!!

According to Mommy Grows Up it's a tradition to post a list about yourself on your birthday; here's mine. Since this is my 43rd, the list is 43 items long.

1. I've been to Hawaii on vacation. Where I fulfilled many of my dreams - so I needed new ones.

2. I've been whale watching and seen whales up close, walked through a rain forest, seen an active volcano and walked on lava (already hard, obviously). All in Hawaii.

3. I've walked on a black sand beach and swam in the ocean there and saw an endangered Hawksbill Turtle.

4. I've watch the sun set from the top of Mount Haleakala in Hawaii.

5. I've been to the Renaissance Festival in three different states.

6. People who litter are my biggest pet peeve.

7. I've been white water rafting.

8. I often wish I would have gone into graphic design; instead, I'm a bean-counter.

9. I almost ran into and knocked over Bono from U2 before a concert at the Pontiac Silverdome while working there.

10. I've been in the dressing rooms of the Rolling Stones and N'Sync.

11. I've only been married once and it is to my soul-mate and best friend.

12. I didn't get married until I was in my forties (forty to be exact).

13. I have one child; he is almost 16 weeks old. I feel so blessed to have a healthy and happy son. Added bonus: he sleeps through the night.

14. I pump breast milk everyday at work.

15. I didn't have any children until I was in my forties (forty-two to be exact).

16. I have very think hair.

17. Most people think I'm in my mid-thirties.

18. I haven't been unemployed since I was 18 years old.

19. I put my self through college (undergraduate and graduate school). I received my Masters' Degree Suma Cum Laude while working full time. (3.9... baby!!)

20. I make jewelry.

21. I love taking pictures. I wish I was a better photographer - I am still learning though.

22. I believe in karma.

23. I can code a web-site by hand in html ( I know, you can't tell by the crappy look of my blog. Updates coming, I swear).

24. I am a master at Excel.

25. I am a certified Novell Administrator (read: computer geek).

26. I believe I can use both sides of my brain (logical and creative) and I am often torn between the two. (see # 8).

27. I've always wanted to write a book.

28. I have traveled across the state to meet people I knew from an Internet forum buffyguide.com .

29. I love all types of music (country - not so much) and I am currently listening to Christina Augilara and Justin Timberlake.

30. My CD's (I have over 200) are all in a 400 CD changer and the cases are alphabetized and numbered according to the slot they take in the changer. (OCD, I know)

31. I have a tattoo of a rose on my back (shoulder blade) which I have had for over 13 years (before it was cool).

32. I dated someone for many years (over five) who later confessed to be gay.

33. I have take auto mechanics' classes and have changed disc brakes, drum brakes, rebuilt a carburetor and torn an engine completely down.

34. I have at least 13 rose bushes in my yard.

35. I've vacationed in England where I looked up my family tree, rode on a double decker bus and drank beer in a different pub everynight.

36. I've camped and hiked in a Red Wood Forest.

37. I love to bake. Christmas cookies are my speciality.

38. I'm allergic to penicillin, sulfa, acrylic nails and Neosporin.

39. I don't get mosquito bites (they bite me but I don't react by getting a red itchy bump.)

40. I am fairly new to blogging but I have kept a handwritten journal since I was about 16. I find the two completely different.

41. I don't drink pop. Mostly I drink water, it's my favorite.

42. I have freckles.

43. I can find the good side to any situation - especially if it's someone else's situation. ;)

Call me crazy but...

2006-09-15T16:02:00.000-04:00

If I were picking a picture to use with my article about Jennifer Aniston topping People's "Best Dressed" list I'm thinking I would have used a photo that showed Jennifer WITH clothes on!

It's the small things in life that just crack me up.

Life is too short

2006-09-15T11:55:00.000-04:00

My friend's father just passed away suddenly. He was 73. He was kind, gentle, smart, generous and loving. Son # 1 he spoke to all the time and son # 2 he hasn't spoken to in over a year.

The Mom called son # 1 and told him his Dad was in the hospital and it was bad and he needed to be there - he left right away. Mom called son # 2 to tell him about his Dad's passing and he wasn't home. Mom asked her daughter-in-law (whom she hadn't spoken to in over a year also) if there was a cell phone where son #2 could be reached. There wasn't. Son # 2 called the hospital a short time later. During the phone call informing son # 2 of his Dad's passing some family bitterness reared its ugly head again.

Something like this:

"How come you didn't just tell my wife."

"I wanted to tell you myself that your father just passed away."

"You're just holding a grudge and being disrespectful to my wife."

"I am not going to have this conversation with you, I don't have the energy. I just wanted to be the one to tell my son his father passed away."

There is a lot of background to this story, but really, does it matter? What I will tell you is that each person was waiting for the other to call and make a mends. One family split into two sides.

I am so sad for this family. Son # 2 has five kids ranging in age from two to 11. Five kids. Five innocent bystanders to this tragedy who haven't seen there Grandfather in over a year - and now will never see him again.

I suppose this family could be any of ours. The family spat could happen in any of our families.

At the end of every visit, every phone call and every night (for my husband and my son) I tell my family that I love them. I think I started this tradition in my family years and years ago. I didn't feel like we said it enough, so I started saying it; to my Mom, my brother, my nephew and now we all say it to each other all the time almost without fail. "I love you" is the last thing I say to my husband every night ... well not every night, sometimes it's "I love you, too." I get such a thrill when I hear my husband say, every night to our son, "Daddy loves you" as he kisses his little forehead before he goes in his crib.

I know this sounds corny. Sorry. But, make sure you tell the people around you how you feel about them today. Hell, do it tomorrow too, and the next day.

We don't know when the time we have in our physical bodies is up. Don't let something positive go unsaid. Don't let pride harbor your ability to contact someone you may be at odds with, especially your family.

In memory of David Fortune - you will be missed.

OUCH!!

2006-09-14T16:07:00.000-04:00

Oh boy!

"I was miserable," - No shit!

Wonder if she is going to have any more.

Book-o-rama

2006-09-13T13:42:00.000-04:00

I have been tagged by Annika. Nice sense of humor, girlie.... But it is my first meme (whatever that means). Yay!

1. One book you have read more than once:

I really don't read books twice unless it's by accident or I am trying to research something.

2. One book you would want on a desert island:

If I was stranded then something like: How to Fix (Just About) Everything : More Than 550 Step-by-Step Instructions for Everything from Fixing a Faucet to Removing Mystery Stains to Curing a Hangover by Bill Marken. Now if I was just on vacation, then I would want any mystery by either Tami Hoag or Patricia Cornwell (preferably Patricia).

3. One book that made you laugh:

I would have to agree with Annika here. It would have to be a Calvin & Hobbes book or any Gary Larson.

4. One book that made you cry:

Every Danielle Steele book I ever read. I quit reading her after about 15 books - I realized they were all the same, but I still cried.

5. One book you wish you had written:

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale.

6. One book you wish had never been written:

Can't really think of any off-hand.

7. One book you are currently reading:

Okay, how about four:

The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. Every parent should read this book.

Your Baby's First Year: week by week by Glade Curtis, Judith Schuler, and Lori Eining.

South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatston.

Not sure if this counts as reading but I open it every night so I'll count it: Sudoku Mind Benders published by Thinking Panda.

8. One book you have been meaning to read:

My Life by Bill Clinton.

9. One book that changed your life:

Are you there God? It's me, Margaret by Judy Blume. The subject matter of the book is not what changed my life. It is the first book I really remember reading for pleasure and I was hooked on reading ever since.

10. Now tag five people:

Holy crap, I don't think five people even read my blog. How about Jenn, Kelly, Laurie, Cindy and last but not least, Meghan. I know that's six, but like I said, I'm not sure anyone reads my blog so I added one for good measure.

If people would quit asking...

2006-09-05T15:18:00.000-04:00

...me if it is hard leaving Hunter in daycare today, I'm sure I could stop crying.

I should have only worked a 1/2 a day today...

Pumping at work can be a real "let-down"

2006-09-05T11:47:00.000-04:00

Okay, so today is my first day back to work. I had Hunter June 14th, but was put on bed rest June 6th, so I have been gone for 3 months. Gone for three months from a job I only had for a month. It is also a job I had to take so I wouldn't get laid-off from my old job. (long story, maybe someday I will share it) So needless to say, it's not my ideal job situation. Today was also Hunter's first day in daycare.

I like to have a plan for everything and this was no different. I was trying to get a plan together but somehow I was feeling just left of completely frazzled.

How come this is what was on Yahoo this morning after I logged onto my computer AT WORK?

Back to work, mom

"For new moms going back to work after maternity leave, planning is everything."

Hello... a few days ago this would have been helpful!! Today it's just spiteful.

Anyway.... I wasn't really worried about Hunter going to daycare, my anxiety was coming from pumping breastmilk at work so I could continue to breastfeed Hunter. Hunter has been supplemented with formula since he was 2 weeks old. I know he can take a bottle and a breast and go back and forth (we're fortunate). Again it's not Hunter I was worried about. Originally I just wanted to be able to breastfeed for at least 3 months. Now that 3 months has come and just about gone, I would like to breastfeed him for at least 6 months. I just thing the health benefits are too numerous to ignore.

Well, I had myself pretty worked up. I was so worked up about it I was having a hard time even pumping at home for the last couple of days. I was getting hardly any milk, I was certain my "let-down" reflex would freeze up on me at work, I thought Hunter would have to switch to formula, I was worrying myself into a tizzy. Not normally my style. I think I had 'performance anxiety'… is this how men feel??

I spent some time on the Internet last night searching for "let-down" tips at work. I was certain no milk was coming out of these babies while I was at work. I even took a picture of Hunter breastfeeding from my perspective with my cell phone... just in case. The best tip I found was to relax (duh?!) and try to do something else like catch up on emails or something. Also, don't keep looking down at the bottle and the progress, just let it happen.

Remember when I said I wasn't that worried about Hunter going to daycare... well I cried like a baby and was completely blind-sided by it. I was fine until I saw this poor little boy, he was probably 18 months or so, he was just sobbing. I lost it. The daycare workers kept asked me if I was going to be okay. Hunter was fine, and I knew he would be. I had no idea his Mommy would completely lose it.

On the up side, I just finished pumping... 4 1/2 ounces BABY!! Performance anxiety... pfft.

Karma - how's yours?

2006-08-31T22:12:00.000-04:00

I was having lunch with my best friend yesterday... (boy am I going to miss those when I go back to work)... We are sitting by the carry-out door at Chili's. I just caught a glimpse of this guy leaving the carry-out area and I noticed he dropped something.

Now you know when you see currency on the floor you can tell one of two things... it's either a one dollar bill or you can tell it's bigger than a one, but you can't really tell how big.

Okay, so I noticed this guy dropped something and it was bigger than a one dollar bill. I immediately hop out of my seat, grab the bill (it was a 20!) and catch the guy as he is about to get into his car.

"Excuse me, you dropped this."

"Oh hey, thanks"

"No problem"

Once I'm back in the restaurant and on my way back to my seat, my waiter stopped me and shook my hand.

"That was cool of you. I don't know how many people would have done that. Let me shake your hand." I'm a little confused, it certainly wasn't a deed worthy of a congratulatory handshake.

"Well I would want someone to do the same for me."

The waiter then mentioned something about he has seen TV shows that purposely drop money and stuff just to see what people will do.

It was obviously the guy's $20 and he had just dropped it, it wasn't hard to catch him. Like I said, I would hope someone would do the same for me.

What would you have done?
a) Caught the guy and given him the $20 back - I'm all about Karma.
b) Ignored it and let the guy waiting on him at the carry-out counter get $20 richer.
c) Waited for the guy to drive away and head-butt anyone who got in the way of me getting that $20.
d) None of the above, I would have (insert your scenario here).

Just to clarify... if I found a twenty on the floor with no owner in site... I'd be $20 richer.

So, what are you doing this weekend?

2006-08-25T12:31:00.000-04:00

We are heading back up north this weekend. Boy living without water, sewer and electricity really makes you appreciate the little things in life. Two weeks ago we had none. The electricity thing is big for me because I am afraid of the dark... I know... I know, but I am.

It was challenging last time we went up. Big Brown Dog chased a skunk... nice huh? Well at 11:00 pm in Gladwin (small town in Mid-Michigan) there isn't any place to find a cure for skunk smell. It's especially challenging with a 2 month old. You can't touch the dog because you might get skunk smell on you, then how would you handle Hunter. And how do you explain to Big Brown Dog that he has to spend the night in the bathroom, not the bedroom with everyone else. As a side note, I didn't know dogs could make noises like that. Here is Big Brown Dog tied outside and confused... I think he can't figure out where that funky smell is coming from and why he can't come in the house.

Hopefully the electricity will be in by this weekend (it was inspected last week) and the septic field has been installed it just needs to be hooked up. The well is going in this weekend so we will have running water - hopefully.

The property was initially purchased primarily for investment purposes. My 457's weren't doing shit so we decided lakefront property was a better investment. Then came the steal on a used mobile home - perfect for the site. So slowly we have been putting the place together.

It's a perfect spot to teach Hunter the beauty of nature, respect and love for nature and animals. Dad and Grandpa can't wait to take him fishing. While lack of modern conveniences is really more annoying than anything, the benefits will be 10 fold.

I leave you with the view from the kitchen table:

Fuck!

2006-08-22T11:10:00.000-04:00

I got my hair all cut off yesterday.

I hate it....

Fuck!

It's not that I hate it short, I just think the style looks too old for me. My hair is very think and straight so my hair looks like a bad toupee.

Fuck!

On the bright side... little man has a new lid:

Official Sleep Day

2006-08-10T18:58:00.000-04:00

sleep n. A natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body, in which the eyes usually close and consciousness is completely or partially lost, so that there is a decrease in bodily movement and responsiveness to external stimuli. During sleep the brain in humans and other mammals undergoes a characteristic cycle of brain-wave activity that includes intervals of dreaming.

day n. The period of light between dawn and nightfall; the interval from sunrise to sunset.

Hunter's definition of sleep day: An un-natural period of rest for the mind and body, in which the eyes usually close and consciousness is completely or partially lost. This period of time lasts from sunrise to sunset and is only disturbed by periodic requests for food.

How come I was not notified that today was an official sleep day. I could have gotten so much more done today...maybe even got some sleep myself.

How weird am I?

2006-08-07T09:35:00.000-04:00

You Are 70% Weird

You're so weird, you think you're *totally* normal. Right?But you wig out even the biggest of circus freaks!

How Weird Are You?

I may sleep naked, but I never do that with toilet paper!!!

I was dreading last night more than anyone knows...

2006-08-05T19:30:00.000-04:00

EDITED: Finally I was able to figure out how to add pictures from Flickr... so here you go... post with pictures. (don't you love pictures!!)

Since day 3, the Bug has been sleeping in his car seat. When we brought him home he would not sleep in his 'vast' crib. Every time we put him in the crib he would flounder around, un-swaddle himself and finally wake himself up ten minutes later. Finally someone suggested we try his car seat. Since then he has been sleeping in his car seat, with the car seat in his crib. Hey whatever works. And it must have been working because the Bug has been sleeping five to seven hours practically every night. What?? Don't hate me - it must be all that good livin'. Um.. ok, that can't be it.

I wasn't going to force the issue, but when I was checking into daycare for him they told me they would no allow him to sleep in his car seat. Apparently state regulations won't allow that. But they did tell me that sometimes they put them to sleep in the cribs with Boppies. Go figure, it says right on the Boppy not to put it in the crib or use it as a sleep aid. Not to mention, it doesn't look that comfortable when sleeping.

This is the cradle that my Grandfather made when I was born. So, yea... it's old.

Of course sometimes he just looks happy where ever he is:

Bug doesn't take his naps in his car seat (unless we are in the car... duh). He sleeps best in the swing.

I can also get him to sleep in his cradle but only until recently would he sleep more than 1/2 an hour in the cradle.

Last night I decided to try putting Hunter in his crib sans the car seat. We did use the sleep positioner and I also put him on his side (which is how he prefers to sleep). The sleep positioner prevents him from rolling on his tummy. I was prepared for the 2:00 AM wakeup followed by the 4:30 AM and the 6:45 AM all followed by crabby Sheryl all day Saturday.

Guess what?!? He didn't require attention until ....

5:45!! Hello!! 5:45... that's SEVEN hours after I left him there in that giant crib to fend for himself.

My Karma must be so intact. Ok... whatever... moving on now...

Now he did grunt a bit around 3:30ish but, as usual he falls back to sleep with no intervention. That's why I said "require attention". Sometimes I can hear Hunter in his room cooing or grunting or just fidgeting around but he doesn't cry and usually falls back asleep within 10 to 15 minutes. I have even put him to bed awake and he will fall asleep on his own. Yes, people I said I put him down awake.

I sure hope all these wonderful blessings we have with our Angel Bug aren't pre-payback for him being a hellion when he gets older. Either way, I'm thrilled to have such an angel.

NOTE: Ok, what the fuck... I am trying to add some pics for your viewing pleasure. But NOOOOO... apparently Blogger isn't in the mood to add photos. I'll try again later. They were such cute photos too...

A day in the life...

2006-07-28T10:48:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I went to Hardee's to have lunch with my best friend. It's a very rare occurrence but since I'm on maternity leave we decided it would be fun. Of course the baby carrier wouldn't fit in the booth and they didn't have 'normal' restaurant high chairs that can be flipped over to hold a carrier. So the carrier had to rest next to me in the booth propped on the table and the back of the booth.

Anyone who has a baby knows about the "Mom has food, I need something" phenomenon. So of course Hunter wanted to eat, which he did. But I had to take him out of the carrier to burp him. I don't like doing this, especially in a fast food restaurant. I normally try to keep Hunter covered if we are out in public. He's very tiny and I don't want people coming up and touching him ( or even really breathing on him for that matter). So he's out and over my shoulder being burped. I can hear someone saying / asking:

"That's a new baby... how old is he?"

"Almost 6 weeks" my friend answers

"Is it a boy or a girl"

"He's a boy" my friend again obliges... now at this point I am whispering to Hunter "hurry up and burp buddy." I just want to put him back in his carrier.

A few minutes later a man comes over to our table. He is flipping through some folded bills ( it didn't look like he had more than $20 or so). He pulls out a 10 dollar bill and hands it to me. "Here, buy something nice for your baby." I try to politely refuse and he insisted. The man was there alone and obviously wasn't a wealthy man. He was probably a local regular to that restaurant.

I was quite touched by this man's generosity.

I think I will save that 10 dollar bill and tell the story to Hunter when he is old enough to understand. What a great way for him to learn about being selfless and for Mom to remember not to pre-judge anyone.

well duh...

2006-07-26T16:33:00.000-04:00

Lance Bass of 'N Sync reveals he's gay.

Picture time...

2006-07-22T22:41:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy couple of weeks. So here are some pics... just in case anyone still checks in.

My favorite smile!!

I do take after my Mom...

I LOVE my Dad!!

It's a rough life for the Big Brown Dog.

I hate it when my Mom does my hair.

**this one is for Jenn, Hunter has a new hairdo too**

Everybody into the pool...

2006-07-08T10:05:00.000-04:00

...except me. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever get in the pool again. It's 80+ degrees here and perfectly sunny - perfect pool weather. Little Man is finally sleeping, but company is coming over... no pool for me... :(

Looks enticing, doesn't it.

And I thought it would be cool to have the summer off.

NOTE: this is a delayed post...I tried to post it yesterday, but it was one of those days.

Under construction

2006-07-05T16:21:00.000-04:00

Please be patient with the general 'messiness' of my crap-o-rama. I am in the process of trying to personalize my blog, but my knowledge ends with basic html. Which makes me just dangerous enough to really fuck up my site. I am trying to teach myself CSS so that I can understand how this site is set up.

Life in a blender...

2006-07-03T13:34:00.000-04:00

Less than a month ago I was put on semi-bed rest and wondering what the hell I was going to do with myself. Now, I am a human pacifier - double pacifier if you will. Amazing how much change can happen in such a short time.

I am enjoying my new role, don't get me wrong. But I often think how this is really only temporary. I don't have a definite date that I am going back to work. It will be sometime the end of August or the beginning of September. Then that voice rises in the back of my brain... "how are you going to be able to leave this little man all day?" I'm sure these are normal feelings. I am sure I will be going back to work. I am also sure it will be another transition period that I will have to get used to.

Is it some kind of cruel joke? You spend 9 months growing a little human while the hormones in your body (not to mention various other body parts) have a party without your knowledge. At the end of these 9 grueling months you spend varied amounts of time trying to get this little human out of your body. Once out, you are completely exhausted and possibly even recovering from surgery they send you home with your new little human.

Sleep will escape you when you are supposed to be "getting rest" to recover. You will feel generally crappy, you house will be a disaster area yet you will have more company than possibly ever before. Oh... and the hormone party I mentioned before... well it has just kicked into overdrive. Whose rule is it that you have to have a reason to cry? Can't it be enough that you just created life with your best friend?

It will feel a lot like everyone kept going straight down that long life road, but you have made a left turn. You know you are still going the right way, but it sure feels odd.

Welcome to my blender...

A birth story

2006-06-27T14:34:00.000-04:00

I know it's out of order... but what the hell.

So off to my 9:00 am ultlrasound appointment last Tuesday, June 13, 2006 with Kevin. I don't think we waited too long to get in. The ultrasound tech told us the baby's fluid level was low, it was down to 2.7. It should normally be 10 and the week prior when the hospital did the ultrasound I thought the doc said the level was 9, Kevin thought they said 6. But either way it was significantly lower than it was the prior Tuesday (6/6). So we had to wait and see the doctor (Dr. P). Dr. P decided we were going to the hospital today and they were going to start the induction. So we went home, straightened up a bit, packed a bag, took a shower and off to the hospital we go. We stopped at Wendy's to grab something to eat and started making phone calls.

2:00 we arrive at the hospital, they put me right into a Labor and Delivery Room and hook me and the baby up to a monitor. They did one more quick ultrasound to make sure the baby was in position, which he was. At 4:00 PM they checked me as a benchmark and inserted the Cervidil. We ordered dinner and settled in for the evening and tried to get some sleep. At 4:00 AM they came and woke me up and the Cervidil was removed. I was able to take a shower and eat a light breakfast (the smallest bowl of oatmeal I have ever seen!). They checked me again and I was 60% efaced. At 5AM they started the Pitocin. I slept good for the next 2 hours. When I woke up at 7AM there were 4 people in the room. They told me they were taking me off the Pitocin, the baby wasn't handling it very well. They had talked to Dr. P and they have decided to do a c-section at 8AM. I was a little freaked. I mean they had been discussing a c-section for a couple of weeks, but I still didn't really think it was going to happen, no less in an hour... I cried.

The Anesthesiologist came in to explain what was going to happen. When he found out I had eaten, he wasn't comfortable starting a spinal. The surgery was post-poned until 11AM (or sometime between 11:00 and 1:00), depending on the doctor availability. At this point parents were called and we waited.

Before 11, the nurse came in and wanted to insert the catheter. You really lose any modesty you may have had when you are about to give birth. So the nurse starts "cleaning" the area and I am sure she is doing it with razor blades... wtf! The pain must have been obvious because the nurse and my husband both tell me to breath at which point I instantly think "FUCK YOU!" In retrospect, it's probably a good thing I didn't go thru any labor.

11:00 right on the button here comes a whole team o' people. I got to walk to the operating room with my magic cape. The cape (read: backwards hospital gown) keep my lily white behind from offending anyone else. They get me on this little table. Now when I say little, I mean little - I bet it wasn't a foot wide. We wait for about 20 minutes for the Anesthesiologist to show. Spinal done, Sheryl dead weight in only moments. Weird, weird feeling. I can't feel anything from my armpits down. Breathing feels weird. I ask about my husband's whereabouts and in he walks all cute in his blue scrubs. He sat with me rubbing my arm - he is very comforting. Time goes by... I hear someone say his head is out... still feeling nothing. Moments later I hear him crying... I cry. Kev goes over to see the baby and helps them measure him. Hunter gets all wrapped up and given to Daddy. He brings him over to me - he has a ton of hair and is so adorable. He has his Daddy's dimple, I'm just elated.

what a way to start the week!!!

2006-06-26T10:48:00.000-04:00

Hunter is 12 days old and he slept from midnight to 6 am. Woo Hoo!! Now don't get me wrong, I'm not silly enough to believe this will happen every night - if it ever even happens again, but it certainly is a great way to star the week. Added bonus... I got my wedding ring on for the first time in 2 months.... yep, it's going to be a good day.

Isn't he sweet?

ok... now what??!?!

2006-06-10T16:48:00.000-04:00

I have officially been off work for 1 day. I know I was put on semi-bed rest starting Wednesday but I went in for a few hours Thursday to finish a few things up. So... I have officially been off work for 1 day. Today is Saturday and I'm bored already. I've been flipping thru some blogs. I've flipped thru some blog's lists of blogs. I've even done some 'light' laundry.

Annika - I just figured 'light' it meant whites... so that's all I've washed. hehehe

I've done about 30 sudokus.

Anyway.... what can I do now???

The good news and the bad news...

2006-06-08T09:38:00.000-04:00

Well I don't have to worry about deciding how long to work. The doctor. took me off work and put me on semi-bed rest. After my appointment yesterday the doctor sent me to the hospital. They took my blood pressure and decided it was too high. Sent me to the hospital for some tests and possible inducement. Okay, now I'm freaking out.

"best laid plans" ... pffft

Anyway, baby is healthy and fine and my body's not ready to give him up yet, so they sent me home with a script for blood pressure medication. I have to go back Friday for another 'non-stress test' - do I even need to go into the irony of the name of THAT test!?! So they are still threatening inducement on Friday, which of course could just end in a c-section. Since I have a few days to take this all in, I am sure I can get a mental handle on it all.

I really wanted to be present during the birth of my son. I also wanted my husband to be there and be able to cut the cord. A c-section could change all these things. But really, does it change the outcome? No.

See... I'm getting a handle on things already.

Ok... let's talk semi-bed rest. According to the nurse that released me I can do light chores, cook dinner, light laundry... but no shopping ... WTF!?!

Best laid plans...

2006-06-05T10:12:00.000-04:00

2 ½ weeks... 19 days until my due date. Is this anxiety, anticipation or both? While vacuuming out the pool yesterday I had a revelation about one plan for spending my labor... either in the pool or the hot tub.... yep, that works for me. How come whenever it feels like you have a grand plan, doubt always creeps in. Spending the earlier part of my labor in the pool seems like the best plan in the world, so why am I now worried what will happen if my water breaks while I’m in the pool?!? Will I even feel it? Then we will have to drain the pool... that would just be ugly... and expensive to refill. I’m sure the hot tub would be easier to drain but not as much room to move around in. But I know it’s just a plan.

Speaking of plans... how long do you think a person should work before going on maternity leave? It would be nice to say I’ll work until a week before the baby is born. But since you have no way of knowing WHEN... how can you plan to be off a week before. I plan on working until the 16th and the baby’s due date is the 23rd. Is that too much time to be at home? Is it not enough time? I think “go with the flow” is going to have to become my new mantra.

Testing...1...2...3...

2006-06-01T13:13:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I'm home today collecting body fluids for the doctor. I've been working some long hours and I look like a parade balloon sans the strings. Now my blood pressure is elevated... let the testing begin.

code words??

2006-05-23T14:22:00.000-04:00

May 23rd ... June 23rd... 31 days... That's 31 days until Furbie is due. Originally I thought 2 weeks early would be nice... now... not so much. Two weeks early makes it 17 days away with is just over 2 weeks away and I'm just not sure I'm ready. Hell, some days I'm still at the this is really gonna f*cking hurt!

Ok, so I'm new to this blogging thing and I have a question. How do you blog about how you feel about work and stuff without totally ticking someone off. I mean, come on... not everyone has shiny happy feelings about everyone all the time. I guess I have to work on that one. Maybe code words for everything... pffft ... seems like a lot of work.

Second childbirth class tonight, should be interesting. Tonight's subject matter: epidurals.

Hi, my name is Sheryl and I'm a bead-a-holic.

2005-10-03T08:40:00.000-04:00

I've started making necklaces and bracelets, which I enjoy very much. And I'm not too bad, if I may say so myself. I probably have enough beads to make jewelry for the whole world. That's not a bad thing, but what am I going to do with all the jewelry I'm making?

I think the issue is lack of attention to the creative side of my brain. With work sucking so bad lately my brain just hasn't been functioning at maximum capacity. So my solution was to make myself jewelry. That started out quite well, except now I'm addicted! I've made five necklaces, four or five necklaces and 2 pairs of earings. I've taken one class, but I have my eye on a couple more to take to expand my techniques. Right now I'm eyeing the clock so I can go to a new bead store I found ( it doesn't open for another hour). I'm on vacation this week and I'm supposed to be re-organizing the house... um yea...