Sometimes it Sucks to be Right

I am usually the type of person who loves to be proven right. I mean, it's nice to have people acknowledge that I do, indeed, know what I'm talking about. Who doesn't like that? Unless, of course, we're talking about predictions of something less than pleasant taking place. In those cases, I am more than happy to be proven wrong. 


I wish I had been in this case. 


We have realized since Rophone received his Crohn's diagnosis, that he seems to have a flare-up of symptoms every 6 months. Kinda like clockwork. Six months ago, when Rophone had his last flare-up, I did the math and came up with an answer I wasn't happy with. 


Yes-sir-ee. A flare-up right when I'm due to give birth. Rophone has been struggling the last few weeks, and it doesn't seem to be getting markedly better very quickly. Sucky. I feel so bad for him, but I can't help feeling a little worried for myself, too. It's kind of reminding me of what happened after I had my elbow surgery and Rophone ended up in the hospital and I was at home with 4 kids and my arm in a sling. 


I keep having these dreams that Rophone gets himself admitted to one hospital while I drive myself to the other where I'm scheduled to give birth, having contractions the whole way. Talk about road rage!


I'm afraid, too, that he won't be well enough to help out once the baby comes. And then I feel guilty. I know it isn't his choice to be sick and that it sucks for him, so I should be more selflessly feeling empathy for his pain and suffering. Instead, I find myself fearing that I'll feel overwhelmed and stretched too thin once the baby comes. 


I mean, I know I'll feel that anyway, but having Rophone in tip-top shape would surely lessen the stress and make me feel like I can take the time to recoup a little more. And I want him to not feel bad that he can't do all he'd like. Sucky, I tell you. 


So, while it's true that I am terribly uncomfortable in these last stages of pregnancy (has anyone seen the rest of my pod? I seem to have become beached), I am perfectly happy to wait to give birth a little while longer. I am just hoping and praying that Rophone can start to feel better so we can both truly make the most of this experience together. Please.

Friday Favorites

Is it really Friday again? 


1. Rophone and I went on a date last Friday night-- we might even get to go again tonight. We're trying to take advantage of our opportunities before the baby comes. I sure do like hanging out with him. 


2. Ginger is feeling much better-- her fever is gone, her cough is mostly gone, and her voice is mostly back. 


3. Even though Pen has been liberally tossing around the pre-teen attitude as of late, I have somehow managed to ignore the promptings of the evil little pregnancy hormone sitting on my shoulder and have not throttled her. It hasn't always been pretty, but we made it. 


4. I had conflicting emotions when I woke up to 8 inches of snow today, but it does make it a lot prettier around here. Plus, it gave Big a purpose. A job. He spent about an hour and a half shoveling the snow out back, working on making a path to the trash cans. It was then that I decided that snow is one of my best friends, and definitely deserves a spot on today's list. 


Okay. I'm done now.

First Dip

Big got a chance to try Fun Dip for the first time this morning. It brings back such fond memories for me-- of summers and ball games and wishing they gave more than 2 sticks to go with the 3 flavors of dip. I haven't had any for years, and I think the formerly raw insides of my mouth thank me. 


I dumped the mouth-corroding powder into a bowl to make it easier for Big and let him have at it. Things were going swimmingly and he was really enjoying his first experience... (yes, I know the photo is blurry, darnit)

... until he decided to speed things up and drink the powder straight from the bowl (those sticks really draw out the process). 

Yeah. Not as enjoyable as he'd hoped.

Looks like the stick is still the best part. 

39 Weeks!

So, I'm 39 weeks pregnant today and the baby's dropping. As a result, I'm really drooping. 

I'm at the point now where I ask myself, "Did my water just spring a leak, or did I pee my pants?" Contractions are happening with regularity, but not enough to send me anywhere but the loony bin. One of these days she'll be out, and I know it, so I'm just hanging out until then. 

The Stylist

When Bud was little, he really liked to pretend he was a surgeon. These days he has a salon. It's really a rather organized venture, with paperwork and everything. He even covers his butt from litigation by having clients sign off on requested services so they can't come back later and claim that Bud went all rogue on them and did something they didn't want. 


As you can see from the below paperwork, Fred Fredmer has signed off on a cut, color (red) and style done by Bud Hanson. 

It looked fantastic, by the way. Bud is a rockin' stylist. 

Friday Favorites

I can't believe it's only been a week since I last did this. Time is definitely starting to drag a bit as I await the baby's impending arrival, although I don't want her to come just yet. I still have too much to do!


1. We traded the stomach yucks of last week for Ginger having a fever off and on all this week. So, I'd have to say my number one favorite thing this week is that the baby is still in (although she's acting like she wants out). I'm crossing my fingers that no one else gets whatever it is that Ginger has, and that we can all be healthy when the baby makes her appearance.


2. Rophone put the baby's dresser together with the boys' "help". I gave it a good wipe-down and loaded it with baby stuff-- one more thing to cross off the list!


3. The baby's stroller came yesterday. I admit that I am in love. After pushing 4 children around in strollers that didn't always meet all my needs, I decided that this time I wanted one that would do exactly what I wanted it to do and go where I wanted it to go. I know it's our last kid, but this is the one area where I felt we should splurge and get just the right thing, not just something that would "work". I feel even better about the fact that Rophone managed to find it on sale. Hooray!


4. Rophone came home and made Big his lunch today and sat with him while he ate. What a wonderful break from that often arduous task. 


5. I am still managing to keep up with the dishes and laundry (don't ask me how). The little pieces of clutter on the floor however.... Anyway, all that matters is that I am still getting things accomplished, even if I have to turn sideways at the sink so my arms will reach and have to grunt and pant while I haul the laundry. Go me!


6. I have loved having a patio free of snow this week-- Big is so much happier after he gets a chance to play some hoop. 


Hmmm... I sure am getting a lot of contractions today. The way this baby is acting, next week I just may have something grand to post about!

38 Weeks

Well, I've made it to 38 weeks. The baby's birth is impending, whether I'm ready for it or not. 

I would really prefer she hold off a few weeks, though. Not only is there still a lot that could be done, but we just can't seem to shake the sicks around here. We had the stomach bug last week (which we are still feeling a few lingering effects of), and now Ginger has gone and come down with a fever. She says her throat doesn't hurt, but she's the queen of having strep without having a sore throat. Makes it tough to know when to take her in. Anyway, I hope we can avoid spreading that around, too. 

If we can have a healthy house by the time the baby comes, I'd be a happy woman. Nothing wrong with little happiness, is there? 

Friday Favorites

We had a stomach bug invade our house this week, which I can't say was my favorite, so we'll just move on. 


1. Rophone really has been helping to get things organized around here-- he got a bunch of things done last weekend and has more planned for this weekend, too. I love that he knows me well enough to recognize how important it is to me to have things in order before the baby comes and is willing to help make it happen.


2. Okay, I'll refer to the stomach bug in a roundabout way-- I am really grateful for IV fluids, Zofran, and Immodium. Enough said. 


3. Our tax return showed up today so now we'll be able to get the last of the things we need for the baby! 


Rough week. Short list. I think I'm just gonna go be pregnant now. 

37 Weeks Today

I hit 37 weeks today. Although I am now considered full-term, I intend to try to keep this baby in for as long as possible. The longer she's in, the more fully baked she'll be. 


I have definitely experienced some exponential expansion as of late. And white isn't slimming, of course. 

Counting down!

Friday Favorites

This week was really quite difficult over all, but luckily there were a few shining moments. 


1. Ginger's birthday! 


2. Rophone filed our taxes. With the baby coming, it's nice to have that out of the way. 


3. I've been having a lot of contractions and other stuff, so I've been taking it a little easy. As a result, I'm losing ground on the house and the mess it contains. BUT, at least the baby is still in! I'm hoping for another few weeks to let her finish cooking.


4. Bud was just teaching Big how to hold his writing implement properly. Now if Big would just pick which hand he wants to use, we'd be in business.


5. Rophone was able to come home from work a few minutes early so he can spend some time with us before his gig tonight. Yay!

Ginger's Ten!

Ginger turned 10 today! She was awfully excited to turn a year older and has proven it's true by growing out of her sneakers and getting too tall for her pants. The sleeves on most of her shirts are too short, too. As a result, most of her gifts were clothes. We'll see how the shirts fit. It's tough when she has a body like my family tends to have-- a size 8 torso with size 12 length arms. 


Anyway, we celebrated Ginger's birthday in a rather staggered fashion because Wednesdays are so busy. Last Sunday, I made her requested birthday breakfast of waffles and ice cream and her choice of salmon for dinner that night. It was nice to have some good protein for dinner after the sugar overload at breakfast. 


We had Ginger open her gifts right after school today before she went to basketball practice. I got a chance to decorate for the first time using the banners my sister made me for Christmas. I think they look cute and festive.


I took a picture of the family waiting to get the ball rolling.

I had to take a quick shot of the cute birthday girl. 

Ginger was her usual silly self as she opened her gifts. 

Ginger loves to cook, so this gift should be perfect. I can't wait to try some of what she produces. After someone else tries it first, of course. No, seriously, it will be fun.

Some of Ginger's wonderful goofiness rubbed off on the family as we went. 

And, yeah, the shoes. Don't even ask. She really wanted them, but I can't tell you how grateful I am that they didn't fit. I normally love Keens, but YIKES!

After dinner (and Ginger's basketball practice and Pen's ballet) we did the whole cake and candles thing. A neighbor surprised us with a cake she made for Ginger, even replete with candles, so we used that for the big hurrah. 

Happy Birthday, Ginger! We love you and we're glad you're in our family!

36 Weeks (and 1 day!)

Yeah, please give me that day. I feel a little like a kid who wants to be sure people know their age is 3 1/2, not just 3, but I've earned every day and want to claim them. I should shout it from the rooftops, really. I'm to that point in my pregnancy where just putting on my pants makes me feel like I deserve a medal. 

Here's the way it's looking these days:

Yowza!