Tagging....

Okay, so I saw this on a friends blog and you are suppose to "tag" other bloggers with it..
does the world really need another form of chain mail..but I thought that this was cute and I need something else to blog about other than the baby, DD, watermelon and bed rest.. it's getting old..

Here are the rules:
*Post the rules before you give the facts.
*Post eight random facts about yourself.
*At the end of your blog post, you need to tag 3 people and list their names
*Leave the people you tagged a comment on their blog, letting them know that they've been tagged.

1) I am the 6th of seven children
2) I met & married my DH after meeting him online, I flew half way around the world to meet him for the very first time -- he proposed to me that same night.
3) I have a huge collection of money from around the world, most of it before Europe went with the Euro.. I have some from World War 2 as well.
4) I absolutely positively HATE spiders.. just kill them and get it over with -- don't worry, DH won't let me kill them, he rescues them from the house most of the time..
5) Right now, I hate my hair.. it's pathetic looking.
6) I have great friends.. some I have had since high school and some I met at my daughter's preschool and they are the people who truly help to keep me sane.
7) I love to scrapbook - it let's me being able to be creative with my hands, playing with color and being able to tell my stories about the things that matter most in my life- like my DH & children.
8) I love babies.. I absolutely LOVE them, but really dislike being pregnant.. this is NOT a secret, just a random fact and I have been sitting her for a while trying to find a number 8. this will have to do..

Okay.. offically, I am supposed to tag people..
I would say the only bloggers I know left are fellow moms..

Alehouse girl - her blog is a very good read.. http://alehousegirl.blogspot.com/

Duenan9926 - her blog is a very real look at what happens when you have kids.. http://gotmommybrainido.blogspot.com/

either way.. a blog for today and interesting stuff..

:) Monique

this week.. watermelon..

Okay, a while back blogged about cereal..
well, this week, watermelon is in.. cereal is still out there, but watermelon rules!
especially when it is cold and fresh and really firm.. oh and with just a smidgen of salt..
MMMMMM..
I am avoiding the salt, not because I have to,but because I should.. I don' t need the extra water in me and my while the blood pressure is good, let's not tempt fate.

Things today are better, my real doctor rocks, he just put so much at ease for us. It was a great appt. with lots of good talking and information.. GOOD GOOD THING..
contractions are still coming, but she is moving and they are slow and not massively intense.

all of this has pushed me to put together a hospital bag, keep the emergency 20 in his wallet and get some stuff together for the baby.. I bought her detergent, since you should use special gentle stuff, dug out boxes, found the bottles, bought nipples, bought another new outfit to bring her home in (something smaller) and have started washing what needs washing..
all good things.. things that would have been done eventually and are just getting done.. in case!

so, while the baby troubles are not good things, they helped get things together -- which is good.

If I only knew better, I would go watch tv tonight.. my belly is hurting.. we'll see..
:) Monique

6 weeks, well 5 weeks...and a ranting..

My official due date is the one that was determined by the size of the baby at my second ultrasound.. we realized that we might have miscalculated the conception date and therefore were going to go with the size the baby was measuring.. July 8. Since I am having a repeat c-section, we scheduled it for July 1. Woo hoo, one less week for me..

the more we talk about the date, the more confused I get. I have been at the ER twice since Monday. Monday for some other issues and contractions that they realized needed to be stopped with some crazy medication that felt so much like speed. Monday was fine, still contracting, but fleeting and far and few in between.. Honestly, I thought much of what I now know to be contractions have been happening for a while.. Just thought the baby was getting bigger making me more uncomfortable.. good to know what is really going on, good to know that the bleeding I was experiencing was nothing and otherwise, the baby is growing well and doing just fine. With a Dr. appt. scheduled for this Thursday, I left there feeling good about most things.

Well, on Tuesday, I had to call the Dr. office to ask about contractions and what to do when they are coming more often, sharper and so on and so forth. Also, to find out what the risks of being exposed to 5th's disease is. Yup.. DD's teacher informed me that there was a confirmed outbreak in the school and that the incubation period is 2 weeks... The very sweet girl in the office told me that there isn't much to be done about the 5th's disease.. basically, a blood test will confirm exposure and if it is current exposure or old exposure.. being a preschool teacher for many years, the odds of me being exposed are high.. I am sure I have seen and been in contact with it before.. also, there is no treatment, just monitoring of my blood and the babies blood until she is born. the worry is that the baby could become very anemic, as in, need transfusions in utero. then she advised me to lay out and rest and when the contractions got to be as close as 5 minutes apart, then to head to the hospital. also, be on the look out for decreased fetal movement.. Tuesday all in all, while stressful, was not bad. the overprotective DH refuses to let me into the school until we have the blood work done..

well, last night when I went to bed, the baby wasn't moving a whole bunch.. no alien time as I like to call it. this is when I lay quiet, talk to her and wait for her bumping and moving.. I didn't stress because I had felt her earlier in the day & the contractions were probably making it tight for her to move.. well, this morning, I got up and did NOTHING.. took a shower and went back to bed laid there and waited and started timing. I also called the Dr. to get the blood slip for the blood work.. she informed me that it could wait until my appt on Thursday.. but I expressed to her my concern about the decreased fetal movement & increase of contractions.. I got all over emotional and kept on her on the phone longer than needed ... I really must remember to send her a thank you card ... she deserves it..

she insisted that I had to go to the hospital I would be delivering in since if they admitted me I would need to be there. .. DD has it in her little head that anyone who goes to the hospital ends up in heaven.. we have not had the time to set her straight otherwise, so tonight.. I wasn't staying.. poor thing might have lost her mind.

well, when contractions started coming 3 and 4 minutes apart and within a short time with it being 12 hours since she moved.. time for the ER. we waited a long time for a non-gentle Dr. to check my cervix and realize that while my contractions are averaging 7 minutes apart, they were not producing enough for me to dilate and that I should go home.. OH and to come back if they kick up to 10 minutes apart and decreased movement.. according to his directions, I should never had even left the hospital.. I feel like I saw a quack.. He also did an ultrasound just to check on things like the placenta being all in tact.. I said to him, it's been a while since I had an ultrasound, approximately, how big is the baby, a quick glide or two over my belly would have told me approximately her size, dip stick doctor says, babies this far are about 4 1/2 lbs.. No kidding, really, my weekly email and baby book told me that.. HOW BIG IS MY BABY, the one inside me, the one you are looking at.. as in .. um.. right now.. JERK! I can't wait to see my Dr. in the am. and the Dr. was ignorant as heck when DH asked outright if there was another way to tell if the baby was in distress or if there were problems other than coming back .. because not for nothing, we have a high co-pay and we pay it each time we come back.. since they did nothing to STOP the contractions, we could have been back there today.. let alone countless days over the next few weeks.. It's insane.. he basically said in his smug tone, -- nope, this is all you can do and seemed surprised by the copay.. he didn't think insurances had them.. um.. hello buddy you work in medicine.. frustrating..

I am truly looking forward to my scheduled appt with MY doctor tomorrow.. he should have better advice and better explanations for things.. DH is hoping for a fetal monitor..

she technically has 6 weeks to be full term, but 5 weeks to be delivered.. more cooking is required, but honestly, don't know how much she will get..
Oh well..

If I knew better, I would be less frustrated than I am since there is nothing I can do about it, but right now, it feels good just to stew a little bit and BE frustrated..Publish Post
:) Monique

best of both worlds..

Today was just too crazy for words.. if I wrote about it.. oh forget it-- just better off forgetting the whole day.. suffice to say, the baby is okay..

yesterday was however, a great day.. we did have pj sunday, but we all hung out here in the basement.. Miranda played on the computer, did some free art projects with her box of stuff, played dress up and other things while I did some of my scrapping and clean up, DH did his thing.. not forever, but an hour or two.. it was so nice to play as a family and do the things we all enjoy, just conversing, playing back & forth with Miranda.. all in all.. great morning..

in the afternoon, the weather was nice enough for the beach.. there is a beach not too far from here, (okay, this is Rhode Island, nothing is far from anywhere) that we love to go to. it brings me happy memories and great doughboys.. the beach is called Oakland Beach, it is by far not the most scenic beach in the ocean state, but it is fun.. the coolest part is the seaside stand that sells the best food.. clam cakes & chowder and doughboys.. My parents used to go here when they were dating and I remember going with just my parents and younger sister more than I recall going with my family.. either way, it was a great day to just sit in the sun, dig with a pail & shovel and walk a little in the water.. of course, when my daughter when for a walk down the beach with my sister and her dog.. ummm.. she fell in.. so funny because I was sitting on the beach blanket watching them through the zoom of my camera and snapping photos.. still makes me giggle..

On a day like this, we would have brought my mom with us.. she always LOVED this place, not just because of the happy memories she had there with my dad, but because she loved the view, the breeze and the peace.. she also loved the seagulls.. I truly believe that this is one of those places that she found God and just enjoyed the whole scene.. eat a few doughboys and the world was a good place.. I admitted to my DH on the way that I was really looking forward to going because I missed my mom and this is where I find her. I feel the peace that she felt there.. I feel and I can smile and remember her fondly.. I even found myself expressing this to my brother's girlfriend today.. she spoke about going to the cemetery.. I don't go to the cemetery.. probably because I was not raised to, my mom never took us to see my grandparents, so I don't really do it either.. When I need to remember my mom, I go to Oakland Beach.... her spirit soars there and I smile ... I miss my mom alot, especially as the birth of my baby is coming closer.. I wish more than anything that she too would have had the relationship my daughter had with her.. I just hope Miranda' s memory is good enough for both of them..

I am just too tired from the drugs earlier today and too tired from the stress to even think about thinking better.. so I might just go to bed..
:) Monique

Sunday once again..

Seriously, I am starting to wonder where the days go.. believe me, they are not flying by at the speed I would like, rather plotting slow & surely along.. Not working as much is contributing to this and having DH working from home is also having it's toll..
none the less, it is Sunday again.. AAH.. a slow moving Sunday.. DH is still asleep, Miranda let me sleep on the couch a little bit longer while she ate her breakfast and is now happily watching Dora the Explorer-- by herself.. AHHHH... I will wake DH up later and we were probably read the paper while Miranda uses her new glittery glue from the scrapbook store. then we have nothing major planned for the rest of the day.. other than fixing a friend's computer.. AHHHH..
Hopefully we will spend some time playing in the back yard and maybe go for ice cream.. that would be fun...

a fun project that I do have planned is to start sorting out baby clothes and see what I can and can not use from the buckets of clothes in my basement.. starting to look at little things for the baby now and I think if I create little piles of things, it might force me to do the last great PUSH into cleaning up the current playroom for the baby.. I am hoping to get some friends to move out the dresser and mirror and then we can clean the walls, paint and bring in the baby furniture.. Miranda will officially BUST A GUT when we have baby things up and ready.. I am a little disappointed that it isn't done already, when we were pregnant with Miranda, we could NOT wait, but this time, there is more to be done and I am chasing her, him and pregnant.. guilt has settled in and it's time for the big PUSH of work to be done.. we still have 5 weeks, it's not like i waited to the VERY last minute, but I am waiting longer than I thought.. Oh well..

Here is to a quiet Sunday, ice cream sundaes and baby room cleaning..
If I knew better, I would be getting started NOW, rather in an hour or so - when I would actually be awake..

:) Monique

A busy Blogger & good news

A friend from another message board commented that I have been a busy blogger..
I have been.. I am happy to report that blogging has been very theraputic for me.. It's my daily dose of just getting it all out there and letting it go.. with all the insanity I have been experiencing in my life, it's just a way to get out all that I have on my mind - some serous, some silly, some insane.. nothing too serious because you do have to think about who could possibly be reading this...
either way, blogging is my way of putting it out there and letting go, of whatever "it" might be. everyone has a choice to read it, so I don't feel as though I am forcing people into it. so there is the scoop on my blogging..

I had some of the most delicious Chinese food last night, OH MAN, was it yummy.. probably the first time since last November too.. Sesame Chicken with fried rice, half egg roll & 1 crab ragoon.. so yummy.. tasted like heaven.. I get up to clear the dinner plates with Miranda and baby Sydney began her protest of chinese food... while I felt the yuck, she did not protest the way she does with Mexican food.. and for that I am truly grateful.. I am thinking that the cold popsicle I ate later on made her feel better and less upset with me.. but knowing that it won't sit well, dh is being blessed with some truly wonderful leftovers.. just to note.. he is thrilled about it..

The good news.. this blog has been filled with the insanity of my life lately, with DH work, finances and everything else.. some great news.. we are extremely close to meeting the deductible for our health insurance.. so blessed day.. no more medical bills for the rest of the year. .I will be paying off those I already have, but NO MORE.. I am so happy.. the woman on the phone from the insurance company told me that she could feel how truly happy I am about it too.. Finally a glimmer of sunshine...

I am off to watch a little tv, maybe dabble with the taxes.. not a fun thing since I just finished paying all the month bills.. but it is something that still needs to be done.. my accountant will be happy when we finally file -- but that is what extensions for for.. right??

If I knew better, I would actually go do the tax stuff rather than watching Ugly Betty, but I think Betty will win initially -- taxes can wait . I think..
maybe I will scrap book a little too, since DH needs the basement for work with a friend.. we'll see..

Happy long weekend..
:) Monique

BRRR!

I find myself sitting here, wondering what to blog about... life has become pretty status quo.. nothing positive to report -- but nothing negative either.. we are surviving..

the one thing I am thinking about is how COLD it is.. it is the very low 60's if even that.. this cold air needs to go.. I actually have my little electrical heater out to warm me up.. doing NOTHING for my feet, but making me warmer on top.. :) good thing these little heaters are..

I find myself getting to a rut of being a slacker... not working much has been good & bad.. I am a sub teacher and with only a few weeks left to the school year, people are not really calling out, Plus, college kids out are and cheaper to employ.. another thing, being so pregnant and the kids that I could potentially work with.. I am a risk... so while the money would be great right about now -- it's not happening.... so I am resting more, relaxing more and trying to get things done around the house.. I am limited by the fact that I feel as though I have a basketball in my way of doing anything significant.. plus, I get exhausted very quickly.. I keep on trying.. and to boot, dh is still working from home.. his butt is on my couch with his laptop trying to get things done for work.. I so prefer being home alone .. gets cleaning, bill paying and organizing done easier.. call me selfish. but I like my alone time.. and soon -- as in 5 weeks and 6 days.. I will be home alone no longer.. so excited about that..

I have been getting some scrapbooking done. did the 3 birthday pages from my daughter's album.. cute.. I have a ton of Blue's Clue stickers that she is just DYING to get her hands on.. told her she would have to wait until I was done.. using up stickers on a scrapbook page is quite a big deal for me... I have more than I need and using them is feeling so good.. this scrap as much as you can without buying thing is fun -- but hard.. I could so use an inspiring jaunt to the scrap store.. maybe saturday.. they are having a sale..

seeing as I have truly blogged about nothing, I will end by saying that if I knew better, I would get off this computer and doing something productive..

Here is to getting something productive done for me and everyone!
:) Monique

an ode to cereal...

I absolutely LOVE cereal.. it is a relatively healthy meal that can fill you up, provide vitamins and nutrients and you get to pour milk all over it.. when you are done, a sweet little milk confection right there in the bottom of the bowl... aaaaaaaaaaahhhh.. heaven..

can you guess which of my pregnancy cravings is back in the running for favorite..
DH claims that I over did the Whopper Jr. -- but seriously, I didn't.. just ate them when the motion struck me.. and Rita's, while yummy and delicious is so on the other side of everything, so I can't get there as often as I like..but cereal.. I can buy a new box every week and never be disappointed..

sometimes, it's cheerios with strawberries, or frosted flakes with those delicious berries..
this weeks choice is Apple Jacks, a few weeks ago, Golden Grahams, before that Fruity Pebbles.. I ate a half stale box of Pops just because I hate to waste cereal, it's so expensive.. cookie crisp, plain cheerios, any thing.. the list is endless .. I buy about one box a week and will often eat it for dinner, or breakfast... seldom for lunch, that is my bigger meal of the day..

but cereal, my fine fine friend.. you never stray from perfection, you always deliver what I am seeking and truly make me and my baby very very happy..
and so to the cereal makers of the world .. I say a true and hearty.. "Thank you"

If I knew better, I would off doing something more worth while like my taxes, but I have been out shopping most of the morning and am just a little bit tired.. perhaps a nap today..

ps.. 5 weeks and 6 days.. woo hoo
:) Monique

just a slow day..

So, DD is back to school after being out with a stomach bug.. fortunately, it went as quick as it came.. I am truly grateful that I no long need to sit with her in the bathroom again while she battles out her "poopy wonderstorms" (sorry if that was too gross for anyone, just a mommy thing)

today I did manage to get the dusty curtains in my bedroom down, washed, washed the windows, ironed them and they are back up... made me feel good.. got some other routine cleaning done too..

also, I can happily report that while I am not scrapbooking, I did finish up the cards I needed to do for a card swap on the dmarie.com message board.. it was a great feeling to have something done before it was due... 2 sets of 13 cards and I made some extra of one card for my collection and I also made up some baby cards for the stash.. I don't think I have mentioned this before, but I try very very hard NOT to buy a single card all year.. I think this is my second year doing it.. I should think about how much I am actually saving.. it's nice to have a big stash to chose from and not have to think about stopping at the store.. that is why I do swaps... it's nice to have a stash on hand and a good mix of them gets me inspired too..

speaking of inspired.. I think that is what I am in need of.. a good Inspirational idea.... it's tough when life keeps getting to you, so I try even harder to find it... yesterday, it was the smile on my daughter's face as I watched her play on the computer -- she really enjoyed having me sit with her, show interest in what she was doing and look at the screen.. not to say I don't usually do this, but 20 minutes of little kids games can get to you... but she loved it.. Inspired me to remember that she won't always want me leaning over her shoulder... nor will she be little forever.. just a thought or two to inspire me to work on her baby album.. especially now that I officially have only 6 weeks left until her baby sister gets her...
a scrapbookers plight -- forever behind...
it's okay though.. i love it..

If I knew better, I would be getting ready for the grocery store... and I think I do today, since we need a ton of stuff..
:) Monique

in my next life..

I am going to start this blog entry with the simple statement that my comments might sound sexist.. I am not a sexist.. but today, my comments are.. I am over tired and slightly cranky.. but 'tis how I be feeling at the moment..

in my next life, I am coming back as a man...
not only do they get to pee standing up, they get to have children without being pregnant & no matter what is wrong, a child will never yell "daddy" in the middle of the night to help them sit on the potty for what seems like HOURS...
they get better salary, don't have PMS and bloat up like a balloon each month and have cheaper dry cleaning bills and never wonder if clothes make their butt look big..
A man.. that is what I will be in my next go around on the planet..


if I knew better, I would not be making such comments, but seriously, I challenge anyone to prove these things wrong..
Happy Monday all, hope it was a good one..
:) Monique

Birthday party sunday...

So, the birthday season is officially upon us.. we have not one, but two parties to get to today..
and the weather is perfect... Miranda will get to wear a skirt and be thrilled beyond repair..
Personally, I am excited for the grilled burgers at the 2nd party... plus, I get to see & hold a little baby.. (other than the one who has been kicking me internally for quite a while now)

no lazy pj sunday today... (we cheated and had a little of that yesterday)

Monday is car accident straightening out day.. FUN FUN FUN!

If I knew better, I would be watching tv under a blanket with my daughter right now, and that is exactly where I am headed..
:) Monique

Pay it Forward...

Okay, a friend of mine blogged about her mommy brain and reminded me of the importance of "Paying it Forward"...
I think this is a unique concept that people so seriously overlook in this world..

On Monday, I was treated to breakfast. Made me smile to think that she thought enough of me to treat.. it was great to see her and just chat. Some long overdue time for just myself.. I felt spoiled and for the first time a while, really good about who I am. I have since spent time thinking about how I can repay her and pay her back.... in doing so, it made me think about other small ways that I can make someone else feel as good as she made me.. I have spoken to a few friends on the phone and told them why they are valued at their employment for being the great employee that they are.. she stopped the conversation and just said "thank you" for being so nice and making me feel good.. hearing nice things about yourself can really make you feel good -- not everyone realizes that. but it's true.. I know this because while DH has had his broken foot, he is really going out of his way, almost daily, to say thank you for everything.. I appreciate you and all that you are doing... these little words, really make me feel good and in turn make me want to make other's feel good.

Think about it, it doesn't take long to post a comment on a friends blog when you read something that makes you appreciate what they took the time to say, tell your significant other that you appreciate them taking out the trash - even though they are expected to do it. Let you kids know that you appreciate them remembering to pick up their shoes and put them away so that no one trips on them.. these 40 seconds of kindness can really have a longevity effect on the day.. it's a minor way to pay the kindness forward.... plus, you never really know if you are making someone's day or not. isn't it worth the shot -- plus, it's free.
sometimes it backfires too, but not usually... sometimes you make a person's day with a kind word, or help someone get an A- in a college class or you just make your kid smile..

just my thoughts for the day..
so please.. find a way, a small way, to pay it forward today..
I promise, it will come back to you.. one way, or another..

I don't know any better way to say what I already have, so I will end this here..
:) Monique

if it wasn't for bad luck..

Seriously, the way things have been going lately, if it wasn't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all. well, after a brief conversation with DH this morning, we were discussing how even though things are bad, they could be worse than they are.. we are still very lucky and I count my blessings more so lately than I ever have..

well, after stopping to buy milk (at 4.59 a gallon) and a coffee for DH, I was driving home and was rear ended.. Yes, my belly did hit the steering wheel, BUT not badly. I was wearing my seatbelt, no air bag deployed and the damage really seemed minimal.. well, it's not.. there is a giant crack in the bumper and the seams are bulging.. so much for a nothing ordeal. thankfully for me, we already had a dr. appt. he was not worried.. he check me out and since there was no leaking, bleeding or real pain ... not to worry.. call if there was a problem. he did the normal check, I gain 2 lbs in the last 2 weeks and the baby is measuring just fine.. also, the heartbeat is just perfect. good to know.

Dh is still having work issues.. umm.. way to ugly to discuss, plus, legally, I don't think I can or should address them here. just picture an ugly situation getting uglier.

then, when we get home, we get a letter of denial from the health insurance company for the bone stimulator the we needed.. um.. 4600.00 is alot of money.. hopefully we can use the appeal process and be fruitful.

I cried this morning, mostly out of fear for something being wrong with the baby.. but right now.. I am laughing because seriously, if I started crying, who knows when it will stop... *SIGH*

I will survive this and whatever else I get thrown my way and I will continue to count my blessings.. .like a healthy and safe growing baby, a beautiful 5 year old who is growing up faster than I can thing and dh who loves me and a house to call home..

if I knew better, I would be taking a nap before I made dinner, but instead I think i am going to play with my daughter.. :)
Monique

another new week..

Well, on a good note, it's just about noon on Monday and the bedrooms have been done and so has the laundry.. :) just makes me feel good to be productive I guess.

I was also able to go out to breakfast with a friend -- another good thing..

Fuzzy is improving steadily, he able to get around more and makes me less nervous about his limits right now.. another good thing is that we found out he can drive again, he can get comfy enough to sit so that if I do get to work a few days during the week, he can take her to school.. he might be tired when he is done, but he can. He is also hoping to make it into the office at least once a week. (THANK GOODNESS he can work from home).

We, I say we, but I really mean I, cleaned up the basement this weekend, not perfect,but made space to start bringing the toy collection down from the baby's room and start setting things up. Made me smile.. it will take a few weeks to find the motivation, but it will happen.

I am thinking, and from what I read the baby has slide into her head down position. Miranda was breech, so I never experienced this with her.. this would explain the crazy kicking I am feeling in my ribs and such.. I could be wrong, I have been before, but we will find out on Wednesday when we go to the dr. By then I will officially have 8 weeks left.. July 1 is still the scheduled date, but something tells me that the little one won't be waiting that long.. we'll see..

My scrapbooking mojo is gone.. makes me very said.. I did manage to get 12 pages done last week.. and I have 3 sorta' mindless projects to tackle.. 2 baby albums and one calendar style one. not rocket science, just busy work. maybe if I get motivated I will sort out my boxes of memorabilia stuff.. doesn't that just sound like fun.

Mother's day has come and gone.. I am truly glad it has. With DH being all broken and such, it was hard for him to plan, get or do much of anything for me.. but he tried.. Miranda made me a wonderful mug at school and a great card.. they did little things around the house too.. like spelling out Happy Mother's Day Mom - we love you! on the fridge in her magnets and rolling up laundry to spell the same thing on my bed.. I have photos.. so cute..
the rest of the day is best left in the past..

right now.. I am craving a chicken sandwich with honey mustard, cheese & bacon.. mmmm
Might have to run to the deli and get it too.. we'll see where dh sits on this vote..
gotta go to the post office anyways.. hheehahe

If I knew better, I would already be in the car on the way to the deli.. I am so hungry all of a sudden..

Happy Monday.. hope yours was fun & productive..
:) Monique

nesting...

Cursed this thing called nesting.. I am totally in the middle of it.
Not long ago I deep cleaned Miranda's room, this week I did our room, just have the curtains left and today, I did the kitchen, moved all the furniture, vaccuumed crumbs from just about everywhere and did under the stove and fridge too.. wiped down the cabinets and cleaned the fridge at the start of the week.. the curtains are new and freshly cleaned, but I did wash the door window and if I could figure out how to wash the window over the sink I would.. but that will have to wait.. then I washed the floor when I was done.. I did remember to thank DH for splurging on the hardwood floors.. I truly love them.. we are still paying for them, but I love them so much.
but the kitchen is done -- oh and the easter stuff is all put away.. my daughter still has all of her easter candy to eat, 3 chocolate bunnies and some eggs too. can you tell I can't eat much chocolate while I am pregnant?? otherwise, these would have been LONG gone.. she has seen them daily and never even asks for it.. mind you, carmel hershey kisses are another story all together.
I did most of the living room a while back, I might try to get a friend to sew a quick seam on my curtains that are too long.. then I will wash the windows and wash the floor.. and another room done. One would think my tired self would be doing less and just resting, but I do one room a day and it just feels good..

Mind you, I SHOULD be working on cleaning up the basement some so that we can clear the toys out of the playroom.. then hire my nephew to move the baby furniture to the baby's room so that DH can put it together.. the only thing that makes me sad is that the room MAY not get painted.. buy maybe a huge drive of ambition will hit in June.. problem is, I can't do ladders.. so that might not happen, unless I pay my brother.. hmmmm.. maybe as a gift to the baby he will do it.. we'll see..

but I am working on getting my house ready, making sure that things are looking good for the baby's arrival. Dh just shakes his head.. feeling bad he can't help, but in all honesty, would he help anyways? questions to ponder.

If I knew better, I would be looking up the recipe for chicken piccatta that need and not blogging, but this nest thing is totally on my melon today..

:) Monique

infected & the DMV...

Yup.. Miranda does in fact have an ear infection.. the dr. did not like the look of it, fearing that with the length of her existing cold that the ear would only bother her more and get worse.. so we are on the pink medicine, 3 x daily, it is such a blessing that the kid is such a good sport about taking medicine.. feel like she has been taking different stuff her entire life. poor thing.

Dh made out okay today at the dr. He is a perfect candidate for a bone stimulator to heal his foot. Basically, he has 2 fractures of the 5th metatarsal of the foot. two of these are vertical breaks and then there is one that goes horizontally across the top of the other two, making it a true Jones fracture.. what all of this means, I am not quite sure. But because the bones are still in perfect allignment and DH promises to stay off the foot, keeping the swelling down & keeping the perfect allignment with the bone stimulator to increase bone development, he should be out of the cast and doing better in about 3 months.. (did I mention I only have about 8 weeks left of my pregnancy) the only pleasure to this wonderful machines that he gets to use for 20 minutes a day, is the price tag.. the thing cost 4,600 bucks.. UMM.. OUCH.. we are seriously hoping for the insurance covers it.. *fingers crossed* Another good thing that came out of the appt. today was that the dr. willingly agreed to getting him a handicapped sticker for a little while. Now, I realize many people would think we will abuse it, but I promise you, we won't. I know too many people who truly need those things.. it's really more for if he tries to drive himself somewhere, which he will eventually.. that just will help some. so we had to kill a ton of time waiting for the forms to be filled out so we could file them with the DMV, since they only meet the first wednesday of the month... atleast we got it in.. hopefully we will get approved.

So, that is why I am really tired and really cranky.. DH proudly pointed out that this was the point of my pregnancy with Miranda where I was no longer ABLE to work because of the dizziness I was experiencing, so that explains why I remember being tired with her, but not THIS tired.. I just feel frazzled.. but tomorrow is a new day and I get to start over.. make it up to baby girl for yelling at her so much when she fooled around in the shower and fell, clean up the house some more, take a few more rest breaks and just do the best I can... Looking forward tomorrow.. just a chance to start over..

If I knew better, I would be upstairs relaxing and watching TV, but I think I am going to play some cards on the computer...
thanks for listening.
:) Monique

ps.. scrapping accomplishments -- 9 pages done for the month & 2 cleaned off tables.. WOO HOO for me..

AHHHH.. a monday..

I did not work today.. WOO HOO.. I did however, clean my bedroom, liked moved the furniture and dusted, etc.. I did everything I did in Miranda's room a few weeks ago, just in ours..
except the curtains.. I have other things to accomplish today too.. but the stinking job took me 2 hours.. mind you I was watching tv in between, but I need more breaks now..

Back on the do 5 things a day thing.. got most of yesterdays list done and am slightly ahead of Tuesdays list (since technically, cleaning my room was not on any list) I do have to get rid of those boxes.. I will fill them for sure if I don't. most of my routine housework IS done for the week.. I have been putting off cleaning the kitchen floor and washing them.. but I might be able to get to the on Tuesday, depends on how long things take at the dr.

Things are looking up for the week.. DH is going to the foot doctor to get checked and to get a bone stimulator.. we were worried initially because it might not be covered by our insurance, but they are expecting that it will be... WOO HOO... we will probably go out for breakfast afterwards or maybe get his haircut. little things he is missing and wishing he could be doing. We have some concerns about his circulation because his foot is ALWAYS freezing cold -- but those are for the dr. to answer.

DH work situation is improving, they are looking at moving forward and making some money.. fingers crossed -- he is working from home -- which I don't think he is crazy about since he never really gets much done here, but he is able to put the distractions aside and work.. it's really better for him and the healing process if he limits his movement.

Bills have been mostly paid for the month and mailed out too.. such a good feeling.
Only bummer is that Miranda is complaining about "spit" in her ear and is cracking her neck to get it out.. sounds like the cold she has had for a week or so has left her with some ear fluid.. FUN HUH? so I think we will end up at the dr. today.. she has been complaining for about 4 or 5 days with the ears.. just time to suck it up and get it looked at. also, the poison ivy she was told about 2 weeks ago, still not clearing.. thinking it might something else at this point.. Hopefully, we see HER doctor and NOT another on in the practice.

all in all, a good Monday, so far.. I still have to get to the post office, wash pans from dinner last night and clean the bathroom.... housework NEVER ends..

but still a good monday..
If I knew better.. I would be working on cleaning something rather than scrapbooking for a little while.. but I don't.. and I deserve a break.. :)

:) Monique

Confessions...

I approach you today on the realization of something grand..
I am a box hoarder.. not the extreme kind that need interventions or anything, but I save boxes and am hard pressed to part with them..

Today, I was doing some cleaning of my scrapbooking stuff and managed to empty out 2 cardboard boxes, I have been working, struggling really, to rid my house of all these boxes.. I keep them to sort stuff, empty big piles into little ones and then swear that I will take those piles of boxes and empty them -- then part with the box..
I am working hard on emptying the boxes but when I do, I can't part with the box, I am afraid that I will need it again before another good box like that comes into the house.. it's a sickness.. if there were support groups, I would go. you are likely to be laughing at me by this point, but it's true..
Tonight, no matter what else I do, I am going to break down and recycle 2 great boxes that I have for years.. (one of them is a diaper box from when Miranda wore a size 6 diaper.. Um.. hello, she is almost 6 years old!)
it will be a painful process.. but I will do it..
as God is my witness I will do it..

If I knew better, I would do it now, rather than waiting and filling the stupid thing up..

ps.. one would swear that I didn't have any rubbermaid or plastic boxes, but that is my other addiciton.. which is for another day...

:) Monique

a ct scan and several days later..

well, it's been a few days since the ER visit.. Fuzzy truly is a trooper.. he has amazing movement and is really moving around quite well.. I know when I broke my ankle I was miserable and in a ton of pain.. Mind you, it was January and not April / May.. so the weather was really against me.
But seriously, he has been great about helping where he can and totally being appreciative of everything I have had to do with/for him.. which is nice. Mind you, I am feeling seriously overwhelmed by the fact that I am doing it all.. literally..
carrying the laundry up and down the stairs has been the biggest strain, because I am not supposed to be lifting and therefore, must carry in 1/2 loads.. honestly.. it totally sucks.. and for me, a person who usually gets all the laundry done, washed, folded and put away on a Monday, umm. it's Thursday and the towels have not even been washed yet and they won't until tomorrow.
my new philosophy.. do what you can... it WILL still be there the next time you think of it.

also, trash.. this is the one thing I hate.. I hate taking out the trash.. and I am doing it. for some strange reason, I have developed a very unhealthy fear of our back deck stairs (not really a deck, more of a large flight of stairs with a landing at the top.. in the winter, I was so afraid that in the snow/ice I might fall down the stairs if I took something out, that I became paranoid about them and hence where I am now. the stairs are totally safe, can totally support me, no real loose boards or anything.. just my fear.. I am working overcoming it.. but seriously.. trash sucks more than the laundry deal.

on a good note, things are staying a little bit cleaner lately.. mind you, no one is really working this week and I have a few extra minutes in the day to do little things.. we'll see what next week brings.. I do know that it MUST bring back my ambition to clean up the dinner dishes RIGHT AFTER dinner and clean up the kitchen and prep for the next day.. I really miss that the most.. but I am tired and slacking.. ALso, we have not been eating at the table, rather more in the living room so that Fuzzy can elevate his foot and by this point in the day, he is due for it.. but being in the living room puts on the tv and just creates a bad habit.. for this week.. I am letting it fly.

Pregnancy cravings... I so am loving Burger Kings Whopper Jr.. that's it. no fries, no drink, nothing.. LOVE THEM.. burgers on the whole are making and the baby quite happy. also seriously craving the cold stuff again, most recently, a Slush or Italian Ice from Rita's. the place is a good distance from my house.. like 3 cities over. but I am making the journey this weekend and it's going to be a LARGE.. as in as big as I can get.. if they were closer.. I would be eating them all the time.. oh man are they yummy.. I want one RIGHT now..

All in all, I am feel overwhelmed, but appreciated. Frustrated by the antics of my 5 year old, but struggling for more patience since she must be feeling all these stressors too. Tired, but accepting of it because I am 30 plus weeks pregnant. Appreciative of my friends who listen to me through all my tales of woah!

If I only knew better, I would have started a load of laundry, but Ugly Betty is SOOO calling my name..
:) Monique

a ct scan and several days later..