one BIG thing crossed of the list
OUR TAXES ARE DONE!!! WOO HOO!
It took us about 3 hours tonight, but all's well that ends well!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Has anyone else ever thought of inviting someone to join you at a special event when it's already too late? That happened to me today. I thought of three people in particular who might possibly have been able to come, as they would not have to take off work or fly on an airplane to get here. Unfortunately, I thought of them while I was sitting at the registration table helping other moms find their name tags for the monthly Mom's HEART(Hearing Encouragement and Rejoicing Together) meeting at our church. This meeting usually consists of brunch, a speaker or two, door prizes, and a discussion group with your table at the end. We're assigned to the same table every month to help us get to know one another a little better by the end of the "year" (May).
I had heard of the key speaker. I had heard some of her songs on the radio, and knew I liked them. But I had not realized how much I would like the rest of her music... until today. The petite brunette with the Minnesota accent and adorable pregnant belly fit right into the room full of Moms, most of whom have pre-schoolers. She shared from her heart, and I'm sure all of us teared up at one point or another, if not bawled. I had heard her sing an offertory during a worship service at our church a few months back, and it turns out that she toured with the husband of one of the Mom's HEART coordinators. I know we are blessed to be in Music City, but still...
I don't know how I've made it this long without buying one of Sara Groves' albums. I am sorry I didn't think to invite any of you. While I know most could not have made it anyway.... I'm still sorry. Her songs were about real life... relationships, parenting, God... she is a very gifted songwriter and musician. One thing she shared that touched me the most was that she is learning to not look back at the specific moments (especially of struggles/perceived failures) as a mom, but to look at the patterns of how she spends time with her kids, etc... She has already learned that looking back on the big picture can be a lot more encouraging to her. Or something of the sort. That's some of what I got from it, anyway.
I'm going to try to catch up on some things around the house this week, so I may ground myself from blogger... although we all know how well that worked last time around.
I had heard of the key speaker. I had heard some of her songs on the radio, and knew I liked them. But I had not realized how much I would like the rest of her music... until today. The petite brunette with the Minnesota accent and adorable pregnant belly fit right into the room full of Moms, most of whom have pre-schoolers. She shared from her heart, and I'm sure all of us teared up at one point or another, if not bawled. I had heard her sing an offertory during a worship service at our church a few months back, and it turns out that she toured with the husband of one of the Mom's HEART coordinators. I know we are blessed to be in Music City, but still...
I don't know how I've made it this long without buying one of Sara Groves' albums. I am sorry I didn't think to invite any of you. While I know most could not have made it anyway.... I'm still sorry. Her songs were about real life... relationships, parenting, God... she is a very gifted songwriter and musician. One thing she shared that touched me the most was that she is learning to not look back at the specific moments (especially of struggles/perceived failures) as a mom, but to look at the patterns of how she spends time with her kids, etc... She has already learned that looking back on the big picture can be a lot more encouraging to her. Or something of the sort. That's some of what I got from it, anyway.
I'm going to try to catch up on some things around the house this week, so I may ground myself from blogger... although we all know how well that worked last time around.
Friday, February 09, 2007
i couldn't link to the meme on olive tree, so i did this one instead:
i think it's almost frighteningly accurate.
| What Your Face Says |
 At first glance, people see you as warm and well-balanced. Overall, your true self is passive and thoughtful. With friends, you seem dramatic, lively, and quick to react. In love, you seem mysterious and interesting. In stressful situations, you seem sad and helpless. |
i think it's almost frighteningly accurate.
once upon a time, fuzzy socks were a luxury i did not think i cared about. raised in an uber-frugal home, there were far more important things on which to spend my parents' money, and later on, my own. well, last year i received a pair of fuzzy slipper socks for Christmas. i fell in love. nothing quite compares to the feeling of soft chenille on your winter-parched feet. this Christmas, i found some on sale. i purchased 2 pair for gifts, and one for myself, in nice, simple black. so inconspicuos that casual observers will not notice that such luxury is included in my casual outfit. (unless they have a foot fetish, God help them.) the last time i went to the gym, i stopped by fashion bug and found the pair pictured above... on sale, of course. there were some bright, sanguine socks in the clearance basket, and then this pair: understatedly funky.... casually cozy.... yeah, something along those lines. worth the money...
this picture shows my feet doing what i've felt like doing all week. and except for a few loads of laundry and meals, this is pretty much all they have done. perhaps i'll make it back to the gym tomorrow.... and while i'm at it, maybe i'll go next door to see if there are any other fuzzy socks on clearance. i may even cut hubby's hair this weekend, as he is about to die from his shag, so he thinks. (me thinks thou art a wee bit melodramatic when it comest to thy shaven locks, my beloved. thy shag is yet shorter than the fuzz on these socks.)
this picture shows my feet doing what i've felt like doing all week. and except for a few loads of laundry and meals, this is pretty much all they have done. perhaps i'll make it back to the gym tomorrow.... and while i'm at it, maybe i'll go next door to see if there are any other fuzzy socks on clearance. i may even cut hubby's hair this weekend, as he is about to die from his shag, so he thinks. (me thinks thou art a wee bit melodramatic when it comest to thy shaven locks, my beloved. thy shag is yet shorter than the fuzz on these socks.)
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
my chicken pot pies are in the oven. one is for some friends who have a 2 1/2 week old baby boy at home, to be delivered fresh for dinner tonight. they'll get a chocolate fudge cake, too. those of you who know me in person or have been around here a while know i am not exactly a "from-scratch" chef. like crt, who introduced me to pre-made refrigerated pie crusts, i believe they are a mom's best friend. well, last time i used the roll-out crusts, i failed to read the instructions, and tried to unroll them before they were warm enough. disaster. the pies were ugly, though they still tasted good. today, i managed to unroll both top crusts without any tears or creases... if i don't burn them in the oven, i might even take pictures and post them later if anyone needs proof. i have found that the key to yummy pot pies is to simmer the filling longer than the recipe calls for. the flavors need time to blend together. what the recipe says should take 15-20 minutes takes me an hour, minimum. when i cook, i would rather take my time and enjoy the process and the end result than rush and appreciate neither.
hubby received word that he passed his tests and will soon be certified to help in the fight against fraud. i'm very proud of him! i might just have to use that other cake mix to make him a chocolate fudge cake, too. i was saving it for valentine's, but we can celebrate a week early!! besides, we already have root beer in the fridge, and everyone knows that chocolate cake and root beer are great for breakfast. (that's a family "secret" that will be passed down along with the "velveeta and sliced fake american cheese is from the devil" theory, if hubby has anything to do with it.)
hubby received word that he passed his tests and will soon be certified to help in the fight against fraud. i'm very proud of him! i might just have to use that other cake mix to make him a chocolate fudge cake, too. i was saving it for valentine's, but we can celebrate a week early!! besides, we already have root beer in the fridge, and everyone knows that chocolate cake and root beer are great for breakfast. (that's a family "secret" that will be passed down along with the "velveeta and sliced fake american cheese is from the devil" theory, if hubby has anything to do with it.)
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
the past week has prompted a lot of reflection, introspection, and judgement. it has confirmed my pro-life stance, and challenged me to pray for people who see nothing wrong with premature elective termination of human life.
i think i knew deep down what had happened by last tuesday, but i could not resign myself to accept it until yesterday's blood test confirmed my fears. last sunday night, before i went in to see my ob before the infamous ultrasound, i felt my heavenly father wrap his arms around me. ok, maybe it was the holy spirit. actually, since i believe the father, son and spirit are one, that equates to one extra big hug.
i wonder how i will refer to our baby we did not get to meet... will i say "i have one daughter on earth, and one child in heaven?" probably not... that's a lot of explaining that i would feel the need to share.... and this is not the topic of a casual introductory conversation.
women have come out of the woodwork and cyberspace to tell me they've been in a similar place. it's comforting, though in a sense it makes me mourn for them as well as my own loss. it was so early... but our baby was being formed. our child lived inside me, depended on my body, even if for a brief time. his or her days were numbered, for whatever reason (God knows). i have to believe that letting go now is easier than saying goodbye later.
this whole situation is very surreal, but right now, although i can't say i am happy with the answer, i am glad to have one. i've held baby bear tighter today. her sloppy kisses have made me laugh more deeply. she will be a great big sister someday, Lord willing. but not yet. for a little while longer, she has mommy and daddy to herself. at 4:00 this morning, when she woke up and needed mommy, i got her and brought her into our bed. she actually settled down enough for us to get some sleep, something rare as she normally prefers her own space as much as we prefer ours. by the time her daddy left for work, she was out soundly (sprawled all over his side of the bed, of course.)
life goes on... and one life will not be forgotten.
i think i knew deep down what had happened by last tuesday, but i could not resign myself to accept it until yesterday's blood test confirmed my fears. last sunday night, before i went in to see my ob before the infamous ultrasound, i felt my heavenly father wrap his arms around me. ok, maybe it was the holy spirit. actually, since i believe the father, son and spirit are one, that equates to one extra big hug.
i wonder how i will refer to our baby we did not get to meet... will i say "i have one daughter on earth, and one child in heaven?" probably not... that's a lot of explaining that i would feel the need to share.... and this is not the topic of a casual introductory conversation.
women have come out of the woodwork and cyberspace to tell me they've been in a similar place. it's comforting, though in a sense it makes me mourn for them as well as my own loss. it was so early... but our baby was being formed. our child lived inside me, depended on my body, even if for a brief time. his or her days were numbered, for whatever reason (God knows). i have to believe that letting go now is easier than saying goodbye later.
this whole situation is very surreal, but right now, although i can't say i am happy with the answer, i am glad to have one. i've held baby bear tighter today. her sloppy kisses have made me laugh more deeply. she will be a great big sister someday, Lord willing. but not yet. for a little while longer, she has mommy and daddy to herself. at 4:00 this morning, when she woke up and needed mommy, i got her and brought her into our bed. she actually settled down enough for us to get some sleep, something rare as she normally prefers her own space as much as we prefer ours. by the time her daddy left for work, she was out soundly (sprawled all over his side of the bed, of course.)
life goes on... and one life will not be forgotten.
pray for crt's mom. she's in the hospital due to severe abdominal pain. the x-rays showed a cyst.
and my brother in law, brett, who is stuck in the snow in ohio, trying to make it back home to tennessee. pray that he AND the new/used vehicle he is driving home make it safely.
and my brother in law, brett, who is stuck in the snow in ohio, trying to make it back home to tennessee. pray that he AND the new/used vehicle he is driving home make it safely.
Does anyone else remember having to "map" stories or thought processes in their high school English class? Well, my brain tends to function like one of those abstract spider-web maps. I will think or talk about one thing, and the next thing I know, I am reminded of something that appears totally unrelated. If one listens carefully they may or may not catch how I "wander" from one thought to another.
Running into that old friend from college a couple of days ago reminded me of our trip to Puebla, Mexico. One evening on that trip, our group ate at VIP's, a chain restaurant which also had a gift shop and bookstore attached. It was a tourist-oriented restaurant, and many of the books were in English. As I turned the pages of one book in that store, my eyes landed on a familiar sight. The book contained photographs of historic sites throughout the United States, and as I stared at a picture of what appeared to be an old store, it hit me... I had been there. Not just once, but several times. There, as a college student who was travelling in another country, summer vacations from my childhood flashed across the chalkboard of my mind.
I remembered stepping out the front door of my aunt and uncle's Cape house, beginning our walk to the Brewster Store. Many days, the walk seemed to take forever. We passed other cottages and homes, the smell of the bay following us inland. Once we reached Main Street, Rte 6A, we passed several bed and breakfasts. Finally, what seemed like an eternity later, we would reach the store. The highlight of our visits was buying penny candy. Fireballs, rock candy, salt-water-taffy... I felt like I was Laura Ingalls Wilder going into town. Stepping into the Brewster Store was travelling back to a bygone era.
I didn't purchase the book that day. I left it in the store in Puebla, Mexico While it was a touching coincidence, I knew I would rather take a photo of the store myself someday. It had been years since I had last stepped foot in that quaint shop. In fact, as my family drove from Michigan to Cape Cod, I had probably made it very clear that I would prefer taking a vacation to somewhere "fun", like Disney World or Cedar Point. How I took those "simple" family vacations for granted!
If you would like to step back in time, pay a visit to the little white general store with benches our front. Pick up some penny candy, and be sure to save some for your bicycle ride on the rail trail, day at Coast Guard or Nauset Beach, or a nature hike through the salt marshes. And if you're really brave and don't mind fielding questions from the young ones if they see two people of the same gender holding hands, it is worth the drive from Brewster to Provincetown to catch a whale-watching excursion into the Atlantic. Just don't feed fireballs (or anything else that might have survived the drive) to the whales.
Funny how one dinner out can bring back a lobster trap full of memories.
Running into that old friend from college a couple of days ago reminded me of our trip to Puebla, Mexico. One evening on that trip, our group ate at VIP's, a chain restaurant which also had a gift shop and bookstore attached. It was a tourist-oriented restaurant, and many of the books were in English. As I turned the pages of one book in that store, my eyes landed on a familiar sight. The book contained photographs of historic sites throughout the United States, and as I stared at a picture of what appeared to be an old store, it hit me... I had been there. Not just once, but several times. There, as a college student who was travelling in another country, summer vacations from my childhood flashed across the chalkboard of my mind.
I remembered stepping out the front door of my aunt and uncle's Cape house, beginning our walk to the Brewster Store. Many days, the walk seemed to take forever. We passed other cottages and homes, the smell of the bay following us inland. Once we reached Main Street, Rte 6A, we passed several bed and breakfasts. Finally, what seemed like an eternity later, we would reach the store. The highlight of our visits was buying penny candy. Fireballs, rock candy, salt-water-taffy... I felt like I was Laura Ingalls Wilder going into town. Stepping into the Brewster Store was travelling back to a bygone era.
I didn't purchase the book that day. I left it in the store in Puebla, Mexico While it was a touching coincidence, I knew I would rather take a photo of the store myself someday. It had been years since I had last stepped foot in that quaint shop. In fact, as my family drove from Michigan to Cape Cod, I had probably made it very clear that I would prefer taking a vacation to somewhere "fun", like Disney World or Cedar Point. How I took those "simple" family vacations for granted!
If you would like to step back in time, pay a visit to the little white general store with benches our front. Pick up some penny candy, and be sure to save some for your bicycle ride on the rail trail, day at Coast Guard or Nauset Beach, or a nature hike through the salt marshes. And if you're really brave and don't mind fielding questions from the young ones if they see two people of the same gender holding hands, it is worth the drive from Brewster to Provincetown to catch a whale-watching excursion into the Atlantic. Just don't feed fireballs (or anything else that might have survived the drive) to the whales.
Funny how one dinner out can bring back a lobster trap full of memories.
Monday, February 05, 2007
going for the bloodtest this morning... hopefully the roller coaster will stop soon.
just put baby bear down for a quick nap before we head out... i really hate to tote her out in the cold. i guess it's a good thing we aren't further north.
oh, we've had quite an interesting start to the morning. just after the tub finished draining, i smelled something not so nice coming from the tub. funny, bath time was supposed to make her smell better.... yep, she did her thing, squatting like a puppy would, right there.... i scooped the poop, plopped it in the big potty, and told her to tell me before it comes out next time. as if she'll listen (she can't really talk yet). she giggled as i flushed the toilet. at least they weren't floaties, and her butt was reasonably clean. don't you experienced moms miss days like this? at least we "shouldn't" have a stinky diaper while we're out and about.
gotta go get ready to run errands...
****
3:58 CST:
just got a call from the nurse... the results will be back in the morning, before noon... the lab must be swamped or something. that's what i get for waiting til late morning to go in, i guess. baby bear and i got plumb tuckered out (yes i just wrote that) by the time all was said and done. after having my blood drawn, we went to costco, picked up a prescription, chocolate cake mix, and a couple of baby gifts for friends. met little sis and baby bear's younger cousin at the mall, where we were joined by my mom. mom treated us to lunch (chicken teriyaki), and then the girls played in the new kids' area they put in on the lower level when they did the big remodel. baby bear loved it... unfortunately she and cuz don't really play together yet, but both seemed to have a good time! the girls are getting so big!
thanks for all your prayers... i am feeling a little... indifferent, for lack of a better word. my hopes have been up and down so much this past week that i really just want to know something conclusive. i have my suspicions, but they really don't mean much right now.
just put baby bear down for a quick nap before we head out... i really hate to tote her out in the cold. i guess it's a good thing we aren't further north.
oh, we've had quite an interesting start to the morning. just after the tub finished draining, i smelled something not so nice coming from the tub. funny, bath time was supposed to make her smell better.... yep, she did her thing, squatting like a puppy would, right there.... i scooped the poop, plopped it in the big potty, and told her to tell me before it comes out next time. as if she'll listen (she can't really talk yet). she giggled as i flushed the toilet. at least they weren't floaties, and her butt was reasonably clean. don't you experienced moms miss days like this? at least we "shouldn't" have a stinky diaper while we're out and about.
gotta go get ready to run errands...
****
3:58 CST:
just got a call from the nurse... the results will be back in the morning, before noon... the lab must be swamped or something. that's what i get for waiting til late morning to go in, i guess. baby bear and i got plumb tuckered out (yes i just wrote that) by the time all was said and done. after having my blood drawn, we went to costco, picked up a prescription, chocolate cake mix, and a couple of baby gifts for friends. met little sis and baby bear's younger cousin at the mall, where we were joined by my mom. mom treated us to lunch (chicken teriyaki), and then the girls played in the new kids' area they put in on the lower level when they did the big remodel. baby bear loved it... unfortunately she and cuz don't really play together yet, but both seemed to have a good time! the girls are getting so big!
thanks for all your prayers... i am feeling a little... indifferent, for lack of a better word. my hopes have been up and down so much this past week that i really just want to know something conclusive. i have my suspicions, but they really don't mean much right now.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
today's good things list...
snowflakes falling softly on the drive to church (i had to copy Steph on this one)
comforting words and hugs from friends who've been "there"
my happy toddler clapping to the music during the worship service at church
sharing the sacrament of communion- reflecting on Christ's love for us
long sunday afternoon nap- me and hubby in bed, baby bear in her crib
superbowl party with friends- boys watching on the big tv, the toddlers chasing the "big kids" up the stairs with glee, homemade chili, baby bear giggling with glee as the black lab's tail whips her in the face, hanging out with the other moms, hardly paying attention to the game (colts won, right?)
thanks for the inspiration, Stephanie!
snowflakes falling softly on the drive to church (i had to copy Steph on this one)
comforting words and hugs from friends who've been "there"
my happy toddler clapping to the music during the worship service at church
sharing the sacrament of communion- reflecting on Christ's love for us
long sunday afternoon nap- me and hubby in bed, baby bear in her crib
superbowl party with friends- boys watching on the big tv, the toddlers chasing the "big kids" up the stairs with glee, homemade chili, baby bear giggling with glee as the black lab's tail whips her in the face, hanging out with the other moms, hardly paying attention to the game (colts won, right?)
thanks for the inspiration, Stephanie!
Saturday, February 03, 2007
blast from the past
we went out for steak tonight. we had a gift card left from christmas, and i didn't want to cook. no shock there. well, about 2/3 of the way through our meal, baby bear became restless. it was time to take turns eating. i finished my plate while hubby held our squirmy worm in his lap. by the time she got to my lap, she was ready to explore. the fireplace caught her eye, so we walked over that way. i felt a tap on my shoulder. "lauren?"
one of the waiters stood right next to us. he was an old friend from college. freshman year, he and his girlfriend would hang out in the freshman girls' dorm lobby and talk. when i was a RA, he was one of our front desk workers, and had the task of calling me to let in locked out residents at 3 a.m. on several occasions. he was an elementary education major, and always seemed like he would be a great teacher. our college lives had intersected through our activities and jobs, and though we were not close per se, i had considered him a friend. we went on mission trips together, including one to mexico in which we acted out parables as clowns in various parks over spring break. i returned home from that trip blowing volcanic ash out my nose for at least a week because popocateptl was a little bit active maybe 30 miles away from where we were. we talked about people from school that we'd kept in touch with, the usual things you talk about with someone you have not seen in a while and don't even know where to begin. especially when they are at work.
the really funny thing was that this afternoon, as baby bear watched a "wiggles" preview on a video, i thought of him. i guess it was the thin guy with dark hair, and the fact that the lead wiggle was an education major. while i can't picture this guy dancing on stage with the wiggles, something about them reminded me of him. i remember thinking, " i wonder what happened to so and so?" for a brief moment.
so there we were in the middle of a loud restaurant, me chasing my little girl, and this person that had crossed my mind appeared. this friend had known me when i had wondered when and if God would ever send Mr. Right my way. he had seen me at my best and close-to-worst in college, because lets face it- RA's give up caring about how we look late at night really quickly. I gave him a quick hug, reintroduced him to hubby, who he had probably met previously in passing, but did not go to college with us. of course, he met baby bear.
about 8 years after I had last seen this person, i was reminded of my life's seasons past. they were good, but the present, with its welcome surprises as well as challenges, makes me look forward to the future.
we went out for steak tonight. we had a gift card left from christmas, and i didn't want to cook. no shock there. well, about 2/3 of the way through our meal, baby bear became restless. it was time to take turns eating. i finished my plate while hubby held our squirmy worm in his lap. by the time she got to my lap, she was ready to explore. the fireplace caught her eye, so we walked over that way. i felt a tap on my shoulder. "lauren?"
one of the waiters stood right next to us. he was an old friend from college. freshman year, he and his girlfriend would hang out in the freshman girls' dorm lobby and talk. when i was a RA, he was one of our front desk workers, and had the task of calling me to let in locked out residents at 3 a.m. on several occasions. he was an elementary education major, and always seemed like he would be a great teacher. our college lives had intersected through our activities and jobs, and though we were not close per se, i had considered him a friend. we went on mission trips together, including one to mexico in which we acted out parables as clowns in various parks over spring break. i returned home from that trip blowing volcanic ash out my nose for at least a week because popocateptl was a little bit active maybe 30 miles away from where we were. we talked about people from school that we'd kept in touch with, the usual things you talk about with someone you have not seen in a while and don't even know where to begin. especially when they are at work.
the really funny thing was that this afternoon, as baby bear watched a "wiggles" preview on a video, i thought of him. i guess it was the thin guy with dark hair, and the fact that the lead wiggle was an education major. while i can't picture this guy dancing on stage with the wiggles, something about them reminded me of him. i remember thinking, " i wonder what happened to so and so?" for a brief moment.
so there we were in the middle of a loud restaurant, me chasing my little girl, and this person that had crossed my mind appeared. this friend had known me when i had wondered when and if God would ever send Mr. Right my way. he had seen me at my best and close-to-worst in college, because lets face it- RA's give up caring about how we look late at night really quickly. I gave him a quick hug, reintroduced him to hubby, who he had probably met previously in passing, but did not go to college with us. of course, he met baby bear.
about 8 years after I had last seen this person, i was reminded of my life's seasons past. they were good, but the present, with its welcome surprises as well as challenges, makes me look forward to the future.
impatience...
i called the ob's office to see if i could just have my pcp do the follow-up blood test while we were there yesterday, and fax them the results... the ob wasn't in yet, but her nurse said she was pretty sure she wanted to test the hcg levels at a week's difference... que sera, sera... so i wait til monday... impatiently...
i called the ob's office to see if i could just have my pcp do the follow-up blood test while we were there yesterday, and fax them the results... the ob wasn't in yet, but her nurse said she was pretty sure she wanted to test the hcg levels at a week's difference... que sera, sera... so i wait til monday... impatiently...
Friday, February 02, 2007
because of the "snow"...
hubby moved the carseat to the "beater". (the one with with 102K miles on it that has been involved in 3 wrecks. i call it my idiot magnet, although i must admit that one of the wrecks was my own fault.) he didn't want the salt and crud accumulating on the good car. who cares if we get hit by some moron who can't drive on wet roads, and we all die? as long as the good car is ok...
thankfully, by the time we got on the roads, they were fine, other than wet and salty, as hubby predicted... the carseat remains in the old car for the rest of the weekend. the newer vehicle will remain safely in the garage until next week, when it is sure to pick up some remaining salt and crud off the roads when i take it out for whatever errand needs to be run.
am i the only one who finds this situation a tad comical?
hubby moved the carseat to the "beater". (the one with with 102K miles on it that has been involved in 3 wrecks. i call it my idiot magnet, although i must admit that one of the wrecks was my own fault.) he didn't want the salt and crud accumulating on the good car. who cares if we get hit by some moron who can't drive on wet roads, and we all die? as long as the good car is ok...
thankfully, by the time we got on the roads, they were fine, other than wet and salty, as hubby predicted... the carseat remains in the old car for the rest of the weekend. the newer vehicle will remain safely in the garage until next week, when it is sure to pick up some remaining salt and crud off the roads when i take it out for whatever errand needs to be run.
am i the only one who finds this situation a tad comical?
What a difference a week makes...
A few crocus bloomed last Friday...
A few crocus bloomed last Friday...
.. and this is what we awoke to this morning.I had to laugh at the weather forcasters this morning. The night before last, they had predicted 2-4 inches of snow in some places. We had a slight dusting. Last night, they said some places might have up to an inch in accumulation, as though the chance was slim. Yeah, weather forecasting is an exact science... I'll believe that one.
Schools were closed today. The roads were fine by the time we took baby bear to the doctor for her well baby check.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
I just received this via e-mail... thought it was worth sharing...
JUST A MOM?
A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office
Was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the recorder,
"do you have a job or are you just a......?"
"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman.
"I'm a Mom."
"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,"
Said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the
Same situation, this time at our own T own Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
Efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like,
"Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."
"What is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it?
I do not know.
The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations."
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
Looked up as though she had not heard right.
I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. ;
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
In bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest,
"just what you do in your field?"
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
"I have a continuing program of research,
[what mother doesn't)
In the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family)
And already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
Completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
Testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than
"just another Mom." Motherhood!
What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door.
Does this make grandmothers
"Senior Research associates in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations"
And great grandmothers
"Executive Senior Research Associates"?
I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts
"Associate Research Assistants".
JUST A MOM?
A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office
Was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the recorder,
"do you have a job or are you just a......?"
"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman.
"I'm a Mom."
"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,"
Said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the
Same situation, this time at our own T own Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
Efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like,
"Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."
"What is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it?
I do not know.
The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations."
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
Looked up as though she had not heard right.
I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. ;
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
In bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest,
"just what you do in your field?"
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
"I have a continuing program of research,
[what mother doesn't)
In the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family)
And already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
Completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
Testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than
"just another Mom." Motherhood!
What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door.
Does this make grandmothers
"Senior Research associates in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations"
And great grandmothers
"Executive Senior Research Associates"?
I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts
"Associate Research Assistants".
IF
by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools;If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
(Thanks, Camille)
just. can't. sleep. (might be tmi...)
i don't want to get my hopes up. but honestly, if all my periods were like this, i would have nothing to complain about. which totally does not make sense to me if i am truly experiencing a miscarriage. today, or yesterday, the bleeding slowed to spotting. and even at it's heaviest a couple of days ago, whatever this is that i am experiencing was still light compared to my normal flow. cramping has been very rare... no need for pain meds, that's how light any cramping has been. on monday, i had convinced myself i had taken 4 false positives. yes, i know that's unlikely. when we saw nothing on the ultrasound, the doctor did say it could be possible that it's too early to detect anything... and then the blood tests came back.. barely positive. barely pregnant.
so the question is, am i still? do i have the beginning form of a baby developing inside me? is there a reason to hope? yes, i realize that a pregnancy could interfere with beach vacation plans, especially one with complications. i think the family would forgive me if that were to happen. i know if caslon turned up pregnant and had to stay home, as much as i would miss her and photo guy, we would be ecstatic to have another niece or a nephew on the way. or crt for that matter. tech mom... now that would be a medical impossibility to my understanding, i think we'd all be a little worried.
anyway, i may be crazy but i have gone ahead and added a pregnancy label here in blogger. God is bigger than i. He knows what is going on inside my body, even when the doctors and i do not. and while staying off my feet seems to be helping my symptoms (reducing bleeding), and cramps are minimal if at all, i can't give up hope just yet. next monday, i may find out the hcg levels have dropped, but since there were hcg levels to be measured, and if this is a miscarriage can i please have it this easy during my normal periods?... i can't give up hope. with God, there is always reason to hope. His Son conquered death so that we might know Him personally. that is eternal Hope.
i can pray. i will pray that regardless of the outcome, God will give me peace. because if i find out i have truly lost or am in the process of losing a baby, i will tend to be heartbroken. even if it's not exactly planned, when you're not doing anything to avoid getting pregnant, it means you are ready to love a child if God so chooses to send one. at least, that's what it means for me.
i will also pray that if my cycle is just really weird and we have a tiny baby, God will protect our child. i pray that all this insanity will end, that my body will do whatever it needs to to protect this new life, and that my next blood test will give us hope. i've done a little research, and it looks like it's normal for hcg levels to be tested within 72 hours... i suppose my doctor wants to wait a week because that will really tell us if the numbers are truly going up or down. so, i wait.
in the meantime, the insomnia continues. i woke up to pee and cannot get back to sleep. so i've taken the laptop upstairs where i will not disturb my beloved. i've turned the heat back up to a level that is comfortable with blankets. i will not allow the disappointment of early morning darkness (versus that glow that occurs when weather forecasters are correct and we actually get a covering of snow) to take away my hope. after this insomnia passes, perhaps i will awaken to a soft covering of snow.
i don't want to get my hopes up. but honestly, if all my periods were like this, i would have nothing to complain about. which totally does not make sense to me if i am truly experiencing a miscarriage. today, or yesterday, the bleeding slowed to spotting. and even at it's heaviest a couple of days ago, whatever this is that i am experiencing was still light compared to my normal flow. cramping has been very rare... no need for pain meds, that's how light any cramping has been. on monday, i had convinced myself i had taken 4 false positives. yes, i know that's unlikely. when we saw nothing on the ultrasound, the doctor did say it could be possible that it's too early to detect anything... and then the blood tests came back.. barely positive. barely pregnant.
so the question is, am i still? do i have the beginning form of a baby developing inside me? is there a reason to hope? yes, i realize that a pregnancy could interfere with beach vacation plans, especially one with complications. i think the family would forgive me if that were to happen. i know if caslon turned up pregnant and had to stay home, as much as i would miss her and photo guy, we would be ecstatic to have another niece or a nephew on the way. or crt for that matter. tech mom... now that would be a medical impossibility to my understanding, i think we'd all be a little worried.
anyway, i may be crazy but i have gone ahead and added a pregnancy label here in blogger. God is bigger than i. He knows what is going on inside my body, even when the doctors and i do not. and while staying off my feet seems to be helping my symptoms (reducing bleeding), and cramps are minimal if at all, i can't give up hope just yet. next monday, i may find out the hcg levels have dropped, but since there were hcg levels to be measured, and if this is a miscarriage can i please have it this easy during my normal periods?... i can't give up hope. with God, there is always reason to hope. His Son conquered death so that we might know Him personally. that is eternal Hope.
i can pray. i will pray that regardless of the outcome, God will give me peace. because if i find out i have truly lost or am in the process of losing a baby, i will tend to be heartbroken. even if it's not exactly planned, when you're not doing anything to avoid getting pregnant, it means you are ready to love a child if God so chooses to send one. at least, that's what it means for me.
i will also pray that if my cycle is just really weird and we have a tiny baby, God will protect our child. i pray that all this insanity will end, that my body will do whatever it needs to to protect this new life, and that my next blood test will give us hope. i've done a little research, and it looks like it's normal for hcg levels to be tested within 72 hours... i suppose my doctor wants to wait a week because that will really tell us if the numbers are truly going up or down. so, i wait.
in the meantime, the insomnia continues. i woke up to pee and cannot get back to sleep. so i've taken the laptop upstairs where i will not disturb my beloved. i've turned the heat back up to a level that is comfortable with blankets. i will not allow the disappointment of early morning darkness (versus that glow that occurs when weather forecasters are correct and we actually get a covering of snow) to take away my hope. after this insomnia passes, perhaps i will awaken to a soft covering of snow.
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