christmas

so, it was a great christmas. it was really busy, but good. besides the four of us we had three others staying here christmas eve, and they were here to open stockings and gifts with us as well. Watching Isabella's reaction was amazing. This is really the first year she has really been aware of what was going on. "Look mom! Santa remembered that I wanted a doctor kit!" I opened all of Zachs gifts as he grabbed everyone elses presents. The highlight of my morning was watching three men - dad, keithie (chris's brother) and morley (his roommate) - open presents that they absolutely didn't know they were getting. Dad and Morley never grew up with good stockings and presents. They were split between lots of other kids. Morley kept saying thanks guys thanks. Dad said it was the best christmas he had ever had. That made my Christmas.


I feel really guilty though because through all of the commotion, I forgot to take pictures. We took some video. Chris said he would take pics but I wanted him in on the fun of opening presents and I wanted to see his reaction to some gifts I - I mean santa - got him.


After presents were opened I cleaned up the 3 garbage bags of paper and started in on breakfast. we had eggs, ham, hashbrowns, and toutons (a newfie favorite). We had lunch at my MIL's house which had it's annual arguement. Then supper at my grandmothers. Turkey dinner twice in one day made me very tired.


Usually mom comes over first thing in the morning to watch Isabella open her gifts but because we had company this year she stayed home. Being a momma's girl I really missed her. I have really only seen her in passing as she comes to babysit and I go to work lately. So going to Nan's for supper was really nice because I got to spend some time with mom. Zach and bella were a hit of course. Isabella is at the age where she is the best entertainer. She played dinner music during supper. Then sang songs and told jokes.


I didn't really have any surprises this year. Chris felt really bad. He has vowed to make next Christmas really special for me. He says I will feel like a princess, like I should be. Hehehe!!!


Anyway, the one pic we took was of Keithie, Chris's brother and Zach during Christmas dinner at my MIL's. Keithie is very concieted. You can tell that by the look on his face in this pic.

So as for the update on Zachs eyes. We went to the specialist and she put the requisition in for the surgery. We haven't gotten the date yet though. Irony - his eyes have been so close to perfect since then. If they stay that way we will cancel the appointment.

busy busy

So here are the pics that we had taken for Christmas. I had to scan them, so they are a bit crooked. I know it has been such a long time since I wrote, but going back to work, along with choir concerts and practices, spending time with my kids, shopping and sleeping, I really haven't had much time. I am off today and tomorrow, and the tree is up, so I figured if someone had to write and remind me it had been a while since I made a post, I should sit a bit.

Chris's mom came down to give me a hand to wrap some gifts tonight, but Zach just won't go to bed tonight. Go figure.

He is starting to walk and is getting into everything. But on a better note, he has slept through the night in his crib 3 nights now, knock on wood.

Isabella is crazy. She cries all the time because I go to work. The two kids came in the bed this morning with me and chris and we had to crack up laughing at her. If you ever think that kids don't listen and don't have their ears open then listen to this. We are all playing in the bed this morning and she looks at Zach, takes his face in her two hands and says "Zach, I can always count on you!" Now she really doesn't understand what she said, but it was just so cute. Then tonight as we were decorating the tree, she handed me an ornament and said "Happy Christmas Mommy!" What a cutie.

Zach's appointment with the specialist for his eyes got bumped up. It was supposed to be last Tuesday, got cancelled, so it is tomorrow. So we shall see what happens. Here is a pick of what his eye looks like in the morning. The other eye is shut cause the flash made him blink, but you can see how blocked the other eye is.

yeah, so work is going really well. Like I wasn't even gone. It took me a bit to feel like I was part of the team again. I am a supervisor to people that were once my same position, so that took a bit to adjust too.

I can't believe that this time one year ago I was on pins and needles waiting to have Zach. The last couple of days I have had a yearning to be pregnant and give birth again. Not necessarily have another baby, but I really miss being preggo and being in labor. I think even though I could have a scheduled c-section next time, I would go for the natural again. I dunno, Chris looked at me and took off his ring and said, it won't be mine!!! he was joking of course. He really doesn't want any more children. I would have more. Tons more. I love it.

Isabella started music for young children a few weeks ago. she loves our piano and loves to sing, so we thought that it would be good for her.

ANyway, Zach is gone so I am off to wrap with my MIL.

Aftermath

SO, Once I was up in my room, the nurses took Zach and got him all cleaned up. Mom and Chris went home. It was early in the morning, 11 or so, and there was alot going on in the hospital. They were waiting for my private room to be cleaned, so there was 3 other women in the room I was in. I had to pee. I got up from the bed and realized I still had the cathader in. I buzzed the nurses. Two came in and help me stand up. They slid the cathader out. I thought that was going to hurt, but to be honest I can't remember if it did or not. They left and I walked about 7 feet to the bathroom and got sick. The nurses said that was a reaction to the demoral the doctor had put in my back. I got back in bed and slept. Then I heard the nurse bringing Zach in. I left him in his little bed. I went back to sleep again. I woke up to this little voice coming down the hallway. One that I was longing to hear. I missed my baby girl! She came in and I just wanted to hold her. I had to get Chris to lift her up. Then she wanted to see Zach. Here is my beautiful look just hours after birth.

Chris tried to do her hair, but he just doesn't get the tidy bit. So while falling asleep to some visitors, I asked the nurse if we could take out the epidural so that I wasn't getting any meds. I didn't like not staying awake.

The doctors came in the next day and asked how I was. My iron count was down alot. As if I was bleeding internally. They weren't concerned though because I have really low iron anyway and I was walking around and had color.

The next day they came in again and said that I could go home. I was shocked. Usually they don't let you go home that early after a c-section. I jumped at the chance.

Bad idea. The next day was hell. I couldn't get up or walk easily. I had done too much the day before because I felt so good. That only lasted a day. The nurse came on the Friday to take out my stitches. And here we are today. Everything is good and he still doesn't sleep through the night. Oh well. I couldn't have two great sleepers, that isn't my luck!

I will do Isabella's story in a bit.!

Anniversary

Yesterday, November 16, 2006, Chris and I were married 4 years. And you wanna know what we did for our anniversary? We drove 3 hours to get to a funeral home n the middle of know where. Chris's close cousin's MIL died and his family is away on a cruise, so we went out to be with him. But all in all it was a good day. I just like spending time with my hubby without children. Anyway, Happy Anniversary to us!!!

Part 2 - Labor and Delivery

This is my second attempt at this post. My stupid cat jumped on the keyboard and shut the window down as I was writing the last sentence. So here goes.....

The two pics are in the delivery room just before I go undressed. The bathroom is that beige door, the baby table is there in the background on the left and I am standing at the foot of the bed. For those of you who know me, I was all belly, with no weight anywhere else.

I had forgotten how warm it was when your water breaks. My water broke at home with Isabella. So after they broke my water, they hooked me up to the wireless monitor and I started to walk around the halls of the birthing unit. Within a half an hour, the contractions started. And boy did they start. I had to go back in my room because they were so bad. Sometimes they tell you to walk around out in the halls until you can't stand it so that the contractions get heavier. I didn't need that. So I had my own way of dealing with the pain and that was to move during the contraction. The nurse tried to tell me other ways to get through it, but I had my way. She learned that pretty quickly too! Anyway, I asked for demoral (spelling?), and of course, that made me throw up. I had gotten sick with Isabella so I wasn't shocked. Then I got in the shower. I sat on a chair stark naked, not caring who saw what! The sucky shower head had no pressure and not a lot of water came out. SO it covered one area of my body at a time, and I really wanted it on my back. I was getting very cold. I was already shaking because of the pain, then cold shakes on top of that were making me very cranky, so I just wanted out. The pain was getting very intense with only 50 seconds or so in between each one. The nurse wanted me to get on the bed so she could check me. It took what seemed like forever to make it over to the bed from the bathroom. I would sit on the bed and get ready to lie back and another contraction would come and I would have to get up again, to move through it. I went in at 3 cm and 40%. When she checked me 50 minutes after my water broke, I was 6 cm and 75%. I was amazed that I went so quick. You always here how your second ones goes fast, but I never imagined I would be one of those women. Anyway, I decided to go a bit longer without drugs. The nurse suggested I lean against something with my but stuck out and sway. That would turn him around if he was in the wrong direction. That only hurt too much and I really didn't care. Isabella was in the wrong direction and a doctor came and put his whole arm inside of me and turned her, so I knew they could do the same with Zach if need be.

Anyway, after 20 minutes, I said, "I need drugs - NOW!"

They laughed. The nurse in her calm manner said I will get him to come as soon as he can. I don't remember how long it took him to come, everything was running together. He gave me my epidural. But something was wrong. I could feel the needle in my back. The nurse assured me that it looked fine, but I could feel it and it was really uncomfortable. She called the dude back and he took it out and had to put it back in in another spot. Instant relief. She checked me again and I was 8cm and 90%. Only 20 minutes since the last time! She figured I would have the baby in the next hour or so. I fell asleep. I woke up to another nurse and mom making calls. Chris was out for a smoke (I was hoping he would have stopped by the second baby). Anyway, my nurse was gone on her break. I was feeling major pains in my back. I knew this meant that Zach was turned the wrong way. I said this to the nurse and the said his heart rate was fine, but she would check me anyway. So this was now 2.5 hours from when I went in. I saw a look of surprise, disappointment and concern. I asked her what was going on, was he ok. She assured me that he was ok, but that to her I wasn't 8 cm anymore. She got the doctor on call to come and assess. In layman's terms - When Zach dropped, I started to swell up and now I was only 6-7 cm again. Dr. Bartallis told me that I was going to have to have a section. I said ok and he left. My doctor, Dr. O'Shea came in and I immediately began to sob.

He said "You did fantastic. Look how far you have gotten in so short a time. You didn't think you could do it! Dr. Bartallis is great and I will be right there with you explaining the whole thing. You are in the right place. If this had been 50 years ago, you would stay in labor for days and you and the baby might not make it."

I love that man. He needs and award for bedside manner. He made us feel so at ease. So it took about another hour before they came and got me. Chris got his hospital scrubbies on and that hat and mom went out in the waiting room with my grandfather. He was out there the whole time. I still cry about how much he cared.

So there I am with Chris sitting next to me. Dr. O'shea took the pic for us. I remember falling asleep a lot I was so stoned. I would wake up to the table being jerked one way or another. It is crazy what they do to your body.

Anyway, I remember Dr. Bartallis saying "Sure no wonder he wouldn't come out, he was too big!"

I laughed. And fell back to sleep. They took him out and hung him upside down and brought him over on the table to give him some oxygen and clean him and weigh him.

Then I distinctly, remember hearing 9 lbs 12 ounces! I woke right up and looked at Chris. We started laughing. Dr. O'Shea said he came out with a backpack on ready to go to school. I really wanted mom to be there. I let Chris go out and tell her the news. The nurse took Zach out to show them as well. They cleaned my up and I remember thinking, are they tearing the skin off of me or something. Anyway, I went out in recovery and they brought Zach to me. I was still pretty groggy so the nurse had to help me hold him to latch on. He knew exactly what to do, and I guess I did second time around too.

I hope you all enjoyed the labor story. I will do a very short recovery story next, another time. Please leave comments.

Birth Story Part 1

Okay, so Isabella's birth and pregnancy was pretty normal for a first baby, so I decided that I would share with the few of you who read this Zachs journey!

So, I am one of those people who have no problem getting pregnant. After going to the hospital in late March to see a friend and her new bundle, I decided I was ready to have number two. It took Chris a bit to warm up to the idea, but I always win. Timing was off because mother nature decided to make a visit that day. So by the middle of April I was pregnant. I was going to my mother's for a family birthday party and figured I would check just in case because I wanted to have a drink there. And of course, positive. So we prepped Isabella on what to say. So we went over and Isabella told everyone, Mommy's having a baby and I'm gonna be a big sister.

At six weeks I started spotting a little, which I didn't get too hung up on because the same thing happened on Isabella and she was fine. So that continued for 3 weeks and 2 trips to hospital. They kept saying that my hormone levels were still increasing, so everything was ok. Then one day I started to bleed. I went to the hospital and after more blood work, they said the same, but the scheduled a ultrasound for two days time. That was fine too, so I stopped worrying. And this may seem like a lead up to something bad, but no. Everything was fine. I worked up until 5 weeks before I was due. My sciatic nerve started acting up. Being on my feet for 9 hours a day was not helping. Dr. O'Shea thought that it would be better if I went off. So I did. During the next 5 weeks until my due date (December 31), I barely slept at night. I would be up at all hours wishing that every tweak would be the start, or every time I would get up my water would break like it did with Bella. No sir! I would play Pyramids all night and chew ice cubes. I couldn't eat them when Chris was up because the sound made him crazy.

I had weekly visits with my doctor and this point. I made him root around every time to see if that would get things moving. I would go shopping after to see if the pressure would break my water. Christmas was my biggest worry. I didn't want to tbe in the hospital while Isabella was supposed to be opening her gifts. But that day went by with nothing. Then New Years at Moms we were saying how cool it would be to be the first baby. So I went home hoping, but again - NOTHING!!! SO I had my biophysical on the 6th and they put me on the induction list. They did an internal at that point and told me what I already new. His head was right there, could touch it, I was 3 centimeters and 40 % effaced. Woo Hoo, but not in labor. He had a big head and they estimated him at 8 pounds 8 ounces. So with a 10% margin of error, he was going to be at least 8 pounds up to 9 pounds. Ok. Freak Out!!!

I went home and bragged to everyone that he was big and that I was now on the list. Hoping that I would go on my own and half expecting a call any minute, I wouldn't leave the house. I told the nurses to call anytime, even during the night. So they never called that Friday, or that Saturday. Chris went out to bring his work truck in to the warehouse because he was taking time off for the baby. About 10 minutes after he left, 9:10 at night, the hospital called for me to get induced. They said to get there soon in case more people came in naturally. So I called Chris and told him to turn around, called mom and told her to get here soon and told my stepfather (father) he had to watch Isabella until Chris's brother got here.

Off we go to the hospital. Got checked by the doctor on call. My doctor isn't an OB. He is a GP who delivers, so he was getting updates and would come when the time was near to catch the baby. I was still 3 cm and 40%. She figured the best form of induction would be to break my water and go from there.

That's it for now......Tune in soon for part two - labor and disappointment.

Okay, let me start by saying that I was totally excited to be spending the night out with my hubby and getting to see the gorgeous JD Fortune all in the one night. What a disappointment. We waited outside for over an hour to get in to Mile One Centre because there was 'technical difficulties'. Then, the opening act was good but could only play for 30 minutes because we were late getting in and the whole concert had to be done by 11 for noise control rules. Which was ok because we were there to see INXS anyway. So then, stoned/drunk JD stumbles on stage, flipping around. He spent 90% of the time sitting/lying on the stage singing. Then he lit up 3 smokes. Which would be okay, but there is bylaws here that do not allow smoking inside. I could care less but that was the topic for discussion on the open line shows the next day. Then, everything was F this and F that. He cried for about 10 minutes because he was in Canada again. He started stripping and grinding the other men in the band. He was erotically licking the microphone stand and having air sex with curtains. Now, I know this is probably common for rock stars, but if all this is going on, make it a 19 an over concert. My 12 year old nephew was there and all I could think of was "And this guy is supposed to be an idol for our youth?" anyway. I dunno, I was just disappointed, and according to a lot of customers at work, they thought the same. Loved the concert, disappointed in him. He did say one memorable thing the whole night.

"We may not be the biggest ones in the sandbox, but we are gonna make the biggest F-ing castle!"

Time

I have been wondering how those brave women of long ago raised so many kids. God love them. Anyway. work is good. I feel like I am starting to fit in again. There is only 2 part time people still there who were there when I left.

I was bringing Isabella to daycare this morning and heard of a fatal accident on the highway close to here. I called Chris right away, but he was already long at work. I knew mom was already at work, plus it happened in the opposite direction she travels. I called Renee from work on her cell to make sure it wasn't her. She was behind it and had to get diverted off of the highway, so she was going to be late to work. So I went over to Peir 1 so that the part timer could hop in my car until Renee got there. Which brings me to my next story.

I decided to go to Old Navy on my way home. I went with the intention of getting an outfit for Zach to wear for pictures on Wednesday. They had no pants in his size (that I liked), no little dress shirt in his size that I liked. I wanted balck cords, a cream sweater, and a red shirt under it so that I could take off the sweater and have the shirt untucked if I wanted to. So, all I got was the sweater. I then bought3 shirts for me and walked out with $60 worth of stuff mainly for me. I can justify it because I don't have alot of clothes to wear to work. Hehehehe!!! I may just go to Walmart and see if I can get something for Zach to wear a little cheaper. His sweater was just as expensive as two shirts I bought.

My plants outside are dead and I really have to take them out of the ground. We just had our first frost this morning (hence the slippery conditions on the highway), so I need to take them up if I plan on getting flowers from them next year.

Anyway, I must go clean up before Isabella needs to be picked up.

Alisha, where is part 2???

New Family Member

This is Tiger. The newest addition to the family. We have had him almost a week now. She is part persian she was adopted from the ASPCA. She likes to cuddle and likes the expensive food that the vet gave us samples of. She goes a little loonie at night, and scratches our water bed at night to fluff up her bed. But she is a beauty.

Isabella had her Halloween Party today at Daycare. She was Snow White, with an Ariel tiera. We had a little fit before she went, but as soon as we said no daycare, then she turned around.

Zach had his surgery this morning. We got him up at 7:00 and we left shortly there after to get to the Janeway by 7:30. This is the pre-surgery picture before we left. I was a basket case, but it was very quick. He is sleeping better already, but that may be because of the anesthetic. We were home again by 10:30 or so.

On a different note. I am going back to work on Monday, 2 1/2 months early. I got a call from the Jackie, the manager, that the Senior Assistant Store Manager position was open because Renee was leaving. I had been training for that job before I had left. I was really not expecting that. It means more money and much more challenge, but that is what I wanted. I know I can do that job, I just have to get the mommy brain to go away, quick. Nan is going to watch the kids here at the house, so I will see them on lunch breaks, and I know they are well taken care of. We are going to leave Belle in daycare for 2 mornings, just so she can interact with kids her age. So, if things aren't updated alot, that's because I have 3 jobs now instead of two, Wife, Mother, and SASM.

Update

Okay, sorry it took so long for the "wellness" update, but I have been battling with the most crooked child in the world, I will tell all about that in a bit. So, Isabella's sugars were fine. They were 4.6 which is normal. I am really glad. I would dream about all the needles, and watching what she was eating and even all the health problems she could develope in years to come. Her ear infection is not completely gone but she still has a few days left of anti biotics to clear that up. Zach's ear infection is cleared up and his ENT appointment is this Monday morning at the children's hospital here. I guess that will tell us when the tubes will come. I only wish that he could get his eyes done at the same time, but he has to be a least a year old before they can fix that problem, because it still could fix itself before that. He wakes everyday with one eye caked shut with green goop!!! I just hope that these tubes will hepl him -and me- sleep better. His teeth are coming down hard too. There was a little red blister around the last one to come down. I never had any problems with Isabella when she was a baby. She was the best baby ever.

So, as for Missy Muffett. She got punished for the first time last night. She screached her little heart out. But she pushed too far. She started to throw stuff and scream and yell. So we sat her on the couch and wouldn't let her get down. Then, she kept at it so Chris took her next best thing, the priviledge of the TV. So today is better. She is still a bit whinny but much better. Anyway, this is becoming the gripe blog. I really don't think anyone elses child is this bad. But maybe just not honest enough to admit that they have a child go through terrible two's and head straight into troublesome threes!!!

I am slowly going crazy!

Okay, so on with the chronicles of sickness in the Pope house! So, again, after many sleepless nights, I took both Isabella and Zach to the doctor yesterday to get their ears checked. Zach had an ear infection almost two weeks ago, and his medicine had been finished for a few days, but he was still an extremely cranky baby. So, both have an ear infection. This is Isabella's 12th one since she was 6 months old, and this is Zach's 5th. Yippee!! Then the doctor said that Isabella's urine tests came back fine, no infections. She asked if she was still peeing alot and still always thristy. Now, you don't know thristy until you have a child screaming and crying at you because she needs a drink. I mean, we don't give her anything after supper, but she is still up three times a night to pee. She is always thirsty, doesn't matter what it is, juice, milk, water, she just wants something. So anyway, back to the story. The doctor is concerned about her sugar levels, wondering if maybe she is diabetic. She said the chances are very slima dn that juvenile diabetes is rare. But it is better to know. So, we had to go and get blood work done this morning. I prepared her for it last night, letting her know that it might hurt a bit, but that she would get a sticker and a finger puppet. She didn't even seem to care and she watched Dora on TV. I couldn't sleep last night thinking about possibilities, and how I was going to keep her calm while getting a blood test. For those of you who don't know, Isabella had a rough start to life. her lung collapsed and she was a ventilator for
a day, then had a feeding tube for 5 days, and was in the NICU for a week. She had that many pokes and prods, but she was fine. She even has a scar on her back from the spinal tap they gave her. This is a picture of her the first time I held her (no, that isn't my boob!!!), see al the bruises on her little hand? All those memories came flooding back. So we parked and as we walked up to the clinic and the hospital, she was singing away and all I could think was, she won't be singing in a few minutes. So I read her books while we waited. Then we went in and she wanted to sit by herself in the big chair. She started to tell the two nurses about how she has baby brother at home. They pricked her finger and she was taken back. She squirmed a bit, then we distracted her and she was fine. She counted how many drops of blood came from her finger in order to fill the small vile they had - 37. But she was fantastic. She got a bandaid and said to the nurse "where do I get my finger puppet?" We all laughed. She walked with her head high as we went back to the van. She said on the out, thanks for taking me here mom and she hugged my arm. Oh my! Then we went to McDonalds and got a hashbrown and orange juice. I am going crazy with all the sickness in this house. When will it stop especially with winter just around the corner. Hopefully, with tubes in the next month, Zach will not get anymore infections. But who knows. Anyway, I will update on the results of the blood work. Pray for a good outcome.

Being Thankful

I am not really sure of what to write today, but because it is Thanksgiving, I just want to say that I am very thankful for family. I understand that eveyone's family is different. I have one side of my family that doesn't talk alot or see each other and I guess you could say a little disfunctional!!! The other side of my family is amazing. Even friends of mine comment on how close we are. We man together in rough times, hug when hugs are needed, even when they're not, and do what ever we can for each other. We get together quite often just to eat!!! I really am lucky.

On another note, I think Zach is trying to wean out his morning naps. I just can't get him to take a nap in the morning anymore. This whole flu and ear infection thing has got him thrown off his schedule. Then miss muffett has been up watching TV at 5:30 the past two mornings. She wakes up coughing, then goes to pee, then can't get back to sleep. She has been peeing alot lately, like 3 times an hour, and says she is always thirsty. We have been trying to cut back on what she drinks thinking that maybe one will affect the other. She has even been peeing in her pants again. Chris took her to the doctor the other night and they ran a quick urine test but everything came back normal, so they gave us a requisition to go get cultures done on a sample. So we got that done Friday morning. If that comes back ok and she is still the dame then they said we can check for diabetes. I pray that it doesn't come to that. It is just super strange.

I decided to take up scrapbooking, but have no idea where to start. A friend of mine said she will help, so hopefully I get started soon. I just love the idea and the look, but wether I can do it myself or even find the time is another question. Any tips would be great.

Anyway that's it for now. And Jack, if you get a chance to check this, I hope you are having a good time and are driving careful. Will miss you at dinner tomorrow. See you in a few weeks.

Another Ear Infection

Okay, so after two sleepless, crying nights, and a day of sneezing and coughing, I decided to take Zach to the doctor to see if another ear infection has reared its ugly head. And sure enough, it has. Doctor O'Shea (the best doc in the world) said during the last infection, that when the next one comes he will have to go to an ENT. So guess where we have to go? I assume that when we go, he is going to say that Zach should get tubes. I hate that. To see him have to get put to sleep. But I guess on the other hand, it's better than more sleepless nights for years down the road. So whenever that happens. Then later in January he has to go and get his tear ducts probbed. I mean, is it safe for a small child to get put to sleep like that. I guess other kids have had to do
it. I just wish it wasn't my son. I guess I have to be thankful that he isn't really sick and that we have to worry for his safety. I often wonder what all those parents must feel as they sit in waiting rooms or next to their childs bed. I never want to know that feeling. I often pray for those families. And thank God that mine is so healthy.

On a brighter note, Isabella is being a doll. She has switched sides, and is now great for me and pushes Chris to the maximum limit. That child says so many things that would blow anyone's mind. Her new thing is when you ask her to do something, her response is "Okay, but it's not going to be easy!" I mean where did a three year old learn that? Then this morning dad was cooking an egg and it go stuck to the pan. She was in the bathroom brushing her teeth. Dad said "O Crap!" She came running out saying "what happened Pop, what did you say oh crap for?" I mean you really have to watch what you say and how you say it because that child has her ears open all the time.

Also, congrats to Tammy and Jeremy on the birth of their new baby girl, Maya. Her link is on the side <= if anyone wants to go and see pics of the new bundle.

Anyway, we just go back from getting Zachs medicine. He is asleep and Bella should be ready to eat lunch soon. So off I go.

Waiting

I am sitting here in the few quiet moments I get, trying to remember the feeling of waiting for a baby to arrive. My friend Tammy is ready to pop. She lives in the states, but we communicate through e-mail and blogs. She has an appointment today and it will tell if the baby comes today or in a few days. I just remember all the excitement and attention. If it wasn't for the raising, I think I would be pregnant a dozen times. But two is defintely enough.

Speaking of family, there are members of my family going through a really rough time right now. And without getting into it, if you could just keep them in your prayers. Pray for peace of heart and the knowledge that God is with them watching over them. I have realized that I have been taking my family for granted, especially my husband. I hate that it took something so serious to make me realize this. Make sure that in some way you let your family know that you love them. You never know when you may need them.

On a lighter note, I had a great day with Bella yesterday. We went to a birthday at a friends house. There were two others there her age and 4 babies. It was nice to hear that Isabella is not the only child to be irritating, whiney, and intolerable. She was really well behaved. She shared and didn't have Miss Attitude scrolled across her forhead. I enjoyed her tremendously. When she is bad we call her alter-ego Ella. I didn't see her at all yesterday , and hopefully the same will continue.

It is almost time to get herself from daycare. The picture above is one of Isabella and the other two girls from the party when they were just a few months old. Isabella is on the left, Rachel in the center, and Madison on the left. Times have changed.

Just posting this pic to see if I can get it put where my profile is. Hope it works.

Ok, so why is it that I can never get sleep. Devon's birthday party was last night so went in there to have supper. Of course on the way home at 6:30, 'herself' falls asleep. So we laid her in bed when we got home thinking that just maybe she would be asleep for the night - WRONG ANSWER!!! 8:30 she got up. And because Chris has to get up at 4, I stayed awake. At 1:00 she was out in the living room trying to turn on the TV. UH UH!! SO I tuck her back in bed and then she brings her blanket in our bed and climbs in. So I go to sleep and have no idea when she snoozed off. Then like clockwork, Zach got up at 3. SO I pick up Isabella, bring her back in bed, get Zach and bring him in. Then 7:30, the two are playing in my bed. No sleep for mom's - ever. I am not used to this because Isabella slept for 12 hours every night from the time she was 8 weeks old, and here's dear old Zachary who just doesn't. What's up with that? Anyway, weather is crappy today, so we are stuck inside bouncing off the walls today. I joined the gym last night with mom so I might actually get active. I am not sore today, so I will go again tonight. I mean, it really puts things into perspective when you go into an office at a gym and get measured. It really tells you how far gone you have become!!! Me and mom are roughly the same size so it will be healthy competition. I hope this color font is readable!! more later

mess, mess, mess

Have you ever wondered how a three year old child can be so messy. After being gone for two days, we came home to a disaster zone. I hated to face it all. This child is unreal. I don't know if she is like all other kids this age or not, but when Zach gets this age, I think I will just have to learn how to close my eyes to it all. I mean, I tidy up and clean everything, and I turn around and that child has 4 more things scattered around. Chris comes home and has the nerve to say "You didn't get a chance to clean today?" Uh, yes by! Between screaming baby, screaming, attitude filled child, and planning supper, I scrubbed the place down. I dunno. 75% of my time is contimplating returning to work early, just to get a break. Is that off the wall or what. Mom and I are going to join the gym tonight before choir so I will get some much needed time to myself soon. Anyway.