I am so tired. I stayed up way too late last night (1 AM) then Cars had a restless night ergo I did too. I am dragging right now and considering going to bed. Stephen just got home from golfing (golf league started today - every Wed thru mid-Sept) though and I haven't really had a moment to talk to him (he's taking the kids to bed right now).

Today was the last day of the swim session. Jax did great and Dex did really well too. Way better than when they started a few short weeks ago. I will sign them up for one more session with the swim nazi but I think we will not do any during the summer. I can get Dex back in September which Jax is at school then start them back up again next spring after school.

I hot-glued the trim to our lampshades in the bedroom and they look nice. I think it is time to paint the room finally. I might just go with the Charlestown buff (Benjamin Moore HC9) that we have in the hallway down here. It is a nice rich butterscotch tone.

Ok, I can barely keep my eyes open. Off to bed.

Gladys Kravitz Watch:
Next door neighbours moved out Monday. Today they were back getting more stuff out of their garage. I am dying to find out how much they are putting their house up for sale. I'll keep you posted!

Ok my post from last night disappeared somewhere...

It was nothing really. Just posting about how proud I am of Jax who is now riding his bike without training wheels. He is such a big boy now. ~sniff~

Did a little retail therapy this evening. Just bought some scrapbooking stuff (cardstock) and seom toiletry items. Oh and some beaded trim that I am thinking about hot-gluing to the lampshades in the bedroom. I spent almost an hour in Joann's just wandering around. I wish I had gone south rather than north so I could have gone to Pacific Fabrics instead. They have a much larger selection of fabrics, especially decorator fabrics.

Cars has been nursing like crazy lately. I think he is teething and is using me as a pacifier. The bonus for me is that I have lost 4 pounds over the past few days. :)

Jax got in trouble on the bus again today. He and Gav were horsing around again. This pisses me off because I do not want them to sit near each other on the bus. I have told Jax that. I have told the bus driver that. Anyway, I will not allow Jax to take the bus tomorrow or Thursday and I am not going to let him go to lunch at Gav's anymore on T/TH. He will just have to suck it up and come with me while I pick Dex up from school and forget taking the bus. He can eat his lunch in the parking lot at the preschool. Ash says she is not going to take Gav off the bus for a day or more as punishment because that is punishment for her - having to drive him herself. *sigh*

OK, I made it through today! Whew! The party went really well. Jax just beamed the whole time - he loves playing with other kids and running around. The weather was great, considering they were calling for rain, so most of the party was outside. The treasure hunt walk was a big hit for the kids. Mostly though, they enjoyed popping balloons with their pirate swords. I think those kids popped over 100 balloons!

One of the moms did not leave for almost an hour after the "end" of the party. I was freaking out because I needed to get dinner made and delivered to Laurie since I had scheduled meals for the week and dummy me chose Saturday. Anyway, I got dinner made and delivered on time.

And I am oh so tired. I think I must now go to bed.

Getting stuff ready for Jax's b-day party tomorrow. Pirates. Dread Pirates. I was hoping the weather would have stayed warm and sunny but looks like cool and rainy.

Nanny came today. I took Cars with me when I went out because he needed to be fed an hour after I left and I didn't want to come back to do it. I guess Jax and Dex had a "better" time when she wasn't preoccupied with Cars the whole time. She even folded some laundry and emptied the dishwasher! :)

I don't have much else to blog about. I'm stressing about the party and I guess that's why. Will blog more after the event.

(posted last year on SAHP Forum:

April 14, 1998

I had been awake all night. Was I in labour? I must be. I was so uncomfortable. I let Stephen sleep thinking "he will need to be well rested for this". Like I wouldn't...I was just counting the hours until 8am when I was to go into the hospital for induction. It was now 6 days past my due date and I had been on full bed rest for a week and a half due to high blood pressure. The previous day, my midwife told me she would induce me today and then she stripped my membranes - ouch! She sent me home and arranged for the induction the next morning.

I woke Stephen up at 6am and told him we needed to go to the hospital. We took our time getting ready and arrived at 7am. I could barely walk at this time and the contractions were so strong. My back was killing me. I had stopped timing them because they were too fast and too strong. We arrived at the check-in desk at the hospital where a snippy receptionist told me I wasn’t scheduled to be there for another hour and there were no rooms for me. I explained that I was in labour and got an "oh sure – first time mom" look from her. I sat in a chair and waited an hour before a room was available. Finally we were taken to a room and I changed into a gown. Twenty minutes later my midwife came in to check me. "Wow - 8 centimetres!" She exclaimed. "Wait, that cannot be right." she checked again. No, I was just 5cm. I was panicking. Was it too late for some drugs? Luckily it wasn't and after a little monitoring I was given intrathecal morphine, which immediately took the edge off the contractions but when it comes time to push, it certainly did nothing for pain then (why didn't they tell me that before hand?).

At 10:20am I was checked again and I was at 10cm! I could not believe this was happening so fast. This is not what the pregnancy books said. I pushed for a while and there was little progress. The midwife explained that the baby was posterior presentation. This of course explained the excruciating back pain. I pushed using a birthing bar, a birthing seat, in a crouched position, on my back, leaning against the back of the bed. Nothing. After an hour a doctor was called in because my baby's heart rate kept dropping and was starting not to recover quickly after each contraction. The doctor told the midwife to let me push for another hour. I went through the different positions again. I distinctly remember thinking, "Why do women have more than one baby?!"

The next hour or so passed and the doctor was summoned again. The baby's heart rate was starting to fall and so he said I would need a c-section. I didn't care. I just needed the baby out before anything happened to him/her. They started to prep me for surgery. I was exhausted and kept pushing though because it was the only thing that gave me relief during the contractions. I remember kicking the nurse who inserted the catheter! Ow! That catheter hurt way more than the contractions!!

I was whisked off to the operating room and Stephen was brought in after he had changed into scrubs. Everything happened so fast. I said to Stephen "I feel some tugging" and he stood up and peeked over the drape. He sat down fast. He told me later that there were two doctors with their hands inside of me. A few moments later the doctor announced, "It's a boy!" I was stunned. "Are you sure?" I asked. Everyone laughed. What's his name the nurse asked me "Jackson" I replied. "My son's name is Jackson".

Happy birthday to my lovely little boy who is growing up way too fast. ~sob~

(edited to change all of the " and ' from the funky characters...)

Dex finally is fever-free but he is still feeling out of sorts. Very whiny and clingy. Poor thing.

The swim nazi called this morning and said since so many people are away for spring break this week then Dex could join the 11am class for this week so I would not have to make two trips to the pool. Whoo-hoo! It worked out really well for us today. She said she is trying to shift some people around so Dex can be in the 9:30 class for next session (Jax will be at 9). That would be great. After that, I don't know if I will keep them or sign them up for classes at the Y. I will probably put them back in again in Sept.

It is quite a bit cooler today than yesterday. It has been overcast most of the day. It is about 60 here right now but the sun is shining so it is very pleasant. I have a terrible migraine today so we are not out enjoying the sunshine.

Off to see the psychologist shortly. Wonder when I will be done being crazy.

Cripes it is hot:

4/11/04
3:22:17 PM CURRENT MIN/MAX RATE
Temperature (ºF) 87.0 43.7 / 91.1 0.2
Humidity (%) 15.4 11.6 / 82.8 1.2

Do you see that temperature? Currently 87, was 91. It is freaking hot! We are not supposed to get this weather ever, nevermind in April! There is enough of a breeze that the downstairs is cool enough but upstairs is hot. Of course our air conditioner is not set up. Grrrr!

Kids had a fun egg hunt this morning. We took a nice family Easter photo this morning. I also took some with my SLR camera so I'll have to wait until I develop the photos to see how they turned out.

Dex is still pretty sick. This morning at 5:15am his temperature was 102F (he let me take his temperature finally). That is really, really high for him since his "normal" temperature is around 96.7F. We've run out of Motrin and he will not eat the Tylenol chew tablets so Stephen has just run out to Safeway to buy more Motrin.

Oh Jax is in need of some mommy time.

Looks like Dex has what Gav had last week. He keeps spiking a fever (not sure what his temp is because he will not let me take his temp but he is burning!) but no other symptoms (i.e. vomitting, diarrhea). He is just miserable when his temperature gets up there and it takes a good hour or so after Motrin before he starts feeling better.

During one of his feel good hours, we took the kids to swimming at the Y. Well, Stephen went in with them while I held Cars. Only Jax and Dex are members but parents can swim free for kids under 5. I may sign Cars up in the fall so we all can go swimming during the winter. And perhaps Cars and I may take a mommy and me learn to swim class.

Anyway, the kids were able to show off their new swimming skills to Stephen. It was HOT here today so swimming was good. Then Stephen took Jax to his tball game because Dex's fever came back and he slept for an hour.

Tomorrow is Easter. I did not finish reading "The Purpose Driven Life" during this Lenten period. I am struggling so much with my faith these days. I think I may take a "Returning Catholics" class at the church. Stephen is not interested at all in returning. He has so many issues with the church and refuses to give them another cent of his money. So of course I am struggling with the fact that his money is our money is my money. (see the conflict?)

Friday again.

Friday Five
1. What do you do for a living? I am a stay-at-home mother

2. What do you like most about your job? Being with my children all day, every day

3. What do you like least about your job? see #2

4. When you have a bad day at work it's usually because we have too many errands to run.

5. What other career(s) are you interested in? I would love to be an artist of some sort

Jax's class had a field trip to the local fire station. I had Nanny come a little later today to watch Dex and Cars so I could go on the trip. It was a gorgeous day and the 1 mile walk each way was delightful. It was interesting to learn things about our Fire & Rescue service (like there are NO paramedics stationed within 10 miles of us - just EMT's who cannot administer drugs - except epi-pens - or do any other invasive procedures). The kids all had a great time and they looked so cute wearing the free plastic fire fighter hats given to them.

Tonight was MOVIE NIGHT. The kids really, really, really wanted to see George of the Jungle. What a horrible movie! And then they made a sequel! Thank goodness it was a NetFlix movie. I would hate to think we paid $5 for this crap. Stephen and I are perhaps going to watch
Cast Awaytonight or maybe wait until tomorrow.

I spoke to MIL today and she again said she would not believe that Greg and Jen's babies were both girls until she sees them. I gently told her that ultrasound technology is very accurate usually and I am sure they are girls. Besides, Jen is having another ultrasound next week so I am sure they will confirm everything then.

I made some Jell-O Pudding Eggs today for a nice chocolate treat for Jax since he cannot eat most store-bought chocolate. They taste really good but they look like crap! I also placed them on a wire rack to cool and they are stuck to the rack so they will mostly chocolate lumps of stuff rather than eggs.

Gladys Kravitz Watch:
The Watch goes the other way today. Kim stopped by to talk to me and commented that we must be outgrowing our house by now. (We aren't but a basement would be really nice). She then said that the neighbour across the street and three up from us is selling her house by the end of the year and we should consider buying it. Ok, first that house has about another 1000 sq feet more than this one, plus is also has a "view", backs onto a green belt and has a "daylight basement". All of this adds up to a house that is worth at least $150,000 more than ours. Right, like we'll just hop right over and buy it.

Stephen is working late and I should be making the kids some dinner but I don't feel much like it. The house is a wreck. The kitchen should be condemned and I am three loads behind in folding laundry. Again, I have whacked too many things off my list. Time to get BACK ON TRACK.

I was speaking to one of the other kindergartener moms today. Her eldest daughter has a peanut allergy and she had an anaphylactic reaction to one of the free cookies that they give away to al the kids at Safeway. Well that is one more treat that Jax can no longer have. Bugger.

The swim nazi wants to move Jax into a 9am class on MW. I cannot decide which is better. Being rushed to get out the door in the morning for that class or being rushed when we get home at 11:18 to make, and eat lunch and catch the bus at 11:42. Hmmm...what to do what to do...

I suppose I should go make dinner.

Another day another dollar...except that I do not work and so I guess I didn't make a dollar.

We hand delivered most of Jax's b-day invitations today. I ended up making them afterall. Frugal. :) I need to mail one of them and I am not sure how we will deliver the other two without the non-invited kids perhaps finding out about it (these two kids are not listed in the PTSA directory so no home address). We'll figure it out somehow.

Cars has started that oh-so-fun game of throwing things on the floor over and over again. He thinks it is funny and he laughs but if you do not pick it up and give it back to him, he screams. Yikes! He also loves, loves, loves climbing the stairs. He will look at you then take off like a shot and race for the stairs. He pauses long enough to make sure someone is watching him then up-up-up he goes laughing all the way. Dex used to do the same thing although I don't think he started doing it until he was 9 months old. I need a new type of gate because the pressure mounted one is a PITA to get on/off when Jax and Dex want to go upstairs. Or maybe I can just spend a couple of days teaching Cars how to come downstairs backwards so I don't have to worry about him crawling/falling back down them head first. (Bad mom, eh?)

I spoke to Jen (SIL) for almost an hour today. She is 22 weeks along. Doctor told her that by 30 weeks she might expect to be on bedrest and he hopes to keep the twins in until 36 weeks. I hope so too. She will have another ultrasound shortly to have another look at the cyst on Twin B's kidney. Her doc said that often these cysts are nothing and are actually something that is "passed" on from the parents. Jen's kidneys are clear so she wants Greg to have his checked out. She mentioned to MIL that perhaps Greg "passed on" the cyst and MIL got her back up and said that Greg has never had any problems with his kidneys. LOL Typical MIL reaction (any MIL, not just ours). MIL also said "I won't believe it until I see it". She also said that to me when I asked her how exciting to be having twin girls in the family. Poor Jen!

Speaking of babies, the more I look at Princess Fiona (as I have started calling her since Katie mentioned "Shrek" in my blahg comments - lol) the more I think that maybe she looks a little tiny bit perhaps like my kids (above the nose only). The nose/mouth is definitely all Andrea.

Shit. The 11 o'clock news just started and the lead story is that today, a dozen US Marines have been killed and dozens are injured. I feel sick for those people's families. I feel sick for the Iraqis who are living this hell.

We received notification for more fingerprinting with the INS. Shit, they aren't called that anymore. They are USCIS or something like that. Anyway, the lawyers say that it could be that they (USCIS) are "close to beginning the adjudication of your application for adjustment of status."

Main Entry: ad·ju·di·ca·tion
Pronunciation: &-"jü-di-'kA-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: French or Late Latin; French, from Late Latin adjudicatio, from Latin adjudicare
1 : the act or process of adjudicating

Main Entry: ad·ju·di·cate
Pronunciation: &-'jü-di-"kAt
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -cat·ed; -cat·ing
transitive senses : to settle judicially

Does this mean we will finally get our green cards?? Or will the process be another year or so? So far we are nearly 5 years into the process. And people wonder why "aliens" can be in the States for years and years and never become citizens. It takes so long! Once we have our green cards we have another 5 years before we can apply for citizenship which could take 2 years or more! I'll be so old by the time we are citizens.

Laurie had her baby today - a boy named Colton. I cannot wait to see him. She should be home tomorrow. We'll have to check with her to set up a schedule for meals for her.

TMI ALERT Andrea had to go to the hospital today because she passed part of the placenta that was left in her. :(

I asked the swim nazi today if I could move Dex into the 10am class and she said "He's not good enough". LOL It is true I guess but I am getting tired of going there two times in one day. I will sign the kids up for swimming for the next session (which runs thru the end of May) then no more unless they are back-to-back sessions. Guess I should work on Dex and his swimming ability.

Fiona Elizabeth! What a pretty name. She weighs 7 pounds, 11 oz. My brother called me this morning and he sounds so happy and proud. I am so happy for the Wally!

IT'S A GIRL!

Born 04-04-04 at 00:04! Too cool! (Eastern time)

No name yet.

BABY UPDATE: Wally called me at 9:35 and said they just arrived at the hospital. The midwife said the baby's head was "right there" and would go quickly. Two hours later still no update!!!

Last night was the Beach Bash at the preschool. It was packed. I should say that when I say preschool it is also now a Christian elementary school going to grade 2 this year and up to grade 4 next. That's why there were so many people there. Jax and Dex had a great time running around doing the limbo. Jax went up alone to get his ice cream. He asked if it were peanut-free. I am so proud of him!

Andrea has still NOT had her baby (well at least the last I heard). Poor girl. She has been in labour since Thursday!

I haven't anything special planned for the boys for Easter. I haven't even done much with Jax's birthday party either. I think I am whacking too many things off the list. We spent three hours at the park yesterday and I think I probably should have been home doing laundry or other housework or party planning. The day was gorgeous though and Jax and Dex rolled down the paths on their skateboards.

The moment my back is turned, Cars runs off and tries to climb the stairs. He can actually climb all the way up them but he does still lose his balance, often when looking back to see if he is being chased. What a monkey!

Oh! Forgot to mention that I spoke to Wally a few hours ago and he thinks Andrea is finally in labour! I could be an auntie by morning! Whoo-hoo!!

I am so mad! The new Chapera tribe on Survivor are so friggin stupid! Not one of them deserves to win!

*breathing deeply*

Anyway, Jax's allergy testing went well. We just tested him for six things. He is still allergic to eggs (rats!) and he is allergic to birch trees. Perhaps next year the egg allergy will be gone...

I polished off the birthday cake tonight. I really need to get back on WW. I can feel my gut expanding.

No school again for Jax tomorrow (he was off on Wed too) so we are going to meet Tami and her kids at McD's for lunch. Then I might head to the mall and buy a couple of t-shirts for me.

Gladys Kravitz Watch:
The H's dog is the one shitting on our lawn. I saw their son picking up some poop today from it. That royally pisses me off. Let it poop on their own lawn! Grrrrr! I have little kids who play there!

I am a dolt. Apparently the problem I have been having with my left contact lens is that I have been inserting it backwards each and every time I put them in. No wonder my eyesight wasn't great with them in and the left one kept bugging me. doh! So the eye doctor gave me another set to try for another two weeks before I order them.

My birthday was good. I received several new PEZ for my collection Sesame Street (missing Elmo tho) and the Army Emergency Hero. DeniSe sent me a giant musical Kermit THE Frog dispenser. Life is good. lol

Jax has school in the morning today which screws up my Thursday schedule. In fact I should be getting ready rather than blogging...