Yesterday was Cliff's birthday, and here is a list of things that did and didn't happen.
Did
All of the children gave Cliff cards. Ben's was Handy Manny, and we know it would work when he said, "Manny" and "Mine". Brandon gave his dad a dinosaur card. While drawing a picture and signing his name, he told me all about how his birthday party should be, including the gold dinosaurs and Transformer cake. Nadia signed one card and then made another one for Daddy during Church, complete with envelope. One small problem, no one knows how to put the envelope back on, including Nadia.
We made Cliff a chocoholic cake with Baby Ruth bars cut up on top of the whipped cream frosting. Brandon decided the cake wasn't quite ready yet and needed some fruit snacks, so they went on as well.
Cliff's birthday dinner was grilled steak, oven veggies, homemade rolls, a fruit and a green salad. The steak was perfect, nicely seasoned and very tender, and I can't eat enough of those oven veggies when they have mushrooms and asparagus.
Didn't
I still haven't gotten Cliff's b-day present. In my defense, I have pregnancy amnesia, and have a hard time remembering the children's names, let alone a book by what's-his-name Skousen about 5,000 somethings. Or Cliff's hat size for that fitted Detroit Tigers baseball cap he likes. No, apparently "Big" isn't a size. This week I need to find time to go to the store with the info written down and just hand it to someone so I don't make any more problems.
No pics for this post because I forgot to charge the camera. Not that Cliff really cares, but the children love to see b-day pics. Maybe when Aunt Jenny comes up on Thursday I will angle the camera so it looks like Cliff's b-day instead of Jenny's. Don't worry, I'll still take Jenny's pic as well. If I remember to charge the batteries this time.
We did have steak, but it wasn't what Cliff wanted for his b-day dinner. I just mistakenly assumed it was. About a month ago, Cliff was talking about a good steak, and so I decided we could do that for his birthday. Saturday night is not the time to double check to see if it's what they really want for Sunday/birthday dinner. He really wanted my mother's pork schnitzel with brown gravy and noodles. Oops.
I guess it's just a good thing that I'm so darn good looking, and that Cliff finds it easy to forgive me.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Big Scare With The Little Bean
Let me start this off by telling you that I am pregnant. 14 Weeks. I am due towards the end of January. We are very excited, but I am also very paranoid and nervous because of the 2 miscarriages I have had between Benjamin and now. That is why I have waited to tell people, unless they normally saw me all the time, and were scared I had the Swine Flu or something worse.
I have a wonderful midwife I see, who decided to break her arm and not see patients for two weeks. Why she couldn't have waited until after my appointment to do this, I don't know. I was called the day before my second visit with her to hear this news, and that I had the choice to see a doctor who I like very much and knows me as a patient, or someone I had never seen before and knew nothing of my history. Trying to be nice, I said either one would be okay. So of course I get the one I have never met.
Forward to the next day at appointment time. I was late, I admit it. So I had to wait while all the other good patients who were on time were seen first.
It would have been okay to wait 45 minutes, except I was already paranoid that everything wouldn't be okay, and then there were these obnoxiously ANNOYING children who were not under control at all. Incredibly, they were not mine. Now I don't know about you, but when I tell my child to stop doing something, they either do it themselves or I MAKE THEM. That's the way it works. This lady repeatedly told one of the children to stop doing something, sat there, and then said the child's full name. And continued to sit there. Guess what happened. That's right, NOTHING. All my children do when I say their full name is congratulate themselves that their mom actually remembered something.
Finally time to go in. They thought I was there for a yearly physical. Had to change all the paperwork and exam room. Not a big deal, I thought, because they have to pinch hit for my poor midwife. Get in the room, in comes the physician's assistant, who is all bubbly and happy and excited to see me and asks if I am still nauseous enough to need a prescription. I didn't get one the first time, so why would I need it now? Do I need more progesterone pills? I almost ask, "Do you want to look at my chart?" But I am nice. I tell her that my midwife just wanted me to take them through the first trimester to help my chances of not having another miscarriage. Then she does look at my chart. I see the light of knowledge and understanding finally shine forth from her face.
She takes out her Doppler and goos me up. I hate that goo. You can never get it all off. She goes down low. Then lower. Then still lower. I'm starting to wonder if I should have had a waxing before this appointment. I'm pretty sure my knees are up higher than where she is. Then she apologizes to me and tells me she usually does the physicals, not O/B visits, and she hasn't done one this early in the pregnancy in a long time. You could have fooled me, Jack. She says she has a terrible doppler unit because of this, and will get another one that she knows works better.
Doppler #2 is indeed better, you can hear the difference. She starts down low again, but miraculously, then starts to work her way up. Probably because there was no more low to go. But now I start to get worried. #1 doppler, I think you could have landed a helicopter on me and not heard it with all the static. #2 you start to hear all the normal things, but no heart beat. I tell myself not to panic; it's a little tricky sometimes to hear it at this stage, especially if you don't do it all day every day. We do this for 20 minutes. I am getting sore because she is pushing so hard, but she is sure she heard the heart beat for a second. I hear nothing comforting.
She is very serious now all the bubblyness gone, and tells me she is going to get a doctor and another doppler. Unless the doctor says I just need to go into Ultrasound right away. Then she leaves.
For the next 15 minutes, I to try to avert my eyes from all the cute baby pictures hanging on every wall and even the ceiling, or I will cry. This has happened to me before. One normal visit, and the next, no heart beat.
After these awful minutes, one of the doctors comes in with her own machine, goos me up again, and IMMEDIATELY found the heart beat. Very strong, very good rhythm. Nothing to fear. I almost cry again, I am so relieved.
I go out to make my next appointment, at which I will make sure I am definitely seeing my midwife or a doctor, and am told the finance dept. needs to see me. I think they just need to update my insurance info. Oh no. That would have been too simple.
She hands me several papers and then proceeds to tell me how much my insurance will cover, I need to sign this one to say where I want to deliver, this is the portion we are responsible for, unless it costs more, and then we have to pay that too, and which payment plan do I want? Can I start paying at the end of this month or is August better? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!! You want me to prepay on my baby? Who does that? And after having all my adrenaline sucked up and used by every cell of my body during those terrible 15 minutes?
I try to call the hubby, but no answer. I am still in shock over my appointment and just sign I still don't know what just to get out of there. An hour later I am still shaking, but breathing pretty normally, and that's when I realize I really was in shock. Cliff calls me back and I tell him everything. He gets very grim and goes to see the finance lady, who gets very angry at him. He gets another paper releasing me from any and all crazy actions taken by me that afternoon, and that we will pay our portion. After the baby is here.
And that is why when you find a good care provider, you should stalk them to keep them from any and all dangers, so you don't get stuck with inexperienced physician's assistants who will only end up scaring you half to death. And why you should never go alone into the fifth circle of hell, also known as the finance/billing department. Because they will suck out your soul. And $3,450 in easy to make payments of just $139 a month FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
I have a wonderful midwife I see, who decided to break her arm and not see patients for two weeks. Why she couldn't have waited until after my appointment to do this, I don't know. I was called the day before my second visit with her to hear this news, and that I had the choice to see a doctor who I like very much and knows me as a patient, or someone I had never seen before and knew nothing of my history. Trying to be nice, I said either one would be okay. So of course I get the one I have never met.
Forward to the next day at appointment time. I was late, I admit it. So I had to wait while all the other good patients who were on time were seen first.
It would have been okay to wait 45 minutes, except I was already paranoid that everything wouldn't be okay, and then there were these obnoxiously ANNOYING children who were not under control at all. Incredibly, they were not mine. Now I don't know about you, but when I tell my child to stop doing something, they either do it themselves or I MAKE THEM. That's the way it works. This lady repeatedly told one of the children to stop doing something, sat there, and then said the child's full name. And continued to sit there. Guess what happened. That's right, NOTHING. All my children do when I say their full name is congratulate themselves that their mom actually remembered something.
Finally time to go in. They thought I was there for a yearly physical. Had to change all the paperwork and exam room. Not a big deal, I thought, because they have to pinch hit for my poor midwife. Get in the room, in comes the physician's assistant, who is all bubbly and happy and excited to see me and asks if I am still nauseous enough to need a prescription. I didn't get one the first time, so why would I need it now? Do I need more progesterone pills? I almost ask, "Do you want to look at my chart?" But I am nice. I tell her that my midwife just wanted me to take them through the first trimester to help my chances of not having another miscarriage. Then she does look at my chart. I see the light of knowledge and understanding finally shine forth from her face.
She takes out her Doppler and goos me up. I hate that goo. You can never get it all off. She goes down low. Then lower. Then still lower. I'm starting to wonder if I should have had a waxing before this appointment. I'm pretty sure my knees are up higher than where she is. Then she apologizes to me and tells me she usually does the physicals, not O/B visits, and she hasn't done one this early in the pregnancy in a long time. You could have fooled me, Jack. She says she has a terrible doppler unit because of this, and will get another one that she knows works better.
Doppler #2 is indeed better, you can hear the difference. She starts down low again, but miraculously, then starts to work her way up. Probably because there was no more low to go. But now I start to get worried. #1 doppler, I think you could have landed a helicopter on me and not heard it with all the static. #2 you start to hear all the normal things, but no heart beat. I tell myself not to panic; it's a little tricky sometimes to hear it at this stage, especially if you don't do it all day every day. We do this for 20 minutes. I am getting sore because she is pushing so hard, but she is sure she heard the heart beat for a second. I hear nothing comforting.
She is very serious now all the bubblyness gone, and tells me she is going to get a doctor and another doppler. Unless the doctor says I just need to go into Ultrasound right away. Then she leaves.
For the next 15 minutes, I to try to avert my eyes from all the cute baby pictures hanging on every wall and even the ceiling, or I will cry. This has happened to me before. One normal visit, and the next, no heart beat.
After these awful minutes, one of the doctors comes in with her own machine, goos me up again, and IMMEDIATELY found the heart beat. Very strong, very good rhythm. Nothing to fear. I almost cry again, I am so relieved.
I go out to make my next appointment, at which I will make sure I am definitely seeing my midwife or a doctor, and am told the finance dept. needs to see me. I think they just need to update my insurance info. Oh no. That would have been too simple.
She hands me several papers and then proceeds to tell me how much my insurance will cover, I need to sign this one to say where I want to deliver, this is the portion we are responsible for, unless it costs more, and then we have to pay that too, and which payment plan do I want? Can I start paying at the end of this month or is August better? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!! You want me to prepay on my baby? Who does that? And after having all my adrenaline sucked up and used by every cell of my body during those terrible 15 minutes?
I try to call the hubby, but no answer. I am still in shock over my appointment and just sign I still don't know what just to get out of there. An hour later I am still shaking, but breathing pretty normally, and that's when I realize I really was in shock. Cliff calls me back and I tell him everything. He gets very grim and goes to see the finance lady, who gets very angry at him. He gets another paper releasing me from any and all crazy actions taken by me that afternoon, and that we will pay our portion. After the baby is here.
And that is why when you find a good care provider, you should stalk them to keep them from any and all dangers, so you don't get stuck with inexperienced physician's assistants who will only end up scaring you half to death. And why you should never go alone into the fifth circle of hell, also known as the finance/billing department. Because they will suck out your soul. And $3,450 in easy to make payments of just $139 a month FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Staying Cool
It was in the 90's on Saturday. So how did the kids stay cool? Daddy put the sprinkler under the trampoline so they could jump and get wet at the same time. Brandon even liked it, and he hates getting wet unless he can control the wet factor.
Then we went over to the g-parents house and played Wii in the cold basement and had a hot dog dinner. Perfect way to spend a hot summer day.Saturday, July 18, 2009
Frustrated
The title says it all. I am very frustrated lately. I have two fantastic movies that I keep trying to download and for whatever reason, they never go through. I really was trying to show the Joseph dance he did during the 4th of July parade when the marching band came by. It was great. He would sway from side to side and take an occasional step, but not to many. He is definitely set for his first church dance when he's 14.
I am also frustrated about the whole "Princess and the Pea" thing that happens EVERY TIME I get pregnant. That's usually one of my first signs. I don't know why, but for whatever reason I cannot get comfortable in any position in any bed for longer than 30 minutes. Then I have to start the whole trying to find a comfortable spot again. Not very conducive for sleep, which my body needs more of right now. So ironic. And frustrating.
And speaking of frustrating when you are pregnant, who in their right mind tells a pregnant woman that they won't call you if the lab reports are normal and then leaves an ominous sounding message Friday afternoon so you have to wait all weekend to find out what's happening?! You just don't do that! Especially to someone like me, who automatically thinks the worst and was expecting the message that I only had 48 hours to live, so waiting until Monday to call back was stupid because I would already be dead. Oh, the results were all normal, which was almost more frustrating, because they said they wouldn't call if they were okay. I think they just like messing with me.
Why can't I grow grass? We have resodded about half the yard because it was a wildflower wonderland that was way too much work and I was allergic to the majority of it, even if I wanted to try. Now we have weeds and morning glory that keep trying to grow in under and through the sod, so maybe we will end up with the wildflower/weed wonderland anyway. Frustrating.
Today we are going to look for an AC unit to fit the living room window. We already have 2, but they are too wide to fit. So the kids can stay nice and cool in their rooms with the wider window slots, but no, they have all been sleeping downstairs in the family room next to our room. Don't ask me why, because that means trying to figure out what they are thinking, and that is a road with no end, my friend. Wish me luck on the living room AC, but I expect it will just end up being FRUSTRATING.
I am also frustrated about the whole "Princess and the Pea" thing that happens EVERY TIME I get pregnant. That's usually one of my first signs. I don't know why, but for whatever reason I cannot get comfortable in any position in any bed for longer than 30 minutes. Then I have to start the whole trying to find a comfortable spot again. Not very conducive for sleep, which my body needs more of right now. So ironic. And frustrating.
And speaking of frustrating when you are pregnant, who in their right mind tells a pregnant woman that they won't call you if the lab reports are normal and then leaves an ominous sounding message Friday afternoon so you have to wait all weekend to find out what's happening?! You just don't do that! Especially to someone like me, who automatically thinks the worst and was expecting the message that I only had 48 hours to live, so waiting until Monday to call back was stupid because I would already be dead. Oh, the results were all normal, which was almost more frustrating, because they said they wouldn't call if they were okay. I think they just like messing with me.
Why can't I grow grass? We have resodded about half the yard because it was a wildflower wonderland that was way too much work and I was allergic to the majority of it, even if I wanted to try. Now we have weeds and morning glory that keep trying to grow in under and through the sod, so maybe we will end up with the wildflower/weed wonderland anyway. Frustrating.
Today we are going to look for an AC unit to fit the living room window. We already have 2, but they are too wide to fit. So the kids can stay nice and cool in their rooms with the wider window slots, but no, they have all been sleeping downstairs in the family room next to our room. Don't ask me why, because that means trying to figure out what they are thinking, and that is a road with no end, my friend. Wish me luck on the living room AC, but I expect it will just end up being FRUSTRATING.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Conversations
"I thought you sprayed Nadia.""No, I thought you had and I didn't want to spray her again."
Now my child has about 35 bites just from 1 1/2 hours out watching the bikes in the children's parade from July 3rd.
Totally unrelated conversation next. My parents were taking the kids to watch a movie and told Nadia and Brandon how smart they were.
Nadia: "Yes, I have a huge brain. That's why I'm smart."
Brandon: "My brain is so big it fills my whole head!"
I love those smart kids.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Independence Day
We went down to Delta for the 4th this year. It was a lot of fun, but as you can tell by the smiling and happy faces above, there was not much sleeping. Some of the highlights were:watching the children's parade on the evening of the 3rd, going to the real parade the next morning, playing and buying things at the park, having hamburgers, hot dogs, and 6 racks of to die for ribs (thanks, Beaner!), and seeing all the cousins and aunts and uncles. We also got to see Cherie, which was a real treat because we haven't seen her in several years.
Grandma also bought a slip-n-slide for the kids to play on, and it sure got used. The kids were really upset when it was time to put it away. The weather was perfect, too. It stayed pretty sunny but not too hot, and only rained between dinner and the big firework show. The kids stayed up to see that after we did our own little one, because let's face it, can you ever have enough fireworks?
Some funny things I heard this weekend:Wet guy comin' through!
VICTORY!!!
Have you seen my eyeball?
I also need to post Joseph's dance during the parade, and a few other things. I will try my best to get that done this week!
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