Sunday, April 27, 2008

Swing (not quite) Set

We finally made the swingset purchase and Jay and my dad decided to put it up this weekend. Jay had to work on Saturday so he didn't get home until about 2, and then they got to work. Here is a picture of them an hour into the project... my mom asked Jay, "Do you want me to get you a beer?" (as Addi, two dogs, and my dad all stood in the middle of the mess) and he said, "Uh... Let me get through step 1 first." (Don't worry, there are only 30 total steps!)


The got up this morning and were working by 8 a.m., and worked all day in the yard. The only major mishap was when Smokey ate a piece of the wood. They finally decided to call it a day about 6 with only the slide and a few other pieces to assemble and came inside. Addi didn't mind that it wasn't finished and ran on out, so Jay and she spent about a half hour swinging. She is pretty excited! I was pretty excited that there were no major injuries!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

You're Gonna Miss This...

I had a frustrating start to the morning... Addi was just wanting to play, etc., not get dressed or do what Mommy wanted. Then, we got dressed and she wouldn't put on her shoes... we finally got out the door and she ran around the fence and to the neighbors swing set. Since I resemble some sort of weeble-wobble, I slowly chased her, hoping and praying she wouldn't keep running to the road (quite a bit farther).

I finally caught her on the slide and walked her back to the car, and once she was buckled in I gave her a lecture on not running away because it's dangerous, etc. She said "OK Mommy" and promised to not run away (at least until tonight, right?) and we were on our way. We rode in silence the entire trip - I think she knew I was mad.

After I dropped her off I was still a bit frustrated and turned on the radio, hoping to de-stress a little... And the song "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins came on. For those of you who think that country music is equal to the sound of tortured cats, here's the chorus...

But you're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' want this back
You're gonna' wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna' miss this

And of course since I am 9 months pregnant and an emotional basket case on my best day, I started crying. Because the song is dead on.... it's frustrating when Addi runs from me, or doesn't listen, but it's HER... it's who she is and I wouldn't trade her for a million-trillion bucks. And I'm sure I will TOTALLY miss every second very very soon.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Enjoying the Weather, Addi-Style


With the weather warming up, we have been taking advantage of our neighbor's swingset and catching up after the long winter with our neighbors. Tonight, Addi wanted to play and insisted that the hat was necessary. I guess she already has her own style!

We bought her swingset last night and Jay has been looking at the directions ever since... it's going to be a LONG weekend!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

35 Week Belly

For those interested in seeing the torpedo belly of 2008, here you go... I am pretty sure it's smaller than last time (at least less pointy!).

And here is Addi's 35 week belly... she insisted on showing hers as well.

No new updates on me, I will hopefully find out more on Thursday.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Put the Girl to Work

So, with my bedrest extended through the end of my pregnancy (read here for more info), simple household chores are starting to add up. Good thing we have a two-year-old who can pick up the slack.

Here, Addi helps by pooper-scooping the backyard - a job that desperately needed to be done.

Then, she helped Mommy by cleaning out the kitchen cabinets.

Finally, she helped with Smokey by making sure he had plenty of food.

Thanks Addi! Without you, I'm not sure what we would do!

Update on Baby Ralph & Steph

So, just a quick update... yesterday (Friday) I called to see if I was released from bedrest (per doctor's orders). Because I am still having contractions everyday, the doctor wanted me to come in to have a Non Stress Test (NST) to make sure the baby was OK. Because there were no doctors in the office, they sent me to Labor & Delivery for the test around noon, and Jay went with me to keep me company.

Once I got there and hooked up to the NST, I was of course having pretty strong contractions. My doctor came in and let us know he was concerned with the amount and strength of contractions because of my previous c-section -- apparently there is a danger of my uterus tearing. SOOOO they hooked me up to an IV, drew some blood, and started me on Terburtaline (spelling??) to try to stop my contractions. Then I got moved to a new room and waited.

About 10:15 p.m. the doctor came and said my contractions had slowed to about two an hour so I could go home and rest here (of course, Jay had JUST left to come home) but he came back and got me. I'm now on Terb constantly (makes me shake) and will get re-evaluated several times a week. The goal is to get to 37 weeks (full term) and today I am at 35 weeks (see ticker at bottom of blog for exact date).

Basically, a somewhat eventful day....... Jay and I are SO LUCKY to have our great friends Ron and Jenny... they picked Addi up from the sitter and she spent the night with them, which was a HUGE load off our shoulders.

Now, I rest.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Straight from the two year old...

So, one of the toughest parts (to me) about having a two year old is trying to teach her right from wrong. You don't want her to hit, bite, kick, yell, throw fits... but she does it anyway. When she is at the sitter's house, she is out of your control and you hope she is a good girl. We have lots of talks about hitting and being mean, and hopefully some day they will finally hit home. Sometimes you find Barbie or Elmo in time out for hitting, so I think she knows it's not the cool thing to do.

So, we were on the way to Kim's house this morning and I asked Addi what she planned on doing today. I expected her to say "read", or "play", but no.

She said "Hit." Plain and simple. I said, "Addi, we don't hit do we?" and she said "Yes, I hit."

Well. There you have it.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Managing Bedrest Top 10

Now that I've been on modified bedrest for over a week, I am now an expert. Bedrest is not for the weak. Just thought I would share some helpful hints for anyone who may find themselves strapped to a couch for a few days....

1. Make sure you have wireless internet (and a laptop).
2. Recliners are your friend (especially when your lap space has shrunk to a tiny 3 inches due to a ginormous belly.
3. Use the remote to turn OFF the television every now and then. Really, how much TLC can one person watch without going bonkers?
4. Try to get up at the same time everyday, and shower, brush your teeth, etc. Makes it seem less like a Saturday everyday (and is a lot less gross too).
5. Don't stub your toe on the coffee table 4 times a day. Hopping on one foot is not recommended for those in fear of pre-term labor.
6. Keep sending your kid to the sitter. Bedrest does NOT equal crawling on the ground searching for the missing chicken out of a puzzle.
7. Bring any available phone, remote, pen, paper, etc. to the couch with you... leaping over chairs to answer telemarketers' calls is also not appropriate for the gestationally challenged.
8. REALLY try not to stress. Work will get done, even if you aren't there to do it.
9. Learn to walk through the house with your eyes focused at least 4 feet off the ground. Dangerous (see #5 above) but very helpful if you get irritated with pet hair, shoes, dishes, food, etc. littering your floor, counters, etc.
10. MOST IMPORTANT: Have an AMAZING husband who takes your health and the baby's health as a number one priority, even when it means yelling at his wife to sit down 100 times a day, do all the dishes and cleaning, and do the majority of chasing your two year old. Thanks Jay, you are the best!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Ode to Bedrest

So, for those of you I haven't talked to, I am on bedrest for at least one more week. I went on Thursday, expecting to be released to go back to work and instead got sent home with more resting instructions. Basically, they are being cautious until I hit 36 weeks - when the baby is full term.

In honor of this, I wrote a Bedrest Haiku. I hope you like it.

Bedrest, Oh the fun.
I sit and lay all day long
Bedrest really sucks.


The end.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

I could have been a doctor... or a comma.......

So, while being bored tonight (not sure why I am exhausted each day at 3 p.m. and wide awake at 9!?!) I checked out our dear friend Justin's sister's blog. She had a quiz on there about what kind of puncuation mark you are, so I was bored enough to take it. Results are below...... But what the quiz DID do was drudge up one of my deepest, darkest secrets. And, since this is the internet, I'll share it with you now.

When I was 17, I knew I wanted to go to Purdue but wasn't sure what I wanted to be when I grew up. My mom sent me to a career counselor, who was to run me through a miriad of tests (Myers-Briggs, etc.) and help me decide a career path.

So, I spent HOURS taking tests. HOURS talking to the counselor. And I am fairly certain my parents spent HOURS working to pay off said counselor to ensure their daughter became a respectable member of society.

Weeks later the day came to find out what Steph should be. The counselor sat us down, and told us the grim news. My personality most closely matched that of a bus driver.

Not a doctor. Not a lawyer. Not even a sales clerk. But a bus driver.

After mulling my options and looking into attending college at the DMV, I went with the second closest career path, an occupational therapist. Then proceeded to change my major 4 times, which is entirely another story.

Anyway. Just had to share. I hope a comma doesn't subliminally mean "Makes great right hand turns." Lord knows Murray the Murano is sitting in the garage, laughing right now.

You Are a Comma
You are open minded and extremely optimistic.
You enjoy almost all facets of life. You can find the good in almost anything.

You keep yourself busy with tons of friends, activities, and interests.
You find it hard to turn down an opportunity, even if you are pressed for time.

Your friends find you fascinating, charming, and easy to talk to.
(But with so many competing interests, you friends do feel like you hardly have time for them.)

You excel in: Inspiring people

You get along best with: The Question Mark
http://www.blogthings.com/whatpunctuationmarkareyouquiz/">What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Backyard Blues

So, as those of us in the midwest know, you can have sun one day and snow the next. I've seen snow in May, 70 degree temps in December... really, the only thing you can count on is that the weather will NOT be what you want when you want it.

That said, Addison is starting to get cabin fever. Last weekend when it was around 60 degrees, she and Jay spent some quality time running around the yard, chasing the dog, eating mulch (Addi, not Jay!) and overall having fun NOT being stuck inside.

Well, apparently now Addi thinks she can go out whenever she wants, night or day, rain or shine, and play. Jay and I have differing opinions but as I have said before, we are not really in charge around here. We are, however, buying a swingset this weekend. That way, at least when she runs, she will always go to the same place.

Here is Addi on Monday. She ran out in her diaper, no shoes, no coat, no cares.

And Jay after catching her and bringing her back in.


And last night in the POURING down rain. Again, no shoes but she did have on pants so that's an improvement. Again, Jay chased her while Justin and I watched and laughed from the window.

Before you call DCFS on us, please note the very expensive white fence keeping her from actually running the neighborhood. And once Jay pooper-scoops, we will no longer have to hose her down before letting her back in the house.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

The baby room is DONE!

So, with a little blood, sweat, visit to Labor & Delivery, and tears, the baby room is finally done! We had most of the room done but last week I had a burst of energy, so we finished up the shopping, and yesterday Jay and I spent the day in L&D (thought there was a chance my water was leaking, while they determined THAT didn't actually happen they realized I was having contractions every 3-4 minutes for 4 straight hours so we got to stay a little longer). Overall it was pretty uneventful but there was about 10 minutes of Jay and I freaking out, when they said there was a chance my water had broken, and if that was the case I would be staying in the hospital until I had the baby. After that little experience, we decided to finish everything up this weekend. :) Nice motivation, huh?

Well, I am on modified bedrest for the week (off my feet as much as possible) so Jay finished hanging the shelves in the room and has been cleaning the rest of the house like a demon. Addi went to play at a friends (THANKS Ron and Jenny!) and I folded mountains of laundry.

Here is a view from the door...
baby room 4

And the baby's bed (Jay was in charge of the stripes... they turned out awesome!)...
baby room 3

And the shelves he also painted (the glider will go under these)...
baby room 2

And finally the changing table/dresser thing (Stuffed animals courtesy of Addi, she doesn't know it yet!)
baby room 1

I might put a few pictures up or maybe put her name on the wall once she is born and one is picked, but for the most part it's all done! Just need to let her "bake" a little longer!
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