Imagine the horror

Who needs horror movies when you have the imagination of a child?

Natalie caught me putting lotion on my expanding waistline yesterday. Understandably, she could not take her eyes off of that area.

"It's not a pretty sight, is it?" I asked her, grinning.

"Why are you putting the lotion on?"

I explained that the baby was growing and stretching my stomach, making the skin itch.

"He's STRETCHING your skin?"

"Well, he is growing so my skin has to stretch to give him room."

I should have stopped there but did not think before adding, "It looks pretty tight already, huh?"

Her eyes widened and she looked up at me, quite concerned. "What if it stretches too much and he rips his way right out of there?"

Tuned in?

OK--between getting two kids to school on time, finishing up various details around the house to make it look like we've settled in and the various errands that are involved with "life"--I do a fair amount of running around. So when I do sit still, the little bean inside decides it is his time to do aerobics. We both have gotten accustomed to the routine.

If I am more active than usual on a given day, he'll go ahead and kick a few times while I'm moving, too but for the most part, he waits for me to sit or lie down. I get a few jabs while I'm driving--sometimes more if the music is loud. ;)

Today I got the kids to school on time and stayed for Mass. A kick here and there but not much. I talked with another mom in the parking lot for a few minutes afterwards but was not interrupted. Once I got in and started the car, Born to be Wild began blaring from the radio. Bean started kicking immediately and danced around for the entirety of the song.

This can't be a good sign!

Whew!

It's hot.

Who's the Boss?

"You aren't the boss of me!"

You've heard this before and kids say it to each other all of the time. I was not impressed however, when my son said this to me the other night! I was sorely tempted to reply, "I AM SO the boss of you," but remained calm as I simply stated, "Yes, I am."

"No! My teacher told us today that we are the bosses of ourselves."

Ultimately, I can't argue with that statement. He is responsible for his own actions and the consequences that follow when he doesn't do the right thing. I am assuming that there was some discussion along these lines in class that day, too as I can't imagine a teacher surrendering authority to 25 first-graders!

He still had to pick up his clothes and go to bed.

Housework is a snap!

It is amazing how much housework I accomplish when I've planned to spend the morning writing.

I'm planting myself in the chair now.

As I go--I know my Dad doesn't read the blog but just in case he breaks with tradition today--Happy Birthday, Dad! ;)

What will you be when you grow up?

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent. Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer Dancer - DJ - Graphic Designer Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

What's Your Ideal Career?

I haven't published a book yet but note my worst career options. I paid the bills working as a secretary for years!

Keep 'em coming

We should find out more today but doctors now think that my FIL has stomach cancer rather than esophageal cancer. (It may have begun in the stomach and progressed to the esophagus.)
The treatment will be much the same but the prognosis is not as good. If you can keep him and the family in your prayers, we would all much appreciate it.

Thanks!

The big C

My father-in-law, Dr. C, has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. I've been debating whether or not to mention it here and decided to wait until he had at least completed his tests.

My husband, a physician, feared the worst--knowing that in most cases this disease has progressed quite far by the time it is diagnosed. His father has been lucky--not lucky enough to be at stage one--but lucky enough to be considered a "late two or early three." This means he has treatment options and some time.

He is being treated at a world-class cancer center and it looks like he will be able to be enrolled in a study involving a new, promising drug as well. My FIL and his family are devastated but there are many reasons to have hope. Dr. C does not smoke, rarely drinks and is in otherwise wonderful health for his age. This is actually making it tougher for him mentally as he wants to know "why" but physically he has that advantage. Of course, he can still use all of the prayers he can get!

Wah

Moaning Meme

Rene tagged me with this over a week ago and it has taken me this long to finish it! The kids started school yesterday--I don't have much to moan about! ;)

4 things that should go into Room 101 and be removed from the face of the earth:
1. ”Reality” TV
2. War
3. Hunger (borrowed from Rene but I have to agree)
4. Most Mattel toys, (apparently)


3 things people do that make you want to shake them violently:
1. Preach to others that God hates a particular group of people based on their sexual orientation, race, gender, etc.
2. Believe that God supports one particular political party
3. Let their kids ride bikes/skateboards/scooters, etc. without a helmet (completely plagiarized this one from Rene, too!)


2 things you find yourself moaning about:
1. My feet hurt, are swollen, etc.
2. Hannah Montana’s latest soundtrack is stuck in my head!


1 thing the above answers tell you about yourself:
I’m intolerant, hormonal, not very Christian (if I want to shake other people) and I clearly cannot count. (To TRY to sum all that up in 1 thing—I’m a pregnant blonde).


I tag: Anyone who has something to moan about—let’s hear it!

RULESLink to the original meme at freelancecynic.com so people know what it’s all about!Be as honest as possible, This is about letting people get to know the real you!Try not to insult anyone - unless they really deserve it or are very, very ugly!Post these rules at the end of every meme!

Proud Mama?

You've seen those guys at football games (or maybe you are one). The ones without a shirt--letters painted on their torsos--performing for the television cameras. I've often wondered--especially when it's snowing--who does that? My husband has commented, "their parents must be so proud!"

We may get our chance to find out one day. I had a preview the other afternoon.

Coming home from the pool, I told my son he did not have to put his shirt back on. He sat on his towel and buckled in. By the time we got home, he had not only found the pen in the backseat but had drawn a complete face on his torso. The shapes were mostly triangular--he resembled a walking jack-o-lantern. He bounced out of the car, pushing the sides of his abdomen together and made his belly-button "speak" to me.

Pride was not my initial emotion.

Oh, Baby!

As you can see from the baby ticker above, it won't be too much longer until this little guy arrives! I feel like we're almost starting all over again--partly because there will be a six-year age difference between my youngest and this baby and also because we've given away all of our "baby stuff."

I am sure that there were plenty of options out there 9 years ago when I had my daughter but I did not shop much online then. I tried to search for bassinets and cradles this week and can't believe how many choices there are!

I had a bassinet that I used for my other two. It worked fine but I recall thinking that if I could just rock it a little that I might have been able to get them back to sleep a few times without having to take them out right away, etc. So I'm thinking a cradle might be the way to go this time around. Then again, with two older siblings in school (and I'm sure we'll be into some other activities soon), this kid will likely be toted around so often that he'll get plenty of motion! (With my oldest, I'd come up with excuses to put her in the car--that would always settle her. I'm thinking it won't be tough to come with a reason to get this kid on the road!)

Spirits in New Orleans

Raziela is a smart, strong young woman attending Tulane in the 1920s. She is an advocate for birth control and tries to secretly educate other women in New Orleans--a dangerous ambition at the time. She plans to attend medical school after her graduation but tragically, never gets that far.

The Mercy of Thin Air follows Razi's life or more accurately, her afterlife. Through flashbacks interspersed throughout the book, we learn about her life, her love--Andrew, and her dreams. Planning to become an obstetrician and being deeply in love with Andrew are not enough; when Andrew asks her one day what she really wants--her answer is "to be immortal." She explains that one lifetime is not enough for all of the trouble she is capable of causing!

The novel bounces between generations, time periods and cities in Louisiana--though never very far. As Razi searches for her lost Andrew, she moves in with a couple, Scott and Amy, and becomes concerned with their struggling marriage Amy's issues. As she gets involved, they reunite Razi with people from her own past. She is joined by a few friends who are also in "the between"--souls who have left earth but not yet gone on to what lies beyond.

Traveling between time periods was a little disconcerting at first but it did not take long to become accustomed to the rythym of the book. Of course, I am a sucker for a good story set in New Orleans and this novel did not disappoint! In addition to familiar locations and compelling characters, the novel deals with issues that may not seem as compelling today. By 1929, women had won the vote but did not have access to birth control. Razi, attending one of the few universities that admitted women at that time, leaves literature hidden in the college's library and hosts secret parties to give this information to other women.

All you need is Love!

For those of you out there writing romance, check this out! I can't wait to read your first chapter!

Don't worry, be happy!

First, red wine and dark chocolate were good for you. That made me happy.

Now, I can have a cup of coffee and go for a run (in the sun)!

It's all about positive attitudes. Coffee makes me happy, getting some sun makes me really happy...I'll just have to make sure I keep moving while I'm outside!

(Of course, I've got another 2 months before I'm drinking wine or coffee but who's counting?)

Georgia on my mind

Joshilyn Jackson has written another gripping tale featuring memorable southern characters, including one more memorable aunt! While Bernese is different than Aunt Flo from Gods in Alabama, both women will remain in your thoughts long after you close the books!

Bernese and her sisters are all members of the Frett family who have raised Nonny, who is biologically a Crabtree. The Crabtrees and the Fretts have had an ongoing feud that began long before the story begins but intensifies after Nonny's birth and rages throughout the novel.

Set in the town of Between, the novel focuses on Nonny who is caught between the two warring families, the two towns of Between and Athens and between her husband and best friend.

Ms. Jackson's books are great for those of us who need that "southern fix" in our reading! (While I still get the argument that Florida is not really part of "The South," the part I grew up in is dern close to southern Georgia!) Having said that, I cannot wait for Ms. Jackson's next novel which is set in Florida!

Old Folks at Home

We returned from Florida on Tuesday. It was great to see everyone and spend some time at my mom and dad's "resort." (I'm not sure my parents see it quite the same way but for my kids--it's a bit better than many other vacations! True, there are no roller coasters but they get breakfast cooked to order, lunch and dinner with no wait--in fact, they're reluctant to get out of the pool to eat--and there is the pool! A pool in the backyard! No car ride, elevator ride, no keys necessary to get to the POOL!) As if all that weren't enough for a summer vacation, they have cousins to play with! So it's a nice break for them (on other vacations, they are each other's only peer). This summer they've met a few kids in our new town but don't have many friends yet so it was wonderful for them to have cousins around to play with all week!

While we did visit my folks at home, they are not yet old. The title of the post is of course, also the title of the Florida state song. The first line of that song, "Way down upon the Swanee river..." put me in mind of the other story while I was home. People boating and fishing on the Suwannee river in Florida are being hit by jumping sturgeon! Talk about some old residents! These ancient fish jump right out of the water--no one knows exactly why. The river is lower this year than it has been, more people are out on the river so the problem has become more noticeable.

We celebrated my mom's birthday a week early while I was there, which was nice. Her actual birthday is tomorrow so Mom: if you read this in time, Happy Birthday!

Never Enough

I am six months pregnant now and the kids are excited but it is not enough. They asked tonight if we could please adopt an eleven or twelve-year-old girl.

(N is tired of having to be the oldest; now she'll have TWO younger BROTHERS. So her life is unfair but the fact that we did not sit down and have a serious discussion--ending in her getting her way--helped her come to the conclusion that we are simply mean).

Whatever gets you through the night

It started with an alarm going off at about midnight. It seemed to coming from my son's room. After the second or third time that it went off, I went to investigate in the dark. It seemed to be coming from the stack of clean clothes in his room but I know I did not plant anything in there. It must be the watch he found today. I guess he had big plans for the middle of the night! I can't find the watch, of course, so I pray that whatever it's set for has passed and we're done. No such luck.

I listen to it go off a few more times before I decide to get back up and hide/destroy the thing. Except when I go back, the noise is not coming from his room--now it's coming from N's.

She has an "organizer" that she won from some contest that has an alarm that has been going off nightly. It has not seemed so loud on past evenings but I have heard it almost every night. Earlier today, I did ask her if she could find the thing and turn it off. She didn't think she'd unpacked that box yet. (So helpful). I asked her kindly to unpack the box, find the thing and turn it off before she went to bed.

Apparently, to a nine-year-old, that means move the box away from the closet at the far end of your room and move it near your door. Just to make sure Mom can hear it tonight.

I wrapped the box in towels and shoved it in a cupboard in the laundry room. But now I'm up.
I went back to bed for an hour, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out if that is the baby's elbow or foot jabbing my right side and coming up with the new perfect opening for the on-going book. Of course, it's so perfect, you know I'll forget by morning. But I don't want to get up so I try to think of ways to help me remember. Right.

So...here I am. I've typed out that brilliant passage that seemed like it'd take a page. It's a paragraph.

I'm going with the egg sandwich now. When I was a girl and couldn't (or wouldn't) sleep, I'd get up and tell my Dad I was hungry. He'd make us egg sandwiches--scrambled eggs on toast with lettuce and mayo--and we'd watch Charlie's Angels. I've got pita bread rather than Sunbeam white bread but it's worth a shot! (I wonder what re-runs are on...?) ;)

Life in the fast lane

I told my daughter that she really need to work on having more patience.
The words were barely out of my mouth before she answered, "I already did."

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July! Enjoy the cookouts and the fireworks and remember how lucky we are to be Americans.

As for me, it's also my birthday so I'm relaxing (though I've obviously been taking a break from blogging for a while now)! I'll have more to say soon!