Dreamcatching

Fun and Excitement

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:23:31 GMT

We've had an eventful last week and a half. I spent all of last week in the hospital with kidney stones. Not fun at all! Happily, despite A LOT of discomfort, the kidney stones are resolved for the time being (although there's still one in my right kidney that I'm supposed to get looked at after I deliver,) and Alex seemed to do pretty well through all of it. There were a couple of times where I started contracting, but we responded well to medication to stop those. Unfortunately, at our Monday OB appointment, they decided I was measuring too small and sent me for a growth ultrasound and monitoring. The growth ultrasound shows that Alex is right on track, just riding a bit low (so we were measuring about 7-8 weeks behind) so that was good news, but the heart rate monitoring didn't go so well. His heart rate wasn't bad, they said, but they did keep telling us that while it wasn't bad, it wasn't "quite right" since his heart rate wasn't accelerating periodically. They kept us hooked up to a monitor for over 3 hours and had us come back again Tuesday morning. After another ultrasound and two hours on the monitor at the doctor's office, they sent us to the hospital for further monitoring, which lasted from about 12:30 until 6:00PM. At the end of the day, they said that his heart rate still wasn't showing appropriate accelerations and nothing had changed, but since nothing bad had happened in all that time of monitoring, it was unlikely to, so there was no reason to try to deliver the baby that day. I'm under orders to lie on my left side as much as possible, limit activity, and follow up with the doctor next Monday.

All in all, it was very frustrating, since everyone kept telling us not to worry, but they felt the need to have us hooked up to monitors for hours at a time and even sent us to be admitted to the hospital for monitoring. It's awful hard not to worry when people keep frowning at your baby's tracing and saying that it's not right. Apparently, however, his tracing, while not "reactive," was "reassuring," so I'm supposed to do frequent kick counts and, like I said, rest. Spending most of your time lying on your side is difficult, to say the least, when one is also responsible for a very active 3 year old boy.

I'm looking forward to all of this being resolved, but that, of course, can't happen until I deliver, and right now, I'm only at 35 weeks. While it seems likely that this baby will be born on time if not a tiny bit early and not follow Daniel's example of being forced out two weeks late, it could still be a while before things are resolved. While it seems for now that everyone is safe and healthy, please keep baby Alex in your thoughts and prayers.

Mon, 11 May 2009 21:45:00 GMT

Just 8 weeks to go until baby Alex is due! I know 8 weeks is still a considerable amount of time, but it seems so close! Nesting has set in, and I have ironed more in the past 2 weeks than in the past 2 years. Ditto on the cleaning. Josh is loving it. At least the overwhelming desire to bake cookies, pies, and cakes has diminished; that would not have been good for us! Instead, it's a desire to make my husband sweet tea and to iron cloth diapers and wipes. Pregnancy is weird.

A Bit Snippish

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:34:40 GMT

So this evening I received the following email from the address eamorgan@gmail.com:

"If this is your reservation, please change your email address or try to be precise when giving out your email. I have so much spam for "Elizabeth Morgan" it is unreal.

Please don't use my email address again

Erika Morgan"

The email was accompanied by the forwarded reservation information from a Park n Jet parking service in Seattle, WA. While I certainly understand that it could be irritating to receive someone else's email, I rather believe that she was overly obnoxious and presumptuous in her email to me. I've received emails intended for someone else before without sending angry emails to the intended recipient demanding that they change their email address because it was too close to my own. And the injunction to not use her email address again implies that I would intentionally use someone else'e email address. I don't understand why that would even make sense. Typically, when I give my email address to someone, it's because I would like to actually receieve an email.

I've never had the urge to go and sign someone up for massive emails from all sorts of filthy websites before, but I believe I am experiencing that desire now.

Am Incubating Giant Alien Baby

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:44:57 GMT

Doctor says we're measuring 3 weeks larger than we should be. I'm convinced the baby is a giant and shall explode from my abdomen a la Alien. If that happens, I'm totally selling my story to the tabloids. Screw Octo-mom - "My baby exploded from my abdominal cavity! Marvel at its alien-esque abilities!"

I've gone domestic.

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:57:41 GMT

As I washed the dishes after making an apple pie entirely from scratch this afternoon, I caught myself thinking, "It just makes a person proud of herself that her husband can come home to a nice dinner and a homemade pie." Seriously, who thinks things like this? Excuse me, I have to go change into my 50s dress and apron and freshen up my makeup before I go get a drink waiting for my husband when he walks in the door.

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:00:29 GMT

You know, it always irritates me when celebrities complain about their privacy being invaded. To be clear, I'm certainly not in favor of photographers ramming people with their cars in their efforts to get a shot, blocking in celebrities' cars and not letting them leave until they get the pictures they want, or trespassing onto a celebrity's property, but really, celebrities do whore themselves out, depending upon the public's fascination with them for their livelihood, then complain when the public is fascinated with them. I can imagine that it would be frustrating to never be able to go anywhere in public without someone wanting your autograph or to take a picture of you, but if your career depends on the adoration and interest of fans and you do your best to cultivate that, it doesn't really seem to make much sense when you complain that the adoration and interest of your fans often comes at inconvenient times. There, my two cents.

Uninformative

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:37:38 GMT

Things have been rather uneventful here, so there's not much to share. I am feeling (and in my estimation, looking,) massively pregnant, even though I'm only about half-way through. Daniel has come down with some Egyptian Death Plague, and he's a bit whiny, clingy, and sad and extremely snotty. (He is being awfully good considering how high his fever is and how crummy he must be feeling.)

The weather here has been unbelievable for the past few days, and it's 70 degrees and beautifully sunny outside right now. I envied Josh as he drove back to work with the top down on his Mustang after lunch today. (We had planned for me and Daniel to join him at work for lunch, but since Daniel's so sick, Josh came home to see us instead.) I know it won't last - by this time next week the high will be in the low 50s instead of upper 60s-70, but man, is it nice while it's lasting! I just wish Daniel felt better so we could enjoy a nice long walk this evening. Hopefully, he'll be feeling a bit better later this week while the weather is still supposed to be pleasant.

I mean, REALLY?

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:49:49 GMT

I'm sorry to harp on the same thing, but today it's 11 degrees out with a wind chill of -2, and yet there was still a parent ushering in her two little daughters to the preschool, neither one wearing coats. 11 degrees, even out of the wind, is painfully cold. How do you not think coats are required?

Speaking of which, I have to say I did not expect -2 wind chills when I moved to Alabama. I mean, I knew it still got cold down here - I wasn't expecting the tropics, but I didn't expect it to be THIS cold! Alabama, you're on notice!

Really?

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:37:18 GMT

Okay, I understand that every parent will raise their child differently, and that we all have to decide for ourselves how best to care for our child, but really? This morning when I dropped Daniel off at preschool it was 20 degrees out and snowing and the child walking to the door in front of us was not wearing a coat. The mom was wearing a sweatshirt and a hat, but the kid had no hat, no gloves, no coat - just a regular long-sleeved t-shirt. (The mom was carrying the child's coat in her hands because the preschool requires you to send one in cold weather before they'll allow the child outside.) Seriously? It's 20 degrees out! Put a coat on the poor kid!

Finally Feeling Human

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:05:53 GMT

It's about time! For the first time in about 2 months, I woke up this morning and didn't feel like puking! This is a cause for celebration! The pregnancy is progressing well, according to our last doctor's appointment. We have another one on Friday, so hopefully that will confirm that all is still well. I have felt the baby move, which is always exciting! My stomach is WAY bigger this time around than it was with Daniel at this stage, so just to be sure, we're going to get them to double check and make sure there's only one in there at our next visit. (We're pretty sure there's just one as they say twins are usually accompanied by faster than normal weight gain, and so far I've lost weight and not put any back on.)

School started back last week for Daniel, and I know he's excited. I am too - I love that little boy so much, but I'm glad he can go to preschool and have other people to play with and other people to learn from. He really loves preschool. Every time we pick him up, he wants to stay and play longer, which we think is pretty great. I'm really enjoying teaching there too; for the most part, all the students are sweet and enthusiastic.

This past Christmas was also pretty excited. Daniel didn't really understand it too much last Christmas, but he really understood what was going on this time. He was a bit too excited about the presents and Santa Claus, but it was still so fun to watch him open up presents and time and again say in an awed voice, "Wow!" He also insisted on leaving out cookies and milk for Santa and was so excited the next morning when they were gone. We visited my parents near Nashville and also Josh's family in Murfreesboro. We had a great time, but we were certainly pleased to be home at the end of it.

Did any of you do anything really excited or fun over the holidays?

I'm really bad at updating.

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:34:59 GMT

So, as most of you know, I'm pregnant with my second child. I'm about 10 1/2 weeks along, and everything looks good so far. The past few weeks have been difficult, as morning sickness has been quite intense with this pregnancy, but we seem to be nearing the light at the end of the tunnel as far as that goes. Daniel seems to be very excited about the new baby and keeps kissing my belly and saying, "I love you, baby!" but we'll see how happy he is about the new baby once he or she is actually here!

Daniel is also extremely excited about Christmas this year. Last year, he seemed to have fun opening presents, but he didn't talk about it for weeks beforehand. This year, however, he is so excited. He keeps asking if it's Christmas Day yet and if he can see his grandparents and open presents. Next year, we definitely need to get an Advent calendar to help him count down the days!

We're going to be travel a fair bit this Christmas. We're going to my parents the 23rd, then heading down to my in-laws on the 25th, then coming home the 28th. How about you guys? What are your plans for this Christmas?

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:39:21 GMT

First off: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JILL!

Ahem. I feel better. A quick update on the running front - Josh has been able to start running again. His knee is still a bit sore, but with icing it, using a brace, and taking ibuprofen, he's making good progress. The training program has me running 2.5 miles every other day this weekend, and while I'm hardly Speedy Gonzales, I'm doing pretty well. I'm very pleasantly surprised, since 4 weeks ago, I could barely run 1/4 mile without feeling like I was about to keel over. I suppose there's something to be said for consistency, motivation, and stubbornness.

Speaking of stubborn, Daniel is doing well. He's currently sitting on the patio in his sand box, being ridiculously adorable, as usual. He's apparently decided that he must help rid the world of our apparent spider infestation and repeatedly whacks the little spiders that live in our grass with his wooden hammer, joyfully announcing, "I smush it! I smush spider!" while grinning maniacally. Well, I think it's cute.

Josh's father will be here at our house on Friday. His oldest stepdaughter Chely is attending Lee University this fall (where Josh's brothers Chris and Paul attend,) so after getting her esttled in this week, he'll be driving down here to visit us before he flies back to Indonesia. I'm looking forward to it because Daniel loves his Opa, and Bill has not seen the new house, but it's always stressful to have guests, especially when they're inlaws. Well, okay, Josh's mom doesn't freak me out when she comes to visit, but I worry about the impression that we give Bill. Once I'm done here, I'll be launching into some more cleaning. I've already done several loads of laundry, a load of dishes, and some general picking up, but there's still plenty more to do. I really hate housework, but it's only fair that I shoulder the majority of the burden. Josh does go to work everyday, so it's to be expected that I do the work here. (It doesn't mean I have to like it though.) I do love the fact that I have plenty of breaks, built-in entertainment (Daniel,) and I can switch tasks as I wish. Alright, back to the grindstone. ;)

Gah.

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:57:04 GMT

Daniel has been a touch sick the past few days. He picked up a cold virus while we were visiting my inlaws in Murfreesboro last weekend. Wednesday night, it became evident that he had the crupe, and he was up at least twice each night until Saturday. His nose is runny, and he's mostly lost his voice. (The last one might be a blessing at times...) Friday was a Bad Day. It was such a bad day that it requires the capital letters; not just a bad day, but a Bad Day. Daniel spent the morning telling me he was hungry or thirsty and then refusing to eat or drink what he was given, sneezing and then wiping his nose on the couch or my sleeve, dumping water from his humidifier on his bed, dunking his favorite stuffed rabbit into his humidifier and then rubbing the soaked rabbit on the fresh, dry sheets I just put on the bed, randomly bursting into tears and crying for Daddy, refusing to take a nap, blowing his nose against the wall while in time out and then, the big winner, rubbing poop on the carpet. And no, the poop on the carpet wasn't an accident - he put socks on first. After all, he wouldn't want to get poop on his feet, now would he? By the time Josh came home, I was ready to find the nearest passing band of Gypsies, and sell Daniel to them for $2.50. I don't know if we have Gypsies anywhere near here, but barring that, I could just sell him on Craig's List. Anyone want a toddler? He's sweet, really.

On happier news, he's feeling much better today and is much better behaved. He got to go ice skating with his daddy and his uncle Todd. He was SO excited to go. He asked yesterday, and Josh and Todd said they'd take him, and he woke up this morning asking to go. I told him he could go after nap, and when I woke him up at 3, he bounced up and down and said, "I go ice skating? I ice skating? Please? Please? Please? Please?" I told him we'd get him ready and then he'd go, and he was SO happy! He apparently got a bit frustrated when he kept falling, but overall, he had a good time.

On the running front, the training program called for jogging 2 miles today without stopping at all, and it was actually pretty easy. I got to the end of the 2 miles, and I felt great! I'm definitely not running very fast - it took me 25 minutes to jog the 2 miles, but since I've only been running for about 3 weeks, that's not so bad, especially considering that I took 6 days off when my knees were hurting. I'm very pleased with the progress. I've got 4 weeks until the 5K, so I have no doubt I'll be ready! Josh has been so encouraging and so supportive, so it's really helped me keep up motivation and momentum. I know it's not that big of a deal, but I'm still pretty proud of myself, considering I couldn't run 1/4 of a mile without wheezing and feeling like I was going to fall over just 3 weeks ago. I'm really glad we decided to do this 5K. I'm excited!

Improvement

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:52:01 GMT

I mentioned that Josh and I found a training program online for the 5K we're intending to participate in. The program is called "The Couch to 5K Running Plan" which is great, since neither Josh or I have been doing any cardio, so we really were rather couch-potatoey. This week, we run 1/4 mile, walk 1/8 mile, run 1/2 mile, walk 1/4 mile, run 1/4 mile, walk 1/8 mile, run 1/2 mile. As easy as that must sound to those of you who are used to running and other cardio activities, it is a bit of a challenge since we started running only two weeks ago. We both managed very well with our first day at this level of the program, so we're both very pleased so far with our progress. Here's hoping the progress continues, and we keep up the good work! The only irritating part of this is that I keep craving orange juice and bananas. I've eaten more bananas in the last week than in the six months prior. I HATE bananas, but I still keep wanting to eat them. I suppose I need the potassium, but man, I hate bananas.

5 Kilometers of PAIN

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:07:37 GMT

So last weekend, my husband, my son, and I went to my sister's house for dinner on the 4th. My sister and her husband's friend Jackie was there, and at one point, he mentioned that he's run some marathons. Todd, my sister's husband, has run some marathons and triathalons and such. Josh decided if they can do it, he should be able to do it too. So Josh decided that he'd start running. I used to run a bit my freshman year of college, but let's be honest, that was 7 years ago, and I don't tend to run unless I'm, say, being chased by hungry wild dingoes. Josh, however, returned from his runs seeming to feel wonderful and energized, so I decided I'd try it too. It turns out, this running this is actually rather fun!

Some people at work and my sister told us about the Monte Sano 5K at the very end of August, and Josh has decided that the two of us should run it. Now, before you fall out of your chair laughing at the idea of me wheezing my way through 5 kilometers, I am in a lot better shape than I was when last I saw most of you. I spent the past year going to the gym regularly, and I'm in the best shape of my life to be honest. (Okay, I was about a month and a half ago, before we moved away from my gym. Now I'm just in the second best shape of my life.) I lost a fair amount of weight and even got me some fancy new muscles. But still, there's a big difference between a veritably lung-exploding spin class and running. I think running is much harder.

Josh and I found a training program online to get us ready to run a 5K in 6 weeks, but I'm still pretty sure that it will be a painful experience. I'll update you on the progress of the training, as soon as I find my lungs. I'm pretty sure I lost them about a quarter mile from the house last night...

It's been a while.

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:46:17 GMT

I'm not really sure if anybody will see this, since it's been so long since I last posted. I imagine that no one really checks my livejournal, but hey, every stay at home mom needs an outlet. Otherwise, they go crazy and crash their minivan into a local bar or something. I mean, I don't have a minivan to crash into a local bar, and I don't know where a local bar is, but if I go crazy, I'm sure I'll find both somehow.

For a long while, I really wanted to be a stay at home mom. It seemed so wonderful - lovingly nurturing the development of my darling, angelic child, keeping a pristine home, and baking cookies every day. What a marvelous fantasy.

In reality, my darling, angelic child is, I am quite certain, out to end one of our lives, possibly both at the same time by trying yet another death-defying stunt that fails to defy death and results in a life-terminating heart attack for me. Not that he's not adorable - he is, but the constant need to find dangerous things to play with or the seemingly endless amusement he derives from diving head-first off of pieces of furniture - let's just say they're not so great for Mommy's heart.

So much has happened in the past two years! Daniel has grown like a weed. Well, a boy-shaped, incredibly human-like weed. Josh and I both graduated, and he got a fancy-pants job down in Huntsville, so we picked up and moved down here the end of May. It's been quite an adjustment! Huntsville, according to the people that live here, really isn't that big, but when you compare it to Cookeville, I feel rather like a small-town girl quite out of her element. It's nice though! There are a lot more choices for shopping and dining, but I still feel a bit lost here!

Daniel had been going to daycare 3 days a week back in Cookeville, but now he's been at home full time. It's exhausting! Toddlers are just little balls of energy. I wish I could steal just a tiny fraction of his energy! I could totally sell it and become a wealthy drug dealer. It would be awesome. And of course, I'd have to sample the merchandise myself. Daniel energy could totally replace meth as the housewife drug of choice! Okay, there's a chance that staying home all of the time has made me a tiny bit crazy.

Luckily for what's left of my sanity (I like to tell myself there's still something left to salvage,) I did get a part-time job teaching French at a private school starting in September. And until then, aforementioned fancy private school I'll be working for thinks it's a good idea for Daniel to come in once a week so that he can get used to the preschool environment so it won't be such a shock come September. For free. Oh, and once I start teaching, he gets to attend "as much as we feel comfortable with" for free. I like it! Although, I have to be honest, I've gotten really used to having him around the house all of the time. I took him this morning, and when I got home, the house felt so empty and quiet! It was strange, but oh so wonderful. :)

Well, I suppose that's a sufficient update on me and my family. For anyone that happens to stumble across this entry, what's been happening with you?

Dear Lord, deliver us...

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 18:11:05 GMT

from the wrath of the teething baby.

Daniel's first tooth has cut through the gum, and he has been screaming bloody murder since yesterday every time he's awake. He's full of Tylenol, and we've slathered about a pound of Baby Oragel on his gum, but nothing shall assuage his anger, so he tells us.

Josh and I have had to realize that our baby isn't a little baby anymore. He's over 16 pounds, he's crawling (although very badly,) he's eating a wide variety of solid foods, and he's getting his first tooth. He's getting so big!

One thing that will definitely have to stop is letting him chew on our fingers. He really loves doing that, but he chewed on mine earlier and that tiny bit of tooth poking through his gum is sharp. OUCH. At least he's not nursing all the time now - that would certainly be a bigger ouch.

*sniff*sniff* My little baby's all grown up!

Entry from Daniel

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:23:36 GMT

Yesterday afternoon, I came to the most horrible realization.

I was happily playing in my Exer-Saucer (read: screaming my head off while Mommy and Daddy attempted to clean the kitchen) when Daddy swooped in, snatched me up, Exer-Saucer and all, and plopped me down in front of the window. This was all well and good and gave me a lovely view until suddenly, THE SKY BEGAN FALLING! I attempted to alert Mommy and Daddy to our impending doom, but was ignored. I continued my distress calls until Mommy explained to me that it was water.

Water, you say? Where had I heard of that before? Oh, yes! I bathe in water! Wait - the sky is falling, mother calls it water, and I bathe in water... That means that my parental units are repeatedly showering me with BROKEN SHARDS OF SKY.

I resolve to continue my distress calls until someone comes and rescues me from this horrible abuse.

Day 2 of Operation Scream for Help still going strong.

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 16:03:10 GMT

If baby poop stories aren't your thing, stop here.

So, I was told that once Daniel started eating solid things, his poop would be the color of whatever he ate. Nothing, however, prepared me for the diapers FULL of orange poop. I'll wager that the carrots are making it through, wouldn't you? Terrifying.

YAY!

Tue, 21 Feb 2006 18:03:11 GMT

Guess who has gone below her pre-pregnancy weight?

That's right, it's me!

YAY!

Education classes.

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 15:45:02 GMT

*stabs self in eye with pencil*

Enough said.

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 15:04:09 GMT

Someone pointed out the sign to the middle school, and it has since been changed to "appreciate". Now what will entertain me when I drive past?

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:32:29 GMT

You know, I think it's wonderful when a school truly appreciates its teachers. So I'm driving home from Tech, and I pass the sign for the middle school over on 10th St. There, they do not appreciate their teachers. Instead, as they have put on their sign for the world to know, they "appricate" their teachers. I have to say it bothers me that they cannot spell a relatively simple word on their sign. Yet another point for the "Home Schooling is Better Because Anything is Better Than Public Schools These Days" theory.

Classes, Christmas, and I'm a Soccer Mom

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:50:31 GMT

Why, yes indeed, I am alive.

Classes have started back, and this semester I am taking two classes and sitting in on a third. It is so hard to leave that little boy and go to class. (For one thing, even if he's screaming, he's still better company than many of my classmates. At least he can't help speaking nonsense.) I do believe that I will enjoy sitting in on Phonetics. I really enjoy the subject; it's so fun! (Goodness, I'm a dork.)

We had a wonderful time at both of the receptions that people had for us, a fun time in Florida with my in-laws, and a lovely Christmas. People were so incredibly generous to us, and I do believe that Daniel has more books than any boy his age could ever use. We have a great time reading them to him, and he seems to enjoy looking at the pictures.

I think the very best thing about the Christmas break was having Josh home with me and Daniel for such a long time. It was so great to spend so much time with him! I know Daniel enjoyed having another person to lavish him with attention all day long. (He was certainly spoiled when we were in Hendersonville, Florida, or Murfreesboro. He is a very loved little boy!)

I think I've turned into a soccer mom. Josh and I bought a freezer and I found myself jumping with joy. I do not believe that most women my age get extremely happy at the idea of having space to store a frozen lasagna. At least I don't drive a "mom car" yet! We're planning a major Sam's run to fill it with lots of lovely frozen food.

Pictures!

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 19:48:12 GMT

A few pictures of Daniel are available here:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=3QZM2rVwxcR¬ag=1