I give up. No, really, I do. I can't seem to get more than 2 1/2 hours sleep at a stretch (I've actually looked at the clock each time I've awakened/gotten up the past few days--call me depressed...), and then, when the opportunity arises for me to sleep beyond 6:45, I can't seem to manage it. :sigh:I'm honestly not trying to complain, and I truly still do love being pregnant, it's just, well, I'm dog tired these days and I still have about eight weeks to go. Maybe I'll gift myself with an overnight stay in some chichi hotel with a king sized bed--all by myself. Yes, that's it, I'll run off and leave Brien and Lily and the dogs and get some sleep. In a king bed. All by myself... Ahhh, a girl can dream, can't she? ;o)Lily has become an overtired, exhausted Bitty Bit. She doesn't seem to be able to sleep beyond 7:00 either. :o( She's also not napping at school (too much to see and do? Overstimulated?), so when the weekend arrives I have high hopes she'll catch up on her sleep. Instead, she's up until 10:00 (don't know why) and then up by 6:30 or 7:00. :sigh: I think once she and I are home on maternity leave (she'll be staying home with me) we will settle into a good routine and she'll once more sleep. Let me note she does nap at home. In fact, we typically have to awaken her by 4:00 or 4:30. She and I are a pair, that's for sure.*************************************So, we've been making simple home improvement plans. The biggest for me is getting rid of the last "sponged" room in the house--the downstairs bathroom. Sponging is just not a technique that works for our family. The family who owned the house previously seemed to love it. I've lived with the blue, sponged, nautical themed bathroom for four years and I'm ready for something new. I've been slowly working my way through the house, and after this, I only have one more room I want to "improve". The bathroom had a nautical wallpaper border and "rope" trim above and below it. We removed the trim yesterday, B and Lil removed the vinyl picture portion of the wallpaper (you should have seen the bathroom floor), and just a few minutes ago, B sprayed the adhesive remover to get the paper portion of the border down. 
He just finished removing the paper. It took him all of three minutes. Look at this!
This is the best I could do for a before photo. I'll be sure to post the afters. Just know Lil wanted red, then bright kelly green, then bright pink. It's a good thing she doesn't get to decorate the house...;o)The other room I want to "finish" is the dining room. I want to put some "frames" below the chair rail and paint that area white. I think it will brighten it up in there (I'm not overly thrilled with the green, but I don't hate it either) quite a bit. :o)So anyhow, yesterday was spent at Lowe's, the 'krop (groceries) and then the 'Jay. I managed to use coupons at both Ukrops and Tarjay and saved over $25. Woo hoo! I have begun not only cutting coupons, but looking at the ads for the 'Jay, identifying items we use/need that are on special and then find coupons to go with them, thereby saving any more money. Yesterday, we received a $10 gift card because we purchased some diapers (which, let's face it, we're definitely going to be needing) and then, we used a coupon on top of that. Score! :oP We had Elijah's birthday party yesterday afternoon/evening and it was a blast! It was held at Jumping Joey's--a bouncer-filled party place. My little introvert was more than a bit overwhelmed when we first walked in and it took her a good twenty minutes to warm up. There were SO many kiddos running around, such loud music, so many brightly colored bouncers, she wasn't sure where to look our what to do. Yes, she may be friendly and approachable, but she truly is an introverted kiddo, and Miss Lily was stymied. Once she warmed up, she had a delightful time and chased around Scottie's kiddos Joe and Caroline. In fact, Joe somehow wound up Lil's playmate (he's in the seventh grade, lol!) and self-appointed guardian and stayed with her the entire time they were bouncing. :o) *******************************Weekend Sparklies:1. Getting a start on that bathroom. I'm heading in to begin painting here in a few minutes--maybe. I have to get B to go get my painting "stuff" from the workshop and I'm not sure he's going to want to leave the gold medal hockey match. ;o)2. They Olympics. I'm going to be so sad to see them end this evening.3. Mass and then brunch at Baker's Crust with Nana and Pop. One day I'll go and be able to get the French toast without them running out of cinnamon bread...4. The sun is out today. It's cool and windy, but so sunny. Yay!5. A bloggy reader asked me to make some special cards for her. I'm heading into the studio this evening to create a couple of mock-ups. :o) 6. Feeling Ellie move on her "schedule". I makes me smile to have her in there doing her own thing. :o)7. "Red meatloaf" for dinner. Mmmm. I'm drooling just thinking about it.
8. I've been better about my Lenten promise of limiting my internet time/usage and keeping my patience. Hooray! :o)No milestones.Still pondering the blog and what to do about the name. I also have the loveliest Lisa Leonard necklace Jessie gave me as a gift that has only Hannah and Lily on it. I'm not sure if I should contact Ms. Leonard and ask if it's possible to add another name, if I should purchase another necklace, or what. Whatever happens, I need to honor all three of my sweet girlies. :o)
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A final thought. Anyone else out there toast the moment one of the P&G Olympics "Thank you, Mom" commercials come on? Just thinking about them gets me teary, lol! Brien just looks at me and chuckles. After 16 years he knows what a softie I am. Combine my typical tendencies to cry at everything with pregnancy hormones and I'm simply doomed...
I had a quick moment of panic this morning when my cell phone rang and I realized it was Lil's school. The first words out of Jodi's mouth--once she confirmed it was me--were, "Lily's just fine!" Whew. The reason she was calling was to ask permission for Lil to visit a local nursing home with her classmates. It seems the new teacher (not Ms. Jamie--the teacher who took Ms. Jamie's place, who took Ms. Tanya's place) didn't realize only the PreK-4 kiddos went to visit and therefore lined up her class and Lil's class. Jodi said, "She has them all lined up in their coats, ready to go..." at which point, being a teacher who has taken a field trip or two and knows how hectic things are at just that moment, I interrupted and said, "Take her and enjoy!" What could be better than a group of cute and cuddly kiddos visiting a group of grandparents? I think that this is a wonderful opportunity for both groups. From what I can tell, Lily thoroughly enjoyed her visit. On our way out the door this afternoon, Ms. Tia stopped me to say, "Boy, your daughter sure did turn into a ham when we got there today!" What? My Lily? Charming the pants of people? NEVER. ;oP Ms. Tia went on to say that Lil really cranked it up, singing, dancing, playing and batting those blue peepers at the folks. She said it was quite wonderful to watch because so many of the kiddos were a little scared of such old people. But, not our Lily. Nope. She was more than ready to play and do crafts and have snacks. :o) I have to say I'm quite proud of her, especially since she really is an introvert at heart. What a girl!Fast forward to our grocery trip after school. She and I were getting our shopping cart when an older gentleman approached. He was enchanted with Miss Bit and wanted to come and say "hi". He then asked her if she could sing, opened his jacket and revealed a teeny tiny harmonica on a necklace which he began to play. Lil complied, joining in on "Mary Had a Little Lamb". She chatted with this nice gentleman for quite a while--as did I. I discovered he was 87, lives in Nana and Pop's neighborhood, and gives harmonica lessons. Hee hee! I think there must be something open and friendly looking about Lil and me. :o) In any event, Lily used her good manners, was a good listener, and made me smile. What a sweet girl. :o)********************************In a completely random aside, Miss Ellie is dealing with a bought of hiccups, poor baby. :oP From the feel of things, she's none too pleased with them at the moment. ********************************This morning's Lenten devotional really struck a chord with me. It was entitled, "Sharing Joy" and went on to talk about not hiding our light, but instead letting it shine brightly. That was followed by a thought for daily practice which stated:Joy is not the same as happiness. We can't always be happy because life by its very nature delivers difficulties and burdens as well as good things. Joy is a deep-down gift from God that helps us to be grateful and content even when we feel pain or disappointment. Pray for the gift of joy this Lent and try to radiate it today. Let it shine through all you do. This really resonated with me because it hit so close to home. I have joy and have had joy, even on those down yo Hannah days. No, happiness and joy aren't the same thing, and this was difficult for me to put into words. How in the world, in the face of such a significant loss could I be so determined to LIVE, could I find sparklies in my day? Thankfully, Ms. Gwen Costello was able to explain it for me. :o) ********************************Today's Sparklies:1. Aunt Kelly and Uncle Ron, this one's for you:
Check out how "montekyooge" this frog grew! He's been massive for quite some time, I just kept forgetting to get a good picture--until this evening. :oP Lil's ready to let him shrink and grow him all over again.2. Lily's wonderful day with the older folks. 3. I FINALLY got the grocery shopping done.4. They're calling for more white stuff tonight. Woo hoo! Now, I don't necessarily want a snow day, but I do so enjoy the prettiness that is newly fallen snow. :o)5. Ellie's hiccups--even if she didn't enjoy them. ;oP6. Lily was up and dressed without any coaxing this morning. I'm floored. :o) Kelly, I think you are definitely right about school/home behavior. It sure is reflected here at home. 7. B had to go pick up one of Waylen's meds this afternoon and wound up chatting with the vet who diagnosed the cancer. He was telling her about his new lease on life and how peppy and perky he is and she said she would like for him to come in for another chest x-ray. This is exactly what I have been wanting to happen, as I've been wondering if the cancer is shrinking or what. His prognosis was less than a month, and here we are more than a month out with a happy, seemingly healthy Buddy dog. Huh. If nothing else, the meds are definitely doing their job and I couldn't be happier. :o)No milestones.********************************************So, I go to bed early and wake up multiple times a night. Ack! I can't wait to get a nice stretch of sleep once again. Some day...;o)
Lily is growing up right before my eyes. I can't stand it! She has been so happy and buoyant and bubbly since Sunday it's as if she's a different child. We've had few spats and arguments, very little in the way of bad listening, and B and I have not truly lost our patience with her. This is almost unheard of around here. Yes, one of my Lenten goals was to be more patient and understanding with my child, but this goes beyond that. She is truly eager to please and I cannot begin to tell you how much easier life has been. This evening, for the third night in a row, Lil ate ALL her supper--without being incessantly reminded to eat, and then in turn brow-beaten into eating--even when last night was "weft overs" from Sunday. We haven't experienced that since before she turned two! I'm not sure what has brought about this change, other than simply growing up. I suppose it could be more complicated than that. I've been spending far less time on the computer, thus freeing more time for me to be with her. We've colored, written words, practiced writing and more. Typically, non-weekend mornings are a major struggle, with Lil wanting to stay in bed, and me having to dig deep for calming breaths as I try to sweetly but firmly evict her. (Weekends, the child is up at 6:30--I kid you not. It's Murphy's Law, right?) Then, I am continuously reminding her to get dressed and trying to hurry my poky little puppy along so we can make it downstairs before 7:00. Yesterday and today? She was up and at 'em when I told her it was time to get up. Holy moly! Add to that getting dressed with no adult direction and we have had two struggle-free mornings, with high hopes for the rest of the week. I can't help but wonder how much of this is due to Lil's "new" teacher. Ms. Jamie has been the first person Lil sees at school since we began going, and she is so sweet and kind. How fortunate she's now Lily's teacher. She really does love Lil and Lily knows it. This makes a mama's heart happy. :o) ********************************Today's Sparklies:1. The BHS students are FINALLY back in school. They will be attending afternoon/evening classes at BMS, and although this is beyond different, I know they have got to be happy to be back in school. 2. I feel so at peace these days--B said he feels the same, and it would seem, so does Lily. Hooray!3. The Olympics are on for a few more days. Woo hoo! :o)4. Writing words with Lily this evening. She is having such fun, and she is SO determined to get it "right". She will practice letters by tracing over those letters I have written--very ingenious. :o) 5. I'm doing SO much better about my computer time--hooray! No milestones. *************************************I'm thinking maybe I should hit the hay right now. I feel like I'm back in the first trimester with all the exhaustion I'm feeling right now. I think I'm going to go to bed as soon as I hit publish...
Happiness is a little girl learning letter sounds and trying her best to write. My friend Susan put a book for Lily in my mailbox at school and I wanted Lil to write her a thank you note. This says, "Dear Dr. Morelli, Thank you. Love, Lily" I helped with the "th" and the spelling of "you" and "love". The rest was done on her own. Oh, and that strange letter next to the "d" in dear? That's an upside "e". 
Happiness is children's art work. Here is Lil's illustration for Susan. If you enlarge it, you should be able to read much of my captioning. 
Happiness is ROY G BIV leaves.I have a bit of a ROY G BIV OCD. I admit it. No, I'm not trying to be insensitive to those with true OCD, I'm saying I have an "issue" whereby I NEED to have items put in rainbow order, whether it's clothing, markers or, apparently, leaves. I ROY G BIVed Mom's closet for her for Pete's sake. :eye roll: I cannot begin to tell you how happy this picture makes me. :oP
Happiness is surprise blossoms. This is my crazy Lent blooming Christmas cactus. Huh. - Happiness is doing a daily devotional with your family
- Happiness is a husband who comes home and helps in the kitchen
- Happiness is a friend who brings you a paper copy of your hometown paper ("The Montgomery News Messenger"!) with an article she thought you might be interested in (she was in town visiting her son at Tech for the weekend)
- Happiness is sweet comments from readers--thanks everyone :o)
- Happiness is feeling God's presence alive in your heart
- Happiness is being alive, truly alive and LIVING that life to the fullest every day
I'm sure I could go on and on, but I'm going to end it with that one, because really, that's what it's all about--living and enjoying YOUR life, even when there are parts of it that really really suck. Find the good in your day! :o)
See this sweet girl? This is the same child who was as good as gold during Mass this morning. She was incredible and sat quietly between Daddy and Nana, listening, singing, and looking at the hymnal. I couldn't have been more delighted. :o)Confession time (and I ask that you please remember this is my journal which I choose to put out there in the hopes that one day my children will have a record of our lives. Therefore, to quote Thumper and his daddy, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say nuthin' at all."):This was Lil's first ever trip within a house of worship. Brien and I, while faithful believers in God, and quite God-centered in our lives, haven't been very good about attending any sort of organized religious services. Yes, I attend when we have Mass and prayer services at school, and I always feel so uplifted and good afterward. But, we were out of the habit of attending church, and quite frankly, were finding excuses not to go. "We just can't find a good fit." "I don't think you need to be in a church to experience the wonder and beauty that is God." And many more. And, quite frankly, we got used to having those lazy Sunday mornings...We had had many false starts, and finally, with this being the season of Lent, a time for personal reflection and turning "around", we determined TODAY was going to be the day we got back in the habit of going to church. I had already decided TODAY was the day, so when Nana announced after dinner Friday, "We're attending the 10:00 Mass at St. Olaf Sunday," I knew it was a sign. We all rolled out and rolled in to church on time. I felt very at home at the service and quite comfortable and welcome. I LOVED the homily and thoroughly enjoyed Fr. Pete.All four of us adults left feeling good. B and I have felt rejuvenated all day. It begs the question, why haven't we done this sooner?As a further reflection, I've not done so well with my computer time and I'm going to try even harder this week. *****************************************
Miss Lily who insisted her daddy take her picture once she saw him taking pictures of her working so hard. Oh how I adore this child, even when she is her most fractious. Okay, this next set of photos is for Joe who harassed me into posting full-on photos of myself. I figured I could kill a couple of birds with one stone. 1. Face photo for Joe (because goodness knows I do my best to stay out of any and all photos).2. Belly shot at almost 32 weeks. 3. Hair photo (only three weeks late...)
So, Ellie Bean and I were doing dishes. I can't do anything without her joining me and helping out. She bumps into any and all counters. ;o)
Someone looked at me and said, "Are you sure you're not due for another 9 weeks?" :sigh: If I didn't love the person so much, I might have had to lay her out flat, especially when she added, "Of course, you got quite, um, wow with Lily, I seem to remember." Niiiiiiiice. Seriously, though, I'm really not upset by such comments. I take them in the tone they are intended, one of teasing and affection. And, heck, I was HUGE with Lil. I know it's only going to get worse with this one... ;oP
B took this one and I didn't realize it because I was too busy conversing with Waylen. Yes, he can converse. You see, he was asking me for something tasty to snack on. I was informing him there was nothing for him, that he had had all the goodies he was allotted for the day. He wasn't so sure about that and was trying to argue. I had to shut him down. :oP********************************I'm beginning to get very excited about Miss Ellie's arrival. Yes, I've been thrilled to be pregnant and excited about having her, but it occurs to me, I'll be meeting this little girl before you know it. Holy cow! 
The room is not quite ready yet, but I realized I hadn't posted a photo of the crib. We couldn't seem to help ourselves. We got to BRU to purchase the crib we had selected, and came back to this one--the one we had both truly fallen in love with, but decided not to get because we had no other maple furniture in the house. What can I say, we changed our minds. Everything in the room is still a cluttered mess. We need to redo Ellie's closets the same way we did Lil's, and I need to get things organized. I'll have about three weeks off before Ellie's supposed to arrive, so there will be plenty of time to get things the way I want them.And, even though I know the child needs no clothing, what with all the hand-me-downs we have, I couldn't help but get a couple of things that were just for her. Since I have been setting aside a little bit of money every month for the past couple of months just for this purpose, Nana and I hit the "Gymber" and Carter's outlets and found some pretty incredible deals. 
Jess, this was $6 and is a 3-6 month. I figured Grace could wear it this summer if Ellie was too little. I'm rather stuck when it comes to my thoughts on how this baby will grow. Hannah was a moose of a baby. She hit 12 pounds by 8 weeks and was roly poly delicious with fat rolls on her fat rolls. She was nothing but cheeks and HUGE blue eyes and topped the growth charts in weight (99th+ percentile) and height (95 percentile) until she was well over three years old. Lily, however, continues to be my peanut. I kid you not, the child was wearing 0-3 month clothing at 6 months. Han wore 0-3 months for about 2 minutes... So, I really have nothing to go by with Miss Ellie Bean. As far as birth weight, I'm guessing somewhere between 6 and 7 1/2 pounds because that's where the other two fell, and I don't feel any bigger than I did with them. Ellie doesn't feel any bigger than they did. Does that make sense? 
This was the last outfit I purchased--SO sweet! :o)And, here are some of the outfits I set aside for sentimental reasons:
I ADORED this when it was given to the Monkey. Both she and Lil have worn it and I can't wait to put Ellie in it. 
Han wore this her first day home from the hospital. Oh, she was SO very tiny. 
This was Lil's. It was given to her as a Valentine's outfit and she wore it until June. Seriously...
This was Bitty's coming home outfit. 
Lissie had taken a trip to Italy the spring before Han was born and brought this sweet little onesie back with her. Both girls have worn it and soon Ellie will as well. :o)And, finally, a sight that frightened B and me this afternoon:
There is nothing quite so scary as the sight of a teeny, newborn diaper because you realize just how small a new baby really is. This was a free sample and I almost choked when I saw it. Yes, I was with Grace when she was a tiny newborn. Yes, I've had my own tiny newborns. But, to realize I'm going to have another tiny newborn in just a few short weeks is stunning. ***************************************Weekend Sparklies:1. We made it to Lowes Saturday and could have wandered for hours just looking at "stuff".2. The weather the past few days has been amazing! The days are lengthening once again, the sun is shining, and I was able to open the windows and let in fresh air today. :happy sigh: I've had my snow, it's gone, and now I'm going to embrace the coming of spring.3. We made gardening plans and plans for the front flower beds. I'm getting excited! (Amy, your seeds should be in the mail tomorrow. I'm SOOOO sorry it's taken this long to get them out. I suck. :sigh:)4. The Olympics have been fabulous this weekend. :o)5. Mass this morning leaving me with a sunshiny feeling all day. 6. All the incredibly helpful comments on my last post. Thank you, ladies, so very very much! :o)7. Brunch with N and P after Mass today.No milestones.Jessie has once again renamed her blog (which makes sense), leading me to contemplate what I'm going to do here once the Ellie Bean arrives. I can't help feeling there are supposed to be TWO big sisters here ready to greet her and I'm beginning to struggle some with the knowledge that I will once more have two little girls in the house and it won't be "right" somehow. I'll have to give it some more thought to try to more accurately express what it is I'm feeling.
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For those of you who made it here to the bottom without your eyeballs rolling into the back of your heads, have a happy Monday. :o)
So, I've fallen off my cooking wagon this week. I place the blame squarely where it belongs, on the Olympics' shoulders. ;o) I'm up late so by the time I get home I'm utterly exhausted. Who wants to cook when they're pooped? So, yeah, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. :oPI received an email today from a parent telling me her son is SO sad I won't be finishing the school year. Then, this afternoon, I had a mother tell me the same thing about her son. I AM sad I won't be finishing the school year with them, but I confess, a part of me gets a perverse thrill knowing the kiddos like me so much they don't want me to go. Either that, or they really don't want a sub--could they be thinking of Viola Swamp? ;oPWhile I'm thinking of the Ellie Bean, I have some questions for you mamas out there. If you are a babywearer, what kind of sling do you find most comfortable for wearing a tiny newborn? I used a Mei Tai with Lil, but not until she was old enough to hold her head up. I figure a sling is the best way to go with a teeny one. Also, I'm looking for some decent nursing bras (sorry fellas). I need something VERY supportive, and although I had Bravadas with Lil, I need something a bit more supportive still. So, any ideas from you mamas? It's about time for me to look at purchasing these items and I need someplace to begin researching. Thanks! :o)***********************************Today's Sparklies: 1. I had the most wonderful recess today. The kiddos hadn't been on the playground since February began, having to do "walk and talk" around the track--until today. I extended recess by a good five minutes just because they were having such fun out there. That, and the weather was nice as well.2. Brien cooked dinner AND cleaned the kitchen. What a guy! :o)3. Good Olympics events on tonight. Fun! :o) 4. Lil had wonderful play time outside this afternoon--Holly kept her company. ;o)No milestones.**********************************I'm off for a nice long soak in the tub. Ahhhh. :o)
I'm not feeling so well this evening. I have a headache, stuffy nose and I'm simply tired. I guess I've spent too many evenings watching the Olympics, lol. :oPEven now, I have speed skating on and I just finished watching the US men's curling match. For those even remotely interested in curling, Mental Floss had a quick primer that will help you understand if you have no clue what's happening. While I actually picked up quite a bit watching it four years ago, it was still a nice little refresher for me. Now, if only they would post a tennis primer...;o)We had our Ash Wednesday Mass this morning. I really enjoyed the new priest's homily and appreciated the way he acknowledged there were people seated behind him as well as all those in front of him. He turned around to speak to us a number of times and was quite personable. (It would seem the fifth grade are Sr. Rose's favorites so she uses them for alter servers and the like, which leaves us sitting in the front of the auditorium behind the Father.)We walked around all day with our ashes on our foreheads and I confess, I forgot about them until I went to pick up Lil this afternoon. There, Jodi greeted me and said, "You have a smudge on your forehead." :oP Then, Ms. T said the same thing a few minutes later. They were both quite understanding when I reminded them it was Ash Wednesday. :o)I've been thinking about my Lenten "sacrifice". I'm going to give up computer time, but I would like to do more. Lent is a time for renewal. I would like to renew my commitment to being a more patient mother, to being a better listener. I'm going to attempt to do one good deed every day--and it doesn't have to be something big, just something along the lines of letting that car pull out in front of you when they can't get out of the parking lot onto the main road, that sort of thing. I'm striving to be a better me. **********************************Today's Sparklies:1. Everyone with their "smudgy" foreheads today. I looked out at the congregation and we all had our crosses. :o)2. Sweet Bitty Roo as she strove to be my big helper today. And, when I was yelling at the TV just a few minutes ago (I have to say I'm not overly impressed with the South Korean speed skaters...) she came running to make sure I was okay. 3. My commitment to self-improvement. There's ALWAYS room to improve. 4. My cousin Gale won't have to have any radiation or chemo--the cancer is gone o) Hooray!!! :o) No milestones.
So much for an early bedtime last night. I got sucked in watching the pairs figure skating. I had to see if the Chinese couple would take the gold. After all their sacrifices, I was really pulling for them. However, I wasn't pulling for that whole midnight bedtime thing. These Olympic Games may do me in, lol! Suffice it to say I'm still beat. ;o) In my young adulthood it was always, "Why did I drink that much?" Now it's "Why did I stay up so late?" ;o)Right now I'm watching the last end of the US/Japan women's curling match. I fell in love with curling during the Torino Games and am so happy to see it again. Yes, I'm a nerd and I really do enjoy most of the winter sports. In fact, I'm trying to think of one I might not enjoy watching that much, and really, I can't. I even watched (and was gripped by) the biathlon Sunday. There is something so amazing about the Olympics. While I do root for the US, I don't get all caught up in the medal count. In fact, I get insanely frustrated with those who do. First of all, what an honor to even be there! Then, to finish in the top three in the world? That's a pretty amazing feat. I'm sickened every time I hear, "He will settle for the silver (or bronze)." Um, settle? Really? Grrrr.Me? I'm pulling for those nations that sent ONE or two athletes, those nations that have no winter so to speak. These nations have sent their best and isn't it wonderful? Remember, I pull for the underdog--I so desperately want to see them succeed.I will say that over the course of the past few days, I've heard more commentary talking about people coming to the games to put up a personal best, or to finish under a certain time. I've heard commentators rooting for those in the back of the pack, those who it is recognized won't medal. The stories behind the athletes are those I enjoy. I saw one last night about the Canadian skier who won gold, and his brother. I was, of course, toast and sniffled my way through the piece. All this to say, I'm addicted to the Olympics, lol! ;o)***************************I had an OB appointment today and all is well. I've gained another pound (8 or 9 pounds total now) and my b/p was 120/70. Woo hoo! Ellie continues her acrobatics and her heart rate was in the 140s-150s. :o) Hooray for healthy pregnancies and babies!***************************Today is Fat Tuesday and I did all I could to stuff myself silly. Some evil human put chocolate frosted glazed Krispy Kremes in the lounge. If I find that person I'm going to beat them with a wet noodle. OMG that doughnut I ate was pure heaven. Mmmmmm. We had a day of feasting to begin the fast. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, thus beginning the season of Lent. I've been wracking my brain, trying to determine what I could "give up", what would be a true sacrifice for me, that would in turn remind me of the sacrifices made by God. I'm once again thinking about my internet usage. I will keep the stupid computer turned on, using it, even though I'm not looking at anything worthwhile. I just have it on to have it on. There's something not quite right about that. I will still use my computer to check email and to post blogs, but I think, for the next forty days or so, the rest of my time will be limited. I'm thinking give myself thirty minutes of "play" time outside of my blogging/email. This will force me to reevaluate that information that is important in my life, and that which is simply drivel. ******************************Today's Sparklies:1. It was "project day" today! I just LOVE it when the kiddos bring in their SS projects and I see how hard they have been working. Today's crop were scrapbooks, showcases and fictional biographies, all set in the Colonial period. :o) These kiddos worked amazingly hard and it shows. :o)2. My OB appointment went well. 3. I gave a SS quiz and have them all graded already. Woo hoo!4. Crock-Pot dinner. There is nothing quite like stepping out of the car in the garage and smelling dinner awaiting you. :o)5. Chatting with Pat the super sub this evening. She'll be my sub while I'm out with Ellie and we were just making some arrangements. Still, it was the loveliest conversation. no milestones.**************************Before I forget, there was a note awaiting me in Lil's cubby at school. It seems Ms. T's last day will be Friday and she'll be returning to Louisiana. I haven't yet heard what Lil's new arrangements will be, but whatever they are, it will only be for roughly six weeks. She'll stay home with Ellie and me until next fall.
Thank goodness for three day weekends. I've been staying up late each night, watching the Olympics, and inevitably, Lil is in the room before 7:00 awakening me. Needless to say, I'm a bit beat. I have no idea how people can function on five hours sleep. I'm a mess right now, that's for sure. In fact, it's only 7:15 and I'm already contemplating going to bed. Between the late nights, Lil's early mornings (and, WHY is it she doesn't do this on school days??), and the discomfort I'm beginning to experience due to Ellie growing so beautifully, I don't think I've had a full night's sleep in weeks. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being pregnant. I always love being pregnant. I just forget how um, uncomfortable things can get during the last trimester. Hannah hung out low. Lil was high (I swear I lived for weeks with one of her tootsies lodged in my ribs). Ellie, well, she's seems to be more in the middle. Rolling over is now quite the acrobatic feat, and I've learned to live with the pain in my hips. It's all so worth it in the end. :o)I was talking on the phone with Mom the other day and almost had a panic attack. I realized Ellie will be here in about nine weeks. OMG! Nine weeks is NOTHING and there is still so much to be done!! Now, had you said this to me during my pregnancy with Hannah I would have scoffed at you. Nine weeks was an eternity, lol! I confess, I'm also scared and anxious about Ellie's labor and delivery. Hannah's was such a nightmare it has overshadowed Lil's (which by comparison was a breeze) and has lingered in my brain some eight years later. Here are the "highlights" of Han's labor/delivery: - I had preeclmapsia and they didn't give me a magnesium sulfate drip.
- My labor began around 6:00 Wednesday, September 19, but Hannah wasn't actually delivered until 4:06 Friday, September 21.
- I had excruciating back labor and failed to progress.
- The pit drip was a nightmare and when I finally got an epidural it didn't work well.
- Eventually, the epidural wore off and I was left going through transition (with a sunny-side up baby, hence the back labor) on pitocin without any sort of pain drugs. It was the most godawful thing I have ever experienced--my entire body convulsed with every contraction and before one was finished I could feel the next one beginning.
- I pushed for over three and a half hours and had to have a vacuum assist delivery. (Did I mention there was no sleeping during any of this time period due to the pain of the labor?)
- Remember how there was no magnesium sulfate drip? Well, I suffered for that as well by hemorrhaging over half my blood volume prior to the delivery of the placenta.
Even after eight years, I can still recall all this. Needless to say, I was beyond petrified of Lil's arrival--although it turned out to be uneventful and easy. I find it interesting that neither Brien nor I can truly remember much about her delivery, but can remember Han's with such clarity. In fact, just the other day B actually said to me, "I can't remember Lily's delivery, what was it like?" Wow. I'll confess it here, I'm a wuss, folks. I don't do pain well--at all--and the thought of another labor/delivery like Hannah's has me scared witless. Sure, chances are Ellie's will be like Lily's and I shouldn't borrow trouble, but I can't help but remember and worry. What I really want is a labor like Jessie's--three hours, pain-free. Heck, who wouldn't, lol? ;o)But, God willing, that's still nine weeks away. Until then, I can dream about what my sweet baby will look like, whose eyes she'll have and will she have a head full of hair like Han or be cue ball bald like Lil. I can finish pulling her room together, get a couple of outfits that are all "her own", and take care of the incidentals I have left (pump parts, nursing items, etc.). ****************************Today's Sparklies:1. This one was actually for yesterday and I failed ot mention it. Lisa, your Valentine arrived, full of sparklies! Thank you SO much! :o)2. A fun, slug day at home. B stayed with us and it was wonderful.3. Watching the Alpine events today. Four years ago, I was home on maternity leave with a brand-new Lily, watching all the Olympics events. I'm rather bummed I have to go to work and will miss so much during the day--I was rather spoiled four years ago. ;o) 4. Making plans to return to Mountain Lake for vacation this summer. I love having something to look forward to, and I'm SURE Lil is going to love it. :o)5. Looking forward to spring and having Ellie along on our Sunday family hikes. :o)No milestones.**********************************For those interested, I've been keeping abreast of the situation at BHS and have been keeping this post updated as new information becomes available.
So, I sat down and made close to 30 cards this weekend. Holy moly! Because Liss loves to see what I've created, here they are. This first group is a set I created using the "All Through the Year" stamp set. They are variations on a theme. You can't see it, but each card has a bit of "Dazzling Diamonds" to give it a bit of "pop". This card uses the retired In-Color Wild Wasabi. The sentiment comes from "Warm Words".
Ink: Melon MamboPaper: Melon Mambo and DSPSentiment from "Short and Sweet"
Ink/paper: Yo-Yo YellowSentiment: "Warm Words"
Ink/Paper: Chocolate Chip, DSPSentiment: "Warm Words"
Ink/Paper: Cameo Coral and retired "Raspberry Tart" (I LOVE LOVE LOVE this DSP!)Sentiment: "Warm Words"
Ink/Paper: Apricot AppealSentiment: "Warm Words"
Ink/Paper: Bashful BlueSentiment: "Warm Words"
The finished set of seven cards. They came together fairly quickly and I'm contemplating putting a couple of sets together to give as gifts. They make me smile. :o)This next card came about as a rebellion against the snowy weather yesterday (just a dusting, but I know SO many of you are tired of the white stuff. Me? I still LOVE it. :oP)
Inks: Yo-Yo Yellow, Banana Yellow, Summer Sun, Cameo Coral, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal, Green Galore and Gable GreenPapers: Cameo Coral, Bermuda Bay, Thoroughly Modern DSPStamps: "Tart and Tangy" and "Celebrate Everything"Mom, do these make you reminisce about growing up in Florida? 
Mom also told me her favorite In-Color from last year was Kiwi Kiss. Combining it with the Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry and Soft Suede of this year, I made a couple of lovely cards. Stamp Sets: "Thoughts and Prayers" and "Hope Happens"
More from the "Thoughts and Prayers" set and "Absolutely Fabulous"Colors: Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango Papers: Autumn Traditions DSP, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango
Oh how I LOVE the "Trendy Trees" stamp set! The new punch (from the "Sale-A-Bration" catalog) is lovely as well. Inks/colors: Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Kiwi Kiss, Soft Suede 
B's "Balance Time" from me. Same as above, but using Real Red.
Last, but not least, (sorry for the cruddy light quality of this one), a baby card.Papers: Bella Rose DSP (retired :sigh:), Pink Pirouette (also retired--such a GREAT color for little girls' cards)*******************************Even now, I'm sitting in the studio, contemplating still more cards--while the Olympics plays in the background. I'm working on some ideas for Ellie's birth announcements (I'll pop 'em together and then put in pertinent info when she arrives), and I'm dying to play with the "Cottage Wall" and "Raspberry Tart" DSPs. I'm also wanting to pull out "Trendy Trees", "Thoughts and Prayers" and "Branch Out". We'll see what I manage...;oP I've one more day left to play, the question is will Lil let me? ;o) *********************************Weekend Sparklies: 1. A FANTASTIC link from Pamina. Thank you!2. Valentine's cards from Lissie and a package in the mail for Lil. It's so wonderful seeing Lil get excited when the mail arrives. :o) 3. B got me the most wonderful Valentine's gift--a new leather chair for my studio. It's SO much more comfortable than the hard wooden kitchen chair I had been using. Thank you, Sweetie!4. Lots and lots of studio time. 5. Lil and Daddy had a "date" yesterday which also made me smile. :o)6. The Olympics have begun. Hooray!!! 7. I was the coupon queen at Tar-jay today. I checked the sale paper, saw a number of items we either need (or will need soon) were on sale, pulled out seven $1.00-$1.50 off coupons and made a killing! :o) We got about $3.50 off a package of diapers. No, we don't need them yet, but they were about $2 off at the 'jay and then we had a $1.50 coupon about to expire, so how could I pass up the deal?No milestones. As I was working in the studio, I realized just how much Hannah would have loved to be in here with me. I'm comforted knowing my chair sits just where her bed was, and know she's with me in spirit. I just desperately wish she were here with me in the flesh.
***********************
Please see my post below about the collapse of my high school's gym roof. I'm updating it as more info is made available.
This is my high school. I'm FLOORED!
*******ETA*********
I just read this update. I'm SO glad someone was observant so a tragedy was averted.
**********ETA at 5:08 pm********
A further update with photos.
***ETA 2/15/10 @ 7:30 am***
New update here.
***ETA 2/15/10 @ 4:30 pm***
Apparently, the school board had safety concerns when the school was completed in 1974.
***ETA 2/16/10 @ 9:00 am***
The latest as of right now.
***ETA 2/17/10 @ 8:30 am***
It seems the school may be unusable until the end of the year!!
***ETA 2/17/10 @ 4:54 pm***
Thanks for the update, Katie. This is all so CRAZY. :o(
Here's the latest from the RT.
Katie, good look with the bedrest. That really stinks. :o(
1. A "fun" day right after a crazy day makes for an even more crazy day.2. A "fun" the last day before a long weekend makes for a difficult time keeping the kiddos' attention.3. Just because they are fifth graders doesn't mean they won't appreciate the music you enjoy--Journey, ABBA, Boston, Bon Jovi--or sing and dance along.4. 24 fifth graders sound much louder than you can imagine when singing "Don't Stop Believing".5. Fifth graders can see/hear a dance one time and remember it--"Cha Cha Slide" anyone? 6. Ice cream topped by candy topped by cupcakes topped by cherry 7-Up creates some insane sugar monsters...7. It's a darn good thing I passed that glucose tolerance test because I think y system went into a sugar coma just seeing the amount of candy I was gifted with today. My teeth ache. 8. It is good to get the kiddos sugared up at the end of the day and then send them home. ;o)9. Kelly's beatitude of "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape" is more appropriate than you can ever imagine. 10. It's good to have a long weekend to recover from such a day of fun. ***********************************Today's Sparklies (or, "Things I'm Excited About"):1. A long weekend. Ahhhhh.2. Lil's going to school tomorrow so I'm going to get some cleaning, shopping (groceries) and stamping done. Hooray! :o)3. Olympic Games opening ceremonies tomorrow. Oh I ADORE the Olympics! :o) I love to watch all the events and just can't wait! I have real issues with the "medal count" thing and as much as I love to root for the Americans, I find myself pulling for the underdog. (I'll give my soapbox rant as the Olympics continue, I'm sure...). Mental Floss had some cool cool articles about Winter Olympians today. :o) 4. My tax return. Hooray! :o)5. This really fascinating "Modern Marvels" I'm watching about Winter Olympics technology. 6. I had a fairly good pop-in observation today. Whew!7. I get to sleep in tomorrow (of course, if by sleeping in you mean 6:30, lol!). No milestones.****************************************Sooooo, which mommy failed to make "balance times" for her kiddo to hand-out tomorrow? Who, me? No, not me, but some mommy, and I er SHE needs to go get those made...
I was tired last night, crabby, and really didn't have anything worth saying so I left it at that. :oPToday was a crazy sort of day. When I left the house it was pouring snow, but the temp was above freezing and it had been raining all night, so the roads were clear. Then, it really began to come down--about 1"-2" per hour, and it just couldn't melt as fast as it fell. The wind began to howl and before too long, we had white-out conditions. Wow. As I'm sure you can imagine, the kiddos were going NUTS with excitement. We are lucky if we see one dusting of snow a year. To have two significant events (hey, they got us delayed and closed), and then this, was too much. "Do you think they'll send us home early, Mrs. D?""Nope.""But what if...""No 'what ifs'. Nope. You're safer here now that you are at school, than you would be getting out on the icy roads.""But what if..."ARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHAround 10:00, the president of the school let us know they were feeding the students and had sent out a blast call to all the parents letting them know they could come and pick up their children as soon as they felt it was safe. Not, "We're closing early, come and get your children by ______." :sigh: This led to a very interesting rest of the day. Children began to disappear by ones and twos and by lunch time there were only 14 fifth graders left. By the end of the day, I had five children. It was impossible to teach anything so I was a little frustrated with the situation. The thing is, decisions are ALWAYS made with the best information those in charge have at that moment in time, and hind sight is ALWAYS 20/20. And, given this (which is in fact one of the top stories over at CNN) and this (slide show included) I can see why they made that choice. However, by the time I left work this afternoon, the snow had stopped and the roads were clear--thank goodness. The wind has really begun howling now and it is c-c-c-c-cold outside. I'm still stunned by the amount of snow we have had this year. Wow!****************************************Today's Sparklies:1. "Mommy, my zipper is going slow!" Said whilst trying to tug on a stuck zipper.2. The beauty of the softly falling snow this morning. It was so fluffy and pretty, covering everything. :o)3. We had a teacher appreciation luncheon today. Thank you SO much to all the families who provided us with such hearty fare on such an icky day. 4. Laundry and bathrooms are done. Woo hoo!5. Tomorrow is ostensibly Friday since we have a four day weekend coming up. Yay!6. Amy and Lissie for checking on my when I hadn't bothered to post anything last night. Thanks, ladies! :o)No Milestones.You know, Hannah has been talked about more the past two days than she has in quite a while. My friend and colleague Jeff out of the blue asked about Han and did I think there was a purpose or meaning for her death, did I ever think about that. That prompted a 45 minutes discussion/talk and I got to reminisce about my sweet Monkey and share stories with someone who was never privileged to meet her.Yesterday Jess and I were talking about her, and today, it was Lissie and me. Some days the missing is so intense I can hardly breathe, but now, most days, we float along and don't hurt so much any more. As cliche' as it is, time does in fact heal. Over two years ago, I don't think I would have believed I could ever be here, at this place, and yet, I am. I'm grateful for all the prayers and positive thoughts I've had sent my way over this time as I know they have been such a HUGE help. So, once again, I thank you. :o) Thank you to all of you, who after two years, still come and visit most days and check in. You are a blessing. :o)**********************************We had these for dinner last night:
They are quick, easy and painless and if you are at all interested, the recipe is over on "Follow Your Bliss". :o)
My friend and coworker, Sandy, will go for her final chemo treatment Wednesday. To celebrate, a group of us got together for dinner this evening. For as long as I can remember, Lissie has said it is important for women to have friends of every age, that we can all learn from one another. Dinner this evening had all ages from 23 to 63, all of us at different stages in our lives. Two of us have had breast cancer, one of us lost a child, two of us divorced, two single/never married, and all a happy, fun group of ladies. Dinner was full of laughter and joy as we bolstered Sandy for one last treatment. It was a very enjoyable meal. :o)**************************************I was told today that Lily said she didn't have to nap at school because she was more special than her classmates. Um, WHAT?!?!? I told Lil, that yes, she is special, but so is everyone else, because God loves us all the same. That since God doesn't love some of us more than others, no one is more special than anyone else. Oy. :eye roll: The things a four year old can come up with.... At the same time, I assured Lily that she was the most special Lily in our lives and that we love her dearly. Did I mention that Friday Lil's face got in the way of a book that was tossed across the reading area? She was clocked under her right eye and there is still a bit of a mark. It would seem she was reading quietly and another little girl didn't want the book she was reading so she tossed it into the reading nook--and clipped Bitty. :sigh: ******************************************Hooray to the Saints and to Nawlins on their Super Bowl win! :o) I confess I wasn't as impressed with the commercials as I have been in the past, and found many of them rather "meh". Typically I watch the Bowl game for the commercials, and sort of watch the football. This year, I was SO happy to have a game to entertain me since I found so many of the commercials lacking. As for the Saints, watching Drew Brees at the end, with his son in his arms (with ear protection!), made me all sniffly. It was such a beautiful moment. :o) As for those in Luzianna, I'm SURE this will be the longest Mardi Gras EVER. :oP*******************************************Today's Sparklies:1. Lying in this morning just because I could. ;oP2. My classes are all in the same place again--I caught everyone up! Hooray! :o)3. Lily was my HUGE helper with the dishwasher this evening. She not only put away all the silverware, she handed me all the dishes to put them away, saving me from bending over. I didn't ask her to do this, she just did it. Sweet girlie!4. Ah, it's "Roadshow" night. ;o)5. Dinner with my friends. And Brien, for staying home with Lil so I could go out. Thank you, Sweetie! :o)No milestones.
See? Hooray! :o)
The precipitation changed to sleet then snow just about the time I returned from the grocery store, and boy was it blowing around. 
B and I thought the bird prints along the door frame were too cute. Wow do we have birds! Lil's Christmas gift to her daddy was an anti-squirrel bird feeder and we have all thoroughly enjoyed it (well, the humans and the birds, the squirrels notsomuch). It would seem it takes buckets of energy to stay warm in the midst of a snowstorm because the birds were flocking like mad. 
You can see the direction the snow was blowing. 
The pond at Lil's playground remained and was in fact an ice skating rink this morning.
The birds were still flocking this morning. They seem to take turns at the feeder. 
The skating rink and the sparkling snow. It once again looked as if the ground had been littered with diamond dust. 
The temperature rose enough that B didn't have to go out and shovel the driveway--hooray. It also melted most of the ice and snow on the road (which was not plowed, of course). I figured we would go to school on time tomorrow. Nope! We have a two hour delay. Woo hoo! :o) And, another celebration? Lil's all better! Hooray!!! She only threw-up those two times (which was really more than enough) and was more than ready for "real food" (her words) this morning. I had to chuckle yesterday when I was giving her the "sick" food. I was greeted with, "But Mommy, popsicles are candy. Are you sure I can have dis?" And, "Mommy, I can have Coke?? REALLY???" It would seem being sick has its advantages. ;oPMy stomach has been "off" since yesterday afternoon and I'm hoping it's just the result of Miss Ellie Bean squashing my stomach. I really hate being sick and don't wanna do it so here's hoping all is actually well. :fingers crossed:***************************************Weekend Sparklies:1. Lil's better!! :o)2. Snow!!!!!!!!! I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about this. They're calling for more Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning, and again next Sunday. YES!3. A two hour delay tomorrow. :o)4. Excellent dinner. B made the most amazing chicken breasts with lemon/shallot/chive pan sauce, and I accompanied it with steamed Brussels' Sprouts (with butter and Parmesan), and homemade mac and cheese. Lil snarfed the mac and cheese and loved the pan sauce "dip". Lily fuss-free dinners are always so lovely. (Okay, so there was a bit of drama over the eating of the sprout...)5. Waylen is so perky these days--hooray! The prednisone seems to be doing him quite a bit of good. It makes me smile to see him like his "old" self again. :o)6. Lil and I played in the studio today. This is what I made (it's a mock-up to see how I liked it):
I spent the rest of my time helping Lil make her "balance times".
7. Ellie has settled into a routine and is quite predictable. I swear I could tell time by her. :oP She's up around 6:00, then 9:00ish, then around 2:00, 5:00, and 8:00, and then at 10:00 (sometimes she's off a bit as she's really rocking and rolling right now). This is quite a nice "schedule" and here's hoping she keeps to it once she's born, lol! Milestone:Not so much a milestone, just another "missing" day. I found some Hannah art and simply longed to have her with me. **************************************I'm off to watch the Super Bowl and commercials (I've enjoyed a number of them so far). Although I LOVE LOVE LOVE NCAA football, I'm rather indifferent to the NFL. Yes, it's fun to watch, but I don't really have a "favorite", and well, watching without someone to cheer for isn't that much fun for me. This evening, I have a team. I'm rooting for the Saints. I love to cheer on the underdog and I would dearly love to see them win--there is so much on their shoulders with this. Don't get me wrong, I love the Manning boys and think they are all kinds of wonderful ballplayers and people, but I truly believe New Orleans needs this.
He just finished removing the paper. It took him all of three minutes. Look at this!
This is the best I could do for a before photo. I'll be sure to post the afters. Just know Lil wanted red, then bright kelly green, then bright pink. It's a good thing she doesn't get to decorate the house...;o)
