Wow

Busy day followed by a busy night and then no internet means this is it for me this evening. I'll catch up tomorrow.

'Night all! :o)

How funny is this photo? My children were showering me with gifts--both for Ellie and for "end of the year" since tomorrow is technically my end of year--and a few included items for Lily. One little guy came into the room this morning and greeted me with, "How do you spell Lily?" and later returned with a gift for her and one for Ellie. We found a book and this crazy lollipop in her bag. Hee hee!

Lil also received a new baby that snores, and a sweet card telling what a wonderful big sister Lil was going to be. It included an "award" sticker:
No, your eyes aren't deceiving you, the child was still wearing her pj's at 4:30 this afternoon. I felt it would be best if she spent one more day at home to catch up on her rest and allow her to sleep off the lingering effects of her cold and fever. Lil likes to stay in her fuzzy pj's and Daddy lets her.

I believe she is FINALLY well-rested once more and we'll finish off the week at school. Then, she's finished. She'll return once-in-a-while for drop-in days (like when I have doctor's appointments), but for the most part, it's just going to be the two of us until Miss Bean arrives. :o)

Lil received a fun package in the mail today as well. It was a "gift with purchase" from "Your Big Backyard":
Lil using her "nockcleers". Other recent Lilyisms, "Mommy can you untight this please?" about her sippy cup with lid. Then, when full, "Mommy, can you tight dis up?" hee hee! :oP

Oh, and lest I forget, she gets "snarrows" in her hair. I have referred to them as "rat's nests" and "tangles", so Han dubbed them "rat's tangles". Lil, hearing this, has now christened them "mice". Don't you just LOVE kiddos?

So, for me. I have one day left. The kiddos are really really getting sad. I'm feeling a bit verklempt myself. Today was their spring/Easter party which wound up doubling as a "end of year/we'll miss you" party for me as well.

My parents and their children are beyond kind and generous. This was the most precious gift I received today (out of bunches of sweet and thoughtful presents). This blanket was hand-made by one of the parents. The ladybugs are made from the fifth grade girls' pink thumbprints, and the honey bees are the boys' thumbprints. (You should click to enlarge the image.) Is this not wonderful? As I told the kiddos, Ellie is the only child in the world who will EVER have a blanket just like this and that it is beyond precious. I know why they didn't do it, but part of me wishes each little print were labeled with the owner's name. All told, though, it was SUCH a thoughtful gift. :o)

Well, tomorrow's it. Wow. Where in the world has the time flown to? I can't believe it's almost over.

In other randomness, here's the Bean. I'm 37 weeks tomorrow. Hm, stretching up and arching back does good things for shrinking the tummy, lol!

And, folks, this is the bathroom. The ugly, blue sponged bathroom. My sweet sweet husband finished painting it today since he was home with Lil. The photo doesn't do it justice, though. It's a very lovely, soothing light green. Nary a nautical theme in sight. :oP

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Today's Sparklies:

1. Okay, so I've been meaning to post this and just haven't. Lil's first love note:

2. Brien pruned the flowering plum Saturday and I took some of the clippings and put them in a vase. They are blooming now:
They are beyond lovely and bring a smile to my face.
3. My sweet babies and their wonderful parents.
4. Pat was in "observing" today and was quite helpful when it came to lunch duty. ;oP
5. "The Breakfast Club"--non-TBS version. John Hughs was a genius.

No milestones.

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I think I'm going to take a page out of Lil's book and try to get some good rest this evening. I'm off to bed. :o)

Counting Down--Work That Is

Only two days left and so much to do and accomplish in such a small space of time. Yikes! Today I managed to get my Social Studies interactive notebook essential knowledges for the next unit all typed up. I laid out the notebook itself, and left detailed instructions on how to put it together, how to grade the children, etc. I still need to create the quizzes and tests Pat will need, but at least that part is finished. I swear, it takes SO much more effort to prepare to be gone than it does to show up and teach. Whew.

Pat will be in to observe today and tomorrow and we'll hopefully have time to sit and chat about the mundane goings-on in my classroom, important things such as how to put in the attendance, how to put in assignments and grades, the daily routine of our class. Those sorts of things.

I'm overwhelmed just thinking about all I have left to do.

Speaking of things to do, I still need to get the downstairs bathroom finished. Brien slapped some of the paint on the other day, and I can tell you it is quite an improvement. However, it's still not finished. I suppose I'll hop on that Thursday. I also need to steam clean the carpets again and finish washing the windows. Ahhh, the nesting is setting in.

I had a routine OB appointment today and all is well. My b/p was great, there was no protein anywhere, all tests came back negative, and I've lost a pound. I'm about a finger tip dilated, which is just fine with me. I'd rather like to have a couple (or three) weeks to rest and chill before the Bean arrives. My nightmare is my water breaking as I walk out of the building Wednesday afternoon... ;oP

Ellie continues to move and roll like a gold medal gymnast. According to today's doc, I have a "nice, large pelvis," and in fact, she repeated that fact close to three times, seeming fairly impressed by that fact. Is she afraid I'm going to have a big baby? Sure, I'm HUGE, and I know plus-size ladies have a tendency to have bigger babies, but I promise Ellie "feels" no bigger than the other two. I'll be surprised if she's much larger than Han was at 7 pounds 6 ounces.

Yes, I'm anxious to meet my little girl, but I'm also happy to have her bake a bit longer.

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Today's Sparklies:

1. Getting that SS work done. Whew!
2. A good OB appointment.
3. The kiddos were SO good today--boy I'm going to miss them.
4. Surprise gifts that arrive in the mail. Thank you, Amy! :o)
5. I'm fairly tech savvy (okay, very tech savvy), so when I need some support from Will, he knows I've troubleshot the best I could. He came to help and asked, "So, your sub is going to be as tech smart as you, right?" with a huge grin on his face. It's nice to know I'll be missed.
6. I got in the studio and made some sweet thank you notes. I'll photos tomorrow.

No milestones.
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Lil was sick and rundown this morning so she and Daddy stayed home. She got lots of sleep (which she dearly needed), but still has a low-grade fever. I had thought it was allergies and she's been taking a dose of Zyrtec every evening at bedtime, but it would appear to be something a bit more icky. :sigh: Thank goodness she's been so healthy this year. :o)

Oh, and I just thought of one more thing to add to my to-do list: I've got to create a preschool curriculum for Lil while we're home together. EEK!

**************ETA**************
I have a very good friend who just found out (SUPER EARLY) she's pregnant. Please send up some positive thoughts and prayers for her that everything turns out PERFECT. :o) I couldn't be happier for this family. :o)

Oops--So Much for Resting

Friday evening began with a visit from Megan and Baby Charlie--and it was wonderful! I hadn't seen Megan in close to a year (though I've certainly been keeping up with her and Charlie through her blog) and LOVED catching up with her--even for a short visit.

Charlie is absolutely the cutest thing. He's still very teeny at not quite 12 pounds and nine months old, but oh does he have some personality and the most beautiful eyes. Seriously, folks, is there anything more wonderful than a baby? :o)

I was determined to take it easy yesterday, and somehow missed. I vacuumed, dusted, purchased a spring/summer wardrobe for Lily, and purchased sandals for Lily and Ella for Easter. We also planted some daylilies (more on that in a moment) and sorted through all the tubs of clothing, getting it to appropriate rooms and places. I have the 12-18 month and 18-24 month tubs in Ellie's room waiting for Sarah. Sarah will be bringing the 3-6 and 6-9 month tubs for me to get to Jessie and Jessie will be bringing the 0-3 month tub to me. I will be getting the 3-6, 6-9 and 6-12 month tubs to Jessie. I'm SO happy we managed to stagger the babies this time around. :oP

Now, for those daylilies. I may have mentioned once or twice (or ten times) the front of my house is nothing but hot, hot sun and we have been struggling to come up with something to plant in the now nekkid beds. We needed sun resistant/tolerant, heat resistant/tolerant, drought resistant/tolerant. This led me to daylilies. Lissie has told me for years daylilies are the easiest flowers to grow. Not only that, they're beautiful and they met my criteria. (I've also put in some glad bulbs which are sprouting beautifully, and calla lily bulbs, and we will be putting in peonies in the fall.)

Back in February, I purchased a number of day lilies from Oake's Daylilies and they were delivered Friday and needed to be put in the ground fairly quickly. Oake's is fantastic in that they also include a "gift with purchase" so I had 21 daylilies to get in the ground! I can't wait for them to begin doing their thing. :o)

Last night, Nan and Pop watched Lil so B and I could have a date (we used a gift certificate that was about to expire) and it was loverly. We went to a nice steak house and had a fabulous, leisurely dinner. :o)

Today was Palm Sunday Mass (it went over a bit), then a meeting with Pat the Super Sub, and then Open House from 1:30-3:30. I'm BEAT. I was on my feet for hours and I'm tired. I jokingly told people I was going to just sit in my wheely chair all day tomorrow and have the kiddos push me up and down the hallway, lol! :oP

I'm going to get the laundry finished and get the kitchen straightened up and then I'm done. I want to spend the evening in the studio playing around. We'll see what happens.

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Weekend Sparklies:

1. Another wonderful date with B.
2. More gardening. Hooray!
3. Only three days of work this week.
4. I found Mass very moving this morning.
5. A good meeting with Pat and a nice Open House.
6. Whatever dinner nights.
7. Orange creme Cadbury eggs. Mmmmmm.

No milestones. Listening to Mass this morning, and the story of the Passion, I was once again reminded of Mary and how she must have felt watching her son be crucified for crimes he hadn't committed. What a nightmare to watch your child die such a gruesome death. Boy has losing Hannah changed my perspective of the Passion story. Losing her has change my views on many things.

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I have some suspicions Lil may be getting sick. My hope is she is just overly tired and suffering from allergies. We'll see.

Random iPhone Photos

It has taken me months, but I FINALLY remembered to download all the photos from my phone. Here are the images I apparently felt were worthy of being preserved.

Lil came downstairs all "dolled-up" in her sparkles, lips and headband.

How could I resist taking a photo? I made sure to get ones from all angles to catch the sparkles at their best. ;o)

This was taken on Teacher Appreciation Day so I could send B a photo of the bounty. My teeth are STILL aching from all the sugar, lol!

Ah, if you can see past the snow plastering the window, this was the scene from my classroom window one day last month. We drove in to work and then this happened. This was the day we sent the kids home early.

I finished putting Lil to bed, worked a bit in the studio, came in to the room and found this. Please note Holly had NO interest at all in giving up my pillow, nor Waylen my space. Lil's artwork still graces the spot above Daddy.

When not hogging pillows on the bed, Holly has her own "dog bed" in a laundry basket. I put in some fuzzy blankets and a pillow (or two) and she is quite content.

Lil's True Fit car seat. I LOVE this seat! I have read some reviews with parents complaining the roominess makes it difficult for their children to get comfortable. I don't think that's a problem for us. ;o) Lil is quite comfortable most of the time and she adores the seat. :o)

I had to take a photo of the Pillsbury Dough Boy sitting in the passenger seat of the truck across from me in the OB's parking lot.

From today--delivery fail. Yes, Mr. UPS man, the package is so well hidden behind that inconspicuous door mat (that should be lying on the ground) that NO ONE will EVER notice it's back there. Oh, and way to pose a decoy in front of it. ;o) Too bad these were my packages... ;oP

The glad bulbs Lil and I planted a couple of weeks ago are sprouting.

A field of Johnny Jump-ups. Who knew six of the little boogers would spread so prolifically? Not that I'm complaining, I LOVE them! :o)

There are also some vincas blooming there in the bottom right.

And still more vinca blooms.

The irises and day lilies in the backyard were apparently some critter's midnight (midday?) snack and I'm none too pleased. I don't mind if you want to visit my yard, but come on, don't eat my pretties. Grrr.

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Today's Sparklies:

1. Finding we're going to be fine financially when I'm out on maternity leave. I don't know how it works for the rest of you teachers out there, but I'm guaranteed my 12 weeks FMLA leave, and can get six weeks (really four given the two week waiting period) short term disability, but any days I take above and beyond any sick leave I have left is days without pay. I'll have 35 of those bad boys and I'm glad we planned for that. Whew--I was very very worried there for a few minutes.
2. The heating pad we purchased this evening that should help alleviate some of my hip pain.
3. Lily is apparently well loved by Ms. Tia and Mr. Jarrell. The kids were out on the playground this afternoon so I called to Lil and had her come up the hill to me (it's a fairly decent hill and I just didn't feel like waddling down and back up). Well, Ms. Tia raced up the hill to tell me all sorts of stories about Miss Bit and I could tell she just adored her. Then, Mr. Jerrell joined us seconding all Ms. Tia had to say. Again, I'm grateful Ms. Tanya had other plans for her life. Whew!
4. Lil received her first love note today. Some little guy named Conner wrote his name, Lil's name and drew a big heart. It's very very sweet.
5. The Cadbury's Creme Eggs are ripe. Ahhh, I LOVE Easter. :oP

No Milestones

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To everyone who left diaper bag ideas, thank you! I had been leaning towards the Skip Hop Dash Deluxe and with so many Skip Hop recs, I think that may be what we wind up going with. I'm still looking, but it was great to have my opinion seconded (and thirded and fourthed ;oP).

Some Observations

First, my brain is going, going, gone. I'm wiped, it's wiped, it's no longer seeming to function the way it should. I forget far more things than I remember these days. :sigh:

Next, I think it's really beginning to sink in to my students and their families that my last day really is next Wednesday. The kiddos are beginning to get a bit maudlin, and I have a conference scheduled for Friday and another three for next week. Pat and I will meet with the families next week, and I know everyone is anxious to meet her.

Third, I need to have this kiddo so I can finally get a solid four hour stretch of sleep. I don't delude myself, I know she'll be up to eat in the middle of the night--it's what babies do. But, if she's like her sisters, she'll give me a four hour block, which is really more than I'm getting right now. And, I'll be able to sleep on my tummy again. Happy thought, that.

Fourth, there is nothing more delightful than having a respite out in the sunshine with 32 fifth graders playing "Duck Duck Goose". Oh my do they THROW themselves into the game. Literally! We've been doing standardized testing this week, and they needed a break. And, with the sun shining and the breeze blowing, it seemed almost cruel to keep them cooped up inside. Besides, we were getting our dose of Vitamin D. ;o)

Finally, I'm tired of being tired. :oP It's true, though. I'm almost to the point I'm ready to have this girlie. She needs to bake for a bit longer, but I'm to the point where labor and delivery no longer scare me. I'm ready.

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Today's Sparklies:

1. Our flowering red plum tree, and forest pansy red bud are littered with buds/blossoms. Hooray spring!
2. The glorious day and watching the kiddos play "Duck Duck Goose". :o)
3. Ellie was the recipient of four more gifts from students today. So sweet and kind and thoughtful. One item was a handmade blanket in cream and pink. I'll post a picture tomorrow.
4. Being able to be at work and not on bed rest. Whew!
5. Lily played nicely/quietly in Ellie's room for close to an hour this afternoon. She was looking at/playing with the toys and reading the board books. Best of all? She cleaned up after herself. Lordy but she's a sweet and good girlie. :o)

No Milestones.

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I have to be off early this evening--my Hokies are playing some b-ball this evening and definitely need me cheering them on. :oP

*******ETA******

Any of you mommies out there have any diaper bag recommendations? I'm looking for something Brien won't mind toting, but that can hold both Lil's and Ellie's "stuff"--you know, sippies, snacks, diapers, wipes, band-aids (Lil's stuff too, remember? ;oP), lotion, sunblock, change of clothing, blankets, burp cloths, etc.

Thank you for any and all suggestions! :o)

EXCELLENT!!!

The trip to the OB was not as I expected--thank goodness. Yesterday, I had one b/p reading of 140/82 and it scared me quite a bit, leading me to believe I did in fact have preeclampsia and would therefore be put on bed rest.

Nope! HOORAY!! My weight is unchanged (YES!), there is no swelling, and my b/p was 117/72. Woo hoo! The nurse said, "Boy, you sure are relaxed today." Indeed I am. :oP The OB then told me there was no protein in my specimen this morning, and that it had dropped to 281 in my 24 hour collection. YES YES YES!

At this time, I do NOT have preeclampsia, and I am to continue doing what I have been because it is obviously working. :o) I'll probably pick up a bit of slack in the kitchen, but that's about it. I don't want to cause Ellie or me any harm by suddenly picking up ALL action and then have a return of the protein and such. I'm sure B will be relieved to not be doing everything around the house, and I know I feel better as well. Whew!

I was also told to do what I felt was best regarding work, so I'll go ahead and finish out to the 31st. There's just so much I want to do with my kiddos before I leave. :o)

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Sparklies So Far:

1. A great doctor's appointment. Whew!
2. Somewhat sleeping in (hey, 6:30's sleeping in, right?).
3. Lil's sunny disposition this morning.
4. Good news to share with everyone. :o)
5. This is pretty cool! Let's turn off the lights for an hour Saturday evening! :o)

No milestones, just *whew*. :o)

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For Lissie and anyone who ever wondered just what Lily sounds like:

Lily solving Tangrams.

And still more Tangram problem solving. Lil is my math/puzzle girl. :o)

She discovered today she loves to do these sorts of puzzles and I had to tear her away from them in order to have dinner. I love watching little minds in action. :o)

Ready--Let the Waiting Begin

As I wrote yesterday, I finished the Bean's room and got her car seat installed. I'm ready--now all I need is a baby. :oP

I have a Monet print I want to have framed to hang over the baby's bed, and really, that's it. I'm really pleased with how well it all came together--and how simply too. :o)

For now, though, I'm tired. Really really tired. I have a month left--that's it. I seem to go to term, given my history with Han and Lil. Han was due 9/19 and came 9/21. Lil was due 12/21 and came 12/19. It seems to me Ellie will come the 19th or the 21st, lol. :oP

I had my blood work done this morning and will have my OB appointment tomorrow. From there we'll decide what's going to happen. Or, more to the point, the OB will decide and I will follow her dictates. I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Right now, I'm awaiting B's arrival home, sitting down doing a whole bunch of nuthin'--like the good girl I am. ;o)
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Today's Sparklies:

1. I'm ready. Hooray!
2. Taking it easy at work today. It's standardized testing week so there's plenty of time to sit and prop up my feet--all the while working on other things, of course.
3. The spring rain that is watering my gardens. :o)
4. The sun has come out this afternoon/evening and with it, the evening bird songs.


No milestones.

Spring is Springing Everywhere!

First of all, let me tell you just how annoying it is to be told you can't do much of anything when the weather is so very very wonderful. It's quite painful, actually. Grrrr. I want to get out and DO things. I need to clean the back deck and patio (the oak tree is still stubbornly clinging to last year's leaves), I want to get out and purchase some annuals for a spot of color here and there until the perennials pop up, I want to go for walks with my family, I want to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the sunshine on my skin. Nope. Not happening. Blah.

I did manage to get out to plant my gardens yesterday, though. I figured I wasn't standing, and believe you me, being on my hands and knees was no picnic to say the least. However, the beds are planted and I'm now awaiting the arrival of shoots and other surprises. :o)

I also got the nursery just about finished last night. I have to do a load of baby clothes/blankets, and get the sheet on the mattress, but that's it. The rest is finished. B put shelves in the closet so things are organized and awaiting the Bean's arrival. Oh, I also have to steam/sterilize the bottles, pump parts and pacies we purchased and install the car seat. The steaming will be done in a trice thanks to the microwave steamer bags, and I want to go ahead and get the car seat installed before I get any bigger and more uncomfortable. Yes, I could let Brien do it, but like I have said before, I'm the car seat crazy in the house and I have to be the one to do it. :oP

Brien, meanwhile, has been working his tater off with vacuuming, dusting, cooking, cleaning and painting. Yes, the blue nightmare of a bathroom will soon be a soothing light sage green. I can hardly wait. Of course, unlike me, B LOATHES painting, so it will be a few days before it's all finished, but given everything he has to do, I don't mind in the least. This lazy/helpless thing is for the birds. I'm praying praying praying the OB tells me Tuesday all is actually well. :fingers crossed:

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Forgive me for the shoddy photography skills on these next photos--I was in a bit of a rush and didn't do a very good job with them. Be that as it may, here are some of the cards I made Thursday evening:




The papers are all Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive, Whisper White and Cottage Wall DSP. The inks are Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip. I'm in love with this color combination and can't seem to work with it enough, lol! :oP

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Here are some of the lovely gifts Ellie has received over the past couple of weeks:





Honestly, everything is SOOOO much cuter in miniature. :o)

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Weekend Sparklies:

1. The weather. Ahhh, spring...
2. Lily made pretty much the entire congregation laugh during Mass today. It happened right after the children's message, when the leaders were taking the kiddos out for their bit of service. Lil has yet to go with them, and typically runs back to us. Today, she couldn't find us so one of the kind ladies lifted her so she could see us. We smiled and waved at her and watched as her face changed from one of concern to one with a HUGE cheesy grin. The congregation gave a chuckle and Fr. Pete even commented on it. It was too sweet. :o)
3. Getting the garden planted. Hooray!
4. Ellie has moved out of my ribs so I can once again breathe with some ease. I spent yesterday feeling as if I had HUGE stitches in my ribs--you know the kind you get whilst exercising? Ugh! Today is good. :o)
5. Sleeping with the windows open and falling asleep to the sounds of the peepers and awakening to the sounds of the birds.
6. My friend Angie, whom I haven't seen in about three years, found me in church this morning. She typically attends the 8:00 service, but was at ours instead today. Oh what a joy to see her!!! :o)
7. I think I'm going to have a nap. Ahhhhhhh. ;o)

No milestones.

Annnnnnnd, I'm off to nap. :oP

Hmmmm

So, another day with no swelling whatsoever. None. B/P is still fine. I guess we'll get answers next week. Goodness I can't believe how fast this week has gone by, nor that I'm almost finished teaching for the year. Holy mackerel!

I'm beyond excited tonight--Lily will be coming to school with me tomorrow. Okay, more to the point, she'll be visiting the PreK-4 classroom tomorrow to see what it'll be like next year. Marsha is the most AMAZING teacher and Lily is going to have an incredible day tomorrow. :o) Hooray! There is something so comforting in knowing she'll be right downstairs and down a hallway from me. :o) She has put in her lunch request (1/2 a pb&j sammich, yogurt, and sliced apples) and I'll have to go get to that in just a moment. ;o)

Brien wound up staying home today, awaiting the mulchers' arrival. The yard looks fantastic and I hope to get some photos tomorrow. He was able to get some homework done and study for the exam he has tomorrow. :fingers crossed:

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Today's Sparklies:

1. The a/c at school is working. Woo hoo!
2. Talks with good friends--such good chats you lose track of time. Oops!
3. The sun. Oh, that glorious sun! (Yes, I love it when the temps are in the 50's-low 70's--after that it's just TOO hot, lol.)
4. My yard and the smell of fresh mulch. I know many people can't stand the smell, but to me it is the smell of spring. :o)
5. Lily was in such a DELIGHTFUL mood today. What a joy!
6. I'm down to just about a month to delivery. HOLY MOLY!!

No milestones.
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Well, I have a lunch to pack and Robin to call to find out what is going on with Kelley.

Oh, and Beth, thanks! Your comment had me smiling all morning. :o) It's funny, but I consider you guys friends too. It's amazing how the internet can connect so many from all over the world and we can feel as if we know them. :o)

Happy Friday to one and all! :o)

What's New, Pussycat?

Not very much, actually. This photo made me smile so I just HAD to post it. :o)

I took it very easy today and there is NO swelling. The B/P is fine. I don't have any headaches or any other symptoms. I came home and sat outside in the sunshine, enjoying the afternoon with Lil. I've done nothing but sit on my hiney this evening. I'm feeling like a heel for leaving B with so much work to do on his own. :sigh: I absolutely know this is what is best for Ellie and me, but I'm not liking the feeling of worthlessness that is coming with it.

Women--we don't know how to ask for help or accept it. We are used to doing it all, so we feel like crud when we can't--especially when our significant others have issues of their own. :o(

Thank you for all your well-wishes, kind words, and prayers. Megan, I had to chuckle at your comment--if anyone knows about baby viability, it's you guys, lol! :o) As many of you wrote, it's true, at 35 weeks, Ellie is close to being considered fully-baked so I'm not too worried about her. And really, as of yet, I'm not worried about myself either. I'll worry more when I get the results next Tuesday if they say I am indeed preeclamptic. Until then, this Pollyanna is going to follow the doc's orders about taking it easy, do nothing but what is necessary, and assume all is well until I hear otherwise.

In other news, I've had two super duper nights in the studio. On Monday, I made eight of this card:
The colors aren't that great in this photo, but that sunny yellow is Apricot Appeal. The cards themselves are in a plastic box as if they are a set.

These were made last night--10 of them! I absolutely fell in love with the Medallion stamp in the SU! catalog and finally purchased it. Last night I inked it for the first time and came up with this. The sentiment is a bit wonky on this one (shoulda used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig), but I love the Rich Razzleberry with the Old Olive.

And, because we weren't quite finished with Chapter 27 of HP, I slapped a couple of these guys together. This is the Fresh Cuts stamp set and cards using Rich Razzleberry and Mellow Moss. These are the simplest cards to make and they come together in a matter of moments. :o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1. The sweet baby outfits and picture frame I received for Ellie. I'll have to take photos and post them.
2. Watching Lil play on our playground. She can finally reach the rings without the assistance of a bucket to stand on. :oP
3. My lilies are all sending up shoots and sprouts.
4. The glorious glorious sun and lovely temperatures. :happy sigh:
5. The sound of children playing outside once again. I adore the happy shouts and laughter I hear as they chatter and play. :o)

No milestones.

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I have very little in the way of information at this time, but I just found out my cousin Kelley (best friend Robin's sister) has had an MS episode for the first time in almost five years. She has been unmedicated up to this point, but will now begin. If you have a moment, could you please send up some positive thoughts and prayers. The minute I have more details, I will post them.

Well, Isn't This Interesting

So, I went to the OB today, thinking she was going to tell me all was well and that things looked great. Um, no, not quite. Things aren't bad per se, but they aren't so hot either.

Dr. S wanted to talk about my previous preeclampsia with Hannah and then moved on to my results. It would seem there was some protein in my urine. Great. She said that technically she is supposed to recommend bedrest at this point and I confess, I had a bit of a panic thinking of my students. I mentioned this, and she and I had a good chat.

Technically, preeclampsia is diagnosed with high blood pressure and a protein count of over 300. My blood pressure has been great. But, my protein count was 340. I have no other symptoms of preeclampsia--the swelling is gone, no headaches, no nothin'. In fact Dr. S said she was shocked by the results and truly didn't expect them.

Soooo, here's what she and I decided. First off, we agreed we hadn't done a baseline urinalysis which means I could have protein all the time and just not know. In fact, at my appointments, some of my samples have had protein and some haven't. With that said, she told me as long as I can stay off my feet at work, and as long as I go home and REST (Ha ha ha ha ha! I have a four year old and a house to take care of...), I may finish out this week. Then, come Sunday, I'll do another 24 hour collection, return to the OB Monday for blood work and Tuesday for a follow-up on the results and we'll make a more informed decision from there.

Honestly, I don't feel like I have preeclampsia. I'm not just saying that because I'm worried about my kiddos and the standardized testing they have next week. I truly don't feel like I did when I was pregnant with Hannah. I went to speak with Diane (principal) after my appointment and she told me my biggest concern is Ellie and keeping her healthy, and that she understands my concern and dedication to my children, but that they will be fine and rise to the occasion. I know all this, but I still can't help but worry some about my babies...

I'm confident that if Dr. S TRULY thought there was a problem she would have me staying home--she's not one to risk her patient or baby. If it turns out I've got preeclampsia, I have preeclampsia. Here's hoping I don't.

I guess what all this means is I need more prayers and positive thoughts, please.

Oh, and to everyone who said such lovely things about my photo below, thank you SO much! :o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1. The sun came back out. Hooray!
2. I gave and graded a quiz today. Yes, all in one day. Woo hoo!
3. I had a lovely meeting with Sister Mary Jeane today.
4. Soup Day at work! :o)
5. Excellent prenatal care and medical insurance. You can't beat it.

No milestones.

Odds, Ends and a Low-Key Kind of Day

These photos are from two weeks ago, but I've been remiss and posting them. Lily has grown to LOVE working puzzles, and this 24 piece jobby is no longer a challenge for her. We're graduating to the 48/50 piece puzzles--as soon as I can find one, lol. :o)



She finished it three separate times, only to take it apart and put it back together again.


She's such a cutie patootie. :o)

I'm very excited she'll be visiting school with me Friday. She is going to have SO much fun in Marsha and Jennifer's class. She met Marsha at the beginning of the year when she was in the building with me, and she sees Jenn in church every Sunday. So, with any luck, she'll be comfortable and have a fun day. :o)

I had an appointment for blood work first thing this morning and then came home and finished my report cards. I had a simple lunch and fell asleep for about an hour or so this afternoon. Goodness did I need that sleep. Between the loss of the hour and getting up to take care of bathroom issues, I was a wreck this morning. Well, that, and Waylen whines beside the bed for me to pick him up and put him in with us. I swear, he's worse than a newborn. :sigh:

And, that's about it for my day. Seriously. I picked Lil up, made some dinner, did some laundry and rested. And wasn't that rest lovely. :happy sigh:

This evening, I'm hoping B and I can get back in the studio since it just didn't happen yesterday. Oh well, best laid plans and such...

For now, the meatloaf is cooked, the Chantilly potatoes are about finished and it's time to eat. :o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1. These photos of my silly Waylen dog:




Please tell me how dogs know blankets are fleece, I truly want to know. :shakes head:

2. Napping. Oh how lovely is napping!
3. Resting and taking it easy.
4. Playing with Lil once she got home. What a sweetie! :o)

No milestones.

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Off to eat! Have a happy Tuesday, everyone! :o)

For Those Interested--ALMOST 35 Weeks

Okay, so Holly wasn't that thrilled about having her picture taken. She's shy like that. Me? Not the best photo of me (I'm LOATHING the double-chin thing I have going on and the hair's not so great, but eh, whatever), but a fantastic picture of the Ellie Bean.

I'm about five weeks out from my due date and beginning to feel it. How you short torsoed folks do it is beyond me. Frankly, I'm built for growing babies, and I'm winded and tired. I can't imagine having no space for a baby once I got past 34 weeks. You all have my utmost respect. :o)



As Brien and I made our way into church this morning, a lady held the door open for me and announced, "We don't deliver babies, you know," with laugh and a smile. I quickly assured her there was no need to worry because I had over five weeks left.

"You're kidding! That must be one BIG baby!" :sigh: I'm getting used to the remarks and laugh with them, because really, they mean no harm. Heck, I DO get big when I'm pregnant. At least it's all in my stomach and not anywhere else. ;o)

My swelling continues, but not to quite the degree it was Wednesday and Thursday. I'm taking it as easy as possible, trying to keep my feeties elevated and keep myself relaxed. I'll have tomorrow off to rest as well. :o) This is a good thing, since B, Lil and I did go out to Tarjay yesterday, to pick up necessary baby items that I'd been putting off purchasing. My coworkers "showered" me with gift cards to the 'jay. I'm sure many of them were intensely disappointed at not being able to purchase cute baby things, but they went with everyone else, and boy did those cards come in handy yesterday.

I picked up four new Avent bottles (our old ones were not BPA free), a new set of pumping accessories (again, BPA free), a Boppy and cover (each of my kiddos has kept theirs and sleep with them so I need to get a new one for each baby), diapers, wipes, crib mattress cover and waterproof pads, passies, and more. All these items are things I deemed necessary, and would have purchased anyhow, but it was much less painful to do so with the lovely gifts from my friends. :o)

Now, I just have to have B install the new shelving in Ellie's closet and I can get the room organized and ready to go. Oh, and do some laundry as well--lots of blankets and clothing to get ready. I'm getting so insanely excited to meet our girl!

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Weekend Sparklies:

1. Nana and Pop kept Lily for us yesterday so B and I could have a mini-date. After our shopping yesterday I was a bit exhausted so we kept things simple with a trip to B&N after dinner at Panera. We slept beautifully and even losing an hour of sleep managed to get up on time this morning. :o)
2. The anticipation of seeing Miss Bit at church after not being with her for an evening. It's amazing how much you miss your Munchkins when you aren't with them.
3. Lil's declaration of "Rut roh" that rang out as she dropped her purse and artwork during Mass. Thank goodness it was only loud enough for those of us right around her to hear. :oP
4. Lily anticipating saying good morning to Sister Bernice as we were leaving church. Sister is 93 and a treasure and Lily is a sweetie and spends a few minutes visiting with her every Sunday. :o)
5. Studio time!!!!! :o) I'm off to do some work here in a moment, while B and I continue to listen to Book 7. Only 10 chapters left... (I swear, as quickly as we devoured the other six, you would think we would have finished this one three years ago...)
6. Yummy dinner planned for this evening--enchilada casserole.
7. Lily napping like a pro today. She is worn out and needs it, that's for sure.

No milestones.

Off to stamp! :o) I'll be sure to post my endeavors later, Mom. :o)

The Scoop--So Far

The no-longer-a-surprise baby shower was lovely. I swear, I work with the sweetest, kindest, most generous human beings on the planet. They are beyond wonderful and amazing and I'm blessed to have them in my life. I was able to eat a sandwich and cut my cake and have a sliver before I rushed out the door to the OB.

I awoke with little/no swelling this morning and was determined to take it as easy as possible today. This was an interesting task as it was "Pi Day". Sure, Pi Day isn't technically until March 14, but we won't be in school Monday so we had it today. I was able to supervise five groups of fifth through seventh graders while keeping my feet elevated.

Feeling pretty relaxed, I decided to have Marilyn (the school nurse) take my b/p--126/78. Not wonderful, but definitely not as high as yesterday. Additionally, the swelling is very reduced today. I'm sure this is due in part to the cooler temps in the classroom today, and me making more of an effort to elevate my feet when I can. :o)

At the OB's office, my b/p was still 126/78, I hadn't gained any weight and apparently, all was well with the small sample I provided--i.e. no protein in evidence. I explained my situation to Dr. S, she said she understood my concerns and that I had done absolutely the right thing in calling and being observant. She also said everything looked good, that she thought everything is fine, but to go ahead and do the 24 hour collection, keep my Monday blood work appointment, and that when I go in for my 35 week appointment Tuesday they'll have the results. But again, she thinks all is well.

What. A. Relief. :happy, relieved sigh:

Thank you all so very very much for your kind, positive thoughts and prayers. They have sustained me.

Hugs to you all!

Well, This Rather Stinks

After awakening this morning with my right foot/ankle still a little swollen, I determined I should stay off my feet for as much of the day as possible--a fun endeavor when you're a teacher. In spite of my best efforts, the swelling continued, and well, I began to panic. Panicking and working myself up is something I do VERY well...:eye roll:

You see, that bout of preeclampsia I had with Hannah really did a number on me--even though it was quite mild, really--and at even the faintest sign there could be something going on, I flip out. Which is what I promptly did. I emailed the school nurse to see if she could take my b/p, tracked down the principal to watch my class and raced down the stairs to have my b/p checked.

Did you see that word "raced"?? So, between the panic and the racing, my b/p was 138/84. Not so great. I returned to my room where Ms. B was sitting with my kiddos and told her I needed to call the OB's office. Given my prior history, and the fact I'd had one incident with a trace of protein in my urine, and my b/p, it has been decided that I should be checked for preeclmapsia.

I'll go tomorrow afternoon to have a doctor check me out in person, do my collection on Sunday, and go in Monday for blood work, and we'll have answers Tuesday. Oh pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease don't be preeclampsia. I don't want to go on modified bedrest. I have too much teaching left to do before I leave my kiddos. I've got too much to do around here. I don't have time to be sick!!

Oh, and the appointment tomorrow? It interferes with the staff luncheon which had Lola asking if I was going to have to miss it. Then, when I told Ms. B, she told me I really needed to be there tomorrow and I would be sorry if I wasn't. Greeeeeeaaaaaaaat. Methinks there's something Ellie related going on and I'm not going to be at my own party.

I called the OB's office back, practically begging for a new time and was informed there was NOTHING. :sigh:

What. A. Day. :o(

What I'm hoping hoping hoping is that the recent heat and humidity in our building (our rooms are saunas at the moment as the a/c has yet to kick back on) has lead to the edema, and that the high-ish b/p was caused by my stress, anxiety and flight down the stairs to the nurse's office.

If you could spare a moment or two to send up some prayers and positive thoughts, I would so very much appreciate them. What I really want more than anything is a healthy mommy and healthy Ellie Bean.

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Today's Sparklies:

1. Lily informed us this morning that there was no way Holly could have been the one to unzip her pj's whilst she was sleeping since "She doesn't have any stumbs!" That is one smart kiddo. ;o)
2. Although they called for rain, the weather was sunny and nice today. Hooray for outside recess time!
3. The smell of fresh mulch outside my classroom windows. I know there are those that find mulch smelly and stinky, but I love the smell--it tells me it's spring. :o)
4. More compliments today. Yes, it's my vanity talking, but when you get to be six weeks out, anything that makes you feel NOT as big as a house is wonderful. Oh, and Dani, I promise to post pix soon. :o)
5. Brien cooked dinner and cleaned the kitchen for me so I could stay off my feet as much as possible. He's such a wonderful husband.
6. Elevating my feet really relieved the swelling. Whew!

No milestones. The swelling and all, however has thrown me back into those days when I was pregnant with Hannah and her labor and delivery and what utter Hell it was. This has not been the best afternoon.

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Whew! A quick blog post and now time to put the Bitty to bed and grade some tests--the quarter ends tomorrow. Holy mackerel! Where has this school year gone???

Signs of Spring

Today was yet another warm and lovely day, although the sun was in hiding. We're supposed to get rain for the next four days, which will make my gardens VERY happy. :o)

Lil and I finished planting the bulbs out front, and then I hit the perennial beds in the back. With the mulchers coming next week, I wanted to be sure they were ready. As I was cleaning up Hannah's garden, I discovered both the dusty miller, and the dianthus survived the winter under a blanket of oak leaves. In fact, the dianthus was even beginning to bloom! Holy smokes! I had purchased the plants last year to fill in until the perennials bloomed. It seems they'll be filling in again this year for free. :o)

And, over in the "new" perennial bed, the Johnny Jump-ups have taken off! To think I had only planted six plants last year...

B snapped some pictures of a few of them so I could see the variations in coloring.


Ah, my Little Bit was out enjoying the wonderful weather as well. Hm...think she might have been using chalk? ;oP
These are all the leaves I removed from the bed. Good grief! The stubborn oak still hasn't shed all its leaves...:sigh:

Ah, my heucheras. They wintered over wonderfully as well.

I'm hoping to add a couple more this year. :o)

The columbine have all begun to sprout, as have a couple of my daylilies by my mailbox. The irises are looking fabulous as well. I believe this is going to be a beautiful spring. :o)

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In other news, it seems I've been looking awfully "cute" the past few days. I can't begin to tell you how many times I heard that today, lol! I also heard once again I don't look at all pregnant from behind (hooray!) and that I'm "glowing".

Let me tell you, I needed to hear that since today marks the first day I have had swelling this entire pregnancy. My immediate fear is, "OMG, it's preeclampsia again!!" Of course, I have no other symptoms, but I always seem to gravitate to the worst possible scenario. :shakes head:

It has more likely been caused by the amount of time I spent standing on my feet today--far more than I have recently--and the incredibly hot/humid conditions in my room this afternoon. Ugh. I'm SO grateful this is the first day I've experienced this, as it is incredibly uncomfortable. As soon as I'm finished with this post, I'm hitting my left side and staying there, pain in my hip or not.

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These next photos are for Lissie. These are the cards I made yesterday. I made two of each.








The lovely spring weather had me reaching for the "Cottage Wall" DSP and last year's "Raspberry Tart". :o) The bottom is a copy of the card I made for Pop. I know to everyone else out there it looks as if those colors horribly clash. Yet, to my fellow Hokies and me, it's absolutely perfect. :oP

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Today's Sparklies:

1. I got the cards shipped out. Hooray!
2. I posted the dessert recipe below. Woo hoo!
3. Puttering around in the dirt and plants. Spring springing. Life is good!
4. Ellie rolling around in there.
5. Lily is SO much happier and such a better listener these days. I'm so happy for her. :o)
6. Fantabulous lessons for creative writing today. I LOVE reading picture books to fifth graders. They are so enthusiastic about them and frequently catch nuances that are lost on younger readers. I read Patricia McKissick's Flossie and the Fox to all three classes today, and in every class, the children immediately figured out what Miss Flossie Finley was up to and laughed their way through the story. Of course, the fact their teacher threw herself into the roles in the story didn't hurt...;oP
7. All the lovely compliments today. Friends are such a good thing to have. ;oP

No milestones.

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Well, that left side is calling. If you haven't yet checked out the dessert recipe below, please do. :o)